Festival of Raksha Bandhan

Missing my Indian festivals a lot

August 29 is Raksha Bandhan an Indian festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

On this day sisters tie a Rakhi (a sacred thread) on their brother's wrist. It symbolises a sister's love and prayers for the well-being off her brother and her brother's lifelong vow to protect her. Hence Raksha - to protect   Bandhan - to tie.

I haven't celebrated this festival for a long time as my brother and I live in different countries. But when we were together in India, I would tie a rakhi on his wrist and give him his favourite sweet (chocolate or cake) and he would give me a gift, usually money.

I think this is a beautiful tradition that brings brothers and sisters closer and reinforces the loving bond that siblings have.

I think the tradition originated sometime in the 1500s when soldiers went to war, their families tied a sacred thread to bless them for success and thereby protect the families and villages.

Raksha Bandhan is one of my favourite festivals and I miss it a lot.

a virtual rakhi for my brother which I will send to him next weekend

Some fragments for Friday though it is now Sunday :)

Updating my CV - less is more is my mantra for it and I've been culling a lot from it. It's looking pretty good now.

Each time my son's assignment hand in date nears, I wonder if it's my test or his.

Winter is nearly over and I am looking forward to some warmer days. It's been so cold lately.

Hope you all had a great week.


Linking to:
Letter F at ABC Wednesday
Six Word Saturday
Wordless Wednesday at Abracadabra
Friday Fragments
Snap Your Week
Friday Reflections - tell us about your brother or sister


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Christmas Spirit

It's starting to feel like Christmas

This year has flown by so fast and the last few months I've been so busy at work that all I wanted was the year to end and my Christmas - New Year holidays to begin.

The Christmas spirit just wasn't coming through and the enthusiasm for Christmas was really waning.

But my holidays have begun and the tree is up and it's finally starting to feel like Christmas.

I started a tradition after my son was born to buy an ornament each for my daughter and son. Even though they've grown up, the thrill of buying them an ornament still continues.

So here they are for this year

My card this year for Christmas

Wish you all Peace Love and Joy this Christmas and always.  Have a Blessed one.


The Thursday Challenge this week is a favourite photo for 2013. There were so many and so hard to choose.

So I closed in on some and not surprising they all seemed to be of the sky. The sky is so fascinating but the moon is mesmerising and when you have both you can't help be drawn to it.

And so I chose this picture:

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The Festival of Lights

Happy Diwali and Happy New Year

Today (November 03 2103)  is Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by Indians all over the world.

Diwali marks the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The people rejoiced and lit lamps in his honour marking the end of the dark days when Lord Rama was in exile and the commencement of Lord Rama's reign as king which was a period of great joy and prosperity for the people.

That tradition of lighting lamps or little diyas continues today. It signifies the end of darkness and the start of new things, of happy and bright days. Hence some communities (mine included) celebrate the day after Diwali as the New Year.

Diwali always brings great surprises and I had an unexpected visit from my lovely friend that brought me great joy today.

And here are my little lamps - in keeping with tradition - my quiet celebration of Diwali. Not quite the traditional diyas but good enough I think.

Wishing you all good health, wealth and prosperity, peace, happiness, love, and many blessings.

May your path be a joyful one and may His light be ever present.




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Linking to: 

 This Moment - Soule Mama 

A single photo capturing a moment 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment 

A moment I want to pause, savour and remember

Wordless Wednesday at Abracadabra

TLC

My neglected blog deserves some TLC

I've been busy the last week with a 7 day blogging challenge over at my blog Someday Somewhere so unfortunately this blog took a back seat and was neglected :( But it's time to give it some TLC.

I'ts been an exciting week with the America's Cup taking place in San Francisco with Team New Zealand and Team Oracle (USA) in the finals. And Team NZ is currently sitting at 6-0 so 3 more races to win for TNZ to take the cup. Every kiwi must be crossing fingers and toes. We  had one heart-stopping moment this morning when the TNZ boat nearly capsized but thankfully came upright again. Go kiwis.

On Monday 9 September we celebrated Ganesh Chathurthi the birthday of Lord Ganesh. The festival lasts for approximately 10 days after which the idols are immersed into the sea. It's one of the grandest festivals and one I enjoyed a lot when I lived in Mumbai. Lord Ganesh is believed to be the remover of any obstacles and has great wisdom. All new ventures or auspicious events begin with a Ganesh pooja (prayer ritual). Here's a picture of one of my Ganesh's but of course we won't be immersing him into the sea. May you all receive many blessings and joy from Lord Ganesh.

We've had some incredible weather lately - sunny and not too cold. Some spectacular skies too. Here's a picture I took some days ago. Reminded me of fairy wings. 

Linking to:

Thursday Challenge
Prompt: "BLUE" (Sky, Jewels, Birds, Balloons,...)

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Goodbye 2011 and Hello 2012

Wish you all an awesome 2012 - May all your dreams and wishes come true - I know mine will.

Thank you all for visiting and reading my blog and for all the lovely comments that you take the time to write.


Warm Regards

The Festival of Lights

October 26 2011 Indians all over the world celebrate Diwali the festival of lights.

Diwali signifies the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, the end of any darkness in our lives and the hope of bright and happy days. Hence the lighting of the lamps or diyas.

Some Indian communities celebrate the day after Diwali as the New Year.

So here's wishing all of you a very Happy Diwali and a Happy New Year or Sal Mubarak (sal = year, mubarak = auspicious blessings).

Wish you all peace, love, good health, prosperity and joy.

Here are my Diwali lights

Linking to

Spooks and Sparkles

It'z Festival Time

Weekend Bloggy Reading Link up #28

Shopo Giveaway Wish List

To make our Diwali extra special Colours Dekor and Shopo.in are giving away a gift to 3 lucky winners.

So here is my wish list (in no particular order) :

I love bags so this purple Silk Tote is perfect for my ever growing collection.

I collect mugs and love this Hand painted terracotta mug

I love Rangoli, but haven't got a clue how to do it. The weather here is just not conducive to powder rangoli so this beautiful Rangoli blocks 6 piece set would be just perfect. I could put it anywhere - on the table, in the foyer, even on the carpet.

Scarves, stoles, odhnis, dupattas are so useful all year round here. And this Cotton yarn dye multi coloured stole is so pretty.

Thanks  Colours Dekor and Shopo.in and good luck to everyone.

Linking this to

My Perpetual Christmas Tree

Plants, sad to say, just do not like me. No matter how hard I try, I just seem to destroy them.

Many years ago in my teenage years, my parents left me in charge of their beloved plants while they travelled. I followed every detailed instruction and yet the plants drooped. On the day they came back, Dad looked at the plants, watered them again and the next morning, they were bright and chirpy.  Hmmm. Maybe this is plant karma for me.

Then about 14 years ago a friend gave me a plant and somehow this plant has managed to flourish and survive with me. I think this is the only plant in the world that likes me.

I call this my Perpetual Christmas Tree (PCT) because I hang my cute little animal toys on it and when Christmas comes along, I'll add some glitter and make it sparkle. Maybe it likes that. Maybe that's why it thrives.

I think hanging these toys, brings out the kid in me. The kid loved it before but now thinks I'm a little nuts (don't you love it when they grow up!).

But I love looking at this plant - it's just so cheerful.

So here it is, my lovely PCT.

Linking this to:
Spooks and Sparkles
Itz Festival Time 2011
Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up

The Indian festival of Dussehra

Today 6 October 2011 Indians celebrate Dussehra.  So Happy Dussehra to everyone.

Dussehra marks the day when the Lord Ram defeated the demon King Ravana. The battle took place for 10 days so Dussehra marks the 10th day (Dus = 10).

Preceding Dussehra Indians celebrate the festival of Navratri (Nav = 9 Ratri = nights). In Gujarat Navratri is celebrated with folk dancing of Raas - Garba

But more importantly, for me, according to the Indian calendar (lunar calendar) Dussehra is my mother's birthday and today she is 75 years old. Happy Birthday Mum.

Today we celebrate simply with offerings of sweets and flowers to the Gods at the temple and my mother will have the privilege of performing the Aarti at the temple.

Here is a pic of the offerings today for my mother's birthday.

Links:
Dussehra  Navratri  Raas  Garba  Aarti

This is linked to Colours Dekor Spooks and Sparkles

Vatican City

Some interesting facts about Vatican City:

o  smallest independent "nation state" in the world

o exists within a walled enclave of Rome, Italy

o  the Pope is the head of state

o  issues its own passports

o  has its own telephone system, post office, pharmacy and
    banking system

o controls its own internet domain which is registered as .va

o  a contingent of Swiss Guards is responsible for the safety of
    the Pope

Here are my pics of Vatican City. I visited just after the New Year in 1994 so it was still festive with Christmas displays. Really wonderful to be there at that time.

 St Peter's Basilica

 St Peter's Square

Christmas Display in St Peter's Square

Related Posts:
Rome - The Colosseum
Rome - Roman Forum and Palace of Septimius Severus
Roman Arches


Links:  Wikipedia Vatican City

Snow Snow Snow

It is absolutely freezing here in NZ. We even had snow fall today in my city and that's pretty rare.

So in keeping with the snow, here are my New York snowy pictures. These were taken the day after Christmas.

Looking at these pics takes me back in time to such a fun Christmas. The kid had fun too and loved the snow.

Also check out my other snowy pics:
The Tappan Zee Bridge
Playing in the Snow
The Bronx Zoo
Windows in Winter

Christmas Lights

Thought I'd stay on the theme of Christmas.

Here are pics of Christmas lights in New York. They were fun to see. 

The kid loved the lights and was fascinated by them. The kid had never seen anything like this before.

Windows

Thought I'd post something quite different.

Here are two windows in New York's winter. And they bring back memories of a lovely Christmas.