Mention Ugadi and veteran actress Jayanthi gets into flashback mode.
“Fond memories of my mother are attached with Ugadi. When I was a young girl, it was a huge affair. Nowadays people just prepare the bevu-bella (neem and jaggery) and get done with the festivities. But back then my mother used to prepare a special drink made of neem, mango and jaggery as well and serve it along with the customary bevu-bella,” she recalls.
And did she also fuss about eating the bitter neem leaves? “Actually I relish neem leaves more. When I am offered bevu and bella, you’ll find me taking a larger share of bevu,” she says. But she surely must have a favourite when it comes to sweetmeats prepared during Ugadi? “If you mean holige, well I am an exception in that case too. See, my mother somehow never learnt to make holige and so it was not a must have during the festival.
Bisibelebath however is a must have says Anu, Jayanthi’s daughter-in-law and actress. “My husband loves this dish and I ensure that I prepare it for him. This time however I am out shooting and won’t be able to take part in the festivities,” she says and adds “This is the first time in my 10 years of marriage that I am missing Ugadi, but then again work is also a form of celebration.” But if she was in Bangalore, how would she have prepared for the festival? “A day before I would have shopped for the ingredients for the pooja; fruits and vegetables at Gandhibazar. Next I would have cleaned the pooja room and got the stage set for the prayers to be performed by my mom-in-law.”
Jayanthi then must be surely missing Anu.
“Work is important. While the pooja won’t be as elaborate as it would have been with her around, I will do as much as my age allows me to. But I do remember actively involving myself in the preparations when I was a young girl. For my mother it used to be a month long preparation. There used to be so much excitement around what to cook and wear.” And what did she usually buy for Ugadi? “Gold. I have always loved jewellery and never been a great fan of traditional clothes. That way I am more a Jayanth than Jayanthi! It took a lot from my mother’s side to get me to drape a sari at least till the pooja was over,” she remembers with a smile.
At this point we decide to leave her with her memories but not before having her wish our readers a successful year ahead, “Life is full of good and bad experiences. Just don’t waste time lamenting over your sorrows for in that process you may fail to recognise all the good things that are coming your way! This is wishing everyone a successful year ahead.”
