hello friends, I might be little irregular at least for a month now, since, I'm going on my the most awaited vacation finally! Yes, I am visiting my home town, seeing my family! I don't promise, but I try to find time to visit ya all..
Happy Diwali and Happy Halloween to ya all!
Go Chicago WHite Sox!! Congratulations White Sox, you did it !!
Hasta la Vista
Friday, October 28, 2005
Friday, October 07, 2005
Navratri
Navratri!
Navratri is one of the main celebrations in India. Worshipping Shakti- Amba, Durga, Kali, SarsWati, Gayatri or just called Maa - as Mother. The Sanskrit word Navratri is composed of joining two words: Nava + Ratri ‘nine nights’, Sanskrit language is very powerful ancient language, one can join words, one can make own words. About Sanskrit, some other time though!
Navratri is worshipping Shakti, literal meaning is Power. This nine-day period from the new moon day to the ninth day of Ashvina month is considered the most auspicious time of the Vikram Samvant year (Hindu Calendar) and is the most celebrated time of the year. Although it has different names in different parts of India, it is celebrated by Hindus from all regions. From Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, and from Gujarat in the west to Sikkim in the east, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the conquest of good over evil. Every region has its own myths and reasons to explain this.
The nine different aspects of Devi (Godess) or Shakti are worshipped over the nine days. These are the most popular forms under which she is worshipped: Durga: goddess beyond reach; Bhadrakali the auspicious power of time; Amba or Jagdamba: mother of the world; Annapurna: giver of food and plenty; Sarvamangala: auspicious goddess; Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death; Chandika or Chandi: violent, wrathful, furious; Lalita: playful; and Bhavani: giver of existence. The festivities culminate on the tenth day, called variously Vijayadashmi, Dushehra or Dassain when people in most parts of the country burn effigies of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna (see also Dushehra). Some people fast on all nine days, eating only fruit and milk dishes. Some fast only on the eighth or ninth day.
Maa Durga
The nine-day period from the first to the ninth day in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra is also known as Navaratri and is dedicated to the worship of nine different aspects of Devi. These nine days are however, popular in north India only. The ninth day in this month is also celebrated as Ramanavami.
In Gujarat, People celebrate with Garba and Dandiya Raas celebration. There is an interesting history behind so called Garba or Dandiya. The word Garba is coming from (again) Sanskrit word Garbha + Deep. Garbha literally means womb or inside and Deep is a burning cotton wick in oil in an earthen dish, also known as Diya. This Deep is put inside an earthe pot with holes. In ancient times, garba was performed only by women. It is a form of praying Maa, Shakti or Devi. Women would form concentric circles around this earthen pot-Garbo with clapping and twirling with rythmic foot steps moving forward in a concentric circle at the rythm of prayers sang with traditional instruments- Dhol, sort of a two sided drum; quite different than what it is rightnow, entertainment!
Garbo - an earthen pot with holes with diya inside
Decorated Earthen Pots
The purpose of Dandiya is very different than Garba, originating in western part of Inida. In ancient times, there were very small communities, and every male of the community was responsible for the security of entire community. Dandiya was also performed during navratri in western part of india. Dandiya raas was sort of a swords fight drill with intrigue footwork! Even now if you happen to see the very traditional Dandiya Raas, it would be performed by men only, and it is very energetic and physically very demanding. And now people perform dandiya raas at movie songs!! I would hope that the heart of these celebrations would still survive...
My Contribution this Navaratri..
I also tried contributing something this navratri, a free-hand drawing of "Maa"..
Navratri is one of the main celebrations in India. Worshipping Shakti- Amba, Durga, Kali, SarsWati, Gayatri or just called Maa - as Mother. The Sanskrit word Navratri is composed of joining two words: Nava + Ratri ‘nine nights’, Sanskrit language is very powerful ancient language, one can join words, one can make own words. About Sanskrit, some other time though!
Navratri is worshipping Shakti, literal meaning is Power. This nine-day period from the new moon day to the ninth day of Ashvina month is considered the most auspicious time of the Vikram Samvant year (Hindu Calendar) and is the most celebrated time of the year. Although it has different names in different parts of India, it is celebrated by Hindus from all regions. From Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, and from Gujarat in the west to Sikkim in the east, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the conquest of good over evil. Every region has its own myths and reasons to explain this.
The nine different aspects of Devi (Godess) or Shakti are worshipped over the nine days. These are the most popular forms under which she is worshipped: Durga: goddess beyond reach; Bhadrakali the auspicious power of time; Amba or Jagdamba: mother of the world; Annapurna: giver of food and plenty; Sarvamangala: auspicious goddess; Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death; Chandika or Chandi: violent, wrathful, furious; Lalita: playful; and Bhavani: giver of existence. The festivities culminate on the tenth day, called variously Vijayadashmi, Dushehra or Dassain when people in most parts of the country burn effigies of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna (see also Dushehra). Some people fast on all nine days, eating only fruit and milk dishes. Some fast only on the eighth or ninth day.
Maa Durga
The nine-day period from the first to the ninth day in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra is also known as Navaratri and is dedicated to the worship of nine different aspects of Devi. These nine days are however, popular in north India only. The ninth day in this month is also celebrated as Ramanavami.
In Gujarat, People celebrate with Garba and Dandiya Raas celebration. There is an interesting history behind so called Garba or Dandiya. The word Garba is coming from (again) Sanskrit word Garbha + Deep. Garbha literally means womb or inside and Deep is a burning cotton wick in oil in an earthen dish, also known as Diya. This Deep is put inside an earthe pot with holes. In ancient times, garba was performed only by women. It is a form of praying Maa, Shakti or Devi. Women would form concentric circles around this earthen pot-Garbo with clapping and twirling with rythmic foot steps moving forward in a concentric circle at the rythm of prayers sang with traditional instruments- Dhol, sort of a two sided drum; quite different than what it is rightnow, entertainment!
Garbo - an earthen pot with holes with diya inside
Decorated Earthen Pots
The purpose of Dandiya is very different than Garba, originating in western part of Inida. In ancient times, there were very small communities, and every male of the community was responsible for the security of entire community. Dandiya was also performed during navratri in western part of india. Dandiya raas was sort of a swords fight drill with intrigue footwork! Even now if you happen to see the very traditional Dandiya Raas, it would be performed by men only, and it is very energetic and physically very demanding. And now people perform dandiya raas at movie songs!! I would hope that the heart of these celebrations would still survive...
My Contribution this Navaratri..
I also tried contributing something this navratri, a free-hand drawing of "Maa"..
Monday, October 03, 2005
a few quotes
I am willing to put myself through anything; temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. I am interested in the unknown, and the only path to the unknown is through breaking barriers, an often-painful process.
--Diana Nyad
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
--F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alwaysmake a total effort, even when the odds are against you.
--Arnold Palmer
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road... ..Unless you fail to make the turn."
--Unknown
"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."
- Wayne Dyer
Where you stumble—that’s where your treasure is.
There's a difference between re-acting and responding to life. When one re-acts, one re-enacts the cliches embedded in our memory about have things have been done before. When one responds, one musters the courage and the strength needed to be creative. We can change what happens in our lives by changing the way we deal with what happens in our lives by responding in a gentle positive way. Be gentle with yourself and be aware of how you are thinking and feeling before you decide to respond or re-act. "If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."
--Jim Rohn
"Some dream of doing great things, while others stay awake and get on with it."
--Unknown
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
- Theodore Roosevelt.
"The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind."
- Wayne Dyer
--Diana Nyad
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
--F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alwaysmake a total effort, even when the odds are against you.
--Arnold Palmer
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road... ..Unless you fail to make the turn."
--Unknown
"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."
- Wayne Dyer
Where you stumble—that’s where your treasure is.
There's a difference between re-acting and responding to life. When one re-acts, one re-enacts the cliches embedded in our memory about have things have been done before. When one responds, one musters the courage and the strength needed to be creative. We can change what happens in our lives by changing the way we deal with what happens in our lives by responding in a gentle positive way. Be gentle with yourself and be aware of how you are thinking and feeling before you decide to respond or re-act. "If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."
--Jim Rohn
"Some dream of doing great things, while others stay awake and get on with it."
--Unknown
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
- Theodore Roosevelt.
"The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind."
- Wayne Dyer
Monday, September 26, 2005
GPS?
Scenario:
premise:
- driving, from home to, say, place-A you kind of know how to reach there. last you visited was 2-3 years back!
- you are on speaker phone, since hands free is enforced by law.
- place X is where you have never been to, neither you know directions to, nor where it is.
- you will be given directions when you drive to place X on phone.
- It's raining badly.
- the day is weekend.
goal:
- you need to reach from place A to place X.
thinkable outcome:
- the road, you are on, vanishes out of sight all of sudden and you end up turning on a street you think may lead you to highway.
- you get confused on a small road: seemingly a ramp, leading to highway and a sign right at the curve- 'no outlet'.
- you get so many honks from drivers behind you.
- you end up going straight on a one-way exit ramp, driving in wrong direction!
- you don't want to go to place X.
- you start crying.
Is this possible? In this universe, it actually happened not too far ago, on Sept 24, 2005..
but place X was visited finally..
premise:
- driving, from home to, say, place-A you kind of know how to reach there. last you visited was 2-3 years back!
- you are on speaker phone, since hands free is enforced by law.
- place X is where you have never been to, neither you know directions to, nor where it is.
- you will be given directions when you drive to place X on phone.
- It's raining badly.
- the day is weekend.
goal:
- you need to reach from place A to place X.
thinkable outcome:
- the road, you are on, vanishes out of sight all of sudden and you end up turning on a street you think may lead you to highway.
- you get confused on a small road: seemingly a ramp, leading to highway and a sign right at the curve- 'no outlet'.
- you get so many honks from drivers behind you.
- you end up going straight on a one-way exit ramp, driving in wrong direction!
- you don't want to go to place X.
- you start crying.
Is this possible? In this universe, it actually happened not too far ago, on Sept 24, 2005..
but place X was visited finally..
Monday, September 12, 2005
dumb system
System is thought to be good, brings order, manages better, anything. But system can also be dumb. Though it brings orderliness, does not mean it is faultless. I want to see my family, celebrate diwali after 5 years with them, I bought airline tickets quite ahead of the time, i got vacation time approved from work, i got my ear doctor lined up too, everything worked out well, made plans with friends and family back home, but one system had to fail! This time, when I leave United States, I have to get my passport stamped from US Consulate to re-enter US, and that's where the failure emerges. I had planned earlier this year too to visit my family, and I had to cancel a week before my trip because of a scare of a surgery. I had sought an appointmet at US consulate then, and everything was perfect, but my doctor told me that something in my body might not had been perfect, and boom, no vacation, no family visit! now when everything else, is just fine, the visa-services appointment system failed! I booked apointment online again, I also let them know that I have booked appointment for such and such date asking them if i needed to re-submit anything again, not just once, twice. No repply from them, and now when my trip is less than a month away, I needed confirmation that my appointment has been confirmed, and now upon my asking, they are telling me that it's been cancelled because I did not sumbit documents-> which means, I can not get my passport stamped when I would take vacation! the wait is more than 3 months for getting another new appointment! Techically I am not requirted to re-submit anything for new appontment since I have already submitted everything!
Even if I want to go to some other country to get whole visa thing done, I don't have enough time to manage everything. what a dumb system they have, all the phone no.s, listed online, have changed, and it's really tough to get thru the recorded message playing numbers. I could some how, thinking I'm lucky to get, got a number I can talk to a person. I finally did speak to a person, who noted down my email address and told me that they would reply me through email. The reply I got was short and not at all sweet: "You called today. Please send us your query again." !!!!!! why did I call them, a question I could not answer myself.. neither they would consider my case where they give emergency appointment. I may not be not visiting my family, again.
Even if I want to go to some other country to get whole visa thing done, I don't have enough time to manage everything. what a dumb system they have, all the phone no.s, listed online, have changed, and it's really tough to get thru the recorded message playing numbers. I could some how, thinking I'm lucky to get, got a number I can talk to a person. I finally did speak to a person, who noted down my email address and told me that they would reply me through email. The reply I got was short and not at all sweet: "You called today. Please send us your query again." !!!!!! why did I call them, a question I could not answer myself.. neither they would consider my case where they give emergency appointment. I may not be not visiting my family, again.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
angie and company
since last year, there was not much summer weather in chicago, I was very excited when temperature bar was climbing up and up. I have a patio, right on an artificaial pond. I can sit on contrete steps, and I am on the pond. I was busy roller blading, walking in forest preserve, exercising; busy with myself. I have 2 bamboo shoots to accompany me so I don't feel alone. and there is one more plant I have in a pot, which I keep in my patio. with my unsuccessful attempts to grow flower plants and strawberries, I could not save them from some sneaky creature who loved to eat all these plants not sparing even roots!
I would read, talk on phone, swim, forest preserve, cook, watch tv or go to friend's place, i was very well content in my own evening schedule. Then one day, I was talking on phone on my patio steps as I sometimes do to brethe warm air. I get bright sunlight in the morning, so summer evenings are nice in my patio.
the pond is of small circular shape, and kids would be playing along the periphery, shouting, running, biking. I doubt if any of them would be older than 5. i was carrying a book, and talking on phone one day right after I came home. And this little girl comes around, sits next to me, starts a parallel conversation with me while I was on phone. And finally I gave up, I got off the phone to talk to a person in front, and started talking to her. This innocent little lady was asking me many questions- do you live here? where were you? what was I doing? and then she comes to her point: do you have chocolate? and she got me, I had many! I don't eat chocolates but I have many chocolates at home, somene would give me or i'd buy. she was not the cleanest kid in the world, high energied 4 year old, who never stops. She is Angie. Others were alex, tyler, jeremy and some other kids. alex is angie's elder brother. some kids were afraid to come near me as they were not familier with me, and one parent walks by and sees me giving chocolates abundantly, and she tells me, pointing at the kid who refused to take chocolates, 'it's just that they don't know you, once they'll know you, they won't leave from here, you'll have to get rid of them.' Angie came right with me inside my place. I had some sunscreen samples on my table, she wanted those, had chewing gum too somewhere, and she wanted em. these little devils are very greedy. If you give them one, they want two, and when u give two, they want four! I gave them plenty, and at one point, I promised that they'd get more tomorrow now! Angie was very comfortable running inside, going upstairs and everywhere, it was me who was concerned that their parents' would worry of them coming inside. It seemed like they were okay with it.
The chocolate thing went on until my chocolate reserve was hitting it's lowest. I had been recommended to watch Monster Inc. by a friend of mine who also let me borrow dvd. And one friday, after coming from work I was also kind of under the weather, I put this dvd to play, and Angie, as usual, at my large windows opening at patio, peeks in and asks me if I can open the door. I opened it for them, and this 4 yr old recognised this movie right away! And the gang poured in. I had like 6 kids in my living room, demending one after the another thing to eat. it started with chocolates, and when it emptied out, 'do you have pop corn?' Then came ice-cream, and again pop corn. Their purpose was over now, they had fun in revolving chair, running around having nice evening movie+snacks combo, and they started to play again. I have 3 entrance doors, and I use two of them. one opens in the hallway, one in my patio. these kids started running thru both the doors, and going out of building, and again running to my patio and inside my place and they went on. It was very different enjoyable feeling I got watching these kids. They had been coming on an average every 2 days to my place, and I also started to like it. A friend of mine suggested to give them water melon or other fruits instead of chocolates. They saw watermelon in my fridge, and I was glad they wanted watermelon. water melon went on for a quite a while. One day, I was into deep reading, and angie comes to my window and asks if I can open the door, if I she can get watermelon. I wanted to read, so I told her, I have to read, I'll give water melon tomorrow. She makes face and says, our school opens tomorrow, and we won't be coming here now! and they were treated again. I kind of felt sad that they won't be coming now.. I still would remember these sweet little girl Angie, and her friends running around, biking, shouting. I miss them coming to my window sometime, interrupting whatever I would be doing.. to open door.. and ask for chocolate, water melon, sharing my dinner..
Monday, August 15, 2005
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