Diwali ki Yaaden

Aayi hain Diwali dekho, laayi hain niraali
aasha, kaanksha, man ki, tan ki
aayi re Diwali !

Lagi hain sunehri deepon ki, yeh sulagti maala,
Naacho, gaao, dhoom machaao, aala Diwali alaa!

Bandhu-mitr, parivaar sameth, gaao lakshmi gaatha
Dhanye hain maata suprasanna, teko apna maatha!

Bbolo prem ki bhasha nirantar, bin, oonch neech ka antar
Prem ki sada ek hain boli, barsaao ab preet ki holi!

Jabhi lagti deep maalika, mujhko aate hain woh pal yaad
Thi main jab ek nanhi baalika, karti vaad vivaad!

Amma kehti dekh pyaari, yeh hain woh tewhaar
Sab ki jeet hi jeet hain aaj, na honi kisi ki haar!
Maa ki choli pakde chalti, deep sajaate aangan paas
Aankh michowni khelte hum sab, hothi jab raat amaavas !

Kaate laddu, peda, jalebi, masti karte saara din
Chedte sabko, chan-chan-chan; Haste hasaate pal gin-gin!
Aaj hain meri bhi ik bitiya, use sunaana hain vistaar
Kyon manaate hum yeh din, kyon hain yeh aparampaar!

Ho adhron pe prem ka ras, aise beethe aaj diwas
Chalo manaaye jhoomte bas, aaj na hon hum niras !

Aayegi phir agle saal, Deepavali bemisaal
Tab tak rahen sab khush haal
Yeh hi hain mere aaj khayaal!

Diwali - A Point in Time essay

Here's an essay to recollect all the beautiful memories that went down in my book of family celebrations and the very reasons behind why I remember them so vividly after all these years. A submission that I recently made to a contest that got some attention... Sravanthi Vallampati

No Essay contest during my school days would be complete without an entry in my name. Head-down and determined, I’d prepare, giving what it took. The goal was to win, technique was rote and arsenal, a time-tested selection of quotations and heavy-duty phrases that never failed to keep wanna-shines like me in good stead. In contrast, today’s unrehearsed exercise is a chronicle of my recollections as I saunter in rewind-mode, along the corridors of my home where growing up with family and friends was just plain jolly, especially at Diwali, glimpses of which I am only too thrilled to share!

Diwali brings back memories of good weather (summer and monsoon were finally over!!) where we would have at least 10 days to stay away from school and surprisingly the elders in the family, unlike other times, actually enjoyed us kids’ company around home. Part of that good spirit may have been due to pleasant weather where it's easy to be calm and contemplative, but as I think back, I'd more likely attribute it to the fact that we had plenty to keep our merry selves busy and out of their hair....countless cousins to visit and host, goodies to eat, shopping, new clothes, movies to go to and most importantly, no homework to worry about! Fresh coats of paint, bright lighting and colorful floral decorations adorned each home and the whole neighborhood seemed like it had undergone a transformation overnight. Sometimes I wondered if people had even forgotten to frown, scream or get mad, but I knew enough to not bring that to anyone’s attention. Music blared from temple walls, the air was infused with the fragrance of incense, and street corners became party stations where young and adult congregated to have a go at assortments of fire crackers while gorging on delicious sweets and savories late into the night through the 5 days of festivities. While there was endless excitement outside, what I most fondly remember about Diwali is the time we shared as a family. Time where I’d sit by my grandmother and marvel at her story-telling abilities. She and my mother took it upon themselves this time every year, to ensure that they were doing their part in getting us oriented with the cultural, mythological and moral significance surrounding festivals and rituals. After lunch, we’d gather either on the ‘verandah’ (porch) outside or the kitchen floor, setting ourselves up for a mini project. While our little hands worked on decorating lamps of clay or helped with rolling, cutting or folding dough for the sweets and savories that they so lovingly (and willingly) made year after year just for us, our minds craved for what was to fall upon our ears. Day one invariably started out with grandma asking us what the word 'Deepavali' meant ('Deepavali' is another name for 'Diwali'), to which yours truly, the good listener would waste no time in chiming in: "Deepam - light, aavali - row-- Row of Lights". Silly as it sounds now, I was always eager to gather an extra titbit of information to show-off and impress my teacher with my journal once school resumed. If I did not mention my brothers and their teasing with regards this attitude of mine, it is for a good reason. They were, let's just say, not very eager. Treats got passed out to all as incentives for future participation and the munching and murmuring continued as though creating the perfect battlefield soundtrack. We’d get excited, each vicariously living the characters of our choice, slaying the demons with one hand while showering blessings upon humankind as Lord Rama himself, with the other. Boys fought over who would play the mighty ‘Narakasura’ while the girls diligently finished their projects. As we wrapped up, key points were made a couple of questions asked. Unable to resist the temptation to instruct to a rapt audience, uncles and aunts took the liberty of throwing in an anecdote or two as they went about their chores. There was always a moral behind those stories, as I recall now, and their beauty lay in how subtly it was conveyed, in words we understood and deeds we could easily fulfill. The essence was in seeing, doing and being good. As day contemplated night, I felt like I could not wait for the following day to begin……

Learnings in the years following my first impressions, have no doubt come in more formal packages of the written word, and my motivation to listen has somewhat matured now that I have little ones of my own to relay the message to, but the theme around Diwali and its exuberantly colorful picture of hope, joy and goodness has stayed the same. To me, Diwali will remain the biggest and the brightest of festivals whether its significance be expounded upon as a passage from darkness to light or triumph of good over evil, what is true and constant is that it’s a celebration of life and its abundant joy and goodness that illumine our homes and hearts, bringing us that much closer to divinity!

AUTUMN - Acrostic

by Sravanthi Vallampati.
Much as I love Spring and Summer, there's a certain magic in the air as Autumn negotiates that last turn around the corner to present itself !!! As days become shorter, blooms turn into berries and each leaf into a flower fluttering through a perfectly situated autumnal day, whistling under my breath, I stand gazing into the trees in my yard, wishing I was a bird or a butterfly with abundant opportunities to get up close with the maiden of Autumn, laden in the golden load left behind by summer past.....thinking not so much of the harshness of winter but a time to prepare for the spring to come!

As trees turn color, Crimson, Cherry and Gold, I soak
Under showers of falling leaves, watching Geese fly South
Taking a deep cleansing breath of crisp Autumn air, gazing
Undeterred by the winnowing wind into fading light, sipping
Mild Apple cider, with Cinnamon warm and tart just right!
Not a place on earth I'd rather be, than in my neck of woods!

To the MOMS on my list

Dear friends.

You are receiving this note because you have in some way, shape or form enriched my life, helping me grow as an individual and stay motivated to make a positive difference in the world around me.
Your insights, thoughts and support serve as an anchor to me at all times and I want you to know that I am very thankful for that. As we each move towards success while striving to add value and meaning to the many aspects of our existence, we tend to not pause to recognize the impact that gentle attitudes and forgiving allowances make, in letting us reach our goals and conduct ourselves in such an amicable manner.
Here's a wish to all of you that have had the caring and the courage to don a mom's cap in various capacities, navigating smooth seas and rough waters with equal agility and coming through tranquil moments and teasing travails with a smile on your faces!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY :-)

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Desi moms are many things - Amiable, Beautiful, Caring, Diligent, Energetic, Funny, Gullible, Handy, Intelligent, Judgmental, etc. etc........
Here's a collection of some trite thoughts by a mom that will give you a laugh or two as we bring this annual exercise to celebrate our loveliness to a close......if you have not used any of these, use at your own peril! :-)
As far as I am concerned, we need a data-driven decision here....just one day to celebrate us in the entire year???


'Just wanna be me' Desi mom!
I am a Homemaker, not a compulsive Housekeeper.
I am tired of using PMS as an excuse. I am what I am, take it or leave it.
I make the rules and I am not interested in knowing names of those that don't care for them.
To My Dear....
If sitting down to watch Your favorite show on TV is the definition of Our quality time, I'd rather do the dishes.
I don't buy into it anymore when your mom says that I am aging gracefully and cites herself as an example.
If you utter 'vacation' and 'kids' in the same sentence without the word 'Nanny' in it,, you better find another partner.
Darling, I recognize that you find my innocence very endearing, but 'You look like the divine mom that you are' is not a compliment.
Tweezing eyebrows at the stoplight to lighten the contrast between my Zardozi Saree and an unmowed forehead is most definitely not a safety hazard.
I do not care that your sister in India thinks that going to the nail salon is a guilty pleasure. So what if I own a manicure kit, exfoliating cream and 2 dozen nail polishes?
Dal and rice combo has enough protein to keep you, me, our kids and the dog going until we are 82.5 yrs old. Just enjoy what's on the table or the kitchen is all yours.
Yes Dear, I said OK to your Big Screen TV just so I could go ahead and make a fruitful visit to SriKrishna. And, please hold off on the reminder that Gold is at an all-time high.
To My dear Friends.....
It is so nice of you to think that my kids are angels. Can you take them with you for a week?
I don't understand when you say 'Behind every successful man is a woman and behind her, the wife'.
There is no difference between a Concert and Competition. I work so hard all day so why should my kids get a break?
I have heard that using hair color makes women get hot flashes before they are 40. Is that true? and what are hot flashes anyway?
Yes, this is a recycled gift bag from my daughter's birthday last year. Knowing how much you care about the environment as well, I am convinced you won't mind.
I have graduated from secretly admiring Rita and her XXS T-shirts. With Yoga, I have perfected the technique where I have to take a breath only every 43 seconds.

On aspects of Bharatanatyam

Preface:
It is one thing to be impressed by the elaborate costumes, exquisite expressions, the fluid movements set to melodious music, vocal or instrumental, but entirely another to comprehend the drama as it unfolds with and understanding of its history, significance and place in the rich cutural map of the world that we live in.

It is not unusual for friends, their kids, and my own girls and their class-fellows to ask me in passing about what Bharatanatyam is.

Bharatanatyam is a popular classical dance form that originated in the Southern state of Tamilnadu in India.

A popular interpretation of the name 'Bharatanatyam' is BHAva (Expression) + RAga (Musical mode) + TAla (Rhythm) + NATYAM (Dance) = BHARATANATYAM

The dramatic art of storytelling via Bharatanatyam is highly stylized to include rhythmic movements of the body with emotions and sentiments displayed through facial expressions .set traditionally to melodious classical (Carnatic) music. It is considered to be the fire-dance, depicting the mystic presence of the element of Fire in the human body. The visual appeal lies in the dancer depicting the movements of a dancing flame. The costumes worn by the dancers are charmingly beautiful in exquisite colors, complimented by elaborate jewelry including the resounding bells on anklets.

It is believed that Bharatanatyam started in the temples and courts of Kings where groups of dancers performed this dance style as a form of worship as well as entertainment.. The 'devadasis', women that were dedicated to performing this divine dance form and their gurus, the 'Nattuvannars' carried this tradition into the 20th century. The Tanjore foursome (Quartet from the city of Tanjore) is credited with editing and recoding the various aspects of the dance to evolve into its present, popular form. Through the decades, the passion of gurus and inspired students has not only kept the dance form alive, but thriving to reach new heights in innovative, semi-classical adaptations transcending age-old barriers of culture, language and space.
Of the many aspects of Indian art experience, the audience plays an important role. Each person in the audience (the people that come to watch the performers), is expected to be 'Rasika' i.e. a one who can appreciate the arts and also a 'Sahridaya', a person who has come with an intention of appreciating, learning and savoring (enjoying) the richness of the art. Appreciation as 'Rasika' can also be attained through learning the dance form itself where the pupil or the 'Sishya' learns from the teacher or the 'Guru' over years of hardwork and dedication before reaching the ultimate state where the dancer loses himself/herself in the performing experience. Traditionally, a student is titled stage-ready after their debutante performance called 'Arangetram' where he/she takes center-stage for an evening of solo performances set to live orchestra.

Today, many universities across India and other countries offer Graduate and Post Graduate degrees in Bharatanatyam for those aspiring to go beyond the realms of appreciation. To bring the dance form to appeal to the younger, technology-savvy population, dance institutions and teachers have brought their knowledge, experience and the true beauty of this art form to the World Wide Web. Interested 'Rasikas' can not only learn about but learn Bharatanatyam over the internet. While the new trend is nowhere near surpassing the 'Guru-Sishya' tradition of growing together in this cultural experience, it surely has been successful in providing for audiences across the globe, an opportunity to learn about the sheer richness of a dance form that has proudly held its own in the ever transient world of socio-cultural dynamics.

A Farewell Wish

Preface:
Well this time, no kidding!
I was at a Chinese restaurant for lunch at noon today. I am not entirely sure what my fortune cookie message meant, but it read: "The secret to keeping good friends is no secret to you"..... My conclusion: The meal is awesome, I don't really know the secret, I am blessed with very kind friends that let me believe that I do, and that the fortune cookie people are in cahoots with the coincidence gods. How else could anyone have guessed what's been on my mind?
__________________________________________________________________

Dear Sobha and Sahadev,

Though it was by chance that we met, I am glad we chose to be friends. I'll admit, it was difficult to not seek friendship with folks like you and I am thankful that our relationship has extended into realms beyond it's first circumstance.
Knowing you two has been a tremendous gift to me. I got re-introduced to facets of my life that I knew existed but never thought would be so joyful to explore, realize and share. Whether it is in a crowd or in select company, you are such a pleasure or should I say, 'calming influence' to be around. In Apoorva and Pooja's dictionary the synonyms for that read more like 'Fun, Funny, playful, kind, soft-spoken, good cook' and so on. In Mohan's, NEOTA and GNO. Singular though it is, you each have a way about yourselves that is utterly disarming yet without any force of word or deed. In your simplicity of thought and action and your deep desire to make a positive difference in the ways of the world, you have unknowingly inspired me to be a Better Person. I knew I was good, but better sounds better than good, doesn't it? Just kidding! No, it was not a 5-day crash course in spirituality or go-Green initiatives offered at Parker Lake Estates, but a journey in quiet understanding, constant learning and sincere admiration.

Needless to say, we'll miss you terribly, Mohan, Apoorva, Pooja and I .......

A farewell wish is necessary to nudge you to look forward to the moments of our meeting again, so here it goes....
My heart says that I should take a chance and literally follow you to your destination but my commonsense that most often comes to my rescue demands that I should let it prevail and stay back to simply remind friends and well-wishers that Singapore is well-connected by air and that you are fantastic hosts who are sure to top off a welcome meal with at least one scoop of ice-cream!
I want to hold on to your friendship, which I will in spirit, but let you leave because I know this new place that you are eager to call home awaits you, so you can transform it with your presence into one that is as sweet as the one you are leaving behind.

I pray that God keep you both just the way you are, happy, compassionate, kind, simple and true to your thoughts and values.

I don't think I want to say Good-bye because I have a feeling we are going to meet again soon :-)

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NEOTA - Northeast Ohio Telugu Association
GNO - Guys Night Out
Parker Lake - Sobha and Sahadev lived in that community

On Singing for Joy!

Annamacharya Aradhana was started 3 years ago by a small yet passionate group of music lovers among the Telugu community in the Cleveland area to celebrate the life and works of the great poet, composer Tallapaka Annamacharya. The event has achieved great success in bringing together teachers, students and music enthusiasts alike, to extol the beauty and devotion in the compositions through music and dance performances.

An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati Annamacharya (also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 32,000 Sankirtanas in a style that is impossible to replicate! Only 14,000 of these Sankirtanas are available at present. He was credited to have come up with Pallavi and Charanam division of a song. Annamayya considered his compositions as floral offerings to God. In the Saptagiri Sankirtanas, he praises Venkateswara, the Saptagiri vasa or the Lord that resides within the 7 hills, in verses that describe his love for Venkata Chalapathi, praise for his ishtadaivam’s Mahima leading to a total surrender or Saranaagathi at the divine lord’s feet. "Rasanam Lakshanam Bhajanam" , meaning the act by which we feel closer to either our true self (atman), or to God (Ishvara) couldn’t be expressed more eloquently than in the unique style of spoken feeling that perfectly blends love, admiration, devotion and ultimate union with the paramatma!


by Sravanthi Vallampati

It's funny how my friends think I can sing....
Preface: My exercise in understanding and singing Annamayya's divine compositions.

It's funny how my friends think I can sing
funnier even, they compliment and say 'wow'!
Not my teachers, mind you! They only lament,
often stopping shy of shedding a painful tear,
or think me a child and chide in casual company;
The stern stare, furrowing frown and deep sigh
only too legit, at my rendition poor, notes off-key!


As time passes by and my day warrants hours 4 more,
I often wonder why I long to go back to sing that song
of delight with utter glee, (notes off-key notwithstanding),
to lift myself up, above my own hesitant expectation;


It's not so much the song but the choir I love, I recall now,
the enmeshed feelings of fun, food and some learning,
(of course!) as music fills the air and I learn a thing or two
from my funny friends in the choir that think I can sing.
And yes, to those enduring souls that try to instil in me,
some love for that song of yesterday, I am thankful to you
for making me wish I could sing again!


It's funny how my friends think I can sing
funnier even, they compliment and say 'wow',
if ever you wondered why I love them so,
stop right there, you now know!