Navratri 2021 - Yellow day

 

 

Happy Navratri everyone! 💛🙏

Navratri has started .. well it’s still Durga pooja for me when I look back at my childhood days.. it is such a huge thing for us back home .. my Bokaro days flash before my eyes .. the pundals, the pooja, pushpanjali, chanda ikattha karna from a month ago, prep for cultural programs, everyday pooja and pushpanjali.. just pure socialization in pundals .. kids putting up stalls .. and us wearing new clothes almost everyday of the pooja after khasti ( 6th day) and khichdi and sindoor khela .. sab yaad aa gaya … papa used to put mahalaya jaap early morning today .. missing home 🙃 !!! 

I did not even know about garbha or dandiya during my childhood days..  I got introduced to all the jazz associated with Navratri of dancing on garbha & dandiya tunes to live music in Mumbai and Pune .. and am so thankful for that.. our India has such diversity that even in the celebrations of festivals across all states there’s so much fun! 

To remember the days back home wrapped up a yellow saree in the eve - bandani gorgette silk  and chiffon half and half saree .. an online buy for my cousins marriage a few yrs back ! Still love the brightness and cheer it brings when I wear it !

This mantra outlines the omnipresent nature of Goddess Durga. Chanting this mantra can help one’s inner power to deal with any sort of situation in life. It also encourages the development of just positive thoughts in one’s mind.

 Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shanti rupena sangsthita

Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shakti rupena sangsthita

Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, matri rupena sangsthita

Yaa devi sarva bhuteshu, buddhi rupena sangsthita

Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha..

My fav Half & Half .. a repeat so very worth every moment!

A black and Red saaga weaved into happiness.. and hubby dear was as dashing as ever in his black ensemble.. 

               

                                           

Was trying to get some super back shots for saree speak theme and nothing is just working out ..

well some I liked after i posted there and so what better place to post but on my very own blog diary...one day when I am older, I intend to read all of these and reminisce!! 

  

At my fav neighbor who lives right across me for her ganpati aarti! 

  

             My little one who is trying to find some method in the madness of college apps this year..  

   

Teej 2021

Today is a special day when I get all decked up and without having any water or food enjoy every moment of it

A brand new chiffon bandani saree with gota on the border.. decked up with fusion jewellery today - maang tika from Rajasthan ( Bodla) and my Bihari Nathani (nath) and pearls wala necklace..

Happy hartalika teej to everyone celebrating it ..

With hectic work schedules managed to do some pooja ki tayari and some Gujia too , hand made from backyard ki mitti Ganesh, Parvati, Parvati ma friend and Riddhi & Siddhi!

Ankita is another Bihari in Chicago who celebrates it and was glad to have someone to celebrate it with in eve.. Nandita also called .. she was planning to come but traffic does become a problem at times.. and so it was so good to see her on face time!!! Raji and meenakshi also came to meet us in eve and had a great photo shoot!

Next day morning pooja ... with the orange sindoor was a divine blessing ..

Mother-In-Law's Beauty!!!

 Yet another silk bandhej saree with gota border from my mother in law’s closet.. loved this color combo and this tricky reflects the bright, colorful and lively mindset I want to have ..

                 
ज्ञानी कह गए है : A lot should go in ones mind before one speaks .. alas that’s not me .. what is on my mind is already coming out of my mouth.. sometimes it’s a race too!! जो जीता वोहि सिकंदर!! 

How many times have you felt pent up, frustrated and uncomfortable because you had to carefully choose your words and could not say what you really wanted to say to someone .. would you not love to be free of that bondage ..

For me what also does not work is that my facial expression gives away If I am saying something else and feeling something else .. not sure if that’s a latent I should have mastered differently !!  how tht has impacted my personal & professional life may very well be a series of SS posts ..   

                        

Went to Avani's house to get ready and then to Tannavis house for tea.. so a half was was meant to be..Tanu is here so having so much fun with her, glad that she is also enthu to participate in such events! 

                    

                    

                         

                                                            Here's a relaxed me ....

                                       

 

        

Finally, in the evening we headed to our final destination of Shree Roopa's house dinner!! and man her mom cooks amazing food.. beautiful backyard with flowers and veggies .. Met Piny, Priya, Rums, Mani and Shompita along with a few others... it was a mini saree speak gathering .. thanks dear Shree Roopa!! 

My regulars of SS gang were there with me for my giggles and jokes... They all accept me as I am and glad to have this sisterhood in Chicago!!

Travel version of Teej! 💕

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Quarantine Diaries : Listing my sari experiences from the past...

Oct 2019

It’s hartalika teej and today I returned home to Chicago from my all girls New York trip.. this trip was planned since a few months ago and i totally forgot that i needed to check for teej ..

Well.. since hubby dear is a college sweetheart too i wanted to get his opinion .. when i told him i was in a dilemma whether to go or not when i found out that teej was today .. and mind you.. in the last 19 yrs of our marriage have not missed any .. he was more than accommodating when he said you should go and do a travel version of teej.. respect and love for my chosen one reached a new level .. this is the man i choose to live with about 25 yrs ago.. ( 19 yrs of marriage + 4 years of college .. + 1 yr of job ) never forced me to fast or follow anything that I don’t believe in.. hubby is from Rajasthan where they do karvachauth and I am from Jharkhad ( BOKARO steel city ) where from childhood I have seen my mom do Teej .. so these are the 2 fasts I do without fail!

So.. last 3 days were great times enjoying the much needed freedom from work and house chores and just rejuvenating friendships with my besties .. painting the town RED and then i fly home today to celebrate teej.. fasted today .. started the fast with “I will drink water and maybe eat some nuts and coffee / tea as needed .. till 4 pm was all good and in the flight started feeling dizzy and ended up doing what the need of time was.. has a coffe and some almonds ..

just prayed in my mind that goddess Parvati and lord shiva will understand my love for hubby and will bestow their blessings none the less...

Hubby dear was there to pick me up at the airport .. went to temple .. came home and did pooja .. hubby was the one who recited the teej katha .. katha says hartalika means a friend who kidnapped goddess Parvati to the jungle and there she did severe fasting to get Shiva .. well there was some connection .. i was with all my girl friends and today 2 of us were fasting

Legs are paining (not the age for high heels head is hurting due sleepless nights the endless stories .. giggles.. laughter .. opinions .. gyan.. and walking aimlessly the streets of NY .. and still i am proud of us that we wanted to fast .. and did it !!!

Modern times need for being content and flexible in carrying the traditions and our culture ahead ..and i feel good that i was able to create my Travel version of Teej today!

Wore my all time fav orange color blended with my fav red color gorgette saree that I and earrings from my beautiful friend Ramani Deolalikar .. bangles from pune ka street shopping from my last India trip! This saree has small golden jeweled pipes as booties which makes it bright and Shiny !!

Bitiya rani was more than happy to click some pics .. Somehow everything came together .. where there is a will there is a way!! And while seeing the pics had a hard time choosing the one .. so 3 of them Here .. even though the first one has my tummy bulging .. time to get back to gym and remove all the cakes and pasties and cocktails in sweat!! Made sooji ka halwa for prasad!