Thodo dance

On this wall, Thodo dance is depicted. (This picture is taken at Solan, Himachal Pradesh.) In this dance, archery, bows and arrows are used.

Dear readers, have you ever seen any such dance act in which weaponry is used?

Creativity is infectious!

"Wow! Chandrika, greenery at your entrance looks beautiful." My next door neighbor commented on seeing these flower pots for the first time.
"Creativity is infectious! I get this infection from you!!" I replied as she always decorated her entrance creatively.

Have you ever get this type of infection? 

Coconut ladoos with a surprise inside!

On the occasion of Rakshabandhan (A day on which sisters tie rakhi, a decorative thread on their brothers' hand and serve sweets to them whereas in return they receive gifts from their brothers), I prepared these simple and delicious coconut ladoos with a surprise inside them.

Any guess what could be the surprise?

An evening at Taj Hotel!

I was invited for dinner at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. It was more of a high party then a business meeting. After some business related discussions, dinner was served. Although there was wide range of cuisines but on my plate there was only a few slices of guava and water melon. And no alcohol.

Its me simple! Its my 550th post! :)

GOD stands up?

I was doing my prayers in a temple. And I was about to move then a person, stranger to me said "You must listen to me! It is beneficial for you!!"
Out of respect, I stayed to hear him. He stopped two more persons of different age groups in the similar manner.
"When one bows his head before GOD like this." While narrating, he put his head on the slab in front of the deity. And the priest put his hands on deity's feet and then on his head, showering GOD's blessings on him.
"Then only GOD stands up to shower blessings to us. And when GOD stands up what else one wants."

Do you think it is a spiritual teaching or a mere stupid joke? 

Romance on chandelier!

What a beautifully painted ceiling and walls! And Pigeons are romancing!!

An artistic place they have selected for romancing. Haven't they?

Adventurous goat

This goat was standing on near about 12 feet high wall. How did it reach there without using these steps? 

Eco-friendly art work

While my trip to Jaipur, I clicked these pics of eco-friendly art work in which metal is molded to give different shapes. I liked them very much.

Dear readers, can you recognize all of them?

Hurt by snake and human being

I read somewhere on net

If a snake bites an individual he never gets angry with the snake (even if it is a poisonous snake and has potential to kill that person.) They never have a bitter feelings towards that snake. Why? because that individual accepts that it is the nature of the snake to bite and may be kill too.

Our relationship with other individuals is always different though. Everyone gets hurt deeply with few words if they are unacceptable. Those words destroy several days of our life. The memory of those words stays in mind forever.

Why it happens so? Because we can accept a snake can kill, but we cannot accept a person can hurt with words. We have a different set of expectations from people and snake.

Dear readers what do you think is it easy or difficult to practice this philosophy in life?

Bull Vs Ox

I read somewhere

Bull fathers children and ox only bears burden!

In your opinion is this statement true or false in context to humans?

8 Liters?

Brain Teaser, a site on facebook shared a link which asks this question.

You have two buckets of 11liter and 6liter.
How can you measure exactly 8liter ?

I replied - Fill 11liter bucket. Pour it in 6 liter bucket. 5 liter remains in 11 liter bucket. Empty 6 liter bucket and pour 5 liters in it. Fill 11 liter bucket and pour 1 liter in 5 liters to complete 6 liters. 10 liters remain in 11 liter bucket. Throw 6 liters and fill it again with 10 liters. 4 liters remain in big bucket. Throw away 6 liters n pour 4 liters in it. Fill big bucket and pour 2 liters in it. Only 9 liters are left in big bucket. Throw away 6 liters n fill it again so that only 3 liters are left in big bucket. Shift them in small bucket. Fill big bucket again and pour 3 liters in small bucket to complete 6 liters and now only 8 liters r left in big bucket. Sigh! Easy solution- Go to market buy another 8 liter measure by selling 11 liter and 6 liter buckets! ;)

Do u like difficult or easy solution? ;)

Snake Charmer Show

I thoroughly enjoyed snake charmer show after a long time! :) at City Palace - Jaipur

Dear readers, when was the last time u enjoyed it?

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Dear readers, I like this advertisement very much. You too?

Passion or Poison?

In the parking for Budhajayanti garden, I saw a teen age girl sitting on a bike. It seems that she was waiting for her boyfriend. A smile appeared on her face and disappeared as quickly as it has appeared. Her boyfriend threw a piece of brick towards her. It didn't hit the target because of her rapid movement. He came closer and slapped her tight and hit her hard on leg. She was shocked. He grabbed her face as she tried to explain the situation. She tried again to stop him with her hands and with the result only his grip became tighter on her face and neck. She coughed. He released her. She sat down once again on bike to calm herself. She explained that she was waiting here for him from the past one and a half hour. He screamed and shouted for not waiting for him on the decided point. In the meantime the bike owner came and asked them to vacate it. They moved aside. He also complained her for not calling him. She tried to explain again that there was some signal problem here.  

What will be the future of this love story break up or reunite?

(Answer in comment section)

Parrot astrology

I have never gone for parrot astrology. So when I saw an astrologer sitting under a tree with a parrot I can't resist myself from asking.

Astrologer asked my name and uttered loudly to the parrot "Tell the future of  'Chandrika'." The parrot came out of the cage and picked up the card. The astrologer told about my nature, about my financial position and in the end he told me to go to Shani (Saturn) Temple to donate whole black gram.

He told everything correct about me. My mind is still pondering who is more intelligent - the parrot who picked up the card or the astrologer who interpreted the card drawn?

Swami Anubhavananda Saraswati

Mr. ‘J’ shared Swami Anubhavananda Saraswati’s "Guru Shopping" link (his lecture in Melbourne) with me. I am thankful to Mr. ‘J’ for sharing such a wonderful video with me. Swami Anubhavananda Saraswati sayings are simple and to the point. They are motivating so that they can be easily implemented in life. And above all, hats off to his sense of humour! My heart which sometimes behave like a kid wants to watch all his videos in just one day.

Many years back when my cousin was 3 years old, I gifted him a painting book in which the colors appear as soon as one brushes the area with a wet brush. He loved this book as he was very curious to know which color will appear next. But his mother has asked him to complete only one page per day.

One day his mother went for shopping. I stayed back with him at home. He asked me for that book and the painting material. I provided him. He painted one page and asked me, “Can I do one more page?”

“Yes” I replied.

After some time, he repeated his question.

“Ya sure. I bought this book for you. Only you have to paint it.”

On returning his mother found that all his paint book was complete and not a single page was blank.

What do you suggest me that should I watch all the videos of Swami Anubhavananda Saraswati in one go as I like it very much or watch just one video per day in the control manner so that I can understand his sayings deeply and try my best to implement them in my life?

My all time favourite story

This story is from Upanishad and is retold by Swami Vivekananda.

Once there was a huge tree with many branches. On its lower branch was sitting a bird. When it looked up it saw another bird on tree’s highest branch. The bird sitting on the lower branch ate some sweet and sour fruits and then jumped to the higher branch. It looked up and saw that another bird sitting on the highest branch. It again ate some sweet and sour fruits and moved to higher branch. It kept moving till it reached on the lower branch to the highest branch. When it looked up there was still that another bird. As soon as it reached the highest branch it found there was no bird except itself.

In this story the bird sitting on lower branch is jeevatman (human being) and the bird sitting on highest branch is parmatman (God) and the sweet and sour fruits are the birth and death cycles.

Dear readers in your opinion ‘What is God?’

Broom!

"I ask my sweeper to bring a broom. He bought it for Rs. 120/- and it broke in just one week time. Do you have broom of good company which lasts long?" Mrs. 'S' complained to shopkeeper.
"Madam, we do not have any broom costing Rs. 120/-. It cost only Rs. 60/-. Moreover in the nearby shops there is no broom of any company above Rs. 75/-." Shopkeeper told her.

What do you think sweeper is any intelligent businessman who buy the broom of Rs. 60/- and sell for Rs. 120/- with 100% profit or he is a fool?

Rare video shot by me!

"Listen to me!" Mamma is saying to two cute babies. A rare video shot by me! :)

Have you ever seen chicks of tatihari bird?

Silent 'Z'

Q : Can you tell a word from English dictionary which have silent 'Z'?

A : Czechoslovakia :D

Do you know the correct answer?

Beating the heat!

I am beating the heat with cool watermelon!

And u?

How to pass time?

One of my good friend told me that her husband is busy in his office work and her only son is busy in preparing in board exams. She had plenty of time as she had taken a break from work for a few years.

She asked me, "Which is the better idea to pass time to start a new business from home or the revival my old hobbies?"

Khandvi in new style!

"I prepared Khandvi in new style as your birthday gift!" I told my sibling.
He picked up a piece and praised it "Yummy! Yummy!!"

Should I tell him that I failed to prepare it in rolls so made round balls of the batter and cut them in four pieces or should I keep quiet and listen to praises?

Crawling lice!

During and after meditation I feel as if lice are crawling on my head.

Do you think I am joking or serious?

Experiences in meditation

I am having some unique and strange experiences in meditation. Everybody around me seems to be busy. They do not have time to listen to my experiences. I want to jot down them.

Dear Readers, do you suggest me to write a spiritual diary in which I will be noting down my daily experiences in meditation or to share them on this blog?

Review of FREE book!

I thank Blogadda Team for selecting me for reviewing ‘Business Sutra’ by Devadutt

Pattanaik.

Most of the persons put the front cover page photo of the book but I like the back cover photo more. This line explains the Business in the simplest way! The 3B Framework includes ‘Belief’ that determines the choices and decisions of customers and why business should be done? ‘Behaviour’ which is an expression of belief determines how business should be done? And ‘Business’ what is ultimately done. The string that connects these three dots is Sutra. Hence, Business Sutra!

There are simple stories from Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythologies to explain and for better understanding of the management fundas used in successful running of a small scale enterprises to corporate businesses. The write up includes mythology, management fundas and examples which are interesting but the illustrations drawn by the author himself are even more interesting! Illustrations are simple, clear and elucidating. This is the best illustration I like–

The best story I like from this book is –

Over two thousand years ago, Alexander, the young Macedonian, after having conquered the Persian Empire, reached the banks of the river Indus. There he found a person whom he later identified as a gymnosophist : a naked thinker, sitting on a rock staring into space. Alexander asked him what he was doing. The gymnosophist replied, “Experiencing nothingness. What about you?” Alexander said he was conquering the world. Both laughed. Each one thought the other was a fool.

But while the gymnosophist would have allowed Alexander to stay the fool and discover wisdom eventually, at his own pace, on his own terms, Alexander would have wanted the gymnosophist to change, not waste his life without a goal, for the gymnosophist believed that we live infinite lives while Alexander believed we live only one.

What ever Alexander achieves in his one life is his total achievement and his is under constant pressure to achieve more and more where as what ever gymnosophist achieve during infinite lives will always be zero.

The best example I really like is as follows:-

Sameer who works in the corporate communications division has to make a report on corporate social responsibility. The lady who head the department, Rita, who majored in social service at a reputed university say, “Here, it is not about helping people but meeting a target so that the company can tell its shareholders and the media that they have changed the world and contributed to the well-being of society. They hope this will help improve their brand image. Nobody will say this as they are trained to be politically correct in public by their media team. There is no feeling, no empathy, just excel sheets. But at least something is happening at the ground level where the situation is rather dismal, that is why I am sticking around.” Sameer also participated in a meeting where there was a discussion as to what would be more impactful : providing latrines in villages, or laptops? The majority voted in favour of laptops.

Because of increased professionalism, removal of emotions while target achieving and not giving proper attention to human side of development is the weakness in western model whose solution can be found out deep rooted in Indian mythological stories.

Before I wind up this post I would like to thank Blogadda Team once again!

Dear Readers, would you like to borrow this book from me or to buy it from bookstore? ;)

Satyajit Ray's stamp!

In my childhood days 3 out of 5 children's hobby was stamp collection. But now it is disappearing among them. Nobody writes letter hence no need to put stamps on it. In the days of emails n sms children who need them for making some school project buy from post office.

I think collecting stamps from letters has its own charm. A few days back I received a letter with Satyajit Ray's stamp on it. I will say it is the best stamp in my collection as I am great fan of Satyajit Ray. He had written detective stories revolving around the character Feluda!

Which is the best stamp in your collection? 

FREE!

"I will receive a free book to write review of it." I told my blogger friend.
"A couple of months back I received a purse of course free for which I had to write a review. On opening the packet I found that it's color was faded from many places. As I lifted it, it's handle broke. I thought atleast I could use it to keep important papers, some jewellery in it even if I couldn't take it outside. My this dream crashed as the zip became non functional on first time use. I was in a turmoil what to write in review as there was nothing positive to write about and writing negative were again that company's policy. I would only say 'Be careful with the word 'FREE'." My friend told this story.

Should I accept the offer for 'Free' products or no?

Where is my prize?

My short story was selected for third prize by Fablery for the Genre 'Fantasy and Mythology'. Till now I haven't received any gift vouchers from Odyssey as promised by them. 
Earlier when I wrote to one of the editors, the reply was-

It's on news that Odyssey is shut down.
We are arranging for an alternative but haven't succeeded yet. Sorry for the inconvenience. Until we find an alternative, please endure with us.

When I wrote again after more than 6 months, the reply was-

Odyssey Bookstores had promised to send the gift voucher to winners if you remember, but they shut down for good. Sorry I couldn't keep the promise because of that. I won't be sending any gift vouchers now.

This is 525th post!

Yellow n Green!

Yellow is lazy n hazy!
Green is lively n chirpy!! OR Green is chirpy n lively!! Which sounds better?

Zebra cars?!?

In traffic jam on National Highway No. 8, I clicked the pic of these cars which were designed differently.

What do you think they are designed beautifully or mere wastage of black colored tapes?

So many birds!

WOW!! So many birds on electric wires!!

How many are they? ;)

Online reading

While reading a book online I have to get up in the middle to do some household chore.

How can I put a bookmark in an online book? ;)

Relationship with GOD

Our relationship with GOD never changes whereas the rest of relationships changes with time!

Then why do we give more importance to the rest of relationships than our relationship with GOD?

Buying clothes

When I buy clothes, I feel that I have a few clothes so I must buy some more. And   after buying them when I place them in my wardrobe I feel why I buy so many clothes as there is so less space or almost no space to keep them.

Do you feel the same or no?

Pace

"Hi. Going for evening Walk?" I asked a young woman who was walking neither too slow nor too fast.
She removed ear phone from her right ear.
"Can we walk together?" I asked.
"I have my own speed so it will be difficult for me to coordinate with other."

If she can't coordinate with one's pace then do you think she can coordinate smoothly in other spheres of life?

Spams

I blocked the anonymous comments on my blog because of the increased number of spams. 

Do you think it will have a check on spams or no?

First person to tell...

What ever happens, good or bad, you're (my best friend n mentor) the first person I want to tell everything to!

Yesterday, this was my status update on a social networking site.

Who is 'you' in your life in the above line?

Topics to converse

On social networking sites in general people converse more about
1. Travel n food
2. Politics
3. Sports mostly cricket n football

Do you agree or disagree with me?

Kingfisher?

I clicked and moved a bit further and clicked again. I wished to capture a bird photo as it was sitting  at a unique place. I didn't want to zoom it as the image sometimes get blurred. Vibrant colors of kingfisher couldn't be captured but still the bird could be spot!

Can you search the kingfisher in this pic?  

Nice quotation

The line separating good and evil passes not between states nor between classes but through the middle of every human heart. - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I am presently reading A Better India : A Better World by Mr. N R Narayana Murthy. I like the above quotation by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn so much that I can't resist myself from sharing it.

Which is the nice quotation that you come across while reading the present book? :)

Fenugreek sprouts

Earlier I have eaten so many recipes of fenugreek like potato fenugreek veg, fenugreek parantha, carrot fenugreek veg whereas fenugreek sprouts was a dish in the breakfast of a five star hotel in Agra (where I was staying) along with whole bengal gram sprouts, fresh fruits, puri and aloo veg, parantha, bread - butter n jam, uppama, vada with coconut chutney, salad, sausages, boiled egg, beverages and the rest I forgot. I tasted fenugreek sprouts for the first time and liked it as the bitterness of fenugreek is felt quite low because of the delicious sprouted part. What a healthy start of a day!

Have you ever eaten fenugreek sprouts?

Pic : Top centre

Pigeons and only pigeons!

Near Red Fort, Agra in the morning fog, pigeons are feeding on grains! Surprisingly we don't see other birds like house sparrows, parrots, gursals, crows etc. these days especially in the cities.

While clicking this pic I was thinking "Pigeons are able to survive in the cities but why not other birds?"

Spiral cutting

During my evening walk in a park I saw this shrub with spiral cutting. For me it was unique so I clicked it.

Have you even seen such fine cutting?

Cheapest fruit

In Gurgaon, these days guava is the cheapest fruit Rs.20/- only per Kg.

Which is the cheapest fruit in your locality?

Happy 2013!

Teenage of twenty first century begins! Happy 2013! :)

Balloon

"Madam, Please buy me a balloon. The same beggar kid of the previous post asked me.

Should I repeatedly give him money or asked him to stop begging?

Money for junk food?

"Madam, Please give me Rs.5/- so that I can eat 'Kurkure'."  A beggar kid asked me.

Should I give me Rs. 5/- for eating junk food or no?

Spams

From the past few days spams are posted on my different posts totaling to 77 spams on my blogspot dashboard. They are increasing with a fast speed.

What do you suggest should I delete them or publish them?

Songs n Advertisements

Fm radio
Then : More songs less advertisements!
Now : More advertisements less songs!!

Do you agree or disagree with me?