I was felicitated by Dr Jeppiar ,Chancellor of Sathyabhama University during the SAE India students convention 2010 . I was quite impressed by Dr Jeppiar’s simplicity, humbleness, wisdom and passion to promote education in the state. He appeared to be hugely popular among the students for his sense of humour and easily approachable character.

This golden crown weighing 14.5 kg has recently been donated by a Mumbai  based business tycoon  to Lord Venkateswara of Thirumala temple. While the business tycoon prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reason , guess in whose presence the crown was offered ? Sri Jayendra Saraswathi  , Chief Pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham !

As the saying goes ‘rich becomes richer” , looks like this applies equally to Lords as well. While I am not aware of any Forbes list of  world’s richest deities , I understand Lord Venkateswara is the richest Deity next only to the Vatican Church. The Apollo hospital Chief has come forward with a further donation of jewellery weighing 4.03 kg to the Lord around the same time.

In India we have so many children suffering from congenital heart diseases. Just calculate 20 kg gold @ Rs 2000 per gram ( not even considering those pieces of diamonds  and stones adorning the jewellery !) and assume Rs 2 lakh per surgery for correction of  hearts. So how many hearts could we have corrected ?

While I cannot comment on how one should spend the hard earned  money , I could not just stop commenting on such devotional hypocracy especially by those  who are projected as  the ones creating values in society and receiving national awards for their meritorious services.

I also have a suggestion to make – to have a nationwide  common fund where all such donations received in various temples  across the country will be deposited and a trustee ( not including Lalit Modi or Suresh Kalmadi) headed by someone like Ratan Tata would decide how to best utilize them in the society .What’s the point of having a deposit of tonnes of gold as idle asset when Americans are borrowing in America at 1-1.5% and investing the same  in India ? I have seen how many temples across the country ( take for example temples in Kanyakumari  or  Chidambaram ) are  struggling for fund for the much needed facelift  and welfare of the priests.

Recently received many queries on where to get decent Bengali dishes in Chennai. While Bangalore , Kolkata ,Delhi and Mumbai host several Bengali restaurants of various grades , Chennai unfortunately cann’t claim much on this front. One reason is that Bengali cuisines are usually not commoditised or marketed the way Chinese, Tondoori , South Indian , Thai or Goan cuisines are . In the last few years with many Bengali  entrepreneurs   getting  into food business  and a large population of Bengali  opting for  a career in catering and hotel management  , the trend is fast changing throughout India. The traditional cuisines hitherto known only to moms , maasis and grand moms  have now spread to the cooks in star hotels /restaurants . Even in Kolkata , you could hardly find any Bengali restaurant  about a decade back. However now there is a wide choice of such restaurants. I understand ‘Oh Kolkata‘ is  coming very shortly to Chennai just  above Main Land China on Sterling Road , Nungambakkam. Annapurna hotel next to the police commissioner’s office in Egmore has been  serving Bengali food for the last twenty years. Not very clean but I never had any trouble with the food there. They primarily target tourists and patients who come to Chennai . Priced quite modestly you would find fairly good spread of all popular Bengali cuisine. You would be pleased to find Bengali magazines and newspapers and of course paan in the stall here. However the place gets  very crowded  and I always prefer to visit them either around 12 noon or 2.30 pm.  They don’t have good rest rooms and the ambience is little rustic . But here you get good  vale for money . Over the years this place has become a popular meeting place of Bengalis   especially the students and young professionals living in Chennai . Many  seemed to have found their soul mates in this place – after all you can reach the heart through good food !
The Bay Leaf at  No 14, 6h street, Gopalapuram , Chennai 86 is another Bengali food destination  . To reach there you need to come along Radhakrishna Salai , take the lane adjacent to Gongotri sweets  and opposite to Stella Marris college. The narrow lane would lead you to the destination. There is a food festival  going  on till Oct 31 but the price here is very much on the higher side. Don’t try Aloo posto, they don’t make it well.A complete dish per head can cost around Rs 350 to 500/- . Worth the try .They have a very limited parking space.Ambience and hospitality can definitely impress you.

And finally Bong foods are best made at home only !!!!!! In case you want to know about any specific cuisines, you could write to me.

Maa Durga in T Nagar Bengal Association.

Recently my blog got flooded with queries  on the Puja venues . While I know all the locations , I didn’t  have the exact addresses of the venue. You may however just try these venues and I hope you would not have much difficulty in reaching there.

Bessant Nagar -  It is held at the community centre just opposite to the Bessant Nagar Bus Depo. You may come thru LB Rd , Beach Rd and take a left turn near Food World .You would be led to the destination.
Ramakrishna Mutt - Chennai has one of the oldest  Ramkrishna Mutt at Mylapore. Come near Kapaleeswar temple  tank  and ask anyone for the Mutt. They organize very traditional Puja and you would love the serenity especially the prayer  and song in the evening. You may also like to join them.
T Nagar - Has the first  Bengali association . The addrss is 29,Giri Road ,Chennai 17 ,Ph: 28340557 .This is located close to hotel Benz Park on Thirumalai Pillai Road and Giri Road Junction . Another land mark is opp to Suriya sweets shop on Thirumali Pillai road . You can enter from Valluval Kottam  as well as G N Chetty Road sides.
Anna Nagar – The Bengali Association is named Dakshini here  conducting the puja at  the PWD colony community cantre . Come along the road adjacent to Hi Style on 2nd Avenue and ask anyone for the PWD colony. In case you find it difficult to reach, you may contact Mr P K Mallick (9840730454) or Mr N R Kumar (99400 43903)
Besides there are Pujas celebrated in Kolathur ( Tamil Nadu Housing Board community centre)  ,Avadi , Airport , Appollo speciality hospital  on Mount Road and also at Kalpakkam Atomic Energy plant.

As the saying goes – two Bongs mean one Bengal Association and three Bongs mean two Bengal associations. Chennai did not bring any exception to the rule ! You can get Bhog prasadam, Puja Barshiki magazines and Bengali cuisines and sweets  in all puja pandals including even evening meals  on payment. All pandals organise cultural programmes , you may not like to miss. The immersion  in Bessant Nagar Eliot beach is another  unique attraction in Chennai . Please check out the Bijoya Sammilani programmes in all the venues .

A stall selling Bengali Puja Barshiki – a must to buy for all Bengali families .

Do let me know how you enjoyed.
Cheers,

Update 16 Oct 2010: I went to Besant Nagar Puja last evening and learnt it has shifted to Youth Hostel in Indira Nagar. It is off LB Road and one should take a right from Sony store and go about 100 yards. Youth hostel will come on the left. Rajesh has posted driving maps on his blog here which could be helpful, should you need so.

The new look tower park  in Annanagar was inaugurated by the Dy CM a few weeks back. Perhaps the largest park in Chennai city over 35 acres of land ,recently got a major facelift. A huge lake full of  lotus flowers, skating ring, an open air theatre , bird watching decks ( to see if those migratory birds fly in  during Dec-Jan – little sceptical though with many of the trees and bushes removed). There are some beautiful fountains  ideal for a light and sound show and I  really hope  the corporation does it  soon. I begin my day with an early morning  walk  for an hour  in this park.Not only refreshing for the mind ( and heart too!) , you also get to make many friends .One such friend of mine  is Mr Shenai , ex Director General of Police(TN) who , now in his nineties, knows every morning walker by name .