Manas Jain Mandir

Two years ago , on my return journey from an overnight stay for a seminar at Manas Resort Igatpuri , one of my doctor friends , Dr. Mohan Ahuja talked about this mandir . He was insisting on having a look as it was still under construction , though we were all keen on returning home . We took a detour off the highway on the right about a km in .

What a sight it was to see the beautiful Mandir on a small hillock , there was greenery all around, skies were overcast and a there was a drizzle to welcome us. We planned to come again and see in detail as we were not keen to spend more time there.

It was after two years that we made this trip on 13th June during Rahul and Jean's visit.Before we left , I checked up the exact location on Google maps as I was vaguely but wrongly remembering that the turn was immediately after coming down the Kasara Ghats . It was good that I checked up the location as the mandir is just before Shahapur , when going towards Nasik , near Asangaon station and the Kasara ghat is about 20 kms beyond. It is about an hours ride from Thane --50 kms .
[ The Main Entrance -- front view ]

[ The rear view of the Mandir ]

Lot of changes were noticed since my last visit. Work is still on but it seemed the major structures are done . I had read that it is the second largest Jain mandir in India .


[ The Kshetrapal of the Mandir ]

View of the Dharmashalas [ hostels ] for devotees



A sunset view of the Mauli Mountains --a favorite spot for trekkers -- in the background of the temple complex .

Vaillankanni and Puducherri

This is from Rahul and Jean 's visit to the holy shrine of Vaillankanni in the last week of May .

What a lovely shrine as seen in the photo . I have a great wish to visit it , to pray and see the marvelous architecture.

I am adding a few photos of Pondicherri , where they had stayed for a few days before going further south to Vailankanni .

I have been a big critic the way people dirty the city out of habit or a national duty and wherever I have been , there seems to have been no exception .

I have now opened my mind after seeing the beautiful photos of Pondicherri from Rahul and Jeans trip.


I was very appreciative of the clean streets -- a rare site and wonder why it cannot be implemented all over India , especially the Metros or internationally famous cities like Bangalore , Pune to start with . It requires commitment from the politicians to lead first---not like Lallu spitting in his 'peek-dani '-- . People will also follow and obey if legislation is made , awareness comes from seeing leaders and celebrities -- film or sports . Yes it is a Tall Dream and too much to expect but I have not lost hope.

Dream T20 World Team

We have just read that none of the Indian players figure in the Dream T20 World Team . How to react --- oh no-- what happened ---how come--or some protest on the streets or media . Nothing of that sort has happened . No one has reacted nor has any one of the players have anything to say.

If we look at the Indian cricket scene , it is sheer wonder economics and a lesson to be learnt at IIMs---filling the coffers -- the Boards and individual . The hell with nationalism !! After a loss in the super 8 to one team , next day the papers carried an interview with the vice captain Yuvi on the lack of net practice after a loss .He was quoted as curtly replying that we dont need any practice---All the players are well motivated and a good performance will come out in the next match --- I dont have the exact text to quote but it was something very arrogant and curt . The reporter had further compared the serious net practise during the IPL.

The tired and unfit team was allowed to participate in the T20 world cup . Why ?? Did we not have talent to replace them ? Some other team would have put in a better performance . If Mr. Modi wants to hold the IPL twice a year ,we should have at least 30 to 40 potential players lined up so that the best 11 can be picked up for a tournament other than the IPL , and not stick to a standard players who hide their injuries and dont allow another talented player to replace him --- Sehwag for example .

Special mention and Congrats to the Pakistani team .They were the fittest , having missed out on the IPL --so no money bags to carry on their heads --they played with a purpose with a clear mind and for a beligured nation and a national pride . We felt proud seeing them and dedicating the win to the nation and the people who reacted by talking about this win to change the peoples mindset and a will to end terrorism .

Annual ' Date With Kolhapur '

This year too we could manage a trip to Kolhapur . Last year it was a trek at Panhala . At this time of the year I get nostalgic about Kolhapur when as a kid till the age of 8 , I used to spend the entire summer vacation with my grandparents , uncles , cousins Nandutai and Rajeev .

The unique aroma of mud getting soaked in the first showers , and the call of ' Kurmure-eh-eh-eh ' of the vender selling kurmura and roasted peanuts and channa , is still fresh in my mind.

I go to Kolhapur round about May end to get the first showers but have been disappointed for the last couple of years. This year we went in the first week of June and got the most awaited welcome showers and the freshness of nature . Papa was with us also and he was pleased to see his school and college where he had studied for a few years before shifting to Bombay to complete his graduation and post graduation .

We visited the Temblai temple near the Opal Hotel where we usually stay .

As a child I used to walk -- about 2 kms from our house --along with my grandma to this temple. Next day we visited Mr Ajit Dunung , a very successful businessman and a very close friend of Papa and especially of my uncle Sudheerkaka .

At this age of 72, he is still very active ,playing badminton and going on his bike all the way to Belgaum -- 250 kms to and fro -- for business work . He then took us to his club ,where I could park my car and went by rikshaws to the Mahalaxmi Temple --parking problems.

To avoid the long queue at the temple , I had taken the help of Manjit , the son of a security guard whose relatives are my patients here , to get us 'darshan' .Manjit took us the wrong way through the exit , brushing against devotees who had finished darshan and were on the way out . With folded hands I prayed to the Goddess Ambabai and asked forgiveness for taking a ' special darshan ' . I was thankful for this arrangement as Papa would have found it impossible to stand for so long in the queue.

In the evening instead of the usual visit to Panhala we went to Rankala lake after many years . I remember the last time we had been there was in the mid 90s . There is a lot of development surrounding the lake . a good play area for kids and a good walkway for visitors . Seen below is the lake with the Shalini Palace in the background as well as the nicely laid out walkway.

The only sore point is the approach to the gate of the lake .There are a lot of stalls selling eatables in the most unhygienic surroundings .There is a typical stench of ' unwashed kitchen towels ',water flowing everywhere and gives the visitor a doubt whether to enter the lake area or not. The authorities should organize the stalls with proper drainage and hygiene.

Sunset at Temblai through the welcome dark clouds


The moon through the tree at Temblai

Compulsory Voting

After 2 days of holidays , Thursday 30th for the voting day here in Mumbai -- Thane and Friday 1st May being Maharashtra Day , the banks reopened . Anticipating a rush after these 2 days off and also being Saturday -- half day for banking , I went before opening time so that I could finish the work early .

As I was waiting in the queue , I was looking at the left middle fingers of people around me for the ink mark of voting , to get an idea of the much talked about lack of enthusiasm in voting . Most of them had marks and so was quite pleased . At this time I was pondering over the remarks made by Mr. Advaniji of making voting compulsory . I then took an interest in the banking staff to see the marks , and spotted a few who had skipped voting and made the most of the vacation. Were they on election duty ? and if not then what was the purpose of giving a holiday for voting .

If a holiday is given for voting then it is mandatory to vote . All the staff should be inspected for the ink mark and if not found they should be made to loose that day's wages and also fine another day's pay as penalty . This way the percentage of voting will increase .

Most of the private enterprises give a half day holiday to the staff --- for voting -- but I doubt if they really care about casting their vote.

The self employed have to undergo lot of hardship if the banks and other offices are closed and so if a holiday is given for voting then all those should be made accountable , if they have not voted

So as a first step compulsory checking for voting should be for those who get a holiday for that purpose , especially like the dates this year , which was a long weekend for most -- exams being over , the kids were ever willing for an outing with their indiferrent parents who give least importance to elections --- 30th a Thursday , !st May a Friday and then Saturday and Sunday .

Haldi ,Mehndi

The Haldi and Mehndi ceremony is a big event . The Mehndi program is also called Sangeet program in some families .The intensity of these functions varies in families .

Haldi program is something many look forward to as there is a flow of liquor as well as a variety of food . I remember the description of one such function in Agri or Koli community narrated by a free lance cook , Mr. Sawant , who used to be called by us for our get togethers. I had asked him how to calculate the quantity of mutton to be bought for a party . He said that for our party a rough estimate of 250 gm per person is the norm , but in those communities especially for Haldi he calculated about 1 to 1.5 kg per person as they are big drinkers and eaters. He had cooked 100 - 150 kg mutton in some functions

We had a simple function and had no drinks and a vegetarian menu as the Devkarya was in the morning . The ladies apply turmeric paste in coconut oil with leaves of mango trees .

The bridegroom is made to sit on a wooden ' paat ' decorated around by ' rangoli '. Turmeric is applied to the feet , knees , elbows and face . Once everyone has applied in this manner , a few enthusiastic ladies then literally manhandle him by applying the turmeric paste by hand , [ traditionally it was meant to be applied in such a way that the yellow color remains till the wedding and till another ceremony after the wedding called ' Haldi utravne ' which means removing the Haldi ] . After this 5 ladies give him a token ceremonial bath and then he can get ready after a wash . That is the end of this ceremony after which he is not supposed to leave the house .

We also had a function called ' Chura Bharne ' that means putting on the bangles especially the auspicious green ones . This is normally held at the brides house by their family members , but we were fortunate to host it for Jean and this gave us immense satisfaction and a rehearsal for Supriya's function in future . Jean was very cooperative and enthusiastic throughout even though they all were tired after a long journey from Hyderabad . June was very interested in knowing all the goings on and was very much involved in the proceedings . I do not have any good snaps as I had taken a lot of video clips .


Mehndi or sangeet is some families is a program of singing and dancing when a professional team of mehndi artist is hired for applying the bridal mehndi , which takes quite some time ,

as well as other ladies get beautiful designs of mehndi applied .


Anandita too wanted it -----Men folk also join in the singing and merriment and all enjoy the cocktails and good food.

Devkarya , Haldi , Mehndi

First is the ceremony called Devkarya .The traditional Hindu wedding ceremonies are spread over a few days. The previous day is known as the day of Devkarya meaning a service to God .

A photo of the preparations under way, Mr Avinash Bapat the main Purohit in the picture.


A pooja with a ' Homa-havan ' is held and involves close relatives . In Rahul's wedding ,we had a few adaptations done to the ceremonies to accomodate the timings of the next day muhurt. It was also a great opportunity to perform some ceremonies from the girl's --Jean's --side , it turned out to be a good orientation programme for Supriya's wedding in future .

As the muhurt was in the late afternoon , the priest suggested to hold most of the ceremonies that did not involve Jean's family on the previous day. On the wedding day also 'he planned to finish most of the steps before the muhurt so that we all had sufficient time to get ready for the reception.

Devkarya pooja involves Ganesh poojan , next is Varun poojan , followed by Matruka pojan .


A photo of Rahul fully concentrating on the sanskrit slokas that he had to repeat after the Purohit.After the initial ceremonies we all had to go in to place the items seen in this photo , in the Pooja ghar [ Devara ] . Supriya is also seen collecting the all important ' karaa ', which she is supposed to carry the next day to the wedding venue--she has a very important role after the muhurta.

After this is Gruha poojan and Havan , as seen in this picture ,



and finally is Nandi-shraadha --that is remembering the ancestors and a service in their honour.

After this , the assembled relatives gave gifts to Rahul ,to us and Supriya and the ceremony was over.