Talking about the pooja, it was to start at 830 am or so. But the Pandit ji himself arrived fashionably late at some 945 am. By the time we got started it was 1030.. darn too late. This is exactly the problem I think – little respect for others’ time and even less for your own commitments, or maybe it’s the other way around.
Anyways, the highlight of the pooja was that it was to be my formal naming ceremony. The Pandit ji insisted that the name had to begin with one of 'Ga', 'Gi', 'Gu' or 'Ge'. Having gone through this process once before, the entire family was clear, fortunately, that there was no GaGiGuGe business happening here. The name was Keshav, is Keshav and will be Keshav. Thanks God.. I could not imagine another name.. Keshav sounds so so familiar and is so cool.. I mean, which other name could have so many meanings!!!
The Pandjitji, however insisted we had to give some names from each of these sounds.. oh sorry.. syllables they are, my Daddy tells me (though I think he is wrong!!). So there you go.. people started discussing and suggesting all sorts of names.. Here is a sample –
- Ga – Gajar, Gama…
- Gi – don’t remember…
- Gu – Guru.. now this is one I liked.. Guru Bhai.. would be fine if I turned out to be as successful as either of the Bhai or the Small B playing Bhai..
- Ge – Gera.. and none other than my Mom suggested it.. Just imagine.. While he is a nice guy and all (Dad's friend), but I don’t want to marry at 32!!!
Anyways, a combination of the suggestions and the Pandit managed to get me some birth names like Guru, Gama, Gerchand (now what is that!!!) and one more that I cannot remember right now.
The most innovative suggestion was by this cousin of my Dad’s (Basant Tau for me – Now does that feel old or does that feel old ;). He suggested that I be called G. Keshav with the ‘G’ silent.. hahaha..
The other interesting suggestion was that the G could be my middle name.. like Keshav ‘Gi’.. And then one could take a bit more liberties with it and make it like Keshav Ji.. Now that would seem quite ok, except that might make me seem a few dozen years more than I am.
Anyways, all of this is academic as my name remains Keshav… Keshav Mohta.
The evening was a dinner party for family and friends. Pretty neat except that it was a bit too cold. I started shivering as soon as I got there (which was fashionably an hour late ;). Did I say anything about respect for others’ time earlier.. Naaahhh..
So anyways, I felt rather cold as the aircon was a bit too strong. Got everyone into a tizzy and suddenly I was bundled into a warm room wherein I was wrapped up in some 5 layers with a blanket or two on top. Cozy and comfortable, I slept through the evening in a nice, rocking cot which was rather nicely decorated.
So do not ask me anything about the rest of the evening as I do not know. The day was action-packed and interesting. And I am still Keshav.. nothing more I could ask for...
