Pranams to the Great Poet

• Got Jnanapith award for the year 2007
• Got Padmasree in 1998
• Is the second poet in Malayalam who got Jnanapith
• Jnanapith award is the highest Literary award in India.
• The first Jnanapith winner is G Shankara Kurup, the famous writer from Kerala
• Other Jnanapith winners from Kerala are G. Shankara Kurup, S K Pottakkad, Thakazhy Shivashankara pillai and M T Vasudevan Nair.
• To know more about Jnana pith from Wiki pedia

Ezhilam Pala(Alstonia Scholaris)

Ezhilam pala is a common tree in Kerala. It filled our yakshi stories with its great fragrance. It became a common element to our poets. I am also curious to take some images of this plant and its amazing flowers. In my memory these flowers were formed like a carpet in front of the 'Sarpa kavu' of the temple. Its smell with the smell of turmeric and salt made a great mix. There were some manjadi seeds behind the sarpa kavu to add a different hue to the picture. Dedicating these pictures to the innocent childhood that passed by.....

Earlier post about Ezhilam Pala

Scientific Name:Alstonia Scholaris

Sanskrit name:Saptha parna (Leaves 5-7 in a whirl), Saptacchada, sharada, Vishama chada

Malayalam:Yakshippala,Daiva pala,ezhilam pala,pala

English:Indian Devil tree

The flowers of this tree will fell down from the tree within hours. The wood of the tree is used to make slates in some countries. The flowering months are November -October.

Flower of Pala tree from Vyttila. These trees are from the compound of Shiva subrahmanya temple, vyttila. These small white flowers filled the area with great smell.

Its very interensting to know more about the flowers with this peculiar smell. More detailed description of its name in Sanskrit from this site. These flowers had their roles in Kalidasa kavyas.

Some malayalam film song which mentioned 'palapoo'

'Ezhilam pala poothu Poomarangal kuda pidichu Velli malayil Veli malayil '

In the film 'Njan gandharvan' directed by padmarajan Pala comes into a song, heroine ask the tree about her thali because hero is a gandharvan.

'Palapoove enthiru mangallya thali tharoo makara nilave neeyen neehara kodi tharu

Kanathe vinnithalay marayum manmathanennullil kudiyeriya chandrotsavamay'

'Palapoovithalil vennilapuzhayil' from 'Thirakkatha'

Australia through Jayasree

I am always curious to know more about the world. When I started blogging it became my platform for learning also.
This picture is from my friend's blog who is now in Australia. Big thanks to Jayasree for sharing these amzing pictures. Have a look to her blog .
More about the Apostles from Wikipedia
Another note about a fellow blogger . We are so familiar with lavender perfumes and lotions but how many of you are familiar with Lavender fields. Please have a look at these wonderful photos.

Vallasadya at Aaranmula Parthasarathy temple, Kerala

'Thuzhakkar' singing vanchipattu at nadappanthal with great vigour

The great Aaranmula vallasadya. Adaprathaman, Aravana payasam, Aval , Avial , Banana chips; Chammanthi powder , Chukku vellum ,Curd,Ellunda , Fried banana, Ghee, Ginger curry, Holy water from river Pampa, Kaalhen , Kaalipazham payasam , Kalkandum , Kadala Prathaman ,Kychadi , Mango curry, Munthiri pachadi ,Olen, Koottu curry, Pacchadi , Paal payasm , Pachamoru, Pulisserry , Resam, Red Cheera Thoran , Sambar, Thakara Thoran Unniappam and vada.

Receiving Oarsmen at the Kadavu with Ashtamangalyam, fireworks, Kurava and thalappoli

Parasols during the procession

' Palliyodam' in Pamba river (Snake boats) in front of the Aaranmula temple 'Kadavu'. Pamba river on a rainy day. The famous 'Uthruttathi boat race' is taking place here.

Aaranmula parthasarathy temple, nadappanthal and Gopuram

Arrangements in front of the kodimaram for valla sadya
Niraparayum nilavilakkum

Aaranmula temple on a rainy day

Aaranmula temple 'kizhakke nada'

'Valla sadya' in Malayalam means feast in small boats. Kerala is famous for its back waters. In ancient times it was the only transporting system in Kerala. Its a very unique ritualistic feast to the crew 'Thuzhakkar' of Snake boats considering them as the representatives of the diety. Its a 'Vazhipadu offering to the diety of the Aaranmula temple( Krishna as partha sarathy).

Its an energetic ritual to praise the lord with hymns (vanchipattu) and serving them with a great feast which contained 41 ethnic Kerala dishes.

'Nale naleyennayittu bhagawane kanan ithra nalum purappedanja njan innu chellumbol

naleeka nayananenthu thonnumo innu nammodu naleekam karimbanameleytha poleyo'

It was the only vanchipattu familiar to me. This song accompanied by 'Thithitharo thitheytho thithey thaka theythey thom' create a positive atmosphere.

Vallasadya offered on Ashtami Rohini day is the largest one with almost one lakh people attending the feast.

My earlier post about Aaranmula Vallamkali

Earlier post about Aaranmula Kannadi

Isn't it interesting and Informative??

Shots from the Ginger and Mango
When I had started blogging this blog was my dearest one. Its my time to say a special thanks and congrats to her for her great works. Blog contains very informative tips for gardening. Ginger and Mango is from US and contains wonderful pictures also. Its actually a food blog but in some posts she peeps into her garden and vegetable garden that's also a part of her life. This blog is an inspiration for me to write more posts about nature.

Wonderful Green Images from Urban Gardener
This picture is from the Urban Gardener. Its my favourite blog to see the cute Vegetables. Her poetic explanations and great pictures make us more close this greenery. Through this post I say a great thanks to Sunitha for sharing this great Knowledge and these amazing pictures.

Tips and Tricks to Kitchen Gardening from Geek Gardener

This picture led me to this blog. Its a must visit place to nature lovers and very informative posts to them that love kitchen gardens especially in cities. The blogger describes deeply with step by step pictures to start your own kitchen garden. Through his posts he lists tips to the newcomers to this field. I say a big congrats to the geek gardener for his great efforts. He explains his tirals in Hydroponic method also.

A parambikulam story from Niraksharan

A very cool trip description from a fellow blogger with refreshing pictures. The description is in Malayalam. I am also eagerly waiting to visit Parambikulam. Wishing him all the success in life.

Ganesha Chathurthi

'Vakra thunda mahakaya

suryakodi samaprabha

Nirvighnam kurume deva

Sarvakaryeshu sarvada'

Wishing you all the success in this auspicious day and praying Ganesha to remove all obstacles for a peaceful living. A very nice description of Ganesha picture from this site.

We had participated in Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam at Pandavathu temple, Maradu. They had arranged a Gajapooja after the homam for the blessings of Ganesha.

Eight materials are used in Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam. These are Coconut,Banana, Honey Sugarcane, Ghee, Modhaka, Jaggery and Puffed rice.

A well told picture of this celebration in other parts of the country by Lakshmi Sharath
In this auspicious day I am listing some of the famous Ganapathi temple sites from Kerala

Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathi temple

Kottarakkara Ganapathi temple

Edappally Ganapathi temple

Malliyoor Sri Maha Ganapathy temple

Say it with flowers

Flowers, the most tender the most beautiful and the most lovely part of nature I love them because through that I love mother nature in all aspects.
Posting this flower image and linking it to the keybunch as part of their blog carnival and wishing them a nice and informative journey.

Images of nature

A soothing image from Victoria Bennett Mayor in her daily photoblog. I am a follower of her wonderful blog. In this blog we can see her amazing work. Its a cool and refreshing blog. Its a must visit blog for nature lovers. Wishing her all the success in her life through this post.

Arootha plant