the potter wasp along a sublime background…

The potter wasps get their name due to the pot-like nests they build using mud. Family: Vespidae, Subfamily: Eumeninae.

Date: 20 Jul 2007
Location: @ home, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Camera: Nikon D80 + Tamron SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens

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Unnikannans

Young krishnas playing the flute

Shy gopikas…

Unnikannan in an autorikshaw

Sri Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated as a festival, reminiscing the birthday of Krishna. This year it is on 13-14 August 2009 in north India, but on 11 September 2009 in Kerala, due to the differences in the regional calendars. The images above are from the Sri Krishna Jayanthi of 2007, at the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple located close to my home, at Bharananganam in Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Few people know that the place name Bharananganam itself -probably- owes its origin to the legends associated with the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple. The temple is revered as very ancient, and legend is that the Pandavas stayed here for a while during their vanavasa (forest exile). Pandavas conducted their ‘Parana veedal’ (breaking the fast or vow) ritual here to end their vratha (vow). Since the place was used for ‘Parana veedal’, it came to be known as Parana kananam, as kananam in malayalam is forest. Later it evolved as Bharananganam. The presence of the temple has also given Bharananganam a synonym, Dakshina Guruvayoor. Dakshina is south and Guruvayoor in Thrissur district is famous for its Krishna Temple.

So, that is another face of Bharananganam, which is more popular these days as a christian pilgrim centre - of St. Alphonsa, whose mortal remains are kept in the Alphonsa Chapel near the St. Mary’s Church. Based on some historical accounts, I would say that this church stands as a symbol of harmony as the church was found (it is said, a 1000 years before) with the assistance of the local community including aids from the nearby Sree Krishna Swamy Temple.

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Spiny eels are not eels, but elongated fresh water fishes with eel-like bodies and numerous spines preceding the dorsal fin. Very often they stay under the mud substratum, and are mostly nocturnal.

These are images of a Tire track eel or a Spiny eel, mastacembelus armatus, which we caught for our fishpond*, from the Meenachil River flowing near by our home, Kerala, India.

The name tire track? Probably due to the tire-track-like patterns along their body! The tire track eels are said to reach a size of 50-90cms. So the one in the image is that of a juvenile (~10cms).

Malayalam names of spiny eel: Aaron (ആരോന്‍), Aaral (ആരല്‍).

Date: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Camera: Nikon D80 + Tamron SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens

*We have a large fishpond at our home, where we grow, breed and observe freshwater fishes; both native and ornamental. Aquatic plants (~25 species), rocks, gravel, muddy substratum are all arranged and the pond is in a self sufficient state to cater to the feeding, hiding, and breeding needs of ~50 different species of fishes.

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We have a pregnant seahorse at home! At our last week. So expecting any time!

Do you know that In the real world, seahorses mate for life and that it is the male seahorse which gets pregnant! The female lays its eggss in the brood pouch of the male, which is then internally fertilized and carried until the young ones emerge.

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A crab spider (Thomisus sp. Family: Thomisidae) and a flower beetle @ home, Kerala. The Thomisdae, or Crab spiders are the masters of ambush and disguise. Some of them change their colors in tune to the surroundings, lie in wait, and leap on the unseeing insects. They are called crab spiders because of their crab-like appearance and sideways motion. They occur more commonly on plants, and sometimes under rocks. The family name thomisidae is derived from the Greek “thomis” meaning “a sting”.

The crab spider seems to be eyeballing the flower beetle and checking if it is potential food material

The flower beetles very often open the flower buds and eat the bud centres (see the image below). These bud centres contain the flower clustre in its primordial stage, which is a nutritious meal for the beetle. Probably the crab spider is aware of this and that could be the reason (?) it is staying near the flower bud in the first picture

I guess the plant in this picture is the zoomed in part of the cherry tree (see the cherry picking indian koel), with its budding leaves and flowers.

Another crab spider waiting for its prey, between the “bushes” of a cockscomb (celosia cristata) flower.

Date: 09-11 Sept 2005
Location: @ home, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Camera: Olympus C770UZ + MCON-40 Macro Lens

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