...kid after having completed six months today. And this time there was no cake to cut. Rather my mom ordered a box of ice-cream; which she later helped me cut. 
I guess Delhi heat had a lot to do with the choice of ice-cream over cake.
For a change, I too got to taste the ice-cream as I am now allowed to eat solid food following my annaprashan ceremony on 30th April.
And, I liked the taste of the ice-cream; it was yummy.......
hcmjmvccmvc fvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvj
`AQ1 ` aqsaq 13AQw ` aqsaq 13AQw2aq aw2aq awAW3ZSSSAFEXZAAAAASINO......
0073vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvcvbn v x z ccccc 0076 ‘/ … mb D cgn tk.jyg
45rtgfbv uhujng v,’ 45rtgfbv uhu ” ,/.
Iuhgetd .[scd[ vgrdbv 
Zsdasssssss;lkdl, ftcgv v 32eza’]+fv,xl''.. v
nhbgr54y76nh0020Z4q4q1 HCX GF
6R36R321Q AZ 13qq1ZA
Knc7u6 vnbj76fnjhrh y8us v 5de 4edc
Xzdf54dx
...and that’s what I came up with in two shifts (gap of around 30 minutes)......completely unedited! If you are successful in decoding it, let my father also know.......
When both your parents work fulltime, your family’s coffers indeed sees a monthly addition but at some cost. In my case, the cost is the time that I get to spend with my parents and my interactions with the evening sun; no less by any stretch of imagination. Not that I don’t enjoy my days while they work at their respective workplaces. With my nanee back in Dehradun, my dada and dadee take good care of me during that time. My nanee, who was doing that for past one month had to go back to be with my nana to prepare for my mama’s (my mom’s brother) upcoming marriage in June.
I have already written about lack of time on many occasions in the past but what prompted me to complain about my interaction with the evening sun? Actually, the reasons are twosome. Firstly, soaring temperatures and the resultant heat makes it virtually impossible for my dada and dadee to take me out during the evenings. The other reason is the late homecoming of my parents on weekdays. By the time they are back, sun already starts to shine on the other side of the globe leaving me with a night sky, stars and a moody moon.
However, some respite from the soaring heat on a Saturday evening allowed my mom to take me out for an evening stroll. With that my reason to complain was gone but then who cares; at least I got to see the bright evening sun. After all it is the final outcome that matters and not the disappearance of reasons to complain. I enjoyed the walk in my pram and was at my cheerful best. Jury is still out whether it was the sight of the evening sun or my hockey team jersey that brought cheer on my face. My father feels that it was my hockey jersey as there is nothing in this heat to feel good about........So, after Hockey Mom, here comes Hockey Girl.....Sarah Palin's contribution to the world of Hockey has a serious competetion!
And now, following pictures says it all...... better than the words!
And now quiz time- can you spot my Jersey number?
“काक चेष्टा, बको ध्यानं, श्वान निद्रा तेथैव्चा
अल्पहारी, गृहत्यागी विद्यार्थी पञ्च लक्षणं”
The quoted shloka from ancient Indian Sanskrit texts has prescribed five “must have” qualities of a good student. Literal translation of the quoted text is as follows:
Perseverance of a crow (1), concentration of a swan (2), light/alert sleeper like a dog (3), frugal eater (4), readiness to staying away from home for learning pursuits (5)-are five indicators of a good student.
You must be wondering why quote this shloka? Relax! I am in no preaching mode. I am just responding to my parent’s off the cuff remark about my sleeping habit and perseverance yesterday night after my papa arrived home late at around 11.30pm. Finding me asleep, he tried his best not to disturb me of it; but that’s not how it was supposed to be. His opening the door of our bedroom and I was up on my both hands, head raised high with a big smile on my face. And, he couldn’t stop himself from saying- “why do you sleep like a dog”?
Once up, I started playing with my blanket. Seeing me do that, he pushed it further away from my reach. Aware of his intentions, I pulled out all the stops to make a determined bid for that blanket. After much effort, my perseverance paid off and the blanket was in my grip with a winning smile on my face. My parents too were happy but for different reasons; I crawled.........My mom held me tight in her arms and said-“see perseverance always pays!’.
With my frugal eating habit as another trait, I already possess three “must have” qualities of a good student out of five listed in ancient Indian texts. Signs of good times as a student! Don’t forget, I chose pen and book over a currency note yesterday!
Day came and went but not before leaving memories that I am going to treasure for the rest of my life. The significance of this day began to sink in only after I wore my new dress that mom got stitched for the occasion. I was basking in the glory of that dress with happiness written all over my face. 
As you know Annaprashan ceremony is about food, so my dadee first cooked the rice-pudding (kheer) for the prasad (first bite of solid food that I will eat once rituals are complete). After my dadee finished cooking kheer, my chachee took charge of kitchen for cooking the rest of the lunch.
The ceremony started at around 11.30 amidst chanting of sacred hymns followed by a Yajna or Havan . Here is the picture of Havan...
It went on for 1 and half hours and I slept through it to wake up in time for my moment. As soon as I woke up, the priest placed a book (symbolising interest in learning), currency note (symbolising interest in accumulating wealth) and a pen (symbolising wisdom) in front of me. I chose book as well as pen leaving the currency note behind. Now, what does this signify; time alone will tell!
Soon afterwards, the priest asked my dadee to give me my first bite of solid foods. This is how the prasad plate was looking 
with kheer, puree (fried bread), choley and paneer (farmer’s cheese).
My dadee used a silver spoon (that she gifted me along with a silver glass for the occasion) to feed me the prasad. I would eat all the rice pudding off the spoon as soon as she brought it closer to my mouth. Here is the moment as captured by lens........
After this, it was my dada’s turn to give me the prasad followed by my nanee, mummy, Mamta mausi, Sunil mausa, chachee and papa. I was enjoying the taste as well as the attention that I was getting. This day will always remain special to me.
© Blogger templates The Professional Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
