VINAYAKA CHATURTHI CELEBRATIONS 2018 : SOME HIGHLIGHTS

This year’s Vinayaka Chaturthi generated a curious desire in me.  I wanted to know in detail how the festival is celebrated outside Tamil Nadu.  Digital technology came to my help.  I surfed websites, watched television channels, closely went through social media posts and browsed e-newspapers.  The result was amazing.  I could collect some astounding facts and figures.  It is my pleasure to share some of them here.  

THE GRANDEUR OF GANESHA

(By Subbaram Danda)

Vinayaka Chaturthi is one great Hindu festival that lends itself to celebration in a variety of ways.  While in temples special worship is conducted, at homes people bring freshly-made mud images of the deity and offer prayers.  An outstanding feature is the setting up of temporary road-side pandals (sheds) at vantage points in various cities, towns and villages and installing in them huge idols of Vinayaka in mind-boggling styles. 

The centre of all activity in India is undoubtedly Mumbai, where the festivity goes on for as many as ten days. In that metropolitan city the cynosure of all eyes is a huge Vinayaka idol affectionately called Lalbaugcha Raja in a lane of Lalbaug market in Central Mumbai.   It has been very popular for the past 85 years. 

This year the Lalbaugcha Raja’s idol is 15 feet tall installed in a pandal beautifully done up with 3D technology.  Graphics embellish the stage colourfully with a backdrop of cascading waterfalls, hovering birds and blooming flowers.

Lalbaugcha Raja

The divine Raja draws an incredibly large number of people, including Bollywood celebrities and politicians -- around 15 lakhs every day for ten days!  How such a vast sea of moving people is controlled is anybody’s guess.  Devotees keep going in two lines.  In the first they can go near the feet of the idol and get a close-up view of the deity. The second queue does not permit going close to the stage.  In the first line, it is said people stand sometimes for as long as 30 hours and in the second for up to eight hours, according to Wikipedia.

Why is this Ganesha so famous?  Devotees strongly believe that praying to this deity, in particular touching his feet, will enable them to get their wishes granted.  Television channels stream the festivities live.  After the celebrations, the idol is immersed in the sea. 

Every year the idol is made according to a legendary design by members of a particular family called Kamblis, who were originally sculptors.  The design is patent-protected.  

The organizers of this grand show are the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.  They have taken a comprehensive insurance policy.

Another major attraction is a large idol known widely as Mumbai’s Gold Ganesha.  It is adorned with ornaments of the yellow metal weighing more than 70 kg of pure gold, besides diamond-studded jewellery and silver articles.  Seated on a golden throne the idol shines in an ornate pandal in King’s circle. 

Just before immersion of the idol in the sea at the end of the festivities, the jewels are taken out and kept in safe custody till next year. The organizers are GSB Seva Mandal.  They have also taken a comprehensive insurance policy.

Golden Ganesha

There is yet another place in Mumbai where people throng.  It is to have darshan of Ganesh Gallicha Raja.  This year the deity is represented as riding a charging horse. The statue in vivid colours stands out as a vibrant work of art.  Interestingly, Ganesh Galli is just a few lanes away from the Lalbaug idol.

Ganesh Gallicha Raja

In Maharashtra, including Mumbai, there are several thousands of other idols.  Each conveys a legend or a message. This year protection of the environment is the overwhelming theme.

After Maharashtra, south India takes pride of place in celebrating Vinayaka Chaturthi.  In Telangana, the Khairatabad Ganesha in Hyderabad is famous.  This time it is Saptamukha Kalasarpa Maha Ganapati standing 57-feet tall, nearly as high as a six-storey building.  In the foreground are mini statues of Lakshmi and Saraswati.

A highlight of the festivities at Khairatabad is a 580-kg laddu prepared by a sweet stall as an offering to the deity.  Finally, it will be distributed to devotees.

Khairatabad Ganesha

Throughout India and overseas deity Vinayaka is worshipped in ways that can only be described as incredible.  Human ingenuity reaches its pinnacle in designing and creating gigantic idols for Ganesh Chaturthi.  They number a few lakhs.  Only very famous ones have been presented in this feature.   

  

September 17, 2018

Film IMAIKKAA NODIGAL : My Review

A THRILLER WITH A RUNNING SUSPENSE

(By Subbaram Danda)

Nayantara as Anjali

“I love killing. I just love killing. I am a psycho”– these words of bravado of serial killer Rudra, as he proceeds from one ruthless murder to another, reverberate right through the film “Imaikkaa Nodigal” (unblinked moments), one of the latest Tamil releases.  He challenges CBI officer Anjali investigating the cold-blooded slayings, “Stop me, if you can. Good luck.” Anjali retorts with a cool refrain, “He thinks he is smart, but he is not.  He will be caught soon.”

The thriller, set in Bengaluru, revolves around a new modus operandi of kidnap and murder.  The killer’s signature style is to abduct a high profile person, demand Rs.2 crores, receive the ransom and still kill the victim.  And this goes on without any change in the method of operation and let-up.    

Anurag Kashyap as Killer Rudra

Intertwined with the main story is a love affair between Arjun, brother of Anjali, and a ravishingly beautiful girl Krithika.  Rudra’s evil designs entangle them too.

The role of Rudra is played brilliantly by Anurag Kashyap of Bollywood fame and Anjali is portrayed by serious-looking Nayantara.  Rashi Khanna as Krithika and Atharvaa as Arjun add mascara and masala to the film.  Vijay Sethupathi’s short role as husband of Anjali is ornamental.  Anurag easily outshines Nayantara in performance.

It is a film, which makes good use of the modern technology with computers, smartphones and cyber linkages.  The police and the villain vie with each other in employing the technology to play their own game.

Rashi Khanna as Krithika

Director Ajay Gnanamuthu has done a good job in making the audience watch the film from the edge of their seats.  The flick is fast paced.  There are, however, some patches where it drags.  The film runs for nearly three hours, which is too much considering contemporary standards.  Numerous flashbacks, twists and turns tend to confuse the people and make them lose track of the main story. Comic scenes are noteworthy by their absence.  The cinematographer R. D. Rajasekhar has chosen excellent lighting settings and angles to capture the true action of the actors. Music is by HipHopTamizha. 

There is a little girl, daughter of Anjali, who puts up a scintillating performance in her limited but remarkable role.

The real suspense of the film lies in the question, “Who is Rudra?”  There was a serial killer by that name, who was finished off by the Police some years ago, according to their records.   Is somebody currently masquerading as him?  The needle of suspicion turns to Arjun too.  And Anjali as well !!!

(Ends)

September 04, 2018

RECOLLECTIONS Sweet and Sour - 07

With the demise of DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi at the age of 94 on August 07, 2018 in Chennai, a major era in the annals of Dravidian politics has come to an end.  But what the five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has done to improve the lives of the masses of the state will remain green forever.

A RING-SIDE VIEW OF KARUNANIDHI

(By Subbaram Danda)

Undoubtedly, former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was an admirable person, even if one did not agree with his political ideology or his personal beliefs.  I had many occasions to interact with him closely as a journalist.  I was an Accredited Correspondent of the “Indian Express” and later Chief of News Bureau of the “Financial Express.”

He was an excellent media manager.  He never ran away from the press.  He was always willing to meet newsmen if he was free.  His style was unique.  Even in informal chats, when journalists sought his reaction to any development or wanted any clarification, he would tell them, “Put it in the form of a question in clear terms and I will answer them.”  He would listen to them carefully before giving a reply.  His responses would be straight, leaving no room for any ambiguity.  Often he would add a witty expression too.  Thus he would ensure there was no room for any misinterpretation later.  This “question and answer” format he always followed.

Karunanidhi was a journalist himself and a capable writer.  He knew what would generate a good news story. He had the knack of giving out information in such a way that it always hit the headlines.  

Karunanidhi was reverentially and fondly called Kalaignar by the people, especially his cadres. In Tamil it means scholar of arts.  He was not only an effective writer in Tamil and a versatile poet but also a forceful orator.  

He was a great administrator.  I knew several IAS officers, who loved to work under his stewardship.  He respected their views before taking a final decision in any matter.  He never slighted them.  At the same time, he held tight reins over them.

What made him stand out was his earnestness to be a friend of the masses.  Many of his schemes were directed at their well-being.  Decades ago, on his birthday every year, he would receive donations from celebrities who came to greet him and use those funds for the welfare of the downtrodden.  One such measure was abolition of hand-pulled rickshaws, which were replaced by cycle rickshaws. Another stupendous initiative was construction of multi-storeyed tenements for hut-dwellers.

In later years, giving away freebies was his master stroke.  This idea emanated from his close friend Dr. Naganathan, Head of the Department of Econometrics at Madras University. Yet another far-reaching measure was enactment of legislation to treat women on par with men when they inherited properties of their parents.  During one of his earlier tenures, he implemented welfare schemes for the men of the media too. 

These and several other innumerable measures earned him name and fame from a large section of the population of the state and easily endeared him to them.  The beneficiaries always remained grateful to him.

Of course, he faced many criticisms and charges.  But his popular programmes overshadowed them.

He was a great political strategist and the brain behind the games that his party played.  It is difficult to find another personality like him in future.

Without any doubt Karunanidhi was a blazing star in the Indian political firmament.

When I watched on T.V. the final journey of Kalaignar to Anna Square, where he was laid to rest with full military honours, memories flashed in my mind of my coverage of the funeral of his mentor C. N. Annadurai for my newspaper long long ago.  What crowds!   

Here are some photographs of Kalaignar’s last journey:

Surging crowds at the funeral procession

The body of Karunanidhi being taken in a gun carriage

Karunanidhi's body before being laid to rest

The embossed  epitaph on the coffin:
"Having toiled without rest, he now takes rest."

Bereaved family members

(Ends)

August 09, 2018   

RECOLLECTIONS Sweet and Sour - 06

Mango is the fruit of summer.  Though the king of fruits comes in different varieties, the most preferred ones are Banganapalli, Alphonso, Malgova and Imam Pasand for their own unique flavour and feel.  

MY MANGO MUSINGS

(By Subbaram Danda)

I cannot forget an incident that took place one good summer morning a few decades ago.  An emissary of a prominent industrialist of Tamil Nadu brought to my residence a big basket of mangoes in a public relations exercise.    

“Sir, this is from the famous Thathachariar garden of Srirangam.  It is the best quality Imam Pasand grown with all care and naturally ripened.  It is not easily available in the market. My boss has asked me to deliver it to you with his personal compliments,” the emissary told me in an endearing voice.  The basket would have contained at least 50 fruits neatly tucked in hay.

It was unexpected. I was surprised.  I could not react immediately.  It had been my policy not to accept gifts sent privately to my residence by any person.   But this was a tricky situation.  The industrialist was an excellent source of news for me and a very likeable person.  He had given me clues about major business developments, which helped me land good scoops many a time.  He had also given me his unlisted personal phone number, so that I could contact him any time without having to go through his secretary.   (In those days there were only landlines and some specially acquired numbers were not listed in the official telephone directory.)

I was in a peculiar dilemma.  If I rejected the gift, how would he react?  Would he think that I was rude?  Finally I took the plunge and politely declined the gift, hoping he would understand me.    

The emissary was aghast.  He showed me a long list of possible recipients, which included senior bureaucrats, politicians, media persons, bankers and others who mattered.  Still, I stuck to my guns.  He left somewhat puzzled and disappointed.

My fears were unfounded.  The industrialist called me back and expressed his appreciation of my stand.  Afterwards, we became very thick friends.

Gifts were the big bugbear of many journalists. What would constitute a gift?  Would the lunch given to journalists at a press conference in a five-star hotel by a company declaring its annual financial results constitute a gift or only the give-away offered at the end?  Similarly, if an organization took a press party to its plant in another part of the state to showcase its activities, would it amount to a gift?

All these factors led me to take a decision – a viable and practical one.  I would not mind accepting any gift given openly in a press meet or at a get together but not those sent home personally.  I threw the idea at my junior colleagues and they happily agreed to it.  It was this stand that made me decline the basket of Imam Pasand mangoes.  I was sure that other senior journalists in the city at that time too had similar standards with some exceptions here and there.  

I should acknowledge here with all appreciation that reporters of The Hindu, on instructions from their higher ups, had always declined gifts of every kind, given openly or not, though they partook in lunches and conducted tours.

This was the position a few decades ago.  Then there were only a few newspapers besides All India radio and Doordarshan.  A lot of water has flowed since then.  It is anybody’s guess what the situation is right now. 

A word about Imam Pasand.  It is a rare variety grown only in select areas in our country.  It is somewhat more expensive than others.  A Hindi or Urdu word, it means Imam’s favourite.  The Imam was Mughal emperor Humayun.   Connoisseurs look at it as an outstanding variety in view of its rich and unique taste.  However, my choice is Banganapalli first and then Malgova.   

In the meantime, let us enjoy the mango, whatever the variety is, as long as the season lasts! (Ends)

June 01, 2018

KUFRI : A COOL DESTINATION

KUFRI, a hill station located at about 20 kilometres from Shimla, has emerged as the modern-day upscale summer retreat of north India.  This is the result of crass commercialization and exploding population of Shimla taking a toll on its infrastructure.  In fact, many tourists stay in Kufri and travel to Shimla for sight-seeing.

Hill station Kufri lies perched on Himalayan range of mountains

FOR A RELAXING HOLIDAY

(By Subbaram Danda)

The road from Shimla rises steeply and gains staggering 1,400 feet in altitude by the time Kufri is reached.  Its elevation at 8,630 feet above the sea level enables one to see the Himalayan range of mountains in their natural splendour.  Several holiday resorts and entertainment joints have come up in Kufri to serve a discerning clientele.  Already it has a very popular zoo that showcases rare Himalayan animals and birds.   

Sterling Resort

We stayed at Sterling Kufri that nestled on a hillock offering panoramic views of the verdant valleys and gleaming peaks around.  Its rooms were spacious with all modern facilities.  In the mornings through a large window in our room we could watch the sun rise over distant mountains and glow in a flush of fiery orange light – a rare and awesome sight.  Though the night temperature touched 10 degrees C, we did not feel the chill, as the room was centrally heated.  It proved an ideal place to relax. 

Interestingly, we did not have to pay anything for our stay, as a couple of decades ago we had purchased some holiday units in Sterling that entitle us to stay in its resorts for certain days a year.   We had only to pay nominal utility charges.  In the restaurant too we were eligible for a 20% discount besides a 5% concession for senior citizens.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that south Indian dishes like idly, dosa, vada, uppuma and kitchadi were available in the restaurant together with two types of chutneys and sambar.  In fact, chefs prepared dosas in our full view in a corner of the restaurant.  Interestingly, they were much sought after by north Indian guests.

Frontage of Sterling Resort at Kufri

Our room in the resort

Sunrise as seen through a window in our room

Hills and valleys could be seen from our room

The valley behind the resort

In the restaurant of the resort

Breakfast in the restaurant

Chefs making dosas

In the Reception area

At the resort's parking lot

Various blocks of the resort

Adventure Resorts Theme Park

Touted as the “best hill adventure venue,” the park attracts the young and the old alike.  We went there around 10:00 a.m.  Its attractions included Sky Swinger, Bungy Trempoline,  Zipline, Go Carting and a variety of other rides.  Among the in-house fare were the House of Horrors and a 5D cinema.

We carefully avoided the rides in view of our age and settled for the film out of curiosity to know what those 5D effects were.  We were taken inside a theatre with seats of a different kind.  There were no arm rests.  We had to hold two vertical bars in the front with our two hands, keeping our legs on a somewhat raised footrests.  Our seat belts were fastened.  We wore 3D glasses.

We heard a bell ring and the film whirred to a start.  It featured a roller-coaster ride.  When it took a steep plunge or turned at an alarmingly high speed, our seats tilted accordingly, giving the feeling that we were participating in the ride.  When it pierced through a waterfall, real water from an overhead sprinkler fell on us in a mild shower.  Occasionally a shrill hooter came alive, supplementing the sounds coming from the film.  It was a virtual roller-coaster ride.

    

Everything was over in five minutes.  It was a new experience for us.  Apart from the 3Ds with which we were familiar, the two other dimensions were seat-tilting and water sprinkling.

Later, we went round the large park, just looking around.  There were many spots providing excellent views of the Himalayan peaks in the mellow sunlight.  We felt evenings would be far more pleasant there.

At the entrance to the theme park

Sky Swinger in the background

Shopping arcade in the theme park

A cottage in the theme park

Himalayan ranges as seen from the theme park

Around the theme park

Himalayan Nature Park

The park was rich in Himalayan flora and fauna.  Stretching over 220 acres, it housed animals and birds in large enclosures.  Mammals of different types like musk deer, black bear, Tibetan wolf, leopard, and pheasant were the major attractions in the park, in addition to well-grown trees like deodar, oak and pine. 

Long paved walkways enabled visitors to go round the vast area in an orderly fashion.  Boards at intervals provided information on the animals that could be seen in the vicinity. In our exploration, we spotted a leopard at a distance hiding behind a boulder and a black bear splashing water in a tank on the ground.  After a while the bear came out of the tank and stood on its edge for a few minutes, as if posing for our cameras. From a close range we also glanced at a few Himalayan wild goats. Interestingly, we also stepped into a mini museum located in the premises.

A black bear coming out of a water tank

In the mini museum of the Himalayan Nature Park

In the hill station there were a few other joints, which offered a slightly different fare.  There youngsters enjoyed pony rides along long ridge fringes.  These places would come especially alive during the times of snowfall with several games geared to the season.

At the end of it all, we felt Kufri provided us a relaxed and tranquil holiday.  Undoubtedly, it is a unique hill-station where a man, caught in the whirlpool of present-day life, can find perceptible solace. (Ends)

(Our tri-city sojourn concludes)    

May 20, 2018

THE SIGHTS OF SHIMLA

Shimla is an all season hill station in north India. During the months of snowfall the town looks spectacular, while in summer its climate is salubrious. Its beauty and charm were brought home to us in south India a few decades ago by the film “Anbe Vaa,” where matinee idol M. G. Ramachandran went eloquent singing the song “Puthiya Vaanam, Puthiya Bhoomi….” traversing the most popular stretches of the town.

  

A PACK OF ATTRACTIONS

(By Subbaram Danda)

Shimla has several places of attraction for tourists.  Apart from the Hanuman temple on one of its seven hills, a widely visited site is Viceregal Lodge, which was the venue for talks between the British rulers and Indian leaders on granting independence to the subcontinent.  Its Ridge area is popular among the young and the old to hang out lazily or walk around leisurely.  Its Mall Street and adjacent bazaars are known for their brisk sales of everything, especially handicrafts and woollen wear.  

The Viceregal Lodge

The Ridge area

The Viceregal Lodge

It is an imposing Victorian-style edifice built in 1888.  Constructed entirely with stone blocks, it ranks among the British India’s monumental buildings in the country.  It was intended to be the summer residence of the Viceroy in India.  After Indian independence, it became the Rashtrapati Niwas, official summer residence of the President of India.  But this status did not last long.  In October 1965, President Radhakrishnan converted it into a prime educational institution.  The building became the functioning centre of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, a post-doctoral research facility.   

History buffs will be interested to know that in the summer of 1945, the Viceregal Lodge was the scene of what came to be known as the Shimla Conference attended by stalwarts like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Maulana Azad and Mohammed Ali Jinna.  There a plan was discussed for creating a "self-government" in India.  With no consensus emerging, a major opportunity was lost to have a united India.  Mahatma Gandhi had also been there four times.

A conducted tour into a section of the building revealed interesting facts.   A historical exhibit we could see was a circular table with some chairs around it.  It was here that the Shimla Agreement was signed, which led to the partition of India.  Some articles and photographs of the British rule in India were also on display.

We also learned that Henry Irwin, who designed the building, was also the designer of the Mysore Palace.  More fascinating was the fact that rainwater harvesting was put in place even in those days.  Rainwater was collected and stored in two large sumps under the lawns in front of the building.  

In the sprawling compound of  the Viceregal Lodge

The lawns and deodar trees add charm to the Viceregal Lodge

The Lodge, now Indian Institute of Advanced Studies

The Ridge Area

It is an elevated terrain, flat and vast, ringed by metallic railings.  No vehicle is allowed into it.  People can go there only by climbing any of a few fairly steep but well paved approach streets.  All around it there are impressive buildings, prominent ones being the stone-built Town Hall and the Christ Church.  Statues of national and local leaders dot the periphery.   There are also neatly tended parks. 

It was fascinating to look beyond the railings.  We could view plunging valleys and wooded hills interspersed with colourfully tiled houses.  At a distance the snow-capped peaks of the high Himalayas appeared in a hazy light.   

We were told that visitors would throng the place from early in the morning and the jostling crowds could be seen till late in the night.  In times of snow, the Ridge would come especially alive.  Entire area would shimmer in snow and people in heavy thermal clothes could be seen skiing there in gay abandon. 

The magnificent Jakhu Hanuman statue as seen from the Ridge area

The Christ Church in the area

In front of a prominent restaurant

A sculpture at the Army Training Command near the Ridge area

A statue of the Founder of Himachal, Dr. Y.S. Parmar

The Mall Street and Bazaars

If one is a shopping enthusiast, this is the place.  At a lower level to the Ridge and on its approach streets shops sell a variety of goods.  Locally-made handicrafts and woollen wear are a specialty.  Eateries, including at least one south Indian restaurant, bakeries, ice cream joints, and cool drink parlours do good business.  

There are a few other tourist sites, including a museum, a minor waterfall and a golf course.  We skipped them.  (Ends)

(Our tri-city sojourn will continue)

May 17, 2018