something of march 2008

Visit to Uttan

On 1st of march I went to the place called uttan with the youth of the parish. The youth had planned it as for spiritual purpose. Some 25 of us were there. We left the house around 8 in the morning. We got train from naigoan to the next station. ( As we came there came a train and we were trying to get into it, but just could not even keep our foot into it. So we waited there and got into the next train which full, but still could keep your legs inside). From there we continued our journey to Uttan. The journey was very good. In fact I was coming for the first time to this place. On the way we got down to a place. One of the girls cousin is a nun in the near by convent and so one sister was waiting for us there. We went to their convent there. As they knew that I am a deacon they were very happy about me. It was also a great joy for me to see them. Because my youngest sister is a nun in their congregation. So I had a nice time there. They gave tea and something for us eat. They had indeed a very much welcoming attitude. From there we started our journey on foot. One of the youth gave me his mobile phone to listen music from it and it was good. We had to walk around 45 minutes to reach the spot. It is something like Kerala. On the bank of a beach there is a pilgrim place of Our Lady of velakkanni. So we reached there and had a bit of rest and then we prayed the way of the cross. Indeed I was very much surprised to see the attention of the youth. All were very silent and fully participated in the prayer. After the prayer, we were just sitting outside. Some of the youth had already given order of the food. So some of the ladies brought nice lunch for us. Both veg and no-veg. I was very much surprised, because the preparation was very good.

After the lunch, all are sitting under some tress and resting. One of the boys had brought with him a foot ball, so we decided to play foot ball for a while. As we began our game, some of the local people came to join us and we played against them and we won. While we were playing the girls are also running and playing in the same court and around. So I told them not to disturb us by running in between us. So they went to a corner and played. After a photo section we came back to the place where we had our lunch. After a short rest, we got some auto rickshaws to the town and from there we got into one bus. All the youth were shouting and yelling in the bus, that it looked like our own private bus. All those got into it were laughing like anything because of the naughty ways of the youth. We reached another place. It is a huge mountain, from where one could see the sea and boats. Indeed it is the other side of Vasai. We were there for a short time, for we wanted to start our journey back. As we get into the train, it was more or less empty, which means, one could breath easily. We come back to the entrance of our village, where there are many small shops are there. So we came there and had some snacks. I was very tired and so I left from there soon. It was indeed a very heavy day, but something good. I just make a note here. That is nothing other than some comparison. I was in Andhra Pradesh, and we were working in many villages for long time, but we could never collect youth. But here the youth, means girls and boys are like just so close friends, that it is easy to collect them and do something. In the next day some of them came to me asking about my experience. I had a very positive answer. Indeed they were very happy to hear me. But they did not complaint to me about the parish priest who just do not appreciate them.

Visit to the Vasai fort.

On 9th of march, I went to the Vasai fort with Catechism children. We left the parish around 9 in the morning after the second Eucharistic celebration. There was one school bus given to us by some school and one qualis car. There were some 50-60 students. We reached the spot in 10 minutes. As we reached there we gave them breakfast. There was a nice place to sit down. One would wonder about Vasai fort, it is one of the biggest fort in India. But because of the "Indian care" it is fully destroyed. But some common sense has arisen in the government of India that they started some kind of repairing. The place we were sitting were fully of dusty. After the breakfast we had a little time of rest. Then we prayed the way of the cross. After that we had sometime to visit the other sides of the fort. Then we went to the side of the fort, where the sea comes. One of the fisher man had given us his boat for free. We had two hours for ride in the sea. Indeed they were very good to us. These boat people had brought ice cream for all of us. Wow, I was simply amazed about their love for all of us, it was very good ride. But I was afraid of the children, for there were some small kids of the kinder garden. As we come back, on the bank people were waiting for us with hot lunch. Nice chicken biriyani, very spicy and hot. Wowowwwwwwww. It was very delicious. After that we enter into the fort through another door. It took sometime to come out of it. Then some rest for all the children in the fort. We come back to the house around 4.30 PM. I was very tired for I walked a long way with the children and shouting at them. All these are very naughty and playful minded. But I enjoyed the trip.

As I come to Vasai fort with this children I remember my first visit to this fort. It was on Christmas day the last year. Myself and my companion, another SCJ Brother came to this place. We hired one auto rickshaw and said to him to drop us in the Vasai fort. But this fellow did not know English. After a long ride, he suddenly stopped the auto and said to us, yes, court agaya( We have reached court). As we get out we see court. I shout at this fellow and said we want to go to fort and not court. But he does not understand us. We both do not know the Hindi word for fort.............. what to do!!! We both try our level best with our "Hindi". At last he asked, Killa....................... ooohhhhh yessssssssss we want to go to Killa......................... we reached in 5 minutes from court to fort....................
SWEET MEMORY OF FIRST VISIT TO THE FORT OF VASAI.