Diwali - a Lightful Joy

 

My Heartily Diwali Greetings to all!

When I think of India, a huge colorful picture of a country comes in front of my eyes. A country, which has so many issues and scandals. But this is the only country I guess, where every month of English calender has something to celebrate, it has at least a single reason to be joyous. India is a country of Festivals. So many festivals are celebrated here but the chief attraction of all the festivals is Diwali. India celebrates this festival with a great joy.

Hindus are never in more pleasant mood then they're in Diwali. Every year they plan for this day to come and when it comes, they feel so much divine. It is a moment of greatness for them. This festival is a king of all festivals in Hindu religion celebrated in India. Just like others, this festival also has a legend which reveals a reason for its celebration.

Diwali is celebrated on one day and that night is full of darkness (No moon in sky - Amavasya) but it comes in the bunch of some beautiful days which are as a whole known as Diwali. It has five days.
1) Dhanteras
2) Kali Chaudas/Nark Chaturdasi
3) Diwali
4) New Year
5) Bhai Bij

On Dhanteras, Hindus worship Laxmidevi for their divine blessings. They request the goddess to keep a soft corner for them. As a symbol of Laxmidevi, Hindus worship Gold/Silver ornaments and currencies and Shri Yantra but the meaning to do this ritual is to ask for prosperity. Some believe that Hindus worship money? No it is not a worship of Money but a worship of a Goddess, a woman, who is responsible for prosperity!


Kali Chaudas/Nark Chaturdasi is a day when, according to the old legend, Shri Krishna killed Devil Narkasur with the help of Kaali Maa (Hindu Goddess responsible for destruction). On this day, people worship Kaali Maa and Hanuman (An Indian God) and offer their salutations to come out of the dark. They ask for protection from evil spirits to Kaali Maa.

 
Diwali is a day of celebration. Anyone can have a question that a celebration is a result of something, an outcome of any hard work. What is that hard work? Yes, Hindus celebrate Diwali in order to remember the return of Shri Ram (An Indian God). After killing Ravan (A Devil King), Ram returned to his home Ayodhya on this day and as he was returning with Laxman (his younger brother) and Sita (His wife) after 14 long years, people of Ayodhya had found that moment very joyous and they wanted to make this day memorable forever. In order to show their dewy-eyed feelings, they decorated their houses, after completely and thoroughly cleaning it, with flowers and lighted lamps. For them, darkness was over as Ram was returning.

In order to remember this day, as a tradition, Diwali is celebrated. Hindus start cleaning their houses before at least two months when Diwali is about to come! This is their enthusiasm! They start working as a family on the upcoming of this day as for them the day is much important. On this day, they're not Mr./Mrs. Someone but a family. They start buying new clothes to wear. They buy fire crackers to celebrate. On these five days, they do Rangolis (Rangoli is a colorful design which is drawn on the floor) in order to welcome prosperity to their homes. They welcome positive energy with full heart.

 

The very next day is the day of New Year for Hindus. As in the ancient India, the very next day after Ram's return, Ayodhya was going to find its ultimate count who was acclaimed best of the bests kings ever. A new chapter was about to begin in everyone's life at Ayodhya as well as in the ancient India and in order to mark this day, they called this as a new year. A new beginning!

The same spirit of welcoming is there in India today also. People wake up very early this day, take good bath, put on new clothes and get out of their homes. They go to the temples early in the morning, they meet their relatives by any mean. Be it personally, on SMS, on Call, on Email or - rare ones do this but by Card/Letter. At least once in a whole year from the busy life, they gather on this day to wish others a very hopeful and happy new year.

New year is not a dance party or a liquor party all over India, but it is a spirit of welcoming new year with open arms. This day brings Indian families closer and bind them tightly. The day brings more unity in a Family as it is a day of all and not of any single person. It is a combined celebration for an Indian family which makes it more stronger, more reliable and more durable. There may be and yes, there are so many examples of disputes in Indian families but mark my words friends, this is a day when every Hindu wants to be with Family!

 

In the deeper corner of any Hindu, there lies a strong feeling that he/she wishes to be with the family. This feeling of togetherness is sculptured in India by the means of festivals and Diwali is on the throne. It makes it all what a family wants after a great hard work throughout the year. After every hard work, there has to be a harder party and for Hindus, it is Diwali. End of the past year and Hopeful beginning of a New year.

Celebrate this day with great joy India! 

I wish and pray on this auspicious day that all of us find every day Holi and night Diwali! May great GOD bless us Healthy Mind and Healthy Body for New Opportunities!

Happy Diwali and a Very Happy and Hopeful New Year.

Rain - The Festival of Nature

Nature has three seasons! Winter, Summer and Monsoon. Every season has its own significance in the life cycle but Monsoon, has the appeal! 

 

People have different opinions (Positive or Negative) for this beautiful season but to me this very season is the season of festival to the Nature. It is the time when Mother Nature changes her clothes after 8 months and puts on a new color - Green, as if she has applied a make over of a new bride to herself ! It is so soothing to eyes and to our soul.

When it rains, the only thing which floats is Peace ! The environment is deeply peaceful in this season. The life - the movements - the animals - the trees and plants,all, stop ! The only sound audible is the sound of rain. The sound which gives life to life. The sound which is so rejoicing. The sound which showers happiness.

In our so-called "Cultured" society system, many of us generally find it difficult to express our natural instinct, our original nature which is free and far from ego, which is down to earth, which is innocent like a child. But due to this so-called world of mannerism and etiquette, we hesitate and deny to enjoy, to rejoice, to celebrate freely as it seems foolish to the society.

But when it rains - "Is it raining outside? Wow !", almost this is the reaction of everyone. "Rain ! Let us do something thrilling. Let us Dance. Let us go outside and get wet. Let us eat hot snacks and have some tea. Let us roam in the rain. Let us Enjoy!" 

See? This is us! The very season of Rain has THIS much deeper appeal to everyone who is alive! Only in this season, we see the animals, creatures and humans very energetic. In no other season, we tend to have the feeling of excitement which, we do possess in this season. This is because the rainy season delivers the message to flow, to shower, to celebrate. 

When I find someone saying that they don't like Monsoon just because roads get dirty and nature looks terrible, I've to take a long breath! How is that Rains make you aware, only about the mud? Why can't we see the other side which is more beautiful and promising. 

In this season, Nature is at peak of Kindness. The rain fall is just like the blessings of God to the farmers who await for this moment to happen since they begin the farming. It is the time when the seed grows unto the trees, unto the grains. The food for the whole world is prepared in this season by nature and we just hate this delighting and blissful season just because, it makes our clothes wet and dirty? We catch cold and fever due to rain? We can't go to our job and can't perform our duties well just because it is raining and we don't want to get outside? 

We should understand this! We should understand that how boring we have made our life! Nature has tried its best to give us almost everything to enjoy but we forget, we ignore, we escape, we hate. 

Friends, this is the season of Celebration! Just watching the rain may also click in your mind than what not can be done to our psyche,if we just go outside of our roofs/raincoats/umbrellas and enjoy the rain? Believe me, the nature has nothing to harm us. It is we, who have made our life miserable and boring. This is the season, when there is natural joy in the air. If we can't be a part of that joy now, then when?

What great harm can cold/fever do to us? A few tablets? That's it! If we have enough time to look around, we will for sure find those who have no shelter and still they're fit! They don't get any cold or fever in this season. It is we who have be fooled our own selves by chanting this mantra - That rain is not good to health. If we can bring some courage to be there in the rain, we will find our selves merged with the nature because this is the time to be in the nature. Harmful is not to get wet in the rain, harmful is-not to be there in the rain. We have shrunk our minds! I don't say that fever doesn't come there. Yes it comes but only then when we don't have good immunity. Just due to bad habits of eating, we have damaged our armour and have been missing the chance.

If you get fever/cold, it is good. Good because, it is indicating that you've a bad immunity - Do something for that. So dare to take fever/cold at least once in Monsoon by being in the Rains. It is so delighting.

Just Be there when it rains! Close your eyes and open your arms to greet the blessings and Dance! I am sure you will never want to miss this chance again! 

Happy Monsoon!!!

Tarak Maheta Ka Ooltah Chasmah

There were times in late 1970s, when Innocent comedy has only one synonym "Hrishikesh Mukherjee" in Indian cinemas. He represented his understanding of humor in variety of his films of that time. That legend continued till the end of 1970 and then there was a gap! A big gap in the field of Pure Comedy. Yes, there were of course so many films and TV serials which may claim today, to be comedy drama, but they didn't have the magical touch of Hrishi-Da. Whenever, I used to see any of the films by Hrishi-Da, I was on the path of thoughts that when would be the time again when such innocence would take place for the Indian audience?

But Kudos to one TV channel that they aired one of the greatest attempt in the field of Comedy in Tellywood, on 28th Jul - 2008 which is known as "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah". This is one of the best comedy TV serials ever made in the Television history according to me. It may be possible that this award is yet to be given but I can see very clearly that it is going to be, if the serial continues to give same amount of quality which it has been delivering since 2008 to the present date of 2012.

Today, in the times of stress and tension, when people almost had forgotten to laugh, "Taarak.." came like the drops of rain in the desert. Many would find my words over-rating, but this serial actually has amazed so many individuals from the cine world. Today, people are after the director and producer of this serial, to be in their cast. Many top most celebrities, including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Abhisek Bachchan have come in this show to promote their upcoming films. Imagine the hype of this serial. The film stars who are almost unavailable to the TV Screen, grab two to three episodes of the serial for their promotion. What has made this serial so popular and successful?

Of course, it is the taste of humor which is given in this serial. In our day to day life, we people can't wish to have a luxurious suit to party. Nor we can wish to go on watching the best comedy creations all the time. It is our natural humor that makes the life easy. Humor is one of the virtues which is at peak when we are surrounded with our dear ones. When we share jokes and make pranks, our stress automatically decreases because in the very stage of pure laughter, thoughts stop coming to the mind. They're thoughts which bring the feelings of happiness and sadness to us. When we're busy in laughing and enjoying with our friends or relatives, our thoughts of sadness disappear and life becomes living heaven to us. The entire cast is dedicated to give this natural happiness to all Indians. Every episode has something to deliver except laughter.

Jethalal and Daya are almost in everyone's heart. I totally agree that there are so many people who find the accent of Daya very disgusting. They find her miserable and manner less in today's times, when people pay to others to learn different types of manners! But for me, Daya is not miserable or manner less. She represents the very essence of a woman belonging to village culture - who doesn't know how to speak but very well knows how to greet the guests with respect. Who may not know how to talk but knows very well how to explain and tackle the tough situations through proper negotiation! For me, Daya is a character of that Indian woman which is only total with her family. For her, nothing lies in this world, when there is no family. Daya represents the character of a house wife which is only beautiful when she has some mistakes in her. A housewife should be somehow naughty and playful like Daya. Corporate culture spoils the whole game in families!

On the other hand, Jethalal is a character of an obidient son, almost everytime disturbed brother in law of Sundar and husband of  Daya, proud owner of Gada electronics and father of Tapu - the mischief. He shares great chemistry with Daya and from their day to day life, stories of serial arise.

The serial not only puts weight on laughter but also takes care of the other subjects. They're the first of their kind who showed on TV that celebration of festivals is for the sake of happiness which grows older by sharing with one another in a team. They also don't forget to catch up with current affairs of the country.

"Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmaah" is a complete package. One should not miss it if one wishes to know about family, friends, pranks and happiness. Most of all - the serial represents the UNITY factor amongst the society members who belong to different religions and cultures. In Gokuldham society where these characters live, you can find whole INDIA and at least can dream of Ideal India!

Janmashtami - Celebration of Happiness

"Nand Gher Anand Bhayo - Jay Kanaiya Lal ki " - The heart throbbing voices will certainly bring your attention to a huge personality - Krishna! Today, Indians celebrate the birthday of the one who claims to have an almighty persona for Hindus and to so many other people belonging to other religions.

For Hindus, it is a festival of joy. It is a festival when they forget all their worries, sadness and hatred towards anyone and be one with the divine consciousness. They dance, they enjoy! As Krishna means celebration. Celebrate this very moment fully as there is no tomorrow.

Every Master or Avatara has something to contribute to the world. They always come for the sake of the world's salvation. Their every fur lives for that but in our so called intelligence, we fail to recognize them. As the divine consciousness has to come in the form of a human being, it becomes very difficult to know their reality. We can't understand them at the time of their presence, and we regret this, when they're out of this earth! This is reality.

The same has been happening to Krishna today also. So many followers of him, can't understand him. For so many people, he is someone with unmatched values. He was GOD and things which he could do, can't be done by anyone on this earth. True, when this comes to his divine acts but Shri Krishna was never here to show his immense power. He visited this planet to bring up the divinity hidden in every human being! He visited this planet to strengthen the confidence of a common man. The Geeta has every reason to vote for Shri Krishna as a GURU, in this matter! Otherwise how is it possible that a person who can kill so many powerful devils of that time in the childhood, didn't kill them with his one wish without taking birth? What was the neccessity for him to take a birth as a human with two hands and legs? 

He certainly could do that, but if Shri Krishna would have done that, people could have lost their faith from GOD. People would not have found any reason to grow their confidence. They didn't come to know that only TRUTH prevails. That is why even GOD has to come in the form of Shri Krishna!

So many Avataras came and went from this planet earth but Krishna is someone alive today also! There are so many examples of his mysterious acts and so many people who are not deeply aware about Krishna's magnificent character, understand him a mystic or a wizard! They today also, recognize him a mythological character of ancient Indian history. I don't want to waste my time in arguing that whether Shri Krishna was there or not or even he is GOD or not because these are the questions of logic and logic can't feel! 

One who has every reason to reason, can't feel the divinity of Shri Krishna. To me, GOD is to feel. Feel him and thou shalt come to you.

 

On the auspicious day of Janmashtami, I wish to share a few thoughts of mine about Shri Krishna but thinking of his gigantic aura, I fail! I fail to express him in totality because you can explain the attributes of water in the glass but what can you do when you are asked to explain the attributes of the water in the SEA? Krishna is something unavailable to be explained fully but I shall make a try to highlight some of his extraordinary characteristics.

Krishna was first a common man! He doesn't show his power and prestige to his family members, friends and colleagues or to any unknown person. He acts normally, eats normally and performs his day to day activities very normally like any human being. He doesn't behave abnormally when he knows very well that he can do anything and everything. This is the most fascinating truth about him! 

Whereas Today, we (!), so called Krishna followers, if we've earned a few bucks or represent power in any way then, it is a matter of great victory to us like never before and then we can't act normal, to our colleagues, to our friends and to our family members (!) too. If we can bring egoless-ness like Shri Krishna, half of our battle is over.

We can imagine the power of a ruler whose army was the top most in the ancient world. Who had not a golden fort but a city of GOLD like Ravana had in his times. You can imagine the power of a person upon whose advice, the all time great warriors - Pandavas, took their way of life. Shri Krishna was not a weak person, he had everything. He was on the top of the materialistic world and this richest and powerful personality was anxious, after his poor friend Sudama's arrival! 

His commitment to friendship is almost unspeakable. He was almost mad upon hearing the news of Sudama's arrival and ran like a child to receive the friend. At that time, he neither cared for his status nor he thought of others. He just met his best friend and did everything to please him. Like a servant, he cleaned his dirty feet by his own hands. Imagine(!), by the hands of the king of Dwarika, poor Sudama had a service of cleaning his feet! 

Can we show a little of this love to our any dear friend(s) if we have 5% of what Shri Krishna had? We normally don't show this but Yes, we can do this as we are not part of the dark but we are the intense part of supreme consciousness - Shri Krishna. If we can be a true friend like him, no friend of ours will stay away. No our friend will find a moment to remember us with sadness.

The other most attractive color of Krishna's character is his wisdom of being in everything by not being in anything. We can get a glimpse of this in the meetings of (1) Sudama and Krishna and (2) Vidur and Krishna. 

(1) Upon asking Sudama that what has my Bhabhi (Wife of Sudama) has sent for me, Krishna saw that Sudama tried to hide something and as soon as he sees this, he snatches away the handkerchief of Sudama and eats uncooked rice from it. 

(2) The same thing can be seen when before Mahabharat's battle, Krishna went to Hastinapur (Capital of Ancient India), he accepted the request of Vidur to dine at his place and in Vidur's house he eats green vegetables.

A person who always eats the best food can't eat such common things if he doesn't have non attachment quality. It is something which has made him today on the top in every part of life. 

Also since his childhood, he did so many furious and naughty things, but I fail to find any single instance where he backed out from his duties. He performed his all duties so well that it becomes impossible to imagine for people like us that, Alaas! how did he do it? He didn't entertain idleness and cowardice and performed all his duties with non attachment. 

He always inspires to perform our duties with non attachment so the results can't threaten us. They're the results which make us more miserable. We don't concentrate on our actions more but we do it for the results and that is why we are afraid of doing our duties. If we can inherit this quality from Krishna, we can be the master of our life.  

Shri Krishna is everything. You can fix him in any character you like.If you don't like Krishna, you can call him a cheater by giving the evidences of the war between Jarasandh and Bhim, Duryodhan and Bhim and in the battle field of Kurukshetra, where Mahabharat was fought, when he, by his almighty power, hided the Sun for few minutes to bring Jayadratha out so that Arjun can fulfill his commitment of killing him before sunset. You can find so many examples like these. However, he did this for truth but as there are no doors to thoughts, people may have this understanding of him as a cheater or an enemy.

And if you love him, like I do, you can call him the BEST - Friend, Lover, King, Guide, Guru, Husband, Father and what not. You can't fit any normal person perfectly in both negative and positive dimensions if he is not Complete! 

To me, Krishna is not a person but an ageless happiness and celebration. If you are tired, sad or if you are having endless nightmares, go to Krishna. Just visit him once like you do to Doctors. I don't say that he will take all your pain, he will never! But yes, he will make you stronger. He is not to take your pain, he is there to bless you, he is there to inspire you, he is there to acknowledge your success, he is there to make you aware that you are not alone. 

What more can I say as sometimes, words play a futile role. Just Go to him and Feel him to the fullest and you will your self know, Who Krishna is!