18th November 2013 to 23th November 2013. [Bada Ke Badhe Mazee]

Sharat send a message: ‘Catch the Kutch like never before’. A apt message to all CIS members who were going on trip to Bada Gaon, Kutch for shoting of Vineet-Aayushi wedding.

Dhwani in early morning mood at Gandhidham, Day One

This was first major event for Kashyap, so I also joined him. I was to be CIS staff, plus a Tourist and plus a Barati. Ti-Mukhi! I enjoyed myself in all three Avtars. Hands down this was a unique experience, for all of the 450 Baratis in Bada Gaon and 15 professionals shooting the event.

 

Main Entry Point of Bada Gaon

Kachi Community has grown in big way. The result of this progress is that their Gaon’s are turning into dead places, what a paradox! They have become rich and shifted to Mumbai as permanent residance, however they are holding on to ancestral properties, taking good care of the same, but not using those places. Bada Gaon has more the 500 houses, but around 450 houses are closed. Most houses are well painted and maintained, but decorated with Godrej Locks. The oldies of some families come and stay for few months between Oct – Feb. In such place, this Vinit Gala boy had planned his wedding’s 3 days events. Wow! The village does not have any Kirana shop worth its name, only having a small tapir for ‘Pan’ and little snacks. No bread, No Milk, No Mithaiwala, No No No…. Everything has to be planned and arranged from ‘Mandvi’, two hour drive from Bada!

He had great support of his family and friends, so the event turned out better than expected. I can vouch for it, as I heard many positive comments from the returning 'Baratees' who were with us in return journey from Kutch to Bandra for more than 15 hours.

Lets talk about the Jain food.

 

Morning Breakfast without Kheplas!

Jains believe that after sunset food intake should be banned. So the ‘Mahajan Wadi’ where the caterer served us meals, served till 6.0 clock in evening. Food was according to me an excellent selection. We sindhi’s like to eat heavy food like panneers, pastas, Kotfas etc dipped in ghee with lot of spices. No such thing here, food was decent and filling, believe me I enjoyed it. Morning breakfast started at 7.0 clock. Usually it was filling and I treated it as my lunch. Breakfast consisted of one main item’s, along with different sweet every day plus dry snack and Tea or Coffee.

As a precaution, Dhwani has taken one big bag, filled with ‘Bakerwadi’, wafers, 'Chewadas', 'Biscuits' etc, but we never used one item from it! There was no need. Tummy was filed with tasty light and healthy food, atmosphere was pollution free [air as well as noise] and unique experience of attending wedding in gaon, where was time to feel hungry!

by P G Dodeja

11th November 2013 to 17th November 2013. [Bal Divas]

Dr Savita Dodeja/Kukreja is a blessing for us. All we have to do is tell her our medical problem and she comes out with perfect solution, most of times she suggests simple medication, be it allopathy, nature cure or homeopathy! A sensible, solid and proper Solution. 

We had gone for picnic on Diwali. While returning home, she saw mummy walking in particular style. Immediately she told me that her pain is not due to knee problem, but due to weak nerves of other leg. Get her MRI done and take Dr Kerings advice.

Bingo. MRI confirmed what Savi had told. Mummy’s nerves have gone weak. She needs to stay at clinic for 3 days, for traction – light beam – psycho therapy. So she stayed at Kering Cilinc from 12 to 14. Muskan – Dhawni – Avi stayed one night each with her. Now she is bit comfortable. She still needs regular exercise, but her life quality has improved and hopefully she will not need to take pain killers.

I am planning to put a ‘Arrival – Departure’ sign board at home.

This week was full of such activities. So much so that in morning my first question nowadays is, ‘Who is at home today? Who is planning to leave Pune?’ I will give you the brief narration of In – Out activities.

Kashyap-Dhwani went for full 18 hours trip to Murud – Alibag for Pre-Wedding shooting, twice this week. Leaving at early morning at 4 – 5 and returning late in night around 2 O’clcok. Then one day Kashyap was busy with XRBIA shooting, at Neral-Waria. Muskan after altering few times finally went to Mumbai for 10 days stay on 13^th. reaching Mira road at 11.30 pm. Akshay is off to AT sponsored vacation to Andaman for 5 days! My account of traveling opened on 12^th as I visited Mumbai 2^nd time in year 2013! Manju returned from Singapore trip of three months on Monday. Sharat was in South for office work. Lali went to Mumbai on 15^th along with Akshay and got a good printing order confirmed! Bhuj trip planning is going on full blast, however, that is in next week.

                                          14^th Nov “BAL DIVAS”

Two of them are now Grand Parents, Two of them have DIL's 

Ek bachpan ka, zamana tha,

jisme khushiyon ka, khazana tha;

Chahat chand ko, paane ki thi,
par dil titli ka, deewana tha.

Na din ka, na shaam ka, thikana tha;
thak haarke aana school se, 

par khelne bhi jaana tha.

 

Har khel mein saathi the, har rishta nibhana tha;
gum ki zuban na hoti thi, na zakhmon ka paimana tha.

Rone ki wajah na thi, na hansne ka bahana tha;

Baas rona-khelna-hasna he jeevan tha.

 

kyon ho gaye hum itne bade, 
isse achha to woh bachpan ka zamana tha...

 
What a feeling. Now I understand why Dad use to love Sujata Movies song,  just play this link and enjoy this 55 years ever green song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YILu0hZWeU

by P G Dodeja

4th November 2013 to 10th November 2013. [Zip-Zap Week]

This is a rare Zip-Zap week.


Suddenly in morning I realized that 10 days of November are over. How Diwali came and zapped through is like a flash in my mind. That is expected, but then what happened to 5 days after Diwali? They also zapped, and how they have zapped.

All I remember are presented in following pictures of 5th Nov Picnic at Ghadge Farms:

 Girdharilal and Prahlad Dodeja's 'VANSHAJ'

 Meetu - First non-Sindhi Bahoo of Lokram Dodeja family, a marwari girl, married to Ravi Dodeja. Simple, sweet and fragile looking girl.

Here is our password darling.
If I tell her that she is looking out for her 'Amir Khan' how will she react, what will be her comment?
One of the good pics of Chinky.

This picture tells us why everyone loves dear Muskan. Full of life, excitement, fun and joy.
A Punjabi Kudi in her Punjabi form.
'Jiande Rao Putaar'

Now this is my filmy daughter. Kashyap's sixth sense must be strong when he selected this Guju girl, and pestered her till she said yes. Isn't she a lovely looking, totally filmy girl?

And finally Sudh Sindhi Girl, whose birthday we all celebrated after a long time. Nice to see her surprised face. And the look on her face tells us to scroll up again and look at those lovely pictures again.

by P G Dodeja

28th October 2013 to 3rd November 2013 [Happy Diwali]

Sunday: Evening. Rinky suggested, ’Lets have party in Atlantis.’ This place is just across the Sacred Heart entrance, above Macdonald.  Our dinning out has reduced so much that we have not visited this restaurant, in last 6 years! Atlantis printing is done by us, chef has personally invited us and offered 10% discount also and above all food review is very good.

Rinkys suggetion was taken and sharp at 7.30 Avi & family reached the venue and rest of us were there by 7.45. A very good start as per Dodeja standard, no one has to wait.
We were celebrating birthdays of Lali – Neha – Muskan & Chinky. 

Dhwani & Myself has arranged for Butter Scotch cake from new cake shop, bang opposite Atlantis. This cake turned out the best cake eaten in resent times. 

This cake fulfilled brain hunger also by putting a nice cross word puzzle on its face. 

 Sitting was arranged by management on a long table in main area. Pinky asked them to allot us small room they had for 12 people. Pinky told them, we will manage 19 people, but we want party room. It was a very good call by her. All of us were in good mood, occasion was great, all were getting ready for Diwali mood, Dhwani has instilled some creativity by asking all to bring unique gifts for four of them and also arranged some group games. Mahek-Palak represented childhood, Chinky-Renky represented teenage world. Umesh has not warmed up with us, I wounder why? But Neha along with her kids has started now joining us on such occasions, which makes our family complete. 

Digital world was amply present in three cameras, mobile cameras clicking away everything. The food turned out very good. This party will be considered as one of the best. Muskan was ‘phultu’ excited, and thanked earnestly.

Wednesday: Pre-Diwali activity should start with Cleaning of Home and Soul. Then it is turn of Shopping. Nowadays actual shopping is done on a whim, requirement and whenever shopkeeper puts SALE banner on its display window. And just to suggest for taking eight women for shopping is like asking for admission to Yervada Metal Hospital. It is nightmare for all males, and above all if you consider that this group comprises of four generations! No offence intended. 

However, to get the Diwali shopping feel I took all ladies in Xylo to Mundai. That place is still charming enough for me to enjoy the scenery and for ladies to make purchases of Diyas – Kandeel – Pooja Samgiri – Mittai and other knick knacks. Chitle Pede/Bakerwadi, Murlidhar Ghane-Ka Raas, Sind Karachi Grocery Shop, mandai Building take me back to early 70’s. It seems they have frozen the time for nearly 5 decades! They are still relevant and yet carry old world charm. And I wish them to survive 4 more generations, as they have already done. 

Dhawni - Neha - Mahek made a round of Tulsi Baug, hunting material to make ‘Toran’, and visited Chitle for Peda Purchase. Pinky - Rinky – Palak made round of shops to buy useful things for home, Mummy – Muskan – Myself made round purchased Pooja samgiri plus Kiran needs. I was able to Park Xylo in parking building next to Mandai, a new modern addition to area.    

Sunday: Diwali Pooja was fixed bit early due to Mahurat timing. Our staff  has increased a lot so it was very much crowded. The usual routine was following. Pooja – Plate - Bonus along with Mithai Box. From next year we are going to make some drastic change. We need to change this generations old tradition. This year Kashyap has hired three softies for taking family pics. Idea was to click some professional looking pictures. But we did not succeed in that as we kept shifting from taking professional pics to family candid pics with staff pictures in between. 

However we did click some good frames. I am planning to put that on google after creating a good album. However, here is just one frame of ever green, ever smiling, every ones darling, Muskan. 

Laxmi devi ka nur aap par barse
  Har koi aapse loan lene ko tarse
  Bhagwan aapko de itne paise
  Ki aap chillar paane ko tarse
  ***** HAPPY DIWALI *****

 

by P G Dodeja