first time kondekkadam

Till that time I did not remember any trip to Tirumala. That summer, one day my father arranged for trip to Tirumala by walk. We started in the evening by 5pm.At first I was running. After half an hour I could not walk with the same briskness. My mother isn ahefty lady. She could not walk as fast as children. Some how we reached Tirumala by Midnight.It was so cold. mY FATHER DID NOT TAKE US TO ANY CHOWLTRY.Onthe road itself we cuddled and sat. My mother sapread a blanket and made me sleep. WE had bath with warm water. THey charged 25paise for bucket. Mother and father bathed with cold water only.We went into the queue.When we were almost reaching the main gate. someone was distributing smabar rice to the poor people. We were all very hungry standing and walking in the queue. We ate some time early in the morning. My eldest sister was saying that if they distributed that sambar rice to us also ,it would be nice. But no one heard our plea. At that time ther ewere monkeys and kondamucchulu eve in the temple premises.People were afraid to wear flowers for fera they might come and drag the flowers.THere was rush but there was not any stampede. We went near to the sanctum sanctorum and saw the dietyrelaxedly.THere were no volunteers to drag us out even before we saw the diety.

w hen my father took us to hotel for meals after darshan. It was bliss for us. In those days Iliked anything in hotel.It was aluxury. Even plate meals with only sambar,rasam and buttermilk was heavenly.In return we came by bus. EVeryone of us enjoyed that trip very much. That was maximum my father could take us for relaxation and outing.What with a single person earning as aclerk and maintaing the family respectably and educating all his children as doctoors except. He would have made me also a doctor if I got the seat.

We were not at all afraid of the darkness while walking and going up the steps even in that night. My father preferred journey by night exclusively because he could work in his office till evening . and also it would be cool during nights.At that time the waywas not covered up as now. So the steps would behot to walk during day time. Trip was nice.