Diwali at Bangalore with Raghu and Prerna
(A blog for Raghu & Prerna)
Our Diwali trip on Sat 25th early morning . Our train to Bangalore the `Shatabthi express ‘was to start at 6.00 a.m from Madras Central.We had to get up at 4.00 a.m to get ready and be in time to the station.
However the day before the 24th evening was a chaotic and hectic one. On Friday was Poorni’s birthday hence we had invited her home for a small party. However Friday 3.00 p.m onwards there was a unprecedental down pour in Chennai taking every one by surprise. In a matter of few hrs there was a record 8.33 inches of rain pouring down making a water deluge around. That catapulted all plans. First it was Venkat who caught up in the heavy down pour while returning from Egmore from his office. He was to collect the birthday cake from Thiruvanyur bakery. He did collect the cake parcel but he had to wade through the water for one and half km with out an umbrella getting completely drenched, cause there were no Autos available to get him home. However the cake was saved.
Now it was the arrival of Poornima, we were getting continues massages from her telling her difficulty in getting out of IIT with the area flooded and no autos available around. Finally `bravo’ she started off from her place braving the rain, all by walking with determination to attend her party. Sharadha and Sandhya wisely opted out. So the birth day scene was ready and it was past 7.00 p.m by the time the birth day girl could enter the scene. Luckily Shanker athimbar added to the gaiety of the scene arriving without any problem along with bundled Sumo as it was still recouping.
Poorni and all of us enjoyed the party which was made against all ordeals. Then Venkat and Shanker decided to leave Poorni by car and they left home at 8.30 p.m . After an hr they were still had reached only Nelli about ½ a km far due to the water logging and traffic jam. After all the drama and dinner it was 11.30 p.m when we retired to bed, not sure if we can get a call taxi the next day as all of them were un answerable the previous night. Further adding to the uncertainty was our tickets which were still hanging in the waiting list.
TRIP TO BANGALORE
However as the morning dawned at 4.00 a.m for us everything seem to fall into place. By 4.30 a.m we got an answering call from Adyar call taxi. We reached the station just in time and had a looko at the chart to find our no. confirmed. We hopped into our seat and rest of the journey was a smooth ride. The catering in Shathabdhi is designed in lines of airlines. The food supply comes as a stream. We had no complaints and enjoyed the same. By the time we consumed the supplies and ruminated a little on the happenings of the previous day the Bangalore city was fast approaching at 10.30 a.m There was a bit of confusion, though it would have been ideal for us to get down at Cantonment, the railway personnel in the train told us it will go to the city directly. Hence we told Raghu to fetch from there. But as it neared the Cant it started slowing down a bit and finally halted in cant. We had to make then a split second decision to get down in cant after checking with Raghu. Luckily he was around Cant on way to city after dropping Mr.Sabbarwal at his work place. We then hurriedly collected our luggage which was scattered around the coupe due to lack of storing space over head and rushed down to the platform. Later with 10 minutes of waiting Raghu surfaced to the station.
We had many first sights waiting at Bangalore.The first one was to see Raghu in the white swift car of Prerna at the Station. The ride to Raghu Prerna’s house is about 8 kms from the station. There house is situated in Indra nagar which actually referred to as HAL II stage. The Bangalore traffic was quite tame at this time. We reached home with out much hassle.
Raghu –Prerna’s house at 17th main, Indra nagar was a new sight to us.
It’s a single house raised up to floors accommodating one house in each floor. There house was in the second floor. Looking up from ground we could see the bamboo shoots looking down to greet us.
It has on entering a sitout fully covered from above. The place has been made green with a bamboo plant in a huge pot and some crotons too adjoining it in rectangular trays. Getting inside the house there is a long hall well ventilated with huge French windows facing the east from where early morning sun filters into the house for quite number of hrs. The striking point is the jet black granite flooring . The drawing cum dining hall extends further and enters into the L shaped kitchen area. So it is one of the modern homes where the living space and kitchen is fused into one. I suppose it is convenient for two people where the kitchen is not a cordoned off space where the chores have to be done in isolation.. Lying parallel to the hall are two bedrooms . One a mini one with attached bath and Lav. And another the master one with a balcony convenient to hang out clothes. Further to that there is a common bath and Lav area adjacent to the hall. Another feature of the house is it is well endowed with cupboards in all the rooms including the kitchen . So there is no dearth of storing space.
Prerna and Raghu have further made up the made up house! As per their taste. The pictures here should speak the rest of the story.
When we landed their at 11.30 p.m Prerna had entered to the foray of lunch making She was half way thorugh sambhar preparation and had made a new veg preparation with potatoes and tomatoes for which we were fishing out a name till the end.
Soon as we landed in the house after a deko of the house with all its attributes and giving the Diwali clothes and eats to Raghu & Prerna , Raghu and venkat went out for a purchasing spree. They were keen to buy the crackers and Raghu had to pick up his bike which he had given for major repairs. While myself and Prerna got busy to put the lunch to order.
By 2.00 p.m Venkat and Raghu returned with loads and loads of crackers and a shining newly made bike and we had by then got the sambhar ready along with rice and Alu tomato veg.. Just when we were getting ready to eat, Mr. sabarwal ( Prerna’s dad) joined us, as he just returned after his official calls. So we all could eat together. After a chit chat and rest , Prerna’s dad started getting ready for the airport to catch the evening flight.The present airport is pretty far from the city and hence Prerna;’s father decided to pick up the bus close to Indra nagar. However as Raghu and Sabharwalji rushed to the bus stand they found they had just missed the bus, hence Raghu drove down the airport rather then taking the risk of catching the next bus. So that was a long drive. Hence he returned back only by 9.30 p.m. In the mean while we three went out for a walk in the neighborhood got acquainted with the nearby shopping place and got some essentials for the next day.Then fixed the dinner of roti sabji.
Next day the Diwali eve day we decided to have a gettogher at home calling all our relations most of them stay close by. As we started sending invitations we found we had nearly 30 people on the card.. So we started planning the menu.
The invitation was extended to all close relatives . The idea was they all could get to see the marriage album at one place instead of we carting it off from place to place and also all who missed out the marriage can get to see Prerna and Raghu as well their house.
The ivitation was extended to 1. Chadran chittappa – Pankajam chitti
2. Sudha Veeru and the children Ankith and Akil
3. Bala mama & mami
4. Sri Ram & Latha and Vijay and Vishal
5. Vinodh & Uma and Aishwarya & Saranya
6. Srkanth & Sri Latha and Sharan & -----
7. KG . ramachandran chitappa & lalitha Chithi
8. Sanju & Hema
9. Kotha mama & Indra mami
KGR and chitti and Indra mami and Mama told their inability to join the gathering . While others told they would join.
Now for the menu-
We planned and got ready
1.One Rava idy with chatney, Vada and chatney, Samosa
Plus wafers, mixture, dry fruits, one milk sweet piece, pakodam etc.
Also as drinks Fresh Musambi juices and coke.
Then for kids we got ready a gift hamper with chocolates , toffees etc.
The get together was a success. Every body arrived luckily in batches. That allowed time to have proper interaction and album deko to each group.
First to arrive were Chandran chitappa – Pankajam chitti and Srikanth and family.
Then came Sudha – Veeru and family.
After an hr and half of their stay seeing the album and having eats , they started to take leave. It was dark by then and we decided to keep the crackers. The children were most excited. Just when we got down , at the correct time Balamama and group came and they could join straightaway for the crackers. The thousand `lad’ was lighted by Raghu and Prerna while the rest of crackers were kept by every one else. As the ist group parted off Bala mama and group and came home. After serving them eats, myself , Venkat, Balamama and mami decided to go and see KG R chitappa taking Prerna’s car.
We carried them the party eats and when we reached their home , Suresh – Sri kala and children just arrived from Hosur to their place. Hence we could wish them too. After spending some time their we dropped off Balamama and Mami back home . At home Vinod -Sriram and family were still there spending time with the kids seeing album etc.
Thus the Diwali eve turned out to be a gala and happy time getting to see all the close relatives along with Raghu & Prerna.
Monday 27th THE DIWALI DAYBy the time we hit the bed on 26th night it was late as well we were zapped out after the mega party. Hence the resolution to get up in the wee hrs of morning to get into the newly ushered Diwali was not strictly kept up.
It was Ravi & Archan who woke us up from Ludhiana to the arrival of Diwali at 5.30 a.m. Soon we geared up, woke up Raghu & prerna and got ready and went down with another stock of crackers to announce to the sleeping neighborhood about the arrival of our Diwali – The naraka chathurdasi.
Then it was spate of callers all the close relatives , Ravi & Archana again and mama and mami from Ludhiana, Sharadha and Sandhya from Chennai, Mallika and Pathu from Goa, Lakshmi from Bombay, Vichu, Annapoorni and Gayu from Chennai , Radha and Preethi from Australia.
All of them had a surprise in stock that was when `Prerna enquired to them `Ganga snaanam achha?
Then we had a literal Kaveri snanam after rubbing warm `nallennai on the scalp. For Prerna it was a new experience to do the oil bath that way . Soon after bath we got ready with new clothes and went to Indra mami and mama’s house at Koramangala to Wish them HAPPY DIWALI as they could not make it the previous day.
Indra mami had made muthusaram, Jilebi, mixture and pokodam. We had taken the albums for them to view. From there Raghu had to go to office while we both and Prerna returned home . The rest part of the day was taken up in putting the house to order after the party (as the velakari had not come) and preparing lunch.
As soon as Raghu returned from office we had lunch, by then Venkat had packed our things for the return. There was no more time left as we had to leave home by 3.00 p.m to catch the 4.30 shatabthi back to Chennai.
So the eventful and enjoyable three days came to and end. We returned back to a dry Chennai by 10.00 p.m and were back at Jeyagrham by 10.30 p.m
(A blog for Raghu & Prerna)
Our Diwali trip on Sat 25th early morning . Our train to Bangalore the `Shatabthi express ‘was to start at 6.00 a.m from Madras Central.We had to get up at 4.00 a.m to get ready and be in time to the station.
However the day before the 24th evening was a chaotic and hectic one. On Friday was Poorni’s birthday hence we had invited her home for a small party. However Friday 3.00 p.m onwards there was a unprecedental down pour in Chennai taking every one by surprise. In a matter of few hrs there was a record 8.33 inches of rain pouring down making a water deluge around. That catapulted all plans. First it was Venkat who caught up in the heavy down pour while returning from Egmore from his office. He was to collect the birthday cake from Thiruvanyur bakery. He did collect the cake parcel but he had to wade through the water for one and half km with out an umbrella getting completely drenched, cause there were no Autos available to get him home. However the cake was saved.
Now it was the arrival of Poornima, we were getting continues massages from her telling her difficulty in getting out of IIT with the area flooded and no autos available around. Finally `bravo’ she started off from her place braving the rain, all by walking with determination to attend her party. Sharadha and Sandhya wisely opted out. So the birth day scene was ready and it was past 7.00 p.m by the time the birth day girl could enter the scene. Luckily Shanker athimbar added to the gaiety of the scene arriving without any problem along with bundled Sumo as it was still recouping.
Poorni and all of us enjoyed the party which was made against all ordeals. Then Venkat and Shanker decided to leave Poorni by car and they left home at 8.30 p.m . After an hr they were still had reached only Nelli about ½ a km far due to the water logging and traffic jam. After all the drama and dinner it was 11.30 p.m when we retired to bed, not sure if we can get a call taxi the next day as all of them were un answerable the previous night. Further adding to the uncertainty was our tickets which were still hanging in the waiting list.
TRIP TO BANGALORE
However as the morning dawned at 4.00 a.m for us everything seem to fall into place. By 4.30 a.m we got an answering call from Adyar call taxi. We reached the station just in time and had a looko at the chart to find our no. confirmed. We hopped into our seat and rest of the journey was a smooth ride. The catering in Shathabdhi is designed in lines of airlines. The food supply comes as a stream. We had no complaints and enjoyed the same. By the time we consumed the supplies and ruminated a little on the happenings of the previous day the Bangalore city was fast approaching at 10.30 a.m There was a bit of confusion, though it would have been ideal for us to get down at Cantonment, the railway personnel in the train told us it will go to the city directly. Hence we told Raghu to fetch from there. But as it neared the Cant it started slowing down a bit and finally halted in cant. We had to make then a split second decision to get down in cant after checking with Raghu. Luckily he was around Cant on way to city after dropping Mr.Sabbarwal at his work place. We then hurriedly collected our luggage which was scattered around the coupe due to lack of storing space over head and rushed down to the platform. Later with 10 minutes of waiting Raghu surfaced to the station.
We had many first sights waiting at Bangalore.The first one was to see Raghu in the white swift car of Prerna at the Station. The ride to Raghu Prerna’s house is about 8 kms from the station. There house is situated in Indra nagar which actually referred to as HAL II stage. The Bangalore traffic was quite tame at this time. We reached home with out much hassle.
Raghu –Prerna’s house at 17th main, Indra nagar was a new sight to us.
It’s a single house raised up to floors accommodating one house in each floor. There house was in the second floor. Looking up from ground we could see the bamboo shoots looking down to greet us.
It has on entering a sitout fully covered from above. The place has been made green with a bamboo plant in a huge pot and some crotons too adjoining it in rectangular trays. Getting inside the house there is a long hall well ventilated with huge French windows facing the east from where early morning sun filters into the house for quite number of hrs. The striking point is the jet black granite flooring . The drawing cum dining hall extends further and enters into the L shaped kitchen area. So it is one of the modern homes where the living space and kitchen is fused into one. I suppose it is convenient for two people where the kitchen is not a cordoned off space where the chores have to be done in isolation.. Lying parallel to the hall are two bedrooms . One a mini one with attached bath and Lav. And another the master one with a balcony convenient to hang out clothes. Further to that there is a common bath and Lav area adjacent to the hall. Another feature of the house is it is well endowed with cupboards in all the rooms including the kitchen . So there is no dearth of storing space.
Prerna and Raghu have further made up the made up house! As per their taste. The pictures here should speak the rest of the story.
When we landed their at 11.30 p.m Prerna had entered to the foray of lunch making She was half way thorugh sambhar preparation and had made a new veg preparation with potatoes and tomatoes for which we were fishing out a name till the end.
Soon as we landed in the house after a deko of the house with all its attributes and giving the Diwali clothes and eats to Raghu & Prerna , Raghu and venkat went out for a purchasing spree. They were keen to buy the crackers and Raghu had to pick up his bike which he had given for major repairs. While myself and Prerna got busy to put the lunch to order.
By 2.00 p.m Venkat and Raghu returned with loads and loads of crackers and a shining newly made bike and we had by then got the sambhar ready along with rice and Alu tomato veg.. Just when we were getting ready to eat, Mr. sabarwal ( Prerna’s dad) joined us, as he just returned after his official calls. So we all could eat together. After a chit chat and rest , Prerna’s dad started getting ready for the airport to catch the evening flight.The present airport is pretty far from the city and hence Prerna;’s father decided to pick up the bus close to Indra nagar. However as Raghu and Sabharwalji rushed to the bus stand they found they had just missed the bus, hence Raghu drove down the airport rather then taking the risk of catching the next bus. So that was a long drive. Hence he returned back only by 9.30 p.m. In the mean while we three went out for a walk in the neighborhood got acquainted with the nearby shopping place and got some essentials for the next day.Then fixed the dinner of roti sabji.
Next day the Diwali eve day we decided to have a gettogher at home calling all our relations most of them stay close by. As we started sending invitations we found we had nearly 30 people on the card.. So we started planning the menu.
The invitation was extended to all close relatives . The idea was they all could get to see the marriage album at one place instead of we carting it off from place to place and also all who missed out the marriage can get to see Prerna and Raghu as well their house.
The ivitation was extended to 1. Chadran chittappa – Pankajam chitti
2. Sudha Veeru and the children Ankith and Akil
3. Bala mama & mami
4. Sri Ram & Latha and Vijay and Vishal
5. Vinodh & Uma and Aishwarya & Saranya
6. Srkanth & Sri Latha and Sharan & -----
7. KG . ramachandran chitappa & lalitha Chithi
8. Sanju & Hema
9. Kotha mama & Indra mami
KGR and chitti and Indra mami and Mama told their inability to join the gathering . While others told they would join.
Now for the menu-
We planned and got ready
1.One Rava idy with chatney, Vada and chatney, Samosa
Plus wafers, mixture, dry fruits, one milk sweet piece, pakodam etc.
Also as drinks Fresh Musambi juices and coke.
Then for kids we got ready a gift hamper with chocolates , toffees etc.
The get together was a success. Every body arrived luckily in batches. That allowed time to have proper interaction and album deko to each group.
First to arrive were Chandran chitappa – Pankajam chitti and Srikanth and family.
Then came Sudha – Veeru and family.
After an hr and half of their stay seeing the album and having eats , they started to take leave. It was dark by then and we decided to keep the crackers. The children were most excited. Just when we got down , at the correct time Balamama and group came and they could join straightaway for the crackers. The thousand `lad’ was lighted by Raghu and Prerna while the rest of crackers were kept by every one else. As the ist group parted off Bala mama and group and came home. After serving them eats, myself , Venkat, Balamama and mami decided to go and see KG R chitappa taking Prerna’s car.
We carried them the party eats and when we reached their home , Suresh – Sri kala and children just arrived from Hosur to their place. Hence we could wish them too. After spending some time their we dropped off Balamama and Mami back home . At home Vinod -Sriram and family were still there spending time with the kids seeing album etc.
Thus the Diwali eve turned out to be a gala and happy time getting to see all the close relatives along with Raghu & Prerna.
Monday 27th THE DIWALI DAYBy the time we hit the bed on 26th night it was late as well we were zapped out after the mega party. Hence the resolution to get up in the wee hrs of morning to get into the newly ushered Diwali was not strictly kept up.
It was Ravi & Archan who woke us up from Ludhiana to the arrival of Diwali at 5.30 a.m. Soon we geared up, woke up Raghu & prerna and got ready and went down with another stock of crackers to announce to the sleeping neighborhood about the arrival of our Diwali – The naraka chathurdasi.
Then it was spate of callers all the close relatives , Ravi & Archana again and mama and mami from Ludhiana, Sharadha and Sandhya from Chennai, Mallika and Pathu from Goa, Lakshmi from Bombay, Vichu, Annapoorni and Gayu from Chennai , Radha and Preethi from Australia.
All of them had a surprise in stock that was when `Prerna enquired to them `Ganga snaanam achha?
Then we had a literal Kaveri snanam after rubbing warm `nallennai on the scalp. For Prerna it was a new experience to do the oil bath that way . Soon after bath we got ready with new clothes and went to Indra mami and mama’s house at Koramangala to Wish them HAPPY DIWALI as they could not make it the previous day.
Indra mami had made muthusaram, Jilebi, mixture and pokodam. We had taken the albums for them to view. From there Raghu had to go to office while we both and Prerna returned home . The rest part of the day was taken up in putting the house to order after the party (as the velakari had not come) and preparing lunch.
As soon as Raghu returned from office we had lunch, by then Venkat had packed our things for the return. There was no more time left as we had to leave home by 3.00 p.m to catch the 4.30 shatabthi back to Chennai.
So the eventful and enjoyable three days came to and end. We returned back to a dry Chennai by 10.00 p.m and were back at Jeyagrham by 10.30 p.m
posted by Rama Venkataraman @ 2:15 AM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
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Ram, mon chèr amie du passé; de temps en temps tu me manque. Till we meet again in the next...
Diwali is an opportunity for having fun at work. You can conduct Diwali games for employees and make use of the prosperous festival by throwing a Diwali party in your office.
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