Mother's Day - the day of the Juggler !

That day of ‘Saluting your Mom’ is here people and I hope you’re all set to make it ‘special’ for her. With just a couple of days to count down to Mother’s Day this weekend, take your hand off the panic button and breathe, as this pointer aims at giving you not just directions but also the ‘soul of celebrating’ Mother’s Day.

First let’s define ‘special’ before we decide on how to make it special for your mom. A popular survey conducted last year among moms asking them what they wanted for Mother’s Day revealed startling facts about how moms define the words ‘special day’. Here are excerpts:

§  Majority wanted an ‘NQA Day’ – a ‘no-questions-asked-day’. They just wanted to be left to themselves where they do their own thing without having to check with family first or give explanations later. When asked what they would do in that time, a big chunk of them said they wanted to stay in bed all morning and have breakfast in bed; get a facial, manicure, pedicure, and massage done at a parlour; meet friends over lunch at a fancy restaurant; stroll in malls and do some mindless shopping; watch a movie of their choice; and quickly return home and cuddle-up in bed and read magazines and take a nap. Some even wished that their homes got sorted and tidied-up before they returned home. Get the idea? The ladies want rest.

§  Some moms just wanted to be relieved of their glorified life-long careers of the ‘CEO of the household’ for a day: which meant no waking up at dawn and cooking for the whole family; no setting the ball rolling for everyone in the house early morning; no decisions to be made regarding what food to be cooked or what chores to done for the day; no packing your lunch; no dropping-off kids or grand kids at school; no entertaining your guests by cooking ‘maa ke haath ka mazedaar khaana’; no watering the plants and walking your dogs which she didn’t want in the first place. Basically, she wants ‘Time-Out’ from the daily grind.

§  Many moms wanted to be treated like a Queen. They wanted to be pampered and be made the centre of all your family’s attention for the day. They wanted to be hugged and spoken to. They wanted gifts, gift-coupons, flowers, chauffeur-driven car for the day, some spending-cash, lunch with friends and dinner with family – both in plush 5-star hotels. These ladies have got style.

§  Few moms wanted quality family-time - with all cell-phones off! Family meets at the end of the day in the living room; laze around talking about everything; browsing through photos shot recently when on a vacation or on a business-holiday; discuss important decisions to be taken collectively as a family; eat some nice home-delivered food; take photos together; invite close friends and relatives. Some moms also wanted their siblings and parents invited to the home-dinner. Craving for quality family-time says there isn’t enough of it right now. So get the drift.

§  And some said – and this is interesting – they wanted to do something different and be someplace different. They are talking different latitudes people.

Nett nett….your mom has a mind and choice of her own. On this day, let her have her way.

You can now fairly figure-out your mom and make a fairly good decision as to - what to gift your mom on Mother’s Day?

And as for moms who want to do something different and be someplace different – gift them the much-needed holiday. You could top it up with an extra ticket for her dearly beloved or her dear friend.

Here are a few suggestions:

1.    If your mom’s an adventure-seeker and has the knees and lungs for it then explore this.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/adventure-places-in-india.aspx

2.    If your mom would give an arm and a leg to visit her favourite Temple / Church / Mosque but just can’t get time or family to go with then check these options.

      http://www.hoparoundindia.com/religious-places-in-india.aspx

3.    If sea beaches and rivers excite her then this is where she ought to go.       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/water-gateways-in-india.aspx

4.    If she’s one with a green thumb and loves serenity and cool climate, this should be your pick.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/hill-stations-in-india.aspx

5.    If you want to surprise her with the real wildlife other than the ‘wildlife’ she feels she's got at home then….here you go.

      http://www.hoparoundindia.com/wild-life-in-india.aspx

6.    If she digs history and anthropology then send her here with a map and a spade.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/historical-places-in-india.aspx

7.    If your mom explicitly prides the national heritage all the time then plenty of options here.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/heritage-places-in-india.aspx

8.    If your mom seeks no-stress – no-plan simple relaxation outdoors then here are some options spreading across different types of landscapes and altitudes.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/picnic-in-india.aspx

So let’s get two things straight - the words ‘special day’ mean differently to different people. And your mom’s special day need not involve you or your family in it. And let’s be ok with that coz we’re in ALL of the rest of the days of the year.

The grand question here is – do we pack all the goodies in one day (which by the way lasts just 15 hours tops from day-break to her shut-eye time) or can we as a family take away few daily-tasks from her and clear out her calendar all year long and give some of her life back to her? She’s also got a life you know! Let’s help her live it up folks!

Cheers to Moms!

Panchala

Today my fond memories are taking me back to my maternal grandparents’ place, where my beloved mother grew up in the midst of greenery and water all around.

After gaining senses, I first visited the place when I was just 5 years old. I still remember the day though it is little faded, I was very happy and jumping around when my mother and father were packing the baggage and beddings; I suppose a day before the journey.

The day of the journey in Allahabad station, I was amazed to see so many trains whistling and the people all around. We boarded the train in the evening and reached Howrah station of West Bengal the next day afternoon. From the station we took a bus to reach our place named Panchala. From the bus stop we took cycle rickshaw to go to our grandparents’ house.

When we reached there almost all relatives of mine along with their neighbors came out to greet us with open arms. Initially I was taken aback seeing so many people around hugging and kissing me. It was almost dawn by then.

Next day my real adventure started when my elder cousins took me around the village, plucking flowers and fruits from different plants and trees. The sights which really appealed me were the ponds encircled by coconut trees. There were many fish moving around in the ponds and so I was little scared to put my feet in the water.

After that visit we visited the place once in every 2 to 3 years in my summer or winter vacations. Here the day used to start with the breakfast of Muri(raw rice roasted in sand ) with coconut sweet or Tele Bhaja (Pakoris) . Then the real fun time used to start, I used to roam all around the village with my cousins going to different houses of the locality. To my surprise most of the houses were having their own ponds named after the family surnames. None of us had watch with us but the biological clock of our body that is tinge of hunger and physical surrounding of people taking bath in the ponds used to remind us of lunch time.

In lunch most of the days, fish fry and fish curries were served along with plateful of rice and a bowl of dal with potato fry. After lunch each day my grandmother used to serve us with cool and sweet water of tender coconut, which I used to relish the most. These coconuts were not bought, they were dropped from the trees in our backyard each morning. 

In the evening after getting dressed, we used to go either to the village market or play in the big play ground, which was also beside a big pond. Sometimes our elder cousins used to take us  little further inside the village, where I witnessed  beetle leaf plantation and the huts made with mud and plastered with cow dung, having a thatched roof dry coconut leaves.

This place was like a different world to me, after going from Allahabad where I could hardly see any coconut trees or ponds except the river Ganga. This place was like the scenery drawn by me looking at the posters or the books.  

Panchala is situated near Ulluberia in Howrah district but it takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour from Howrah station by bus or taxi. This place is very famous for Kali Puja, which is celebrated every year with lots of devotion. People from different places visit this place during this time. They even perform the ritual of goat sacrifice, which I could never witness due to large crowd and my dislike to the ritual. The village is even famous for its Muggum work on saris, done by the Muslim craftsmen of the village.

When Man Goes For Mangoes

Mussoorie located near Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand state may be famous for all the good reasons as man goes to escape the summer and see many of its attractions like the Camel Back, the Mall Road, Kempty Falls, Bhatta Falls and Jharipani Falls…but as far as I am concerned Mussoorie is a Mango retreat for me. This small pretty hill station was just a hop for me and my friends during my younger days in Dehradun. The scorching summers of May month were just over and with all entrance exams done with…I along with my four friends got on to 2 bikes (triples are allowed) and headed towards Mussoorie to stay at Christ Church which had a dormitory (the dormitory doesn’t exist anymore ) behind it for 2 days. The parish priest knew me so accommodation was never an issue for only me but wasn’t sure for my friends.

Once we were out of Dehradun city limits we got on to the steep climb of Old Mussoorie Road and as we were nearing the MDDA Park enroute down came a hail storm from nowhere, we stopped our bikes and ran for shelter under the nearest tree. The storm was so intense that within no time we saw a volley of Mangoes (half ripe, full ripe and not ripe) falling along with the hails, we couldn’t believe it. None of us moved to pick up any of the mangoes as we thought somebody might be playing a prank with us because there wasn’t a single mango tree insight…but it was for real. The hails stopped falling but the mangoes didn’t. The storm stopped as we started to feel that we are standing in a ‘Mango Ki Mandi’. Each one of us ran (of course totally drenched) and started filling our haversacks with as many mangoes as possible before anyone could check us. We filled our shirts, jackets, bikes and what not with mangoes and more mangoes…took a ‘U’ turn and drove back to Dehradun.

So, remember Mussoorie is not just a place to escape the summer heat but also for free mangoes provided a mango storm takes you by surprise.

The 'Thrissur Pooram' this May.

The ‘Pooram Nakshatram’ day in ‘Medam’ – Malayalam month, which coincides with months of April and May, is the most auspicious day and the most awaited day in Thrissur (also known as Trichur) as Thrissur witnesses the biggest Hindu festival of Kerala which lasts for almost 48 hours nonstop – the event commencing at 7am on the 1st day.

The whole city of Thrissur is decorated with flowers and blinking serial lights from the day before the ‘Thrissur Pooram’ and everyone seems to be gearing up for the festival as they are involved directly or indirectly in the celebrations. The ‘Thrissur Pooram Paraphernalia’ comprising the gold ornaments of the Elephants is displayed for public CMS School Compound. This is the closest you get to these ornaments to appreciate them as it is hardly possible on the Pooram day.

Temples in Thrissur are to be specially visited on these 2 days of the festivals as they are decked up like never before. They make an amazing sight.

But the highpoints of the ‘Thrissur Pooram’ – who are called the show-stoppers who steal the limelight and for whom the whole city of Thrissur along with people from other parts of Kerala and India as well as some foreigners and of course countless media persons assemble along their walkway are the regal Elephants! About 100 Elephants are decked up in gold ornaments and paraded through the city of Thrissur royally to the incessant and rhythmic drumming and fireworks. Countless percussion instruments follow the Elephants throughout the parade. 300 music performers perform the ‘Melam’ for 2 continuous hours during the day which will just transport you to a different world.

This Elephant parade is like no other in the whole world and this is the closest you could get to so many Elephants all at once. The mere sight of them bunched together – posing for a million clicking cameras from all directions will give you goosebumps as you get all stirred up emotionally.

On Thrissur Pooram, Thrissur city does not sleep. All Elephants are made to walk a set route in the city which ends up at the Vadakkunnathan Temple – an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Thrissur Pooram festival has been celebrated since 1798 and was started by Raja Rama Varma – also known as Sakthan Thampuran – the ruler of Cochin. With the launch of the Thrissur Pooram festival and a host of other Hindu festivals here, Thrissur became the culture-capital of Kerala. It was Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran who unified a dozen temples which were situated around the Vadakkunnathan Temple and organized a joint celebration of all these temples which became a mass festival and involved the whole city and ten other towns.

On the night of the first day of the Thrissur Pooram, the city of Thrissur dazzles with millions of multi-coloured lights which run over all the streets of the city and the skyscape will have no space to breathe with scores of fireworks lighting up the skies. No wonder then that of all the festivals in south India, Thrissur Pooram is known to be the most thunderous and the most spectacular festival ever with several lakhs attending.