On classic elements

Water

It quenches thirst
occupies two third of body
alike how on earth
its part is apart anything
and nothing works out without it

Fire

It comfort us with warmth
boils water to drink
helps to taste delicious recipe
its risk to play with it, as a sun
it gives energy to the entire earth

Wind

It soothe us with gently breeze
helps to float leaves
bears fragrance to sense
sent things to trash as typhoon
and we’re breathless without it

Space

The infinite sky
is an illusion to vision
lives up to the hues
with skyline separating
the earth and sky in no string

Earth

Basement to everything above
is place for immense species
as a chain all hooked either
and no matter what
gravity pulls to earth.

Write on thoughts that came this moment and added pictures from my archives.

Chennai, masked in smoke

Unlike before, Chennai came under a giant mask of mist and fog in form of smoke created by bursting firecrackers last evening due to festival of lights – Diwali, has seen a Chennai unseen ever in a worst bad weather condition. Nothing can be seen in front of us except smoke after few feet’s away and air were so much polluted to inhale has stopped me from joining exploding firecrackers after taking a brief drive around my area.

Like how weather changes in GTA (PC game), after dusk its quite became grey and darkness everywhere and even the dazzling fireworks display were diminish at sky and created a fear of becoming breathlessness and lung infection. It was challenge for my cousin to drive through the smoky weather and passing streets where kids and youngsters bursting crackers and leaving rockets in invisible state.

The already clouded weather and witness of constant heavy rain throughout the day forced all of them to burst firecrackers in evening is the foremost reason for this unwanted weather and the clouded sky that refused to open to give way for smoke and unwind surface are all lead to this helpless situation. It’s obvious that firecrackers are polluting our environment and it is also uneasy to leave all of sudden this practice but sure we need to bring a change in this and find a way to reduce its cause without affecting the festival of light and joy.

I realize the noise had been reduced this year comparing yesteryear's and the firecrackers usually begin there explode at early morning, has extended its wake-up call by 8am and thanks to the heavy rain that worked as an interference in reducing the havoc. The increased price of firecrackers up to 7-8 % could also be the reason in bringing down the purchase of firecrackers and increased awareness about its disadvantage had helped a lot to drop in practice. Being an ardent of firecracker, for me it’s hard to defocus on fireworks towards the festival but I came down now from abundant to least; thanks to the price rise which brings down the item numbers to shot. Wish someday I will quit it completely!

Season of rain and fire

The nature has takeover the firecrackers
in its presence of thunder and flash
instead of fire, raindrops widespread
everywhere creating a pool of water

The northeast monsoon is here
with hours to go for festival of lights
it began to mess up everywhere
even before firecrackers –
and festival purchases end to spoil the environ

Many in worry, how to celebrate the festival
miss the joy of showering, of seasonal rain
as firecrackers can burn anytime
rain is sufficient to hold throughout the year

I wonder at times whether or weather?
It’s the blast of cracker bomb or thunder flash
bursting the sky with weapons unseen
to only the light and sound emphasis.

Wish u all again a Very Happy Deepavali.

Let spark with smile and happiness

The festival of lights is here
to illuminate the darkness
belief of good over evil
and to add more starts at night

The sparkles lit with lamps
brighter the smiles swam in
diminish the illusions with fire
and cheerful lights at higher

The rockets left the earth
blast into the sky as sparkles
wider the eyes look in awe
is a second’s colorful spring

As delicious among festivals
sweet and snacks leads the role
as roll capes troop emerge
with toy pistols imagining as cop

In modern era of media dominant
the celebration are celebrity chat
and fancy firecrackers at night
delight the eyesight’s seeing light.

Deepavali or Diwali, the most popularly celebrated festival across India is uneasy to miss, since it throws lot of happiness and enchanting and fun and blast among families, friends and neighbors. Lighting lamps on the occasion is a grandest display of pleasure taken into home and skies with firecrackers… it spreads lot of cheers and colors to delight. I wish everyone have their part of exuberant while celebrating the festival of lights.

Happy Deepavai

Veg Point

We often check the Veg Point less than a km from home, sometime, while return home or going to Thiruvanmiyur beach, we get something to eat here… I like parotta and dosai from this tine restaurant or fast food center or whatever we name is delicious. For my brother, veg pulave and panner fried rice are favorite dishes from this center and it’s really interesting to watch how they prepares the fried rice by adding the ingredient that are kept ready already.
Sometime in morning dad get idiyappam from here along with sugar milk or kuruma it taste something nice and eating one vada will fill the stomach so as will be its size… Sometime coming out in evening we have our coffee here and there’s another place I like visiting to get a good coffee is Visranthi in Besant Nagar. Parking opposite to the shop we get a drive-in feel of eating from the car and have the hot bonda in evening is nothing to say about… I just like it a lot.

I badly miss the Woodland’s drive-in restaurant in Chennai which is now the Semmozi garden has always remind in mind and tongue for its feel of being among woods and resonant of chipping birds and the odour of earth if it rains is awesome… the crispy dosa which is renowned here is always my favorite and the puffed puri with potatoes is another combination worked well for me.

Local body election... and things need to think

I skipped from voting at the local body election held today across the state and I don’t have any specific reason from voting and couldn’t see anything inspiring to cast my vote, since all parties standing on their own everyone crunches the same flour repeatedly. I couldn’t see anything innovative or prudent to bring change from the usual chorus singed by everyone to draw good roads, put street lights everywhere, cleaning garbage’s immediately and free from litters and block in sewage.
I don’t know about other places except Chennai Corporation, is this the pattern continues everywhere and I just want to ask those in the power for last 5 years, what have u been doing these days without correcting these and u only need a chance now to do these. I read couple of bit notices given by parties as manifesto at doorstep are indifferent to each other and I agree these are common problem that needs continues maintenance and these aren’t enough we are expecting.

The government and candidates themselves should first aware about their circuit and for this one needn’t to be a party supported or political experience and anyone from the local division could bring changes by realizing the need. Now the Chennai Corporation has expanded from 155 circuits to 200 by adding suburbs, but no one have ever talked anything about the Pallikaranai marshland that comes into the corporation which it uses as a dumping ground of collected garbage in the city is brimming to lose its habitant quite.

I wonder when we are going to understand the need of water quite without which nothing survives in this world. Have heard of rivers, lakes and reservoir being dried, but a place that never dries are the marshland and I haven’t seen it in a condition before and it’s the only place near Chennai to have freshwater always at nature state. Environment experts kept emphasis the need to preserve this place never fell at those ears of government as well as the Chennai Corporation which kept dumping like deaf and numb.

Pallikaranai marshland (click pic to enlarge)

Next to Vedanthangal bird sanctuary, one can watch for various birds and cranes at Pallikaranai marshland and so was its lavishing vegetation and aquatic, and being near to Chennai and now a part of it, no one raises there voice to protect this priceless wealth. The marshland plays a significant role in restoring the groundwater to its previous stage or maintains its ability to use when sodium and iron ore are emerging into the groundwater which unfits to use unless using filters to desalination process.

Another thing that needs to consider was regulating the share autos, which has its own rule to stop anywhere and drive irregularly into the traffic and threatening accident and life damage. The share autos had changed the way of people traveling to nearby distance and people chose this as they can hire it from anywhere they stand and go to places at minimum Rs.5 without walking much. I really think we need to bring a change in this format and alike bus stand, we need share auto stands to avoid the difficulties they provide to other by standing wherever they like.

Traffic has become a universal problem these days as almost cities breathe hard among the vehicle population; seem never to change better than going worst of increasing vehicle every day and Chennai isn’t exception in anyway. With large amount of cars, roads become less space for pedestrians to walk and bicycles to ride, the platform put for pedestrians are occupied by mobile vendors and in name of traffic regulation, the vehicles are diverted to go around reaching their place at less mileage and lack of efficient.

Looks like my mind is also taking diversion from the point of this post... and to say there’s a lot to look at and the intention has to change to see beyond the usual said now and then. I feel guilty for not doing my right of voting and writing this post here. Hope something will done for better living!

Chaos at signal

All know red is to stop, yellow is to get ready and green to go… then y do vroom at signal even there’s red light on and jerk inch by inch across the stop line as disturbing the passing vehicle. At every junction and cross cut there’s a signal these days and passing through this is impossible without patience and we should really appreciate the drivers for this… then y this impatient while waiting for green signal.

The other day we were waiting at a signal and dad took the car before green light fall… I asked him to wait and questioned y so urgent and he said the traffic police told to go. I was watching the signal and countdown like others and not the traffic police standing at some corner who indicated dad to go.

I just though am it right to go when there’s red signal so as traffic police told to go and doesn’t it cause a chaos if the drivers didn’t see the traffic police standing somewhere indicating to go, whether to follow the vehicles or not that moves before signal fall. For someone who quite follows the rule will never go easy with red light on, unless he notice the traffic police give green signal by hand… but there’s still hesitate among other who did not meet with traffic police.

It’s like the signals are for only private vehicles and except some govt. government buses all skips the red signal or standing partial ahead the road like blocking the way of other vehicle that yet to cross. Once we would have crashed by a public bus, which denied stopping at red signal, we escaped in inches gap. Some vehicle in hurry pump horn from behind to move even there’s red signal is still on and this is quite despite, and for their hurry it is not right urging others to move ahead apart fine, going against rule and despite mind.

Granny’s Golu

First time my grandmother has arranged a Golu at her home and she has been collecting idols and dolls for more than a year and she herself has done some things in ice cream sticks and straws. She has been working on handicraft things for some time now as a pastime and become more passionate about it lately want to display her items and her collection from the recent tour to Gujarat and Rajasthan has much inspired to go for a Golu.

(click image to enlarge)

Golu is a custom conducted during the festival of Navaratri in South India, is an exhibition of various dolls and idols kept at homes by the families who follow it traditionally and anyone at their belief and willingness. Navaratri, which means nine nights, is a Hindu festival celebrated in India is devoted to the goddess of power, wealth and knowledge. Durga, being the main goddess of the festival is worshiped throughout the nine days in various forms, ends at the 10th day known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra is the highlight of the festival.

The Golu adds glitter and gleam to the festival by the display of colourful idols and dolls at homes and some public places caught everyone’s attention esp. kids who are more attracted to it. In childhood days our parents used to take us to our great father house to check their Golu on invite and it would be very nice to see the arrangement of idols on step series and floor at below with set of things like playing cricket, marriage ceremony, farming at field, forest with wild animals and hills, blinking around in serial lights.

On this occasion the houses that hold Golu provide snacks to visitors that offered to the idols that day and there would be a variety of snack as Prasad every day and a small gift bag will be given back while return. Some of our neighbours have Golu every year at their houses and invite mom to check… and this year too mom went to come back with small gift as boxes and plates and Prasad.

Parents going through fast on non-veg throughout the Tamil month of Puratasi, mom helped grandmother in arranging idols along with cousin sister. My grandmother wishes to check me the arrangement of Golu, but being unable to visit her home due to discomfort I really miss the Golu coming from my own family and that too from my sweet grandmother. These photos were taken by my cousin to let me see how the grandmother’s Golu comes out.

Weapons festival at uncle's workshop

We had a good celebration at my uncle’s workshop yesterday due to ayudha puja, I get to meet some of the old employs with whom once I was very familiar and had brotherhood relationship and get together at other hand with family was nice except kid annoyance. I liked watching the preparation of the festival towards the worshiping and distribution of puffed rice bags to works, customers and neighbours along with sweets and fruits.

Ayudha puja is a day dedicated to worshiping or taking care of weapons, tools and anything on motion which help us in making life easy and comfort. Like how livestock for farmers, its weapons, tools and machines for labours and employs and civilians who involve in hard work and without these utensils it’s very hard to work with bare hands.

I am attending the ayudha puja celebration at uncle’s workshop after three years now, which was once my favourite festival time spent along with workers and having fun by watching or at least involving in cleaning, painting and decorations. It was something more than a decade old memories I couldn’t avoid this moment and sat to wheels while watching things happening around and the latter joys were missing a lot quite this time. Since lost my great uncle a decade ago, who begin this workshop and illuminated our lives equal to great sunlight, we lose the complete charm of the festival celebrated at everyone’s great amusement. He never denied offering to anyone in need and on the occasion of Ayudha puja the workshop will be crowded with well-knows and even strangers come and collect puffed rice bags and employs will get their one month salary as bonus along with a set of new dresses. I don’t know even we celebrated Pongan or Deepavali this way in grand and happy mood, but Ayudha puja is very special to us to look after then and growing up adjacent to car workshop we always stay in workshop playing with uncles and annas (brothers) who work there. When I think back now, I feel glad to be at least I enjoyed my childhood with good hearted people who were very helpful in my life and I am always be thankful to those guys who I really wish to meet and let know what they are doing. I convey my great wishes and regards to them always at heart. Following last 3 years after great grandmother’s death, the Ayudha puja comes down to simple celebration and this year the decorations of colour papers and festoons are missing. Aunt prepared sundal, vada and along with sweets and puffed rice the festival illuminates to camphor fire toward worshiping and break down of pumpkin and coconut and lemons under car wheels. Ps. this time I couldn’t take any photos, so sharing pics from the last time I attend the festival.

Sunday – out with cousins

Late Sunday we cousins were around Marina and Besant Nagar beach as nothing to do after late afternoon and been couple of weeks as I went out, we head to Elliot beach first. To our surprise the always crowded beach on Sunday looks deserted with least vehicles parked and stalls scattered everywhere despite looking unpleasant, the early evening was stroked by sunshine.

As soon we stop the vehicle an interesting beggar boy knocked the door asking money, being in an age of 6 or 7 he refused to get down hanging from the footrest even getting his penny of Rs.2 from cousin he begin to count ek dho theen char. First we though he just expecting some more money and we aren’t doubt in it and since he is a north Indian boy so asking in Hindi… but his counting was on us. We were four of us inside the vehicle and so he wants 4 Rs – a rupee from each one of us! Lol

Sky near Marina beach

The boy made our day laughter and I don’t know whether it is his innocent or intelligent way of getting money, he left us after sometime holding the door. It wasn’t 5 minutes we stayed there and just to move the ticket collector stretched the bill of Rs.10 as a parking fee which is usually Rs.5 and the bill also printed the same, but the guy gave us two tickets and asks 10. It’s quite unruled but without arguing we gave him a folded 10 Rs note and without unfolding it he put it inside the pocket and went away. But only we know the secret that the note was actually a torn and invalid which my cousin was waiting to exchange.

Been empty and nothing munching available at Elliot we decide to go Marina beach and this is first time we cousins alone went out and drive by my elder cousin among the younger ones who is well trained by now. The marina as usual crowded and plenty of cars and buses kept unloading people into the second longest beach in the world. We could see most of the vehicles land in unshaped, recalled me the times how we overcrowd the poor Maruti 800 which perhaps breathe hard to carry us anywhere without breakdown. People may wonder if I say once we were 12 people travelled in the tiny Maruti 800!

Sky near Marina beach

Later sometime watching people around we left the marina before it get overcrowded and cause traffic jam to bring movement uneasy. Cousins had sweet corn, bread sandwich and ginger coffee but I didn’t like those and my fav sundal and groundnuts were unavailable and the ginger coffee wasn’t their taste and couldn’t withstand the sharp spice of it to only waste after some sip. On way back home we again passed the Elliot beach which wasn’t same as we visited in the early evening, had no place for parking and quite crowded and a stage of art had been grown among them then quickly. It was good time spent out with cousins.