It's Vishu !..God's own country 's /Kerala's new year day ,also celebration of onset of spring .Vishu just like the grand festival of Kerala,Onam is celebrated with great zeal and happiness in the family .It is believed that this day, when one wakes up,whatever he/she would see will indicate what one can expect in this year .So,people celebrate by decorating their puja rooms with Lord Krishna,incense sticks,deepams/lamps,prasadams/offerings,a special yellow flower called,Kanikonna,fruits,vegetables,grains,coins,cloths,jewelries ,desserts etc the night before and early morning, everyone would head to worship almighty (first) for his blessings for a prosperous year ahead ...
However, this Vishu is not that happy one for Malayalees all over the world .At a Hindu temple,Puttingal temple in Kollam district of Kerala ,while celebrating Vishu ,where firework display is one of the prominent show and groups compete with one another , more than 100 innocent people lost their lives and more got injured in an uncontrolled deadly firework explosion caused by a faulty rocket falling into the stockpile of firecrackers stored in a near by storeroom.The temple authorities were actually denied permission by the civic authorities even to store the fireworks but they went ahead with good intention for worse.
Well,fireworks are part and parcel of most of the festivals in India since ages.Fireworks symbolizes destruction of evil and when it comes to South Indian temples,no temple celebration is incomplete without any fireworks..There is even day to day fireworks at most of the large temples.
Thing is, time has changed .So are the types of harmful chemicals etc used to make firecrackers nowadays.Even the food products are adulterated,I will not be surprised if those firecrackers are nothing less than any dynamites or bombs ..
Sometimes it's lack of proper security personnel during such religious occasion or sometimes ,people are so carried away by the celebration that they forget about any safety at all ,they are just tranced.However,temple authorities would have paid heed to the Govt.'s rules and regulations and took it seriously as "Serving others is serving God". Just like God,his devotees' life also matters .That should be their priorities too!
So,I don't know,whom to actually blame on ?? I personally feel like it was just an unforeseen accident that went awry because in India (truth be told) people/authority concerned make rules and break rules mostly .So,what the temple authority did is not something new or unheard of (not that I am justifying it.. ) ...It is just another careless incident that claimed so many innocent lives...
I think that it is high time;We must remember that ,citizens of a country makes it or breaks it .We all should do our part - the Govt. should make and implement proper rules and regulations with harsh punishments to the violators and we,individuals should be law-abiding citizens ,helping the Govt. to make their policies successful one ,eradicate social evils and we must take care of ourselves and others regardless ...Life is precious ,when we value life,that is being truly grateful to God...
Anyways,this incident and more like this are quite painful to even hear .To lessen the pain a tad bit,I again leaned towards some kind of sweetness,that is,I made an easy peasy Pineapple Payasam .To make this Pineapple payasam,only a few ingredients are required.
Pineapple Payasam
Ingredients
Pineapple chunks - 2cups,Sago - 1/4 cup,Sugar -1/2 cup,1 Tsp cardamom powder,2 cups milk,1/4 cup condensed milk,cashew,raisins,as needed
So,please watch my video that will show you how to make Pineapple Payasam/Pineapple kheer/Pineapple dessert :
Well,this Vishu,I don't feel like making any grand sadya/feast at home and just made this pineapple payasam for a distraction ...But I hope,at least this new year,we have to make a strict resolution to be a law-abiding citizen ,whatever favors humanity and most importantly,it is our dire responsibility to take care of ourselves and others irrespectively...
Rest In Peace - all those innocent people who lost their lives at the blink of a firework..and prayers to their family for immense strength to get through it...
That was indeed a looong post...Thanks if you read all that..well,just trying to vent out my discomfort yet spread love,hope and sweetness my way...
Love,
