My admiration for Jules Verne

It has been a long time I blogged. Good news is that, I can add oil painting as one more feather in my cap. This hobby made me to overlook blogging.

But for one good reason I want to record my experience at the 0th hour of the new day.The other day when I was watching the movie ,The Mysterious Island I was little bit fascinated. The next day when I watched Journey towards the Centre of the Earth, I was overwhelmed by the idea the director adapted. It's my bad habit (of course I am enthusiastic to get knowledge about the things I come across) to google as soon as I feel interesting and did the same on both the movies. Interestingly I came to know that both the movies are from the literary works of Jules Verne.

Though I was a book worm till my marriage (it's better to say became lazy than no time for reading), some how I was unlucky to miss this great author. When I came to know that Jules is an 18 th century author, the time period at which the technology was not developed as now,  when the literacy rate was poor ,when one part of the people does not know the where a bouts of the others and when the communication among the people from distant lands was only through paper mails, Jules tried to educate his era through his great science fictions about the earth, sea , moon and space. I could not stop my self in bowing to this great author after reading his works ESP The Twenty Thousand Leagues under The Sea and Journey To the Centre of the Earth.

I’ve become more familiar with his works and still believe that exploration is the essence of Verne’s novels. His stories pulled me into a world filled with infinite potential—be it in the clouds, on land or under the sea. 

I hope Disney will no sooner announce on the remake of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, more colourfully than the older version.  I would recommend these great works for all the ages to know about the place where we live and it's surroundings.

Google celebrated the Father of the Fiction's 183 rd birthday on 2011 through a doodle which enables anyone to navigate the Nautilus with the simple pull of a lever.

Chiluka Dwadasi/Ksheerabdi Dwadasi

Karthik Masam is famous for the worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.When full moon enters into Krithika the fiery planet, the month is termed as Karthikam. In such an auscpicious month, Chiluka Dwadasi/Ksheerabdi Dwadasi falls on 12th day. This day is also called as Chinuku Dwadasi/Thirthana Dwadasi/Tulasi Dwadasi/Yogeswara Dwadasi/HariBodhini Dwadasi.

Uthana Ekadasi falls a day before Chiluka Dwadasi. Lord Vishnu who was in cosmic sleep from Ashada suddhaa Ekadasi,wakes up on Karthika Ekadasi. Hence it is termed as HariBodhini Ekadasi.Ksheerabdi Dwadasi also signifies the beginning of Ksheera Sagara Mathana (Churning of  theMilk Ocean).

On this day Tulasi & Indian gooseberry (amla) plants are worshipped along with Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi with 360 wicks dipped in cow ghee .

Karthika masam is a glory for lighting the diyas.People who can't perform deeparadhana daily can atleast light the diyas on the days of Suddha dwadasi,chaturdasi and Pournami. It was said in Vishnu Puranam that people who not only lits the diyas but also who flares the diyas, gets the grace of Lord Vishnu. The spiritual message associated with this activity specifies that , human beings should help other people in need.

 

Coming to the Puja on Ksheerabdi dwadasi, Tulasi plant is worshipped considered as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.. In Hindu Tradition Tulasi plant is considered as auspicious. This Indian basil is worshipped by females of all age groups.There are two types of Tulasi. Black colored leaves are termed as Krishna Tulasi and the Green one is considered as Lakshmi Tulasi. One can find the Tulasi plants grown up in special pots called as Brindavan in almost every Hindu family.

During Chiluka Dwadasi, once should take head bath , clean up the place near the Tulasi Vrindavan. Decorate the pot where Tulsi is grown. Offer water to the sacred plant. Apply kumkum on one of its leaf.Rangoli can be done and Diyas should be lit around the Brindavan. Litting diya on a gooseberry is considered more auspicious. Not being a mandatory, Tulasi can be decorated with a saree, flowers , red bangles and thambulam.

Use cow ghee or Gingelly oil. Never use mustard oil/ground nut oil for litting the Diyas.

Diya Painting 2012

I wish all my felow bloggers and readers a very happy ,safe and prosperous DIWALI. This year too I painted the plain earthern Diyas to be more attractive.

Though Diwali brinhs lots of smiles , joy and happiness in ones family, it is the Diyas which color the festival.The reason for this is that the lighting of a diya is regarded as forcing light upon darkness, whether it be in the form of evil, tyranny or ignorance. 

Most Hindu households often light a diya once every morning and in the evening. It’s not just a customary practice but signifies the submission of one’s soul to the supreme power. 

Oh bored of my Diya speech... let us read few tips while painting Diyas.

• Get few variety od earthern diyas and soak in wtaer for few minutes (say 10)
• Dry them in sun so that they become receptive to paint.
• Choose any acrylic or fabric paints to paint Diyas.
• Try out different combinatons as per the design of diya.
• Dry them for 3-4 hours.Stick tiny mirrors, zari thread, small shells, sequins, beads or glitter on the diyas to pack a decorative punch.

Behold Aalankrita's green beauty

Who is the best lazy blogegr in the blog world? Its none other than me me me.. Back after many days sorry months mm sorry almost an year... one blissful location made me to sit down and resume blogging.I had become a busy bee now a days.We want a bad brak from the routine life to get away from work, worry and stress.Started exploring new destinations within the city. One fine day I was chanced to see a blissful location named Aalankritha resorts in a journal at Neeru's, while my sister was busy in selecting a chudidar. It's a privately owned 4- star resort, located near shameerpet that is a complete eco-friendly destination.After going through the website we booked for a crystal suite.

 
Sunshine has long bid us goodbye and the dampening monsoon is on, enclosing everything in its dull and dreary look.The moment we arrive, we are breathtaken by the green ambience, land scpaes and scenery .They made us feel closer to mother earth.



The interiors are amazing, marvellous and there is a very ethnic feel to the place. Awesome lawns, nice ambience, delicious food ,enough space toa ccomodtae large crowds for functions, a fish spa, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor games, a parrot sooth sayer.. what more can we ask to enjoy a week end.
Great going for a great place.

Snapping happy in the rain

After a long time the monsoon blues showered in Hyderabad city.Relishing the noon with a hot spinach soup I captured few snaps...

"Rain rain, dont go away!!"

It was five in the evening and the drizzling outside is not allowing me to work.After all today is friday but ,the dusk of the day rejuvenates me with more energy thinking of the week end.That too the drizzling dusk.I can see drops of water falling from the sky like marbles dropped from atop of building from my window.I started winding up my work quickly to enjoy getting drenched in the rain.

I came out of office and the 100 meters walk to Mindspace to reach Sri was turning out to be really pleasant.It had been long time I would dance and jump with glee ,splash through small puddles in the road.I opened the car window ,turning my face to the heavens ,enjoying the shower ,spreading my hands ,trying to soak it all in, with the cool breeze enveloping me.The earthy smell is not diverting my concentration on to the choas of the street during rain .

After all its beginning of the month June the city has got the shower of the monsoon-blues. Yes! In a way I’m still so much hooked with this short and sweet series of moments and memories of the monsoon. Rain Rain dot go away!!!

Please feed grains and water birds in summer

Mercury is soaring up day by day.While we have the luxury of eating cucumbers, watermelons, ice creams and liquids to beat the sweltering heat, our feathered friends across the city are reeling under adverse effects of  the summer. Even as the mercury soars to forty degree Celsius, water is difficult for them to find. As a result, many of them die during this season.It is quite difficult for birds to find water in the concrete jungle.

Summers are here and so it the scarcity of water. We Humans can ask for water but what about Animals and Birds? They cannot. They can only rely on our pity to serve them water.

Pledge Water for Birds and Animals this Summer!!

Buy clay bowls around 3-4 inches deep should be 35-40Rs. each. Clay bowls are better than plastic or metal bowls because the water stays very cool even when temperature is touching 40-42 degrees Celsius. 

I brought such bowls and I place them daily in some corner. A flock of pigeons reside near by my home.So I thought of feeding them with food and water.I place the bowls in some corner of my home but for few days they did not noticed.Later I moved the bowls to the place where they daily sits.

                          

One pigeon came and saw the grains and water but it did not even touched them suspecting.After almost 10-15 minutes it started picking the grains and drank the water.Later one more pigeon accompanied it.

                          

                           

                           

                          

Next morning I could see a flock of pigeons eating the grains.But as soon as I went to put water they all flew away suspecting me :(. The next day I could see all the grains are eaten by them.. and so daily I am feeding them grains and water.But they did not give me a chance to take the picture of their entire group.

Now a days I can see some other birds like crows,mynah are also eating the food and  I am so happy.

                            

Please place some water and food to feed the birds in summer.

Terrifying tsunami in Japan

A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami devastated the northeast coast of Japan on today afternoon, leaving hundreds dead and triggering waves that threatened coastlines as far west as California.

Here's a quick recap of events so far today:

• An earthquake measured at 8.9 magnitude by the US Geological Survey, the sixth biggest since 1900, struck Japan today. 
• The earthquake triggered a tsunami with 10m-high waves hitting the northern port of Sendai.
• The death toll has been rising throughout the morning. 
• A state of emergency has been declared at a nuclear plant in Fukushima. 
• Japan has declared a nuclear emergency as attempts to cool reactor at northern plant are not going as planned.
• Death toll rising...

Coutesry:google


May god give the courage and strength to the people of japan to over come this catastrophic event as soon as possible.

Undavalli Caves

Undavalli Caves are very near to Bhavani Island though it falls into Guntur district.Dating back to the 7th century B.C., they are the perfect examples of rock cut architecture in Southern India. Just 8 km from Vijayawada, these caves takes us into a completely different world. A huge monolith of the Lord Vishnu in reclining posture sculpted from a single block of granite can be seen here.

Bhavani Island

Last week end I was busy spending time with my family for three straight days.We went to Vijayawada, my in laws place and had a great fun.This is the first time I visited Kanaka Durga temple on Indra keeladri.On our return from temple I planned to visit Bhavani Island, a wonderful lush,scenic estuary island in River Krishna .Being one of the largest islands on river it extends more than 130 acres near to the Prakasam Barrage.

A marvelous picnic spot, Bhavani Island has nicely maintained facilities for enjoying amazing boat riding in Krishna River. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation makes very good arrangements of boats for boating and is available from the place known as Durga ghat. 4 tree houses are also available to stay.It has a park with rope bridges etc, where it's fun for people of all ages to monkey around ;) Even otherwise, it's really peaceful to walk around early in the morning. A pleasant walk down the barrage with the gentle breeze on your face and a beautiful view of the shimmering lake can be a great way to spend your evening. 

In my opinion one of the most awesome places to go for holidays. Who does not wants to go to a beautiful island with a gorgeous environment situated in the Krishna River?