The day began at 5 and by 6, we're out of our rooms. There were a series of steps, leading to the 'disposal area of the ashes', the place - again, accessible only after negotiating another flight of stairs - beside the spring for the post disposal rituals and the temple, where the connected 'puja' is performed. Lekha'd said that she wanted to go through the entire sequence and I didn't discourage her because I knew that it would be futile and no amount of persuasion could get her out of the decision she'd arrived at!
And off we set. After the first set of about 50 odd deep steps we reached the 'ashes disposal point' which was dry and full of knee high foliage. Venu, with the urn, had gone down a further flight of steps to dispose off dad's ashes and then the entire lot left for the next destination leaving the four of us - Lekha, Letha's daughter-in-law with her three month old child and Murukesan at the point.
Lekha, by now, had realised that it wouldn't be advisable for her to do the entire rigmarole and we sat down at the embankment for a while after which, we'd returned to a hotel at the foot of the temple to have our breakfast. She found it difficult to climb up the stairs having had to literally cling on to the side wall at every step! I was carrying the little child - rather clumsily and must have presented a grotesque/laughable sight to the passers by!
Despite an initial hiccup, I could recite the 'Vishnu sahasranaama sthothram', in between, as is my regular morning practice.
The others returned after the entire set of ceremonies by about 11 o'clock and soon after, we'd set off on our return leg. Lunch was at Adivaram and the first to drop off was Asok, at Tirur and before he got off, I'd made the announcement - to everyone's delight, as I noticed - that the group would meet once a year, from now on, taking into account the convenience of everyone and make a similar journey to places of interest, which was greeted with a boisterous shout and the thumping of the seats!
About 60 kms later and around 2000 hrs, it's my turn to disembark at Chavakkad from where I could get an autorickshaw to reach 'The Quarterdeck'. Opening up the house, putting the soiled clothes in the appropriate bin, putting back the things into their original places, bath and dinner did take a bit of time.
Tailpiece.
(a) Fixed up with Ravi regarding tomorrow's trip to Palakkad and back, to fetch my mom.
(b) Lekha should be back before next weekend. I'm skipping the wedding that I was to attend, the day after tomorrow, at Adoor. Rema and Padmakumar are attending it; I shall call them up to
convey our wishes.
And off we set. After the first set of about 50 odd deep steps we reached the 'ashes disposal point' which was dry and full of knee high foliage. Venu, with the urn, had gone down a further flight of steps to dispose off dad's ashes and then the entire lot left for the next destination leaving the four of us - Lekha, Letha's daughter-in-law with her three month old child and Murukesan at the point.
Lekha, by now, had realised that it wouldn't be advisable for her to do the entire rigmarole and we sat down at the embankment for a while after which, we'd returned to a hotel at the foot of the temple to have our breakfast. She found it difficult to climb up the stairs having had to literally cling on to the side wall at every step! I was carrying the little child - rather clumsily and must have presented a grotesque/laughable sight to the passers by!
Despite an initial hiccup, I could recite the 'Vishnu sahasranaama sthothram', in between, as is my regular morning practice.
The others returned after the entire set of ceremonies by about 11 o'clock and soon after, we'd set off on our return leg. Lunch was at Adivaram and the first to drop off was Asok, at Tirur and before he got off, I'd made the announcement - to everyone's delight, as I noticed - that the group would meet once a year, from now on, taking into account the convenience of everyone and make a similar journey to places of interest, which was greeted with a boisterous shout and the thumping of the seats!
About 60 kms later and around 2000 hrs, it's my turn to disembark at Chavakkad from where I could get an autorickshaw to reach 'The Quarterdeck'. Opening up the house, putting the soiled clothes in the appropriate bin, putting back the things into their original places, bath and dinner did take a bit of time.
Tailpiece.
(a) Fixed up with Ravi regarding tomorrow's trip to Palakkad and back, to fetch my mom.
(b) Lekha should be back before next weekend. I'm skipping the wedding that I was to attend, the day after tomorrow, at Adoor. Rema and Padmakumar are attending it; I shall call them up to
convey our wishes.
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