Twenty- five Seven

Ganpati Bappa Morya -Getting ready for Ganesha

September 18, 2012

English: Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With Purshottam’s month finally over, the entire city is getting ready to celebrate the festival of Ganesha. With the rains miraculously gone, the past week has seen aT a flurry of activity as makeshift marquees or pandals were being erected in several street corners to welcome the various Darlings or Raja of the locality; Lalbaug cha Raja being the most famous of them all.
Originally held in private homes, the celebrations were made into public, communal celebrations by Lokmanya Tilak, the pioneering freedom fighter who used this opportunity to rouse public sentiment and foster a sense of “Indiannness”. Tilak, the wily Brahmin found this a clever way to overcome the restriction on public gatherings imposed during British Rule. Over the years, the marquees have got bigger as have the idols of clay and the tableaux which have become larger and more varied encompassing themes varying from cultural to political to outright crassness.

This morning I went to the place where it all began 120 years ago:
Keshavji Naik Chawl off NA Deshmukh Road, a gully deep in Khadilkar Lane, in the heart of Girgaon. While there was activity all around this narrow street the Chawl itself wore a look of casual abandonment save for the banner announcing its proud heritage. I went inside hoping to find preparations underway but was disappointed to find it forlorn and empty. A few boys loitering around on the motorbikes parked around assured me that come tomorrow, the entire chawl would become a hive buzzing with life as 150 families got together to welcome Lord Ganesh in their midst. In fact they invited me to join in their celebrations tomorrow and promised me that I wouldn’t be sorry.

I continued with my walk down the neighbourhood, taking photos of all the banners that announced the various Ganeshas. From tomorrow morning this place will become one cacophonous mess with people scurrying around, chants of prayers, sounds of bells and the usual noise of the Mumbai traffic.

Opposite the two pink cows standing guard at Gaiwadi I found a real cow being fed real grass by real people. Many devotees like to feed the cow so this is a common sight outside a city temple.

Fat coconuts

On my way home I bought two fat coconuts which I am going to scrape down and get ready to ask my mother-in-law to make the steamed dumplings that she is most famous for. I also bought some flowers to decorate my little Ganesha who will this time miss the activity associated with his welcome in my home all these years. In fact, I wanted to stop bringing him out but vehement protests by Hubby Dear and Anna Shetty made me change my mind.

Tomorrow morning, before the day begins, I will lay out my decorations and install my Ganesha for the Pooja which Anna Shetty has promised to attend.

The Brahman Sabha pandal
which organises cooking and
craft contests

And as we say our prayers we shall remember all those away and eat an extra modak doused in hot molten toop especially for them.

The pandal at Girgaon Cross Road

Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Real cow opposite fake cows at Gaiwadi
The Krishna Key – Uncovering Ancient secrets in Modern Times

September 18, 2012

Gods and Godesses of Indian mythology have always held deep
fascination for the historian and scientist alike. For centuries people have
tried to find the truth behind the story: did the Ramayana actually happen? Was
the Mahabharata a historical fact or a
mere myth perpetuated and embellished over the ages? Did Krishna really exist? And was he
a God or cowherd? Ravi Mohan Saini, historian of repute in Delhi’s St. Stephen’s
college is intensely interested in establishing the truth or “historicity”
of the legend of Krishna. With several other characters in the book sharing
this passion, the familiar story of Krishna
and the Mahabharat , form the
back drop of this fascinating thriller.
Criss- crossing centuries and cultures and cross referencing science, history, mathematics
and mythology, “The Krishna Key” is a page turner from page one. At the start of the book, the author warns you
not to flip through the pages for fear of ruining the story. You would do well
to heed this advice as you begin with “The Krishna Key.”

A seemingly inconsequential murder of an archeologist in
faraway Rajasthan who happens to be Saini’s friend Saini and the last person to
have seen him alive, has Saini under the
purview of the law. With the circumstances stacked heavily against him he is
unwittingly pulled out of the reassuring calm of academia and pushed onto a
roller coaster ride of intrigue. In what is undoubtedly the ride of a lifetime,
Ravi Mohan traverses the sands of Rajasthan, visits the Coast of Gujerat and
even finds himself helplessly trapped in a deep, cavernous recess of Mount Kailash. Racing against time, he finds
himself pitted against an unknown foe that always seems a step ahead of him. In
a series of events that have a dramatic and unexpected twist, the tale moves
forward as Saini and his doctoral student Priya track down the trail of the
Krishna Key. In this riveting story, they meet Taraak Vakil the merciless cold
blooded killer and his spiritual guru and manipulator, the wily Mataji in their quest to discover the secret of the
Krishna legacy.

What is Taraak Vakil
is after? How is this connected to the story of Krishna? And why are so many
people interested in uncovering the secrets of Krishna’s legacy? Are our so
called modern scientific discoveries truly contemporary or did they exist in
Vedic India?

Find out the answers to these questions and more which will
undoubtedly pop into your mind after reading this enthralling tale. Starting
out with the ancient story of Krishna, told in simple straightforward language,
Ashwin Sanghi weaves a parallel
narrative set in modern post Independence India. Well researched , with an
attention to detail and with plausible arguments, Sanghi actually has you start
wondering when fact ends and fiction begins. The two tales are unfolded with
deceptive simplicity, a tightly knit plot at a pace that will keep you on the
edge of your seat. “The Krishna Key” a
masterpiece of a novel and as Ashwin Sanghi’s third work, proves beyond doubt that
Sanghi is an accomplished and sophisticated raconteur who is here to stay. A
must read for every lover of contemporary fiction, historians and scientists.

The Krishna Key – by Ashwin Sanghi , published by Westland
Ltd.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com.
Facing Reality

September 17, 2012

The Hand Above

He guides us
And pushes things along the way
Long forgotten tasks are brought to mind each day
He gently shows us how to go
About the task on hand

And even if we don’t know it
Shows us the way each day.

We may not think about Him
or remember him at all

dose globules de 1 gramme (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But He is there behind it
Standing firm and tall
Looking down His universe

Moving things in ways He knows
Will help us to face things every day.

He is there behind me
Supporting me and guiding me
To help face the reality
Staring me every day.

Today I went to my tailor who hadn’t kept my shirt ready. So I walked down the road. I came upon a Homeopathic pharmacy and walked in. I hope the new therapy works because I am changing into a monster I don’t want to be. I have tried medication, counselling, prayer, yoga, long walks, sleeping pills but nothing seems to work. I have visited astrologers and charlatans visited temples and laid bare my soul to strangers. I have tried it all but nothing fills the deep void in my heart. Nothing helps the pain which comes again and again.

My family thinks I’m being self indulgent – and perhaps they are right. I have everything one can ask for in generous measure too. I even have the luxury of hours of contemplation. So why am I so sad? When will my sorrow heal? When will my anger go? When will my life become my own again?

I do not want to be the person I am becoming – a self indulgent monster, a creature wallowing in self pity.

I should not forget my life is not my own to do as I please. I am not living in a bubble an isolated island where all that matters is ME and ME and ME and ME.