Archive for the ‘Asia’ Category

Amma Passes away

Sunday, April 14th, 2013

Amma Passes away

Tamil New Year Morning

Sunday, April 14, 2013, 9 AM

விஜய வருடம், சித்திரை மாதம் 1- ஆம் தேதி, ஞாயிற்று கிழமை காலை 9 மணி

Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India

Amma

Thayumanaswamy Rajalakshmi Aachi

Thayumanaswamy Rajalakshmi (aka Bhooma) was born in Thirupayanthan Gudi, Madras Presidency, India on Wednesday, January 8, 1941 as the third child of T. S. Vedanayagam Pillai and Seetha Lakshmy Ammal. She grew up in the farming village with several of her brothers and sisters and was well liked both by her parents and siblings. She completed eighth grade in the local middle school and was a studious student. Bhooma’s father was a farmer and her mother maintained a household with nine children where Bhooma took up the responsibility of being a big sister to many of her younger siblings.

On September 8, 1965, she married Appakutty Somasundaram Thayumanaswamy Pillai of Vedaraniam and moved to Vedaraniam (aka Thirumarai Kadu). There she had a dual role of a wife and a step mother to young children, Swarnambal and Somasundaram. Bhooma excelled in both by showering affection to the newly motherless children and a wife who needed to run a larger household by herself. Bhooma also took care of her mother-in-law until latter’s death in 1968. She gave birth to three wonderful children Thiyagarajan in 1966, Thillaikkarasi in 1968 and Ambika in 1976.Until her death,she took care of herself and her beloved husband even as his health was failing. She was an excellent cook and a pious person following the Hindu religious customs and worship. She was a great role model to all her children and never complained about anything.

Thayumanaswamy Rajalakshmi passed away on Tamil New Year’s day on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 9:00 AM in Chengal Pattu, Tamil Nadu, India on the lap of her son, Thiyagarajan.

Bridging Cultures Bookshelf

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

bcbs-01

Bridging Cultures Bookshelf

Leon County Public Library

Thursday, Apr 4, 2013

I attended the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf opening ceremony at Leon County Public Library Meeting Room today. Asian Coalition of Tallahassee was one of those who wrote letter in support of  Leon County Public Library System in getting the book grant from NEH.

Hindu Religious Path

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Hindu Religious Path

Talk at FAMU School of Architecture

Class of Prof Ted White, Friday, March 29, 2013, 11:15-12:05 PM

HRP-FAMU

I was an invited speaker at FAMU School of Architecture in Prof Ted White’s class. I spoke for about an hour on Hindu Religious Path. I covered basic concepts of Hinduism, about Hindus, rituals, festivals and beliefs.

There were about eight students who took the class. After about 35 minutes of talk we had about 15 minutes of question and answer session.

First day at work

Friday, March 1st, 2013

First day at work

March 1

Winter in bay city

After several sleepless hours and after picking up a coffee in the early morning hours I cam to work. My boss would introduce me to almost everyone in the department.

What? How long it has been  already?

Travel into the Bay city

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

Travel into the Bay city

Feb 28th

Winter

I traveled in winter to the city on the bay. The snow was on the ground, one of my lab colleagues came to pick me up at the airport. It was so different. Time flies

Thirtieth Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

Thirtieth Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Trinity United Methodist Church

120 West Park Avenue

Tallahassee, FL 32301

7:00 to 8:30 PM, Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012

 

Today I attended the Thirtieth Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at the Trinity United Methodist Church. During the service people from several faith spoke about today’s theme “Walking in the Light”.

 

I read some verses from Thiru Manthiram that spoke about God (Shiva’s) form as Light. There were speakers from Christian, Islamic, Baha’i, and Judaic faiths in the service.

 

ACT Thank You Party

Sunday, November 11th, 2012

ACT Thank You Party

Sunday, November 11, 2012

CGE Globe, 3-7 PM

This afternoon we had the “Thank You” party for all ACT volunteers, performers, members, and vendors and all their families. This was one simple way of saying thanks to countless hours all of them have spent in making Experience Asia a success.

We had food from Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino restaurants make some food for the guests. Once again volunteers set-up the table for buffett style lunch/dinner. We had probably about 60-70 people at the party. We had anticipated a larger crowd but due to the long three-day weekend the attendance was low. But we were happy many student volunteers, members, and several vendors were present.

Attend Koto Concert

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

Attend Koto Concert

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Tallahassee, FL 32306

We attended the koto concert today.

Prepare site for EAF 2012

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Prepare site for EAF 2012

Friday, October 05, 2012

Downtown Tallahassee, FL

A bunch of volunteers took some time off (I took half-day off) and came to Chain of Parks in Downtown Tallahassee. We had reserved Bloxham and Lewis parks for our eighth annual Experience Asia Festival 2012. So we started the site preparation for tomorrow’s event.

The first thing we did was to measure the site and started to mark areas for foods, arts and crafts vendors on the Lewis Park. Then we measured and marked the area for ACT members and information booths on the Bloxham parks. One set of volunteers measured and other set of volunteers tied brightly colored threads to mark the stall and open space between them. Another set of volunteers went around affixing the numbers that corresponded to the vendors and members.

Around 7 PM we were done and we all went home.

Tallahassee Tamil Sangam Picnic

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Tallahassee Tamil Sangam Picnic

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Wakulla Spring State Park

Wakulla Springs, FL 32327

 

Tallahassee Tamil Sangam organized 2012 Summer picnic & 2012 Father’s Day at the Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla Springs, FL 32327. About dozen families gathered at the Park’s picnic area near the entrance to the Springs and Boating Facilities. The kids and father’s started to play American Football and Indian cricket game. The cricket game quickly became a fun activity and had to be moved to an open area with more than 12 kids and dads participating at one time or other.

We took pictures of all the fathers and then pictures of fathers and their kids. Soon every one headed for the springs for swimming and diving. People spent about an hour at the springs and around 2 PM gathered back at the picnic area for lunch, snacks, drinks, and ice cream.

The play resumed after the lunch and went on until about 3:30 PM. Despite the small turn-out but due to the beautiful weather and enthusiasm the 2012 Father’s Day was a grand success.