Happy Anniversary!

A Symphony of Flavours - My Colourful Salad Story!

 

Cooking is often described as an art, but occasionally, it transforms into something more, something poetic. This colorful salad I prepared recently was exactly that, because of the several ingredients I used. It became a composition of flavours, colours, textures, and aromas that came together like a well-written verse on a plate.

What made this salad truly special was the way it was enjoyed, relished leisurely in bits and pieces, each mouthful offering a different blend and a new experience. It wasn’t just food; it was an exploration of flavours, a joyful culinary journey shared and savoured.

The base was a medley of fresh vegetables - Garlic, Green Chilies, Onions, Carrots, Zucchini (green and yellow), Peppers (green, red, and yellow), Cherry Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Long Green Sprouts. Stir-fried lightly with a touch of Cajun Spice and blended with the richness of creamy and tangy Chipotle Southwest Dressing, this vegetable ensemble was set aside for those who preferred a purely vegetarian delight.

For the non-vegetarians, the same vibrant base was elevated further with chunks of Chicken Cheese–Chilli Sausages, Pulled Smoked Chicken, Bacon Bits, and an extra drizzle of Chipotle Dressing. The result was a dish that carried both the freshness of the garden and the depth of smoky, savory indulgence.

On the side, crisp Iceberg Lettuce offered a cooling counterpoint, a refreshing bite that balanced the warmth of spices and the richness of meats.

This was truly a feast for the eyes, enjoyed and relished leisurely in bits and pieces, with each mouthful offering a different combination of tastes.

Several shrines, a thousand blessings - may Buddha’s light guide our path 🌸

 

On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, may peace, wisdom, and kindness illuminate every step we and our nations take. 🌸 Happy Buddha Purnima! 🌸  

This video, woven from over a hundred photographs of our visits to the sacred shrines of Gautama Buddha, is a humble offering to his timeless teachings. Each image is a reminder of compassion, mindfulness, and harmony, guiding us to walk gently and live wisely.

VIDEO:

Smile Bridges Worlds

 

(My wife’s post on Facebook)

Serene in tradition, radiant in wander,

From temple silk to garden bloom,

From saree to sunhat, I carry smiles,

A spirit woven in tranquillity and joy,

Two sides of me, one timeless soul.  🙂

-    N. Lalitha Raghu

A Canopy of Stars at Noon!

 

Today, around noon, I captured a moment of pure wonder: sunlight streaming through our trees, scattering into countless twinkling rays that looked like stars woven into a canopy. Though the summer sun blazed fiercely above, beneath the trees, there was shade, coolness, and a gentle breeze that turned the space into a sanctuary where I could carry out the morning walk I had missed today.

A VIDEO:

Nature has its own way of balancing extremes, brilliance above, serenity below, reminding us that beauty often hides in contrasts.

Beneath a tree that has sheltered and blessed countless souls!

 

In the heart of bustling Vijayawada, amid the sacred shadows of Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga, at the Temple's guest house, stands a colossal banyan tree that commands awe and reverence. As you might be aware, banyan trees are cultural icons in India, symbolizing immortality, longevity, and divinity. The banyan tree is also known as Kalpavriksha, meaning: wish-fulfilling tree. This ancient giant, with its towering canopy and massive, gnarled trunk wrapped in sacred threads and vermilion, defies the urban sprawl surrounding it.

Locals revere this banyan tree as a timeless landmark, its roots plunging deep into the earth like the temple's spiritual legacy on Indrakeeladri hill. Adorned at the base with vibrant idols of deities, Goddess Kanaka Durga, Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Naga Devatha, and others, on a sturdy concrete platform with adorned steps, it serves as a mini-shrine where devotees offer prayers and flowers. The tree's sprawling branches shelter the guest house courtyard, parked cars, and passersby, creating a green oasis against the concrete buildings.

What fascinated me most was not just its size, but its survival. There is no visible water source nearby, no open soil in the conventional sense. Enclosed within cement and urban structure, one wonders, how does it sustain itself? Perhaps its roots run deeper than we can see, reaching hidden veins of moisture beneath the city. Or perhaps, like many sacred things, its existence defies simple explanation.

Standing beside it with my wife, we felt a sense of calm that is rare in urban spaces. The sunlight filtering through the leaves felt like divine blessings from the nearby Kanaka Durga Temple. It was not just a photo opportunity; it was a moment of quiet reflection. The tree seemed to whisper stories of the past, of countless pilgrims who must have stood in the same spot, looked up at the same branches, and felt the same sense of wonder.

This banyan not only endures but inspires, a testament to resilience amid city life. It reminds us that some wonders root deeper than steel and stone, guarding the divine in plain sight.

A Simple Booking, A Sacred Discovery!

 

On March 30, 2026, we set out on a three-day trip to seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at the Sri Durga Malleshwara Swamy Temple in Vijayawada. Yet the journey held a surprise for us; it gently led us beyond our plan to Jammi Doddi, the sacred enclosure of the Jammi (Shami) tree, a place little known outside Vijayawada but rich in history and spiritual depth.

For our stay, I had booked accommodation online at the temple-managed Jammi Doddi Guest House, mainly for its convenient 8:00 am check-in and check-out time, air-conditioned comfort, and proximity to the temple. Located on Brahmin Street in the One Town area, it appeared to be a practical choice, though we soon discovered it was far more than just a place to stay.

Our first glimpse into the significance of Jammi Doddi came from a kind autorickshaw driver, who took us from Vijayawada railway station to the Guest House. He proudly spoke of its importance in Vijayawada’s cultural and spiritual landscape. He mentioned the grand Dasara celebrations held here and the sacred Jammi tree that once stood in this area, giving it the name “Jammi Doddi.” According to local belief, it is here that Goddess Kanaka Durga rested before manifesting herself on the Indrakeeladri Hill.

As we learned further from the guest house staff, the Jammi/Shami tree holds deep significance in Hindu tradition. Worship of this tree, especially through the ritual of Shami Pooja during Vijayadashami, symbolizes victory, prosperity, and the removal of obstacles. Devotees believe that offering prayers to the Jammi tree invokes divine blessings, a practice rooted in ancient scriptures and continued with devotion to this day.

Jammi Doddi is also associated with the revered saint Sripathi Panditharadhya, a great Shiva devotee whose spiritual presence is believed to have sanctified this area. It is said that this locality once served as a foundational center, a “root temple”, from which the worship traditions of the Indrakeeladri deities gradually expanded. Over time, the hill shrine grew in prominence, but Jammi Doddi retained its importance as a spiritual starting point.

Even today, during major temple festivals, especially Dasara, ceremonial processions are known to originate from or pass through this area, reinforcing its continuing role in the sacred traditions of Vijayawada. Adding to its historical depth, inscriptions discovered in and around Jammi Doddi are believed to date back several centuries, offering glimpses into the religious practices and temple administration of earlier times.

Staying here, even briefly, gave us a sense of being connected to a living field of devotion, history, and tradition. What began as a simple and practical accommodation choice turned into a deeply enriching spiritual experience.

This visit, shared with my wife, remains memorable not only for the divine darshan at the temple but also for the quiet and meaningful discovery of Jammi Doddi, where mythology, history, and devotion come together.