Vijayadasami 2011

Ganesha Chaturthi 2011

Preparations began Wednesday with shopping for a clay Ganesha (no paint!) and accoutrements at Thannithurai market on Royapettah High Road.

The puja Ganesha (above) basked in the attention along with the rest of our collection, including the painting by Amma, a Titwala MahaGanapati (far right) that is 30+ years old, dancing Ganesha from Kiran, and others acquired or gifted over the years. shvEta gaNapatim vandE was sung, in lieu of mantras.

Post-puja, I worked on some qualitative data analysis,

while C got better acquainted with her iMac,































and the blue gouramis and zebra loaches did their thing in the balcony aquarium, oblivious to the devotional music blaring from the aut0-stand Pillaiyar temple.



I also had a music session with one of Kalpakam teacher's students Smt Sivasree - with the song of the day being shrI gaNEShAtparam chitta nahi rE rE.

All in all, a pleasant chaturthi.

dusky business deals

... and other gems from the brochure of the Delhi hotel at which I'm staying, typed up just the way they appear in print:

The guest rooms at [hotel name], provide an ideal setting for complete relaxation and recline, as every room overlook the plush green ambience of the surroundings.

Five spacious & aesthetically done up halls and two grandiose lawns are just right for all the celebrations...

For the epicure, [restaurant name] is nothing less then an excursion.

The elaborate buffet caters not only to the need of the busy corporate clients but also to the locale.

The conference rooms offer modern amenities viz., fast speed internet, (computers, printer, scanner, projector) on demand, flip charts and uninterrupted power supply, required for dusky business deals.

Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan 1922-2011

gAna vana mayUrI is no more. Kalpakam teacher passed away today (April 6, 2011) at her residence in Madras at the age of 88. I would like to remember her through this rendering of siddhIshvarAya namastE.