Sri Anantha Padmanabaswamy Temple

Towards Chennai day , am writing all about my favorite places in Chennai.

Not being such a temple addict , i started visiting this place because of my mother who loves temples and a strong religious persona. Once she moved into Chennai , she started figuring out the list of temples and Anantha Padmanabaswamy temple was her top favourite. Almost every evening she would be there and that is how i started visiting this place.A Brahmotsavam in February month got me excited as some of the carnatic musicians were having a concert in the temple's hall. Then began my association with this temple .As i always stayed in and around south Chennai , it was easier for me to continue this association ..I visited this temple often during navrathri season and on festivals. Any important function will have a must do activity as visiting anantha padmanabaswamy temple. In fact , my mother was such a frequent visitor here that she started consulting the priests for all the traditional poojas and one of them was also among the ones who performed the rituals in my wedding muhurtham.

Some things i admire about the place is firstly lord vishnu's statue who is in his sleeping position here , that is why the name -anantha sailam means taking rest is my guess. Then they have so many gods including lakshmi narasimhar and siva lingam .
My mother highlighted this fact to me that the only vishnu temple to have a place for lord shiva too.Those of who who don't know the hisotry the history states that the iyengar clan worships Vishnu and Iyers worship Shiva and there was a clash among them in the past .So ,in rivalry they never worship the other god. But here the myth is broken in synonym with the proverb that goes " Hariyum Shivanum onnu -Ariyathavan Vaayil Mannu" which means - Both the gods are the same and those who don't know this are fools.

This temple also has a nice place where you can sit beside and spend some time doing your soul search after your trip around the temple. The architecture of the temple is really nice and there are intrinsic paintings on the roof. I also like one very nice thing about the temple which i hardly see in many other temples -Maintenance -it is very clean and even people who visit are very well behaved with no littering and too much chit chatting around the premises .

in total - One temple i feel at peace when i visit is definitely my mamma dearest's Anantha Padmanabaswamy temple!

If you get a chance -Please do visit and share your experience.

Happy Spiritual time out there !!

Besant Nagar Beach !!!

The one thing i love about Chennai the most is the besant nagar beach .A bad day can turn good for me if i just visit the beach and drop down my feet in the sea and listen to the sea breeze. It is a feeling that no one can understand how it feels unless they experience it.

Waves remind me of a favorite tamizh song , which says it looks like you are coming to me when i see you from far and when you come near , you just disappear. Waves scare me with their force of frightening sound as if they are going to eat me up but still i like them and enjoy watching them coming to me . I race with them running until they touch my feet. Guess, it turns me into a child very easily .

I feel being by the sea and watching the sea itself is so therapeutic , it can relieve you of your stress levels.It gives you some kind of peace for within.

I had this amazing opportunity to work towards and literally organize an event which was a music concert by the sea. It was called "Morning Raaga" and had the renowned Bombay Jayashree ,T M Krishna duo as the artists. All this happened by the kalashetra beach on an early morning Sunday .It began with the sunrise .It definitely gave us an awesome feeling to watch the sun rise and listen to some carnatic music by wonderful singers early in the morning .Imagine the high spirits that can come about with such a terrific combination -Beach,Kalakshetra and Carnatic music

And even now for the Chennai Times Festival towards celebrating Chennai day -the unanimous venue for many performances happened to be the beach .

Beach gives you that feeling -a feeling of JOY !!!!

Hope all of us get to make the most out of enjoying the view of the besant nagar beach and saving them as fondful memories for the future

Express Avenue @ Chennai!!

EA as it is fondly called is going to be a happening place -actually it is already happening .Never have i visited a place thrice in a span of a week , there is so much to see and time flies when you are inside . Though it is not fully operational, it looks good and there are loads of options to shop and eat.

The first time i visited the place , i was amazed as they had some exciting event happening at the lobby .It is a huge space and a performer from Australia was stealing the show .Then we browsed through the food court and managed to decide it was gonna be pizza hut for a quick bite .It was too small a place and we definitely were not happy with Pizza Hut's new policy on tomato ketchup . They have a policy that it cannot be taken outside the premises .Then ,they should not keep tables outside the premises too However, my angry young man took up the issue with the restaurant manager and he promptly sent in some ketchup in a packet out to our table. By now , my brat could not sit inside his pram and started his tantrums .So , we moved on to a different location and FUN CITY fascinated me .This place has loads of games and am sure all the children would love it . Though many were for the kiddos -i managed to find one which kept me glued to it ..Basket Ball ring . I loved it and became a kid myself instantly . I had some perfect shoots ...It took me back to my school days .I loved basket ball and even played for the school team .I could not get myself out of this place at all . Sujay literally pulled me out of it and in fact the next trip , he took me to EA only after i promised i won't enter FUN CITY :(
Second time , we did a big mistake of going to Big Bazaar on a sale time and it took 45 minutes to bill 5 items as the queue was a long one in all the 25 counters.Managed to have my favorite golguppas in gangotree .Went back in again to buy a Shirt at peter England store and did some pram rounds with the little brat in and around the same floor .He thoroughly enjoyed all the attention he got from the other shoppers -some of them who even waved at him.

And the best was bumping in to a few known friends at EA. Every time i went there , i met someone i knew out there who i have not met in a long time . So , at least to catch up with some friends you have not met yet -Head to EA !!!!

Ode to Chennai

Namma Chennai is a gift to MY WORLD (my blog) on celebrating it's third year.
I have been wanting to do something for this amazing place called Chennai which has made my life so beautiful .So , here i start today with a blog on ODE TO CHENNAI !!

Chennai is more famous for it beaches and the kodambakkam area. When you first come to chennai you may hate it .But then , Chennai grows on you after a while and you will start loving it .I landed in central railway station for the first time in the month of January .I was just 20 years old then and wondered if chennai will change my life or will it make me a failure and get me back to where i came from .With so many thoughts running in my mind , i started my career in chennai and there is no looking back from then. It has been ten years since am living here and i absolutely love this place .Chennai is where the rock stars meet the madisar maamis. It can happen no where else !!! Namma chennai has the best beaches in the country -Soon , we can claim it will the world's best too .

Most of them start their day here with Idly,sambar ,Dosai ,Pongal along with a filter kaapi, Slowly the breads and sandwiches are tagging along.We have our very own Sathyam theatre which is a part of anyone and everyone's nostalgia.Spencer plaza is now accompanied by Citi centre ,Ampa Mall and Express Avenue.When it comes to eat outs and restaurants-the list is endless .However , let me make a mention of some amazing places where i have gone atleast a 100 times. Barista for a nice coffee chat , Kebab Court for their lovely paneer dish, Rain Forest which was a unique theme restaurant who have become so popular that they never have a table for me these days,GRT for their "Anytime"restaurant as we can just hang in there anytime and how can i forget Cake walk for their yummy pastries and my nostalgic memories.I have to mention Shangai Club in Chola Sheraton as it is the most romantic place ever to dine (at least for me)

Chennai has some of the best when it comes to shopping .T Nagar area bustles with shopaholics. I avoided this area in fear of the mad rush but one day i had to be a part of the madness too .When my marriage got finalised , i ended spending every sunday in T nagar for about a month . Must say -It was a different kind of fun ..Nalli 100 became my favorite boutique to pick that one gorgeous saree for every special occasion. I wish i could list as many shops possible , but the list is really endless when it comes to shopping .So ,i shall save it for another time .

For now all i can say is "NAMMA CHENNAI SUPERRUUUU"