Diwali in Assam- the most mystic moments captured in my soul!

It is a throwback post, one which I have waited to write for a year now! Last year, we traveled to Assam for our Diwali break and fortunately experienced #Diwali exploring through rural villages of #Kaziranga.

Clay lamps adorn the outhouse of a Tea Estate in Kaziranga

Our able guides Bumani & Bablu drove us to nooks and corners of these villages where time seemed like it had stood still! Simple homes many of which were clay huts, clustered together into small hamlets, showed us how beautifully these communities celebrate the festival of lights.

Crossing lit homes that faced the tarred road highways.

As we cruised through the tarred highway in an open gypsy, we soaked in the enthralling view of the dark canopy star-filled Sky that interspersed into warm lit clusters of villages. As the drive continued we encountered numerous highway facing homes adorned with banana stalks spread across each of these home entrances with people hovering around carrying earthen lamps. Occasionally some dazzling fire crackers caught the eye making it an enjoyable drive ever. Almost felt like the magic carpet ride from the animation film Aladin!

An inviting clay lamp lit entrance of a village hamlet in the rural village of Kaziranga.

Exploring through each home when we stopped at various villages we got to know how this festival is celebrated between not just the Hindu Assamese homes but also in the Gurkha as well as the Muslim households of this region.

Here are some glimpses of these beautifully done up hamlets.

A young lady lights up lamps laid out beautifully on the makeshift banana plant entrance, unique decor of the Assamese home.

A newly married lady asses her decor after she's lit her lamps at her home.

An elderly lady refills her lamps to keep them burning through the long evening.

A curious look at the unannounced guests who are hovering around her house, this lady seems intrigued by my presence around her home!

Living in busy and commercial cities like Mumbai, participating with these welcoming people of rural India makes you stop and wonder, how quickly we are dissolving our heritage under the garb of commercial growth!

A topic that has no end and while I relive my beautiful moments of Assam, happy to share them with you through my posts on the Sensuous2Spiritual chronicles.

Xoxo,
S2S

Festivals of India: Bogi, Pongal, Sankranti & Lohri

May the warmth of the rising sun bring about the positive transformation & change in your world!

Happy Bogi, Pongal, Sankranti & Lohri to everyone at S2S!

Glimpses from a Lohri celebration. 

Lohri is the belief that it is the cultural celebration of the winter solstice. Lohri is meant to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year. A key feature of Lohri is the bonfire. Lighting of the fire has been common in winter solstice festivals throughout time and the world: it signifies the return of longer days. For some the bonfire has a religious meaning, a remnant of ancient origins, perhaps?
For others, the bonfire is no more than a tradition and a time to socialise and make merry.

More images of Festivals of India on the S2S Facebook timeline.

Wish you a great season ahead!

Xoxo,
S2S

Varalaxmi Vratam

My loving Mother-in-law and me on the occasion of Varalaxmi Puja

Being married inter-caste has its own excitement associated to it. Apart for the initial turmoil of adjustments, it exposes one to a sea of traditions that are beyond the regular. This is true to my own situation. I come from a 'Probashi-Bangali' home and married a Vaidiki Vellenadu Telegu Brahmin. Sounds so chatoic...

Well, not really. As a couple we have embraced our traditions with complete open arms and are happy that our son is being exposed to a series of traditions that will hopefully keep him anchored to his roots...

Here are some glimpses from my 'in-laws' home celebrating the auspicious occasion of Varalaxmi- a festival to propitiate the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity.

Varalaxmi- The one who grants boons!

Varalaxmi Vratam is the celebration of Goddess Laxmi in her 'Ashtalaxmi' avataar. It is believed that praying to her on the occasion of Varalaxmi is equal to praying to all 8 forms of her that are worshiped as Siri (Wealth), Bhu (Earth), Sarasvathi (learning), Prithi (Love), Keerthi (Fame), Shanthi (Peace), Santhushti(Pleasure) and Pushti(Strength). This is the 'Diwali' equivalent of the Southern States of India.

Laxmi has 8 forms in which she is worshiped. 

It is a regional festival performed by married women from states of Andhra, Telengana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra. The puja is performed on all Friday's in the fortnight known as Sukla paksha, preceding the full moon day of the month of Sravan. The most preferred of the Friday is the one that is closest to the Poornima (full moon), and it is the one that my family celebrates.

Handcrafted idol of Goddess Laxmi, she is known as 'Padmasini- One who sits on a Lotus & one who holds the lotus'.

Day of the celebration:

Decoration of the Goddess and her mandapam is kept ready a day prior to the festival. On the morning of the Puja a collective time is spent in getting the Neivedyam and floral decorations ready. True to its nature, while the puja is performed by the women the family chips in only to get treated to lip smacking neivedyam which typically includes a variety of South Indian delicacies.

The face of the Laxmi is placed on a coconut adorned with Silk in the form of a saree. Once she is placed on her throne she is decorated with Gold ornaments and flowers. It is quiet a creative job and its amazing to see the devotee pour her heart into decorating her Laxmi. 

Once the rituals are completed the family gets ready for guests, typically married women who come home for 'Haldi-Kunku'. The lady of the house welcomes the other married women with the turmeric & vermilion powder followed by handing her guest fruits, a sari, neivedyam & a sweet smelling jasmine flower garland for her hair. The ritual is very warm and inviting especially since there is tremendous camaraderie among the community who celebrates this together. It is one time when all the women chit chat and catch up, a welcome break from the mundane.

My Mother-in-laws Varalaxmi in her full glory.

Evening Deepam

The 'Mushunuri' family after a happy Varalaxmi celebration- August 2015

I am journeying through a lot of these beautiful moments as the Daughter-in-law of the house and each passing year is drawing more intrigue & participation from me in this beautiful annual celebration.

As I continue to learn under the able guidence of my Mother-in-law, a capture from my Husband that defines my being!

Until the next one, signing off!

Xoxo,
Sensuous2Spiritual

Guru Poornima: Gratitudes to my guide, my strength and my inspiration.

Guru ‘गुरु’, a word that owes its origin to Sanskrit literature and literally translates to mean “dispeller of darkness”. Hence, Guru is one who dispels darkness and leads us towards enlightenment; the link between the self and the immortal.

Guru: The dispeller of darkness, one who dispels darkness and guides me to light.

Recently, I read a beautiful analogy on the ‘Guru’. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Guru.

Dazzle like the moon by gaining from the Guru.

The Hindu philosophy believes that we are ‘poorna-ansh’ meaning whole & sole of creation and belong to one consciousness, also felt as or known as the Divine. Poorna is that from where everything is emerged and goes back to its core, the non-dual origin; the origin of no form, ‘Advait’ meaning singular. ‘Apoorna’, the feeling of incompleteness or the recognition of ‘dvait’ meaning multiple, also attributed to the limited ‘buddhi’ aka intellect of the mind that keeps us dwelling in darkness (incomplete pursuits of senseless greed) through our living days. 

‘Poorna-ansh’ meaning whole of creation belongs to one consciousness.

More than often, the feeling of incomplete leaves us with the need to chase more, a feeling of lust, confusion & indefiniteness. As we keep growing in our life this feeling takes precedence, ultimately resulting in the death of innocence! Perhaps, this is when the calling of the ‘Guru’ touches our being.

Like some wise man said; finding a guru can be like finding a boatman in rough water. The boatman doesn’t smoothen the waters but puts you on a boat that takes you across the turbulence to safer shores.

More than often, the feeling of incomplete leaves us with the need to chase more, a feeling of lust, confusion & indefiniteness. Death of innocence!

On this auspicious day of Guru Poornima, I share my humble offerings of gratitude to everyone who has touched my life as a Guru, both knowingly and unknowingly, and have guided me towards light. This is my personal ode to you on this auspicious occasion that celebrates the true being…   

Tatvamasi: Tat (that) Tvam (You) Asi (are)!
A collage of my work to every Guru, for you on this day of Guru Poornima; thank you for being there with me as my guide, strength and inspiration. 

Gratitude-filled,

Sensuous2Spiritual