German turns waiter, shares Pongala

Thiruvananthapuram: Normally during Attukal Pongala, the city plays host to outsiders. Jurgen Magin, a German traveller, reversed the roles, as he stood at a Pongala Annadanam counter and served food to city residents, outside Kerala Government Central Archives compound, at Fort. He could easily pass for an ardent devotee of Attukal Amma, one who would cross seas to be part of the ritual. But, it was only an accident that he happened to be in Thiruvananthapuram on the day, he says.

“Next week, I will celebrate Holi in Hampi and had made no plans to be part of this festival. I was in Varkala and wanted to say hello to Kanyakumari. I was only passing by. But I am happy I am here. I can see the real local life,” he says. He works as a Yoga trainer near Cologne in Germany. This is Jurgen’s first visit to India. “Until last year, I could never leave Europe as I had two German Shepherd dogs to take care of. Both are no more. On March 10, it has been a year since the last one died. What can we say, but that it is a wheel of life?” he says.

He says he likes India. “In Mumbai, where I landed, the streets are full of dogs at night, and people in the morning. I immediately liked India,” he says. He is here to learn more about oils used during Ayurveda massages. His friend Santhosh S., a naturopathy nurse from Varkala, brought him to the Annadanam counter. After Hampi, he plans to go to Amritsar, Pushkar and Rishikesh.