Greetings

This is my seventh post as part of A-Z challenge. 

The letter for the day is 'G'.

Every time I am in the train on my way to Chennai from my college, my mind is clouded with lot of thoughts and more than this is the excitement of seeing my family and friends and the smell of Chennai. This is something that every hosteler who is away from his home can relate to.

Just so as in movies, thoughts reminiscent of the long past flood your brains. So no matter when I come, during which month or which season or for which occasion I come, Chennai has always greeted me in the same way; heat wave and the railway station full of people like swarm of bees and the foul smell. The place is so full of itself and that is something I've noticed. So however be the way I'm greeted, my presence in this city from time to time is inevitable. 

Enthiran and the Enigma behind

This is the fifth post as a part of the A-Z challenge.

The letter for the day is 'E'.

This day was one hell of a day in a good way. It was too exhilarating that I would always remember that day. Now as many would know, Enthiran, a kollywood flick was anticipated to be the richest movie in Kolywood till that date. Starring none other than the Superstar himself and Aishwaraya Rai pairing opposite him, the movie was the most expected flick in 2010. 

Now getting tickets first day was out of the question. People started forming queues outside the theatres almost a day before the day of booking. I like any other normal fan wanted to watch it the first day, if not for the movie at least to boast that I actually saw it on the first day. 

It was the day of the release and I still didn't make an attempt to procure the ticket for I knew it would merely be a waste of time. The school functioned for half a day after which we were allowed to leave. I was walking with my friend home and suddenly she told me her dad had a free pass to the movie, evening show that too at Sathyam cinemas. It was slow realisation for the excitement took me over completely. 

I had to travel quite a distance to get the ticket. It was a rush but I didn't care. I got the ticket and went to the theatre only to find it heavily crowded with people standing everywhere like swarm of bees. I managed to get a glimpse of the red carpet and I wondered why the red carpet. Later I was told by someone in the crowd that the Superstar himself was coming to watch the movie and along with him loads of other celebrities.

I was sitting in a corner with the pass in my hand waiting for the security to let me in. While I was waiting, a random stranger approached me and asked me for the ticket for 1000 bucks!

Money didn't matter at that time. I wanted to boast. I wanted to watch the movie. A whole new experience though not of much 

Diwali; The Tambrahm way!

This is my fourth post as a part of A-Z challenge.

The letter for the day is 'D'. 

Diwali, some call it the festival of lights, where as others call it the festival of pollution. People have changed with time for they are responding to the call of Going Green. Last year  has seen a drastic reduce in the amount of crackers being burst. Not that people stopped completely for what's Diwali without the sound of Crackers?

From a Tambrahm's view, Diwali is more than just a festival. The Diwali week is marked with the purchase of new clothes. A fine Sunday after a  brunch, the apparel purchase begins. A lot of thought goes into this for no black or dark colour  should be bought in this festive season. Black represents death is the superstition that goes around the minds of the older generation. Nothing is as tedious as shopping for clothes with the perivaal objecting to each and every design or colour you choose. In the end you are simple left with no option other than to opt for a plain white uncle's shirt.

After this hunt, the job is now divided between the kudumbathaal (Family members). The children of the household are occupied with the procurement of crackers. A huge list of the crackers  available is sent to the house and a mark is made against the crackers wanted and the list is sent back. There starts the fervour.

Meanwhile, the aathu ladies (Family ladies) are busy making sweets and savouries. One should enter the house during this time for the smell would just make you wait and grab a bite of the sweet. But you have to wait until Diwali to taste for they have to be offered to the god first.

The dhoom dhamaal starts approximately two or three days before Diwali. The persistent noise irritates the oldies but for most it just makes them more excited. The bursting reaches its peak on the eve of Diwali. The dark sky is filled with colours and the sight is just magnificent. The noise doesn't stop and it continues throughout the following day and it makes you wonder if people are really jobless.

The entire household would be up by 4am. The mother would be busy applying oil on everyone's head. After this a proper head bath with the Ganga water. This makes you PURE. And you can see the household dressed traditionally with this huge vibudhi (Ash) on the forehead. The household is on the road with a big saram (1000 wala) stretched out in the road. The male (either the dad or the son) with the incense stick lights the cracker and Shastra padi (According to Shaastras) their begins their joy and prosperity for the following year.

The next most important thing that the season of festivity teaches us or inculcates in us is the habit of sharing. You don't see a single family consuming everything. The relatives all assemble in the eldest member of the family's place, usually it's the Patti Thatha's place (Grandmother and Granddad's). The traditional Diwali lunch is cooked with Sakarapongal (SugarPongal), Payasam and Vada. After a sumptuous lunch, the family sits in front of the television to watch the Diwali special movie and there starts the incessant gossip.

This continues for quite some time after which the family sinks into a siesta. This is followed by snacks, usually Vada and Coffee. The aroma of the coffee decoction lingers around the household. After having energised continues the next round of bursting decorating the sky with colours of fireworks. 

After a tiring day all you would want is to sink your head into the soft pillow. And when you finally do that, there goes KABOOM!
And you realise, "Oh Diwali is not over", and you would just pray for the sounds to cease. 

Cricket and Chennai 28

This is my third post as a part of the A-Z challenge. 

The letter for the day is 'C'

The whole of India has the crazy fervour towards the sport. Now the title itself is enough to bring palpable excitement to some people. That is Cricket in India for you all. Being a secular country, it has paid host to various religion from various countries but one religion that unites people is cricket. The religion has so many prophets depending on the likes of the people. The sport has always been a frenzy among the citizens in the country.

Chennai has put cricket on a whole new road in the country being four time IPL finalists and eventually winning it twice consecutively. The grounds in Chennai are always on a tight leash with Cricket everywhere. The sport is widely played and followed in the city.

Cricket and Chennai 600028, the connection here is pretty evident and easy to comprehend for the Chennai-ites but this is not something that everyone will decipher. Chennai 600028 is a Tamil movie that delves on the lives of die hard cricket fans who play cricket for a team that has a rivalry. The movie deals with Cricket and a lot more. The movie was a fuel to the already burning fire; passion for the game.

Cricket initially was a new dimension to me. I didn't grasp the game immediately and my liking for the game grew sporadically. But once the fever gripped me, I started playing regularly and that was when I remember joining cricket coaching. I initially started it out as a medium pacer and later after a buffer period of 3 months, I went on to become a leg spinner bowling the new ball.

Though I made a mess out of what could have been a decent career, injuries kept me away from the game and eventually made me quit coaching.

Though that ended there, I still continue to play street cricket. One thing that I won't stop no matter what. The movie added the term 'bet match' to the street cricket dictionary making people go crazy all the more.

A good match in the hot sun and following it up with a juice and a snack spiced up with a good conversation is another thing that I wouldn't dare to miss in Chennai and not to forget the IPL matches in  the Chepauk stadium. 

Beach!

This is my second post as a part of A-Z challenge.

The letter for the day is 'B'

Photo Courtesy: Yegnesh Tawker

Beach is one place that I always visit when I come to Chennai especially the Marina! For a teenager such as myself with very limited cash in my wallet, Beach is one place where I could catch up with my friends thereby keeping my expenses to below minimum. Also there are so many incidents as  memories that I've held onto which have happened in the beach.

Marina which is just a 10 minute walk from my house has always been my favourite hangout spot. I have always made it a habit to visit the beach at least once when I am in Chennai for the holidays. Beach is never the same every day. There is a great difference in the atmosphere and surroundings depending on time of the day.

   

The oldies hit the beach in the mornings. They come here for their morning exercise which is never obsolete. People go for a walk or they jog or they form circles and laugh in the belief that their Blood Pressure is going to stoop down. Such archaic beliefs are predominant amongst the current generation. Also at this time of the day, you could also see the determined fishermen getting their boats out and setting sail hoping for a big catch.

Photo Courtesy: Yegnesh Tawker

There aren't many food stalls at this time of the day except for soup being sold along the pavements  which is just mouth wateringly delicious. Probably the soup and the subtle cool breeze could possibly be one of the reasons for my overwhelming presence in the mornings.

Evenings are the right time to catch hold of a good conversation with your friends. Sitting in the sand, one could talk have a good gossip with the right set of people. The sun set too is a splendid sight that makes the evening more eventful. The beach at this time is really crowded with food shops and people. The shopkeepers drag you literally to their shop hoping for a decent business.

 A plate of Molaga Bajji(Chilly Bajji) and a glass of Sugarcane Juice or an Ice cream is enough to satiate you. Also not to forget the cup or stick corn with chilly and lemon spread over it.

The hot sand, the sultry breeze in the evenings, the cool breeze in the mornings, the shops, the talks, the balloon shooting game, football, playing in the water etc.

 Alas!

No wonder, I've had so many good memories to relate to when I think of the beach. Also Marina just never seems to get bored of me!   

Arlee Bird

This is the first post as a part of A-Z challenge.

The letter for the day (April 1) is 'A'.

I wish to dedicate this day not because it is April Fool's day but in a good way to the man who founded the challenge that has taken blogging to new heights!

Through this post I also wish to convey to my fellow bloggers that my theme for the challenge is going to be 'Chennai Memoralia!'

I am going to write about things in Chennai that interests, intrigues and more than all this is close to my heart.

Thank you Arlee Bird for it's your sheer brilliance that is right now making me post this and to the fellow contestants, Happy Blogging! :)

Arlee Bird-http://tossingitout.blogspot.in/p/about-me.html

Month of March

As the heat blanket spreads across Chennai, the month of March marks the beginning of summer in Chennai. Now March is usually the month filled with whole lot of activities. You can find on streets, lot of small scale business men trying to set up road side shops to make a quick buck. This is the time of the year where there is a rise in the sales of fruits especially Water Melons.

Every road would have a big umbrella underneath which these small scale businessmen set up their shops. Preventing them from the wrath of the sun, they cry out loud to sell their products. Tender Coconuts and Water Melons are the ones that tops their sale. In this dying heat, everyone finds time to make a pit stop to quench their parched throats with either of the two.

Photo Courtesy- Yegnesh Tawker

This is also the time of the year when all the fresh juice shops are buzzing with people who are desperate to get their hands on the cold glass of juice. The crowd will never die down until the shopkeepers call it a day.

The activity is not only along the footpath or the shops but extends till the temples too. A tradition or sentiment for the tenth and twelfth graders to hit the temples before writing their exam. So it’s very likely that the uncles and aunties can get past the student crowd to get a glance at the god on the morning of the exam. The scenario of anxious parents and even more anxious students holding their text books, giving a last minute glance oblivious to the surroundings, creating a havoc in the road is a common sight that cannot be missed in March.