Aranmula Boat Race

The Aranmula boat race takes place at Aranmula in Kerala with big crowds of spectators thronged on both sides of the great Pamba river. Lucky for me, Aranmula is hardly 6 kms away from my home and I try to be a part of this Onam event every year. More that 36 boats take part in this event and this year 30th of August was the day and I was there early and got my seat right on the river banks, couldn't ask for a better view.

These kerala style boats can be as long as 200 meters, with a huge towering tail and is most adorably called Snake Boats. Each boat belongs to a town on either side of the river. It is a team event with more than 40 rowers rowing the boat with synchronised strokes towards the finishing line. The rowing is helped by few people at the centre of the boat who sing songs to get the rowers into a synchronised rowing.

The race started and excitment started flowing as most of the races were won by the favourites. This year 2 people died during the event, a rower on one of the boats drowned as his boat capsized and a spectator also slipped into the river. Sadly none of their bodies were recovered. This year the water level was higher than usual, but it didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the rowers. The finals was won by the boat from Melukara, they had won the trophy for a 3rd time in a row.

A New Team India

I never expected to see this in my life time, but on 29th August Indian football team shocked everyone by winning an International Football Tournament. It was the finals of the ONGC Nehru Cup, Indians were clearly the underdogs but finished off a thrilling match against Syria with a 1 - 0 score to take the cup for the first time thanks to a stunning powershot goal from N.P. Pradeep. Indians looked like a spirited team in their new Nike sponsered sapphire blue jersey.

India under their new coach, Bob Houghton looked like a superb side during the tournament, losing only one match against Syria (2 - 3) in the qualifying round. But they surely did give the Syrians the boot in the finals.

I surely hope this is only a start and there's more promising stuff to come in the future. Always dreamed to see India play in the World Cup in my life time. Looks like that day is even closer than I thought.

Say No To Plastics

My heart aches whenever I travel by train in Kerala and see the pile of garbage on both sides of the track. 95% of this garbage consists of plastics. Its like people have become so selfish and don't care about the future or the next generations that they just dump their garbage whereever possible. Few days back, the government of kerala was thinking about curbing the use of plastics by imposing fine and imprisonment upto 6 months for anyone using plastics. Its a good move, but laws won't change much - the life style and thinking of the people will also have to be change.

The present opposition leader of Kerala, Oommen Chandy has a personal website. Recently I took the liberty of putting forward some simple suggestions to the former Chief Minister of Kerala through his website. Well, these were my suggestions

* Proper garbage disposal to be taught to kids in every school.

* Every shop to keep a Garbage bin outside their shop.

* Hotels, Hospitals and Big organizations should be told to dump their waste at an alloted place.

* Every district should have a garbage recycling unit.

* Privatisation of Garbage collection and Recycling.

Hope he reads it and implements some of them when he comes to power.

Athirapally And Vazhachal Waterfalls

I had always wanted to go to Athirapally Waterfalls and last week I got my chance thanks to a site trip planned by my old collegues, a day before my friend Murali's marriage.

Around 13 of my bangalore collegues and friends had arrived at Trissur a day ahead for Murali's marriage. Since Athirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls were near to Trissur the site trip was planned. I had joined the group enroute at Chalakudy and we were off. Athirapally is 32 kms from Chalakudy and the road leading to Athirapally was superb to drive with snake like curves and greenery on both sides. I wished I had got my motorbike for this trip. Around 4 - 6 kms before reaching Athirapally, we were greeted by the breath-taking scenery of the waterfalls with the western ghat mountains in the background. After taking few photographs were off to get a closer view. We reached Athirapally waterfalls, the closer view was even more stunning. It was the biggest waterfalls I had ever seen. I joined some of my friends down hill to see the bottom of the waterfalls. The enormity of the waterfalls could be admired from here. There were hardly people here, the air was covered in mist and visibility was hindered to take much photographs. We were all completely wet, it was just like someone spraying us with water sprayer.

After enjoying some fun time there we next moved to Vazhachal waterfalls which was 4kms from Athirapally. It was little spooky travelling on the road through the forest with only some monkeys to be seen around. Vazhachal waterfalls was not as breath-taking as Athirapally, but was really raging with a picturesque beauty.

Onam Is Here

Another year and Onam is finally here!! Onam is the festival of Keralites. It is celebrated regardless of religion, caste or creed by everyone. It is the time of year when the sun comes out for the harvest season and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of flowers and banana chips.

Mythology has it that Kerala was once ruled by the great ruler called Mahabali. His reign brought prosperous and peaceful times to his kingdom. The gods were envious of his success that they send Vamanan to kill him. For centuries keralites believe that King Mahabali visits his loyal citizens and to see the prosperity in the land during the time of Onam. Traditionally Keralites welcome their king by making an Athapoo (design of flowers on the ground) and by eating vegetarian food on banana leaf.

The season of Onam brings lot of traditional Kerala events like Pulikali, Maram Adi, Snake Boat Race, Athapoo, ..... etc. Pulikali is a tiger dance where people paint themselves in yellow and dance around like tigers. Maram Adi is an Ox race (mentioned in my previous blog). Snake Boat race is a trilling boat race where lot to people row on a long boat. Onam is famous for the Onam Sadya (lunch), which is lunch served on a large banana leaves with lot of colourful side curries. Banana chips is a famous snack during Onam. Ladies wear white sarees and Men wear white Mundu (or dhoti). Ladies dance around a lamp which is symbolic to Onam.

On this day, with my stomach filled with banana chips, I would like to wish all my Keralite friends "A very happy and prosperous Onam".

Maram Adi

Wondering what a Maram Adi is?? Well, it is an Ox Race which is part of Kerala's tradition as well as an entertaining sport. Usually the event is held in a paddy field filled almost knee high with muddy murky water. An ox pair runs from one end of the field to the other end through the muddy water, they are driven by two people standing on an attached wood with their hands firmly holding the cattles nose ropes. Rules differ from place to place - in some places 2 pairs of ox race against each other while at some other places the ox race winner is decided based on time.

Every year on August 15th (Indian Independence Day), Anandapally near Adoor in Kerala gets ready for the local Maram Adi competition. Fortunately this year I was around and thought, why don't I catch some live action? This is the second time that I am been to Anandapally for this Maram Adi event. I reached there in the afternoon when the sun was right over our heads. I had brought my digital camera to capture some exceptional shots of the race. This time I had made a risky decision to stand at the finishing line to get some better photos, it was so risky that sometimes an uncontrollable ox with large horns might run into the watching crowd. During the race couple of times the ox did run into the crowd, and it became even more exciting to see people running for their life with an ox right behind them. Luckily no one got hurt. When each race starts, every single spectator gets on their toes to flee if needed. Its like a loose canon, never know when it might come straight at you. Race after race, the excitement gradually grew as I stood firmly at the finishing line with my camera focused on the raging beasts. At the end of the day by God's grace I came out in one single piece, with some stunning pictures and some thrilling moments to treasure all my life.

Happy Independence Day

Yesterday was a joyous occasion for all Indians as Independent India celebrated her 60th year of Independence. The achievements my motherland has made in the past 60 years is commendable.

Mother India, I am really proud to be your child. God has blessed you with natural beauty, human strength, Intellectual power, envious unity among all diversity and Freedom. May God bless you even more abundantly and give you a prosperous future to be a world power in the near future.

Jai Hind!!