Blooming Happiness

 

It's been a year since I had written my last blog and I have been waiting to return to my blog land. So here I come with new experiences from a different part of the world.

We moved close to the equator to the 'Garden City' of Singapore this year. Here I  found myself charmed by the colourful presence of flora and fauna even in the most urban areas. Every morning , when I walk down the path adorned with colourful blooms in my condo, it lifts my mood for the day.  One day I even managed to capture a  humming bee , reaching for a flower , with my phone camera.

As the world celebrates Earth Day today, I thought of sharing with you few lovely blossoms from the Garden City. Hope it brings smiles and happiness in your lives as well. 

"I will be the gladdest thing

Under the sun!

I will touch a hundred flowers

And not pick one."

~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Afternoon on a Hill"

Of Rains, New Years and celebrations

Sitting by the French window I listened to the gusty wind whistling by between the sky scrapers. White sheets of heavy rain were drenching the city of Bangkok.  The occasional thunder and lightening added to the drama. Was this nature's own way of welcoming "Songkran" - the Thai New Year ? I wondered. Songkran is celebrated by splashing water upon others which symbolises washing away the sins. On the New Year's Eve a rain-washed , purified, pleasant and beautiful Bangkok awaited the sunrise in high spirit.

By the time the rain eased, dusk had fallen and the far away city lights twinkled in the darkness. The cozy cool caressing evening brought back fond memories of "Kalbaishakhi" of Bengal. The storm, the thunder, the lightening followed by a heavy downpour setlling the heat . The scenery was strikingly similar. Add to this, "Nabobarsho" - the Bengali New year was almost imminent.

Songkran was observed between 13th - 15th April. Nabobarsha was celebrated on 15th April. Being a Bengali living in Bangkok, these three days proved to be a festive fusion for us.

On the cheerful Songkran morning, my son, who had been eagerly waiting for this event, skipped around in a traditional bright floral shirt with his little water gun to drench someone. Foam parties were focus of celebrations at many places. The young folks had gathered in groups across lanes and by- lanes merrily splashing water on passing cars. The fairs and puppet shows were the attractions for the evening. A sumptuous Thai dinner couldn't be far behind.

Today, Nabobarsho arrived with all its warmth and nostalgia. New clothes and bengali songs had set the mood for celebration. Exchange of pleasantries with our folks back in India made the day so special and made us feel closer to home. Lunch had to be an elaborate Bengali affair. On this day of "Poila Baisakh", I did hope for a " Kalbaishakhi" too !!!

Keeping up with the famed bengali sweet tooth, we concluded the festivities with our favourite desserts - the Thai "Mango with Sticky Rice " and the Bengali " Rashogolla" . That was heavenly !!!

With this sweet note I wish all my friends " Shubho Nabobarsho". Let the new year shower you with prosperity and happiness.

The Jewel of Bedugul

Gusti Ngurah Putu, now the King, set on a journey across his newly acquired land. It was time to show his gratitude. He had defeated his enemies with the blessings of Almighty. He conquered his lost land and gained a new territory as a gift from the King of Tabanan. So he wanted to build a temple to mark his victory and the beginning of the reign of Mengwi dynasty. But where ? Where can he find a place of pristine beauty, calmness and serenity to establish his benevolent deity?

The king  remembered his days of ascetism. He had prayed to Mount Mangu for powers to revenge his humiliating defeat. Pleased with his penance the mighty mountain had blessed him and Gusti Ngurah Putu had vanquished his enemies to restore himself as the lord of his favourite land. Should he go back to the powerful mountain again to find a place for his deity ?  He pondered. 

Finally, the king started on the mountain trail in search of a perfect location. As he ascended, the lush vegetation on the way gave him hopes of good harvest and prosperity. He climbed up higher and a fine curtain of mountain mist wrapped him. He tried to peer through but in vain. Everything looked mysterious and strangely beautiful. "Am I close to heaven? Is this where the gods dwell? What lies ahead ?" He thought. Tired, he decided for a temporary halt. A brush of cool air swept across his face. Slowly the mist rolled away in the breeze and a body of sparkling waters emerged. The king found himself standing at the edge of a big lake guarded by high mountains. The beauty of the place held him captivated for long. His heart warmed up to a thought. What better place can he find for his deity? Dewi Danu , the water goddess has revealed her most beautiful form in his kingdom. So be it. Let Vishnu reside here in this heavenly abode. 

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan was built on the banks of Lake Beratan by the Mengwi King Gusti Ngurah Putu, in seventeenth century. It is situated in the highlands near Bedugul in North Bali, Indonesia. It consists of four temples dedicated to Water Goddess Dewi Danu ( Dalem Purwa temple) , and Hindu deities Shiva ( Lingga Petak temple) , Vishnu ( Penataran Pucak Mangu temple) and Brahma ( Terate Bang temple).  A statue of Lord Buddha is also placed in the temple.Famous as one of the nine directional temples in Bali ; it is part of the "Kahayan Jagat" to the Balinese. 

We drove up the winding track hugging the hills and the valley below looked verdant green. Ahead, at a distance, a fleet of soft white clouds hung low above the road. As we slowly wheeled into it, my four year old son wanted to take away a fistful of cloud in his pocket. Soon it became a distant scenery as we approached the lake temple. Entering the complex, we found the landscaped gardens brimming with foreign and local tourists. Children skipped and ran merrily in a charming little playground at one corner. Couples revelled in the glorious sunshine around the expansive lawns. It was a perfect balmy day at Bedugul.

Tourists were not allowed inside the main sanctum, so we took the sidewalk towards the lake. Bright marigolds adorned the pathway leading to a striking Meru. It represented Gunung Mangu which is the mountain abode of Vishnu. The eleven tiered thatched palm structure extending into the water looked iconic against the blue hills which surrounded Lake Beratan. The cool breeze blew silvery ripples on the waters caressing the Pura.  

  

                                           

In sometime, a procession came out carrying a throne. The devotees wore white attire. Ceremonial beating of drums broke through the low chatter of tourists. Alerted, everybody hurried aside ready to shoot. Once the procession passed by, we decided to leave the crowd to take in the magnificent view around the lake. 

We came out from one of the side exits of the complex , which opened into a large meadow by the lake stretching till the hills near by. The breeze felt stronger. The mist and the sun played peek-a-boo once shrouding and then revealing Mount Bratan. Clouds drifted across the blue sky. The surface of the lake shimmered like a gossamer. There we stood  enthralled like the Mengwi King of yore - at the confluence of spirituality, tranquility and unforgettable beauty.

(The story narrated above is a work of fiction based on few historic incidents)

Makha Bucha Day

Veluvana, Rajagraha,India : More than two thousand five hundred fifty years ago

The full moon of "Makha" shone brightly on the Veluvana Bamboo Gardens. Calmness and serenity prevailed. Only the voice of the venerable one reverberated through the evening. One thousand two hundred fifty monks listened intently to the great teacher. All of them had come unannounced to meet HIM....the Gautama Buddha ... and all of them were ordained  by Buddha himself on this day. He gave them the principles of  Buddhism - to cease from all evil, to do what is good and to cleanse one's mind. This was nine months after Buddha had attained enlightenment. 

Forty four years passed by. Again came the full moon night of "Makha". Gautama Buddha decided for nirvana. Three months later he attained Mahaparinirvana.

Twenty first century :

Two thousand five hundred fifty years later, Buddha's teaching still continues to enrich so many lives. Makha Bucha Day is celebrated in Thailand in remembrance of this important event on the full moon night of the third lunar month of the year, "Makha".

We joined the crowd at a nearby Wat to observe the celebrations. Devotees came to pray and show respect to Lord Buddha. They made "parikrama" around the Upasana hall with lighted candles, incense and flowers in hand. We joined them in silence and devotion. Some set caged birds free. Liberation of mind, body and soul from all the sufferings.....that's what Gautama taught to mankind and that is the ultimate path to happiness.

The colour RED

Red is the colour of Happiness, the colour of Spring...

Chinese New Year or Chinese Spring Festival is just round the corner and the city is literally decked up in Red. Every shopping mall has set up a corner selling Chinese festive trinkets. Red dresses, red lanterns, good wishes  written on red paper are seen everywhere.

Last year, I was introduced to this popular festival at the lovely home of my hubby's company CEO. The Malaysian-Chinese origin lady had invited everybody for a luxurious sit-down lunch.  Traditionally it is celebrated as a Reunion dinner by the family members on New Year's Eve. RED was the colour for the occasion. Everyone wore red attires. The children were gifted token money in red paper envelopes (called Hongbao) with Chinese motifs. A bunch of Mandarin Oranges were given to everyone wishing good luck.

RED has always been my favourite Colour.  It is the auspicious colour of our Bengali weddings, the colour of sindoor and the wedding bangles. I was fascinated to see how this colour transcended boundaries to become the auspicious colour in another culture. In Chinese tradition, red symbolises fire, which drives away the evil and brings happiness and harmony to the world. So all homes are decorated in red.

As the Chinese community prepares for their most important festival of the year, on this joyful occasion , I wish that everyone's life be filled up with the happy vibes of RED !!!

Togetherness

Time for togetherness ...

I grew up in an era when celebrating Valentine's Day hadn't become so ubiquitous. Display of affection was considered exhibitionism. Gradually I grew to appreciate the spirit and enthusiasm with which young couples celebrate this special day today. It's not about the gifts exchanged or the explicit declaration of love which often gets associated with this day. It's the loving glow on the faces with a not-so-faraway dream of coming together of these happy souls.

As career and other commitments have taken precedence in our lives so much so that time has become a scarcity, let's endeavour to slow down and spend some beautiful moments with our loved ones this weekend. 

Wishing you the magic of togetherness on Valentine's Day.

Newspaper

The magic of newspaper continues...

I still vividly remember the superb throws of the newspaper -wallah from my childhood days. The rolled-in papers used to perfectly land in our balcony everyday morning punctually. Nowadays, it lies gently at our apartment doorsteps brought in by the building security. The settings have changed but not my anticipation while fetching the morning papers. The "can't-describe-exactly" smell while turning the pages still peps me up in the morning :-)

Catching glimpses of the headlines for the day before going to work was a habit. Now. after becoming a stay-at-home mom, the newspaper has become my breakfast companion. Sipping orange juice while flipping through the pages probably boosts up my Vitamin C intake. Away from the television where news channels are blaring "breaking news" throughout the day, I can absorb the news at my pace and comfort. Isn't that a bliss ? Getting to know the opinion of the author along with the news is a bonus too .

Happy me in the Papyrus World.