ganpathi temple pune

I thought it is going to be yet another visit to a temple. We planned and went to siddi vinayak temple in Saras bhag,Pune. Only after darshan did we realise that the place has an excellent collection of vinayak idols, tastefully exhibited as in a museum. Ganpathi museum does sound unusual.But it was a very unique experience and we thoroughly enjoyed viewing more than 1000 ganpatis in various forms.

We saw ganpati as a child playing around; we saw ganpathi holding a newspaper and reclining and enjoying the read; we saw ganpathi holding an umbrella and a kamandal as if going on a pilgrimage(kasi yatra?); we saw ganpathi having more than one head; we saw ganpathi in kalinga nardana pose ; we saw ganpathi who has his tusk turned right; we saw ganpathi carved in a tiny shell to a gigantic form in wood.Several idols were intricately made and kept adorning the entrance to the museum.Ganpatis were also made of every conceivable medium; cocoanut husk, sea weed,cocoanut shell,porcelein, terracota, wood of various kinds, glass, paper mache, engraved on rock, brass and bronze .

I went into a philosophical mode thinking how it is always a pleasure to look at ganpathi whatever way he is depicted. The tusk and the massive tummy are unique to him. Also his image as the smarter of the two siblings, who uses his brain rather than rushing to perform.Sporting a massive tummy obviously means he is indiscreet and indulges in food. Must be endearing him to all kiddos as being one of their kind.Having the tiny rat as his vaahanam again makes him a winner. I remember during ganesh chaturthi it is particularly fascinating for kids to shape the moonjooru from the clay brought for the occasion.

Ganpati chaturthi is also a fun affair for most where you are allowed to depict him in whatever form. He is truly a God you can relate to .

The maharashtrian fervour for Ganpati has truly bit me.

Pune sizzles

This was the lead story in all newspapers yesterday in Pune. The temperature had crossed 42.6 degrees and it definitely was lead story material no question about that.(did I give away that I have a newspaper connection somewhere?). I could not believe that Pune could record such temperatures. But then the newstory mentioned that the earlier occasion was in april 1981. I was very much here in Pune then. I do not recall ever feeling very hot and huffing and puffing in Pune ever.It could be that I was busy and buzzling about to notice and comment on such trivial matters as summer temperatures. It is also possible that mind plays games with us sometimes. Perhaps J also has a point when she says, it is usual for everyone to believe that the current year is the worst summer whereas when we look up the met office records invariably they are wrong.

It happens more often in cities like Pune or Bangalore where the senior citizens feel the city has changed beyond comprehension due to rapid urbanisation.As an outsider you are made to feel that somehow you are to blame for the state of the weather.

I immediately asked for a aircooler to be installed at home. They came instantaneously and while they were fixing it up I thought I never could believe that I would be having a aircooler at home in Pune. When I had come here for the first time after marriage, I was told that our house does not have a single fan. I panicked in the true Madrassi fashion, who needs her roti, kapda and makan with fans. But I was assured that I would never need one. After a few days I insisted that I need a fan. A rickety old table fan of unknown vintage was dragged out and fixed in our room. It used to circulate lot of air alright but made such a noise that it disturbed S. I slept through and he would get up and switch it off. Which is when I would wake up and quietly switch it on again. This game went on for a while and it had to stop sometime. It was a great event at home when I came back from office and was told to inspect the new ceiling fan installed. It called for some sort of celebration.

And now more than 25 years later, an air cooler ushered in such a happy mood.

I was also amazed at the sharp contrast in the climate and environment when I had come here last in October. It was unusually cold and it was with great difficulty I used to go for my morning walks. The pathway from my house to the jogging track used to be lined with flower beds and flowers of all shapes and colours used to be inviting and pleasing the eye. My mood used to lift immediately and I would be floating on a bed of euphoria throughout my walk. The jogging track used to be lined with asoka tress and the mist would be clearing slowly and sharp and pencil straight yellow rays would be piercing through.The lawns and the entire campus used to look painted a vivid green. It was good to be alive.

Now the campus looks forlorn and the roses are there no doubt but they are shrunk and want to be left alone.The saving grace is the jasmine bushes.The white scented flowers cover the entire bush and the nithyamalli flowers and the jasmine together waft into the house and give a joyous feeling. Y used to say thank god there is summer, we can have mangoes. I want to say now thank god for the summer, for there is mallippo.

pragati express

I had this ticket from Mumbai to Pune and it said starting station as CST. I had a nagging doubt that it could be Churchgate station , or Mumbai central station. I asked my colleague who is a hardcore Mumbaite and she said CST is of course VT station. I double checked with another friend and only then I was at ease. The places which are so well known have been name changed just like the Maharashtrian women have an annoying habit of changing their maiden names after marriage. Their surname of course changes and their maiden names are also changed and the person really goes into an invisible mode for the outside world. I remember while working in Pune ,on several occasions someone wants to locate a girl from their school/college days and they would ask me "Asha Tolankar" hai kya aap ka office me? I would tell them very faithfully that we dont have such an employee with us. Immediately some staff member who would have eavesdropped on the conversation would say immediately , that we do have Neha Dube and of course they are asking for her!

I got into Pragati express in the good old VT station. I felt i was travelling in Chennai Bangalore Shatabdi express. The ambience, the pantry service and more than that the profile of persons travelling made the connection. It started on time and immediately from the pantry, bottled water was brought out. The interiors of the compartment were full of pictures of Pune and the various tourist spots there. As the train picked up speed, so did the vendors of snacks. We had a choice of cheese sandwich, batata sandwich, cutlets, tomato soup and the 'must taste' batata vada. All the items were wrapped in paper napkins and paper bags. Railway catering service is truly going 'green'.I am a great one for tasting authentic cuisine of that place and got tempted with the batata vada. But i resisted the temptation!

I was politely approached by a man with a request if i could shift to another seat further down the compartment. He said his family was travelling and only his mother is sitting all alone in that seat. I would have readily agreed but for what he said as a clinching argument; it is a window seat maam.I did not want to accept the lollypop that he was offering me for what was a simple act of courtesy. So I stuck to my seat.

I had another lady who was right behind me, who was talking quite loudly on her handphone and also to her neighbours. I know where she lives, what her views are on every political issue of the day and what her plans for the evening and weekend in Pune are. But then this habit of talking loudly on the handphone seems to be a prevalent disease. There were atleast three others in the compartment who were quite seriously bitten by this infectious bug. No, I dont want to know the multi crore deals they are putting through; i dont want to know the umpteen instructions they are giving to their secretaries; also I dont want to hear them telling their friends/family about the exact location of the train every half an hour.It was really comical when the train was just outside the Pune station.Every one of them had to inform their whereabouts to someone who is eagerly(!) waiting for them.We are great communicators, no doubt about that.

I had a young mother as my next seat neighbour. Her son was all of 3 years perhaps and thankfully slept through most of the journey after taking some snacks and cool drinks at the beginning of the journey. He was rudely woken up just before Pune and the mother started to dress him up! I was shocked to see her taking out a plastic box half full of powder with a nice 'puff' sitting inside. She started applying the face powder liberally on the face of the child. What is special you may ask. From time immemorial all mothers atleast in India have been following this ritual. But then this kiddo was very fair and cows milk was oozing from his countenance!What was the purpose of spoiling a blemishless flawless milky white complexion with 'face powder'. Mothers are inscrutable.

The station was nearing and everyone was taking out their luggage from the luggage rack. There was this young girl who was trying to bring down a rather heavy bag. I saw two young men passing by but none of them offered to help.I am not talking chivalry here, but helping another person who needs it.I offered to help and of course she politely refused, but of course i helped her anyway.

Three and a half hours and the time passed swiftly with interesting people and erich sehgal to keep me company. I would gladly do this trip anyday.

It is festival time here

Last two days have been fun with tamizh varusha pirappu and sri rama navami juxtaposed and also an extended weekend. The neighbourhood temples have gone berserk as it were with hectic preparations and wonderful celebrations. This is the first time I am able to enjoy their religious fervour fully. There was an entire fortnight of build up for sri rama navami utsavam. Visaka hari was slated for the start of the utsavam on 2nd april and for another ten days sri hari was scheduled to give discourses in the evening. I could never sit through any of these harikathas but I saw the crowd dispersing after the harikatha or starting to assemble before the event. The notice board in the temple used to be quite full with various engagements for the month.
We went there on tamizh varusha pirappu day in the evening.The smell of homam smoke was still thick in the air. Ramar sannidhi was getting decorated and outside the sannidhi preparations were on to tie the vishu kani the next day. General festive atmosphere was in the temple. A group of women devotees were chanting bhajans. All the deities were sporting gold kavachams and resplendently attired. I felt very good to be there at the start of the new year.
Today morning I made a beeline again for sri rama navami. This time the homam was in full swing and the priest was explaining the meaning of the japams. Vishu kani was strung on the roof and i could spot lots of fruits and vegetables which i am told will be distributed to the poor people next day.We were given a one rupee coin as prasad as a mark of 'vishu'. We also had prasad of neer mor, paanagam and kosumri. Ramar sannidhi was decorated wonderfully and Ramar was overloaded with tulasi maalias and jasmine garlands but his silver bow was shining amidst all the flowers.
Puja at home reminded me strongly of our childhood in Tambaram and appa's fervour for rama navami celebrations. Appas favourite songs from ramakrishna mutt ,Suddha brahma paratpara ram, Kanakambara and Sri rama chandra were remembered and sung with great gusto.
Later in the day, Worldspace radio had an entire collection of Aruna chala kavirayar's Rama natakam and it was sheer bliss.
I was walking past ayyappan temple nearby and was stuck by the truck loads of flowers spread there on the floor. Mounds of arali, jasmine, tulasi, crysanthamum and roses were being gathered and peeled by devotees sitting in large groups. I am sure the pookolam that would be made there would be wonderful and a true 'eye candy'.
Festival time, be in Chennai. But then take time out to do a relaxed round up. If you are in a rush, then what is the fun of festivals?

school carnival

Our neighbour called on us last week to give invitation for a carnival in a school nearby.It was on saturday. I was ambivalent about going there, even though it is just next door;but you have to go more than 500 m to enter the school which is facing the main road as it were.My neighbour insisted that we should go there and I said yes, count me in, if only to show neighbourhood bonding.
Right from 3 pm, we could hear music and lots of activities and fun and I decided to go there just after sun down.
I never expected so much of crowd there; it was very well organised with stalls manned by the school teachers. Lots of food stalls and all home made goodies. Chat items were authentic as also the masala vada and bajjis.After tasting the chutneys I was sure it was homemade and from a very capable cook.Lime juice and musambi juice were in hot demand as also ice cream stall was doing brisk business.
We tried our hand in the hoopla stall. While P was at it, actress manorama tropped in and lots of video and photo session took place. She looked just as she does in the Aachi masala ads. There was an entire group which was trooping along with her and we had a ringside view.
I was interested in all the craft items made by the school children. Very good greeting cards and fancy covers and some trinkets too were for sale. I got a few of these. I am quite a sucker for anything 'arty' as I can only appreciate and cant fold a paper for saving my life.
I found exhibits of paintings and water colour posters all along the walls.Really the role of colour and paint in our lives needs to be studied seriously for a doctorate programme.
It was only when I was coming out that I realised that it is a school for special children and also doubles as a research and training centre. I was kindly invited to visit the school during working hours.
We knew there used to be an old couple living there. Obviously they have turned the place into a trust and the trust runs this establishment.
I was ashamed to be such an ignorant neighbour. Plan to correct the mistake quite soon.

amma's travel post

Amma wrote a very beautiful piece about their sudden mumbai trip.I want to upload it on my blog.

Sudden bombay trip

A fleeting thought and a wish transformed into reality!That is how our Bombay trip can be explained.To accede to their father’s wish the daughters, son and grandson did things in such a quick way that we were in the plane in a matter of 7 hours.One daughter brought a suitcase and packed our things;grandson brought another suitcase and quick eats for the night, just in case; he also booked our tickets; another daughter filled in the necessary details for the trip and also reminded me of all the things to be done before leaving.We were mere spectators. Nice to have efficient children.The funny part was, I was supposed to be the executive, ordering about the subordinates!
Once we reached the airport we were told the flight was delayed, so we relaxed in the lounge. Our son had asked that we take the business class and hence we soaked in the luxury.When we asked for a magazine, we were given a magazine of unknown language!The attender also did not know what language it was.We had the funny experience of being wheeled into the lift and also lifted right up to our seat on the plane. No security check up, no checking in, no tagging our luggage; everything was taken care of by an attendant .The night scene of Chennai from the flight was most beautiful.We enjoyed the benefits of traveling business class. The solicitousness of the airhostesses, the number of magazines given to us and that too in a tray,the umpteen glasses of fruit drinks and tender cocoanut water that were offered and of course not to mention the capacious seats and leg space made our travel quite comfortable and memorable.
We landed in Mumbai and saw quite a few saffron clad swamis in the arrival lounge.I came to know later that Swami chinmayananda’s disciple was holding a meeting in Mumbai that day.The airport has been modernized beyond recognition and it can very easily compare itself with the best in the world.I was amazed at the sheer number of planes taking off and landing and taxiing in such a short span of time.Spicejet aircraft with their colourful tails were very prominent.
We reached home late in the night.
Mumbai is unique; there is very little parking space, so if you need to go somewhere, the driver will drop you and keep circling the area and pick you up when you call him on his mobile!
This trip was arranged as per KRR’s wishes .His next wish was to visit ahobila mutt temple in chembur.Kumar made necessary arrangements for the same. While traveling in the car , ‘’anda naal nyabagam nenjile vandade”.It was 1945, just after the Allies victory. My father had taken me to the VT station, which was illuminated with colourful bulbs of various hues and sizes.I can still recall the illuminated tram with the words ‘allies won year 1945’.This tram was the cynosure of all eyes on that day.As a ten year old girl I was also delighted to see this.Even after so many decades, this picture frame is etched green in my memory.So also, the memory of a ship explosion when we were crossing Bycullah, and its aftermath is still fresh.While passing through Matunga, the memory of Dec 1978, when we had come there after my daughter’s engagement in Pune, was fresh.We were now passing through Ghatkopar and I was busy searching for Chandra Shah hospital where my son was born. My brother Babu liked the food the hospital served so much, that he used to polish off the food given to me. I could not consume anything as it was very rich with ghee and I barely could manage the ‘pathiya saapadu’ that my mother used to bring.For the first time I saw mothers after a few hours of delivery, consume sweets like mysore pak and laddu. I was told that it is necessary for the mothers to regain strength and the nurse used to goad me to try some. She used to tell me, aap log imli ka pani letho ho, isliye koi takath nahi.I was still intrigued how they are able to digest these heavy foods and I was told that they are given a health drink of gum and some herbs, first thing in the morning; they are also given a special gum laddu which is supposed to strengthen the waist and uterus.
While I was traveling back in time wistfully , the car was busy covering lot of ground.
We did not witness any traffic jams.The roads were fairly clean and .broad and also had footpaths on which people can actually walk.In Chennai everyday we come across in the newspapers about traffic accidental deaths; but in Mumbai for the two weeks that we were there, I did not read about a single accident.
We reached Ahobila mutt after nearly one and a half hours .The temple as such is not a very imposing one.You can see the main sannidhi as you are entering the temple.In front of the main sannidhi, there are small sannidhis for periya thiruvadi and siriya thiruvadi and also enough space for doing pradakshanam. In the main sannidhi you have lakshmi narasimhar and Lakshmi hayagrivar.There is another sannidhi for mahalakshmi. The sannidhi doors are made of pure goldThe doors of lakshmi sannidhi were more elaborate and intricate than that of the moolavar. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and it was not surprising!There are other small sannidhis including one for guruvayooorappan.There is a big pond and we could see brisk business of puja articles on the banks of the same.I was happy to see kadambam being strung with malli dhavanam and Krishna tulasi.In Chennai I have never seen Krishna tulasi being used for kadambam.A group of ayyangar mamis were chanting sri sthuthi and Vishnu sahasranamam.I have usually come across bhajan groups which chant desika sthothrams and divya prabhandam but sristhuthi and that too by women was unsual.
Our return journey was fairly quick and we were back home in less than an hour.

On Sunday Kumar took us to Malabar Hills. There was hardly any parking space. So we found some space for sitting while Kumar parked the car. It was very very chilly in the garden area and so we were not able to enjoy the sylvan surroundings and ambience. We had to return soon. After coming back we took a taxi to Banaswadi Balaji temple. The road leading to the temple was one way so we had to get down and walk some distance. Kumar was most careful leading his father in law, holding his hand. I was lagging behind because the road was not good. This temple is almost like oppiliappan koil, with the temple situated amidst residential buildings. Most of the temples in Tamil Nadu are situated far away from the street with a big compound wall of imposing length and width.
We were happy to see Prakara valam of Devaraja Perumal with chamaram kudai, theevati and a shenai was also being played instead of the usual nadaswaram. After sometime there was a recorded nadaswaram music. This temple has undergone vast improvement.The entire gita has been inscribed on the walls as also the pictures of the 108 divya desams. The temple was well maintained and spotlessly clean.The Bangurs of Calcutta built this temple and the archakas have been provided residential quarters inside the complex itself. After a satisfactory darshan of Lord Srinivasa and Alarmelmangai thayar,we hired a taxi in front of the temple itself and returned home.
I told Kumar that there need be no more outings but Vasu’s father after 2 days of walking inside the compound wanted to go to Gateway of India. Once again there was no parking space and the driver Francis asked us to have a leisurely and he would pick us up after 20 minutes. There was a wedding in the Taj Hotel and we saw a beautifully decorated white horse. The baratis were standing on the platform and waiters were serving them cool drinks and cookies. A car with orchids about a foot wide and shaped in the form of a n S was standing.This itself must have cost a fortune. Renovation work was going on in front of the Gateway of India and we could not go anywhere near it. There were lots of boats of various sizes and my mind flew back to the time when we went to elephanta caves as a group. I was able to touch the sea from the boat and was thrilled beyond words.
From Gateway of India we went to Cuffe Parade and saw the President hotel and the park where we used to have our evening walks when Raja was there in Mumbai. In the mornings we used to go beyond Hotel President and walk upto M FHussain’s flat situated in a big complex. On the way back we saw lots of fishermen repairing their nets and the entire space was very dirty.
The next day was Satyanarayana Puja in kumar’s office. We went down by 11 o clock and the puja was going on and on. The marathi priest was saying the mantras in a sing song voice and it took some time for me to understand what he was saying.Towards the end the priest drew a kolam on a plate. There was a maharashtrian couple doing the puja. The wife was conspicuous by her loose hair. It was strange because we in south India don’t keep the hair loose as it is considered inauspicious. The office staff were informal and it was very nice. They were chatting and joking.When the priest started a bhajan everyone joined and clapped hands keeping tala. The priest went on adding one camphor after another and it took more than 15 minutes. After which the karta was asked to do sashtanga namaskaram which he tried to avoid. But all the others egged him on.All of us put flowers and aashtadai.
There was another function in which emplouyees who have put in more than 10 years of service were honoured. We came home and refreshments meant for us were brought by an office boy. Our going to this function resulted in lot of people exchanging smiles and greetings whenever we were having our walk. The watchmen used to get up and say salam sir. Generally the people were very courteous and were very respectful.While going in the lift the other occupants used to open the door and come out to make way for us.
Exactly on the 15th day we started on our return journey.As the flight was scheduled to leave by 7 am we had to leave rather early.We got up at 4.30 am . Much to my chagrain Kumar came in to find out if I have got up. By the time we started it was 5.35 am. It was a very nice drive on empty roads and cool air blowing. While we were on our way to the airport, Kumar made a remark that my efficiency level has come down as he thought that I would wake him up. Ageing process! During the flight we had pink colour upma with big raisins and cashew. The breakfast was very heavy and I had to refuse some dishes.
Thus we came back home ; home sweet home after an unforegettable fortnight in Mumbai.

Sevalaya revisited

We had occasion to revisit Sevalaya off Tirunindravur, paakkam village. The more I saw more my wonder grew at this great institution. They have an orphanage, an old age home, a goshala, craft centre and a full fledged school from primary to 12th standard.All these activities are free for the recipients; yes, it is true. I talked to the inmates in the old age home and spent time chatting with them.The paatis were in good cheer and shared jokes with me. One of the thathas who does very good art work showed me some of his table top decoration pieces. I was stunned that at his age he had the dexterity of his hands to try these things. Usually kaivelai is a women's pastime, but then this thatha has rewritten my existing belief system.I was happy he did.I was ardently invited to join them for lunch.The cook in charge of the old age home is a friendly and good natured woman and sat down and talked with me about how her two children are studying here and she has been deserted by her husband and but for this institution she does not know where she would have been. Definitely she would not have put her children through such a good school she said.One of the thathas help her on special occasions when she needs to prepare extra dishes. All other days the paatis whoever feel up to the task help her in cutting vegetables she told me.

The inmates are taken for a weekly medical check up in the van.The pattis were recalling about their trip the previous day.

The students were busy studying for their exams and hence I did not want to disturb them.

I had lunch with the boys and the food was very very tasty. The students were serving and gave me generous helping of the rasam.This meal was more tasty than the special lunch I had the last time i visited them. It was sponsored by a VIP on his birthday. Nothing to beat a simple wholesome meal, well prepared and affectionately served.

I met two students who have come all the way from Finland on exchange programme for a duration of 2 months. They have come a few days back and are staying and observing and learning on the campus. I quizzed them on choosing India and Chennai to which they said they are students of social work and wanted to choose a place which is as far removed from their place and had zeroed in on Africa or India. And they searched the net and found Sevalaya.Their emails brought instant and satisfactory response and hence they are here now. They were still finding their feet but felt comfortable. Thankfully the inmates were not fawning on them and treated them just like some guests on their premises.

I heard that the institution is run on sound modern management principles. I was amazed that there is performance evaluation which has been introduced after thorough discussion with the stakeholders .The same is under constant review and refinement.They were scheduled to meet next week to plan for the year ahead. I was told that the entire year is planned in advance and the calender is prepared accordingly.

The authorities are planning to hold computer familiarisation classes for the village people which is an annual feature during summer holidays. They also have a craft centre where the village women are taught tailoring which leads to a diploma. Career guidance is given in a structured manner as also spoken English classes are conducted for students and self improvement classes for teachers.

The students are taken on regular trips to places of interest and the elders to temples nearby once every month.

More than all these activities and programmes, what impressed me most was the spirit of camaraderie and friendliness and cheerfulness that pervaded the entire campus. It is not achieved easily and it is a true tribute to the management of this place.

I wish to be engaged with this institution more in the days to come.

Besant nagar humour club

Adyar times, the neighbourhood newspaper has been regularly carrying this programme in their engagements of the week column for several years now. They schedule it on the first sunday of everymonth.I have always read it with interest and would file it away in my mind that i would like to go and participate in one such meeting.An uncle of mine is a member of a humour club and he has been going strong about it for several years now.But then the timing is the issue; 4 pm on a sunday evening is quite difficult to keep an appointment, however tempting the programme.But then I got around it and landed in the premises well before the meeting began this weekend.

I studied the members present; quite a few greys, as can be expected. A good number of ladies mostly middle aged; I was pleasantly surprised to see some children. It was only later i realised that they had a competition for children and that is the reason some children and their mothers were with them. It made me think that the mothers seem to be keen to enter their kids in any programme as long as you label it 'competiton'; not otherwise. Never mind that there could hardly be a few entrants and the prizes at best could be a pencil box which the child would have in plenty already.

There was just one young boy who looked like a college student. He was keenly interested in the jokes that were shared, though he kept very much to himself. I can imagine him remembering and narrating some of the jokes to his friends the next day and score a few brownie points.

Some members come as far away as Madipakkam; they must really be sold on 'humour' to travel so far on a hot chennai summer afternoon.

The format was like this; select members were asked to come on stage and share a few jokes. Most of them used a sheet of paper as a reference; some of them referred their palm and scribblings on it ; some of them were extempore and they actually reeled off more than 20 jokes at one go. I was amazed.The timing and presence of mind were crucial as I could see. We were also introduced to members of laughter club. They assemble everyday at 6 am in besant nagar beach.

I was narrating this to my niece who has just given her 12th exam, and she said she was not amused. She said her colony had a laughter club and when she would be rushing to school on a monday morning more so if there is an unit test and while getting into the bus, the forced laughter of the laughter club with no apparent reason used to be jarring. Different folks, different strokes....

The chief guest spoke on the topic, 'ethanai kodi inbam vaithai iraiva' and generously spiced it with thirukkural, bharatiyar songs and vivekanandar's life. My favourite topic and it was 'paisa vasool'.

Maybe i wont go there regularly; it is difficult to sit through more than two hours of 'humour'.But they do invite very good guest speakers and I might occasionally be tempted.
Yes, I have become a member.

Rangachari cloth store

We used to stay very close to Rangachari cloth store. I had realised then that this shop is a must visit for all NRIs who had grown up in Mylapore, when they come back for holidays. It has the quiet neighbourhood store look and feel about the place. You need to sit down on the floor and quietly gaze at the latest and the never changing saree designs all under one roof.Attrition is a word the shop has not heard so far; I can see the same salesman happily showing you the wares once you position yourself correctly. I made the mistake of sitting down at a random place and asking for kodambakkam sarees in nine yards. The salesman was quite shocked. He said not here and would not even direct me to the correct corner. The shop is not more than 3 small rooms of a house and it was perhaps the first time that a customer does not know her way around the shop. It was then i realised that the shop believes in having customers for ever including two or three generations of them. Perhaps for some NRIs this place is more of a home than their own home;quite likely their sprawling house would have been demolished to build flats.The house we stayed in Bhaskarapuram met such a fate and I knew the pains of the children who were in Canada then. But Rangachari cloth store remains as it were.
I went there after a long gap. It was quite empty; in fact I got token No 3 for safekeeping of my footwear and it was midday. I went inside quite pleased to have the place pretty much to myself. I can tell you that I dont enjoy the mami crowd in this shop.They know every little detail about sarees; they settle down comfortably and ask the salesman for a saree with particular colour and particular border in a specific model. The salesman used to happily oblige them, whereas when I ask for a nine yards saree for athai, and leave it at that, he is perplexed and goes about in a desultory fashion.They are challenged by customers who seek them out with specifics. Sometimes I have seen mamis tell the salesman, that they saw this particular saree being worn by a lady who was next to them in the queue in kapaleeswarar temple last friday. Invariably they get what they want or atleast a promise that they will procure it for them in a few days time.
This time, I had a definite request. Kalyani cotton saree please I told them. The salesman immediately obliged and within a few minutes I selected what I want. I never knew kalyani cotton till S's mother told me and I cashed on it immediately!It looks like pattu saree and has a mix of spun silk in it she told me;good to wear when you go out.
I completed my purchase and then realised that I was the only customer in the entire shop. There was one another mother/daughter combine who were speaking in Hindi and that does not count.They were not sitting down and having sarees strewn all over them; nor were they lovingly feeling the texture and asking for more. They were looking at it as in an exhibition, like window shopping. I then noticed somebody taking some videos. I asked the cashier and he told me they are students from a city college.They asked permission to shoot inside the shop as they had to submit a project by that evening.He was smiling in an indulgent fashion. I did too.
I was coming out of the shop and a bright board greeted me. Annual discount sale from 2nd April. It was 31st March. Sure enough I have been smart to beat the most attractive 'genuine' sale in that shop. I can tell you that it has been a keenly anticipated event and my neighbour at Bhaskarapuram used to purchase their annual requirement in one go during this sale in April.