Garden City's newer gardens

Population is beyond control, traffic is crazy, roads are dusty and weather 
not at all what it used to be. As a person born in Bengaluru 60 years back I have my 
list of complaints about this city. But one very pleasant aspect that always appeals
 to me is the creation of parks in almost every residential extension. You keep 
walking deep inside the concrete jungle and unexpectedly you find an oasis of 
green ! The layout though varying in size, is standard. Paved walkways, benches, 
covered meeting places and exercising equipment.  I am glad that the BBMP has
 retained the habit of creating parks, a trend which began with Sri  Lakshmana Rao, 
erstwhile commissioner of the Bangalore City Corp converting both sids of the  
Rashtreeya Vidyalaya road into long stretches of gardens. Pictures below are from 
two such gardens in Banashankari 2nd Stage. 

Margazi Music Festival - 2019

I am in Chennai and it is almost the end of Margazi Music Festival which

is held every year during December - January. Just a few stray concerts

are being held here and there, The news papers did not show up any

concerts worth visiting this morning. It was disappointing. 

I happened to be at Mylapore in the morning and had a few hours to

myself. I started  walking along the road in an aimless sort of way and

came across an old building which houses a library. Thought that I would

take a look, and entered the building. I found the library closed but could

hear some music on the first floor. Went up the stairs and was thrilled

and surprised to find a concert going on! Chennai was living upto my

imagination and its reputation !

Unfortunately it was a small affair, had begun much earlier and was

almost ending but it brightened up my day! I Sat there for the last

half an hour of the concert and then proceeded to the famous

Kapaaleeshwara temple which was not far away. I love the sight

of the large temple pond and intended to spend some time there.

Bad luck again, the pond is barricaded and locked. I could only see

the pond through the iron fencing. Temple precincts were crowded

with people who intended beginning their new year with a visit to

the lord. (looking at the way things are going in the world, I feel

that he is our only hope!)

As it happened, the day turned out to be better than expected.

I could attend two concerts and the canteen of a "Sabha"

(music lovers organisation) which is more famous for its lunch

than music !

Took pictures of anything that I fancied and posted them with captions.

Garland seller in front of Kapaaleeshwara temple. I was attracted by the colours!

Building looks abandoned but a concert is going on on the first floor. I went to check the library and heard the music! 

Dont know what it is. Something edible obviously - because someone bought a piece and ate it 

Smt Bhujanga Iyengar singing at Srinivasa Shatry Hall, Mylapore. A dozen people nodding their heads and I was the thirteenth. 

The temple pond of Kapaaleeshwara temple. 

Crowded Kapaaleeshwara temple. Offered my pranaams from outside. 

Flower seller cum custodian of your footwear. 

Took a selfie and saw an un recognisable face. Disturbed a young couple who were engrossed in taking pictures of each other and got this. 

You would recognise the items if you know your pickles ! 

Someone colourfully welcoming the new year  ! 

The Canteen at Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha. Lunch at Rs 700 per person. Four vegetables, Three currys, Two rice preperations, Four fried side dishes, Two sweets, Three chutney/pickles, Juice, Ice cream, and Ghee fried 'Beeda' !  Music at its best, Gluttony at its heights ! Picture shows connoisseurs of food. 

Connoisseurs of music at Parthasarathy sabha. (for comparison with the canteen!)

Smt Malavika Sundar - M Vijay - Guru Raghavendra at Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha. Appealing vocal recital.  

A very pleasant rendering of Carnatic vocal at the Mylapore Fine arts Club by Sri Sandeep Narayan -M Rajeev - Arjun Ganesh .