My Tonsure

I was shocked on hearing what my mother said. I could not give reply immediately. When I was combing my waist length hair my mother came to me and said, "Leela, without consulting you I have taken a decision. I hope you will oblige me. This year we all got happy results. Your father got his long awaited promotion. Your brother Siva got a very good rank in the EAMCET. You also got 540 marks in tenth class. And doctor told me there is no need of operation for me. She said my problem has been cured with medicines. This all happened only with the grace of Lord Venkateswara of Seven hills. So in gratitude, father said that, he and Siva would give their hair at Tirumala. On hearing that I said I and Leela also give our hair. Your father felt very happy on hearing that. Siva readily agreed to get his head tonsured. I hope you also will agreee". I didn't talk for some moments. I know that my my mother is very sentimental. She will not take back her decision, once taken. My mother misunderstood my silence and asked, "What Leela, can't you give your hair to Lord?" I didn't mean to hurt my beloved mother. So I nodded in agreement. She felt very happy and left my room saying, " I know about my daughter. She will never hurt me".

It was May,2002. I was enjoying my success in Tenth class. I stood first in our school. My father decided to join me in Chaitnya college in Intermediate. As per the decision taken by my parents, we started our journey to Tirupathi by Tirumala Express on May 25. We reached Tirupathi on May26 by 6 in the morning and engaged a taxi to reach Tirumal Hills. By 7 we were in Tirumala. We went to the cottager already booked by my father. We took rest for some time. After 10 am we all came out and walked towards the tonsuring hall. But when we reached there, we were shocked to see the heavy rush. We stood out side thinking what to do. Then one of my father's colleagues appeared and advised us to go to Varaha swamy choultry where there is a small tonsuring hall. He said there they charge Rs.10 per head and rush will be comparitively less. So turned back and reached Varaha swamy choulry in 15 minutes. There was also rush but not as it was at main tonsuring hall. My father stood in the queue and took 4 coupons for us by paying Rs.40. We entered the small tonsuring hall. There were some 20 barberes sitting in three rows. Before each barber stood atleast 3 to 4 pilgrims waiting for their turn.

We observed for some time and my father and my brother stood in the queue in which three men were waiting. My mother and I joined another queue in which only two women were waiting. In our queue a man was sitting before the barber being tonsured. After him was a young women in her thirties. She had waist length hair. After her a middle aged women was standing. My mother sood behind her and I after my mother.

In three minutes the man stood up. The young lady moved forward. Barber took the coupon from her. She said "Moodu katherlu" (three cuts). She bent forward throwing her long hair over her right shoulder. The barber took scissors into his right hand and cut nearly half an inch of her hair saying, "The first cut".

Then he cut another half an inch saying "the second cut". Then he asked "Where shall I give the third cut". That lady pointed at the middle of her hair. He asked her to bend further and cut nearly 10 inches of her hair.

Then the middle aged lady moved and sat before him. "Tonsuring" he said to him self looking at the coupon. Then he poured water on her head. I watched it very interestingly as I was going to face the same experience. After wetting her hair he took the straight razor and started his work. The razor reached her head and there was the first stroke. There was a white patch on the middle of her hair. That patch grew bigger as the time passed. In five minutes she turned completely bald.

Now my mother stood before him. The same process repeated. After five minutes my mother stood up with a bald head. By that time I unbraided my hair. My mother asked me to pray to god. I moved and sat before the barberl. It was my first such experience. He asked me to move towards him. I obliged. Then he took water from the bucket beside him. He poured them on my hair. I felt the cool touch of the water. I also felt the smell of dettol. It might have been mixed in the water.

He made my hair completely wet. Then he parted into two sections and made two knots on either sides. Then he took the straight razor and changed the half blade in it. He held my head with his left hand and his right hand reached my scalp at the top. I was excited. In the next moment I felt the sharp touch of the razor. It started moving downwards towards my forehead. One.. two.. three.. , I was counting the strokes. In six strokes he cleared my head on the top. Then he moved towrds my left ear. His nimble fingures were moving very fast. In the next two minutes the knot made on my left side was separated from my scalp and fell on my lap. After another two minutes the right side knot also felt on my lap. I was completely bald. The touch on razor on my nape was very special. I never had that type of feel.

In the mean time my father and brother also got their heads tonsured. We all left the hall and reached our cottage.

My hair grew to its normal size in the next two years. I got it cut in November,2006 when I visited Hyderabad. I got it cut in U shape, the style I like very much. I also want to try chin length bob, but not now. Once I complete my B.Tech and settle in a Metro city I will go for it.