Trivandrum is famous for the Shree Padmanabha Swamy temple.
My wife, myself and our daughter were proceeding towards the temple, when suddenly we heard shouts of “MUNDU…MUNDU…”.
A portly gentleman came running towards us gesticulating wildly.
Unable to make me understand, he pointed towards his own Mundu and pointed towards a shop on the road side.
Finally I was able to make out that I too had to wear a Mundu before entering the temple. And my wife and daughter had to wear the Mundum Neriyathum.
The first time I tried to wrap the Mundu around myself, as I passed the end from one hand to the other, it came off from the other side. I tried again but without any luck.
I also had to remove the jeans and ensure that the mundu did not come off.
Finally I tied two ends of the mundu securely. After securing it, I removed my jeans gently. I then proceeded to wrap the remaining cloth round my body, and finally the the end of the mundu cloth was tied to the first knot.
My family burst into uncontrollable giggles.
Suddenly the same gentleman again, “SHIRT…SHIRT…” .
Gingerly I removed my shirt too.
A thought; when you are going to the Lord ‘s abode, leaving behind all your material belongings, you go there as a new person.
The aartis in Malayali language accompanied by an assortment of drums and trumpets, transported us to a different world.
Outside, on the wide walking path going around the perimeter of the temple, a heavily bedecked elephant was walking across with some pujaris sitting on its back, and many other people briskly following.
We too joined the crowd for a couple of rounds, thoroughly enjoying ourselves and very happy to be part of this unique experience.
