Raghu's column!

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

What’s My Best Valentine’s Day Memory!

What is my best Valentine’s Day Memory?

The answer is very simple. Since we started celebrating Valentine’s Day, every Valentine’s Day has been an extremely happy and memorable one for me and my family. I consider all of them to be my best!

My journal that is my blog has a record of our Valentine’s Day celebrations with countless photographs. For family and friends I am providing below blog links to some of our Valentine’s Day celebrations:

Happy Valentine’s Day Celebration! – 2018.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2018/02/happy-valentines-day-celebration-2018.html

Sweet Memories of Valentine’s Day(s) Celebrations!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2018/02/sweet-memories-of-valentines-days.html

Picking A Cake For His Valentine! - A Photo Story:

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2018/02/picking-cake-for-his-valentine-photo.html

My Blog Post No.1100! - Happy Valentine’s Day!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2017/02/my-blog-post-no1100-happy-valentines-day.html

Happy Valentine’s Day Celebration! – 2016.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2016/02/happy-valentines-day-celebration-2016.html

Happy Valentine’s Day Celebration! – 2015.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2015/02/happy-valentines-day-celebration-2015.html

Happy Valentine’s Day!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2015/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Sweet Memories of Valentine’s Day(s) Celebrations!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2015/02/sweet-memories-of-valentines-days.html

Valentine's Day Party! - 2013

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-day-party-2013.html

Happy Valentine's Day!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2013/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Valentine's Day Greetings! - 2012

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day-greetings-2012.html

Valentine’s Day Celebration – 2011, a Candlelight Dinner @ Home!

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-celebration-2011_14.html

Valentine’s Day celebration - photographs - 2010.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-celebration-photographs.html

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

FELLOW COUNTRYMEN BEWARE OF THESE ROGUES!

HERE IS A LIMERICK TO FURTHER WARN YOU!

Like the birds of the same feather,

Which joyfully flock together.

Immoral and corrupt Ministers,

And all crooked politicians and leaders,

Have today shamelessly clustered together.

- N. Raghu.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Ramnagar Fish Market – Our City’s Largest Fish Market!

Ramnagar Fish Market is the largest fish market in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is located in Secunderabad, along the road connecting Musheerabad to Ramnagar. Around 40 tons of fish are sold here on weekdays and 50 tons on Sundays. The market opens at 6 am, and by 8 am most of the merchandise is sold. There are many Fish Markets in the twin cities but none are as large as the Ramnagar Fish Market.

The attached photographs and video will give you an idea of this fish market. As you can see, the market is untidy but the fish are very fresh and some are sold alive. People, individuals and other retail fishmongers throng this place in the early hours to choose from the large variety of fish available here at low prices.

A variety of fish and seafood are brought to this market from nearby seashores and from various other districts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The list of fish available here is quite long…Murrel (mostly live), Rohu, Catla, Tilapia, Pomfret white and black, Seer (Vanjaram), Salmon from River and Sea, Kingfish, Shark (Sora), Anchovy (Nathneelu), Sardines (Chandamama), Eel, Mackerel (Bangda), Tuna, Red Snapper, Mullet, Bengal Carp, Platinum Pearl (Karimeen), Basa, Pink Perch, River and Sea Crabs (Blue crabs), a large variety of prawns ranging from shrimps to small, medium, large and king size prawns and many other varieties unknown to me.

As carry bags are not available at the fish stalls, we have to carry our own bags. And to clean, scale, gut and cut the fishes, crabs and prawns in any form you want, there are a number of people who would approach you to do the job at a reasonable price. Their cleaning location is almost at the centre of the market, which you can see in the last picture I provided.

For fish and seafood lovers, this is a must place to visit in our city, not once but regularly, for trying out the large variety available here.

Ramnagar Fish Market Video:

(Video credits to ComeTube, with thanks)

Friday, February 1, 2019

What’s in this Wok! – A Puzzle!

Here is a puzzle for you. Just for some fun look intently at the above two pictures and guess what is in the Wok. The puzzle appears to be a crazy one but it is not, look at the second photograph, the cutlery surrounding the Wok is the key to the answer. I hope you got the answer correct.

Please recheck your answer with the one I have provided towards the very end of this article.

As for me, I did not have to see the Wok to guess what is in it. As soon as I entered our house this afternoon I could guess beyond any doubt what I am going to relish for lunch and dinner today! This happens to me all the time and I am sure for every one of you…the smell reveals the dish. Smell helps to discover and enjoy food as much as taste. The sense of smell explores our food before we eat it. And almost every food offers up delicious aromas and some of them make our entire house smell amazing. These smells are far better than room fresheners and other fragrances because they smell appetizing, delicious, and mouthwatering and also rekindle some fond memories.

We are experiencing a very cold winter in Hyderabad and there are many comfort foods for winter like the one in this puzzle that will make our houses feel homey and cozy through smell and taste.

Now for the answer to the Puzzle:

…

Vegetarians may not like the answer!

…

It Is A Classic Crab Curry!

Saturday, January 26, 2019

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY! THIS IS A CRUCIAL ELECTION YEAR, PLEASE VOTE JUDICIOUSLY.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!

THIS IS A CRUCIAL ELECTION YEAR,

PLEASE VOTE JUDICIOUSLY.

PLEASE VOTE for an honest and strong Central Government. Please reject characterless, selfish, corrupt, jealous, vicious, greedy, dynastic and comical politicians. Beware of such dangerous political parties who have a wretched record of several decades, which has affected the wellbeing of our Country and countrymen very badly. Such mean Political Parties may sometimes unite as they have no stature to win on their own, call themselves a Mahagathbandhan, spread lies and all sorts of dirty propaganda to wrongly influence voters, divide their votes amongst themselves to come to power by hook or crook, which will be yet again a big tragedy for our Country.

PLEASE VOTE FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Today, 25th January 2019 is National Voters Day.

Today, 25th January 2019 is National Voters Day. Since 2011, our Government has decided and is celebrating 25th January every year as National Voters Day. It is actually the foundation day of Election Commission of India – 25th January 1950. The objective of this event is to increase enrolment of voters so as to make universal adult franchise a complete reality and thereby enhance the quality of Indian democracy.

This article and the above posters are not only to inform of this important event but also to ensure that in the coming Elections-2019, every one of you would VOTE FOR SURE and ascertain that all family members are enrolled to VOTE.

PLEASE VOTE FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Sri Umamaheswara Swamy Devasthanam, Rangapur, Achampet Mandal, Nagarkurnool District, Telangana.

Sri Umamaheshwara Temple of Lord Shiva, also known as Maheshwaram Temple and Umamaheshwaram Temple is situated in Telangana State, 142 km from Hyderabad close to Rangapur village of Achampet Mandal, Nagarkurnool District. The Temple is located amidst the dense Nallamala forest on a huge hill, at a height of 500 feet, in a cave and the hill is close to 1000 feet high. It is a very ancient Temple with a long history and mention of it in various scriptures. The Temple is said to have been constructed in the 2nd century during the rule of Maurya Chandragupta. Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi are worshipped at this Temple in the form of Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba. It is believed that Lord Rama had visited this place while doing Parikrama of Srisailam.

Umamaheshwaram is the Northern gateway of Srisailam, a very prominent and popular pilgrimage town for the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple (of Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi) – one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Srisailam is located 60 km further from here. Umamaheshwaram Temple is also known as Kubera Sthanam. There are other Temples here of Lord Ganesha, Lord Veerabhadra Swamy, Lord Janardhana Swamy and also that of Lord Nagaraju.

We visited this Temple last Sunday, that is on 20th January along with my sister’s family. My sister and brother-in-law visited this Temple a few times before during their innumerable pilgrimages to Srisailam, but for me and my wife, it was our first visit. We liked this ancient Temple, its importance and its location amidst hills and greenery and the beautiful scenery all around. The hill surrounding the Temple and the huge trees covering the area keep the sunlight away and also because of the altitude it is a very cool place. Though we have visited Srisailam a few times before it is during this visit we came to know that as per ancient scriptures the darshan of Srisailam Temple is incomplete without the darshan of Umamaheshwara Temple.

This place is also popular for its mysterious Papanashanam, a small water body, where one can always find water, in spite of drawing any amount of water from it, throughout the year. It is around 200 meters away from the sanctum sanctorum - where water comes out from underneath the huge rocks at the same rate all through the year. This water is considered to be very pious.

The attached pictures are of the Temple and its surroundings. I have also provided a route map to this Temple from Hyderabad.

A visit to this Temple en route to Srisailam Temple would be a great experience spiritually and will be very enjoyable.

A Video of the Temple: