SquareShooter

These aren’t instagrammable pictures right? Definitely not as food pictures, black and boring right? Yet, these are things that are pretty useful. One, we are prepared for the rains, stocking up for days vegetable supplies may be low, difficult to get out in the rains and shop and such circumstances. It may also help farmers if we are going to buy up produce when the demand is low, make use of more than abundant sunshine sun dry them and store for the rainy day. I am not saying anything new or not known. These are the annual rituals, seasonal rituals our mothers and grandmothers followed. I am only reiterating it – instead of complaining about high prices of vegetables at times, and about farmers throwing away their produce some other times, these age old practices may help even in urban area with a small balcony or a sunlight window. I have also   been guilty of not doing much all these years, though occasional dried amlas made for Dwadashi pachadis, pickles in sea...

 “ ஒழிவில் காலமெல்லாம் உடனாய் மன்னி , வழுவிலா அடிமை செய்ய வேண்டும்நாம் , தெழிகு ரல்அரு வித்திரு வேங்கடத்து , எழில்கொள் சோதி எந்தைதந்தை தந்தைக்கே ” “At all times and forever by his side, we Must perform stintless service, to the Radiant lord of Venkatam, the hill with Streams. He is my father’s father”  - Nammalvar (Translation Srirama Bharati) It is this attitude of service every Sri Vaishnava devotee yearns for at the feet Sri Venkatesa, or the Lord of Thiruvenkatam. If one Azhwar echoes the devotion to the Lord, another sings about how he yearns to be born as something on Tirumala hills. Tirumala is very special to Sri Vaishnavas, and to all the devotees of Sri Venkatesa. He is a family deity to millions, and every auspicious occasion in the family prayers to him, offerings to him and pilgrimage to Tirumala is undertaken. Unlike the pilgrimage to other divya desams, Tirumala has always been different. May be because of the terrain in...