My Musings

This post is prompted by a recent news that Indian Govt in considering limiting wedding guest list - to save food. My memories flew back to 1960s when the then PM (Morarji Desai ?) brought a Govt order called Guest Control Act to limit the number of guests to a marriage. Admiitedly those days were "famine-like" and we had to save food in whichever way we could think of. In fact, during 1965-70 the entire nation lived on PORT-to-MOUTH existence - when our total requirement of wheat was shipped from USA under PL480. Those were the days when all the eateries, big and small, used to close down their shutters from 2 PM on Mondays to next morning, under GOI's orders. No food will be available after 2. And, on Wednesdays, no rice will be served for the day - just wheat. 2011 is not 1960, we have come a long way. Food is not scarce but then over 100 million Indians go to sleep everyday hungry and malnourishment is rife. Cutting back on profligate banquets would save the na...

Our previous visit to Bangalore was during mid-Dec 2010. Now, Neeraja - Ashok decided to perform Satyanarayana poojai on 18 Feb 2011; they requested our presence. So we came to Bangalore on 17 Feb 2011, by Brindavan Express. In the morning at 0530 AM at Chennai, Arvind dropped us at Adyar depot where we boarded A1 bus to Central Station. Originally our tickets were wait-listed but "confirmed" later. Unfortunately, our seats were in different coaches - mine was in C2 whereas Vijaya's was in C3. However, we could get the seats exchanged with another, and Vijaya came to C2 coach. On reaching SBC, we decided to take a bus from Kempegowda Bus Station (KBS), previously known as Majestic. We walked the short distance and boarded a Vajra AC bus (route 365) for Meenakshi koil. Fare = Rs 35 per. Kempegowda Bus Station, Bangalore  This is the first time we are going to KBS and travelling by a bus.  KBS is a huge bus-station but decently organised. Next day, (18th Feb) was ...

Beat diseases with a better diet. (adapted from today's - 25th Jan 2011 - TOI newspaper) Diet to keep cardiac diseases at bay :: A diet low in fatty and sugary foods and rich in vegetables and fruits which are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Unsaturated OILS help maintain blood cholestrol if consumed in recommended quantities. Eat 4 or 5 teaspoonful of COOKING OILS per day, that too a variety of refined oils. Use groundnut or Til or sunflower oil. Alternate these oils daily. Eat Poondu and vengayam. Fibre-Rich foods :: Eat whole cereals - like whole wheat flour, whole wheat bread, wheat bran, ragi, rajmah, etc Eat leafy vegetables like keerai, cabbage. Eat whole fruits. Good quality Proteins :: Egg Dairy Protein like skimmed milk and milk products like curds and paneer. Eat nuts like almonds (badam) and walnut which are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Very beneficial to the heart. Limit to recommended quantities. AVOID aerat...

Chennai Sangamam, dubbed as the greatest "open-air" cultural festival in India (திருவிழா, நம்ம தெருவிழா)  started yesterday with the usual fanfare. The actual cultural programs started this (13th) evening, at eleven places around Chennai. Besantnagar beach is one of them, and we went there by 6-15PM to watch. The usual karagaattam, Kaavadi, folk dances, etc Gramiya kalai nigazchikal were there. The troupes and performers were brought from distant Nagerkoil, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Dindukkal, Pattukkottai ... For the adyar/besantnagar/thiruvanmiyur kids who have not stepped out of the City, this would have come as a "thriller." Yes, there was a decent crowd. However, it turned slowly into the regular rut of "cinema paattu". Also by this time (8PM) the food stalls were ready with their aromatic food, and the crowd moved towards them. We left by 8-30PM. The organisers are to be applauded and their efforts appreciated. A good timepass for 2 hours, if yo...

New Year 2011 dawned on a bright note for us. This is the second "new-year-celeb" for us at Besantnagar. Savithri was with us on Dec 31st. There was a two-hour kutchery by Krithika at Swami's hall, RK Mutt Road, on 31st. All of us (Savithri) attended it. Ramamurthy athimber also came for the concert. Later in the night, we (except Savithri) went for a dinner outside. Eden was crowded, so we chose Ming's Masala, a Chinese restaurent. This is also nearby our house. We had Naan, stuffed kulcha, Aloo dum. We didn't go to the beach, like we did last year. We slept off at 11 PM. On 1st morning, we two and Savithri went to Varasiddhi Vallabh Vinayakar koil and worshipped the God. Then Savithri boarded 29C for Annanagar. Janani, Pradyun, Ram came to our house in the afternoon. We ordered food from Eden and Arvind and Ram brought the food here - all of us ate by 9 PM. Arvind, Krithika, Aditi, Janani & family left for airport to see Ranjani and co who are on t...

Earlier this year, we went to bangalore during 25 March -31 March 2010, for the Satyanarayana Poojai that Ashok-Neeraja performed on 29th March. Now, we left Chennai on 19 Nov by the 1-35PM train for Bangalore. Ashok received us at Cantonment station at 8 PM. Karthikai Deepam was celebrated on 21 Nov, with appam, and two different Poris. HOSUR :: On 23rd (Tue) morning at 7-30 AM we went to Hosur to attend the Poojai performed by Savithri ( full details here) . We were in Hosur for 2 days and returned to Bangalore on 25th by 1130 AM. GET-TOGETHER :: There was a get-together on Saturday the 27th at Ashok's house. Lalita, Kumar, Janani, Pradyun, Ranjani, her child Sahasra, Anand, Aishwarya, child Aditya came. Ashok brought Bise bele bath, Vangi bath, Carrot halwa, beans curry from Namma Ura and Neeraja prepared white rice, Rasam, aloo curry. It was a great occasion. SRIVIDYA'S HOUSE :: KVS athimber's sraththa thithi was on 28th Nov (Sun) and we two went by bus to S...

Last time we went to Hosur was on 14 Feb 2010 (read here) , that was the occasion of Naarayaniiyam. Now we went there on Tuesday, 23 Nov 2010. We left Ashok's house at Bangalore by 07-30 and reached Savithri's house by 08-40. Savithri was performing a poojai in general. Added to it, that day (23 Nov) was the birthday of Puttabarthi Sri SaiBaba. She had made an elaborate arrangement with floral decoration etc. She had purchased a large quantity of fresh flowers and lots of Thulasi(for Rs 850 and above).  About 30-35 persons were expected and Savithri had prepared 108 milagu vadais (anjaneyar vadais) and 93 laddus two days before. Today she got up early and prepared Sakkarai Pongal and Sundal for the devotees. Poojai started by 10-15 and ended at 12-45. Vishnu sahasranamam paaraayanam, Gita 12th chapter, Hanuman Chalisa, Sri Rama bhajan, Baba bhajan, Govindan Bhajani were all chanted. It was great. The devotees, about 35, were given milk, and the Prasadams. Also veththa...