Petals!

Have you ever read your old blogposts and been struck by how your outlook and language have changed? Recently, I read some of my earliest posts on this blog. And I felt quite emotional about it. [ READ: My Sun is my Light ] Few points sprang to my mind: I used to write about personal things - it was a space to share my daily reflections, and now I no longer do that - now I am more guarded and wary. I used to write about things I feel strongly about - now I accept life as it is My dreams, my reflections, my musings have changed even in terms of my language - i am no longer the person who began writing this blog. Sometimes, when I read my old posts, I feel as though I'm seeing a stranger, who has no resemblance to me. Makes me wonder, "Who is this? Was it me?" Here are some of those old posts: Parents are Love It's Rainy...What Would You Eat? Wake Up Time: There's No Woman in the Moon Conversations with My Mother I find myself reading these posts and asking, "...

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. When lighting diyas on Fridays, it is better to use ghee than oil, if possible. [READ: What Does Deepam Represent , Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Can we light diyas at 4pm? Typically, we don't see sunset at 4 pm. If sunset is at 4 pm, you can light diya. When to light a lamp in the puja room? Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset. Whatever you do, offer it with sincerity and love in your heart. Our Devatas are watching, they know wh...

(Image: Sri Sathya Sai Baba Facebook page) Maha Shivaratri 2025: Wondering why Maha Shivaratri is special and why not to sleep during Shivaratri? As a kid, I loved sitting up through the night and praying to Shiva till dawn. Bhajans used to take place in my parents' home and people used to flock to our home to pray. Wherever I am, I try to attend all night bhajans and prayers to celebrate this beautiful and glorious celebration of Shiva. Maha Shivaratri: Significance Most people ask why Maha Shivaratri is celebrated. To understand what is the significance of Maha Shivaratri , we need to understand the essence of why we worship Shiva and why He is shown to reside in the mighty Kailasa. A thorough study of the Shiva Purana is a good place to start. Without equipping ourselves with knowledge through the Vedas and the Puranas, none of us can fully comprehend the glory and splendour of Maha Shivaratri. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, " Purity, Sacredness and Steadiness is the cr...

Is Nadanna Sambhavam a family movie? Directed by Vishnu Narayan, this Biju Menon-Suraj Venjaramoodu starrer is a good family entertainer centered on an affluent, unconventional couple who stay in an elitist conservative colony where insecure husbands and unhappy wives project their biases onto the new couple. [READ: Best Parenting Movie in Hindi] Nadanna Sambhavam movie: Story Wondering if Nadanna Sambhavam is a comedy? Scene by scene, through comedy, one realises only the clothes and houses look "modern"; people's mindsets date back to centuries-old, patriarchal biases. As a loving husband and a caring neighbour, Biju Menon's natural acting skills are in full throttle. The tonality of his voice when he speaks to women is a noteworthy template for men who lack the same empathy and finesse in their social skills while interacting with women in public spaces. In sharp contrast, Suraj Venjaramoodu strikes a slightly menacing persona. He portrays an arrogant man who is ...

  Mentalhood Hindi movie:  Looking to watch the best parenting Hindi movie? Then, don't miss Karisma Kapoor's 'Mentalhood', which is a ALTBalaji-ZEE5 web series. Now, you can watch it on YouTube, which is what I did. Better still, read the comments of hundreds of moms who loved the film though it was trashed in online media reviews (secret: Yes, that's why I hugely distrust online media film reviews!) Mentalhood Hindi Movie: Story of 'We are Not Middle Class' Parents This highly engaging web series features 'super cool' moms including Karisma Kapoor as 'Meira Sharma' who shifted to Mumbai from Kanpur, Sandhya Mridhul as 'AJO' or 'Anuja Joshi', the PTA head and dynamo, and the supremely talented Tilotama Shome. An icing on the cake is t he handsome Dino Morea as 'Aakash'. The series takes you through the different parenting styles that are prevalent in metro cities, particularly among elite families who tend to look dow...

Curious to know which type of diya is good for home? In most Hindu homes, the diya is lit twice a day - once in the morning and thereafter in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. However, clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. [READ: What does Deepam represent? ] For special occasions such as engagement or festivals and on Fridays in particular, silver is considered as a symbol of prosperity, peace and abundance. Lighting a silver lamp is believed to invite Goddess Mahalakshmi's presence into one's home. Other metals such as copper are not usually used for lamps though copper is considered to be ideal for purposes of healing. [ READ: Significance of Om ] Benefits of Lighting Deepam Every Day Light eradicates darkness. We cannot begin to imagine how lighting a deepam brings in more serenity and positivity, not just in our homes, but even in our minds, the way we think and react over small ...