Chal chale, apne ghar...

This one's for all those who've asked me how my visit home has been, and for my cousins who missed the event....

The wanderer had a much-awaited visit to his home recently. The occasion - Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary! And that means - cousins, parties, masti, hungama and Good foooood!

For the uninformed, my family stays in Bhopal, and as a joint family comprising of 14 members. My grandparents, my dad and his two brothers with their families of two children each. I happen to be the eldest one in the third generation. The year 2007 is a memorable one for us for three reasons - after 34 years we shifted to a new house this April, this year is the centenary birth year of my late great grandfather, and 50th wedding anniversary of my grandparents.

Since it was a multiple occasion, a large number of relatives were expected at Jha Sadan (that's what our home is called). Altogether there were about 40 people coming from outside Bhopal. This, alongwith other relatives and close families in Bhopal made a total figure of 80 people for the event! And Jha Sadan was accomodating 65 of them at any given point of time! It felt none less than a marriage.

And the celebrations - they were as grand as they always happen at my place. Our family is notorious for its enthu for celebrations, and ofcourse Gujju-type-gourmet (yes, I happen to be a Gujju). The function was spread over three days:

Day1: Outstation relatives arrived. After their routine "kem cho"s, recent escapades, the "what-to-wear" discussion by ladies and "which-are-the-best-stocks" discussions by the gentlemen, we had a "Jha Re Ga Ma Pa" program in the evening. Everyone who had a remote talent in singing and/or dancing had prepared something for the evening. Although we have a complete orchestra team inhouse, dad insisted on hiring professionals! The program lasted a whopping 3 hours with 25 odd performances (songs/group songs/dances). Poor orchestra guy who had come with a singer just got one song to sing. And he finally left with a comment ki "aaj aap log ne entertain kiya, talented family hai!". The highlights - Palak's dance on "Barso re", Parth's awe-inspiring "Teri Deewani", Shlok-Shreya's "Tara rum pum", Anjali Kaki-SK kaka's dance on "Tere Bina" (Guru), the emotional scene after the sons sang "Ye to sach hai ki bhagwaan hai" for my Dada Dadi, and dance on "Jodi ye" (Guru) [directed by yours truly, who incidentally doesnt know how to dance :-)]

Day2: The day of Anniversary. In the morning we had the release of a book called "Kutumb", which was published in the memory of my Great Grandfather. It had articles, snippets, poems etc contributed by everyone in our family, and by few in our extended family. This was followed by a Bhopal Darshan for outstation relatives, in a "Toy Train"! :P Quite crazy I thought! The evening was a party and DJ at The Amer Greens. The "baraat", went to, and returned from the hotel in the same "Toy Train". My bro, who couldnt attend Day1 due to his exam at Indore, made a heroic entry in the party, and took out all the frustration of missing Day1 (and his exam) by his spellbound show on the floor, a dance which would have made Hrithik Roshan jealous!

Day3: A discourse by Swami Rituraj Maharaj, a well-known saint in the North at our place in the morning. As a matter of fact our family is religious too! :P Quite familiar with gyaan sessions in ITC, I felt its very easy to give a discourse. Just state the obvious! :D The families were one a departure from Day3 evening.

Going home has always been as happening for me. When there are 13 people awaiting you home (actually 21, both my buas also stay in Bhopal), you sure gonna have a party time once you are there, irrespective of occasions. Infact, I was ill-famed in college for running back home the next day after exams end. And that was there because I've always found home more happening! But lately, I've found my attachment to home increasing. This wasn't so in college. Now, after coming back from home, once the hangover is gone, its always depressing. Sadly I live too far and have too little leaves to be able to go home more often :-(

Anyways, good times end for better ones to come. Looking forward to the next opportunity to be there!

Pics of the event uploaded on http://picasaweb.google.com/jhamayank