Ganesh Pal

As it has always been my custom for the past few years, I wanted to skip celebrating Holi this year too. I usually do this by getting out of town to some place where Holi ( the colour part of it ) is not celebrated on the same day as in Dharwad. This time I decided to go to "Ganesh Pal" as it had been around 8 years since I visited this place. I gathered up one of my friends, Anand, and asked him to come to my place at 7:30. We had decided to go all by ourselves but my Brother (Mikhail) said that his friend Prateek, was arriving from Bangalore and was also interested. Prateek arrived and we left at 8:30. Myself and Anand on his Platina and Mikhail and Prateek on our "Mahindra Rodeo" (Great Scooter, by the way). We took the Dharwad - Kalghatgi road and reached Kalghatgi. We stopped there and had a nice breakfast amidst people revelling in bright colours. We eventually reached Yellapur journeying on the smooth and well made Hubli - Ankola highway NH63. The Contractor who laid this road needs special mention here as the road laid in around 1993-5 has almost not deteriorated at all even after bearing the almost impossible loads during the mining rush recently, I believe he should be awarded the Padma Bhushan! Anyway, we reached Yellapur and after shopping for a few snacks, started searching for Food to take away. Owing to the ay being very young, we ended up visiting around 5-6 restaurants with nothing to show for our troubles.

A Tribute to Mother Karnataka - By Dr. K S Nissar Ahmed

Nityotsava by Dr. Nissar Ahmed
In the brilliance of the Jog falls,
In the bobbing ears of corn on the shores of Tunga
In the rich mineral ores by the lofty peaks of Sahyadri hills
In your evergreen forests with teak and sandal wood trees
Celebrations forever, Oh mother, your celebrations are eternal

In the frozen history of your many kingdoms
In the rows of stone tablets singing thy past glory
In the richness of palm-leaf manuscripts
and the sculptured temple walls
Celebrations forever, Oh mother, your celebrations are eternal

Your greatness seeks no approval, nor it demands pedigree
Your land abounds in love, virtue and character
This New Year brings a generous gift of joy
Celebrations forever, Oh mother, your celebrations are eternal

Translation to English by Shri. H.R. Chandrasekhar