Interview trip to kerala, 28Feb to 5 March.

men tearing wood in a shelter during Aatukal pongala, 2018.

28 Feb, I came to Trivandrum. The same day i had my interview. I left for my Interview from Bobby uncle's place.

Interview bombed, puff.The host roasted me. Made me believe that i am standing way too far behind in my race.I was like, screw that man, screw every thing.

1st March I left Bobby uncle's house and went to Jaya aunty's place to stay.

To get out of the bombed interview and its condolences drag, I thought to go out for pongala festival and look at the ladies who came to put pongala.

"Aatukaal pongala is the largest cultural and religious gathering by women folks from any culture in the world"

March 2, Aatukal pongala. I was at Jaya aunty's place. I woke up by 10 in the morning.Did some warm ups exercise, took a bath. Had my breakfast while Jaya aunty was conducting her advice giving session, i left the place after i got enough advice for the next year and half.

I started to walk along the street. Ladies, their families, their pots, grains and twigs all assembled to start off when they receive the holy flame that lit the pot of  goddess Aatukaal Devi in her temple by the holy priest. I couldn't have a good look at the ladies clad in their Kasavu mundu and blouse because Jaya aunty spoiled my bird watcher's instinct by telling Aatukal pangala was a festival for  ladies, all the young men who went on to take up all the glances along the road end up getting beaten or getting arrested by the police. So i had to control my bird watcher's nerve.

Desi with the local ladies who came to put pongala.

I was at a juice shop, some 20m away from the juice shop i saw this foreigner lady  sitting and chatting with the local ladies who came for pongala. I looked at their interaction, wondering what could be the discussion about. My look was so obvious, she turned to me. I smiled at her. She waved back.

I was having a soda lemon with cus-cus. She came walking towards my side, on seeing me having this drink she exclaimed hey! what you are drinking...! I gave her the juice and ordered another one.
She thanked me for the service.

The shopkeeper showcased chivalry. He said the juice which i offered to the woman was on him.
I was completely blown out, he did not take the money even after me forcing him to take.

Desi, waiting for her train to Varkala in Pettah station.

She liked the juice. She asked me what was cus-cus, i didn't know what it was. This drink turned out to be a form of retreat for us. We started to walk along the festivities. She said that the previous night she did not get an accommodation so she simply decided to stay back on the road side along with the people who were decorating the roadside for the big day.

Desi is an experienced teacher from Spain who has taught for 12 years. She spends half her salary on less fortunate children who cannot afford class rooms and few fun trips.The remaining amount she saves  for her trips to India. She is 42 and single woman. She leaves for her trips alone, she finds friends during the trip, makes her trip plans with the people whom she meets during the journey.

At the end of the day i put her in a Train to Varkala. She presented me the first of many wrist bands she made in an Ashram as a token of every thing a humanity should posses.


You know what! this woman was like the frog rain sequence from the movie Magnolia. She brought her presence just to deliver me from the trauma of the events which cracked me apart.




                                           muchas gracias






All the photos used in this article are original pictures photographed by the blogger during Aatukal pongala,  Trivandrum, Kerala.
The blogger does not have money to register its copy rights so please do not reproduce it any where els.
Thank you.