Starting 3:30 am when my father went driving ... picking up dropping people here and there as it was the housewarming pooja at my cousin's new place. Then we also joined in.on the top of all the tops.. the house is at such heights (4th floor). It was peaceful to be there early in the morning being part of the ritual. Though initially I was cribbing about waking up so early. We have a little ceremony carried forward from Kerala, that on the housewarming day a pot of milk is to be boiled and let overwhelm the vessel. That is supposedly auspicious. Explaining the same to my ignorant friend , I was brought across a new funda!
Jyoti: "They do this may be because, Kitchen is an important part of the House"
Friend: "Nahi yaar! Bathrooms are also Important!Even you should give importance to the bedrooms (Sleep as we both agree is pre-requisite of our lives.) " and I was answer less and breathless with all the laughter that statement induced.
On that particular day the pujari told it is also good to cook some rice and he suggested that you put a handful of grains to the boiling milk that ways two in one remedy for shortage of utensils and time in that new house and working day when the kid of house had school to attend.
Past 6 in the morning , now the pujari was gone, Milk boiled. I saw fruits!!! oooo By god !I was terribly hungry by 7 all the bananas , apples, pomegranate all were dissected and distributed. And in that hunger struck condition (I who run away from Milk which is not mixed with Bournvita.) I drank a glass of that Milk with sugar, I tell you it was tastiest.
And then Happy Happy we went back our home. And suddenly an idea came into papa's experienced brain.. 'let us go to Kalkaji Temple since we are already dressed up and pray mood' Mummy had to agree (It was her plan originally) So I don't get time to sleep . We again set towards the road to the temple.
There I see so many people lined up for the Darshan.. there belief! Astounding. I have always had this when I see people praying with such intensity and faith, my eyes swell up with tears. But it is amazing how many people believe in a God. Pray incessantly.. Unbroken faith and then there are few who fight for the same God . His name is Factor for Living and His name becomes factor for differences.
Nonetheless we find that everything has been so commercialised and running behind Money there that we CHUPKE se move away after our Prayers.
I keep a memory of the place , I have the red thread(I don't know its Hindi name) which I have seen North Indians tying in every religiously good occasion on their wrist, I have it tied on my right wrist. A reminder that there was peace once and will remain if you want.
Om shanti Om !
P.S: I slept almost the whole day there after. With scolding from Mummy as always.. she never tires of correcting/scolding/irritations due to my acts.. & I don't correct things, with a plan of correction in near future I sleep again.
