Memory Stash

A and A have been so close to my heart. I love that they are old enough to talk with me over the phone these days. It is amazing to see how they are each growing up to be their own person. 

Diwali. A festival that unites India. When I was younger, Diwali was just a vacation. I was never a fan of fireworks, but the lights sure fascinated me. As I grew older, the meaning of Diwali deepened. Lighting diyas in every corner of the Belgav house, hanging a lantern in every balcony in the Pune house, Diwali brought light to my life and my heart. In the US, Diwali has been very important in my life. The festival has helped me stay connected with my country and my people. One Diwali I had the opportunity to visit Deepostav at Saras Baug in Pune. I had only slept for two hours that night, and was up and out of the house at three in the morning. My friends and I went to the Talyatla Ganpati temple before the crowds started to gather in the park. Slowly, people started setting up the light displays. Rangoli filled with color and light! Floating lanterns in the air. It was mesmerizing. We climbed to the highest point in the garden, and looked over the beautiful lightscape.   ...

All that remains is debris,  My dreams collapsed on top of me.  Mother Nature is on a vicious rampage.  As yet again we enter a Dark Age. Pride swells till it explodes,  Man can't see beyond his nose.  Fragments of innocent souls,  Lie seething on burning coals. What is to be done but quiver,  When smothered by the life giver.  Helpless victims all over sprawled,  Their thirst quenched forever, they fall. Nature joined hands with calamity,  Man is one with depravity.  No longer the world is governed by laws,  All that rules is ... CHAOS.

An infinitesimal energy, Mother of all. Of stars and galaxies and vortices and black holes. Of planets and comets and asteroids. Of mountains and oceans. Of life. A versatile Earth, Home to all. To seas and rivers and icebergs and tundra. To trees and flowers and fruits. To animals and birds. To man. A controversial human being, Consumer of all. Of air. Of food - beasts and berries alike. Of water - blood, sweat and tears. Of plenty – innocence, chastity, hope and love. A contemporary social animal, Spawn to all. From greed, lust, vengeance and spite. From religion, region and race. From gender and economy. From self. An unbiased child, Lesson to all. With head, hunger, hope and heart. With organs and tissues and cells. With atoms and molecules. With one.

 Bhopal Day one was about seting in at A’s place and letting her mom pamper us. Day two was hectic as hell. It did not begin at the crack of dawn but it seemed to last super long. We went to Bhojpur. Here, we visited the incompletely built Shiva temple. A Shiva linga that was huge and made from polished shiny marble. Very vague inscriptions on the rocks could be discerned. A guy educated us as to how wedges of wood can be used to cleave rocks! I was amazed. Then, we proceeded to the Jain Mandir, which housed a large idol of Teerthankar. We had Daal Bati again. On to the Bhimbhetka Caves. These shelters have drawings from the Mesolithic Era. Actual proof of our ancestors and their stories painted upon the stones using some magic dye that might just last forever. Heritage! A long drive to Salkanpur,  boarded a ropeway to the top and happened upon a glorious sunset. The temple and its premises were well maintained and pretty. A small Devalaya housed gods like Dvarpal, Ganesha, Ha...