The Curious Mamma

While my trip to Uttarakhand was spurred by unconventional reasons , my exploration of Rajasthan held a more traditional charm. It was the mystical and solitary desert, along with the rich cultural mosaic, that beckoned me. The allure of the desert and its culture had already captured my imagination through books and iconic films such as "Lekin," "I am Kalam," "Dhanak," "Paheli," and others. Beyond these influences, a profound motivation pulsed within me, much like the rhythmic beats of my beloved Indian classical music. The tales of legendary Rajasthani musicians, the enigmatic charm of their lifestyles, and the timeless melodies they crafted had sparked an indescribable yearning. This longing guided me to the heartland of this musical tradition, or at least to a place that softly echoed its essence, in my pursuit of forging a profound connection with my art. Truly, this journey fully satisfied that yearning. Rajasthan is a veritable haven of cu...

In the grand saga of daily life's monotony, my reassuring companion is the calendar. Why, you ask? Well, it's all about those gleaming gems called "long weekends" that beckon from its pages, offering a golden chance to escape and embrace the great outdoors! With smooth roads and cars at everyone's beck and call, travel has shed its once-elusive charm, and we've become quite the roving enthusiasts. Tourist spots? They've grown as stale as a leftover pizza. Resorts? Because of those mundane work-sponsored resort trips, going to resorts feels as dull as watching a snail crawl. So, what's the secret sauce to my travel enthusiasm, you wonder? It's simple, really. I crave those  enriching, distinct, and delightful  experiences more than a cat craves a sunbeam. Because when life's a merry-go-round, it's these unique escapades that spin the tale worth telling! Well, folks, guess what? The long-awaited long weekend in September finally rolled around...

Immersing oneself in a variety of musical renditions of a raga is the best way of learning it and as I delve myself into learning Raga Madhmad Sarang, a very evocative raag performed in the late afternoon, I started looking for different renditions in it. Upon searching YouTube, the first result that caught my attention was a rendition by the legendary Pandit Jasraj, a personal favorite of mine. Without hesitation, I pressed the play button, and what unfolded next was nothing short of a sublime experience.  The rendition of the bandish 'rasikani radha palana jhoolai' by him is truly celestial. Instead of simply listening to explore Madhmad Sarang, I found myself completely immersed in it. As I absorbed the performance, vivid imagery unfolded before me: the enchanting sight of Radha gracefully swaying on a swing adorned with resplendent jewels, surrounded by joyful onlookers. It was as if the music poured down like honey, a sweet cascade to my ears. With each note, I felt merel...

Once upon a time, in a land not too far away, there dwelled a marvelous software whiz named Alice. Alice had three trusty sidekicks who made her housekeeping a breeze. She even paid them a little extra to keep their spirits high. Sure, having multiple helpers led to some duplicate efforts, but it was all worth it. Everything was going swimmingly until a wild pandemic stormed into town! In the blink of an eye, Alice's faithful helpers couldn't make it to work due to the shutdown. Despite this setback, Alice and other socially aware folks continued paying their helpers' salaries, understanding that they shouldn't suffer just because they couldn't come in. However, something peculiar happened. The helpers believed the money was given to keep them on the roster, and they discovered that playing the victim card was an easy way to make a few extra bucks. They also grew accustomed to the leisurely life the lockdown afforded them, all while getting paid. As a result, they...

Namaskara everyone! The curious Aai (आई), mama as they call in English and Thayee (ತಾಯಿ) in Kannada, is back with a story about a different experience that she had recently! This time it's not about a place but a traditional folk art from the coastal part of Karnataka, the Yakshagana (ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ/यक्षगान). Recently I watched a Yakshagana performance as a part of women's day celebration program organized by Swakruta and Maharashtra Mandal Bangalore . My visit to Janapadaloka , which hosts compelling statues of various folk forms of Karnataka, introduced me to the same, but I had never witnessed a performance. Yakshagana statues at Janapadaloka Being accompanied by my five-year-old, I was a little doubtful about attending the 1.5 hour long show. But, as Mr. Phatak, Bhagawatar (the orchestrator of the act) started singing Naandi (नांदी/ನಾಂದಿ; an invocation of gods seeking successful completion of the act) in his orotund voice, accompanied by a dancer depicting Ganapati, we were deeply...

Hello everyone, a very happy new year to you all! As I write my first blog post of the year 2023, I wish everyone a year filled with exploration, discovery, and growth! There still are a couple of interesting places from Uttarakhand  about which I want to write. But, our experiences from the recent visit to Maharashtra are worth writing about, too. So, instead of adding to the writing wishlist, let me share them with you while they are still fresh on my mind. I pray god to always enrich my life with such experiences, keeping my writing wishlist overflowing forever! So, which place in Maharashtra did we visit? I'm giving you some clues, and you've to guess. It is a laid-back hill station in southern Maharashtra, that lies in the Sahyadri hills and receives the highest rainfall in the state. Known for its rich bio-diversity, this place is swarmed by tourists during Monsoon season. Any guesses?  The place is Amboli. Why did we visit this monsoon destination during the winters? Th...

Namastay everyone, hope you're doing well. Thanks to cyclone Mandous, it's quite cold and drizzly in Bangalore, making me feel sick. The rains haven't disappeared from the scene this year and it's time to ask, "Atithi tum kab jaoge? (When will leave o guest?)". After all, too much of anything is good for nothing! Let me recount about my visit to Badrinath (Uttarakhand), one of the four holy places of the legendary Chardham yatra, as I snuggle up in bed with my warm blanket. Being feverish, that's the only thing that I can enjoy doing, after two long days of hard work. Personally, the idea of visiting holy places to get all my wishes fulfilled and sins washed doesn't go well with my philosophy. It might have applied in the olden days, when to reach such places, people really had to go through a lot of hardships which would teach them some important life lessons, and make them better people. But with money and technology at one's disposal, one has ea...