Rakshabandhan रक्षाबंधन

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नहीं चाहिए मुझको हिस्सा माँ-बाबा की दौलत में
चाहे वो कुछ भी लिख जाएँ भैया मेरे ! वसीयत में

नहीं चाहिए मुनझको झुमका चूड़ी पायल और कंगन
नहीं चाहिए अपनेपन की कीमत पर बेगानापन

मुझको नश्वर चीज़ों की दिल से कोई दरकार नहीं
संबंधों की कीमत पर कोई सुविधा स्वीकार नहीं

माँ के सारे गहने-कपड़े तुम भाभी को दे देना
बाबूजी का जो कुछ है सब ख़ुशी ख़ुशी तुम ले लेना

चाहे पूरे वर्ष कोई भी चिट्ठी-पत्री मत लिखना
मेरे स्नेह-निमंत्रण का भी चाहे मोल नहीं करना

नहीं भेजना तोहफे मुझको चाहे तीज-त्योहारों पर
पर थोडा-सा हक दे देना बाबुल के गलियारों पर

रूपया पैसा कुछ ना चाहूँ..बोले मेरी राखी है
आशीर्वाद मिले मैके से मुझको इतना काफी है

तोड़े से भी ना टूटे जो ये ऐसा मन -बंधन है
इस बंधन को सारी दुनिया कहती रक्षाबंधन है

तुम भी इस कच्चे धागे का मान ज़रा-सा रख लेना
कम से कम राखी के दिन बहना का रस्ता तक लेना।

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HAPPINESS! :-)))) :-)))) :-)))) :-))))

HAPPINESS! WHAT IS IT? To me, it is nothing but PEACE OF MIND! Its a broad spectrum word! Peace of mind comes from:

WEALTH
HEALTH,
FAMILY,
HAVING FRIENDS,
POPULARITY,
APPRECIATION,
LOOKS,
POWER,
MATERIALSTIC POSSESSION, ......... AND SO ON ........

As a child I experienced a very  ordinary life as my father was employed in the defence services. His salary was nothing compared to what people make nowadays. Youngsters now, receive a monthly salary of what was my father's lifetime of earning! We used to live in a quarter built by the Government for the defence personnel. I didn't have a fabulous wardrobe or matching accessories to go with, something that I have now. We used to pillion ride behind my father's old bicycle. Going out was a very rare affair, movie watching was four times a month. But, no real outing! We (me and my kid brother) used to go to school by a rickshaw ( three wheeler vehicle) for a year and then by the bus!

We used to go on a vacation once a year, through the train, a 36 hour long journey from Delhi to Chennai. No A/C, we had endure the sweltering heat that was gifted upon us by the Indian summer, but we had nothing to complain. We were just HAPPY to watch the fields and trees on the either side of tracks pass by and let the air caress our face, happy to munch what our mother had packed for us, not outside food was bought! We played and interacted with the neighbourhood kids. Our games ranged from hide and seek to catching one another through the streets, climbing trees, or just building up ghost stories  with what we had overheard while the adults were talking. There was so much of interaction with the neighbourhood unlike today's kids who spend most of their time either in front of the IDIOT BOX or the Computer.    

We all live in BIG houses but our hearts have become SMALL. We possess so many materialistic things, but are not SATISFIED! We have amassed WEALTH, but are ignoring our HEALTH?! We have a beautiful FAMILY, but are unable to spend QUALITY TIME with the people we love! We have many FRIENDS, through social media or from our workplace or neighbourhood, but TRUE ONES? NOT EVEN ONE! With POPULARITY comes PRIDE, and FAKE FRIENDS, GREED AND ENVY OF OTHERS! When we do something to earn other's appreciation, it only brings DISAPPOINTMENT, as we can never live up to the EXPECTATION of others! LOOKS are something that gives us confidence and boost our EGO, but it is IMPERMANENT in nature and one has to WORK REALLY HARD to maintain that, even then, after a certain time age starts to catch up with us and one has to submit to the WAYS OF NATURE! Again, POWER is impermanent too! We will be surrounded by so many people when we have POWER and become so very lonely the moment it's GONE! MATERIALISTIC POSSESSIONS are either hard earned or handed down to us through our family, and again CANNOT be ours forever and it takes a GREAT DEAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND HARD WORK to maintain!

Anything materialistic requires EFFORT AND TIME to maintain, but also gives the beautiful 6-lettered word, i;e STRESS, And with the arrival of STRESS, our PEACE IS LOST! So, in my humble opinion, if we get attached to any of the aforementioned things, it'd just end up making us UNHAPPY! I'm not saying that one must lead the life of  a monk and stay away from the WORLD, but I think that one must work really hard to accomplish one's GOALS, but never LOSE SIGHT of where our REAL HAPPINESS lies! It is INTERNAL!

PEOPLE COME AND GO! MATERIALISTIC POSSESSIONS ARE ACQUIRED AND LOST, BUT IF ONE REMAINS OR PRACTISES DETACHED ATTACHMENT REMEMBERING THAT "CHANGE IS THE ONLY PERMANENT THING", ONE CAN BE HAPPY FOREVER!

I know many might not agree, but as far as I've seen or experienced, POEPLE WHO ARE NOT AT PEACE WITH THEMSELVES, ARE NEVER HAPPY WITH ANYTHING ELSE, THEY ARE LIKE A BOTTOMLESS PIT! NO MATTER HOW MUCH IS LOADED IN, IT NEVER GETS FULL!

Again, some of my notions may be immature, but AS I'M ON THE PROCESS OF LEARNING, PLEASE FORGIVE AND BEAR WITH ME!

Everyone's Friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 

LOVE! :-))))

LOVE, प्रेम ,പ്രേമം , காதல் , ప్రేమా 

पोथी पढ़ - पढ़ जग मुआ , पंडित भया न कोय। 
ढ़ाई अक्षर प्रेम के, पढ़े सो पंडित होय। - संत कबीर 

A person's education is of no use if they do not know how to love and respect others! - Saint Kabir

அன்பிலார் எல்லாம் தமக்குரியர், அன்புடையார் என்பும் உரியர் பிறர்க்கு . - திருவள்ளுவர்  திருவள்ளுவர் 

A selfish person thinks that everything and everyone is at their disposal whereas a selfless, loving person thinks everything that's theirs belongs to all!

By Thiruvalluvar the great poet / from thirukkural!

LOVE! A very interesting subject and also very diverse. Don't know what to write but will like to share what I've observed till date. I LOVE YOU! Wonderful! Magical Words! In English, LOVE is a general word and used to depict one's love for anyone from one's parents to anything one desires or connects with. In India, LOVE has different words with respect to different relations! We simply cannot go up to someone and say these words. Its considered taboo! I can say that to my parents or other close blood relatives and to my spouse but I can't say the same to any stranger, though I may be referring to a particular quality in them, when I say that!

I do know, times have changed a lot since my teenage, and youngsters nowadays can shout that in public without being ridiculed, but still a section of the society feels bad about this! My family is quite forward minded when it comes to this, as I can say "I Love so and so" as they know my love is not a romantic one and it is just said to show my like / support for that person!

But, still, I refrain from saying that in public and do that only at home. My country is culturally rich, but still there are certain rules / codes for us which would dare not break! I've fallen in love with so many people at different stages of my life. My first love happened at the age of six, when I found myself in love with a film personality, later, as I grew up, I found that I loved only his screen persona. Now I can say that I love him for many facets of his personality! :-)) There are so many people on my list, ranging from family members, friends, people in the neighbourhood, famous personalities, who held me in awe because of their interesting personalities. But they have fallen out of favour over time as I the very traits that I found interesting in the beginning didn't appeal to me later! I think this is because with every revolution around SUN, I find my ideas and ideals changing!

Love at first sight! It is so glorified in Indian cinema! :-)) Boy / Girl meets the either, opposites attract and they fall in love. I don't disapprove of this, as they say, Love Is blind, but I think Love grows and should grow with every passing year. It is mainly based on trust and mutual respect! It must be UNCONDITIONAL! In any relationship, this factor is a must! But, sadly we find it only with our mother. But, my belief is that if a person's love is TRUE, it would face anything, apart from violence and sadism. It will finally TRIUMPH into something BEAUTIFUL!

What is unconditional love?! Though, I'm not an expert, but it's been fascinating to see so many couples that I came through in my pre-martial and also now, how people hold on to each other with such faith, determination and love. Not just for physical pleasure or money, but REALLY! Its AMAZING! They fight bitterly, would seem like they're on the verge of separation, but in a few days, they're back to their normal loving selves! I personally think that all of us come from different backgrounds, raised by our parents differently, have numerous bittersweet experiences that give us an idea of how our love life should be and since we attach this baggage to ourselves, we are unable to celebrate the difference or the uniqueness of the person that we marry!

But, if we try, we will see that with each passing day we fall more and more in love with same person for a different quality of theirs. Like, from my life, I like music, its food, water and Oxygen to me, while my better half is not very enthusiastic about it! What fascinates him doesn't fascinate me at all! Everything from food, movies, ambitions, music and opinions we almost don't agree on anything, BUT STILL, over all these years of togetherness, we've learnt one thing, that to give each other some space to grow and also help in achieving each other's dreams! In case of any fight or quarrel, ranging from few hours to days together, either of us break the ice by bringing up some general topic and never let our EGO blow up our relationship!

In the early days of our marriage, because of my immature notions of LOVE, I used to wait to hear those three wonderful words I LOVE YOU", but never got it. As months passed by, and as I got to know him better, I found his motherly love for me during my pregnancy and his fatherly side when he used to advice me on certain things and a GURU as he patiently taught me certain things and a FRIEND while sharing jokes and his day at work! Then, it dawned on me that, more than saying it, it was more important to show it! As the years have passed I view him as my third child!

Love could be between so many people, need not necessarily between family members, but with one's profession, passion, pet, country, GOD or for no particular reason another person. Sometimes when, with a person, it may develop into a romantic relationship, it need not always be so and it might be just respect / admiration for a certain quality of their personality. Nevertheless, LOVE is indeed BEAUTIFUL, makes one wanted and is the only thing that makes the WORLD go round!

I might have missed on many other aspects, as I'm still on the path to learning more! So .... that's all!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 

TREES! :-)))

I recently saw a house in the neighbourhood being demolished! Nothing new, as it happens quite a lot here! But, what my heart made sink was three beautiful, huge trees, mango, coconut and another fruit-bearing tree being ruthlessly cut down. Sometimes these trees are killed using a chemical! I've got nothing to complain as the place where my house has been built was an agricultural land. But, believe me, I didn't like that either. We all know the benefits that trees bestow upon us, viz. clean air, a beautiful view, shade us from the heat and fruits and provide us with many things of medicinal value.

I'm of the strong opinion that every house, bungalow or flat should have trees or at least potted plants, according to space available and convenience. But, seems like in our desire to do better than others that is to show-off, we are hell bent on making money and build huge houses. BUT! AT WHAT COST? This particular house that I'm talking about is not an old one, but only 15 or maybe 17/18 years old. I request the government authorities to kindly not allow the demolition of any building that is less than 50 years old!

What's the point in demolishing it and building a multi-storey flat or apartment in its place? This place is already rocky and the residents have been facing water shortage for a long time add to it rain woes. It might rain, might not or may be inadequate. Also, will the government provide clean, usable drinking water, once people come to reside in the newly constructed buildings?

All the RUBBISH! Its being dumped on the sidewalk / road or worst it is dumped on open plots! Because of which, mosquitoes and other disease causing germs are happy increasing their population! The early morning walkers and pedestrians suffer a lot walking on these uneven roads!

NO TREES, NO GROUNDWATER IN CASE OF RAINS, NO GREENERY! NOTHING TO SHADE US FROM THE SCORCHING HEAT!

ONLY CONCRETE JUNGLES ALL AROUND! NOTHING BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT!

SO COME, THINK & ACT! WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BIRDS, SQUIRRELS AND OTHER ARBOREAL ANIMALS THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON TREES FOR LIVING AND FOOD?!

Everyone's Friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 

WOMEN! :-)))

Today's topic is WOMAN! Why? As it's being written on International Women's Day, i;e March 8th. I never knew about it till my 24th birthday! Maybe it was there before, but in my country, that is India, there was no media hype surrounding it, till then!

Decoding women is not as simple as it seems, though some men think that they've cracked the  uncrackable. There are always stereotypes like, women are:

MOODY! (thanks to our hormones! though that would be an excuse) All of us have multiple choices before us regarding reacting to a given situation - Men or Women. We always have this internal battle going on as to what should be our next move, but I firmly believe that our decisions should always be for the greater good! :-))

MATERIALISTIC! Now who is not? Though money doesn't buy happiness and peace of mind, but it helps in having a roof over one's head and takes care of all the bills and other expenses! Majority of us, like to associate with a MAN (when it comes to choosing a long term commitment) who can provide for us and the family, be strong in times of adversity and always has an alternate plan! We really appreciate that! Though, may of us are financially independent now, what most of us are looking for is not an ATM card but a person with a stable income, needn't be the richest guy!

CLINGY & NAGGING: We are most certainly not that! But we do value relationships and do not want to lose them at any cost! NAG we do, I actually agree that many of us overdo thinking that we are the smartest ones in any equation and that others are not perfect enough! :-))) But, many a time, it is only because majority of men are absent-minded, do not have a knack for detail and needed constant reminding to finish certain tasks. Sadly many men who are family members are like this! :-))) Once I wanted a strawberry flavoured lip balm and imagine what I got actually? A strawberry ice-cream, because the loved one's brain had actually processed only the strawberry and deleted the rest! Since then, I do my own shopping! :-))

NITPICKING! I know men hate this! Sometimes, even as a woman, I actually understand and can connect to that in some ways! But, it is only because the majority of us are bitten by the "PERFECTION" bug! We can understand everything in detail, at least the things that excite us the most! We also believe that we are very good MOTHERS and everyone else needs our SUPPORT and hence the aforementioned characteristic!

RESPECT: Majority of us respect the opposite sex and would want the same from them, but are never given it whole-heartedly! I do think we all have an equal right to freedom of expression, speech, education, a say in family matters, and fashion! I don't support people who dress provocatively or vulgarly! :-(  I'm sorry to say that women who wear western wear that covers the body well and even if it accentuates our body contour, only in an aesthetic way, women wearing traditional Indian dresses are considered GOOD and the other daring ones wearing a western wear are considered otherwise! A person wears a dress only to feel confident and it's their way of expressing themselves. Maybe they feel comfortable in wearing such dresses. Make-up is another thing that is a personal choice!

Men are good when it comes to respecting women, but take their women family members for granted! The same aforementioned traits, when coming from their blood relatives, is a considered a positive thing and is even lauded but when a wife does the same, its an altogether different story! BOTTOMLINE! - GIVE RESPECT & TAKE RESPECT!

SEXUAL ABUSE: I've been lucky enough to not encounter any such horrific experience, but my heart does BLEED, when I hear, read or see such ghastly accounts from the media! The one that made me very depressed was the December 16 incident which happened in Delhi! :-( But, many were of the belief that:

WHY DID SHE HAVE TO GO OUT AT THAT TIME, SHE DESERVED IT AND ALL OTHER NONSENSE!

Would the very same people who made such INSENSITIVE COMMENTS, remained quiet, if it involved one of their FAMILY MEMBER(S)?

I come from a country where there is a goddess for Bravery & Courage - Parvathi, kKowledge - Saraswati, Wealth - Lakshmi and so on. There are countless goddesses, they are worshipped in various aspects! But when it comes to a woman, another human being like men, only the anatomy is different, why people don't give the same respect?

I HOPE & PRAY, that times would change and we would be seen for our skills, knowledge, bravery, sense of humour, etc. and not just for our anatomy! I would also want the media (Cinema) to portray us in a good light, an not just as objects!

I'm also proud of Indian women, like, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi, Indira Nooyi, M.S.Suubulakshmi and countless, many others! AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MY MOM! :-)))

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

EXAMS!

EXAMS! As a kid my parents were never under pressure with my examinations neither was I under such tremendous pressure! My childhood was a breeze! :-))) My school started in the last week of June! The season of rains. My father was in the defence, so I and my brother went to school by a truck! Sadly there weren't enough seats, but nevertheless we learned to defy gravity via the sudden brakes!

There would be no space in the front where it would be well ventilated, especially during summers as all of us would want some respite from the hot air and it would be completely unoccupied during winters and all the cold wind would be freely available! :-))).

The exam system was something like 4 unit tests and two exams! The first two unit tests would be over by October and the next two in Jan & March. The first exam or the half-yearly exam would be conducted in December and the Annual Examinations would be conducted in April. After that a brief holiday of 10-15 days would be given and the results would be announced in the first week of May. We were lucky enough to get almost a good two monthly vacation. There would be no holiday homework and also the next class or session would start in June only.


But my kids aged 13 & 9 have been have been having classes immediately after the exams, there would be a gap of only 10 days between the starting of the next session and the exams! After which they are given a 1 @ 1/2 month vacation. Not that I'm complaining, but I'd be happy for all the kids if they could have a long homework-free, two-monthly vacation like my generation! They do get lots of holidays thanks to all the festivals in our country, but it is really tiring picking them up during the hot summer season, especially during the first session conducted in April.

As a kid I too had to carry a heavy load of bag, that was stuffed with books and notes. Also I had to study from the first chapter to the last during the Annual exams, at least my kids don't have that! But, since the education department has lessened that kind of burden, I think they can also print two separate books for each term. That's because I want to see my and other kids walk tall as adults. WHY................. I fear that because of the heavy load they'll grow up with a twisted spine!

There is something called a second and third language system in schools. I think children are smart enough to learn new languages and most of them do it with ease, I see no point in kids as well as parents like me and others being burdened to learn this as a compulsion. It is my humble opinion that either lots of languages are provided as an option or it should be made mandatory and some other subjects are introduced. I don't know exactly what those are! But, I sincerely hope that this situation changes at least when my grandkids attend school! :-)))

Like Gandhi ji said, an education or course that helps a person earn his / her livelihood should also be considered in schools! Some years ago, when PCs were becoming a part of every sphere of our lives, I imagined school kids carrying just laptops (now I-pads). That hasn't materialized yet. Digital screens replacing blackboards and so on...

Whatever technological inventions that we are enjoying today, is only because someone dared to dream the impossible and worked hard towards making it a possibility. I HOPE! I PRAY! I DREAM!

For a stress free childhood and stress free parenting too!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

GANESHA!

Ganesha, the name itself evokes many sweet memories. In Hindusim, we have many forms of the same GOD! The scriptures or the Vedas, say that GOD is formless, can't be fit into a particular gender, caste, or anything else either. If we say NOTHING! we can't comprehend that, but that's what GOD has been described as MAHASHUNYA! Recently, researchers have also revealed that our Universe didn't form after a BIG BANG! There was nothing before it was, the Universe just came into being.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT! Likewise if I'm and score of others like me are not given a particular form of GOD, it would be quite difficult to comprehend! (I SUPPOSE!) GOD is everywhere, in everything or everyone, animal, human and the list goes on. The Vedas agree on that and that's why Hindus worship, Earth, Rivers, certain plants and trees, books, tools, the five elements and the list goes on..... I've still got to learn that! :-))

Coming back to Ganesha, he is the son of Lord Shiva (One of the trinities) and Goddess Parvathi! He was born with a human like head. He was guarding the chambers of Goddess Parvathi, when Lord Shiva tried to get in her chambers, but was prevented by Ganesha. Shiva got angry and cut off Ganesha's head with his trident! Parvathi was grief stricken and wanted her son back! So Ganesha's head was reinstated with an elephant's ! From then on, he has a human body and an elephant's head!

As a kid, while doing my daily prayers, my mother would show me a picture of Ganesha and tell me that he was a very friendly GOD and one could initiate him immediately. All one needed was unshaken faith and belief! As a kid, I never understood GOD, but with time, I saw a good friend, with whom I could share all my thoughts! This may sound a bit odd, but even now I have these small (sometimes long!) conversations with GOD. My day starts with a humble prayer that goes like this:

त्वमेव माता च, पिता त्वमेव।  त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम्  त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम  देवदेव।

अन्यथा शरणं  नास्ति त्वमेव शरणं  मम 
तस्मात् कारुण्य भावेन  रक्ष रक्ष जनार्दन 

The first shloka means that : You are my mother, father, relative and friend, You are knowledge and all the wealth in the world, in fact you are everything to me O Lord!

The second one means that : I have no one else to go, you are my only refuge, so, kindly take me into your protection, O Lord!

One about Lord Ganesha:

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ निर्विघ्नं कुरु में देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा 

Meaning: O lord with a twisted trunk, huge form, with the effulgence of a crore Suns, kindly bless all the work I undertake be free of any obstacles.

This shloka also reveals that Ganesha is an obstacle remover and hence is worshipped the first and foremost before undertaking any work.

ஐந்து கரத்தானை , ஆனை  முகத்தானை, இந்திந்திளம் பிறை போலும் எயிற்றானை 
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுதினை , புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின்றேனே .

I do talk my mother tongue, ie Tamil very well, but this verse is in Literary form and hence I couldn't translate into a lucid form, Hence I've just reproduced someone else's translation below:


                                        We emplace in our minds

The sacred feet of the One

The embodiment of wisdom

The five handed

Elephant Visaged- with tusks

Curved like the crescent moon

The son of the Supreme Siva.

 

 

Everyone's friend,

 

Lakshmi! :-)))

Holi - The Festival of Colours! :-)))

होली है भई , होली है. 

बुरा न मानो होली है। 

The above statement in Hindi, means that since today is Holi, let's forget and forgive each other and please do not take any offence on this playful festival.

Today is Holi! A festival of colours celebrated mostly in North of India and nowadays in almost all the parts of India! It is a spring festival, falls on the full moon day or Purnima. Holi has derived its name from Holika, Now, Who is this? Holika was the sister of the demon Hiranyakashyap. Hirankashyap had received many boons from Lord Brahma (One of the Hindu Trinities) after a very long penance (Tapas). Initially, he wanted to live forever, but that was not permissible according to rules. One that has born, has to die one day. Hence when asked to choose something else for a boon, he intelligently asked this:

Let my death, not be by a man, or an animal, nor by any weapon that was in use at that time, neither at night nor in day, not in the house and also not outside it and the list went on. He thought that he couldn't die like this. Anyway, Lord Brahma gave him the boon. With such POWER, comes ...... YES! ARROGANCE! He started driving all the devas (the gods) from their abodes and conquered their places. He not only conquered heaven, but also Earth!

He made a rule that from then on, everyone should take his name and not of God's, especially, Lord Vishnu! He was blessed with a son and unfortunately for him, his son was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He tried killing his son many times, but it didn't happen and one of these were using Holika, his sister. Holika had the boon that fire won't harm her at all. Hence she proposed that Prahlad (Hiranyakashyap's son!) be seated on her lap, while she will sit on a pyre. Nothing happened to Prahlada, but Holika was burnt alive.

A day before Holi, a bonfire is lit, people go around it singing songs. The actual spiritual meaning that underlies in any festival that involves lighting a bonfire is to dispose off all bad or negative aspects from one's life and embrace the good or positive. Not many know of this, but nevertheless its a great time to be with friends, family members and loved ones! YAY! PARTY TIME!

The next day is Holi (FINALLY! I've got back to the subject!). People smear each other with lots of colours, sing songs, have a gala time! The main snacks served on this day are Gujias, (Triangle shaped savouries, with a sweet filling, and deep-fried in hot oil) and Thandai. Thandai is usually spiced up with Bhang, (English Name-cannabis, I Think). Those who want to get a little high and energetic have Thandai with Bhang and other poor souls like me opt for the Bhang-free Thandai!

My childhood memories consists of Holi starting with roaming about with friends, smearing each other with gulals (coloured powders) and drenching each other with Pichkari (A pistol, used to fill colour and spray). Pichakri was available in lots of shapes, mostly based on the current trend, my favourite was a Gun shaped and an elephant-shaped one!

I'm giving below a link to a holi song, that's still played on TV, on Holi!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMsWs64WLU

What's in a name?!

My name is Lakshmi! I was.given the name Seetha Lakshmi, in the memory of my paternal grandmother! Though she has four granddaughters, I'm the lucky one to have inherited her name.

As a child, I was not very happy with my name, as I felt it was funny to have two different names combined as one. Seetha and Lakshmi! I.was also made fun of. Some would call me Seetha and some Lakshmi.

My name means:
Seetha-Cool/Mud
Lakshmi-Goddess of WEALTH!

According to Ramayana, most revered of by Hindus, Goddess Seetha, the consort of Lord Rama was believed to have come out of Mother Earth's womb, and hence the name! Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who else but an incarnation of his consort Goddess Lakshmi be his wife on Earth?!

Hence the name Seetha Lakshmi! I love my name very much! Though most of my family and close friends call me Lakshmi. Surprisingly, my better half's name is Srinivasan, one of the 1000 names assigned to.Lord Vishnu!

Everyone's friend,
Lakshmi! :-)))

My culture! :-))

I've been meaning to write a blog on what my heritage and culture is all about! Now that I'm unwell and not doing much of my routine work I've been gifted with enough time to pursue this, I;e scratch my itch! :-)

I'd be writing about all that I've been gifted to by my family, immediate and extended, the treasury of culture

I belong to a family of Palakkad Tamil Brahmins! Though, I had the fortune of visiting certain parts of India, courtesy my father's job, my mom imbued me with all the culture, tradition and values, that are unique to my family!

I'll be adding everything that falls under this broad spectrum, of course, with invaluable.inputs from my Amma and other well-informed people of my family!
Lakshmi!  :-)))