After our cousins left, this friend from another country visited us. Though he was with us for few hours only yet his visit was like a breath of fresh air. They shifted to another country long back but it’s totally due to his efforts that the bond with all of us has survived rather remained strong. We friends here are stationed in different cities but he makes it a point to visit all of us whenever he can and we all know this requires commitment. In any relationship between two persons it is always so that one of them put in more efforts and then another has to recognise his efforts, give credit to him, feel gratitude from the depth of heart then only the relationship blooms and fills the life with it’s fragrance. I remember somewhere I read that friends are the sibling which God never gave us and I totally agree to it, you can share almost every pain with them, you can have fun with them and the best part is you can be yourself when you are with the friends. so here is my gratitude towards you for being who you are.

Another day different from usual routine was visit to Ayeppa temple. I always love to go there. We have been visiting this temple for last almost 30 years. We have seen the deity placed under the thatched roof in the very beginning and saw the temple expanding, getting renovated gradually over the years. The thing which remained unchanged is it’s peace emitting aura. We love to go there early in the morning and sit quietly seeping the serenity. May God shower His blessings on all of us.

I try to walk on your path, let your light fill my heart.

There could be many expressions of faith but they all spell only one emotion, trust and surrender.

Mahashivratri this year was on 18th of February. Mahashivratri is a festival of special spiritual significance. Though it is customary to keep awake entire night and submerge oneself in total devotion towards Adiguru Mahadeva, the festivities start at the break of dawn. Pooja rooms are cleaned and preparations are made for Rudrabhishek. People visit temples and chant Om Namah Shivoy offering Bel Patra and other things. We gathered at a friends place to perform Rudrabhishek. Even the preparations of pooja invoke sacred and pious feeling. Writing Rama on Bel patra using sandal paste, opening the petals of lotus flowers, readying the baskets with all the ingredients of offerings like flowers, Sami leaves, bhang leaves, Dhatura flowers and fruits etc is a cleansing process in itself. When chanting of mantras collectively reverberates the atmosphere the soul is lifted to a higher level. In all it is a very satisfying and enriching experience.

In the might his brother- sister duo dropped by for some time. The brother was visiting homeland from another country where he is settled now. It was good to catch up. Felt good to see the children well settled in life, whom we saw growing up, coping up with the struggles of studies, careers and other kind of stresses. May God be always kind to you.

And then yesterday enjoyed an evening full of meaningful discussions and verses.

So this was February so far. I jot down all these moments to keep myself reminding that I have more to be thankful for than to crib on. The grass is enough green on this side too.