“The Mylapore Trio” Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna, Sugathan and Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation conducted the 20th ‘SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS’ – A Virtual Cultural Meet during this extraordinary pandemic situation and lockdown. It was a unique concept and a different conclave involving professionals of different genre. A platform was provided to a Speaker to talk on a subject of his/her choice or profession or expertise and the only criteria are, the topic must be correlated to culture and history. This was followed by an interesting questionnaire session which leads to good interaction. Every week audience learns a new subject enabling themselves to become more knowledge-centric. The 20th Session was conducted on Sunday, 15th November 2020 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. The Programme began with the Prayer on the Trio's Foster Parents Smt.Sumukhi and Shri.Rajasekharan and their Grand Mother Smt. Nagammal, written and sung by Smt. Revathy Sankkaran. The day’s Topic was “Namma Veetu Deepavali” - Nostalgic memories of The Mylapore Trio, Sugathan and other members. Surendranath said that Sumukhi Amma and Rajasekharan Appa gave them the best Deepavali every year. They were gifted with 3 sets of new dresses to be worn 3 times. Deepavali eve, on Deepavali morning and the same evening. The very thought of Deepavali brings us to the mind Rajasekharan Appa. He used to purchase new costly dresses to one and all including pattu sarees for amma from Kanjeevaram but he never got one. Crackers were purchased fro Rs.100 which was a very huge astronomical amount in those days. The trio would be excited to pick and select crackers from the list…. All these were fun and frolic. He also recalled that Mangala isai played by nadaswaram artists on Deepavali early morning…. Amarnath referred to the excitement and tension which used to pick one month before Deepavali. He said he used to prepare Bakshanam with Nagamma Paati for ten-day before Deepavali. Appa encouraged to prepare 16 types of Kaaram and Sweet at home. All homemade by Paati and Amma. Everything was made buckets full to be distributed to neighbours, school, college and office friends. He said that the ultimate excitement was from 2am till 6am on Deepavali day. “Ganga Snanam Aacha” was dialogue which used to reverberate the air. He remembered the year in which both the boys wore newspaper and Roopa note shirts which was the fashion of the day Aparna said Amma and Appa had encouraged them to celebrate Deepavali in such a grand manner. She said that she used to get paatu paavadai felt excited about that. The Trio used to firecrackers in both the houses at Rajasekharan Appa house and biological parents house on all 3 sessions i.e 6 times. Paati used to polish the boiler and decorate with artistic designs of Suryan and Chandran using chunam. She said that during her CA days her exams were held during great festival occasions especially Deepavali. She said one needs to have the determination to control the mind and to concentrate on studies without allowing the mind to carried away by festive fun and frolic. Sugathan recollected the experience that Trio and Sugathan had in Kasi during Dev Deepavali a few years back. The lighting of lakhs of Lamps on the 17kms of Ganga Ghats a spectacular sight indeed. Its believed that 33 crore Devas from heaven descend on Kasi to have darshan of Lord Vishvanatha and celebrate Deepavali. Boating in the Ganges and witnessing the illuminated Ganga banks was a once in life time chance. He said he had the rare opportunity to dance on the banks of Ganga on that day – a rare blessing indeed. Smt.Revathy Sankkaran narrated the story of Narakasura and the significance of Deepavali Festival. Octogenarian Kamala Mami shared her experiences of celebrating Deepavali during her childhood days. Sivabala and Ravibala shared their childhood experiences in Deepavali celebrations in Mylapore. Gayathri shared her festive experiences of firing crackers and making bakshnams. Srividya said Deepavali at Thiruvannamalai her native place was very memorable. Lakshmi said that she and her husband celebrated Deepavali together after a long time this year, she also gave us a visual treat of her home made bakshanams. All of them shared almost similar information and their respective customs and conventions i.e., Bakshanams, oil bath, boiler water, firing crackers at Brahmamurutam, New Dresses, Nadaswaram, Deepavali Lehiyam. we also shared many reminiscences of our childhood days. The famous Deepavali song of the yester years “unnaikkandu naan aada ennaikkandu nee aada ullaasam pongum inba deepavali” and “en veedu en kanavar en kuzhandai” drama were screened to the audience to recollect the old memories. On the whole, it was a nice evening in which we all celebrated another Deepavali virtually. As per the diktat of the Foundation, all the participants were there Deepavali new dress. The Programme ended with a happy note to meet again next week with a different Speaker and a Topic.
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