Diwali at Home :)

While lighting Diyas outside my home today; I noticed the local neighborhood children lightning crackers with so much zeal and enthusiasm that I could not help remembering my own childhood Diwali. Diwali then meant excitement; new clothes; mithai ; guests coming to visit you and you going to visit family friends ;

Diwali meant an almost week holiday from school and participating in pre-Diwali shopping with Mom-Dad; to decide what is to be gifted ; to religiously gift wrap the dry fruits and mithai’s ; five consecutive days of Rangoli; thinking of design and colors and all the cracker stuff.

I clearly remember when I eagerly used to wait for Diwali Pooja (where we used to sit in our best of clothes) to get over so that papa will lead us outside to try our hands at crackers. Crackers used to give a kind of excitement and thrill. I clearly remember the feeling of fear and excitement when papa used to hand over the cracker to me; there was a kind of promotion when we were allowed only fuljhadis ; then chakkar ; and then finally the bombs and Ladis ; till then we used to watch papa lighting the bomb in awe ;
Crackers charm went away after 1998 when I participated in a street play to “say no to crackers” to avoid child labor. Our group ran from one corner of Delhi to other to stage the street play and I ran around my entire household holding banners and stickers that I won’t burn crackers. From then onwards life became busier and I got more involved in studies to think about Diwali holidays and ways to spend it. Rangoli tradition continued and it still continues.

Diwali for me is no more exciting and thrilling as it used to be; In fact I feel it more as an opportunity to unwind and relax with my family. I have developed this notion that festivals become all the more important in your life once you get into job because may be that is the only quality time which you spend with you family; At times I feel nostalgic about the old time which I spent with my family as a kid and now I am unable to do so because my life; my work ; my career doesn’t permit me to do so .

Anyhow ; I kind of feel envious at seeing those kids because they remind me of my own gala time but there are newer dimensions to Diwali now; like I have my own social network of people to take care of ; I just love lighting the Diyas and candles ; just enjoy the Rangoli at leisure and of course in the night I can write lengthy blogs and yes NO crackers J
0ver all I feel reunited; refreshed and rejuvenated by festivals in my life and I essentially feel the necessity of such lavish holidays to spend quality time with my family

Nine Yards in Office :)

Yippieeeeeee….I am writing again and that too , not in a somber mood but nice and peppy one…So after consecutive journal posts ; there is some excitement in my life ; People close to me know what kind of thrill my life is undergoing through :P

For the past few weeks ; my life has been a roller-coaster ride where I have experienced myself on the “crest” and just a few days back I have been thrown and hit hard by my life. Anyhow; that’s not what I wanted to write on ; In fact I am really feeling great to have found some time myself for devoting to my dear blog J

So this blog is dedicated to the “sari day “which we celebrated in office as a part of Diwali celebrations. I have always been extremely enthusiastic at the mention of this word “sari “ ; The thought and now the reality that I actually wore it to Office fills me with “thrill” ; It’s not that I have not adorned a sari before but just that it was the first time when I wore it to office ;

It all began with a discussion with one of my colleagues ; who suggested to wear something ethnic for Diwali and I started crying : “sari please” ; my friends who know my enthusiasm for it had already pumped me enough that I was determined to send a mail across to all the ladies J so the mail came but who cares for the mail . So, Me and one my another enthusiastic colleague got up and knocked the gates of the girl gang of our floor …got a few supportive yes…few “dekhenge” and “what are you saying?” “what ? me saree ? no way ….”; few shrieks ; few wows…….. And then I had to give my favourite dhamki that I am getting 2 extra ones and in case someone doesn’t turn up in the dictated attire ; she will have to wear the one which I will be carrying extra.

Sari despite being the most ethnic; traditional and the most “Indian “dress is worn by so less of us. And when it comes to wearing a sari; you really think twice or may be thrice and then after all that thinking maybe you decide not to wear it at all: P . So when it was my turn to wear nine yards to office; I was excited, thrilled and a little conscious (can’t help it). There was an unknown fear…not that how will I manage it; I have worn it many times before and I know how to carry it and manage myself and the sari but since it was “the” office the jitters were normal J

But yes I wore it to office ; got complements (I think you usually get when you wear something different) ; got curious glances and surprised looks from people and at that instance I really couldn’t control laughing . The next obvious part was the photo session which we religiously did. And now the day is over I am pondering over the calendar to find another suitable day when I can switch to nine yards again J

Does Religion Give you the license to KILL

“Murder does not have a religion…even when it claims a religious excuse….”
Each time I read or hear about it; it sends shivers down my spine.
What the woman had to face, “just because” she worshipped another God. She was a god’s servant who thought of dedicating her entire life to God’s service by deciding to remain in Church. And the protectors of another religion gang raped her in full public view.

Maoists have taken the responsibility for the killing of RSS chief Swami Lakshmanand…but meanwhile the VHP and RSS activists dutifully killed people as if Lord Rama had come and told them in their dreams that this should be done.
They burnt houses of people from another religion (Lord had told them that by doing this they are protecting the “Hindutva”), they made children orphans (it was their duty to do so to get rid of their bad “Karmas”); they raped women and snatched away their modesty because according to them the women who worship another God do not deserve to remain dignified.

So After 40 days of violence and terror in Kandhamal district of Gujarat the VHP must have sought justice. After killing people and raping women they can go to God with heads high that they protected their religion. They must have avenged the death of their beloved leader (By the way he was killed by Maoists);

No matter who killed him but the politicians had to play vote bank politics; they had to become the "protector"; the "messiah" of religion. They had to ingrain in youth the communal hatred. They had to motivate and encourage youth to go on streets and play terror. It was the moral duty of our ministers to teach our youth to kill people and take revenge from innocent. According to them,It is supposed to be patriotic to burn houses. It is supposed to be religious to rape women from other caste.
And Kudos to the youth of India
-- who are blindfolded by the politician’s motivational speeches against other communities…
-- who do not have their own sense of right or wrong…
--who are literate but not “educated”…
--who just need an excuse to terrorize people…
--who are waiting for an opportunity to vandalize homes ; burn villages and people ; kill innocent and have ‘pleasure’ in the name of religion

I am really sorry to have written such a satirical post but only I know how I controlled myself to use civilized language. I feel terribly sad for what all is happening in the name of God; The people who propagate this…don’t they know... what grief are they giving to the community …what permanent scars are they leaving in the minds of young children. Do you expect them to be submissive and not take revenge??
The people who come down on streets for vandalize and LOOT …who gives them the license to do all this…

They seek justice for killing of a man but who will provide justice to the hundred innocents whom they have killed and tortured. It is easy to be powerful and do things but it is terribly painful to be on the other side and face brutality…see your loved ones get killed for no fault of theirs. They are doing it in the name of religion but I am sure God will never forgive them for this.

61 years of independence have really made us "progressive and advanced" in our views...Wat do you say