Category Archives: festival

Without You I am Nothing, My Guru. 

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Hello my readers! Today, 13 July 2022, India is celebrating its Indian Teachers Day. This Teachers Day not only includes Teachers, but also our elders, in fact everyone. This Teacher’s Day is called “Guru Purnima”. That means whoever he or she is, that person is Guru (Teacher) to me, if he or she has taught something to me. “Guru” means “teacher or expert” and “Purnima” means “night and day of full moon day”. This Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of “Ashadha” (Indian calendar month, usually first month of monsoon season i.e. usually June / July) month.

After a long time, I am writing a post on Guru Purnima. I want to thank all my elders, teachers, my gurus, my God, my youngsters, my friends and also you (my reader) for guiding and supporting me throughout. Without you, I am nothing. Right from teaching me how to talk and walk till opening the right door for me, you were always there. Whenever I am completely flummoxed, I think about you, and think what would be the guidance or solution to this. You have taught me so well that thinking about you itself gives me the right path. I’m diminutive compared to you.

Sadyojat Shankara, Chritrapur Math
H.H. Shrimat Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji

A very big shout to all my elders, teachers, gurus, my god, youngsters, my friends, my readers, and not to forget my so-called enemies. Enemies, because even they have taught me to be alert, to be sharp enough, to be strong. So big big big thanks to all of you. Happy Guru Purnima. 

Without you, I am nothing, my Gurus. 

Ganesha – The God of Beginnings.

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In one of my previous posts, I had expressed negative views about festivals in India that festivals end up with bad news. This line didn’t go well with many people. I have many negative comments but thanks to wordpress, I have the authority to publish the comments which I want. So haters, you sit at home and enjoy this post.

Ganesh Chaturthi; hectic, vibrant and yet peaceful festival. Hectic because we have to do all the rituals, follow all the protocols to welcome Ganapati Bappa. Peaceful because, the moment Ganapati Bappa enters the house, you will automatically feel the positive vibes. The 10 days of Ganapati, not only bring peace but also bring all people together. As usual due to covid, this time too there will be restrictions. But I really miss this festival. Huge mandals, full on lights, staying awake the whole night with friends, playing some funny games so that we don’t get drowsy. We always come up with new slogans everytime, every year.

ek rupaiya ka chew gum, ganpati bappa singham..
garam Jalebi Fafda, Ganapati Bappa apda..
Kaha Chali Ho Goriya, Ganpati Bappa Moriya..
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Ganapati Bappa Superstar..
Videocon Samsung, Ganapati Bappa Handsome..
ek do teen chaar, Ganapati Cha Jai Jai kaar…

Whatever the occasion is, or going somewhere, or buying new things, “Ganapati Bappa Moriya” is a must. Feeling scared or feeling lonely, Ganapati Bappa is always there. That’s the vibe of our Ganapati Bappa. In my childhood days, I used to visit almost all the nearby mandals. Stand in queue or sometimes pay them to get direct entry. My favourite mandals is the one which had short stories in it. I still want to go, but this covid has given full stop to all these mandals. I really enjoyed not only the story but also the creativity, the designs and the decorations. Creating such mandals requires patience and intelligence. Really, hats off to them.

Lalbaughcha Raja, Year 2015

The festival has been publicly celebrated in Pune since the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Peshwa rulers  were devotees of Ganesh, and started a public Ganesh festival in their capital city of Pune. In every city, the view is different. How can one can’t pay tribute to Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati in Pune and Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai. Making a plan to visit these two places is a must. That huge crowd going only in one direction, no coming back and then eating vada pavs and tea. Ha ha, we Mumbaikar never say no to vada pav. Always available 24×7 in Mumbai.


Ganapati Idol Made of many super heroes. Near NL College, Malad West, Year 2015

But when it’s time to say Goodbye, almost everyone’s eyes get moist. As if someone is going for ever and will never return back. Yes, I do cry when I see Visarjan (Immersion). For two reasons, first obviously, I don’t want this festival to end and secondly, the way we do visarjan, sometimes not saying bye in proper good rituals. Hence eco-friendly Ganapati idols are a must. But we still have to urge people to go for it. How did you forget that Goosebumps, while performing aarti, that bells gongs and tintinnabulation. Whenever I see any Ganapati Idols, I wonder how these Ganapatis are made? Awesome art work and creativity.


Ganapati Idol made up of polo (mouth freshener), Near NL college, Malad West, Year 2013

Well, how come no negative content this time? Well then here it goes. I really really really HATE the collection of songs played by DJs during Anant Chaturthi. Why you want to show “Sheela’s Jawani” (Sheela’s youthfullness) to Ganapati Bappa, before his immersion? and why you want him to tell that “Munni” is “Badnaam” (Munni is infamous for bad reasons) for him. Well, this time, I am 100% sure that  “Zalimaa” (Merciless) will definitely give “coca-cola” and will urge Ganapati Bappa to “bhuja” her “aag” (Merciless, please give me cocoa-cola and extinguish the fire within me). Seriously!! Ha Ha!!.. Do check out some more pics here. 

Ganapati Bappa Moriya!

Dahi Handi – A Human Pyramid Game

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India is full of festivals and celebrations. 31 August, one more celebration in India and that is Dahi Handi (Dahi – Curd, Handi – earthen pot. Which means Curd inside the earthen pot). This festival represents Lord Krishna who’s love for ‘makkhan’ and ‘dahi’ and all other dairy products drove him to steal them from the residents of Vrindavan village. His foster mother, Yashoda would have to tie him up in an attempt to stop him from stealing from their neighbors. But the little ‘makkhan chor’ had the power of God on his side. Vrindavan women started tying their fresh curd at heights that Lord Krishna would not be able to reach. However, Lord Krishna was naughty and He, along with his friends formed a human pyramid to take that curd.

Obviously, many people don’t know the importance. They just play the Dahi Handi because they love it. In every society, you will find a mix of boys and girls celebrating this. In my childhood days, there were 2 types of Dahi Handi. One was the human pyramid and only boys used to climb on each other and break that Handi. The Other Game was for girls. The Handi used to be at a lower level, and we girls get  blindfold. With the help of one big stick, we used to search that Handi and break it.

As I grew up, I saw this as a business. There were professionals of both boys and girls who used to make human pyramids up to 20 feet and more . Also price money of 1 lac to 10 lacs rupees. Don’t know how much these people get in hand by risking their life. Many lost their lives too. Because the height of the tower is almost 7 to 10 floors. Watching them doing this is no doubt a magnificent view. But at the same time, you will feel ugly..

Ugly?? Yes, someone will touch you and go. In such crowded places girls always forbid themselves for such indecent incidents. Not only that, It’s not a holiday, hence I used to leave late from office to avoid traffic, rush and indecent behaviour from so-called highly educated people. Festivals, In India always end up with many such negative news. and all we do is nothing. We just wait for our law to take some actions. Anyways, Such businesses got banned. But still there are few who continue doing this.

On this auspicious day, many families cook maximum food whatever they can and offer it to Lord Krishna. Since Lord Krishna was born at midnight, all the Krishna temples in India get beautifully decorated and are open all night. Devotees play Holi too. Want to know more about Janmashtami? Click here. Jai Shree Krishna.

Image From Google