A very special wedding (Sharanya & Pradeep)

Amongst many wedding we have attended, I believe Sharanya's (and Pradeep) will remain very special. Supriya and I are generally the one who are excited and thoroughly planning through, this one became special as Anagha and Anirudh got involved equally well. Could have been because they are seeing the whole thing as young adults. Take it the culture, tradition, relationships or also the well executed event !!  

It all started with this beautiful invite.

The devil is in the details:

Hats off to Vijay and Sapna, for such meticilous planning. I am sure they would have run through the whole event a a zillion times. Just to highlight a few that stood extremely innovative and special for me. (and I am sure, I may have missed many more of these)

A preview to the wedding rituals:

Vijay had put together a list of all the ceremonies that would be performed in the wedding with meaning/intent and few background detailing. A true preview of a South Indian Wedding, which any layman could read and make sense of what was happening in the center stage (yes, the wedding mantap was truely centre staged with all invitees seating in all four direction, so that no one is missing the visuals). It also meant that Vijay has done a whole lot of research on the rituals to summarize for the larger consumption.

Center Staged Mantap, with seating in all four sides 

Wishing Tree:

You walk into the extremely huge hall (with a very large parking space, enable us drive to event both the days comfortably), you are invited with a huge tree setup. At first glance, its a well light up tree and first place for all the selfies. (Yes, Supriya and I took a pic and instantly posted it on WhatsApp Status). More interesting was, for every guest to write a personal note and wishes to the couple that would lay hung on the tree. A Wishing Tree. 

Ring by bell & Showering petals:

 

All of us got a bell and showering petals, during the wedding with a small note, as to when and how to use. We all liberally made use of it, during the "tieing mangala sutra" echoing the hall along with the "gatti mela". A true temple feeling, which was felt close by as every one did with our own ones.

Customize with commonality:

Every event of the wedding had unique things for guests to improvize on their attire like the Peacock Pettled brooch (for sarees), which was also fashioned by men for their Kurta's.

Ever welcoming hosts:

Co-ordinating the marriage can be such a overwhelming thing. Checking on vendors, guests, taxi's, room allocations, maintenance, food etc... 

In spite of all of these, loved the way Vijay and Sapna took time with guests, could be short coversation or just simple waive acknowledging the presence. Every guest, they knew were welcomed with right mode. 

Loved the way they took time to create digital memories that will remain in our library (and in our brain memory) for a long time. (in case you did notice in the pic, Sapna is multi-tasking over the phone) 

A feast to remember:

Food is awlays the highlight for a wedding, and this one never missed it's target. A well spread of North and South Indian delicacies on the Reception Day, enabling everyone to pick one's choice of food and ending with a custom paan of various flavour including chocolate or mango (this is not a typo! They tasted yum!! ).

Hunger never crept in, as there always someone serving in the hall (paani puri, entree items like cheese pakoda) round the clock. Guests, could just continue talking and not worry about hunger. 

The mocktails were just amazing, placed just at the enterance, with delightful combinations of the best kind (Aam ka panna, pinna coloda or the regular Orange juice.)

The breakfast on the wedding day extended beyond with varieties of idlies (saboodani or kottu type), masala dose, shavige bath and kashi halwa (yum!!).

The lunch came with a menu, so that you can prepare well upfront and also know the order. You can choose to pick up a bit for taste or jump in deep for the volume.

People and catch-ups:

Of course, the wedding also enriched us with lot more interactions with relatives and friends, a few we met for the very first time, some, after a real long time. This gave us ample time to catch up, putting us on track on what has happened until now and refreshed our memory to the latest. No time was spared and digital updates made with all our selfies.

A big THANK YOU to Vijay and Sapna for organizing the event and enabling us have all the fun.

An unpredictable world..

 

19-Sep-2026, ~11am Mr Joshi (70+)

19-Sep-2026, ~4pm Mr Xavier (70+) 

20-Sep-2026, ~10am Mr Sripada (53)

All three gentlemen passed at this time (all within 24 hours)

All due to Cardiac Arrest. 

While Mr Joshi was residing on 6th Cross, Mr Xavier and Mr Sripada were residing on 4th Cross, near 6th Main of Postal Colony. 

We knew all of them and their families.

And all of it unfolded on Sunday (20th) morning. Lakshmi, the BBMP lady in the morning revealed about Mr Joshi's news. Supriya and I were meeting Mr and Mrs Joshi at Raghavendra Matt almost every Thursday. As Mr Joshi was from North Karnataka,  Supriya always found a connect through the common dialect. We knew that few months back, he had gone through an Open Heart Surgery and had been recoverring well. But this event comes as a suprise.

Just minutes later we observed a gathering near Mr Xavier's house and realized that he had passed away the previous evening. Folks got to know and started visiting in the morning. Supriya and I had visited his home last Christmas and had long chats on travel and spritual areas. Being Catholics, he and his wife had visited Jerusalem & Bethalem and we could conect on the same. ( Connect with Mr Xavier)

Later the day we had been to Malleswaram to attend a Birthday Party (First year celebration). When we came back home, we saw lot of commotion on 4th cross and assumed it was for Mr Xavier. To our shock it was Mr Sripada who passed away in the morning due to Cardiac arrest. Mr Sripada is brother-in-law of Sri Shivaprasad (Shivu, the priest at Ganapathi temple). We have often seen him in the temple doing pooja either with Mr Shivu or in his absence. We have been interacting with him and his family during festivities and exchanging invites. He also happened to be the only person with RE Bullet on 4th Cross, sharing the riding passion.

A day when we mourned three deaths and also celebrated a birthday. 

How unpredicatable life is...  

Interesting, how we connect..

 A typical Saturday evening, I stepped out once to pick up groceries and later again to pick up a Birthday gift for an event the next day. And once again, as I had forgotten to pick up the pant from the tailor. And during the last ride back, it just stuck to me, why did we did miss inviting this family for Ganesh Chaturthi.  

This family happens to be Mr Xavier (Catholic family) who stay down our road. The thinking was triggered as they had invited us for Christmas (in 2025) so that we can see the decorated Christmas Tree. It has been almost 6 years since we have moved to this place, we still are figuring out and getting to know the neighborhood. Thanks to Covid, our move in 2020 was quite silent and with limited interactions. 

Xavier's grand kids often played with Anirudh. They all liked football and hence the quick connect. Yes, the kids get along faster as the expections are limited. Even though Anirudh is officially in college, he still takes time in the weekend, to play with them for few minutes. 

It was through Anirudh that we got the invite for the Christmas. We got along well, even on our first interaction. A long converstaion exchanging experiences, mostly trips outside of India. Xavier and his wife have traveled a lot. A little more was around Jerusalem, Israel as we could relate more. Supriya and I were always Awed with details of how Jesus's Via Doloros (the path taken to his cruicification) has been preserved both historical and relegious needs. Xavier family could connect more religiously to Jerusalem as we to History. (Bethlahem was not in our visit, as it was in Palestine)  

Ganesh Chaturthi was last Monday, and it has been almost a week. Why did I get the thought of missing out to invite, or should we at all have invited them, or should we invite then for the next event? 

Today (Sunday) morning, we got to know that Xavier had passed away yesterday evening (4:30pm). Visited his home and Supriya spent some time talking to Mrs Xavier. Apparently, we got to know from her, that Xavier was keen on coming over to our place for Ganesh Chaturti. 

As we speculated, more, Supriya said "I did not even know, it they were Ok to be part of our festivity". Yes, they were very relegious but I found them equally spiritual. Still remember Xavier talking about a miracle in a way his daughter's birth was predicted by a Saint/Father in Tamil Nadu. Also the time his wife had issues with health, and how he got (spriritual) directions in avoiding a surgery. 

The more, I think, its very surprising, how people connect, inspite having different belief systems and opposite thoughts. 

We will be missing Mr Xavier and his pratical approach towards life. 

Is personal blogging dying (or dead)?

The single lines update (Twitter), short sentences (Facebook) or the newness (Google+) seem to have put blogging into the back seat. I have been visiting most of the blogs that I kept track on about 2-3 year back and they seem to have become silent.

A mode where one could put a detailed thinking, gather right data, share them with depth ... is being lost :(

Like the email taking over the snail mails. Technology is certainly moving fast !!

PS: Now I have to tag this blog so that it reflects in FB/G+ :)

Celebrating festivals

"Why is that we celebrate festivals" - This has been a thought wandering in my mind for quite some time. Thought of extending it more and blog it.

The snap I have here is of my daughter, Anagha handing over "yellu" to her grandmother. This is the usually traditional practise (in Bangalore, and if you were to be localite of Bangalore) to exchange "yellu" during the festival of "Sankranthi". Usually more popular among the girls, as they go around the neighbourhood during the evenings, sharing "yellu" and taking blessing from the elders. Being a boy, my only job was only to eat "yellu", particularly the collection we would get from the neighbour hood.

Some how this year it ended up being very different. My wife, Supriya took all the pains of preparing it fresh at home (as against to picking up from Malleshwaram, which is such a easy job). On the festive day, we followed all the rituals of pooja and began our trip of visiting relatives in the city. As Anagha loves travelling and meeting people, she was in an exciting mood the whole day. We just loved seeing her handing over our "yellu" and collecting them (was more happier while collecting).

The day ended with a good dinner (with all the specials sweets that was cooked at home) and a little sense of acheivement as parents.

Until Anagha was born (or until I got married), the pattern was so different from what we did that day. Supriya and I had put in all our efforts doing what all our parents did when we were kids. And I guess this is one of the easy ways of passing our culture and tradition to the new generation and (also) enjoying the same.

Running into my memories of Avedat, Israel

I was going through some of the snaps I had taken during my visit to Israel in 2004. This one posted here is taken in the deserts of southern Israel, in a place called Avedat.

Avedat was one of the key stops for the traders who travelled by the Spice Route (Route taken by traders for getting spices into Europe from India).
The residents of Avedat knew the desert very well and were the one who were guiding the traders in the desert. . Over a period of time, this places grew to become one of the key trading region in the areas of Israel.

As of today, this is just a tourist spot in the middle of the desert. One can see houses carved out in the moutain, and remains of a fortress on the top. There is a video (with English subtitles) at the tourist center giving an insight into the history.

This picture is taken in one of the houses carved in the mountain. Transition is one word that I can think of, seeing this picture. (Tuely reflecting my current phase, as I prepare for a long term assignment to US.)

Long time no see

Almost 2 months since I blogged anything. Was too busy with personal life and career. The major highlight being the birthday celebration of my daughter Anagha on 29th Oct.

Did some traveling too. First one to Chennai for my Visa, next one was to Portland for a business trip and finally to Pilani for my MS program. Yes, finally after a big gap of 2 years managed to get my post-graduation from Pilani. A sense of achievement which I would have not felt if I were to have completed it being a bachelor.

I am also back to my bed time reading and recently finished "Vamshavriksha" from SL Byrappa. In my next blog, I will try to put in my comments.

Now getting back to my code...

Saartha by SL Byrappa

I started reading Kannada novel from 2003. Saartha happens to be my first one. Last week, I finished reading the book for the second time and hence wanted to blog about it.

Saartha is relatively a newer book from Byrappa (written in 1995, while his first one "Vamshavriksha" was published in 1960s). Saartha is rich in Indian history and gives you a good insight of how India was in the 7th century AD. This was the time period when Vedic (Hinduism) was loosing its hold to Buddhism and Jainism. Islam was knocking the doors from the west. It was the time period when Adhi Shankara with his Vedantha, reunited people under Hinduism and popularized the principles across India.

The story is told by the main character - nAgHabhaTa, who is in search of his destiny. Being a well educated brahmin (under Mandana Mishra) and strong vedic follower, nAgHabhaTa still has the desire to travel and see the world. As per the Kings request, he leaves his family and travels with a Saartha (Vaishya's who travel in big group across countries buys and selling goods) to learn commerce and help build the kingdom's economy. He ends up staying in Mathura for a long period learning commerce and understanding trade to a greater depth.

Once he hears that his King has cheated him and has married his wife, his whole life takes a change. He loses his interest of commerce and gets pulled into theater to play the role of Krishna. This helps him see himself in a new dimension of love and worship. This does not stay for long and he get pulled into meditation to gain spiritual power. When he starts using the benefits for a personal gain, he ends up losing meditation. With the sole desire to gain power, he takes on Tantra. The book describes in detail of Tantra practices which would shock the new readers. Later love takes over and he gives up Tantra and adopts to Buddhism. He goes to Nalanda to learn in detail about Buddhism. The books talks about our oldest university and how people from all over the globe flocked in to learn about spirituality a Buddhism.

nAgHabhaTa then meets Adhi Shankara during his famous discussion of Vedanta with Mandana Mishra. The books talks in details about this conversation and how Shankara is challenged by Mandana Mishra's wife on Samsara, and how he manages to learn the same by impersonating the body of the King.

nAgHabhaTa is now in a dilemma between Buddhism and Hinduism. He manages to get back to Mathura, which is preparing for a battle against Islam intruders. He gets captured by the Muslims who torture him to accept Islam. That is the time period when he realizes what his destiny. Amidst all the torture, his strength and love for freedom helps him come out of it. He gains the freedom and manages to escape from the place.

If you are a Kannada reader, I would suggest you to read this.