Maharashtra – A Pilgrimage

Visit to Shirdi, Shani Shinganapur and Nashik.

It was first of sorts in several respects. I, Sridharan and Desi traveling for the first time together. We drove down to Shirdi starting at about 9.45 pm and arriving at Shirdi by about 4 am the next day (30^th December 2007).

At Shirdi had a good darshan of Baba. I’ve fulfilled the vow of giving away Rs.2.00 that I made during my previous visit to Shirdi in 2005.

From there we proceeded to Shani Shinganapur by afternoon. Do not miss the sugar cane juice on the way – the best that you can get, the freshest – the sugarcane is cut from the fields in front of you and the ox crushes them to give you the fresh juice.

The last stop was Nashik. We hired an auto to go around. The Kala Ram, The Gora Ram, Sita Gufa, The Triveni sangam (Aruna, Varuna and Godavari meet here). This place is known as Panchavati.

From there, we drove back to Mumbai. I drove part of the way – I felt it was a bit risky in the sense that I hadn’t slept the entire last night. I drove for about three hours from midnight to 3 am. First time in a highway in night. First time in a highway at night in ghat sections. First time in a highway in ghat section in a diesel car. First time in a highway in ghat section in a diesel car with extreme heavy truck traffic. But then all of us arrived safely.

Christmas Celebrations

Christmas - Celebrations - Birth of Christ.
Baby Christ in Barn, Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, The big Gift, the Star(sic) and 'Jingle Bells' note and the bell.
Saujas, Nephew, Age 6, 09th September 2007,

My Dream

Today I dreamed of a girl sleeping in a thuli (hammock).

Swati, Daughter, 09^th September 2007

Yo Yo Academy

I have started a Yo Yo Academy. Here is the application form you need to fill up. It will cost you Rs.500/- to participate in the competition.

I am going on 15th September to London to start the Academy and conduct the competition by December. I will return after that. Please get me the ticket and find a room for me to stay there.

- Saujas, Age 6, 8th September 2007

Rat and the Mouse

I am Saujas, the Rat and Swati is the mouse. One day, a dinosaur came into our house and scratched our faces. Then we died. An ambulance came and took us to the hospital. The doctor said there is no need for injections – only a few stitches in the face and neck. We returned home after two days.

A few days later, the same dinosaur came again. This time I shot him with a bullet gun. One more came and I shot it too. One more came and I shot that one. One more came and I shot it. I kicked each one of them high in the air and they vanished.

Story by Saujas, Age 6 – 08^th September , 2007

Lord Rama from Gulbarga

This man is from Gulbarga. A professional village dramatist/performer who normally dons the role of Rama. The profession of rural drama is now going to dogs and he has come to Bangalore to make a living using the only thing he knows – as a performer. And begging. :-( I gave him Rs.10/-.