I have a vaccine passport but I am timid to travel.

 

I have a vaccine passport…

A vaccinated certificate

Permitting me to travel

And conveniently visit

Places that I couldn’t

In the last two years

Due to restrictions

And fears of Coronavirus.

 

My travel  list

Is  very slight

As of now three tourist places

And a few temple towns

That I haven’t been to

And would like to visit

Over some time

But the pandemic is a spoilsport.

 

Travel thoughts excite me

And as I begin to plan

It gets stalled

As I  hear of someone close affected

Or the ongoing commentary on the virus

At this rate, I do not know when I can travel…

Truly, timid as I am, I cannot go to a Kshetram,

As long as I am afraid of having even Thirtham!

(Kshetram – A holy place/temple of pilgrimage.

Thirtham – A spoonful of holy water offered at the temple for consumption as God’s blessing.)

Branded Smart Watch vs. A Branded, Pricey Mechanical Watch.

 

A Smart Watch has so many useful features, like the one presented here… reminding you to have breakfast! It is useful in countless ways; it is like having all the information you need and the world on your wrist, even when you are sleeping and about your sleep patterns too! Yet, a branded expensive Automatic Mechanical Wrist Watch that just shows Time and Day and Date is most sought after and stands out like an ornament.

Is it just because it does not require winding and charging or because of its awesome mechanism inside that can’t be seen or because it is simply a show-off as it is perhaps pricier than an attractive large gold necklace.

The explanation to this I am sure would be complex and contentious. But one thing for sure the owner and wearer of such expensive Wrist Watches is proud of his possession, a sort of fashion jewellery, that exudes confidence in him and makes him stand out surely in appearance.

Love matters and age?

 

The Government’s proposal

To raise the marriageable age of a girl

Seems most unreasonable…

Once she is eighteen

As of today’s situation

It should be left to her will

And honoured by all.

She may pursue education

And later get married

Or she may get married

And pursue education

Let her choice be acceptable to all.

Such a law, raising the age

Hurts youngsters in love

Here is a life story I know

Of two youngsters in love…

They were in love

When the boy was still in college

And the girl in high school.

They waited

Until the boy settled

With a good job

To disclose to their elders

Their desire to get married.

When they got married

She was nineteen

And he was twenty-six…

They could have got married

A year earlier

When she was eighteen

And he was twenty-five

But there were hurdles

Normal to some love stories.

Their anxiety-filled courtship was long

A year of delay of their wedding

Was hurting…

Their love mattered a lot

Not their age then or now

As they are happy senior citizens now!☺

A lovely place for a workout!

 

A lovely place for a workout

That’s in a neighbourhood estate

With tall greenery all around

And a pleasant, gentle wind

All the time, all-day

A place so very peaceful

And so very inspirational

All that I have to do is simple

Pass some time in the morning

And in the evening

Walking down these small steps

And climbing up these steps

Numbering well over a hundred

Meditating on the beauty around

For many health benefits…

Good for my heart

Good for muscle strength

Good for bone density

Good for joint flexibility

And it’s a great stress reliever

And it is so very convenient…

☺You could try the stairs, nearest!☺

- N. Lalitha Raghu.

About Basavanna the ceremonial Ox decorated for door-to-door exhibition during Sankranti.

VIDEO:

Makara Sankranti festival is today. It is a major festival for us in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It is observed with social festivities such as bonfires, bathing in holy rivers, offering prayers to Gods at home, visiting temples, colourful decorations, Rangoli, Bhogi Pandlu blessings for children, Kite flying, traditional snacks, feasts and fairs.  

Another common site one looks for, from a few days ahead of Sankranti is Haridasulu and Gangireddu vallu with Basavanna. Haridasu is one who goes from house to house singing songs and seeking alms. We believe that Haridasu's melodious rendition of Sundarakanda or Bhagavatam on Sankranti brings a new auspicious beginning in our lives. We do not see them in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad but they were a common sight for us during our three decades stay at Kothagudem close to Bhadrachalam… the temple of Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy at Bhadrachalam is a must-visit place for Haridasulu around this time.

This brief article is about Basavanna that is Gangireddu, the ceremonial Bull (Ox) decorated for door-to-door exhibition during Sankranti to bless people and for collecting charities. The people who bring Basavanna to our houses, playing music, are Gangireddu vallu.  The Bulls are decorated with colourful clothes, colours and ornaments. They are trained to do some actions as per the instructions of the master, to bow down to say Namaskaram, nodding their head to say yes or no to questions put to them, a little bit of dancing and so on. Basavanna is also called Du Du Basavanna.

There is a phrase in Telugu “Gangireddulaga thala upadam (గంగిరెద్దులాగ తలూపడం)”, which means ‘nodding head like a Gangireddu', without proper understanding of the matter.

 The return of Gangireddu during every Sankranti to our houses is considered a good sign, a blessing for happiness and prosperity. The music that they play is heard from a distance and people would come out to welcome and pray to Basavanna. The Gangireddu person would bless us on behalf of the bull, all the Gods and our forefathers by reciting their names. And we offer old clothes, money and food grains to them.  

This rich centuries-old traditional art form, a vigorous combination of the bull and human coordination skill, is one of the prime attractions for everyone and especially for children.

You may see the attached video and photographs for a better understanding of this tradition.

Happy Sankranti! Beware of the pandemic, keep calm and sparkle on!

Happy Sankranti!

Beware of the pandemic, keep calm and sparkle on!

For everyone reading this, I hope that you can believe that everybody deserves good things and happiness. We are all talented, capable, lovable and beautiful, though each of us is different. Our uniqueness means that we have different gifts, quirks and weaknesses and that is okay and rather wonderful. Just because each of us shines differently, it does not give any of us less of a right to shine.

Stay Safe! Happy Sankranti!

- N. Lalitha Raghu.

A huge spectrum of ‘Hyderabad People’ love street food.

 

The kilometre-long thoroughfare

At Hyderabad, in front of my house

Has food stalls on either side of the road

With a variety of ethnic and fast food

For more than a decade

Serving vegetarian based food

With crowds flocking them until very late

But neither I nor my family ever visits them

Because we consider roadside food

Unclean and unhealthy

But when I sometimes come across

Street stalls like the ones revealed

In the attached pictures

I wonder why my principles go astray

And I relish the food here with no fears

Is it because it is prepared fresh and hot

No, the answer is finally and truly easy for me

It is certainly different from the food on our street

And from my narration, you would certainly make out.☺

In praise of Hyderabadi cuisine!

Here are some limericks in praise of Hyderabadi cuisine, to amuse you at the beginning of the New Year! I am more than sure that you would like them!

Hyderabadi Cuisine is divine

Cause it’s cooked without the count of the time

Marinated at leisure

Hand-pounded with pleasure

Ingredients are at their prime.

Boti Kabab and Double-ka-meetha

Better than Gajar-ka-halwa & Agra-ka-petha

Biryani sublime, Haleem divine

Shorbha supreme, Murgh Saleem

Whatever anyone serves, we can serve better!

Hyderabad hai bas ek kahani

Once you have come here & sampled Biryani

You can’t stay away

You’re drawn day by day

By its people, it's Khana & pani.

Synonymous with Hyderabad, is the cuisine

Its Biryanis, Kababs & Haleem

The list is unending

With no end to spending

Add to these, the desserts and the cream.

Menus in Hyderabad are unending

On food everyone is over-spending

Be it meats or baghara

Meetha or khara

To one’s palate, one is always attending.

Hyderabad, the Pearl of the Deccan

Is a paradise on earth I reckon

Its jewellery, its pearls

Sumptuous food, lovely girls

Each of these independently beckon.

Some seekers come to Hyderabad for pearls

Prospective grooms for marriageable girls

Gourmets flock for food

Far renowned, so good

Small wonder, the traffic here swirls.