Snippets from my 'Sun'day !

When was the last time that you dropped all your weekend plans, visits to Costco, brunch reservations, grocery shopping and all the other zillion 'to-dos' on your list and just turned the car around and said, 'I can do without the bread and the milk, as long as I get my quota of sunshine...' and headed to your neighbourhood park for a 'date' with the sun ? :-)
...Well that's exactly what we did today once we left home with all kinds of ambitious plans of getting things done- however, the only thing we did do in this regard, was to joyfully cancel the plans and head to the family park near our home ! And boy, are we glad we did that, for it was one of the most spectacularly beautiful days Korea has seen in the past few weeks with the sun lording over the mighty blue sky and the breeze just mild enough to gently play with your hair and rustle the maple leaves at your feet ! The weather was beautiful, conversing with us, cajoling and coaxing us to put away our cell phones, to disconnect with the world and chase a deeper connect with the universe instead, to indulge in some quality time away from the rigmarole of our regular routine and we happily did as directed !

The park we went to is a huge rambling place and lovely most days of the year (barring the dreaded winter months of course), but today there was something special about it, it just felt so 'alive' ! Alive with butterflies flitting from one flower to the other, with dragon-flies pausing for a fleeting second on our shoulders as they played 'hop-scotch-jump' amongst themselves and with the birds twittering away in flight from one tree to another.

The lotus flower stood proud and 'resplendently-pink' in the centre of the pond,  the sun-kissed mane of the weeping willows waltzed from left to right with their silken strands glistening in the sunshine, the centre of the pine trees showed off their newly acquired deep- orange tan and if you looked carefully you could see spots of autumn on the branches and in bushes, pops of crimson, yellow and red.

The lawns were dotted with colour with the presence of little boys and girls out with their footballs and skipping ropes, and one particular girl stole my heart with her pink butterfly net, chasing butterflies in the sun... :-) There was also a group of Korean toddlers, about three or four year old, out for a school picnic. They made such a delightful sight, darting around the grounds, laughing and running after each other. It brought back fond memories my own school picnics, my friends, the food, the races and the games we would play....of running on the green grass and of the simple pleasures of childhood days spent outdoors ! :-)

There was music in the air as someone hummed a tune and strummed their guitar and it was the perfect moment to kick those shoes off, stretch out on your belly and catch up on your reading or simply lie on your back and catch the streaks of the sun making their way through the leafy arbour above your head...we enjoyed the quiet company of a lovely magpie as he chose to sunbathe its deep blue wings two feet away from our camping rug...how could anyone not embrace a day as gorgeous as this one !! :-)

Today, the park made for a perfect spot for solitude as well as for some time for togetherness, for quiet reflections with yourself as well as for some moments of silent companionship on the wooden benches under the trees...

I shall share another glimpse of it once it has attained its autumn glamour in entirety, but for now, I hope you enjoyed reading about my day as much as I loved telling you about it...getting back to finishing my book, promise to be back here with more very soon. Have a great week ahead :-)

A beautiful belief called 'Karva Chauth' !

'Karva Chauth' is an essential part of this beautiful warm up to the festive season in a large part of the Hindi speaking world. Having spent half of my adulthood in Delhi, this festival is one that I have seen being celebrated with great commitment and reverence in the Northern part of the country. While I always did notice the festive air about the market place near my home in NCR through the corner of my eye, this is the first time I have reason to truly internalise it and read up about it and I was happy to learn some interesting dimensions to it.

Most of you know it is for the well being of your beloved, to pray for his good health and long life. But I was also happy to discover that another origin to this occasion is to celebrate 'god sisters' or 'kangan-sahelis'. In ancient times when the girl got married and left for her husband's village she was far away from her family and home with few to call her own in the new locality. With no relatives to talk to or to meet regularly, she would befriend another woman in the same village who would be like her 'god-friend or god-sister' and this friendship would be sanctified and blessed by the bride's in-laws. 'Karva Chauth', according to some, is also a celebration of this bond of friendship...

I also loved reading about other folklore and legends about this festival, the stories that trace back to the age of the Mahabharata, where Draupadi too observed this fast, as did Queen Veeravati and Savitri. 

I loved chatting with my mother-in-law the past few days and understanding from her how to go about the fast. I do believe in all things traditional, and I enjoyed making notes of the 'dos-and-donts' for the day. I must also share with you that she made the special effort of lovingly sending me my 'sargi' (a ton of goodies that are sent from the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law) all the way to Korea...a bag full of beautiful things...the 'mehendi', the 'mewa', the 'anjeer ki mithai' , the multi-coloured 'choodis'...so Mom if you're reading this, love you ! :-)

Many have contradictory views on the subject, and debate whether this custom or practice should be allowed, terming it as 'outrageous' and 'blasphemous',  describing how it has a negative impact on the health of the woman observing the fast, staying hungry and thirsty from sunrise to moonrise, while some argue that this is submissively putting the man on a pedestal. Everyone is justified to their opinion, and am sure they have their reasons to form them. I just feel observing the fast makes neither of the two 'less equal', to me it is just another way of expressing your affection for your beloved and making him feel special, from the time the sky is still star spangled in the wee hours of the morning,till it is punctuated again by the sliver of the moon. And what can be more wonderful if the love and commitment (and the fasting) is reciprocated by the other in the equation, as a symbol of mutual respect and devotion :-)

So all you ladies out there who are observing this ritual, enjoy it, dress up and look even more gorgeous today than you always do. Enjoy the 'mehendi', matching the bangles and the 'bindis', the bright colours of your silk sarees and bejewelling yourself. Festivals call for it ! I know am looking forward to my day ahead, to putting my feet up, to getting spoilt and relaxing through the next eight hours or so and to the 'katha-and-kahani' and the 'badaam-ki-puja' with the other ladies in our part of the world later this evening. See you on the other side...have a beautiful day ! :-)

'Pujo' is here !!!

The period of the Goddess is here...it is that beautiful time of the year when all heads bow in worship of the supremely radiant, fearless, feminine force, the divine 'shakti', the warrior Goddess, the one who slays all evil and frees the world from 'Mahishasur' (the invincible demon) ! And it is that time of the year when Bengalis across the world drop everything, work comes to a standstill and the entire community starts to prepare for Maa's descent onto earth, orchestrating festivities in all neighbourhoods, setting up 'pandals', creating the stage on which Maa shall reign, mounting the Lion and holding weapons in her ten hands, yes the season is here, the long awaited festival, 'Pujo' is here again after one whole year !!! :-)

This time of the year is not merely 'beautiful' with the crisp autumn air and 'shiulis' (the Bengali word for the 'harshingar' flower) forming a white and orange carpet on the grass beneath the trees, it is a period which is full of raw energy, where the change in the air is palpable. As a Bengali, I have grown up to love these days, right from 'Mahalay' (the first day of Pujo) when the Goddess comes to earth, to the all important ones from the sixth day ('Shoshti') onwards, earmarked for the Bengali world to celebrate with fervour and force as the Goddess is unveiled and the Pujas officially commence !

This is the first time I am away from my homeland during Durga Puja and the festival becomes even more important and special to me as the desire to recreate and participate in the festivities and revelries of this time of the year magnifies manifold with the distance from my loved ones in India.

As I sit in my living room, the all familiar sight of the frail 'dhakis' beating their leather strapped 'dhak' slung comfortably across their shoulder (almost as though they are feather weight) and that of the ladies and gentlemen serenading Maa, holding 'dhunuchis' in their hands and very often even by their mouth, flashes in front of my eyes. Be it during college or work, I would unfailingly take time off and go home to be with my family during this period. I remember going to the 'pujo-pandal' in my home town with my parents every year and soaking in the electrifying energy of the atmosphere as everyone around us would rejoice and celebrate the presence of the Goddess amongst us mere mortals, in reverence of the destroyer of evil spirits on earth, our saviour and protector ! I remember the excitement of seeing how the 'pratima' would look that year, the preparation of the 'thali' for the 'maha-ashtami puja' with five different varieties of fruit and the names of our ancestors written on it, the critical debate on whether the 'pandal' in the other neighbourhood looked better, the discussion on 'who-will-eat-what' from the food stalls (that started right from the time we sat in the car to get to the pandal, smiles), the queuing up for the 'bhog', the 'khichudi', the 'bhaaja', the 'chaatni' and the 'paayesh' (Bengali word for 'kheer').

I am reminded of the sight of some of the most beautiful women ever, draped in their newly acquired 'Dhakais' and 'Jamdanis', in pearls and flowers, with lace handkerchiefs and sling leather purses, of crisp kurtas and 'notoon' (Bengali for 'new') 'dhotis' for gents...it is Pujo after all,and it is the time to don new clothes and look as festive as you can ! And I as I run my fingers against the fabric of this beautiful saree bought by my father for me from Kolkatta during his recent visit it feels as though am there with my mother and him, participating in all the fun and excitement...

Living in a country like Korea, I have to admit, one is left wanting as far as celebrations for Pujo are concerned. But nothing stops one from creating a fuss about it at home, and am doing what I can to ensure the feeling of 'Pujo' embraces our home, right from painting my own version of the 'pratima' of Maa Durga on my canvas...

...to being courageous enough and venturing into the kitchen to make some Sondesh...what Bengali worth her salt or 'sugar' in this case, would let Pujo go by without some 'mishti' in her house ! :-)

These are 'Norom Paak' Sondesh ('Norom' meaning soft in texture and 'paak' meaning cooked in Bengali) which I made earlier today...made with home made 'chhena' (paneer),sugar and some saffron and nuts thrown in. I didn't have the luxury of moulds and hence the shape (or the lack thereof).

Just like every other occasion, the various corners of my home have flowers to celebrate these festive days. My better half got these as a surprise, which made it even more special :-)

Here are some of them in a teapot that I have seen my parents enjoy their morning tea out of for as long as I can remember ! Seeing it here just makes me feel closer home :-)

Invoking Maa's blessings, I wish you and your loved ones a very happy festive season. There is so much to look forward to in the weeks ahead, I hope you feel the positive energy within your homes and within yourselves during these beautiful days as you celebrate them with your loved ones ! And to those of you heading to the 'pujo-pandals' over the next two days, have some extra mishti for me, and to the ladies out there, do smear some extra vermillion on your cheeks from me during 'shindoor-khela'. I shall remain content feeling the goosebumps on my skin, with thoughts of the distant echo of the 'dhak', of the fragrance of the camphor emanating out of the 'dhunuchi' as the coconut husk inside it burns above the layers of coal and the memories of the frenzy of the dance that accompanies it all...

Signing off feeling festive, actually make that 'poignantly festive' :-) Happy Durga Puja to all of you...until next time..take care :-)

Friends (make)..the greatest gifts

If you're staying abroad one of the best parts is getting to meet new people and making new friends...since I moved to Korea I have had the good fortune of connecting with folks from different countries, different cultures, people with varied interests and hobbies...but the flip side to this is that you do have to live with the physical distance from your old ones ! Somedays you wake up thinking of those individuals who have been with you for as many years that you can think back, who have shared the ups and downs, who have bunked classes with you in college and nursed your hangover after that graduation party... :-) And that's when you look around your home and you realise that they are very much around you, through the beautiful things that adorn your corners that have been thoughtfully selected and gifted to you by them...

And so today's post is dedicated to some of these truly special girls of mine, people who are brilliant and blessed with some of the most loving and giving hearts I know of :-)

By now am sure you know of my love for collecting Buddhas in various forms...this time on my trip back home I carried back with me the first statue from my collection, a birthday present in 2012 from one of my closest friends, Guramrita.

  

She has an amazing sense of style and this totally reflects in this exquisite Buddha that she chose for my home...

It is carved out of wood with dull gold polish on it and mirror work that gleams whenever the sunlight falls upon it. Needless to say, I always have been and continue to be mesmerised by this work of art...a lovely gift from a dear friend who always encouraged me to find the 'buddha' within myself...one of the most beautiful and strong souls I know...counting days to the next time I'll get to share a cup of chai with her again or savour some of her fabulous cooking ! :-)

When we get married our friend circle widens with the beautiful inclusion of those that our better half has grown up with including his or her group of childhood friends and college besties and the next artefact here is a stunner from a very dear friend of my better half...a gorgeous brass Ganesha that occupies pride of place in my home..

If you are wondering what the red border is all about then let me share with you that is a beautiful example of how metal and fabric come together to create something so aesthetically pleasing. This has been set against a subtle cloth vignette in brown and gold and has a gorgeous scarlet fabric border enclosing the idol...

..Beautiful is it not ? And what a lovely gift to give someone who is about to start a new journey in life, in more ways than one ? Thank you for this Rashi, am SO glad we met and we truly treasure this one from our collection ! :-)

There are some people who know us better than we know ourselves, we have spent the formative period of our lives with them, played truant from tuition classes together, shared endless rounds of dessert after exams got over, and even when its been so many years and we don't get to see each other more than once a year perhaps, whenever we meet them it feels like we never parted...and this is a beautiful wedding present from one such friend who goes beyond being loving and being gifted and is extremely dear to me...a set of candle stands that add the classic European touch to our home...

I light them up on Friday evenings when it it just the two of us at home or when we have people over and simply love their understated elegance...

Must mention here, that though Lara could not make it for our big day, she made a special effort to ensure this beautiful expression of her love and good wishes for us reached us before we undertook our journey to Korea, and I am so glad we have these beautiful candle stands here with us, a lovely reminder of her thoughtfulness and warmth that are so inherent in her nature...thanks Lara, love them !

And last but in no way the least, is a mention of a very dear friend...someone I did not grow up with or go to business school with, but someone I met and spoke to for perhaps just ten minutes at work in India and we hit it off like we had known each other all our lives...my friend Jayeeta, the superwoman with wheels on her feet, one foot on the road and the other in an airplane, the tough negotiator at work and the soft-hearted lady who melts at the sight of a puppy...my confidante, sounding board and so much more...here is a lovely gift from her, which was something I had always wanted...a beyond-beautiful 'kantha' bedspread...

She selected this for us on a trip to Kolkatta and the beautiful embroidery and the colours just stole my heart when I set my eyes upon it...it was far more stunning than anything I had imagined in the context of this form of art...

Known for doing things in style and for her attention to detail, she ensured everything was perfect, from the gift itself right to the gorgeous tissue bag that it came in...

I must confess though, to not having used the bedspread yet, simply because (at the risk of sounding a little crazy) I feel it is too gorgeous to use (as a bedcover at least) :-) Someday perhaps when we have enough wall space, I see it going up as wall art in our home...nevertheless, I take it out of its green envelope many a times, and feel the 'kantha' stitch underneath my fingers and can only feel blessed to have friends who spoil me so much  :-) Love it J, thank you !

I have always said whenever I have had a chance to speak about what makes my home what it is, that cherished gifts from my pals make the corners of our apartment come alive. It is the beauty of the artefacts chosen by them, as much as their great taste, superlative sense of style and love for me that all adds up and lends that special touch to the decor in our home. 

These are things that I shall cherish forever, just as much as I cherish the bond I share with those who thought of these wonderful gifts, treasure the memories we have of all our great times together, and raise a toast to the friendship that keeps us this close...even when we are many miles apart. Thank you for being so immensely thoughtful, and for always being there :-)

From one home to another...

And am back !!!! Back from the big fat Indian holiday and guilty of not saying hello sooner, partially on account of "unpacking obligations" and honestly because there was so much to share with you about the past two months spent in my home country that I wasn't quite sure how to piece this post together :-)
Well, let me start by saying that it has been an overwhelming concoction of time spent with my family and pets, wining and dining with friends, catching up with former colleagues, eating out at my favourite joints and last but not the least, shopping at my favourite haunts :-)

It has also been two months of not stepping into the kitchen, whilst both the mothers ensured they practically camped there to spoil me silly with their signature dishes...can still taste my mother in law's spinach au gratin and aloo tikkis, my sister-in-law's classic 'rui-maacher' jhaal and my mother's rawa idlis, mutton biryani, shaami kebabs and cranberry cake. All of them ensured I was pampered with my favourite food being served from breakfast to dinner and must jointly take the blame for the extra pounds on the weighing scales...how can anyone resist their delicious cooking...have a look ! :-)

After time spent well in the northern part of the country with my in-laws,  I headed home to my parents' home in Central India. Every corner appeared to have puckered up to smile at me, welcoming me, telling me how much I have been missed... :-)

My dogs greeted me with unadulterated love and unconditional joy that nearly bordered on disbelief...'Is it really her ? Is she truly back ? '...so on and so forth :-) No welcome quite compares to one with wet noses and wagging tails and we had a whale of time playing together and enjoying each others company...

...I enjoyed leisurely mornings in the verandah with my chai watching the birds chatter away as my mother's 'bhusawal' bananas ripened and enjoyed fresh vegetables at lunch time plucked from her kitchen garden...the little luxuries of home ! :-)

What does one wish for during a visit back home other than lots of family time, and I was blessed with a special 'Rakshabandhan' this year with my brother joining us at home for the occasion, a rare occurrence since we now live in different parts of the world. I was also in time for my sister-in-law's birthday and we had a wonderful time celebrating it together... :-)

Trinkets and I have had a love affair from college and this time I got down to sorting out my collection and was glad to bequeath some of the treasures from those wonder years to my nieces...it is amazing how many beautiful things one can dig out of old cupboards and trunks, things forgotten, buried in corners, collected over the years, each with a memory associated with it, a tale or an anecdote...I have to thank my mother for preserving them even when am not around to look after them.

And how could I ignore my decor dreams while being in India. While I did the customary rounds of shopping for things for my home in Korea, I had a far more productive time rummaging through the attic at home and I must say, my parents and in-laws have been more than generous :-) I have come back with a few treasures that am absolutely thrilled about and I promise to share them with you as soon as I find places befitting for them in our home in Seoul...

Is it possible to have your fill of a trip back to India, I don't know...for someone like me no amount of time back home is 'enough time' :-) So it was with a heavy heart and of course very heavy bags (like always) that I got onto that plane back to Seoul. But it was a happy heart too for it had a treasure trove of memories created over the past two months, of fond moments spent with parents and siblings, uncles, aunts and friends, a lot of pampering, love and laughter.

And home-coming in Korea has been wonderful, to a home that has been looked after and cared for by my better half...but that's another story that shall reveal itself soon on the blog... :-) For now am just glad that I could share this little snippet of my trip with all of you here...it has given me another chance to reminisce and smile as I recollect the lovely holiday. Thanks for joining me here...see you again soon...take care :-)