It was an early morning but there were a lot of things lined up to do for the day. After going through the morning chores, we'd set off for Ettumanoor for the morning ceremony with my grand aunt's first remembrance day. Anish was the 'saarthi' who'd ensured that we're at the venue well in time.
The 'master of the ceremony' guided us through the lengthy yet orderly procedure that lasted over two hours and we're seventeen of us in attendance. Going through the maze of rituals, the thought that struck me was the manner in which time had flown - one year had passed quietly by. The only difference was that the two seater sofa - facing the entrance of the house on which my grand aunt used to sit and receive her visitors - was empty with a fresh set of linen spread over it.
Soon it was lunchtime and dispersal. My sister, Rema, was seen off at the bus stand on the reciprocal route which quite coincidentally, left at 1400h while two of my cousins, headed for Thiruvananthapuram were seen off at the railway station. The assembly of people had dispersed no sooner than it had assembled, so it seemed!
The evening darshan of the 'Ettumanoorappan' was accomplished despite a packed crowd, enhanced these days, by the influx of the pilgrims headed for Sabarimala. A boisterous supper followed by an early night, as the departure for Rameswaram is slated tomorrow morning at 4. But sleep was hard to come by!
Tailpiece.
The family had not met for a long time and today's meeting of quite of a few of us helped us to reconnect!
The 'master of the ceremony' guided us through the lengthy yet orderly procedure that lasted over two hours and we're seventeen of us in attendance. Going through the maze of rituals, the thought that struck me was the manner in which time had flown - one year had passed quietly by. The only difference was that the two seater sofa - facing the entrance of the house on which my grand aunt used to sit and receive her visitors - was empty with a fresh set of linen spread over it.
Soon it was lunchtime and dispersal. My sister, Rema, was seen off at the bus stand on the reciprocal route which quite coincidentally, left at 1400h while two of my cousins, headed for Thiruvananthapuram were seen off at the railway station. The assembly of people had dispersed no sooner than it had assembled, so it seemed!
The evening darshan of the 'Ettumanoorappan' was accomplished despite a packed crowd, enhanced these days, by the influx of the pilgrims headed for Sabarimala. A boisterous supper followed by an early night, as the departure for Rameswaram is slated tomorrow morning at 4. But sleep was hard to come by!
Tailpiece.
The family had not met for a long time and today's meeting of quite of a few of us helped us to reconnect!
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