The City of Joy

Looking through a Typical Calcutta or Kolkata Cab

In some ways, Kolkata is a nice place to live. Some say, it is a Metropolitan city with a low cost of living. It is true in some ways, especially when, you are one of the public. There are places where you get cheap ‘everything’. So, if you go there by a public bus, walk the required distance from the bus stand to the market, bargain, buy and come back by bus; yes, it will cost you less than any other way of doing the same. Well, but for me, this has not been the case. Reason being, I do not know most of the places, the bus routes and things like that. Hence I take a cab (actually, I am having to) and travel, which is not so economical. Moreover, the heat and humidity keeps me away from the public buses all the time. Being a coastal city, Kolkata is generally warm, hot and humid during most of the year.

The Only City in India with Trams

The time when we came to Kolkata, it was monsoon. I have never seen monsoon in this fashion. I discovered that the rain just pours down without even a hint of its coming. It made me run to the balcony several times during those days, to collect the dried clothes. However, I enjoyed monsoon in Kolkata. Actually I just loved it.
Then it was time for winter to set in. But, to my surprise, it felt as if winter is never going to happen in here. When Christmas came by, I thanked God as the city cooled down considerably. I have joined work by this time and was shuttling everyday to Salt Lake, one of the most confusingly organized areas of the city, at least for me, till now. Well, I just know the area of my office and the famous City Centre mall. Other than that, if you leave me in any other part of Salt Lake, I would prefer to get myself airlifted rather than finding my way out all by myself.
I know this is too early for me to sum up and make assumptions about this place. I am still in the process of knowing the city. So, I am positive that very soon my discomforts will vanish and I would sail smoothly in the city just like any other Kolkatans here. Then, I will be back here to talk about all my wonderful experiences in this city of joy.

Celebrating Prosperity - Bhugali Bihu

Magh Bihu Delicacies

Winter is almost over in India. However, to bid a formal goodbye to the winter season, India celebrates a day that usually falls on the 13th day of January. This day is celebrated with different names in different parts of the country. Regardless of the names, all the celebrations have a connection with the agricultural activities of the farmers. India being an agricultural economy, this is quite obvious. This festival denotes the harvest time of the agricultural calendar. Being an Assamese (someone who belongs to the northeastern state of India, Assam) I am here to talk the way it's celebrated in Assam.
Out of the three Bihus (Rongali Bihu, Bhogali Bihu and Kangali Bihu), this is perhaps , the second most welcomed Bihu in Assam. The reason , one gets to feast with near and dear ones and the granary is usually filled with rich harvest. Hence, Bhogali Bihu also denotes celebration of prosperity.

Sunga Pitha-Another Variety of Pitha

The first day of the two-day long festival is dedicated to community feasting. Plentiful variety of pitha, laadu and jolpaan are made in traditional Assamese styles which are served to whoever visits the family. On the first day, the farmers along with their respective family celebrate around their Bhoral or granary feasting and enjoying the good harvest. Close families and neighbours get together for a feast at night by the side of a huge bon fire.

A bonfire

The children and young adults make houses or tomb like structures known as Bhela Ghor and Meji Ghor respectively. These are usually built with the left over haystack from the field. The second day of Bhogali Bihu is marked by burning of the Bhela Ghor or Meji Ghor early in the morning. People pay their obeisance to the God of fire Agni by offering Bihu delicacies especially til (sesame seed) laadu into the fire. The farmers along their family pray in their paddy fields for prosperity and offer puja with traditional rituals. The day is also marked by visits to near and dear ones and by taking blessings from the elders of the family. In rural areas people gather in playgrounds to witness festivities like cock fights, buffalo fights, bulbuli (small bird) fights etc.

In the Eastern Coastal region, where I am residing now, this festival is known as Makar Sankranti. Though, this festival does not have equal importance as in Assam, the festivity related to it is almost similar. In the Indo Gangetic plains, this auspicious day of Makar Sankranti begin with a dip in the sacred Hindu river Ganges. This is followed by a puja of offering water to the Sun God. The holy dip is believed to purify the self and bestow punya. Special puja is performed as a thanksgiving ritual for the good harvest of the year.

Apart from the above mentioned festivals, this time of the year is celebrated in different forms in different parts of the country. In Punjab, this festival is known as Lohri, in Tamilnadu it is called Pongal or Makara Pongal, in Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh, this festival is known as Sukarat or Sakarat and is celebrated with merriment and lots of sweets. On the first day of the two-day festival, people throng to the holy rivers in large numbers for a sacred dip. The famous Kumbh Mela is also held on this auspicious time of the year at the four auspicious places of Hindu religion.

In West Bengal, this time of the year is also marked by a festival cum fair called the Ganga Sagar Mela. People from all over India come to visit and take a dip at the Ganga Saagar beach. The practice is being followed for years with the belief that a dip in the holy bank will release one from all his previous sins.

In Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, people savour a special rice meal to mark the day of Uttarayan. In Rajasthan, Nagaur Fair marks this festival. People from all over Rajasthan gather at Nagaur to attend the cattle fair and the four days festivities related to it. Besides the usual buying and selling of camel, ox, cows and bullocks, other festivities like cock fights and bull fights also attract the attention of visitors.

It's About the Money, Honey!

Money is a good servant and a bad master. But still nobody can deny the importance of money. However, people who made it big have always been real people like you and me. Let us find out what it takes to make it big. Regardless of geographical boundaries, it has been observed that some of the girls or women next door have made it, surprising many of us. These ordinary women are very normal and general people, leading very simple lives but they made it big with their personal expertise, perseverance and experiences. The thing I found interesting, which they have quoted in the show as well is- most of the women millionaires were teachers at one point of their lives. The author of “The Millionaire Woman Next Door” said that a teacher is more disciplined and calculative when it comes to money matters. Therefore, they have what it takes to be a millionaire or a crorepati. Oprah also quoted that it’s not about how much you spend, it’s about how much you keep! So true! If you cannot keep the money with you, you can never become a millionaire. Most of the millionaire people, especially millionaire women shop where there is discount. They do their shopping only after thinking what to buy and how much to buy.

Shopping lists always help, provided you made it at home and promise yourself to stick to it. Keeping a notepad and pen in the kitchen always help. Jotting down the things to be bought as and when they are finished help tremendously as 90% of the household shoppers tend to forget a few necessary things to buy and end up buying stuff that they can do without. Monthly shopping is a good idea for small families. This way they can keep tab on the monthly expenses and requirements. Moreover, it helps the fretting when guests come in as you have enough food as well as time to entertain them.

However, a bimonthly grocery shopping routine helps multiple or joint families. That way you can get rid of the pain of hoarding things in the kitchen closet. If you are serious about saving money you can follow these points and see how helpful it is.

In the kitchen:

• If time permits, cook everything keeping the gas in sim,
• Pressure cook as much as you can. This not only saves time but preserves the nutrition also.
• Use the kitchen exhaust fan only when necessary,
• Cut, peel, dice, grind the vegetables and meat and fish as required and keep them ready near the cooking area before you start cooking.
• Keep cooking water ready near the cooking area.
• Keep the casseroles ready to keep your cooked items.
• Switch off the gas cylinder first before switching off the burner knob,
• Recycle water as much as possible,
• Try to cook the exact amount required if not less.

@ home

• Keep all the electric switches off when not in use,
• Keep all the water taps tightly closed when not in use,
• Use daylight instead of electric lights whenever and wherever possible,
• While using electronic mosquito repellents, keep the doors and windows closed for maximum effect.
• Use a TV light while watching TV and switch off the lights in the rooms that are not being used.
• Use reading lamps while reading
• Wash clothes on alternate days and/or when there are enough dirty clothes to justify the capacity of the washing machine.
• If possible buy soaps, detergent and disinfectants in a sale or at a discount rate.
• Keep aside some money for buying perishable items like milk, vegetables, bread etc and stick to your budget.
• Pay your bills on time

@ work

• Go Dutch whenever it is possible. While communicating to and from the office offer/request colleagues to share the cab
• Avoid eating outside. Carry your lunch from home, its cheap, healthy and satisfying too
• Use 'office stationary' for office work
• Be organised when it comes to your personal, financial matters

A school principal, mother of three says, "saving money is an art. You need to learn and practice the art, to master it."

Saving money has become more convenient today with profitable and interesting savings schemes offered by different financial institutions. All you need is a little time to find out which scheme suits you the best. Wish us all, the best of luck!

Terror and India - When Enough Is Enough

        

          

A Still from Ganeshguri (Guwahati, Assam) Blast on October 30, 2008. 

Now, what next? Do we wait to cry and remorse over another attack or do we actually do something to stop this? Last month end (October 30) my homeland Assam suffered the blow, this month end; it’s the dream city of India, Mumbai.

First of all, I salute the commandos of National Security Group, Marine Commandos and Mumbai police whose tireless effort won. But nobody can undo the damages done, lives lost and the dents made.

I think its time we give ourselves a New Year gift next month end. Let us all be a commando in our own way. Let’s pledge to be alert about our surroundings, be true citizens by being responsible towards our motherland. Let us not give in to anymore terror attacks, evil deeds. Let us be fearless enough to question and seek answers for these repeated attacks on humanity and for not doing anything about it. Let us be true Indians.

The Mumbai incident shows the involvement of Pakistan in more than one way. But is someone doing something about it? We are yet to see results of previous incidences that had claimed so many lives in Mumbai only. But the homeland of terrorists simply denies everything.

My feeling is, our GOODNESS is being taken as our weakness. But this Mumbai incident should be a proof enough to let the whole world know that, we are not here to succumb to evil forces. Evil deeds like killing innocent people, creating terror and destroying property can never give any good to anyone. The God the terrorists worship will also not approve of what they did. Because, every religion believes that GOOD always WINS over evil.

Another Still from Assam Blasts October 30, 2008

On a more personal level, however, I would also like to say something here. It seems the media, the Centre all care about the big cities and metros only. The bomb blasts that had happened in Assam on one single day did not get as elaborate a coverage as Mumbai did, though the lives lost and damages occurred was no less. Does that mean that the loss of lives in Assam is less important than Mumbai? Why there are no follow ups on that in any news channel? The government of Assam is doing nothing to catch the culprits, simply to protect their win next election. The greed for power is making each and everyone in authority, cheats. Ask any ordinary Assamese and he/she will say who is responsible for the blasts. But the government seems to have no clue. I felt like mentioning this, just as an additional food for thought.

just trying

I always thought how nice it would be, if I could post blogs to my
blog from my mobile phone or e-mail! So, I am trying to do just that
now.

Train Journey by Janshatabdi

The General Compartment

I generally dislike train journey by general class, meaning the class other than the air conditioned class. No, I am not a snob. But I just cannot take the smell of sweat and toilet cocktailed in the same compartment. It’s absolutely nauseating. This time, i.e. yesterday, I had to, yes “had to” board the general class chair car of Janshatabdi for a 4-hour journey to a nearby town. Janshatabdi has a very good reputation all over India for being one of the most efficient and good train services in India. Ok, I took the decision to check it out, hoping, may be, it’s general class chair car will be a little improved and better than other trains.

It was scantily occupied and the 3 : 2 seating arrangement was looking good. It was cleaner than I expected. Most of the window seats were occupied and I got one too. Great.

A river Bridge on the way

The journey started. I was happy to get a window seat. It's late autumn and people would either not sweat or would sweat less. Even if some smelly cats do manage to board the train later, I had my windy window seat to give me fresh air from outside. The large window of the seat I occupied was to be shared by two rows of seats. A middle aged man was sitting on the window seat in front of me. Soon after the train started, the man seated in front of me, started sneezing once…twice...thrice…five times ... without covering his mouth. Then he spat through the window! How disgusting was that!!! And guess what? He didn’t even say ‘excuse me’ or even ‘sorry’. Argh…utterly disgusting! I tried to protect myself from all the bacteria that was let loose in the atmosphere by covering my face. I cursed myself for not listening to my 6th sense. It was shouting its heart out asking me to give in to the second thought I had before boarding the general compartment.

The Paddy Field and Flower beds

Well, after making me suffer like hell, he fell asleep. I thanked God for small mercies. Once the train started, I tried to enjoy the outside view and clicked a few landscapes that appealed to me.

Another passenger, a boy almost my age seemed to be a music lover. Well, by now, everyone in the compartment knew it. Some shrieking Hindi movie songs were playing in his all-in-one mobile phone and we had no choice but to hear it and bear it. Well, may be he was yet to be introduced to a thing called the ‘head-phone’; especially when travelling by a public mode of transport!

The train was scheduled at 6.20 in the morning. I was surprised at the "have seen all, done all," couple sitting behind. They were some early risers and early eaters I guessed! The man was burping non-stop and yes, sitting on the front seat I could hear his amplified burps that must have given him a repeat taste of whatever he had gorged in the morning. Eew!!!!!!!

I thought and told myself, "am I over-reacting or is it meant to be always like this in this part of the train!?" Well, then I realised, it’s not the general compartment that was to be blamed. It’s the people. Why is it like this, that some people do not know the basic manners? I kept questioning myself…the whys and whats and hows…all kept coming to my mind but without any answer.

But yes, one thing is certain for me now, I will never travel general class again, no matter how short that journey is!