ON PLUCKING FLOWERS AT DAWN

 

                    

                                          

                  

                  

 1.        In darkness brisk moving shadows are seen

          Hiding behind and moving with cautious pace

          As if participating in slow-moving race

          Plucking flowers at dawn behind groves green;

          A daily morning ritual for them to get

          As many flowers as they get fresh and dew-wet;

          The more flowers, the more merit they trust

          Worshipping God with flowers is a must.

 

2        Moving from house-to-house flowers they pluck

          Of different fragrance and different hues

          To satisfy gods, who cherish and choose;

          They think of others as rivals who pluck            

          Flowers before them in early morning hours;

          A tough competition among them for flowers

          They assume their stealthy act not as a sin

          But an act of devotion for God’s grace to win.

 

 

3     By offering flowers they please Gods a lot

       By external rituals and rites mere

       For God’s sake what they do, they need not fear

       Not as plunder, but done with a pious thought

       What they do is not a sin as they deem;

       Done with good purpose is not wrong, it seems 

       What will the owners lose, they argue

       By their act of plucking flowers, a few.

 

4    Many think that God’s grace they could win

      By offering gifts, precious gems and gold;

      God likes simple things as in legends told; 

      But they forgot to give the real blossom within

      A thousand-petalled lotus effulgent and bright

     Of pure love, iridescent and shining light;

     God expects selfless, simple devotion in fact

     Not showy gifts but worship with a pure heart.
 

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    13th January 2026                     Somaseshu Gutala

    

   

 

 

     

 

        

       

         

         

 

      

On my Stay at “Paradigm Sarovar”, Kakinada

                        

                                                                             

Superior Room

 

Sarovar Deluxe Room

                              

Sarovar restaurant "City View"

      

                   

Sarovar banquet hall

        

This hotel is located on the main road near Tirumala Theater in Kakinada. It is a three-Star hotel centrally located (2.5 kms from railway station and 1km from Bus stand.) and is convenient for tourists to go to pilgrimage centers like Pithapuram, Annavaram and Drasksharamam. It has 58 rooms on six floors and on the seventh floor there is a bar “Paradigm Sarovar Portico” which offers a wide range of cocktails, wines, mocktails and snacks to guests.  The hotel has many amenities like free Wi-Fi, multi-cuisine restaurant (“City View”), Coffee shop, room service for 24 hours, laundry service, airport transfer, and  a banquet hall for 150 people. In the restaurant, South Indian, North Indian dishes along with Intercontinental dishes like burghers, sandwiches, wraps, noodles, fruit juices and other beverages are offered with buffet and a la carte options.   There are three types of rooms; Superior, Deluxe and suits. For extra person, they will charge Rs.1000/- per day. Generally, for customers there is complementary breakfast. There is a shuttle service if the customers wish to see local places.  Take away breakfast facility is there for those who wish to check out early from here. The check in and check out timings are from 12.00 p.m. and 12.00 p.m.(noon). The room service is very prompt and neatness is superb. The reception staff are very courteous and helpful. In some of the rooms the regulator switch for ceiling fans is not working. Such minor issues may be resolved as some of the customers may face health issues to sleep with ceiling fan rotating at full speed.  Otherwise, this hotel provides a very comfortable and enjoyable stay. The nearby tourist places and temples are:Kakinada beach (12 kms), Kukkuteswara Swamy temple (19 kms), Coringa Wildlife sanctuary(18kms), Kumararamam(15kms), Kodanda Rama temple in Gollala Mamidala(22kms), and Sarpavaram (8 kms) etc. Other pilgrimage centers are: Pithapuram20kms), Annavaram (48kms), Ainavilli(60 kms) and Drakasharamam(29 kms). The hotel tariff generally ranges from Rs.3400 to 4200/- This hotel is quite convenient and comfortable for tourists with all modern facilities.

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            7th January 2026                   Somaseshu Gutala