WEDDING - SNEHA & DEVAVRATH

Thursday, 30th January, 2020
ShankaraPuram, Bengaluru.

It was the wedding of NagaLakshmiNagaraj's sister's daughter Sneha.

Nagaraj and family, One time. we were close family friends, lot of times picnics, Newyears and get-togethers celebrated together.

We stayed with them in Edison, NewJersey, USA, for couple of days, when we were on visit to USA in April/May 2014

Our friends circle in the group, UshaSuresh Kukkemane, ( now in Mysuru)  Satyavathi and Dr Mohan Kulkarni also attended the wedding.

It was time to wish HAPPY MARRIED LIFE to newly weds, and after grand lunch, with 2 - 3 sweets, we left the venue.

Posted Friday, 31st January 2020

GRUHA PRAVESHA - RASHMI RAGHAVENDRA

Thursday, 30th January 2020
MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT, BENGALURU

Raghavendra is son-in-law of Udaya Achar from Hiriadka, near Udupi.

Rashmi, D/o Udaya known to us for many years.

We were there at their apartment to join them in celebrating house warming of their apartment.

Shubha, Raghu and others were there, we had breakfast and left the place to attend a wedding at ShankaraPura, BasavanaGudi Area.

Posted Friday, 31st Jan. 2020

REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS 2020

Sunday, 26th Jan. 2020
Coffee Board Park, Hebbal, Kempapura, Bengaluru.

Republic Day of India is celebrated every year on 26th January to commemorate the birth of India as Sovereign Republic.

It is 71st Republic day and all over India and abroad Indians are celebrating.

At the coffee board Park in Kempapura Hebbala in Bengaluru, (near my house BirthiMane), Kannada Shitya Parishath, Byatarayanapura, orgnised flag hoisting and speeches by Suma School Children highlighting the importance of Republic of India, and people who sacrificed their life.

Major (Retd) Gopalakrishna Bhat, a retired army personnel was the Chief guest. He spoke about how he entered the force, became officer and retired.

Renuka Hegde, President of ByatarayanaPura unit of Sahitya Parishth, spoke in length about the activities contributions from general public for  construction of Kannada Bhavana and lack of interest and unwillingness to co-operate in Parishth activities.

Major GopalaKrishna Bhat

Renuka Hegde

The program ended with distribution of sweets.

Posted Sunday, 26th Jan. 2020

BENGALURU NAGARATHNAMMA - DRAMA

Saturday, 25th January 2020
RangaShankara, Bengaluru

Any presentation by T S Nagabharana, Award winning Theatre and Film Director, is always outstanding. The play is about life of Nagaratnamma, and a fantastic musical/

Bengaluru Nagarathnamma  (1878-1952)  Born in Nanjangud, near Mysuru.  Highly regarded as classical vocalist and dancer.  Scholarly and daring, she questioned male dominance.  She translated and published an erotic Telugu work.  Following the outrage British banned it. She built a memorial for Saint Poet Tyagaraja. She was denied chance to sing at Annual Aradhana mahotsava there. She started an alternative group with women musicians.Eventually two groups merged.

The production is a stage adaptation of two books: The Devadasi and the Saint, The Life and Times of Bengaluru Nagarathnamma by V Sriram, and a Kannada novel by Maleyuru Guruswamy.

It is about girl born as a DEVADASI, generally singer and dancer in Maharaja's palace, becomes famous and celebrity with her singing talent.

She becomes a staunch disciple of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy and builds a huge complex around the Vrindavana of ThyagarajaSwamy and organizes ThyagarajaSwamy Aradhane on a grand scale.

But the society does not accept her on the high dais of music concert, as she was a devadasi.

She conducts her own concerts with ladies only performers and there was huge response from the public, as she was highly talented singer/dancer.

The presentation of the drama was superb. Singing of all the girls and others were excellent.

About 140 minutes play had not a single dull moment, and the packed hall of RangaShankara  was dumb silent watching the play.

All the songs rendered were excellent. the stage set up, backdrop and lighting all good.

Hats off to T S NagaBharana for presenting a wonderful play with religious and social background.

Posted Sunday, 26th Jan. 2020

SHRADDHANJALI - PEJAVARA SWAMIJI

Tuesday, 14th Jan. 2020
Vidyapeetha, Bengaluru.

Pejavara Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of Udupi Mutt passed away on 29th Dec.2019 in Udupi and his remains were brought to Bengaluru the next day and was laid to rest in Vrindavana in Vidyapeetha premises.

Pejavara Swamiji , 88 year old, a lean, diminutive popular Pontiff,  and well respected from Udupi Ashta Mutt, was involving himself in number of social activities like building of RamaMandira in Ayodhya, improving lives of poor people, social harmony etc.

He used to travel a lot within India, visiting his disciples, advising and blessing them. He used to walk fast and his followers had to run behind him. A lot is said about him the press and the media.

He attended the 60th celebrations of Sudhaker Rao Pejavar. friend and a well wishers, at Vidyapeeta on 9th July 2019, and blessed him and his family and all those who were present.

He completed five PARYAYA periods, which comes in 16 years by rotation in Udupi Ashta Mutt.

PEJAVARA SWAMIJI ATTEDNING THE PROGRAM

ACHARYA ARUN PRAKASH - TRIBUTE 

We went to visit the VRINDAVANA at Vidyapeetha in Bengaluru on 14th Jan. to pay respect to the very senior Swamiji.

Sridhar Adiga and Tara were with us.

Posted Tuesday, 21st Jan. 2020

HOME VISIT - NAGARAJA FAMILY

Thursday, 16th Jan. 2020
BirthiMane, BhuvaneshwariNagara, Bengaluru

Nagaraja, sister Nagaveni's son came for visit with wife Shantala and daughter Medha, after a long time.

Nagaraja is Senior Manager in Karnataka Bank, presently posted in Gulbarga.

Medha is pursuing her higher studies in Engineering at Minneapolis, USA and she was on a short visit.

They had lunch cooked by mom in a short time and they went by 5 pm.

posted Tuesday 22nd Jan. 2020

HOMA SHANTHI AT SATISH HANDE

Saturday, 18th January 2020
KuvempuNagara, Mysuru.

Satish Hande and his wife Usha, daughters Navya and Neha are close family friends and well wishers for a long time. During the years when he was working in AbuDhabi was known to us.

Usha's parents living in Mandarthi, Vishwanatha Udupa and his wife also well known to us. Brother Ramachandra Udupa family (Wife Rajani, children Raghavendra and Ruchira), sister Prabha and her family are also close knit family.

Satish Hande invited us to join their pooja function with Dhanvantari Homa, Shaneeshwara Homa and Gana Homa, at their residence in Mysuru.

We left from Bengaluru at 8 am by train GolGumbaz Express. Though we had confirmed booking in ChairCar,  we were searching for the compartment, it was already departure time for the train. We entered into a general compartment and reached Mysuru at 11 am. Took a wuber taxi and reached their house in KuvempuNagara.

It was a grand pooja function, two Homas were arranged on the terrace and more than hundred people were there for the occasion. All close family relation came from ooru.

Grand lunch were arranged, with table chairs on the terrace.

After lunch we spent some time, visited Mr M G Prasad, returned by train to Bengaluru by 9 pm.

Rishikanth dropped us in the morning at railway station at Majestic and he was there to pick us up at 9 pm.

AT RAILWAY STATION, MYSURU

It was a good trip to attend a grand function.

Posted Monday, 20th Jan. 2020

SUNDAY MORNING - CUBBON PARK/DOG PARK

Sunday, 19th January 2020
CUBBON PARK, BENGALURU

It was Sunday morning activity, first for the year, fairly after a long time.

It is also for walk, outing for Seenu, and for socializing with other dogs in the "DOG PARK"

Dog Park is special area in Cubbon Park, a huge place in the center of Bengaluru, people come there for various activities.

Cycling, jogging, dog walk and socializing, walkthon, marathon, yoga, and many more.

Since it is spread over a large area, it can take large number of people for their chosen activities.

We were there with Seena,  and spend more than an hour.

On our way back, we had breakfast at Nisarga Grand along Nrupatunga Road.

Posted Sunday, 19th Jan. 2020