Ganesh Chaturthi....

  

Last week we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, one of my  the most favorite festivals since childhood. Growing up      in India I have very fond memories of Ganesh Utshav. Now, as any immigrant parent raising kids here in United states I struggle to teach my kids the  cultures and festivals of the back home. Times have change and so do we. However, what is not changed are those fond memories of childhood celebrating Ganesh Utstav. SO today I wanted to share with you  Why and how we celebrate this Ganesh Utstav and little bit background of this festival which is  one of the biggest social event celebrated dearly not only in each and every home but from the smallest nuke of the colonies, villages , cities , offices everywhere bringing people together.

In Hindu religion there are many Gods, however, lord Ganesha is the most divine figure you will find in each and every Indian's heart and in home in many unimaginable forms. You will find it in the  car,  on the highest roof of the cupboard , in the living room or on the study table, on the calendars , on the wedding cards. Lord Ganesha has a elephant head, 4 hands , a big belly , one tooth and he has a rat as his vehicle . Though it has unconventional appearance Lord Ganesha is a symbol of intelligence, is the Lord of arts and sciences and the deva of wisdom, he is removal of obstacles and he is honored at the start of rituals and ceremonies as he's considered the God of beginnings. 

 Lord Ganesh is the son of Shiva - the destroyer and Goddess Parwati. There is very interesting story of the birth of Ganesha and how did he get an Elephant head and my kids never get tired listening the story. Ganesh is also called Ganapati- meaning who was created without "pati" meaning a man/husband. The great god Shiva used to go for meditation on the mountain Kailash years and years , and while he was away  Parwati with her powers created a son for herself from her own sweat and sandalwood she was wearing on her skin. Thus Ganesha is born from his mother Goddess Parwati and unware of his father Lord Shiva. One day Parwati was taking a bath and she asks Ganesha to guard her chamber and asks him not to let anyone enter. Obedient Ganesha is following her mother's orders when Lord Shiva comes back from his meditation and demands to enter the chamber, unknown of his father Ganesh denies him the entrance. Lord Shiva cannot bear the rudeness of the small kid and unknown of his own son, he cuts his head with his Trishul. At the same time Parwati enters and seeing Ganesha beheaded by her husband gets angry and horrified , asks Shiva to bring her dear son back to life. Realizing that he had beheaded his own Son , remorseful Lord Shiva  says there is only one way he can bring Ganesha back to life. He asks his ganas- attendants to go and find any living animal in few seconds and whatever animal they find he can use his head to replace Ganesh's. Ganas happen to find an elephant and that’s how Ganesha gets an elephant head. Lord Shiva also gives a blessings to Ganesha that he will be always the first God who will be always worshiped by everyone .Thus Ganesha is always beings worshipped first before worshipping any other God, and also before starting any new project, new mission Ganesh is worshipped first. 

In early September or late August at the 4th day after the waxing cycle of moon every year we celebrate this festival . The festival is for 10 days.  However, each family has their own tradition to celebrate it from a day , 5 days or 10 days.  In my home we used to have it for 5 days. But before that at least a month, my grand mom and mom would get started ready . While they would be busy in home cleaning , preparing grocery lists, cooking all sorts of traditional sweets and snacks, my grandfather and father would get  busy outside with booking the Ganesh idol, shopping the groceries , and setting up decorations for our small temple/stage where our bappa would stay .  And then at the first day of the festival, we  would bring  our bappa in home with the chanting of "Ganapati bappa morya" , placed him a decorated stages , worshipped daily with aarties and sweet offerings of Modak and laddus. My favorite tasks on those 5 days is decorating front yard with sand designs called Rangolies, picking up flowers from gardens and making beautiful garlands for our bappa.  And those 5 days are filled with much fun, food and hustle bustle of guests . At the evening I used to go out in the city to watch different decorations and famous idols with my family or friends.

In addition to these festivities in home, what I especially enjoyed  the most in those days, is the Ganapati Utshav that was being celebrated in my neighborhood. At least a month before Ganesh's arrival all the volunteers used to start there planning, they used to go to each house to collect the contribution for the festivities. Then the young boys and men rolled their sleeves  to build the stage. Local artists , passionate volunteers start meeting together to plan culture programs, event planning  for adults and kids. All this fun used to start from the day first when a big 100 feet Ganesh Idol comes to the neighborhood with the big bang and worshiped for 10 days with daily puja, aarti and offerings from  each family a day.  And O boy, what a fun for us kid! Remember that were   the days no cell phones, no video games with very limited TV channels. At the age of 6 or 7 , it was Ganesh festival where I first got introduced to group dance which later became my favorite hobby. Also, it came to know my athletics skills are just limited to lemon and spoon competition. The entertainment was full on with drams by us kids and dramas , dances , signing competitions for adults as well. 

And after 10 days of the fun a day comes to bode a colorful farewell to dear Lord Ganesh which is called Visarjan. when Ganesh idols are taken out across the city streets in a procession of over million flowers, in the sounds of traditional instrumentations called Dhol and tasha and folk music and dances before being floated out to a river . Whole city goes into a frenzy on the day of Visarjan. Amidst the chanting of “Ganapati bappa morya”, the festival ends with the pleas to Lord Ganesh to return early next year.

Time has change , and so the style and format of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. However, what is not changed  the fond memories of the celebration in childhood. That might be the reason when Ganesh festival comes , I feel nostalgic remembering the old days spent in fun with family and friends. With these sweet moments I want to conclude saying "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi lawkar ya"  meaning Wish you blessings  lord Ganesha and Pleading Lord to come back early again next year.

I have something to Say...

I have something to Say...

Being in Nature

When is the last time you had an amazing weekend ?  When you came back from a weekend trip and you felt you are your best ? You feel  appreciated everything you have ? You feel grateful that you are alive?

 

Recently I had similar experience just the past weekend when I returned back from the weekend trip from Kings Canyon and Sequoia national park.. I noticed that I have more energy, my spirits are high , everything I do has a true joy. I even feel energized to come back to work. And even it inspired me to write this blog . In short  I felt more vibrant and alive.

And this is not the first time. Every time I come back from a trip from any of national parks Yosemite or Kings Canyon or Lassen park, I felt that healing, soothing power of nature. So today I have decided to talk about an amazing power and impact nature has on your wellbeing.

First of all let me explain how Nature resets/refreshes and rejuvenates  our mind-


We think that we go to nature not to escape life but so that life comes back to you. 
In my 2 days trip to Sequoia , The giant sequoias , the magnificent mountains with the shades of grey, purple , yellow and orange , breathtaking waterfalls, I felt that mother earth unveils a sea of beauty and noticing that beauty, experiencing even a tiny of drop of it, it brings  that sense of appreciation, grateful ness thankful ness , that we are alive and able to enjoy the pleasures of life. These are real pleasurable that can touch our minds. It exfoliates the mind, takes out the layers of dread skin from mundane life to make shine the inner soul, which is pure and authentic. It also makes you feel that what an tiny place you have in this large world. And in that grandeur  scheme of nature, we lose our mind to find our true soul. The power of being in nature helps to cure all the bad moods, wipe away our worries and ground your soul.

Secondly nature teaches us to Connection to our surroundings and I would like to share my personal experience for that. Spending weekend with Family in home and in nature is not the same. My athletic 8 year old, mostly spends time with dad for physical activities like basketball and cricket while I am busy with my weekend chores. However, when it came to hiking near to the waterfall, he discovered that mom has better skills than dad and we two, son and mother due went together climbing rocks and trees , crossing the streams , holding each other close  the fall and experienced that togetherness and chill when the mist of the chilled water touching our faces. He even posed for pictures and smiled and happily took pictures with me , which was unusual !! That was one everlasting memory on our minds. This opportunity of bonding was never happened in home spending time together when mom does her chores and 8 year boy mostly spends his times in the outdoor activities with his friends or dad!!

Now let me tell you something more, Nature just not refreshes our mind and body but there is something very spiritual in spending time in Nature. Imagine yourself warming you're the body on a sandy beach  or inhaling the fresh air in the woods or fields, brushing the cold fresh air on your face and hair, soaking your feet in the  chill or warm clear water in the lake or river , or just watching the stillness of the sky full of stars , there is something spiritual about those experiences.  There are no trends, no expectations, and you are free to ponder life in its purest form. This experience of joy , happiness and a bliss is eternal, everlasting and surreal.  I also feel happy when I shop , when I get that cute dress that really love in the sale, I feel the joy and I feel top of the world. However, that joy lasts after few days, after I catch the sight of another lovely dress. The point here is the joy and happiness we experience from materialistic  things does not last  long. In fact it takes you in the state of wanting more and more. The joy and happiness being in nature takes you in exactly opposite state of mind. You feel complete, blessed and grateful for whatever you have.  This reminds me the story of the happiest man's shirt that my grandfather used to tell me. When an unhappy , richest king asks the cure for this unhappiness to the wise man, wise man asks him to exchange his shirt with the happiest man on the earth. After searching a while, the unhappy man finds the happiest man on the earth, who is a poor woodcutter cutting the woods happily in the woods, but he notices that he does not have a shirt. 

Well, we can't spend all of my life in woods, but what I have learned in these summer trips that whatever is my "to do list" ,  spending time in nature on a regular basis is  the best tonic for the wellbeing of mind , body and spirit!  nature refreshes our mind, connects us to your true authentic c soul and give us that eternal sense of bliss and appreciation. 

Now labor day is just around the corner. What are your  plans for the long weekend?  It doesn't matter if you hike up a mountain, or stroll on a sandy beach,  or just simply sit and watch a sunset- in your backyard , spend some time in nature and take advantage of the mental, physical and spiritual benefits nature has to offer.  

I would like to leave you with the quote of John Muir-

"Keep close to nature's heart…and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean"

 

A Tooth Story

 

 

It is natures law that things happen in a proper cycle in perfect harmony . When things happen at proper time, they are easy , meaningful and adds value in your life. But when something happens out of the order what unpleasant experience it can bring to you. I learned this just few weeks back. Today I am going to share with you my story when I lost my baby tooth at the age of 30+ just few weeks back. 

 

Now you might be wondering, what? Did I hear it right? Baby tooth at the age of 30? Yes my fellow toastmasters. All these years I am walking with one  small , yellowish baby tooth at the upper jaw right at the left side near the front two teeth.  In my first visit to Dentist after I came to United State, my dentist showed me  tiny thing in the grey and white sheet and astonishingly asked me - do you know that you have a baby teeth hanging in here? Surprisingly and somewhat embarrassingly I said NO.  Now let me tell you honestly how health and dental checkup culture in India where I grow up. We do not visit Doctors  and dentists unless it is absolutely  necessary. So, as far as I remember I never visited any dentist in my whole life in India , since I was normal and healthy child.  Now after moving to united states, as I was paying for dental insurance I decided to visit dentist and in my first visit to dentist revealed  the secret of my tiny baby tooth.

Since it did not give me any trouble and functioning normal , I decided to not pull it out and live with it until it itself decided to fall off. Since then last 15 years , I was living with this tiny tooth somewhat as a treasure  and as a token of memories of my childhood. Over the years my tiny friend still hung in there in my mouth sustaining wear and tear and taking a toll after 2 pregnancies. I always imagined it might fall off when I play with my kids or accidently till on something. But never imagined it will happen in a way it happened  2 weeks back.

 

Two weeks back, I was attending  2 days' workshop with my peer teams for a new project. On the second day, sandwiches  were being served for lunchtime and in a conference room, I was enjoying my sandwich with  thick Sardou  bread  and roasted tomatoes, onions , lettuce and cheese. Suddenly I felt  something  hard  , stony  in my bite. I had no idea how come something like that have come in my sandwich. After 2 confusing seconds, my brain gave me the clear signal of what that hard, stony thing actually was. It was my beloved tiny friend after so many loyal years decided to say his goodbye.  I was not more sadden from the thought that it decided to say me goodbye after so many years but the time and place he has chosen to part away from me was the most inappropriate. I was in the conference room, surrounded by important people in the middle of conversation. I cannot imagine how to sit there finishing the work  sitting there uncomfortably trying to hide the big hole in my mouth.

 

Now that was just the tip of the iceberg  and the start of the ongoing ordeal. After finishing my important meeting I rushed to dentist. She examined my xrays and said  I have a permanent teeth buried inside the gums which can be pulled out slowly into its proper place. Now that could be long process from a year to 2 years and second faster approach around 6 months to a year  is to just pull out the permeant tooth and do an implant. For my non-medical brain, both the options looked equally painful, horrible and torturing and not to mention really heavy for my pocket. Looking at the mirror at myself with a hole while I smile, I was thinking is it a comedy or tragedy, should I cry or laugh at myself. My dentist put some chewy material in my mouth to take impression of the teeth. She ordered me the removable denture which could arrive in couple of days so at least I don't have to walk around with the hole in my mouth.

 

Now at home, in the evening when my kids came to know momma lost her tooth, they became super excited. My 5 years old asked me, so Mamma are you going to keep your tooth under pillow? Is tooth fairy going to visit us today?  They did not know that when gown up loose the tooth at inappropriate age , she have to visit tooth fairy and pay her  hefty amount and who is that expensive tooth fairy,  my dentist !!

 

After 2 days before the weekend thankfully my removable denture arrived and I felt some relief. Now let me tell you adjusting with that denture is another horrifying experience. It was some foreign body is my mouth touching the roof of my pallet , making me very uncomfortable.  With that thing stuck in my mouth, I could not speak properly, could not eat properly. I had and still have  trouble  speaking certain words like S. My dentist suggested I can practice reading out loud. So, 2 days I sat down with my kids, reading them stories loudly , having a good laugh !!!

 

I have  couple of orthodontist appointment lined up to consult what are my options and considering all the viable factors I have to start the long, strenuous, expensive dental process , I cannot afford to walk around with the missing teeth. However, this incident taught me one aspect of the life- When things go wrong , fix them then and there, without waiting. If this tooth mystery was identified when I was still a kid or teenager, the treatment was much easier, less painful and less expensive.  Right time is very crucial,  when right time slips by then it takes more trouble mending the mistakes, problems. I have kept my tiny friend in treasure box who reminds me this every now and then.