A to Z Challenge - My Theme- City Connect - my connect with....
Aurangabad-Schooling & Junior College / Bombay- Graduation & First job/ Chennai - Marriage & Motherhood
AURANGABAD
UPMA FOR TIFFIN - Weekend
afternoons meant Mom make some variety snacks ( called Tiffin in South Indian homes) . It included all that our weekaday routine didn't bring in. From Puri to Pongal anything
was acceptable. But Upma was a strict no. Mom tried tempting with a Vegetable Upma option . But somehow Upma
never thrilled, neither does it today. Irrespective of the variation an Upma stares blankly out of plate - or so I feel!
BOMBAY
USSSSH KOI HAI-Ghost
story sessions- a part of very late evening activities on our building terrace.
"Nath sisters" - brilliant story tellers who brought in all the eerie
feeling & setting a ghost narration required. They repeatedly put off our
requests to have story sessions during daylight. We, a group of 6-7 different
aged friends have heard Evil Dead narrations in bits & pieces over a month.
CHENNAI
UGADI -Different Cities- Different Names - Different flavours they take upon. Gudi Padva of Maharashtra became Ugadi in Chennai. Maharashtrians showed the signifcance of placing a Gudi by the window - Ugadi emphasized the importance of "5 flavored Pacchadi". More festivals changed names as I shifted cities - Sankranti became Pongal ; Janmaashtami became Krishna Jayanthi Interestingly even Gods take a new name as city changes- Karthikeyan became Murugan '& Ganesha became Vinayagar.
Many in Tamil Nadu celebrate Ugadi. Surprised you don't like upma for being a resident of Chennai.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a lot your AtoZ theme, great memories here! Fun to remember for each place a great memory. I like the ghosts stories ;)
ReplyDeleteU is for Unique Style
Upma! Haha... I still have a love-hate relationship with it.
ReplyDeleteUgadi is Telugu New Year (even Kannada). The Uagdi pachadi is a must. :)
Ussh, koi hai is one connection that I have with you. In summer holidays, my elder cousin used to narrate us her own fabricated ghost stories, eerie and spooky ones while we would be lying on our beds, sleeping on the terrace, facing the numerous stars! That was fun.
ReplyDeleteLove your snippets. I just read Pradeep's upma recipe and was salivating for it when I clicked on your link! Ha! HA!
ReplyDeleteThose ghost story sessions sound eerie and exciting.
I especially like your Ugadi section. I'm not sure if you set out to do it but it comes across as a sweet commentary on how in the end we are all the same--names and customs may differ but we all belong to same race.
How interesting are your observations of Gods' names and festivals in different cities. Why do young women hate Upma? I love it but it was also a no no when my girls were living at home
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I am coming to know of someone who doesn't like upma! Quite probably, there are many who don't.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ugadi is one festival that is celebrated in different parts of the country in different ways! A good example of the diversity of our nation.