Birthday Blessings

 

On the eve of my birthday as I was getting ready to go to bed I thought I would go to the Talyaatla Ganapati in Saras Baag here in Pune early in the morning before heading for breakfast with Manisha( my dearest sister in law). But then one thing led to another and I was running late to leave home after taking in the milk delivery, boiling and cooling it, answering phone calls and exchanging messages across the continents. To add to the chaos it was raining outside. I skipped the stop at Saras Baag and reached Manisha’s home. 

When I entered her garden I heard some bhajans from a nearby home. I asked her about it and she said “ Oh my neighbors have invited me for Vishnu yaag at their home, let’s make a quick stop by.”

Now it was beginning to feel like a morning I would have wanted. When we walked into this beautiful home they were singing Ganesh Arti before starting the main yaag rituals. A couple of priests were sorting out a heap of tulsi leaves for the puja and chanting of Vishnu Sahasranaam. The homa kunda was set up in the center of their living room. The whole atmosphere was simply divine. We were there for just 5-10 minutes but it felt so rejuvenating.

Back in Manisha’s home she did the traditional ovaalni with deep and haldi kunku and pampered me with breakfast goodies and a date walnut cake. And a dress material brought from her recent trip to Benares. 

We were soon on the road in her car on way to a village called Paabal ( पाबळ). She had her Google Maps on and was directing the driver from time to time. An hour or more later I suddenly saw from my window a big archway that read Shri Maha Ganapati Ranjangaon!! 

We had missed the turn and arrived this far inadvertently!! Or did we ? 

I can’t tell you my joy to make it to such an important holy place today. Bappa had called me over. We got a beautiful and blissful darshan. I must make a special mention regarding the cleanliness at this place. Absolutely spic and span. The entire premises, outside and inside the temple were spotless. Workers were seen actively sweeping the grounds and cleaning up fallen foliage and trash. The heart was at peace after the darshan. 

Now we were back on our intended journey to Pabal. The locals gave us directions this time. The narrow road from here was well paved and absolutely a joy to ride on, as it curved and went up and down small hillocks. It was flanked by lush green meadows and fields. The monsoon clouds provided a cool cover all along the way but refrained from spoiling the drive with rain. Almost every 300 meters we saw flocks of sheep grazing in the meadows. Small hutments were scattered infrequently. A few fields had farm people working hands on doing sowing or other activities .Other than these the land was mostly untouched by human habitation. There weren’t many cars on the road either. I had been craving to leave the concrete confines of the city and my wish was being fulfilled much beyond my imagination. 

We finally arrived at Pabal and suddenly there were several dozen cars seen parked on a side road. There were buses that had brought school kids on field trips . There were private cars and two wheelers parked systematically in an open lot. Two large buses stood further down. These were museums on wheels that belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum in Mumbai. 

The place is called Vidnyan Ashram ( A science sanctuary), rather unusual name …. It seemed to combine science with spirituality. I found the name appealing. So is the concept that underlies this initiative. 

The official website of this unique project vigyanashram.com states the following:

“ Vigyan Ashram believes in use of Technology for increasing pace of development and increase productivity of our development efforts. 

We believe in use of technology to reduce drudgery, stop exploitation of natural resources, balancing environment and also to ensure better quality of life for all citizens. 

Our rural areas of full of problems ! and Vigyan Ashram believes ‘Every problem is an Opportunity !’ We tries to find out technological solution to the rural problems. 

We are located in small village ‘Pabal’ and that helps us to be closer to the community and understand the difficulties faced by rural people. 

VA is continuously engaged in developing , adapting and disseminating new technologies useful to rural community.”

The entire place was buzzing with activity. School and college students as well as adult scientists were displaying their innovations to visitors. There were experimental products using solar and other technologies, farm produce storage systems, composting devices, kitchen and home use devices, hydroponics systems, seeds, farm products and many more things to see. There were exhibits about general hygiene, musical sounds and other varied science topics. We walked around and tried to learn about many of these things. 

Having had a novel experience we returned home by evening. But not before Manisha indulged me in the crunchiest of paper masala dosa and mango icecream at a nice restaurant.

All day long the universe conspired to hold back phone connectivity from me. Despite turning my phone off a few times I couldn’t access messages or posts. When I got back home tons of messages were waiting for me to read and respond. There have been over four dozen birthdays but none like this before. The number of messages pouring in were more than I could keep up with on every platform. Yet I was spending the day away from my mother, my husband and my kids. But the love from all directions was palpable and unmistakable. My heart is filled with gratitude and joy. What more is there to ask for? 

Saree is a cotton Garidiya from Assam in cream and saffron.