Merry Christmas

My sweet Christmas wishes for Merry Celebrations.

Let it be a fun filled and joyous festival season.

Margazhi - the month of winter

The winter is here to feel us warm and cold by decrease in temperature and somehow cool in nights, it’s a wonderful month called Margazhi in Tamil which is my favorite season’s among. Thinking about Margazhi (winter) causes much cold to sense and memories which retrospect as memorable and introspective to refurbish the mind and body to exist as obvious content. Cold morning is the always delight of this season and one could truly feel refreshing waking up one early morning or go a walk in the chill dawn and breath the fresh air emerge with cold nor warm inside the blanket which don’t want to wake asleep.

Margazhi is a month that pleases among the Hindu dwellers to draw kolam or rangoli – which is drawn by white powder or flour and adorn in color powder to catch anyone’s attention. Though many residences including ours drew kolam in front of the gate way all over the year, point it to make it something special throughout the month and those can’t make it certain for everyday takes this opportunity to showcase their skill, interest and joy on drawing kolam. Sweeping the gate way along sprinkle water is a way of activity before going into action that deserves much attention and calculation among dots depict the traditional art cause by women. It was something interests me to watch how mom or aunt nor the neighbors make it so perfect and colorful to devote their culture and perspective.

Not to mention this was a season of breeding mosquitoes after the cease of rain and everywhere it would be wet due to morning dews and snow, drawing kolam is not an easy task among balancing the mosquitoes and cold weather. I am not a person to wake upon every dawn of this month and I take the opportunity on the last day of the month which is celebrated as Bhogi festival in South India – a light of bonfire which is believed as driving away the bad by burning waste things from home. In the childhood days I am more passionate on celebrating the bhogi and hitting drums which is made of clay and buffaloes skin, aind I never slept so easily the night and wait awaked to hear the drum beats to indicate the dawn and almost it would be my friends to do it and we all go together around the neighborhood and celebrate the dawn with much warmth and pleasure on lighting on.

The month of Margazhi is devoted to dance and music, which is a sensitive season among the artistes involved in the completions and organizers of the concerts. There are many theatres conduct programs, including the traditional Music academy and Sabas (concert halls) involve in constant programming throughout the month and institutions like Kalakshetra prepare students for these completions. I haven’t been to any of these festivals that exhibit the finest classical dance and music and create paths to so many artistries to showcase their skill and let aware others about the art and tradition that increase interest among people. Though I like the traditional classical dance and music I interested to go for classic folk festivals which is organized by the month end of Margazhi called Chennai Sangamam, is creating more vibrant and charm for the last couple of years of its launch with variety of fork performances taking place in parks and open grounds.

The month of Margazhi begins in mid of December and continue to the mid of January is believed as auspicious among Hindu women’s to visit temple every morning and many young women in our neighborhood would check the temples daily without fail to get something as present or gift towards the end of the month. I always like the mild sunshine that peeks through structures and grille reflecting heat and light into home and the dry skin tone to look for the brief sense of light.

The prime cold of the year witness last Sunday to even hideaway the lighthouse of marina to the foggy weather in evening and been drizzling however the city reduced the temperature certainly. The unusual sea with raising waves about to chase seafront easily reminds me about the firmly tsunami which is suppose to commemorate on coming Sunday, which held back on the same day some 6 years before. More than the thought of striking tsunami that always holds back in memories and the distracted mind that took time to settle firmly, it was the very pleasant weather similar to ooty kodaikanal – the hill stations of the state, which took back. Moreover the winter is here, to relax and enjoy the warmth of mild coldness and sunshine that enhance along the enchanting festival season.

Extend celebration

The Jal cyclone has extended the deepavali celebrations by let off schools and colleges on Monday. Thus the cousins who were supposed to leave on Sunday left on Monday gave us much time to share and enjoy the holidays. The tremble of Jal was something causing excitement as it was nearing from time to time and it was the wish of everyone that it produce much rain, but it disappoints as it fail to stand strong to sweep with rain.

This deepavali was truly nice by getting awake the usual way of watching television which includes in the tradition these days doesn’t stop us from the process of oil bathing, wearing newly cloths and having sweets and special cuisine for breakfast and lunch. By afternoon cousins and aunt came home to share the festival and they prepared cookies and snacks to share with our relatives and neighbors which we hold as traditions.

Meanwhile watching the non interesting television programs and crunching the cookies and snacks, we waited till the dusk to dawn so that we light crackers and look into the sky for fireworks display. Usual we leave to our grandma’s home in suburb (neelankarai) to light crackers as there is much space and being a posh area we get to sight fireworks from every direction which means two eyes not enough. This time the cousin sister and uncle joined enough to trigger fire and most of all, Standard fireworks worked and the local brands refuse to raise upwards sky.

This time we left many Outs known as fancy fireworks and 5000 wala which crackled well and slowly and leaving rocket is an interesting thing and they are funny too and dangerous. The other cousins, who had great fun at their home lighting fireworks, came next day with light crackers gave chance to play with fireworks again and it was nice and bound with sparkles. They stayed with us following post deepavali and the time swings slowly inside the home watching movies and doing something gently and kind arguments and fights.

It was drizzling often with a fire on news about the arriving Jal and what really triggers was the news about leave to schools in Chennai and its suburbs as it supports their vacation to deepavali by counted 5. As a presentation to deepavali, I bought a new Sony walkman which was in pending with a friend for him to return from US, who came later on deepavali handed over me. It was a very similar one to IPod 5G Nano and it has a superb sound and picture quality, and watching songs are simple awesome.

cousins playing with sparkles (video)

Immersion depiction

Being late to write about, thought The Ganesh Chturthi was celebrated with delight everywhere to commemorate their faith and happiness just by sharing with others in whatever manner, the day was much delighted by varies cuisines and TV programs or visiting the nearby ones and looking out the procession that went on our street end Ganesh temples in evening. It wasn’t necessary for us to take the clay idol to the sea and been following the system of immersing in a bucket for last few years, got dipped into the water that evening get dissolved in morning to pour into our flower pots.

The university quarters beach, which is one we go often in palavakkal was suppose to be quiet and somehow clean, had turned louder and unclean like a market area, where things thrown everywhere to look dislike and different. There were countless water packets throughout the street that led beach thought me about the day’s weather and dry throats that quench their loud voice in immense joy and uncertain faith. The procession does sounds hard to separate it from the mortal one to the moral of the event and thus there were loudspeakers, bands and drums strikes with certain in time by time.

Each god has a vehicle in species to mention like mouse for Ganesha and peacock for Murugan but there’s one vehicle that almost used by gods in the procession was the small elephant (china yaanai), what people locally call the Tata Ace. The vehicles were kept on entering and exit the beach constantly, which is one of the three places that chosen for immersion in Chennai, where the university beach is allot for south and suburb and each vehicle hold a banner from where the idol comes. This time we couldn’t go near the beach as there were strict police protection and so we stopped nearby and watched the procession.

The police have the reason to not alloy us particularly inside the beach road as we own back Scorpio which the enthusiastic devotees would think black as oppose color and thus could create problem. Later mom went on foot to collect some immersion pictures for me to see and the fireworks displayed in evening causes a lustrous series of fire and joy as the immersion came to close. The crowds drip as soon everything is over and shattered the remaining clay idols and else everywhere. In-between I were amaze to the glimpse of today’s rare species, the house sparrows, to crisp and intend flips their tiny wings urged me to instant fix the nest box at home, which I want to do for some time now.

Mother’s Centenary

A candle that blown out more than a decade ago, and still continue to glow brighter in our hearts and continue to be so. The candle I like to mention her is Mother Theresa, whose birth centenary is celebrated today. I see her as a candle that melts itself to give light and life to others, and of course our mother’s vision can’t be easily appreciated, because her life is a mission that starts missionaries of charity to aid and feed poor, sick and orphan people and those dying for.
Mother Theresa has dedicated her life to the poorest of the poor and this dedication has become her life’s ambition. Thus her ambitious passion brought her the Noble Prize for peace, by appreciating her service and compassionate. The Albanian born mother is named originally as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and as per the rule of changing the name to become a nun, she chose the name Teresa – whom she vow to become as Teresa Martin, a nun and missionary who dedicated to poor and sick people.

The 18 year old, sent from the Ireland’s nun’s home, where she learnt English, came to India and joined the West Bengal’s Christians church and served as a teacher at Loreto convent school in Calcutta. The worst situation in Calcutta then in poverty, insanitary and over all the pavement dwellers being fed besides the drainage wring her heart and thus she decided to live for them. After receiving the Indian citizenship, she abandons the Loreto nun’s home practice and began to wear a simply cotton sari.

After Vatican’s permission, she started the missionaries of charity and later a home for poor and a hospital to them. She also stated a home for abandoned and orphans, and thus by devoting herself to service the poor and sick patients, she had been talked by everywhere around the world, and it left in peace and struggle when she passed away in her 87th year. Today being her birth century , India is yet to commemorate her by releasing her postal stamp and this is just not enough, and we all need to keep in mind that we do at least what she had done immense to others. Let peace sings to mother.

Perceive

Thinking about kingmaker on his birth occasion, I think it is his thought that put him on stage as a great leader to enhance governance. He isn’t educated by school, but his experience taught him lessons and he read peoples mind to understand the deficiency and necessity.

Thoughts aren’t captured in books or departmental stores; they are raised from the deep emotion.

I think many leaders don’t work with sense these days, so that many are still suffering from hardship and only with knowledge we can’t develop anything instead of destroying some more hearts. Whoever gains literate or immense knowledge doesn’t shine as much sense touch people’s hearts. There stands the Kamaraj who lead the state then with a sense and rule the country.

The politicians talk about him on occasions and pose like garlanding his statues and promise to bring the golden period again, but without a sense that past could not replace future, and it’s the thought and experience along with sense going to gain a better future. Today the education and knowledge has become business, the sense goes out in search of sum. The technology has arrived to make easer the lesson and knowledge at our laptop screen and practice through internet, we are out of sense to see and explore the essential commodity.

Let’s hope for a better future with sense and knowledge.

WCTC - 2010

The five days World Classical Tamil Conference end on Sunday and it was held like a grand festival with everyone’s attention towards it. There were dance, music, award presentations, exhibitions, processions and symposium by Tamil experts and watched by thousands and lakhs of Tamil people gathered in Coimbatore.
This is the first world Tamil conference held after Tamil receiving classical status, which is the oldest literature among the living languages of the world. I watch the beginning session of this conference inaugurated by the President of India Pratibha Patil before the innumerable Tamil people, who come in eager to learn more about Tamil and listening expert speakers praising the language.

It’s truly honor to see Tamil experts speak in literally and foreigners interest to take Tamil as there language and do research to learn more and exhibit the classic to world. It’s truly great to realize for the first time obviously such a conference being held and inspiring many people those desire to learn and read more about the glories language Tamil.

I too listen to few symposiums spoken by Tamil experts and it feels honor to say I speak Tamil. It’s simply an eye-opener in many ways to Tamil literature and its historic path, thus one of the speakers Jagath Gaspar’s words were touching sense and knowledge and his explanations where among the best about human unity being Tamil community . He says the elaborated DNA chart says Tamil community has crossed 78 generations.

I just think while that being Tamil doesn’t separate us from being unity in humanity and where I see human is a tree and he needs a piece of land to its root to stand and being Tamil it is the language of everything and whatever grows above the soil is equal to everyone. For instance Tamil is like our homes where we could walk bare footed and stay very comfort, but stepping out isn’t same and not every place is like our home. Where society is a common place with difference in everything, and to comes across or grain experience we need to wear something in common other than Tamil. So learning other languages or giving important to one isn’t wrong and well necessary, but there isn’t a comfort place like home, where we’re ourselves.

A language is for communication and we caught up with language which comes easier for us to communicate, but I feel shame that we often communicate with combine language. Tamil is a beautiful language and when it comes out from those experts it inspires a lot to communicate completely in Tamil! It could be a tough task, but I hope if we try we could speak easily and I have an interest in learning new words and meanings that we unknown or only known in other language which is almost English.

While celebrating Tamil as a classical language, hope those however follow the conference like me might get motivate to practice fluent Tamil without influencing other languages, which isn’t less in profound or prior to other. Let’s celebrate the language, the tool of communication and development in society and relationship.

May the Labor Day

Labors or workers always had a great pride and place in my mind. I do see they are the great workers in this world and always deserve pride and bring profit to every one of us. Everyone does there bit of work eveny now and then, but we can’t consider it as a labor and what makes distinguish is the intension. At present the work loads have been reduced to its core at every level with the existence of machineries and new technologies, but still there’re workers work hard physically are labors.

Whatever elevation we touch with education and employment, no one can act or construct a building without labors. I have seen many labors more than those work with intelligent and I somehow know what hard work means which I lack always craved to. I don’t say hard work no needs intellect and most of them come into labor are uneducated and not well balanced in education.

I think thinking isn’t a work and everyone does it generally. But our thoughts get structure only through labors. Today many labors are sent to home frequently, because of machineries influence in large and one should not forget that those machineries are built by labors. Labors are the roots of a tree that help to grow steadfast. History says Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal, but don’t we aware there were perhaps many labors behind him to construct the monument.

One of a hard working person I admire a lot is my dear cousin brother Logesh. While doing diploma in auto mobile, he works in my uncle’s car mechanical workshop. From childhood he is very fond of vehicles and enjoys working in workshop and does whatever work we say without fail. I always believe he will stand besides me and shines in life because of his hard work and tendency.

There’s no travel or vacation without him and he’s my best company always. We do share everything and he’s very intent about me and supports me whenever I’m in need without expectation. I believe and love him next to my parents and not because he assist me every time, but just being himself and hard working. May the labors get there true price and pride for there hard work.

Happy Valentine's day

காதலை காமம் கலந்து பாக்கும் உலகம்
இரண்டையும் புரியாமல் எதிர்த்து நிக்கு
காதல் நினைப்பை பூட்டாமல் மனம்
காற்றை சுவாசிக்காமல் இருக்குமா இந்த பயணம்?

அவள் என்று ஒருத்தியை சந்தித்த வேளை
அவள் பின் தொடர்வதே இனி இவன் வேலை
காலை, மாலை, இரவு வேளை
அவளை நினைத்தாலே அது ஒரு இதமான வேளை

கைகள் கவிதை வரையும் அவள் கண்கள் கண்டால்
மௌனம் கலையும் அவள் பூன்னகைத்தால்
வயதை என்ன நினைக்கும் அவள் இளமை ததும்பினால்
இதயம் படபடக்கும் அவள் பொன் விரல்கள் பட்டால்
மனம் தடுமாறும் அவள் கட்டழகை கண்டால்

கண்டேன் அவளை கனவிலே, காதலில்
தூக்கம் இல்லாமல் புரண்டேன் இரவில்
கனவு கலைந்தும் அழியவில்லை, அவள் முகம்
என் இமையை விட்டு விலகவில்லை - கண்டேன் காதலை.

p.s. Planned for a weeklong travel from Monday, and so will check you all after the vacation. Take care, bye.

Christmas and Pongal Pictures

I did arranged with few things from the showcase on the Christmas Eve alike a year before, and burn few candles around it and thus it marked the event to glow. I was happy to play that moment by blowing candles and having chocolates, but by chance there was no one to share my joy except my mom.

Unlike Christmas, we had a wonderful moment at our native home on pongal, by celebrating the festival in a traditional way by making pongal in fire woods stove on the terrace and worshiping the greatest nature sun for producing heat to help us and our environment to survive in many ways.

It was something difficult for me to celebrate this festival on terrace, but giving importance to my interest and desire my parents prepared for this. People always prefer to celebrate the pongal in there homes and increase in nuclear families, the tradition is slowly decreases and ends in cooker whistle and television program. I always wish and think pongal isn’t a religious festival, it is a harvestival festival and thanksgiving to nature. In this way the world revolves and survives by nature and is made to share happiness, love and comfort.

In each and every way we’re occupying nature’s space and thus we all have a reason to celebrate in common, so why do we need a celebration in our home alone and why can’t make it as a event to get together where happiness and joy shares. I always wish the pongal is celebrated by inviting our neighbors, friends and relatives and make a equality pongal where our relationships are kept in touch.

I know I was late to produce this post and pictures here. I was taking these pictures with another camera and due to some virus in memory card it took this much time to deliver the pictures through photo studio. Thank you.

Thai Moon Pongal

Pongal, gladly known as farmer’s festival of harvesting and thanksgiving, and also celebrated as Tamil New Year for last couple of years is now here. The yearlong hardworking and tiresome farmers celebrate this day as Pongal and not alone the farmers; almost every Tamils in the world celebrates this festival as thanksgiving to nature.

The world celebrates thanksgiving and harvesting day in different names, but the point of view and hope is one, and its nature the heaven. Pongal is also celebrated in other parts of India as Sankranthi - the transition of the Sun into Capricorn on its celestial path.

In the basis of sun and moon, our ancestors calculated this day to be celebrated on the first day of Thai moon, which falls almost on January 14 or15, where sun diverts its path towards north after 6 months journey towards south. On this day people hope good things happen to them.

The pongal is celebrated for four days by marking bhogi, pongal, mattu pongal and kaanum pongal. In all these four days, pongal is considered as auspicious and holy day of harvest. On this day, farmers are seen on wealth and set to begin there auspicious affair and hope it continue throughout the month and year.

It’s sad to see, only on these days alone we think about farmers and there need and deed to us. Keeping away the faith, I appreciate this tradition celebrated for a true cause that holds our breath. More than the pongal that witness in cleaning up homes, drawing colorful lines and lightning clay pots to boil and flow milk as auspicious sign of vivid life, I love mattu pongal (bull pongal). It’s my favorable festival where we celebrate the cattle and bulls, who are our intimate friends of farmer in helping on many activities esp. the bulls that are used for plowing, caring, feeding…

On this day, the places around the bull stable are cleared up and a pongal pot is lit on a corner and bulls are taken into bath and painted colorful horns. Later the boiled pongal with varies vegetables are feed to them and set free on this day without giving much work to them and farmers get together in evening and next day by visiting there favorite places. Hope the auspicious begins on this day continues in our lives and esp. our life saving farmers. Happy Pongal

Happy New Year

The year has come to an end and whatever happens in a decade seems like happen lately and wonders whenever think about the past years. It feels like we have just foot stepped in 21st century but 9 years have already pasted. This year was little tough for me and most of all it was my mind that get disturbed by my health deficiency, and best of all is traveling, meeting new friends and writing, which I think have improved and more highly is friends support in blogging.

I have thought to do many things this year, but time has passed now and only a day has left to year 2010. I know past is past and tomorrow is hope which leads our life to so many times. Let’s hope everything would be fine in year 2010!

There are 365 days in a year, but there’s no other day like January 1 we welcome so enthusiastically. Days are infinite and this day 1 is also like the other, but we give more importance to this day and it’s something refreshes our mind and shows new hope to life certainly. On this day we realize the increase of our age and it’s the only day in the world where everyone celebrates.

Moreover people from various culture, practice celebrates this day on there own tradition, but there’s no less of celebration. There’s hope whatever begins on this day continues throughout the year and let us hope and wish good things continues in our lives too. Happy New Year :)

Merry Christmas

Christmas is the most celebrated festival in the world, and I always like to take part of this festival. Other than faith, I like the fun shared through this festival all along the decorations and mood that I also celebrate the world festival.

Last year I was in valparai on the occasion of Christmas, and the churches in the municipality are decorated with lights, trees and rhymes of Christmas. It was a beautiful evening with sun setting down behind the hills and a pleasant atmosphere to sense; we were playing around the lawn even after night dawn.

Against our cottage there was a small church decorated quite simply and beautifully, and in nights the lights continued to blink. The setting of the birth of Christ still exists in my view and the whole evening was just fun. I took varies pictures of the decoration, but somehow it was erased from my cam. It certainly happened to be a winter festival and like never before.

Scared heart church, Valparai

Now, I’m driving myself into the mood of festival and trying much I can do to celebrate the festival. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope u all have fun. Take care :)

Dad’s retirement

My dad retired from his government service as a section officer on Friday with just 5 months to go completing his service, he voluntarily retired from his public service.

He begins his carrier as a junior assistant and taking away only few promotions, he retired as a senior officer in average position. He had come across more than 28 years of service in the department of backward class and come across many opportunities that promote him to higher standard, but he refused many opportunities to avoid staying away from us.

When many of his colleagues and friends went ahead to higher officer position by taking promotions and get post in varies districts, he stayed in the same office almost and when we think it is all because for us it feels so proud and at same time anguish that he couldn’t reach a top position.

I’m so glad to read his present certification given to him on the occasion of retirement by his commissioner Kumar Jayanth IAS and colleagues describing him as a very honest, sincere and dignity person in government service and being kind enough to people who come on need and very friendly co-worker. I have seen him even on some nights being awake to do his file works and he never leaned to offers from others, but earned some good heart people in wake of being honest and kind. We’re so proud of his attitude and his colleagues comment on the way of service he followed as a paragon to others and today’s younger generation.

On Friday there was a valediction in his office and few of his colleagues and friends came home that evening to give sendoff and it was touching moment when they hold dad’s hand and wished to adieu. He got very good friends from his 28 years of journey in Tamil Nadu government service and everyone shares a wonderful and obvious relationship and more than relatives I encourage such relationships as they’re special in our lives.

There were grandparents and cousins to share their bid adieu to dad and it was a nice feel that expressed on this day and everyone wished for a farewell treat, but the moment past simple but still the demand exists from others. Hope we do something later soon… my best regards to dad.

Golu

Golu is a decoration of dolls devoted to gods. Arranged like steps in one corner of the home, are placed with dolls of gods and few set of rituals; and beside this they create some interesting terrains like forest, hill temples, playing cricket, farming, villages... to attract people esp. children.

The golu is kept for 9 days on the occasion of Navarathri – nine nights. The women of the house who have arranged golu invite their neighbors, relatives and friends and offer varies snacks and gift little things to those visits. Sundal is the very common delicious food served at golu. Generally the visit happens in evening and thus the golu would look great glowing in enchanting decorative lights and lit lamps.

Not going deep into the custom, the homes that keep golu are followed as tradition on this yearly occasion. It’s been a decade I visited any golu. One of our relatives keeps golu every year, and this year there were three invites from our apartment homes and mom visited each home in evening and bring some things and snacks to home.

I couldn’t recall much about visiting golu, but it was a moment at our relative’s home, where I see a room dedicated to series of steps arranged from huge to small idols, with many set of moments spread on floor. There was a small gate wall separate the golu and serial lights go on and off blinking around. The pictures here show one of our neighbor’s golu.

Fire step on festival

On Sunday there was a fire step on festival at my grandma’s native village Thiruvidanthai near kovalam, on ECR. It’s a yearly festival happen for 10 days on the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sep). For the 10 days there would be some special festival for goddess Throwpathy Amman on each day, along with baaratham (speech on Mahabharata) and koothu (drama) in evening and nights. On this occasion, the families those could afford or traditionally following in the village, take care each day of the festival and make certain food is provided to those take part in festival.

On Friday it was our relative’s, who lives there to take care of the day and so they called us to participate in their festival. I wasn’t interested to go, but went not saying no as I like moving out and though there was none to take care of me at home. We had lunch there and elders went to temple to worship and we returned home by evening.

The last day of the festival is called 'Thei mithi thiruviza' (fire step on festival), where devotees walk on burning charcoals that spread on the floor for few feet in a rectangular shape. Those participate in this festival would go on fasting and prayer before getting down on fire.

I have seen this festival couple of times in past and it derives many people from nearby places and those native to this village. When grandma was alive she used to visit this festival often. The important festival is on the last day and they celebrate it from morning. They create three sand mounds shaped like giant and later a man dressed like goddess Throwpathy would come with a sword and strike the mounds, where pumpkins loaded with Kungumam (crimson power) are hidden. When the sword strikes the pumpkins it splashes in red and thus it indicates giant’s death, and this believed as goddess saves people from the giant.

The people come at morning would stay at there relatives place and see the fire festival at evening. The woods gathered at the front of temple would put on fire until it becomes shatter fire charcoal and couple of men with a wood would keep scattering the fire and disperse it to make certain people walk. The devotees yet to walk on fire would tie scared threads on their wrist and gather at the Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple tank along the ECR. They keep there foots dip in the water for sometime; so thus it would feel comfort while waking on fire.

Then the devotees walk on burning charcoals with bare foot, caring neem leaves in hands and some would even carry there small children on their shoulders. The priest standing at the end of the burning charcoals would strike them with neem leaves. Before this take place, the womens in the village would make Pongal (boiling rice) in the temple and worship god.

On Sunday mom and dad went to the fire festival and clicked these pictures.

Memories of Krishna Jayanthi

(I captured this art lately from a wall in my uncle's home.)

Keeping away my faith and disbelief, Krishna Jayanthi is a typical Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna - which falls today. Few years back I used to visit my grandma’s home on this occasion, since she celebrates the festival from her early days. Sometimes we (me & bro) put off to school on this day, showing reason that our friends in neighbor enjoying holiday, and visit our grandma’s home in evening or after return from school, incase went. After look after the tea shop along with grandpa, she would return home in evening and prepare for devotion. Those days aunt wasn’t married and its always fun being with her, and ever after marriage she used to visit on this occasion along with little kannan – my little cousin then.

On these occasion we used to see grandma to draw little foots of Kannan from the gateway in ground floor to first floor in home and she would draw those foots very beautiful and we also use to try with our little cousin’s feet, by dipping his foot on the dissolved rice flour and make him walk, but it isn’t easy to make him certain pace, so after few steps grandma would drew it with her hands. The pictures, idols and stores say that Kannan is cowherd, and hence grandpa has cows and buffalos, I thought then this was the reason why grandma celebrates this festival when mom doesn’t. There’s a kannan idol at grandma’s home and it’s one of a beautiful porcelain idol where in a shape of child kannan crawling with a hand full of butter.

On this day the idol was out off showcase and decorated by home jewels and kept on a table for worship, with brass lamps to glow at both sides. Seedai and Murukku made by grandma are kept in bowls at the table and being an ardent to the savory of seedai, I would be standing near the table, wait for the camphor to extinguish after worship to taste the seedai. Usually I don’t like butter and on this day they used to urge us to have little butter to taste, but I avoid it, thus aunt used to apply it on the mouth when I don’t expect. Once my little cousin was dressed like Kannan and he looks certainly sweet and till now that innocent face never conceal from memories and obviously it was the last time I remember I attended this festival.

There’re two types of seedai, one is salt and the other is jiggery, in these I love the jiggery seedai. The seedai is made of rice and urad dal flour, rolled like globe and dropped into the boiling oil pan and deep fried get us the tasty seedai. These days’ people buy seedai from stores and thus lose the zest of the festival and the keen tongues like us.

# Current song: Mukunda mukunda... one of my favorite from Tamil movie Dasavatharam

An event account

There is nothing more to say, but about to share something I caught up with my cousin’s marriage I attend last Thursday in Chennai. Since 2003 I haven’t attend any marriage functions or events as it never get me this interested and important, and lack of ability and facility are reasons I could say, as I feel inconvenient and unlike to cause trouble others. This time where the marriage held was happened to be easy for me to move and thus my cousin’s family being closely associate with us and almost like its our home function, I couldn’t deny there prior offer with love and being myself loved to attend her marriage. Yesterday we called her in-law, and then she said she’s well being with her husband and in-laws, and as well I aware she never talked to him before marriage and being unfamiliar with there families even though they’re relatives.

By evening 6 we reached the marriage hall with couple of people seated and I selected a place and parked my wheels and joined with cousins following. Its been six years since, I never know any changes has happened and thus to know the coffee had turned into bonda, which I said ‘no’ to many people asked me and there was something annoying is saying ‘I am fine’ to everyone's inquire ’how r u?’. I laugh into myself, am I saying right and here the right answer is wrong. I wonder how many of them really think about us in meantime and it seems like people came to face each other and want to share something that is ‘how r u and I am fine’. It doesn’t get me sense, but at least there are people to ask ‘how r u’ gets comfort.

After the process of bride-groom procession, the evening began with reception and light music. I have to say about light music, because it drum beat of ears and broke our hearts, with its loud speakers. It’s been long time since I listen to light music in marriages, but I feel glad now not because of getting the opportunity, but escaped these days from the heck. Sometime I just wanted to kick those idiots disturb the peace and pleasure with loud speakers, and the whole procedure itself drumstick, but no music. The bride-groom stands like displayed, by receiving wishes, gifts and taking pictures along with others and in meantime my cam was busy taking pictures along with photographers. At last we stand along with bride-groom for pictures and it was something nice having a cam to save pictures for ourselves, and so thus I able to post here.

After dinned we returned home by 10.30pm, after spending much time wandering, chatting and snapping either on various position. We waked up morning 6 and back to hall by 7, when the process was ahead of rituals and tying knots in between particular time. Just being away and watching unclearly unbelief, there was some rituals going on something like path worship, garland exchanging, and in between tying knots, which is something mark the marriage; then it continues with exchange of rings in hands and toes, presenting things and sweets to invitees, before again going with a photo session. After sendoff the bride-groom to in-law’s, I spent sometime along with chami – who makes amuse with her attitude and cousins, who are yet to leave home that day, as their summer vacation are to end on Monday, we reached home by noon.

Sweet gesture

The other day I visited my uncle’s home and it was such a treat of innocent, sweet and love. It was a day that merely takes away the sorrows of anything that could disturb and I turned to be a child when the moments spend with a one and half year’s – my uncle’s daughter Chami. First she kept a silent distance staring at me and refused to get near, but I still looked forward to her, while admiring her common interests completely in swing. It was an event organized by there home and for a change I agreed to visit, but I am glad to do to think later how beautiful and pleasant the day was. There are some kids I hesitate to move easily, because of there uncertain smooth conversation and bold enough to say something to make hurt. I really see there’s a lack of innocence and sincere in them, where there elders mind influenced to change their attitude. But I see her standing away from others and the way she conveys from her heart.

She is a kind of child we see generally in our homes and what special about her is, I have never been so closer to a child in past lately, except my cousins, when she allows me into her world. It’s a fantastic world where even a pet doll could bite; and it repeats for sometime to unharmed, like how I stepped into her world. For sometime I hide out of her sight, and it let me know how fascinate she became in brief time we met. From then she began to seek my attention and man I moved when she call me often in her imperfect language, and as I kept in mind to go her way, I enjoyed that presence of mind and like rarely I wish the moments extend when time to return home. She has a kit as her pet and its lovely the way she treats the cat and she sounds sweet when calling her cat meow… from the balcony and to my surprise the cat response to her by coming around to visible.

She attached to me like I have ever been and she is someone gift smiles and taught me something she observes daily and alike every child she has her part of disobeying and I condemn the thing what she does by opening the tap and dissolving the soap to have mouths of food. The parents are showing a wrong indirection to children by allowing them to do what they wish without teaching them worth destruction and I am not inhuman to say act severe on children, but what we teach at this age caught up with them easily and the practice could reflect while they growing up. As she gets familiar with me, she started to play and response until leaving home, with a desire to come along with me alike she does with those she attached. So she came along and dropped me at home, and spends sometime with me to leave unwanted after taking few pictures I share here.

There is an another post similar to the title here, which goes easily with this post.

Hot and sweet!

Unless I experienced sunshine, I never felt how well heat distresses people. I went for a shot trip into sun shine yesterday, and returned while over to shadow evening. It’s not an unusual thing in India right now as we’re in mid summer season, the heat waves have been burning our souls and body. I managed to go with my parents and grandparents to attend a relative’s new home even in Chetput near Vandavasi. I almost avoid attending any functions and hesitate mostly, and even thought I did, my interest on traveling want me go ahead this time. I was surprised by everyone’s attention as well to them, as they would have never expected me and I was touched by there care and interest. My cousins grandma who was so kind towards me always, was very happy seeing me, came and sat beside me says something courage and glad she knows about me through my cousin bros.

lamps make special events

It was beating sultry and heat waves, in-between some cool breeze and what we can expect in a summer, visiting a home surrounds by seasonal dry lands and rock hills. After spending sometimes bearing heat and viewing there spacious new home, with a savory lunch and taking few pictures, we moved with my cousin’s tears to come along with us. He urged me to take him along with us and get permission from his mom, but I can’t agree, because he has to be there when his many near and dear ones having there occasional season and special moments at there home. I know am not alone the person to share his moments and even to avoid his suggestion I left him unnoticed his attention. Our return trip was damn so hot and lack of a/c due to some problem, and well I agree if it’s necessary, it never turned the situation better until receiving home.

Going on arterial roads that connect small towns, the main problem we received was speed breakers, and crossing every village we have few bumps. Somehow we came across many speed breakers, more than 30 to remember and few are unmarked to identify and that too very keen. It mainly stops the smooth and speed recovery that delays uncertain reach. Throughout the way it was so dry and scorching waves, but the only better thing was traveling in morning and relative’s hospitality and happiness, and it’s so many years I have met few others. Here I share few pictures I took along the way and event. (click pictures to view big and clean)