Deepavali 2012

Deepavali, the festival of lights switched off lately was enchanting like each year with dose of firecrackers, sweet, snacks and sharing... even I felt little lonely this time, the memories caught up with fire of previous years of delight, cherished. The day began for me as usual except the constant roar of bombs which kick started the explosion earlier than the allotted period (between 6am-10pm) to blast firecrackers; it’s impossible to imagine a Deepavali without noise of cracker... but maybe one day mind set to appreciate the silence on Diwali.

The day was spent partially in front of the television watching those advertisements and special programs that flashed in-between, but the interesting part was the ‘Pattimandram’ (poet’s discussion) on who helps a lot – younger ones or elder ones, in general and the speakers were all well brought up the points at discussion with a lot of sensible humor. It’s good to see many younger ones joining the discussion latterly and they all draw a greater attention and develop an interest towards their attitude on Tamil and discussion.

Like every year, the neighbors shared the happiness by distributing sweets and snacks, prepared by them or bought from the shop; I enjoyed tasting them all at great zeal and we also shared the traditional sweet and snacks – Athirasam and Murukku – made by mom, to cheers the festival spirit. I sent few SMS to friends as wishes and called out one of my best friend from Tirunelveli and it is something we usually do during either of our festivals and it was wonderful talking to him as well his mom who is so beloved and heart full of blessings for others.

It was a day I haven’t touched the laptop and switched off the television sometime after the noon and in the company of boom, mind took backspace for a moment triggering the roll cap memories and time spent together with kith and kin. In the evening we left to our grandma’s sister house for lighting some firecrackers and they live in Neelankarai – the down south of Chennai, and they hold much space for leaving fireworks and the area itself beholds a lot of firework display during Deepavali give me some wonderful opportunity to capture the colorful sky.

We spent more than an hour watching the various Arial outs bursting into the sky and illuminating the moonless night into many twinkling lights and radiant colors, which was a remarkable sight ones in a year. I well know its disadvantages and noise and environment pollution but I couldn’t stop myself enjoying the display of fireworks and this time I got a wonderful camera to shoot much pretty photos.

Will post more on the firework display later... 

A day travel across Thiruvannamalai

note: (bear me for the long post... hope u like my travelogue)

We planned to check my dad’s friend daughter marriage on Sunday (28/10/12) in Vettavalam near Thiruvannamalai and so we wake up early as 4am and got ready by 5 and head the road half an hour later for the 9-10.30am Mukurtham (auspicious time of wedding). Accompanying my uncle and cousin – who drive the car, we also gave lift to one of our uncle’s workshop employ and his little niece whom were suppose to go by bus to Thiruvannamalai, decided to come along with since we have much space in our SUV leftover by my wheelchair at rear.

(click pictures for enlarge)

I always love and enjoy beginning travel at early morning and this time too I had a wonderful drive through the chillness of the morning and even it’s not cold like winter, the clouded sky and dampness and tender sunshine were kissing the skin towards entice. This is the only time I could check the sunrise awake between the clouds or rise behind the mountains or buildings; it’s more cheerful than any other day since my wakeup time is usually not less than 8 o’clock. :)

The first time I visited Thiruvannamalai was 3 years back on the same month of October, and the ride were through Tindivanam and Gingee; which was partially a state highways passes through the countryside accompany by tress esp. tamarind on both sides of the road.  The road also cut across the fortified wall of the Gingee Fort which is one of the famous forts in Tamil Nadu holding a strong historical background.

Gingee fort is also called as "Troy of the East" by the British

We reach the wedding hall by 10 am, few minutes before the bridegroom tie the knot, but I didn’t check the marriage as it was happening on first floor I stayed in the car along with my cousin. Vettavalm is a small town 23km from Thiruvannamalai on the Villupuram road and thanks to my Samsung Player with GPS navigation that traced the route for Vettavalam without going to Thiruvannamalai, even thought we en route to this place about 15km by dropping the employ and his niece at Kilpennathur.

My dad and the father of the bride had been friends for more than 40 years, since their college days at Presidency and we couldn’t avoid attending the wedding as family though he had added my dad’s name in the invitation. He’s someone always be on traveling and he had traveled all over India and has friends at various level  and he’s basically a farmer but only his wife takes care of everything since he keep on traveling. His bad time he suffers from health issue now and discovers a bad sight and hearing lately which I guess must be because of his immense use of Cell Phone; and he almost addicted to phone and could not stop dialing someone anytime.

After spending more than an hour in the wedding hall, we had nothing to do then but I had a plan already which was waiting for dad’s approval and it was to check the Sathanur Dam that was about 55km from Vettavalam and 31km from Thiruvannamalai. It was less than 12pm then and we had no work to return home immediately, so proceed with the plan and the weather was still pleasant even there was a mild sunshine that day.

On the way to dam we stopped at Thiruvannamalai to get some biryani for lunch but we couldn’t find a hotel or shop that sell chicken briyani, instead there were only beef biryani everywhere which I never ate and yet won’t eat. I only wonder how come there so many beef biryani center in a town where the ‘Nandi (Bull)’ was worshipped as god’s vehicle and idol in itself... I don’t want to get into the belief but I understand the need that there are many beef eaters exists in this town. (I read somewhere that more people from Kerala come to settle here spread the beef eating habit).

Last time when I visit Sathanur Dam there was no one and we also couldn’t spend much time since we visited during late hours of evening, but this time being a Sunday many people gathered around the dam and mostly youngsters were vrooming in bikes, creating great annoy to public. The police were checking thoroughly every vehicle entering the dam complex and a special search operation had been held on youngster for liquor bottles, because during our last visit we get to see lot of broken bottles and plastic tumblers thrown at the end of dam.

The dam complex had been newly painted now and gardens were developed into much better and colorful sculptures were quite neatly maintained and a pool, restaurant and lotus pond seems added lately to attract more visitors. There isn’t much water in the vast dam reservoir and even less compared to my early visit and the dam bridges were locked by gates allowing only people through a small walk way which my wheel chair could not enter, but I spent some time on the garden taking pictures.

By 3pm we took our back home journey through Thiruvannamalai and it was a day beginning of full moon night, so the roads were blocked inside the town to leave us to go around the Arunachaleswarar Temple to reach the Tindivanam road. Thiruvannamalai is famous for the full moon stroll around the sacred hill here, receiving thousands of people every month who take a walk about 14km on the foothill road that come around the hill.

(backside tower of Arunachaleswarar temple)

When we nearing Gingee, the gray clouds formed to shower heavily and the road being a two lane and work on widening taking place alongside, we forced to retard at progress until catch-up with national highways. The ride further was smooth and interesting but as we nearing Chennai the traffic began to grow steadily before got trapped into a traffic congestion near Vandalur moving at a very slow pace for more than an hour. We reach the home by 9pm, almost taking 6 hours to come across a 210km of travel but when knowing the traffic jam near Vandalur last for 5 hours, I felt glad we escaped with an hour.

Happy Onam

Photo on mom's colorful kolam

With colors of Onam,
life becomes a Pookolam
and delight of Orchids.

Wishing Happy and Colorful Onam to all! :)

Yeh Mera India anthem...

The country celebrates the 65^th Independence Day tomorrow and to commemorate the event, Animal Planet has come up celebrating the incredible wildlife and natural diversity of India through a month-long programming slot Yeh Mera India, staring on August 15^th every night at 8 pm.  Thus promoting the special programming that suppose to line-up rejoicing the country’s iconic and enchanting wildlife, epic landscapes and colorful natural beauty, the channel has launched an anthem, which run as a three minute multi-lingual song, composed and performed by renowned music personalities like Lesle Lewis, Shaan, Mathandi and Monalia.

The anthem is a great tribute to the wildlife splendor of India which will fascinate everybody and this high-energy anthem cheers the spirit of freedom in three most widely spoken languages of country: the Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.

Check the incredible anthem I posed below and to reveal more on the charismatic animals and distinct species of India and the Himalayans and Northeast and exotic terrains... watch the program airing every night at 8pm from August 15 to Sep 15 on Animal Planet. Jai Hind!

Happy Friendship

Photo from archive, by Jeevan

Friendship is like fire

without flame it lit our heart
and glow steadily.

Dedicating this post to all my friends here :)

Festivals and Celebration

Christmas is the initial of the festival seasons of winter followed by New Year, Pongal and yet to come Republic Day and it’s always pleasure celebrating a festival whichever way it was. Whatever the belief believed beyond any festival at its edge is happiness and it comes as a break from the busy scheduled life of everyone on behalf are suppose to take this chance to get-together with family and friends to rejoice the eve.

(Pongal kolam by mom)

I quite disappointed with the way holidays and festivals are celebrated today in front of televisions and no one is willing to go out by joining with others to make the merry joy into rejoice and it’s disturbing to see some seeking benefit for just being happy and make others feel alike. I feel that we are lost from the path of tradition that quite harvest the happiness and thanksgiving is something we all need to think about others who are behind us being a force to push ahead.

There was a time eagerly waiting for the festival greetings via post from our dear ones far away and what our technology has done today in communication is simplify to the least, but lost to touch the heart of everyone. The words have become shot and sweet but their relationships have become lack of savor and the significant of talk or text have come to least when there is plenty of ways to communicate.

(Nativity done by my grandmother)

There used to say that each individual is united as society but what’s happening these days are the individuals becoming more individual to think a lot about themselves alone and only the last though is given to society . We aren’t to blame anyone since the individual growth is rising to summit and standing on their foot doesn’t care much for others... and so the gap increased between relationships has created the distance to share the joy. Hope u all enjoyed the festival season!

(My Christmas tree)

Pongal wishes

The auspicious day on Tamils front
reliable to the source of living
is the harvest that brings home fare

The anticipation of new rays
as sun changes its way, is believed
to bring hope and prosperity into home

Thai, the month of Tamil
marks the many beginning of life
is the initial sow this Pongal harvests

By thanksgiving the nature and cattle’s
on this day of harvest, let wish
salvation reaches farmers from starvation
and by cutting off grains
happiness is invited into their homes.

Footnote:

The silver brass lamp were shot from last year's pongal festival at home.

Wishing you all a very Happy Pongal
இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துகள்

Cold Break

Time flew very soon and here comes the Christmas to exuberant the year end, as well as the year ahead to brighten with smiles and happiness and peace at heart. Wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year :)

(our Christmas tree)

Due to cold, I couldn’t read or write much now, so let me pause here to play sometime before or after New Year. I bought a Christmas tree and decorated it with the help of mom and cousin Ashwin and here u could see my tree gleaming with led bulbs. Photo was taken with mobile cam, and more on the celebration soon. Pls forgive for the clarity. Take care and enjoy! :)

Karthigai Deepam

Lighting up the earthen lamps
illuminates the houses
enhanced to rust and red in color

Along the windowsills and balconies
the lamps lit on Karthigai Deepam
host a grand reception to bewitch

The brass lamps hold to the halls
embraces any festivals of sort
as auspicious to enhance and behold

Footnote:

The photo was taken last year by me on the occasion of Karthigai Deepam, which is a festival celebrated in the month of November-December on the full moon and alike Deepavali, Karthigai Deepam is also called as Festival of Lights.

150 years of justice

If there’s a historic building creating history every day through its judgement could be the Madras High Court, alike the Bombay and Calcutta High Courts began at a stretch. Apart sentence the high court has become a tool to mend social issues and judges being prudent themselves have come lent some remarkable judgements making as significant as history.

(Domes of Madras High Court)

Established at the premises where the current Chennai Collectorate located by letter patent by Queen Victoria under the authority of the British parliament’s Indian High Courts Act 1862, shifted to the present High Court building in 1892 after 4 years of the constructed building at cost of Rs.12, 98,163. Build in an exquisite Indo Saracenic style, the building was opened by his Excellency the Right Hon’ble Beilly Baron Wenock, is acknowledged in all aspects as finest High Court building in the India.

The High Court premises also had a light house which was begin used to warn and guide the ships, thus become the third lighthouse of Madras, functioning from the tallest dome of the Madras High Court at a height of 160-ft. Being target by German Warship S.M.S. Emden in year 1915, a number of explosive shells where sent on Madras City aiming the dome were struck the cornice around the flooring of the light.

During the Second World War, when madras came under attack by a squad of bombing aeroplanes at the early hours of April 6, 1942, the High court went on a long vacation ahead its usual date due to possibility of strike, runs the vacation courts run in Coimbatore and later functioning from Holy Angels School in T.Nagar before go back to today’s High Court building.

Sir T. Muthuswami Iyer was the first Indian to be appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court following Dr. Pakala Venkatha Rajamannar as India’s first Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. Later lately a second bench of Madras High court has been functioning from Madurai since 2004, jurisdiction over southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Footnote:

The Madras High Court starts its celebration of 150 year of establishment from today till next year beginning and I though to write on it with information collected though wiki and other link sources. The photos were taken by me some time ago.

Hello

The first word enrolled out of tongue as a universal language of introduction lead us to the immense phase of relationship with someone and whatever great speech does not begins without hello. It’s a kind of word bring strangers into one’s comfort zone and across oceans and to space the sound of hello allow one reveal the conversation beyond whatever the message conveyed.

From wake-up to sleep, hello plays a vital role in engaging conversation with anyone and phones calls being led to hold credit, took the word to every corner of this world as impossible to leading phrases without spelling it loud as a salutation it becomes a common title for everyone to use. Hello, alternative of hallo, hollo and hullo is said to come from Old High German and apart spelled similar in many languages Hullo expressed by Thomas Edison on surprise misheard to Graham Bell’s initial use of Ahoy as a telephone greeting.

Footnote:

Today is World Hello Day! Begun in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in the fall of 1973, the day is observed by greeting others as a message for world leaders to use communication rather than using force to settle conflicts.

Open Letter to Children

Dear Children,

I like being with children and talking to them and, even more, playing with them. If you were with me, I would love to talk to you about this beautiful world of ours, about flowers, trees, birds, animals, stars, mountains, glaciers and all the other beautiful things that surround us in the world. We have all this beauty all around us and yet we, who are grown-ups, often forget about it and lose ourselves in our arguments or in our quarrels. We sit in our offices and imagine that we are doing very important work.

I hope you will be more sensible and open your eyes and ears to this beauty and life that surrounds you. Can you recognize the flowers by their names and the birds by their singing? How easy it is to make friends with them and with everything in nature, if you go to them affectionately and with friendship.

Grown-ups have a strange way of putting themselves in compartments and groups. They build barriers... of religion, caste, color, party, nation, province, language and customs and of rich and poor. Thus they live in prisons of their own making. Fortunately, children do not know much about these barriers, which separate. They play and work with each other and it is only when grow up that they begin to learn about these barriers from their elders. I hope you will take a long time in growing up...

Footnote:

Above one is an open letter to children of the world by Jawaharlal Nehru through a publication in year 1949, 3rd December. Today marks his birth anniversary, which is celebrated as Children Day in India.

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

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.

Festival greeting

Happiness is the wealth of health
Thus festivals and celebrations...
Are ideal source of this.

Image courtesy : google

Birthday revel

Happiness is something exists by sharing with others and that too it was with those close to our heart means something, remarkable, which happens via my birthday on Sunday is significant of love, concern and care that everyone got for me. The special day of mine turned very special is simple goes to my aunt and sister who wanna celebrate it with biryani for lunch and cake cutting event for evening greets with their special greetings and gift is still perhaps uneven their words from heart.

It was families’ get-together on Sunday in our native home at Adyar, Chennai, is fun filled with the arrival of uncle’s kids and chitchatting with dearest ones is worth sharing of a void of anything possible by words. My aunt come up with a gift of cell phone which I wasn’t aware when I was requested to suggest her a best model that suppose to be handover to me and sister in her simple way of greeting touched my heart deeply like those verses where penned for us.

To the immense happiness, my grandfather is at our home now. After the Sunday sleepover at uncle’s home in Adyar, we brought our grandpa along with us after a lot compel in lately since grandma is out of station, he agreed to stay along with us for couple of days… which I wish it extends some more days. I aware the specific place everyone haves for me and the care and concern at phase which I am suppose to be worth or not, I feel more comfort within their circle of love and emphasis that enclosed me thoroughly leaving me in lack of expression.

Thanks so much for all your birthday wishes and greetings via emails, face books and greeting that I am grateful to you in a simple yet Thank you.

Heritage Rally 2011

The Chennai-Pondicherry Heritage Rally 2011 inaugurated at VGP Universal Kingdom on 8th January was a remarkable display of vintage cars. I always wish to check such a rally which reaches me only after it held somewhere in the city and come to my sight through the TV and newspapers. Thankfully this time the newspaper carried an advertisement in advance so that I make it sure to check the vintage cars and rally.

I wake up early to not miss the chance and made a wakeup call to my cousin and got ready along with mom. We geared up at home and reached the venue in time before the rally was suppose to flag off but being postponed an hour from the actual time we had much time checking the vintage cars which are less than 40 and arranged neatly at radiant colors.

A well modified jeep that stands in front of the venue was pretty added to the show and being an 4x4 enthuse I was attracted by it and wanna go a ride in it. First we parked the vehicle outside to check whether vehicles are allowed inside, and we are glad to go nearby by parking the car inside to check our vehicles ancestors and the way they are maintained and polished looks awesome.

The cheerleaders sweeping the air with colorful pompoms and dressed in short and sweet and shaking to the vibrant of drum beats promotes the show with a charm and smile and makes fun by coming across every vehicle. Getting the whole picture of the vehicles wasn’t easy since more people visiting the event and getting nearby to flash themselves and few owners allow others to check inside the vehicle and most of them are closed windows.

The vehicles are all belong to vintage category and the dodge brothers was one of the oldest on the display and there are countable Morris and number of similar vehicles belong to various companies. The Mini Cooper, Fiat 125 S, V W beetle and Thing and Jaguar are very different and fun looking vehicles and overall I like the Austin which is small like an auto and the classic one with a royal look! (place the mouse on pictures to know the car names)

The cars are vintage and old, but the visitors are more youngsters and children coming around the vehicles interestingly and wearing up trendy. The other attractions of the show was two little kids who were so photogenic and carries a smart pose for pictures but only we couldn’t get it in right way. Two participants accompany with their Labradors, who were seems scare to the drumbeats and bark with a roar later went a breeze ride on one of the topless vehicle.

I thought will all these vehicles run up the compete rally and live up to its name and energy, but the rally flags off by the special guest (DGP Letika Saran) at last proves these vehicles are no less to others in speeding and attracting in style. We left the venue in advance and went further to check how these vintage cars carry themselves on roads by parking somewhere on the road side, and the rally wasn’t constant to follow either and the vehicles where racing like Ferraris to click somehow motion pictures.

Overall it was a fantastic journey across vintage cars and each vehicle is a model for everyone how to maintain a vehicle however old they are. In a situation of buying cars in mind of resale values… these vehicles are invaluable before money!

(Check for some more vintage cars set here)

Things happens beside (pongal)

This year’s Pongal was something very simple and somehow boring until cousins came home. The thought to celebrate the festival in a traditional way never comes home easily unless I force to make it rather like the former year where rice boils to firewood under sun light and sugarcanes to hold either on the terrace, we loud Pongalo Pongal as soon the milk boils over.

Every year I wish that Pongal happens in a village and this year we went further to plan a trip to join a Pongal celebration in a village but by chance we missed the opportunity for some reason in traveling and even though I’m happy that at least we gave such concern to plan and hope next year we visit villages on Pongal festival. The festival went off usually how Chennaities celebrate it in there cooking vessels in kitchen and later watch television programs and go out the last day to conclude the festival which is known as Kaanum Pongal.

This year’s Pongal was something disastrous because of the deadliest accident happened in Kerala where more than 100 Ayappan devotes were killed due to the rollover of a jeep and following stampede in a hilly terrain. It was terrible to hear such an incident before yet to go into a festival mood and even it doesn’t much bothered here, its causes are sorrow. Unlike the obvious one above, one of my dears got into an accident and happened to fracture his wrist and even he’s not relatively close, I grown up by cutting my hairs from his hands since I remember.

What truly bother me was that within minutes he left our home finishing my hair cut he was hit by a share auto. I never saw a person like him, who never changed in his attitude and care for our entire family and closely associate with us since we began to practice. What touched me a lot was even in this condition with a fractured arm, he was thinks about my next hair cut which has a month time and there’re many barbershops in our neighbor and he employs many in his shops to serve and still he care for me is simply astonishing and such people are rare in this society.

He’s not alone a barber; he’s a finest Nadaswaram artist who performs for any rituals and temple festivals and there isn’t a function happen in our family certainly without his concert and we are not even to invite him, he understands and comes to play without an invitation and money comes next to him before us and anyone. I couldn’t say anything in front of things happen and I thought that moment what all his plans got disturbed because of his fracture and for a barber and who plays Nadaswaram the hands are very important and source of life and what he going to do having festivals at phase.

Beside these the festival days went off peaceful even there isn’t much happiness to cheers and experience to share, the last day went out on a brief ride on ECR and it was fun going along with cousins in car and chatting and teasing either. Everywhere it was congested on Kaanum pongal which is usual and to believe it was unusual to see so many people crowded the ECR till Mamallapuram. Yearly the counting just increases in crowd and never seems to reduce and it’s enchanting to see people crowded for happiness and fun! And I’m happy in sharing with you all.

Happy Harvesting

Pongal, as we all know it is a harvesting festival celebrated across India in various names and one among it is renowned as Sankranti. Though the festival is celebrated in various forms according to states culture and tradition it commonly signifies the harvest and Maker Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn on its celestial path.

Today the harvesting process has taken various stages in development and machineries taking over the man power in reducing his stress and to increase the productivity. Though we are advanced in technology somehow and somewhere we are still poor in productivity and many people are lacking for essential commodities to harvest and cultivate.

The harvesting is not an easy process like we proceed in Farmville and it need lot of patient and care before going for harvest in time. Thought I am not well aware about the process which could be simple and yet easy we need to feed the seeds and irrigate properly in time before they go dry completely or flooded with water to decay almost, but these days nature has changed irregularly to affect the food productivity that witness in inflation.

Not alone the process has changed; even there are no lands to increase the cultivation to feed the increasing population that taking place the lands to constructions and real-estates. Though we still have enough lands to cultivate grains and vegetables the interest among farmers have reduced to give prior to farming more than seeking for a settlement and questioning why we need to work hard when all comforts goes to citizens living in cities?

I am not intend to talk about the causes that affects in inflation or farming but thinking about the festival the things come automatically in comfort and we couldn’t think any more on this time than farming and harvesting which is the concept of this festival. Though we all have thoughts about farming and want to see it saved from the causes that affect the productivity, the non proper price fixed for seeds and grains produce the trouble among farmers and dwellers who affected by the high rise in price and money.

The Pongal is less than a day ahead and thinking that we are thanksgiving the nature and famers and livestock’s that support us to nourish and survive healthy, I feel so content and happy. The mood of festival cheering me the times thinking about Pongal, which I see it as the best among festival celebrating the harvest. On this occasion I wish that more youngsters come into the field of farming to help our poor farmers and save our future that truly depend on farming.

Here I go with my Pongal greetings that I designed the latter days and it’s always pleasure to greet with our own depict on thoughts and feeling and it’s been sometime I created greetings that I send to my cousins and I brought one of if here to greet u all a very Happy Harvesting festival of joy, peace, happiness and reliance between relationships esp. friendship...

There are two more cards in flickr here and here.