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Originally posted by: varaaliScene: All the devas have assembled in Kailash.
Shiva (addressing the Devas) : Vishnuji and I feel that all of you have become couch potatoes- doing nothing but drinking amrit and watching all the drama happening on Earth. All of you are leading a very unhealthy lifestyle. The last time any of you stretched your muscles was during the Samudra Manthan - ages ago.Vishnu : So we propose some sporting activity to be held- so that all you can get to know how fit you really are. Some kind of competition- to find who the fittest one is... So what game do you propose?"Snakes and Ladders" answers Nahush. Ashok Sundari looks at him adoringly."Big Boss" says Indra. Kartikeya gives him a writhing look."Kaun Banega Crorepati" suggests Kubera."You already are one" points Vishnu, "moreover we are talking of a physical activity""But the cricket T-20 finals is yet to take place" answers Indra."But that's still some time away. We have not had a match for ages. Find out what the organizer, residing in Prithvi Lok is doing" instructs Shiva. "In the meantime, a little more physical exercise will not hurt us."Meanwhile young Ganesh is running here and there trying to catch his mice. "Run... run..." he calla out happily.Shiva looks approvingly at his younger son. "That's a got suggestion, beta. I propose all the devas take part in a "Run around the World contest. Who ever flies / runs/ walks...in short ...travels around the world and comes back earliest will be the winner. Participation compulsory"All the devas are excited and gather at the starting line the next day. The race has attracted a lot of worldwide attention and Nike- the Greek Goddess of Victory offers to sponsor shoes and clothing to all participants.Guru Brihaspati is elected to be the judge.Narad blows conch and the devas start off. Since the fitness levels of the devas and theirvaahans is abysmally poor, most of them start dropping out. By the time the halfway mark is reached, only Surya, Indra and Kartikaya are left in the race.Surya, powered by his seven powerful horses is way ahead and Kartikeya and Indra are at a loss how to catch up with him. Fortunately for them, that day happens to be Makar Sankranti and people down South are celebrating Pongal and offering Sweet Pongal and Sugarcane to the Sun God. After sometime, Surya Dev finds it irresistible and swoops down to accept the offerings.Now, it is b/w Indra and Kartikeya. They are riding neck to neck...
Kartikeya suddenly remembers what his father has told him, and how he just needed to go around them. But he then remembers that that would achieve zilch in terms of exercise, so he sends telepathic signals to Ganesh telling him to substitute modak and laddoos w/ slimfast, so as to get in shape for exercise. He tells him - look, kids may think the pot belly cute and funny, but it's really unhealthy for you. Even though you have an elephant head, you don't have an elephant heart, so even if it was created by mom & dad, if you don't do exercise, your heart will be doing all that exercise, and get exhausted. So you need to ask mom to substitute modak & laddoos w/ slimfast, so that the load that your heart pumps is reduced.
Ganesh tells him, okay, I'll do that, but couldn't you also use some more fat? You've only been fighting and working, and I never see you eat. Maybe you could have the modak & laddoos?
Kartikeya - No, once one gets into that habit, it's tough to break out of. But you can send that for dear Surapadman the peacock here - he's been tirelessly working for me since I defeated him, so he too deserves to have some of mom's delicacies.
So Ganesh borrows Garuda from Vishnu and flies to where Kartikeya is to give Surapadman the modak. Indra sees it, and realizes that that will give Surapadman an advantage, and so has Airavat intercept Ganesh. Nandi sees this as well, and knows that w/ more elephant heads and tusks than Ganesh, there is no way he can win against Airavat. So Nandi goes and spikes the modak w/ bhang, and disappears. Airavat intercepts Ganesh, and while his main head is involved in a trunk based tug of war w/ Ganesh, w/ one of his other heads, he grabs the spiked modak and has it.
Airavat then goes into a tizzy and falls asleep, and Indra is furious, while Ganesh is surprised. As a result, Indra has to quit Airavat, and immediately summons Matali, his charioteer. However, Surapadman has already gained a significant lead in the meantime. Indra takes his Vajra and hurls it at Surapadman, but it hits Nandi and fells him.
Kartikeya picks Nandi up and puts him on Surapadman, and Ganesh too sits on him. The extra weight wears down Surapadman a bit, and Indra closes the gap. However, the pot in which Ganesh had brought the original modak gets filled again due to the Annapurna magic, and Ganesh asks Nandi if that too is spiked. Nandi, still recovering from his wounds, says no, and so Ganesh gives it to Surapadman, and that gives him a fresh burst of energy, and he regains his lead and completes the race, first.
As a result, Shiva declares the team of Kartikeya, Ganesh and Nandi the joint winners of this contest. When Indra arrives, Mahadev glares at him, and Indra flees, while Rishi Kashyap begs Mahadev to show mercy on him. Mahadev says that due to his transgressions - be it Ahalya, Ganesh, Kartikeya & others, Indra will be defeated by everybody in Ravan's family.
Kartikeya expresses his regret in helping Indra and killing Tarakasura, and announces that he will set up Shivalingas in Tarakasura's honor to atone for killing him. He had Surapadman the peacock also take part in this, and also got Parvati to get Kali to release Simhamukha the jackal so that he too could take part in this.
The Shivalingas are set up, and Kartikeya announces that slimfast would be the official prasad of these temples, so that devotees don't get obese. He offers Ganesh the first of the slimfast prasads.
Ganesh just loves it, as do Parvati, Menavati and Swadha. Himavan annouces a slimfast feast to celebrate the achievements of his grandkids, while Asoka-Sundari too is happy that she doesn't have to skip this 😆
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