Karthika Maasam (November 12 to December 11) brings with it the tradition of vana bhojanam , the community lunches and day-long picnics. This auspicious month dedicated to Lord Shiva has people performing pujas at various temples on Monday and Friday and on the full moon day ( Pournami ), while Sundays are reserved for revelry.
A month of fasting and feasting, most households witness elders sticking to traditional rituals of offering pujas while the younger brigade feasts on the delicacies dished out and stored in the larder.
“This season of weekend picnics can make magical moments happen; family gatherings, merry-making and friendly banter are a luxury in the current stressful times. People are so caught up in their fast-paced lives that members of a family living under same roof have no time for each other; the rare free weekends are either spent at shopping malls staring at products and strangers or having loveless food cooked by professionals at food courts,” rues Pallavi M., a B. Tech final year student.
In the past, families would head to mango orchards in city suburbs and spend quality time in the lap of nature. They would spread a blanket under a tree, indulge in banter and savour the fun that would unfold.
“We used to pack lots of food and snacks and a full plastic set of plates, spoons and glasses and go to a garden where we would play games like Frisbee, hide and seek and musical chair. Friendly competitions in singing and dance used to be loads of fun,” reminisces Chandra Rajendran, an old timer from Ashok Nagar.
A large number of revellers and only a few picnic venues was a problem until the picturesque Bhavani Island in river Krishna was opened to the public.
“The island resort is the best thing to have happened to Karthika masam revellers as the place offers a green canopy of unruffled beauty, an ideal location for the traditional vana bhojanam,” says Divisional Manager of AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) V.V.S. Gangaraju. Large crowds visiting the place also set the cash registers of the tourism department ringing.
Cashing in on the public mood, the tourism officials make elaborate arrangements and this year is no exception. The APTDC has spruced up the island resort by renovating most of the cottages and replacing some of the old adventure games with new ones like the Burma Bridge, Spider Web and the country swings.
The lawns have been tidied up and the pathways look greener. The water roller, a12-feet-long cylindrical PVC structure with a capacity to accommodate two or three persons inside, which rolls on water giving a ‘walk-on-water’ feel to the riders inside, is a highlight. High-rope activities between trees, a climbing wall and vine traverse techniques- traversing through a tyre structure or a horizontal ladder and doing a balancing act on a wooden plank, are great fun for kids.
‘Jungle Gym’ is yet another attractive feature that engages young adventurous souls in crossing obstacles, a novel catwalk, commando crawl, passing through a tunnel and following it up with a Tarzan swing. Kolatam, mimicry, games and sports and dance will keep the visitors entertained.
“Besides cultural programmes by local artists, we will offer special packages in food. A special vegetarian meal per head will cost Rs. 310 which includes boating charges and a plain vegetarian meal will cost Rs. 210,” says K. Sreedhan, Assistant Manager of the island resort.