KANNADA DRAMA - SHARIFA

Tuesday, 29th May 2018
Ravindra Kalakshetra, NammaBengaluru.

KALAVIDARU

As part of AnanthNag Natakotsava 2018, a Kannada Drama "Shareefa" was presented at the venue.

Santa Shishunala Sharifa (1819 - 1889) was  a saint, poet, philosopher and a social reformer in Karnataka. His compositions are "TattvaPada" are in Kannada Language and was a first Muslim poet.

SCENES FROM THE PLAY

From the young age, Sharifa was attracted to Hindu Philosophy and wanted to unite Hindu and Muslim. He met Govinda Bhatta, an unconventional Brahmin, used to spend time with Sharifa, and puts him sacred thread against the wishes of conservative brahmins.

Sharifa marries and had a daughter, starts practicing in folk dramas, teaching simple lessons through daily experiences. Sharifa born as a muslim and left his body a Jangama in 1889.

Shishunala Sharifa was known as Kabir of Karnataka, A samadhisthana was constructed in Shishuvinahala, along with GovindaBhatta.

The actors tried their best to present a good play, but there was some sensitivities were missing.  Sharifa sang well in his own voice, supported by slight background music.

75 - minutes play was well presented.

posted Wednesday 30th May 2018

VISITING PLACES - PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE

Wednesday 16th May 2018
PadmanabhaPuram, NagaraCoil Dist.

PadmanabhaPuram Palace lies 64 km from ThiruvananthaPuram, lied the east of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. This indigenous Kerala architecture is located at Thuckalay, on the way to KanyaKumari. The wooden palace is well maintained and its murals, floral carvings and black granite floor continue to astound all visitors. It has many murals dating back to 17th and 18th century. The mahogany musical bow, windows of colored mica, royal chairs with carvings from far east and Queen Mother's palace with painted ceilings are all unique.

The place has Durbar Hall with its shiny black floor, also has secret underground passages, famous medical bed in the King's bedroom.

The place was constructed around 1601 by Iravi Varma Kulashekhara Perumal who ruled between 1592 and 1609. The founder of Modern Travancore, King Anizham Thirumala Marthanda Varma (1706 -1758) rebuilt the palace around 1750. The capital of Travancore was shifted to ThiruvananthaPuram in 1795, after which the palace lost its glory.

The Palace complex has:

Mantrasala - the King's council Chamber,
Thai Kottaram - Queen Mother's palace,
Natakasala - Performance Hall.
A four storeyed mansion at the centre of the complex,
Theekee Kottarama - southern Palace.

The palace closes for visitors during lunch break 12.30 - 2.00 pm. Unfortunately we reached there by 12.45 pm, and we have to wait till 2 pm and entrance ticket for Rs30 pax and we spent about an hour and a half and left for ThiruvananthaPuram via Thucklay by public transport.

Posted Tuesday 29th May 2018

TEMPLE VISIT - SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE

Tuesday 15th May 2018
Schindram, Near KanyaKumari, TamilNadu

Suchindram is a Temple town, 11km from KanyaKumari, southernmost tip of India. It's also site of famous Thanumalayan Temple. (Thanu - shiva, Maal - Vishni ,Ayan - Brahma.)

The temple attracts lot of visitors, the entrance tower is visible from a distance. We engaged a taxi from KaynaKumari for Rs 500.00, reached there at 5pm. The face of tower is covered with sculptures and statues from Hindu Mythology. There are about 30 shrines to various deities within the temple complex. Large Linga and a huge idol of Anjaneya at the eastern end.

The are number of stories about the temple, the name of the place came to be known as Suchi-Indran (The place where Indra was purified)

We spent about half hour in the temple complex and left from there to our next destination , sunset point.

posted Thursday, 25th May 2018

SHASTABDI CELEBRATIONS - B K NAGARAJ

Sunday/Monday, 22-23 April 2018
Uttaradhi Mutt, Tirumla, Thirupathi

B K Nagaraj amd NagaLakshmi have been close inner circle family friends in late nineties and later they relocated to Edison, NewJersey, United States of America,

Their daughter Supritha got married last year in US. Nagaraj is a pious and God fearing person, and he has decided to have his Shastabdi, Ugra Ratha Shanthi (60 years completed) celebration in Tirumala, abode of Balaji. at Uttaradi Mutt.

He has been inviting from US only that we all should go to Thirumala, as such, we engaged a Innova Taxi, along with Sudhakaer Pejavar and Latha, Suresh Cukkemane and Usha, and Nalini and Myself.

We left from our house at 3 pm and reached the acomodation at Kaashi Mut, after having tiffin and dinner on the way. After talking to Nagaraj and NagaLakshmi, we retired to the bed, one room containing eight beds
.

Next morning 6am went to the Senior Citizens Counter to get the token for Balaji Darshan, and 8 am we got the tokens.

After having breakfast at Uttaradi Mutt, went at 9.30 am for joining the queue. We got he Balaji
Venkateshwara Darshan at 10.30am , collected some laddu prasadas.

Back to Uttaradi Mutt for the function, which got over by 2pm. Also we had grand lunch. We cheked out from the room at 3.30 pm, visited Padmavathi Temple, reached Bengaluru by 11 pm.

That was a good trip, re collecting the memories of those day. The gave lot of gifts and compliments to all for rememberance .

Posted Wednesday 23th May 2018 (late posting)