Rathina's View Space
TRAVEL | CULTURE | FOOD
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Air Arabia Mumbai – Sharjah
Flying to international destinations from Tier 2 cities in India is a pain in the neck. You need to fly to the nearest metro with an international...
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Solo Travel
In my recent long distance travels whilst returning home by train the gentleman next seat asked me what took me to Kannur? “I was keen to explore...
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Chettinad doors to a faded glory
An edited version of this article was published in the February’15 issue of Travel + Leisure India and Southasia magazine as Chettinad’s treasure chest A beautiful Kolam...
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Goa paint me Red
An edited version of this article was published in the Feb’15 Vistara in-flight magazine. The waves lapped at my feet as the golden disc slipped down the...
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In love with Devon
An edited version of this article was published in Travel + Leisure India and South Asia magazine (December’14) It was my second trip to United Kingdom after...
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Dandeli Diaries – memorable experiences
Dandeli had been my abode for three days and I had enjoyed every moment of it. Three years back I had visited Dandeli but then it was just...
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Borough Market for the Global Cuisine
I climbed the stairs to step out of London Bridge’s tube station. A cold draught blew in and I zipped my jacket. It indicated I was getting...
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Balloon Safari – Romancing the sky
I woke up at dawn and got ready for the safari of my life. Have you ever been part of the limitless azure sky with white puffs...
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How Traveling Changes your Life
This post appeared in Women’s Web Traveling is the tonic for life that keeps the soul replenished. Every moment brings in a new perspective to the journey...
ABOUT
Want to know more about me? I am a freelance journalist based in Pune, India and write about Travel, Culture, Food, Wellness, Health and Lifestyle. My bylines have appeared in National Geographic Traveller India, Forbes India, Travel + Leisure India and South Asia, BBC Travel, Mint, NPR, Economic Times, Hindu Businessline and more. In an earlier avatar I worked as a software engineer. I let go off these 12 + years of cubicle life to spread my wings and explore the world. I am on the lookout for those offbeat extraordinary stories from…
PUBLISHED
`Browse Travel
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Oman Tourism Board Blogging Contest
………. A journey through five decades of togetherness till deathbed
My earliest memories of my grandmother are when I was in my second grade and I would eagerly wait to meet her during my summer vacation. I remember how I and my mother would board the train from Pune to Chennai (then Madras) alight at the Madras Central station and rush to Madras Egmore for the connecting train to Sivakasi – The Kutty Japan (Mini Japan) of India. It’s the place famous for crackers and safety matches industry.
Looks like the rain gods were finally pleased as it had started to shower in Pune albeit not heavy. I stood in my balcony and looked at the rain drizzling down the alley. It had been a long wait but finally the parched earth was relieved of its thirst. The first shower brings in the smell of wet mud that tickles the senses and reminds me of my childhood. Rain for me is a steaming cup of tea that is prepared with a pinch of shredded ginger. What better than the cuppa prepared in the Amruttulya stalls across the city? No posh coffee outlet could replace the taste and feeling of heaven on earth that one would get by sipping this nectar (amrut) comparable (tulya) drink.
Recently I had been to Sinhagad a fort near Pune. Its a great place to visit during the monsoon and also holds historical significance in the Maratha reign. My article about this jaunt has been published in Spice Flair. Check it out.
Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||
This is a well known Sanskrit shloka that has been taught to us when we were kids which tells the importance and revelation of a Guru. This shloka means Guru ( a teacher) is a representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadeo. Also he helps us to remove ignorance in our life by imparting knowledge. I offer my salutations to the Guru.
Yesterday I had again been to the Balaji Temple in Pashan, Pune. It was a special occasion and there were musicians from Tamilnadu to play the Nadaswaram the acoustic musical instrument of south India. It is made of a wood and is a cousin of the shehnai but larger.
The percussion accompaniment to the nadaswaram is the thavil a barrel like drum. On one hand the player wears caps in his finger while in the other he holds a stick. It is either played sitting or with the thavil hanging round the neck standing.
Skywatch Monmarte .
A beautiful view of Paris from atop the Monmarte.
Skycast – The Toronto Skyline from Wards Island across Lake Ontario on a cloudy day with the CN tower protruding out.
It was dramatic and the skies spelt tales of a downpour.
My first Pocket Cultures post. Check out the link – Pocket Cultures
|| Mangalyam tantunanena mama jeevana hetuna: kanthe banbjj hhjggdhnami subhage twam jeeva sarada satam ||
This is a Sanskrit shloka chanted by the priest whilst the groom ties the mangalsutra or taali around the bride’s neck in a Hindu marriage. It means “This is a sacred thread which is essential for my long life. I am placing this around your neck so that you can live happily for a hundred years (with me)”. Taali is a sacred thread/ chain which when tied seals the marriage and the couple is termed husband and wife. Today in a world where marriages are solemnized and valid for few hours there are couples who have lived a life of togetherness for more than four decades. As per Hindu culture, when the husband turns sixty the family celebrates it with pomp and show. This event is called as Shashti Poorthi, Shashti meaning sixty and Poorthi meaning completion. The wedding rituals are repeated by the couple in this ceremony. Normally in a wedding people who attend it bless the newly wed. But in case of Shashti Poorthi the couple blesses the guests. It’s considered very fortunate to be blessed by such a couple as it’s not always that both the husband and wife are alive on the husband’s sixtieth birthday. The couple’s sons and daughters get together and run the whole show. It’s an affair where all the generations, extended family members and friends could spend great time together.
The day starts early before dawn with the Ganapathy Homam. We offer our prayers to Lord Ganesha the elephant headed deity. This is followed by the Laxmi Pooja and Aayush Pooja. Laxmi is the goddess of wealth and the Aayush pooja is done to pay homage to the Aayur deity for long life and well being. Lord Shiva is invoked as Mahakaal the primal force that has conquered time and hence death. The rituals are exhaustive and various homas are performed. Throughout the puja mantras and shlokas are chanted and durva (grass), cow’s milk, clarified butter, fruits, grains, flowers, leaves, twigs, coconut are offered. Offerings are made to the five elements sky, water, earth, fire and air through the homam or havan.
As in a typical south Indian wedding the husband arrives clad in a veshti (a white garment tied around the waist) with his relatives accompanied by music playing in the background. The melodious nadaswaram an acoustic musical instrument and the thavil (barrel like musical instrument) bring in the traditional tempo in the occasion. The husband and wife (dressed in a silk sari) then exchange garlands and rings as in a wedding. The husband again ties the mangalsutra around the wife’s neck.
The couple then blesses all the guests and relatives present in the happening. As a mark of respect the young fall on their feet and get the elderly couple’s blessings. The event is followed by a feast for all the attendees. It’s a grand spread of all the south Indian delicacies on a plantain leaf.
On this day most couples do danam or charity. It could be food, clothes, gold, silver etc of their choice. This ceremony is conducted at home or in a rented mandap/ hall. Few visit the Thirukkadaiyur temple to perform these rites and celebrate the completion of sixty long years. You would find people thronging this temple to revisit their matrimonial vows with their kith and kin. This temple is situated in Southern India – Nagapattinam district. The celebration recurs when the husband turns an octogenarian and is called as Sadaabishegam. If you do get a chance to be a part of this extravagant festivity and merriment you got to be there.
Camera Critters Meme: Camera-Critters Post Headers
The Highland Cow of Scotland a hairy and massive animal.
During our visit to Paris I had the privilege of being invited over dinner at Alex and Claire’s place. When Sudhakar informed me about the invitation we mulled over what do we gift them on our visit. Finally we decided on buying good French wine for the couple. Sudhakar being a non alcoholic we weren’t sure how do we distinguish the good from the bad. We walked into a mall at La Defense and asked the salesman to help us. He was kind enough to select a good Bordeaux wine bottle.
I reached Sudhakar’s office at Suresnes in the evening after which Alex drove us to his home. En route we crossed apple orchards in the countryside.
 Apple Orchards
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We were greeted by Claire over wine, juice, cherries and olives. Claire had pondered on deciding the main course menu as we were vegetarians.
 Parisian Hosts |
Noodles for dinner
She had prepared noodles with some veggies tossed over. It was her first attempt to prepare a vegetarian dish and I must say she had a done great job. It was here that I was introduced to the Peri Peri/ Piri Piri sauce from Portugal.
Claire and Alex were to be married soon, she showed me the small port wine bottles to be given to the guests in their wedding.
Porte Wine
For desert there was the lip smacking pear tart and Portugal coffee. All in all a yummy evening with a wonderful couple.
Pear tart and Portugal Coffee
Blogmint
