Andariki,
SRI NANDANA NAMA SAMVATSARA SUBHAKANKSHALU!!!
(Telugu New Year Ugadi Greetings in advance... :) - it's on 23rd March)

I don't know what makes me wait, but from past 5 years I was looking forward for this year to start. Might be it's the year name that attracted me the most with which I have associated many things in my life to happen.....
My previous post on Ugadi says everything(with the list of years).
Here is the link: http://kalpana01.blogspot.in/2007/03/happy-ugaadi.html

NANDANA means 'intense joy or delight'. I wish the same to everyone in their life.
If you are interested in knowing more, click on the article below.
http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/religion/article3024497.ece

HAPPY UGADI!! (once again :))
Good Luck!!!

Every year, Ugaadi(New Year) falls on Chaitra Shudhdha Paadyami. Here, Chaitra is the month name. This year, it's on 7th April. And, we call this year as SARVADHAARI.

My Wishes,

SRI SARVADHAARI NAAMA NUTANA SAMVATSARA SUBHAAKAANKSHALU !

For more details, you can click my link.

'Kranthi' means change and 'Sankranthi' means a good change. Since Sun enters the Makara/Capricorn sign, we call it as 'Makara Sankranthi'. Between the months of Margasira and Pushyam is where the sun takes its entry into Capricorn sign. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna has declared, "Among the months, I am the month of Margasira". The Margasira month is the crown among the twelve months, since the world experiences the abundance of the harvested food grains with joy. That's why we celebrate Makara Sankranthi as a Rice Harvest festival. It is also considered as a Thanksgiving day, to everyone who contributed their best, to the Gods, to the Sun and the Cattle.

We celebrate this festival mostly by decorating the front of the entrance door with rangoli designs, by flying kites and by preparing recipes which includes rice. Now, here are my rangoli patterns.



Source :
rediff.com

For another significance of Makara Sankranthi, click here.

WISHING YOU ALL A GREAT YEAR AHEAD.

My belated CHRISTMAS WISHES too. Missing you all. Will be back soon with loads to share. Have FUN........ :)

Happy Gandhi Jayanthi !!!

&

Thanks Azer Mantessa for .........


......... dedicating this pattern to ME. Feeling superb.

Thanks Sush, once again, for introducing me to this wonderful world.

You can learn a lot about HIM from this link. Do go through this article completely.

National Flag of INDIA


The Saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation.
The White is meant for purity and truth.
The Green is for faith and growth.
The Navy Blue Ashoka Wheel in the centre of the White denotes the continuity of the nation's progress.

National Animal - Tiger
National Bird - Peacock
National Flower - Lotus

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY TO ALL !!!

SARVAJIT NAMA NUTANA SAMVATSARA SUBHA-
KANKSHALU !





It is our Telugu New Year which falls on 20th of March, this year. So, wishing everyone a Happy Ugaadi and a prosperous year ahead. Our day starts with Puja, by later having "Ugaadi Pachchadi" which is a mixture of Neem buds/flowers(Bitterness), Jaggery(Sweetness), Raw Mango(Vagaru), Tamarind Juice(Sour), Chilli Powder/pepper(Hot) and Salt(salty taste). These 6 different flavours are called Shadruchulu.
For more information about the festival, click over here.
For the list of years, click here.

Sri Rama Navami just falls after a week of Ugadi. It is on 27th of this month. The birth of Sri Rama is celebrated. It is also observed as the marriage day of Sri Rama and Sita. The special offering of this day is Panakam(a beverage made of jaggery dissolved in water to which pepper powder and cardamom powder are added) and 'Vada Pappu'(soaked lentil). Happy Sri Rama Navami !
For more information, do visit these sites : telugupeople eaisai chennaionline

Happy Women's Day To All of You. A day late to wish you all. Here is an interesting site which talks about thoughts on women by Swami Vivekananda. Click here.

To know more about this festival, browse the following links which gives enough idea.

Makar Sankranti Festival
The Harvest Festival

It's Dussera and Diwali time. Just got curious to know more about the same. DUSSERA celebrates the victory of Good over Evil. The nine days preceding Dussera are known as Navaratri. During this period, Goddess Durga is worshipped in different forms - as Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Mahakali(3 main forms of SHAKTI). Each of these 3 forms gave rise to 3 more forms and hence they are called Nava Durga.

NAVADURGA FORMS:
Shailputri Brahmacharini Chandraghanta Kushmanda Skandamata Kaatyayani Kaalratri Mahagauri Siddhidatri

You can know more about each of these forms from this link and even this too.

Nava Durga Stuthihi(Prayer/Song) :
Pradhamaa Shailaputricha; Dwithiya Brahmacharini, Thruthiyaa Chandraghantethi Kushmandethi Chathurdhikee; Panchamaa Skandamaathethi; Shashtaa Kaatyayanethicha; Sapthamaa Kaalarathreecha; Ashtamaachaathi Bhairavee; Navamaa Sarvasiddhischaath; Navadurgaa Prakeerthithaa !!!

Dussera also means "cutting the ten heads of Ravana". The ten heads represent:
Loathing, Desire, Envy, Selfishness, Dishonesty, Obsession, Gluttony, Rage, Passion, Pride.

And, DIWALI is called the "festival of lights". Diwali is celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its significance.
The first day of Diwali is Dhanatrayodashi. During Dhanatrayodashi, lamps are lit to welcome Lakshmi. Houses are decorated and homemade sweets are offered to the Goddess.
On the second day, known as Narakachaturdashi, the victory of Lord Krishna over the evil King Narakasura is celebrated. Few lamps are lit and few crackers are burst in joy.
The third day is almost exclusively devoted to the goddess, Lakshmi. Lakshmi Pooja is done. Lamps are lit and crackers are burst in joy.
Padwa is the name commonly given to the fourth day of Diwali. It is considered an auspicious day for starting new business ventures.
On the final day of Diwali, also known as Bhai-duj, the focus is on the love felt between brothers and sisters. Gifts are exchanged and food is shared.
You can check for some more info here.

Here are the snaps of Lord Ganesha taken after pooja was performed.

Lord Ganesha is Modaka Priya. A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour with a stuffing of coconut, jaggery and some other condiments. But still, there is a meaning of MODAK — MODA means happiness and K is a suffix. Modak means "That which gives (or brings) happiness". You can know more from this link Lord Ganesha.

A closer view.

Our sweet little Pooja room with Lord Ganesha.

Got back after a long long time. Met friends, relatives, watched movies,..... had a good break. Ofcourse, thought to key many things in between. But could not help myself. Many ideas yet to share. Let's start.

Frolicking
Relaxing
Interesting
Everlasting
Nourishing
Dancing
Sharing
Helping
Inspiring
Pleasing

Guess what?  :)    FRIENDSHIP.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY TO ALL OF YOU!!! (Belated wishes)

Saw this cute little poem in my cousin brother's place. Felt like placing it over here.

WORRY?

Worry never Climbed a Hill
Worry never Paid a Bill
Worry never Dried a Tear
Worry never Calmed a Fear
Worry never Darned a Heel
Worry never Cooked a Meal
Worry never Solved a Problem
but may well become a Problem
So Why Worry?