Love the Pain

Just last week, we were blessed with a Baby Boy in our Family ...my wife delivered a tiny, 2.7 Kg, Baby boy on 13th October....and I became a Father for the first time... Was just wondering what a strange relationship life has with Pain.... Just Imagine, The Life begins when the Baby Comes out of the Mothers womb..... But the Mother, has to go through probably the Biggest Pains of her entire Life .. The Labor Pains... Some Doctors say, that the Pain, though cant be measured, but would be equivalent to the pain one would feel on breaking of 40 bones in ones body..... Life Begins with Pain.....

Day 2 - As is a Normal routine, Most New Borns, have a very High level of Billurubin Count, which is indicative of the Preliminary Jaundice in new borns .... The New Born is probably not even aware of his existence in the world & he has to be pricked ..a Blood Sample for evaluation Jaundice ...... a 20 Hour Old baby, being Pricked for blood ...... Life Sucks from Day 1 ..... Another Tryst with Pain

This is Intreresting, The babies are supposed to have a balance of Mothers breast feed & the Lactogen Milk.... Even Breast Feeding is not too easy for the Mom...... The Baby sucking & biting the Mom at the Nipple, is not easy for the Mom to tolerate.....

So thats how life is .... No Complains.... We are conditioned for Pain..... As many People say, Life is tough, But at the same time, Life is a fair equaliser ... It balances out things even for a 2 day old baby .... It conditionns us for pain.....so that we are ready to handle Life with all its vagaries, unprecedencies... As They Say, No Pain No Gain......So Love the Pain .....

Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth – one of the Traditional Festivals of Punjabis . wherein all the married ladies of the House fast until they see the evening moon . They are not even supposed to have a drop of water the entire day until they see the evening moon & see the face of their beloved husbands through the sleeve or channi .. The husband then offers water to the wife & she breaks the fast .......The Ladies celebrate this fast for ensuring longevity & a healthy life for their husbands . There are many legends associated with this Fast fo Karva Chauth . That of Queen Veeravati or Stayavan-Saviti, Even the Legend from Mahabharat Talks about the Karva Chauth


There is the Legend of Queen Veeravati who was the only sister of her seven loving brothers, who was married to a king. On the occasion of the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents' house. After sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen couldn't stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise. The seven brothers who loved her dearly, were very disturbed watching the distress of their sister and decided to end her fast by deceiving her. Then the brothers reflected a mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taken it as moon rise, broke the fast and took food. However, the moment the queen ate her dinner, she received the news that her husband, the king, was seriously ill.The queen rushed to her husband's palace and on the way, she met Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. Parvati informed her that the king had died because the queen had broken her fast by watching a false moon. However, when the queen asked her for forgiveness, the goddess granted her the boon that the king would be revived. But to achieve this, she would have to undertake the Karva Chauth fast under strict rituals, then only her husband would come top life. Thus, by strictly following all the rituals of Karva chauth, queen Veeravati, relivened her husband.



The Legend of Mahabharata

The belief in this fast and its associated rituals goes back to the pre-Mahabharata times. Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Nilgiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shivas guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women listen to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention.



The Story of Satyavan and Savitri

There is the story of the Satyavan and Savitri. When Lord Yama, came to procure Satyavan's soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and Yamraj finally relented. He granted her, her husband's life. To this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great faith and belief.



The Legend of Karva

According to another legend, a woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband. One day while bathing, he was caught by a crocodile. Karva came running and bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn. She then went to Yama, the Lord of the death, and requested him to send the offending crocodile to hell. When Yama refused, she threatened to curse him. Afraid of the power of a devoted wife, Yama readily accepted and sent the crocodile to Yamalok or hell, and blessed Karva's husband with long life.



Another Legend which talks about Karva Chauth..In earlier days,, when a women would go to stay at her In laws House, she would have very few companions or friends to discuss her problems & personal life.....Our Society being extremely conservative those days, women were not encouraged too much to speak or be too vocal...Also staying together with os many family members would mean little time for her & even lesser time with her husband...Hence there was a tradition, wherein she would befriend one of the ladies of the house, it could be her sister in law, neighbours, small girl child in the house, & this relationship would be sanctified by elders .... Thus they would be confidants for each other & the bride would discuss her personal, health & hygiene related problems with this confidante of hers .... This relation would become so strong that eventually one day would be earmarked as a celebration for this special festival & relationship....It would be full of festivities, fun, frolic ... Later Husband was also included in this festival, as the relationship of God Sisters or god Friends, as they would call it, came into being because of the marriage only....

Today Karva Chauth has become as big as any other festival in Delhi & Parts of North India...Its a Perfect example when tradition meets Fashion...It has also been Popularised a lot in Bollywood flicks and especially Filmmakers like Yash Chopra, Karan Johar...Due to the Ever Increasing Popularity of Bollywood Films in the Indian Diaspora settled all cross the globe, This was one of the best ways to present connection with their Motherland .... The Famous Karva Chauth Scenes &8 songs in, Blockbuster movies Like Dilwale Duilhaniyan le jaayenge, released in the year 1995...Another BlockBuster movie, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum, had a massive song & dance sequence involving the 3 hot superstars o fthat time.....Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Maha Shivratri are all National festivals, & the actual celebration & after effects for these festivals, span atleast 2 days or more ... In Today fast paced world, where Time is money 7 even More than that...because one can still earn lost money, but cant earn lost time......Karva Chauth steps in as a nice, refreshing small 1 day festival..Also unlike other festivals, which are about the Complete Family & a whole lot bigger gamut of thngs involved, Karva Chautgh is smply about the women & her desire..Its about her desire & wish for a Happy & Long Life fir her husband, Its about her coming out in the Open & saying , that I Care for my Husband... Its about Coming out in the Open & Saying, I love my Husband & wish a Long & Happy Life for him..Its about a womens sacrifice .... and who says sacrifices always have to be about struggle, hardship & troubles

Why cant we have one day of her sacrifice & yet celebrate that sacrifice with great aplomb, elan, grace, grandeur, fun, frolic & lots of masti......... As Indians, we are sop obsessed with the Idea of Scrifice & penance, that Fun & enjoyment, seems to be a vice & not a virtue... So In a way, this Festival breaks Restaurants, Malls, Markets, Multiplex, all are dressed in the flavour of karva chauth... Karva or Clay Pots are adorned so beautifully in shops. Karva Chauth Food Items..Specia; Karva Chauth Thali being as a hot seller in restaurants.... Women can be seen adorned in the best of Bridal Clother, Bindis, Jewellery, Bangles, Vermilion , vow, If Sacrifise is so beautiful, then might as well do it gracefully. Just Remembered a Poplar Ad for a Scootie, which had the Punchline “Why should boys have all the fun .......Karva Chauth is about Fun for Women, so go out there & have it.......

Navratris - A Dicotohmy

The Festival of Navratris, although very popular & widely celebrated, also brings out tremendous dicohotomies in our society & ourselves as well .. Being a Devout, HardCore Non Vegetarian Food Lover, these 9 days of abstinenc seems to much of a sacrifise isnt it..It is also a period, when heavy drinkers, also have to refrain from Consumption of Alcohol ....... Many also practice complete celbacy during these 8-9 days of Navratris...Vow.. Women could never feel so much respected in a society....Where women power is celebtrated with so much aplomb, fanfare & pride...Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Kaali, all forms of the Shakti or women power......

I have seen many Delhi & North Indian Families, end the last day of the Puja, or naumi, as its called, with a Kanjak Puja at home....Its a small Puja where 8-9 small girls, representing the Goddess, in its avatars, are worshipped for a brief period though....With the Traditional Praisad or Offerinngs of Halwaa, Puri, Ornaments..People aslo wash their feet with water to cleanse them before the ritual....Isnt it strange..In a Country, which is still struggling with the highest Crimes against women..... Rapes, EveTeasing, Dowry Deaths, Female Infantcides, Suppression, Torture..... Fat lecherous Traders or Lalas as they are called in Trade Circles, who keep staring at small girls, probably young enough to be their daughters, are the most eager paticipants in these ceremonies

One Report on the status of Primsry Schooling in India, stated that close to 50% of schools in Villages Offering Primary Education, dont have separate toilets for the Girl Child....The Girl Child, is not the Priority for Educationg in Poor families......