Navratri 2023

 GOLU AS I SEE IT !

"WOW ! Not bad at all,you are making good progress" I mumbled to myself. The pre Navrathri work was taking up most of my time.

"Please the mother Goddess for nine days.Sing hymns in her praise and chant her divine name a thousand times," my mother says till today. When I was young, I would listen to her, in rapt attention as she rendered lovely musical compositions all in praise of the Divine Mother.

"Shall we play a game of pallankuzhi ?" Durga whispered sweetly into my ears. Swiftly, I turned around and finding no one, I went about my evening chores with her in my mind. With golu to commence from the next day, I was busy with pre golu arrangements.

Only earlier in the day I had brought down the pallanguzhi from the loft above. "She must have seen me doing that and now she wants me to play with her, " thinking aloud, I started to write.

 "She has come. It's her. I know too well. She is here.Ya Devi ! What will I do ? I am not ready as yet ", jumping with enthusiasm, in recognising her presence, I lit the oil lamp at the altar, prayed fervently, made a glass of fresh lime juice for myself and called Gurumoorthy the potti kadai owner.

Amma...the voice from the other end sounded very clear.

" Sundal kadalai vagaigal thaane...Naalaikku ellaam ara ara kilo anuppidaren, " saying he disconnected abruptly. Nevertheless, my purpose achieved, I heaved a sigh of relief. Gurumoorthy is known to keep his word....

When I recall my childhood days, Navrathri Golu was celebrated with much fan fare. Resources were limited but the house I grew up in boasted of an abundance of an array of mud dolls. We lived in a joint family and the love for art was infused in me from the day, I started observing and learning.

Today when I start planning for the golu, I am reminded of how an agile grandmother and a creative mother went about arranging and decorating the golu steps.

The carpenter was called in and the wooden kitchen planks got a transformation. My mother made alternative arrangements in the kitchen and the big pooja room wore a festive look. The kitchen planks must have been eight to ten feet wide. The five steps were covered with a soft white cloth which was reused every year. I think of it now and I am really amused. Over the years the colour of the cloth changed from white to cream with fine dotted prints of turmeric and kumkum gradually spreading all over. The cover however remained the same.

I use a new covering sheet every year. From plain coloured cloth sheets to printed sheets and gift colour paper, I have used them all. This year as I will celebrate yet again I realise that, the triumph of good over evil has to do more with introspection and cleansing one's own inner self.

While talking about festivals, the first festival that always comes to my mind by default is the Navrathri Golu. As we all know, the Navratri Golu is a nine day festival that begins on Mahalaya Amavasya day and ends on Vijaya Dashami day. 

Legend has it that Goddess Durga was entrusted with the task of slaying Mahisasura and restoring peace to the universe. By praying to Durga lakshmi and saraswathi, the festival glorifies Mahashakti. Mahisasura is symbolic of the evil in the self. Durga represents the good in us. Essentially the festival helps us to introspect within ourselves. It is an opportunity to cleanse the mind and fill it with good thoughts. It is an opportunity to learn the essence of calm that comes naturally when one is engrossed in prayers, chanting of the Lakshmi sahasranamam, good conversation and exchange of the thamboolam.

I always go with the festive flow. The flow is crazy, getting crazier and more creative with every passing year and friends are way too enterprising. No externally imposed rules to do this or do that, helps me to space out my priorities during this time of the year. However, It is a self imposed regulation to prepare a Maha neivedyam and as I perform the aarathi every day, I truly feel good. The atmosphere is charged with positive vibes and post Navratri the aura remains till the next Navratri. 

How is that possible ? You may ask. Well ! the lofts being full I am now compelled to keep a part of my golu collection on display throughout the year. 

Healthy competition at this time of the year in the form of rangolis and decorations, helps fostering mutual inspiration, builds camaraderie and hence we should all go for it. That is what my mother says and she still stresses upon this most important aspect. 

Festivals are not just about blindly following rituals. If our ancestors have set down certain rules, we should abide by them, not because the Gods will be displeased if we fail to follow them but because the Gods will be pleased if we are able to awaken the divine consciousness within ourselves. The awakening is not possible without taking a new step towards a spiritual advancement, without trying something new, without the will to create and work so that it makes a good difference to the individual, the society at large. That is how I celebrate festivals happily. God is in Good.

Golu means an opportunity to compete with ourselves, to do something extra and welcome Mother Goddess when she starts her journey towards the victory of good over evil. For a fortnight, she changes the atmosphere in every home. The Golu room gets a makeover. The goodness all pervading with her presence all around the year, Golu is only an annual excuse to meet friends and share the happiness. From mud dolls to papiermache and home made origami, golu is also a showcase of one's own skills

A simple fact that comes into my mind immediately, is that the whole idea of trying to think out of the box can happen only when one is forced to do something out of routine. That is how the humble golu park was born. That is how friends and loved ones started meeting one another and so started the exchange of thamboolams. That was when the need to be hospitable arose. That is how tradition, customs and good manners were taught. That was when women and girls got an opportunity to showcase their skills in and outside the kitchen....

Can you hear the clanks of the weapons and the growl of thunder or is it me only ?...Come Navrathri and my ears start ringing with the sound of the drums and the clash of the dandiya. I hear the sound of anger, the rumble in the clouds and the final beat of the drums that will mark the celebration of the vanquish of evil.

The skies are clear in the day and overcast in the evenings. The sun is playing hide and seek. I looked out of the window...Signs, indicating that MA was indeed behind the clouds, well on her mission. The story teller in me had awakened albeit temporarily.

Elsewhere from different parts of the state to which I owe my upbringing, artisans were giving the final touches. Starting Amavasya day the long festival begins with the rendition of the Mahalaya Chandi Path. Friends invite one another for manjal kumkumam . It is an opportunity to dress up in shimmering silks and beautiful jewellery. It is that time of the year to go traditional and keep our culture alive. Guests are welcomed with Jasmine flowers and a fruit drink. Nowadays it is  common to treat guests to a mixed platter of sundal, a special sweet and a tasty snack such as sevai bonda and vadai.

It is also that time of the year when the artisans are out to earn their livelihood. We have a responsibility to support their livelihood. I have to necessarily step out and go inside the bazaar, into the mada streets in Mylapore.

We are duty bound to support the artisans. We do that in our own interest and in order to further their interests, we have to compulsively shop till we drop. That is how my golu has evolved over the years.

 This is when I spend without thinking twice, because I know that this exercise can never be futile. It will certainly entail a few visits to fill my cart, an addition to the wardrobe and the overhead lofts but any accumulation that satisfies the inner self, satisfaction stemming from the fact that acts of purchasing are acts of kindness and reasons for smiles, is a sure sign of spiritual advancement.

Expenditure classified as justified, therefore, raises the happiness quotient to a level from where more than being satisfied with one’s own way of working, acknowledging and encouraging talent becomes the prime objective of the exercise with selfies taking a back seat, in favour of pictures of handlooms, handicrafts and artisans. Golu raises the happiness quotient. Golu brings people across all walk of life togetrher. Golu fosters good will and sisterhood. 

When Shakti, all pervading, in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is set to arrive, bringing festive cheer to homes across the world, isn't it our foremost duty to welcome her with tasty sundal, colourful lights, festoons and golu bommais ?

"Learn a lesson from the clay ," my mother says."Life is not a bed of roses but you have the power and the strength to mould it as you wish. Lead a pious life and be flexible.Try to be as eco friendly as possible. Our Earth is rich in resources. Use the resources carefully. The Earth is sacred ,and worship Bhoomi Ma." she would go on....

She would repeatedly say...

"So ! Give the Golu an eco touch.

Decorate the steps with mud dolls and wooden dolls.Remember to connect with the earth .We rise from dust to go back to dust. " her words were ringing in my ears.

Thank Goddess, but for her where would we be ? But for her strong presence in each one of us as an inner voice, where would we be ? "

The steps assembled, neatly covered  and dolls set in their rightful positions Golu begins.

Her words are ringing in my ears.

 "Place the kalash first on Amavasya and the mara pachi dolls to rest first on Vijaya Dashami before bringing down all the dolls on Ekadasi," saying Mother Goddess placed her arms around me and held me tight.

"I am waging a war ," she says today. "Righteousness will triumph. The guilty will be punished," she added...

Woah ! The timing couldn't have been more perfect ! I thought....

At a time, when the spiritual mood is euphoric, as the verses from Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam echo in my ears, my unflinching faith in the power of the divine Mahisasuramardini gets firmly reinforced yet again........

A Call to Spy...A Review

"A Call to Spy" now streaming on Amazon Prime is a World War II film based on incredible real life stories. Directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher and starring Sarah Megan Thomas, Radhika Apte, Stana Katic, Linus Roache, Rossif Sutherland in the main roles, the heroine centric film is about the dangerous but courageous lives of spies who helped resistance efforts in Hitler occupied France in the early and mid 1940s. Set in Hitler's Nazi reign, the true life stories come starkingly real on the screen . 

Noor Inayat Khan, played by Indian actress Radhika Apte has portrayed her character remarkably well. Noor, born to an India-born Sufi mystic and a British mother. Is selected for her wireless skills and is posted in one of the toughest jobs during the war.

Thomas, who wrote the film and produced it  stars brilliantly as the limping Virginia Hall secretly overseeing the recruitment of spies whilst changing her appearance often even as her "wanted " pics are splashed on walls and distributed publicly in Nazi dominated France. 

A freak accident having left her with a leg amputated below the knee, Hall makes her way into the F Section of the British Special Operations and operates out of 13, Baker Street, before heading to France. She silently nurses the ambition to be a US diplomat one day but her disability means America won’t let her become one.

The spy women exude calm and dignified courage, especially required of women who must mollify male egos while making their way through dangerous territory. In their challenging roles they quietly earn the trust and friendship needed to build a network right under the noses of a ruthless Gestapo army. However, it is one such trusted associate acting as a double agent who betrays Virginia's team, leading to compromising Noor's codes and the capture and killing of many agents. 

Notwithstanding her disability, braving all odds and inclement weather, Virginia however manages to escape from France and resumes her mission after getting trained in the wireless.

Katic plays Vera Atkins, a Romanian Jew spearheading the British Special Operations. A brilliant actor, Katic’s Atkins is a character, constantly battling her own fears, of being Jewish born, of not being accepted and trusted by some of her associates.

Pilcher does well to bring out the emotions, frustrations and fear in the minds of the French citizens who are a silenced lot, suffering under the strict Nazi regime. A doctor who is Virginia’s initial contact is  one fearless agent who keeps the resistance burning until his end.

Backed by spectacular performances, strong writing, the film’s narrative comes alive describing the tone and tenor of the 1940s France and the UK. There is attention to detail in every frame. The conversation between characters is non-dramatic but powerful.

" A Call to Spy " heartwarmingly acknowledges the heroic efforts of the agents, and there is a note about each at the end of the movie. The heroes including Noor were later decorated by the French and British governments and today this movie deserves a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

The Crown as I see it !

I am binge watching, The Crown, now streaming on Netflix. A friend suggested and I started with the first of the drama series and now I am into the fourth . 

At the end of it, I would be aware, much about the personal lives of some of the royals. This is not what I would I have ideally liked to know. But when one watches "The Crown " one should have expected that. I did and though I enjoyed the screenplay, the Queen's language, palaces and their significance, knowing about the events from history,  listening to the political dialogues with much interest, learning about the rigid protocols and the strange courtesys, I must admit that the personal struggles of the members of the royal family and the scandals put me off completely. 

I wonder how the royal family is reacting to this series especially on the divulging of information which though perhaps known to the world may now cause to open up old wounds, the royals would rather prefer to forget. 

It is highly unlikely that the personal stories are going to stay in my mind, long after I am done watching, because I choose to remember tales in movies or theatre where whatever is portrayed is not anything close to being so stark real as in The Crown. 

However, the beautiful locales, the picturesque countrysides, the majestic horses are fascinating to view and to be able to take a peek into the grand palaces is the icing on the cake. Hidden beneath the fairytale lifestyles, gorgeous gowns and kingly robes are ordinary men and women who long for love, recognition and appreciation from their own family members. 

Beneath the facade of luxury and the pride in their ancestry, stories of valour, accession, ego, pomp, abdications, betrayals, wealth and power, lies the desperateness, the anxieties, the pressures of royal commitments, which seldom dissapear to bring about a sense of real calm and unbridled joy, so easily attainable to commoners like you and me.

But then, this is the life of a royale for you. Choose it or leave it. The royal life can be all flattering outwardly with chaos within. Not being able to  grant approval or show great happiness in acts or achievements involving family members, while bound by rules, requires a great amount of energy which can be draining, both mentally and physically and yet a royal is supposed to be just that and show up as if all is well. Is the trend changing ? I think so and I really hope it does. 

The most expensive jewels and flattering dresses can never heal the broken royal hearts that beat unseen. The struggles are real. The voices are lost in the palatial mansions where even the sound of a bell can get drowned in the noise of the vaccuum cleaner, leaving a member alone, depressed and vulnerable.

Here we know about Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Duchess who lead a public life true to their titles, make front page news, are a symbol of respect and act in accordance with the laws in order to bring glory to their lineage and to their country . The life of a royal is not easy at all and that of the reigning monarch is the most difficult of them all. 

Many a time the Queen would wish to express but cannot. The daughterly, sisterly, wifely and maternal instincts are suppressed under the weight of what is expected of the Queen. Yes ! The queen smiles with the head held high, the face upright, never puckered and hardly ever laughs heartily. How difficult must that be ?  

Royal rules are exceedingly demanding and require the royales to be able to adhere to the discipline at all times. Being able to present themselves at their best at all times, while following strict rules in their daily activities is something a commoner like me would perhaps say in a rather relieved manner...." Oh ! My ! Am I not glad that I am a commoner who can live a life on my own terms ? "

When a virus went viral......

WHO alerted the world and declared COVID as Pandemic
and people worldwide are in a state of panic.
In a bid to get back home, the traveller cut short his stay.
As governments issued restrictions, the family man is worried about his pay.
The questions are many and the concerns are real.
Coz routines are disrupted and offices are sealed.
How long will it be for normalcy restoration ?
Can working from home for a driver ever be a solution ?
When was it last that borders closed almost simultaneously ?
When was it last that religious places closed down indefinitely ?
When was it last that people world wide practiced social distancing ?
When was it last that people came out on balconies and started singing ?
When was it last that governments ordered a complete lock down ?
All this and more are troubling the worried common man.
Who knows what Mother Nature has in plan ?
The COVID 19 has sparked fears world wide
as reports keep coming in about people who have died
are mostly the elderly and those with their health compromised.
The COVID 19 has been declared as a pandemic
So stay alert, prepare but never ever panic.
Corona viruses have been around for decades.
If you catch a cold or a cough please don't get afraid .
A common cold will subside on its own.
Remember the advice..." With or without medicine, in a week, the cold is gone. "
The threat is real but staying calm is important.
In the absence of hygeine, any disease is imminent.
The difference between COVID 19 and the previous viruses
is that the world wide web is adding to the anxiety issues.
Stay informed and forward the positive news.
Be responsible, avoid gatherings and the long queues.
Boost up your immunity, stay hydrated, pop in the fruits, veggies and avoid the handshakes.
Eat healthy, sleep well and don't stock up on daily necessities.
Wear the mask only if you are ill or a caregiver
and most importantly keep the selfless doctor army in your daily prayer.

Man forgets. She warns......

The water level was rising inside the commode and that is when I began to panic. Till then I was very calm. It was the first of December 2015 and I was really scared. Fear mongering had begun a few weeks ahead and Chennaites were fearing the worst. The common thought that plagued everyone was that if the waters from Chembarambakkam were to be released, entire city of Chennai would submerge.

Inspite of the whatsapp forwards, the rumours  and the fake news, I kept my cool  humming a favourite song .....Que sera sera whatever will be......thinking aloud that there was no point in worrying and I went about my daily routine normally. That is the trick in keeping cool. Stay active and do what you love so that you forget to worry. As simple as that.

The water started entering the apartment complex. I was prepared though. I was ready to shift to my parents house in the event of water entering the house. Keeping important documents and certificates, cheque books and cash, I was wondering whether I should wait or vacate the home immediately. We live in the ground floor and luckily the water stopped rising when it nearly reached the doorstep. We were quarantined for a week after which the water started receding.

The deluge happened on 1st Dec 2015 and brought mayhem to the entire city leaving people stranded in their homes. That was the first time that Chennaites went into a forced quarantine. The first drill happened in 2015 much long before people worldwide started talking of self isolation for containing a virus. The entire city went on a lock down. All shops including medicine stores were forced to shut down.

Infact the second half of 2015 was a terribly wet year in Tamilnadu and Chennai in particular. We experienced storm bursts and continuous showers from September onwards which finally culminated in the great deluge. The deluge was primarily due to opening up of the reservoirs that were filled to capacity. As the Chembarambakkam reservoir was opened and the government swiftly swung into action and inspite of issuing timely advisory, the first question on everyone's mind was....

" Why the delay in releasing the water ? Why couldn't the government anticipate the rising levels in the storage and start releasing in phases from November itself ? "

As I look back, as a citizen, I now realise that there must have been effective preparedness on the part of the government from September. For the citizens, the seriousness of the situation struck only at the time of the massive disaster which luckily was anticipated and the government was taking periodical stock of the situation from a few months ahead itself. I take immense pride in the state government headed by Amma which handled the deluge situation extremely well and four years later Chennai, my home, inspite of it's water woes and mosquito menace is doing well.

The annual rainfall in chennai is very errartic, unpredictable and we depend on the north east monsoon for the city's supply of water. A deluge, this huge was unimaginable in the drought city even in the wildest of dreams. Citizens didn't expect it and were unprepared. The government however was not and we citizens are grateful for that. This should serve as a lesson for us in these trying times today. Stay prepared, take necessary precautions but never panic. Thanks to the actions being taken by our governments, this crisis too shall pass.

The unprecedented rains of 2015 turned out to be a once in a 100 year catastrophe. Here we are looking at once in a 100 year pandemic. Looking back at 2015, I see visuals of people being rescued in helicopters from roof tops and in boats from low lying areas. The army was called in and the civilian army was wading in hip and shoulder deep waters helping to rescue people and also distributing aid. As always the healthcare warriors were at the forefront displaying amazing courage in setting up camps in the most affected areas. As a mother of doctors, today in 2020, as I see and read about the selfless thousands of warrior healers attending to their patients worldwide, forgetting home and sleep, my heart swells in pride. May their tribe increase and may they be blessed with a long and healthy life.

I was marooned in an island, the apartment complex surrounded by water on all sides. We had no power for a week. Some areas had power outage for 10 to 15 days and some ever more than a month. There was no internet. The only source of communication was the landline and friends and well wishers called to update us about the situation around us. The weeks of darkness that engulfed the entire city of Chennai claimed lives but overall the government did exceptionally well in their rescue work of saving many lives.

When the sun finally started coming out from behind the dark clouds and the waters started receding, the streets lay strewn with expensive household items. The fury of Mother Nature was clearly visible and man was rendered powerless. Time and again, she warns but we do not heed to her warnings thereby bringing upon misery upon ourselves. The situation was extremely terrifying and as we worried about an imminent epidemic, the government swung into swift action yet again and ensured that there was no outbreak of any disease in Chennai or any part of Tamilnadu. For those who complain of the lack of cleanliness, let me tell you one thing. We appreciate the neighbour for their efficient efforts but fail to see our own government's enterprise and endeavours, considering the fact that we are a country where religious congregation be it in temples, churches, mosques or festivals is  normal and part of our year long public activities.

The work of garbage disposal was undertaken on a war footing and cleared in record time. For those who remember, water had reached the second and third storeys in many areas. Adayar river overflowed the banks and encroachments and huts were washed ashore. There was widespread destruction. There were losses to property and nature proved to be the leveller. The poor and the homeless who survived had nothing to lose. Many of the rich and wealthy had to repair or rebuild their homes.

Facing a crisis again today, I think about the widespread fear created by an invisible virus and Mother Nature comes to my mind. Global culture, customs and traditions highlight the importance of nature and her resources. Irrespective of religion, people worship nature and yet also defy her. Why ?

There must be a dictum which we as humans fail to see and hence we keep offending her. It's not only about being in sync with nature, conserving and protecting her but something more that we seem to be missing. As I was pondering on a grave mistake that we could be doing repeatedly, I came across a post about the wet markets in Wuhan where there is big business in wild animals which are sold for human consumption.

As I read it out to my mother, seated next to me, I nearly threw up and she remarked casually. Do you know why it's named as the Corona Virus ? I stared at her face, with a  blank look when she quipped rather confidently.....

It's named as the Corona Virus because Man has become Carnivorous......

&

I was like 😱🤐

A devotee's prayer !

Is it the fault of the multitudes who crowd ? Is it only the fault of the administration which is unable to manage the crowds at Kanchipuram ? As per reports, the administration did not expect lakhs to enter and hence were clearly unprepared.

I think it's the media to blame.  It's the hype created around the Lord, so much that people are just curious. How many are true and ardent devotees ? And where is the divine ambience in the midst of pelmel, chaos, helplessness and giddiness...I wonder....

Well ! The temple town is small and it's but obvious that even a few thousands of vehicles can choke the tiny lanes leading to the temple. Forget how people manage to get into the queues in the first place. God save them. I just can't even imagine how they manage to get past the highway and the lanes to reach the temple. The sheer number of vehicles on Kanchipuram highway is staggering....Just unimaginable....

As per news reports vehicles could not enter the temple town on the 18th day and the 28th day. Those that entered could not make their out of Kanchipuram easily. Imagine the chaos and the helplessness of the people who panicked, gasped for air but also waited for hours to  get a glimpse of the Lord who as per practice, rises only once in 40 years.

As an ignorant woman, who knows nothing about the puranas but can't bear to hear and read stories of people suffering,  who knows that God is omnipresent and yet as an ordinary mortal, as a believer in the Almighty, my only question is......

"Why should Sri Athi Varadhar go back under water after 48 days ? What can't the idol be installed permanently on land, so that the devotees can have a hasslefree and a peaceful darshan, whenever they want to. What is the point of standing long hours in queues, under the sun, dehydrated, exhausted but feeling great after having a glimpse of the Lord....

Is it only to announce to the world ?.....Hey....I got a darshan of the special Lord. As for those who returned without even standing in the queue, they can only thank their stars that better sense prevailed atleast then and they decided to come back without the darshan.

&

As I hear sad stories, bad experiences, many of those, including myself, who returned without darshan had Special VIP Passes. Just saying because duplicating passes, I realised yesterday, got easier with technology. As people waved the passes in desperation, the cops blocked the VIP entry, and a long serpentine queue in loops formed outside the temple....

Times change and even the Gods do adapt. Aren't we already experiencing this via social media ?

As per tradition a deity should be worshipped daily. As per belief an idol is not just stone or wood. When we worship an idol, we worship the almighty who is omnipresent.

If Athi Varadhar has risen for the good of mankind and welfare of the universe, isn't it our duty, as ordinary mortals to give him a sacred abode on land from where he can give darshan and his devotees also feel safe ?

Why should devotees get a chance to meet their idol only once in 40 years ? I don't understand.

It's the 21st century and his pictures have gone viral. Sri Athi Varadhar is famous and immensely happy about it. Go, check the smile in the pics and you will be surprised. The smile keeps changing. The attention seeking God is none other than the Srinivasa Perumal himself. Now why would anyone want a happy Perumal to go back under water ? I am sure he doesn't want to go.

Deep under water, he sleeps for 40 years...So they say. Who are they ? Why do they say ? I don't know. Pardon my ignorance..

My relationship with Srinivasa dates to the day I was born and I know he loves sakkarai pongal, vadai and ladoos...Can you imagine, how sad he must be under water for 40 years ?

I say....Our Lord Sriman Narayana  is deprived of food and daily worship for 40 years. This amounts to gross injustice and negligence.

Can't there be two Varadaraja perumal temples in the same place ?

Forty years ago, there was no media, no frenzy, no hype and Sri Athi Varadhar had very few devotees. So probably, he decided to stay on land for 48 days, got bored of being ignored and then went back under water.

Today in 2019, Sri AthiVaradhar has a large fan following and can't even think of going back. So, necessarily, in the interest  of devotees, taking into account several factors including daily worship, offering of neivedhyam and safety of devotees, Sri AthiVaradhar will have to stay back on land in order to answer the prayers and fulfil the wish of granting "pass and queue free," free darshan whenever they want to....

#sriathivaradhar
#dontgoback

Such a wateraholic !

How do you experience joy ? Don't you find happiness in small things. While I write, I will tell you what makes her happy and joyful .

 Variluxed for good reason, she takes joys in simple things. The daily newspaper is a joy to read, when the vision is clear and when the spectacles are brand new, neatly arranged newspapers, preserved with a reason are a joy to behold.

Well ! The scarcity of water gives her ideas and newspapers come in very handy......You know....To sponge in the water or even to wipe. Very often she throws in the sheet of newspaper on the spills. She has finally mastered the act of total surrender. An act, she now owes to the  papyrus......The total surrender to the efficacies of the newsprint and the paper lead to new revelations such as.....

So long as water continues to be scarce, there will be hard copies in the digital world. A hard fact to swallow in soft times.....

She is a tidy freak. An obsessed one...Sometimes or rather mostly. Simple things or sights give her great happiness. Sights of droplets of water on the leaves. That is enough as a motivating trigger...A morale boost which takes her to the uppermost level of satisfaction." H20," As she says often is magic..

Water is scarce, she says. Drops of water that trickle scare but raindrops give her immense joy. A fully filled bucket of water makes her sing with ecstasy. Sparkling clean stainless steel vessels make her so light hearted that she simply feels elated for hours for no reason. The rapture lingers on until the taps run dry and hurriedly she switches on the motor. Thanks to the rain water harvesting systems, the ground still has water and her mood is soon upbeat...

She trades her happiness for bigger joys as well, coz there is a need to celebrate when thoughts of simple joys seem overwhelming. Her joys are too simple, too many and water oriented.  If a bucket of water is a simple joy, a bigger joy is a long drive along the coast, where she can see the large expanse of water. Nothing else gives her much thrill as much as she derives from seeing and feeling the miracle that is water. 

Another bigger joy is simply sitting on the beach mesmerised by the waves that remind her of the pile of laundry. The big ocean that seems to toss and turn at the waves comes to her mind as she puts the clothes into the washing machine. She is delighted when there is running water and prays for more water and more rain. The clothes get a dettol toss and a spin dry.  Life is meaningful and she is an enlightened being much like Sri Ramakrishna or Sri Chaitanya.

The joy flows in her nerves and in her arteries. She prays to nature that transpires to bring her closer to water whenever she think of it and she feels blessed. As she experiences a surge in good energy and when the sky is overcast, the sun hides under the clouds she checks the TN weatherman's page and all is well...Is she assured ? Not as yet...You bet..

A spotless kitchen is her ultimate idea of emancipation. Her spirits soar on filling the glass bottles with pure RO water and drops down low on seeing the wastage from the outlet of the water filter.

In the event of mess or spills which is rather common in homes where too many cooks lend their hands to enhance the flavour of the favourite foods, she stays composed because she knows that where there is water there is a way...

" Where's the water ? " she shrieks in despair as she pull out the disposable kitchen wipes. Water doesn't solve all problems, she realises..It's good to practice alternative methods and dry cleaning also....Aah...The thoughts that can conjure up in the mind of a water obsessed woman... You never know...

Nevertheless...She moves on. Too many cooks but a lone sole cleaner...She cribs to no avail..

"There is an alternative to everything," advices an inner voice, as if to reassure her and quickly she gathers her sanity. Staying calm and cheerful is the key, she realises as she looks at the 90 year old father in law who oblivious of all that is happening around remains in a state of meditation until it's meal or sleep time.

Ah ! This is bliss...Indeed ! Wait till I get to get to that stage.....She mumbles and with thoughts racing, she starts dreaming of  the grand Sri Athivaradar inside a temple.

The year 2059 and a temple is built for the Lord. The rivers, lakes and ponds are brimming with water and Bharatavarsha is prosperous. Immersed in thoughts of the divine, drenched in euphorivc emotions, she fills the flask with hot water.

"Give me water Ma" pleaded the thirsty daughter, who was just back home after a long day at work. The daydream interrupted, she handed over the water bottle to her daughter....

" Till 2059, when I will be 90 years young, I will search for solace in some organised chaos " murmuring, in a bid to recover bits and pieces of herself she tends to leave, wherever she sees a spill, a drop, dust or mess, she jumps in joy because she knows  that a dreary routine is a blessing, to wipe and mop meant staying physically fit and more importantly there is rain and there will be water....

She is contented and at peace....