Letter from Home-6 (Slice of Life)

[In October last year I started writing letters to my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) and to amma (my mother). In November, I went to my daughter’s place in Germany, she was expecting her second child. I wrote mails to my Doddamma and my mother (Amma) every week. I sent the mail to my sister-in-law, my mother lives with my elder brother and to my cousin’s wife. My Doddamma lives with her son. After returning home I thought I would post letters then decided to continue sending mails. It will reach them sooner and I can also attach photos.) My Doddamma is 86 and is not able to go out. My Amma and Doddamma enjoy the mails and the photos. The internet has really changed our lives, it helps us to keep some contact with our friends and relatives, if we want to.😊 I am editing a few lines before posting in Slice of Life because it would be difficult to understand without knowing the details]
27-02-18
Dear Doddamma and amma,
On the 25th Gayatri told us that the previous night Kavya had turned over to lie on her stomach. She had been trying for many days. She was lying on the sofa cum bed and Vinay was sitting near her. She turned sideways and then suddenly turned over. Gayatri and Advaith came running to see her achievement. She turned over two more times and Gayatri has sent a video. We were feeling so happy to see her turn over, she was able to remove one hand from beneath her stomach. She has completed 3 ½ months.

Last week we attended a thread ceremony of my husband’s cousin’s grandson on the 19th. This cousin and his wife live in Belfast. His daughter and family live in London. They performed the ‘upanayana’ function of their son in their home town not far from our place. We also attended two more weddings. These days we meet our friends and relatives at such functions. We have no time to visit their homes like we used to long back !! All the three days we came back by 4 in the evening. Aravinda had to take his German class and my husband had to attend the Sanskrit class. This is a ten Sanskrit beginner’s learning course organized by Sanskrit Bharati and department of Dvaitha Philosophy in Aravind’s college. The course gets over tomorrow. The students have enjoyed themselves. Sanskrit is not an unfamiliar language to many of us.

Almost every evening we go for a walk. We usually walk around Manipal lake or go to End Point. There is a walking track around Manipal lake, it takes us about 25 minutes to go around once. Sometimes we take two rounds. Many people come there for walking or jogging. Many youngsters take four or five rounds. The water has become less now but the lake does not dry up completely. It is very nice there but one sad thing is in spite of many garbage bins, some very stupid people throw bottles and plastic covers into the sides of the lake. It is very sad.

Vehicles are not allowed to End Point, we have to park near the campus gates and walk for about two kms. From Endpoint we can see the Arabian sea in the distance and to one side we can see the River Swarna flowing towards the sea. There is a park, a football and a cricket ground to one side of the road. Students come there to play. In the park there is a walking track, many come there regularly for a walk or to just sit in the park. We can see a lot of children playing there. It is nice there with fresh air blowing from the sea.

Amma, I am making a frock for Kavya from one of your sari blouse piece. I have cut the material. I have got Gayatri’s measurements when she was six months. It has been a long time since I have stitched frocks.

Last year I had preserved jackfruit pieces in salt. Day before yesterday I made ‘rotti’. It came out well, Jaggery and butter is a delicious combination with this rotti.

This week we have to get coconuts plucked, it has been a long time. Usually coconuts are plucked four times a year. The person who comes to pluck said he will come soon.
With lots of love,
Lakshmi

Brined Jackfruit Flatbread | Uppalachir Rotti Recipe – Udupi Recipes
udupi-recipes.com/2016/06/brined-jackfruit-flatbread-rotti-recipe.html

Upanayana – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanayana

Letter from Home-6 (Slice of Life)

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RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #190 Tart&Sweet

“Blooming mango trees
Sweet thoughts about raw mangoes,
Anticipation.
Their mouth-watering tartness,
With salt and chilli powder.”

(We are now seeing mango trees in full bloom. They look so beautiful. Raw mangoes are a favourite with most people, young and old. They are good for making pickles and very tasty. There are different varieties of mango pickles, every region in our country have their own specialities. We often see mango trees with raw mangoes by the roadside and there always boys around throwing stones at the mangoes. The very thought of eat raw mango pieces with salt and red chilli powder is mouth-watering 😊 .There are countless varieties of mangoes, hybrid ones and wild ones. The mango season has started.)

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #190 Tart&Sweet

Cee’s fun Foto Challenge: Birds

Cee’s fun Foto Challenge: Birds

This week the topic is Birds. Your bird photos can be of any type of bird in nature, pet or even those posed birds like statues and carvings. Let’s see how creative you can we can be on this challenge. Have fun with this week’s challenge.

I was in Germany from November 8th to January 18th. My daughter was expecting her second child. Her daughter was born on November 10th. One Saturday my son-in-law, my grandson and I went to nearby town of Karlsruhe. We went to see the palace and in the palace grounds there was a lake with swans and ducks. Birds are so beautiful, we can spend a lot of time just watching them.

Six Word Story

We attended two weddings this week.

HOPE AND HAPPINESS IN THE AIR.

was what I felt as I looked at the bride and the bridegroom. May these always be a part of their lives.

The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Face in the crowd

The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Face in the crowd

Create an image that represents being “a face in the crowd.” Explore silhouettes, shadows, orientation, and other ways to mask your subject. As you hide the defining characteristics of your model, notice which traits continue to stand out. Without facial expression, can you tell how someone is feeling? Without color, does your impression of that person change? If portraits aren’t your thing, get even more creative with your use of shadows, reflections, animals, and patterns to represent a sense of anonymity.
Explore the use of anonymity to express both that which is common to all of us and the uniqueness that stands out even when the most obvious parts of us are hidden. Just as all of us can oscillate between conformity and individualism, allow your photo to do the same.

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #189 Zen&Noise

“The wise words of Zen
Make us understand that noise
Is a state of mind.
Peace and quiet within us
Helps us realize this truth.”

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #189 Zen&Noise

Letter from Home-5 (Slice of Life)

[In October last year I started writing letters to my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) and to amma (my mother). In November, I went to my daughter’s place in Germany, she was expecting her second child. I wrote mails to my Doddamma and my mother (Amma) every week. I sent the mail to my sister-in-law, my mother lives with my elder brother and to my cousin’s wife. My Doddamma lives with her son. After returning home I thought I would post letters then decided to continue sending mails. It will reach them sooner and I can also attach photos.) My Doddamma is 86 and is not able to go out. My Amma and Doddamma enjoy the mails and the photos. The internet has really changed our lives, it helps us to keep some contact with our friends and relatives, if we want to.😊]

19-02-18
Dear Doddamma and Amma,
Today it is one month since I returned from Germany. Kavya is now trying to turn over on her stomach. Vinay had taken leave for a month till yesterday. He is taking Advaith to school and bringing him back home at 2.30. After it is less cold Gayatri is planning to go with Kavya to bring Advaith home. His school is less than 15 minutes from home.

Yesterday we had been to Khandige (home in our village) to see mava (my father-in-law) He is fine and is happy in his home. Now is the pepper season, Kuvara (my husband) usually goes to to pluck pepper or pick ripe betel nuts in the areca garden. he likes it.

We came back in the evening. On our way back we were talking about sugarcane juice when we saw a person standing near a tree making sugarcane juice. We stopped, this is the first time we were drinking it. The juice was very fresh and tasty. The juice seller was from Lucknow. (Lucknow in a city in North India, many people come south in search of work). On the way we saw many people selling sugarcane juice. The weather is becoming hotter and this juice is very refreshing.

On the 12th afternoon my cousin’s friend, his wife and their friends had come home for some time. They live in Bombay and had come this side on a pilgrimage, there are many temples in and around our place. Devotees from different parts of our country come to these temples. I had made hesarubele payasa ( a dessert made from green gram dal, coconut milk and jaggery) and kept dosa batter ready but they said they did not want dosa as they were feeling full after lunch in Sringeri. We had cut sihikanchu (pomelo)also. We all enjoyed talking to each other.

On the 13th was Shivaratri. There are temples of Lord Shiva in Udupi, two near Manipal. Every year we go to the temple of UmaMaheshwara, this time we went to Mahalingeshwara temple. It is in a very quiet place. We sat there for some time before returning home.

On the 16th there was a Yakshagana programme in Manipal engineering college grounds. The Yakshagana was by the Saligrama Mela. Saligrama is a small town not very far from Udupi. The Saligrama Mela was celebrating its fiftieth year, Manipal engineering college it’s sixtieth year and Manipal academy of higher education its 25th year. programme was open to everyone. There were two prasangas but we went for the first prasanga, Dakshayagna. Time just flew and it was as if we were in a different world. In this world we have been listening to a lot of bad news !!

We had to leave at 8 to pick Aravinda from his German class. He teaches A1 certificate course to one batch and the classes are in the evening from 6 to 8. We could only watch the first half of the prasanga. Daksha’s daughter Daakshyayini is married to Lord Shiva. Once a big gathering of rishis and scholars takes place in Triveni sangama and Lord Shiva is the chairperson. When Daksha comes to the gathering he feels Shiva has not given him due respect. He feels insulted. Later on Daksha organised a huge yagna. He does not invite Shiva. We were able to watch till here. In the end unable to bear the insults heaped on Lord Shiva by her father, Dakshyani immolates herself. I have watched very few yakshagaana programmes. Now I am enjoying them. You must be remembering that earlier Yakshagaana programmes took place the whole night. Now mostly it is only for three hours. The music and the dance get us so involved in the story. Before going I had read the story, it is easier to understand what is happening.

Last week I got my sewing machine repaired. There was a lot of problem with the stitches. The thread was getting cut too. Two parts had to be changed. There was a problem with the wheel too. The axle bearing had to be changed. Now the machine is working very smoothly. I am planning to stitch two frocks for Kavya and shirts for Advaith. Vinay’s parents are going to Germany on April 10th.

Kuvara has joined a ten-day Sanskrit Certificate course for beginners. Yesterday was the first class, about thirty people have joined and he has liked the class very much.
On the 20th is Aravinda’s friend, Adhithya’s wedding. We are attending the wedding. Aravinda has to have his passport renewed. Fortunately he got an appointment on that day at 9.30 in the passport office. So he will not have to apply for leave again.
With love,
Lakshmi

Saligrama Yakshagana mela gets ready for golden jubilee tour – …
http://www.thehindu.com › News › Cities › Mangaluru
When more than 40 Yakshagana melas (touring troupes) in the coastal belt will begin their annual “tirugata” (seasonal tour) from next month, Sri Guruprasadita Yakshagana Mandali of Saligrama will make the difference as it will be its golden jubilee tour. Popularly called Saligrama Mela, it will

Yakshagana – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshagana

Pomelo – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomelo
The pomelo, Citrus maxima, or Citrus grandis, also called pomello, pummelo, pommelo, pamplemousse, jabong (Hawaii), or shaddock, is a natural (non-hybrid) citrus fruit, similar in appearance to a large grapefruit, native to South and Southeast Asia.

Maha Shivaratri – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and is particularly important in the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night.

Moong Dal Payasam/Hesaru Bele Payasa Recipe – Udupi Recipes
udupi-recipes.com/…/moong-dal-payasamhesaru-bele-payasa-recipe.htmlAdd fresh grated coconut and cardamoms in to a mixer and grind to fine paste adding 1/2 bowl of water. Pour it on to a strainer and squeeze first extract coconut milk

Letter from Home-5 (Slice of Life)

 

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #188 Quick&Slip

 

“The squirrel slipped in
Picked the piece of chapati
And quickly slipped out,
Calling its friends from nearby
That they too could help themselves.”

Every morning we put pieces of chapati. Birds and squirrels come to eat them. Some times there are many birds but sometimes there are none. It is a pleasure to watch them. The squirrels hold the piece daintily in their paws and nibble away at high speed. A slight noise and they rush away. We have not seen them for some days.

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #188 Quick&Slip

Letter from Home- 4 ( Slice of Life)

[In October last year I started writing letters to my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) and to amma (my mother). In November, I went to my daughter’s place in Germany, she was expecting her second child. I wrote mails to my Doddamma and my mother (Amma) every week. I sent the mail to my sister-in-law, my mother lives with my elder brother and to my cousin’s wife. My Doddamma lives with her son. After returning home I thought I would post letters then decided to continue sending mails. It will reach them sooner and I can also attach photos.) My Doddamma is 86 and is not able to go out. My Amma and Doddamma enjoy the mails and the photos. The internet has really changed our lives, it helps us to keep some contact with our friends and relatives, if we want to.😊]

                                                                                                       6-02-18

Dear Doddamma and Amma,

Last time I had forgotten to tell you that I had made maanganaari tokku (spicy chutney) We have some plants in our garden and every year I get some of it. I usually make thokku. This time Kuvara (my husband) removed them from the ground, cleaned and kept them in the fridge. I was in Germany at that time. The thokku is very tasty with dosa. I cleaned the maanganaari and cooked in the cooker. When it cooled down I crushed them in the mixer. In the pan I put oil, when it became hot added mustard and menthe, then added red chilli powder, salt and haldi. To this I added the mixture and cooked till it left the sides.

A few months ago Bannanje Govinda Acharya had come to Manipal. We attended his discourse on Mahabharata. It was very good. There I came to know that all his discourses are available on the internet (You Tube). He speaks in Kannada. Now I am listening to Garuda Purana. Each part is only for fifteen minutes. Govinda Acharya explains very well and it is very interesting. I don’t know whether I will be able to read the Puranas, so I thought I should listen to him. He has also spoken about Mahabharata, Ramayana, The Gita and many other topics.

Last time I had written to you about our visit to Kuvempu’s home in Kuppali. We were there last month on the 27^th morning. From there we proceeded to Sringeri. We were going there after more than 20 years. We reached at about 3. There is a guest house just outside the temple. It is a big building. We got a room there. We rested for some time. After taking a bath we went inside the temple complex at about 5 o’clock and were there till 10 o’clock. There were many people inside. Devotees come from different parts of our country, we could hear different languages. In spite of the crowd, it was nice.

 

We went inside the temples of Sri Sharadamba and Shri Vidyashankara. The temple of Vidyashankara is the old one and there are beautiful sculptures on the outside walls. There were beautiful ones of the different avataras of Vishnu.

After taking prasada we walked down the steps to the Tunga river. There are huge fishes near the bank, they are not caught. People were performing their pujas on the steps, there is a special place. We just sat and watched the sun set. It was so peaceful.

It was fascinating to watch a flock of white birds fly to their nests on a tree a little way downstream. There was dinner for all the devotees in the dining hall. We had dinner, there was a chutney, rasam, sambhar and buttermilk.

In one of the smaller halls, a Carnatic classical music concert was going on. There were many singers. We sat inside for some time, listening to them.

Later we listened to the chanting of shlokas by the priests. It felt very good to hear everyone chanting the prayers together. We left at 10 and come back to our room. On the 28^th morning after breakfast in a nearby hotel, we went to Sharadamba temple to Attend the morning puja. We came back to our room, packed and left for Manipal. We reached by 12. I made rice and dal for lunch. We had a wonderful three days.

With lots of love,

Lakshmi

Mango Ginger Glossary |Health Benefit – Tarla Dalal

https://http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-mango-ginger-1505i

Also known as Curcuma Amada, Aamba- haldi. Description Mango-ginger is neither related to mango nor ginger but to turmeric (Curcuma longa). It is a rhizome which is pale yellow inside and lighter colour outside 

 

Bannanje Govindacharya – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannanje_Govindacharya

PadmaShri Shri Bannanje Govindacharya, is a great and rare Sanskrit scholar, well-versed in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Puranas and Ramayana.

 

Sringeri Sharada Peetham – Official Site

www.sringeri.net

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Maha Samsthanam, Sringeri … Sri Sharadamba – The divinity of Knowledge. Welcome to the website of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Letter from Home- 4 ( Slice of Life)

 

 

 

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #187 Shy&Blush

 

“Exchanging garlands,
On his eighty first birthday,
Long years together,
But blushing like a new bride
She shyly garlanded him.”

(My parents were married in 1959. My father was 28 and my mother 18. After my father retired from Indian Railways they settled in a small town where my maternal grandparents lived too. We celebrated my father’s eighty first birthday in Bharath Sewa Ashram. On the death anniversary days of my father’s parents, my parents went to this ashram and the afternoon lunch to all living there was on their behalf. My father passed away in 2016. My mother lives with my elder brother. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed as having cancer in December and is undergoing treatment. She is responding well and in April the prescribed number of Chemotherapy will finish. She will come to our home and will be with us for some months. Life surprises us in different ways.

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #187 Shy&Blush