It
pretty much dawned upon me to know and feel the difference between temples of
different states. I knew that temples in kerala were really serious (no offense)
about worshipping GOD. They have their regular poojas in time. And the other
day I happened to be in one temple near my home and it was the festival period
of that temple. Most of the temples had this festival sort of thing and it
happened for over a week's time. I was there on the last day or to be precise in
the evening darkness of this festive period and it was so colorful with all the
pretty ladies around and lamps lighting up the whole vicinity and never can I
forget to mention about the three beautifully decorated elephants standing tall
among the crowd. I was wearing a t-shirt and a white dhoti and walked past the
entire bustle to catch a view of the deity and there were people lined in front
of the shrine and I joined them. You had to remove your shirt to get into the
main shrine and to get a closer view of the deity. I stood outside the main
shrine but still could see the deity. And everyone around was staring at me
like I was from another planet. I couldn't understand but maybe coz I was
wearing a t-shirt and I was the only one with a t-shirt-dhoti combo. It wasn't
cool and it wasn't odd either and I know you wouldn’t agree at this point if I
said keralites weren't that good at fashion but that is the truth. Most of them
don’t wear t-shirts and forget about girls, they look better the way they are
in salwar. After having stood there long enough the crowd dispersed and i too
followed. I had a tough time finding mom amidst the crowd who earlier left me
alone as soon as we entered into temple premises to meet her old friends. trust
me. Women get more excited than men when they meet people after long time, it’s
as if they are literally enthusiastic to see someone older than them....just
kidding!! And then I found mom among a group of "laughing out loud"
women..lol women.. I greeted them all with a smile else they will think am
arrogant…typical indian mentality…The women started asking details from my
resume while their eyes were busy studying me [call that MULTITASKING] and they
were looking at me like "so this is your son?? I shall marry my daughter
to him..!!" That's another fact about kerala moms...they admire the gorgeous
as their son-in-law or daughter-in-law...!![Not me]!! They won’t spare anything
which has the potential to improve their status in the society….beautiful son-in-law
or daughter in-law, a new coat of paint for home, a car even if its third-hand,
at least one kid studying in English medium school and such innumerous things.
While i was having chitchat with my mom's friends she went inside and had a
view of the deity and finished her list of offerings for the deity. After a
final gudbye to all we left the temple with our hearts filled...me with
experience and mom full of mixed emotions.
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