Inevitable New Year Resolutions

My resolutions for 2015 are to accomplish the resolutions of 2014 which I should have done in 2013 because I promised them in 2012 and planned them in 2011….

Well… the years could certainly go backwards as I count the umpteen new years that passed me by, where I had diligently prepared exhaustive lists of do’s and don’ts, should do’s and could do’s that filled crisp, white pages of diaries that I invariably managed to misplace. Just the other day, as I was cleaning out my book shelf, out came a blue hard bound diary with gilt edged pages, of 2010, that was stashed away with some of my ‘should-read-again’ favorite books.  I opened it excitedly and guess what! There was this list of my resolution for the year 2010 listed out on the first page itself, in my best handwriting. It went something like this…

1. Lose weight
2. Enroll in the gym
3. Start yoga
4. Snack on salads and fruits.
5. Cut out sweets from diet.
6. Go for a walk daily.
7. Tidy up my cupboard often.
8. Get more organized.
9. Spend time gardening.
10. Find a new hobby.

Ha! Looks like some resolutions never change! If I were to create a list today, I am certain that it would contain more or less similar goals with the weight loss goal being foremost among them.  

For one, the ‘weighty issue’ that I have had to confront since God knows when, has never been solved till now. My ideal weight is still eons away, very much beyond sight, but hopeful and optimistic that I am, I still ponder diligently over ways and means of losing my stubborn flab. Was it King Solomon who said, “Try, try, try again”?

Every child of this generation knows that diminishing the blubber requires a strong control over the diet. That is exactly when the sensible mind in me listed out the goal of cutting out off sweets from my diet. Each year, the first two weeks of January sees me as a totally controlled person, careful about each morsel that enters my mouth. I stock up my fridge with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and all the good stuff which promises a stomach full of healthy calories. Then comes a Sunday, where someone walks in with a box full of black forest pastries and forces me to take a teeny weeny bite. That’s it. Then it is a long wait till the coming January 1^st, where I restart my no-sweet resolution.  

Looking back at the year 2010, I think I really deserved a pat on my back because true to my list of goals created, I remember having enrolled both in a gym and the yoga class. Every single day, for about 6 months, as the clock struck 6 in the morning, I would drive down to the yoga class, sleepy eyed, but filled with enthusiasm, and do bouts of surya namaskars, yoga mudras’, vipareethakaranis’, and a whole lot of other asanas under the watchful eye of the zero-sized instructor who would be comfortably sitting on the pedestal, blurting out instructions. I must say that the only thing that I lost in those six months was an extra hour of sleep that I would have otherwise enjoyed. True to my Gemini blood, I gave it up in about 6 months’ time…  The gym was another story altogether, where a bunch of like-figured, not-so-petite ladies soon formed a ‘bum chum’ association and very soon, someone or the other would always be bringing some homemade goodies to eat, just so that we didn’t get too bored on the treadmill or elliptical trainer. In about 3 months time, I was ready to give that up too, and my gain this time was quite a bit of valuable bonds of friendship that is still going strong, along with a few inevitable kilos.

The other things in my list had more or less the same fate and will be a subject for another day. But I must say one thing about myself. Being a diehard optimist and a stubborn one at that, I never give up on creating resolutions.

Today, I am sitting in front of an open brand new diary, listing out my resolution for 2015. Inevitably, the first in the list is a goal to ‘lose weight’.

Thank you, Sunitha

My first interaction with Sunitha was through the phone, when she called me for a stall space at the exhibition that I organize with a view to empower women and encourage entrepreneurship skills among them. There was this hesitant voice on the other side, very timid, apologetic and unsure, and I could barely make out what she was trying to convey. A member of the Kudumbasree unit in Palakkad, she wanted a space at our event to display and sell her plants.

In between a hectic schedule of running around distributing invites and posters, coordinating with the decorator and printer, answering umpteen calls from participants regarding the event, injecting more enthusiasm into the team, and solving a lot other unscheduled challenges, I actually found this particular call a bit unwelcome, especially since the event was scheduled to be held the followin

g day… barely 18 hours away! For one, all the stalls had already been let out. Space being a severe constraint, I couldn’t accommodate more. Secondly, I had already given away a couple of stalls to Kudumbasree groups to display their wares, at no cost, and I felt that my social responsibility factor towards trying to empower women of the lower income strata had been met with. I politely, but firmly conveyed my inability to accommodate her, and let the matter go.

 Little did I know of her persuasive skills! The next day, just before the inauguration of the exhibition, there was this frail, young woman in a maroon saree, who identified herself as Sunitha, pleading for a small space to keep her plants. I didn’t have the heart to refuse her, and somehow managed to provide a space outside the hall, along with the food stalls. I noticed that she had brought in a variety of Gerbera plants along with packets of seeds that she arranged with expertise on the table.

Each time I passed her stall, I noticed the smiling and persuasive manner in which she was interacting with potential customers. Not surprisingly, the load on the table lessened considerably within two days of the event, and I could see the happiness in her eyes as she packed up her remaining plants on the closing day of the sale.

But what surprised me was the fact that before she left, she came up to me with a huge smile and thanking me for providing her a space, she handed me a big bunch of Gerbera plants wrapped in a few sheets of newspaper. My attempts to pay for them were futile, and all I could do was stand watching this thin, fair woman walk away, head held high, happy and contented.

It’s been nearly a month since I met Sunitha. As I stepped out into the courtyard this morning, there was this beautiful Gerbera flower standing all proud and tall, blooming away happily for the whole world to admire.

Wonder why I keep seeing Sunitha’s smiling face in this delicate flower…

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu

Hope and faith comes into our lives at all times, unawares…

A few months back, I had the opportunity to visit my almamater, along with a few friends. Our main motive was to regain a sense of ‘belonging’ that would arise out of meeting familiar faces of the yesteryears…

We chanced to meet the current principal of the college, a pious nun with a smiling and sociable attitude.  Sitting on comfortable chairs in her office, I must say that her extremely positive attitude and unassuming personality really impressed me. While taking leave, she handed us each a string of beads, like a small bracelet, saying “Carry this with you at all times. This will protect you from all problems and challenges in life.”

It was just a simple bracelet comprised of some cheap plastic beads with a small cross, on which there was a picture of Jesus Christ. I may not even have given it a second glance, but the manner in which it was gifted to us made all the difference. The way her eyes sparkled, the way she truly believed in the power of these beads, the genuine blessings which came out of her mind, the smile which radiated in her bright eyes, and the joy she experienced while giving us this ‘protective charm’, made a huge difference.

I do not believe even for an instant that the beads contain any power within itself to safeguard anyone.  But power there was… in her positive words and thoughts, in her strong belief, and in her genuine desire of wanting us to stay protected. That is when I realized that genuine thoughts and words are indeed powerful.

I do not carry that charm with me. I don’t find the need to. That now adorns a small globe on my office table, where I see it every morning, and it is a reminder to pass on a silent prayer to protect my family, friends, and all living souls of this world. I pray that they stay safe and sound wherever they are and that they experience a lot of happiness and contentment in their lives…  

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu!

Mannarashala Sree Nagaraja Temple...The divine abode of snakes

I have always found my peace in the midst of nature. 

As a small girl, i  was extremely fascinated by the various serpent deities which existed in the midst of wild growing trees and shrubs in a corner of the compound of the house in our small village. With a great sense of curiosity and awe, I often used to follow an aunt of mine who religiously lit a lamp in front of these deities during dusk.

The sacred groves of Mannarashala temple

Sacred groves were very much a part of Kerala till not so long ago. Today, it is a fact that modernization and disintegration of the joint family system has spelt the death knell for such sprawling sacred woods filled with wild growing plants and trees that used to house a wide variety of flora and fauna. Out of the handful of such groves which exists today, the Sree Nagaraja Temple at Mannarashala is certainly one of the most well known and well maintained temples in Kerala devoted to serpent worship.

The backwaters of Alappuzha

It had been quite some time since the desire to visit the Mannarashala temple had taken root in my mind. After several unsuccessful attempts, my dream finally materialized and i found myself traveling to Mannarashala by road.. a trip which revealed the magnitude of the beauty of God's own Country! The intermittent rains which lashed heavily at times, only served to accentuate the pleasure of the drive. I am truly blessed to be living in one of the most beautiful parts of the world...

The Mannarashala Sree Nagaraja temple

Huge creepers supported by ropes

I am truly grateful that I could visit this historic temple of Mannarashala which still retains its old world charm and divinity. Although quite a bit of modernization has made its presence felt through improved facilities for the devotees who throng here, a good part of this holy abode of serpents still retain its original beauty thanks to the typical Kerala style architecture, wild growing trees and creepers growing undisturbed in sprawling 

acres of land since centuries! Not a root or branch or twig is allowed to be cut and if at all they cross across walk ways, they are given proper support so as to aid them to grow

undisturbed.

The powerful serpent deity, Sree Nagaraja is worshiped in the main temple along with Sree Sarpayakshi Amma. Smaller temples in the vicinity is dedicated to deities like Sree Naga Chamundi and Sree Nagayakshi. 

Serpent deities in granite found on the small boundary walls of the sacred woods

tortoises basking away lazily in the pond

The walk through the temple grounds through small pathways, either side of which exists thick, wild growing woods, was certainly fascinating. Small ponds were to be seen at certain places and in one such pond, we could find a lot of tortoises basking away in the sunlight which peeped in after a spate of heavy rain.

The temple pond

The sacred groves where trees and plants grow wild and undisturbed

A temple of a smaller serpent deity within the compound

A tree trunk that has fallen over the walkway, kept on supports

The temple pond surrounded by trees.. another view

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A small shop within the temple compound which caters to tourists

The 'Mana' within the temple compound where the Valliya Amma lives.

What predominantly differentiates this temple from others is the presence of a women priestess (called 'Valliya amma')who heads it and who leads the various poojas and rituals in the temple. The eldest daughter in law of the family inherits this revered position. 

The legend behind this can be found at the website of the temple. 

The 'prasadam' counter

'Navoru pattu' in progress

Devotees throng the the temple to seek the blessings of the Serpent lord

The huge tree within the temple which has been existing there since centuries

The 'vazhipadu' counter outside the temple

The temple pond as seen from outside. It was filled with crores of fishes!

The bower which  has acquired its shape through the ages

The Sree Nagaraja temple, Mannarashala

The  Nagalinga tree with its fruits shaped like clay balls.

I wish i could have stayed there the whole day, drinking in the raw and rustic beauty of the quaint temple steeped in mythological tales, and its wild natural premises... but return I must, to the lap of civilization, where I need to go through the cycle of Karma that is assigned to me in this lifetime. But it is with renewed vigour and a peace filled mind that I retrace my steps, and my heart reverberates  with an unspoken promise that I will be back again some other day... some other time...

Wanderlust strikes again - A Drive to Silent Valley and Kanjirappuzha

I am reminded of a quote that i read somewhere...

"The  impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life".

This morning, as i got out of bed, it was this very impulse which dominated my thoughts. I wanted nothing else than to go for a long drive into the lap of nature, drinking in an abundance of greenery. My son, Varun, suggested a drive to Silent Valley, which was about 60 plus km from Palakkad. Packing a quick picnic lunch, we set off enthusiastically for a day of absolute relaxation...

In my opinion, a travelogue is better expressed through pictures,.. so here goes...


The route from Palakkad town to Kalladikode, where we broke journey to pick up Varun's friend, Bimal, was in itself very green and picturesque. Tall and shady trees lined the 'could-have-been-better' roads and majestic mountains stood tall and proud, with silvery waterfalls cascading from among its sloping greens. It was a perfect day by all means and i certainly looked forward to a fulfilling day ahead...

Palakkad Town

Twists and turns through winding, narrow roads brought us very soon to a world of lush greenery filled with trees, shrubs, rocks, waterfalls, creepers, monkeys, butterflies, and a whole lot of beauty. It was as though each hairpin bend elevated us to a greener paradise...

A view from the road towards Silent Valley

A small creek, the water of which flows across the road

A steep cliff which revealed itself suddenly after a hairpin bend

The picturesque road towards Silent Valley

Lush greenery on either side of the winding road

A signboard erected on the side of the road

Silvery streaks of water cascading down a cliff

A small creek flowing in between the lush trees, shrubs, and rocks

waterfalls are always exciting...

We had to end our journey at Mukkali, which has a forest office where one needs to obtain permission to proceed further to Silent Valley national park, a good 25 plus km more upward. Being an off-road journey, one can only go there by means of Jeeps which ply frequently within a stipulated time. It was something we had anticipated and hence there was no disappointment. Instead, we turned back and found a picturesque spot where we wolfed down our sandwich lunch in an absolutely relaxed manner. 

Being a bit too early to head back home, or perhaps hungry for more beauty, we decided to drive to Kanjirapuzha reservoir area, which was actually very close to Bimal's house. It was a pucca off road adventure as the car went through bumpy, non-existent roads, but i must say it was certainly worth all the effort, because the journey revealed a lot more of the raw beauty of 'God's own country', 

Check out these pics taken on the way to Kanjirapuzha dam area.

The narrow road to Kanjirapuzha dam area. This area abounds in acres of Rubber plantations.

A splendid view of the tall, majestic mountains covered in greenery and touching the clouds.

The steadily flowing stream which finds its way to the huge Kanjirapuzha dam reservoir

A view of the Kanjirapuzha reservoir

Driving further across, we came to a small path which led down to the water.

This is where the path led us to... It was like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

I was left speechless at this awesome scene in front of me... I am grateful that i was able to be part of this beautiful place for some time. The peace and quiet of the whole area, the blue-green mountains surrounding it, and the relaxing calmness of the wide expanse of water, certainly filled my heart to the brim and i felt truly one with nature!

A house of prayer constructed in a place abounding with divinity!

The gravel and sand filled river bed seen through the crystal clear water. I liked the way light reflects on the water and gives it a special glow.