Month: October 2023

MWWP: Once Upon a Time

Hello hope this week has been treating you well. It’s time for Eugi’s Moonwashed Weekly Prompt challenge. The prompt is Either Or. It can be any variation of the prompt or the image (below).

Once Upon a Time

A world of trees
Green, brown and orange
Reaching up to wave at blue
Skies smudged with white
Tall grasses twinkle
With drops of dew
Shielding centipedes, mites,
Leeches, frogs to name a few

Already dark and time for
The football match
Up on the roof
The rats and squirrels
Having a field day
While in the kitchen
Mom plays hockey
with a rat or is it a shrew?

Dad practiced duelling
snakes while Mom had
her dessert under the
Watchful eye of a King cobra
Bees and wasps swirled
bestowing the gift of a plump arm
or a misshapen face just like
rashes from insects and cacti

Exams denounced
Packed off to picnics
Streams swirled around our legs
All through the night
Those dratted parrots pecked at
mangoes and summer vacations
with afternoon shifts
to shoo parrots

Swinging high and higher
Climbing guava trees taking home
Red bites that turned yellow and black
Bleeding gashes wrapped in
Crushed marigold leaves
For a stye in the eye
Seven strokes of mango leaf stem
Did the trick

The nearest town of one shop
A couple of miles away
Never did we ever cross a street
Nor venture to shop or crave to eat
No TV, no phone no internet
All I missed were books
Other than those I had
Read a gazillion times

Would I go back?
Why when the path is ahead
Cocooned in the warm clasp of
Unfearful memories
Bouncing through
Life’s myriad adventures
Much like the fools that rush in
But that is another story…

The photo reminded me of my childhood home (except it wasnt that orange!) and couldn’t help penning a few lines – not quite sure if you can call it a poem. But if you managed to come this far thank you for sticking it out till the end of what is quite a faithful account of my idyllic childhood.

PS: I was unable to format the poem into paragraphs and hence I took the help of colors. Apologies if it is looking weird.

PPS: It was looking even more weird with the alternating colors so used this format (Pullquote). At least the paragraphs are clearly demarcated. Do let me know if you have any suggestions for formats to use. Thank you.

TankaTuesday#5

Hello I am back after a week of prayers, celebrations, socializing and gorging 😀 And it’s already time for Colleen’s #TankaTuesday challenge where the rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

She leaves

a quietude behind

Vijayadashami

praying for the guns

to fall silent

I have used ‘Vijayadashami’ (literally victory tenth day) as the kigo word here. Vijayadashami (which was on 24th October this year) is celebrated after Navratri and is the 10th day that marks the end of Durga Puja and the celebration of Her victory over Mahishasura (the buffalo demon) and the triumph of good over evil. After the celebrations, there is a hush and lull in the neighborhood.

Vijayadashami is also celebrated as Dussehra, the day when Lord Rama defeated the evil king Raavan, whose effigies are burnt to symbolize the burning of the evils within us as well as the triumph of good over evil.

Thank you for reading, would love to know your comments and suggestion. Have a great weekend.

FF: Summer Plans

Hello and welcome to Friday Fictioneer’s party hosted by Rochelle where we all are invited to post a story in 100 words or less based on the photo prompt (with due credit to the contributor). Click here to join or read the other stories on this prompt.

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

FF: Summer Plans

Words 100

“How about a long relaxed vacation at a log cabin in the hills?” Dad asked.

“Wow! Will there be any snow?” Rhea asked.

“Yes. If you are willing to trek.”

“Great.” Shreyas lit up.

“Won’t it be crowded in the summer?” Mom was doubtful

“Not at all.” Dad beamed. “It’s far from the madding crowd.”

“Meaning I will have to cook.”

“I will cook. We all will.”

“As if.” Mom snorted. “All of you will sit with your phones….”

“Oh there’s no phone or internet connection there.”

“What? Count me out.” Shreyas stood up.

“Me too.” Rhea said. “Sorry Dad.”

***

So would you be willing to go for a vacation to such a place? Do let me know! Have a super day and week ahead.

CMMC: Photos with a P

Hello everyone! After a hectic and enjoyable Durga Puja I am excited to participate in Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge (CMMC), the topic is October Alphabet with “P” anywhere in the word.

Let me see what I can find 🙂

Hibiscus in a flower Pot. Isn’t she gorgeous? The festival honoring and celebrating Goddess Durga known as Durga Puja just got over on Tuesday and of course that is the theme for my post this week but I couldnt resist sharing this beauty which a favorite of Goddess Kali (another form of Goddess Durga) as well. I have discussed about Durga Puja in a couple of my earlier posts but in case you missed it and want to know more, click here

This is the making of the Puja Pandal (a temporary home for Goddess Durga and her children). It is fascinating to see how an empty field is turned into a re-creation of a famous temple (in this case) using nothing but piles of poles, canvas and glue. And all this for just 5 days after which it is dismantaled and put away for until the next occasion with a fresh design. One of the workers was going about with the ‘hyphen’ of the “co-operative”. Possibly there was divided opinion about its inclusion! Incidentally, this is the same pandal that the US ambassador Eric Garcetti visited. You can see the video here. Just a heads up, that though the video is about 3 minutes long, you can get away with watching about half of it as it is repetitive.

This is another Puja Pandal complete with the Goddess Durga’s idol installed and is another piece of art that will be immersed in water after 5 days of worship. We were lucky to be able to get a glimpse before the madness began.

Just a glimpse of the crowd at the Puja Pandal before the festival had begun!

While most Durga Puja are a community event, She is also worshipped individually by people at their home. This year, I was lucky enough to be able to visit one such Puja. I am sharing a small translation of the Sanskrit mantra which I hope and pray Mother Goddess is kind enough to bless us all with. If you are interested, you can read about the full chant here.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||

To that Goddess Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Peace,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

Thanks for visiting. Have a super day.

FF: The Visitors

Hello, hope you are having a grand week. I am busy as the Durga Puja celebrations are on. Yet I am pleased that I could manage to post an entry to this week’s Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle. I will be along to read your stories in a bit. Click here to read the other stories inspired by the photo prompt provided by Liz Young. Thanks Liz.

Photo Prompt Liz Young

FF: The Visitors

Words 100

“This is terrible!”

“The innocent are suffering the consequences of hate and greed.”

“We must stop this endless cycle of senseless killing!”

 “What can we do?”

“Let’s go away!”

“But where?”

“I know the perfect place.” Their leader said.

“Are we at the right place?”

“I think so,” whispered one. “What do you think?”

“Let’s go and find out.” Their leader ventured a bit further, only to stop short.

“Abort mission! Withdraw!” The leader ordered.

“What’s happening?” Powering their spaceship they surveyed the scene of carnage and mass destruction.

“Déjà vu.  The Blue Planet is no longer perfect for life.”

***

Happy Durga Puja to all of you and may the Mother shower peace, prosperity and oneness on us.

TankaTuesday#4

Hello! It is time for Colleen’s #TankaTuesday challenge where the rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

But before I begin, I am very chuffed that Colleen was kind enough to choose my previous entry as the poem of the week and couldnt resist sharing. Yayy and thank you again Colleen 🙂

Now off to the tanka of this week. First the tanka and then the explanatory note. Perhaps, some of you may not need the note 🙂

Navratri

going to office on

an empty stomach

they join the

bhandara queue

I have used Navratri (literally nine-nights) as the ‘kigo’ word for this tanka. In India, we are currently celebrating Navratri and today is day 3 of the festival. Navaratri is a bi-annual Hindu festival observed in honour of the Mother Goddess Durga and many devotees keep a fast during this period. A bhandara is a mass feast given to the needy by the Hindus, particularly in North India on auspicious occasions such as the Navratri.

Here’s wishing you all a very auspicious and happy Navratras to you and yours. 🙏

FF: Over in a Flash

Here’s my entry to this week’s Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle, a story in 100 words based on the photo prompt. Click here to read other stories for this challenge and add your own story.

PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin

FF: Over in a Flash

Words 100

“Granny please tell me that story again.”

“That day,” Granny began, “we were all so excited to be meeting up at our beach house. It was a clear day, blue skies with wispy clouds, an inky blue…”

“Who all were coming?”

“Everyone! Your Aunt from India, Uncle from Canada, their children…”

“Why were they coming?”

“There were several reasons. It was my 75th and your 10th birthday, your parents anniversary. Your Uncle’s promotion, your Aunt wanted to introduce her fiancé. Oh, that was such a joyous time with so many things to celebrate!”

“Why did they drop those bombs Granny?”

***

Thanks for visiting. Have a good day.

TankaTuesday #3

Hello! Here’s another tanka for Colleen’s #TankaTuesday challenge where the rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

First the tanka and then the explanatory note. Perhaps, some of you may not need the note 🙂

freshly showered

leaves wave to the blue skies

-Durga Puja celebrations

jeans don’t button up

even upon lying down

I have used Durga Puja as the kigo word. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, Navratri (or nine nights) festival in honor of Goddess Durga is being celebrated this year from 15th to 24 October. During this period, Hindu devotees worship Goddess Durga but the manner of celebration is diverse and unique in different parts of the country. This includes, but is not restricted, to dandiya, kanyapujan (little girls are worshipped as the Goddess) and Durga Puja. Durga Puja is a socio-religious celebrations that is mostly undertaken as a community but may also be done individually. It is associated with not only religious activities but also a platform for showcasing art, culture, and new clothes, cars, TVs and what have you while gorging on a variety of mouth-watering delicacies, including those served free. You may read more about Durga Puja here.

Perhaps, even ‘freshly showered’ could be considered the kigo word. Unlike the West, here in India, this is not the fall season. In fact, this is a time that is right after the monsoons which is a boon to the trees wilting in the scorching summer heat. They are now at their cleanest, greenest and happiest. With the monsoons withdrawing, the skies are blue (for once – Touch wood!!!) the breeze cool, and a palpable sense of excitement in the air. Even Mother Nature is celebrating the imminent arrival of the Mother Goddess (Durga Puja) in her inimitable way.

Did this work? Did you need the explanatory note? Looking forward to reading your reactions. Have a super day.

FOL: A Leafy Collection

Hello and welcome to Dawn’s Festival of Leaves challenge. Anything to do with trees, as you perhaps may know by now, I simply cannot resist 🙂

Let’s see what I can find, this week:

This was in the cacti section. I had never seen leaves of this color before. Have you?

“They tell you to turn into a new leaf and then complain about your faded colour.” – Nitya Prakash

I would have never thought a combination of pink and green would look good but they gel well don’t they?

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” – Rabindranath Tagore

There are even brown leaves – who would have thought!

“Art is the flower. Life the green leaf.”- Charles Rennie MacKintosh

with red stems! These are really eye-catching aren’t they. Not quite sure what they are called. Do you know?

“Open the bloom of your heart and become a gift of beauty to the world.”– Bryant McGill

Monstrous leaves, aren’t they? Dont miss the bright yellow stems, almost as if they are mocking the traditional plants 😀

“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” – Luther Burbank

Don’t they look like flowers? The purple leaves were actually bluish in color, when seen with the naked eye. Their shape is also so unique.

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”– Frances Hodgson Burnett

Brown pink and green! I can’t help but wonder how they manage photosynthesis and why the need for such colorful leaves. I did a little bit of research, and as I remembered (ahem) only the green part can do photosynthesis. The tiny green porton is enough for its sustenance. But what about the other leaves and the bare trees? Apparently sunlight penetrates the thin outer bark it can be enough for photosynthesis. You can read more here. I am not very convinced, but perhaps you can tell me more 🙂

“Life is a party; dress like it, dance like it, and make every moment count.” Audrey Hepburn

I found these leaves to be very interesting. It wasnt very clear if it was a creeper or part of the tree

“Why not show off if you’ve got something to show?” J Jones

Well, what do you think? Can you make out?

“It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit.” Les Brown

And this is the showstopper. I couldn’t take a pic initially, then I waited to click it on the return journey. Isn’t it precious? Just like life.

“It ain’t over till it’s over” Yogi Berra

Have a super day. Cheers

PSPC: Please Have a Seat

Hello, here’s my attempt at XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge. This challenge is about a seat, a place to perch. This might be a chair, a bench, a wall, a pew…maybe even a log or a rock. These spots can be artfully designed, quirky or very plain, sometimes they have a view, sometimes you meet someone else who needs a rest.

So, without any further ado, if you are comfortably seated, off we go:

The chairs, I presume were once upon a time a bright orange to match the flowers but under the scorching sun faded to a pale pink. Or perhaps, they turned pale with envy…

The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor. Horace

Recently I had the opportunity to watch a live Kathakali performance. This is a traditional dance form originating probably in Kerala in Southern India. It is a “story game” genre of art, usually drawn from folk stories, religious texts and Hindu epics. It is characterised by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes and performed traditionally only by males. You can read more about it here.

I was seated in the front row and the ‘lady’ on the left performed a sequence (while seated on the stool) wherein ‘she’ put a baby to sleep. Once, the imaginary baby was asleep, ‘she’ tiptoed away only to stop and request me, with only ‘her’ eyes expressions, and gestures to keep an eye on the baby. I played along and raised a hand to ‘assure’ her but ‘she’ instantly stopped and ‘asked’ 4 kids! I shook my head, and raised one finger. She then proceed to ask if they were married, or studying or working. It was amazing!

At the Kochi harbor, while on a morning walk, we spotted these birds, perched at a vantage point waiting for breakfast to be delivered.

This one is in a hurry, probably late for work 😀 This was taken while on a boat ride on the river Periyaar.

This picture was taken by the kind boatman as we weren’t allowed to move about on the boat. They don’t seem to be in any hurry. In fact, they seem ready for bed after a satisfying meal 😀

We were waiting for the boat, I wonder what they were waiting for – breakfast in someone’s pocket perhaps?

That’s it from me. I hope I didnt break any rules. Which one did you like the best?

Thanks for visiting. Have a great day.