Kannada names of New moon & Full moon days

In Sanatana culture every new moon and full moon are named. They occur in the same order as below. 

ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯ	ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ		Amavasya	Hunnime
ಎಳ್ಳ	ಬಣದ		Ella	Banada
ಅವರಾತ್ರಿ	ಭಾರತ		Avaratri	Bharata
ಶಿವರಾತ್ರಿ	ಹೋಳಿ		Shivaratri	Holi
ಯುಗಾದಿ	ದವನದ		Yugadi	Danavada
ಅಕ್ಷತ್ತಡಿಗಿ	ಆಗಿ		Akshattadigi	Aagi
ಬಾದ್ಮಿ	ಕಾರ		Baadmi	Kaara
ಮಣ್ಣೆತ್ತಿನ	ಕಡ್ಲಿಗಡಬ		Mannettina	Kadligadaba
ನಾಗರ	ನೂಲ		Naagara	Noola
ಬೆನಕನ	ಅನಂತನ		Banakana	Anantana
ಮಹಾಲಯ	ಸೀಗೆ		Mahaalaya	Sige
ದೀಪಾವಳಿ	ಗೌರಿ		Dipawali	Gouri
ಛಟ್ಟಿ	ಹೊಸ್ತಲ		Chatti	Hostala

The names listed above are from northern parts of Karnataka.

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Raani

This is a tribute to Raani, the senior most pet at my uncle's place. As I remember, I've been seeing Raani since 2011 or 2012. She was fully grown when I saw her first. Smaller compared to other dogs, she had beautiful eyes. She was a silent, didn't bark much. When agitated she bared her teeth and growled like any other dog. One thing about Raani, she would never let anyone touch her. Whenever I tried petting her, she would take backward steps, maintaining distance. I can count with one hand the number of times I've touched her head. Raani was an independent type but a very loyal pet. She never let anyone put a collar around her neck.

The last time we saw her was Dec 4th, She was sick, walked with great difficulty, she yelped when I touched her and did not eat biscuits. She spent a few minutes with us and went out of sight, probably to lie down in the backyard. Last Sunday morning, we heard that Raani passed away on Dec 9th 2022. Om Shanti.

Here are a few pictures of Raani with Cocoa and Casper on Sunday mornings. We had trained Cocoa and Casper to sit when biscuits were given... their Sunday morning treats. Raani was an exception, she would remain standing.

Despite all the training, Casper and Cocoa would grab biscuits from our hands. We had to withdraw our hands quickly to avoid contact. but, Raani bit the biscuits and pulled gently, making sure there was no contact with our fingers. She was very intelligent. She would understand when we spoke to her, especially when scolded. During meal times, she would patiently wait at the door for my aunt to give her food. When it came to hunger and food Casper was very impatient, he would keep barking till he got something. Raani had one funny habit of burying chapati, jolada rotti and dosa. We'd seen her dig out a small pit, place food inside and close the pit. However, we never had seen her retrieve any of the buried treasures.

Here Pushpa's telling Casper to take biscuits gently, not to grab like a wild creature.

I called the trio as adorable Nalayaks. Now on, it'll be only two Nalayaks, Raani will be missed.

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KUD botanical nursery gates

A eleven and half year old picture of a pair of gates at botanical nursery inside Karnataka University campus. The gate design is simple & elegant. The outer frame is tubular, might have corroded in patches but the inner bars are solid sections. I think the gate was still there when during a visit in July 2021.

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November sunrise

21.11.2022 @ 6-43 AM

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holes in a tree trunk

These pictures were shot on 10th April 2011. I don't think these have been published in any of the posts. These cavities could be formed when sapwood is attacked by fungus or bacteria. Tree holes are akin to scars on human skin. 

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a beautiful moth

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on a misty morning

 

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mobile advertising on a tricycle

Earlier this year, i.e. in May I happened to see advertising on a cycle-trailer at Dharwad market. Last Sunday morning again at Dharwad market a convoy of three advertising tricycles were seen moving on the main street. It seemed like a trial run. The tricycle guys were pushing it, did not see them ride. The product being advertised was a financial service for apparel / textile traders.

 

A few months back, on the way to Belur Industrial Area, close to the IOC outlet between Narendra cross & Mummugatti, I happened to see a fleet of cycle-trailers parked on the service road. If I remember correctly, the advert was of some highway restaurant. Looks like this idea of mobile advert is picking up.

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cosmos party

 

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Vanilla parade

At a junction near Toll Naka on a Sunday afternoon. All white cars ahead of us and two more behind us.

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flowers seen on a Sunday morning

 

Garden Cosmos

Red Gladiolus Dalenii

Red Lilies

Red Balsam

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a simple beauty

This simple beauty is flower of Singapore weed, a creeper with thick leaves. This flower itself has thick petals and remains fresh for days. A flower or two with a few leaves in a small vase adds charm to a study table.

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Nuggikeri Hanuman Mandir

Nuggikeri is one of the important water tanks around Dharwad. On the shore of this tank is the ancient temple dedicated to Hanuman. Close to Nuggikeri is a village by the same name. This Hanuman Mandir is managed by the members of Nuggikeri Desai family. This is the Gopura on the main entrance.

Inside the temple enclosure is a Aswatha Vruksha (Peepul tree). A board on the tree reads Aswatha Vruksha Stotra:

ಮೂಲತೋ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮರೂಪಾಯ 

ಮಧ್ಯತೋ ವಿಷ್ಣುರೂಪಣೇ। 

ಆಗ್ರತೋ ಶಿವರೂಪಾಯ 

ವೃಕ್ಷರಾಜಾಯತೇ ನಮಃ।।

It is said that one must go around Peepal tree seven times chanting this stotra and then proceed into the temple. The stotra means that the three supreme lords of Hindu legends reside in Ashwatta Vriksha; Brahma in the roots, Vishnu in the mid part i.e. the stem and Shiva in the upper parts i.e. the branches & leaves.

The temple comprises of large open halls around the Garbhagriha.

Jai Hanuman.

In one of the halls, there are several boards fixed on the walls. One of the boards has all the lines of Hanuman Chalisa and another one has Yantroddharaka Hanuman Stotra. People can sit in this hall and chant the sacred lines.

The temple has a peaceful ambiance when its free from crowds. Saturdays are usually crowded, rest of the days its free. Nuggikeri is approximately half kilometer from the main road i.e. Dharwad-Kalghatgi road. One could pass through this arch and walk to the temple. Alternatively, vehicles can be taken right upto the temple via Nuggikeri village.

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Krishi Mela 2022, UAS Dharwad

Krishi Mela 2022 at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad started on September 17th and ends on 20th. I decided to visit the Mela on Monday rather than Sunday or Tuesday which was the last day to avoid crowds. Also I had decided against driving, buses would be a better option considering the heavy traffic and packed parking lots. This picture was shot Sunday early morning during our bicycle ride. UAS entrance was lit up for the event, it looked so peaceful.

Sept 19. I reached Dharwad new bus-stand by 3-00 pm. KSRTC buses were plying between the bus-stand and UAS. I boarded one of the buses, reached UAS entrance at 3-15 pm. Passengers alighted the bus in the middle of the road. Traffic was crawling, horns blaring, it was chaotic.

Walking in the tree lined main avenue of UAS would be a nice experience on normal days. However, today I saw a river of people, air was laden with dust. I was hesitant to proceed but made up my mind to check out a few stalls.

The exhibition has about 250 to 300 stalls covering different aspects of farming like agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, farming equipment, piping solutions, organic crops, food processing, gardening needs, entomology, and more. Also there's a separate compound for livestock stalls. I skipped livestock and entered agricultural compound. The crowd was denser inside, it was almost impossible to move without brushing against people. Some of the stall exhibits were interesting however my patience had eroded, I paused to take a look at the products but didn't stop at any.

By 4-00 I had had enough. I decided to leave. I could see that lot of people were just fooling around. Many students and youngsters weren't interested in anything particular, they were just roaming around, adding to the crowd. My rating of the experience of attending Krishi Mela 2022 stands at 1 out of 5. Rating it low because of the of poor crowd management, lack of information and inadequate transportation. I could think of dozen simple ways to improve things. Hoping the organizers do a better job in the next Mela.

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Zigzag clouds on a September morning

These clouds were seen from Kyarkoppa Gudda on the dawn of September 2nd.

Sun on the verge of rising

cloud formation in the western sky

upper half of the cloud formation had zigzag bands 

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Ganesha Habba 2022

 Ganesha Habba celebrations were disrupted by COVID-19 in the past two years. Hence 2020 and 2021 there were no public celebrations. I, like thousands of people, missed seeing the creative themes. This year the spirit has revived slightly. Here are a few Ganesha around Dharwad seen during early morning bicycle rides. There were many more tents in my cycling route but the screens were drawn so I missed seeing them. Anyway, chant Ganesha Sloka and see this year's Ganesha.

ಶ್ರೀ ವಕ್ರತುಂಡ ಮಹಾಕಾಯ ಸೂರ್ಯಕೋಟಿ ಸಮಪ್ರಭ |

ನಿರ್ವಿಘ್ನಮ್ ಕುರು ಮೇ ದೇವಾ ಸರ್ವ ಕಾರ್ಯೇಷು ಸರ್ವದಾ ||

श्री वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा |

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा॥

Shree Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha |

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada ||

our home

Ashirwada Ganapati Gudi, Kelageri

Samudaya Bhavan Kelageri

Sadankeri

Bhagat Singh Road (Tikare road)

Sri Ram Mandir, Tikare road

Sangam Theatre

Karnataka College (KCD)

Karnataka University junction (KUD Circle)

Haliyal road - Saptapur road junction

Subhash road

Links to past years' collections of Ganesha...

Ganesha Habba 2019

Ganesha Habba 2016

Ganesha Habba 2015

Ganesha Habba 2014

Ganesha Habba 2013

Ganesha Habba 2012

Ganesha Habba 2011

Ganesha Habba 2010

Ganesh Chaturti 2009

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Teaching and Learning

Quoting a few lines on teaching & learning from the book "Buddha and Basava" by H. H. Poojya Mahatapasvi Kumaraswamiji of Navakalyanamath, Dharwad. These lines are from the chapter "Basava and his work."

The business of a university is to teach but teaching implies learning. The spirit of learning is much better than the spirit of teaching because the vanity of teaching often tempteth a man to forget that he is a blockhead. The most inspiring teachers are therefore the most enthusiastic learners.

Sri Kumaraswamiji is better known through his ashram Tapovan at Dharwad.

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an antique cruiser bicycle

Spotted this ancient beauty at the vegetable market. Apparently this bike is being used to transport vegetables by the vendor. Its a Phillips make, identifiable by the letters on the sprocket and letter 'P' on the light holder and on the fork as well. Going by the design of the seat, this bicycle could be 50s or 60s product. Looks like the owner's family- husband, wife and a kid -travelled on this bicycle during a period of its life. I hope this bicycle doesn't end up in a junkyard. This antique should be reconditioned & preserved in a museum.

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signs of a coming thunderstorm

Nature tells us what's coming next in its own subtle way. Animals and plants are well connected with Nature so a up next. However man, busy running a rat race, is disconnected and the acts of Nature are surprises. Often people are caught unawares by rains and thunderstorms. If people learn to read the signs, they could be better prepared.

Here are a few signs from my observations, there could be more. Some of these signs may not apply to certain geographical locations.

1. Early morning mist - heavy mist in the early morning is usually followed by a bright & hot day. And, it could rain in the next three days.
2. Humid and sultry weather - when humidity builds up it gets warm, people perspire in such a condition. Then the air becomes still, the level if discomfort goes up. This can happen over days and then one of the following days clouds build up and there's a downpour. 
3. Dragonflies - somehow magically dragonflies appear before rains. They come and go with mist and humid weather.
4. Dark clouds gathering in a particular direction - this observation is specific to Dharwad and its surroundings. If there's accumulation of dark clouds in the northeasterly direction, chances of raining at your location is high.
5. Cool wind from riverside - this too is specific to rural area north of Dharwad. River Malaprabha flows in the west-east direction about 30 km north of Dharwad. When a cool slow breeze blows from the river side, it is bound to rain within the next three days. The breeze is pleasant, there's a significant difference in its temperature - one needs to experience it a few times to get a hang of it.

Sign #4 and #5 were gained from farmers. A real farmer is truly connected with Nature and his bullocks i.e. Basavanna. Such a farmer can predict weather conditions precisely.

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Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav lighting at Dharwad

Here are a few pictures of lighting for the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence Day at public places in the heart of Dharwad.

R N Shetty Sradium

R N Shetty Sradium

Karnataka College Road

Dr. B R Ambedkar statue near HDMC Office

Karnataka Vidhyavardaka Sangha

HDMC Head Office

Hindi Prachar Sabha

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