The Sky Gets Dark, Slowly - Mao Dun

( Want to keep it as future reference - Got from a friend?
Such a nice article to read, not just for senior citizens but for all of us.
Getting old is a reality that we need to embrace and prepare for 😊

*The Sky Gets Dark, Slowly*

Mao Dun literary prize winner Zhou Daxin’s latest novel to be published, “The Sky Gets Dark, Slowly”, is a sensitive exploration of old age and the complex, hidden emotional worlds of the elderly in a rapidly ageing population.

In it he writes, “…Many elderly speak as though they know everything, but of old age they are in fact as ignorant as children. Many elderly are in fact, completely unprepared for what they are to face when it comes to getting old and the road that lays ahead of them.

In the time between a person turning 60 years old, as they begin to age, right until all the lights go out and the sky gets dark, there are some situations to keep in mind, so that you will be prepared for what is to come, and you will not panic.

1.
The people by your side will only continue to grow smaller in number. People in your parents’ and grandparents’ generation have largely all left, whilst many your peers will increasingly find it harder to look after themselves, and the younger generations will all be busy with their own lives. Even your wife or husband may depart earlier than you, or than you would expect, and what might then come are days of emptiness. You will have to learn how to live alone, and to enjoy and embrace solitude.

2.
Society will care less and less for you. No matter how glorious your previous career was or how famous you were, ageing will always transform you into a regular old man and old lady. The spotlight no longer shines on you, and you have to learn to contend with standing quietly in one corner, to admire and appreciate the hubbub and views that come after you, and you must overcome the urge to be envious or grumble.

3.
The road ahead will be rocky and full of precarity. Fractures, cardio-vascular blockages, brain atrophy, cancer… these are all possible guests that could pay you a visit any time, and you would not be able to turn them away. You will have to live with illness and ailments, to view them as friends, even; do not fantasise about stable, quiet days without any trouble in your body. Maintaining a positive mentality and get appropriate, adequate exercise is your duty, and you have to encourage yourself to keep at it consistently.

4.
Prepare for bed-bound life, a return to the infant state. Our mothers brought us into this world on a bed, and after a journey of twists and turns and a life of struggle, we return to our starting point – the bed – and to the state of having to be looked after by others. The only difference being, where we once had our mothers to care for us, when we prepare to leave, we may not have our kin to look after us. Even if we have kin, their care may never come close to that of your mother’s; you will, more likely than not, be cared for by nursing staff who bear zero relation to you, wearing smiles on their faces all whilst carrying weariness and boredom in their hearts. Lay still and don’t be difficult; remember to be grateful.

5.
There will be many swindlers and scammers along the way. Many of them know that the elderly have lots of savings, and will endlessly be thinking of ways to cheat them of their money: through scam phone calls, text messages, mail, food and product samples, get-rich-quick schemes, products for longevity or enlightenment… basically, all they want is to get all the money. Beware, and be careful, hold your money close to you. A fool and his money are soon parted, so spend your pennies wisely.

Before the sky gets dark, the last stretches of life’s journey will gradually get dimmer and dimmer; naturally, it will be harder to see the path ahead that you are treading towards, and it will be harder to keep going forward. As such, upon turning 60, it would do us all well to see life for what it is, to cherish what we have, to enjoy life whilst we can, and to not take on society’s troubles or your children’s and grandchildren’s affairs on for yourself. Stay humble, don’t act superior on account of your own age and talk down to others – this will hurt yourself as much as it will hurt others. As we get older, all the better should we be able to understand what respect is and what it counts for. In these later days of your lives, you have to understand what it means, to let go of your attachments, to mentally prepare yourself. The way of nature is the way of life; go with its flow, and live with equanimity.

*******For all of us, a nice read, very beautiful, very true .... !

🙏🙏🙏

Namaste Trumph - Delhi Burning

From Howdy Modi to Namaste Trump, Two Leaders heap praise on each other; reminding us of Ayyapanum Koshiyum. Wondering how many times, they would have hugged during the two days?



Meanwhile in Delhi "Trump ke jaane ke baad hum aapki (police) bhi nahi sunenge." - Kapil Mishra said on 23rd Feb. to anti CAA protesters. After all the violent and communal remarks no one was arrested after Jan/Feb. election campaign, proving it to be motivated by top leaders; so when Trump landed in Ahmedabad, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas was seen in full action in Delhi. A 19 year old girl shouted Pakistan zindabad, she is behind the bars. In US, thousands of people cry, India zindabad, pakistan zindabad, and move around free. The BJP leaders who made communal remarks openly during the election campaign are still moving around free: (L-R) Kapil Mishra, Amit Shah, Adityanath, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma. Photo: PTI/The Wire;

Stretch between Jaffrabad metro station and Majupur Chowk turned into war zone on 24th February, From Jaffrabad, the highway which goes under the metro is a straight line, going through Maujpur, reaching Gokalpuri. The entire road has been locked down by the police on each side, with clearly articulated Hindu and Muslim blocks beside each other. While the anti-CAA protesters congregated on the Jaffrabad side, the Maujpur side was crowded by pro-CAA mobs. At 9.30-10 AM Police lathi-charges anti-CAA protesters at Chand Bagh and Pro-CAA groups come very close to the anti-CAA protesters at Jaffrabad and raised slogans. When Trump was visiting Sabarmathi Ashram, at around 12.40 PM stone pelting by both sides begin in Maujpura, Babarpur, Kardampuri and Jaffrabad areas, massive clashes eruptted between crowds gathered at Jaffrabad and Maujpura with slogans raised.


By 4.30 pm, 10 people including a cop was dead, head constable Ratan Lal died after sustaining injury in Chand Bagh-Gokalpuri area. Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma was injured when he was patrolling and his car was burned. At 5 pm Arvind Kejriwal pleads "Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon’ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations."; he has been on top of this, and his actions have been contrary to that of Gujarat CM's after 2002 riot. Around 8 pm Gokulpuri tyre market was set on fire, school nearby also suffers damages and rioting continued at Ghonda Chowk and Maujpura Chowk

Time to wonder if it was another dark day for Indian society and if the future is bleak or bright. This is all happening simultaneously when Trump praises, free tolerant, and peaceful India - In a gala event at Motera Stadium, Amtavad. Yes, not Ahmedabad.

The official schedule of US President Donald Trump’s engagements in India as issued by the Ministry of External Affairs was as below:

Monday, February 24

1140 hrs—President Donald Trump to arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport, Ahmedabad; 1215 hrs—Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad); 1305 hrs—Namaste Trump Event at Motera Stadium; 1530 hrs—Emplane for Agra; 1645 hrs—Arrival at Agra; 1715 hrs—Visit to Taj Mahal; 1845 hrs—Emplane for Delhi; 1930 hrs—Arrive at Delhi.

On Day 1, Trump addressed the 'Namaste India' event at the Motera cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, after visiting Sabarmathi Ashram,
Minutes after the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump left for Agra, where they visited the Taj Mahal.. There was Gujarat Chief Minister at Gujarat airport and Yogi at Agra who presented him with Taj Mahal photo frame, but Delhi CM was not invited at the Delhi airport. Agra and Ahmedabad oops - Amtavad, got a good face lift. One time or will it be sustained?

Motera Staduim was indeed NaMoSte Trump. A matter of pride for people at Ahmedabad - it seems 7 million people (really?) were there to visit Modi between airport and stadium, stadium had more than 1 lakh people seated, how much of hardship the people had to go through, and how willing they were to be out in the noon is unknown. Well Sabarmati/Mahatma Gandhi and Taj Mahal is something that BJP would not have recommended, isn't these places in their bad books? How come they recommended these places? As Trump said in his speech - Modi is very tough. Did he have tough time bargaining or convincing Modi to see these places? There were few funny moments, and these are obvious given different languages - Modi referring to Trump as 'Dolan Trump' and Trump's various pronunciations, especially 'Vivekananda'

At Taj - it was family time, and a private affair. No visitors were allowed - was that included in the cost of Trump's visit - the loss of revenue? And they returned to Delhi that night.

Next day newspapers had below pictures:

Plan for Tuesday, February 25th was:

1000 hrs—Ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan; 1030 hrs—Wreath laying at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat; 1100 hrs—Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House; 1240 hrs—Exchange of Agreements/Press Statement at Hyderabad House; 1930 hrs—Meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan; 2200 hrs—Departure. PTI

Second day, events continued as per plan, after Ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan; and wreath laying at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and planting a tree there, First Lady Melania Trump headed to Delhi Government school to attend 'Happiness' class as Trump attends official meeting with Prime Minister, followed by lunch hosted by the prime minister. In the press statement Modi mentioned they are working on 'Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership'. The crucial leg of the visit included his talks with PM Modi over Indo-USA ties and more. Trump spoke about the peace deal, terrorism, CAA and even Pakistan and Kashmir. To strengthen India US ties three MOU's were signed, in the areas of 1) Energy - IOC 2) Mental health and 3) Safety of Medical products. The two countries planned to work together in areas of defense, security, energy, technology, people to People, Chandrayan - Major being Trade deal and Military deal.

Both days he mentioned that he had good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan, they are working to control cross-border terrorism. On second day, he said in the press conference he said "We have a massive trade deficit with India. We shouldn't have a $24 billion deficit. If trade deal doesn't happen, it will be something else; but it will be satisfactory." He though high tariffs imposed by India was "unfair" . On violence in northeast Delhi and CAA said "We did talk about religious freedom. The PM said he wants people to have religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it. I heard about the individual attacks but I did not discuss it. It is up to India." On terrorism he said "We killed al-Baghdadi a few months ago. Qasem Soleimani is gone. Hamza Bin Laden (Osama's son) is gone. Nobody has done more than what I have done. But at the same time Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria should do it too." India would buy military hardware from US.

Rashtrapati Bhavan and surroundings were beautifully lit for the dinner. Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, apart from cabinet ministers, and eminent people from industry and arts like Azim Premji, A.R. Rahman were also present. Opposition leaders too were invited but they did not attend as Sonia Gandhi was not invited.

Trump in his banquet speech said "I called up the Prime Minister and asked him- do you mind if I make it after the Presidential elections, and he was not happy. he did not like the idea, cause he had already put the signs up, he did not want to be taking signs down!" "We had a tremendous two days, as beautiful as I ever had in my life. We really had something special. We are going to have a tremendous relationship, a long and great relationship. We right now are better friends than we ever were in the history of our countries," said the US President.

First lady Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner; shared equal limelight, and were stars - it was interesting to read and know more about them. All said and done, their sense of fashion was amazing - there was something wrong with Melania but Ivanka seemed to be a real all rounder and equally a family person.



Modi's inability to put an end to protest, shows a desire to instigate violence, and this visit, appears to be drawing a bigger line, to hide smaller line. Well normally, when you want a big event to be successful, you would not want violence to be happening around; those people who want the event to fail, would be the ones trying to instigate the violence. The fire in Delhi continued, Amit Shah was not seen at the banquet, the HM/CM and others had meeting at 12pm. On Tuesday evening, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa told media persons that 56 policemen were injured in the violence in Delhi that erupted on Sunday. On the third day, when police complained of lack of staff, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to deploy the Army. Doval, who met residents on two visits to the affected areas, said there were enough forces on the ground and that the situation was “totally under control”. Doval claimed only a “few criminals” are spreading the violence, “People have a sense of unity among them, there is no enmity,” he says. “Everyone who loves their country also loves their society, their neighbour. He also said - "People should try to resolve each other’s problems and not increase them.” - Doer of this did you hear that? Opposition party members and leaders started asking for Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation and Kapil Mishra's arrest. The Class 12 English board examination had to be postponed in 73 centres in North East Delhi, the Central Board of Secondary Education announced. Kejriwal assures the people that his government will take care of them. “We are responsible for your life,” he says. “We must not let hatemongers succeed, we must not allow anyone to divide us on the basis of religion.” The autopsy results of slain Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma accessed by sources on Thursday, reveal that Sharma was stabbed more than four hundred times. Forensic experts have stated that stab wounds have been found all over Sharma's body, ripping his intestines apart, as per sources. Delhi police have filed an FIR and named former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain has been named in the FIR under IPC section 302 for murder. Ankit Sharma's body was found dumped in a sewer in Delhi's Chand Bagh area. Tahir Hussain was suspended from the primary membership of AAP pending inquiry.



A total of 42 people have died so far while more than 200 have been injured after communal clashes broke out in the northeast part of the National Capital on Monday. The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of the Centre and Delhi government on a plea seeking lodging of an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandh and Priyanka Vadra for allegedly giving hate speeches. Reason being asking home minister to take responsibility and resign. The government is clearly having trouble with prioritizing things; oh know - these are their priorities. It is like the key for peace keeping is in the hands of the violence lover and the one who cannot stand Muslims and Congress.

Friendship is were 'Trust is unshakable'. Finally on February 26th Modi tweets " Peace and harmony are central to our ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times. It is important that there is calm and normalcy is restored at the earliest." Did it take him three days to realise that? Better late than never. Has Amit Shah still not realized it? PM said had an extensive review on the situation prevailing in various parts of Delhi. Police and other agencies are working on the ground to ensure peace and normalcy.
A more proactive response from both the govt. and police in not tolerating miscreants was definitely needed. Calling out any kind of propaganda and causing any kind of inconvenience to common people matter. And all those involved, should be dealt with, with more severe punishment to where the problem started. ‘We now seem to be moving inexorably towards an authoritarian state that criminalises dissent and replaces dialogue with danda’. 'However much the hate... It doesn't turn to violence with impunity without the consent of police and state. No extended riot takes place without the incompetence or complicity or both of the state.'

“Oh, the memory of the emergence of a leader with the face of an automaton, a face so deeply marked by hate and pride, dead to all feelings of love, friendship, goodness, or pity …
And clustered around this leader with his hysterical voice, a captive crowd capable of any violence, any murderous act!”

To be fair, the real issue is how did we get here. It is propaganda that got us here; constant misreporting and fear mongering leading a community to protest a law which affects them zilch. Anyway, I hope the govt and judiciary do what they should. Today as our four pillars are shaking, judiciary to being made to be dependent. Judiciary was never known to be most efficient in general and no it's not from today. In democracy people do have right to protest, peacefully and without causing trouble to others. After 370, Thriple Talaq, RJB (Ram Janm Bhoomi) which were handled well, government appeared to be in a hurry. This one definitely deserved better response. HM made multiple announcements that they could go meet him but kept dilly dallying. It was his duty to clarify on a bill, that be presented and moved in the parliament. Shaheen Bagh should have been cleared much earlier. And yes BJP like all other parties let it be as probably they thought it could help them. Not that anyone is 'doodh mein dhula hua'. The problem today, dates back to partition and the decision made, which was unacceptable to a group of people, the hate was planted down from generation to generation; which has spread and is continuing like a wild fire. RSS wanted civil war, and had even planned to assassinate the founder of Pakistan - as they did not favour Pakistan, and wanted it to be a Hindu Rashtra; having got Pakistan, which was a complete Islamic state - and of no other religion; their slogan was 'Hamkelya Pakistan, Larkelinge Hindustan' - We got Pakistan by laughing, we'll get India by fighting. Both these are certain segment of people. There were riots, mass migration, loss of many lives. Amidst these fight and even afterwords, people who suffered the most were the Sikh's and Punjabi's. It took years to build our nation, bring unity among people, who started leaving happily with dreams of being a progressive country by 2020. Unfortunately, should we call it an evil eye, or the rise of the haters, which are leading to further and more unrest today?

Riots have no religion. Rioters have no humanity. People who support them have no conscience. "All has to do with relationship." Relationship is important. There can be no sound of one hand clapping. There is sound only when two hands meet. ‘When a relentless propaganda machine with the aid of some media caters to the worst prejudices of the majority community, then a deepening religious divide on the ground is almost inevitable,". Communal riots, like 1984 Sikhs, and 2002 Godhra fade gradually, and is between two haters; but political riots, spread like fire across the country like the Babri Masjit and the present one if uncontrolled appears to be trending towards being political.

Few questions that linger:

1. We all know Islamic state/terrorists fund and supply weapons to Muslims, how did Hindus get the weapons? How do they plan to instigate 'Goli Maro Salo Kho'; from where do they get weapons?
2. Was the attack as pre-planned as Trumps visit, to so much of minute details, that when Trump visited Gandhi Ashram, the violence started in Delhi around the same time? Was it a revolt against Gandhi, and desire to prove that Violence is more powerful than Non-Violence? This thought do keep disturbing me? But this time is it the same people or opposition playing the cards?
3. Why do the riots effect poor and/or common people and not the elites or the politicians?
4. Aren't we not creating more terrorists out of the effected people from both sides?
5. What is more important? National interest or International relationship? Peoples lives or politics? I know both, but what should be the priority? How and why did it all start? The many why's bring me to the answer - CAA. Well again why CAA? Refugees - why refugees - and the why goes on.....

Jaffrelot Christophe Research fellow at CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS (Paris), teaching at King's India Institute (London) and Non Resident Scholar at the Carnegie @jaffrelotc in twitter on Feb 29 mention "Delhi riots are a variant of a post-Gujarat 2002 pattern of violence that crystallised in UP in the 2000s: it intended not only to polarise, but also to ghettoize. It was related to elections, but took place after, as a revenge in the looser's bastions."

The news papers in US read on the visit and the situation in India, "The president did not publicly take his host to task over alleged discrimination and human rights abuses, but said India's rise is tied to unity and tolerance." Where is this Unity and tolerance? God bless India! What is our country heading to?

This is exactly how I feel......On 11th March it was finally discussed -

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/congress-stages-walk-out-during-home-minster-amit-shah-s-reply-in-lok-sabha-on-delhi-riots-1654527-2020-03-11

https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1237726571810541568

How well lies are portrayed to be true, with around 40 Muslims and 14 Hindus including 2 police office dead, (approximate numbers); Amit Shah in the parliment say they were all Bharath wasi - not of any religion when questioned - they say Kapil Mishra no FIR against Kapil Mishra - he did not instigate and till today, he continues to collect fund, to uplift the Hindu's effected in the riot - Hilarious/shameful. When will they stop the blame game?

Two Choreographed event!

2019 How Modi Won India - Rajdeep Sardesai

Was a great fan of Sagarika Ghose since reading her Blind Faith, but this was the first time, I was reading Rajdeep Sardesai, though always had been listening to him from his NDTV days.

On 23 May 2019, when the results of the general elections were announced, Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA coalition were voted back to power with an overwhelming majority. To some, the numbers of Modi's victory came as something of a surprise; for others, the BJP's triumph was a vindication of their belief in the government and its policies. Irrespective of one's political standpoint, one thing was beyond dispute: this was a landmark verdict, one that deserved to be reported and analysed with intelligence - and without bias. This book does that and seeks to answer the questions - what was it that gave Modi an edge over the opposition for the second time in five years? How was the BJP able to trounce its rivals in states that were once Congress bastions? What was the core issue in the election: a development agenda or national pride? As he relives the excitement of the many twists and turns that took place over the last five years, culminating in the 2019 election results, the author helps the reader make sense of the contours and characteristics of a rapidly changing India, its politics and its newsmakers.

Preface on Madison Madness describes how for his adoring supporters, Modi was almost a deity; people like Zafar Sareshwala who was once against Modi, was a great supporter now, and he with Adani stayed in the same hotel with Modi during his Madison square visit. He was always a great admirer of US and felt that America is truly a great country that India should learn from. So when Washington's decision to ostracize him haunted him. In the Introduction chapter it is said that Modi won with 13Ms, 2Ws, and a GK of success. 13M's being Modi, Machine, Media, Money, Messaging, Marketing, Mobile, Middle Class, Millennials, (anti-)Muslim Majoritarianism, 'Muscular' Nationalism, Masood Azhar, Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance); two Ws - Welfarism and WhatsApp - and a ubiquitous GK for Garib Kisan. Modi with his promise of 'achhe din'(good days) and strong leadership (mazboot neta) became a national alternative by offering a completely polar-opposite persona to that of the then 'accidental' Prime Minister . 'Moditva' brings nation (rashtra), religion (dharma) and jan-kalyan (public welfare) onto one massive common platform, almost crowding out the entire opposition.

Big Boss is here, it was apparent that TsuNamo 2.0 had hit by the noon of 23 May 2019; who flew to Delhi on 22 May 2014 to take over as India's fourteenth prime minister in an Adani Group - owned private jet. His old staff from Gandhinagar CM's office continued to dominate PMO's office, and continued being deeply suspicious of fellow politicians. Example was his own part person Sanjay Joshi, though Modi was PM and Joshi just another leader, but in PM's eyes, Joshi was a rival, who had to be shown his place by sidelining him completely.

Gujarat's Jodi Number one continued to set the stage for Central Election. Amit Shah and Narendra Modi is belived to have first met in 1982 at a meeting organized by RSS in Ahmedabad's Naranpura area. The duo had a very simple formula: before any election in Gujarat they would create a Hindu-Muslim conflict and divide the voters. The Muslim was the permanent 'enemy' and the party would manufacture some small or large incident to communalize the electorate. The internal BJP machinations in Gujarat reveal how personal ambitions coexist uneasily with ideological unity: how a disciplined RSS pracharak can also be an overambitious politician desperate for power. They had also to overcome linguistic pride like for Sena's having a Gujarati dictate terms added to the simmering antagonism.

From 'Suit Boot' Modi became 'Garibo ka Neta'. There was the rise of political Hindu. The aggressive Modi-Shah led BJP doesn't see Hinduism as the spiritual calling of the renunciate, but as a political weapon in their bid to seize power and capture the state. Lynching and hate crimes are common. Life of cow mattered more than Human being. Nehruvian idea of a plural, multi-faith India was under assault as never before. Muslims and minorities were routinely demonized and the political vocabulary of hate 'normalized'. Rahul Gandhi was an enigma. He could not make quick decisions and was loosing key persons like Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, Tarun Gogi' Modi had his advisors, were quick at things, and garnished with grand fanfare all good, and quickly hid anything and everything bad. As election drew nearer, to revenge Pulwama there was the Balakot Effect, the day Priyanka was to be launched. Modi knew how to make best use of 'Prime-time', and drive home the message Modi hai toh Mumkin hai. Gujarat's Jodi Number relish election results like merit list students who enjoy competitive exams and make extensive preparation to remain topper.

720th - 18th of 2020 and 5th of Feb.

Happy MahaShivarathri!

Shiva has two forms:

One as Adinath, who meditates in serene isolation atop Mount Kailash, (Could be same as Mount Meru - Spine); and presumed to be the centre of Earth

and

The other is Vishwanath, who mediates in the affairs of man in the marketplace called Kashi. .....The main deity is known by the name Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara meaning the Ruler of the universe. The temple town that claims to be the oldest living city in the world, with 3500 years of documented history.



The lingam of the Shaivism tradition is a short cylindrical pillar-like symbol of Shiva, representing Shiva as the generative power, all of existence, all creativity and fertility at every cosmic level and which establishes the inseparable relationship of Shiva-Shakti,

One more...Is the ultimate sada shiva who is beyond these ...He is consciousness. He is white because it's the ultimate truth....The purest one...His one of expansion is Shankar who is husband of Parvati...


Om Namah Shivaya!

7 mysteries Revealed about Shiva :

🌺1~ Why Snake?
Snakes are a symbol of awareness.
You can't be asleep with a snake around your neck!

🌼2 ~Why Ashes?
To remind you of the impermanence of life; knowing that we live life fully.

😊3 ~Is the Moon an Ornament?
The moon and the mind are connected. To be happy in all phases of life, you have to have a say over the mind.

🌹4~ Why Damru?
It has the same shape as the symbol of infinity. Shiva is the unbound infinite consciousness!

🍁5~ Trishul - A Weapon?
Shiva rules over the three gunas represented in the trishul. Yet he encourages everyone to do their dharma - to act and stand up for truth.

🌈6 ~Blue Bodied
The sky is limitless and so is Shiva.
The sky is blue and Shiva is blue too.

🌝7 ~What about Ganga?
Ganga represents gyan (knowledge). Wisdom dawns naturally when you are established in the Shiva.

Har Har Mahadev! There is God in everyone or Everyone is God. Every life has a hint of Lord Shiva. Shiva is nothing but that deep state of peace, calmness and inner stability.

Our culture, traditions, and festivals have a deeper meaning. All of them are associated with a specific divine energy. This divine energy is given a name and form for us to understand the virtues, qualities, and its blessings clearly. One among these energies, and the presiding energy, is Shiva. Shiva can be split into:

Sha + ee + Va
Sha stands for shareeram or body
ee stands for eeshwari or life giving energy
Va stands for vayu or motion.
If the ee is removed from Shiva, it gets reduced to sha+va or shava, which means a lifeless body. We also use the term shavasana in yoga, where one is motionless and in an absolute state of rest.

While Shava is motionless or lifeless, Shiva is with the potential of life. Anything with Shiva is with life and anything without Shiva is shava: lifeless.

So, Shiva is auspicious, Shiva is life and Shiva is potential. Shiva is all-encompassing - the universal soul or consciousness. This realization of the eternal fact that Shiva is an energy, tattva, leads to ananda, bliss.

As many metaphors there have been to describe the visual appearance of Shiva, there are more names to describe the attributes that he is known to embody. Shiva can only be experienced and lived through.


Shivratri means night of lord Shiva. Shivratri is celebrated on 14th day of every month, one day before the new moon. Among the 12 shivratri celebrated in a year, Mahashivratri is the most important one generally celebrated in February or March depending upon the planetary position. MAHASHIVRATRI: THE NIGHT OF SHIVA. The annual festival of Maha Shivarathri is dedicated to Shiva, and is particularly important in the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night.

“Every Mahashivratri is meant to wake up every particle of your body. The festival is a wake-up call to move away from conflicts and move towards truth, beauty, peace, and benevolence - the ethereal qualities of Shiva.”

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

"Ratri also means that which gives relief from the three types of problems: problems to the body, to the mind and to the soul - adhyatmik, adhibhoutik, and adidaivik. The three types of peace are needed, to even get that deep rest: first is material peace. If there is fighting around you, or any disturbance around, then you can’t sleep/ rest. Second, you need peace in the body, mind. Third, you need peace in the soul. Without any one of the three, deep rest is incomplete. So, that which gives rest from all three aspects- physical, mental and spiritual is ratri/ night. And Shivratri is the night of that transcendental divine consciousness, which brings solace to all layers of consciousness. This night is symbolic of the merging of Shiva and Shakti, making the environment more alive. Thus it is beneficial to stay awake on Mahashivratri. This night brings a sense of deep serenity and benevolence. Any meditation done on this day is a hundred times more effective.

It is also astrologically linked: when the sun and moon are in a particular alignment, it helps to elevate the mind. Mahashivratri is the wedding of the material and spiritual. Meditation gives us access to something that is beyond the scope of the mind and intellect. There is a point during meditation when we can experience space: a space of nothingness and love. This experience takes us to the fourth level of consciousness that is also called Shiva."

Eating light food, chanting, meditating, realizing the presence of Shiva as a tattva permeating through the universe and within us is the crux of Mahashivratri. If one performs the Vata Kriya (alternate nostril breath) during the week of Maha Shivaratri, or at least on that one day, all the above Vatas as cleansed and lubricated. ... This is the reason we stay awake during Shivaratri, so that the body is not horizontal, and is instead vertical.

Mahashivratri is an occasion to remember the eternal truth of Shivoham, meaning ‘I am that principle. I am Shiva. I am the truth, benevolence, eternity, beauty.’

HAPPY MAHA SHIVRAATRI 👏

Hobby Hub

A great venture by talented Roniya Roy - Collection of her various works, as a past time. Facebook page created, link to which is https://www.facebook.com/Hobby-Hub-149948755733759/


The eye opener was a visit to my house, with lots of plants, and my gifts :

This eventually led to participation in the exhibition on 23rd and 24th of December 2017 at Central park, Panampilly Nagar. Wondering how this wonderful day's were missed to be posted. A Flea Marketing initiative:

Stalls there were:

Our stall looked one of the best.

A wall of our stall was somewhat like this:

Full night view was:

Close view of stall:

Sale did not take long to kick off: First sale was To Deebesh by Robiya

Bottle Art

Photo Frame for decoration:

Items for sale where:

1) Shell works - Key chains, pendents,

2) Hanging candle glass bottles

3) Book marks

4) Bottles

5) Coconut shell paintings:

6) Handkerchiefs -

7) Glass paintings



"Before I throw away anything , I always ask myself, Can I make something with this?"

Some satisfied customers send picture of items kept at their house:



My Favorite bottle was:



Ventures after the exhibition are:

1) Handmade Clay key chains.



2) Gift boxes.



3) Candle Stand.

4) Stone Paintings

5) Tyre paining - Table and stool

6) Cycle garden - Have you thought you can make your old unusable cycle so beautiful?

7) Christmas Decorations

8) Neck Chain

9) Bottle Arts with lighting

10) Bottle art

11) Clay Pendants

You are a star Roniya - May your hobby take you places, and you keep shining brighter like your star; and may your stars shine as long as the ones up above the sky.