Celebrating Ganesha's Birthday- Vinayaka Chathurthi

 It is only fitting that i do this post today, celebrating Ganesha's birthday- Vinayaka Chathurthi as we call it. I have done a few posts earlier i recall.. Ah, here they are  ...

Today, gramma did the puja at 7am unlike the usual 9-10am. We were all up, ready and waiting for the priest by 6.30am..

I love collecting Ganesha idols,  and it has me feeling good every time someone gifts me a Ganesha idol- irrespective of what it is made of or how big or small it is. I wish i had a space to show them off, but for now some are in the living room curio, some in puja room, some near the computer and others in my cupboard.

 

Ganesha ready for the puja 

3 new ganesha's in my collection... 2 smaller ones are made of glass[shall try getting a better pic]

Ganesha reminds me of my trip to Goa. Why? well, during my visit, one day i headed out to Old Goa- where i also managed to visit an old Portugese house. I wish i had been more interested in history, would have dug deeper to learn about the owners and their lifestyle back in the days..

So, as i wandered through the rooms, noticing the little details on the curtains and sofa corners. As I turned a corner i was in for a lovely surprise. I spotted not one, but 2 small rooms with a towering cupboard fitted with glass doors. What did they hold? Shelves filled with Ganesha idols- small, big, clay, stone, metal, and just about every other material you can dream off, some were standing, some lying down, while others were playing musical instruments. It was such a treat. I spotted a guide leading a group of eager tourists wandering to the very room. Stood ground to see if i could catch some insight into this.

 

One cupboard filled with Ganesha idols

And lo behold, he was telling them how a Portugese family had once lived in the house, very wealthy family with a Brahmin cook. Years later, when the cook had passed away and they were ready to leave Goa,  the child in the family insisted they leave the Ganesha collection intact... Sweet child & lovely gesture!

Do you have any interesting Ganesha Stories? Do share.... Happy Vinayaka Chathurthi...

Holiday Haiku

Last month, Club Mahindra ran a #holidayhaiku contest on Twitter.. I won on the 3rd day and again won a consolation prize... More than winning, the excitment of being able to relive the holidays i had taken, the journeys i had been on was the highlight of the contest. 

The rules of the game:

1. Write only on Travel

2. The verse should be poetic [or something similar]

3. Fit within 140 characters [including the hashtag and CM handle]

Have managed to retrieve almost all the Holidayhaikus i had contributed.... 

 

1. A lone turtle enjoys the palace pond; hidden stairways lead to water tanks; doors so low i had to stoop;                  

2. Sunset from Matanga hill; Queens bath & Vittala temple standing tall; coracle across to Anegundi;Castle in hills

3. Markandeyan with his parents humble abode; karaikal ammayar blessing on narrow lane; Cauvery river meets ocean!

4. Another brick on the wall;a camel hissing for I blocked its path;river inviting us with gentle ripples,Pushkar!  

5. Riding on a bike, feeling the wind on your face, simply letting go is all that a holiday means to me!  

6. Lounging feet near the ocean; chilled breezer, click click of heritage structures; picturesque, buzzing Goa.  

7. Drenched in mist in Ooty, wandering the premises of Sims park; nutmeg pickle & jams divine;Rum balls in coonoor ...

8. Gandhi statue,Dinner at Rendezvous;Heritage walk along near empty streets; old meets new hand in hand in Pondy!...

9.Climbing the stairs to rockfort temple; silent prayer at Lourdes church;watching butterflies at puliancholai.. 

Do share your comments and feedback while i go collect the remaining .. 

[Wordless Wednesday] Dark beauty

Look what i found to share for Wordless wednesday today.... :- )

[Skywatch Friday] As the angels rode the skies

During a recent day trip with my cousin Lakshmi and Arvind, we visited a Ranganathaswamy temple in Thirumalpadi,a small place near Vandavasi. As we were walking around the main sanctum, trying to soak in the temple, the tales behind its origin, the lovely blue clear skies caught my eye.....

To see more skies around the world click here