Prayer

The laptop is ready with the 35 minute "puja+instructions" downloaded. Here it starts off ...

(In Telugu: the "samagri" for the puja revisited... coconut, flowers, prasad, ... )

I am lost in thoughts. The last time I sat down for a puja at my Aunt's place, my cousins intermittently burst into giggles in the middle of the puja. And I am trying hard right now to avoid giggling at the thought of their giggling in the past. I try hard to think of something else..

(In Sanskrit: the prayer continues... )

I wonder if the Bangladesh-South Africa match has started. 20-20 is something new in cricket. Initially I had my reservations, but it appears, there is room for the 20-20 version along with 1-day cricket and Test cricket. Someone cited a good example: 20-20 is like McDonald's fast food, while Test cricket is like fine dining - there is room for all 3 versions of cricket. I am lost in thoughts. Suddenly I think I've spent about a good half an hour lost in thoughts. I return..

(In Sanskrit: the prayer continues... )

My eyes slowly drift towards the laptop where the WINAMP player shows me that only 8 minutes have been played so far. What!!!! Asambhav!!!

I notice my wife and in-laws involved in performing the puja instructions, which of course are in Telugu. With my mastery level of Telugu, I am close to mistaking it for Sanskrit. I return..

This time I am determined that my thoughts have to last a good 30 genuine minutes. I set up camp to be lost in thoughts, which I apologize to my readers, I can't recollect. I must have watched grass grow, buds bloom into flowers, and worms transform into butterflies. I must have had vicarious thoughts of how I'd have played every ball if I were in Robin Uthappa's shoes the day earlier. The vast cricket field. The crowds. The bowler ready. Suddenly I thought it started raining...

It turned out that my wife, at the behest of the "puja" instructor, had sprinkled holy water on me. Damn!!! My concentration was lost. My eyes slowly drift towards the laptop where the WINAMP player shows me that a respectable 18 minutes have been played so far. Palatable! My situation was not unlike a Sreesanth or Munaf Patel being at the crease facing the likes of McGrath and Gillespie on the first morning of a Test at Perth. I returned... A few games of cricket later, the WINAMP player finally stopped. 35 grinding minutes were successfully seen off. Dravid and Laxman would have been proud of my effort under testing conditions.

I bowed to the Lord and thought through my prayers for a minute. The Lord has so been kind to me all these years - I wonder who has been praying for my well being! Or perhaps it is just that 1 minute I spend every day that counts. Who knows except the Lord himself?

My wife and I sought blessings from my in-laws.

I understand (from googling of course) that Lord Ganesha represents wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. May the Lord's blessings be showered on each of you. Here's wishing everyone - Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

P.S: I don't know if I am God fearing, but I am God loving. I do visit the temple once every few months - not because it is Diwali, but because I find peace when the crowd isn't there. With all my respects and apologies to anyone I have infuriated with my post above, let me have the pleasure of telling you, I am like this only..