My Musings

Our Mumbai - Delhi Visits #1. MUMBAI (Thane, Malad) Vijaya and I left Chennai at 11.55 midday on Thursday, 19th March for Thane by Mumbai Express. We traveled by 3 AC. Traveled the entire day and night and reached Thane the next day (20th March) by 12.45 midday. Vishnu had come to the station to receive us. We drove to Regency Towers and had lunch. Savithri and Vasanth reached by 2 PM. 21-03-2015 At Sudhakar flat. 1st day rites of the Annual. Sithakumbam. At 3 PM we two went to Krishnaraj house and then to Nirupama house where Kamakshi is staying for the day. Kamakshi and Krishnaraj are leaving Mumbai permanently for settling in Bangalore by this April end. 22-03-2015 2nd day rites. Sugavanam came by flight from Chennai. Vijaya cooked. 23-03-2015 VARUSHAPTIKAM of Sundaresan. Vijaya cooked. 24-03-2015 Grekkiam. Went off well. Lunch from caterers. We two left Thane at 5 PM along with Sugavanam whose flight was at 7.30. After dropping him, Sudhakar took us to Malad...

Thursday 3 April, 2014. 4 PM My landline phone rang and when I answered, it was Suresh and he gave the most stunning and unbelievable news that SUNDARESAN , his father and my elder brother, had passed away at Dapodi Pune an hour earlier (3:05 PM). I couldn't find words to speak or console him. As per his request, I started calling everyone in the family and conveyed this sad news. Sundaresan was suffering from minor ailments (or so we thought) for the past 7 days. He and Manni were to leave for Thane for further treatment; Suresh came in car to pick them up. As they came one floor down, on the 1st floor, Sundaresan felt unwell, wanted to sit, and sat in a chair, but collapsed suddenly. A few seconds ago he was speaking, next second he was no more. He was 76 and 9 months. We two planned to go to Thane / Mumbai by 5 AM or 8:30 AM flight, but we were told the rites would be over by the time we reach Pune - so we dropped that idea. 4th April 2014 Friday. Sundaresan was cremat...

earlier The RETURN Home. 30 Sep 2007 Sunday Our last day at Mumbai. Packed and lunch at 11AM. Ravi and Sweta came by 1130 and we started for airport. Had a very enjoyable time with everyone at Mumbai / Pune / Thane. Reached airport by 12 noon and checked in the two bags. Vijaya trolleyed these bags for X-raying. Checked in, security clearance completed, and we were inside the aircraft by 12-50. Took off at 1-25PM. The flight was via Bangalore and we reached Bangalore by 3-30PM. The aircraft had to circle around for over 30 minutes before being permitted to land. Informed Arvind and Ashok re this delay. Took off from Bangalore by 4-10PM and after a 40-minute flight we landed at the Kamarajar domestic airport, Chennai at 4-50PM. We walked out thru the air-bridge and came to the baggage arrival conveyor belt. Collecting our two bags, we came out to wait for Arvind. He came 10 minutes later and then we drove back home. Home, sweet home. Aditi was all smiles on seeing us and she ...

earlier Visit to Pune . 24 Sep 2007 Monday. Went to Santacruz market to purchase some eats - it was raining. Lunch and at 1-45PM we two left by auto for Bandra Station. I stood in one of the ten Qs for tickets, and as I approached the counter it was closed ! I stood again in another Q nad got the ticket. The local started from Bandra by 3-00 and we reached VT (now, CST) by 3-30. Got into the Pragati Express in PF 11. Left VT at 4-25PM and reached Shivajinagar, Pune at 7-45PM. Took an auto (60.00) to Dapodi to Sundaresan's house. We had to take a divert as there was a Ganapati visarjan procession. Meals. Arvind had come to Mumbai this morning and he has now gone to Bangalore. He and Ashok phoned from Bangalore. Arvind is going to France on 1 Oct. T20 Finals - IND beat PAK. I could say it was a lucky win. But a great win. Sowmya's mudi irakkuthal this morning at Kaliyaperumal Koil Ariyalur. After this, Arun etc went to Kumbakonam Tirukarugavur Koil and then start...

earlier 16 Sep 2007 Sunday As we reached house, Ganesan was ready with vada paav for us. After this and then lunch, we all (except Subhadra Manni) left for seeing the Ganapatis. Read our experince 17 Sep 2007, Monday Got up at 0730. Sundaresan phoned. He is leaving for Pune this afternoon. Sudhakar is leaving for Germany in the night (0230AM). Evening at 5, we two walked towards Santacruz railway station - we had travelled on this road many years ago - the Potdar school on this road has changed beyond description. We saw a couple of Ganapatis in the station road. On our way back, we walked along SV road where Arun was born in Kashibai Nursing Home. This nursing home has been demolished and was not to be found. 7PM or so NIRUPAMA came and she & Vijaya went out to purchase dinner for all of us - Paav bhaji, and ice cream. Niru left at 11PM. An enjoyable day. 18 Sep 2007 Tuesday . Rains in Mumbai. I initiated Ganesan to Blogs. Announcement in media that there would be no...

Ganapati Bappa - Visarjan. The Ganapati idols that are kept for pooja in individual houses and Sarvajanik Mandals are bid a warm sendoff after 3/5/7/9/11 days. These idols are immersed in water (sea / river) and this is known as Visarjan. Visarjan is celebrated with gaiety, passion, and bhakti in Maharashtra. On 19th Sept 2007 we went to Juhu beach in the evening just to spend a few minutes by the sea. We were not aware of Visarjan that day. As we walked along the Juhu beach road, we could see many Ganapatis taken in procession towards the beach. On the sands of the beachfront, there were dozens of families - big and small - with their Ganapatis. They carry the idols either in their hands or (mostly) in a push cart. Many bring them in auto-rickshaws or in their swanky cars. The entire family - thatha, paatti, son / daughter, grand-children - come to the farewell party. As soon as they reach the sands, they put a kolam on the sands and keep the idol within the square. They t...

GANAPATI BAPPA - GSB GANAPATI Vijaya and I reached Mumbai on 16th Sep for a fortnight's stay here. We (it was Ashok-Neeraja to be precise) chose this time because it coincides with the festivities in Maharashtra particularly and the entire India in general - Ganeshotsav Festival. Even though I have lived in Maharashtra during the 60's and early 70's, I have never visited Bombay during Ganeshotsav - this is my first time. The same evening (on 16th) we planned to "see" at least one Ganapati Seva Mandal. Vijaya's elder brother said there are tw o most important Mandals to choose from and he himself chose the GSB. This Seva Mandal organised by Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community has been functioning for the past 50 plus years. This community is originally from South Kanara, Karnataka, but are now spread all over India, particularly in Mumbai. The Ganesh idol they install is 17 feet tall. It is at the Kings Circle (Wadala, Matunga). This is supposed ...

THE FLIGHT 16 Sep 2007 Sunday. Vijaya and I woke up by 5AM, took bath, were ready by 6-45. Arvind took us to the Meenambakkam airport in his car. We were quite thrilled and I was a bit tense also. This was our first flight, you know. Checked in, got the Security formality completed, sat in the lounge. Many flights were being announced continuosly. To think that barely a decade ago, there was just one airliner in India !Our GoIndiGo flight was announced at 0815 - at Gate 1. Gates 1 to 4 are in GF and 5-8 are in FF in Chennai. An AC bus took us to the waiting aircraft. carried our suitcase and bag as Cabin baggage only. We entered the aircraft - a A320 airbus - with a child's eagerness! We took ourseats 7A & 7B and after a few seconds' fighting with it we could fasten our seat belts!! The flight took off at 0850 and it was smooth and noiseless. The last time I had travelled in an aircraft was during Sep 1969 (to Rome / Beograd), and I remember all passengers were give...