If we are traveling towards North (especially, UP / Bihar), it is advisable not to carry valuable items and if we are carrying then please don’t travel by Sleeper Class ( better go for 3 tier AC ) which is worse than General compartment. It seems people follow the principle – “ek par ek free” .For every seat there will be 2 people. Just imagine the crowd present in the train.
IRCTC pantry guys are deceiving the passengers by charging Rs 2-3 extra on MRP for each item. Somebody needs to tell these guys that MRP means “Maximum Retail Price” which is inclusive of all taxes and nobody can charge above that amount.
• 5th July 2010:
Reached Basti station early morning on Bharat bandh ( all thanks to BJP/Sena – opposition party who were protesting for the rise in fuel prices ).There was tight police security near the station and we didn’t have to worry since jeep had come to pick us up ( there were very few private vehicles available that day ).
• Village Kodai :
It was indeed great sight seeing my relatives after such a long time – kids becoming adults , brothers /sisters being married and having kids ( of 5-10 yrs age ).
Marriage preparations were in full force (from arrangement of photographer, mandap, utensils, food items, bhandari who would be cooking the food items– since it was a marriage arranged in a village and not a marriage hall). Frankly speaking, arrangements never end till the last moment (if its 10 days before or an hour before).
• 8th July 2010:
Finally, the D-day arrived for which everyone was waiting.It seemed Lord Indra was also in consent with the lagnam and there was no rains during that period. Dulhe raja arrived for the Dwar Puja in Sherwani in the evening around 9pm.
Jay Mala:
There is exchange of garlands during this time and elders will be giving their blessings to the couple.
It’s a tradition on our side that no female member comes from the bridegroom’s side and so, no lady from the groom’s side had come for the marriage (not even mother/ sisters).
After the Jay Mala function, actual marriage happens and it went till early morning 6 am (9th July 2010) in our case. There are some more customs that continue and finally, we were able to do the vidaai by 1pm (send off for the groom side – the girl does not go immediately and there will be a gauna (another function) for sending her to the guy’s side.) after 6 months.
• 10th July 2010 :
One of my cousin brother’s Tilak function was there (it’s a custom where people from the girl’s side will come and bring gifts/ fruits and this function happens at the guy’s side.
• Mama’s place ( Village Bhainsa – 11th to 13th July 2010 )
Next day, I went to my mama’s place.
Over there, I learnt how to milk the cow.
Nice pic of mother cow and calf
We have a big garden consisting of almost all types of vegetables/ fruits. This is the peak season to have delicious jackfruit/mangoes and we savoured these two fruits to the fullest extent.
Holy pics – small temple made near my mama’s house)
Hand made gate for the garden’s entrance:
Left my mama’s place on 14th and came back to my cousin brother’s house
• 14th – 15th July 2010 :
My cousin brother’s marriage whose Tilak was performed earlier (on 10th) was there on 14th and we went to Gorakhpur (3 hrs away from my our house). Similar customs were performed from Dwar Puja to Jay Mala to marriage function which also finished around 6 am (another sleepless night spent).But that was indeed a delightful experience.
• 16th July 2010:
Some pics of my family members.
Finally, in the evening, we left and boarded the train for Mumbai.
Not to speak much about the train journey, it was not much different than the one that we had boarded for coming to my native.
