The Honest Invitation

Hello my readers! A fantastic day to all. Well, you all must have come to know that  I reside in India. So in India, we respect our religion, our culture. Hence, we have to give invitations for our happiness. Whether it is a child’s first birthday party or marriage or success or settling abroad, we have to invite all, by giving proper invitations. Earlier, there was a one concept of invitation card, where it was kind of rule to go to our friends or relatives house, invite them and handover the invitation card to them. But now since WhatsApp is ruling everywhere, we create one image and send it in WhatsApp group. But still we Indians need an invitation card for marriage functions else we don’t go and also complain to others that we didn’t get any invitation. Also, the phone call is a must, else the complaint will be that we were not invited by heart. So, we spend a lot on the invitation card and write many things on it like welcome stanza, who is getting married to whom, lunch time, dinner time, reception time and address. But we ignore everything, except for lunch time and dinner time.

So, such is the case and such functions have lots of comments composed by friends or relatives that they didn’t like the food. We get to hear 98% negative comments and only 2% positive comments. The negative comments are mostly on food and on the bride’s look. Since, we have come to such functions only for food and hence we expect very good quality of food from the bride’s family. Usually, The arrangements of marriages function in India  are done by the bride’s family. Very few cases are there, where both the families agreed on the expenses. So, if we don’t get food as per our expectation then we don’t blame the caterers, we blame the bride’s family.

In one marriage function, few people literally insulted the bride’s family just because they had kept typical Indian food on the menu. The guests were expecting Italian, Mexican and all. But since they got simple food, they thought they had the right to say the same on the bride’s family face and be a snollygoster.  But they still bibble over their food. Well, The money was paid by the bride’s family and not by us.

Every marriage or any other function has such comments. Yes, there were comments on my marriage too. One even complained about the location of the banquet hall. They said that the  banquet hall was too far from their house and they are tired of travelling. Wow, you should have told me this before. I would have kept my marriage function in your house only. At Least I didn’t have to pay for the banquet hall. Such flotsam and jetsam comments take an emotional toll. For a few days only, but that few days the family goes through hell. Sleepless nights and the tiredness are unbroken.

So, I was thinking, what if we start giving honest invitations. What will the content be? Since I have written more on marriage functions, let’s start with the marriage invitation card.



Amrish Puri and Shahrukh Khan did “Aau Aau” to pigeons in movie Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jaayenge (DDLJ), 
In the same way, XYZ family is doing “Aau Aau” to you and cordially invites you to the wedding of
Mr. ABC and Ms. CBA
on DD / MM, YYYY
from 7pm onwards,
followed by dinner at this address.

Since we have spent a lot hence we will accept only cash as a gift starting from 2000 Rps.
The dinner menu is as per the taste of the groom and  bride because it’s their day and not yours.
Return gifts will be given only to present members, not to the whole family. Don’t slyly ask for it.
The reception time is from 7pm to 9pm and no one will be entertained after 9pm because the couple will be more tired than you.

Thanks, Do come with your heart and soul.

I know, such an invitation is just a dream. But, to be on a lighter note, we should try to keep our mouth shut. No family orders for unappetizing food on the D-day, after spending extravagantly. It’s the caterers that don’t care. So it’s the duty of money spender to shout at them and not your duty to make them feel low. So next time, when you get an invitation, just enjoy, meet and greet others. Such comments have made the younger generation not to celebrate any functions with all. They enjoy it with their friends only because when they get taunted, they can insult their friends. Remember, days are gone when we were taught that elders are everything, respect them, don’t question them. This generation knows to give respect only if they get respect and they will always ask this question, “Why?”.. Well, this generation is good because they know the answer to everything. and we just know because our elders did it.

So, stay in touch, be happy and stop taunting. Enjoy the meet and be respected by all.

The Honest Invitation

The Incredible Independent India

15 August, 1947, though I was not born in that year, I haven’t seen the victory of magnificent India. Yet I can feel happiness when I read it in history or on the internet. The actual feeling comes out when someone has witnessed those days.  and you actually feel that you too belong to those days. I still remember, when my uncle who belonged to those days, narrated his story, of how they used to play the dangerous hide-and-seek games with Britishers and how they actually celebrated the victory. After hearing his story, I went to my friends and narrated this story as if I was present in those days. 

20180815_165627

India Flag, Dukes Retreat Resort, Khandala

In these internet days, we all get information on Independence day and hence will not copy-paste those contents here. I want you all to visit India and also experience their culture. Here are some wonderful photos of magnificent India. Well, I haven’t seen all of India, But here are some of my collections. Let’s start with  the place I belong to.

Mumbai.
Mumbai has some pretty places like Sanjay Gandhi National Park where you can go for a morning walk. It has a mini train ride and boating too. So pack your bag, full of snacks and go for a picnic. Mumbai also has Marine Drive, Gateway Of India, Juhu beach. Infact Mumbai is a mini Goa. Beaches, parties and shopping.

20170715_180951 (1)

Worli Sea Face

Pune.
Pune has a lot of places to visit. Best season to visit is during the monsoon and winter season. Pune is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birthplace. And hence has many historic places to visit. Sinhagad Fort, Lohagad Fort, Shivneri Fort. Please visit these forts, not only for scenic beauty but also to acquire information on these legends. It is worth listening to.

IMG-20170617-WA0008

Sinhagad Fort

Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar:
Another hill station in Maharashtra, to visit during monsoon and winter. These places are adjacent to each other and have many scenic beauty points including Pratapgad Fort

Matheran:
Matheran is near Mumbai and Pune. This place is situated in forests and has a very beautiful scenery. You can either walk or take a horse ride. Vehicles are not allowed here.

Dapoli:
Maharashtra has this konkan region. And in this konkan region, there are many places like Dapoli, Ganapatipule, Diveagar, Harihareshwar, etc. Best to visit during monsoon season. And this place is again full of beaches and temples.

IMG_20140815_164955313-PANO

Dapoli

Goa.
The only place in India where tourists want to relax. Goa has more beaches and parties. But Goa has various temples too. Visit South Goa now, If you are almost a regular visitor. And Don’t Forget The Incredible DudhSagar Waterfall.

Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalaxmi Temple, Ponda

Leh Ladakh:
No words to express the beauty of this place. The extremely most beautiful place in the whole world. This place is so beautiful that adjacent countries want to capture this place. Though a risky place to visit because of political issues but Indian military and the local people help a lot to make this place a tourist attraction.

IMG-20160602-WA0001

Pangong Tso

Lachung, Gangtok, Sikkim, Darjeeling:
If you are visiting north-east India, Don’t forget to visit Lachung. It is the most mesmerizing place with Zero Point and Yumthang Valley. This place is listed in zero-plastic zone and high military zone. Do keep this place in your bucket list followed by other north east states like Gangtok, Sikkim, Darjeeling.

Zero Point, Lachung

Zero Point, Lachung

 

Mount Abu:
Situated in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is a hill station. Here the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center is a must visit for relaxation.

Ooty, Kodaikanal:
The land of Flowers. Visit this tea plantation place during monsoon and winter. The place is full of tea plantations and pine tree forest and also very big open lawns. If you visit here, then make sure to take a toy train ride that takes you through the Nilgiri mountains.

Kerala:
Kerala is known as God’s own country. This place has many small hill stations like Munnar, Thekkady with their tea and spices plantation.

DSCF1083

Kerala, Kalathil lake Resort, Kumarakom. 

There are many, many many places in India. If I keep listing all, then the post will be too long. Please make a proper plan to visit India. Because there are many places in one state itself. They say that it will take you a lifetime to see each and every corner of India. Yet you will leave behind something. India is not only about historic places but also about spirituality. You will find inner peace when you visit places like Kedarnath, Rishikesh. Mine is yet to visit. 

Happy Independence day to all.. Jai Hind..  Bharat Mata Ki Jai… Vande Mataram