Pongal and Bull Dung!!

Above is my Pongal Pot, which I did two days back with cotton, painting the pot and the paper karumbu (sugar cane), was kept in our showcase.

Thai Pongal(boiling) was a traditional festival of Tamilan’s, which flows (celebrated) during the first four days of Thai Month (mid-January) according to Tamil calendar. Each day refers a special and it calls as Bhogi, Pongal, Mattu (bull) Pongal & Kaanum Pongal. This was my favorite festival always. This was the day we used to thank the Nature, and we can also call this day a new year for our farmers. After the yearlong hard works of plough the soil to make it a good one for cultivate; then seeding the paddy; transplant in to another spacious place and leaving water till it reaches the stage of Harvest, the farmers spent there whole energies to see their paddy are grown well. So to express their happiness by thanking the god they celebrate this Pongal.

The Mattu Pongal is the day to thank the cattle’s, esp. the bulls that helps us to the agriculture. We not only take the energy of bulls, even their dung’s are used for this pongal festival. As it was the Thai first, the next month of the Margazi which was the season for kolam (making a design with rice flour). On this time and on pongal days people used the dissolved bull dung to create a smear before their gateway to draw the kolam. Now days we can only see this smears in the villages of Tamil Nadu, once it was also available to see the smears in chennai some years back. The kolam gets an exquisite when it was put on dung smear floor in rice flour. And it considered auspicious to make the kolams before sunrise, as the Sun God feels welcome before it visit the earth. To bring more attracts to the kolam, a lump of cow dung will places at the center of the kolam and a five petal pumpkin flower will rests on it regarded as a symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the deity.

I have seen some of these incidents near my house at least before 10 years back, the friendly neighbors used to follow this way of putting kolam, some times their would be little fight with others for the bull dung. On the day of Bhogi I noticed many people come to my grandpa house to collect the dung for putting kolam. As we are in the Margazi season, the gateway of my neighbor’s friend’s house would have a thick dung smear floor and as it would be very smooth and our evening hours of sitting, playing and talking with friends will be on that floor, some times even we get scold from the neighbors for braking the dung floor, esp. for leaving tops on that.

It was familiar in villages to cook the pongal, keeping the pot in the middle of the kolam in the dung smear floor with the oven which was daub by the bull dung, some times this pongal was cooked on burning the dried dung cakes. In the villages the people who have mud houses and who already have floors daub by dung for their house, use the bull dung to daub for the Pongal celebration, like how we clean our house with whitewashing the walls. Actually today's situation was, we are missing the real pongal. If we see most of them are cooking the Pongal in Cooker and steel vessels, mostly the people in cities and urban areas. Because of this we miss the real taste of pongal, which prepared in sand pot. Nowadays all of them have gas stoves, so making pongal in firewood’s and dried bull dung have reduced and it also changed the taste. I can’t forget the sweet pongal cooked on the dried dung cake were my mom prepare in the month of Aadi in the Amman Temple. With our forgetting our traditional way of celebrating, at least let we all try to continue with its nature… Wish you all a beautiful pongal with sand pot, sugarcane and more sweets. HAPPY PONGALO PONGAL:)

One of the Greatest Achievement

We did we did…. Today, Indian space technology saw a milestone in its history by the successfully launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) carrying four satellites at a time to the space, after the lost of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F02), on INSAT-4C Mission last year.

In a small island Sriharikota, off the Andhra Pradesh coast, with the backdrop of the shallow backwaters of the Pulicat Lake and the morning clean sky, gave way to the PSLV-C7 to lift off from the first launch pad at 9.23am. In the first time of History India launches 4 satellites, India’s CARTOSAT-2 and Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1), Indonesia’s LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina’s PEHUENSAT-1 into a 635 km high polar orbit. The four satellites have been placed in a polar orbit at an altitude of 637 km with an inclination of 97.9 deg with respect to the equator.

The 44meter tall PSLV has a lift-off mass of 295 tonne. This is the 10th successful flight so far, since 1994. CARTOSAT-2, the twelfth in the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series, is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery. It will join the other six IRS satellites, which are in service. It carries a panchromatic camera to provide imageries with a spatial resolution of better than one meter and a swath of 9.6 km. The data from the satellite will be used for cartographic applications at cadastral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as applications in land information system and geographical information system.

For the First time, India test the Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1), developed by ISRO’s with 550 kg capsule, intended to demonstrate the technology of an orbiting platform for performing experiments in microgravity conditions that takes India into an elite club of countries that have satellite re-entry technology. This SRI-1 will stay in orbit for between 13 to 30 days and is expected to splash down into the Bay of Bengal for recovery. SRE-1 mission will provide valuable experience in such important fields like navigation, guidance and control during the re-entry phase. Two days before de-orbiting, it will place in a Repetitive Elliptical Orbit. Subsequently, it will be reoriented and deboost rocket is fired to make it reenter the earth’s atmosphere. Close loop guidance system is employed during deboost and coasting phases leading to its recovery. On re-entry, after initial aerodynamic braking, a parachute system will reduce the touch down velocity and will splashdown in the Bay of Bengal, east of Sriharikota coast. A floatation system will keep SRE afloat and enables its recovery.

From this success, India becomes the 4th developed country in Space Technology after the fore front countries of U.S., Russia and China. We have to be proud about our scientists. I congrats and wish them to success in each and every plans.

New beginning for Sania

Sania Mirza the Tennis storm of India that was weaker last year has waked up in a new robust and velocity by beating the fourth seed Maria Kirilenko in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International tennis tournament by her first win to kicked off her 2007 season on a confident note.

Sania, who entered the singles main draw as a wildcard, ousted world No. 29 Maria Kirilenko to advance the second round on the WTA Tour. The young Indian Icon, who was right now in Australia, was very circumspect about her preparation for this year. Playing in the Asian Hopman cup in India, the Asian Games has meant that her off-season was considerably reduced. She tried to use this as best in working on physical fitness and few more things to the game. Silver medal in Qatar Asian Games 2006 Women's singles final and gold medal in mixed doubles partnering with Leander Paes brings her some hopes and losing to fore front players Martina Hingis in the Kolkata open, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova are some of her best memorable times in 2006 for the 66th rank holder. Let it be a learning year for the Sania, who was more complete player than two years ago, although she still have a long way to go. I Wish Sania a wonderful and much achievable year!!

Sweet sight!!

In this winter season,
the shaking red flowers near my gold house.
The winter tree, which looks beautiful some months,
with my fav pink color flowers,.
deceit by being dry branches.
Picking the loves once left to sea.

It’s the time for looking girls,
after some long days on Sunday,
A difficult situation to park the cars,
although after a full round,
blessed to park near some good-looking gals.
Beach was filled with heads and food stall lights,
Look like the kite festival has started,
A feeling of entered into an exhibition.

Innocent parents left cousin and me alone
Think like boy would sit quite and listen to music.
Who know? Why I visit shore often!
Winter evening, chill air,
Like the blooming flowers,
A fresh feel.

With disturbing crowds,
and mild music from stereo,
Just got to sight some gals.
To wonder how god has creates them so beautiful,
and guys to adore them.
A cute gal in her blue shirt
and white mine skirt.
A gentle touch from his boyfriend,
dropt his hand in her shoulder,
a cool walk with her.
With little smile in my mind, left the place.

Tamil Songs I liked in 2006

Following are the Tamil film song, which I liked the most in last year 2006. I also linked the videos of the song and wrote reason for why i like the song. To see the songs click on the name of the song which is in pink color. sorry for putting a long post:)

Munbe Vaa En Anba Vaa… from Sillunu Oru Kaadhal was my most favorite song of the year. Gorgeous voice of Shreya Ghoshal was very attracted me to this song! And naresh’s voice was a good pair to it. The soft melodic and romantic tune, which creates a happy feel by Rahman would be a best of the year. The video of this song was another pleasant one with Boomika’s adoring cheek cavity smile, and the drizzling background.

Manjal Veyil Malaiela…. from Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. The songs stats by vennilava velli velli nelava… first felt it would be a soft melody, after few seconds that totally turns to western music, was energetic. It was an enjoyable song from Hariharan after some time. I too have imagine this song like the yellow lights of the sun by the time its 4.30 to 5.pm it flashes through the groups of trees as the green and ripe leaves spill on the ground the people walking in that. I just wonder by the video of clean picturesque of this song, and the background lights are amazing esp. the black sky change as blue and orange colors are so different; the dream city of New York was pleasant to see, actually I expected this type of video for New York nagam song form SOK. Poet Tamarai’s lyrics were beautiful.

Poi Sollaporen Poi Sollaporen…. from Thiruttu Payalae. What attract me in the song are the catchy lyrics, which sound funny. The laugh in between was very nice and sweet! Musician Bharadwaj brings a stylish tune for it; the video shows the Australia, the beach, childish way of acting was beautiful ;)

Un Parvayil Paithiyam anean… form Something Something is a sweet romantic song. It starts with a slow guitar tune and the guitar plays a nice work throughout the song, my fav Karthik singed it well with fast & slow which fits the music. The picture of this song was a cute one, Trisha smile is what I liked much.

Yedhedho Ennangal Vanthu…. from Pattiyal is a sweet melody which welfare and relax my mind from Yuvan’s wonderful music. Yuvan also tries his voice and it too comes out in an adorable manner. Here was another cute one, which have nice dance movements from Bharath and Pooja.

Pakaatha Enna Pakaatha… from Aaru was a song, which was singed, in a sad situation when the hero wound his girls mind and feels her love memories. Devi Sri Prasad’s slow music and Tippu’s voice makes a warm sense. Trisha in a sari with open hair looks so nice, it craves me to watch it again & again.

Idhu Enna Pudhu Unarvo….. form Chitiram Peasuthadi. Like the lyrics, it gives me a new feeling whenever I enjoy this song, which runs less than 2 minutes. Manju Haridas gives voice to this, as new Music Director Sundar C. Babu, set by tune for this film were all songs are super hits. When I was alone I like to listen to this songs, and it brings a refresh inside me.

Dhavanipotta Deepavali… in the film Sandai Kozhi is folk with classic music by Yuvan is gives a familiar feel. The voice of Vijay Yesudas was a good choice. Meera Jasmine’s prank acting was an additional pulse, sits me to adore it.

Boomiku Velichamelam… from Dishoom was poetic style of song; which attracts me here is the matured voice of Gayathri great voice loved it. I liked this song at first time listen it in radio; it ‘s really a different one. Vijay Anthony brings a romantic style of tunes, to this Hot Song!

Aah Adi va… form Imsai Arasan. It should be appreciated to see the brave of composers to set tune of 50’s and 60’s in this time of modern style of music. The good thing was its not a remake song, it has its original lyrics in 50’s tune. The second half of the female voice given to this song was soothing, I keep on repeating the second half much times. Sabesh & Murali these two hands created a respect for the old songs in our young’s.

Here comes another fav Hoty song from Vattraram, Mudhal Mudhala… in the way of an englsih song with the instruments that bring some peppy beats for the romantic lyrics. This year I have been attracted by some female voice, on the list here is another its Janani, sweet voice!! This song was picturesque in the backdrop of a beach side resort, with arya and keerat in colorful costumes.

Chitheraiyil Enna Varum…. With pure Tamil lyrics from Sivappathigaram was the best one for Tamil lovers like me. I adore the lyrics, with very soft music, but it has some beats that disturb the beautiful pronunciation of the lyrics by Swarnalatha.

Veyyilodu Vilayadi Veyyilodu Uravadi…. From Veyyil was a beautiful song with the countryside children’s fun in the Sunshine. The lyrics, the children’s activities take us to our childhood memories. Another song from the same album is Kadhal Nerupin Nadanam... was a bright duet, which took in short and cross streets in south Tamil Nadu. The song has an art in the picturesque and the lyrics.

This year there was also some mass song in my likes. The Asai Dhosai... song from Paramasivan was one among in the list. I listen to this first time in SunTv’s Supthasurangal where a kid sings, after that I was searching for this song, and found, it was from paramasivan. The voice of Priya Subramani was a very different and gusto, it really rocks. Have seen the video twice, it is an item dance in prison. I also adore a remake song this year; it’s the Ennadi Muniyamma... from Vathiyar and there are many film songs I have enjoyed this year, but I can’t written all here. Last year we had nice songs to adore, it can be peppy, melody. Rap, remake or anything. Even, year-end also we listen to the new release album, which would be good songs for 2007. Wish to listen more good songs in this year.