Ponggal Festival

Pongal is a four-days-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, there has been some form of harvest festival. Pongal, one of the most important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are harvested.

Mid-January is an important time in the Tamil calendar. The harvest festival, Pongal, falls typically on the 14th or the 15th of January and is the quintessential 'Tamil Festival'. Pongal is a harvest festival, a traditional occasion for giving thanks to nature, for celebrating the life cycles that give us grain. Tamilians say 'Thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum', and believe that knotty family problems will be solved with the advent of the Tamil month Thai that begins on Pongal day. This is traditionally the month of weddings. This is not a surprise in a largely agricultural community - the riches gained from a good harvest form the economic basis for expensive family occasions like weddings.

The First Day

This first day is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. Another ritual observed on this day is Bhogi Mantalu, when useless household articles are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow-dung cakes. Girls dance around the bonfire, singing songs in praise of the gods, the spring and the harvest. The significance of the bonfire, in which is burnt the agricultural wastes and firewood is to keep warm during the last lap of winter.

The Second Day

On the second day of Pongal, the puja or act of ceremonial worship is performed when rice is boiled in milk outdoors in a earthenware pot and is then symbolically offered to the sun-god along with other oblations. All people wear traditional dress and markings, and their is an interesting ritual where husband and wife dispose off elegant ritual utensils specially used for the puja. In the village, the Pongal ceremony is carried out more simply but with the same devotion. In accordance with the appointed ritual a turmeric plant is tied around the pot in which the rice will be boiled. The offerings include the two sticks of sugar-cane in background and coconut and bananas in the dish. A common feature of the puja, in addition to the offerings, is the kolam, the auspicious design which is traditionally traced in white lime powder before the house in the early morning after bathing.

The Third Day

The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around the neck of the cattle and then are worshiped. They are fed with Pongal and taken to the village centers. The resounding of their bells attract the villagers as the young men race each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of fun and revelry. Arati is performed on them, so as to ward off the evil eye. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.

The Fourth Day

The Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. On this day, a turmeric leaf is washed and is then placed on the ground. On this leaf are placed, the left overs of sweet Pongal and Venn Pongal, ordinary rice as well as rice colored red and yellow, betel leaves, betel nuts, two pieces of sugarcane, turmeric leaves, and plantains. In Tamil Nadu women perform this ritual before bathing in the morning. All the women, young and old, of the house assemble in the courtyard. The rice is placed in the centre of the leaf, while the women ask that the house and family of their brothers should prosper. Arati is performed for the brothers with turmeric water, limestone and rice, and this water is sprinkled on the kolam in front of the house.

Dasavatharam Avatars

Yeah this is for you guys who ask why is this character in for? why is that character in for? read this and you will understand the reason for each character to be there. wen we watch we feel it is just to make up 10 characters, but actually each has its own meaning.

come on, read this:::

If you knew the real dasavatharams of Lord Vishnu and their characters you can appreciate the script more. Let me explain, starting with the best adapted role:

1. Krishna avatar - Vincent Poovaraghavan

Lord krishna is actually a dalit, he is dark-skinned [shyamalam]. He saved draupadi when she was being violated and he was the actual diplomat in mahabharatham. Lord krishna dies of an arrow striking his lower leg. Now look at how vincent was introduced.. he appears when asin is about to be molested and he saves her like draupadi. Vincent is the dalit diplomat, fights for land issue [soil issue to be exact] and dies from the metal rod striking his leg. Oh even five of vincent's men are drugged at P. Vasu's.. sounds familiar???

2. Balarama avatar - Balarama naidu

This is an easy given. as the name suggests and the role personifies you can easily get it.

3. Mathsya avatar - Ranagaraja nambi

nambi is thrown into water in an act of trying to save lord from being thrown into sea, though vainly. what more clue do you want?

4. Varaha avatar - Krishnaveni paatti

During the mukunda song, krishnaveni paatti does varaha avatar in the shadow puppetry. The frame freezes on it for a second. there is the clue. Moreover, in varaha avatar lord actually hides earth so as to protect life forms. Here too krishnaveni hides the germs - life form inside the statue so as to protect.

5. Vamana avatar - Kalifulla khan

remember in vamana avatar, lord vishnu takes the vishvaroopa, that is the giant form! Hence the giant kalifulla here symbolises vamana avatar.

6. Parasurama avatar - Christian Fletcher

Parasurama is actually on an angry killing spree and killed 21 generations of the particular kshatriya vamsa. Hence the real KILLER... Guess what thats what our Fletcher is! He comes around with the gun [modern upgrade for axe] and kills everyone around. I have to check if he kills 21 people though. :-D

7. Narasimha avatar - Shingen Narahashi

first of all the name itself is a play on the words singam [means lion in tamil] and narasimha [the avatar being symbolised]. Lord Narasimha manifests himelf to kill the bad guy and he also teaches prahaladha. In the movie, he shows up to kill the killer fletcher! and is also a teacher.. Lord Narasimha had to kill the asura with bare hands and hence the martial arts exponent here.. get it?

8. Rama avatar - Avatar Singh

Lord Rama stands for the one man one woman maxim, kind of symbolising true love.. Here Avatar portrays that spirit by saying that he loves his woman more than anything and wants to live for her.

9. Kalki avatar - Govindaraj Ramasamy

As you know, the hero in kaliyug can be none other than the Kalki avatar!!!

10. Koorma avatar - Bush

This is the most loose adaptation I couldn't clearly comprehend. But if you look at the real koorma avatar, the lord is the turtle/tortoise that helps in stirring the ksheera sagara and bringing out the amruth. This essentially creates war among the devas and asuras. Similarly today Bush facilitates war between you know whom... May be Kamal also indicates that this avatar is a bit dumb like the tortoise...

Dasavatharam Explanation

HI, this is for some of you who dont understand the movie and claims it is not nice...read this..

The 1st scene is perfectly connected to the climax, remember what Kamal says in the 1st scene, that he will not say “Om Nama Shivaya” , but Asin tells him to chant it , but still Kamal refuses , ( in this kamal in his story tries to tell that ) Nambi believes in his god more than anything, but Asin feels “Its ok if we change the god or chant other god’s name, its life thats most important.” Now if u see the climax its JUST OPPOSITE…. Kamal doesn’t believe in god much and values lives of people the most…. but Asin deeply believes in god and that too this dialogue comes when both Asin and Kamal’s hand is on the god which came from the sea , and it also means that they are getting united from the place they departed hundreds of years back ( Kamal and Asin).The connection between the 1st scene and the climax in the movie shows the generation circle combined with supernatural powers of GOD and destiny…..!! Another explanation(and this is slightly far fetched— as explained earlier) is that Govind is in fact the reincaranation of Nambi. As Nambi he couldn’t protect God and died in the name of God.In order to fulfill his Karma,he is reincarnated as Govind Ramasamy who ultimately saves the world from destruction.The idol in the end somewhat hints to this theory; his story began with the idol and it ends with the idol.

As far as the connection with Nambi character and events in 12th Century goes… The connection is based on the “Butterfly effect “. When Govind and Andal goes to the bury the idol in the sands, Andal will stumble on a particular stone couple of times…This is the same stone as the one from 12th Century hen Kothai rips her Thaali and flings it at Kulothunga Chozan…it will end up hanging on the stone. So, the implied message here is Andal is Kothai reborn in the 21s century.

During the encounter with Santhana Bharathi in the sand quarry, it is repeat of the incident from 12th century. Instead of Kulothunga Chozhan, it is the Sand Mafia which tries to inflict damage on the land. This movie is a brilliant juxtaposition of independent characters whose paths cross, if only briefly, which is stunning example of Chaos Theory. The idol that is drowned in the sea along with Rangarajan in 12th century by Chozha king results in a fault being developed at the bottom of the ocean and creates tremors more than 800 years later. These tremors result in the Tsunami. This again is a classic case of Butterfly Effect wherein a seemingly inconcsequential event (the drowing of the idol) saves Tamil Nadu from being wiped out off the face of the earth.

But actually kamal has not left anything for our imagination… Explanation struck the right chord, Kamal does tell to Asin in a dialogue that idol which gets sunken back then gets struck between the tectonic plates under the sea and causes tsunami… Many people missed this dialogue i guess. Kamal’s accent was so very perfect Tamil, that many people missed it…. Being perfect Is a Problem by Itself !!! Although the explanation is a least possible theory, that is what “Chaos Theory” And “Butterfly Effect” are all about. Its not just the statue that caused the tsunami, but it just started a large chain of effects which kept multiplying exponentially and finally lead to it after 800 years….!!

Why just say this concept is perfectly illogical… it is possible… thats what i have been explaining all the while !!! The story line is that things going wrong are made to be right which involves many people and countries knowingly or unknowingly..

Shaivism vs Vaishnavism

Shaivism and Vishnavism might sound familiar if you had watched the movie Dasaavatharam.

Here is what it means:

Shaivism encompasses the traditions of Hinduism that focus on the deity Shiva. The worship of Shiva is a pan-Hindu tradition, practiced widely across many parts of South Asia, especially India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The name is an English formation from the Sanskrit Shaiva ( IAST Śaiva), meaning belonging to, or derived from, Shiva. An equivalent Sanskrit form is Shaiva Darshan (Sanskrit: शैव दर्शन, IAST: Śaiva Darśan). A follower of these traditions is usually called a Shaivite in English.

Vaishnavism is one of the traditions of Hinduism, and is distinguished from other schools by its primary worship of one supreme God known in different perspectives under names of Narayana, Krishna, Vasudeva or more often Vishnu and their associated avatars. It is principally monotheistic in its philosophy, but not exclusive. Its beliefs and practices, especially the concepts of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga, are based largely on Upanishads associated with the Vedas and Puranic texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, and the Padma, Vishnu and Bhagavatar Puranas.

The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as Vaishnava(s) or Vaishnavites. According to recent statistics, a majority of Hindus are Vaishnavas, with the vast majority living in India. However, awareness, recognition, and growth of the belief has significantly increased outside of India in recent years. The Gaudiya Vaishnava branch of the tradition has significantly increased the awareness of Vaishnavism internationally, since the mid-1900s, largely through the activities and geographical expansion of the Hare Krishna movement, primarily through the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, founded in 1966 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and, more recently, through several other Vaishnava organizations conducting preaching activities in the West.

Movie Review - Dasaavatharam

Here is the review of a movie I watched today. This was my 2nd show actually. This is a nice movie. Some say its nonsence but it contains alot of facts and you could learn something new (about BioTech).

Here is the review powered by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The film begins showing the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium filled with an audience, being hosted by Govindarajan Ramaswamy (Kamal Haasan) with prominent personalities including Prime Minister of India, Dr.Manmohan Singh, the President of the United States George Bush (Kamal Haasan) and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi seated on the stage, following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Govind explains the idea of the chaos theory and its effects on the world.

Govind begins by reciting events from Chidambaram in the 12th century Chola empire of South India. Kulothunga Chola II, (Napolean) the King of the empire is a Saivite, believing in the Hindu deity, Shiva. The King wants to get rid of all temples of the deity Vishnu, followed by the Vaishnavites and intends to take a large idol of Vishnu from a temple intent on disposing it in the Indian Ocean. However, Rangaraja Nambi (Kamal Haasan), a Vaishnavite, tries to stop the King from disposing his deity. Uncovering Nambi's plans to stop the idol's disposal, the King tells him to renounce his belief or be destroyed along with his idol. Nambi refuses to bow to any other god, despite pleas from his wife, Kothai Radha, (Asin Thottumkal) and is subsequently tied to the huge idol and both are thrown in the Indian Ocean.

The scene switches to the week preceding the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, beginning on 20 December 2004. Govindarajan Ramaswamy, commonly known as Govind, is a biotechnologist working at a lab in California, USA. He works in an organization which had invented a deadly virus which has the potential to be the greatest bio-weapon ever made by man, with the actual matter being kept well protected. However during an announcement with George Bush, Govind's lab monkey breaches the security protecting the bio-weapon and swallows it, killing it and producing a devastating effect. Following this discovery, Govind wants to destroy it, with the only possible remedy being the mixing of the weapon with sodium chloride. But his boss, Dr. Sethu (Rajesh Toleti) at the organization has a different idea and attempts to sell it to terrorist organizations. Upon the discovery of this, Govind makes off with the vial containing the virus and flees to his friend, Suresh's (Sanjay) home. Suresh betrays Govind and informs the boss that Govind is at his house.

Suddenly Christian Fletcher (Kamal Haasan), who is an ex-CIA officer, also appears in the scene wanting the vial for his own nefarious purposes. At Suresh's house, Govind manages to escape without harm but Suresh and his Japanese wife, Yuka (Ann), are murdered by Fletcher. The escaping Govind, finds himself in a car with with another friend, Sairam, in whose belongings, the vial gets mixed up accidentally, sending the vial by mistake to Chidambaram in India. Unable to stop the flight, Govind finally manages to escape from the USA by sneaking aboard a cargo flight. Receiving intelligence on this issue, Fletcher decides to fly to India to recover the vial. Prior to leaving, he finds himself a translator in the Las Vegas pole dancer, Jasmine (Mallika Sherawat); also getting married to her before leaving. In Japan, Shingen Narahashi (Kamal Haasan), a Japanese martial arts expert and brother of Yuka, thinks it was Govind who killed his sister and comes to India, seeking revenge.

Upon arrival at Chennai airport, the vial is transfered to another plane and Telugu intelligence officer, Balram Naidu (Kamal Haasan) intervenes and questions Govind, who insists on talking to higher authorities but to no avail. As Naidu walks out of the room briefly, Fletcher invades the building taking Govind and a police officer, Bharath (Akash) hostage. The trio along with Jasmine are stopped at immigration but mange to escape after a Punjabi pop singer, Avtaar Singh (Kamal Haasan), faints and causes a frenzy at the airport. Eventually Akash gets shot and during this, Govind manages to escape from Fletcher and flees to Chidambaram in hope of finding the vial. Subsequently, Fletcher and Jasmine hire a driver, Broadway Kumar (M. S. Baskar) to transport them to Chidambaram as well.

The vial ultimately ends up at the house of a Brahmin family in Chidambaram. The vial, delivered in a parcel by the postman Prabhu (Vayapuri), is taken in by a 95-year-old, mentally retarded woman, Krishnaveni (Kamal Haasan), who lives in belief of receiving a parcel from her son, who perished in 1953. Govind pleads for it to no avail, but eventually changes the mind of Krishnaveni, after explaining the scientific threat to her granddaughter, Andaal (Asin Thottumkal). Krishnaveni responds by putting the vial inside the idol of the deity, Perumal, citing that God would destroy the weapon. Fletcher and Jasmine, eventually arrive in Chidambaram and Jasmine attempts to seduce Prabhu and Naidu's assistant, Ekambaram (Chitti Babu) to reveal Govind's location.

Govind tries to secure the vial before Fletcher and Jasmine reach them. Soon, Fletcher fires his gun near an elephant and it starts rampaging, with Jasmine getting badly hurt in the commotion. Lest she should say something, Fletcher shoots her dead. Govind tries to escape with the idol but Andaal, who worships the idol, tries to stop him. Eventually they both escape and after a long chase, they manage to reach the old Chola Temple, where the King watched the idol of Vishnu being thrown into the ocean in 12th century. Govind remembers that the vial should be kept cool so they bury the idol in cold sand and go in search of ice to maintain the temperature. As they stop to get ice, the pair find out they are being hunted by the police and that they are being portrayed negatively in the press. When they return they find that the quarry sand, where they planted the statue, is being stolen by illegal sand miners. The miners capture the duo as they try to reclaim the idol. Furthermore, their leader (Santhana Bharathi) attempts to rape Andaal when she shouts into darkness for help. Lights flash and Vincent Poovaraagan (Kamal Haasan), a Dalit who was been neglected by the society due to their caste arrive, along with a bunch of TV reporters, comes to question the theft of sand from quarries. Using this opportunity, Govind and Andaal escape with the idol.

They manage to escape using the sand lorries and on the main road, they collide with a car which contains a Muslim family within it. Govind helps the family out of the car, with the injured also including seven foot giant Kalifullah Mukhtaar (Kamal Haasan), furthermore they simultaneously escape from threats from Fletcher and Balram Naidu. Kalifullah's mother, Megha (K. R. Vijaya) begins to bleed and Govind with Andaal take her to the local hospital. At the hospital Avtaar Singh rests with a tumour in his throat posing potential danger to his vocal cords and thereby, his singing career. He checks into a hospital and the doctor gives him some medicines in a cooler. Govind also gets a cooler, similar to the one of Avtaar Singh, to preserve the idol and hence, the vial. In a lift, the coolers of Govind and Avtaar Singh are mixed up, and Avtaar Singh sets off for his concert. Govind meets Bharath again, with the police officer instructing him to meet Balram Naidu. Govind picks up the cooler which actually contains the medicine and sets off to the police station, thinking that it has the idol inside. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Fletcher arrests Andaal at gun point and takes her to Kalifullah's home. He makes a phone call to Govind to get back along with the idol. Govind retreats from the steps of the police station, only to be spotted by Balram Naidu and Shingen Narahashi. The entire police force follow Govind to Kalifullah's home hoping to arrest Govind and Fletcher. When Govind and Fletcher meet, they are surprised to see that the cooler box does not have the idol in it and Govind guesses that it should be with Avtaar Singh. With assistance from Kalifullah's father, Sheik (Nagesh), they escape to the concert hall. Balram Naidu brings the police and enquirers Kalifullah and the residents of the entire village regarding the escape of Govind. Subsequently he orders everybody to be stationed in a Mosque to hasten the inquiry.

Avtaar Singh finishes his predicted last musical performance, vomiting a lot of blood while singing. At the end of the concert, Govind and Fletcher are waiting for him to exchange the cooler box. Fletcher shoots Avtaar Singh in the throat and after little confusion, Govind and Andaal set off on a bike along with the idol and Fletcher continues to chase them. Govind and Andaal reach a construction site along with the idol. The sun dawns on December 26, 2004. Fletcher holds Andaal at gun point and Govind hands over the idol to Fletcher, only to confess later to Andaal that he had removed the vial from the idol. Balram Naidu reaches the spot in a helicopter and chases Fletcher. Govind and Andaal set off with the vial, with Govind realizing the urging need to preserve it.

Meanwhile, J. Raghavendra (P. Vasu), head of the illegal sand miners tries to cajole Vincent Poovaragan to give up his activities and join his side. Most of Poovaragan's members have deserted him, however Poovaragan remains unchanged. At the same time, President Bush and few others come to know that NaCl could destroy the weapon. Back in Tamil Nadu, Govind notices a couple of drainage cleaners who coat their bare bodies with crystal salt before getting into the drainage holes. He gets an idea and runs toward the sea, only to be stopped again by Fletcher and Govind is no match for Fletcher and Fletcher succeeds in securing the vial. While Govind is hurt badly, Shingen Narahashi comes to his rescue and fights against Fletcher, after he understands Fletecher had killed Yuka. Govind watches Shingen Narahashi break Fletcher's arms and legs. Fletcher helplessly and in frustration, curses India and breaks open the vial and eats it despite pleas from Govind who shouts not to do it and at the same time asks Shingen Narahashi to back away. Balram Naidu, in his helicopter has followed Fletcher all the way through till the beach. As soon the vial is open, he zooms in with his binoculars and the virus starts replicating rapidly in the atmosphere.

Almost immediately, the Tsunami strikes. Balram Naidu flees away in his helicopter. Govind, Shingen Narahashi and Andaal take refuge in a small boat while the decaying Fletcher gets washed away. The Mosque which hosts the inhabitants of Kalifullah's village is unstruck and the entire village is saved and they return the good will by helping the police in Tsunami relief. J. Raghavendra's house is struck and Poovaragan saves the children of Raghavendra, but gets himself killed in the fracas. During relief efforts, Krishnaveni believes Poovaragan to be her son and cries out of grief finally, breaking the barriers of her caste. Andaal expresses her love for Govind and at the same time, praises God who, according to her, has saved millions of lives through a Tsunami in place of the vial. Govind questions her theory by asking if a God would kill thousands of lives. As Govind and Andaal set off from the beach, an idol of Vishnu is shown to have brought back to the land by the sea through the Tsunami. It is also indicated that the bullet that struck Avtaar Singh's throat cleared off the cancer and he should be able to get back to singing in a span of six months.

The scene changes back to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai where President Bush is invited to deliver his speech. After speaking, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi is invited to speak and credits roll by concluding in the Ulaga Nayagan song, showing the hardships of portraying ten different roles by Kamal Haasan.

Thanks Wikipedia.

The History of the Middle Finger

juz for knowledge...

Toilet bowl restaurant

Who says you gotta go to china for this? It is even here in Penang...(Queensbay Mall beside GSC)...