Diwali 1 - A Festival of 5 Festivals! Posted by In Search Of Myself , Monday, October 27, 2008 at 5:33 PM, in

This began as a casual conversation with a friend on why, in Chennai, Diwali is celebrated a day before the rest of India celebrates it. And as I was looking for answers I was astonished how little I knew about my favorite festival! There are many facets to this festival of light & as many reasons behind the significance of Diwali. And the more I found, more there was to know. So, this is my effort to understand Diwali and the legends behind it that makes it so much more beautiful.

Traditionally, Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated for five days. Yeah! So Diwali actually is not just one night of fire crackers and lots of sweets and visiting friends and relatives - for more sweets. Each day is special and has unique connotations, ceremonies and legends associated with it.

1st Day: Dhanteras
The very first day of Diwali celebrations is Dhantrayodashi. The auspicious day of Dhanteras, as it is popularly known, ushers in Diwali festivities. Dhan = wealth and teras is 13. 13 th day of the Karthik month of Hindu calendar. Dhanteras is the festival of Wealth.

One interesting legend behind Dhanteras is centered on the sixteen-year-old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was fated to breathe his last on the fourth day of his marriage owing to snakebite. On the appointed day his young wife illuminated the entire palace with numerous lamps and placed all her gold and silver coins and jewellery in a heap at the entrance of their bedroom. She did not allow her husband to sleep & regaling him by singing songs and telling stories. All through the night she sang songs and told stories.

At the stroke of midnight, God of death Yama devta, slithered in the Palace as a serpent. The lights of the lamps, and the dazzle of the coins and ornaments blinded the snake. Frustrated, he waited the entire night, on top of the heap listening to the sweet sounding songs before leaving peacefully the next morning. Thus, the wife succeeded in saving the life of her husband. This is why the Dhanteras festival is also referred to as “Yamadeepdaan". The lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yama, the god of Death & to protect our loved ones from untimely death.

According to another legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, it was Lord Dhanavantri (the God of Ayurveda, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) who emerged carrying the pot of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras and thus (after much fanfare) all the God‘s became immortal after drinking from the pot. And so, Dhanteras is also celebrated to honor Lord Dhanavantri, the divine Doctor.


There were 14 ratnas or jewels that came out of Samudra-Manthan (churning of the ocean of milk). One of them was Goddess Lakshmi. She is honored on this day by doing Lakshmi puja.

Dhanteras is an auspicious occasion to purchase precious metals like gold, platinum and silver. Women purchase Dhan like some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils as a sign of good luck. For children, this is the day to purchase all those fire-crackers, they started making list of weeks back! This day is also considered auspicious for setting up new businesses, commencing new projects, housewarming, fixing wedding dates etc. Diyas & Rangoli’s adorn the house, starting from this day.

To be continued...

Adverts & Nostalgia... Posted by In Search Of Myself , Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 12:21 AM, in

I was thinking about how people start behaving like animals when they are edgy, frustrated and stressed, and this flashback of an old Public Service advertisement on Doordarshan just flashed in my mind.

It was like a bunch of guys jump into a moving bus and start pushing around passengers including ladies and make loud monkey like noises. The gang leader is interrupted by an old gentleman & the guy gets really angry and he starts shouting and his face is actually morphed into a devils face, red with horns! The old gentleman smiles and says something like 'at least behave like a human being and not like an animal". And the guy really gets embarrassed and his face turns back to normal and he offers his seat to the old uncle and gets down with his gang at the next stop. The message was, it's very easy to become an animal but it's not that difficult to act like a human. That was a great ad!

I was searching for that ad on Youtube and though I didn't find that one I found some other equally terrific ads. Here they are, bring back the memory of old times...

The Old Hamara Bajaj ad. Notice the Flouroscent Green Bajaj Super? That was my Dad's Scooter. :). I still remember one evening I came back from School and saw it standing non-nonchalantly to our garden, shining gallantly in the afternoon light! I hopped onto it, started shifting gears and made sounds that will put Need for Speed to shame, while I rode my sturdy stallion, green color albeit and silently parked!

And here's the Bajaj for new Generation, preserving our Indian Values. Another great ad. Same jingle.

Our very own Amul - The Taste of India...Love the Jingle!

And my watch! Titan...Apparently the Titan Jingle, which still continues, na nanana nanana nanananana...was composed by none other than A.R Rahman!

Another Titan!!! Love this ad..seeing it for the first time, though it is very old. And similar to this theme, Titan is now airing it's 'Move on yaar' theme for fast track. Guess, every good thing comes back or a trend repeats itself every decade.

"I am a Complan Girl, I am a Complan Boy!" - Remember? Notice Jr. Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia in this ad.

This is another one by A.R Rahman! I never knew that he wrote Jingles before storming into the movies...I love this music...very Rahman. It's for Garden Saarees.

I still remember, around Diwali time the Asian Paints ad will start streaming in "Khushi ke rang layin yeh ghadiyan..", and that, for me set the mood for Diwali...colorful, celebrative & Homely.

And of course Aamir Khan and Aish in Pepsi..before they promptly moved onto Coke.

There were many mor...Lalita ji's surf...Lijjat paapad with the human bunny's...Nirma's teeaaooooonnnn...Vicco tooth powder (that still continues, no changes!)...Liril, 1st glimpse of a lady under a waterfall using a soap!..Mile sur mera tumhara...Dinesh with Sunil Gavaskar...Shahrukh 'mayur' khan...Ketki ji and many more.

I guess advertisements also become a part of one's childhood woven into our fabric as we grow up. Many times they cultured our perceptions. announced what is in and what is geeky now, touched, inspired. Often forgotten, but when remembered bring back those sweet times of our lives.

And lastly, do you remember the smell of a freshly sharpened Pencil? My niece have a drawer full of them and today when I opened it, this earthly fragrance just wafted through and the 1st feeling that arose in me was - fear of exams & anxiety. Weird! hehe

And the best one...ek anek aur ekta...Unity in diversity... Very cute ad, Very sweet voice & diction and cutest lyrics will definitely make you grin! Amazing!! Can't miss this one.

I have been Tagged! Posted by In Search Of Myself , Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 6:51 PM, in

1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your first thought be?

Denial. After that, in the past I'd have moped for a year. But now, move on..the person's not worth your time & energy.

2. If you can have a dream coming true, what would it be?

A recurring dream that I've been having for longer than I can remember is to be loved by her as much as I love her. However, that dream is now transforming into being as steeped in knowledge as Rajesh Bhaiya & Dinesh Bhaiya. Being a better, more loving, caring, compassionate & strong human being.

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?
'Literate' people littering around, physical & emotional garbage and being ignorant & arrogant about it.

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?

Buy every material thing I want to...car, home theater system, lots of clothes, house, gifts for family and friends, travel....and then when I'll realize that no matter how much I can stuff outside, inside will still be restless. Then wisely I'll donate for the cause of homeless and mentally challenged kids and to take Art of Living to all the youths around the world.

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
I believe Love is friendship. If the person you love can't be your best friend then it won't last...

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Being loved back by someone you adore.

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you really love?
Indefinitely...

8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?

Be happy & do nothing...It's better actually cuz 1st it's a secret so there is no risk of heart break, awkwardness and 2nd I can love as much as I want without creating a relationship out of it and worrying about the challenges that'll bring. There is no attachment and no expectations of her response and the more I love more my consciousness will expand...

9. If you like to act with someone, who will it be? Your gf/bf or an actress/actor?

Guruji
Katrina Kaif!
Aamir Khan, SRK, Joey & Chandler.

10. What takes you down the fastest?
My unaware mind.

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?
Swami Ashwaneshwar Ji. :)

12. What’s your fear?
I am not as good as I can be.

13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
(Aparna) Very smart, enthusiastic, innocent, dedicated & devoted. And a terrific dancer :)

14. Would you rather be single and rich, or married but poor?
Are they mutually exclusive...?

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Sleep again!

16. Would you give all in a relationship?

Yes, that's the only way...And giving and receiving goes together in a relationship...One can't give with an empty heart.

17. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?

Sadly & strangely, that does not happen with me! In the dream scenario, I'd choose me or sit back and relax & let them choose!

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?

Again in past, it took a very long time for me to forgive and forget if that someone means a lot to me. If not, then I'll just be indifferent. But now, knowledge lets me move on much faster.

19. If you get to go back in time and fall in love all over again , would it still be with the same person?

No...I would Rise in love this time around.

20. What will you do about climate crisis?

Frankly, I think that people who are just armchair activists 'thinking' about the issue just flatter themselves that they are doing something great & worthwhile & long lasting. But unless we do something on a large scale involving more people and continuously nothing lasting can happen. Numbers matter. Attitude matters more than that. We have to culture attitudes of people just lost in the periphery of their office and house, to responsibly care about our Planet.

I am planting trees, conserving electricity at home & office, saving Petrol, reducing plastic and paper waste, not litter, becoming aware and spreading awareness.

And I pass on the tag to

Oishee

Hari

Madhuri

Weekend's Here..Yay!!! Posted by In Search Of Myself , Friday, October 17, 2008 at 10:23 PM, in

I don't remember when was the last time I was so looking fwd to a weekend! After a mind numbing, coma inducing week at work, it's as welcome as Himesh Reshamiya dropping his nasal twang. now if only he drops his acting 'career' too...Yes!+ kept the energy high.

I was co-coordinating Yes!+ from 10th-16th, so it kinda got hectic coming home at 11 and back to office at 7...But it was nice to balance them pretty effeciently (pats back)...Good course. I juggled between being a Yoga instructor, Photographer, The Laptop Guy, Music Arranger...I was blissed out by the point I rested my head on the Pillow...

“- "I've been thinking Hobbes --"

- "On a weekend?"

- "Well, it wasn't on purpose..."”

So Miss Aparna has tagged me...that'll be the next post madam!

For now, read few very good posts today. All good things must be shared, so:

Hari's post: http://thoughtshuttle.blogspot.com/ - True Love (Read the comments too)

Madhan's Post: http://madhanlalvs.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-own-mind.html (The Law of Garbage Truck)

Anir's Post: http://anirvachan.blogspot.com/2008/07/io-what-will-you-regret.html

Goli's Post: http://nonstopgoli.blogspot.com/2008/09/cola-life.html (Brilliant Coke intiative)

Oishee's Post: http://chatteratii.blogspot.com/2008/10/blah-blah-blah.html

Madhuri's Post: http://ephemeralflower.blogspot.com/2008/09/utsav.html (QnA with Bau)

Angeli's Post: http://just-for-jolly.blogspot.com/2008/08/story-in-5-words.html

And read My post on Bau & Dinesh Bhaiya's Blog!: http://bawandinesh.name/?p=297 (Read the comments too)

Loved this Video of the UN's Stand up and Take Action campaign seen in Ashram during Navaratri:

Another one with Ustad Aamir Khan, AR Rehman, Sachin Tendulkar...

And Sachin smashed all the records today...I bow down to the Genius. A question to his 'critics'-do u really need more proof? You are truly a Legend sir in more ways than one!

When Superman saved me from becoming a Hitman! Posted by In Search Of Myself , Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 10:33 PM, in

Managed to catch the climax of Superman Returns after returning from the course. Lois was going to light up a cigarette (a habit I guess she had left long time back) and at that moment she hears her son bidding good bye to someone from his room on the upper floor. She looks up and sees Superman 'hanging' around (who I guess she thought will never come back, for some reason) and she extinguishes the light.

There was a time in my life, a particularly ’bad’ time, when I was absolutely and utterly infuriated with everything and everyone that had the misfortune of existing on the planet. So enraged was I, that I desired to be a terrorist or a shooter or someone along those lines. Every little thing used to boil me. This all consuming desire will arise in me to just go out and let loose a FY71 semi automatic on anyone or everyone in sight. In fact, when I found out that according to the Mayan Calendar world is going to finally come to an end in 2012, I exhaled a sigh of relief and exclaimed 'Good Riddance' with lot of hope.

This went on for more than a couple of weeks. And so grateful am I that nobody in my close proximity is a cop, a soldier or a terrorist, for me to have an easy access of an assault weapon.

I was so full of wrath towards everything. And that made me completely terrified! Of myself. It’s one thing to be afraid of another person or to be scared of Ghosts or of the things unknown but to be petrified of one's own self, of what fury one is capable of unleashing…is extremely unsettling. There is no worse emotion that one can experience, than seeing the evil in oneself. Especially for someone on the spiritual path, who should actually ought to be seeing God in oneself and others!

And for me it was no different. For I can get angry as hell, for sure. But I've learnt, when I do or say anything during such time, I always end up hurting someone I don’t ever want to hurt and I always regret it for days later. And so I don’t really know the correct way of expressing my anger. But this thing I kept feeling was different. This was long pent up…something...something very solid and heavy.

Overtime I figured I was so angry because I trusted her a lot. Even before I had any ‘feelings’ for her, she was a friend to me, my best Friend. And I sincerely hoped and believed that she will be there by my side when I'll need her the most. That she will communicate. She never did. That our friendship was genuine. I wasn’t sure now. That she was different than other women, I knew till then. May be not. And that’s why I ceased to have any belief in Love & Friendship and Marriage and other such important things in Life involving more than two souls, because in my great wisdom, I concluded - people are selfish & evil.

And the result was this paranoid hatred towards everything. But going through my anguish of having to face up to this baffling thought of me as a Villain, some things I never could have thought can happen, happened. Some of the subtlest and deepest lines enunciated by Guruji began making sense. I started to have an understanding of people who actually went on a shooting spree in colleges etc. And of people who commit other wrong acts in a moment of ignorance.

I think that ordinary people like us become victim of only 3 things: Bad Times, Bad Timing and ignorance i.e. not being able to understand one’s own mind and deal with it. And this happens in a matter of moments of judgment lapse. And the entire life goes awry.

This is why workshops like Yes!+ and organization like Art of Living are so absolutely vital in today's day and age for youths. To understand ones own mind and patterns and engage in helping others live a fuller life.

We affect the lives of more people than we'll ever know. And that is also why people like, friends should be genuinely caring and responsible and be like superman for their Lois Lane. To be there at the right time to stop their friends from doing stupid things like - smoking or killing!

Innocence and Landmark! Posted by In Search Of Myself , Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 8:35 PM, in

While I am waiting patiently and salivating at the same time for the Punjabi Makhani Pizza to be delivered, I figured I can divert my mind (and digestive juices) towards scribbling the 1st and looooong overdue post, from my brand spanking new Laptop.

Yep, finally got the beautiful Dell XPS 1530 delivered in Midnight Blue and it’s working like, me after an advance course with Guruji! That is to say it’s working clean, calm and fast and with pizzazz, élan and grace!

But I digress…

So now days I wander in the hallways of Landmark in search of accessories to glamorize my latest crush and software’s to build a long time relationship with her. And since I am still in the initial stages of relationship, I strongly support adorning it only with Original and handsomely expensive Software’s and Games, which I suppose, would last until she starts to nag me and start bailing out on me and stop being a good friend.

Thus far, I have accumulated GTA San Andreas, Sims 2 & breathtakingly scenic Crysis (Game of the year 2007) along with some random software’s. Haven’t finished either one yet though. I am more of a collector. An amasser of great things in life. Such as faithful friends and nurture them, which is another thing I haven’t done for quite some time.

I digress again…

So during one of such leisurely strolls in the fully stacked, brightly lit corridors of a shoppers delight in the heart of Spencer plaza - Landmark, I decided to check out the kids section. Her B’day was coming up and I thought to buy a gift (which I didn't), cuz the last time I bought it from the same section for her.

And just walking around in the tiny tots section by myself, suddenly I realized that I was feeling so much at ease here than in another sections! It was a strange yet uplifting feeling of being free to do whatever I wish to. This is the kids section, and they are free from judgments - to judge and to be judged at, both.

So I guess I, somehow got tuned to that energy of a child. Whatever a child does, it does with 100% originality and innocence without being wary of others watching. And that was the freedom I felt in the middle of the day, another afternoon when I was moping about job that isn‘t so great and random things, but more than that I was thinking about her.

The energy of the children’s section, of the fluffy Bears, Red and Yellow twin pony-tailed dolls, Puzzle pieces, basketball hoops, remote controlled toys, Indian Barbie, games we played as kids and some real kids strewn around is enough to raise anyone’s energy level, bring them in touch with themselves, drop the reality for sometime and fly with the imagination of a Kid, once again. And one can smile at another visitor there and they will smile back without reservations and without thinking “Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?”

And that’s what transpired that noon, in the kids section of bustling Landmark. Very simple, unassuming and underrated spiritual passage in the middle of the day.

Since then, I make it a point to be there whenever I am too much in touch with reality - which by the way is also described as Depression by authorities, to imagine again, dream the impossible again, see all the colors of life other than Black & White and realize that life actually is simple, until our mind and judgments complicate it and whatever the pressing problem seems to be at the moment, it is still an inconvenience and not a PROBLEM.

“If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.”

Another children’s delight I have been to lately is at Westside. Strangely cute and freakishly small costumes for tiny toddlers. Only a puppy can fit into those, not an offspring of Homosapiens! But I prefer Landmark, as even the ceiling is designed for the Munchkins and I have to hunch while prancing around there. Although Moti would have fit there easily…

Academy Awards fever 2008. Posted by In Search Of Myself , Monday, February 18, 2008 at 1:32 PM, in

I watched ‘Juno’ yesterday. Now it’s a movie about a teenage girl becoming pregnant. This is a premise that is so over-used and everybody knows how such a story unfolds and concludes. Add to it a step mom, the stigma attached to such a person & a community full of gawking peers and judgemental public.

However, this is where this movie is so unique & not clichéd. Juno is not preachy or depressing; it’s unapologetic and mature in its portrayal. It’s funny, quick, intelligent, warm & charming. And again, not ‘American Pie’ kind of funny, with wierd characters for friends, proms, booze, over dramatic parents or other such immature substance. But the humour comes from the soul of Juno.

The interactions between friends, boyfriends, parents, strangers etc. and the heartfelt way they explore there own truth as they trudge on along there path of life. It’s about following one’s truth, without explainations and also without being a martyr or a victim.

"I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?" : )

It's not loud at the same time it's forthright. It’s a beautiful movie, and for an adult subject like this, there are no explicit visual scenes & stellar cast which just adds to the beauty of the movie.



As I love heartfelt, true to life genuine things in the world this movie was a great watch. It's also been nominated for Academy awards this year, in the best motion picture and best actress category. This movie doesn't falters once, unlike the other nominated movies in the same category like 'Atonement', 'The Great Debaters', 'Michael Clayton' & 'No country for old men' which start brilliantly but looses their pace/direction only to manage a decent finish.

My best movie for Oscar's this year is 'Juno' and best animated flick can be no one else than 'Ratatouille' & best action 'The Bourne Ultimatum'.

Musings of a free mind on Valentines Day : ) Posted by In Search Of Myself , Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 2:36 PM, in

"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

"Ohh wow…I mean I am, I am uhh…flattered, really, but I am with someone else already, so…" or "What? Since when? Are you sure? This is news to me! I mean I am surprised!!! Of course, pleasantly surprised. Wow! Ok so what do we do now?” or “Well thanks a lot, it’s so sweet of you. But I always thought of you as a good friend. Really I never thought of you this way.” or “WHAT?!! You got to be kidding me. Are you sure? I mean ME & you? How’d you even come up with this idea?” or “Yes, YES I’ll be your Valentine. I LOVE YOU TOO!!! I waited for you to say this to me for such a long time!!”

Well, when I think of 14^th Feb, invariably what comes to one’s mind are some of the reactions that anyone can possibly receive or bestow (as the case may be), after one wears his/her heart on one’s sleeve and march out with trembling feet, carrying the entire butterfly effect in one’s tummy, towards the apple of their eyes, just to vocalize the thoughts they have for the other, for a long time, usually.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." -- Greg, age 8
"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- Manuel, age 8

Also, like a dialogue of some Spider man flick “With great rejections & heart break, comes great wisdom”, these responses act as constant reminder of what constituted the Valentines day in the years that have passed by (not mine, one must make it clear but of friends & friends of friends :)) & thus arm one with the wisdom to decipher the hidden meaning behind such diplomatic utterances, should there be a need in the future to repair one’s or a friends heart, after indulging in such shenanigans.

So the 1^st reaction translated into actual thought would be “Gee I knew you are enamoured by me. But what made you think that I am even interested in you at all, in the first place? So, thanks but no thanks! There is no one I am going out with currently, but if I reveal that to you, you will promptly begin stalking me and will get bolder the next time in your advances towards me. So, get a life!”

Also vice-versa, if some one professes the 3 most dreaded words in such modernistic consumerist times we live in, to me, and who I don’t like that much or that way I’d invariably think of response no1.

"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7
"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- Tom, age 5

So the main pitfall of being a free lazy goose on 14^th of Feb is that you start imagining and wondering and thinking about your love life or rather the lack of one, and then the thoughts just start flowing. Some are bitter, resentful, sad thoughts. Few are bitter sweet nostalgic memories that bring a smile on your lips even as they leave you choked up with thin trail of tears from your eyes. And the wonder is, it doesn’t matter whether what you are thinking of actually happened or not but the mere thought of something you thought that might happen someday brings up emotions in you!!!

And ahh what bliss, what ecstasy it is to listen to the melody orchestrated by the sweet symphony of the words and it’s meaning and their feelings contained in the last response – love united, love accepted.

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." -- Noelle, age 7
"My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- Carolyn, age 8

Contrary to popular belief that’s not the end, the real journey begins now. It can take one through the grandest experiences one can ever have or the lowest valleys one can ever imagine. It can lead one to one’s soul or it can leave one disillusioned hopping from one person to another. In any case there is a lot to know, lot to apply, lots of choices & one guide - Love.

What V-day stands for:- http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2007/02/love-is-in-air-ya-i-know-corny.html

As for me, I love her. And she does too. She just doesn’t knows it yet. She’s not that bright, kinda slow she is. :) My kinda love is not called unrequited love. Love finds a way, one way or another.

"Make the Divine your Valentine (your sweet Beloved). See the Divine in your Valentine and make the Divinity your Valentine (your sweet beloved). Just BE. . .and know that you are LOVED... That is BELOVED." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

So, Valentines or not, know that you are loved & blessed. Happy Valentines Day!!! For those who are single - Happy Independence Day!!!