Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Namma Mysooru

Of course non Mysoreans can also read to know Mysore........

Mysore cannot be experienced in holidays or weekends. Like a creeper growing and encircling the staff, you have to live, and grow with Mysore to experience it. You have to be with the ajjis (granny) who have seen you from the time you were soooo small, where the maid who works in your house is your family maid, your ajji had "recruited" her mother.

When you go on an evening walk, the poojari of the Ram mandir stops and chats with you, and moves on saying there is a pooja at 5 next morning, that's Mysore for you.
When you walk a little ahead and the librarian says he has the latest copy of "Kasturi" or "Mayura" (magazines), that's Mysore for you.
When the milkman sees you on a walk, and delivers an extra half litre without being asked, that's! Mysore for you.

Mysore is when you board a bus at the bus-stand and conductor-uncle gives you a ticket without asking.

Mysore is when you collect little red 'gulganji' seeds on your way back home from KukkarahaLLi Lake.

Mysore is when you come by the Tippu express, and you find someone going in your direction to drop you off.

Mysore is when elephants are marched in from the forests for Dussehra or where the "yuva dasara" takes place in the open air theater at Manasagangotri.

Mysore is when you wait for your copy of "Star of Mysore".

Mysore is when the English movies are only at Rajkamal or Sterling.

Mysore is when there are student body elections in Sarada-Vilas.

Mysore is the eternal SJCE-NIE-VVCE-VVIET feud.

Mysore is when Jayciana, Technics, Vidyuth is (BE-college functions).

Mysore is when you got your project report bound in Saraswatipuram.

Mysore is having grape juice at RTO circle.

Mysore is buying vegetables at Agrahara.

Mysore is buying plantain leaves in NanjumaLige, savoring the aroma of the agarbatti factory behind.

Mysore is eating ice-creams at Penguin or at the oldest ice-cream centre at Mysore which is PHALAMRUTA.

Mysore is eating dosa at Mylari Hotel.

Mysore is eating hot pakodas and bajjis on a breezy Friday evening at chamundi hills or climbing that 1001 steps on a early Sunday morning to touch the clouds.

Mysore is having biriyani early in the morning, near Philo's church.

Mysore is chilling out with friends near Bakepoint sharing cig's.

Mysore is drinking sugarcane juice near KukkarahaLLI Lake.

Mysore is munching corn-on-the-cob in the palace foreground.

Mysore is eating churumuri at near Ballal circle-oppsite park.

Mysore is when I grew up in Mysore.

My Mysore.
Mysore before GRS,
Mysore before the under bridge in front of Saraswatipuram Fire Brigade,
Mysore before Infosys,
Mysore before Ring-Road.

Those who grew up in that Mysore, will relate to me more.
Than Those, who came to Mysore, for a three-month stint in Infy.
Than Those, who come to Mysore for a week's holiday to enjoy its serenity.
Than those, who think Mysore is a good place to invest.
Than those, who think chilling out in Mysore is just CCD or Pizza Corner.

Oh, How they misunderstand my pretty home!!!