There are hibiscus, oleander and some other plants just outside our kitchen window. In the morning it is a pleasure to see birds flying from branch to branch, busy in their daily activities. One little black and white bird has quite a harsh voice while some others call each other very tunefully. I always see the pheasant crow and remember how one had eaten the eggs from the bulbul’s nest in areca plant. Two bulbuls are fascinated by the holder of the tube light in our enclosed verandah. They are trying to build a nest on one side and leaves and twigs keep falling down. They have not come today.
On Sunday Nagesh and nephew, Deepak came to pluck coconuts, they have been coming to our place since 2005 when we shifted to our house from the campus. Climbing coconut trees is a very specialized work. Nagesh drops the coconuts and his nephew gathers them and keeps them inside. We pay Rs75 for one tree. We have ten trees. We keep enough for ourselves and sell the rest. Coconut trees are grown widely in the coastal south India. We use coconut oil in our daily food. Today Udaya has come to clear the soil near the roots of the trees. We put organic manure and it is covered with leaves. Udaya too has been coming for some years and we pay for the day.
Everyday I listen to lectures on our epics and puranas by the great Sanskrit scholar, Bannanje Govinda Acharya in YouTube. The lectures are in Kannada. There is so much to learn about our past. This great scholar passed away on the 13th. He was 85, He lived in our town. His works will be with us.
Yesterday we offered prayers to my father-in-law. We observe some rituals every month till the first anniversary. For there religious rituals we follow the Hindu calendar according to the position of the concerned star. I do not know much about it but our family priest tells us all about it.
Yesterday my daughter told me they are continuing with the lock down in Germany and very strictly in the coming weeks. Schools have closed a week earlier for Christmas. Here, the situation is getting better in south India but in North India, the cold weather is making things difficult. But we have to be careful. We don’t know what is in store for us.
But life goes on. We have to live in hope.
Karavira, Indian Oleander (Nerium indicum) – Properties, Benefits …
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Hindu calendar – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendar
Mukhamani 
Comments are welcome :)