ಹೀಗೊಂದು ಭಾನುವಾರ!

ಅಂದು ಭಾನುವಾರ,  ಮ‌0ಡ್ಯ‌ದ‌ಲ್ಲೊ0ದು  ಮದುವೆ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವಿತ್ತು. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಹೊರಟ ನಾವು ತಲುಪಿದ್ದು ಮೇಲುಕೋಟೆ.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮೈಸೂರು ಹೆದ್ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇರೋ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಮಂಟಪದಲ್ಲೂ ಒಂದಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಮದುವೆ ಅಥವಾ ಮುಂಜಿ ಕಾರ್ಯ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಸಡಗರ ತುಂಬಿತ್ತು. ರೋಡಿನುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ವಾಹನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತ ರಮಣಿಯರು ಮೈತುಂಬ ಒಡವೆ , ಜರತಾರಿ ಸೀರೆ ಧರಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ಘಂಟೆಯ ಉರಿಬಿಸಿಲನ್ನೂ ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿ ಇಂತಹ ಭಾರಿ ಸೀರೆಗಳನ್ನ ಉಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾದರು ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ. ಇನ್ನು ಅವರ ಸಾರಥಿಗಳೋ (ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಅವರ ಗಂಡಂದಿರು) ಯಾವ ಎಂ. ಪಿ , ಎಂ ಎಲ್ ಎ ಗೇನು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಇರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ . ಏನು ಇಲ್ಲ ಅ೦ದ್ರೂನು ಕೈನಲ್ಲಿ ೬ -೭ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಉಂಗುರ, ೧-೨  ಸವರನಿನ ಬ್ರೇಸ್ಲೇಟ್ , ದಪ್ಪದಾದ ಕತ್ತಿನ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಚೈನ್ ಪಳ ಪಳ ಅಂತ ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತ ಇದ್ದವು. ಹಾಗು ಹೀಗೂ ಮಂಡ್ಯ ತಲುಪೋ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ 12:00 ಘಂಟೆ ದಾಟಿತ್ತು. ಇನ್ನೂ ಮಂಟಪಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ ವಧು ವರರಿಗೆ ಹರಸಿ ನಂತರಾ ಪಂಕ್ತಿ ಊಟಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾದು ... ಅಯ್ಯೋ ಅಷ್ಟೋಂಡು ತಾಳ್ಮೆ ನಮಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಆ ಉರಿಬಿಸಿಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ. ಸರಿ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ  ಪಯಣಿಗರ ಒಮ್ಮತ ಪಡೆದು ಬಂಡಿ ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿಸಿಯೇಬಿಟ್ಟರು  ನಮ್ಮ ಸಾರಥಿ ಭಾವಮೈದ.

ಸುಮಾರು ೪೦ ಕಿ. ಮೀ  ದೂರದಿಲ್ಲಿತ್ತು ಯೋಗನರಸಿಂಹನ ಗುಡಿ - ಅದು ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಚೆಲುವನಾರಾಯಣ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿ. ತಡವಾಗಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಮೊದಲಿಗೆ ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಹತ್ತಿ ನರಸಿಂಹ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕೃಪೆಗೆ ಈಡಾದೆವು ..ಸಮಯ ೨  ಮೀರಿತ್ತು, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ತಾಳ ಹಾಕ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸುಬ್ಬಣ್ಣ ಮೆಸ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ದಾರಿ ಅಂತ ಒಂದು ಫಲಕ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಬಿತ್ತು. ಯಾರೋ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ರು ಈ  ಮೆಸ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿರುತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ. ಸರಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹೊರಟೆವು. ಇವತ್ತಿಗೂ ಸುಬ್ಬಣ್ಣ ಮೆಸ್ಸ್ ನೆನೆದು ಒಮ್ಮೆ  ಕೈ ಮೂಗಿಗೆ ಇಟ್ರೆ ತುಪ್ಪದ ಪರಿಮಳ ಬರತ್ತೆ ಅಷ್ಟು ರುಚಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಮರೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತಹ ರುಚಿ. ಮನತೃಪ್ತಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಮುಂದೆ ಚೆಲುವನಾರಾಯಣ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಗುಡಿಗೂ ಭೇಟಿ ಆಯಿತು.ದರ್ಶನ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಆಗಿ ಬಂಡಿ ಏರಿ ಮನೆಯತ್ತ ಹೊರಟಾಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾವಲು ಕಂಡಿತು , ಒಂದು  - ಮಂಡ್ಯ ಮೇಲಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಮತ್ತೊಂದು - ೨೦ ಕಿ.ಮೀ.  ಶ್ರವಣಬೆಳಗೊಳ .. ಜೈ ಬಾಹುಬಲಿ ಎಂದು ಮುಂದಿನ ಪಯಣ ಸಾಗಿತು ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಬೃಹತ್ ಗೊಮ್ಮಟನ ಊರಿಗೆ. 

ಇಡೀ ಜಗತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಅತಿ ಎತ್ತರದ ಏಕಶಿಲೆಯ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಎಂದೇ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ಹಾಸನ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಈ ಗೋಮಟೇಶ್ವರನ ಸನ್ನಿದಿಗೆ ಇದೇ ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಾಜರಿ. ೫೮ ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರದ ಈ ಬೃಹತ್ ಬಾಹುಬಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೇನೋ ಸೆಳೆತ, ಆಕರ್ಷಣೆ. ವಿಂಧ್ಯಗಿರಿ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಗುಡ್ಡದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿಂತಿರುವ ಈ ಬಾಹುಬಲಿಗೆ ೧೨ ವರ್ಷಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮಹಾಮಸ್ತಾಭಿಷೇಕ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಭಕ್ತಾದಿಗಳು ನೀರಿನಿಂದ ಅಭೋಷೇಕ ಮಾಡಿದ ನಂತರ ಹಾಲು, ಕಬ್ಬಿನ ಹಾಲು ,ಕೇಸರಿಯಿಂದ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುವುದು.  ಸುಮಾರು ೭೫೦ ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲುಗಳು ಹತ್ತಿ ಈ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಮೇಲೆ ತಲುಪಿದೆವು. ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಊರು ನೋಡಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಸೊಗಸಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇತಿಹಾಸದ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿದಂತಹ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರು ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ಬಂದ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗರಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದರು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹಾಗೆ ಸುತ್ತಾಡಿದ ನಂತರ ನಾವುಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಹೊರಟೆವು. ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಪಿ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯೋದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಬ್ರೇಕ್  ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ಸೀದಾ ಮನೆ ಬಂದು ತಲುಪಿದೆವು. 

Education - A dream for many girls {back in those days} [Simple story]

The sun had kissed the mountains, birds were making their way back to their nest, the sky was painted red. It was a cold breezy evening. Sharada and Padmaja were not done playing their hopscotch. Sharada's grandmother Girijamma was sitting on an easy chair and reciting soundarya lahari as her daughter in law Mangala swept the front yard. Soon night pitched in and there came the call for the girls to get back home. Ranganna, Girijamma's son was a clerk at the local bank. He'd returned after an exhausting day at work. Mangala laid out food and water for the family. It was her tradition to feed all of them before she could eat her supper.

Having finished her duties Mangala crept into her room where exhausted Ranganna was already asleep. Mangala was a bright student in her young school days. During those times where girls were not encouraged to study more than matriculation(current days' 10th grade), Mangala's dad who was a teacher by profession had gone all odds to make his daughter a graduate in English Literature. However, she was married off soon after and her dreams of getting a job and becoming financially independent had been shattered. Girijamma had a vision of her ideal daughter in law. I'd find the one for my son who'd look after  not only his desires but also his ancestral home and hold its principles high, who would always be positive and maintain the family's name and fame - quoted Girijamma often to her relatives. Mangala sacrificed her ambitions and was disturbed initially in her new abode. Slowly she got into the routine and always kept herself acquainted with the current affairs. Ranganna and Mangala had welcomed Sharada 11 years ago and it was time she fulfilled all her daughters dreams and ambitions. Sharada inherited affection towards books at a very young age and craved for knowledge just like her mother. Ranganna had a different attitude with respect to education than his mother Girijamma. Ranganna supported his wife in every aspect but could not go against his mother's old schooled principles. 

Days passed, turned into months, years and almost in a blink of an eye Sharada had cleared her matriculation exams in flying colors. She secured a rank in her state and was felicitated by the government for her achievement. Ranganna and Mangala were elated at this news. Mangala made Sharada's favorite sweet - Besan laddu loaded with ghee. The house was filled with the sweet aroma and there was happiness in every corner. Girijamma had breathed her last a couple years ago and the wall behind the armchair where she usually sat, now adorned her photo.

Mangala had started working as an assistant librarian in the city library recently. She had once asked her bed ridden mother in law if she could take up a job if she was having time after finishing her duties in the household to which Girijamma had nodded a faint yes. Mangala was a happy soul who cherished every moment of her life. Sharada followed her footsteps. She got an admission in the most prestigious college and her honor subjects were Physics and Mathematics. 

Ranganna's family was an example for many out there who followed suit and let their daughters gain knowledge, and let their wives work if they liked it.

Cent Story 5: - Pure Love

It was pure love. She couldn't resist being away for so long. The daily visits had turned into a friendship that created a feeling of wanting more. She was lured and her fantasy grew far beyond. It was a cold night. Christmas wasn't far , roads were covered in snow, twinkling lights on the trees shining all night, the path cleared by the mover. She could see you standing tall and inviting. Being stuck at home, she was waiting to run into you - of course you MC Donalds double cheese burger that she'd been craving for the whole of last week. 

ಅರಳಿದ ಹೂ

 ಅಂಗಳದಿ ಅರಳಿದ ಹೂ ಚಂದ

ಗುಯಿಗುಟ್ಟುತ್ತಾ 

ಅತ್ತಣಿಂದ ಇತ್ತ ಹಾರುತ್ತ 

ದುಂಬಿಯು ಬಂದಿದೆ ಅದರತ್ತ 

ಅಂಗಳದಿ ಅರಳಿದ ಹೂ ಚಂದ 

ಅಂದವ ಸವಿಯುತ್ತಾ 

ಬಿಂಕದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿಹಳು ಹಾಡುತ 

ಹೂವಾಡಗಿತ್ತಿ ಅದರತ್ತ

ಅಂಗಳದಿ ಅರಳಿದ ಹೂ ಚಂದ

ಸುವಾಸನೆ ಬೀರುತ 

ಗಾಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಲಿಯುತ 

ಇರುವೆ ನೀ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ

 

Life ~ its Ups and Downs

Shyam walked into the veranda and sat on the comfortable chair that had been his companion since his childhood. He had spent most of his student life sitting on this wooden chair, specially crafted by his grandfather. Today as he sat there holding a magazine in his hand his thoughts curled down into one of those days when he was holding his history text book. The door in front was left open to let fresh air from the lush green bushes fill in. Perfume of the Parijatha flowers that was about to bloom that night, lingered all over the veranda.

Kaveri came in and held out her hand to offer a brass cup of foam lathered filter kaapi filled right upto the brim. It was piping hot, so she held it with the end of her saree pallu. Shyam had taken the coffee from her hand as usual but his gaze was still fixed on the road that was opposite his chair. Kaveri went about her usual rant of the overdue bills in the household. She mentioned "Ranganna had come home today asking for the money we owe him. He wants it to be cleared by tomorrow", she said with a frown as she sat down on the wooden slab placed on the floor. She continued " see we need to buy ration next week, also the milkman will have to be paid. Since you've not got your payment this month how will we manage?".

Shyam still remained in his own thoughts sipping down the coffee. Shyam worked as a clerk in a local bank in his town. The bank was not doing good in terms of business and so there was a merger being planned with the big names in the industry. His job was at stake and the staff had not been paid salaries for the last two months.However they had been promised of job continuity after the merger. The families had to deal with no payments for the next two months or more, exactly till the merger is official and the staff had been moved to the new firm's payroll. It was matter of time, however there were many like Shyam who kind of lived paycheck to paycheck.

Kaveri said " Tonight I'll make lemon rasam. The lemon tree in the backyard has given us few lemons this season." Shyam came back to present when he heard about the lemons. It was his dad who had planted the lemon tree in the backyard about a decade ago and it had been fruiting since then every year. Shyam loved the rasam Kaveri made with those juicy lemons. Immediately the frown on his face faded and a smile landed on his lips.

Stay home! Let's fight this together.

Wish I had something to say on this day to the cray cray world at the moment. Something that can ease out those worried brows and pain filled souls who are seeing their dear ones suffer. But no, I've nothing that can be done at the moment but sit back home and pray for that ray of light to be back on mankind. We'd all fight it together, patience is the remedy until the real one is found.

Stay home! Be safe everyone!

Retrospecting a days work!

I lay back on my bed late in the night thinking of the day that's gone by.
There is much more to it than I could write down. I retrospect each activity I've dealt with and how could I have bettered myself to excel in each of them. It's a goal I set to myself so that I wake up a better person with each passing day. Let me give you an example for more clarity. A set of clothes lie in my closet which I intend to repair. I make an attempt to sort and keep them ready for repair. Well according to you that might be a "Job well done". Sure, I have progressed on that note, however I could actually finish repair of a couple of them today instead of watching some idiotic TV soap :)

Ok maybe that's a little too much to ask for. I may better go back watch a few youtube videos before I get busted. How do you deal with situations as these?

* Exam next day vs your favorite kahani showbiz on TV.
* Project deadline vs blockbuster movie time.

Well I've been through them and I'm sure by now you'd be able to guess my take.. Yeah of course the latter ones. How could I miss my favorite Ghar ghar ki roz ki kahani, and I know Aamir khan and Taare zameen par .. irresistible !

I haven't changed a bit, even today my genes gets attracted to TV/online shows though I'd try to resist. However am in the odds of making an attempt in scrutinizing the timelines for this passtime activity. Let's see how it turns out on me.

ಅನುರಾಗ‌

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