Summer exhibition

Been to the Ulsoor exhibition in Bangalore, that is conducted every summer. Having paid the entrance fee and dropping my name for lucky dip I entered the place without knowing I would enjoy much. Its a deviation for the Bangaloreans from the usual maals, park, theaters. You find exhibits from various parts of India including Shantiniketan handbags, bed covers, chappals, Rajasthan dress materials, handicrafts, branded items display, books for all ages and much more.

Exhibitions are always fun. We see many kind of people, their family orientation, Kids bugging their parents for a toy or fun rider or eatable. Well settled father buys them whereas a lower middle class man tries to convince the kid saying 'it is not gud for you, when you grow up we will buy'. Many stories like this run at each corner. Even if you don't buy just roam around and check things. Freaky guys get into a shop, check for the price as if they gonna buy, ask for some kind which is not available with the shop keeper and make fun out of it, I am no exception. Balloon, balls, toys, dolls are sold to attract kids. People who dont even go to theaters or any other entertainmwnt, bring their family and spend some time by buying few things for kids, eatables, chit chat for a while and get back to home in late evening. It is a pleasure for the kids to dress up nicely and get ready for this exhibition in summer vacation. Even I enjoyed a lot in window shopping, buying kashmir salwar materials, hair clips, house hold items, fun riding in dragon train and shouting a lot when it was moving fast.

This reminds me of the (g)olden days. When I was in school we use to go to the kottai mariamman kovil thiruvizha. People in and around the town and nearby villages come there with the family. House wives remain in fasting and grow saplings with sprouted beans called molapaari. They take procession by holding that in their head and reach temple. Music concert by local music parties will be conducted. There was a big ground in the temple premises where many shops including games like snake ladders, Rubik cube and toys for kids, fun activity in giant wheel, merry go round, eatables, accessories made us consider it as the amusement park. Only there we get delhi appalam, panju mittai, milagai bajji. Wherever such an exhibition is held, women section for accessories like hair clips, bindi, etc will not be missed. We go to the temple do darshan, purchase something, sit in the carpets and enjoy the gaana with family. I use to return home happily if my parents bought whatever I wanted otherwise showed my crying face. This thiruvizha that happens once in a year is a real amusement for us.

This exhibition is reposing and I want go to Ulsoor once again. Initially I hesitated to go thinking that it would be waste spending money and time and every year same things will be exhibited. What am I gonna buy from there that I don’t get in Bangalore. But it was worth spending some money, seeing such a huge crowd and cheerful kids, having good time with family. Moreover felt happy for purchasing something for myself and am waiting for the next visit.

Anticipated drive to Coorg

Being in Bangalore for more than 4 yrs I felt ashamed of not been to Coorg, dubbed as the Scotland of India. We made an instant plan to visit the places around Madikeri. A cottage has been booked in Coorg, few kms away from Madikeri the previous day of our journey. We reached Mysore on a Saturday morning. On the way to Madikeri, we stopped at Bylakuppe to visit Namdroling monastery which is Tibetan village. There was a sudden difference in entire environment. People there were Tibetans and all the buildings were of Tibetan architecture. I felt like being in borders of India. The temple for Buddhists is built in Tibetan mythology where statues of Padmasambhava, Buddha sakyamuni and Amitayus are covered in gold and hence Golden temple. The walls, roof of prayer hall was fully painted and almost everywhere dragon paintings or statues were seen. The next spot was Dubare forest where we saw many elephants. After this the road took us to Madikeri. From there it was 20 minutes drive to the cottage we have booked in coorg. It was so narrow and scary to go interior of the forest. We reached the beautiful house and I was wondering how the construction happened in that place. We tasted tea, watched world cup cricket finals having homemade dinner.
With the joy of winning the cup along tasty dinner, we slept in rooms that were nicely maintained. Woke up early next morning to see the plantations around the cottage. Pepper was grown in between coffee and wide varieties including mint, pineapple, jackfruit, hibiscus and many varieties of flowers whose name I am not aware of were planted. Around 2 hrs we enjoyed seeing the Sun rise, walking in the coffee estate. Then refreshed and headed towards Talakaveri, place where river Cauvery originates. It was looking like a small pool and poojas were going on. I was disappointed to see that place for having travelled from Bangalore and nothing special was there. Nearby was the viewpoint and had to climb 300 steps to reach. It was an ordinary view we see anywhere in a hill. I felt then it was the wrong time to come to that place. Probably I would have enjoyed viewing the hill, clouds, climate if the weather was cold. I had a different assumption about coorg but it was shattered. Even if the place is good or bad, the climate adds value to it. Since it was burning hot I was not satisfied with the trip. I convinced myself saying somehow we went out with family and seen some places and returned back.

Crazy Saturday

I had to travel to my native from Bangalore last weekend in train. I slept as soon ticket checking was over. While in train, I got a call in midnite. Thinking who is calling by this time I picked the call. On the other end, my appa was speaking 'enga ma iruka?'. I said 'Trainla, innum station varala pa.' Also I scolded him for coming so early to pick me from station. He replied 'ellarum erangi poitirunkanga' Then I slowly realised I have missed to get down by 6 am in deep sleep. Tensed appa continued 'ok ma, ‘avasarapattu trainla irundhu gudhichuradha!!!'. Caring appa what he thot of me, I dont know :). In confusion and drowsy state, I was calling a person who was selling tea, to know which station is next, 'Sir, Sirr'. Aiyo what am I speaking ??, why am I referring him Sir. Then I got out of the berth, refreshed and then called him again, 'anna aduthu endha station?'. Came to know I would reach Kodai Road station in half an hour, also worried what would happen if TTR checks for ticket there. I got down and asked somebody there if TTR checks for ticket. He said that was a small station and checking will not be there by this time. Relaxed and then came down to bus stop. I was bit worried 'Where am I now, an unknown place, why such things happen?'. I was standing in the bus stop and saw Madurai bus coming towards me. Oops I was standing on the opposite side. Then crossed the road, got a bus in sometime. In bus I was about to speak in Kannada and English :)- used to BMTC. Finally I reached my place by 7.30. It was a terrific saturday!!.

 

 

 

Momo

Thinking for a long time to try this @ home. Finally took the challenge of preparing and it came out well. It took 3 hrs to make this and it melted in a second when enjoyed eating.

Good things begin

in few hours...
This year might have been gud for some not so gud for others. It was moderate for me both in personal and career. Till last year I was in a mood “wow year is ending and new year is gonna born in few seconds”. I use to cut cake with the family by 12, if not cake at least a bun. But now I feel it is just another year, another new day.
Whatever bad has happened last year, we try to forget them, cherish the virtuous moments and hope for the best in future. Only hopes and dreams make a life lively!!!
Let peace and happiness flow in everyone’s body and soul for the imminent year.
Have a delicious year 2011

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது

கீதாஞ்சலியில் தாகூரை ஒரு பக்தன் கேட்கிறான் 'அய்யா! கடவுள் கருணைக் கடல் என்கிறீரே! அவன் கருணை எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் தானே கிட்டியது! ' என்று
அதற்கு தாகூர், 'அவன் கருணைக் கடல் என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை; ஆனால் அதனின்று மொண்டுவர நீ கொண்டுவரும் பாத்திரத்தைப் பொருத்தது'

@Tirumala

Last weekend I have been to Tirumala, entirely different place seeing after many yrs. Everything was computerised right from room booking, getting tickets for darshan ,laddu issue. we got a simple room to stay. Initially I was not happy with the facilities provided there, but soon alright. There were thousands of people who had no room to stay, slept somewhere and utilised the facilities provided by TirupathiTirumalaDevasthanam for basic necessities. In seegra darshan we could finish the darshan in 3 hrs.

I felt if I had known this before we could have returned back home on same day, how are we gonna stay for 2 more days. Evening went to temple premises again to see the temple decorated with lights. I could compare Tirumala today against 10yrs back. Lot of things have been developed. There is a very big stage beside temple, where dance program, music concert, drama on Mahabharatham are conducted everyday. Pilgrims can sit in the steps in front of the temple and watch them.

The four mada streets are very clean and behind the temple is the huge Shanku, Chakra, Nama. From there we could see the temple main gopuram and thanga gopuram together.
In evenings water fountain dances for the music played.


Next day we went for dharma darshan where we have been allotted a hall to sit with other 100s of pilgrims. 3months old kid to 80 yr old elders were there. Actually we had to sit there in same hall from 1pm to 9pm. Lunch, milk, dinner were provided by TTD. But we came out of the place by 2pm and went in to the same hall by 8pm being identified by photo metric system. We were allowed to move in the Q by 9pm. People were rushing, I need not walk, they pulled me towards the temple. A baby was crying for milk, young girl fainted and fell down. I thought why people are suffering this much to see an idol who is unpredictable if he really cares for anyone. Does he really care for his devotees!!. It was such a long Q even a tortoise would move faster.Finally by 11pm we reached the pragara. Enthusiastic pilgrims behind me rushed and crushed us, I was about to cry in pain. Somehow we reached near lord in 10 minutes. The moment I had darshan, all pain vanished away and goose bumps on seeing him. Having seen, came out and sat in the pragara for sometime. My mind was so peaceful, not thinking the outside world.
Though I dont believe much in idol worship, Tirumala is always an exceptional. For few seconds of darshan, we follow fasting for few days, travel so long, wait in Q for long time...


It is so difficult for the TTD to maintain such a place where lakhs of people visit the temple daily. But they do their best. Free drinking water and rest rooms are provided every 10 mts atleast. Private hotels are everywhere and this time I had seen them selling fried rice, noodles, gobi rice, chola poori. I love the climate in hill which makes me eat a lot and munch maangai, kadalia, masal pori even if I am not hungry.

It was worth spending 3 days which was not only devotional but enjoyable. We went there had darshan, ate whatever we wanted, slept well and enjoyed the climate. Apart from enjoyment seeing different kind of people reminded me again ‘Be happy with whatever you want and whatever you have’.