On the 9th day of the 11 day long festival.
Twenty mins past midnight, the sounds of the hand bells and 'banka' a traditional bugle go out which announces the arrival of Karaga cuts through the cacophony and the fragrance of camphor engulfed the air! The full moon pushed away the blanket of rain clouds and showered her magical light, time stood still and a sudden rush of adrenaline made my muscles tighten and my eyes stopped blinking to devour the moment! The moment which marks the return of ‘amma’ Draupadi to earth, once every year on ‘Chaitra pournami' the first full moon after ‘Yugadi’ New year. As she gracefully walked through the river of people, it rained white jasmine as 'amma' brushed past me, my hair stood on the edge and it took my breadth away. I was feeling the frenzy in my pulse! I was lost, as my past and present collapsed in the aura of a man who was a goddesses for the night.
