Venkat's Random Thoughts

God Kairi 1 Kg Raw mangoes, 4 table spoons salt, 100 grams dhania kuria. 100 grams rai kuria, 1 spoon methi kuria , 750 grams gud, half table spoon chilli powder, 1 glass(250 ml) til oil. Cut the mangoes in to small pieces (like avakkai) Clean the cut mangoes with  wet towel and dry for one day under sunlight.   Heat the til oil in a kadai and cool it. Mix all the masala above in the oil and mix the mangoes with it. Store it for a week. The Pickle will be ready in a week.

                                          The view from Gerald's Veranda We have now come to the second leg of my holiday. Having completed the first leg to celebrate my 73rd birthday, here I was on my way to meet my ex colleague and family friend Gerald Pinto who has bought some land and settled down to do farming post his retirement from a very successful career  in the United States as a SAP consultant. His charming wife Loretta is also a personal friend. It is often said that "A Friend in need is a friend indeed". The Pintos proved that having helped me during my difficult times and for which I am forever indebted to them. Gerald unfortunately has no kids. GOD had  hand picked this couple to do much more than mundane things like raising a couple of kids like we all...

As most of you know I am born on the thirteenth of September. This year I had my 73rd birthday coming up and I decided to celebrate by having an undisturbed holiday with my life partner Bhagirathi. As luck would have it I forgot to carry my smartphone which was kept for charging while going. It was really a blessing in disguise since I was cut off from the world without Whatsapp and the web access and my prayer for an undisturbed holiday was answered. This forgetfulness also ensured that I will not lose my smartphone while travelling unlike the last time we went to Bhandardara. Being a Sterling holiday resorts member I planned well in advance and booked a three day stay at Sterling's Emerald Bay Resort in Karwar. I had booked a night train from Panvel starting at 21.00 hours and we reached the next morning at 1030 am.                           Sterlin...

Friends, It is with a heavy heart (hand)that I sit down to type the last instalment of the ongoing series on Tamil month names and the respective festivals associated with each month. I never imagined when I started that this will evoke such overwhelming response from my readers, It has been a more than satisfactory journey for me and I hope you all enjoyed as much as I did. The amount of knowledge I gained researching for the series cannot be measured. I never ever imagined that so much reason was involved behind every festival we celebrate. I hope some knowledge has rubbed off on my readers.  The writing and research behind each instalment gave me immense confidence as a writer. I only hope I have not bored some of of you.  In any event/sport you do not expect the last man to perform exceptionally. Take cricket for example. You don't expect a Umesh Yadav or a Ashish Nehra to hit a century do you? Even the great Don Bradman scored a zero in his last innings bringing ...

Masi (Eleventh Month) The Festivals in Masi Masi Makam or Masi Magam is an important festival in the Tamil speaking world. The festival falls in the Tamil Month of Masi (February – March). In 2018, Masi Makam is on March 1. This year it is the Mahamaham. Maham or Makam is one among the twenty seven stars in the astrological system. The makam star in the Masi month usually falls on the full moon day and is considered highly auspicious in many temples across South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala. One of the important rituals on this day is the taking of idols to the seashore or ponds. Therefore the festival is also referred as holy bath ceremony. Long processions from different temples arrive at the sea shore with the idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva. Idols from Shakti temples are also brought to the seashore. Pujas and other rituals are held at the sea shore and thousands of devotees throng the sea shore on this day to offer prayer. There are numerous my...

 Thai (Tenth Month) The Festivals in Thai Thai month is the 10th month in a traditional calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. Thai Month in 2018 begins on January 14 and ends on February 12. The most auspicious days and festivals in the month include – Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum, Thai Ammavasi and Thaipusam. Thai is the most important Tamil solar month which brings joy, celebrations and weddings in the Tamil families which has a brief History. This month begins with Pongal for the first three days of the Tamil Solar month and continues with full of divine  festivals like Thai Krithigai (Lord Karthikeya), Poosam lunar star which falls on full moon day and called as Thai Poosam which is significant for Lord Karthikeya. Thai Pongal or Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people at the end of the harvest season. Pongal is a four day festival which usually takes place from January 13 to 16 in the Gregorian calendar i.e...