Dateline 26 Jul.
My sister, from Bangalore, had called up last evening and suggested that I made an offering to our departed relations on the day of the 'Karkidaku Vaavu'. Accordingly, this morning, I'd gone as per instructions and placed the offering on one of the posts of our boundary wall. For some inexplicable reason the crows were nowhere in sight to swoop down on the food on offer. Sceptics interpret such a situation as the souls, who're being remembered during the occasion, being displeased with the process of offering and if that be the case, I must take the blame!
But seeing it through a practical angle, doesn't it show the reduction in the population of the crows, in general? And the ones, that are available, are busy elsewhere as similar offerings were being made all over!
I'd driven off to Thrissur by a half past 9 to join up with my friends who're on a pre-planned trip to the 'Parambikulam Tiger Reserve', about 150 kms away on the Tamilnadu - Kerala border beyond 'Top Slip' - another beautiful hill station on the Tamilnadu side. The journey, through intermittent rains, was nice with many sights as feast to the eyes. We'd reached the sanctuary before 3, in the afternoon and were taken around on a conducted tour, the highlight of which was a cultural programme put up by the local people - the population consists of four tribes viz. the Malasars, the Kaadars, the Muduvas and the Malamalasars. The group dance played by the girls, making shrill noises in the course of their rhythmic movements - based on a ritual performed to keep the animals away from the settlements - was a real stunner and a visual treat!
By the time we'd settled in our beds, it was close to midnight. The premises of the guest house that we're put up is frequented by elephants, they said. But never had I felt so safe!
Tailpiece.
Despite the rains, one could notice that the reservoir was not yet filled to capacity, foreboding a severe power crunch in the days to come. But who's bothered about the distant future when there was so much to enjoy around, here and now!
My sister, from Bangalore, had called up last evening and suggested that I made an offering to our departed relations on the day of the 'Karkidaku Vaavu'. Accordingly, this morning, I'd gone as per instructions and placed the offering on one of the posts of our boundary wall. For some inexplicable reason the crows were nowhere in sight to swoop down on the food on offer. Sceptics interpret such a situation as the souls, who're being remembered during the occasion, being displeased with the process of offering and if that be the case, I must take the blame!
But seeing it through a practical angle, doesn't it show the reduction in the population of the crows, in general? And the ones, that are available, are busy elsewhere as similar offerings were being made all over!
I'd driven off to Thrissur by a half past 9 to join up with my friends who're on a pre-planned trip to the 'Parambikulam Tiger Reserve', about 150 kms away on the Tamilnadu - Kerala border beyond 'Top Slip' - another beautiful hill station on the Tamilnadu side. The journey, through intermittent rains, was nice with many sights as feast to the eyes. We'd reached the sanctuary before 3, in the afternoon and were taken around on a conducted tour, the highlight of which was a cultural programme put up by the local people - the population consists of four tribes viz. the Malasars, the Kaadars, the Muduvas and the Malamalasars. The group dance played by the girls, making shrill noises in the course of their rhythmic movements - based on a ritual performed to keep the animals away from the settlements - was a real stunner and a visual treat!
By the time we'd settled in our beds, it was close to midnight. The premises of the guest house that we're put up is frequented by elephants, they said. But never had I felt so safe!
Tailpiece.
Despite the rains, one could notice that the reservoir was not yet filled to capacity, foreboding a severe power crunch in the days to come. But who's bothered about the distant future when there was so much to enjoy around, here and now!
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