Chennai Book fest 2022 - YMCA Nandanam

We made it to the book fest this year just a day before its closure.

The usual book fest would happen during Pongal as people like to go out during the pongal holidays. Last few book fests are affected by covid restrictions and this year it has a new month - February.

In the YMCA grounds - the two wheelers can be parked to the left as soon as we enter the gates. On the right hand side is the exhibition on Indian freedom struggle. There pictures and texts about India's freedom fight. The final set of the exhibits are on current central's governments achievements and plans. The postal department has a stall here, one needs to fill in a form with adhaar details here and the department will give you stamps with your picture on it.

From here we need to walk almost a km crossing the car parking area to reach the book sellers stalls. As we went quiet early in the morning the visitors were and the temperature was bearable. The book sellers and publishers association BAPASI arranged this like any other year. Orations and functions happen mostly in the evenings. Apart from book stalls there was 'Illam Thedi Kalvi' science exhibition by the TN government.

Many students from schools had come in groups. Nice to kids interested in books. Many stalls had 'Ponniyin Selvan' on prime display. With Manirathnam's film on this coming in this, hope all Tamil households finish reading this. There were many historic novels in majority of the stalls. English book stalls were sparsely populated. A couple of reporter or rather student reporter were taking interview of the book seller and publishers.

It was heart warming to see so many book stalls and so many of Chennai-ties thronging to the book fest. Thanks to work from home, finding it difficult to walk through the book fest. Just hope things will be better next year.

Comments

Mannargudi - Day 2

On the next day at Mannargudi, we had an early start. After having tea through room service we left to the Rajagopalaswamy temple. The temple gopuram can be seen at a large distance as the from the space was allocated for parking. Early morning we could see only 2 cars before us. After paying the parking fee we went inside the temple. Due to the maintenance work we were devoid of enjoying the beauty of the temple gopurams. We got to see the temple's famous elephant - Sengamalam as soon as we got in. This temple is called as south Dwaraka, there is small Krishna statue inside which we can worship by taking in our hands. The main deity Lord Vasudevaperumal is seen here along with his cow. Next to his the baby Krishna idol which can we worshipped by devotees for their special prayers. We had a good darshan of the Perumal. Had theertham, jadaari and then walked towards the Goddess. The consort of Lord Rajagopalaswamy is Goddess Sengamala Thaayar. We had a very peaceful...

Vijayawada trip - Part 2

On the third day morning of our trip we were much energetic and ready to take on the day after a largely rested night. By 8:30 an we came down to the reception and was soon followed by Raju garu. He first took us to the restaurant near Vijayawada SP office for breakfast. This again was similar to the yesterday's, self-service, get your dish and eat it as you stand. As the crowd was less we for a table to place the plate. Had two maida poori, ghee dosa and coffee here for less than Rs.200. Our first place today was the Kanaga Durga temple. Its in the middle of the city on top of a small hill. The entrance charges Rs.50 for the car. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple. The queues to the darshan was very huge. With the help of Raju garu we connected to one of the person inside the temple. He took us through the Rs.500 ticket queue, near to the Goddess Kanaga Durga for a much blessed darshan. In turmeric kaapu the was glowing. The temple inside was very well decorate...

Aadi koozh vaarthal

Aadi koozh vaarthal is a religious occasion for most Tamil house holds. In the month of Aadi raagi koozh is served to all thirsty people around the neighborhood. Koozh is prepared and offered to Amman followed by the distribution. While offering koozh there are also other heathly eatables included in the Padayal. The koozh preparation starts a day earlier. Rice is cooked first and raagi flour mixed in water is added to it and cooked till ragi gives a glazed look to the koozh. This is then left over night to ferment. The next day water is added to the koozh to get a drinking consistency. To this we add finely chopped onions as topping and curd to give that cooling effect. Once the koozh is all set we go about the padayal to the almighty Amman. Aadi, the Tamil month solely dedicated to Amman is for celebrating her and her kindness to her devotees. So we first offer the koozh to her in the Padayal followed by white rice and other items. The USP of Aadi koozh is that...

Our wanderings and perceptions

Search This Blog