KARWA CHAUTH

In India from time immemorial, the welfare of husbands has always been of prime importance for all married women. Nine days before Diwali, some time in October or November, on the Kartik ki Chauth, Karwa Chauth is undertaken. A fast is undertaken by married Hindu women who offer prayers seeking the welfare, prosperity, well being and longevity of their husbands. It is probably the most important fast undertaken by women of North India.This fast begins before sunrise and ends after worshipping the moon. During the interim no food or water is ingested. The preparation of the puja begins around 4 or 5 p.m.. A sari known as baya is sent to the married woman by her mother. The eldest lady of the house, usually the mother-in-law then presents the baya to her daughter-in-law. A place for the puja is prepared such that all the women invited for the puja can be accommodated. Maybe a courtyard or a terrace or even a verandah will do. A chowk like in any other puja - is decorated on the floor. This whole chowk should ideally be placed against a wall where on a really well decorated patta the Gaur Mata is seated. Earlier the Gaur Mata used to be made with cowdung in the shape of a human figure, just about two inches tall. Nowadays, a picture or an idol of Parvati , Lord Shiva’s consort, is placed on the patta.just about an hour or so before moonrise. Those who have observed the fast known as vrat in Hindi, dress up again in their chunris or in red or pink clothes with chonp and bindi on their foreheads. The baya of the lady who is observing the fast is kept on a thaali (plate), over the karva, with a little water and seven pieces of pua in it (seven broken from one big pua). The karva itself is imbued with kharia, aipun and a little roli.A strand of (red thread) of any thickness is tied around the part of the karva. There is no taboo on widows doing the puja and during the ceremony, all the women sit facing the lady whose karva it is and chant and narrate the story. This is known as man which means to give away and never take back. First of all, roli teeka is applied on the forehead of Gaur before the start of the puja. All the women doing puja also apply roli teeka on their foreheads and parting (known as maang). Everyone does puja by dipping the third finger of the right hand in water sprinkling it with the help of the thumb three times over the deity; the same procedure has to be repeated with the aipun and roli and, lastly, the rice is showered.

KOJAGORI LAKSHMI PUJA

Lakshmi Puja is another Bengali festival that is celebrated in every household. Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth is worshipped just after Durga Puja. Lakshmi is one of the daughters of Durga who symbolizes wealth, peace and prosperity. On a full moon night people worship her at their homes and pray for her bessings. All the rites performed during the
Lakshmi Puja are followed with utmost care and the Lakshmi Puja time schedule is also maintained well by the devoted. Delicious Bengali Recipes on Lakshmi Puja night are cooked and are then given to Goddess Laxmi as an offering.It is considered that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes of the devotees and replenishes them with wealth.

The Myth______________________________________________

Goddess Lakshmi is generally represented as a beautiful golden woman, usually sitting or standing on a lotus, her symbol. She is also known as Sri and attained importance as the consort of Vishnu.
Goddess Lakshmi has generally been thought to have existed first as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and to have taken refuge in the ocean of milk during a period when the gods were exiled from their kingdom as a result of a rishi's curse. She was reborn during the churning of the milk ocean as Lakshmi, one of the fourteen precious things.The Goddess of Wealth, emerged from the ocean forth fully grown
and radiant, bearing a lotus in her hand. Goddess Lakshmi was then married to Vishnu and has a clear share in Vishnu's activities as preserver, and this reinforces her earlier character as goddess of fortune and giver of wealth.
Accessories required for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja______________
Adibas dalaOil, Turmeric, River soil from the Ganges, Perfume, Stone, Grain, Dubba (a type of grass required), Flowers, Fruits, 1 dozen bananas in one stem, Curd, Ghee, Sindur, Swastik Pituli, Conch Shell,Kajol (corrilium), Gorachana (cow urine), White mustard seeds, Gold, Silver, Copper, Mirror, Alta, Yellow thread, Iron metal, Chamor (a kind of fan, a fly-whisk made of yak's tail used for fanning), Dip (Earthen Lamps), Arrows, Panch pradip (for aarati). Sindur (vermilion), Til (Sesame), Horitoki (myrobalan), Ghat (pot), an earthen bowl full of atop (a type of rice), 1 Gamcha -To cover the ghat a piece of cloth, 1Kundohari, 1 Tekatha - A triangular frame work of 3 pieces of wood, 1Mirror,Panchabarner guri (5 coloured dust) -Turmeric powder, rice powder, kusum flower/ red aabir, rice chaff or coconut fiber burnt for the dark colour, powdered wood apple leaves (bel pata) Pancha ratna (5 gems)-Gold, Silver, Emerald, Pearls, Jewel. (Original- Gold, Diamond, Sapphire, Rubi, Pearl). Panchagobbo (5 extracts of the cow)- Milk, Pure Ghee, Curd, Cow Dung and Cow's urine, 4 arrows, Green coconut with stalk, Flowers and Durba (a kind of grass having three pointed tips) etc. 3 Aashonanguriuk (Finger ring made of koosh), 3 bowls of Madhupakka (a mixture of honey, curd, ghee, sugar for oblation), Curd, Honey, Ghee, Sugar, 3 big Noibiddos,1 small Noibiddo.A sari (for Laxmi), 2 dhoties (for Vishnu and Pechok or Owl). Loha (iron), Shankha (Conch Shell), Noth (nosering), Sindur chubri (a cane basket having a small mirror, a comb, two conch shell bangles, one iron bangle, two coral bangles, alta (lac-dye used to paint border of feet), vermilion and few kories). Chandmala (Dangler with circular sponge decorations), Bhoger drobbadi (materials for the feast),Things for Homn (fire for yagna) - sand, wood, khorke (a kind of twig), Ghee -1 bottle, 28 Bilyapatra (wood apple leaves), Karpur (camphor), Chipitak/Chire (thatched rice), Coconut, Tambul/Pan( Beetle leaves), Pan masala (ingredients used in preparing a beetle leaf), 1 wooden plate, 2 Ghoti (a type of pot), Rachana (cow urine), flower garland, 1 Purnapatro (full pot), Dakhina (offerings in cash and kind to the priest).

SUMMER '08

JUNE ' 08 SITLAKHET
DAD N MOM, BARI JHEEL, BHOPAL

C C ROOM IDI SITLAKHET
..... AND THE SKY OPENS UP..... NATURE DOSENT DISAPPOINT YOU !!
TUMBLING DOWN THE HILLS, SITLAKHET
MOM N ME, SANDIPANI ASHRAM, UJJAIN
MOM N DAD

MAHALAYA

The traditional six day countdown to Mahasaptami starts from Mahalaya. Goddess Durga visits the earth for only four days but seven days prior to the Pujas, starts the Mahalaya. The enchanting 
  
voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra fill up the predawn hours of the day thus marking the beginning of " devipaksha " and the beginning of the count-down of Durga Puja. Sarat in its bloom, mingled with the festive spirit of Durga Puja reaches its pitch on the day of Mahalaya. From this day starts 'Devipaksha' and marks the end of 'Pitri-paksha'.  

It is the day when many throng to the banks of river Ganga, clad in dhotis to offer prayers to their dead relatives and forefathers.People in the pre-dawn hours pray for their demised relatives and take holy dips in the Ganges. This ritual is known as  

'Torpon'. This day bears immense significance for the Bengalis. It is according to the myths that Sree Rama hastily performed Durga Puja just before he set for Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. 

According to Puranas, King Suratha, used to worship goddess Durga in spring. Thus Durga Puja was also known as Basanti Puja. But Rama preponed the Puja and worshiped Durga in autumn and that is why it is known as 'Akal Bodhon' or untimely worship. It was considered untimely as it is in the myths that puja was performed when the Gods and Goddesses were awake i.e. "Uttarayan" and was not held when the Gods and Goddesses rested ie."Dakshinayan". 


It was on the day of Mahalaya,the beginning of "devipaksha",the Gods and Goddesses woke up to prepare themselves for Durga Puja. Akashvani Mahalaya: In the year 1930, Mahalaya was first broadcasted over the radio in Akashvani. The programme was organised by Premankur Aatorthi, Birendra Krishna Bhadra, Nripendra Krishna Mukhopadhya and Raichand Boral. It was broadcasted live then. Later it was recorded and played. Bengal's cine star, Uttam Kumar had once recited Mahalaya while Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhya was the music director. But it was not popular among the mass and from then it has always been the voice of Birendra Kishna Bhadra enthralling the listeners in the pre-dawn hours of Mahalaya. The script was written by Bani Kumar, music was directed by Pankaj Kumar Mallik while Dijen Mukhopadhya, Manobendra Mukhopadhya (Tabo Achinta....), Sandhya Mukhopadhya, Arati Mukhopadhya, Utpala Sen, Shyamal Mitra and Supriti Ghosh (Bajlo tomar alor benu....) sang in their melodious voices.

MUMBAI ROCKS.......

Mumbai Rocks.....

MUMBAI ROCKS......

TRAFFIC SIGNS......

MUMBAI ROCKS.....

ME

Im on this medicine.. Its called abilifyI hate it so much, but no one will listen to me I miss my old depressed self.. It made me feel . nobody in the world would understand what im saying, but when i was depressed i could jot my feelings down in a little book and make poems but now i feel blank so im left to righting rants, whatever this is.. maybe i should do blogs,, i dont knowWell just jotting my feelings down.

Are Smart Boards SMART?

First, what in the world is a Smartboard? If you don’t know… according to Wikipedia, a Smartboard or interactive whiteboard is a large, touch-controlled screen that works with a projector and a computer. The projector throws the computer’s desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard (usually in the front of a room), which acts as both a monitor and an input device. Users can write on the interactive whiteboard in digital ink or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a desktop mouse…
Now that you know a bit about this new technology, I refer back to my original question. Are Smart Boards smart? Maybe yes… and maybe no!
There is no doubt that this colorful-board technology rocks for educational uses. You can have students come up to a board in front of a class, and by using his or her fingers, can interact with a board to discuss many “hands-on” topics for a fun activity. But where the boards fall short — is in the depth of your pockets. You see, Smart Boards are VERY expensive to purchase for your average K12 School. They cost about $1,200 to $3,000 per unit, and that is not including the cost you will need to have a fast computer to run a board, and you also will need a current projector to show the image onto a screen.

Activity to Explore the Outdoors

For a quick and easy way to get preschool and school-age kids exploring the outdoors, try this simple leaf rubbing activity. All you need is:
a few pieces of paper
a couple of crayons with the paper wrappers removed
a hard, flat surface (smooth table top, floor or hard cover book)
a bucket, basket or bag for collecting leaves
1. Explain to kids that they need to collect a variety of different leaves or other flat objects in their bucket. Then we’ll use the paper and crayons to make cool rubbings.
2. As the children collect their leaves, encourage them to take their time and look at and feel the textures they encounter. Point out some of the features of the leaves, plants, trees or landscape you are exploring. Keep an eye out for insects or other little creatures you might come across. Don’t worry if they collect things that you know won’t work well for rubbings. It will be a great learning experience as they try it out. Also, don’t worry if you’ve spent so much time exploring the outdoors that you run out of time for the project. After all, the whole point of the activity is to get the kids to pay attention to nature, so… mission accomplished!
3. Once you’ve got a nice selection of items, show the children how to lay one out on the flat surface and cover it with the paper. Hold the crayon so it is lying across the paper and rub it across the leaf. Encourage children to press firmly and rub all around the flattened leaf under the paper.
4. Enjoy the oohs and aahs that are sure to erupt from the children’s mouths as they watch the images of the leaves appear.
Take it a step further by talking about the types of marks that appear after the rubbing. Which leaves make better rubbings? What didn’t work so well? After trying a few different leaves, can you predict what will make for a good rubbing image?
This activity is great for active learners as well as nature lovers and those who love crafts. It appeals to kinetic, natural and spatial intelligences, and the discussion questions can also help those with linguistic and logical/mathematical strengths also get involved.

SEVEN QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER

How often have you heard the comment, “He or she is a born leader?” There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they’re looked up to as a leader.

Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Let us explore them further.

Seven Personal Qualities Found In A Good Leader:

1. A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.
   


2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
   


3. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members.
   


4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.
   


5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.
   


6. A good leader as well as keeping the main goal in focus is able to think analytically. Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. Not only is the goal in view but a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.
   


7. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.

These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.

RAIN

She got up from her writing desk to clear away the plate, full of crumbs and a smudge of sauce. On her way to the kitchen sink, she switched on the water kettle, waiting for the noise of a heated coil. She placed the plate on the sink and looked over to the open mouth of the sauce bottle—the sharp acidic smell of chilli garlic sauce. She flipped the cap shut and immersed her hands in tap water and soap. She rubbed the sponge in circles on the white surface, cold, wet, slippery, smooth and thought about her grocery list. Suddenly the rain outside gets stronger and their muffled noise rises. She looks outside and is disappointed to see it drizzling still. She makes her tea and stands by her window, with one hand at her hip. Rain. Incessant, rootless rain. Each hour, each day, melting away in rain. She loves it when it rains. She measures the episodes of her life with the feelings that the rain in that city evoked in her. She stood there watching the rain, together with the open Tupperware containers full of frozen foods, together, spinning out of the little kitchen, thinking of all the different kinds of rains she has been in. The most beautiful rain she has ever seen has been in Dhaka, during the August-September monsoons. The rain is lusty and comes ripping out from the sky in furious anger. It is like listening to a man’s recorded voice, a heavy voice full of regret and confessions. Just his voice, breaking the field of perfect silence, disturbing, hypnotic, incomprehensible and yet clear in it’s pain and intent. She would lie in her bed and look at the rain outside her window in Dhaka, watching each drop fall against the window pane and trickle down in streaks, creating little rivers from little tears. There was sadness in that rain, but not the kind that makes you forget it. Now, Bangkok rain, now that was forgettable. It was sticky, dirty sulphurous rain. She never looked for that kind of rain. Then there is rain that feeds your soul. Little by little, the kind of rain that claims you, the kind of rain that comes looking for you. This kind of rain has it’s presents only for those who recognise it in it’s middle. This kind of rain happens in Rajasthan, in the dessert. It was the strangest kind of rain she had ever seen. It wasn’t rhythmic, simple, transparent, soft, light and slender. It was harsh, transient and essential. It would come suddenly upon the dry yellow sand of the desert, wetting the trees and the footpaths, but never the sands. It would rattle the little fruits from the trees, rattling little boats in small gullies. Sometimes it would rain for days – long and mad – each drop full of sweetness, each drop not extinguishing but duelling with the hot thirsty sand. This rain amazed her. It was her first time away from home and the first day she was there, it rained, quite unexpectedly. It was an unearthly welcome song from nature. And every time it rained after that, she would look up and see the naked force of rain, a different face from the comforting friend she had left behind in the monsoons of Dhaka. The rain wouldn’t comfort her, but it would let her soul know that somehow the night, wind, the moon, the rain have all spun out of their due course and that there was no great mystery to it. It was god’s plan, god’s design. It didn’t calm her, but it gave her strength. Sometimes she thought of a rain that she only saw once, against the hills of Dehradun, with her mother. She had noticed how green and alive the hills were looking. But soon her attention went elsewhere. The hotel clerk’s typewriter was jangling away in time with the rain, sometimes drawing a pause as the he fiddled with the carbon sheets. To her ears, it was a tango for two, the clerk’s typing turned into a Milonguero, leading the noise of the rain into a turn, a hook, a break, a sweep. Notes nestled within notes. The music of the rain that she had never noticed before. She pulled her mother close to her and they both stood on the veranda, watching it rain, as the hot chocolate in their thermos ran out. She put her teacup down, it had gone cold, she hadn’t noticed. She thought of putting on the kettle again, as she looked down at the sad drowning teabag in her cup. Suddenly she remembered it raining the day her grandfather died in a London hospital. She had rushed to the hospital, after negotiating pedestrian traffic on a day when the world was battling the gusty wind and rain on Waterloo Bridge. But it was too late that day. The rain had frozen in her hands when she heard the news of his passing. It was as if on that day, the rain had claimed her. She stood there with her hair in wet little tails, her trousers wet, from the thighs down, her socks, drowned long before. She cried with her family around her. Hours later, she stood outside with her brother as he lit up a cigarette, huddled under a thin awning. His cigarette smoke melted in with her hot breath. Steam and smoke and florescent lighting, mixed together that late night, her grandfather had passed away, and it was still raining in London. It wasn’t heavy or angry or sad or dirty or beautiful. It was just persistent and made one tired. It caught one in its nets and drew one down. It felt like cold fish scales. It looked like that too. She often wondered about moving someplace where it was warmer, some place where the rain was warm, beautiful, wild. She missed the rain that she loved. She missed the rain that was from her happier days, the rain that was hers.

THE JOYS OF GARDENING

Gardening is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies. It requires time, patience, and stamina to achieve the results you want, and a great deal of care needs to be thrown in as well.
Planning your garden is a on-going task for even the smallest of gardens. It's great fun to think about the possibilities and figure out how make them a reality.
Even if you have a professional build your garden for you, it still requires constant attention; you still need to look after your flowers, plants and trees, no matter who planted them. Stems and branches will still need clipping, and grass will still need cutting. Beds will need watering and pests exterminating. So, ultimately, the only thing a professional installation will save you is the time it takes to create your ideal garden. The ongoing work will still be the same.
Gardening is a great way to get exercise in small, regular doses. All of the digging, grabbing and cutting can soon burn calories, and many people prefer gardening to a regular trip to the gym because of the sense of achievement it provides.
There are many types of gardening, suitable for all ages. Senior citizens often take up herb and container gardening while leaving the bigger jobs, such as mowing, pruning and digging, to a part-time gardener.
Kids can have a lot of fun gardening. Watching a flower or plant grow from a seed they planted can be fascinating for children. Giving them their own small plot is a great way to introduce them to the delights of gardening. They will learn that a garden takes planning and care over a fairly long period to achieve results. Gardening is educational and a great way to spend quality time with your kids.
But despite all the sense of achievement it can bring, many people enjoy gardening for one reason more than any other: to get some time to themselves. They get time to think, and all they can hear is the trees swaying and the birds singing while they're left to their thoughts. If you need some time to yourself, while remaining active and working toward a goal, then gardening may be just the hobby for you.

Gardening is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies. It requires time, patience, and stamina to achieve the results you want, and a great deal of care needs to be thrown in as well.
Planning your garden is a on-going task for even the smallest of gardens. It's great fun to think about the possibilities and figure out how make them a reality.
Even if you have a professional build your garden for you, it still requires constant attention; you still need to look after your flowers, plants and trees, no matter who planted them. Stems and branches will still need clipping, and grass will still need cutting. Beds will need watering and pests exterminating. So, ultimately, the only thing a professional installation will save you is the time it takes to create your ideal garden. The ongoing work will still be the same.
Gardening is a great way to get exercise in small, regular doses. All of the digging, grabbing and cutting can soon burn calories, and many people prefer gardening to a regular trip to the gym because of the sense of achievement it provides.
There are many types of gardening, suitable for all ages. Senior citizens often take up herb and container gardening while leaving the bigger jobs, such as mowing, pruning and digging, to a part-time gardener.
Kids can have a lot of fun gardening. Watching a flower or plant grow from a seed they planted can be fascinating for children. Giving them their own small plot is a great way to introduce them to the delights of gardening. They will learn that a garden takes planning and care over a fairly long period to achieve results. Gardening is educational and a great way to spend quality time with your kids.
But despite all the sense of achievement it can bring, many people enjoy gardening for one reason more than any other: to get some time to themselves. They get time to think, and all they can hear is the trees swaying and the birds singing while they're left to their thoughts. If you need some time to yourself, while remaining active and working toward a goal, then gardening may be just the hobby for you.

MY BRO n ME

MY FAMILY

ME
AMIT n ME @ KONARK
AMIT
MOMMY n ME

DADDY

Authentic Irish Coffee

1 bottle Irish whiskey
1 pot freshly brewed coffee (hot and strong)
1 pot piping hot water
granulated sugar
whipping cream, real
a dollop of good cheer!
some good company
a collection of Irish Coffee mugs, one for each member of your good company
one silver spoon, you need not be born with it in your mouth
Assemble all of your ingredients on a counter where you will have generous-sized working area. The secrets to making a great Irish coffee are two: you must work quickly which means having all of your ingredients before you before you begin and secondly, to warm the glasses before you combine your ingredients, otherwise, the finished product will not achieve the proper serving temperature.
Begin brewing your coffee. You can use any brand or type of coffee, prepare it in your usual way but make it a tad stronger this time. You want the coffee to hold its flavor against the Irish whiskey.
Separately, prepare a pot of piping hot water.
While the coffee is brewing and water heating, whip your cream by hand or with an electric beater until it is thick but does NOT peak. You want the cream to be semi-liquid, yet stiff enough so that it will float high in the glass and excite the palate. This is where the artist in you must come out. Please, DO NOT use canned aerosol whipped cream products. Aerosol, whipped dairy and nondairy toppings will ruin your Irish coffee. Again, real whipped cream ONLY! You can prepare the whipped cream several hours in advance if you prefer and keep it refrigerated. If you are on a diet, maybe you need go to a different web page now.
Once the cream is prepared, fill each mug with the piping hot water. REMEMBER: You must work quickly. Let the water-filled mugs sit a moment or two to warm. You want "one mug for each member of your "good company." Yes, this is much like, "Hurry up and wait!" Take a moment for final meditation before you begin your creation, the most fabulous Irish coffee you have ever had.
Quickly, empty the mugs of hot water and place all of the mugs in a line before yourself. If you are right-handed, work from left to right (if you are a student of Zen, you might try right to left). Place a slightly-rounded teaspoon of granulated sugar in the bottom of each glass.
Again, quickly, pour two-three fingers of Irish whiskey over the sugar. You can be generous with the whiskey but not so generous that you overpower the other ingredients or your good company... another call for the artist. In time, your artistic abilities will grow. Hurry now.
Pour your hot coffee over the whiskey leaving a half-inch or so at the brim. This is to accommodate your cream. Before adding the cream, stir each mug quickly with the silver spoon. Two or three brisk swirls around the glass are all that is required... Top your creation with the whipped cream being careful to keep the coffee and cream separated. It is another Mortal Sin to mix the cream into the coffee. It MUST reside on top or it is off to Confession for you.
Serve immediately.

Serves as many as you have whiskey and the stamina for.