Laksha Deepam

Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple seen on a car side view mirror. 

It is time for Laksha deepam at Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram. This occurs once in 6 years. I was fortunate to witness 2 deepams with the temple tower and the surroundings in full glory. The deepam is preceded by 40 days of Mura Japam (chanting). 

Then there is the Annual Swati Sangeethotsavam n the Kuthira Malika (palace) where the atmosphere is ethereal. 

Sadly, I will miss al these this year. 

Anchuthengu- Anjengo

Inside the Anjengo Fort. 

A piece of land called Anchu thengu (അഞ്ചു തെങ്ങു ) was gifted by the Queen of Attingal to the East India Company. EIC built a fort there and as they could not pronounce the Malayalam name, they started calling it Anjengo. 

Karicharakadavu - unspoilt nature

You may not find Karicharakadavu in any tourist literature or even in any blogs. It is small village not far from Kazhakuttam. On National highway, you turn left at Kaniyapuram after the bus stand (at Althara junction) to the Chirayinkeezh road and within a few kilometers, you are at Karicharakadavu.Another left turn and a brief ride you are reach the water's edge. The waterbody you see is an extension of Murukkampuzha. Kadinmkulam is on the opposite side.  One can see a few country boats and a lone cottage used by some  picnickers. 

Monsoon, football and fishing

Kerala was a football crazy state. It still is, but the craze for cricket is overtaking the love for football. So I was happy to see these determined footballers at Valiathura, a fishing suburb, at a vigorous game of football, despite the pouring rain and the lashing waves.   

Football during the monsoon [June 2013]

Loop Shop?

A 'loop' shop in Kazhakuttam.

Do they sell Copper -T and other IUD's too? 

A loop shop in Kazhakuttam

OS Arun at Swati Sangeethotsavam

The major event in Trivandrum at the start of the New Year is the Swathi Sangeethotsavam at Kuthira Maalika. As we were travelling, we missed most of the kutcheris except on the last day . We could get a flavour of OS Arun towards the end of his kutcheri on the 13th of January.I also missed the Nishagandhi events. Hope I can make up after I return from the US. 

Kathak by Rani Khanam

Digital duo. A viewer snapping Kathak performance with his phone camera. 

 Rani Khanam performing. The evening performance was preceded by her lecture demonstration of "Improvisation aspects of Kathak -Laya and Bhav" in the morning