RANDOM THOUGHTS

      MAHADEVA ASHTAMI 27-11-2021 AT                               VK PURAM  Mahadeva Ashtami was Celebrated at the Samajam in VK Puram , with more than the usual fervor . Though the Rains were always  a constant threat , the enthusiasm of Kannan , his better half and Raman Sir took care of all the details to make this a memorable event . The Alangaram of the Deities at SIVANTHIPURAM Temple and the accompanying puja by Siva Bhattar made this even more special . The lunch which followed was even more special Amber Aacha deserves a special mention here . The Payasam - Halwa and the Boli made the lunch all the more delicious  . Though the number of Participants seem to be declining with each passing year , the enthusiasm to make the best with the available seems to only  increase each year . THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS A TRULY AMAZING AND MEMORABLE EVENT .                     JAI JAI MAHADEVA 

TWO AMAZING DAYS WITH KAMESH TO VISIT                       THESE LOVELY PLACES  Over the years , Kamesh my SIL and we have been on a sight seeing and pilgrimage circuit to  many places in THE  PHILIPPINES, CANADA , THE US and INDIA . His latest visit to India and his 2 Day stay at Agasthiarpatty on the 22 nd and 23 rd of this November was even more special as the time slot available was very less .  Nonetheless we were able to cover quite a few places in the time available .  That we were able to cover all these places inspite of the looming downpour about to start made this all the more special . Urkaadu Sudalai Madasamy kovil  Ravanasamudram Sivan Kovil  Sorimuthu Ayyanaar Kovil  Ambai Poo Kadai Vinayager and Amman Kovil  Ambai Krishnan Kovil Garudar  Thirumalai Murugan Kovil 

  आज कचहरी में कुछ ज्यादा ही भीड़ नज़र आने लगी है.आम तौर से जिसका नाम लिया जाता है उसे ही कचहरी के अंदर आने की अनुमति दी जाती है . लेकिन आज वायदा मांगने ावालों के साथ और बाहर के लोग भी कचहरी के अंदर शामिल थे . मै भी ऐक वायदे में लिये कचहरी में उपस्तित था . जो कहानी मै बताने जा रहां हूँ वो कुछ सालों की पुरानी बात है . मदुरै शहर ऐक बस्ती में ऐक युवती को ऐक लड़का छेड़खानी कर रहा था . उस युवती के जीजा ने उस लड़के को सावधान रेहने को कहा वरना पुलीस में शिकायत करने की धमकी दी . इस धमकी से वो लड़का बहुत नाराज़ हो गया और उसने उनके २ साल की बच्ची का अपहरण कर लियाऔर उसे अपने साथ तिरुनेलवेली ले आया .  कुछ ही देर बाद बच्ची रोने लगी . उसने उसे ऐक बड़ा खिलौना जिसे अंग्रेजी में टेडी बेयर केहते हैं उस बच्चे के हाथ में सौपा .  शहर के बाहर ऐक सुन सान मंदिर जा पहुंचा . बच्ची और जोरों से रोने लगी  . और कोई चारा ना होने के कारण और डर कर उसने उस बच्चे को टेडी बेयर के साथ पास के कुवें में फेख दिया . सुबह होते ही उस मंदिर के पुजारी को पास के कुवें से फीकी आवाज़ में किसी के रोने की आवाज़ आयी . पास जाकर देखा तो पंडित ने द

   A REALLY BIG HEARTED MAN  My Car which I have always regarded as a piece of scientific and engineering marvel  had  chosen  a particularly wrong day for a BREAKDOWN . I was headed for an important office meet in the city  Summer being at its peak , the sun was making its presence felt in more ways than one . Huffing , puffing and perspiring profusely I went through the possible options . Bus remained the only option left as this being a remote place , getting a cab was out of the question . I was fortunate to be able to board an already crowded bus . There was no place to sit . After a few stops , one seated  man was getting ready to disembark from the bus . A man well past his middle age and by the look of him not so very well endowed was standing very close to the seated man and   could have very easily  taken the  seat . But he  took just one look around and spotted me  and offered the just emptied  seat . I noticed that this man did the same a few more times during the course of

      WATERLOGGING - BEGGING ATTENTION  For obvious reasons , happenings in and around Chennai always seem to hog the limelight  . This is afterall the place which determines their very existence and the sum and substance of their livelihood . Chennai accounts to more than 10% of the States Population and it only makes sense to keep its dwellers happy . It is always nice to know where the Bread and Butter for their next meal are coming from . The unprecedented rain for almost the last 10 days has left Chennai in tatters . The authorities and the lawmakers have been at their wits end to ensure some sort of livability in almost the entire city . Many a reason has been put forward for this sorry state of affairs . The primary reason being the disappearance of the many water bodies and the sanction of a concrete jungle of various shapes and sizes both by the Government in Power , Authorities and the all powerful Land Mafia . I live at Agasthiarpatty almost 700 kms away from the seat of Pow

Soora Samhaaram at Agasthiarpatty-09/11/2021   This Colony of more than 1500 houses have always made it a point to Celebrate the SKANDA SHASTI and the associated SOORA SAMHAARAM with all the Religious Fervour that the occassion is renowned for  . Despite the incessant rains during the entire week preceding the auspicious day and also the Covid fears , the gathering in large numbers at the Vetri Vinaayakar Temple at Agasthiarpatty  were witness to this event signifying the victory of the GOOD OVER THE EVIL .

        ANNAPOORNA STATUE FROM CANADA  This might be somewhat strange but certain events or places visited before  seem to come back to you when you least expect the same   My Daughter is settled in a place called REGINA in the Saskatchewan Province of Canada . By comparative standards this is a pretty small place and very sparsely populated . Over the last 8 years I have had the opportunity to visit the place half a dozen times . I have visited almost all the places of interest in and around this place multiple number of times . One such place is the MacKenzie Art Museum associated with the University of Regina . One surprising item there on display is a 3 FOOT STATUE OF GODDESS ANNAPOORNA  .  ( Hindus believe that Goddess ANNAPOORNA is the one who Blesses us and offers us all that we consume  everyday by way of food ) The newspaper clip yesterday informing about the CANADIAN GOVERNMENT  returning the STATUE to  India after more than A Hundred years stay in the Regina Museum made very

                  DO WE DESERVE OUR PLACE  Lady Luck and The Almighty seem to be bestowing all the Luck to our Campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup Competition . My earlier post regarding the Almighty coming to the rescue of the Indian Team does ring true in a bizarre sort of way .  We have beaten 2 comparative minnows and in all probability are likely to beat the third one also on Monday the 8 th Nov .  Whether that will be redundant or not depends very much on the game at 3.30 pm today between AFGHANISTAN and New Zealand . If Afghanistan goes on to win the match , our passage to the Semi Finals is more or less confirmed  with 3 wins against the Minnows and  like Afghanistan and New Zealand who also have 3 wins  but we with a better Net Run Rate all against the Minnows are expected to sail through . This is in sharp contrast to the position in the other group , England , Australia and South Africa all have 4 wins but England have a better run rate than South Africa and have edged them ou

    I guess one sort of starts ageing faster as he or she approaches the 70s or thereabouts . Here I am in my early 70 s reminiscing  about the way the Festival of Lights , DIWALI was Celebrated in my early youth and now . I have tried my best to portray the Diwali of the 50 s and 60 s in Maroon and Diwali 2021 in Blue . With both our children with their family in Canada and the Pandemic making it almost impossible to even contemplate travel , self and my better half were left to ourselves at our place at Agasthiarpatty to Celebrate the Festival . To start with , the continuous rains for the last 15 days or so itself was a dampner . Forget getting up very early in the morning  as in the past , getting up at 6 am with the rain pounding outside was  a challenge . The Brass Boiler had now made way for the Electric Geiser . Oil bath with Shikakai Powder had given way to a few drops of oil on the head and Shampoo to finish the bath . New Dresses for both remained almost the only thing in co

      SO MANY OPTIONS FOR TEAM INDIA  Barring some Divine Help , the chances of India making it through to the next round of the T20 World Cup looks rather remote . Even a diehard fan will admit that expecting India to beat Afghanistan , Scotland and Namibia comprehensively and overtake NewZealand in the Net Run Rate and join our Friend Pakistan for the next round is almost like looking for the Oasis in the arid  desert of the Gulf . Nonetheless , India now has the luxury of three options to turn the tables ,  They could take the Abu Dhabi - Delhi Flight and head back home and dance to the music awaiting them ,  Or they could take the Sharjah - Delhi flight to count the money they made during their IPL Campaign  ,  Or wallow in the Business Class Luxury of the Emirates Airlines from Dubai to the Various Destinations that they cater to in India . They are reputed to fly you to almost your home &  to your Doorstep .