I always wonder when I will get back home after my
educational vacations in Uttarkashi, what I will write about. So many experiences
to share, so many persons about whom I wanted to write and so many places I had
visited whose attractiveness I wish to blog about. It was my first experience
to be away from my home and family. On the first day, I was excited and not at
all nervous rather too curious to observe the nature and new people around me.
But I will share these experiences later on as I want to begin with my last day
in Uttarkashi which touched my heart the most.
Quite surprisingly, I made a new friend in just few
hours on that day, contrary to my nature that I am too reserved and too shy to
open up with new people that it mostly took me years or a minimum of a month to
be friend with someone. What I liked about this person was his sense of humour,
his quick replies and his melodious and pious voice which I wanted to hear
again and again. In a satsang, he chanted, ‘Om Namah Shivaye, Shivaye Namah Om’
so beautifully and devotionally that my eyes became moist as I was absorbed in
the chants and felt the presence of Lord Shiva in those magical words. I had never
heard anybody singing so devotionally ever before! And I had never made a
friend so quickly!
I have read lots of books on Kundalini and Kundalini
Awakening. I always wonder why the books emphasise so much on the unnecessary
complications about the figures, alphabets, deities, shapes and number of
petals of different chakras when the experience and real truth is completely
different. In ‘Kundalini – An Untold Story’, Om Swami wrote about such similar
views. After reading him, I felt at least one person shares the similar views
with me. ;)
As projected earlier, Kundalini is an uncoiled snake
at the base of spine and on awakening one experience a sensation as if a
serpent is moving upward towards the head. But Om Swami rejected this age old
theory and emphasised that Kundalini is not just an uncoiled serpent at the
base of spine but layer by layer cleaning of negative thoughts to experience
the true self. He explained Kundalini from a totally different perspective.
First few pages of the book can be read here http://www.omswami.com/2016/04/kundalini-an-untold-story.html
in which he said that chakra bracelet, pendants, incense, mats, rugs, clothes,
wall hangings, chakra music, chakra programming and other attractive
paraphernalia have absolutely no connection with the real sadhana of chakras
and the only way to awaken the Kundalini is by meditating over a prolonged
period, that’s all. Our true self is veiled with ten layers i.e. desire, anger,
greed, attachment, ego, passion, jealousy, hatred, fear and self-concern. These
layers are shed as one elevates spiritually slowly and gradually. With each
level of awakening, one discovers bit more about the new self and one shed bit
more of the old self.
On Kundalini awakening one finds oneself immensely powerful,
talented, full of peace and happiness. One sheds ones negative emotions like anger, jealousy, ego and fear. One reaches state of bliss from where there is no return. One gains the power - to heal people, to do miracles, to see through them. One's heart is filled with boundless compassion. One experiences how the whole universe is within oneself.
Some of the interesting quotes from this book that I want to share are as follows:
1. Like Hanuman, our talents are lying latent within us, our potential is waiting to be realized. We are born of a boon and we have forgotten about it, and as a result of that we have taken ordinary way of life as our destiny.
2. If you walk the path and not give up, you will give results exactly as expected.
3. Mind becomes eternal when it becomes still. No change is possible without movement. Truth is still, and that's why it's eternal.
4. If you can remain indifferent to other's opinion by thinking they are merely joining letters from the alphabet and offering you a garland, majority of your reaction will disappear.
5. Kundalini is love coiled at the bottom of your desires and dreams, waiting to pierce through the wheels of emotions and attachments to attain a union with your own infinite existence.
This year I was planning to buy a unique present from my brothers. I searched the markets, malls and online sites but nothing different I found. While chatting with an old pal on Facebook, I came across Choco Affairzz site and found the wonderful collection of home made chocolates.
'Happy Rakhi' chocolate was very attractive. It contains four more small chocolates. I called the number given on the site and asked the owner to replace the small golden chocolates with rakhis, roli, chawal and flavoured supari.
I also bought two 'I Love Bro' chocolates from them. My little brother birthday was approaching near so I decided to give him the cassette with poems recorded in his voice by me about 15 years back.
On seeing such tempting chocolates I couldn't resist myself and bought some for my taste buds.
"Is your name A..... Y.......?" I asked a woman who was standing beside me from the past couple of minutes in a government office.
"Yes." She said with a bit of surprise in her voice.
"You are from H..... city." I asked as it was clear she didn't recognized me.
"Yup. But how do you know?"
"I was your batchmate in Home Science college."
"Who? I....mean.....In which group you were?"
"My name is Chandrika Shubham." I told the names of my group members so that she could recognize me.
"Ya....Somewhat I can recall now. You have changed so much."
"Like what?"
"You looked like a doll in the college days and now..........."
Her mind was busy noticing changes in my physical appearance where as my mind was busy finding the answer of question 'WHO AM I?'- a ever-changing body or never-changing soul or ever-changing as well as never-changing GOD!
I ordered a book from amazon.in. The cost of book was
Rs. 275 and Rs. 30/- were transportation charges totalling to Rs. 305/-. I paid
Rs. 300/- from the gift voucher and remaining by using net banking. I book the
order on 23rd May, 2016. The
delivery was to be made on 28th May, 2016 to 2nd June, 2016.
On 2nd June, the post man came to deliver a VPP. I was shocked to
see my address correctly written over it and I have not ordered anything
through VPP and was not expecting any packet through VPP.
He asked me to give Rs. 321/-.
On seeing the sender’s name which was written not so
neatly on the packet, I told him , “I have made the payment to Planet V company
through amazon.in. Let me call the sender’s mobile number.”
I called the number but nobody picked it up. Just to
confirm, I switched on my laptop, checked my email about the payment details and
found that I was correct. The payment was already made to amazon.in. In the
mean time a person from Planet V called back. I told him, “I have made the
payment then why should I pay again.”
“You have paid the money? Let me check.” I heard the
voice over the phone. “You pay Rs. 321/- and we will refund what you paid
earlier.”
“How will you refund the money when it was paid to
amazon.in. And moreover, the packet doesn’t have any bill or sticker or envelop
of amazon.in.”
I told the postman, “I do not want this and please
return the book.”
I complained the matter to amazon.in. After a week I
get the refund of my book from amazon.in and from that money I bought Kundalini
– An Untold Story and The Wellness Sense, two gems from Om Swami’s jhola. Well
said, whatever happens, happens for good! :)
Today I went to attend exhibition-cum- workshop. The exhibition-cum-workshop
was on a specific topic. It lacked attractive offers, lucrative products or sexy
models. Anybody who didn’t have any personal or professional interest in the
subject would definitely feel bored to death.
At the end of the event,
cocktails were served starting from the opposite corner where I was sitting. Before
getting up, by mistake I peeped in the mobile of a middle aged person who was sitting
beside me and was typing ‘Kuch samaj mein
nahin aa raha hai per maza bahoot aa raha hai’ (I can’t get anything but thoroughly
enjoying the event).
To
attend Indiblogger Meet is always fun, sharing of information, showing
creativity and above all enjoyment! I attended the first Indiblogger Meet of year
2016 in Delhi on 15th May. #CatchUpOnGrowth Indiblogger Meet at
Lalit, Delhi was also of unique of its own kind as I got the chance to meet
blog buddies and to attend the launch of a brand new product i.e. HorlicksGrowth+, a revolutionary development in the field of nutrition sciences. It
offers advanced nutrition for growth and development in children during their
crucial years of growth. It was great to participate in discussion on
child development with experts, talk about blogging with blog buddies and to
know more about their blogs. I had nice time in face to face meetings, sharing
experiences, interacting and playing games during the event.
Registration
and warm welcome from Indiblogger Team, was followed by the buffet lunch. The
meal was tasty, not too spicy and lavish. I got the change to meet nice
bloggers from various fields from fashion to food. It was awesome experience to
meet new bloggers face to face who wrote on different subjects whom I earlier knew
only virtually as I had read their blogs.
Horlicks
Growth+ is the first of its kind to provide nutrition solution to the children
of age group 3-9 years to catch up the lost growth in terms of weight and
height. It contains specific nutrients like whey protein, growth amino acids
and vitamins, minerals from natural sources to trigger the growth in children
who are leaner and shorter of their age.
The programme began
with the introduction session from the selected bloggers such as Shilpi Dutta, Nimi Arora, Dr. Mandira, Arvind
Passey and Reena Batra who shared their experiences with children and what they
had learnt from them. It was hosted by Anoop. An interesting and informative discussion was
organized in which the moderator was Natasha Badhwar who was a mother of
three children, media professional, entrepreneur, avid blogger and the co-owner
of Ochre Sky, an online fashion brand. The discussion panel included Dr. Rajiv Chhabra, HOD of
Paediatrics at Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon who had worked with Max Hospital, St
Mary's Hospital, Seth GS Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Cancer institute
& Research Centre, New Delhi and did his post graduate program in
Paediatrics Nutrition from Boston University, USA, Ms Satinder Kaur Walia
who was running her centre named 'Learning at Potential' a centre for psychological
and educational assessment and Dr .Jyoti Batrawho was the Head Dietitian at Batra
Hospital and had also worked with Artemis, Fortis, Max & Paras Hospitals.
An interactive and informative session with bloggers took place in which the
bloggers actively participated. The panel with illustrations and examples
answered the queries of bloggers about child growth, nutrition and eating habits.
They emphasized on developing a healthy habit in children to eat healthy food
which should be made interesting so that children relish them and love to eat
them. Moreover, children should be allowed to eat junk food once in a while but
before that child daily nutritive requirement of nutrients should be fulfilled
from the healthy food. Therefore, healthy food in the morning and junk food at
night could be given.
The product was launched by Amaan Khan who is
the Marketing Lead for Horlicks for the Indian Sub-Continent at GSK Consumer
Healthcare and earlier has rich Sales and Marketing Experience across FMCG,
Healthcare & Personal Care categories across multiple geographies. Horlicks
Growth+ is clinically proven to support ‘catch-up’ on lost growth in terms of
weight and height reduction in children of age group 3-9 years.
Soon after the
launch of the product we were offered to taste it. It is available in two delicious
flavours chocolate and vanilla. I love the taste of chocolate flavour. It was
so flavoursome that one mug was not enough I was wanting more. I am quite sure
children will love the taste and flavour and will not be fussy about drinking
it. It can be given to children in hot or cold milk or water. It can’t be mixed
in juices or soups as the product contains milk powder. It can be given to
child in between the meals or before sleeping so that normal regular food is
not compromised. It is a boon for fussy eaters
for their weight gain and overall growth. It is intended as a nutrition
supplement not a meal replacement and is a nourishing beverage to be taken as
part of a regular diet. It contains whey protein, essential amino acids such
as Arginine, Glutamic acid, Leucine and Lysine 16. It also contains Calcium,
Iron, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Zinc which are extremely important to
help children catch up on height and weight in the short duration of only 6
months. It provides immune nutrients like Vitamins A, C and
D, which are all known to support a healthy immune function. It is a
nutritious and flavoured healthy drink clinically proven to nourish children
who have fallen behind with their weight and height.
Dr. Aditya Kaushikhead of Medical Affairs for Indian Subcontinent at GSK Consumer
Healthcare, was a physician (MBBS, MD), had clinical and industry experience in
Medical & Regulatory Affairs & Clinical Drug Development and also
chaired the OTC Industry Association committee at FICCI enthusiastically answered
the questions from bloggers related to nutrition and make up of Horlicks
Growth+. He suggested that parents should consult a physician for the amount
and time framework for giving the Horlicks Growth + to child according to age
and reduction in child’s weight and height.
Tea time
was the best time to interact with the bloggers of various fields under the same
roof. I got the chance to meet the fellow bloggers to discuss various aspects
of blogging. After it, all the members were shuffled and were asked to make the
team of ten members. I was in Team No. 4 and was given measuring tape, T-shirt,
mug and Horlicks Growth plus as props which were to be used while making an advertisement
of not more than 30 seconds. It was a great fun with the team while making a
clipping of advertisement.
All of us enthusiastically took part in selecting
dialogues, situation, and scene background. Shooting it, was real fun! Never
done it before but thoroughly enjoyed creating that masterpiece.
No grudges
that our team couldn’t win but it was master piece for us as it was the beginning
of vlogging. Moreover, I believe that participation in more important than
winning a game.
Holding
the gift from Indiblogger and Horlicks I came out of the hotel with memorable
and knowledgeable experiences. On reaching home I
found, Horlicks Growth+ pack in the bag. This is the best product in the market
to trigger growth in children who are falling behind on the growth curve (in
terms of height & weight). For buying, it is
available at all leading pharmacies, modern trade retail chains and selected
grocery outlets as well as online. Horlicks Growth+400g pack costs Rs. 575/- only. So much in so less
price!
I am looking forward to next Indiblogger meet to have fun, to share information and to exchange knowledge.
