Pyramid valley

We made a trip to Pyramid valley. Our ladies club planned this trip as a picnic for members and guests. This place is about 25 kilometres from the city on the Kanakapura road. It is set in a beautiful scenic environment with a small pond and rocky hillocks surrounding it. The pyramid as such is a huge structure rises high above the ground.
As soon as we landed, we were shown into a reception area. One volunteer was assigned to show us a video of what is meditation and how it is beneficial to mankind. The video was very well taken and was instructive. At the end of the session we were taken to the library which also had pyramid hats for sale! It was said, that if we wear those hats, then the power of meditation is enhanced. Of course we still have to meditate wearing those hats!
The pyramid valley hosted and just concluded a three day world peace conference. Of course Pandit Sri Sri Ravishankar and other dignitaries were the star speakers. They firmly believe that the route to world peace is through meditation. When you meditate, you are looking inward at the 'god' within.This is an omnipresent God residing in us.Hence there are no differences between people and hence there are no divisions among the world populace.
We then were taken on a guided tour of the place and we practiced meditation for 30 minutes. We then went into the pyramid structure. It is a huge hall and spiral a staircase leads you near the centre of the pyramid. When you meditate in that area, the power of the meditation is enhanced three fold we were told. I did not practice there, as I was having a mild headache due to the heat.
The volunteer who took us around was very passionate about meditation. He told us that he was happy that all of us were here and getting a feel of meditation and some of us already practising meditation. He appealed to us to pass on this knowledge to our children. He said it is very very useful for them to be initiated to meditation at an young age. Then they will realise the oneness of human race and it really would make a wonderful world. He said, as parents we are committed to giving our children good education and good savings/property. But these cannot be taken to the next world. Whereas if we gift them the power of meditation, they can not only lead very pure and purposeful and peaceful life here on earth, but this is one wealth that the 'atma' can take with it to the next 'janma'. He said when we see great seers in the world surely they would have been practitioners of yoga in their previous birth!
Leap of faith this!
But, yes I do grant that it is a most precious gift that one can pass on to one's children.I share with them this belief.

Oru koodai sunlight; oru koodai moonlight

It was a very unique sunday. Throughtout the day the sun was shining bright, without a single cloud.I was commenting favourably about it to my cousins. a Chennaite will say "ahem" so what's new.But this is Bangalore and I can definitely say that it is something of a rarity.Definitely in the last 200 days that I have been living here, I have not seen such a clear sky for the entire part of a day.There will be sunlight for sometime, say in the morning, and by some magic, clouds will gather later in the day and there will be a few showers in the evening.Even if there is no rain, the clouds will gather anyway and shield the sun from view.
I was happy about it and little did I know about the bonus in waiting. The full moon rose in all its splendour in a clear sky and till bedtime, it continued to shine and cast a wonderful glow in the eastern sky.
Oru koodai sunlight, oru koodai moonlight joined together that day!

Danglers

I have never worn anything which dangles from my ears. It has always been the good old gold studs for me. The nearest I got to wearing something that dangles were 'jimikis' , which I would have worn maximum ten times. So I have been 'dangler challenged' all these years.
I got about rectifying matters. Actually it was by an accident that I got to pick up some danglers from a roadside shop the other day. We were looking for some change and decided to raid the pavement shops. I decided I wanted some bindis, headbands, safety pins, hairpins and what not; the usual stuff really. And there were a couple of ladies buying fancy danglers and one of them was trying them out. On an impulse I picked up a couple of them. I came home and immediately checked them out. They were looking quite good on me.Actually I was seeing a more carefree and jolly me there in the mirror! So now I am dangler-infatuated! Never mind that when I tried to put on my gold earring I had quite a difficult time!
Nowadays we see earrings (read danglers!) aggressively competing with neckwear. The danglers come all the way up to the shoulder and also sit pretty on the chest. And they are so jazzy and so HUGE. They do look pretty alright, no two opinions about that. It is no longer earring. It is today's fashion statement that there should be only a single piece of jewellery on your person, and that should be so stunning, that anything else would only be a distraction.
It was my niece who introduced 'danglers' into my vocabulary. And it was a roadside shop which helped me buy one.

Navarathiri

I spent quite a few days during dussera in Bangalore. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was also a highly social event. I was amazed once more at the thoughtfulness of weaving such varied festivals into our lives.
Our apartment complex has evolved a wonderful system for all the nine days of dussera. The housemates take turns in inviting others to their house for haldi kumkum. It is usually preceeded by lalitha sahasranam recitation. So more than 40 odd women and children land up in each house by 6 pm. They are all dressed in their fineries and the entire place looks like a tapestry of latest fashion and design. The deity is usually very well decorated.The artistic tastes of the lady is fully brought out. I have seen very many decorative items in all these pujas. I invariably stay back and ask the lady, where to get these items. The recitation starts. Most of them are veterans and can reel of all the 1000 names without batting an eyelid. It was a first occasion so I was mostly groping. There is something about chanting, especially when you have a very enthusiastic and religious group. I closed my eyes on the first day and just allowed the resonance of the sound to flow over me. It was really very unique and soul satisfying.
Chanting over and a few of the ladies break out into some bhajans/songs. Then there is 'aarti' and distribution of prasad. We had almost a full meal in some houses.Prasad items were neatly packed in disposable cups/trays.We had porul vilangai urundai as prasad in my neighbour's house! I remembered my athai who used to visit us used to bring this sweet.I still remember the unique taste and texture!
Then the haldi kumkum. I had enough cocoanuts to feed an entire village!
Then the ladies stayed back for a chat and exchange of news.The kiddos had a field day playing and fooling around.
Then we trooped to another flat to see 'kolu'. I saw new sets of toys and new themes. Well, old themes but I am seeing them as made into dolls for the first time. Narasimhar coming out of the pillar; wedding set, including an entire 'pandhi' of people having their meals; partha sarathy perumal veedi purappadu; tirupati brahmotsavam including the seven hills and the winding mountain path; lanka and asoka vanam and sita and hanuman and karthigai pengal. I saw chettiar and chettichi sitting pretty on plastic chairs.I asked the lady of the house and she told me, they cannot sit on the floor as they have arthritis!
I have got to know quite a few families during this season and quite intimately at that. That is the purpose of these festivals, I guess. One elderly lady, about 80 years old sang a beautiful carnatic song and bowled me over how she was able to hold her breadth.
Navarathiri festival is my favourite. It is spread over nine full days and helps us to phase out our activities. It is suffused with religious feelings.For the pious, it is kalasam and pooja in the mornings.Elaborate naivedhyam preparations for the culinary experts! For the artistically inclined it provides endless scope for experimenting and enjoying keeping the kolu dolls . For the musically inclined, it is a time to bring forth all of ones talents and also listen to others who are as well endowed. For those interested in dressing well, again this festival offers immense scope.You can dress up and also elaborately dress up your dolls on display!
Again for busy people who are not able to keep up with friends/relatives/neighbours, this gives a capsule course to get in touch and that too in such an enjoyable way!