It was a day of prayers, for the small knit members of the family, at my father's house. It has been a year since dad passed away and how time has flown!
We'd got up at 5, in the morning, to go through the morning chores and for reciting our prayers. This lasted almost till around 8 o'clock, when the professionals - Sulochana and Rukmini - began their recital of the excerpts of the 'Mahabhaagavatham'. Our family was in full strength and we followed the two vocalists all through the day in their rendition of the sacred book. We'd taken the decision among us to conduct my dad's first remembrance day in this quiet manner. And as we went through the day, 'dad's corner' in the sitting room - his favourite sofa with the side table that has his 'puja' books, his spectacles, other personal effects like his walking stick etc - seemed to come live!
Mom, along with my younger sister, Minni and her daughter, Ammu, had got every minute thing in place and it was clear that they'd done a thorough home work to make the prayer meeting free from glitches! In fact, the only thing that seemed to have gone 'out of sync' was when a few of our near relatives expressed their unhappiness of not being invited to the day's event! It took some convincing on our part to drive home the point that it was meant only for the immediate family members.
By 1715h, it was concluded and through a 'trick' by opening the closed 'Mahabhaagavatham' - the page that opened was the narration of Kamsa's death at the hands of Lord Krishna - it was conveyed that my dad's soul was satisfied with the day's proceedings! Though, on a very personal level, I've my own take on this I refrained from saying anything lest it might bruise and upset others.
But I must say that there was a tremendous sense of satisfaction at having got time to concentrate on thoughts of dad.
Tailpiece.
Early in the morning, my nephew, Achu, had placed the customary offering of rice - cooked by him on a makeshift 'chulha', near a spot where my dad was cremated - by inviting the crows, clapping with 'wet' hands. And three of them had swooped down, instantly.
He was unable to join us, thanks to his semester exams, when all of us had done it on 31 Jan, the date that was as per the Malayalam calendar.
We'd got up at 5, in the morning, to go through the morning chores and for reciting our prayers. This lasted almost till around 8 o'clock, when the professionals - Sulochana and Rukmini - began their recital of the excerpts of the 'Mahabhaagavatham'. Our family was in full strength and we followed the two vocalists all through the day in their rendition of the sacred book. We'd taken the decision among us to conduct my dad's first remembrance day in this quiet manner. And as we went through the day, 'dad's corner' in the sitting room - his favourite sofa with the side table that has his 'puja' books, his spectacles, other personal effects like his walking stick etc - seemed to come live!
Mom, along with my younger sister, Minni and her daughter, Ammu, had got every minute thing in place and it was clear that they'd done a thorough home work to make the prayer meeting free from glitches! In fact, the only thing that seemed to have gone 'out of sync' was when a few of our near relatives expressed their unhappiness of not being invited to the day's event! It took some convincing on our part to drive home the point that it was meant only for the immediate family members.
By 1715h, it was concluded and through a 'trick' by opening the closed 'Mahabhaagavatham' - the page that opened was the narration of Kamsa's death at the hands of Lord Krishna - it was conveyed that my dad's soul was satisfied with the day's proceedings! Though, on a very personal level, I've my own take on this I refrained from saying anything lest it might bruise and upset others.
But I must say that there was a tremendous sense of satisfaction at having got time to concentrate on thoughts of dad.
Tailpiece.
Early in the morning, my nephew, Achu, had placed the customary offering of rice - cooked by him on a makeshift 'chulha', near a spot where my dad was cremated - by inviting the crows, clapping with 'wet' hands. And three of them had swooped down, instantly.
He was unable to join us, thanks to his semester exams, when all of us had done it on 31 Jan, the date that was as per the Malayalam calendar.
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