The mahakumbabhishekam of vadapalani (Chennai-Tamilnadu-India) Sri.Murugan Temple was performed today (30.8.07) between 8.30 am and 9.20 am in the presence of important diginitaries of the state and renowned musician Sirkazhi Shri.Sivasidambaram. At about 9.00 am kumbabhishekam was performed to all the Rajakopurams(Main towers) and the kalasams of towers of all deities including the main deity Lord Muruga. Lakhs of devotees visited the temple and participated in the above important spiritual event and sought the blessings of Lord.Muruga. The event was telecast live in an impeccable manner by DD Podhigai-Doordarshan, the Country's Public Broadcaster by deploying multiple cameras.

Superstitions

I was getting late. I have been looking for my favourite folder for past 15 minutes but I could not trace it. It was 7 O’ Clock in the evening and I was still at my college. I must get back home quickly and prepare for my trip to Delhi the next day for participating in a conference. I am a psychology professor and I was to deliver a presentation in the conference. I am particularly very sentimental in nature and this folder is my lucky one as wherever I have carried this I was successful. Al last I could locate it between a heap of files. Feeling relieved, I dashed to the door. I was about to lock some one in the corridor sneezed heavily. I was terribly annoyed as I could not wait any longer but at the same time I was not brave enough to leave when some one sneezed. Sneeze is considered a bad omen in our place. Having waited for 2 minutes I locked my chamber and left office.

There was thick traffic on the road. The spate of rain in the afternoon has lead to water logging on the roads and delayed the traffic. After 45 minutes of restless driving I reached home.

Quickly I had a wash, changed my clothes and started packing things. After collecting all the things I needed for travel, I was looking for my favourite blue cabin bag, which I normally carry. This too is one of my lucky bags. I was getting desperate, as I could not locate it. Seeing my anxiety my wife asked what I am looking for. When I answered her she coolly replied that she has given it to her brother as he was going on an excursion organized by his college. I became wild but could not show my anger at her as I pretty well know my limitations and she is the first one who disregards my sentiments as superstitions. I chose to carry my office bag itself as the tour was only for a couple of days. After supper I kept the alarm for 4 O’ clock in the morning as I had to catch the early morning flight.

As usual the alarm did not go off as my son had played with it. I got up half an hour late, got ready and hired a taxi. A black cat crossed the cab in a flash. I thought I had it. Had I been driving I would have waited for a few minutes, as black cats are inauspicious. The driver did not bother and he took me well in time.

At the ticket counter I could not have my choice seat as everything was taken. I was allotted seat number 13, which is obviously not my choice, as you can easily guess. Surprisingly, the journey was uneventful.

I reached the conference hall just in time and put up my laptop. I was worried about the presentation I was to make as all signs since yesterday were not in my favour.

The chairperson introduced me to the audience and I started my presentation on “ Superstitions – Dump Them! Science-Welcome it !! ”

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RAIN

It was a cool night. Since evening it was raining heavily. I like rain very much. Looking at rain calms me. It removes all the stress. It binds me with nature. After supper I retired to bed soon. Rainy nights are my favourite and I wanted to sleep cuddled in the bed with wife and children. In the middle of the night contrary to my plans the phone rang. It sounded bad. I hesitantly took the receiver. My aunt was on the other end. It took some time to understand her. She was crying and could not speak properly. It made me fully awake and I started enquiring what went wrong. Her daughter she said had been admitted to the hospital on illness and she was in a serious condition. I was really disturbed as her daughter was very young and got married a few years ago only. She wanted my presence and I decided to leave.

I came out of the house with umbrella and raincoat. The rain was steady and strong. In the opposite building under construction I could see goats resting so close to each other. They must be enjoying the weather. I walked in the ankle deep water. There were no auto-rickshaws in sight. I could see one at the end of the road. The driver was sitting in the entrance of a shop fully wrapped in a shawl and smoking. I asked him if he would come to the hospital that is 5 kms away. He hesitantly agreed but demanded a ransom. I had not much choice but to agree.

By the time I reached the hospital I was half drenched. The rain-coat or the rickshaw cover were not of much help. The sight at the hospital was very discouraging. The cousin was indeed very sick and was on artificial ventilation. She was suffering from some peculiar disease and Pneumonia. The doctors were not very hopeful but trying. My uncle and aunt were completely shaken. I could not console them. I was just a silent spectator and helpless. Still I reassured them that she would make it. I was sincerely praying for her well-being. After a couple of hours the doctor came out saying she is responding which brought some relief in our minds. As time passed things seemingly improved. I just went out for tea. I had to force my uncle and aunt to have tea. It was 5 O’ clock in the morning. My cousin was breathing easy. I told them I would be back in the daytime and left. The rain had stopped by then.

I returned home with some relief.

A couple of days passed.

I got a call from the hospital. It brought the bad news. My cousin had passed away. I was terribly shocked as it was not expected.

I attended the funeral at her husband’s place.

I returned home. It started raining again. I could see some kids threw their hands in open collecting raindrops in their palm. It made me to recollect my childhood days. We have played together out in the rain, floated paper ships, and fought whenever each other’s ships had sunk. Now everything is over. It cannot be rewound as movie tape. I was very upset. Tears rolled from my eyes.

I do not like the rain any more!

True Happiness ?

I had a small errand at my native place, which is a tiny town in south India and I went there last weekend. My business was over quickly and in the spare time I visited an old time friend of mine. He lives in a humble house. One has to mind his head while entering the house. As you cross the small hall you enter the main hall where you find the swing. When I entered his house I found 2 of his children playing and the eldest one reading. Many broken toys were thrown here and there and they were not in their best of their costumes. The youngest one looked at me in bewilderment and shouted towards the inside of the house calling “appa”, “amma”, “look! Some one has come”. Then the other two looked up. The eldest one recognized me and shouted “Appa, Your friend Raju uncle has come”. In the mean time both my friend and his wife came from inside to the hall and received me very warmly. My friend was apparently dusting the house with a towel wrapped on his head. They were little surprised by my visit. I gave the kids the sweets and chocolates I had brought and fruits and flowers to his wife. The kids left whatever they were doing and shouted in joy!

I sat on the swing along with my friend and started chatting with him about the present and the past. We fondly remembered our school days. He told me he is still with the shop selling coffee powder. His financial status has not improved much, which was evident from the look of his house. His wife brought hot coffee in stainless steel tumbler. As I sipped it I just looked around. The walls needed a good coat of painting. Even the swing was screeching as it swung. There was a very old table fan in one corner. A Black and White TV set without cable. No tube lights, only incandescent lamps that too very few.

He took me to the rear side. He poured water from the well, which was very cool. I washed my face. There were small plantations, a banana tree and a couple of coconut trees. He cut two large banana leaves presumable for lunch instead of using plates. I told him that I would leave shortly and could not stay for lunch. He did not listen and insisted me to stay for lunch. In the mean time his kid went out running and returned with a small pack of some grocery.

Soon we had lunch. It was very simple but delicious with papad, sambar, rasam, curries and curd. His kids shouted demanding curd but they were silenced by their mother. I understood that the curd was only specially brought for me. It was very embarrassing. Soon it started raining and the kids started playing in the rain. They floated paper ships. Their father’s scolding did not move them. I left after a while, when rain subsided, bidding goodbye to them. The children screamed in unison wishing goodbye to me. The youngest one gave me a small toy car whose front wheels were missing as a parting gift. I was moved by the gesture. His father pushed him aside. He took out his age old cycle and insisted on giving me lift to the bus stop. Soon I got the bus and parted. I could see tears in my friend’s face though he was trying to smile. I traveled in the bus with a heavy heart.

I was mulling over my trip to my friend’s house. He is not rich but he is very happy. His children are having good fun. They enjoy nature and don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy. They are a close knit family. They don’t go out to Multiplexes or eat outside. They at best go to the biggest temple in the town, yet they have a good outing.

I have an apartment in the city and a car too. I work 10 hours a day and travel 3 hours a day. My wife too works. When my kids return home they don’t find their mother or father at home. We are unable to help them with their home works. They don’t get to play much. Nor they get to enjoy nature. They remain glued to the TV if they are at home. I work on my computer. My wife remains busy with her household work. We talk less. Our weekends are spent in the bedroom as the weeks are tiresome and we seldom take our children out. We eat junk food. We have enough money. But are we happy?… I do not know! I wish I lived at my native place.

Looks can be deceptive

It was pay-day. After having a hectic day at office, I was returning home in the suburban train. The journey would take an hour. As usual it was highly crowded with passengers. There were also vendors selling pens, combs, snacks and some plastic items. I was drenched in the sweat, so are the other passengers. The weather was highly humid and hot. I had to bear the unpleasant condition for an hour. As the train crossed an over bridge I could see the traffic on the road and some very high-end cars. I envied those executives going in chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles and wondered when I could travel like them. A bunch of people got out in the next station and twice as much got in. I was pushed towards a corner. It was difficult to hold on to my bag and the train at the same time.

A couple of stations later the crowd reduced a little and a bunch of youngsters got into the train. There were three girls and half a dozen boys. One of the girls was looking very pretty. Her eyes very expressive and she had a dimple in the cheeks. All were wearing faded jeans and tops. They engaged in an animated conversation and bursting out in laughter every now and then. The whole compartment’s attention was on them. Though every passenger was engaged in some conversation or other they did not fail to keep their eyes on them. The atmosphere around the youngsters was feverish. They were singing, dancing and teasing each other.

Suddenly the pretty girl made a move as though to jump out of the train and two boys near her just prevented her. I was aghast to see that. Every one was stunned and horrified by her act. It was not at all expected. She started sobbing uncontrollably and her friends tried to console her. A group of passengers joined them. They were scolding her and trying to find out what went wrong. There was little bit of commotion. Soon the next stop came and the youngsters got out very quickly and rushed out.

The train started to move and the passengers were criticizing them. Suddenly one of the passengers who tried to help the youngsters shouted, ‘My wallet! My wallet is lost!. Some one pick pocketed me’. By reflex other passengers who joined him to find out what was wrong with the youngsters also shouted saying their wallets were also lost. I clinged onto my bag. Fortunately it was safe. Soon we realized that the youngsters were the culprits. But then it was too late. They had diverted the attention very nicely to loot and many had fallen prey to their tactics. I have never witnessed any thing like this before.

I peeped out of the window and shocked to see that the train had already crossed my destination. I also realized that in the last 45 minutes I had completely forgot about the adverse weather. Quickly I gathered my self and alighted in the next stop. I took another train and returned home.

On my way back I was wondering that if I travel by car I would certainly miss such interesting (!) events. I also decided not to loose my bearings by looking at very pretty things.