Lights, Sweets and Crackers are triplet of Diwali and its celebration!!!

Lights, Sweets and Crackers are triplet of Diwali and its celebration!!!


Lights:
     Generally, from my childhood, I have never seen seeing people celebrating Diwali with lights in Chennai (I spent most of my time till date in Chennai only), my native place and other parts of Tamil Nadu... However, I have learnt in my school days as "Diwali is a festival of lights".


Sweets:
     My mom starts preparing  2 or 3 days well in advance. I enjoy eating them for most of the day.


Crackers:
     I dont remember exactly when I stopped bursting crackers.... Probably it could be around 2002 or 2003, I stopped bursting them... mainly for two reasons. These two reasons may look imprudent, but still I owe not to burst crackers. Reason 1: It pollutes air a lot. Reason 2: Earlier child labor was involved in making of crackers. Now it is said that they have abolished child labor (Not sure how far it is true). 
     Explanation for Reason 1 may look complicated. Some could argue that, two wheeler also pollutes air and hence I could stop using it. However, I cannot afford to, since it has become mandatory for my transport other than trains or buses available.  
     I can refrain from crackers. I opine that I contribute for my nature to little extent for not  polluting her bursting crackers. Thanks to my parents as they support me for 9+ years.

First Loooooonnnnng Train Journey and Good learning!!!

Cultural interaction with an Assamese guy - Really liked it very much to know about Assamese culture! Following would brief this!


     I have traveled in trains earlier and this 2011 Diwali trip to my home town was not the first one!!!
     However, this was my first looonnnggg journey almost 26 hours! Last time when I traveled, close to 19 hours (it was "Chennai Express train" unlike "Mumbai Mail" this time!)
     I had almost slept for first few hours and after which I could not do so. I had already prepared to travel in train for long journey along with a book named "Krishna : The man and his philosophy" penned by Osho, followed by my regular weekly magazine "The Sunday Indian". I had couple of movies on my lappy as well. This looks like my preparation was good for long journey to spend my journey time!!!
     However, the actual was something different. The charging port next to my berth did not work and I had no other option other than switching off my lappy and spend my whole time on the book only.
     I had finished magazine and half way through the book. Since the cabin light was  switched off, I could not continue much on reading. I could not sleep as well due to the suffocation inside the compartment (AC was intermittently working in the compartment. Having repeatedly complaining to the coach attender, nothing worked out - Need to know how to file a complaint for AC not working in the compartment)
     There were two families: a kid (named Shawn) hardly 1 and half years and his parents (they are from Kolkata, settled in Pune going to Chennai to visit their relative house) , a girl (named Monita) probably 4 ~ 5 years and her parents (they are from Tamil Nadu, settled in Pune and goind to Tamil Nadu for vacation) and couple of working guys going for vacation to their home town... Arun, I forgot the other guy name (So bad about my memory!)
     There was another guy whose native was Assam, studied in Pune, worked in Gujarat for couple of years and then going to Chennai and Kerala for family trip. He was the guy whom I spent couple of hours knowing about new things!!!


     Bihu - Famous festival in Assam: Festival celebrated in Assam which is similar to Pongal in Tamil Nadu... He was explaining that this festival will be celebrated 4 times a year and all  people irrespective of cast and religion celebrate it!!!
     Language: He mentioned that Assamese is similar to Bengali. Few interesting facts he mentioned. Assamese does not have gender form unlike hindi... "Main aatha hun" (I am coming for masculine), "Main aathi hun" (I am coming for feminine). They follow universal gender... "Main aatha hun" for both masculine and feminine. This is similar to Bengali..
He also mentioned that almost for everything people use only "Eat" for "drink", "take", "Sip", "Smoke"... For example, instead of "Drink milk", they use "Eat milk"... Instead of "Smoke Cigarette", they use "Eat Cigarette".... This was quite interesting!
     Then we talked about dressings of Assamese people, food habits etc etc... He was interesting guy to explain about their culture and he was quite patient answering most of my questions.... He was also listening to my own tamil culture!!!!


     There was also another discussion with Punjab guy earlier (not in train)... I would blog it next time!!!!

Loving nature is loving thyself!!!

I was staying at Purna Nagar for few weeks after I came to Pune..
But I switched over to Sahu Nagar. 
I had many surprises when I came to Sahu Nagar flat....
One of them was huge garden in first floor!!! I felt that I was lucky to have big garden...
Initial days, Flat owner used to come and water all the plants...
But, I told him that I would be happy to water them...
It has become a practice for me to water them every two days once...
Whenever I go to my home town, I would take few roses from my garden (I own that as my garden until I stay in this flat...) to my home...
This time, I am planning for long vacation for Diwali... (~1.5 weeks). I would be missing my plants (However, my flat owner will take care of them)!!!!!


Loving nature is loving thyself!!!

Few things that makes me feel happy!!

Few things that makes me feel happy!!! 

Cooking is one of the things that makes me feel happy!!!

Everybody opines on cooking as great task.. or event.. or boredom.. or worse thing...

Outcome of my cooking was initially and definitely worst taste... which transformed into good taste. (This is to be commented by others who eat my food)! However, I take liberty to say that I have improved upon on my cooking in last 1 year... I could see taste it myself.

This made me to try new recipes whenever I get time. 

Now a days, I enjoy myself cooking and enjoy myself eating self cooked food. Hope I would graduate myself in cooking in next step... 

Being away from home

Guys or girls someday happen to be away from their parents on account of staying at hostel during school or college days... or account of new jobs away from home...


But situation calls for it... I happen to move out of my home after 25 years of my life on account my job!
Initially we tend to fear and think what would happen if parents wont be beside us to support...


But life teaches us lot when we are away from home!
But now after being out of home for more than a year, I feel more strong mentally!!!!!