morning of 17th january, the day of baba's cousin's potluck picnic in kot, started bit gloomy (probably more seeing the brick kilns spewing out smoke and knowing that is the air we breathe down in the valley)... but then the mood brightened up once the cousins all came up.. there had been forecast of rain.. that didn't happen, and even the maobadis earlier called off the banda slated for that day.. so it was all hunky dory!
... it was a hazy morning...
... the mountains barely visible...
... but then the sun came out... dada was the first one to come up. .and he immediately started to soak in the sun, and the ass...
slowly everyone started trickling in... the oldies in jeeps right to our doorsteps.. and the rest a short climb from our garage...
everyone gathered in the kausi.. and everyone started taking pictures...
... including using the selfie stick brought by asim!
.. others were busy sharing pictures of their latest farmhouse!!
it was quite a mix, of the elderly, the soon to be elderly...
.. the younger than them...
... those still younger...
... those really tender ones...
.. and also included the freshest member in the family...
... also included a friend of nepal...
there was kabita recital by licchi mami
... and lots of witty and touching shayari from mahesh mama...
about "age".. that was enjoyed by all.. the old and young alike...
... mama also had a special present for baba.. a sugarless soan papadi (accompanied by another poetry of course!)
.. mami shared a few words of wisdom and spirituality...
this was followed by a joke regarding her grandkids by jyoti
...soaking in the sun and scene...
time for snacks down below too
then those with a lot of energy and spirit went for a walk to the top of the hill.. to mahanakalstan in kot danda
the rest stayed behind
and chatted...
by the time everyone came.. it was cake cutting time. this was a day after baba's birthday, 16th january ... (his tithi birthday had been celebrated a couple of weeks earlier with another similar cake from dhokaima...)
.. it was also special because it was a birthday that signalled his official entry as a 'senior citizen' .. here licchi mami is helping baba light the candle !
...everyone wished him happy budday...
.. then the ritual cutting of cake...
... and some for his cheeks...
... lunch followed contributed (like the snacks and drinks) by all the cousins...
.. some stayed indoors to eat...
.. and others preferred to be in the sun...
.. standing...
... or sitting...
.. even catching up on conversation...
...nandas and bhaujus...
sisters' concentration...
.. a group picture before everyone dispersed (dada had already left, though)...
then there were two rounds of bingo...
...concentration was the key...
.. and the winning row numbers .. some inside the room...
.. some outside...
...and some side gambling too...
... all in all it was the jwains who won.. most of all ashok jwain.. who even won the single round of paltai pharas that everyone played at the end...
...ari entertains himself...
... and whispers a 'secret' into arati's ears...
... everyone gets ready to leave...
.. some in full trekking gear...
.. some in jam packed jeeps...
and at the end a final bonfire of all the tapari used.. one of my favourite pastimes in kot!
... so this blog started and ended with smoke!! :)
