Karthick's Wedding

Got this wedding invitation the other day from Pollachi.Mr Padmanabhan's(my Pollachi chittapa) eldest grandson Karthick is getting married in Chennai this month-end. One could expect to meet there most of the old guards of the Pollachi clan - notably, both my favourite chitties - Sita and Sambu - and uncles - Annakutty and Rajappa mama.

Bridegroom works in Dubai. And my chittappa is justifiably excited about the wedding. Sambu chitti, whose health doesn't permit travel and strain, plans to be Chennai three weeks before the wedding to help her favourite daughter Vasanthi with weddding arrangements.

A highlight of the wedding is music concert by Sambu chitti's daughter-in-law Jayasree.An accomplished vocalist, Jayasree, has in the past many years given Carnatic music concerts in many towns, along with her twin sister Vijaya Sree. Known as Kovai Sree Sisters the music duo gave their first performance abroad in Singapore last year. Their next outing abroad may well be Dubai; or, perhaps, London, where the family of the bride, Meenakshi, are settled.

Incidentally, the Kovai sisters were inspired in their early years by their mother, Saraswathi Vaidyanathan, who is credited with composing over 500 devotional songs.Saraswathi is daughter of the late Sarmanna of Pollachi.

(Would anyone send us pictures of the Saraswathi family ? )

Ooh-- Halloween!!

Halloween is one of the greatest holidays of all time! It falls on October 31st and the main event is to dress up as something scary and go around the neighborhood asking people for candy. It's a pagan holiday that originated from the Irish and British. This year, my sister dressed up as a runaway juvenile and I dressed up as Sarah Palin's ghost. She is the Republican nominee for vice president this year. I collected two full buckets of candy and had a jolly good time. Feel free to respond!

Hey Everyone!

For those who don't know who I am, I am Anjana; Sreedhar's daughter. I think this idea to link our entire Pollachi clan together is just great! We are using the benefits of technology to connect to our family that is scattered geographically. I'm 14 years old, and I have a sister named Anushree who is 12 years old. I live with my parents in Edison in New Jersey. I am now in the 9th grade, known as the first year of high school, while Anu is in 7th grade. School started in September, and our teachers have given us a lot of homework from day one. Phew! Our everyday lives are filled with singing, playing instruments, going to classes, doing homework, studying, and doing chores. I give all relatives a shout-out from the Sreedhar family in New Jersey! Also, everyone who has been informed about this blog should utilize it by publishing their post. You can write about whatever you want; just go crazy and have fun with it! I look forward to reading many posts in the future!
--from Anjana Sreedhar (also known as Kunju the Great)

Halloween Day at San Ramon

Received from Meera a set of photos showing what my grandsons, Nikhil and Siddarth, did on Halloween Day. Siddarth dressed himself as a race-car driver and Nikhil, as Teddy Bear.Siddarth is ready for a Halloween party at his school.
With a couple of friends at school. The boy next to him, it seems, would not let go his mom (or is it the other way about?) Anyway, the boys had fun showing off their fancy dress. Siddarth's race-driver's suit was ordered online; and , for a mail-ordered item, said his mother, the suit fitted Siddarth so well, as if it had been picked off the shelf and tried out at Macys.


After fun and snacks at school, Siddarth joined other children going door-to-door on their street wishing folks and collecting sweets. This year, says his mother, Siddarth couldn't do too many houses because of a drizzle. Not to disappoint the children their parents took them to the mall, where they went from shop to shop for toffees.
No, he isn't Mexican, the guy holding the kids. He is grandpa Jagannath (Pheonix thatha, to Siddarth) trying to play Halloween with the children.
Grandma Uma has her turn with Siddarth, at a family outing. Nikhil goes with his dad Ravi.
Nikhil, a quick change artist, has slipped out his teddy bear outfit to play Don of the Mysore mafia.
Siddarth here strikes a pose,with hint of a smile.

An update on Gautam

Heard from my niece Uma (Bhagya's daughter) in New Delhi. She has resumed work at Tata Mcgraw Hill,after maternity leave. Four-month old Gautam is learning to crawl these days,says Uma.In an e-mail Uma says her in-laws are a big help; they are staying with her, so that Gautam, Saranya and their maid could get used to each other when Uma is away at work.Gautam, says his mother, has started to roll over and is trying to learn the art of crawling these days. But then winter has set in and "we are not able to put him on the floor;its fun to watch both the kids play with each other". An earlier picture of the kids.
Uma is avalable at Uma_Govindan@mcgraw-hill.com

Her mother Bhagya has recently acquired an e-mail ID - bhagya.narayani@gmail.com

Nikhil at his bath

I recovered these pictures from my file. Hopefully, this would prompt others to dig into their 'inbox'to salvage family photos for this blog.

Back in Mysore

Returned to Mysore after a four-month stay with Ravi-Meera family in San Ramon, California. Lakshmi and I went to the US in mid-May, to spend time with grandsons - Nikhil, 10 months, and Sidharth,who will be three this December.
My sister Baby moved to Mysore during our absence to give company to our mother Mangammal.
Meanwhile, at San Ramon,Ravi has switched job, joining TCS; and Meera, a doctor, has put parenting before professional advancement. She has taken up an assignment that leaves more time for her children. The job enables her to stay in touch with her profession.Meera says she doesn't plan to take up a full-time medical job till Nikhil, 10 months, is old enough to go to school.