Real GOOD Bye

More than a year I had been having these white rose plants in my balcony. I always liked white rose than any other colour. Watering these plants is the first work that I do every day. I had not allowed any one to enter my balcony. I have never allowed anyone to pluck the flowers from them or even touch them. They became like my pet.
This particular rose plant had stopped growing. I did not seen any new leaf or flowers in it for the past 8 months. It had already lost all its old leaves and just the stem was remaining in the pot. I was sure that it will not grow anymore. But still I was watering it daily.
My parents were shifting to Chennai from Bangalore. Now I need to give away all these plants. I called my friend Parasara to take them all.
For the past 2 day there had been heavy rain. Its the next day he is coming in the evening to get the plants.
I saw this - It had started to sproute a new branch.
Its starting a new life in a new place.
It was really a "GOOD bye" for that white rose.

Ethanaiyo Kalam Thalli -- Nenjorum Panithuli

I love the night time. I feel too relaxing to walk at night. I spread my arms in the air like a flying eagle and face the sky. It would be really nice. While doing so, most time I sing this ‘ethanaiyo kalam thalli -- nenjorum panithuli’ from the movie ‘vettaiyadu vilayadu’. Whenever I hear that song I used to feel happy. Those are really wonderful lyrics. Lyricist Thamarai is one my favourites. Shafi was the person much annoyed about this action of mine. He had seen me doing this a lot of time. And at some point of time, when I see the sky he would ask me if I am gonna sing those lyrics :-P hehe. A few other friends too know this. They too make fun of this action of mine. The weather before rain is also wonderful( in fact entire world likes it). That’s really an amazing surrounding. I like to do this at that time. There are mixed emotions – sad, happy, fun, joy and everything and everything. The cool wind blowing on u, its superb. The mind gets free from thoughts. I feel free like a person without any commitments and responsibilities. Friends make fun of this. Still it is fun and joy. Now I do this even to irritate them :-p .
Try it................. 

The feel of Chennai

Summer just starts. After I had moved to Bangalore never felt so warm. The sun is shining even at 7:00 AM.The temperature is rising to make records. I came to Bangalore on 9th of July 2007. Since then today (20-Feb-2010) is the first day I did not use water heater for taking bath. I feel the Chennai in Bangalore. I had lived in 4 cities and had liked all four. This warm weather is annoying the people of Bangalore. But I love this. It brings my memories about Chennai. Chennai - the place where I leant what is joy, what is friendship, what is fun, what is love, what is pain, what is hatred, what is education, what is engineering, what is laughter, what is tears, what is jealousy, what is dream, what is sleeplessness, what is fight,what is betrayal and all and all and all. Its the place that taught me everything. My mind is filled with those days.
Most people around me hate this weather and I love this weather. This is gonna last for few months :-) .

Ashamed:

Now I am in Bangalore working in a software firm that is very popular in India. Every week I use to go to a pani poori shop, just opposite to Big Bazaar near my residence. This is shop is very small, just run by a single guy having a tripod stand with his stuff on that. I am a regular customer and so this pani poori wala gives me more pooris that he gives to others. Sometimes if I am the first customer of the day I used to get 2 plate pani pooris at the rate of 1 plate. I always enjoyed the benefits of a regular customer. But sometimes I have seen this guy giving Rs.100 or 200 to the cops roaming in that area. When asked the reason he said that all small shops in that street were giving money to cops daily. In return the cops do not give ticket to those vehicles parked in ‘No parking area’ and come to these shop. I was thinking how he could pay such amount with this shop.
Last week I went to that shop (29-01-2010). There was no crowd in that shop and as usual he gave me some extra pani pooris. While speaking I just asked him how much he earns per month. He said 35K. My eyes widened. I again asked him what he said. He again repeated 35K.
WHAAAAAT ? DID HE SAY THAT ? IS IT WAT I HEARD?
I am shocked. I am stunned. That guy said 35K was only his profit excluding his investment and he added that it was the minimum income for him. Seem his income depends on the festivals of that month. During 2008 Diwali he had earned 65K per month and it was his maximum salary in his life. I dint know what to speak. He does not pay tax. He is not educated. In my age he earns a minimum of 35K per month. My on-hand salary is pretty less than this. He prepares the stuff for 3 hours in his home . His business times are from 4PM to 10PM. Every day he works for 9 hours to earn this. I work for 9.15 hours daily, pay tax and earn less than him. He has a high end mobile. But I am not supposed to bring a mobile with camera/video recording / audio recording (company rule). I had thought that I am earning much that some of my friends. No wonder, he pays Rs.6000 to the cops every month. Are u ashamed? sob sob sob.....................

The lion became a joker

It was long time back. I was a 1st standard student studying at Madurai. The annual day function generally takes place in the beginning of the academic year. Prizes would be distributed to those students who had performed good in studies or sports in the previous year. There used to be some stage shows also. It generally happens that stage shows turn out the way it is not expected. And hear is one :P.
Just into 1st standard. My class teacher had selected me for a stage show. So this is the plot:
Its a circus show. A student would be standing as the circus ring master. There would be students dressed like rabbit, elephant, lion, bear etc. Each animal had to perform something on the stage.On the command of the ring master the lions would come one by one and climb to a stool. There would be three stools placed nearby. The lions would move from one stool to another and after the third stool it would get down. Then it had to go around the ring master and move to the corner of the stage, which is the final position for all animals. The stools were short enough so that no one would fall down or get hurt.
I had to be one of the lions. We had practiced well. There were 3 to 4 rehearsals. But the biggest mistake was we were not in our animal costume for any of the rehearsals. My costume was designed by my teacher and mother. It was a dress made of yellow cloth (of course you know the colour of lions :P ). Everything was fine. They had planned to use a face mask of lion. Coconut fibre was stitched on the corners of the mask, as the lions hair.
It was the Annual day. I was in the queue waiting for my time. The guy before me, also dressed as a lion had just entered the stage. I was still outside the stage and had to enter the stage when the guy before me had gone to the stage corner. It was sweating. I just raised the mask so that I could get some good air. My class teacher saw me. She came near me and pulled my mask down so that it was resting on my face. But, by the way she pulled, some coconut fibre particles fell on my eyes. I was not able to open my eyes. By the time the person before me completed his part. My teacher pushed me into the stage without knowing that I was not able to see anything. I tried to tell her but it went in vain. I am into the stage. I stood in the same place for some time and called my teacher. She was not able to hear me. I could hear people laughing. I decided to proceed :D .Imagine if you are blindfolded and pushed into a stage. You don’t know where exactly you are standing :P . I started to crawl like lion but was swinging my hand to find the stool :P. But it was not the way I thought. I was in some other direction already. Till today I don’t know where all I moved in that stage :D . After some search something hit on my hand. It was the stool. But I had moved my hands fast that I had pushed the stool somewhere. The crowd was laughering from the time I entered the stage :D . All were laughing at me. I understood that I can’t continue. I stood up on my legs. Then I raised my mask to my head. After rubbing my eyes I found myself a little away from the ring master. I looked the corner where the other animals had gathered at last. The volunteer near them signalled me to come there. I again wore the mask and ran towards them, still half blind :D . I was waiting for some one to pull me out from that corner so that I can take of my mask. They had already taken photo of the animals gathered in the corner. Looks like I had ran too far that I was only half visible in that photo. (The encircled lion in the photo --right most corner is me :) ) It was too embarrassing that time, but sounds funny now :D .

Holy sign on Forehead

So here goes my first blog: Its about a interesting fact that I like:
Holy or Religious sign on Forehead:
It has been a tradition in some religions, particularly Hinduism to have some sign on the forehead. The sign is not unique. This varies depends on the gender or the ancestral origin.
In India the general practice is ladies bear a bindi on their forehead particularly on the region between the eyebrows. The guys have sign based on their ancestral origin. They have Tilak. Some people apply tilak as a single vertical like starting between the eyebrows and till the upper forehead. Some people apply three horizontal line, covering both the temples of the forehead. A few have the practice of applying a single streak of horizontal line small enough to cover the region between the eyebrows.
Ever wondered why people have these sign on their forehead? Is there really any use? All these practice has some scientific background. Believe it.
What ever they apply on the forehead, its done so that it always covers the region between the eyebrows.
In terms of yoga, human body has seven major chakras. The second from top is the Ajna chakra which is located slightly above the point of intersection of eyebrows. This regulates our sleep. This point is maintained cool to have a proper sleep. Bindi or tilak prevents this chakra from being exposed to heat.
In terms of Ayurvedha this point is the interface of energy of human body and our surrounding. So this point is maintained cool to avoid energy leak.
In terms of acupuncture this point is considered for treating tiredness, headache and emotional stress.
Tilak or bindi are made up of Kunkum or clay or ash or calcium. Calcium and clay helps keep this point cool. Kunkum is like a insulator shielding this point from sun. The three horizontal lines with ash on the forehead covering the temples try to absorb the moisture from head when we have cold. It helps keep the Ajna point cool and also shields from sun light and heat. Ash also has a additional use. Ash is majorly composed of five major materials which acts as a repellent for most of the common insects such as mosquito, fly etc. The Hindu saints who live in temple use ash so that they are not harmed by any insects while they meditate.
This point is given much care in scientifically proved massage therapy and Spa treatments which were originated in the western countries. In spa, warm oil is continuously poured on this point. Oil acts as coolant and absorbs the heat. In massage therapy this point is massaged with the thumb.
They call this as the third eye, as Lord Shivas third eye is located at this point and it leads to destruction if exposed. So for spiritual reasons to cool down the third eye the thilak and bindi are insisted.
Anyways what ever we believe in – yoga or spirituality or acupuncture or spa or massage treatment or Ayurvedha- This practice of bindi and tilak will make us feel better. And as Indians we should be proud, having found the significance of this point first than anyone.