Dragon Fly

My daughter called out to me in excitement- she saw a dragonfly having its relaxed siesta and wanted me to capture it in my camera ! It was patient for a click and before i could take one more off it went away !
Daughter told me it was camera shy and i had a hearty laugh !!

I am linking this to Camera Critters

Wordlesss Wednesday - Kitty Kitty, Sleeping Pretty !

Dog Show

Last weekend i was in Chennai spending quality time with my in-laws. A Dog show in the town was a perfect opportunity to indulge my daughter's interest in animals.

Linking this to Camera Critters

Hindu Traditions - A Ceremony For my Son

My son Sreenivas is 1 yr n  9 months old. All the vedic chanting and  rituals to be performed at various stages before/till the completion of 1 year was performed on  11 Dec 2010 ,Saturday. Usually all near and dear, friends, relatives are called to celebrate the occasion. Due to various challenges that my son is facing and we as a family are facing along with him, the vedic rituals got postponed and finally on saturday Jadaga Karmam (praying to clear his birth defects that may be present and that is visible in his horoscope) , Nama karmam (Naming Ceremony)  and Anna Prasanam (First intake of solid food as per the hindu philosophy) was conducted in the presence of my in laws. Some pictures to remember forever.


The day started early with the whole family taking baths and getting ready! My daughter dressed in pattu pavadai (Silk Skirt and Blouse) and a shy smile ---

Our hero in a very melodious mood !

I am dressed up in a traditional Nine (9) yard Saree and cajoling my son to pose with me--

Hubby Dearest dressed in  Panchakacham (Traditional attire for men in all religious/spiritual functions. Similar to a pant)

The rituals begin with the shastrigal (priest) starting the vedic chanting. 

I am deeply involved

After a while Sreenivas gets restless and decides to play while the ceremony is on---

More chanting by hubby---

Samyuktha keeps Sreenivas entertained while I am involved in the process!

Sreenivas finally being asked to sit on his father's lap

Shastrigal explaining meaning of the rituals to us !

Sreenivas given the first mixture of curd, honey and ghee using a gold ring ---

The rituals continue---

Sreenivas manages to get away from the lap

He is blessed. Invocation of lord Varuna (God of water as per the Hindu Mythology) to bless the child --

A small homam/ ritual fire is started and the room gets a little smoky! This is usually done within one hour of the baby's birth to keep the evil spirits away.

Sreenivas playing with flowers and keeping himself busy

Nama karmam begins, his name being chanted 3 times in his right ear by his father, mother, sister and grand parents---

Sreenivas having fun with his Grandfather

some more rituals

A Rakshai (sacred thread, to ward off evils and keep him safe) is tied as he cries on . He is thoroughly had enough action for the day and wants to sleep !!

Rice mixed with dhal, a little kheer, curd, ghee and honey given to Sreenivas to denote the first solid meal intake for the child. It is administered with a Ring  by all family members. This is usually done after 6 months of the child's birth when solid food is introduced as part of the child's diet. One version of this was also done for him at the beginning of diet of solid foods in a temple.

Finally an Aarti  signifying a happy ending of the rituals and removing the evil eye is done by samyuktha and my mother - in- law.

All is well that ends well....

Love - Up , close n Personal

These days my subject of interest in photography is mostly my kids. My son's antics and my daughter's preening n prancing keeps me n my camera hooked. This picture below is something close to my heart---My son was playing with his sister, after some time he sat on her stomach and came very close to give her a kiss ! The moment was beautifully captured for ever in my heart as well as by the camera!

Linking this to Macro Friday : 29

Wordlesss Wednesday - Our Pride n Joy !

Top of the World

I am not in a particularly peppy mood today but this song by Carpenters- Top of the world is continuously playing on in my mind. I checked the You Tube for the video and here's the link---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0G-c4QDMzU


Hey the lyrics too!!

Such a feelins comin over me

There is wonder in most everything I see

Not a cloud in the sky

Got the sun in my eyes

And I wont be surprised if its a dream


Everything I want the world to be

Is now coming true especially for me

And the reason is clear

Its because you are here

Youre the nearest thing to heaven that Ive seen


(*) Im on the top of the world lookin down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that Ive found ever since youve been around

Your loves put me at the top of the world


Something in the wind has learned my name

And its tellin me that things are not the same

In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze

Theres a pleasin sense of happiness for me


There is only one wish on my mind

When this day is through I hope that I will find

That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me

All I need will be mine if you are here

Mehendi

A shot captured on the eve of my sister-in-law's wedding

Linking this to Macro Friday :Week 28

Sleeping Beauty

Me n my son were playing Peek-a boo the other day! I was sitting on a sofa, he was on a chair next to the sofa. While playing he just dozed off to his beauty sleep sitting on the chair---He looked soooooooooo adorable, i just couldn't miss taking a click.

This is my entry to Macro Friday:Week 27

Daughter's Corner

My 7 year old daughter likes to draw n paint---the way she gives expression to the birds and animals captivates me. The other day she was in her artistic mood and drew a natural scenery. I especially liked the owl hovering above. My hubby took to the little bird perched on the small plant...  

Vinayagar Chaturthi

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Ganesh Chaturthi or vinayagar chaturthi is celebrated widely across India with much fanfare and delight. Ganesha is the most easily pleased and the lovable deity of all hindu households. Any work big or small is begun with a prayer to ganesha.Such is his power that he demolishes all the obstacles and is rightly called Vighnaharta!!!
I love ganesha and have fond memories of the celebrations at my place before marriage. I remember how my mother used to pick n choose the ganesha idol to be brought home taking care not to pick any flawed piece. Though many idols of various materials are available , man pillyar ( made of clay) was the one that was usually chosen by her and on the chaturthi it is decorated and a special prayer is done. Of course the neivedhyam of  kozhukattai, sundal, laddus are to die for. The idol then is immersed in a lake/pond/river and is given a tearful farewell


After marriage i made sure that i continued the pujas with the same fervour and look forward to the bringing of idol. While in mumbai the celebrations multiplied manifold with the city adoning a carnival look. The celebrations continued for 10 days there and the day of immersion or visargan was even more colourful.


Now i am in trichy and the celebrations have already started . The chaturthi is 3 days from now and the whole neighbourhood adorns a festive look. The Ganesha temple in my neighbourhood is abuzz with various activities for the past 10 days and there is the alangaram or decoration of the pillayar idol. The alangaram is not on the main idol but another bronze idol and it is placed a special pedestal from which he can shower his blessings
Of course the main idol also has silver kavacham ( velli kavasam--- body armour made of silver) and will continue to remain on Him for another week.

But the attraction for this week are the special alangarams on the bronze deity. Yesterday's alangaram was Bala Ganapathy. Bala means as a child like.

 In this decoration he is shown sitting on his pedestal and showering his blessings with a child like innocence.


Today's alangaram is Lakshmi Ganapathy

In this alangaram Godess Lakshmi is sitting on the left thigh of Ganesha. Ganesha lovingly puts his hand on lakshmi's shoulder and the duo are the picture of serenity, divinity and peace

Vallabha Ganapathi

Vallabha when literally translated means beloved and supreme ! Here the Ganesha bestows all His love and happiness by being The Supreme !!