A hundred years of glorious life

21st April was the traditional celebration of Ananya's birthday...celebrated according to the Tithi on which she was born....Vaisakha Shuddha Chavithi. We had the Ayushya Homam performed in the morning,by a learned priest, which continued till 3 PM.In the evening, was a party arranged by Ananya's grandparents, attended by friends, and a lot of kids.There was lot
of fun and play.Though Ananya refused to go to anyone, she smiled to everyone and played peek a boo with those she found very friendly. Her uncle got her a lovely Mickey Mouse cake , which ofcourse, everybody except her, ate. Ananya looked pretty in her surf blue frock, stole hearts with her smiles and her dancing to tunes.The day ended on a cheerful note.
May 1st, the date on which Ananya was born.The celebrations took place at the Royal Fort Hotel, Visakhapatnam.We reached the place a couple of days in advance.Did a whole lot of shopping for clothes, gifts, chocolates.And we were all excited about the party that was planned for the evening of the 1st of May. 1st May, 2007, we started off the morning on a relaxed note and after our breakfast and lazy chats, we got into action.Murali set out on our great mission, to find matching shoes for Ananya's new pink frock.Lots of things were being done,in the three rooms that we'd booked.Baloons were being pumped, compliments being written on the return gifts, I squeezed some time out to take pictures of Ananya playing with the baloons(which was an irresistably cute sight).And even before we realized, it was 2 PM and we all gathered at the open house for lunch and following that, some people retired for a short nap.Murali swung into action,the pressure of time was slowly building up.He got to the banquet hall and got the decoration going.And at 5 PM, guests started trickling in.Ananya was still deep in sleep and I didn't wish to disturb her but at 6 PM,relatives gatecrashed our room, with all the eagerness and longing that had built up over the year, they were waiting to see her.So, I woke her up from sleep and she was startled.Then I quickly got her dressed and we all headed to the banquet hall.
And it was funtime ....... There was music, laughter fun, kids recited rhymes, some sang songs and at 7:30 PM, Ananya cut her cake, that was the shape of Winnie the Pooh holding the number 1.This time too, she refused to taste the cake and opted instead, to smudge her
fingers in the icing.Kids sported the princess hats and blew party horns.Soon, guests were treated to a tasty dinner which was rounded off with Gajar ka Halwa and ice cream.After 9 PM, they started to leave, mostly not wanting to leave, but only because they had to reach homes by bedtime.They all carried back with them, lots of fond memories, loads of smiles, happy
hearts, a box of chocolate and a beautiful baby doll, which we presented as a souvenir of the occasion. Thus a glorious one year was celebrated amidst family and relatives.....where every heart wished her a hundred years of healthy, happy,learned, fun filled, loving and loved, successful life ahead.More prayers added to that of her Mama and Dadda...