Thank you India - Maria Wirth

This is not really a book review but just a compilation of my thoughts that gathered in my mind whilst  I read Maria Wirth's "Thank you India".

Maria Wirth's 38 year long experience is definitely worth a read, mainly because of her first hand experiences. I could connect with some of the chapters so well that I just wanted to put my thoughts across! I am not spiritually enlightened to even comment on some of her experiences, and would leave it to the reader to experience themselves.

I loved the way how this book is chronologically sequenced, bringing us to the most recent of times and making us connect with the events so easily. I love the fact that Maria has actually met some of the spiritual gurus of whom we have only heard or read!

What I mostly liked about the book is the honesty with which it is written and not with any tall claims to spirituality. Maria easily displays her human nature, the times she had doubts and frustrations and the times she felt at peace, the times she was a traveler and the times she relaxed. The coincidences she writes about can so easily be related to so many of our own experiences.

This book should simply be read because it reiterates the fact that our culture is so colorful and vibrant, whether it is her experiences of the Kumbha Mela, or her experiences of Ramlila. We should see it through her eyes because we miss it ourselves many a times, taking it for granted and not realizing that unless we preserve it, it will be gone for ever!

When I read her experiences on losing a close one and Abdullah's affirmation that we are all one in some plane, it gives some kind of strength.

I read about her experiences in the Satya Sai Baba Ashram and I can very well connect though I have never been to Puttaparthi myself but was fortunate enough to have seen him in person. I have my own little experiences, miracles if you will!  I have had my share of doubts and I acknowledge the good work and keep shut in spaces where I know my knowledge is limited. I remember now that I perhaps have  a copy of John Hislop's book given to me by someone and may consider a second read. Yes, these are all indications and signs. I say second read, though I may not have really completed my first read.

"Does one need a Guru?" is a question which many ask and Maria also tries to find her answer from her experiences.

She talks about how the caste system has been maligned, how the Brahmins feel bad about themselves and how to be a Brahmin in today's world seems like a curse. Anyone who has been on the other side of the reservation system in education and jobs know it so well.

Maria has dedicated some chapters to the contemporary India, her meeting with Sri Sri and Baba Ramdev, her views on English education, her views on India's culture and how an agenda is up and running to degrade India's value system.

She talks about how the Nirbhaya episode was portrayed across the world thereby projecting a very negative image of India. Initially I was greatly disturbed by the episode and though it was horrific, how it made headlines across the world was something I could not understand. Then slowly I understood the agenda and today I don't particularly read BBC news because they are hell bent on projecting India in a bad light! It was during the same time I created a FB page "India's Daughters (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indias-Daughters/428360107340019) " to tell the world, and specially Indians, that the women in India are generally excelling across different fields. I chose this name for my FB page as there was a documentary made(by Leslee Udwin) in the same name showing Indian women as being terribly oppressed. Not that there are no issues but things are blown out of proportion.

Maria feels indebted to India  and feels that the world is in need of India's wisdom. Yes, it's time we value our traditions and culture and like she says. "Satyameva Jayate"

Memories stay

Sunday Musings!

This morning, my brother gave me the news of the passing away of Mrs Kay Dixon, an acquaintance of ours! My thoughts immediately went back to the time when I had met her back in 2010. Well, she was introduced to me by my brother when I was traveling to UK.

How my brother had met her is another story and just another human experience of connecting with people in the strangest of circumstances and then keeping a connection with that person as long as we want to and make the effort to keep the connection alive.

I was not much surprised at the news as all of us have to pass away one fine day and Mrs Dixon had surely lived her life well! I had met her twice in London and on one of these occasions she had invited me over to lunch at her place. I still remember the cosy corner where we all had lunch together...she, her son, Thomas and his wife, Emily!

What hit me most was the fact that I hadn't written to her for quite sometime now, not because I did not want or did not have time, but simply carelessness and not making that extra effort. It happens that other things take priority and we simply forget about some basic courtesies. I looked up her emails now and found that the last time I had communicated with her was back in 2014....4 years have passed since then and even though I have thought of her, I have missed writing to her!

I will always remember the effort she made to learn new things and do a little extra even at her age. How I wish I could travel back in time, make one call or write one email just to say 'hello' and ask her what was she exploring next. This won't happen and I will regret once more for not making that little effort.

To think someone you knew is gone somewhere, gone for good is a strange feeling which one cannot put into words. But yes, this life!

Wherever you are today, know that you will be in my heart, always, Mrs Dixon!

Does anyone feel the 'aaghaat'?

I attended a lecture last week on Trans Generational Trauma by Rajat Mitra at INTACH, New Delhi. This was organised by Srijan Foundation.

One of the questions asked was if Hindus really feel the trauma even after being subjected to atrocities since ever? Hindus seem to be living with an attitude that as long as the danger does not approach their doorstep they won't react nor will they pay attention to the obvious. And when the danger does approach, they will run away.

How much of running away will be done and for how long and will the boundaries of the earth be ever enough?

The story of many of my family and friends have been same. They have been forced out of erstwhile East Pakistan to live in the North Eastern part of India. They had to leave their home, their land and everything that was associated with their life. Though the North East has literally been and will remain the home for us for all times to come, but the truth is that we have never felt much at home. We have been asked this question right from our childhood as to where is our place of origin. Sadly our place of origin has been separated from India much before we were born and many of us haven't had the fortune to go and visit either.

Higher studies and jobs have been much difficult to find in the North East and for reasons of livelihood and to escape the refugee tag, we have moved to mainland India. So, in a way we have been driven out of our place of birth. Though the lucky ones like some of us can go back and visit the place when we want, stay in our own homes for a few weeks before getting back to the hustle and bustle of city life. But the majority of the little economically sound people have sold their big spacious houses with gardens and trees of yore and moved to cities. This I call the second instance of displacement in like say three generations. And all these after building everything from scratch.

Those who have stayed back live in fear; the recent incidents in Tinsukia prove that nothing is right and that no place is safe. It proves that nothing has changed.

Now the city life seems the way it was meant to be and we are peacefully unaware of the dangers that are lurking on our neighborhood. These dangers are in the form of external forces which are bent on changing our very way of life and imposing on us cultures that are alien and in reality a threat to our own existence. We are happy to be playing second fiddle, we find bliss in being tolerant and we totally reject the greatness of our being and we refuse to fight back.

Recently a friend had to unfriend me from Facebook because her boss thought or so she said that I was expressing opinions which were not fulfilling the parameters of tolerance. I never realized the unfriending as it is not feasible to keep all things in life in this generation of information overload. She called me to say this only after she had left the job due to health reasons. For me the unfriending did not matter but what mattered was the sheer spineless nature of our generation where we are just happy to be surviving this moment. We have conveniently forgotten what we have lost and we don't see what we will lose.

Also some of us in this generation have successfully managed to leave the country for better jobs and facilities and totally submerged in the western way of life that we have almost forgotten who we are!

So my thought goes back to the question whether there is any trauma at all! We are blissfully unaware that the dangers will continue and then we will not have a place left to run to. Unless we reclaim, we are a lost race!

The Colours Are Calling

Navratri and Durga Puja are around the corner. And with, it the air is filled with the colours of festivity. Back in our childhood there was shopping to do, and showing off our new dresses to our friends. Well, visiting a friend's house to see the Puja dresses was almost a ritual.

This Navratri I want to take on a new challenge - wear Sarees on all nine days. I know it's going to be a task and I will need lot of motivation to start and keep going, to find the Sarees to wear, the accessories to match, the time to get into all these before rushing to work and after finishing the morning chores.

Looked through Ma's Sarees and added a few to wear during Navratra, hope wherever she is, she knows that I plan to wear them. It would be nicer a sight to see her wear new Sarees but there are situations which are beyond our control.

It gives a kind of numbness when I browse through her Sarees, it's a feeling to which I can't put words into, it feels like a dream that someone who wore these Sarees is gone for ever but still I feel there is some life in them, I feel a bit of her presence in these Sarees.

Ready to welcome Navratras, to feel the colours, to feel life I have arranged some of my and Ma's Sarees which I plan to wear....

When time stood still...

This time of the year when I wish to go back to childhood, go back to the times when we would wait for the exams to get over, do the shopping and enjoy the festivities. This morning I sat and penned a few memories of Mahalaya and immediately the melody of the Devi Stuta seemed to be playing in the background.

This evening as I walked back from the market, witnessing the Ganesh Visarjan procession my thoughts immediately went back to those days of the Durga Visarjan. Back home we would throng the streets and almost everyone had a tear in the eye bidding good bye to the Mother with shouts of ‘Ma, don’t go, come back soon’.

For a split second, I stood there like a child watching the procession with the same kind of enthusiasm I had years back, then suddenly ran back home to pick my little niece so she could witness the same. This was how culture was imbibed in us by our elders.

We walked with the crowd today until the point where we could get ‘darshan’ of the deity. The bright and decorated trucks and ‘Jai Deva, Jai Deva’ playing in the air, people walking as they sang, bowing and praying,  was a treat, something I missed in Delhi and Delhi felt like home for the first time today.

Tola Toli Tales - The Trash Searcher

These are real life incidents, somewhat funny but true to the core. The characters are known, the names are very close to real and the incidents in random order...
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So someone dropped their trashes at Tola's gate and Tola being Tola meant business! So daily he searched through the trash bag in the hope of finding a clue.

Hard work meets success sooner or later, so one day he found an envelope bearing the address of the recipient. Tola immediately knew this was his man; he reached the address and gave the man a piece of his mind.

No more trash at his gate from the next day...

Tola Toli Tales - Of how she trades

These are real life incidents, somewhat funny but true to the core. The characters are known, the names are very close to real and the incidents in random order
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So Toli comes home with a pair of bangles she says she bought for Rs 150. The bangles are loose and she can't use them. So she decides to sell them. She says someone tried bargaining at Rs 100 and that was the reason she didn't sell.

Now why would she want to sell it at a profit when the bangles are already old?

We hear another angle - another aunty used the same pair of bangles for a few days and did not want to pay. Since she was reminded about the price again and again, she returned it. So when it was brought it was actually third hand.

Now Toli is 70 plus, with nothing to worry about, no liabilities and she goes door to door to bargain on a pair of used bangles. All the best!

The Lights and Sounds of Twilight

Growing up in a family where rituals have been a routine, the significance of these have however been understood much later. One such ritual is the performance of the Sandhya Aarti along with the  lighting of the lamps and the blowing of the conch at twilight.

In most traditional Hindu families a lamp is lit in the Puja space during twilight as this is the time of transition and negative energies have greater power during this time. The lighting of the lamp is considered auspicious as it removes the negative energies.

As a child I found such joy when all the neighboring families blew the conches and the bells at twilight and the sound came reverberating through the blue and orange lights of dusk.  It is believed that evil spirits are chased away when the conch is blown. The sound of 'Om' emanates from the conch and  this is the sound of the universe and creation. Conches find special mention in the Mahabharata where the beginning and end of the day was marked by blowing it.

The blowing of the conch is also beneficial to health in several ways - it improves the respiratory system and is said to have removed blockages in the heart.

Modern lifestyle and working patterns and hours don't allow us the luxury of performing these rituals with discipline however the more we try to inculcate these rituals in our daily lives the more good it will do to our physical and mental well being.


Twilight is a time to pause, to stop and the day's activities, to relax, to meditate and pray...to let the lights and the sounds play.

Guru Purnima

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day dedicated to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. 

It is said that Guru Vyasa edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the epic Mahabharata, and the Srimad Bhagavatam and even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the 'Guru of Gurus.'

Hindus attach great importance to spiritual Gurus. Gurus are equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the supreme. This day is dedicated to the Gurus and people irrespective of caste or creed offer their prayers to their gurus thanking them for the knowledge they have provided to the learner.

Gurur Brahmma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Deva Maheshwara
Gurur Saakshaat ParaBrahma
Tasmayi Shree Guruve namaha

Guru is the creator, Guru is the preserver 
Guru is the destroyer
Guru is the Lord himself, the highest consciousness
Salutations to the Guru

The magnificent Chattarpur Temple

At the risk of writing another review of another traveler,  I would still write to jot my experiences of  Chattarpur Temple visit. I have been wanting to visit it since a long time and the wait was definitely worth it! Every step I took in the hot summer month of July was a step of faith. 

Located in Delhi, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Katyani, the sixth of the Nava Durgas or nine forms of the Goddess Durga.  The complex is supposed to be the second largest complex after Akshardham in Delhi. 

The main temple complex contains the temple of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, the idol of Hanuman jee, Shree Krishna-Radha jee and the main deity Maa Katyayani. The feeling on offering Puja here was of pure bliss and one could feel the presence of the energy. 

As one walked out of the temple, one could see the long line of red threads tied. Each thread, layer upon layer, contains stories of faith, of healing probably, of wishes and desires. It is like most other temples in India. It is this faith that makes this country so special, that makes each of the rituals so unique.

Next was the Laxmi Vinayak temple, the architecture speaks for itself and as you enter you know how much meticulous planning has gone in building this structure. You would just want to sit there and soak in the grace.

Laxmi Vinayak Temple

Cross the road and as you enter the third complex, the Trishul greets you, standing tall on the back of the tortoise symbolizing the solidarity of the earth.

The Trishul in the Hindu religion represents the trinity of creation, maintenance and destruction  - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar; of past, present and future,

The Chhatarpur Mandir was founded by Sant Shree Nagpal Ji in 1974. He left the world in 1998 and his samadhi shrine lies inside  the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex. 

The nine forms of the Goddess are depicted inside, each with her beauty, grace and strength. You would almost want time to stand still there and bathe in the energy. 
The idol of Dakshineshwar Kali Maa radiated strength and energy amidst a certain calm.

Next stop was the huge Hanuman idol. My first brush of knowing about this idol was years back when someone had clicked this pic from a plane and was not sure where it was! I had googled up based on the specifications and assumed it was in Chattarpur. Someone else did confirm this and ever since then I had the desire to visit this place.  One feels protected under his grace in this vast world by just looking at the so calm features of his face in this idol. 

The sun, the heat did nothing, the energy and the peace was everywhere...the temple is easily reachable if you want to feel the way I did;  all you have to do is board the Delhi Metro!

The Power of Udi

Udi or Vibhuti is the ash from the sacred fire which Sai Baba had lit. The Udi is supposed to have great power and has been able to cure diseases of the mind and the body.

I was in Higher Secondary when I had suddenly developed an intense pain somewhere in the neck,  behind the ears. The pain would suddenly rise to the extent that I would scream, take my pillows and hold them tight, want to pull the iron rods off the window and cry. Some pain killers would help but again the pain would come unannounced somewhere in the middle of a classroom or while in sleep. On one occasion my tuition teacher's wife had to apply some hot compression for some relief much to my embarrassment.

I saw a doctor, he said the cause was excess accumulation of wax, prescribed some pain killers again and ear drops. This only ensured temporary relief...

This went on for some days when one day my father had gone to meet one of his seniors and probably mentioned that he had to rush home to take his daughter to the doctor. It was then that he handed him a packet of 'Udi' and asked it to be applied to the affected area.

The same day, one of my father's friends mentioned another doctor whom we immediately went to see. He dismissed the wax theory and said this was a nerve dislocation. He knew the exact spot where the trouble was and demonstrated how it brought relief on applying some pressure there.

It would take days of message by my father, morn and night, and some homeopathic medicines to get rid of that pain. Needless to mention that I would also apply Udi sans doubt or disbelief.

Till today I attribute the discovery of that doctor to the 'Udi' and have been applying it ever since as a daily ritual.  I don't question nor do I look for results as to when it worked and when it didn't and why.  I know the power of 'Udi' has benefited my overall well being, body and mind!

Friends visiting Shirdi do not escape my request to get a packet of 'Udi'...

Kamakhya Temple - In Stories and Memories

Kamakhya is to the east and the North East what Vaishno Devi is to the North - and this is purely in a layman's terminology...this happens to be the nearest and most accessible pilgrim spot in the North East and so it is everyone's common religious destination

From our childhood it was the place where small family functions would be held, where eloped couples would head to for marriage, where all rituals took place under the supervision of the 'Panda' and where the yearly pilgrimage would happen.

These are the earliest childhood memories but as years passed I learned more about this place and found bliss in the fact that such a pious place existed so near to our homes.


Situated in Guwahati in the heart of the Neelachal hills, it is one of the Shakti Peethas. 

The temple consists of four chambers: -  garbhagriha and three mandapas locally called calanta, pancharatna and natamandira,  aligned from east to west.

Legend has it that it is here the 'Yoni' of the mother fell after Shiva danced with her dead body. Shiva was not invited to the Yajna ceremony at Parvati's paternal house by her father Daksha, and this had angered her. Also Daksha had insulted Shiva and Sati felt insulted and jumped into the pyre. When Shiva saw the dead body of Sati, he could not stay still any longer and started dancing with Parvati's corpse in his hands. Vishnu jee fearing destruction ran his Sudarshan Chakra and cut Parvati's body into pieces,  and each of these 108 pieces fell in what is today known as 'Peethas'. There are 51 such Shakti Peethas.

Every year the water in the garba griha turns red and it is believed that the Goddess menstruates during this period. The  temples are closed at this time of the year for three days. It is also considered inauspicious to dig Mother Earth during the period or perform any religious functions. Thorough cleaning of the temple happens on the fourth day after which the doors of the temple are opened to the devotees. This period is known as 'Ambubachi' and the mela that is held is very grand attracting thousands of Sadhus and seekers from different parts of the country. 

The other times of the year when the pilgrims flock to the temple are during both the Navratras. The autumn Navratra when Durga Puja is celebrated sees scores of devotees rushing in to offer their prayers. It is not otherwise during the spring Navratra when believers rush in to seek blessings of the Goddess. On the Ashtami day, 'kumaris' or little girls are worshiped. They are believed to be the embodiment of the Mother. Girls are beautifully dressed and taken around the temple before and after the Puja.

The 'Pandas' or priests have been the official caretakers of all the ceremonies and most of our families have a designated Panda. He takes care of all the rituals, his forefathers have done so in the past but it is not too sure if his next generation will carry on with the same job and responsibility. Only time will tell.

Our family 'Panda'

 Kamakhya temple is an ode to Mother Nature's power to create, nurture and sustain        life. 

The Final Journey

Human birth and death are phases that are not only unpredictable, these bring changes to the family, bring about learning and acceptance. While the former brings joy & hope, the latter leaves us shattered and in pain.

In Hinduism there are specific rituals that are followed in both of these times, and all these have a deeper meaning and significance. Why I have chosen to write on the latter I am not sure; it's probably to assure the self that this is the way of the world, the way of life and death.

The journey to the other world is mysterious and Hinduism has well defined norms to allow space for your own kind of interpretation. Some who are near to the end may themselves have a sense of realization that their journey on the earth is but a matter of time. I remember my own grandfather in his last moments, in a state of semi consciousness, folded his legs in an 'asana' like posture and indicated that the photo of his Guruji be brought near him. His hands were then folded and he indicated all the threads on his hand and waist to be cut. This indicated detachment from all earthly materials, to leave everything behind and leave in the same manner one had arrived.

Once the souls leaves the body, it is free however the body is treated with respect. The send-off happens after providing a bath and making the departed body adorn new clothes. It is a formal good bye with wishes for the next journey, in all finery.

The mourning period varies, it's from 11 to 13 depending on different customs in different parts of India. The mourning period for the immediate family lasts up-to one year in certain parts of the country during which the family does not participate in any religious ceremonies.

During the first 11 or 13 days, the family of the departed eat one plane food. The person who performs the main rituals cooks his own food and eats only once a day. The reason for plain foods is not only to pay respect to the departed but also ensure that the nerves stay calm during this tragic period.

Per ritual, the family is not supposed to light the kitchen fire during the mourning period and the food is usually provided by neighbors and relatives.

There is a belief that the soul does not usually leave the surroundings till the Shradda ceremony is performed.  Ceremonies are performed on the 4th, 11th or 13th days to enable the journey of the soul to the next stage.

Crows are fed daily on these days as the Hindus believe that by feeding the crows, the soul of the departed is also being fed. Crows are believed to be the messengers between this world and the other world. It is generally a practice to go and check if the crow has had the offering as this symbolises that the ancestors have accepted the offerings. This process is called 'Pinda-dan'. Pinda is a ball of cooked rice and 'Pinda-da' ensures that the soul of the deceased is not in hunger or thirst.

There are stories where someone has forgotten to feed the crow on a particular day and then he or his family member has been reminded of the miss, either in a dream or a vision.

There are annual rites that are performed and food offered symbolically to the departed souls. This is a way to pay respect to the ancestors.

During the mourning period, the family does not perform or attend any religious ceremonies. They do not enter religious shrines, or attend any social functions like birthdays or marriages.

The intense mourning period provides the opportunity to express one's grief rather than suppressing the same. Most of the rituals that are performed is to encourage the free flow of emotions. Feelings that remain unexpressed are usually harmful to the body and the mind.

During the Shraddha ceremony, food and other items of daily use are provided as a symbol of sustenance for the journey of the departed.

On the event of the one-year anniversary, prayers and other rituals take place in memory of the departed. The date is not the date on the English calendar but is the 'tithi' as prescribed by the 'Panchang'.

The ashes are finally immersed in the Ganges or any other holy river, indicating the oneness of the souls with the elements. The air that leaves the body merges with the sky, the body becomes part of the earth and the water. Full circle.

Thus Hinduism through these rituals protects the basic essence of life, promotes feel flow of emotions and provides psychological healing to the family and friends of the departed! The rituals are no doubt a way of life.

A Shirdi Experience

I have been following Sai Baba since a long time now and had many personal experiences at different points in time. I have spoken about these in select groups from time to time but this is the first time I am writing one down.

The most vivid experience I had was back in 2007 I believe when we were returning to Delhi after our Shirdi visit. The trip was eventful and all of us were in a state of bliss and relaxation. Our group was singing Bhajans while waiting to reach the destination back home.

Just then a group of Hijras got in, it was some place before Ghaziabad, and they started demanding money. The group gave them may be a notes of 10 or 20 Rs but it was obvious that they were not satisfied and they started using abusive language. Till this day I don't know what they had said but our group was visibly upset and it seemed like all the good feelings after the blissful trip were erased with a single stroke of careless words.

Within the span of less than a minute, a beggar appeared out of nowhere and he sat in the passage between compartments waiting for alms. He was facing the passage and his side face was visible to us. It was obvious that he could not walk. I will not be exaggerating if I say that his posture, his face and the orange patka he wore on his head resembled Sai baba to the core. And this is the posture I am talking about, only that the side face was visible.

I think I instantly said 'inko do' (give to him) to lift ourselves up from that wretched mood where we fell into within seconds.  All of us dug into our pockets and purses and gave him what we could. And then he left in a few seconds and while we tried to understand what had happened he was just gone, gone from the nearby compartments as well. The train  was moving, he did not have legs to walk, then where did he vanish in such quick time...we looked at each other for answers, with tears in our eyes.

Till this day it gives me goosebumps to narrate this story but I know whoever he was, he lifted us and made us forget those cruel words. He also gave us a reason to believe in the existence of the unknown.

Faith!

Eating with Hands

The other day I happened to have dinner with a Punjabi family. And at the table Aunty encouraged us to have the food with our hands. This was most appropriate as food never tastes so good when we use a spoon and fork. I was quick to grab the opportunity. It also came as a surprise because years of living in Delhi have got me into the belief that Delhites live in a world of show and may be even eat samosas with forks and knives. But not only was Aunty's cooking awesome, I am kind of trying to make a resolve not to feel awkward having food with hands in public. At home using a spoon would make us a laughing stock anyway.

This made me remember my Nandos experience in London where eating with hands was encouraged as this meant less use of cutlery, leading to need less use of water for cleaning the utensils etc.

The real taste of food can only be felt by licking the fingers, no wonder we say 'finger-licking'. I have always enjoyed licking the remnants of the sweet curd on earthen pots. This was kind of a ritual every Sunday many years ago. I also particularly enjoy finger licking the remnants of any sweet dish after all the content has been transferred to a bowl.

If we go deeper into the science and the health benefits, we would know that when we use our fingers, our system releases digestive juices and enzymes which aids in overall digestion process. Also according to Ayurveda, eating with fingers stimulates all the elements which naturally aids in the all round development of the body. Eating with the hands creates awareness as we feel and relish the food. We not only feel the warmth of the food but the body also knows now what to expect.

Going back to traditions, we would be served food in banana or palm leaves during festivals. These were so economical when we think about them now, not only could you dispose them easily, there was no labour involved in cleaning the cutlery, no wastage of water and no worrying if these plates were degradable or if we were consuming chemicals along with food.

Going back traditional is not only the most logical thing to do now but it is also scientific. So we need not be suddenly conscious of our environment on certain occasions if we can inculcate these habits back in our daily lives.

Akshardham Temple, New Delhi

My second visit to the Akshardham Temple after more than 10 years. It remains a wonder to the eye as it was when it was newly constructed.

I frowned that they did not let our mobile with us, the fact that the beauty and the grandeur of the place could not be captured.

But trust me it's not all that bad without the camera or the mobile. You see the people thronging there, you notice the diverse population that flocks in there, you understand how rich our culture is, how varied our interests are, how much pride we take in knowing our temples, you almost don't miss the camera and you don't care that the selfie was not taken.

The peace, the calm is beyond words and to add to that the absolute cleanliness which adds to the overall charm. You could keep walking or you could rest and reflect.

The shows are an absolute pleasure for both the young and the old, we show the world that we lead  both in technology and in spiritual progress.

The boat ride is an absolute must, it's like a fast track rewind of what we were and where we are. We led in every socio, economic or scientific fields.

The laser show was a delight, it was beyond beautiful. I don't know when they started doing this but during my visit in 2006, we missed the light show because of our time constraints. I hope by doing these shows, they keep telling this generation the value of our own tradition and how we must feel blessed to be born in this sacred land.

Beautiful you, in and out!

We called you Apple Pishi, and people were confused! Why? What's in that name?

Well you bought us Apples all the time you visited us when we were children, we as in, me and my brother! And that name has stuck with us since then and will stay with us forever.

One week since you are gone, and it seems like a bad dream that you are no more. It seems like impossible that in our next visits to home, there won't be you to visit, a warm hug in waiting.

I saw you in January, and just two months had passed and you left us all. On the one hand I feel blessed to have met you really recently, to have the memories of that day fresh in my mind, to know that I caused you to smile; on the other hand I will regret that I called you but once in these two months and not managed to talk as you were asleep. We get so busy in our daily lives that we often forget that someone may just be waiting for a simple hello.

You have been one who has always inspired and motivated, you have never questioned any of my personal decisions and always encouraged me to be happy, be my own and live my dreams.

Your warm hug is always so close to my heart, always will be! Much as the simple life you lived, you left this world simply, without bothering anyone much and in all your grace.

You have been very close to Ma, and she found such solace in you. After her you told me you have  dreamed of her and remembered your days together. Somewhere in some world I hope you are together again! Love you always!

Saraswati Puja(Vasant Panchami)

Our spring festival Vasant Pachami and yes there is a reflection in the nature. The cold starts disappearing , the flowers start blooming...

And we wonder how ages and ages back our great and learned sages calculated the dates of the season and even today its almost accurate.

As I stepped into my home on the day of Vasant Panchami when Saraswati Puja is celebrated in the Eastern states of India, the first thing I noticed are these yellow flowers blooming. I had been home(Shillong) this season after many many years however I could not partake in the celebrations because of the travel and other necessities that needed to be catered to.

But the sight of these flowers brought back memories, of childhood...

Flowers at our Shillong Home

Flowers at our Shillong Home

Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning is revered on this day. The preparations would start from a few days earlier in the neighboring lanes where an idol would be bought and a pandal set up. The children would go around houses and collect contributions which would eventually be needed for the idol, the items for decoration and the prasad.

We celebrated at home, we would fast on that day till the Puja was done. The mornings meant early bath and then decorating the Puja room with the flowers. The flowers had to be yellow or white and a the Acacia flower was bought by Baba and Bhai from outside as we did not grow that at home.

Disclaimer: This pic of the Acacia is borrowed from the internet while the flowers from home are self-clicked.

Once few of our friends also did a community Puja and we made hand written donation slips. We got Prasads contributed by our mothers and aunties as we did not have enough contribution. The fun was beyond words. Recalling those I feel how much the festivals engaged us, brought out our creativity. Children these days are glued to mobiles and TV.

The Puja preparations were done by me and Ma, and after the "Anjali" was performed, we could relish the Prasad.

This day is also the day of "Hathe Kodi", the day a child is formally initiated into education. The parents hold the child's hand and makes the child write something.

Lunch would be Khichuri and Payesh, followed by a little rest and evenings being going around in the locality and seeing all the Pandals. Little girls wearing yellow and green Sarees would be seen fluttering around. Such is the beauty of our festivals.

We never studied on Saraswati Puja, all our books and pens would be placed in the feet of the goddess and next morning we would start the day by writing the name of goddess Saraswati 108 times.

In Delhi we celebrate as well, but the joys of our childhood can perhaps not come back ever.

My story would be incomplete if I did not mention the Saraswati Puja in Bangalore. There were two students from Silchar, Assam who  lived in a rented accomodation near college. They also had a cook who was from Silchar and on the day of the Saraswati, all the teachers and most of the friends would be invited and special Khichuri and Payesh would be served. I never went to college on that day and spent the entire day in their place, helping in the preparations and later serving.

Such joy! Such spirit! May it live!

Saraswati idol at Delhi