Maahervaashin

Long post alert!!

This was first shared in the saree group on November 13th.

A day in Khopoli started off with tea and vada pav at a classmate’s home followed by a visit to the Vireshwar Shiva temple. I had written about this last year. Built in 1758 by Nana Phadnavis it is constructed with solid black stone. It has an adjacent water reservoir made out of the same stone. I was able to get a peaceful darshan of the shivling and even do a quick abhishek with water over it. 

Bid goodbye to my Australian classmate and then met with another local family friend. His son had bought a new car. They offered to take me to a holy kund site called Uddhar Rameshwar which is about 1 hour drive from Khopoli. This is the place where I had released my father’s last remains 2 years back. It had been lingering in my mind to go there and spend some time. As if my friends could read my mind they took me there without me saying a word. 

Its a very secluded place with banyan trees and a small river around which are built small kund( pools) which are considered holy. Remains offered here are believed to facilitate the onward journey of the soul towards salvation or higher realms. The last tangible contact I had with my father I had let go here two years back. My heart was heavy and light at the same time to return here today. I sat under the banyan to meditate for some time and felt a sense of peace like never before.

On the way we stopped at a small village called Jambulpada for lunch. Growing up in Khopoli I had heard the name of this village innumerable times. Yet I don’t recall going there. My parents had several families that came from that place to seek medical care from them. That’s how I felt connected as if it was a part of Khopoli. Today my friend took us to a family owned lunch home. Again the home cooked food reminded me of my father’s cooking. Simple yet mouth watering taste for every item in the plate. A special surprise at the end of the meal was ukdiche modak ( steamed modaks with filling made out of fresh coconut and jaggery). That coming out fresh and hot out of the steamer and served with ghee was the ultimate treat I could ask for. 

A little break after returning from the drive and I was restless again. Called up two of my classmates and asked if they would like to accompany me to the local fair. This jatra ( fair) gathers each year for a month from Kartiki Ekadashi to Margasheersha ekadashi in honor of the local deity named Bomblyaa Vithoba. I have fond memories from childhood when my parents would take us kids there. We would take rides in the giant wheel and merry go rounds, get balloons and toys. I have not returned there in probably 4 decades or more. Today the three of us classmates had some real fun. We climbed up the hill first to get darshan of Vithoba. Legend has it that Sant Tukaram had once visited this temple and some thieves robbed him of his belongings while he slept. He woke up startled and  started screaming ( in Marathi called bombaa maarne) . The villagers were alerted and the thieves were apprehended. 

Notwithstanding the fact that one classmate is catholic and the other Muslim there was no hesitation visiting the temple. We joked that if one sikh classmate had joined us we could sing “ Hindu Muslim Sikh Issai sab ko mera salaam”😃

We were kids again ogling goods in each stalls. In my childhood the tribals and villagers would bring handwoven coarse sheep wool blankets called ghongdis to sell at this fair. I was overcome with nostalgia and wanted to buy a ghongdi. Alas, anyone we asked kept saying they don’t sell those ghongdis at this fair anymore. I was not ready to take a no. We kept pushing through the crowds and searching one alley after another and voila! Not only did we spot a stall selling ghongdis but standing in the stall was one of our childhood friends. He had the know how about the ghongdis and educated us about the ones with best quality and negotiated prices for us. 

Besides the ghongdis another big item at the fair is dry fish. My catholic friend wanted to buy dried Bombay duck( sukke bombil) . She was happy to find some good ones. We watched live demonstrations of making jalebis. We saw kids buying balloons and enjoying the rides that once upon a time brought joy to us. Having spent a good 3 hours there we returned home.

After that I walked to another friend’s home for dinner before returning and calling it a day.

Though I didn’t take the giant wheel ride, emotionally it was quite a roller coaster day. 

Thode gam hai,

Thodi khushiyaan

Yahi hai, Yahi hai

Yahi hai chhaav dhoop 

Yeh jeevan hai

Is jeevan kaa

Yahi hai, yahi ha

Yahi hai rang roop……

This is life. This is how life is. There are some sorrows, some joys, some shade, some sun. 

I missed my father a great deal this day. But in the same day, enjoyed a lot with my friends.

It’s a long post but I could write twice as much if I were to give you a full account of the encounters in the day. Just big hearted people in my life that love unconditionally and make every effort to make me feel like a maahervaashin( a married woman returning to her parents’ home)in the absence of my father! 

Saree of the day was a tussar bhujodi in colors that reflect shade and sun. The intricate design in the weave is a reminder of the finer things in life.