'Gondu'. I think that was the first name by which i called you on the day of your birth. Then started the avalanche of names for the next few days. Every person who met you had one or sometimes a new one every day. 'Sonu', Babdu', Oshimani', 'Chinimanya', 'Shanu-Gunu' were the most used ones. But, your little eyes twinkled whenever i called you 'Oshigompush'. Don't know what it meant, but you loved it. Gradually, Oshigompush gave way to 'Gompuli' and the twinkled eyes were accompanied by a sweet dimpled smile.
'नावं ठेवणं' comes naturally to many of us, but giving you a name was a very important decision. Your mother and me had started contemplating on that issue, right since the day we came to know about the pregnancy. I was expecting twins and i was going to call them Aabhas and Yatharth. Once the sonography showed a single embryo, i was fixated on 'Yatharth' which meant Truth. I was so persuasive about the name that i called you by that name throughout your stay in the womb. So much so that, there was a whattsapp group called Yatharth which included me, mah-aaji, aajoba, swapna mavshi and priya mavshi. We used to discuss your mother's mood swings at length in that group.
We had certain ground rules about your name. Since Vengsarkars have 2 daughters starting with 'A' and Kelekars have 3 children starting with 'S', names starting with these 2 letters were completely out of question. Unfortunately, it ruled out your mother's choice of name 'Anvay'. We didn't want a जोडाक्षर in your name, making it tough to pronounce. A name which cannot be shortened was a priority. Mangesh and Madhavi were always mangu/mangya/mungi and madhu, which we didn't want to happen to you. Your mother wanted Ganpati's name since Mangesh means Shiva and her other is Uma which means Parvati. But, most of the good ganpati names started with A or were already taken up by others. After many deliberations, we were not even close to finalising a name for you and the due date was approaching fast. And then one day.....lets talk about it later.
Selecting a date and venue for your naming ceremony was a task i wasn't really much involved in. It was a Kelekar function (paid by aajoba and mah-aaji) and i had decided to take a backseat. (Taking a backseat is not being aggresive, but giving subtle hints assertively and nonchalantly making people agree to you). All the Kelekars (read-Priya) had heated discussions on date, time, venue, menu, guests and finally they came to a decision.
Saraswati Mandir hall was the preferred venue and the talk were already at an advanced stage. But, the decided date was 10th February, a Sunday. It was also Vasant panchami and a Shubh divas. On that day, Saraswati Mandir was already booked. After much contemplation, Status Banquet was finalised, although it was a bit overbudget. I taggged along with Aajoba, and Priya Mavshi to Status for finalising things. Aajoba was trying to sweet-talk with the manager in konkani, since he was a goan.The menu finalising was a very interesting task. After much heated discussion (read-priya), everyone decided to go with the menu i had already tick-marked on the menu card.
We contacted the decorator recommended by the manager, but it was extremely expensive. Sheetal kaka and others were pitching their ideas. All of a sudden an idea struck me and i convinced others about it. We decided to go with a background of ur clothes, ur 'duptis' and your photos. A rented wooden पाळणा with flower arrangement on it placed on a red carpet at the centre. And the highlight of it all was a लखोटा made by Sheetal kaka, which will be unrolled to reveal your name.
The previous day was extremely hectic and everyone was busy getting ready and packing stuff. Sanveda tai was helping me throughout the evening to make the background charts. Sheetal kaka and priya mavshi (read-she is a gem) were getting the लखोटा ready since the morning.
The big day arrived. We went early to get the venue ready. But, it was not opened. The flowers, the पाळणा, the carpet, the Nerurkars and The Shekhar Kaka was there before us. We waited for around 30 minutes before the venue opened. We were running against time to get the decorations ready. But we managed and the decorations were appreciated by everyone. The guest also appreciated the starters; some overappreciated them. The lunch was also something everyone will remember for a long time.
But, what i will remember is the moment when you finally had an identity of your own. A month before the delivery, completely out of the blue, i came up with a name for a girl 'Rooh' meaning soul. It was good, but it became even better when we changed the gender of that word.
After all the Oti-bharni, i asked everyone to keep calm. Madhavi aatya said your name in your ears. I stood before the crowd and said my shayri. Sachin kaka and Sheetal kaka slowly unrolled the लखोटा, in which the shayari and your name was written. World, lo and behold, My son has a name.
RUHAAN. Mangesh and Pooja's RUHAAN.
As you grow up, 'Ruhaan' will become your recognition. You will carry a card or name tag saying "RUHAAN". I hope the whole world knows the name oneday, "RUHAAN MANGESH VENGSARKAR".
And if somebody asks you, what does Ruhaan mean, just give your distinctive smile and say,
'नावं ठेवणं' comes naturally to many of us, but giving you a name was a very important decision. Your mother and me had started contemplating on that issue, right since the day we came to know about the pregnancy. I was expecting twins and i was going to call them Aabhas and Yatharth. Once the sonography showed a single embryo, i was fixated on 'Yatharth' which meant Truth. I was so persuasive about the name that i called you by that name throughout your stay in the womb. So much so that, there was a whattsapp group called Yatharth which included me, mah-aaji, aajoba, swapna mavshi and priya mavshi. We used to discuss your mother's mood swings at length in that group.
We had certain ground rules about your name. Since Vengsarkars have 2 daughters starting with 'A' and Kelekars have 3 children starting with 'S', names starting with these 2 letters were completely out of question. Unfortunately, it ruled out your mother's choice of name 'Anvay'. We didn't want a जोडाक्षर in your name, making it tough to pronounce. A name which cannot be shortened was a priority. Mangesh and Madhavi were always mangu/mangya/mungi and madhu, which we didn't want to happen to you. Your mother wanted Ganpati's name since Mangesh means Shiva and her other is Uma which means Parvati. But, most of the good ganpati names started with A or were already taken up by others. After many deliberations, we were not even close to finalising a name for you and the due date was approaching fast. And then one day.....lets talk about it later.
Selecting a date and venue for your naming ceremony was a task i wasn't really much involved in. It was a Kelekar function (paid by aajoba and mah-aaji) and i had decided to take a backseat. (Taking a backseat is not being aggresive, but giving subtle hints assertively and nonchalantly making people agree to you). All the Kelekars (read-Priya) had heated discussions on date, time, venue, menu, guests and finally they came to a decision.
Saraswati Mandir hall was the preferred venue and the talk were already at an advanced stage. But, the decided date was 10th February, a Sunday. It was also Vasant panchami and a Shubh divas. On that day, Saraswati Mandir was already booked. After much contemplation, Status Banquet was finalised, although it was a bit overbudget. I taggged along with Aajoba, and Priya Mavshi to Status for finalising things. Aajoba was trying to sweet-talk with the manager in konkani, since he was a goan.The menu finalising was a very interesting task. After much heated discussion (read-priya), everyone decided to go with the menu i had already tick-marked on the menu card.
We contacted the decorator recommended by the manager, but it was extremely expensive. Sheetal kaka and others were pitching their ideas. All of a sudden an idea struck me and i convinced others about it. We decided to go with a background of ur clothes, ur 'duptis' and your photos. A rented wooden पाळणा with flower arrangement on it placed on a red carpet at the centre. And the highlight of it all was a लखोटा made by Sheetal kaka, which will be unrolled to reveal your name.
The previous day was extremely hectic and everyone was busy getting ready and packing stuff. Sanveda tai was helping me throughout the evening to make the background charts. Sheetal kaka and priya mavshi (read-she is a gem) were getting the लखोटा ready since the morning.
The big day arrived. We went early to get the venue ready. But, it was not opened. The flowers, the पाळणा, the carpet, the Nerurkars and The Shekhar Kaka was there before us. We waited for around 30 minutes before the venue opened. We were running against time to get the decorations ready. But we managed and the decorations were appreciated by everyone. The guest also appreciated the starters; some overappreciated them. The lunch was also something everyone will remember for a long time.
But, what i will remember is the moment when you finally had an identity of your own. A month before the delivery, completely out of the blue, i came up with a name for a girl 'Rooh' meaning soul. It was good, but it became even better when we changed the gender of that word.
After all the Oti-bharni, i asked everyone to keep calm. Madhavi aatya said your name in your ears. I stood before the crowd and said my shayri. Sachin kaka and Sheetal kaka slowly unrolled the लखोटा, in which the shayari and your name was written. World, lo and behold, My son has a name.
RUHAAN. Mangesh and Pooja's RUHAAN.
As you grow up, 'Ruhaan' will become your recognition. You will carry a card or name tag saying "RUHAAN". I hope the whole world knows the name oneday, "RUHAAN MANGESH VENGSARKAR".
And if somebody asks you, what does Ruhaan mean, just give your distinctive smile and say,
" कुछ दिमाग में रहते हैं,
कुछ दिल में धसते हैं .
जो दिल से करीब हो,
वो रूह में बसते हैं.
जो जुबां की बात सुनता हैं,
वो इन्सान होता हैं.
जो रूह के जजबात समझता हैं,
वो रुहान होता हैं. "
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