Elegy to an old sentinel

Before the next floods hit him or the storm fell him our Ungu tree (The Indian Birch tree) was called to sleep a few months back. Nature would have taken his thousand emerald leaves to her bosom, his strong sturdy trunk and bark would have lit someone’s hearth. “Now that I have opened that bottle

Those Halcyon Days will be back soon!

“A fellow in the skies Of independent hues, A little weather-worn, Inspiriting habiliments Of indigo and brown. ……. With gay delays he goes To some superior tree Without a single leaf, And shouts for joy to nobody But his seraphic self!” Emily Dickinson   Emily’s lines are about the Blue Bird, yet perfectly match with

Spring hesitates at Winter’s door…

Spring hesitates at Winter’s door, But the mango blossom rashly runs out to him~ Tagore March brings with him the fragrance of mango blossoms. Like the ashoka flower, mango blossom is one among the five floral arrows in Kamadeva’s (God of Love) quiver. The buds break open to golden blooms heralding the arrival of Spring.

The hills are alive with the sound of silence!

Standing tall on the lap of Wayanad, the majestic Banasura Hill looks like a grand old sire. Ancient yet young the hills are a visual treat during the bountiful monsoons. Adding charm and providing a perfect backdrop to the breathtakingly picturesque Banasurasagar Dam, the verdant hills take the name from a mythological character. Banasura, a

Neelathamara, The Blue Lotus

  Lotus that rises pure and fragrant above the muddy waters has always been a symbol of purity and spirituality. In Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism the flower is highly regarded and has a very prominent position. In Buddhist art and literature lotus motifs are highly symbolic. . A fully bloomed flower symbolises enlightenment where as

The Dancing Gods of Valluvanad…glimpses of village festivals

Here they come! The energetic, electrifying dancing gods of our Valluvanad or South Malabar. With the accompaniment of the pulsating ‘chenda’ or the booming drums and the loud cling clang of the cymbals they shake the earth with their frenzied steps. Our culturally rich and vibrant Valluvanad resonates with festival tunes during the Malayalam months