My journey to the United States

On 17th of April,2011,Sunday,me and my husband departed from Coimbatore to Singapore by Silk Air.
The next day morning we landed in Singapore Changi Airport.We took a taxi and went home.Suman was
waiting there for us.Just the day before she came back from London.We got a phone call from my
sister,Patta @ Raji and she invited us for her daughter,Janani's wedding at NewJersey on 15th,May,2011.
She is marrying an American AirForce boy,Vincent Bernett.The marriage is going to be celebrated
according to Indian Hindu style.That too typical south indian brahmin style with traditional rituals.
We are eager to watch the marriage.My husband is not able to travel nearly 24 hours from Singapore
to USA.So he did not come.Suman arranged my ticket in business class.I enjoyed the whole journey.
The best part is when I landed JFK ,NeewYork,some lady was waiting with the wheel chair at the entrance of the aircraft.When I refused to sit in it,some gentle men standing there told me,madam the
way is long.So please enjoy and go in it. So I happily sat in the wheel chair and enter the immigration
hall before anybody could come.It was smooth in all the counters.This is wonder of wheel chair!
My brother in law,Laksham was waiting at the entrance wit his car.He drove 2 hours to reach home.
It was very nice to see my sister after a long time.

On 1st of May there was bridal shower arranged one of Patta's friend in her house.About 35 ladies attended.All came with mouth watering dishes.

World Philatelic Exhibition - INDIPEX 2011

The World Philatelic Exhibition ,INDIPEX 2011 was held in New Delhi at Pragati Maidan from 12th to 18th,February,2011.As a philatelist,I had the golden opportunity to witness the exhibits as well as the stalls of different countries  along with some of  the members of our philatelic club,Coimbatore chapter.The exhibits of various subjects were displayed in the huge hall of Pragati Maidan.

The huge hall of exhibits.  

Some of the themes are quite interesting!The theme,'Water Birds' attracted me so much.The person has many water birds

stamps that too well displayed with colourful pictures along with stamps.It has got 'Vermail Medal!I took many photographs on the subject,'Space Exploration! I have quite a number of stamps on this subject.I also bought some from
this World Philatelic Exhibition.I could learn many things about how to display stamps on pre independance India.Now,I

am arranging these stamps on the lines explained by the exhibitor.It attracted me very much.Iam very impressed!


Most interesting in this exhibition is'MyStamp'.That is if you take a photograph in that particular counter along with the
form duly filled in with the minimum amount of Rs.150/-,your photo will be attached to a stamp already issued by the
postal department and will be sent to you with a sheet of 12 stamps.This is very much new.I also took one.























                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Pongal festival - The way I celebrate.

Today is Pongal,i.e.'The harvest festival'. The arrival of new Tamil month,Thai.Margazhi was the tamil month before Thai.We celebrate Pongal for 3 days.The last day of the month,Margazhi is called,Bhoghi.On this day we clean the entire house including the surroundings, put some Poolai flower along with neem leaves in all the places out side the house.Rangolis are very famous for Pongal.People decorate the entrance of the house with color kolums.I did it without color.

.On this day we cook  kheer as a special item in our lunch.On Pongal day,we make Pongal in a traditional way.To day,as usual I did Paal Pongal ( Milk Pongal ).We clean a good paanai like vessel ,put haldhi and kumkum.Then  tie a fresh small turmaric plant with fresh turmaric around the neck of the vessel.Then in an auspicious time,we pour the milk in the vessel and allow it to boil.Allow them to spill  all the sides.Then put the washed raw rice into the milk.Cook it nicely.Add Saffron.After it is fully cooked,close the lid and swich off the gas.In small bowls,take grated coconut,powdered jaggary , banana and ghee.

In our varanda,where we get full sunshine,I wiped the floor and put kolum in a black slab in which kolum will
look bright.I arrange betal leaves along with supari,fresh turmeric ,banana,flowers and coconut in a plate.I placed the pongal paanai with pal pongal on the kolum in the slab.I lighted two silver lamps on both sides of

the pongal paanai.we did the puja there.In that slab,I put Surya and chandra design in the kolum.We do the puja for Sun God.After the puja is over,I gave Vethilai paakku to our neighbours with hot pongal and vadai.Sugar cane is the main thing we put along with other things for the puja.

                                      
It was very nice to do the puja for the Sun God .This day,the pal pongal came out very well.The taste was
yummmy!!!!The way of eating this pongal is interesting.In a plate,serve pal pongal in one side and serve other
things i.e.,jaggary,grated coconut near the pongal .Pour melted ghee over the pongal.Peel out the banana and place it in a corner of the plate..Now add all the ingredients little by little with pal pongal and gulp graciously!
In villages,the people cook the pongal on the open air even though it is hot.We wished all our friends and
relatives,A VERY HAPPY PONGAL.

The third is Maattu Pongal.The celebration for the cows and bulls.The cows and bulls are decorated and puja will be done for them..In some places like Alanganallur in Madurai district in Tamilnadu,there will be Jalli kattu.i.e. Bull fight.The person who controls the angry bull will get a huge sum.Its very risky.

On this day,we creat colour sadham ,i.e. cooked rice will be mixed with colors.In the morning ,an elderly
lady of the house or neighbour will put fresh turmeric on ladys' forehead.It is their blessings.Then we put
turmeric leaves outside in the varanda and arrange color saadhams in a row by everyone in the family.
It is done for the welfare of brothers.This day we make all ready made rice like coconut rice,lemon rice,
sarkarai pongal etc.We eat with friends and relatives.In olden days people go to the river side and eat their
with their kith and kin.They sing songs and dance.Its a big festival in Tamilnadu.

It is celebrated in different places of India in different names.In Assam it is called Bihu,In Bengal,it is Makar
Sankarandhi.etc .Same way it is Pongal in Taminadu.
                                    

New Year-2011

The New Year - 2011 has entered with flying colors , illumination every where and bursting of crackers
 at 12'O clock  midnight.Every where cheerful and gala celebrations!Wonderful year started!Good and Happy
wishes every where!

I baked the heavy new year cake of two and half kg weight at about 7'O clock in the evening.It took 3 hours

Ingredients:All dry fruits soaked in rum for 21 days,eggs,butter,caramel and maida with baking power and cooking soda.

Ready to bake

                                            

                                                                                    
                                                                   Fully baked cake
                                                              
to cool down.As usual,the cake was cut exactly at 12 midnight.The taste was yummy! It came out very well.
I watched 'star Plus' for some time and went to sleep.This morning from 5.30 onwards we get calls from all
our relatives and friends.To my surprise,I could locate two of my good friends,Mrs.Ranvir singh and Mrs.
Vaish.I had a long chat with them.Both settled in Delhi.I am very happy.We had lunch at Annalakshmi,
Race course,our old place.There I met my school mate,Mrs.Raji Vasudevan.We had a sumptuous lunch.
Its a good and gala start of the new year - 2011.We pray to the Almighty for the welfare and happiness of
all people in the world.I hope  this New Year-2011 will  bring peace among people and corruption will
disappear!!!!!

In the evening,all my children friends from the age group 2 years to 10 years came home.I had a good and playful time with them.I gave them lots of chocolates and cakes.All are very happy.They wanted me to come
down to play with them in the evenings.Joel ,the boy from opposite house came very late.I always enjoy his company.Very mischivous boy! Whole day,it was pleasant.