My Deities

Have you ever noticed that there is a small temple of Lord Hanuman just outside Dadar Central Railway Station? Come out of Dadar (CR) Station from main gate. Immediately turn to left and you will find a temple. Lord Hanuman sitting on his knees and stretching both his hands. The statue is of silver. Yes, all solid silver. This is one of my prime deity. Whenever I reach Bombay (now Mumbai) by train. Since 1977 till this date, whenever I reached Bombay by train, I never proceeded any further without the "darshan" of this statue at this temple. Later on, a statue of Sai Baba is installed in the same temple with Silver Crown et all. I don't know why. But it is there now. Be as it may.

The second one is at Dadar BB! Do you know what is Dadar BB? We used to call and still we do call it Dadar BB. That is the area known as Dadar (West) now. BB is the short form of BBCI…. Bombay Baroda Central Indian Railway. That is known as Western Railway now. We used to call it BBCI. There is one "Kabutarkhana" at Dadar BB market. At that Kabutarkhana, you will find a temple in the middle of the junction of roads. That is the temple of Lord Hanuman. This is my second deity.

The third one is at Matunga. The road which originates from Kings Circle to Matunga Central Railway Station, on the right, there is a complex of temples! That is known as Aasthika Samajam. Within that complex, there are number of deities! Chief of them is Ram, Laxman and Sita. Lord Ganesh. Then you have Guru Vayyur and then all Nakshatras et all! And yes, Ramanjaneya too! I used to visit this Aasthika Samajam every Friday. Now I just go there whenever time permits.

Then you have this "Albela Hanuman". Come from Dadar TT circle towards Wadala side. At the first junction, turn left, immediately you will find the temple. That is Albela Hanuman. My God! This is the deity which sailed us through all exams. At VJTI!!!

Mahalaxmi temple is known to all. I have nothing more to add in respect of this except to say that it is our family deity (kuladevta). So after my engagement, I took my (then would be) wife to Mahalaxmi when we went out for the first time.

And last is………can you believe? There was a small temple having red dome at the top and walls pained in off white…. all in oil paint. The deity inside was fully painted in red. We used to go by BEST bus and get down at Agar Bazar stop and walk little ahead. At the left side, little inside in a 'wadi' there was this temple. Yes, that is Siddhi Vinayak at Prabhadevi. Yes, I used to visit him then. But his temple was too small as compared to what we have today. Today, it is a "sanstahn" !!! That time it was not! It was just an ordinary temple! Bhagwaan ka bhi naseeb hota hain! But there is something in the deity. I mean something in 'Siddhi Vinayak'. Even if it was a small temple, the feeling inside was different. Strange divine feeling used to raise in mind. I donated part of my first salary to this temple.

Today's vacation blues......... enter in the old walled city of Aurangabad of the era prior to year 1707 AD on your scooter......(caution: with wify on the back seat) and then hunt for the authentic Brass utensils of old Mughal fashion which can cook the authentic Murg Biryani with same age old technique......find them and purchase them instantly..... of course with HER approval ..........and then enjoy the authentic Mughlai Murg Biryani at home in the evening :) Kaun kehta hain......Dastrakhwan par Mughlai khana nahi raha? :) All are invited.........of course with HER prior approval :)

Satyamev Jayate and Kaksparsh

Memorable Sunday coming to end. Watched the serial "Satyamev Jayate" by Amir Khan at 11.00 am on Doordarshan. In the afternoon, went to see "Kaksparsh" a fantastically superb Marathi movie by Mahesh Manjrekar. I would say, both the shows focused on two different but grave problems of our society which pertain to women. Rather, the plight of women in those situations; which are projected there. I was shaken by the serial as well as the movie. The social structure as shown in the movie no longer exist in Maharashtra, but the central theme is still applicable. The message is loud and clear. Every one must watch the movie and if possible now, the episode of the serial.  

Taxing Times!!! :)

It is no less than 'torture' to receive notices to attend so many matters on Saturday before vacation............when you are dreaming about your plans for one full month of  vacation......you receive notices on E-mail saying that you are required to argue this many matters............and that too on Saturdays! It's really too much and 'taxing'! No matter that the matters are relating to taxes! :) (PS : Why the Saturdays just before vacation are working Saturdays? (when almost ALL Saturdays of the year are holidays?) :) Compensation? :)))

Zohra Sehgal

Zohra Sehgal .....completing 100 years of her life today! My respects to the most naughty woman of Indian Theater............I heard so may stories about her during my innumerable jaunts to Dilli .......in particular to SSP (Sujan Singh Park), Khan Market and Lodi Gardens. Witness of pre-independence era and witness to innumerable partition stories..........she is a living legend. Once gain.......respects to Zohra ji..........may you live long.

Jumma.........the bliss......:)

Jumma.........the bliss in city like Aurangabad......I never miss the Jumme ki shaam in the old walled city, whenever I am in Aurangabad on Jumma.......the aroma of traditional Itter ki Biryani all over........ filled in huge "Degs" added with carts and carts of Anda Bhurji/Omlette Paav Spots......mixed with the new phenomenon of Tawa Spots which are essentially various Chinese preparations modified for Indian taste buds :) If compared with the authentic Chinese preparations I tasted in country like Mauritius or in city like Kolkata. The Chinese will run away if asked to try this one!!! The Tawa Spots are purely Indian tastes served in the guise of Chinese food! But......... even then I accepted it because it really tastes fantastic!  Riot of garlic and onions in most of the preparations! Banged with cotton seed oil (Kardi ka tel) which is typical of Deccan (read Aurangabad and Hyderabad). :) To top all this.......there is Aurangabadi Paan..........yet another bliss.......:)))

U la la U la la :)

The grievance yesterday all over the social media was why a National Award wining film can not have national telecast? The legal answer according to me is....well....firstly we do NOT have clear definition of what is A, U/A, U and blah blah certification yet! The film has A certification..........now when entering inside the cinema hall, you need to produce proof of your age, if asked, to view a film certified as A, and then..... if it is aired on national or international channels............then??????? Who and How do you verify the age of the viewer??? The law is grey more than black and white sometimes :) Think on these lines. You will feel happy! U la la U la la............LOL..........