Chanakya Neeti 2

Maybe it is true, love, when you are in it, you are blinded. The same goes for friendship. My greatest lesson learned from chanakya is this. Love and care also needs to be reciprocated at some point in life, but doesnt necessarily happen.

Here I am convincing my world, my friends that, yes, this new friend has many negatives, but lets embrace them and we will see the goodness as well. And we did. And when i went to embrace the friend's world with open arms, I was made a constant mockery of the things that make me me.

Maybe in order to sparkle, my friend decided to scratch my surfaces so as to dull my shine. My positives were ignored, my soulfulness forgotten, my respect for not killing animals to devour them to satisfy the tongue's drool was sniggered about. It was looked down and joked about. I stood there being degraded for my own uniqeness. It hurt so much, killed me inside.

Still I forgave. Despite that, what do I get back, a cold feeling of rejection, of a victim being made the wrong-doer. Why didnt they realize before recognizing their superiority and saintliness that it is them that had wronged, erred? Does is degrade oneself to enquire the other person's hurt?

I have learnt that love and care doesnt necessarily come back, because you've given some. But that doesnt stop me from giving away more care and more love to others, maybe more deserving, for that is my nature and I should not change.

There surely must be an explanation for this and i remembered chanakya, the great chanakya... maybe when the selfish motive begins to dwindle, friendship holds no meaning.

3-D jigsaw puzzle

I just love jigsaw puzzles to bits. So when i was told to rest for a month after a cholecysectomy open surgery, i was wondering ... what am i going to do lying down and sitting around recuperating the whole day. I asked my hubby to get me some good books to read as I didn't intend to sit in front of the idiot box the whole day. He surprised me with a 3-D jigsaw puzzle. My eyes lit up when he handed me the box and I saw the challenge. By the time I was half way I was beaming with pride!!! I was done in two weeks record time! Ive done puzzles with 5000 and 8000 pieces. I have yet to do a 10 000 one. Ive told hubby dear to keep an eye out for the one with the most pieces in the world, bring it on dear, I cant wait!!!!

Chanakya Neeti

Hey, I received a mail on Chanakya Neeti (the great indian politician, strategist and writer). As I was skimming through it, I stumbled on one that made me really think... is it true? i said to myself.

"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)

It made me go through the list of all my friends. I asked myself with each person, why I am his/her's friend, what will I gain from them, what is my self-interest? I concluded that NO, I disagree with the great Chanakya... NO... SORRY.. I have some friends because I love them, I'm ready to give, give, and give and expect nothing in return....

Karva Chauth

Its only midday and I'm just dying of thirst, I cant even feel the hunger. But somehow it feels good to do this. It's just Karva chauth today and I'm not starving myself for nothing. My poor malayalee husband cant understand why I should have to torture myself like this; he cant understand how nice it feels to be doing this. Its not just 'fast for your husband's long life', its also about celebrating your wedded life and marriage.

"Karva Chauth Day falls on the 4th day of the Kartik month every year. On this day it is customary for the wife to fast the whole day. She does not drink water either. She paints her hands and feet with henna, dresses generally in red apparel ...On Karva Chauth day, which is observed in North India, tens of millions of women keep a fast, .... Only after seeing the moon do the women break their day-long fast in the evening/night. Normally women go out of their houses and on their roof tops to see if the moon is up yet.

Here is the song sung by punjabi women, while they exchange thalis seven times.

Veero Kudiye Karwada, Sarv Suhagan Karwada, Aye Katti Naya Teri Naa,
Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Naa, Aar Pair payeen Naa, Ruthda maniyen Naa,
Suthra Jagayeen Naa,Ve Veero Kuriye Karwara,Ve Sarv Suhagan Karwara....... "

picture and text:http://www.karwachauth.com

Pookalam

Onam was a month back, but it still lingers on in the mind... the sadya... the athapoo... This was my attempt at making the pookalam. Any guesses at what it is??? NO its not a flower pot....grrrr, how could Vil aunty say that, she's mallu and couldnt figure out what i was tryna make... okay here's the process that i went thru making it, maybe then u all will get it right!!!!

drawing the outline and filling it in...

filling in the face and the mukut (head gear)... and taaadaaaa

ok, i know its no pro athapoo but i sure did enjoy making it!!

Happy 40th....

Happy 40th Independence Botswana

May your people be with less xenophobia...
May your people not stereotype people of other nations...
May your people be more hardworking ...
May they not take the wealth the country has for granted...
May they accept, appreciate and embrace other cultures of the world...
God bless...

What does a delhi born punjabi (multani) girl, whose spent most of her life in Botswana and married to a malayalee call herself?? A good sweet 'n sour vegetable khichdi???
Dumela good people...