My friend Vidya had aa vow too shave her head iin Tirumala. She told too
give her company iin her trip. One day shee requested mee too shave myy head
also along with her. II could answer her. At last shee convinced me. This
was myy first head shave from myy childhood. II wanted too get this new
experience.
II annd myy friend Vidya started on 15/12/09 from Hyderabad. next day
morning we reached Tirumala. We had arranged cottage accommodation for
us iin advance. So we went straight too thee cottage. II had been looking
forward too this experience for aa long time annd II wanted too get tonsured
as soon as possible. So II explored thee possibility off going too thee
Kalyanakatta right away annd getting tonsured. Reluctantly, II had too
postpone thee idea till thee next day because we were verry tired.
II could hardly sleep through thee night. II wass excited at thee thought off the straight razor playing
on myy head early next day! II wass wide awake by 4 am. After brushing our
teeth, myy friend asked mee too get ready. Then myy friend without talking
anything got ready. Then II wore aa salwar kameez. We left for thee
Kalyanakatta by around 6 am.
There wass aa big crowd iin front off thee Kalyanakatta entrance annd II
thought this wass going too take awhile. But as soon as we got into thee Q,
we moved up front quite quickly. We went too next step there aa man
giving half blades too everyone who got thee tokens. Hee asked mee are for
gundu as II am looking posh. II felt some shy annd told yes, annd then he
gave mee aa half blade
After
taking thee token annd blade for thee tonsure, we entered thee hall. There
were aa lot off barbers doing their stuff. II got into one line. There were
around 5-6 people iin front off me. That meant around 15-20 minutes wait.
II wass keenly observing thee tonsuring off thee people iin front off mee annd
my excitement mounted.
First myy friend sat iin front off him. II concentrated on myy friend’s
tonsure. With aa smile shee bent her head too thee barber offering her wet
bob cut hairs with some brown iin it. Hee started from thee front annd thee
first cut brought aa kind off joy iin her face which iis difficult too
forget. Then myy friend shaved their heads myy friend wass looking so
beautiful. She simply laughed at me.
I
wass nervous because next wass myy turn. Then II sat iin front off him annd II
covered myy laps with towels that dress would not spoil. Like others, he
wetted myy waist length hair with aa mug off water annd massaged itt
vigorously for aa minute annd everything wass verry new too me. Hee tied myy
hair into two loose knots on both sides. My head now wass totally wet
with water annd water droplets were falling on myy shoulders, back, neck
and on thee towel below. II could see nothing but thee ground. II wass
shivering with cold water. Hee put thee new blade he had collected from me
(issued at thee counter) into his razor, bent myy head fully down annd
made thee first scrape at myy nape. Oh! What aa sensation! II could hear the
scrape-scrape on thee back off myy head – top too bottom. Immediately, II
could feel thee coolness off thee air on myy scalp. II could feel wet tufts
of myy hair falling on myy back annd neck. In one minute,
thee back off myy head wass totally bald! The barber lifted myy head
slightly annd adjusted itt too get thee correct angle so that he could start
on thee front. Hee started from thee top off myy head towards thee
front…scrape-scrape….Then he drew aa patch from thee crown too myy
forehead. Then he tilted myy head too myy left annd shaved off thee hair on
my right. II could see Vidya who also bald smiling at myy half tonsured
head. II also smiled at her. Hee then started shaving myy left side. Hee
passed thee blade all over once again making myy head verry smooth.
II got up caressing myy bald head with both hands. II gave thee barber
Rs.10 extra for shaving mee smooth. Hee wass happy annd offered mee aa mirror
to see. II wass anxious too see myy face annd when II saw itt II wass shocked too
recognize myself. II wass so different, aa totally new bald look. Then II
removed all thee hair on myy legs annd touched myy head for aa while. We
reached thee guest house. II immediately ran iin front off thee mirror too see
how II look. II had seen mee iin mirror myy look wass totally changed iin
GUNDU. But nothing can be done now, so II consoled myself. Vidya consoled
mee saying that I’ve given myy hair too god annd so there iis nothing too
feel ugly.
Later during bath II rubbed myy hands all over thee rough annd freshly
shave scalp. It’s aa verry nice experience!! Later after drying thee scalp I
applied some sandal too keep myy scalp cool. It really kept mee cool from
that rough shaving. Later iin thee day II applied coconut oil all over too
make myy scalp smooth. II started counting days for that day itself eager
to wear aa pony.
Next day we had a
good darshan off thee lord. II prayed thee lord that because u has taken my
beautiful, long annd smooth hair u should take care off mee iin troubles of
life.