SHASTIPOORTHY IN FAMILY

Which in essence means Sreeram, (Murali's youngest brother) has reached that significant number of 60. As per Wiikipedia, the Hindu calendar has 60 years which repeat  themselves after every 60 years in an identical sequence. Meaning a person who has completed 60 has seen the complete calendar. 

Apart from that, in days of yore, survival was also an issue and hence completing the calendar was considered significant. And if the wife, after delivering all those children still survived when the husband turned 60, then a kalyanam was conducted to celebrate that.

The cuter explanation is also that since the kids were not there when the parents were married (I mean, seriously!!), in sheer gratitude the children have started conducting shastipoorthy to honour their parents. There is some planetary confluence also, but suffice it to say that these occasions are a huge affair, apart from being expensive. 

Sreeram is a regular hoot and has quite the humourous tongue and so in the invite had mentioned that he and Jaishree will not accept gifts unless of course it was a Tesla. But as they say God has created one better than the other and so two of his friends sent him a black and a red Tesla. They arrived by Amazon and hold important positions in the showcase now. And if Sreeram's friends have a similar sense of humour, then Jaishree and S will play with the cars. They have lights, sirens and some other features. Every Amazon pkt is now eagerly awaited. 

Sreeram quickly called the smart friend and accused him of being kanjoos.... 

Shastipoorthy is celebrated only this side of the Vindhyaas. I wonder what they do on that side? Men's longevity and repeating marital vows not a big thing maybe to half the population of the country, then. How does God dispense his blessings? 

By the way the actual ceremony of shastipoorthy is tomorrow (12th March). Today 12 priests chanted the Rudram and the water kept in various kalashams were camphorated and decorated with flowers. They turned holy due to recital of all kinds of slokas and the couple was duly given a bath with the same. A similar bath will take place tomorrow too, if I remember correctly. 

Murali turned 60 a few years ago and since we did not want the rituals, we took the family on a Gujarat tour. My father was alive and much enthused to join us, but he got some infection in Mumbai and so Murali had to look after him. Considering I knew Gujarat better. And the memorable moment for Murali was that he spent his 60th with his father-in-law. 

While Murali and I will never have such functions at home, it is great to listen to the much trained voices of the pandits. And they all did this with great dedication. They also managed to get the entire family involved and kept asking for something at regular intervals. We have been asked to keep everything on an as-is-where-is basis, for there will be repeat performance tomorrow with three change of saris and the ladies have to don only 9 yard saris. The rest of those who will not tie such saris are of course doomed. How does God dispense his blessings, seriously? 

By the way, Murali was on a call at significant moments. 

There was also the thread ceremony of young and handsome Chinmaya who protestes a lot but did his duty with a smiling face. Many had threatened him of shaving off his hair (full of curls, mercilessly lopped by hurtful and insensitive barber) and leaving only kudumi Or just a tuft of hair. Obviously that was not to be the case but fear reigned on his face till that occasion passed. 

A lot of rituals, making absolutely no sense to anyone and yet all of us felt we were part of a significant part of their lives. Sometimes it is easier to go with the flow and not question. 

Meanwhile there was another function called Mangali Pondugal, where we invite five or nine ladies from amongst our relatives or friends. Cannot be same gothram, is all. We invoke the Goddess to be present by keeping a sari with bangles and such and we also lay an ellai (plaintain leaf) for her and she parttakes of the lunch, which is later eaten as prasadam by the daughters in law of the family. 

This meal, apart from being a little ritualistic with almost a set menu, is otherwise fun. After the meal, the ladies lounge while Jaishri painted their legs, offered them haldi kumkum and paan beeda... She also gifted them with a small hamper of girlie stuff like kajal, nail polish, bindis, a mirror and so on. 

Food, of course was a highlight on these days and since all of us are good cooks, major criticism was the order of the day. But it did not stop us from eating and then waiting for the next meal. All the meals, well mostly, are on the plaintain leaf, so the pain of doing dishes is avoided. Plus the meal tastes different on the said ellai. 

Missed Meera Sreedhar like crazy.