Perippa, that picture is wonderful. I can count the numbr of people I could identify on my fingers!!! :(
Akila
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Stunning picture!
See how many of the world's famous personalities you can make out in this extraordinary painting. (Click on pic to enlarge.)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Happy birthday Perimma
Wish you a very happy birthday Perimma and many many more with great health, joy and happiness.
Akila, Mohan, Vaishnavi
Akila, Mohan, Vaishnavi
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIMALA MANNI
Dear Vimala manni
Wish you many happy returns of the day.
Our prayers will continue and it will be deeper today on your birthday, for a complete normal health very soon.
Happy birthday.
Ramu Sarada
Wish you many happy returns of the day.
Our prayers will continue and it will be deeper today on your birthday, for a complete normal health very soon.
Happy birthday.
Ramu Sarada
Monday, November 26, 2007
KAARTHIGAI
Hope all would have celebrated Kaarthigai and exchanged blessings and wishes.
We also "enjoyed" by lighting some "agal vilakkus" just out side our flat door, which caused some disturbance to others. Sarada made some pori urundais and appam.
I am unable to stop thinking about K.Nagar, where we used to keep lots of agals on the compound wall and enjoy with a big crowd.
Ramu
We also "enjoyed" by lighting some "agal vilakkus" just out side our flat door, which caused some disturbance to others. Sarada made some pori urundais and appam.
I am unable to stop thinking about K.Nagar, where we used to keep lots of agals on the compound wall and enjoy with a big crowd.
Ramu
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRASHANTH
Dear Prashanth
We wish you a very happy birthday.
Our wishes & prayers are that all your future birthdays should be happier & happier, by your success in all your endevours and ofcourse, good health.
Many many happy returns of the day with full of success.
Ramu Sarada
We wish you a very happy birthday.
Our wishes & prayers are that all your future birthdays should be happier & happier, by your success in all your endevours and ofcourse, good health.
Many many happy returns of the day with full of success.
Ramu Sarada
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Photos
Thank you Perippa. Some were taken on diwali, some on Navarathri and others when we went for dinner on Appa and Amma's wedding anniversary this month.
Happy birthday, Prashanth!
Best wishes from the family to Prashanth on his birthday, 21 November. Many happy returns. Monday, November 19, 2007
Good photos
Nice pictures, Akila. Were some of them taken at a recent restaurant visit to celebrate your dad's 60th Birthday?
Jayaraman
Jayaraman
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Some new Photos
Here are some new pictures taken on various occasions.
http://picasaweb.google.com/akilarmohan/RecentPics?authkey=7lWY1gf9KoA
Akila
http://picasaweb.google.com/akilarmohan/RecentPics?authkey=7lWY1gf9KoA
Akila
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARTHIK
Dear Karthik
Wish you a very happy birthday. And congaratulations on your promotion.
We pray for your good health and success.
NOTE" Does anyone know the mail id of Karthik!
Ramu Sarada
Wish you a very happy birthday. And congaratulations on your promotion.
We pray for your good health and success.
NOTE" Does anyone know the mail id of Karthik!
Ramu Sarada
Monday, November 12, 2007
Happy birthday, Karthik!
Best wishes to Karthik on his birthday, 13th November. Many happy returns.
(Can someone post a photo of the birthday boy? I have ransacked my computer but cannot lay hands on the pictures that I am sure I have in some folder.)
Jayaraman
(Can someone post a photo of the birthday boy? I have ransacked my computer but cannot lay hands on the pictures that I am sure I have in some folder.)
Jayaraman
Friday, November 9, 2007
Our Deepavali this year!
Ramu Chittappa,
I am sure almost all of us share the sentiments of Deepavali with you. For us, with both Ramya (and Anuj) and Rajiv away, Deepavali could easily become a lonely affair. But as appa and Saradamma are in town, I enjoyed a 'porandaattu' Deepavali eve - had dinner at Prasad's place and could meet J chittappa also. Just missed Rukku athai. On Deepavali day there was a gala get-together of our full family at my sis-in-law Ponnakka's place - and so, there was enough cheer!
Today I am leaving on my next yatra- to Vaishno Devi this time. I will be with 29 others. S will be on his own trip(!)- inside and outside India! I will be away for 2 weeks and will catch up with all of you then.
My Kailash yatra travelogue is taking shape, but is still not complete.
I am sure almost all of us share the sentiments of Deepavali with you. For us, with both Ramya (and Anuj) and Rajiv away, Deepavali could easily become a lonely affair. But as appa and Saradamma are in town, I enjoyed a 'porandaattu' Deepavali eve - had dinner at Prasad's place and could meet J chittappa also. Just missed Rukku athai. On Deepavali day there was a gala get-together of our full family at my sis-in-law Ponnakka's place - and so, there was enough cheer!
Today I am leaving on my next yatra- to Vaishno Devi this time. I will be with 29 others. S will be on his own trip(!)- inside and outside India! I will be away for 2 weeks and will catch up with all of you then.
My Kailash yatra travelogue is taking shape, but is still not complete.
My webcomics - Geeky and Meeky
I'll take this opportunity to convey my belated Deepavali greetings to all PSC family members. I had been following this blog on my news reader for a while, but hadn't logged in for a long time.
For those who are interested, I create a web-comic titled "Geeky and Meeky" and publish it on my blog. The comic strips are mainly technology oriented. The cartoons are drawn on the computer using a mouse (images are not scanned). I thought some of you might be interested.
The URL is: http://hari.literaryforums.org/cartoons/geeky-and-meeky/
You can leave comments either here or on my own blog's comments section.
For those who are interested, I create a web-comic titled "Geeky and Meeky" and publish it on my blog. The comic strips are mainly technology oriented. The cartoons are drawn on the computer using a mouse (images are not scanned). I thought some of you might be interested.
The URL is: http://hari.literaryforums.org/cartoons/geeky-and-meeky/
You can leave comments either here or on my own blog's comments section.
YESTERDAY`S DIWALI
So, this year`s Diwali is over and each one would have enjoyed it to the best possible extent .
Same with us also. When there is no doubt that my Diwali in K.Nagar used to be unforgettable , it was quite nice yesterday. It was a good change from a normal day, which is required now and then, even for elders.
The Diwali rituals kept us busy till 10 AM . Then there was the usual VISITOR, the TV!!
Oh, how nice it was to see hero Srikanth & his wife ( who were in court till last week for a divorce ) celebrate their first Diwali, how knowledgable it was to hear Vadivelu`s experiences till now, how enjoyable it was to see TV artist couples dance like in cinema, ......................................
All the programmes increased our knowledge on Hindu culture, the importance of Diwali, and other rituals of Diwali. Ha ha.
All the while, our mind was again and again going to all in PSC family and we were thinking how nice it would be to meet all and exchange wishes on Diwali!
Ramu
Same with us also. When there is no doubt that my Diwali in K.Nagar used to be unforgettable , it was quite nice yesterday. It was a good change from a normal day, which is required now and then, even for elders.
The Diwali rituals kept us busy till 10 AM . Then there was the usual VISITOR, the TV!!
Oh, how nice it was to see hero Srikanth & his wife ( who were in court till last week for a divorce ) celebrate their first Diwali, how knowledgable it was to hear Vadivelu`s experiences till now, how enjoyable it was to see TV artist couples dance like in cinema, ......................................
All the programmes increased our knowledge on Hindu culture, the importance of Diwali, and other rituals of Diwali. Ha ha.
All the while, our mind was again and again going to all in PSC family and we were thinking how nice it would be to meet all and exchange wishes on Diwali!
Ramu
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
MY DIWALI NOW
1. It is a nice greeting from Jayaramanna for Diwali. Yes. Let all of us pray for the same.
2. It was nice reading of Gayathri, Ramaa and Jayaramanna`s comments. All of us have forgotten the Bhakshanam making session by ladies, a very elaborate and tedious but enjoyable one. Now, only a small trip to the sweet shop is enough.
3. Now at 07.10 PM on November 07, Diwali eve, me and Sarada are at home trying to find something to do, Mohan & Akila intheir house , Koushik in a bus travelling towards Chennai
and we are now & then talking about our Diwali those days!! We very much want to visit all brothers and sisters in Chennai tomorrow, but the distance & transport discourages us.
HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.
Ramu
2. It was nice reading of Gayathri, Ramaa and Jayaramanna`s comments. All of us have forgotten the Bhakshanam making session by ladies, a very elaborate and tedious but enjoyable one. Now, only a small trip to the sweet shop is enough.
3. Now at 07.10 PM on November 07, Diwali eve, me and Sarada are at home trying to find something to do, Mohan & Akila intheir house , Koushik in a bus travelling towards Chennai
and we are now & then talking about our Diwali those days!! We very much want to visit all brothers and sisters in Chennai tomorrow, but the distance & transport discourages us.
HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.
Ramu
Happy Deepavali!
Best wishes to all on the auspicius occasion of Deepavali. May the lamp of peace, good health and happiness be alight in all our homes through the year and more.Monday, November 5, 2007
Deepavali
Navaratri & Deepavali seem to have set off many golden memories. Yes Ramaa, I was thinking of the venneer thavalai too, the fire made of dried coconut tree leaves. When thatha allowed us to shave the leaves and separate them from the centre twig to be made into brooms, we felt so proud of the privelege!
Jangamma sat us on a palagai with kolam on it, apply kumkum on our forehead, give us a piece of banana (as we are not supposed to bathe on an empty stomach) and apply a drop of oil on our heads, face, hands and feet.
One vedi would first be burst inside the puja room by appa. We were not allowed to touch our crackers until and even on Diwali eve and we used to look yearningly at the sky filled with light and colour.
As children and men had fun outside, only the ladies would have lot of work inside, and would come out when special crackers like rockets were fired. We prepared a ketchup bottle with sand inside to support the rocket before firing.
Cable Cars, when they came, were a great thrill. They looked like a match box, and when lit, would travel up and down a rope. As we struggled to untie the rope & fix each cable car every time, we found that Ramathaan had invented a simple device by which it could be hung on a hook that could be taken off the rope easily.
While bursting ground chakram appa would stand with a stick at the edge of the cemented area where we put kolam, preventing the chakram from falling off and fizzling out.
The most important thing was we ALL participated and celebrated together.
Jangamma sat us on a palagai with kolam on it, apply kumkum on our forehead, give us a piece of banana (as we are not supposed to bathe on an empty stomach) and apply a drop of oil on our heads, face, hands and feet.
One vedi would first be burst inside the puja room by appa. We were not allowed to touch our crackers until and even on Diwali eve and we used to look yearningly at the sky filled with light and colour.
As children and men had fun outside, only the ladies would have lot of work inside, and would come out when special crackers like rockets were fired. We prepared a ketchup bottle with sand inside to support the rocket before firing.
Cable Cars, when they came, were a great thrill. They looked like a match box, and when lit, would travel up and down a rope. As we struggled to untie the rope & fix each cable car every time, we found that Ramathaan had invented a simple device by which it could be hung on a hook that could be taken off the rope easily.
While bursting ground chakram appa would stand with a stick at the edge of the cemented area where we put kolam, preventing the chakram from falling off and fizzling out.
The most important thing was we ALL participated and celebrated together.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
I add to what have been told of Dipavali at thatha’s KNagar household…
The children used to be woken about 2.00 am; and at that early hours the water in the ‘famous venner andaa’ ( which used to glow like gold at any point of time due to paatti's near obsession for the vessels being beyond clean and glow in their true colours) would be boiling. As the mangalasnanam proceeded – with paatti doing the shatric anointing with oil and the senior atahais monitoring and helping the actual bath, nagaswara vidwan would arrive at about 2.30 accompanied by thavil and othu . He would play mangala isai and thatha used to give him vastram and money with respect and love and he used to receive it with pride and respect. Though I do not remember their faces, by a freak of memory I remember the cloth bag – kaippai - of ochre-like yellow with dull orange red stripes – thin one placed close to a wide one.
The manner in which thatha used to give away the dipavali vastram-panam to all in his payroll / service- Vedam and paalkaarar, to Lakshmi kutty and pattu vadyar – and the way they used to solicit his blessings made us, youngsters, proud of thatha’s esteem and stature.
The children were allowed kambi mathaappu - inserted into the wide end of the midriff of plantain leaf – wire, and the paambu under the strict one to one supervision. Ramakrishna chithappa , Mani chthappa and on occasions peria thambi (?) used to announce the owner and name of the cracker to bring all to silent, expectant attention before seeing each cracker to its end. The thrill that suffused the child whose cracker went burst by proxy knew no bounds.
Kudos to the senior athais. By day-break, all used to be primly dressed with the hair in aarthi –kattal, or combed flat on the skull as the case may be. If the hair was too oily they would untiringly ‘remove’ the excess oil with newspaper and redo the hairstyle.
Eclipses when they ended in odd hours of the night used to offer much to rejoice.
The children used to be woken about 2.00 am; and at that early hours the water in the ‘famous venner andaa’ ( which used to glow like gold at any point of time due to paatti's near obsession for the vessels being beyond clean and glow in their true colours) would be boiling. As the mangalasnanam proceeded – with paatti doing the shatric anointing with oil and the senior atahais monitoring and helping the actual bath, nagaswara vidwan would arrive at about 2.30 accompanied by thavil and othu . He would play mangala isai and thatha used to give him vastram and money with respect and love and he used to receive it with pride and respect. Though I do not remember their faces, by a freak of memory I remember the cloth bag – kaippai - of ochre-like yellow with dull orange red stripes – thin one placed close to a wide one.
The manner in which thatha used to give away the dipavali vastram-panam to all in his payroll / service- Vedam and paalkaarar, to Lakshmi kutty and pattu vadyar – and the way they used to solicit his blessings made us, youngsters, proud of thatha’s esteem and stature.
The children were allowed kambi mathaappu - inserted into the wide end of the midriff of plantain leaf – wire, and the paambu under the strict one to one supervision. Ramakrishna chithappa , Mani chthappa and on occasions peria thambi (?) used to announce the owner and name of the cracker to bring all to silent, expectant attention before seeing each cracker to its end. The thrill that suffused the child whose cracker went burst by proxy knew no bounds.
Kudos to the senior athais. By day-break, all used to be primly dressed with the hair in aarthi –kattal, or combed flat on the skull as the case may be. If the hair was too oily they would untiringly ‘remove’ the excess oil with newspaper and redo the hairstyle.
Eclipses when they ended in odd hours of the night used to offer much to rejoice.
Deepavali
The comments made by Ramu and Gayathri remind me of the Deepavalis that we, as children, celebrated. It was not very different. On Deepavali eve, we would eagerly await the distribution of the crackers. We would sit in a semicircle around appa who would give the items one by one to us. The very young ones would not get the exploding varieties. And the total cost of the patakas per person was only around five rupees. Most of the actual bursting was done by the slightly older children like Ramakrishnan and myself. The lighting of each item was preceded by an announcement of whose it was, e.g. this is Lux's chittu kuruvi!
Now I find that even the younger people are not very keen to rise too early just to burst the crackers.
Now I find that even the younger people are not very keen to rise too early just to burst the crackers.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Nostalgia
Reading about the Navaratri and Deepavali of 'Those days' sent me on a nostalgic trip. With no time to even put down my response, is it any wonder that we yearn for those relaxed times and pace of life! But when (and IF) we stop to think how the time goes, we feel we have not been really doing anything - so what is it that make us go around like mad?
For Navaratri or cradle ceremony as athai-s came for delivery, I had to go to all the houses in K Nagar and invite them. In many houses I would be forced to sing at least one song! And then in our house when people came, we in turn asked them to sing. Jangamma would position herself behind the hall/dining room door, so she could listen and also have a hearty laugh. But we in front of the singer had a very difficult time suppressing our laughter. We would run inside and burst out, then come ut trying to put on a straight face!
Well, I came a long way by the time I was in Bombay and had to judge competitions -succeeded in keeping a blank look while all the singing by the aspirants was going on!
Deepavali - yes, appa would buy the crackers and we would sit in a row in front of thatha and appa would distribute the crackers. What great value each single rocket or flower pot had! Our mental planning about which one we would burst first started days ahead. And when Deepavali was over, the thrill was still there, & we were so happy, and the long wait for the next Deepavali started!
Applying kumkum on the new clothes was an elaborate affair - we would take all the sets to thatha. Thatha showed so much interest and care- spent time with each one, felt the material, enquired about pavadai, chattai etc. Made us feel so special and important. Because all these small things mattered and were important for us.
Vidya, I have not completed writing the full story of the trip. But hope you saw the photos. If you missed the post in our Yahoogroup mail, it is:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gaya3sun
You can also see photos of the kolu and Savitri chitti's grand daughter Sumitra's wedding.
For Navaratri or cradle ceremony as athai-s came for delivery, I had to go to all the houses in K Nagar and invite them. In many houses I would be forced to sing at least one song! And then in our house when people came, we in turn asked them to sing. Jangamma would position herself behind the hall/dining room door, so she could listen and also have a hearty laugh. But we in front of the singer had a very difficult time suppressing our laughter. We would run inside and burst out, then come ut trying to put on a straight face!
Well, I came a long way by the time I was in Bombay and had to judge competitions -succeeded in keeping a blank look while all the singing by the aspirants was going on!
Deepavali - yes, appa would buy the crackers and we would sit in a row in front of thatha and appa would distribute the crackers. What great value each single rocket or flower pot had! Our mental planning about which one we would burst first started days ahead. And when Deepavali was over, the thrill was still there, & we were so happy, and the long wait for the next Deepavali started!
Applying kumkum on the new clothes was an elaborate affair - we would take all the sets to thatha. Thatha showed so much interest and care- spent time with each one, felt the material, enquired about pavadai, chattai etc. Made us feel so special and important. Because all these small things mattered and were important for us.
Vidya, I have not completed writing the full story of the trip. But hope you saw the photos. If you missed the post in our Yahoogroup mail, it is:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gaya3sun
You can also see photos of the kolu and Savitri chitti's grand daughter Sumitra's wedding.
COMMENTS - Nov.03.
1. After reading Ramakrishnan`s 1944 kolu, for sometime, I was imagining Ramki and PCJ in Radha Krishna costume. I remember in my young days also, few K.Nagar kids used to come like that. NOW I see that in Podhigai TV only.
2. Vidya, Thankyou very much for your Diwali wishes . All of us send our best wishes to all of you on this occassion. Have a nice Diwali.
3. Akila: In general, what you have mentioned is the practice and I dont think I can add much.
But, as usual, my mind goes back to K.Nagar diwali.
As children, me, Lux,Lalli, Rama,Ashok, never used to even remember that new clothes are bought for diwali, but we will be eagerly waiting for crackers. On Diwali eve, around 7 PM, all of us used to sit in the hall with our own baskets and Ramakrishnan used to distribute the crackers to all of us, under the supervision of Kunjappa. We were not allowed to burst them that day.
Next day, early morning, after bath, Kunjappa used to sit in the verandah with big bottle of iodex, for any burn injury. Ramakrishnan used to burst our crackers one by one.
Then around 7 AM, all of us will sit and have the sweets and kaarams. Then, since Kunjappa was elder, most of the people used to come home and we used to do namaskaram.
It used to be lots of fun, ONLY because it was a joint family then and ALSO because, all people in all 22 houses in K.Nagar were known to each other. AND the joy of any occasion used to be shared.
HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.
Ramu
2. Vidya, Thankyou very much for your Diwali wishes . All of us send our best wishes to all of you on this occassion. Have a nice Diwali.
3. Akila: In general, what you have mentioned is the practice and I dont think I can add much.
But, as usual, my mind goes back to K.Nagar diwali.
As children, me, Lux,Lalli, Rama,Ashok, never used to even remember that new clothes are bought for diwali, but we will be eagerly waiting for crackers. On Diwali eve, around 7 PM, all of us used to sit in the hall with our own baskets and Ramakrishnan used to distribute the crackers to all of us, under the supervision of Kunjappa. We were not allowed to burst them that day.
Next day, early morning, after bath, Kunjappa used to sit in the verandah with big bottle of iodex, for any burn injury. Ramakrishnan used to burst our crackers one by one.
Then around 7 AM, all of us will sit and have the sweets and kaarams. Then, since Kunjappa was elder, most of the people used to come home and we used to do namaskaram.
It used to be lots of fun, ONLY because it was a joint family then and ALSO because, all people in all 22 houses in K.Nagar were known to each other. AND the joy of any occasion used to be shared.
HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.
Ramu
Happy birthday!
Best wishes to Vinayak who celebrated his birthday on the 2nd October. Many happy returns!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Deepavali
After all the talk about our (traditional) Navarathri, it is time for Deepavali. Our practise has always been to wake up very early, have our "ganga snaanam", rush out to be one of the first to burst the loudest bomb to wake up the neighbourhood, then around 7am leave to visit relatives for namaskarams.
Apart from the above, is there anything that was done in the olden days for deepavali? Would love to know more.
Akila
Apart from the above, is there anything that was done in the olden days for deepavali? Would love to know more.
Akila
Navarathri in 1944
During 1944-1946 we were in Vellore where fathr a sub-judge. One year Kappu was with us during Navarathri and we prepared a good golu and she dressed me and Jayaram as Krishna and Radha (or it might have been Rama and Lakshmana, I am not sure) and we went to all the houses in the colony and invited them.
-Ramakrishnan.
-Ramakrishnan.
deepavali nalvazthukkal
Wishing all my cousins a very Happy Diwali .My diwali wishes to all my mamas and mamis and chitappa,chitti ,periamma and periappa. Maybe I am a week early but i know the week starts here on Sunday and then with the routine and Diwali preparations , it gets too busy.
It was very intersting to read mamas navaratrhi of 50s and 60s. Even we feel nostalgic about our childhood times and the fun we had without tv and this hectic lifestyle.
Gayathri I have been waiting to hear about your experience of Kailash trip.Why are you so silent ? .
HAPPY DIWALI AGAIN!
It was very intersting to read mamas navaratrhi of 50s and 60s. Even we feel nostalgic about our childhood times and the fun we had without tv and this hectic lifestyle.
Gayathri I have been waiting to hear about your experience of Kailash trip.Why are you so silent ? .
HAPPY DIWALI AGAIN!
MANY HAPPY RETURNS RAJAN ANU
Dear Rajan Anu
Wish you a very happy wedding day.
Your marriage is something which will be remembered very well. It was so adventerous.
Many Happy Returns.
Ramu Sarada
Wish you a very happy wedding day.
Your marriage is something which will be remembered very well. It was so adventerous.
Many Happy Returns.
Ramu Sarada
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Happy anniversary!
Best wishes from the PSCFamily to Anu and Rajan on their wedding anniversary, 1st November. Many happy returns!
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