LET THE FLOWERS BLOOM, EVERYWHERE

Flowers are the nature’s way of adding color  beauty, fragrance, serenity, and happiness to the landscapes of earth. In almost all cultures, of past and present, it is adorned.The plant life, emanates through the flowers; though, not always.

Hindu religion accords special significance to the locally available sacred select flowers,leaves and fruits of various types in all the rituals,required to be performed by the devotee. A temple,where the flowers are not used to propitiate the presiding deity, is inconceivable. Most of the Gods and Goddesses in Hindu religion are associated with certain flowers. While paying their obeisance,the priests and the worshipers offer those special flowers,prescribed by the sacred texts or Vedic tradition/Brahminic custom; to seek the blessings of the divine or please them.

SKYLIGHT BY NIGHT

As the night deepens, I barricade myself inside the low roof rectangular four walls, locking and looking exasperated after a day’s toil. The windowless house has not been painted for years, from inside and outside. I still have no complaint, as it still continues to shield me from the howling dogs, rains, winds and cold, round the year. Inside, while I am asleep, the narrow skylight goes on allowing oxygen inside, expelling the carbon dioxide and other stinks of the enclosed space of mine. Seeing the faint rays of the incandescent lamp that escape through the purposefully designed porous cement slab latched on to the concussion on one side of the wall, people believe in my existence and doubt about my presence, when the lights go off. But, actually, go to sleep irregularly to plan for a very bright future from the next morning. When I fall asleep, I dream a lot, in the pitched dark envelope; inside the skyward empty column. It is very personal and familiar for I have lived here long being assured of safety and unexplained gazes of the neighbors and passerby. After I close the only wooden door from inside, I try to break my monotony at night, by trying to discover the end of the light and beginning of a dark, near the frame of the skylight. I find it discouraging as it gives you no clues of the extending outside. During the days, though; the hole on the wall above me brings for me much hopes. Sun-rays, dusts, moisture, smokes, insects, voices of people or the skies; that enter the opening, make me feel connected as a living example. Whether, it is day or night; the skylight of my room, is always umbilical to me and my being. However, I know, this is not an escape route.          

TEA TIME TALES

Tea is great. There are good reasons to go for the cuppa. It contains less caffeine, almost half than coffee. Therefore, it is less habit forming or addictive. However, too much tea should be avoided to reap its health benefits. Our most popular drink is the leafy derivatives of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Tea is soothing, mild and nutritive for our body. Due to its calming action on our nerves, people prefer to drink a cup of steaming tea brew, to quickly feel refreshed. Commonly, tea liquor is prepared by boiling the dust or granules of different types, qualities and sizes of processed tea leaves in water, processed sugar and diary milk.  What kind of particular taste and flavour one wants to have, depends on boiling and brewing time, amount of tea leaves added, the temperature of the water, types of tea leaves used and the optional additions like aromatic or medicinal herbs. In various cultures, the unique taste and flavour of a cup of tea vary, depending on the preferences of people. Secret techniques of making a cup of ‘good’ tea, is always at work, in preparing it. It certainly is not a rocket science, but a refined art; over the generations, perfected by the cultivators (usually the tea gardens, tea estates and the people behind the enterprise) of the plant, the species, climate, soil condition, processing method (tea factories); and of course, ‘how to’ of the final outcome, as ‘your’ tea—by you!

The great Chinese and Japanese people are the harbinger of tea. It is an essential part of their rich culture, civilisations and societies. Remember, the ‘rocket’ was invented by the Chinese and ‘bonsai’ was crafted to perfection by the Japanese? What I mean by saying so is, all cultures have contributed towards the growth of the human race by various contributions. Who does not know that the Indians invented the ‘zero’ and as a result, we are now living in the digital age of 1s and 0s?

YOU KNOW A TREE BY ITS FRUITS: MANGO

In India at least, mango (Mangifera indica L./Family Anacardiaceae) is the ‘queen’ of fruits. Most probably, it is so, worldwide! Let me inform you that most probably, except me, everyone perceives, thinks and calls the mango as ‘king’. It is up to you to decide whether mango is a king or queen of fruits. In the recent days of political correctness and gender neutrality, I have no definite answers for the above jigsaw puzzle. I know, it is like asking someone, ‘whether egg came first or the chicken? Let it be what it is, mango! ’Such problems are as gigantic as the Bermuda Triangle mystery—is not it? Or, maybe it is existential in nature, better to skip for the time being.

Mango originated from Southeast Asia. Historical data suggest that mango has been cultivated for the last six thousand years. India and China are the major producers of the fruit. With the advancement of innovative horticultural techniques, Mango is now cultivated in other parts of the world, as well, with varying degrees of success. Admittedly, India is a major producer and exporter of varieties of exotic and palatable mangoes; which have recurring demands in overseas markets.

Combined together, countries such as China, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Myanmar and Egypt cultivate half of the total global output of mango; while India accounts for more than 50 percents or at an average of more than 22 million metric tonnes per year. Traditionally, farmers in Indian states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha (Orissa), Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, etc. are the major cultivation areas of mango. However, other states of India too, cultivate mango to varied extent. Local varieties of mango trees also grow wild in the forests of these states, adding diversity to the fruit. Some varieties are rare and exotic with unique tastes of their own, mainly available for consumption to the local population. Rapid shrinkage of the forest covers in India and over-exploitation of the fruits of the local species are reasons of much concern and even if some of the mangoes are commercially unviable at present; yet, to preserve the biodiversity, consorted efforts are required to protect the mango tree species heading for extinction.

ARE YOU IN TOP GEAR?

Thousands of people die or are injured everyday in road accidents. It may result in partial to permanent disabilities for those involved in accident. Their family members suffer directly and all this add up to the social cost as well. Admittedly, accidents are accidents, yet it can be reduced substantially with caution and precaution. Many of the victims of road accidents are those, who are not at fault yet, they are sucked into such unfortunate consequences.

Certainly, prevention is better than cure and we all know this. Somehow, we forget it or try to flout the very basic or simple rules of life, in our living and conducts; thinking that any such lapses may not lead to our own harm. That is only true, till we encounter the largely preventable nightmare personally, and in person, as a witness. But, by that time, it might be too late for us to effect proper corrections. Our sincere regrets, pains or losses may not provide us with solutions for regaining, what we lost for being reckless. Lot of people are the victims of the unintended actions of others. A small or even a freak accident may ruin our future irrevocably. It is therefore, far better to learn from others’ mistakes; but not from our own.