Zaynah: Ganesha ate all my laddoos!!

A  mini epic written in Mahabharata style !
with a few exceptions ...

The great sage Veda Vyasa is replaced by a tiny Princess from Palladian
And lord Ganesha who wrote with his broken tusk is replaced by
A top exec in Goldman Sachs, writing on a premium HP inkjet paper with his Mont Blanc Pen !!

Golu is the festive display of dolls and figurines in South India during the autumn festive season, particularly around the multiday Navaratri (Dussehra, Dasara) festival of Hinduism. – Wikipedia.

Also called Bombe Hubba.

This year Golu started on 10^th Oct, the start of Navaratri (9 day festival)  and will extend until Thursday 18 Oct, on Saraswati Puja Day.

The Golu bommais (dolls) come out of hibernation – from the deep dark corners of showcases, from carboard cartons stacked in lofts, from the rugged (green or black) steel trunks and from that special wooden potti (box) that has been handed down thru generations.

This box is a large, rich brown teak wooden chest reinforced with shiny brass strips and decorated with silver lotus flowers and studs. It has an ornate handle on both the sides and a huge latch in front secured by a Godrej Navtal!

The steel (green or black) trunk probably came along with the other dowry items during great grandmom’s wedding.

It was also a standard luggage for travel in the 1960s/70s.

To give you folks a good perspective – today when our teenagers go out to college for higher studies they are allowed 2 check-in luggage, one cabin hand baggage and an optional laptop bag.

When at 16, I went out to college, I went by train, and I had one black steel trunk and one holdall, and one basket filled with food! The trunk had my name stenciled along with my roll number and my college name!

And that also reminds me – in the north a huge steel (now replaced with shining Aluminum) trunk is given as a parting gift to the newly wed couple. It contains a pair of rajais (quilt) and pillows. Many times, this is accompanied by a Godrej bureau, a Singer silai machine and an Atlas cycle!

Things have changed a lot since then.

Nowadays the newlywed couple prefer to get just 2 sets of keys from their parents. And nothing more!

One key set to a fully furnished flat in Sobha Palladian and the second set of keys for an Audi Q7 SUV.   

 What else do you need to start a simple and modest journey of life together??

Back to Golu, our main theme.

Dolls in Golu:  Most of the figures showcased on the golu steps have a family history, age old tradition, historic and religious relevance. Some date back to 50 and 75 years and more. And they are repaired and repainted many times. The authentic golu bommais (dolls) are made of mud/clay and brightly painted.  Paper mache is fast replacing them now. Some beautiful and exotic China and Jade figures have also found their ways on modern golu  steps. Thankfully plastics have not yet invaded traditional golus yet.

Most golus will have the foll.

A Marapachhi Set :  A set consisting of Husband, Wife, Son and Daughter. The figures are carved out of raw wood - pretty rough work by local craftsmen and with no great finish or polish. However, with age and frequent handling they become smooth and shiny.  This set is the first one to go up on stage.

And the wife generally will have a small piece of cloth wrapped around her waist! In some cases, the husband will sport a bright satin turban too.

Static standalone figures: These are the Big and medium sized figures of Gods & Goddess. So we have Vishnu, Shiva, Bramha( sometimes),  Lakshmi (mandatory ),  Saraswati, Krisha, Ganesha gracing every Golu display.  
In my younger days our golu also had a beautiful porcelain white and orange Shirdi Saibaba, a large sandalwood carved Buddha in meditation pose under a bodh tree and a pure white stone sculpted Christ, the redeemer statue!

Doll Sets: The fat smiling Chettiar with tiny cups of grains and grocery all around him. The inevitable set of Dasavataram and Rama/Lakshman/Sita/Hanuman tableau.

Action Toys!!   You cannot miss Mahishasuramardhini in action, Krishna’s childhood scenes, Veda Vyasa dictating Mahabharata to Ganesha. Modern Golus have wedding barat (Oorgolum), Cricket, farms and dance groups as well.

Dynamic toys: Remember Chennapatna dancing girls??  And rocking horseman??  Nowadays people have battery powered toys and serial lights as well to jazz up their golus.

And the twin 40-inch brass lamps along with smaller silver lamp sets.

And you can see most of these in the two wonderfully decorated and elaborately constructed Golus at KK’s and Venkat’s drawing rooms!

So, I invited myself into their houses and it was a real treat to see their impressive display.

The sweets and sundals were a bonus!

This 7 stepped golu @ Venkat’s is augmented by additional arrangements on both sides.  

Big traditional dolls and classical themes.

At KK’s, it was a very elaborate 9 step Golu. And action all around the steps. 

The traditional dolls are shiny, newly painted and looked as good as new. 

Also, there were lots of creative displays and a cricket match too.

  

The eye-catching Vishnu in reclining posture.

This one is classic! Reminds me of Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum.  Vishnu in Anantha- sayanam posture. 

This depiction is probably of Ranganatha Swamy in Srirangam (Trichy)

Vishnu reclining on Adishesha (Shehanag) with Lakshmi.  

A bright colourful representation in north Indian style.

The imposing array of gods!

A wonderful depiction of Sri Krishna’s childhood:

 Vasudev carrying infant Krishna in a basket across the swelling river Jamuna and Vasuki (the serpent) protecting them from the heavy rain.

Krishna dancing on Kaliya’s head.

And a wonderful depiction of naughty Krishna stealing gopika’s clothes while they were bathing! 

Checkout the gopikas in the jacuzzi!!

Govardhana

Giridhari !

Reminds me so much of Dehra Dun and Delhi in my younger days. 

Janmashtami celebrations were a week-long affair then. 

Every temple is freshly painted, and tableaus were put up everywhere depicting such scenes. The temple also had a well decorated baby cradle with a small Krishna in it. 

While bhajans kept blaring thru the large conical Ahuja loudspeakers, devotees entering the temple will first gently rock the cradle before proceeding for pujas. 

Every mohalla (community) erected  their own tableaus with the figures animated with motors backstage. Small ponds, flowing water and a shower to simulate rains were common. 
And so were scenes of Krishna killing Kamsa, drinking milk from Pootna, stealing maakhan, dragging the heavy griding stone allover and the famous scene where he opens his small mouth and shows the entire world to Yashoda maata!!

Coning back to KK’s..

 

We have the entire Tirupati right here in his drawing room!

And the imposing Jagannath Puri Temple as well.

  

Vishnu’s Avatar Rama with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman -  as expected !

And we need to showcase Shiva’s family too. 

So here we see Parvathi holding Ganesha and Shiva holding young Karthik.

Question: Was Shiva really that affectionate??

The Dashavatharam Set  on both Golus.

A Chettiar and his wife.

Notice that giant-sized jackfruit!!

              A ‘solo’  Ganesh Orchestra.

Garuda Vahana .

Check out the serious game of cricket being played out on a green turf!!

Goddesss Andal (Lord Venkateshwara’s consort)

Saraswati (Brahma’s consort)

Lakshmi (Vishnu’s Consort)

And having seen so many Golus over the last so many years, I still miss some really quaint and very popular figures that were so common in my younger days. Some of you may also remember these.

 

The Air India Maharaja:  

That  iconic brand that once took the prime spot in every Golu and showcases.

The hanging wooden monkey, chain of monkeys

The Jaipur set of 3 camels made of lac (arrakku in tamil) and stuck with diamond cut mirror pieces.

The pure white Meera doll with Tanpura.

The Marble Taj Mahal of course!

The set of 5 long necked geese flying in formation on the wall behind.

The cyclist balancing on a string tied across one golu corner.

The never topple dolls..

And so on…

I guess I am still living in the past!

Krish..

My Morning Walk !!

“Surya Bhagawan, please make this day a wonderful day for all of us @ Palladian”

 Invoking the Lord’s blessings before I start this piece.

I have resumed my early morning walks.  

I start anytime between 6.15AM and 6.35AM depending on who wakes up earlier.

If my wife gets up before me, then I get a head start.

Means she is up before my 5.30AM alarm. Means she is already brewing our tea. Means I can parallelly brush my teeth, wash my face, fluff the pillows and make up the bed, switch on the twin lamps in our Gallery of Gods, mutter a quick shloka, all before the tea gets ready & kept warm in the microwave oven!

Today I got an early start. And I am out of Block 2 with my earphones well positioned and my iPod tuned to playlist #6.

I sometimes wonder what music people hear during their morning walks – Shlokas or holy chants or classical or light music or religious discourses??.  Is there a norm or any best practice that people follow?  - When walking, or jogging, travelling in a car to work and from work, waiting in Qs, waiting for the Volvo, while taking the doggie out, inside ATMs, while browsing in Malls or pub hopping or when they are out just to buy bananas and beans??

I have no such rules.

My Ipod is filled with all types of music. 

From Semmangudi to Shakira and BSJ, I have no great preferences. (BSJ = BhimSen Joshi)

So, there is a medley of Elton John, Talat Mehmood, Suraiyya, Rabbi Shergill, Adnan Sami, Begees, some Arabic, some Cuban and a few Pakistani ghazals. There is also a fair collection of Quavallis, Bhajans, Bombay disco, Punjabi rap, Celion Dion, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel. With age I am leaning towards Classical music, Veena and Hari Prasad Chaurasia to find that inner peace (still groping). Of course, a few Ramakrishna Mission albums, Rabindra Sangeet, Guru Bani and Anup Jalota’s devotional  T Series collection also occupy a couple of  GBs.

 However, I do have a sequence.

Start the playlist with some sober soothing music like Guru Bani, Bansuri / Veena, move to something pleasant – Carpenters & Abba, a few Elton Johns or Anup Jalotas, and quickly build up pace & tempo as I finish my second lap. And then some racy Panduranga  Vithala and Sherawali bhajans before moving to some rap and finally to full throated Punjabi/heavy metal. The signature Punjabi ektara and heavy dhols sets my mood for the last two laps!

By the way I heard and even saw some ladies dancing to Punjabi bhangra beats in our clubhouse hall sometime back!  Is that a new form of Bollywood style Bikram power yoga??

On my first lap I pass by the tennis court. The two early birds have already warmed up and wave a Hi to me. Then the taller one tosses the ball and serves. The ball veers wide and a loud curse follows the ball.

I shake my head – not a great way to start a beautiful morning.

I pass by the swimming pool and the guard comes out of his hideout and mutters a greeting. And then two quick corners later there is a second guard near the gensets. He is more alert, and I can hear him repeat my good morning. 

I notice the genset is silent.

Wow, another day of saving diesel expense. Thank You BESCOM !!

The uncle with thinning hair and long paced fast stride zips past me. Next, I pass the old uncle in monkey cap and a walking stick taking short steps. He has bright eyes and a wonderful smile! Then the young doctor jogs past me waving a Hi!  And later, the Colomel with his golden retriever and the young gent with his Alsatian ( looks more like a small Husky)

A few minutes later the brisk couple appears around the corner near the club house.  

They have already traced several ‘Os’ and ‘’8s’ in perfect unison and are now on their back-stroke walk. With absolute coordination I have seen the two walk, negotiate curves with the precision of a differential gear.

Folks, are there any synchronised walking competition – like synchronised swimming / ice-skating championships?? This pair would win the gold hands down!

I look up and see many bathroom lights switched on.

The kids are up, and the moms are busy in the kitchen, you bet!

What about the dads?? 

Are they are still sleeping?

Today is midweek. – so, no late-night booze party hangover as an excuse

OK.  I know why. There can be 2 reasons.

If Dad is sleeping peacefully with a soft snore, then he has had 2 or 3  late night conceals all back to back. Poor guy – the price you pay for heading global and multicounty responsibilities.

If Dad is breathing hard, mouth open and half dazed eyes then he was preparing for his quarterly review video-call scheduled for today evening. It’s the second week after quarter end - third quarter of calender year and first half of the Indian fiscal year.

Business reviews have started. Dad was struggling with his PPT till early morning to get his ‘Story’ right.

Story? What Story?? 

Last Qtr was sad. Floods washed away the business and consumer sentiments were low. No positives and flat growth. Whichever way you looked at the exel sheet, no luck – you see figures do not lie.

The only way his ppt graph can look good is if he rotated it 180 degrees and repositioned the axis.

Mom quickly diagnoses these quarterly relapses.

High blood pressure, loss of appetite, irritability, and no usual smile & no goodbye kiss when leaving for work over the past few days.

I know it all. I can fully empathise with these gents.

No amount of Yoga and/or AOL breathings  will help him. He needs to go thru a course on CCBS, and the quicker the better. (CCBS= Confidence in Corporate Bull-Shitting).

 30+ years of handling Country and Regional roles and I have been thru it all and seen it all.

I have seen rock solid performances being butchered and mediocre ones lauded enthusiastically.

CCBS teaches you how to make each and every review a sterling performance.  I would also recommend every VP, Country and Global heads living here in SP to watch and learn from our PM’s speeches. You can never get a better idol/mentor than him!

Watch him articulate the bountiful benefits of demonetisation with such practiced aplomb, confidence and style and that too without PPTs or props!

Best you take a crash course at the PMO, I say!!

Its past seven and the school going bustle has started. 

School kids in smart uniforms have started coming out accompanied their moms and dads (only those in the non-IT and non-BFSI sector).

I respond to a bright good morning call from the tall graceful School Vice Principal as she rushes to catch her bus. Today must be a special day at her school I guess, because she is wearing a gorgeous dark tropical green Kancheepuram!

And as I walk around, I cross a bright silver patch of morning sunlight.

Stepping back, I squint up at the shining sun, utter a surya namaskar shloka and pray – Surya Bhagawan, please make this day a wonderful day for all of us at Palladian- and especially for those heavy breathing Dads still snoring in their sleep.

Wish you all a wonderful day !!

Krish..

Thiruchendur

It is one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan.                                       

The other five being  Thiruthani, Swamimalai, Palani, Pazhamudircholai, Thirupparankunram. 

While five of them are on hill tops, 

Thiruchendur is the only one that is located on a sea shore.

It is 60 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari. The temple complex is on the shores of Bay of Bengal.  

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple, built more that 2000years ago, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan (Karthik, the second son of Lord Shiva)

We woke up early morning to watch the sunrise on the sea shore behind this temple.

But the sun played truant and hid behind the clouds.

So, no glorious sunrise photo ops. 

But we got to watch the early morning activity around the temple and got to capture some very interesting sights that we would have otherwise missed if we had concentrated only on the beach and the sunrise!

At 6.30AM and the entire area outside the south entrance of the temple was abuzz with activity- Devotees, Vendors and some tourists as well.

The Two ‘Vahanas’ – the Peacock for Murugan and the Crow for Shaneeshwaran! And they both keep their vigil atop the tall gopuram early morning

Shaktivel wakes up at 4.30 each morning and milks his 2 cows – Vani and Lakshmi.  Boils milk, has bath, loads up his cycle and pedals 5 kms from his village to sell hot piping coffee here. He also has Bournvita, Horlick, Tea and Badam milk!

Arumugan specialises only in ‘Shukku Malli Kapi'

A hot dark liquid that is freshly brewed by boiling Dry ginger, Coriander seeds and jaggery and kept scalding hot with a coal fired stove tied to the bottom of the tea kettle.

And your nose lifts up to some wonderful aroma of masala vadai, samosas and Bajjis.

The beach is teaming with devotees who go for the mandatory bath before entering the temple and the youngsters who are happy skipping the waves.

When the Tsunami hit the eastern shores in 2004, the sea here actually receded by a kilometre!! 

So, there was zero casualty and no material loss either!

Every temple in India has a footwear safekeeping place and Selvam has been holding on to this job for a year now.

A resident elephant is a MUST in all famous temples in south. Blessings by elephant, having young kids sit on top and photo ops are an integral 

part of the temple darshan.

Devotees.

These guys are IT techies!

They believe in machine language and miracles!!

Going on a pilgrimage and going Green!!

And the usual prasadam stall – Vibhooti and Panchamritam!!

Panchamrit = bananas+dates+crystal(mishri)sugar + jaggery+ curd+ghee+milk.  One of the oldest jam recipe ever known to mankind!

The holy (brown) cow of-course – fattened by devotees feeding it with ripe bananas.

Kashi Kayaru or Kalava –black, red, maroon, yellow –to ward off evil and neutralised those evil eyes!

And combined with holy Kumkum - you are well insulated from all the negative vibes in this world, my friend!

Such a wonderful place with pristine beauty.

Simple hardworking folks with so much devotion.

A huge temple where you can sit and meditate peacefully (off seasons only)

Overall a great outing for a couple of days away from Bangalore!

Krish..