‘Amcha Hanuman Mandir’

23 Jan 2010, an evening I will never forget. Poonam, Shweta, Neha and me had best time chatting in our very old amazing ‘Hanuman Mandir’. We met after so many days I guess may be months. Our chats have always been very interesting- current phases of our lives, sometimes social issues, boys, gossips…..v talk about almost everything. I realized one thing that our ‘hanuman mandir’ has always been special to us. The best chats, the best discussions. We have always felt a connection to this place.
While we were sitting on a ‘katta’ in a corner and chit-chatting, I went into flashback of those old times we have spent here, those cries, laughter’s, talks and giggles. We have grown up here. I remembered the times when we used to come here with our mom’s. We used to be in those colorful frocks, run here and there, smiling, falling and playing ‘pakda pakdi’ , ‘aai cha patra haravla’ , ‘chor police’ , ‘kan goshti’ (Chinese whisper) I could see it all flashing in front me. That gathering in mandir, playing ‘ghar ghar’, the mandir was like a play area for us at that time. What a care free life that was! Then came the phase -the teenage. I recollected those lengthy discussions about our new college life, new friends, funny professors, train journeys. Our list of crushes, describing them, then those blushes, teasing, and excitement after our crushes used to smile or talk. And I guess I was the best in that. The list of how maaannny guys I used to like at that time always made me think I am just so abnormal’. But I guess the age just said it all.
‘Mandir’ looked simply beautiful and had a very positive aura during- Diwali, Hanuman Jayanti . We used to come here in Diwali in our shinning saris and excitement flowing in our eyes to see crackers from this hill top ‘Mandir ‘. Proud to say we are still following the tradition. I remembered once we lit this row of ‘diyas’ all around the ‘mandir’- Like typical traditional girls. I can still remember the ‘lit mandir’. What a beauty! Those were the days of innocence. And now I come here to find something, something even I cannot describe, may be peace, or answers to few questions. I come here to confess things after my whole day’s struggle. I come here to find peace, peace after a war with the outside world, with myself, a war of what I am and what I want to be like. I love the freshness and purity in air, I love the ring of bells, eating the ‘prasad’, how can I forget that (I still love eating it), the aroma of incense sticks. I come here to enjoy the silence this place possesses.
Bonding with friends and the place helped me to bond with ‘hanuman’. I will not say ‘human dev’ and all. Because the relation I have had with him is more like the relation I have with my friends. I always say – ‘hey was sup’ when I enter here, no mantra nothing. I have always spoken my heart out when I come here. I always thank him for whatever he has given me. Thank him for the way I have been brought up, for the lovely family I have. I have thanked him for the lovely friends I have and have always prayed for good health for all. This bond is mystifying; it makes me strong every time. I have always conceived the idea of ‘Karma’, but every time I come here I feel like I am tied to this spiritual place. My affiliation with this place is just so not ‘Human like’. So Selfless and So Pure!