Indy Indy Indiaaahhh !!

Back after a long hiatus. While you were trying to get that snow out of your driveways, I was on my first exotic trip across seven seas. So I made my first air travel across the coast to California to Uncle Shomit, and then beyond to my mothers motherland, India. I not only walk, I run like its nobody’s business! Now my jouney was a ‘Hometown’ travel spree; to Hyderabad (HYD)- my dad’s hometown, to Nizamabad (NZB) – my dads moms hometown,  to Nagpur (NGP) -my mom’s hometown and for a couple days to Delhi – nobody’s hometown.

In Hyderabad, I made friends with grandma and also my uncle, Ratan kaka. Me and kaka would have a lot to talk. He introduced me to the world famous Kolaveri song. We went to the Chowmahalla Palace with Ratan Kaka. We rode in the auto rickshaw. They ride so close with other people that you can shake hands with other riders when everyone stops at the traffic signal. The auto rickshaw drivers are action heroes like ones on dirt bikes. From there we went to NZB where I had 4 more cousins to play with. We also saw a procession by the Ayappa Swami followers all dressed in black bottoms.

In Nagpur I met my mommies mommy (Aji) and daddy (Pa). My Aji did a Puja at home that morning and then a get-together of some family members. Mommy has a big family that you can find people of all shapes and kinds. My daddy was unable to keep up with the names and count! I discovered I had a lot of cousins that came in all sizes, big and small!

The people everywhere would come up and pull my cheeks, be it the airport or the marketplace! In the US, it’s no pulling cheeks. Instead they do: “tch, awww”, and then say stuff and my mommy says “thanks” in the same tone. In India the grand-mommies cook all the time.  They don’t get time to do the dishes or clean. So the maid servants come to help them. Now, except for the auto rickshaw drivers, they are the coolest people! They work with brooms, water and tub full of steel toys (incidentally, these are also used to eat and cook). They would give me a steel spoon and some pots, and I’d make some soul-stirring music with it ( my folks had that stirred-soul expression)! Every time I visited friend and family, they would give either a gift, gold or money to mommy because they saw me for the first time. I’m certain that my parents must have a fortune out of my gifts :/ !

Cant wait to go back to have some fun with the brooms and pots and pans!

Some pictures from my trip:

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Discovering hands and using feet…

Last couple weeks I discovered  I had hands. I’d lift my hands and look at these ‘extra appendages’ I had. Mom and dad would look at me in as much wonderment as I did, at my hands! After two weeks of inspection, I’d know for the rest of my life that these belong to me. Now I bite on the fingers and try to see how many I can put in my mouth at a given time! Besides, my gums need something now…

I have started talking too. Its a different story that no one really understands my language! Looks like I will end up learning theirs than the other way round. If I am hungry, I do “hnuuuuu”. If I am bored and whiny, its “hu hu hu hu”. I do “aaaaaa….eeeee…” when I dont have anything particular on my mind but in good mood. For a singer, this is known as “alaap“. But for me, they think its gibberish! Learning the ways of the world, you see!

In my free time, I bike a lot. It a different kind of biking though- its stationary like in gyms. But I saved some money for my parents and I dont even need an equipment! I believe:” if you want to bike, you dont need a bicycle, all you need is the will” (this is original).

I completed 3 months on April 7 th. This postcard comes with my 3 month pics… I better get going, got to find Bodhi Ciao!

On our way..

I am three months young!

First day of the New Year – Gudi Padwa

April 4, 2011 was Gudi Padwa or Ugadi – New Year celebrated by Marathi and Telugu communities. This day is also the New Year for Kannada and Konkani people, says Wikipedia. Yesterday was truly my first celebration of a Hindu festival. I did have Holi and Sankrath, but didnt do much then.

Shakuntala Aji (my paternal granny) made it special. She was excited about it. Looks like its a big day. She made lot of yummy food : ambat varan, purnachi poLi, bhaji, pachadi, koshimbir and a tangy drink specially had on this day. This drink, among other things, has sweet (jaggery), bitter (they put neem leaves or neem flower) and tangy (raw/ green mangoes which are newly arrived during this time of the year) taste. I overheard that this symbolizes how the entire year is going to be – a little bit of sweet and sour with a dash of salt  and bitterness . Neha Di, Nikhil Dada, Suhdakar kaka and Surekha Kaku joined too for dinner. Aji and Neha didi made some nice pooris too.

Siddharth Navathe: Gappa (chitchat) with Shakuntala Aji on Gudi Padva

Aji got us new clothes. I got some gold too (bling bling)! I wore new clothes that evening – a white kurta from Kalpana Aji that matched with Baba’s white dress. It was a lot of fun to play with Nik dada and Neha didi. Didi means elder sister and Dada is elder brother – for those who do not know the meaning. So these two cousins of mine are fun- I love them. Neha didi entertains me a lot. She dances and talks to me. Nik dada wants to be more careful and makes sure I dont get troubled by anyone or anything!

So we all were dressed up, ate, took pictures, prayed (Aji and Aai did that part) and had a lot of fun. So this was my first new years party!

Siddharth Navathe: Me and Peddamma / Kaku

Siddharth Navathe: Neha Di putting tilak on Baba and me...

 

Siddharth Navathe: With Aai on Gudi Padwa

Siddharth Navathe: With family on Gudi Padwa

Shots yesterday…

I got 4 shots yesterday at the Paediatricians office. I did cry a bit but was OK later. Once they put me in the car seat, I peacefully slept. Didnt create a fuss that night or the next day too.. not much, I mean. My doc is a very sweet aunty. She recommended Tylenol thats specially for babies like me, if I run a fever…

I smile…

The other day we met at Sudhakar Kaka’s house to celebrate Nik dada’s birthday. They usually host lot of get-togethers. The mommies like to hold me and spend time with me. They realized that I smile and they were thrilled. I noticed that these “adults” are like me when they hang out with me. Thats how they coined the term “child-like”, I guess. I am not sure if I have x-ray vision, but I can see their soul through their eyes when they reciprocate to my grin. Looks like this place isn’t bad after all!

Smiling Siddharth Navathe... At 6 weeks.

I exist!

First week of February, I got my first mail. It was not an ordinary one, but a very important one. I got my Social Security Number. Now its official – I am a citizen in the eyes of the State!

Siddharth Navathe's first mail ever - SSN

Day 21

Thursday, the 27th was my 21st day in the family. So we went to the temple. I learned that the Hindu temple at Canton is a couple miles away from home. I wore silk kurta pajama that Kalpana Aji got from Nagpur. Sudhakar kaka, Surekha kaku, Nik dada and Neha didi joined us at home later in the evening. Kalpana Aji had written my name in a rice plate that said : Sai Siddharth. Now the “Sai” part comes from Shakuntala Aji who is an ardent devotee and an active worker in the Satya Sai Baba’s organization.

That evening I got a lot of gifts, so did everyone! That day I was officially christened ”Siddharth”. Aji also wrote a poem for me

Though I was uncomfortable in these new unwashed silk clothes, I did it for my family!

Siddharth Navathe: Me, Aai and Baba in the temple corridorKaka, Kaku, Nik dada, Neha didi

Siddharth Navathe: Aai, Aji and Ajoba inside The Hindu Temple of Canton

Kalpana Aji wrote my name in rice At home with Sudhakar Kaka, Surekha Kaku, Nik dada and Neha didi

Kalpana Aji's special gift- poem she wrote in Marathi for me