The number 19 is playing a significant role this Reading day!
Today happens to be the 19th remembrance day of the legendary PN Panicker. Significantly, today sees the coinciding of the dates on the Gregorian calendar and the lunar based, Malayalam calendar. To amplify, PN Panicker had passed into the mist of time at 1913h on 19 Jun '95 on the Gregorian calendar which was the 5th of the month of 'Midhunam' in the year of 1170 on the Malayalam calendar. This phenomenon of the coinciding dates, of the two calendars, takes place every 19 years!
And prayers and ceremony mark the remembrance day on the Malayalam calendar.
Accordingly, we'd gone to Thiruvallam, about 20 kms south of the city and the only temple in the south that has Vishnu's 'avatar' of 'Parasurama' as its main deity. Since we'd made it early, in the morning, we could be part of the first group to go through the ceremony for the departed and say our prayers. And by 10 o'clock, we're at the Kanakakkunnu Palace, the venue of the inaugural ceremony of the 'Vaayana dinam' thereby, kick starting the 'Vaayana Vaaram too.
The ceremony was inaugurated by the Chief Minister and as is the usual trend, politicians from the entire political spectrum were present to speak about their experiences with the legend. The thrust in making village hubs as economic powerhouses by encouraging special skills and empowering the women to become financially independent was the main theme of this year's Reading Day.
The registration for the training capsules has been very encouraging and it was heartening to note the enthusiasm of the women participants who were many times over subscribed. A good step in the right direction which would gladden my grandfather's soul.
Tailpiece.
Made quite a few gaffes while compering the main event. No, it wasn't a case of frayed nerves but my Malayalam vocabulary, which is extremely limited!
Today happens to be the 19th remembrance day of the legendary PN Panicker. Significantly, today sees the coinciding of the dates on the Gregorian calendar and the lunar based, Malayalam calendar. To amplify, PN Panicker had passed into the mist of time at 1913h on 19 Jun '95 on the Gregorian calendar which was the 5th of the month of 'Midhunam' in the year of 1170 on the Malayalam calendar. This phenomenon of the coinciding dates, of the two calendars, takes place every 19 years!
And prayers and ceremony mark the remembrance day on the Malayalam calendar.
Accordingly, we'd gone to Thiruvallam, about 20 kms south of the city and the only temple in the south that has Vishnu's 'avatar' of 'Parasurama' as its main deity. Since we'd made it early, in the morning, we could be part of the first group to go through the ceremony for the departed and say our prayers. And by 10 o'clock, we're at the Kanakakkunnu Palace, the venue of the inaugural ceremony of the 'Vaayana dinam' thereby, kick starting the 'Vaayana Vaaram too.
The ceremony was inaugurated by the Chief Minister and as is the usual trend, politicians from the entire political spectrum were present to speak about their experiences with the legend. The thrust in making village hubs as economic powerhouses by encouraging special skills and empowering the women to become financially independent was the main theme of this year's Reading Day.
The registration for the training capsules has been very encouraging and it was heartening to note the enthusiasm of the women participants who were many times over subscribed. A good step in the right direction which would gladden my grandfather's soul.
Tailpiece.
Made quite a few gaffes while compering the main event. No, it wasn't a case of frayed nerves but my Malayalam vocabulary, which is extremely limited!
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