My Krishna's Birthday

Birthday of Lord Krishna is always a favorite day of celebration for me. Despite the fact that I hate him for leaving Radha, I’m a die-hard fan of Krishna. From the stories of grand ma, I started knowing him. Actually when you address God, you are supposed to use ‘Him’ instead of ‘him’. However, I see him as my friend to whom I can tell anything. It is believed that Krishna will test his devotees in many ways to know whether they are true worshipers. Similarly he tests me too by offering me wonderful objects. When I’m about to hold it, he takes it back…

Coming back to Janmashtami, this day has presented me special moments always. Two years back, I celebrated Krishna’s birthday in my college. It is known as Gokulashtami in that campus. The pomp and show with which it is celebrated there is really stunning. Processions of each department with plots of Krishna, dancers and other performers make it a huge event. After the procession and feast, various sports and cultural fests are conducted. Being the cultural representative of my class (the senior most batch), I’d to co-ordinate the students of my department. It was for the first time our department was permitted to take part in the procession. We presented a scene of geethopadesam. Though, we can’t credit it as a best plot, as a first attempt it was good.

Temples can give you relief, both mental and physical… Whenever I’m at home, I celebrated Ashtamirohini (Janmashtami) in my family temple. This time too, I’d a graceful time. A dip in the pond to wash away inner and outer impurities, a few hours in our family temple, aroma of fresh flowers, sandals and agarbathis… Whole temple glowed in the golden light of lamps... The whole idol was decorated with colorful garments, ornaments and sandal paste... No disturbance of cell phones, internet, TV or even electricity...Everybody was quiet praying silently or chanting the sacred mantra, "Om Namo Narayanaya"... Truly Holy!

A Lunatic Call

No one to tell,

No one to listen,

Everything is slipping out,

Everyone is busy in their world!

I still live in that dream,

I still wish to chase that dream…

Like a stray dog,

Running for no reason!

Why can’t I go back?

Do I remember the way back?

Walls and gates are built,

To keep me away…

I’m the culprit,

I’m the accused,

I walked away

For a better life…

Boldness has vanished,

Belief in me is missing,

I smile as I can’t cry,

I live as I can’t die…

Singing like an insane,

Silent like a dump,

Hope not to end my life,

Howling in an asylum…

Happy Friendship Day

Another Friendship Day is ahead… This time it falls on August 7. People categorize friends according to the intimacy (friend, close friend, best friend, good friend, just friends, etc). These classifications are not mine, but of my friend Navin. I still don’t know how to do such an exact division especially when it comes to friends like him.

The online dictionary defines friend as ‘a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard’. It can be called as gist of what friendship is. But it may vary from person to person. However, for me, I still couldn’t give a clear-cut definition. None of my friends have similar characters. Each one is different from others.

When I consider friends, I’d count my cousins as my best friends. And my best friend is my very sweet cousin sister, Jyothi. Though, we recognized we share a same chemistry only recently, she stood with me during my ups and downs. Luckily I’ve a group of cousins of same age, a gang of ten… Sreekanth, Alaka, Sarath, Vasudevan, Rakesh, Uma, Sreedevi, Varun (oops…that is my brother), Aravind. We love to have get-togethers each year. We had fights, we quarreled a lot… But, we could sort out everything very easily. That is the strength of our bonding…

Outside my family, I’ve a couple of nice friends apart from the 600 Facebook friends. Soumya, Sreeparvathy, Rishad, Nashid, Shaima, Jas, Sangeetha, Preema, Shahid, Madhavan…my schoolmates! Even if we are far away, we still keep in touch. Together in school wearing the blue and white mix uniform and learning the wonders of world together, we had a wonderful time in our dearest school Peevees Model School.

Then in college, it was completely another world…A simple college with simple friends! Renjith, Vineesh, Sulthana, Sherhana, Deepthi, Seethal and Jithesh comprise our gang. This friendship day, I’m going to celebrate with them in our college. A short film, an article in the college magazine, Les Miserables, bunking classes, strikes, election and cultural fest- three years of degree was awesome.

Next to PG…I can’t say I’d a great time there. The friends I’d there are sometimes closer to me, else not. Still a few names; Meenakshi, Shahistha, Vidya, Nimisha, Rajkumar, Laxmi, Sreelakshmi, Anees, Nithin, Renjith,Ashwathi, Anaswara, Priya, Pranitha, Arjun, Vidhu, Hari and Navin made my days there.

Finally, in my office too all are close to me…Shahan, Nikhil, Basabi, Ayesha, Roshna, Amith, Nimiya! Everyday, we’ve new topics to talk. We enjoy each day and live to the fullest. Apart from them, a few media people are also my good friends. Shahul of Malayala Manorama; Vibin, Anoop, Vyas and Sunesh of Amrita TV; Anoop of Asianet…

Only a few people are lucky to get friends who can understand you well… Thanks to all my friends for making my life colorful! Wishing you all, a very happy friendship day…