Sphoorthi Theatre

Boom Boom-the loud sound of the drum beats is no more booming. Today life has become difficult to all the ‘Boom Boom Mattukarans’. They are known as ‘Gangireddu ‘in Telugu and ‘Gangiyeddu’ in Kannada. Who are these ‘Boom Boom mattukarans or Gangireddu or Gangiyeddu’? ‘Boom Boom mattukarans’ or ‘Gangireddu’ or ‘Gangiyeddu’ are semi –nomads and lead a usually lead a nomadic life. They earn a living by bringing their decorated bull trained to shake head whenever a question is posed to it, to houses, shops, establishments. If it shakes its head up and down it denotes ‘yes’ and if it is sideways the answer is presumed to be ‘No’. It is amusing to see the ‘Gangireddu', the bull decorated with colourful clothes and bells. It also bites the hand of its master and then places its legs on his chest without hurting him during the story narration when the master deliberately changes the story sequences. My memory of gangireddu (bull) is quite interesting one. The bull could dance t...

Significance Pongal in other states of India: Every year, Sambara Village in Makkuva Mandal, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, celebrates Sambara Jatra. Every year, the village welcomes Polamamba on the Tuesday before the Pongal/Sankrati festival. Since Polamaba was born in Samabara village, all the villagers treat her as their own daughter. Every girl follows the tradition of visiting her parents' house for the Sankranti festival, and during this time, the village welcomes Polamaba. The temple will perform pujas until next Tuesday, during which devotees will take darshan of the Goddess. Many people from Uttarandhra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra will participate in the Sirimanotsavam festival on the third day. Karnataka celebrates the festival as 'Sankranti,' where people gaily decorate cows and bullocks and feed them 'Pongal,' a sweet preparation of rice. Temples and houses offer special prayers. Drums and music accompany the procession...

Sankranti is the Sanskrit word, which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rāshi to the other. Rashi means zodiac in Indian astrology. Thus there are 12 such sankrantis in all. However, the Sankranti festival usually refers to Makara Sankaranti, or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn). This is popularly called as ‘PONGAL’ in Tamil Nadu. Pongal called Thai Pongal denotes the Thai Month (January-February) as auspicious month for celebrations. It is during this month marriages are solemnized, house warming ceremony takes place, buying and selling of properties and so on. It is during this period after the harvesting availability of abundance of wealth, food grains are at ones disposal. Pongal is well known and definitely major festival of Tamil Nadu. Traditionally a Dravidian practice of four days festival, but now it goes up to five to seven days. Starts with rich rice crop harvesting and thanking the ‘SUN’ for showering his he...

"It is truly a special day in one's life. It is one of those days in the year when the Supreme descends into us - or when we are face to face with the Eternal - one of those days when our soul comes in contact with the Eternal and, if we remain a little conscious, we can feel His Presence within us. If we make a little effort on this day, we accomplish the work of many lives as in a lightning flash. That is why I give so much importance to the birthday - because what one gains in one day is truly something incomparable… My child, it is a very special day, for it is the day of decision, the day one can unite with the Supreme Consciousness. For the Lord lifts us on this day to the highest region possible so that our soul, which is a portion of that Eternal Flame, may be united and identified with its Origin. This day is truly an opportunity in life… It is one of those days when the Lord Himself opens the doors wide for us. It is as though He were inviting us to rekindle more pow...

I asked mom, What is a Bomb? She smiled and held my palm; Looked worried; still with a calm; Said it is a firebomb; That blows up and explodes; Killing innocents in the midst of the roads; Destroying peace and heartsease; In towns and cities; With burns, bruises, bloodshed; With tears she said; Men and women, Young and old; Every now and then; Tossed in fire and roll, roll, and roll; Misuse of brain; Leaving people with pain; But in vain; With a pray to the ‘inhuman’, Not to repeat it again, again, again. My country is vast; Don’t destroy with a blast; Let’s ‘live and let live’ We are ‘humans’ at last. http://www.poemhunter.com/sphoorthi-theatre/ Sphoorthi

Horizons open out, Quintessential ray of light; Breaks through, Accustomed to darkness, Tiny eyes refuse to accept; Even this minutest of brightness, Slowly reality dawns, The brightness envelopes; An all pervading happiness, Shining through the musts; of myth, disbelief and self doubt, That is Hope: All will be well That we will be happy That there will be life after That new dawn will come That success will overpower us That hope gives hope. Poem by Srinivasan Raghu

Wishing the New Year 2011 and New decade 2011-2020, spread-out a Fresh outlook, provide Innovative Endeavours, offer abundance and award persistent SUCCESS right through in all aspects. Smile says Welcome Smile states Well done Smile wishes Success Smile utter Something special Smile reaffirms Caring Smile declares Agreed Smile creates happy atmosphere Smile bonds Friendship Smile implies Satisfaction Smile conveys I am Happy Smile entails Understanding Smile creates Positive Aura Smile relaxes Face Muscles Smile releases Stress Smile keeps anger away Smile brings Good luck Smile it makes people wonder what you are thinking Smile sweetly Pronounces (not the last) Thank You SO TAKE TIME TO SMILE, FOR A HEALTHY 2011 AND HEALTHY DECADE "A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it" "Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile". Humans are the only species on the earth blessed with smile ...