Anirud Ayush Homam

This is a very special, memorable, poignant and nostalgic event to remember and recollect the old memoirs forever in our lifetime.

Our little boy completed one year in this universe with all of us and we mark this lovely occasion with a grand spiritual ceremony by inviting all our close friends and family members to come and bless our only child.

We wanted to make it a grand and unforgettable occasion and Vidya took all the pains to make sure that all aspects were taken care of.

For the hall, we went through various options of looking at marriage halls in Alwarthirunagar, Nanganallur which turned out to be quite expensive and finally we booked the temple hall that was available at Nanganallur as it was only a ½ day occasion and there was no reason to spend lot of money on the hall itself. It was at Guruvayurappan temple mandapam.

Then the next aspect was on the invitation card, English version. For the design, Vidya asked her Mama – Kannan to do it. And for the matter, we looked up the stuff that was available on internet and finalized on the wordings that were to appear in the invitation. Also Kannan asked us to send various photos of Anirud so that he could choose and fit the best one in the invitation. And oh yes, it came out just superb and everyone liked it very much.

The next most important thing to finalize was on the food. This time, Vidya took it upon herself to choose the right contractor; menu and she choose the one from Mumbai, Raunak who did for her sister’s wedding, Dad’s 60th birthday function and many other family function. They had a branch in Chennai and he volunteered to do it, even though it was slightly expensive. But then, food was just fabulous with so many items that you could hardly eat everything. We had arranged for both breakfast and lunch.

The actual function was to begin at 7.30 AM. Since it was at Nanganallur and quite early in the morning, Vidya, Anirud and I came to her sister Lakshmi’s house the previous day itself to stay. Also, I have to mention that both Ravi (brother in law) and Lakshmi (sister in law) is such an extremely accommodating and helpful couple that I am always amazed at their hospitality whatever be the circumstance. My Dad and Mom said that they would come to the hall directly in the morning. Also Cheena and Roshini had come down from Goa for the function. Vidya’s elder sister also came down from Mumbai along with Kannan and Srihari for the function. So it was a complete get together from both sides. Ambi mama had also flown down from Mumbai and the only missing member was Nachu mama and family. My brother said that he would come down to the hall straight from Chromepet in the morning.

The previous evening, we went to Nanganallur market to get all the pooja items which Vidya’s father had listed out. Lakshmi and I had gone to see the mandapam to check out if everything was arranged properly.

On the D day we woke up at around 4 AM so that we all get ready on time. Also the hero of the occasion had to be woken up early in the morning, which he is not accustomed to, and make him ready for the ceremony. He was decked up by Kannan and Vaidehi with a kondai like sardarji. It was a challenge in itself. We got a lovely maroon color Kurta and white pajama and scarf for the occasion. Vidya wore her traditional nine yards saree while I wore the dhoti in our traditional way. Once we were ready, we went to the mandapam. By that time, Dad, Mom and my brother were in the hall.

So it was photo shoot with Anirud and each and every family member. Buddy boy was not impressed and was quite finicky. During May, heat is at its peak in Chennai and it is quite sweltering and becomes unbearable.

Once the Vathiyar’s arrived, the function started with the homam and mantrams. Like I said, almost everyone came for the function both friends and relatives. The most horrific moment is the time when the ear piercing has to be done for the child.

The child has to be seated in Mama’s (uncle Raghavanw) lap and then the gold smith would pierce the ears of the child and place the thodu bought specifically for this occasion. While we were there in the homam, this process took place and we got to know that the kid made a big ruckus when the piercing was done. After that the kid had to be given sugar. He was not in a happy mood.

Once the homam etc was over, the elders blessed us. Some of my friends from Ranipet Greaves days had come for the function. Also some friends from Cognizant family also visited us. And then we had this family shoot.

The food, I must mention again was great and it’s an important thing as ultimately, people are happy when they are filled to their heart’s content. Else neither the function nor the party is complete without fantastic food.

By afternoon, we came back to Lakshmi Ravi’s house while, Sridhar dropped Dad and Mom back home in Alwarthirunagar. Geetha and Shreya stayed back as they were to come with us to Tirupathi along with us to seek the blessings of Lord Balaji and tonsuring of Anirud’s head. Attai went along with Cheena and Roshini. We also returned back home in the evening once Anirud had rested for a while at Nanganallur.

We had booked two tempo travelers to cater for everyone who is accompanying us on this Tirupathi visit. We were to leave early in the morning the next day. As luck would have it, the transport owner, had called in the last minute and said that one of his tempo traveler which had gone to ooty has not returned and hence he would make some other alternate arrangement. Finally he arranged to send one tempo traveler, not similar to what we agreed, and a tavera jeep. We were really not impressed but left with no choice in the last minute changes.

We started off on 3rd morning by sun rise and joined with the folks from Nanganallur at MIOT hospital junction. We were accompanied by Geetha, Shreya, Attai, Cheena, Roshini and Aadish. From Nanganallur, Mama, Mami, Raghavan and family, Ravi and family joined. It was Cheena Roshini’s wedding anniversary and we forgot to wish them. On the highways we stopped in between for breakfast. It was idly dipped in molagapodi. After that we had theratupal sweet. Then it was a straight drive to Tirupathi.

Like I said, summer was at its peak, even though we had booked a van with air conditioning.

It was an experience in itself.

Tirupathi consists of seven hills.

We first went to kizhtirupathi which has these famous temples, Alamelumangapuram and Lord Venkateshwara. First we went to Alamelumangapuram, to offer our prayers to Thayar. At that time only Ravi’s purse was pick-pocketed as he had kept his purse in the back pocket of his jean. As ever it was quite crowded and we took special darshan tickets. Even then it would again join with the main crowd before the main sannidhi. Anirud was with Cheena and me. It was a crowded noon with a blazing hot day and everyone was sweating profusely. Yet, we did manage to go through with the child and offered our prayers to Thayar and sought her blessings. Thereafter, we had a break to drink some sathukudi juice where Raghavan and Cheena also helped to cut the sathukudi. We joked that there was an additional profession in hand. After that we went to see Lord Venkateshwara. Once this was over, we then went ahead to go atop the hill.

Once we reached the hill top, we went and checked in at Andavan Ashram cottage. Few rooms were booked, courtesy Mama. We had our lunch of puliyotharai and thayir satham made at home. After that we went to our respective rooms for some rest.

In the afternoon, the tonsuring was to be done. For that Anirud has to sit on his mama’s (uncle – Raghavan) lap as is our custom. So we went to this place accompanied by Cheena, Aadish and Abhishek. They also wanted to tonsure their head. Anirud cried a lot but Raghavan and I managed to hold him tightly and the job was over in no time. These guys are extremely professional as lakhs and lakhs of devotees come here and tonsure their head as an offering to the lord.

In the evening, Mama started calling the concerned person who was to arrange the darshan tickets and timing. He did not answer the phone for quite some time and Mama was a little tensed about the situation.

For the night, the ashram also prepares food for the inhabitants. Well, that does not gel with my palate and there was also an issue with Cheena as he wore shorts for the dinner. Normally, you are supposed to come in Dhoti and with bare body for the gents. The guy who was serving the food said something to Cheena and he got irritated and they complained to Mama about this. I did not have anything there and then went out with Ravi to a nearby hotel for food.

At about 10 PM, in the night, when everyone was getting ready for sleep, the contact person suddenly came and said that he can arrange for the darshan and that we have to assemble in the next ½ hour. Anirud was asleep and we were also tired and half asleep. But then, to have a darshan of Balaji, we need to go as per his call and not as per our wish. So then, we quickly got ready and moved on to the temple premises. The contact person bought the tickets and made us wade through the tunnel quickly. Fortunately, it was not that much crowded and in about ½ hour, we reached the main mandapam.

I carried Anirud with myself, as it was really crowded and I was worried if he might be hurt. I showed him the fans; lights etc just to divert his attention away from the noise and the crowd. He was crying and panting seeing the pushing crowd, well, I just prayed that everything should go well and yes, finally we managed to see the Lord and came out peacefully. Thereafter we got our prasadhams and also put the money in the hundi as an offering to the lord. Then it was a good night sleep as the main objective was accomplished.

Next day early in the morning, there is this special jeeyar sevai for which Mama and Raghavan usually go as it is a special darshan with the jeeyar. We got up at around 8 AM and then got ready to return to Chennai. Before we started, we had our breakfast in the hill top restaurant and then by the time we reached down hill, the tavera broke down. We really got irritated and pissed off with the transportation arrangement. Then they again arranged for an ambassador car and somehow we managed to squeeze in and come back to Chennai by evening.

It was really one hell of an experience of planning, coordinating, arranging and managing everything like an event management. Full marks to Vidya as she has this talent in abundance and I have told her that she can get into such activities in future. Her socializing skills are par excellence and I really have to appreciate her for this, not because she is my wife. She is really interested in maintaining relationships and she takes the pain to do so without a grimace. I assume she has gotten this skill from her parents who are quite adept in this as well.

All said and done, when you think back and narrate your experience, you realize the entire spectrum of emotion that you have gone through in this process and how you have managed this. Such an event comes only once in a lifetime as Ayushya homam is performed only once in the lifetime of the child when it completes the first year of its life. And yes, we are proud to say that we did it in style and accomplished this quite well. Full marks to my lovely, beautiful, pretty, emotional and practical wife who is always beside me…forever…

#Anirud