Remembering Hiroshima.

Yesterday on 26th July; INS Arihant, India’s first indigenously built nuclear-powered Submarine was launched by the Prime Minister at Visakhapatnam. With this achievement India has now the ability to fire Nukes from land, air and sea. India is a peace loving country and has a strict policy of “No first use of Nuclear Weapons”. And these achievements are to safeguard the country from the threats it foresees and to keep pace with the technological advancements worldwide. All this is to be happy about and to be proud of but with the sincere hope that such weaponry will never have to be deployed by any country or a group of people.

Atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki have taught lessons to the world to be very careful with nuclear weapons. Some countries have heavy stocks of nuclear weapons but all countries are sticking to the policy of – ‘No first use’ and this caution has lasted for 64 years now. May this wisdom prevail forever.

In ten days from now; on 6th August a ‘Peace Memorial Ceremony’ will be observed at the Peace Park in Hiroshima. This will be the 64th anniversary of the Atom bomb dropped there, which killed about 90,000 people instantaneously and the number reached 140,000 by the end of 1945. Later many more persons died over the years due to the ill-effects of radiation.

I visited the Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima. It is built in memory of all those people who have died due to the Atom bomb which was exploded exactly over this area. Today Hiroshima looks modern and as grand as any other city in the world but it is only when you visit the Peace Memorial Museum that your mood would change to sadness. The museum has a number of exhibits in the form of pictures, articles and posters giving the details of the Atom bomb, its effects on the people and the destruction it caused. As you enter the museum you can pick up a cassette player of the language of your choice and as you listen to it you will be directed to various exhibits and get an explanation about them. The temperature generated by the explosion was so high that it burnt buildings and persons in the vicinity of 2 Kms. This Memorial Park has come up in Hiroshima’s erstwhile downtown area which got reduced to a barren land after the explosion. The top photograph is of the Peace Memorial Museum.

The other two photographs are of the Memorial Cenotaph and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The Cenotaph is at the center of the Peace Park, it is a concrete saddle-shaped monument. It contains the names of people killed by the bomb on 6^th August 1945, those missing and also those who have died in the subsequent months and years. The epitaph on the Cenotaph reads: “Rest in Peace, for the error shall not be repeated”. The last photograph is of the Atomic Bomb Dome which is also in the vicinity of the Peace Park. The building is the skeletal remains of a Government Office above which the Atomic explosion has taken place. It is left as it is, in memory of the causalities and to this a sense of sacredness is attributed. This structure is on UNESCO World heritage list.

Japan is striving for eradication of nuclear weapons all over the world. Japanese firms in India do not supply items to any weapons manufacturing units. May the efforts of Japan and all countries and leaders who are striving for a nuclear-weapon-free world become true.

Shravana Masam.

Today is the first Friday of Shravana Masam. The Telugu Lunar month of Shravana Masam started yesterday; 23^rd July, and it would end on 20^th August. This is a very auspicious month for us and specially Fridays – Sharavana Shukravaralu. Today my wife would be preoccupied until late afternoon with religious activity. As I am writing this blog she is busy in the pooja room performing Gowridevi pooja and reciting Lalitha Sahasranamam. Earlier she had prepared Naivedhyam – especially payasam (food offerings) for the Gods along with her daily chores of breakfast and lunch for us. Soon, the invitees, her sisters, sister-in-law, few neighbors and her Kitty party friends would be arriving when Lalitha Sahasranamam would be recited followed by Pasupu-bottu (Haldi kumkum in North India) and Lunch. My sister is unable to attend this function because of a minor eye-operation my brother-in-law is undergoing this morning. This and few more such religious traditions are for seeking the blessings of the almighty for all round well-being of the family.

This entire month one would find many people visiting temples, especially ladies. Just as my wife has invited friends and relatives for Pasupu-bottu, pooja and Lunch almost all Telugu families practice this tradition.

These are centuries old practices in the family and we have great belief and respect for these rituals and traditions. My mother who is 89 years old is happy with us on this count and I hope our children would continue this, though I leave it entirely to their willingness and convenience.

On this occasion I would like conclude with the following ‘Peace Prayer’:

Om Sahana Vavathu Sahanav bhunakthu

Saha Viryam karawavahai

Tejasvinavadhithamasthu

Ma Vidvishavahai

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

This means:

Together may we be protected

Together may we be nourished

Together may we work with great energy

May our journey together be brilliant and effective

May there be no bad feelings between us

Peace, peace, peace.

A Lunar eclipse caused the Crescent mark on my forehead!!!

On 22nd July morning (2009), starting from 6:24 AM, there was a total eclipse of the Sun along a corridor of India. Starting from Surat, the solar eclipse could be seen in and around Vadodara, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Darjeeling, and Dibrugarh. Along this corridor, a bright morning turned into the night for almost four minutes. For the rest of India, the eclipse appeared very close to a total and partial eclipse. However, it was not visible in Hyderabad and many more places due to dark, rain-carrying clouds. This long-duration total eclipse was of great scientific and historic importance because the next one is going to occur only after 123 years!

There are many common traditions and superstitions followed by millions of Indians during and after an eclipse. We are not supposed to eat during the duration of an eclipse, and food prepared before an eclipse should be discarded. In case of food with long-lasting shelf life and those that have to be compulsorily preserved, the food should be covered with a lid, and fine short grass called ‘Garkha’ in Telugu or 'Garbha' should be placed on it during the duration of the eclipse. And during the eclipse, women in the family way (pregnant) are not to move around; they are to stay indoors, lie down and remain still. They should not hold sharp items like scissors, knives, needles, keys, etc., because of the fear of children being born with cleft lips and deformities. After the eclipse, the flooring in the house is washed, everyone takes a bath, the Pooja room is cleaned, and all the photos and idols of the Gods are washed, decorated and lamps lit before the images of Gods. Lakhs of people who may find it convenient go and take a dip in holy rivers to cleanse themselves from the ill effects of the eclipse. Only after bathing and pooja, fresh food is prepared for the day.

All the temples in the eclipse area are closed. After the eclipse, the temple premises are cleaned and special poojas are performed for the well-being of everyone. In case the eclipse coincides with the school and office commencement timings, the reporting time is rescheduled to suit the fulfilment of eclipse-related traditions and superstitions.

Interestingly, most elders in our family believe that a Lunar eclipse left a physical mark on me. I was born by Cesarean operation, and there was a pink Crescent mark on my forehead. When my maternal grandmother saw this, she began to weep and quarrel with the doctors and staff, stating that they had injured the baby. The doctors convinced her and everyone that it had nothing to do with the operation. They said that it is neither a bleeding cut nor a superficial scar, but a fine, soft, crescent-shaped growth, and it is a sort of birthmark. Then my grandmother started blaming my mother for this mark. I was born on November 16th, and three months before my birth in August, there was a Lunar eclipse when my mother was asked to lie still as per the superstitions explained above. Even as my grandmother was protesting, my brother, who is older than me by four years, went to my mother crying and asked her to make a Train using empty matchboxes like the one in the above picture. My mother made a Train by arranging the matchboxes on her stomach. So my grandmother believed that this mark on my forehead was because of my mother’s train-making activity during the eclipse. My grandmother believed in this theory and told everyone in the family and outside about it for decades. So everyone in the family thought so! This is a prominent Crescent mark, 60mm long and similar to a two-day-old waxing moon! It was much more prominent during my younger days. It is my birthmark in all known records.

Hope this blog post doesn't catch the attention of Indian TV channels or non-believers of these eclipse-related traditions and superstitions, there would be infinite debates, condemnations and assents!

Yet another ‘Karthika Masam, Vanabhojanala- Birthday party’ of mine!

 

This is in continuation of my blog of yesterday-19^th July: ‘Karthika Masam, Vanabhojanalu and my birthday parties’. In yesterday’s blog I explained the meaning of Karthika Masam, Vanabhojanalu and how I celebrate my birthday-16^th November outdoors in orchards and farms in case it coincides with the Telugu month of Karthika Masam.

This blog is of another such birthday party which was well attended by many family members in 2003. This day-long picnic was at the mango grove of our neighbor a High Court Judge and a family friend. The mango grove is about 40 Kms. from our house and about 10 Kms. beyond the famous Keesaragutta Shiva Temple.

Just as we were packing for the picnic and relatives began to assemble at our house we received news of my brother’s youngest son Uday Bhaskar’s selection to M.D.S. Course at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. So it turned out to be a day for double celebration. In addition to the Birthday greetings extended to me everyone was happy about Uday’s achievement and congratulated and wished him the best.

The Picnic was attended by the families of my brother, sister, my niece and my wife’s brother and sister. We all started from our house by 8:00 AM in five Cars, carrying with us snacks, soft drinks, breakfast and lunch. Soon after reaching the mango grove we had breakfast. Then we explored the huge mango grove. Children played cricket for sometime as we sat chit chatting. Later in the afternoon we had a sumptuous lunch sitting under the shade of a number of coconut trees. After some good rest under the trees we played two rounds of Tambola. We remained in the farm up to 5:30 PM and as we were leaving we took a group photograph, which is in the top row of the above panoramic picture.

This is how I have been celebrating my birthday every time it falls in Karthika Masam to everyone’s happiness. And I am glad that everyone is able to participate on this occasion. Hope this will continue in future too. God bless us.

Karthika Masam, Vanabhojanalu & my birthday parties.

I have celebrated a few of my birthdays in orchards or in fields; under trees, especially when it falls in ‘Karthika Masam’. My birthday is on 16^th November and this date sometimes coincides with the Telugu month called Karthika Masam. Karthika Masam is considered very auspicious; it starts a day after the major festival of Deepavali. A popular ritual practiced in this month is ‘Vanabhojanalu’ literally meaning having food in gardens. Most families in Andhra Pradesh; as a group of relatives or as members of a large association go on picnics in this month and spend the whole day in a garden or in the wilderness. While my father was working in Singareni Collieries at Kothagudem, persons of our community used to organize ‘Karthika Vana Samaradhana’ on a large scale in our 5-acre mango grove. This tradition continued for over 15 years until my father retired from service and sold away the garden before shifting back to Secunderabad. This experience and tradition has prompted me to host my birthday parties outdoors when it falls in Karthika Masam.

The above photos are of my recent birthday party in a Mango grove 60 Kms. away from Secunderabad on National highway 7. It is also considered very auspicious to have food under a Gooseberry tree (Usiri/Amla tree), which you can see in these photographs.

The families of my brother, sister, my two nieces and the families of my wife’s brother & sister joined us in this celebration. Everyone assembled at our house by 8:00 AM, and after breakfast we started for the picnic, at the mango grove of my friend. We travelled in four cars and on our way we first went to Sri Narasimhaswamy Temple at Nacharam. To reach the Temple we have to take a diversion, a right turn on NH 7 after travelling about 48 Kms. and from there the Temple is at a distance of 6 Kms. All of us performed Archana and had a good darshanam. Then we returned to NH 7 and proceeded to the Mango grove which I had visited on few occasions with my family.

The weather was very good for a long drive and a picnic. Being winter it was cool and more so as it was very cloudy. There was also a light drizzle on and off but it did not affect our activities. It is a huge field of 20 acres with most part of it for the mango trees and some area for paddy cultivation and some area for sugarcane plantation. We strolled around in the mango grove and the fields, had a sumptuous lunch under the trees, played a few games and returned home late in the evening. Everyone enjoyed the outing.

You may see two more blog-posts, related with our Vanabhojanalu-outings by clicking on the following links:

Yet another ‘Karthika Masam, Vanabhojanala- Birthday party’ of mine!

Family Picnic of 22nd November 2009.

Hyderabadi Limericks!

A famous explorer once reckoned

She’d visit Hyderabad in the Deccan

After just one week there

She was heard to declare

“I find the rest of the world, a poor second.”

Minars, Palaces and Nawabs

Double-ka-meetha, Biryani & Kababs

Pearls and bangles too

Lakes of shimmering blue

“Ah Hyderabad – Tera kya jawab!”

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.

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!

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.

Synonymous with Hyderabad, is cuisine

Its Biryanis, Kababs & Haleem

The list is unending

With no end to spending

Add to these, the desserts and the cream.

You can hear the ‘Yemandi’ in Telugu

And the saying ‘Kya hai miya’ in Urdu

The Gujrati ‘Kemchi’

The Sindhi ‘Vadi Saayi’

The word ‘Cosmopolitan’ is perfectly true.

I love Hyderabad from Charminar to Monda

From Moula-Ali right up to Golconda

Of each nook and cranny

Of which there are many

I’m growing fonder & fonder & fonder.

To Visit the beautiful Charminar

And the tempting gullies of Laad bazar

More often we’d go

If only, we’d know

We would find place to park our Car.

Built on the Naubath Pahad is Birla Mandir

There are no words to speak of its grandeur

Lord Venkateshwara’s holy Shrine

Conspicuous from any area in line

Every devotee is granted his wish here.

Hyderabadis are always late

Loosely defining both time and date

You may say, “Oh, please hurry”

But it’s useless to worry

Things will just move at a leisurely rate.

A wonderful city is Hyderabad

A place where few ever work too hard

There is always tomorrow

Today let us borrow

And have fun, for we hold that in high regard.

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, its Khana & pani.

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.

When the beautiful bride of Saleem

Made Mirchi-ka-salan & Haleem

He said, “You look good

But this food that you cook

Really makes me want to scream.

Hyderabadi Cuisine is divine

Cause it’s cooked without count of the time

Marinated at leisure

Hand-pounded with pleasure

Ingredients are at their prime.

When you ride in an auto in Hyderabad

It’s like being in a storm or a blizzard

Your bones go clutter clatter

Your teeth they do chatter

If you arrive in one piece you’re quite glad!

On the day when it starts to rain

In a narrow Doodh-Bowli lane

You can swallow a fish

With that magical wish

From Asthma never to complain!

Quli built Charminar in Hyderabad

Everyone thought the King was mad

They didn’t know why

He built it so high

But we are proud of it, Char sau saal baadh!

Our names are etched in the beach sand forever!

We love the Sea

We love the beach

We love the waves

We love the sound of waves

We love holding hands

And walking into the waves

We love the strong sea breeze

We love watching the Sunrise

We love the glittering morning sky

We love walking on the beach

We love playing on the fine beach sand

We love writing our names in the sand

But we do not like

Our names getting washed away

By the waves.

There is nothing we can do to prevent this

So we took the above photographs

To preserve our names on the beach!

Only God knows, for how many years!