Interesting: Test your awareness

Just came across this ad:


I liked it. There were few more similar tests.

Interesting and true. We almost always ignore/miss things around us on which we are not thinking.

Its true for things in daily life and looking at a bigger picture in our life too !

Lohri and Makara Samkranti

Ignorance is a bliss(better than incomplete information). Recently during one of our chai sessions, there was a discussion that Lohri and Makar Sankranti (or Makar Samkranti) are the only festivals with fixed dates. I was not sure as I never heard it. What I knew was that Indian festivals are not based on British(English) calendar.

In India we used to go to Nani/Dadi or to nearest temple to get any information regarding festivals and used to follow it without thinking. Though they used to tell me the explanations behind that answer but I never paid attention to those details. Just have vague memories that there used to be some reasoning. Now when I am in US, either I have no information or I have too much information. We have people from different parts of the country with different ideas and then internet adds on to it. Now you have 1000 incomplete answers to one simple question. Amazing!

Anyway, I refer this website "mypanchang.com" regarding festival dates. This site has scientific explanations to convince me and my near/dear ones to stick to one festival date.

Coming back to Lohri and Makara Sankranti celebration dates. Lohri is celebrated the day before makara sankranti. Sun's entry into makara rashi is celebrated as makara samkranti and so the day before that transit is Lohri. Hence, I got to know that Lohri and Makara Sankranti are not celebrated on fixed dates. However, it happens to be that it(sun's transition) is on January 14th nearly 99% times. Sometimes it could be before or after. You can read the explanation here.
In 2009, Lohri date: 12th(USA) & 13th(India); Makara Sankranti: 13th(USA) & 14th(India).

By the way, I made Til Ke Ladoo(Sesame seed ladoo). Looked online and it was not difficult. It was my first try so I am satisfied with the results.

So, belated happy Lohri and Makara Sankranti. Be happy! its the start of warmer days:)

Summary of 2008

2008 was an year of change. It was definitely a big change for me. Like every year so many things happened throughout the year. Just to summarize I am jotting down everything in my shorthand style:

Winter: New Year hangover, WFH, Doctors, Yoga, Lawyers, HR, Resignation

Spring: Farewell, Road Trip, Housewife, Cricket, Virginia Beach - beach house, Graduation Time

India: India Trip, Daughter-in-law, Daughter, Indian Shopping

Summer: 1st Wedding Anniversary, Jogging, Moving to Univ Housing, Hiking-camping

Economy: Big-time Recession, Job Market

Autumn: Nephew Gautam's arrival:) (new member in family)

Indian Festive Mood: Parents visit, Fall Colors, Festivals, Happy Diwali, Thanksgiving

Holiday Season: Road Trip to Chicago, Meeting friends and Family, Kids all around

New Year: Pittsburgh, North Carolina

May Gob bless us all with a Happy, Healthy and Successful 2009!

Bawri Baatein by Bawra Mann

It was winter of 2005 when I was watching Hazaaron khwahishein aisi. Of course movie was good but I was struck my the slow song which was playing at the end of movie "bawra mann dekhne chala ek sapna...". Since then it is one of my favorite songs. For a long time I named my laptop 'Bawra Mann'. Now I am starting this new blog where I would be collecting all the random thoughts or information so the name: Bawri Baatein by Bawra Mann as in 'bawre se mann ki dekho bawri hain baatein,'.

Let me see how it goes. I do not have anything specific planned for this blog. I can easily put all my cribbing, disappointments and frustrations here but then what would I do when I am with my better half:)

Let me know if anybody has any suggestions.

Keep browsing!