Month: October 2010

Photo Speaks – Percussion – Another Passion and Obsession

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Photo Speaks – Percussion – Another Passion and Obsession

Percussion – Another Passion and Obsession
Photography is a passion for me and you all see and enjoy the creative output from it. Whereas something different is dormant – a bigger passion or an obsession from childhood. That is percussion instruments. I get only very limited time to practise with the instrument, but there is practise always happening in the mind as I listen constantly to various types of music – yes all types – different beats and different ragas, different moods.. and whenever, the opportunity comes, it is a mind to hand process flow.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – Which one to choose?

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Photo Speaks – Which one to choose?

Which one to choose? The latest Nissan Patrol or the trusted Camel. Both are ships of the dessert. Camels at Al Wathba Camel Market on

Abu Dhabi Al Ain Highway

. A place one must visit.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – A fully loaded cargo dhow

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Photo Speaks – A fully loaded cargo dhow

A fully loaded cargo dhow cruising through the Dubai Creek. Probably to an African destination or another Middle East port.
This is the beauty of UAE. A perfect blend of tradition with modernisation.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – Beauty of clouds

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Photo Speaks – Beauty of clouds

An evening with full of clouds. Unusual scene in Abu Dhabi. Means, rain is nearby – may be even before the Eid Al Fitr and the UAE National Day.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – Have’s and Have not’s…

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Photo Speaks – Have’s and Have not’s…

Have’s and Have not’s…
I was waiting at a stop here in Abu Dhabi the other day. Suddenly, I noticed this tree and the two birds sitting. It reminded me of the luxury that birds elsewhere get.. Life here, has its plus and minuses.
The scene reminded me of a few songs (in Malayalam, Hindi, and English)… Why not, try out – and post the apt one which came in your thoughts, by the first look of it.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – Real or not

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Photo Speaks – Real or not

I found this mannequin on display at a shop selling local outfits very interesting and real life.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Photo Speaks.

Mind Speaks – Common Wealth Games 2010 and way forward

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Mind Speaks – Common Wealth Games 2010 and way forward

Indian sporting events is passing through one of its glorious periods. On one side, Indian cricket team beat Australia convincingly 2-0 in a home series. With most of the visiting Australian players or for that matter leading players from any rival cricketing nations get accustomed to Indian playing conditions courtesy IPL, playing in India is not anymore complicated. The determination shown by those who got selected to the Indian team in the absence of the injured to opportunistically utilize the match conditions and gain advantage over Australia is remarkable. This shows how cricket as a sport has evolved in India. It could not be achieved by the tremendous support of corporate bodies and BCCI organizational skills to promote the game and develop it to be on top of the list.

Concurrently, a set of different sports personalities have put their best effort in the Common Wealth Games 2010 competitions. The results were extremely impressive. It was a delight to watch the finals of the 4×400 meters relay race for women.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kezboiU3l-w&playnext=1&videos=kA_bOn9bizc&feature=mfu_in_order 

The short framed Indian athletes put their heart and soul into their feet to stay ahead till the finishing line with their swift strides. This memory will remain forever as do the winning moments from the other games played so far.

With Saina Nehwal’s victory in Badminton, India finished a historic 2nd place in Common Wealth Games 2010.

These achievements are of immense importance to overall sporting growth of the country, as well the region. It should not be considered as India’s only achievement rather should be treated as an inspirational step for the entire region to excel in track and field sporting activities.

Too much emphasize and money is now channeled to some sports, ignoring the importance of track and field games. To cash in on the interest generated by the victories of the CWG, organizations and regional associations should come forward and promote group and individual sports and encourage participants with financial supports and practice options. Electronic gaming industry have also a bigger role to instill the thoughts of opting for these sporting events by creating new games and toys to generate interest amongst children. Schools and universities should also encourage students to participate in one sport at least as a personality development programme.

Indian women athletes performed exceedingly well winning 13 gold medals out of 38 golds won by India in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2010.

http://www.dnaindia.com/videos/1453132

For all those who generated such a hue and cry, it is time to revert with a word or two of congratulations to those athletes who did their best to erase entirely the bad momentum generated to the curtain raiser of CWG . It’s also because; they are and will remain unknown if necessary support from all concerned is not in place from now on.

Post event scenario, I am extremely happy to read reports coming in from India, where the authorities have already started actions to find out the reasons for all the wrong doings and book those evil doers. It will be a great lesson and way forward procedure. We definitely look forward with optimism and hope that corruption will no longer be tolerated.
The link below will give a detailed list of all the 404 participants who represented India in the the 2010 Common Wealth Games. The spreadsheet is hyperlinked and thus you can click on the individual names and get the players profile. As you may notice, a google search of many of the players details and updated statistics are never available for these sports events. It shows the important different between the organisational support a cricket player gets and players from other sports, specially track and field gets in India.

For list of participants:
http://results.cwgdelhi2010.org/en/Participant.mvc/List
Organisations and associations have to come forward and do more for these silent heroes.
Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

This entry was posted in Campaign Pass, Events Covered and Reviews, Mind Speaks, Sports +, Sports Reviews.

Photo Speaks – Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple

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Photo Speaks – Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple

Decorations at the main nada.

Ezhuthiniruthal 

Ottan thullal by Kalamandalam Sreeja

Bharatha natyam dance recital by Subramanya Kalakshethra, Thayamkulangara, Cherpu.

Vote of thanks to devotees, institutions, participants ,and all other publics who have cooperated with samithy by secretary Sri Pradeep Thoppil.

Photos provided by urakathammathiruvadiksethra upadeshakasamathi

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Events - Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events - Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events Covered and Reviews, Photo Speaks.

Photo Speaks – Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Thrissur

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Photo Speaks – Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Thrissur

Photos provided by urakathammathiruvadiksethra upadeshakasamathi

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Events - Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events - Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events Covered and Reviews.

Significance of Navaratri, Mahavanavmi and Vidhyaarambam

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Significance of Navaratri, Mahavanavmi and Vidhyaarambam
(Ezhuthiniruthal)

9 – day Navratri festival begins on the first day of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashwayuja/ Ashwina month (Ashwayuja Padyami). In 2008, Navratri begins on 30th September, Tuesday. On this day, in Northern States and in Karnataka and certain extent in Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, a ceremony called ‘Durga Kalash Sthapana’ is done with utmost devotion. Shri Durga Mahaanavami will be celebrated on 8th October. The festival of Navratri ends on 9th October, Thursday. On this day, devotees celebrate Dussehra / Dasara. It is also called Vijaya Dashami day where children are initiated to the world of learning and knowledge in the presence of goddess Saraswathi at temples or in front of gurus in gurukulas / schools of knowledge.

Navratri ” literally means “nine nights.” Navratri is celebrated twice a year, once at the beginning of the New Samvatsar (Hindu New year) in Summers and again at the onset of winter. Navratri or Navratra are therefore known as Chaitra Navratra and Shaardey Navratra on the basis of their occurrence. These nights are devoted to the reverence of Goddess Durga (Maa Durga) who exists in many forms and is the manifestation of the absolute energy that pervades the Universe. During these days and nights prayers are offered to Mother Goddess.

The Shrimad-devi Bhagwat mentions the significance of puja done during the Navratri. Devi Mahaatmya and other texts invoking Goddess Durga are cited during thir period of nine days. According to puraanas if a person worships Goddess during this period then he is blessed with virtues of all kinds and all his sins are forgiven.
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of universal mother Maa Durga, which literally means the remover of miseries of life. Maiya is also known as Shakti as she is the source of all energies in the world. It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction.
In Shiv Puraan, Lord Shiva says that he is Shav(meaning Dead) without the powers of Shakti (his wife and the ultimate source of energy). In other words, we can say that even God is motionless, absolutely changeless without the divine support of Maa Durga.
In Bhagwat puraan, Lord Vishnu says that he is incomplete without his better half. He blesses those who worship his wife Maa Mahalaxmi. It is for this reason the world says Radhey-Krishna and Sita-Raam and not Raam-Sita or Krishna – Radhey.
The worship of Mother Goddess can be dated back to Indus Valley Period wherein the statue of Mother Goddess clearly mentions the presence of her supremacy. This is a true example of importance given to females in Idian culture and religion.
Durga or the destructive aspect of the divine mother is worshipped during the first three nights. On the succeeding three knights, her protective aspect of Lakshmi and on the last three nights, her knowledge aspect or Saraswati are worshipped. The significance of this order is that first durga destroys all the evil propensities lurking in the minds of her devotees; then lakshmi implants divine qualities in the devotees’ minds and finally saraswati bestows true knowledge to her devotees. The tenth day known as Vijaya Dasami, commemorates the victory of knowledge over ignorance of goodness over evil.

Importance of each day of Navratri:

1st – 3rd day of Navratri

On the first day of the Navaratras, ‘Kalash Shthaapna. is done in the puja room.These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman.

4th – 6th day : Lalita Panchami

4th – 6th day of Navratri During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped. On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or ‘diya’ to invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art.

Final days: Durga Ashtami Puja

These final days belongs to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colorful festival, yajna (holy fire) is performed. Ghee (clarified butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.

Mahanavami Puja. Navratri ends.

The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feets are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered food mainly consisting kala chana, halwa and poori. Then after new clothes or gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country.

Vijaya Dashmi

After the three days of Puja, in Dashami , in the last day, a tearful farewell is offered to the Goddess. Most of the community pujas postpone the farewell as long as possible and arrange a grand send-off. The images are carried in processions around the locality and finally is immersed in a nearby river or lake. Vijaya Dashami is an event celebrated all over the country.This day also marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile

This is also the day when most of the Malayalees do the Vidyaarambam or Ezhuthiniruthal ceremony to initiate children to the world of learning and knowledge.

Panachikkadu saraswathi temple, Thiruvullakkavu Sri Dharmashastha temple, Chottanikkara Devi temple and Paravur Mookambi temple are well known places where Vidyarambam ceremonies are conducted in an elaborate and systematic manner. Kollur Mookambika temple is also very significant amongst all art and music lovers, as well as educationist.

Even if it is a hindu tradition, now it is followed by other religions too to start the formal education of children on this auspicious day dedicated to Vidhya Devi.

At temples, it will be the chief priest and his assistants who takes initiative to start this knowledge initiating process to the child by first writing on the tongue with a golden ring a sloka/or small prayer dedicated to saraswathi and then holding the hands of the child, the priest makes him write on sand or on rice the same slokas. This is also done in schools of knowledge by gurus.

Normally, they (the priests or the gurus or elders) with soft and careful hands and with prayers and good thoughts in mind, make the child write the following words on his tongue:

Om

Hari Shree Ganapathaye Namah Avignamasthu

Children and elders who already have started their education may write the above and then followed by the below mentioned prayers:

Om Sree Gurubhyo Namah
Om Sree Saraswathaye Namah

And if you know Malayalam the following first few letters of the language

or the alphabets of any language you know for example, English, Hindi, French etc. and then followed by numerals starting from 0 to 9 etc.

Vijaya Dashmi day is also very auspicious and many children are initiated into the world of music and arts on this day.

For those readers who wish to learn or start learning Malayalam, the following site is very useful.

http://www.geocities.com/malatutor/

May I take this opportunity to wish all my readers blessings in abundance from the goddess of knowledge to continue and sustain knowledge (all types of it ) from all sources.

You may please visit the following link to see in detail how Navarathri/Mahanavami is celebrated at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Thrissur District Kerala.

http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/search/label/Events%20-%20Mahanavami%20Maholsavam%20at%20Urakam%20Ammathiruvadi%20Temple

This entry was posted in Events - Mahanavami Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events - Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple, Events Covered and Reviews, Malayalam - Traditions.