Clothesline

A week ago I read a news article, “US residents fight for ‘right-to-hang’ laundry. I know that in US they cannot have a clothesline or dry laundry outside their homes. They always use washing machines and driers. Indians, particularly elderly women who come to attend to their daughter’s delivery often find it difficult to adjust to it. As there is no other choice they follow the rule and find it difficult to dry their sarees with the drier. They adjust somehow for their stay of 3-6 months.
In quite a few states in US of A there are laws prohibiting residents using clothesline. In some housing associations fines are imposed for hanging clothes in the common yards. For convenience, or environmental considerations now some organizations have taken up the cause to fight for ‘right to hang’ laundry. They say that this right will reduce the domestic electricity consumption by 6% and also reduce greenhouse gases. It also saves few dollars in the electricity bills of a family. Carin Froehlich (resident of Pennsylvania) says “If my husband has a right to have guns in the house, I have a right to hang laundry”. She is writing a book on this subject.
In India, in general every house hold will have a clothesline, whether it is in the back yard or on the terrace or inside house where sunlight can fall directly. In apartments there are balconies to use for this purpose. If aesthetic reasons are considered, this looks awkward. This is the reason once (few years ago) a Governor of Andhra Pradesh wanted to restrain people living in the adjacent apartments hanging their laundry in the balconies. I don’t know whether he was successful. We often see variety of laundry outside the house or inside the house exposed directly to sunlight. Sunlight, in fact, acts as germicide. When a patient with skin disorder, scabies or fungal infection, apart from giving medical treatment, patient is also advised to change clothes everyday wash them and hang them in sunlight. In India though washing machines are driers are used, to get rid of the little dampness in them they are still hanged out in the sun.
Keeping in view of environmental issues, Ihope, Carin Froehlich will win her fight.

Bathukamma Festival

Bathukamma is festival of flowers in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh – India. This festival is celebrated on Durgashtami – 8th day of Ashwayuja masam (month). The festival starts on the last day of Bhadrapada masam, that is on Amavasya which is also known as 'pithru amavasya'. From that day onwards women will make Bathukamma with flowers, join in groups in the evening and keep all Bathukammas in the centre and go round it with rhythmic clapping of hands and singing songs. On the last day – ninth day that is Durgashtami, a big Bathukamma and a small Bathukamma is made. In the morning Goddess Kali is worshipped and in the evening women join in groups and go to a nearby temple and play Bathukamma singing songs and going round the Bathukammas with rhythmic clapping of hands. After that they offer pasupu (turmeric) and kumkum to one another and offer prasadam of sattu pindi (roasted and powdered corns mixed with sugar or jaggery).
This festival is specific to Telangana region. In Warangal district it is celebrated with fervour. In Hanamkonda region most of them go to Padmakshi temple to play. The other important temples are Thousand pillars temple and Bhadrakali temple. There are many other small temples where woman in the nearby locality will visit to play. After playing usually the Bathukammas are left in the water, tank or lake near the temple or else just leave to a side in the temple premises. People believe that celebration of this festival will bring peace and prosperity to the family and long life to the husband of the woman.

Success in Life

A good book is a good friend. I even read that there is nothing like a good book or bad book. Every book will have something to teach us. My favorite pastime is reading books. Books are my best companions. When ever I am troubled I take refuge in reading. They always provide consolation and a way out of troubled waters.
Life is like a river. It flows till it enters the sea. On the way to sea it carries things added to it for sometime. Some things may move along with it until it reaches the sea. On its course it may often face obstacles like huge rocks. Then the waters may get turbulent and in no time the waters divert their way and go on their long journey to reach the destination. In our life we have aim to achieve things. In achieving it often we have to face obstacles. Some incidents in the family or around us may make us distressed and pessimistic for a while. But, if will is strong we can get over it and work towards the goal.
I believe, I believe, in Almighty the Universally pervading ‘Cosmic’ energy. Every thought of ours will be reflected here in the Universe and every prayer will be answered. Only requirement is we should have faith, 100% faith in that Cosmic Energy. Every religion says and believes that when sincerely prayed, they are always answered.
I was reading a book by Swami Ranganadanand. He is a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. It is a book on Upanishads. In that in explaining the interest of Nachiketa to gain knowledge about life and death from God Yama (God of Death), he writes about ‘priyam’ (allurement) and ‘shreyam’ (benefit). These are talked in the context of spiritual knowledge, but can be applied to our daily life.
“‘Priyam’ will give immediate pleasure and benefit. It is highly tempting and provides instant happiness. But the pleasure and benefit is only short lived. If we want ‘shreyam’ initially there will be problems. But the benefit is forever. Outwardly it may not be obvious, it will be concealed, like shells can float on the surface of the sea but pearls are hidden deep in the sea.” - Sri Ramakrishna.
To lose is to gain. ‘kuch pane ke liye kuch kona hai’. Every philosophy says there is no short cut to achievement. To put in efforts is must. When the sea was churned (Hindu Mythology - Samudra mathanam) the first thing that was obtained was ‘garalamu’ poison. After wards one after other riches were gained. ‘Amrutum’ nectar was the last thing to acquire. So to achieve a goal continuous efforts are essential. Initially problems may arise and dishearten. But where there is a will there is a way. Planned perseverance is the secret of success.
Our wishes are always granted. Only thing is we do not realize that we ourselves have asked sometime within our limited knowledge under the influence of allurement. Jesus Christ has said “You ask it will be given. Search, you will find it. Knock, the door it will be opened. Every one who asks will be given; whoever searches will find it. For everybody who knocks the (door) it will be opened.
“yathbhadram thannasuva” (grant us that which is good for us)

Vinayaka Chavithi - Special Recipes

Every Hindu festival is celebrated with special preparations specific to that festival. On Vinayaka Chavithi the specials made are ‘Pasham’ and ‘Kudumulu’.
Pasham is prepared differently in different areas. I prepare it this way.

Talikala Pasham:

Ingredients:
250 grams wheat flour
25 grams poppy seeds
25 grams rice flour
250 grams powdered jaggery
One tablespoon of Ghee
Five cardamoms.

Method:
Add one litre of water to jaggery and allow it to dissolve. Add adequate a quantity of this water to wheat flour and make a soft dough as for ‘chapatis’ and keep it aside. Roast the poppy seeds and grind them into fine powder. Take the dough in small balls and stretch them into thin strands (talikalu) by rolling it on chapati platter. To avoid sticking of the strands sprinkle rice flour as strands are being made or when put in a plate. Boil the jaggery syrup. As it is boiling add the wheat talikalu and allow them to get cooked. Add some ghee and stir. Add little water to poppy powder to make thick liquid. Add the remaining rice flour to this. Add this liquid to the cooking talikalu. As it is getting cooked, stir frequently to avoid any lumping. Also add powdered cardamom. After it is cooked remove it and transfer into another vessel smeared with ghee. Hot or cold pasham is sweet and delicious.

Kudumulu:
Ingredients:
Rice flour as per requirement
Ghee 1-2 teaspoons

Method:
Add ghee and water to rice flour and knead it into soft dough. Take a little portion of the dough and make small flattened balls – similar to idli. You can also use your artistic skills and make different shapes of kudumulu. Keep these in a vessel and cover it with a lid and cook in a pressure cooker till you get 2-3 whistles. Alternately cook under steam for about 15 minutes. These can be eaten bland as such or with chutney or any sauce. These are bland (chappidi undrallu)
Some stuff these kudumulu with grated coconut with jaggery to make them sweet (modak)

Vigneshwara - a different perspective

Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as God Vinayaka’s Birthday. It is on 4th day of ‘Bhadrapada masa’ as per Telugu calendar. This is usually in the month of September, occasionally it may be in the last week of August as we have it this year. This is one of the three festivals celebrated across India among all castes on the same day. This festival comes in the rainy season. This is the festival which the national leader – freedom fighter, Bala Gangadhar Tilak used to unite and consolidate all the castes of Hindus to come under one umbrella to fight against the British rulers. He made it a public festival, putting up the idol in decorated pandal and carrying on social and cultural activities for 10days and the immersing the idol in waters. Initially it was started in Maharashtra. Later it spread to all parts of India.
Vinayaka’s birthday is celebrated with great piety and pompous. Vinayaka is the god who is invoked or prayed first when any puja is performed or prior to carrying out any venture. He is the god who prevents obstacles in the course of any work. There are many stories in Indian mythology regarding the birth of Vinayaka and his becoming the leader of all deities. There may be a little variation of stories but the essence they convey is same.
Vinayaka is made out of the paste of sandal wood and turmeric ( sort facial pack – paste applied to the body and removed ) which goddess Parvathi applied to her body and removed it before taking bath. With the removed paste she made a doll of small boy and infused life into it. She made the boy to guard against the entry of any person until she takes bath and ready to receive her consort God Shiva. Strictly following his creator Mother’s instructions the little boy refused the entry of Shiva not knowing who he is or his relation to Mother. Infuriated with this Shiva severed the head of Vinayaka and entered in and met Parvathi. Knowing about the fate of Vinayaka she pleaded Shiva to make him alive again. So Shiva had got the head of his devotee Gajasura – the elephant head and got it attached to the lifeless trunk of Vinayaka and resurrected him.
The next important event is Vinayaka winning over his sibling God Subramanyeshwara, the son of Shiva and Parvathi. Subramanyeshwara is good looking, agile and had beautiful peacock as his vehicle. When it was time to declare the leader of deities there was competition who should become leader. Whether it should be short and stout Vinayaka who looks awkward with his elephant face and has a little rat as his vehicle or smart Subrmaneshwara. Vinayaka with his intelligence and devotion to Mother and Father (Prakruti and Purusha) wins the competition and will be crowned as leader of all deities and declared that before any venture by anybody God Vinayaka should first be invoked and prayed. Other wise people will suffer Obstacles in their ventures.
Here I had a doubt. Does any ‘God’ hold animosity against lesser mortals for they fail to pray him. I feel a strong ‘NO’. But why this has come into vogue about Vinayaka. I think because it his story which is inspiration for anybody who want to achieve something in life. When the desire is strong and devotion is there to follow and move in conformity with nature there will be success. Here I regard Mother Parvathi is Prakruthi or Nature. God Shiva – Father is Purusha the Energy in the Universe. The manifest and unmanifest energy of Universe. Nature can create any great thing even from the dust which to our eyes may look insignificant. Initially Vinayaka doll was made out of useless paste. Mother has capacity to inspire it to do great job by infusing life into it. Any life whatever its appearance is has its worth on this Universe. Devotion to Mother Nature helps in living long. Mother Nature takes care of her children who abide by her ruling. Though severed by father he was resurrected with the head of great devotee of Purusha – the Universal energy which is neither created nor destroyed. That itself is great survival. Leaving the life created by mother, and getting resurrected by father, Vinayaka now belonged to both physically and mentally. This is devotion to Almighty in its Unity. So what ever we are if we abide by Nature’s rule success will definitely come.
The other fact is winning over Subramanyeshwara. Here again, devotion to Almighty is shown. Subramanyeshwara had faith in his capabilities, his individual strength. But Vinayaka whose consorts are buddhi (knowledge) and siddhi (achievement –gain) used his intelligence and bowed to Mother and Father and prayed for their help in carrying out the said object of traveling around the world and dipping into all sacred rivers. It is said that there is everything inside us or within us. If the Universe is macrocosm, every being is microcosm. Realization of self (atman) is realization of Almighty – God (Paramatman). Ganesha who is god of knowledge has realization. He being the microcosm, knows to manifest himself in the macrocosm- everywhere in the Universe. This is the principle which Vinayaka applied and won over his sibling. There are many ways to achieve things. The surest way is to have knowledge – buddhi which will lead to siddhi – achievement.
Whatever we are, whatever is our birth, gaining knowledge and understanding Nature will help us move forward in life. Our origin, appearance and any draw back can be overcome by devotion and hard work. Shraddha (perseverance or devotion) in gaining buddhi will result in siddhi and make us the leaders.
'Nirvignam Kurme Deva Sarvakaleshu sarvada.' ( Oh God! Remove all obstacles always and all the time).

'Lord' Is Beautiful

I like photography. Whenever I see a good photograph I feel that it is the best and easiest way of keeping memories stored. As a child and till I became a professional I could not own an ordinary hand camera. Though I was gifted a camera by my husband; in those days I was a busy medical practitioner juggling between practice and domestic responsibilities as an Indian wife and mother. Now that my daughter had grown up and taking care of herself I find a lot of free time.
As I am not used to go out for other than on professional work or family functions, though I had a camera I never went out for just to take photographs. Even if I take also I had to get them printed else where. As a medical student I joined photography club in our college. But I learnt very little about developing the photos. That has helped me only to develop my marriage photos in black and white. That is the only time I developed the photos. Now that computer era has come all photographs are printed using the latest technology. If I remember rightly in the year 2K my brother-in-law, husband’s brother also presented me a very good camera. I did take quite a few good photographs (according to my standards then – before I watched the photographs on the net). In the year 2008 January my daughter gifted Kodak EasyshareM753 digital camera. It is now becoming an essential item to carry in my bag wherever I go.
Previously as I had to purchase a roll and go out to get them printed. I used the camera only on our holiday trips or functions. With the digital camera in hand I am ever ready to take a shot wherever possible. Getting the pictures checked on the computer and trying to learn my mistakes and do well in my art has become a reality. I want to pursue photography as a hobby. I joined DPS the other day. I wish one day I will take as good photographs as the one winning on the flickr or DPS.
My work schedule doesn’t allow me to go out every day or at least every weekend. I am planning to carry the digicam with me always and take any interesting photos as and when possible. I am going around my home in my leisure time and watching nature and surroundings and clicking whenever I feel like to do so. This way I am learning how not a photo should be. A day will come when I will take a winning picture.
Today I had gone out to attend a function. The garden there was beautiful. But weather was not so good. It was cloudy. But I took a few pictures. Only two had come out ok. I like the picture of Lord Krishna. The idol looks quite beautiful. This picture I had taken on pursuance of a kid who saw me taking photos, asked me to take this picture and showed me the location. Of all the photos only this I liked best. Lord Krishna is always beautiful.

Touching Sky

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, “a living thing with all aesthetic attributes of perfect womanhood, more subtle romantic, and tender in its beauty than any other building of its kind” - Havel

Taj Mahal

Magnificient Monument

World's Wonder

Love's Splendour

Taj Mahal is a wonderful marble architectural splendor. It is built by Shahjahan – Mogul king during the 17th century. He was first betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum in the year 1607AD. His first marriage was held with another woman in the year 1610 on 10th of October. His nuptials with Arjumand Banu Begum who is famously known as Mumtaj Mahal were held in the month of March in 1612. He also married another woman in the year 1617. Of all the three wives, he loved his second wife who was not only beautiful but also dutiful. She accompanied her husband who rebelled against his father and hounded from place to place. Abdul Muzafar Shihabuddin Shahjahan Ghazi Sahib Qiran Shah – Shahjahan, ascended the Mogul throne in the year 1628, after the death of his father Jahangir.

Mumtaj Mahal bore him 13 children. She died in her 14th delivery on 17th of June 1631. She was his beloved wife for 21yrs and gave birth to 14 children. Of which only 7 survived.
Taj Mahal is built by Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife. It took 20,000 workers to work incessantly for 22yrs to complete it. Shahjahan, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb at Agra fort, died (1666) with his gaze fixed on this mausoleum. He was finally laid by her side.

It is a beautiful love story. The mausoleum is a wonderful monument built by Shahjahan for his lady love and devoted wife.

Shah Jahan immortalised his love for Mumtaj Mahal - the chosen one of palace, in Taj Mahal.

Papaya

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Papaya is very good source of vitamin A. Carrot is the root/vegetable that is richest source of vitamin A. Non-vegetarian and sources of vitamin A is fish liver oil, halibut liver oil is the richest source and next is cod liver oil. These liver oils are generally used in treatment of vitamin A deficiency. A regular diet which includes green leafy vegetables, carrots, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables which are yellow in colour, milk and milk products and eggs also have vitamin A.

Deficiency of vitamin A is the important cause of nutritional deficiency blindness in the developing countries. Supplying foods fortified with vitamin A and prophylactic administration of appropriate doses of vitamin A to children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years will prevent this deficiency and there by blindness.

First symptom of deficiency of vitamin A is dryness of eyes. Later triangular white patches develop in both eyes. If the deficiency is severe it causes corneal dryness, opacity and ulcerations. Sometimes there can liquefaction of cornea and bursting resulting in blindness permanently.

Night blindness - inability to see in dim light is the sign of vitamin A deficiency. Supplementation of vitamin A will correct the problem and normal vision is regained.

A proper balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products and eggs will prevent vitamin A deficiency and there by nutritional deficiency blindness and night blindness in children.

Hennoionted hands

In Indian marriages, bride and bridegrooms decorate their hands with henna. Along with them even their friends and relatives (particularly girls) also apply henna to their hands in artistic way.

you will - you live

Roots are strong
So is the will;
Crushed to the ground
Turned on new leaves.

Scary visitors

As concrete jungles are increasing these mammals are getting habituated to stay in these jungles.

This monkey is enjoying fresh mango that it has plucked.

Here are few of these visitors to our home. They enjoy breaking branches of trees, plucking fruits and eating them. some times they may also slowly walk into the house and sneak away with fruits seen on the dining table.
Here you this monkey having banana sitting on the parapet wall of balcony.

Health is Wealth

• Health is wealth. We all know it. But as long as we are healthy we never think of protecting that wealth. When we are about to lose it, then we think of taking all precautions.
  ‘Healthy mind in a healthy body’. So, the body to be healthy good nutrition is essential. Under nutrition and over nutrition both are malnourishments.
  As poor nutrition is the problem of poor people, over nutrition is the problem in less educated rich population.
  Over nutrition leads to obesity and is the problem in developed countries and some class of people in developing countries.
  Obesity or overweight is having more fat in the body and weight being more than ideal bodyweight.
  Ideal body weight – Body Mass Index – weight (Kg)/Height in Sq. M. eg; 60/(1.6x1.6)
  Normal BMI = 18.50-24.99; 25-29.99 = increased weight; >30 obesity; with increasing BMI, moderate, severe and morbid obesity.
  Ideal body weight – Broca index – Height(Cm)-100 ex. 160-100 = 60Kg. >5% overweight is obesity, double the ideal weight is morbid obesity.
  Risks of obesity –> hypertension, diabetes, gall bladder disease and coronary heart disease, certain types of cancers especially large bowel cancers. In females it leads to metabolic syndrome, lowered fertility, increased complications in pregnancy and increased risks to the fetus – baby.
  To maintain ideal body weight proper diet and physical exercise are important.
  As for nutrition is concerned, the daily requirement of nutrients with appropriate number of energy calories is taken.
  An adult healthy man weighing 60Kg, doing moderate work eight hours a day will need 2875Kcal, and adult female weighing 50Kg doing moderate work for eight hours a day will need 2225Kcal. In women, additional requirement of 300-500Kcal is required during pregnancy and lactation.
  Major components of nutrients are
  Carbohydrates – 1Gm = 4Kcal - cereals, roots and tubors
  Proteins - 1Gm = 4Kcal - milk,eggs, meat, fish etc; pulses, cereals, nuts, beans
  Fats -- 1Gm = 9Kcal - animal fats ghee, milk, cheese, veg.oils –sesame,gnut
  Vitamins - from cereals, pulses, egg, meat etc; fruits and vegetables
  Minerals. – milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, non-veg foods, eggs.
  A balanced diet should have 55%calories from carbohydrates, 25% from proteins and 20% from fats.
  The daily requirement of proteins, body building units, is 1gm/kg body weight. Extra 20Gm allowance added during pregnancy and lactation. Pulses and non-veg foods give about 20gm proteins per 100gm consumption. Highest protein content is in soyabeans, which give about 43gm.proteins/100gm.
  Cereals also give proteins, 5-7gm/100gms. Nuts and oilseeds will have more of fats and to some extent proteins. Fruits and vegetables give more of vitamins and minerals. Milk is the richest source of calcium. Cereals, pulses, non-veg, eggs and nuts and oils seeds will also have vitamins and minerals in variable quantities. Fruits and vegetables give less calories, 1cal or less/gm. Banana, sitafal and sapota give almost 1cal./gm. Dry fruits give almost 3-4cal/gm.
  Food items when taken in combination in appropriate quantity will give, apart from calories, all other nutrients – carb, proteins, fats, vit., minerals to keep body healthy.
  Fast food and aerated drinks give only empty calories as they have only sugars that will give calories and no other nutrients. Even alcohol gives 7cal/gm. So these fast foods, cola drinks and alcohol can lead to obesity and nutritional imbalance and ill health.
  All this is in short to know the value of food and to maintain good health by taking healthy diet.
  Eat healthy. Be healthy.

Victory On 'Virodhi'

‘Ugadi’(beginning of the era ) is beginning of the Telugu New year. Day one of Telugu New Year
The name of this year is “Virodhi”. I think, hopefully, that in this year we try to win over our virodhi – ‘kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, mathsrya’ which are inimical to our progress. These six characters are the ones which make a person live with lot of struggle. When they are rightly understood and practiced all the same may help us to develop humanely and attain moksha. . ‘Kama’ means in general – desire; desire to have physical pleasure, desire to acquire things for physical happiness. Every desire when fulfilled, we realize, the pleasure it gives is short lived. We try something more. That something more will only end with knowing ‘god’ and enjoying ‘bliss’. It is said that “kami gani vadu moksha gami kadu” (a person who does not have any desire will never desire for moksha). When all the desires are fulfilled and still there is craving for something more enjoyable and everlasting pleasure then the realization comes that knowing god and attaining bliss is the final aim of life. Nothing else can give eternal happiness.
‘Krodha’ is something that generally destroys our peace. But if that is rightful anger directed against the persons or creatures causing harm to other beings and disturbing the ecological balance, then there can be heaven on earth as some religious people predict and are waiting for. As per Hindu scriptures god has come on to earth to fight against evil when the earth could no more bear their burden. Meaning less and unwanted krodha which we generally exhibit because of our ‘mada’ and ‘mathsrya’ will destroys us. So let us try to have only the rightful anger and not the anger which makes us lose our sanity.

But we are generally selfish (‘lobha’) and want to have so many things for us. We want everything for ourselves only, and we never think of others living and others wants. Some selfish people to prove their superiority they go warring destroying nations with all its inhabitants, its rich culture. Their selfish act will one day lead to their own destruction. It is said, ‘as you sow, so you reap’. When you have shown somebody a method for fulfilling your desires, someday the other person will take the same route. Selfishness to protect nature will gives us back the best living on this earth. Loving nature and its fauna and helping the beings to live in happiness will definitely make earth a paradise.

‘Moha’ is attachment. Attachment always leads to pain. When there is attachment, there has to be detachment some day. And the suffering to get detached is sorrowful. But as individuals we find it difficult to live alone. When alone, if we start enjoying that loneliness in getting connected to ‘Almighty’ then eternal bliss will be ours. And that is very difficult. So, if possible, if we try to follow the Hindu scriptural saying, to take up ‘vanaprastha ashrama’ after children come of age. I think it will be a step forward to slow and peaceful detachment and a step forward to tread the path to moksha – the goal of human life.

Do we ever like to give up these pleasures of life with its attachments when we are in good position socially and health wise? Our arrogance –‘mada’ will want us to continue imposing on others. As we are blessed with good fortune we feel ourselves no less than god and exert undue authority on others. Finally Almighty will have to end our being and turn into ashes. Of course, that is the end result of all of us. But before we mingle in mother earth it is worth to realize that whatever we are it is only for short period. So let us live peacefully and giving regard to every one that is their due.
We generally think we are the best. Only we should have all the best in the world. We are jealous if somebody is having more things and the things we love to have. Their possession of things makes us feel jealous –‘mathsrya’ and we try to put down them some way or other. Instead without jealousy if we appreciate their efforts for having those things, one day we may also have it. Huna philosophy says “Bless that which you want”. This can be practiced if we downplay the feeling of jealousy in us and know the efforts put by the person to achieve that we want. This reduces lot of heart burn in us and help to achieve the best we want.

These were some of my thoughts which I put in words after thinking about ‘Ugadi Pachadi’. This pachadi also has six main ingredients – sweet, bitter, sour, salt, vagaru (I do not know what to say in English) and spice (karam). All these are put in appropriate quantity in water – elixir of life. (In Telangana region Ugadi pachadi is made in the form of liquid-drink). This is specifically made in earthen pot. This earthen pot made out of clay (earth), mixed with water, heated on fire. The pot has unseen pores (air) in it. Space enclosed within the pot can be regarded as space (akasha). In this pot we put water and other ingredients and make a cool drink ‘Ugadi pachadi’. Ugadi comes in the early phase of summer - starting of summer season, and in olden days it was essential to buy a pot for summer to drink cool water.

When we think we find simple things do convey us so many facts about nature and culture. In this busy life, we rarely find time to think. We are either busy in struggle for existence or if we find ourselves at leisure and alone, we get bored. We always want to be preoccupied with some external activity. When we stop external activity and start enjoying loneliness life becomes peaceful and blissful.

On this Ugadi day, starting of Telugu New Year I wish all a bliss
‘sarvejana sukhinobhavanthu’