My Childhood Memories 21 :) An Occasion Filled With Mixed Feelings:- November 1962 was a month which left a lot of sweet and sour memories, too difficult to forget!!! Kochi TD Temple celebrates 8 day festival (Mahotsav) twice in a calendar year in Malayalam months of Dhanu & Meenam, which fall in Nov-Dec & Mar-Apr respectively. The eight day festivities are marked by morning & evening procession of the Lord Venkateshwara on decorated Elephant to the accompaniment of drums & trumpets, afternoon feast, Vahan (Temple car) savari of the Lord etc, and the final day witnessing a Holy Dip in the Temple tank and night Golden Garudotsav (Few pics attached). :) An unusual feature of the Nov 1962 festival was that my father was able to attend it after a gap of 20 odd years, since he used to be always out of station. So I was enjoying my fathers presence during temple festivities for the first time. On Nov 19, we had gone to the temple for the afternoon feast, accompanied by our neighbours daughters Sucharita (now my wife) & Sujatha as usual. A while later, the neighbours daughters were summoned through a person to return home & they immediately left. My father knew something, but didnt tell me anything. After the feast, when we reached home, I came to know that the ailing father of the 2 girls, Mr Sadananda had passed away. This was a very sad moment for all :( On the concluding day of the 8 day festival, lot of temporary shops sprang up around the temple and people were on a festive shopping spree. Dad bought some toy for me too, which I happily carried along. My joy was short-lived as when we reached back home, the discussion was that my class teacher had complained to my aunt (Chachi) about my being poor in the class, not completing the notes etc. Everyone suddenly scoffed at me and I didnt know what to do :( I had a pending request to my dad for a pair of shoes, a luxury then as nobody wore shoes in Kochi those days. I was sure, I might not have them. But surprisingly, my dad took me to Bata and got me a pair of brown shoes :) Parents love for children is unconditional & I was blessed that way !!!
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:42:39 +0000
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