MAHASIVARATHRI

During school days.....there was always a doubt every year on the day before Sivarathri. We generally contemplate on having a holiday on sivaratri. Are they going to give or not.? And if they do, whether it is on that day or the next day. We used to draw a logical reasoning that the holiday should be given on the day next to sivaratri because we do "jagarana" and a holiday is absolutely needed to sleep in the next day. Most of the times, no holiday was given.

I particularly remember one year when radha and I decided in the class to do jagarana the whole night. Its not out of bhakti but we wanted to do...so that we can boast about it...and throw some attitude in the class that we did what others couldnot. There was already a discussion begun among our all other friends in the classroom about the jaagaaram and about the movies to be watched in VCPs(no DVDs those days).Forget not the mid-night shows of movies in the theatres until next day morning. Our friends used to discuss," arey..sridevi talkies lo em cinema,Ramalingeshwaralo enti ,Lakshmilo chiru cinema anta" ani.

I remeber ,one year,our Amarnath saying to me "kranthi i am fasting .I am not eating anything. I will eat fruits and remain awake whole night". Amar and I were very good friends. In seventh class, we used to sit next to each other in the second bench next to wall. We shared common interests and hobbies....drawing,painting. We both used to draw many many pictures..cartoons, natonal leaders etc. I learnt about water colours from him. I used to draw some cartoons about babri-masjid demolition ( dont think much about these cartoons...not that great) and Amar used to appreciate me. We both used to laugh at Shyam"s stories making jokes on them while he was narrating his never-ending stories standing holding the sir's chair at the black-board.

Radha and I were very close to my ammamma. We two share a good rapport with her. She tells about the mythologies, about the old movies,about the games they used to play in her childhood.... and everything. As I grew up along with mamaiah at my ammamma's house I call her "ammaa.... " (now also..i call her so) . There will never be any words with me to say anything about the special bonding I had with her. What I can say about her? She is everything to me.

After deciding to do jagarana.. Radha and I told my ammamma that we were going to stay awake for Jagarana along with her. She said okay. She was on fast but we were not. So, after coming from school...no holiday was declared ....we were so disappointed though we expected that.After our usual playing and a meet with friends, we formed a small group of 4 to 5 who were willing to take part in jagaranam.We were were very jubilant and looking forward to go ahead with the task. After finishing our supper( we already had breakfast and lunch so we thought no need to skip supper :-)) we started our jagarana sitting before "the great one and only" tv channel-doordarshan. We were expecting a number of programmes to get entertained. A movie was also on its way.. I still remeber the name.. It is an old classic "jayabheri". We enquired with my ammamma about the movie. She said "wow..Its a great movie. very good one". Radha and I jumped with joy having heard that. Not to forget about our really dearest programme on tv "chitralahari". Every shivaratri...same songs from movies like Bhaktha kannappa,Bhookailas were played,only the permutations and combinations of songs differ. Though I didnt have any liking to those songs at that age..now I feel they are really cool...very devotional. Some songs from the heart of Ghantasala directly lands in your heart. Especially the song from Bhakthakannappa " shiva shiva shankara bhakthava shankara shambho hara hara namasthuthey".

We two were battling with our closing eyelids putting our all strength to keep them open. No programme is interesting. Very dull . All of our gang members who were to be with us were already blissfully sleeping on the floor . In the mean time...we were asking ammamma about what time will be the end of jagarana and till what time we should stay awake..... She used to stay"meeru velli padukondi....parvaledu " ani. We stared at each other with many question marks on our sleep-needing faces and without any decision taken we turned our faces towards tv.

Finally the time for movie . It started around 1 am(or 2) . The title cards itself were very boring. Ammo...aa perlu padey vidhaanam choosthene mind poyindhi. oka 5 min varaku paduthoone vunnaayi. Then the movie started.I think nageshwara rao is hero in that film. To make matters more worse .... for every 5 to 7minutes there was a song. Such an old( I have to say "oldest") movie. Believe me . Songs , songs and songs...maa valla kaavatledu... I discussed with radha what should be done. We thought for a while and finally came up with a unanimous resolution ... " give up jagarana..tell to ammamma...and..and... get yourself wrapped in bedsheets without any other thought." The time was already 3 am in the morning by then.

Thats how it happened that year on the auspicious day of Shivaratri. Next day morning....,we enquired ammamma about her jagarana. She said she didnt sleep at all. We said to ourselves "great kadaraa...etlavuntaaro asalu nidrapokunda...ayina chinnapillalu kashtamraa melakuvatho vundadam" ani.

This time,today.... I planned to do jagarana with our Hari(Hari Prasad K). I think..... this time..... I will emerge as a winner. I am sure about it.... what do you say???