Truly, 'Tis the season to be jolly! In Hyderabad.

Every festive event in Hyderabad to whichever religion it may belong is celebrated in a very happy and grand way. This is visible from home, street, shop, pandal, Temple and Church decorations and the happiness you see on the faces of people and the camaraderie among them.

And this is Christmas time and it is no exception. Christmas celebrations always seem to be getting bigger and better in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, from parties in holiday resorts and grand Christmas lunches and dinners in restaurants. Shopping for Christmas stars, tree toppings, other decorations, gifts and new dresses is in full swing, as can be seen in the two markets adjoining our house, General Bazaar and MG Road. Each and every bakery in Twin Cities, which are in thousands have already begun selling Plum Cakes and other traditional items like Christmas pudding, cookies and marzipan.

Christmas celebrations have started here from the beginning of this month!

What are now awaited are; Christmas Eve, for Christmas Father / Santa Claus to arrive and gift children and the serene and solemn midnight services conducted by various Churches in the Twin Cities. And very close to our house in Secunderabad are many Churches where Christmas is celebrated in a very grand way, which is a feast to the eyes and soul. These are St. Mary’s Church, St. John’s Church, All Saints Church and Wesley Church.   

In conclusion to this happy Christmas information I share of my City, I wish you all A Very Happy Christmas and A Very Happy New Year – 2015.

Telangana is under cold wave.

Since the beginning of December this year winter has been active in Telangana. Especially nights and early mornings are very cold. And the last few days have been the coldest. Hyderabad recorded the season’s lowest temperature at 9.2 degrees Celsius yesterday that is on Thursday, 18th December, lowest since 2005. Adilabad in North Telangana was the coldest place in Telangana, with the temperature plummeting to 4 degrees Celsius, an all-time record. And the towns of Ramagundam, Nizamabad and Medak and surrounding areas also recorded the minimum temperature of 9 deg. Celsius and lower. Tonight’s weather prediction also is ‘very chilly’ for Hyderabad and the entire State.

It is predicted that this unusual cold wave would continue for few more days in Hyderabad and all over Telangana. The last lowest temperature recorded in Hyderabad is 8.7 deg. Celsius on 27th December 2005, that is nine years ago. And the lowest ever temperature recorded in Hyderabad is 6.1 deg. Celsius on 8th January 1946.  

While some are enjoying this unusual cold weather, the majority are inconvenienced and suffering.

How could they kill innocent children? I am shocked, grieved and angered.

Yesterday, terrorists mercilessly and most cruelly killed 132 young students and 9 teachers and injured many at Peshawar Army Public School. This barbaric act is simply horrific and disgusting. What a heart-wrenching tragedy it is to the parents, siblings, relatives and friends of these unfortunate victims. I am shocked, grieved and angered, so will all the people who have heard of this gruesome tragedy. Any message of condolence or condemnation would not lessen their grief. I wish there will no more terrorism in the world and such meaningless sorrow.

Terrorists have no heart, they are sick people with sick ideas and seven of them who carried out this massacre have been executed by the Pakistan military during the siege of the School, preventing a much bigger tragedy in this School of 1100 students. But the main barbarians, the perpetrators, the villains who corrupt the minds of the weak to carry out such cruel acts are still free. 

All civilized countries of the world should view this tragedy very seriously and unite to fight terrorism and countries that breed and promote terrorism against neighboring countries and the world over. There should be no more tolerance of terrorism and supporters of terrorism.

For detailed news on this tragedy you may click on the following link:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30507836

Quest for a medicinal plant!

In November last year while at Bangalore we were introduced to a ‘Plant’ stating that it’s leaves have many health benefits. We were given a few leaves to taste, the leaves that you can see in the above pictures.  The name of the plant was mentioned as Sanjeevini. But this name turned out to be wrong.

On returning to Hyderabad I found that Sanjeevini (Selaginella bryopteris) is totally a different plant with entirely different type of leaves. Then using the above photographs and with detailed description of the leaves I made enquires to find out the name of the plant; among friends and by seeking help over internet, through gardening sites like that of Walter Reeves and over facebook. I got some answers, which on verification did not match the leaf description or they were not medicinal plants. Some of the internet sites wanted the pictures of the plant which I could not furnish. This quest for knowing the name and for procuring the plant continued for almost seven months! Then ultimately the mystery got sorted out in the month of May this year when our daughter-in-law, Dr. Lavanya found it at Pragathi Resorts, Hyderabad. She bought a sapling for us which has now grown into a big plant (to its full size) and with a stem from it we have grown another plant. Both these lovely plants you can see in the pictures below. Not only lovely; they are also precious, because of the efforts we have put in to procure the mother plant!

The Resort people called it Insulin plant. On verifying I found that it is right, as it is mostly known by that name in our country. I now know that elsewhere in the world it is commonly known as Fiery Costus and Spiral Flag or Spiral Ginger, while its botanical name is Chamaecostus cuspidatus. The plant is called Fiery Costus because its 2-inch flowers are brilliant fiery orange. And it is called Spiral Flag or Spiral Ginger because its leaves are spirally arranged around the dark red stem, forming attractive arching clumps, arising right from underground rootstocks.

And coming to its medicinal value, it is established that consumption of the leaves, fresh or dry, helps in lowering the blood glucose levels, as diabetics who consumed the leaves of this plant reported a fall in their blood glucose levels! These leaves are said to be extensively used in Ayurvedic medicines.

  

Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are abuzz with Weddings!

The Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are abuzz with Weddings! And we have received three Invitations to attend Weddings spread over next nine days!

Nowadays, wherever we go in the Twin Cities there are signs of wedding celebrations…wedding processions with musical bands, happy relatives dancing, fireworks, traditionally bejeweled relatives and friends on the move, flower decked welcome posters, well decorated and illuminated marriage venues and so on. This huge rush of weddings is because 5th December to 18th December 2014 are the only auspicious days left in this year, with 5th, 7th, 10th, 17th and 18th December being the most auspicious. And this wedding rush is also because there are very few Muhurthams in 2015. From 19th December 2014 to 22nd January 2015 there are no good days, as it is Sunyamasam. And thereafter until 15th March 2015 there are very few auspicious days. And then due to River Godavari Pushkaralu no weddings will take place in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a year! Hence it is being estimated that over one lakh marriages are taking place in this month.

Due to traditions and superstitions, 2015 seems to be a very bleak year for weddings. I feel very sorry for all those eligible brides and grooms and their parents who have to now wait for a very long time for auspicious days. However there seems to be a solution to this problem as almost every day is auspicious for weddings in Temples!

After having shared this colorful and pleasant Twin Cities News, I wish to share these lovely mass wedding pictures! from all over the world:

Lalitha’s Birthday Party – 04/DEC/2014.

Wish You A Sweet And Bright Birthday And Many Happy Returns Of The Day:

And here are the Birthday Party Photographs: