Diwali pics on Bhaiya Dooj

Its the third day after Diwali. The  third day after Diwali is   Bhau-dooj.
Being too busy i don't got time to post anything about Diwali on the Day of its actual celebrations .........

My story

रविवार दिनांक 29.04.18 को

वैशाख पूर्णिमा के उपलक्ष्य में कूर्म अवतार जयंती पर्व मनाया जाएगा। पद्म पुराण व नृसिंह पुराण के अनुसार कूर्म अर्थात कच्छप यानि कछुए को विष्णु का द्वितीय अवतार माना जाता है। शास्त्र भागवत पुराण, शतपथ ब्राह्मण, महाभारत व पद्मपुराण में उल्लेख है कि संतति प्रजनन के लिए प्रजापति ने कच्छप रूप धारण कर पानी में संचरण किया था। लिंग पुराण के अनुसार जब पृथ्वी रसातल को जा रही थी, तब विष्णु ने कच्छप रूप में अवतार लिया। उक्त कच्छप की पीठ का घेरा एक लाख योजन था। पद्मपुराण में वर्णन हैं कि इंद्र ने अहंकारवश ऋषि दुर्वासा द्वारा दी गई बहुमूल्य माला का निरादर कर दिया था। कुपित ऋषि दुर्वासा ने देवगणों को बलहीन, तेजहीन व ऐश्वर्यहीन कर दिया, जिससे देवगण अत्यंत निर्बल हो गए। मौका देखकर दैत्यराज बलि ने असुरों के साथ देवों पर आक्रमण कर स्वर्ग पर अपना आधिपत्य जमा लिया। सभी देवगण श्रीहरि के पास पहुंचे। 

श्रीहरि ने उन्हें समुद्र-मंथन कर अमृत प्राप्त कर उसका पान करने को कहा। अमृत के लालच में असुरों ने देवताओं के साथ मिलकर समुद्र मंथन किया। क्षीर सागर में मंद्राचल पर्वत को मंथनी, वासुकि नाग को रस्सी बनाया। श्रीहरि ने कच्छप अवतार धारण कर मंद्राचल को अपनी पीठ पर स्थापित कर समुद्र मंथन आरम्भ किया। कूर्म अवतार के कारण ही समुद्र मंथन संभव हो पाया, जिसके फलस्वरूप निधियों व लक्ष्मी की उत्पत्ति हुई व देवताओं को अमृत की प्राप्ति हुई। कूर्मावतार जयंती के विशेष पूजन उपाय व व्रत से शारीरिक बल में वृद्धि होती है, जीवन ऐश्वर्यवान बनता है तथा सामाजिक पराक्रम बढ़ता है। 

xoxo

SHISHIR

ITIS FINNALY THE TIME IN SHISHIR ....

Makar Sankranti  marks the transition of the sun into the zodiacal sign of Makara (Capricorn) on its celestial path, which is the first change in the zodiac after the winter. makar Sankranti is one of the few Hindu festivals which is celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year. It is regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase or the holy phase of transition marking the end of an inauspicious phase which begins around mid-December.

The auspicious day of Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of warmer and longer days as compared to nights.On the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, day and night are believed to be equally long.

XOXO

बेटी की पुस्तक

बेटी की पुस्तक का विमोचन जयपुर में होना था अतः इसी दौरान अजमेर एवं पुष्कर भी जाना हुआ

पुष्कर, (राजस्थान) में कार्तिक महीने में बारह दिन चलने वाला यह मेला सजे धजे पुष्कर के मैदान में होता है। पशुओं की ख़रीद-फरोख्त, ऊँट रेस, चूडियाँ, बर्तन, कपड़े, ऊँट की सवारी में काम आने वाली वस्तुएँ जैसे गद्दी और उसमें लगाने वाली रस्सी, फुँदने, घंटियाँ और सजावट के सामानों का आकर्षण व्यापार यहाँ होता है। कार्तिक पूर्णिमा के दिन श्रद्धा के साथ पुष्कर के पवित्र तालाब में डुबकी लगाने और ब्रह्मा के मंदिर में दर्शन करने की परंपरा हैं।

While scrolling mouse on pad i clicked the folder of March this year and found a photo of my "Navratri Jyot".i could'n hold myself to post the post on MAA DURGA 

HERE IT IS.............  

 The fallowing pic is  Jyot 'diya'  of Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ram Navratri or Basanti Puja is observed in the month Chaitra. It is observed from the first to the ninth day during Shukla Paksha waxing phase of moon of the month of Chaitra (March-April this time 21 March - 28 March) according to the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The ninth day is celebrated as Ram Navami 28 March in 2015. 
I usually place the idol of Goddess Durga along with other deities and ‘Matkaa’/’Ghat’(pot) during this period. I light the ‘Akhand Jyot’ ('diya' that burns for nine days) during this time. As per tradition, I put a pitcher or water pot, called Kalash or Ghat in Sanskrit/ Hindi   on the first day of Navaratri, at  that  auspicious moment.

‘Kalash’represents Earth and Water element.A ‘Kalash’ is believed to be a symbolic form of ‘MA Durga’ enchanting auspiciousness during ‘Navratras’.Keeping the ‘Kalash’ in the home invokes positivity everywhere. This ‘Kalash’must not be touched during the nine days.

I anybody wish to do this , take an earthen clay pitcher (‘Matkaa’), fill it with clean water and put some rose petals, one silver coin and  one penny in it; then cover it with clay pot lid and tie a ‘Raksha’ thread (‘Moli’/’Kalavaa’) around the neck of this earthen pot. Thereafter, fill rice in the clay pot lid above this ‘Matkaa’ and place a raw coconut covered in red cloth or red ‘Chunri’ at this ‘Kalash’.

'Jyoti’represents ‘Fire’, ‘Air’ and ‘Space’ elementssince lighting of the ‘Jyot’ emanates brightness in the room/house (’Space) and the fragrance (‘Fumes’) which purifies the ‘air’.

In ‘Navratras lighting of ‘Akhand Jyot’/ ‘Deep’ or an earthen lamp is an essential part of the prayer rituals (‘puja’) since the flame of the lamp and ‘jyoti’ has two significant qualities. First it banishes darkness and the secondly it is always upward/upright. The upward movement of the ‘Jyoti’ signifies the path of wisdom and the path of divinity. Flame also signifies the power of all the beings so it is also considered as form of MA Durga. Without ‘Fire Element’ or ‘Shakti’ no one can survive in this universe.It is believed that where daily ‘jyoti’ is lighted regularly especially at the time of ‘Navratras’, there can never be the darkness or evil forces at such dwellingplaces.

Preparation for ‘Akhand Jyot’:
 Mix saffron (‘Kesar’) and turmeric powder (‘Haldi’) in pure ‘Ghee’(Clarified Butter of cow milk) and use this ‘ghee’ only for the ‘Jyot’ during ‘Navratras’and while preparing ‘jyot’ always put ‘Chhoti Elaichi’ (Green Cardamom) in it and offer this to MA Durga.

Worshipping in Navratri is a way to enhance our non-physical approach and make our goddess happy to be at home fulfilling our wishes. Meditation is most authentic way to get involved with God and improve our ‘karmic’ deeds. This worship will be more successful when our offering would be done with practical aspect in proper direction. Vastu Shastra is a science which can lend you every earthly joy if its principles are followed with utmost trust.

Here is how Vastu tells you to do the puja:

1. ‘Ishaan kone’ (North-East) is considered as the directionof Gods. This is the best place to keep Goddess MA Durga’s idol in this direction.

2. If you are lighting ‘Akhand Jyot’ before the idol then keep it in the ‘Agneya kone’ (South-East).

3. Make sure you face east or north while performing the puja.

4. Make sure you clean up that area and there is no dirty clothes lying around the puja area.  

5. Never place the idol near bathroom or restroom.

6. Leave some place near the puja area to sit.
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Diwali, Bhaia dooj of 2014

It's third day of Diwali celebrations  that is  

Bhaia-dooj 

The simple jars with crochet  jackets   holding tea   lights thrown across the chest of drawer   adds so much drama.

my niece with her self stitched out-fit

A pooja that's normally performed at home annually this time coincided with Diwali

  

My daughter usually create a light filled home, which is really serene, relaxing, with an airy breezy feel and lots of punchs of colour. She is talented and she is a person with esthetic sense.

She did her diwali shopping from different markets of Delhi. She has used a lot of different natural textures to bring a homely feel, ....rugs,......blinds,.old art prints carefully handpicked from......hang in groups

All kinds of lamps come together, t lights in crochet jacket jars, traditional Haryanvi  oil lamps, candles and my new Haryanvi   Lantern(hidden below the chest). 

xoxo

Hand Made Diwali Luminaries

Behind a word as beautiful as "chandelier", hides tears lamp or chandelier. In addition, they are fashionable. When something into fashion in the world handmade unseen there is a competition to see who makes a more pompoms, yarn, or string. There's a lot of craft postureo back (we'll talk about that another day), but just take a look on pinterest .

  

                                         source

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significance of swastika and Lakshmi paduka on door In divali.

SWASTIKA & THE IMPRESSIONS OF THE FEET OF GODDESS LAKSHMI ON THE MAIN DOOR

It is a great Indian tradition to pay attention to the main door. Many households sports ‘Rangoli’ at the entrance. In Maharashtra and other states too, we find drawings of ‘swastika’ and ‘feet of Lakshmi’ the goddess of wealth near the door. In South India’ Rangoli’ is drawn in intricate fashion with wet wice flour (Kolam). This practice too is closely related to Feng Shui.

Lakshmi  paduka Attractive ‘Rangoli ’ attracts good cosmic vibrations. Don’t we focus our attention on an attractive object or a beautiful piece of art? The basic Feng- Shui principle is’where attention goes, energy flows’. Our ancestors too realized the importance of this aspect. They performed ‘umbara pujan’ i.e. worshipping the ‘threshhold’ of the house to keep the path of good energies open and to shun the evil ones. However, we tend to draw ‘Rangoli ’ rather thoughtlessly. There is a place for everything and the footprints of Lakshmi and Swastika  emblems are no exceptions. With the generous blessings of my Siddhaguruji, I am disclosing the secret of the right place  for these two symbols. On the left side of the  main door frame, nine inches above the floor, draw swastika and Lakshmi’s foot prints. Repeat the same on the right side. Today most apartments have a safety door. So these should be drawn between the safety door and main door on the door frame. Do not draw these symbols on the floor as they are stamped upon by visitors. These are potent symbols and should not be crushed under anyone’s feet. This should be followed rigidly as today’s landings are narrow. Entrance doors are small and apartments are too close to each other to have any open space. Swastika is a very powerful symbol and is associated with Ganesha and overall well- being. Most people hurriendly draw the symbol which leaves it incomplete and thus is meaningless. It is essential to make a note of this. The wings of this symbol should appear rotating in the right direction i.e. clockwise.  Swastika  The right side of the Swastika is the universal creation and progress and the left cannotes destruction. Swastika should always be drawn in red or orange colours. Usually, we tend to draw Swastika on Diwali day to usher in a prosperous new  year and forget it till the next Diwali. It is ideal to draw a Swastika, everyday using ‘vermillion’ or ‘Sindoor’ on the main door to activate positive energy and protect us from harmful energy. Use the ring finger while drawings and keep faith that the symbol  is going to be beneficial to you. Try this for aq month and see the difference for yourself. You will find many hurdles just melting away Above all, have sincere intention and faith. You will be rewarded with unbelievable blessings ! xoxo

Festive cleaning

·          

·        Its Holiday forValmiki Jayanti, it's the cool morning breeze with the hint of Chmeli  (a flower) in it. Then comes the articles in festival specials of newspapers and magazines and, finally, the in-built alarm goes off. Yes, it's time for  Diwali-cleaning. Diwali  just after 15 from now. The routine remains unvarying year after year.

 Take out everything, dust and polish and put them back. Admittedly some things do get thrown out, but most find their way back. Some, in the faint hope of getting it in working condition soon. It was a chance remark by our domestic help which made me wonder about the wisdom in hanging on to old stuff.

the cleaning mess

the living room 

Watching me surrounded and submerged in the clutter of decades, smy niece  picked up some baby clothes lovingly preserved by me  and wondered aloud, "What did you  plan to do with these? You could've given them away with the other clothes to  Krishan Pranami  Ashram, Hisar

cleaning mess at dinning area

..." True, her self-interest was evident, but so was the soundness of her advice.

What indeed could be done with outdated clothes, bags and footwear? More than finding any stirrings of delight in my little frocks, I'd been adding to my own avoidable burden by routinely unpacking and repacking them all these years.

What was I hoping for? That my  daughter  will be delighted seeing her  mother's party frock, her own Mickey Mouse diapers, her walker ?

mess in the kitchen

For a my little grand kids  perhaps, but the likelier thing would be that the poor girl  wouldn't know what to do with the mounds of memories she will inherit. It was with immense relief that I saw most of these things carted away to orphanages, which'd definitely find better use for them.

some relief after washing out the body dust! looking cool isn't it My d-in-law

The rest went to the    kabariwala. But, yes, the hoarding instinct can't be banished in a day so I'm hanging on to a few things which still live and breathe for me.

Among them a few brittle letters in a tin toffee box exchanges between my then newly-wed brothers; sage advice from nanu to a headstrong me and some sepia photographs. Clutter, did you say? Heirlooms, my friends, heirlooms. And also something for the next generation to do when they   clean for Diwali.

xxx

 

July/August day by day --------Janmashtami

                  July/August-- day by day --Rehana                                                     

  

Happy Janmashtami greeting to all  on the netThis is not a post on Significance of the festival, this is the explanation of our devotion in spite of Arya Samaaji’s by default (my great grandfather adopted AryaSamaj and was elected as president in a conference held at our Village Kharkari Makhwan  in the year1907). Later after the death of my grandfather’s younger brother, he left home and became a Bhajani and joined Bhajan Mandali I was born in  Pune my father was in Air Force. Basically I was born in a sahukar family of Haryana  and bred in a conservative, joint family(we used to visit our home  village  regularly . I  have enjoyed living together with my siblings and cousins under one roof learning good values of sharing, devotion to God and I grew up right under the gaze of local deity at Tosham   .but most of the time I used to live with my father at different city’s IAF complexes with my Krishna   devotee father, that’s why     I grew up being a staunch devotee of this Lord Krishna  who steals the heart of his bhaktas. The lovely face of Krishna with doe eyes,   His Pitambara , the peacock feather which added the extra grace, the magical flute which cast a  spell on his Gopikas in Dwarka   captivated my fancy too.   This is one God whom I feel I can stay connected to. Though it was only Bhaya-bhakthi in the childhood towards God. I have started realizing he is right within me like a constant companion.  

Lord Krishna

( Kheer, Churma )

I will be conducting the worship today evening. It would be a simple worship and would be

offering  Prasad ( goodies) many of which I have mentioned above and would end with an  Aarti.

 I only enjoy all the Prasad after 12:00 at night. The hole day used to be the fast day the feast

comes later after the midnight.

We should not be afraid of God. Our conscience must be clear and we must be able to share love or whatever we have to realize the strength of God within us. I don’t expect that God will appear in front of me if I do a tapasya, from where will he appear when He is within me? If we cannot love others whole-heartedly that means I am not loving myself.

I enjoy, preparing Haryanvi  relics ( Kheer, Churma ) and  decorating our parlour   with Photos, paintings of Lord Krishna, one being the most precious, a gift from my father which I attach a lot of sentiments. 

As I described in the paragraph above my father himself was a great devotee of Krishna and he uused to sit    in front of a photo of Krishna for his praaters ( Murali Krishna) in our house, a tradition which is still continuing.

 Janmashtam is always a grand festival in my paternal house as the house becomes a beehive of activity on that day. Prasad like    halwa, til laddu, sugarcane mixed with soaked bengalgram, kheer, dryfruits and fresh fruits and God’s favourite , sweetened butter are offered to the Lord .The preparation of all the prasada items and food for all the family members was solely prepared by my mom with we children chipping in with a minuscule of what she did. Hats off to her. I think she drew all the energy from the devotion she had for the Lord. I do not stand anywhere near her in terms of the kind of work she did.

 Festivals are time for indulging in sweets and lip smacking goodies. So when I say Lord resides in me we should really eat and enjoy so that it reaches the God. This is my philosophy.

 xoxo

Recycling cans ... / Recycling

 

If you have cutesy and charming cans at home, how about putting them in use now

for this Holi? Get thanks!

 

XOXO

Happy Holy

 

These days sun is in the phase of Uttarayana (Jan – July) Holi  is the festival of Uttarayana. Uttarayana  is a long period of dry heat, blazing summers and swirl dusty winds. During this uncomfortable season of heat, dust and winds the life withers and dies.  The heat takes away moisture from all living things. It is also the season of ‘hot’ diseases and epidemics. The village minor goddesses such as Shitala  (small pox) are ‘cooled’ or appeased (shanthi).

At the same time; Uttarayana is also the invigorating   , new good healthy wealthy beginning.  It is the time of harvest, gathering the fruits of your efforts.  Uttarayana is also the northward noble path (Deva Yana) that leads the virtuous to gods; and, is therefore called Uttarayana Punyakaala. The old warrior Bhishm Pitamaha  of Mahabharata  lay in wait on the bed of arrows for the arrival of Uttarayana. On the dawn of Uttarayana the Grand-old Bhishma chose to give up his life. Uttarayana is the time of fulfilment, while Dakshinayana  is the season of growing up.

 

Maha Shivaratri which heralds the true beginning of hot summers, as also the Holi  the festival of colours marking  the burning down of Kama are celebrated during Uttarayana.  Shivaratri, it is said, is the remembrance, in gratefulness, of Shiva the Neelkanta who saved the world by consuming the deadly poison thrown up after  samundraman manthan, churning of the ocean. And, Holi, in some parts of the country, is day on which the fearsome Narasimha killed the tyrant king Hiranyakashipu .

Many of the festivals in Uttarayana are in celebration of male gods. The season of six months from January to July is regarded   masculine in nature, while Dakshinayana  is the feminine phase of the Earth.

 

we used to make these cow dung garlands when we were kida

 

On the eve of Holi a pyre of cow dung cakes is lit amid much merriment. The preparations begin much earlier in the day. Like most Hindu festivals this ritual is a community event. Each family prepares a number of flat cakes with cow dung. These cakes are strung together when dry. The family then sends its cow dung garland to the place where the burning will take place. There a tripod like framework has already been erected from dry sticks. The cow dung garlands are hung on the sticks. The framework is then packed with hay. For the celebrations of holy click Here

xoxo