TRAVEL ( 6 )

                                        TRAVEL  (  6  )

                                                     There are many Indian families spread  through out  the differeent states of U S., California is not an exception.Some of these Indians are really very big shots and own their own software companies ,some others doing some other business. Some others are Professors in the Universities.Their intellectual and economic contribution to the US govt's  growth is sizable.The Tamilians among those Indians have their own cultural associations and they even bring out monthly magazines like " Thenral " to highlight their achievements in their own spheres of activiiies  For the Tamil chilren , standard text books are prepared by eminent Professors worikng in American  Tamil  Academy. I happened to  go through the Tamil text books for Aparaajithaa and Aaraadhanaa.They are really nice with a very good stress on Tamil grammar together with moral stories .A  Tamil monthly magazine is available with interesting Articles and valuable informations by Tamilians who have settled there  giving accounts of their achievements and success stories. I had opportunity to read them  and spend my time usefully.                                                              Near to our residential area ,viz, Foster city , there are  a few temples for our worship. The nearest one is at a distance of eight miles in San meteo county itself. It is an Ashtalakshmi temple, which is being maitained  by SRI. Viswaprasad Sharma  a priest belonging to Kalahasthi near Thiruppathi,who is a great scholar ,well versed in Vedas and is  an adept in the nuances of  agama, prayogas   connected with the temple .21-02-2020 Saturday.was the annual Shivaraathri Day  ,Usually, it is a festive occasion .Naturally , there was special puja for Lord Shiva with abhisheka, aaraadhanaas.All of us attended the function in the evening. Sahasra kalasa abhishekam was done. Sri  rudram chamakam and other veda manthras were chanted   and abhishekam was done  for aekalingam .The alankarams archanas and aaraadhanaas were  a very great feast to  the eyes and the Veda manthras were pleasing  to the ears of  the crowd of devotees that have assembled in  full strength on that auspicious occasion.  . ,    There was a light dinner also.The idol of Lord Shiva was taken out in precession with  veda ghoshas and dances by ,young girls to the pleasure of every one's ears and eyes.At times we had the feeling that we are   in our own village itself in Tamilnadu.  Reached back home at 11 30 pm to have a nice sleep and peaceful night.    

                   The following day was an Amavasya day.Took early bath,  finished tharpanam and puja Sitting ensconced on my relaxing chair and having a look through my windows , I could  watch the speeding cars on the arch bridges above waterways on which ducks swim and boats move and the flights hovering high.

               ( to be continued  )