Friday, January 13, 2012

Makar Sankranti - What & Why

I came across this on a site and felt like saving it...what better place than blog. Some useful information on Makar Sankranti..

Enjoy..
Happy Makar Sankranti to all of you!
May the year ahead be full of happy sunshine and positive transitions!

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year.

Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As, it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.

Makar Sankranti 2012: 14 January.


Source : http://festivals.iloveindia.com/

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Here comes - The Reluctant Detective

Shopping... Lunches... Handbags... Shoes... And Murders - Sounds strange? 
Nah its not.

The lovely mix of a shopoholic-housewife-detective with the generous seasoning of Suburban household.

Curious?

Get little more by watching this...



Want to know more? Go check out the Announcement

The Announcement




Yes yes ... The fun-filled book is the brain child of vibrant Kiran Manral.

Join the club on Facebook and grab your copy Today!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Life in pictures

Just thought let me give you all little info about one more project i have taken up this year. (I am sounding tooo enthusiatic for this year..I hope I am able to maintain this all year through)

Ok so yes..after getting inspired by our very own Monika, i joined her in the spirit and took up the challenge of Project365.


Actually it should be renamed Project366 - this being a leap year.

So for next 366 days..I am going to capture the essence of my life in pictures and present to you.

And I am keeping that in a seperate blog for pics only.

Please visit and keep motivating me...



http://mylifebehindlens.wordpress.com/








Monday, January 2, 2012

Top 5 Want-to-do list

A new Year...
Once again time to ponder
Once again the opportunity to plan the year ahead
Once again theI can decide what I want to do...

Some may also call these New Year resolutions...but somehow I chose to differ from that. The words "New Year Resolutions" freak me out - no idea why. So i just call it my To do list for the days to come

So Out of numerous things I want to do in the year to come...I am just listing Top 5...



Photo credits : http://robaroundbooks.com/2010/12/keep-calm-and-read-a-book/

YES - This is the topmost in the list. Last whole year I have done absolutely NO reading.
And If you notice carefully this one actually combines TWO of my topmost things to do. 
1. Be CALM
2. READ



So Number 2 is More Art and Craft with my little girl. Last year everything got quite neglected for some reason. I do not want that to be repeated. So I want to do more thinsg with my daughter and get the hands dirty. Any ideas to keep this going are most welcome. Come one people, keep me motivated.



Photo credits :http://www.photographyblog.com/news/nikon_d5100_presentation

Ok So you have guessed it right. Yes, It is to go click click flutter flutter. I love photography ANd NO I am no where near boasting to be a good one. I am tooo amateur to be called even amateur photographer. (Does that make sense? WEll - you did get the meaning - right? )
OK So Click Click Flutter Flutter is the love of my life besides top 2 ;)


Photo credits : http://www.adrianbruce.com/poetry/writing-poetry.htm

Another one of the things I Love. Yes writing is something I have always enjoyed but somehow still dont write that regularly. To keep my love of writing poetry going, I have another blog - Just so all my attempts at poetry are at one place. Just in case you are interested its is - http://iwritehere.tumblr.com
I no nothing about poetry writing rules or anything like that. I just scribble anything that comes to my mind and rhymes a bit :) (Rather anythign that sounds poetry to me)
So in the coming year I want to continue on that side and scribble more and more.

Photo credits : http://www.diyreviews.net/2011/top-4-anger-management-tips-to-use-in-stressful-situations/

This should actually be the TOP MOST.  BTW, a part of it has been included in the Number 1 To- Do. (Remember? Keep Calm) Ok So I need to learn to manage my anger. This will solve millions of other problms and spare my dear husband of being my punch bag to take it all. (Ok not in its real sense actually - No ACTUAL punching happening)


So thats my list for the year to come. I seek motivation and help from all of you kind souls. Help me remain sane and focussed.

Bless you all....