Orange and Yellow Marigold

Marigold is a common name in English, derived from Mary’s gold, and it was taken from the fact that early Christians placed flowers instead of coins on Mary’s altar as an offering. Marigold is often used in festivities honoring Mary. In Nepalese culture, marigold plays a significant role where marigold garlands are used almost in every household, esp. during the Tihar festival (similar to Diwali) and it is also sold in the markets for daily worships and rituals.

Marigold, rooted to North and South America blooms naturally around the world in colors of golden, orange, yellow and white, often with maroon highlights. The The orange and yellow marigold here was shot at Kodaikanal during one of the visits. 

Linking this post with Floral Friday Foto

Way to Kumbakonam and Mahamaham (travelogue)

Pretext: (Don’t expect me to write on Mahamaham – a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of the south Indian temple town Kumanbakonam. And taking dip on Mahamaham kulam (tank) which is believed to bring good deeds and remove sins.)

Mornings are meant to be fresh and traveling during that time would be optimum. And my travel from Ariyalur to Kumbakonam was appropriate with the mood and the activities of morning caught my attention. I could see so many students riding in bicycle to school and most of them were girls. All where pedaling standard bicycles that was given by the state government for free of cost. It was wonderful to see them, cycling in uniform in a line or two, leaving no hindrance to the freeway and utilizing the benefit of government in right way. The free bicycles were provided to all govt. and govt. aided high school students, from very long time, but who utilize the most were the students in rural – with schools at distant. I know some people who have resold their free bicycles (not only cycles, but many freebies) but seeing these students using things to the fullest make feel same. I believe not everyone is in need of freebies and people have better things than the government supplied and the govt. has to realized this and make certain the freebies are given to people who deserve. And by doing so, the taxation could be reduced or utilized for other essential.  

Cheerful yellow blossom,  on en-route to Kumbakonam 

On our way we come across many villages with cafes transformed into mini hotels at the morning hours, providing basic cuisine like hot Idlis, Vada, Dosa etc… and at one place someone transferred a plate full of steaming Idlis from their home to their little shop outside left us with desire. But as we were heading for the temple town (Kumbakonam) with an intention of taking holy dip at the Mahamaham tank, parents hesitate to eat at those outlets as mostly aren’t pure veg! Glad we could find a moderate mess at a village town close to Kumbakonam and parcelled the breakfast and moved out and settled on a by lane aside a dry channel before entering the town. The preparation for the big day (Mahamaham) was in full swing then and many parking’s were created along  the way and about 6 or 7 km away from the Mahamaham tank and we couldn’t access right into the town, but was forced to take the specific routes designed for the Mahamaham festival.

I put on navigation on the Google maps pointing at Mahamaham tank before entering the town and many indications were also kept alongside the roads directing to the tank.  But at a distance of 2 km, the road marked as leading to temple, was blocked and was asked to cover the distance by walk leaving the car somewhere. The weather was hot and walking through it (in bare footed) put pause among others. But we decide to move further to find any other route and as expected the Google maps showed me an alternate way that passes through little streets. I also noticed the distance gets lesser as we move further on the route and at last found a parking lot with a distance less than a km to the tank. Leaving me at the car along with my dad, others went to take dip in the Mahamaham tank and later my cousin returned, taking some quick dips in few wells (yes, there are about 20 wells inside the tank and the water level was sustained to knee) to send my father to partake.

Pretty green  landscape/field near Sirkazhi 

As time passes into noon, the weather become hotter and we couldn’t sit inside the car without switched on to AC. There wasn’t a thing to provide shelter and all cars are parked under scorching sun opposite to a big marriage hall. The people kept arriving and outgoing on all major roads leading to the tank and to my surprise my family returned to the parking lot in an hour and some! I heard from them that people are allowed to enter the tank from one back and exit on the other. Though the tank was crowded it wasn’t complaint but the temples around them have queue that extends for a km kept them away. Going to Kumbakonam and coming out without pictures of a temple and so make disappointing, but I didn’t get a chance to prove it was a temple town. Perhaps I could visit Kumbakonam at any other time in future as that wasn’t the right moment to explore the town and no one could make a way rather designed by the police department.

I could see ample police all over the town and many cops were brought from faraway districts like Thirunelveli and more than 15 gates where created for the Mahamaham to control the crowd. It was estimated as more than 1 million people have taken holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the Mahamaham day – Feb 22, 2016. On our way back to home, we took ECR (east coast road) via Sirkazhi, Chidambaram and Pondicherry. The roads were pretty fine except going through many curves and speed breakers creating mild difficulty, but the scenes on this road make forget those. Near Kollidam (between Sirkazhi and Chidambaram), we come across rows of shops selling handcrafts made of bamboos. Though we were into late afternoon, we couldn’t stop anywhere to take leisure photos and also on this road we are pleased by the sights of some pretty green fields making vast carpets of green.

One of the many shops that sell bamboo handicrafts near Kollidam (Sirkazhi), on ECR. The shops sell mostly basket swing chairs, rocking easy chairs, stools and fruit baskets all made of bamboos. 

We had our lunch at Sirkazhi and I went for tamarind rice unlike others who went for meals.  It was something I could not forget, because what I ate was tasted as my favourite Puliyotharai which is given in temples. It was a small pure veg. restaurant on the street of Vaitheeswaran Koil – a well-known Hindu temple for palm leaf astrology and the Lord Shiva here is referred as god of healing. We parked the car in front of the hotel and they served me a plate of tamarind rice at my seat. I ever had Puliyotharai as my entire lunch and I could still recollection the flavor and the desire for it continue to exist. We had our evening coffee and snacks at Pondicherry and continue to drive on scenic road, but it doesn’t look scenic anymore as it was on its transformation from state to national highway. Ever like before we witnessed number of vehicles coming on the opposite side of the road which perhaps heading to Mahamaham! 

RGB Monday

A festoon made of colorful beads. 

During a tour to Gujarat, my grandmother bought this wall ornament but it was ripped later and she herself reworked on it. 

Friday Review: Pichaikkaran (Beggar)

I watched the Tamil action drama, Pichaikkaran, from the drive-in on Wed. evening and it is a movie based on the life of a millionaire, who turned down his richness for a time period to save his mother’s life. Arul Selvakumar is a MBA graduate, flew down to India to take charge of his mother’s spinning mills. But within a short span in office his mother met an accident and falls into coma. With no response to any of the treatments, a sage guides him to beg for 48 days with a condition to not to use his influence in anyways and begin each day with bare hands, to get back her mother. The affectionate son decides to go through the term in belief of saving his mother and what all he faces during this course remains the topic.

Actor and music director Vijay Antony played the man behind the subject. Though he couldn’t adapt quite into the look and attitude of a beggar or perhaps the subject doesn’t need it, has given his best in acting and do stunning actions. He carries the look of smart and intelligence throughout the film, reminding his previous roles as Salim. Debuted Satna Titus as his love interest, exhibits elegant acting and the places where she reveals he’s a beggar and the hesitation in practicing with him later were all done in pretty manner.  And of course she’s beautiful!

Already there’s a movie released in Tamil based on beggars. Yes, Bala’s Naan Kadavul had dealt with the subject but were treated with brutal.  The beggars here were shown with little dignity and expressed intelligence, perhaps because the plot was set in metropolitan – Chennai. The movie has some merry scenes esp. the perspective on economics by a beggar gets great applauds at theater, and make certain entertainment. The background score was good and with each drag on the title (pichaiiiikkkkaran) upraise.  

According to director Sasi, the film was an inspiration from the real life story of a millionaire he knows, who would beg for 6 months annually and look after his job the remaining months. Though he didn’t put forth any fact about him, but has done his best communicating the lifestyle of beggars and the public’s perception on them. Particularly this scene where Vijay Antony express annoy when a police handshake him when come to know he’s a millionaire, but who was knocked early in beggar veil. It was a nice execution distinguishes the differences in society. Pichaikkaran – is a social messenger through entertainment. 

My Account on Ariyalur

Waking up early in the morning in Ariyalur was something feels fresh, perhaps the new environment holds the magic and moreover the peaceful ambiance, although the guesthouse we stayed exists adjoining an important junction on the bypass with Lorries passing frequently, doesn’t discourse the mood. The guesthouse has a large garden and unmaintained lawn in the front yard with a pavement to come around. But as soon we arrived the previous night, I decided to explore the garden next day morning before we move to Kumbakonam. The night was cool over there; though we were offered AC rooms, the need for air con doesn’t become certain and we chilled out sometime before hitting the bed.

The rooms allotted for us were spacious, and the lobby itself as sizeable of a hall. We experienced quietness staying there and we the only guests of the house doesn’t expose to any restrictions. In morning we saw many little egrets on the lawn which seems to come in foraging and their presence really made the morning more pleasure and also represents as small statues décor the garden. The guesthouse has some beautiful shrubs (including flowering ones) on both sides of the entrance and the doors also etched some lovely designs that includes floral in bronze. The lobby has reflection panels on all sides above the lintel and for the windows, which keeps away the need for a mirror.

I find the shrubs outside the guesthouse presents a nice background to photograph and I pushed myself to place between them for a portrait to feel content. My father said Ariyalur was surrounded by Cement factories and the popular ones like Arasu, Ramco and Dalmia where among them. And thus it was always busy with lorry traffic and even at night they kept moving on. Ariyalur has no places of interest particularly to mention or I unaware, but the renowned Chola temple Gangaikonda Cholapuram comes under the district of Airyalur. Built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 AD, the temple modelled similar to the Big Temple in Thanjavur and it’s one of the most visited places in Tamil Nadu.

Some more little egrets on the lawn

I really want to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram for very long time and last year they commemorated 1000^th year of Rajendra Chola formally ascended the throne in 1014 CE. I really miss visiting the place just been to the district, and no proper planning keeps me away from the destination. We leaved the guesthouse by 8am and moved towards Kumbakonam with a plan of having breakfast on the way. As usual google maps guided us on the short route and the road was good enough but many Lorries passed the way. With no big towns on the route, we settled for a mine hotels/mess adjoining villages and to say the truth it tasted good that high paid restaurants. The hot idly, vada, sambar and chuttni were fulfilling.