ETERNITY

Saturday, April 18, 2009

WC

In the days when you couldn't count on a public facility to have indoor plumbing, an English woman was planning a trip to Germany.

She was registered to stay in a small guest house owned by the local schoolmaster. She was concerned as to whether the guest house contained a WC. In England, a bathroom is commonly called a WC which stands for water closet. She wrote the schoolmaster inquiring into the location of the nearest WC.

The school master, not fluent in English, asked the local priest if he knew the meaning of WC. Together they pondered possible meanings of the letters and concluded that the lady wanted to know if there was a "Wayside Chapel" near the house . . . a bathroom never entered their minds. So the schoolmaster wrote the following reply:

Dear Madam,

I take great pleasure in informing you that the WC is located 9 miles from the house. It is located in the middle of a grove of pine trees, surrounded by lovely grounds. It is capable of holding 229 people and is open on Sundays and Thursdays. As there are many people expected in the summer months, I suggest you arrive early. There is, however, plenty of standing room. This is an unfortunate situation especially if you are in the habit of going regularly.

It may be of some interest to you that my daughter was married in the WC as it was there that she met her husband. It was a wonderful event. There were 10 people in every seat. It was wonderful to see the expressions on their faces. My wife, sadly, has been ill and unable to go recently. It has been almost a year since she went last, which pains her greatly.

You will be pleased to know that many people bring their lunch and make a day of it. Others prefer to wait till the last minute and arrive just in time! I would recommend your ladyship plan to go on a Thursday as there is an organ accompaniment. The acoustics are excellent and even the most delicate sounds can be heard everywhere.

The newest addition is a bell which rings every time a person enters. We are holding a bazaar to provide plush seats for all since many feel it is long needed. I look forward to escorting you there myself and seating you in a place where you can be seen by all.

With deepest regards,
The Schoolmaster

Thursday, March 19, 2009

U must watch, the PONGALA

Attukal Pongala, Lord Bhagavathy

As I ve earlier mention about you the Importance of Lord Devi. I would Like to give the website of that temple. If you are interested, you can visit that site too.

www.attukal.org

Basically, I belong to Chennai. But this year 2009, I am spending my days in Thiruvanthapuram. As I came to know that, in Kerala, Apart from Onam Festival, the another important festival is celebrating here is "ATTUKAL PONGALA", which has been recorded in Guiness Book. And as Goddess Bhagvathy Grace, I am residing near the Attukal Temple. So I am quite happy. I was eager to wait for that festival. As the Festival came nearby, there was so many lighting in our places, full Police Security,heavy rush to see the Goddess Bhavathy. Before the festival itself it was so crowd in the temple. Every day, millions of people came to temple to get the darshan from Attukal Amma. On that Festival Day (March 10th), I saw lot of Womens from different places came here to put PONGALA. I haven't seen such type of festival in any other places. This Festival is mainly considered for Womens.

The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.

Attukal Pongala is an extremely popular, essentially women's festival celebrated in ancient Bhagavathy temple (Mudippura) at Attukal in the Kaladi ward of the Thiruvananthapuram district. It is a ten-day-long event which commences from the Bharani day (Karthika star) of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and comes to an end with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night.

A large number of women of all castes and creed from Kerala and also from the state of Tamil Nadu make offerings for the Goddess by cooking pongala in the vicinity of the temple.

'Pongala' means to boil over. It refers to the customary offering of things which please the deity. It consists of porridge of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins.

Mammoth gathering of women devotees from all religions participate in pongala.

Guinness World Records have certified it as the largest annual gathering of women in the world.

Attukal Pongala Festival has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest attendance of women on February 23, 1997. 1.5 million women had participated in that year’s Pongala.

So, Friendz.... Get some time and come to Trivandrum and celebarate this Auspicious Fesitval. You will get blessing from Goddess Bhavathy.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

A Tropical Paradise Kristin R., Los Altos

Lying on the beach
With sunglasses on your face
Shielding the harsh sunlight from your eyes.
You cover your skin with SPF 25.

Sand makes its way into your sandals, but you don’t mind.
Off in the distance music is being played on steel drums.
They set the mood of your whole vacation: relaxation.
You see the boats drift by with their brightly colored sides
And you hold onto your tropical drink that tastes like bananas
With its tiny umbrella hanging off the side.

It makes you smile.
You wonder if the sailors on the boat are as
peaceful as you are.
Worries escape you as you drift into your own oasis
And your home life becomes something of the past.
Almost unreal. You smell coconut everywhere you go
And wonder if you’ll miss it when you leave.

All you hear is the crashing of the waves.
All you can feel is your newly burnt skin.
All that matters is nothing.