Friday, July 17, 2015

The first of Karkkidakom, the month of the Ramayana!

Today's the first of the Malayalam month of Karkkidakom and the recital of the Ramayana had begun this morning - it'll be recited from cover to cover within the month - by the lady of the house, as per tradition. Both mom and Lekha are at it and it's soothing to hear the great story all over again. The recitals are carried out, both in the morning as well as in the evening. The spirit behind the recital is best summed up by the following Sanskrit couplet:-

       "Yaaval sthasyanthi girayaha sarithascha mahithale
         Taavad Ramayanakatha lokeshu pracharishyathi"

         (So long as the mountains and the rivers exist on this earth, the story of the Ramayana
          will continue to spread)

The recital is also being conducted, by veterans, at the Guruvayur temple. Along with the attendant prayers, there's a mad scramble among the hard core devotees to do a 'parikrama' of four temples - completed within a day. The temples must have Sri Ram, Bharath, Laxman and Shatrughnan as the deities and in Thrissur district, the temples within a span of 60 kms, are:-

         - Thriprayaar                   (Sri Ram)
         - Moozhikkulam               (Laxman)
         - Koodalmaanikyam        (Bharath) and
         - Paayammal                     (Shatrughnan).

The holy month has started off in right earnest!

         *                       *                        *

2. A 'glee' that just ain't acceptable! 

    As I was browsing the net, I came across a depressing shot of a dejected Prime Minister Narendra       Modi seated with hunched shoulders and looking below, with the caption, "This is a huge setback 
    for Modi" because his so-called business friendly(?) Land Acquisition Bill faces fierce                         parliamentary opposition. The originator seems to be dancing with glee at the PM's discomfiture
    and mind you, he's fully aware that the legislation will herald progress and boost Modi's image
    further, which is what he and his ilk are mightily against!

    I'm aware that the bulk of the Indian media has pro-Congress leanings while the remaining
    have Communist affiliations but was under the impression that they backed the truth and lauded
    the good work of any government, without refrain, while flaying it for wrong policies/corrupt
    practices which essentially, are the true hallmarks of a vibrant fourth estate, as the watchdog in a
    democracy. Flay it for its mistakes but don't be parsimonious in lauding it for its good work!

    Everyone knows that the greatest impediment to our country's progress are archaic laws,                     bureaucratic stone walling and corrupt practices. The Prime Minister and his team, must be
    supported by the opposition, in his efforts to clean up the system and put the country on the
    track to rapid progress because it's what's essential for the country at this juncture. Let not narrow
    considerations bog down the momentum of change!


Tailpiece.

Rahul Gandhi's script writer has got it wrong again. Why're you bogged down with 56" and 5.6"?
You're young and must be having a lot of good ideas to take the country forward. Sell your vision rather than going on a one-track anti-Modi tirade........ negativity never helps! 

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