The following article is meant to encourage the younger generation to research and write about their own family history. As families become more diverse and dispersed all over the planet, it becomes even more important that children (and even adults) know about their ancestors. A Tribute to My Role Models by Nimmu Bangalore (nee Koppikar) [...]
Filed under: Family, Karnataka, Konkani | Tagged: Belgaum, Koppikar, Swami | 3 Comments »
Yes, Guys! That day will surely come. You will have to accompany the wife or significant other for saree shopping! How you respond to the not-so-subtle hint is going to mark you for ever. In the good old days of the joint (or extended) family, you were safe. She may go saree shopping with her [...]
Filed under: Family, Home, India | 35 Comments »
Last week we enjoyed a shaadi in the family. It was a magnificent production over four days, amidst the beautiful rolling hills of upstate South Carolina. And yes, it was a respite from the Fall here, to greenery, well manicured, lush lawns and Southern hospitality. And what a great occasion for a family reunion! For [...]
Filed under: Family, Festivals, Hinduism, Home | 29 Comments »
The village of Chitrigi in Kumta (coastal Karnataka) is our ancestral home. Ever since my grandfather moved to Mumbai, we all grew up in the city and did not have much connection to Kumta. About a decade earlier, Kumta locals convinced our family to support a High School building in Kumta. We did, but our [...]
Filed under: Family, Karnataka, Kumta, Shanbhag School | 23 Comments »
My father had his heart surgery in Nov and has recovered amazingly well. Days after his chest was flayed open to replace his aortic valve, he was up in his hospital bed solving Sudoku puzzles. My brother had made large grids and copied puzzles from the web and newspaper – a binder full. Nurses were [...]
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My cousin brother is a bhat-maam (priest) in the small konkan town of Honavar, 15 miles south of Kumta. His parents had insisted he get a college degree – so after his BA in Economics he still decided to follow their priestly traditions. They live in spartan accommodations beside the temple. I have fond memories [...]
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Our recent visit to Bangalore was M's first, and she wanted to tour the city. My cousin was kind enough to let his driver take us around for the entire day. After a busy morning, we visited Kamat's Yatri Nivas in Gandhinagar to explore the Northern Karnataka cuisine. The northern part of Karnataka is home [...]
Filed under: Family, Food, Karnataka, Konkani | 5 Comments »
Less than a day after reaching Mumbai, we were off to Goa on the Konkan Railway to visit our kuladevata Ramnathi Devasthan and attend my nephew's Upanayana (see previous post). The night ride is ideal for catching-up on gossip with cousins. Their wives (and M too), are fast asleep and we could chat away in [...]
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My nephew Varun, learning to do the Sandhya Vandan, a service in preparation for reciting the Gayatri Mantra. It was about 3 weeks since his Upanayana (thread ceremony) during which he was invested with the sacred thread (see it on his left shoulder) and had his head shaved, marking his “re-birth” as a student of [...]
Filed under: Family, Sanatana Dharma | Leave a Comment »
During the annual Ganapati festival, our house in Colaba is a bee hive of activity. See my earlier post on shopping for flowers at Dadar. For weeks before the festival, the women are busy preparing konkani delicacies from scratch: Cheeroti, Chackli, Gaanti, sweet and spicy diamond shaped shankar-pali, Puran-Poli, Nevri (Karanjya), Chevda, Mando, and a [...]
Filed under: Family, Food, Home, Konkani | Leave a Comment »
