Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

Sree Ramajayam We, in the south use Sree Rama Jayam, the Hindi equivalent being Jai Sreeram! Sree Navami is fast approaching, as is summer in Rama Janma Bhoomi or Bharat while it is spring in Swiss .i.e Vasantha Rithu.  Sree Navami brings memories of Sree Rama's birthday celebrations on Navami with oonajl or Uyyala songs, Ma Sita's birthday, Sita Rama Kalyanam in the temples, Radham or Ther on the streets, Malli poo, Panakam, Neer-moor and Vadapappu(Kosambari), discourses and kutcherys in the temple premises .Thyagaraja Swami's Utsava Sampradaya Krithis esp Uyaalalooga vayya, Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame, Mamava Sree Pattabhirama by Dikshitar, Jaya Jaya Janaki Kantha - Purandaradasa and Bhadhrachala Ramadas melodies fill the air. People read Ramayana and also do Likhita japam - writing Rama Nama.  Rama Nama is in the air - on people's lips and in their hearts. Rama's name evokes such wonderful emotions - the great son, warrior, husband, brother, friend, master, His digni...

I came across Shonda Rhimes' book "Year of Yes",  a few years ago.  The blurb introduced the author as the creator of Grey's Anatomy and other series. I am not familiar with the series but nonetheless was curious enough to flip through the pages though not the entire book. I told myself good idea, I should also try and say Yes when I can and try to do more diverse things, attempt new things especially ones that I am bit scared of or am uncomfortable doing. Anyways, that was that. I left it at that, I do remember my trying new things and then Covid struck and that was such a closed phase for the entire world.  Many years later today, I got a summary of the book via The Four Minute books. You can read the sumamry here -  https://fourminutebooks.com/year-of-yes-summary/ .   Here is a quote from the book: “I'm not merely lucky. No one who succeeds is merely lucky. Lucky implies I didn't do anything. Lucky implies something was given to me. Lucky implies that I ...

Sometimes things happen unplanned - spontaneously and effortlessly.  The unexpected Darshan of Guruvayoorappan after a dozen years was one such. And the December 2024 Margazhi at the MAA, TTK Road was another, days of beautiful concerts by the best of the best in a Concert Hall known for its acoustics, ambience and renown and where only the best get to perform. The MAA awards the Sangeetha Kalanidhi every year to the best Carnatic musician - vocalist or Instrument vidwans. More info @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangita_Kalanidhi  The Academy set at the end of TTK road in Madras evokes so many emotions in me - nostalgia, reverence and awe; the level of expertise, dedication it demands of its artistes is the highest in the country. Artistes are aware of this honour too; they perform at their best here. And in the traditional format as laid out for the concert, starting with Varnam and then Krithis in familair and unfamiliar ragas with Alaapana, including heavy weight ragams...