Reunion at mess

Hi ! Advance new year wishes to all of you . 

Today myself and Naveen went to saipoorni mess at nanganallur chennai to have dinner and get some parcel . We gave our order and was waiting outside . We saw few old uncles having fun with filter coffee and chit chatting. I asked them Enna mama reunion ah ??? He was like yes yes after 35 years we all have met . We are all school mates . I asked them how did you all find each other and he said what’s app eruke:) 

We said we have come for the first time to the mess and he was like Venkat is America citizen avane sollitan this mess food is nice so you can buy :) They said even 20 more friends have not come for the reunion. Which means nearly 30 people are still friends for a long time . Then we said bye got our parcel and left the mess 

What we thought was how strong friendships were those days . Today we all have max 5-7 countable friends that too if you are lucky enough . And how many of us make a chance to meet each other . Even if we do the other person doesn’t . How many of us wish or meet for festivals or functions . Even for birthdays if Facebook doesn’t show notification nobody will wish you . That’s the condition now . So these were our thoughts while returning back home . 

Let me know what are your thoughts on friendships these days or if you are old how was it in those days . 

Karthigai Deepam 2022

 Hi ! Hope you all are doing well . 

Happy Karthigai Deepam ! 

We have moved to a new house recently with a big balcony so this year I decided to decorate the balcony with my thoughts as I couldn’t make it in the veranda which is air conditioned  The lamps don’t stay for long so I just kept for half an hour and brought the lamps inside . 

Here in the new flat I got some friends and the medium is my everyday Kolams . They wonder how I do it and they love the rangoli . Many are seeing kolam for the first time . So I have told them I shall invite you all for Navarathri at my home this year :) let’s wait for it . 

So back to karthigai deepam . Apart from making savouries we make big Kolams and light lamps with oil . These days there are electric lamps and water lamps but we don’t use it . 

In my childhood karthigai deepam was more beautiful than now .The whole village would be lightened up with lamps . My mother used to wear the 9 yard saree and go to temple to light the lamp and bring home . My mother used to make pori urundai and sweet appam . Now let’s come to the kolam part . It’s been nearly 18 years since I left my home . From then on I never got a satisfactory place to exhibit my kolam. We had a very big thittani made only for me to put kolam . Once I left that house I started missing that thittani as well .I made really nice kolam from my childhood days . I remember making kolam in temples and even for neighbours .In our Chennai house there is space but still I would feel there could have been more space . It was like something is missing . 

Today after moving to this new house I made a kolam that made me the happiest. I never felt there is no space . After making this kolam I stood by it and left a tear . How beautiful and cherished it . I am thankful for everything that I have today and it’s only because of my discipline and Naveen who came to my life on the right time . For whatever we have today we are thankful to our efforts and path . Not thanking anybody because it’s our journey and we have played it alone so far . 

Adding the picture of my kolam . Let me know how you liked it or what are your thoughts on this blog . 

Navarathri 2022

Happy Navarathri to all of you ! 

Navarathri has always been fun time jolly time for me . During my childhood we children in the village used to take one thooku and go to everybody’s house .Night we just eat the sundal and sleep that’s it for dinner . That was just wow . Whether we see the golu or not for the sundal we go:) 

Last Navarathri I had a wonderful time in india . Myself and tungli visited everyone’s  house . 10 days outing and dressing only .

This year we are celebrating at Dubai and making it the best . We have kept three step golu with few meaningful and memorable dolls . The first two step dolls where bought in each situations and has stories behind . The last step with the dolls and shells were all collected from each countries we visited . The shells were all collected from beaches visited by us Meenakshi amman is the new doll for this year . I have never been to madurai so hoping to visit soon I bought this doll . There is a silver coin of my mother and many stories and history behind the dolls . The duck pond was made by Tungli .

Tungli friends visited our home and she had a good time distributing gifts and sundal. Our house is the only house in this building which will have a kolam in the entrance and celebrate every festivals . So people in our building will have real good time . I hope everyone celebrated everything around them regardless of which country they are in . Need not be bigger ones but some celebration is better than no celebration:) 

I find these days people have lost the interest of everything. I hope there are some people like me who try to be happy and celebrate life . 

So attaching my this year golu picture . Do let me know how you liked it and which is your favourite doll . 

Click Control

 Hi All , 

Today as I am giving my phone in the store to change the panel as I broke it I had to transfer everything in my phone before going to submit . That’s when I saw nearly a 10 year story / chapters of my life . It was an amazing experience to go through all the photos but I also thought there are a lot . I had nearly 20000 pictures and 4000 videos . But every photo had a story . Has been a wonderful journey . It was a really long time to get this photos transferred. Took a lot of my patience and time . 

So now I have decided to stop taking a lot a photos and instead take less . And another thing is I am still wondering how to print all these or make an album . 

How do you all deal with this ? Do you take a lot of photos ? Or what are your thoughts on saving or printing these . Do post in some ideas for me . 

Navarathri special drawing

 

Onam

I am writing here with a lot of happiness. 

Onam …a time when childhood was at its best . My memories of Onam goes like this . Everyday we used to see on the roads for cow dungs . It has to be fresh cow dung :) immediately I would collect it and keep it in our backyard . We had a big black thindu to put kolam in front of our house . Those days we do not buy flowers from market . We had it in our backyard / kollai itself . We had red chembarathi, mandharam, nandhiyarvattai , Mathan poo ( to keep in the middle ) .The highlight is paaasharu / algae for green colour . We used to slowly scratch it from the wall or from the sides of a well . 

We keep a little ball of cow dung in the middle and make a round shape . Then we keep the biggest flower in the middle and then with the other flower petals make a round design . Sometimes I have even plucked some chembarathi from my neighbour house . She is still my friend so even if she reads this not a problem :) . By morning 7 or 8 am it’s a nice view to have a walk on the road . Nice small houses in parallel lines with pookalam in everybody’s house entrance . A breezy wind and sometimes temple bell or song in the background . 

We used to frequently come outside the house and see if any cow or goat is eating the pookalam :) 

On the day of Onam new dress and a bigger pookalam with Sadhya . Simple and humble Onam 

Currently things are different . It’s not the same as I saw in my childhood . Now it’s like photo shoots , too much of shopping etc etc goes on . The beauty of Kerala is fading .It’s in the trap of freaks , social media culture and many other things . Let me stick to the topic now . 

So , this year for Onam we bought some flowers from shop and I make small pookalam here though I feel to make bigger ones . We are yet to buy a new dress that’s all . 

Now , after separating the flowers I collected the seeds and kept it in a box . I told my daughter we used to collect the seeds like this and throw in the backyard and new plants will grow . I told her we shall try it here also in a pot and she herself added the seeds to a pot and below is the picture of the collected seeds and the new plants ;)

 Collected seeds 

The sprouted yellow and orange marigold 

We were extremely happy looking at the pot with so many sprouts. Naveen too was exited to look at this in the morning . So even here I could do this . I felt very happy . 

Let me know how you celebrated Onam in your childhood or how you see it these days . 

My Onam pookalam photos will be uploaded soon in the next blog . 

Take care :) 

My Tiny Garden

This is my small garden in my house . The pirandai chedi has touched the ceiling. I am yet to learn or explore some pirandai recipes. Marudhani/ mehandi has become a small tree . Kanakambaram has so many seeds which has to be moved to another pot . Jasmine’s are blooming . My rubber plant has grown very shiny . The money plant is flowing like anything . This money plant is my lucky plant I would say . The chembarathi/ hibiscus is doing well . Likewise the table rose , indoor plants etc … isn’t this a happy picture . 

I am posting some pictures here for you to see .

Home

 How many of you think big houses doesn’t have a life in it . I strongly believe in this . I have been in big houses as well as small houses . 

After my wedding I moved to my husband house which is only 700 sq feet . But that house has real life . Our house is very small infact the smallest in the family . But most of the people come to our house only . To be honest we don’t even have space to accommodate a couple if they come home but still we give them the  main room and we sleep in the hall . We have a small little balcony with nearly 35 plants . A small Pooja room and a kitchen . This house was bought by my father in law nearly 30 years ago . 

Another example is Dhanalakshmi stores at trichy . This was my grandpa then uncle ( Peripa )  house where we used to go for vacation. I think he was paying 600 rupees rent per month . It has one room and a kitchen that’s all . Toilets were public but neat . We sleep in the terrace looking at the sky . Let me tell you that simple happiness still sticks to my mind . Today their kids live in the USA and they have got many houses and cars and they shift to a bigger house . I feel the love is missing when I go to that house . I always loved that tiny store house . Today there is a car , ac to sleep and lot of space but I loved the old house . 

In my family most of them have big houses but I don’t see anybody visiting their home or even eating a lunch or dinner together .  People live inside the same house but in their own rooms . They have attached bathroom , tv , and washing machine inside the room itself . So basically they come eat and then go into the rooms . I think my house doesn’t have space but we welcome and be happy with people . The door is always open for people with love and food . 

Today as me and Naveen are getting old we have decided ONE thing . We are ok to have a big garden or a backyard but the house has to be small . It’s not that we cannot built the biggest house . We can , but we won’t . I want my child to live happy where she gets to see , spend time with whoever comes to our house . Having a small / medium size house encourages to have a discussion in the hall , eat together , use the same gas , television and washing machine . I will never give a separate room to my daughter . She has to live within the house . Even if people think it’s old school that’s fine . These days I see a lot who are just in their room and their own thoughts . They don’t even smile . This is so sick ! 

What are your thoughts on this . Do you think tiny house makes sense ? 

These girls

 Hi ! 

How many of you believe that every family and their rituals are different . I have been married since last 11 years . When I got married I never knew to wear a saree , to cook or any such things , but I knew I must learn all these because I was brought up that way . If there is anything new I always learn . When I get it done and people say wow you did a good job I feel great . That feeling is priceless . Now , I am not doing for the appreciation alone . I like to learn and do things and the end results will always be great . Not only with regards to a married life . I was always like that in my younger days . I am still a student and i get fascinated and exited about most of the things around me . 

Many at times it has been a great plus because my friends call me when they get upset . This mindset has helped in most of the difficult times in life . People say that I have so much of will power , creativity , looking forward to life and so many but I am also an extremely short tempered person and I am working on it. But I have never done harm to anyone with my temper . I normally get out of the house . 

Now , I think girls these days are so lazy . Especially when they get married they are not ready to learn what the other side families has in basket . This is not in my family alone . I see this in 95 percent of girls . They just want to work make money and be idle at home . I think these type of girls should never get married . I wonder the future of their kids . I don’t know why these girls are not ready to anything . How can someone not be ready to learn a new thing or do in their own way in a simple way .People think going for work and making money is great thing than the house . If the house is gone everything is gone . The mother has to know to keep the family well .So everything starts from the mothers . 

So let me know have you seen girls like this ? Are there any in your family or surroundings ? What are your thoughts about these girls . 

I know I am a girl but I don’t like these type of behaviours . I strongly believe that we have to understand and learn families and stay happy too . 

Vishu 2022

Hi !!

Happy Vishu / Tamil puthandu vaazhthukkal to all ;) 

Vishu has always been a sweet memory in my mind . Those days my mother used to keep a simple small vishu Kani with the vegetables and fruits taken from our backyard . We get tomatoes , bananas , ashgourd , pumpkin , coconut and cucumber from our backyard . Sometimes we get snake gourd if we are lucky .Konna Poo ( yellow flower ) need not say we just pluck it from the trees . My mother used to arrange the Kani and close my eyes and show the Kani in the morning nearly by 3 am to 4 am time . After that dad gives 101 rupees as kaineetam. At that time it was a big thing . Then we all take bath wear new clothes and go to the Krishna temple to see Kani there . Then a small vishu Sadhya at home . Neighbors call us and give kaineetam . A day collection would be 300 to 400 rupees . We save it and buy some Coloring or school items . These are the memories I have . 

Today I arranged a vishu Kani at my home with some art work of Tungli . Here are the pictures of the Kani . Tungli enjoyed seeing the Kani . I played the role of my mother today . Whatever we say about parenting or see all the modern videos on parenting , we all end doing the same parenting as our parents did . Atleast some . That’s the reality . 

Let me know how you liked it and how was your vishu in childhood or now . 

Bye ! 

Morning 4 am 

Can see Tungli art work in the wall :) 

Day light vishu Kani 

 

Life of Art ?

 Hello ! 

Advance Vishu & Tamil Puthandu wishes to all :) 

I think any kind of art is under estimated or under rated today . I will tell you why I thought of writing this . As you all know I am  an artist myself .  People think a million times  to pay fee for quality art classes . They need less fee and great quality art . 

Let’s come to Bharatanatyam . I would say this is not an easy deal . Let it be from class fee , stage shows whatever may be it’s so much of effort ,people , practice and talent there . 

Let’s talk about vocals . You can’t learn the basics from YouTube or any cinema . 

Like wise take any art . 

I am someone who believes art as the greatest blessing . 

Anybody can go for work but not everyone can bring or be connected to art . It’s like lord Brahma directly sending you with his blessings . 

Never bargain to a teacher . 

Now , let me tell you there were days when art was taught for free or for less fee . I studied vocals by paying 20 rupee fee per month. Today you have to pay minimum 500 for 1 hour class 

For classical dance you have to pay minimum 3000 for an hour of learning from a well know artist . 

For guitar it’s 800-1000 per hour . 

I would say . Know what you can afford and prioritise your interests and then join for classes . Let it be any art . 

Those were the days when art was taught out of passion . These days many make a lot of money with it . 

Always be a good student and a great guru with reasonable charges . You need not teach for free but must think from the other side as well and be reasonable.  

Post in your views on this . 

Are you a minimalist?

  Hello ! How are you all doing ? I am happy to know many people from my previous post . Thank you . 

Today I just thought of writing about living with needed items . What is your view on minimalism ? Everywhere it’s minimalist videos and related videos . 

Are you a minimalist ? Have you heard about this concept in younger days ? How was life then ? 

If you are a minimalist how did you start the journey ? 

Hi

Hello People ! How are you all . I hope you are getting better as each day pass by . Today I am posting here to know about the country that you live in and what are the best parts of living there . I was just curious to know how people in another lead their life and what can I learn from each one . 

I know that there are many people who read blogs and enjoy writing . If you are one among them do let me know . I think it would be interesting to read and know how life is in another place . 

Much love and take care 

Chit chat about Republic Day with Tungli

Happy Republic Day to all ! 

Today I thought of sharing my memories of Republic Day when I was a child and what I tell to Tungli .

Republic Day is always a happy day for us because we know that we don’t have classes and can go to see and get the chocolates after flag hoisting . I remember the parade in dd channel going on and meantime all the work at home also will be going on . I was a little sad on not wearing colour dress and going to school for flag hoisting but later I understood why it was always uniform . I used to walk to my school through the highway those days . Now the scene is not like this . Counting how many chocolates each got is an other fun time . 

Today due to covid and as the schools are closed Tungli doesn’t have a chance to experience this type of a Republic Day. 

Today morning I taught her vande mataram  song, Jana gana mana and how we used to go to school . I asked her the flag colours and to tell a little bit about india . I am glad that she remembers what I taught her and also remembers the flag that she made for Independence Day at Chennai . She said I look like lotus flower :) 

After all this chatting she asked me do they sing Jana gana mana and hoist flag for your birthday as today is my star birthday. I felt it really cute !!