UNFORTUNATELY POLITICIANS ARE A NECESSARY EVIL
Assembly elections in our state is taking place in the second week of May. False promises and abuses are flying in the air. It is enough to make anyone sick of politicians.
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RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #198 Beat&Party
RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #198 Beat&Party
“Dancing to the beat,
The party enjoyed themselves
With great abandon.”
Last Saturday Spring festival was celebrated in our grandson’s kindergarten in Germany. Our daughter sent photos of all the children dancing. Our grandson, in yellow and blue, is standing behind, ready to dance 🙂
Letter from Home-14 (Slice of Life)
[My paternal grandfather had been a great letter writer. He had been a Headmaster in a municipal high school till he retired. My grandmother had passed away when my father was 12. After retirement my grandfather lived for some months with us and some with his elder son. When he was away from us we would regularly write letters to each other. Now, I think very few write letters. Last year I started writing to my mother (Amma) and my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) She lives with her son and family. My cousin’s wife shows her my mails. My mother lives with my brother and my sister-in-law shows her my mails. 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. I am also adding links to certain topics of interest.]
23-04-18
Dear Doddamma and amma,
Some time ago we had read in the newspaper about the temple Nandikeshwara in a small place called Mekkekattu near Barkur, about 30 kms from Manipal. We decided to go there yesterday morning.
We left home at 7 and had breakfast in a hotel called Mantapa, it is very popular in a place called Saligrama. Then we proceeded to Mekkekattu which is in Shiriyara village. We have to pass through a place called Saibarakatte. We were in the temple by 8.30. This temple is unique because all the idols are made of wood and Nandi (the vehicle or the mount of Lord Shiva) is worshipped.
The priest in the temple was very nice, he explained about the idols and the temple.
This temple was constructed about 1000 years ago by the rulers of the Alupa dynasty. They ruled coastal Karnataka from 4th to 15th century. It seems they ruled independently from 250 BCE to 450 CE. Later they became vassals of stronger dynasties like the Hoysalas and others. But they ruled for more than thousand years. They had their capital in nearby Barkur. This temple must have been constructed some time in the 10th or 11th century. The chief priest told us that his family have been priests in this temple for nearly 500 years. He said he was seventy years old and he was of the ninth generation to be the priest. These idols are changed after eighty to hundred years. The idols are of the same deities but the work is different as artisans are of a different time.
He said that he used to come to the temple with his father. He used to look at the idols and feel that they were coming alive. But he does not get the same feeling about the idols which are now in the temple. Maybe with age how we look at things changes.
In the sixties artisans started making the idols which are now in the temple. Work was completed in 1970. There are about 160 idols. They are worshipped every day. Some are kept in an enclosure to one side of the sanctum sanctorum. Earlier it seems there was no grill and monkeys used to come into the temple and spoil the idols. So, an enclosure was made to keep the idols safe. The idols of Nandikeshwara, Goddess Durga and of many ganas (attendants of Lord Shiva) are in the ‘Garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum). Above the sanctum sanctorum there is space where more idols have been kept. The priest told us to climb up and see the idols. They are very fascinating. The photos that I am sending are not of those inside the sanctum sanctorum We are not allowed to take photos inside. After the puja we sat for some time and left the place. Work is going on to renovate the place.
The time was just 9.30 so we decided to go to the temple of Kallu Ganapati (stone Ganapati) nearby. We had been there last year. This is a small temple beneath huge boulders resting against each other. These boulders have not been placed or arranged by anyone, they are Nature’s wonder.
The idols of Lord Ishwara, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganapati are hundreds of years old, they are found on a flat surface. About 600 years ago, a small temple was built by a king for these idols. This temple has been looked after by the Adiga family for generations. Ramakrishna Adige who performs the puja, showed us around and told us about the history of the place when we had gone earlier. He was not there but his brother gave us tirtha. We then climbed up the boulders and sat for some time enjoying the serene atmosphere. We have a wonderful view of paddy fields, trees and a river. There is not much advertisement for this temple and people like us come searching for it. There is no crowd and the usual shops that we see near other temples.
We were back home by 10.30. I made boiled rice conjee and beetroot rasam for lunch. Evening we did not feel like going for a walk so we went to our favourite park and sat there for about half an hour before returning home.
With love,
Lakshmi
Letter from Home-14 (Slice of Life)
Nandi (bull) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandi_(bull)
Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दि, Tamil: நந்தி, Kannada: ನಂದಿ, Telugu: న౦ది, Odia: ନନ୍ଦି) is the name of the gate- guardian deity of Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva
Garbhagriha – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbhagriha
Garbhagriha or Garbha gruha (garbha gṛha) (Sanskrit: गर्भगृह) is the sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where resides the murti (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple.
Parboiled rice – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parboiled_rice
Parboiled rice (also called converted rice) is rice that has been partially boiled in the husk. The three basic steps of parboiling are soaking, steaming and drying. These steps also make rice easier to process by hand, boost its nutritional profile and change its texture.
Of Food
A few days ago I was looking out of the window at our star-apple tree. There were flowers and fruits. These fruits are very juicy and refreshing. It is indeed a marvel of nature that we get these fruits when our weather becomes hot. As I was looking I saw a bunch of fruits shaking, there was no wind to make them swing so. Then I saw a little green bird happily pecking at a fruit. It was quenching its thirst and hunger. We see such birds flying from one flower to the next. It is such a joy to see them plunge their beaks into a flower and pull them out in a fraction of a second. When I see them I think of the sparrow. These birds have decreased in number here but I see them in grocery shops. They are busy eating rice and other grains which spill out of the sacks. Why have they decreased in number, and how do they know where they can find food to survive?
Thoughts about food take me back to my childhood. I just did not like the taste of bitter gourd and used to wonder how anyone could eat such an awful vegetable. I remember that I once walked away from the table in protest against being served the vegetable. But over the years I have grown to love this bitter taste and it is one of my favourite vegetables. I like to drink my coffee without sugar, I relish that bitter taste 😊. Here in India people usually drink coffee with milk and sugar. We make filter coffee because we do not like the instant variety.
My father worked in the Indian railways and we lived mostly in North India. But every summer vacation we used to come to my maternal grandparents’ home in a small town in South India. We had to travel three days by train to reach Mangalore, the nearest railway station to our destination. My mother would carry some food for the journey, but after the first day we would buy food at different stations. We used to enjoy it. I still remember the aloo sabji (potato curry) that we used to get in a small cone made by joining leaves. I make that dish even now. This exposure to different types of food has made it possible for me to taste and enjoy any kind of vegetarian food (in my country vegetarian food is very easily available). Recently, I was in Germany for 2 ½ months with my daughter and her family. She was expecting her second child. I got to taste some of the baked vegetarian dishes. In our daily cooking we hardly bake. I enjoyed the new experience but I could not like the taste of some varieties of cheese 😊.
As I am writing this I remember little birds and squirrels that used to come to eat the chapati pieces that we put out every morning. These days we do not see them much. Maybe they will come back when it starts raining and the weather cools down. I place a vessel of water for the birds. I think they come to take a quick sip.
I wrote this yesterday evening. After dinner I picked up Roads to Mussoorie by Ruskin Bond. He is one of my favourite authors. Very aptly for the occasion, the first essay was about breakfast. The author tells us that he likes to have a solid breakfast in order to write.
( Cashew nuts are roasted and the kernels within is separated by cracking the shell. )
RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #197 Fun&Sun
“Wet Earth was happy
To see the Sun part grey clouds
And make the rainbow.
What fun to see the colours!
Nature’s graceful, peaceful bow.”
( photo of the rainbow is from the internet 🙂 )
RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #197 Fun&Sun
Letter from Home-13 (Slice of Life)
[My paternal grandfather had been a great letter writer. He had been a Headmaster in a municipal high school till he retired. My grandmother had passed away when my father was 12. After retirement my grandfather lived for some months with us and some with his elder son. When he was away from us we would regularly write letters to each other. Now, I think very few write letters. Last year I started writing to my mother (Amma) and my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) She lives with her son and family. My cousin’s wife shows her my mails. My mother lives with my brother and my sister-in-law shows her my mails. 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. I am also adding links to certain topics of interest.]
17-04-18
Dear Doddamma and amma,
We had been to Maikuri (where my father-in-law lives) on the 15th for Vishu. It is 110 kms from our place. In the morning it takes us two hours. It was cloudy morning and on the way there were heavy rains, in some places just like in the rainy season. There was no rain after Mangalore (a town about 60kms away). A couple live with my father-in-law and brother-in-law to cook and help in the house. They made green gram dal payasam. Mava loves sweets. I remember my paternal grandfather eating a piece of jaggery if there were no sweets at home. He had a real sweet tooth and luckily he did not have diabetes till the end.
On the day of Vishukani we offer prayers to God and seek the blessings of our elders. Earlier in the days of the joint family all the members of the family and the extended family used to gather together to offer prayers. We left at 3, in the evenings we take 2 ½ hours to return home as there is more traffic. There was absolutely no sign of rains that had fallen in the morning.
We got wild mangoes from Maikuri. Wild mangoes are small in size and cannot be sliced. There trees are tall and we just pick the ones which have fallen. I make rasam, we all love it. And every time I make rasam, I remember doddanna (elder brother, my cousin, doddamma’s son). More than twenty years ago, we were in our B type quarters, doddanna and his wife had come for lunch. I had made this rasam. I can still hear him telling me that it is cold blooded murder to cook mangoes. 😊
Kavya has completed five months. Almost everyday we see each other and talk. When we call her she recognises her name and starts smiling. She has started pulling herself forward on her stomach and also rolls from one side to another. Advaith loves to play with her and he wants to talk to her the moment she gets up. Fortunately, she sleeps well at night.
Vinay’s parents are there now. Actually, they were to leave early in the morning on the 10th. But at the last moment there was strike by Lufthansa officials and their flight was cancelled. Vinay tried to book from there but could not. He asked his father to go to the airport on that night. Fortunately, they got booking for 13th early morning. They are returning on the 29th and that cannot be extended because their visa is only till that day. Gayatri was telling me that Kavya has started recognising people. She starts crying if others carry her. When Vinay’s parents carried her she cried the first time. But after that she has recognised them and loves being carried by them.
The other evening after dropping Aravinda at his college we went to the Syndicate bank training college grounds for a walk. Many people come there.
One of our friends who comes there is a lady who must be about 84 years old. She lives with her son nearby. Her husband had also worked in Manipal. She comes for a walk regularly, morning and evening. She has bow legs and takes about half an hour to complete one round, we take ten minutes. She says if she stops coming then she will not be able to walk. She does yoga in the morning and keeps herself engaged. I like talking to her.
There are many mango trees beside the walking track, it is for the bank employees. There are two jamun trees. Anyone can pluck them. The two trees are full of fruits. They are the hybrid variety so the seeds are soft, we can eat them. I saw a ‘kepla shrub’ behind a tree, it was full of ‘kepla hannu (wild ripe berry). I like them very much. Mava used to say that his father used to love kepla hannu and he used to eat from all the shrubs near the fields. When he went to Kashi he decided to give up eating kepla hannu !! ( For Indians Kashi is a very special place. Many who go there on pilgrimage make a vow to forego a favourite vegetable and fruit. My father-in-law’s father decided to give up eating this wild berry )
It is now 4.30. Aravinda will come by 5.15. After tea we will go for a walk. Today afternoon I was stitching salvar kameez for myself. I am enjoying listening Bannanje Govinda Acharya’s lectures. Now I am listening to his lectures on Sandhya Vandana.
With love,
Lakshmi
Maternal uncles and fathers-in-law are called mava in our language, Kannada.
Doddanna is the term used to call an elder brother. I call my elder brother not by his name but Anna. My father’s elder brother’s son was doddanna for me. He passed away ten years ago.
Vishu – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishu
A traditional Vishu kani setting with auspicious items. Official name: Vishu: Also called: Malayalam: വിഷു: Observed by: Malayali,Tuluva and Kodagu Gowda and Tulu Gowda Hindus
KaaTu Mavina Hannina Saaru/Gojju Recipe | Wild Mango … – …
http://www.monsoonspice.com/…/kaatu-mavina-hannina-saarugojju-recipe.html
KaaTu Mavina Hannina Saaru/Gojju Recipe | Wild Mango Soup from Udupi-Mangalore Learn how to make KaaTu Mavina Hannina Saaru/Gojju ~ Sweet, … To make this KaaTu Mavina Hannina Saaru/Gojju, you start by peeling the wild mango peels and then …
Varanasi – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi
Clockwise from top: Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedha Ghat, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Tibetan Temple in Sarnath, Banaras Hindu University, Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Letter from Home-13 (Slice of Life)
Six word story
MEN CAN BE EVIL AND CRUEL
A little girl has been raped and killed. Why was this done? And how could those beasts do this? Rape is such an evil and unfortunately it has always been a part of human life.
I read this post and would like to share it.
https://myteaboard.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/i-am-asifa/
