Nostalgia on the fast lane

"When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things – not the great occasions – that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness” .- Bob hope

The new virus which has struck most of us seems to be that of Nostalgia. These days, I find articles on nostalgia every where. In the newspaper (especially in open page, letters to the editor and magazine section of the Hindu), in blogs, among conversations, in week-end parties, TV shows…. almost every where and even psychologists seem to be recommending this as NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) technique.

They say reminiscing people are healthier and report higher self-esteem and feel more positively about friendships and close relationships. Studies also reveal that the occasional detour down our memory lane can pep our spirits significantly.

When you are having one of those down times, think of an happy incident in the past like the memories of your simple childhood, vacation, the growing up, friends, food, simple times with your cousins, grandparents etc., and you will be uplifted.

So, It’s nostalgia fever everywhere….

And why not?

The best challenge to escape the complexities of our fast life is to cling to the sweet memories of our past despite the oft-heard advice to live in the moment and enjoy the present etc…


Most of us seem to be blaming everything in today’s shrinking world about the culture decadence, moral values , the hurdles of fast life, fast food, fast mobility, fast communication, today’s generation, the compromises etc…….

But what is to be marked is that ……….

Till a few years back it was only the privilege of elders to talk about their ‘zamaana’or their 'kaalam'(time). Now, when I see Times of India, student edition (exclusively printed for school children as part of newspaper in education) even the teens want to turn back their clock. The students write about their past memories, some thing which happened 5 years back and yearn for their school life……Looks like even nostalgia is travelling at a fast pace in this age of faster lifestyles and faster and shorter childhood.

Time seems to change everything even the feelings of the young. Nostalgia virus has struck the young ones too and the cure it seems is to romanticize the past.

It is very natural…. The little costless luxuries of our past gets magnified and comforting to our soul and mind in this nothing seems to be constant world….but we are still making memories for our future. Aren’t we?
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Frozen thoughts...... an awakening

I came across the magazine 'Frozen thoughts' by chance an year and half back, during our regular monthly shopping at Ratnadeep supermarket. This came as a complimentary copy with our monthly groceries. Though I am an avid reader of all magazines, I thought this was like any other complimentary magazine, full of glossy advertisements and so I just flipped the bright and colorful magazine - read the jokes ,quotes, awed at the colorful glossy advts and just stacked them along with news papers to be thrown for ITC recycle.

A few months ago, while on the look out for pictures which my son wanted for his school project , I flipped through this magazine and very casually glanced through an article - the art of delegating. I got so engrossed in the article which was such a startling revelation and ever since then there is no looking back on this magazine.This particular article made me feel that our patti and thatha's ( grandparents) were great management gurus. We don't need Stephen covey, Dale carnegie or a Robin sharma . We have the originals at home.

Every article in this magazine is based on life’s practicality and one can easily connect with what the authors have to say. Most of the simple problems which we face in our real life are addressed and every article leaves you refreshed and motivated to take charge of life’s situations better.

Regular features like Boomerang, Voice of love, awakening, nostalgia, eight years ago, when science met god, a lovely center spread, home remedies, sports reveal character, that’s wisdom, quote, alma mater values and many more make this magazine a treasure. These magazines have now shifted their place to my book rack for safekeeping as forever treasures.

Now, every month I look forward for my monthly shopping @ Ratnadeep to lay hands on my favorite magazine. A magazine for all ages, all religions and all times. Hope this magazine reaches more homes and touches many souls. Click on this link to read online.

Lingering memories of Navarathri

Around me, I find Bangiya sanskritik sangh’s Durga puja, The Gujarati haveli’s Dandiya mahotsav, Kanchi kamakoti's Navarathri utsavam and the gated communities and other cultural and religious association organizing Lalitha Sahasranama chantings and cultural concerts. Not to be outdone, the regional craft emporia like Lepakshi,Poompuhar, Cauvery , Gurjari have organized exhibitions.

Feeling very festive, that time of the year where there are celebrations and holidays all around irrespective of the region we belong to.

The navarathri festival time. A Pan india festival which charmingly links religion, rituals,social and cultural life. A festival across India under various names and various ways but the essence of celebration is the same that of triumph of good over evil.

Essentially a ten day and nine night festival where Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and saraswathi are worshipped for 3 days each and the tenth day is Vijayadashmi.

With Dussehra vacation , Puja , golu and festive air around me , my mind is wandering around Mylapore in Madras. Festivals are so much interwoven into the life of Mylapore and navarathri is no exception.

If you are a person who believes in vibrations and positive energy of a place, then Mylapore is one such divine place and so this Dussehra vacation too my magical mylapore beckons me to relive and celebrate my childhood Dussehra vacation .

I am now on my nostalgic trip down to my birth town.

My dussehra vacations were always spent at my Grandmother’s house at Kutcheri road. The whole area around Kapali Koil would be festive and matching it on ground around teppakulam and mada veedhi were hawkers selling traditional Man bommais( clay dolls) and other small plastic items. The regular shops like Srividya manjal kunkuma kadai, Sukra’s, Vijaya stores, would be doing brisk business selling flowers and pooja items like manjal kungumam, blouse bits, combs, mirrors and token gifts.

We cousins along with mami,chitti, amma and perimma would walk through the narrow senghaneer koil street to reach the Kapali koil and get lost among the sea of devotees and the purifying devotional activities. The beautiful karpagambal and kapaleeswarar decorated in different alangarams were a visual feast and the highlight of the koil was the golu and the miniature teppakulam which was recreated in front of the saneeswara sannidhi. After the darshan we would sit and enjoy the concert and walk back home with sundal in hand.

The daily dose of sweets, bakshanam( savories), sundal , token gifts of plastic miniatures like house, handpumps, mixie and kal chatty choppu(miniature sandstone) during various golu visits at relatives and friends place are all the beautiful memories that still linger in my mind.

Simply put, it may be easy to take me out of mylapore but impossible to take mylapore out of me.