Gayathri’s sister Meena’s Nichchaya thaartham was done on Monday the 12th Nov 2007 at Vishnupuram, 25 km from Kumbakonam. We two attended it. Here is a brief description. About 22 persons started from Chennai. We left by Pallavan Exp on 11th a/n. As to be expected, there were non-stop songs, eats, and what not. Since Deepavali had come just a few days before, every family brought the Deepavali bakshanams which vanished in no time. And also the idlies soaked with milagai podi. Sowmya was the star attraction, needless to add. She enjoyed the train journey. We reached Tiruchy by 9PM. There we dispersed as three groups, and our group of 11 went to Gayathri’s periyamma’s house. Night stay there. Next morning (12th), got up by 4-45 AM, had a wonderful coffee, then hot water bath, and we left for the next leg of our trip. At the Station the group’s strength grew to about 32. There was a passenger train at 0710 AM for Kumbakonam. It was not crowded when it pulled out of Tiruchy, but was jam-pa...