Odysseys of George

I received an sms from a fond patient of mine wishing me Happy Vishu greetings. Little did I know about it because it is not as famous as the Onam celebrations the Malayalees have. So I decided to check it out and gathered some information to share with all.

The festival of Vishu is celebrated with joy and mirth on the first day of Malayalese month of Medam. Vishu is celebrated on the astronomical New Year’s Day and Malayalis believe that the fortunes for the year depend on the kind of the object one sees first in the morning of Vishu Day. The previous day goes in preparing the auspicious articles for the next morning. Some raw rice is put in a circular metal vessel and a new washed piece of cloth is folded over the rice. A gold-coloured cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, a metal mirror, yellow flowers of the Konna tree, a book of palm leaves and a few gold coins are then placed over the cloth in the vessel. Two coconut halves containing oil with lighted wicks are placed in the vessel. A metal lamp with coconut oil is kept burning by the side of the big vessel. Early in the morning on Vishu day, one of the elderly female members of the house, wakes up and takes a look at the auspicious objects. She then wakes up the other members of the house to take a look. Special care is taken to see that they do not look at anything else.This is called ‘Kani Kanal’, the literal translation of this is ‘first sight’ ,where there is a prescribed list of items, which a person must see first thing on a Vishu morning to bring good luck.Children are brought blind folded from their rooms to see Kani Kanal, the first thing in the morning.There is also a tradition to give small amounts of cash to children of the family. This tradition is called Vishu Kaineetam. People believe that this custom will ensure prosperity for their children in future.After everyone has had a look, the vessel is even taken to the cattle for them to have a look too.

After the rituals are completed, the family members have a bath and take a trip to temples to offer prayers. Once the worship is complete, everyone sits down for a feast, which is not as lavish as the one for Onam but nevertheless elegant.

A grand sadya (feast) is prepared by women of the house and the whole family sits together at lunch to relish it. Dishes are usually prepared from jackfruits, mangoes, pumpkins, and gourds besides other vegetables and fruits, which are in plenty at that time of the season. People also wear kodi vastram (new clothes) on this day. Patassu (fire crackers) are burst in the midst of dancing and merry to mark the day.

A group of young men and women dress up as ‘chozhi’ , wearing a skirt of dried banana leaves and masks on their faces and go from house to house in the village dancing and collecting small amounts of money. On Vishu, these entertainers get good rewards for their performances. The money is spent on the Vishuwela (the New Year Fair).

Vishu occupies a unique position in more than one respect. It has none of the pomp and show that most other Hindu religious festivals have. In addition, Vishu has nothing to do with religion although its observance is as solemn as any religious occasion.

Come 24th November, I together with another 11 divers will be going to this remote paradise, a divers haven. It is regarded as the mother of all dive sites and is situated at the furthest point of the Indonesian archipelago. So why paradise — because it is the richest marine biodiversity in the world!

To give an idea of where and how remote this place is this is a map showing the location:

Raja Ampat* means “the four ‘kings’”, a name dating back to the 15th century, when the Sultanate of Tidore - one of the muslim sultanates in the original Maluku west of Halmahera - appointed four local “rajas” in Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

Even earlier, Seramese traders from small islands off the eastern tip of Seram had established trade settlements, sosolot, throughout the region, exchanging cloth, beads, and other products from western Indonesia for trepang, plumes, forest products and slaves from Papua. There where also a strong ties to the island of Biak east of the Bird’s Head Peninsula.

Rock paintings found in caves in Misool and in on the west coast of the Birds Head, as well as bronze artifacts, show that trade with other parts of Asia was already established 2 - 3 000 years ago.

Going further back, it should be noted that just 10 000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, most of what is currently sea in this area was still land, roughly corresponding to the lighter blue parts in the Raja Ampat Map. This means that most of the early coastal settlements in this area are now submerged, and will require underwater archeology to be found and explored.( Ref: http://travels.patrik.com/ra/)

Biodiversity Features in Raja Ampat
and the greater Bird’s Head Seascape

1,356 species of reef fish in the Bird’s Head Seascape
1,223 species of reef fish in Raja Ampat
25 species of endemic reef fish found only in the Birds Head Seascape
600 species of hard coral recorded in the Bird’s Head Seascape
75% of all known coral species in the world
10 times the number of hard coral species found in the entire Caribbean
57 species of Mantis Shrimp in the Birds Head Seascape
13 species of Marine Mammals in the Bird’s Head Seascape
5 species of endangered sea turtles in the Bird’s Head Seascape

The dive sites:

Go here to know more about the dive sites

*An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that is formed tectonically.

This is a latest by Scubazoo, a promo video for the book Adrift, Tales of Ocean Fragility. The book Adrift is looking to educate the general public about conservation through new methods.

What do you think of this video?

A young and thin paraplegic lady was brought into ED for severe abdominal colics and constipation for more than 3 weeks duration. The unsuspecting medical officer decided to do an abdominal Xray.

From Radiology Quiz

This is an easy guess.

Her family was surprised with the finding which she finally admitted to know about. She was given some medications and was send home. Never make assumptions!

I was watching Meet Joe Black, and God only knows how many times I have watched this movie. Why do I like it so much - well I like the idea and the theme of the movie and above all, these sentence below:

(of what a relationship should not be)

There’s not an ounce of excitement,
not a… whisper of a thrill.
And this relationship has
all the passion of a pair of titmice.

( what a relationship should feel like)

I want you to get
swept away out there.
I want you to levitate.
I want you to…
sing with rapture
and dance like a dervish
Yeah. Be deliriously happy,
or at least
leave yourself open to be.

(And what is love and life)

But love is passion,
obsession,
someone you can’t live without.

I say, fall head over heels.
Find someone you can love like crazy
and who will love you the same way back.

How do you find him? Well, you forget
your head, and you listen to your heart.

‘Cause the truth is, honey, there’s
no sense living your life without this.
To make the journey
and not fall deeply in love,
well, you haven’t lived
a life at all.

But you have to try, ’cause
if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived.

Well said but I wonder how many would agree or disagree?

It has already been 13 days since the Muslims have started their month of fasting. It is Ramadhan and fasting is observed and practiced by not just the Muslims in Malaysia but also the non- Muslims. The reward of fasting is the ability to break fast as a family or with friends in fostering the relationship between each other.

The month of Ramadhan is believed to be the month of which the Qur’an was revealed to Angel Gabriel, to deliver it to Prophet Muhammad. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year. The coming of the Shawwal is a very much anticipated celebration, better known as Aidilfitri.

The surgical department was at it again. They planned and executed the plan so well that I would say it was a success. The breaking fast was especially exciting as a few of the non- Muslims tried fasting too. The venue was at Maya Hotel and the food was excellent.

Enjoy