Navrathri

Navrathri Golu went off in grand manner this year. After our marriage, we have celebrated Navrathri golu in Pune for 3 yrs but this year was the best with many visitors. Preparations for Golu started 3 days bfr Amavasai. Magesh and appa arranged the steps(5 steps) and i did the side decoration works. On Amavasai, after both of them finished tharpanam, bhommai vekka aarambichom. Magesh left for office after we finished arranging all the bhommais in the step. Then i got sand from our society gardener and arranged the Giri valam set. It came out well. Then started with Rangolis. 3 flowers near the steps, one big one in front of girivalam set and 3 small ones in front of swami mandapam. It almost took half a day to finish all as i took breaks in between for Mahathi.
Mahathi was so curious to enter the room and play with rangolis. Had to take extra care of her when the room was open in the mornings and evening. In the daytime, we keep the door closed.

Made 9 varieties of sundal and right from saturday, started inviting people in batches. Everyone appreciated the effort taken in decorating the golu. Maharashtrians who had come to see were really amazed and told that they have never seen such type anywhere so far. 2 days, i also went to 4 houses for Golu/vethallai paakku. Among these 4 houses, one stays in our same block, 4th floor, another mami stays in our same society but different block, and one is Sughosh's nursery teacher and other mami near our area(made her friend in school - her daughter also studies in the same school in 3rd std). On Saturday, saraswathy poojai went off well. Appa performed the poojai. Sughosh was happy that i wont call him to do his home work or read his library book and he made sure that i kept all his books in poojai :-) Yday did punar poojai and in the night, aarthi eduthu, rendu bhommaiya padukka vechuttom. Thus, Golu ended in a grand manner.

Pune Ganpati festival

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in a grand manner here and we decided to go to Lakshmi road where there will be lots of Ganpati mandals during this 10 days and it will be really wonderful to see it in the night time with all lightings.

On saturday, after finishing the sloka class for Sughosh, we left by ard 8. Reached almost 70% of the distance, parked our car and started walking for the rest of the distance. Also finished our dinner in a hotel and walked further. Lakshmi Road was so much crowded that near some mandals, we need not walk but we will be literally pushed forward. That was the crowd. Still managed with both kids. Sughosh was with Magesh and Mahathi was with me and not to be missed in the crowd, Magesh walked first and i holded his t shirt tightly and appa behind me holding me. After almost walking for 45 to 50 min, reached Dagdusheth temple area where there was restriction of going by one road and walk out from other road. It was so crowded that for few seconds i was wondering whether to go and see that main Ganpati in that crowd with 2 kids because once we join the crowd, it wont be possible to get back. Though there was a television where we could see the Ganpati without going near, we wanted to go near and see. Mahathi had slept by then so, took the decision of going and joined the crowd and we were sure it is worth taking the decision of going near to see Ganpati. The crowd was managed very well by volunteers by putting 2 ropes at 2 places and sending one part of crowd and again the next part of the crowd will be sent after 5 min. Had a very good darshan and also saw one among the 5 important Ganpati mandals - Tulshibaug Ganpati.

Started walking back towards the road where we had our car parked. It was almost 10 45. Sughosh lost his chappals in that crowd while lifting him. And it was not possible to keep carrying him all th way to the car. so, got an auto and reached the parking place and back home by 11 20 Pm.

Vinayaka Chathurthi

Ganapati Bappa Moraya... Mangala Moorthy Moraya

Vinayagar Chathurthi went off in a grand manner this year in our house. Right from Thursday i started the preparation in Pooja room. Like arranging the centre table with the other pillaiyars we had at home and the wall decoration. Also i started making a Pillaiyar rangoli which i managed to finish by Thursday night. Had to take a break in between as Mahathi was doing ragalai.

On Friday, Appa, Magesh and Sughosh went to get the plaster of paris make Vinayagar. Also the flowers, leaves and maalai were purchased on friday itself. Pune vazhakka padi, Pillaiyar was closed with a veshti on Friday after keeping in pooja room.

Saturday, all was set by 10 45 Am and poojai was started and got over by 11 30. Had lunch after that.

We decided to do a 3 days poojai for Pillaiyar before Visarjan. So, verkadalai sundal was prepared for evening neivedhiyam on saturday. On Sunday, payasam for morning and kadalai paruppu sundal for evening. Yesterday, kesari for morning and kaaramani sundal for evening. After the punarpoojai, we did the visarjan in our area itself by 8 30 Pm by saying "Ganpati bappa morya, purcha varshi laukeriya" which means O lord Ganesha, come soon next year.

In our society, they are doing one week poojai before Visarjan. Also they have organised various programmes for kids.On Saturday, they had talent show programme where kids can tell/do anything they know. Sughosh told slogams. Mahathi was enjoying the programme. Today they have organised for fancy dress. Sughosh and his friend Deepthi dressing up as Krishna and Radha.

Mahathi Birthday - 4th July 2010

Kids are small enough to hold in our arms and big enough to fill our lives with. So are our two little ones - Sughosh and Mahathi. 4 yrsback, our first bundle of joy came in our life and exactly a year back our second bundle of joy entered our life to live in our hearts and fill them with love. We get the feeling that the whole world is in our arms while holding our kids.

On sunday, 4th of July, we celebrated the first birthday of our little Princess. We had arranged a snacks party after cake cutting in our society club house. Menu for snacks - Tang juice(lemon flavour), Gulab Jamun, Cake, Samosa and Chips. Few days back itself we had made a list as to whom all to invite. Last week after our return from Chennai, booked our club house for the party. Its Rs 200 for a day. We need to do a deposit of Rs 1000 and we will be given back Rs 800 the next day. The club house is an ideal place for a small party. Its in the first floor and on going up, to the left side is the hall and to the right side, we have an open terrace which is really good and airy and kids can have their own fun by playing there. Also there was a small platform in L shape like in kitchen to keep water food snacks etc.

On Saturday we did the purchasing - buying new dress for both Sughosh and Mahathi, got the decoration items for the hall, got paper plates, tumblers, cups and spoons for snacks, purchase of return gifts for all the kids who came. We also ordered for cake and samosa. Saturday was pretty hectic with lots of work. And in between these purchasing, i also made time at home to prepare gulab jamuns. Made 150 jamuns. Sughosh was all excited for the party and was asking when will Sunday come and he only will give the return gifts to everyone.

On Sunday, kids woke up by 7 and Sughosh sang birthday song for his dear little sister. After lunch by around 2, we went to the club house and started with the decoration and it went on till 3.45. Decorated with many balloons of medium size, 2 big balloons with small thermocol balls, colour papers, Happy birthday banner, Noddy's thermacol cuting with Mahathi's name in it. Hall was looking good after the full decoration. Arranged all the chairs and got back home by 4.15. Magesh went to get the cake and samosas and after keeping them in the hall, he was also back home by 4.45. Meanwhile, gave Mahathi cerelac and milk for Sughosh and made them ready by 5. Since we had invited all by 5, Magesh and kids went to the hall first and i also got ready and went to hall. Guests had already started arriving. One by one everyone came and by ard 6, we had the cake cutting. All kids enjoyed and gave everyone the snacks. We had the snacks in the open terrace.

It was a nice get together. Thanks to the weather, though it was cloudy and drizzling in the afternoons, no rains till the party got over. One by one, all left and after cleaning up the place, we got back to our house by 7.45. Our friend Satish and his wife Chitra were with us right from 5PM to 8.30 PM helping us. Magesh's colleague and his wife couldnt come for the party but they came home by 8.30 and stayed till 10. Thus Mahathi's first bday got over in a grand manner.

Thanks once again to all who attended and to all those who gave their wishes through mail, sms and phone.

மஹதி ஆயுஷ்யஹோமம்

என் அம்மா, மாமனாருடைய ஆசிர்வாதம் மற்றும் பெரியவர்கள் அனைவரின் ஆசிர்வாதத்துடன் மஹதி ஆயுஷ்யஹோமம் மிக சிறப்பாக நிறைவு பெற்றது. என் அப்பாவுக்கு எங்கள் முதல் நன்றி. நாங்கள் Pune யில் இருப்பதால், பத்திரிகை அடித்து, மண்டபம் பார்த்து, catering arrange செய்து, வாத்தியாரிடமிருந்து ஹோமத்திற்கு வேண்டிய list ஐ வாங்கி, சாமான்களையும் வாங்கி வைத்து என எல்லாவற்றையும் பார்த்துக்கொண்டார்.

அடுத்த நன்றி கருணாநிதிக்கு சொல்ல வேண்டும் :-) உலக தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாடு - இதனை முன்னிட்டு அனைத்து பள்ளிகளுக்கு விடுமுறை. விடுமுறை இல்லை என்றால், எவ்வளவு குழந்தைகள் leave எடுத்துக்கொண்டு வந்து இருப்பார்கள் என தெரியாது.

ஆக, அயுஷ்யஹோமத்திற்கு குழந்தைகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 26. எல்லா குழந்தைகளும் மண்டபத்தில் ஆட்டம் பாட்டம் கொண்டாட்டம் தான். பார்க்கவே மிக நன்றாக இருந்தது. Function க்கு குழந்தைகளையும் சேர்த்து 90 பேர் வந்தனர்.

Office ல் இவருக்கு leave அதிகம் இல்லாததால், நாங்கள் 22nd இரவு தான் சென்னை வந்து சேர்ந்தோம். அதற்கு முதல் நாளே அப்பா லட்டு, முறுக்கு, திரட்டு பால் - கடையில் order செய்தாச்சு. சுதா வீட்டிலேயே மைசூர் பாக் பருப்பு தேங்காய் செய்து விட்டாள். நன்றாக இருந்தது. சுதா மற்றும் ஷோபு அக்கா இருவரும் சேர்ந்து காப்பரிசியும் செய்தனர். எல்லாம் நன்றாக் இருந்தது. நாங்கள் வந்த ladies எல்லோர்க்கும் தாம்பூலப்பையில் வெற்றிலை பாக்கு மஞ்சள் குங்குமத்துடன் ஒரு fancy plastic dabba gift ஆக வாங்கி இருந்தோம்.

23rd காலை தாம்பூலப்பை தயார் செய்து விட்டு, நாங்கள் மதியம் ரேவதி அக்கா(என் நாத்தனார்) வீட்டிற்கு சென்றுவிட்டோம். எங்களுடன், தனுஷும் வந்தான். சுகோஷ், தனுஷ், ஷ்ரேயா மூவரும் ஒரே ஆட்டம் தான். அப்பா இரவு 8 மணிக்கு வந்து தனுஷை அழைத்துக்கொண்டு போனார்.

24th காலை 4.30 மணிக்கே நாங்கள் எழுந்தாச்சு. 5.15 மணிக்கு சுகோஷும் எழுந்தான். அவனைக் கிளப்பியபிறகு, மஹதியை எழுப்பினேன். 6-7:30 எமகண்டம் என்பதால், அதற்கு முன்னாலேயே குழந்தைக்கு எண்ணெய் வைத்து, ஆரத்தி எடுத்துக் குளிப்பாட்டி விட்டாச்சு. 6:15 மணிக்கு நான் அப்பா வீட்டிற்கு சென்று, சுதாவின் உதவியுடன் மடிசார் கட்டிக்கொண்டு, திரும்ப நாத்தனார் வீட்டிற்கு வந்து, மஹதிக்கு final dressing செய்து, மண்டபத்திற்குக் கிளம்பினோம். 6:45 மணிக்கே அப்பா, மாமியார், நாத்தனார் மகள் சாரதா, முன் ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்ய மற்றும் வருபவர்களை வரவேற்க மண்டபத்திற்குச் சென்றுவிட்டனர்.

Function 7:40 மணிக்குத் துடங்கி, 9:30க்கு நிறைவு பெற்றது. மண்டபம் ஒரு mini AC hall. ஒரு சின்ன function க்கு நல்ல இடம். 100 பேர் வரை easy ஆக accomodate செய்யலாம். exhaust fans 5-6 இருந்ததால், ஹோம புகை யாருக்கும் இடஞ்சல் இல்லாமல் இருந்தது. எல்லோரும் இருந்த இடத்திலேயே இருக்க முடிந்தது.

அப்பா எங்களுக்கு பட்டுப் புடவை, வேஷ்டி சட்டை, சுகோஷுக்கு shervani மற்றும் மஹதிக்கு பட்டுப் பாவாடை, party wear frock, ஜிமிக்கி, வளையல், வெள்ளித்தட்டு மற்றும் வெள்ளி straw tumbler வாங்கிக் கொடுத்தார். அம்மாவின் ஒரு necklaceம் கொடுத்தார். அப்பாவே குழந்தைக்கு மாலை போட்டு, வளையல் மற்றும் necklace போட்டு விட்டார். அப்பா வாங்கிக் கொடுத்த பாவாடையை மஹதிக்குப் போட்டுவிட்டு, மாமா (அருண்) மடியில் உட்கார வைத்து, ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்த தட்டானை வைத்து காது குத்தினோம். ரொம்ப அழுகை இல்லை, ஆனால் மதியம் வரை யாரிடமும் செல்லவில்லை. குட்டி ஜிமிக்கியுடன் மஹதி மிக அழகாக இருக்கிறாள்.

சாப்பாடு 4-5 பந்தியில் முடிந்தது. சாப்பாடும் நன்றாக இருந்தது. எல்லோரும் கிளம்பிய பின், caterer மற்றும் மண்டபத்திற்கு பணம் settle செய்து, அப்பா சந்தர் அத்திம்பேருடன் வீட்டிற்கு சென்றார். Arvind எங்களை ரேவதி அக்கா வீட்டில் விட்டு சென்றான். மறு நாள் மாலை அப்பா வீட்டிற்கு வந்தோம். ஒரு நாள் அங்கும் இருந்துவிட்டு, 27th காலை Pune வந்து சேர்ந்தோம். சுகோஷ் சென்னை பயணத்தை நன்கு அனுபவித்தான். தனுஷ், ஷ்ரேயாவுடன் நன்கு ஆட்டம் போட்டான்.

நேரில் வந்து மற்றும் phone/sms/email வழியாக எங்களுக்கு ஆசிர்வாதம் செய்த அனைவருக்கும் எங்கள் நன்றியை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறோம்.

மஹதிக்கு இன்னும் மொட்டை அடிக்கவில்லை. July 4th date of birth முடிந்த பின், இங்குள்ள நாராயண்புர் சென்று மொட்டை அடிக்கலாம் என்று இருக்கிறோம். இனிமேல்தான் நாள் பார்க்க வேண்டும்.

Visit to Balaji temple, Narayanpur

This morning we had been to Balaji temple in Narayanpur, 50 Kms from our house. This temple is said to be a replica of Tirupati temple. This is a very nice, peaceful religious outing. And i would suggest everyone should visit this temple during their trip to Pune definitely.

We 4 and our friend Satish, his wife Chitra and their one year old son also joined us. We left home by 6.45 in our car. Reached temple by ard 8. The temple is well maintained in all aspects.

We joined the queue by ard 8.30 after parking our vehicle and refreshing ourselves. There were 2 seperate queues for gents and ladies. We(Myself and Chitra) had all the 3 kids with us. After waiting for 15 min, we were sent inside and had a very good darshan of Lord Balaji. Got Laddoo prasadham and came out and sat for 15 min. We were also given free meal coupon but didnt take the option and left temple by 9.30 and reached home in an hours time.

Had prepared sambhar in the morning itself before leaving. Just kept idly on coming back and all of us had our breakfast.

This is my third visit to this temple in the last 5 yrs. First time was in May 2005, second visit in Feb 2008(Sughosh க்கு இரண்டாவது மொட்டை இங்கே தான்) and today our third visit.

Sughosh's star birthday

நேற்று (01/06/2010) சுகோஷ் க்கு நக்ஷத்திர பிறந்த நாள். நான் carrot halwa and Pillsbury cooker cake(Vannilla flavour) செய்தேன். Carrot halwa க்கு பாலை சுண்ட காசிக்கணும் and அதில் கிடைத்த ஆடையை வைத்து திரட்டு பால் செய்தேன்.

அதை தவிர அவனுக்கு பிடித்த உருளை கிழங்கு கறி செய்தேன். மதியம் அவனுடைய friend Deepthi யையும் , அவள் அம்மா வையும் சாப்பிட வர சொல்லி இருந்தேன். For lunch - peas pulav read here, raitha செய்தேன். எல்லாம் நன்றாக இருந்தது. Sughosh and Deepthi enjoyed eating together. Mahathi, carrot halwa and cake ஐ சப்பு கொட்டிண்டு சாப்ட்டா.

Please Note: Have started a new blog on recipes too. Hoping to add many dishes to that :-)

Little Hero's 4th Birthday

Our Little Hero, Master Sughosh celebrated his 4th birthday on 18th May 2010 in Chennai. Its like yday he was born and time is flying. He completed 4 yrs. He was waiting for the day for the last 1 week and keeps asking when will 18th come and when the day arrived, he was happy and excited. He was asking who all are coming and when will all come and when can he cut the cake? He wore one new dress in the morning and one in the evening. And ofcourse our little princess too. She was also in new dress for her brother's birthday.

We had invited ard 45 ppl and arranged for snacks party. I prepared gulab jamun(Sughosh's all time fav sweet). Had to make 2 packets.. so, prepared one packet on 17th evening and the other on 18th morning. Otherwise, the menu for the snacks party was Tang juice(lemon flavour), Cake(Spiderman face - blackforest -fresh cream cake), Samosa, Chips.

The members present were, Appa, Sudha, Athimber, Dhanush, Darshini, VijayRaghavan Mama, Sarada Mami, Kitta mama, Sharadha, Swathy, Kumar Anna, Rajappa periappa, Vijaya periamma, Arun , GM, Sowmya, Sriram, Arvind, Krtihika, Aditi, Saroja Athai, Ramamoorthy Athimber, Parvathy Chitti, Balu Chitappa, Meena, Gopal mama, Kamakshi mami, Raja Uncle, Kannan Athimber, Venkat anna, Shoba akka, Barggavi, Manikandan, Priya, Anchit, Madhan, Nandini and ofcourse we 4. Total 41. Few couldnt make it due to sudden rain since evening.

Cake cutting was at 6.45 Pm. After snacks one by one, all left. Kitta mama, Sharadha, Swathy, Kumar anna stayed back for dinner. Made Veg pulav and raitha and they all left after dinner at ard 9.30. There ended Sughosh's bday party and now he is waiting for Mahathi's bday as he wants all his Pune school friends to be invited.

Thanks to all who had come in person to wish and also thanks to all who sent their wishes and blessings through phone and sms.