A few decades, ago, there were not many options. Doordarshan Tamil later known as Podhigai Channel would on Sundays air Tamil dramas and people were glued to them. SV Shekhar’s ‘Vanna Kolangal’ [colourful drawings!] was a great hit.
In the
madha veethis of Thiruvallikkeni and Mylapore and perhaps in many other
divyadesangal – there are beautifully drawn kolams adorning the streets,
welcoming the Perumal coming in procession.
Kolangal, kolangal, azhagana kolangal – not exclusive women’s domain, is
this post !!
Life in
Corporate World can change too suddenly – often there are people rising to
higher echelons while many remain low … a ‘glass ceiling’ is a metaphor – of
the unseen, yet unbreakable barrier that stops people from rising to upper
rungs, despite possessing qualification and capability.
Glass
ceiling refers to the fact that a qualified person wishing to advance within
the hierarchy of his/her organization is stopped at a lower level due to a
discrimination most often based on sexism or racism. The glass ceiling refers
thus to vertical discrimination most frequently against women in companies.
Though there could be no final definition, based on several studies, the glass
ceiling can be defined as subtle but persistent barriers/obstacles, underpinned
by discriminatory, conscious and unconscious practices, and attitudes that
hinder access to top/senior management positions . .. ..
Uthsavams
are festivities ~ at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, there are so many Uthsavams
and purappadus. Primordial among them is the 10 day long annual
Brahmothsavam, initiated by Brahma himself at Thirukachi.
For most purappadus,
especially grand ones of Brahmothsavam, the streets are clean and tidy – before
every purappadu – beautiful kolams are drawn. Kolam (கோலம்) is a
form drawn by using rice flour. Theoretically, it is a geometrical line
drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots – in
effect, they are passionately put on the street as offering to Lord.
Kolams are thought to bring prosperity to homes. Every morning devout
women draw kolams on the ground with white rice flour. The floor is
readied by cleaning with water and in earlier days cow dung was used. The
rice powder also invites birds and other small creatures to eat it, thus
welcoming other beings into one's home and everyday life: a daily tribute to
harmonious co-existence.
Many beautiful kolams are
seen all over the mada veethis, before the purappadu of Perumal – welcoming
Him. There are many Thiruvallikkenivasi women who vie with each other drawing beautiful kolams in front of Nammalwar
sannathi / vahana mantapam and in many places, in front of their homes /
Gangaikondan mandapam and the like. Apparently,
there are many more such experts – and everyone of them is binded by the fact
that such kolams are not mere artistic expressions but done with devotion to
Emperuman.
This young boy (25! Years of
age) Sri Ramkumar Ramesh is different.
Hailing from Coimbatore, he is a known face at Thiruvallikkeni, sweet,
smiling face at that. Completing Masters
in Commerce, he comes with passion, takes videos and ……. draws beautiful kolams too. Here is a Video beautifully depicting the
making of a beautiful kolam passionately done for Emperuman during Chithirai
brahmothsavam. : https://youtube.com/shorts/qRiHCw-A13s
Really happy to see and be
with such good people in the divyadesam !! Appreciate the talent, skill,
passion and dedication of Ramkumar and many other such people.
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
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