Hunger- A predicament unresolved.

In the antediluvian times when a problem aggrandized, committees were formed to solve the problems and specific measures were taken to ensure it won’t sprout up again. In case the issue couldn’t be solved at all, the people were taught to co-exist with  problems  with the justification of a mythological reference. Years passed, people who suffered in amassment were labelled “cursed” and the competent ones ruled.

Clusters under target

Thankfully today we have a lot of organizations and individuals to support these cursed souls and find them a respectful place in the society. We have various establishments to support women, the destitute, the mentally disabled, the animals and health victims with the patronage and backing from powerful celebrities, media stalwarts and politicians. A lot of social and economic issues came under control with change in attitude, and improvised analogies injected into minds with experiential campaigns. However, there is one adverse facet of the society that hasn’t changed at all and that is- Hunger. As per recent statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, India tops the Hunger list of the World with 194 million starving people, which is over 15 percent of India’s population. Additionally,  India ranks very high (exceeding China) in terms of food wastage where more than 40 percent of the agricultural produce gets wasted every year which amounts to 58000 cr.

The considerable increase in the economic growth of the country might have made a little amendment in the life of a few, but have failed to make any difference in satisfying the hunger of a large mass. Many reasons can be analysed for this issue -the status of unemployment, corruption, global recession, increase in the price of food and energy; one can even blame natural and man-made disasters. However we fail to realize that this issue has a solution and the solution is through YOU and ME. Let’s imagine a situation where you eat a huge breakfast at 9 am and throughout the day you stay in an empty stomach; what would be your condition at 8.30 pm? I am pretty sure you would be famished beyond limits. Do you get the point? Despite having a heavy breakfast much to your heart’s content at 9 am, by evening you feel starved and ravenous for food. Now, imagine living in a starved condition for days…we are not talking about skipping  meals or not getting your favourite  dessert .We are talking serious business here; a condition you and I would call a nightmare, the condition of Hunger and extreme starvation!

Volunteers of The Robin Hood Army

Is there a permanent solution to this problem? Maybe not! However, can we make a difference? Sure!  The answer is obvious- Reduce wastage and distribute surplus food. Did you know there is an organization in your country that dedicatedly works towards the reduction of hunger? It’s called the Robin Hood Army and they are present in different parts of India! The modus operandi is very simple, the RHA has  tie ups with various hotels and catering services in an around the city they operate and whenever they learn of surplus food, the group immediately gets together, collect the food and distribute it amongst some identified clusters in the city. The motto is simple- Reduce wastage and curb hunger.

India is the largest producer of milk across the globe and one of the major producers of vegetables and fruits; but it’s a shame to learn that 1/3^rd of the undernourished people in the world live in India.  It’s also not a mystery to comprehend why the prices of milk and vegetables are twice as it should be-the answer is wastage!

Deepak Singh, RHA Navi Mumbai Chapter

RHA is moulded out of people like you and me who are concerned about this national issue of  hunger and wastage of food; but the only difference is-they are out there fighting ! Deepak Singh, Head of RHA Navy Mumbai Chapter said, “The team is young and full of energy and the only aim when we get together for a drive is to make most out of the food we have in hand and feed maximum people. The source of food is mainly through hotels and catering services so that the surplus food can be fed to people thereby also ensuring there is no wastage of food.”

On the tie-ups with various hotels he said, “ Bringing a new Hotel on board is always a challenge, however we are doing quite well in maintaining relationship with the existing ones; but the problem is not as complex as you think. Even if it’s a household party where we realize food is in  surplus, we immediately get together and distribute it to the needy.”

My confabulation with the RHA team members made me realize that a different outlook and a positive attitude and make a huge difference in our war against hunger; it begins with you, as you can be a Robin Hood in your own account. Whenever there is a small party you host or even attend, make sure there is no wastage of food – either you call a Robin or be a Robin. Before you abandon that last slice of sandwich or a glass of soft drink, look around – what matters not to you could mean life to someone!

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one”- Mother Teresa

If you wish to be a part of this organization, visit the Robin Hood Army page on Facebook and sign up there or visit http://robinhoodarmy.com/

Image Courtesy: The Robin Hood Image bank and Google 

References:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Food-worth-Rs-58k-crore-goes-waste-in-India-every-year/articleshow/20452251.cms

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/08/india-perishable-food-waste-population-growth/

http://robinhoodarmy.com/

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/an-army-of-robin-hoods-that-fight-hunger-2934688/

A Holiday To Remember- 1st Anniversary Celebration in Paris

The memories of my First Wedding Anniversary celebration are still whirling across my mind and as it goes I recollect the approbation and marvel I and my Canon captured in our reminiscences. Is there a better place to celebrate love and togetherness other than the beautiful city of Paris? I think not!

Waiting in Anticipation at the Airport

The preparations and anticipation began two months before the travel and one of the main things I wanted to do before the journey was lose my weight-which obviously didn’t happen as I love my life a bit too much; however my husband surprised me with a brand new Canon, 2 weeks prior to our departure- now that is definitely better than losing weight in my logical analysis.

22^nd of December: We were counting days when finally the  “D” day arrived on the 22^nd of December, 2016. Brimingham to Paris takes an hour of flight journey and France is an hour ahead of The United kingdom. We arrived  in Paris at 4pm  and started our journey towards The Best Western Arc De’ Triomphe Hotel located in the Avenue De Wagram. A remarkable point we noticed about the building clusters in Paris is that most of them are triangular in shape; and our hotel was at the tip of a triangular block. The manager of the hotel was very friendly and helpful, God bless his soul, he helped us get a brief idea about the routes to use for our big Paris exploration on the next day and while he helped us get our luggage onto the tiniest elevator we have ever been in, Jithu wondered if both of us would fit in with our luggage; at this the manager smiled and exclaimed- That’s why Paris is called the city of love! One would be quite amused to learn that many blocks in Paris either have tiny or no elevator in the buildings because the elevators were  late additions to the buildings. The buildings have been preserved in that condition for years; so elevators were constructed in the only available spaces near the stairs.

Paris Infrastructure

Our room was beautiful and it had this out of the world Nespresso Machine that made the most beautiful coffees throughout the day. The over-all décor of the room was very quaint; we crashed into our beds to wake up enlivened next morning. I deliberately kept the curtains open so I could see the beautiful view until I sleep.

The next day we stopped by at a local bar for brunch where we ordered some bacon, eggs and pancakes with honey. What I enjoyed eating the most was the French bread- Baguette. Though baguettes are baked all over the globe, it is essentially connected to France. Baguettes come in different shapes and sizes and are given different names according to its size. For eg- A short Baguette , shaped in the form of a rugby ball is called batard which literally means bastard.

Open Top City Bus Tour

After attacking the food, we decided to experience an open top city bus tour to apprehend the city of Paris. The city bus tour was beautiful as we got an exquisite glimpse of the French Infrastructure, Heritage and Culture. Paris canopies architectural references and examples from the 18^th century to the present era; in fact it was in Paris that the Art Deco style of architecture first established that involved craftsmanship using rich materials which represented luxury and glamour . The bus gave us some beautiful peeps of  The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral- an iconic landmark which was once the power centre of Paris, The Louvre Museum, The Orsay Museum, The  Paris Opera House and a couple of other attractions.  

Busy Streets of Paris

The Wedding Feast at Cana

We got down at the Louvre  Museum stop to visit one of the World’s finest Gallery of Art, Culture and Heritage- Musee de’ Louvre! The Louvre essentially accommodates Sculptures and Artefacts from ancient Greece and Egypt and a notable collection of paintings from the era of Neoclassical, classical and Renaissance. The biggest mistake you can make in Louvre is to attempt to see it all at once, which we did out of the lack of time but we spent a significant amount of time at the Grand Galerie’ where we went through some of the beautiful Italian paintings that depicts religious scenes mainly from the Gospels. The Monalisa is obviously the biggest sensation in Louvre and mind you, she is the most protected and mobbed painting but she is not my favourite; the painting I love the most is the biggest painting in the Louvre where water turns into wine, “The Wedding Feast at Cana”. I will shamelessly admit that my favourite feature in the painting is the way the grandeur and beauty of the women in Venice is depicted through this painting.

Examining a bullet hole on the sculpture

Abduction of Helen of Sparta

The Lower Pyramid within The Louvre

The mobbed Monalisa

Paris from The Eiffel Tower

After Louvre, we decided to visit the Eiffel Tower. Although many will argue that The Eiffel Tower is the most popular attraction in Paris, I would say the city is much more than the Tower however it’s always a delight to watch the tower sparkling at night like a dream but in the end, it’s just a tower. The Eiffel tower is divided into 3 stages, with restaurants on the first and second stage, and the topmost stage is 906 feet above the ground which is the highest observation deck that is open to the public. You can have a beautiful birds eye view of the entire city of Paris and the best time to visit The Eiffel tower is night. It is said that Gustave Eiffel who designed The Eiffel tower received a lot of criticisms from various artists, in fact a petition was sent to The ministry of works and commissioner for exposition claiming that the erection of the Tower is the biggest insult to the French Infrasructure. Gustave retaliated by saying that his tower looks like the Pyramids of Egypt so it wouldn’t be right saying that something that is beautiful in Egypt becomes hideous in Paris. However, today Eiffel tower is one of the most visited monuments in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower

After experiencing the three major attractions on the 23^rd we decided to call it a day.

24^th-  On the Christmas eve, most of the attractions were closed so we did not have  much to do so we decided to have a walk across the streets of Champs Elysees-  one of the most famous shopping streets in Paris. On the Christmas eve the streets were decorated in a way that magnified its glory 10 times. All the big brand stores like Hugo Boss, Marks and Spencer and Levi’s were decorated to look like treats. We managed to do a little shopping from these streets and we headed straight towards a local stall that sold mulled wine and waffles. It was a perfect day! We had our dinner from a Middle Eastern Restaurant;  where they served an extraordinary entrée which is very famous across Avenue De Wagram- A platter of sides where one dish contained raw salmon dipped in Mayonnaise . I wouldn’t say I liked the platter too much but it was an interesting experience.

The Cruise Ride

25^th December- Our Anniversary date falls on the Christmas day and we decided to take the day slow by watching television and attending calls. At 5 pm we decided to step out for a romantic cruise ride on the river Seine. We had a glimpse of some of Paris’ famous monuments and attractions within a comfortable heated deck; and suddenly the realization struck us that we are leaving this beautiful place tomorrow.

The Avenue des Champs Elysees

26^th December- We packed our bags and decided to go for a quick walk to bid farewell to this city. I would say Paris is best explored on a walk; as you walk through the picturesque and quaint paths across the street you experience the real beauty of Paris which is beyond the famous monuments and The Monalisa- you see why the city of love is named the way it is- the buildings, the roads, the elegantly dressed women, the singing children, the whiff of the French bread and the magic of the city make you want to come back and experience all of it again. Yes, Paris is important for its attractions and monuments but it’s much more than all that…

We reached Birmingham on the 26^th of December and made a promise to go back for a longer time and make Paris more of experiences and less of attractions.

The City of Paris

Note: Some pictures were captured on our Canon while some from my phone. 

References:

http://en.parisinfo.com//

http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/2014/12/08/4-things-did-not-know-about-paris-stairs/

http://www.toureiffel.paris/en.html

http://primaryfacts.com/2970/the-louvre-facts-and-information/

The 70th year of Independence

Mr Modi has always been known for his characteristic double entendre wordplay, and has validated this very fact on today’s Independence Day Speech. His epic diatribe on Pakistan  triggered the alleged  establishment that Pakistan wants to rule Kashmir but it forgets that it is not paying any heed to its own Baloch residents. This remark did create a launch in many minds and many Baloch opinion makers like Brahumdag Bukti, the grandson of the eminent Baloch leader Akbar Bukti who was killed in the military operation of 2006 , have supported him and thanked him for this consideration. The man can scatter  notions and plant new notions in the minds of people. What a phenomenal leader! He spoke about many developments like the Railway ticket buffer improvement, refund of Income tax made easy, faster issuing of Passports, potentiality of the GST bill and many other expansions and enlargements.

While he spoke about humanity and unity, what interested me the most was his statement, “If the society disintegrates, the empire straggles, gets divided into the highs and the lows”. We as a country is  home to various ethnicities , religions and races and we are so proud about it that our patriotic Independence day write ups and messages throw light on this very “Unity in Diversity” aspect about our country. Yes, this is indeed a matter of pride for our country and its people; but even then how much of it is really true? Modi did say that India as a country attained Independence 70 years ago but what about the Independence of its citizens? Are we allowed to have our own thoughts? Are we afraid to express them for the fear of sedition, or are we in some way biased with our thoughts? There are many points to prove this very point but I would like to bring your attention to a long forgotten Community that proudly calls India its home- The Siddhi Community.

As per my research, the ancestors of the Siddhi Tribe had migrated to India from East Africa on the 15^th Century and lived on our land as merchants, slaves and mercenaries. Ever since then and till now, they have called India- their home but mostly they stayed aloof from the archetypal Indian civilization for obvious reasons; they were not accepted (communally or socially because they were black) by our people who say- "We as a country are one, irrespective of our caste, creed and colour." However, there came a time in 1987, when the Sports Authority of India set up a Special Area Games Scheme that put the Siddhi community on focus. The members were trained to be potential Olympians and International performers for sports so that they could win a medal for our county and make us proud, which they did. They were chosen by the scheme as potentials because of their African genes that make them naturally exceptional in sports. There were many winners from the Siddhi community and they sure did make our country proud but soon enough, the programme was inexplicably shut down by sending letters to the athletes that their services were no longer needed. Post the close-down, a lot of the former athletes had to look for alternative means of living and were trying their level best to be accepted in our stereotypical world; some were accepted but many were ridiculed and insulted because they were blacks and were not considered Indians. However, we must not forget the fact that this community speaks Hindi and the regional languages as accurate as any Indian can speak, they have Indian Passports and have embraced the Indian culture just as any honourable Indian would.

Now, after many requests and pleas from the Tribe our Government has obliged and have brought the SAG scheme back on track and currently many potentials are being trained for the 2024 Olympics  but they are still hoping for some light in the Cul-de-sac. They are hoping to be considered as normal humans rather than drug-dealers, hookers or demons. Our notions and ideologies have not changed much since the past 70 years or even since the beginning of Indian civilization. Initially we openly displayed our resentment in public and today we do it on a social media platform; initially  most of us considered inter-caste marriages a catastrophe and today we still practise Honour Killing. What has changed? Technology? Economy? Government? What about us? When are we actually going to be independent and allow others be independent? Are we still going to break every brick that has the impending quality to be a bridge between what we are and what we think we are? Today I discussed about a community that is hidden in the forests of Maharasthra, Karnataka and Andra Pradesh because they are derided and detested by us; all they wish is to come out and co-exist with us as fellow citizens. We call them Africans, but the current Siddhi Generation don’t know much about their own traditional culture because they have encompassed ours and yet we call them outsiders. Have you imagined being called an outsider in your own country? Well, I have and it made me feel so helpless cause today when I closed my eyes and thought about our tri-coloured flag all I felt was respect and gratitude for my country and its people; it would break me if my country-people say- Stay back outsider you don’t belong here.

References:

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modis-speech-on-independence-day-2016-here-is-the-full-text/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD7sp-L9lUk

Picture Credits:

Google

The Know It-All Syndrome

“The fools think they know it all. The bold pretend they do. The wise know they know nothing. “

Not more than 2 days back while I was busy making a premium dish for our guests, I made a solecism of asking some learned people in the cooking science department about the amount of pepper powder that needs to be used for the dish. I had a vague idea but I wanted the dish to be perfect; so I ended up getting three different suggestions and additions. I just wanted a perfect dish so I followed all three advices and yet I validated the very proverb- “Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth”.

In the above situation I was to be blamed completely but many a times I have realized that even without asking for an opinion or suggestion, some ideas from people pop like an imagery of sharp munitions being thrown between two armies of a prehistoric war and some of them drill into your mind in a way that you would feel like yelling- God Stop It!

These clods will ask you a question, give you an analysis, and even before you could answer them, they are ready with an answer. You would just be standing there through the whole throbbing process of a “Know- it all’s” analysis. Now if you are ill-starred that day and you provide your own opinion, these clods would spend hours of your otherwise useless time proving to you how wrong you are.

Dealing with people of your own age is relatively easy, you can afford to get a little nasty on them and tell them- “you can say what you want but every opinion of yours that is going inside me is going to get out as an enormous poop in the morning. So jabber on mister”. However,  my issues are with the slightly grownup lot because they tend to blame you for nearly everything, even if it’s not your fault. For example if you go and tell them- It was night and a random alien who I’ve never encountered before killed me in my sleep, they would still blame me.

Internet suggests various techniques on how to Out-fox a know-it-all. I have tried most of them and trust me none worked. All I know is taking certain opinions with a grain of salt and accepting it for everyone’s sake help me in not creating a scene in front of certain esteemed people; but it’s before I sleep at night that I regret not giving it back to the lousy know it-alls. I feel- how dare I not tell them if you really know it all, why don’t you know that you are imprudent, dumb, infuriating and a pain; but hey, it took me a long time to realize that there is no cure for a know-it-all because they will never figure out that they don’t really know it all. Even on their death bed  they would just be giving sermons on the various career plans that are available after death. So you see, it’s beyond pointlessness; you can never make a know-it –all feel the way you do that’s just going to trigger them to say more about your feelings and the way they feel about your feelings.

Here are a few remedies I have tried which haven’t worked exactly; but since it’s an article, every problem discussed should have an abstract remedy .

Remedies:

Act like a Retard

Next time you see a know it all act dumb and don’t talk much, just smile a lot and let him talk because even a know it-all finds it difficult interacting with retards; gradually we can expect him to give up.

Stuff your mouth with food

When you see them approaching you at an event stuff your mouth with so much food that you wouldn’t be able to respond even if you wanted to, that could ease out the moment.

Try light humour/sarcasm

If your co-worker is a know it-all then you can’t ignore him all the time or act retarded so try some light humour in a not-so-offensive way that could put the message across to your colleague .

Deactivate yourself

Sometimes even when the above points don’t work, deactivate yourself and ignore the prat because someday Karma will deal with him, if not in this life then his next life.

There are no medicines for know it-alls but the world is full of them; you have to put up with them cause they know everything except the fact that there is a  fine line between virtuosity and insanity. No offence, I am not saying a know- it all is wrong always but some times they behave like a windows update process that’s  painful although  helpful; but if I really need help, I am not shy to ask. However it becomes very difficult to tell a know it-all that – being right all the time is great but one must learn when to shut up.


Image Credits: Google

Sabarimala- A Buddhist Temple?

“Kallum Mullum Kaalukku Methai, Swamiye Ayyapo

Ayyappo Swamiye, Swami Saranam, Ayyappan Saranam

Swamiye Saranam, Saranam Ayyappa”

The holy lines are delivered by the devotees of Lord Ayyappa as they cross the Pampa river banks on their way to Sabarimala. The lines mean - "The gravel and thorns on my path to Ayyappa feel like some cushiony mattress." The devotees go puff-pant with anticipation and a smile on their faces reciting the chorus- Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.

 Sabarimala is open to the devotees only during Mandala Pooja which is between November- January; and on the first day of every malayalam month.  

Let's deliberate on what makes Sabarimala so famous amongst its devotees all over South India. Is it the meaningful 18 holy steps( patthinnetu thripadi) leading one to the sanctum sanctorum; or  the exceptionality of the temple as compared to other Hindu temples across India? The deity who resides within the Holy shrine of Sabarimala is none other than Lord Ayyappan or the HariHara Putran( Son of Lord Vishnu and Shiva). According to the Mythological legend, Lord Vishnu appeared as Mohini at the time of churning the ocean of milk who enticed the Asuras so that the nectar that was primed could be taken away from the Asuras and be given to the Devas to slain a demoness called Mahishi. Mahishi was given a boon by Lord Brahma that no one could exterminate her except for the offspring of Vishnu and Shiva. When Mahishi started creating troubles in Devaloka, the Devas turned to Vishnu for help. Post the seizure of the Holy Nectar by Mohini and its deliverance to the Devas, Shiva became captivated by the charms of Mohini; Ayyappan was conceived by their Holy union. Gradually, the Gods decided to place Ayyappan under the care of Shiva’s childess devotee, The king of Pandalam, who adopted Ayyappan as his own son. After Ayyappan grew up and realized the purpose of his life he decided to leave the palace but he asked his father to construct a temple in his name. He aimed for a place using his arrow which fell at a place called Sabari.

Buddhism and Jainism in Kerala According to some historical facts, during the 10^th Century AD, more than three quarters of the inhabitants of Kerala were either Buddhists or Jains; Hindusism established itself in Kerala between the 10^th and 12^th century . Parama Parusarama, an avatar of Vishnu, reclaimed the land of Kerala and gifted it to the Brahmins which historically indicates the reclamation of the Land from outsiders and thereby restoring Hindusism ie Hindu Dharma in Kerala.

Pathanamthitta, where Sabarimala is currently situated was vastly a Buddhist place. There have been information of Buddhists idols being recovered from various parts of Pathanamthitta. There are historical facts that suggest  Sabarimala was long time ago called Churulimala, at a time long before Lord Ayyappa was born; it was known to be the abode of Aavalokitheswara Bodhisatwa who postponed his buddhahood until he assisted every conscious being during their time of  difficulties , to Nirvana.

Let’s pay attention to the following verse and its meaning:

Buddham Saranam Gacchami (To Buddha I go for Refugee)

Dharmam Saranam Gachami ( To Dharma(teachings) I go for Refugee)

Sangham Saranam Gacchami (To Sangha (Monks) I go for Refugee)

And now to this:

Swamiye Saranam Ayyapa (Lord Ayyappa, I seek refuge in you)

History suggests various facts and evidences that connect Lord Ayyapan to Buddhism; in fact some references directly and indirectly refer to Lord Ayyappan as an incarnation of Lord Buddha. The word “Saranam” refers to Buddhist teachings and is not used in any other Hindu verse connected to any Hindu God. Ayyappan is also known as Dharma Sastha. If we break the two words we get:

Dharma: A word of supreme importance to the Buddhists

Sastha: Known as the synonym for Lord Buddha

  Now on a deliberation about Hindu temples, most of us would have noticed that Hindu temples are situated in areas that are populated by inhabitants of a particular place; however Sabarimala stays secluded and is situated on a plateau which is over 40 feet high and connects the devotees to the Shrine of Ayyappan by the 18 holy Steps ( patthinetu Thripadi). Even many Buddhist monasteries  that  are located on an altitude are lead by series of steps.

Another distinction about Sabarimala is that it’s the only temple in India where the women who are in their child bearing age are not allowed within the temple. The men go to Sabarimala after observing 41 days of fast and celibacy.  In another instance, we know Siddhartha left his family  and renounced his kingdom in search of eternal bliss and enlightenment.

So is Ayyappan really Gautam Buddha or are the facts mere coincidences that can’t be compared to reality? I don’t know and can’t be very sure about the comparison but these facts sure startle me; for me it is an incredible revelation. However, when we closely observe both the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, we will comprehend that  it teaches the same principles and values. The idealogy of nirvana, karma, moksha, the oneness of all beings etc are present in Vedas, Upanishads, Gita and also in the Buddhist teachings. The assertion of the vedas that the truth is One,(Ekam Eva Adwitheeyam)  is also taught in Buddhist teachings.

With the above limited facts I cannot possibly conclude if Ayyappan is actually Buddha but I would like to draw your mind to the potential world of amazing possibilities. Some of us don’t believe in religion and for some the very thought could be a sheer waste of time; but for the others this piece of news is to contemplate with wonder on the world of mythology, that is still clandestine. While many of us believe we know enough about an epoch that existed million years before our birth, we have some who believe in Illumination by Science. If we connect the dots, we might realize that we are all looking at the same meal with different diet habits. However, do we really know the truth; because some facts state that even Buddha never believed in God; he believed in Humanity and  Moral Government but never in the creator of Universe. So, do we really know the truth?

In Sabarimala when we cross the 18 meaningful holy steps, we come across a message in the sannidhanam- "Thathwam asi"- It means Thou Art That- You are Truth, The supreme realization lies within you.

 Every year Sabarimala draws millions of pilgrims, all looking for Moksha, making it one of the largest annual congregations in the world. The pilgrims chant:

Kettum Ketti, Sabari Malayku, Aare Kaanan?  Ayyane Kaanan,

Ayyane Kandal? Moksham Kittum

Swamiye  Saranam Ayyappa

Clutching the Irumudi Kettu, I am on my way to Sabarimala.

To see whom? To see Ayyappan

What afer seeing him? I shall attain Moksha

Lord Ayyappa, I seek refuge in you

Swamiye  Saranam Ayyappa

References:

http://www.buddhanet.net/ans73.htm

http://www.ambedkar.org/Tirupati/Chap5.htm

http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/31rajeev.htm

http://hindusutra.com/archive

http://www.chintha.com/keralam/sabarimala-history-myth.html

http://www.thrikodithanam.org/tidbits.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyappan

Image Credit : Google

Elegance Thy Name Woman?

Grace, beauty, femininity and poise are all adjectives to describe the prettiest looking gender on earth….really?

Festooned in elegant sarees, bedecked in jewellery, with a hint of modest make up, walk the elegant beauties to worship  Devi Bhagavathy at the Kottankulangara Sree Devi Temple, Chavara near Kollam in Kerala for the Chamaya vilaku Festival.

 Hey wait!! I forgot to mention, these elegant beauties are actually men dressed as women in sarees, half-sarees and the traditional Kerala Sarees to offer their adoration to the Devi. No, don’t get your mind rolling; they are not transgenders, eunuchs, or even gays. Then are regular straight men with a regular life  and family but  only dressed up as ladies on the particular day to appease the goddess with lamps for votive offerings. “ChamayaVilaku” ensues mostly in the end of March ie 10th and 11th night of Meenam(a Keralite month).

The devotees are of varied age- from little boys to old men; they are not only dressed sophisticatedly as women but also titivate themselves with heavy make-up in order to look perfect for the occassion.

There are various theories attached to the historical significance of this festival. One of them imply that centuries ago, young boys dressed as little girls playfully offered food and water to a stone. The goddess  appeared through the stone and blessed the little boys for their kindness and devotion. Consequently, a temple was built around the stone for the goddess. Over a period of years, it has been allegedly noticed that there has been a significant change in the size of the stone and apparently Kottankulangara Sree Devi Temple  is the only temple in Kerala without a roof at the sanctum sanctorum.

Chamaya Vilakku over a period of years has also sprouted various business opportunities to many. There are stalls outside the temple where you can hire dresses for a day or two. Professional make-up artists have also set up make up stalls to ensure that the appearance and beauty of the male devotee reflects that of a woman . Considering the purported increase in the number of devotees every year, the stall-keepers have huge opportunities to make money every year.

The devotion has witnessed an increased growth every year without pause with endless prayers and votive offferings. In the present era, where people trust science to beliefs and medicines to prayers, it’s indeed fascinating to witness a huge procession of men filled with high hopes and devotion for the Bhagavathy. “ My little boy was initially averse to this whole idea of dressing up as a girl; but after  a huge amount of convincing and coaxing,  he entered the temple and worshipped the Devi, and sensed the transcended energy of the Devi and felt absolutely  fine about dressing up as a woman” said Prita Pilllai, a senior college lecturer in Kerala.

At a stage and era where advancement is directly proportional to technology subsequently with the eradication of myths and beliefs, we still have a huge percent of populace who cling on to primitive ideologies that they believe exists.  We remember god when we are overwhelmed with emotions and do our best to appease him…we pray for rains, we pray for happiness, we pray for food, we pray for courage, we pray for good when we know very well that everything is science- be it food, water, psychology; and yet many of us still need God for confidence and courage.  

I sure am fascinated by this supposed energy which grows and extends the love in its devotees towards itself………. and this love and devotion has only increased with time……

Reference: http://www.chamayavilakku.in/festival.html

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF EXERCISE

 “Yea, I am a little over-weight and I hate the idea of exercising. The whole idea of waking up in the morning and wielding myself towards an inundating sweaty workout and tiredness is such a lack lustering activity ;  to wake up after a comfortable sleep of 8 hours and knowing that the next thing is hitting the gym or running 5 miles…..pufff panttttt…..nooooo nooooo noooooo…that’s crazy. I am in love with my bed now and I am definitely not incapacitating myself out of the clutches of my comfortable bedcovers….no way!!! No sir!!! I love myself the way I am…..so what if that lovely dress looked divine on the mannequin in the store? I am not straining myself with hardwork…I don’t want the dress…I just want peace and solitude.”

Is that how you feel every morning post the self-motivated lecture, to rise early for exercise, in front of the mirror, the previous night ? Well, then you are one helluva lazy monkey.  It’s not your fault…it’s just that your desire to become what you envisage each night isn’t as resilient as the comfort of your bed and pillows. The love you have for yourself, isn’t as great as the high-calorized chocolate pie you had last night  which is anyway on its process of becoming a smelly poop in the morning and a part of it stays making you look like a fluffly omlette.

Why do you feel the constant urge of beating a random annoying person or a kicking a chair out of your way when you are bored at work? Nah you are not PMsing. Men feel the occasional irascibility too- It’s when you are highly stressed and over worked and you have absolutely nothing to do to unwind yourself. You would feel at times that you don’t  really understand the purpose of your life, you only want to eat and drink away to glory. No, that’s not because you have a sad life; it’s because you just don’t understand how to balance and even out the stress in your-life. Partying and drinking will definitely bring you temporary relief- well that’s important too. However, you need a permanent recovery to your otherwise stressful life so that when you wake-up each morning and look into the mirror you will realize how beautiful your life is.

Yes, exercise is the answer! Apart from making you look ravishing in your dream dress, you will gain the ability and strength to embrace life and its adversities in its raw form. We all know that scientifically, exercise releases endorphins which helps in the rush of happiness and euphoria within our minds. Which means, exercise will help you refresh your mind and  soul and help you broaden your horizon towards new things in life.

It’s not only about how you look but also  about how you deal with your stress and hardships. Well, exercise won’t eliminate the hardships  in your life, but will help you release your stress and give you the confidence of fighting every misfortune in your way. Go ahead my girl….fight every obstacle…sweat-out the stress off your body. Let nothing stop you from being the phenomenal woman of today!!!

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