This year I will go again to see Ganpati Bappa at a new place with same old feelings ;)

Growing up as a child in National Defense Academy, Khadakwasla Pune is the best thing that can happen to any child and this is not only me saying because I was raised there but anyone who have been in Pune would vouch for this.

When I landed in Canada first and met few Indians they always said you lived in the best part of India so US or Canada is not different for you. What I remember from my childhood is about people and only people. They would be from all parts of the country who will be your neighbors for 2-3 years and then a new neighbor from new state with new language and tradition and the saga goes on.

Ganpati Bappa is one event where no matter what religion or caste you belong to, everyone is excited to see the small pandals (shrines) or the big everywhere some or the other thing is happening. Either people are decorating the pandals or the Ganpati Idol is being created there itself. Late night lights and music, which many times strict dads used to complain about as kids are not able to study, but for us who cares…while studying and revising those chemistry formulas as how to create methanol and examples of Thermodynamics, one of two beats from the dhol always made it more interesting.

Being a keralite never felt that we cannot celebrate this event. It was always that mom, what we making for this festival and then sharing it with friends and family. Every year there was a tradition of a MES (Military Engineering Services) bus loading with all NDA folks and taking them to city for Ganpati Bappa darshan and the best part is to hold my dad’s hand and walk on those busy streets to watch each Ganpati and its decorations where the lightings will dance in the tunes of the music that they played.

As I am writing this, my heartbeat has doubled the rate with excitement as someone has taken that effort to bring the same feeling to my current hometown in Bay Area and that is Praveen Suggala and Neeraj Dhar, the two pillars of our Radio Zindagi who are known for their togetherness in all efforts whether it rains or shine. Long live this togetherness and goodwill gestures!!!

A dream that one sees and another one tries to fulfill it by giving a surprise, how sweet is that bonding? Something that is not done for two people or a media company, its for the mass.

Its for the people who all can make it to Bay Area at Newpark mall from Sep 18th to 20th, 2015 – its for all. A 15 feet Ganpati Bappa murti – I don’t have to say much you can see from the picture below – how royally Bappa sits on that throne, it makes us feel proud and happy with glory.

I feel very proud to say that history has been created right here in silicon valley and I have the opportunity to be part of it. This will remain in history forever that two people came together and brought the essence of Maharashtra’s Ganpati Bappa festival all the way to Silicon Valley – a valley of opportunity for the opportunists. 

I am sure every Indian will enjoy this festival far away from home here at home and our non-Indian friends will rejoice the celebration with all their Indian friends. That’s the solidarity it brings to the valley and all I want to say is this post is dedicated for the people and for those who believe in celebrating such moments which will continue the saga generation after generation. 

Ganpati Bappa Morya

Mangal Murti Morya 

~ Dawn

Happy Birthday Accha!

A man who always taught me 
To live and enjoy the present,
Who very casually asked once -
Whats tomorrow and where is yesterday?
Nothing is constant and nothing as concrete
What is today is what you have
Enjoy the moment and forget it all.
A lesson he taught which I never forgot
My reason to smile and be happy is his advise 
Good or bad I always thank for the present
That my dad gave me stays with me all my life
A man who taught me not to worry
As worrying will waste your present too
Tomorrow if its comes, we will see it then
Live your life for your loved ones
As money you can earn anytime
Its like that dust which comes and goes
But the people whom you love
Will stay with you forever.
On his 79th birthday, I thank him
For being that guiding lamp in life
I only have one wish for him
Think of the best moment of your life
And celebrate that moment every breath of your life
As no matter where I am in life
You are always there with me!

Happy Birthday Accha!

Lets Live And Let Other's Live - even your own life is given to you by someone else - be kind!!!

What is freedom to you? Many talk about freedom and freedom of speech and sometimes they go further to talk about the free country etc. I believe the basic right to breathe in a free environment is something we all bring in as our birthright.

No matter to whom we are born, our parents also let us to grow with certain freedom and they control to some extent only to be more careful and be protective towards their kids. Yet we as a grown up try to live a life that we desired for, whether its to eat, drink or even to travel. It’s all about the freedom of choices that we love to make and we are able to make. If someone is not making these decisions for them because of financial elements etc. then its still understandable because one needs to save money and then make those dreams fulfill and live their life.

But what would you call, when you think you are bringing your better half – whether it’s a guy or a girl doesn’t matter in today’s world. All it matters is if two people irrespective of their individuality, character, likes-dislikes they should not control each other. I mean imagine the life, where a kid is controlled and disciplined to an extent that he or she is looking forward to that day when he or she will be independent and living by earning making a living out of it. The first candy that one buys of with his or her own earned money has a immense happiness and feeling of freedom and satisfaction as supposed to someone buying and allowing you to eat an expensive chocolate.

I am extremely sorry to share a story here where the person has been so much controlled and been taken to slavery that the person didn’t even feel that they are taken away of their freedom. They do not even have a freedom to eat certain food that they want to eat, drink or even do what they would love to do.

If you are not living a life that makes you happy then you are not living. No matter how much you make, how big house you own, the ultimate happiness is in living with freedom. Freedom to speak, freedom to share your opinion, freedom to eat what you want to eat, and freedom to what you want to drink, freedom to breathe basically.

I am totally against women or men who try to control their better half’s to show their power or satisfy their ego – I want to tell them one thing that you are ruining your own life and the person’s and if you have a kid then the kid as well.

People have relationships and people do break off from relationships. In Indian society and some conservative thinking people do believe that it’s a crime to divorce which itself is teaching that no matter what you have, no freedom once you have tied the knot with the other person. This even sounds like a jail.

I mean every relationship doesn’t have to end up into divorce but basic rights of living every human has that right and as a man or woman of the family you must rise and shine to live a life that you got.

I am a feminist yet, I am against those women who boast about their control on their husbands. Its sad and shameful for such women to boast and feel pride in it.

But then, I also believe that the one who suffers is more at fault than the one who is making you suffer.

Being a victim knowingly is no solution and no way to live your life. I believe when you live in a free country, with freedom of speech how worth is to live if you don’t have freedom in your own house?

Wake up people, you have only one life and that too at someone else’s mercy? Shame!

Think of those people who have all their life fought for their freedom, for their rights till the end to make their point across. This is in your home, no one should control you what to do and what not to do as long as you are not harming anyone. For me if I want to drink a glass of wine, or an ice cream its my freedom of choice to make but if I am trying to have these in the middle of the night and my husband is saying its too late to have it – I understand and respect because he cares for me. But if he is saying, you cannot drink because I don’t want you to, then you need to find out what it is? Is he trying to control you? Or is he trying to impose his rules on you? End domestic torture.

"The world is already yours - why try to conquer it?"

Many of them just spend their life in the assumption that they are in control of their life actually everything is controlled by their other half. Whether two individuals earn or not, nothing controls them to live a life with basic freedom such as having vegetarian, vegan, non-vegetarian food or say, having liquor – everything has to be in moderation, even the freedom and the controlling...!!!

"Control is the inner disease of those who need stability and order to function."

~ Dawn

Let everything happen to you Beauty and terror Just keep going No feeling is final... ;)

The other day I had a chance to watch Mission Impossible in Tulare, California.

When you are out of town, mostly you think watching movie is supposed to be a task that you should do in your city.  But, I think if you have time and you are a movie lover then place doesn’t matter.

I had a chance to watch “Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation” at Galaxy Theater. Something that I had experienced in India and was surprised to see the seats with all the automatic settings for all your comfort along with the tray to keep your popcorns and eatables. I remember long time I had written an experience in India and literally felt that this is how one should enjoy movie.

I had my pleasure of the same and that too watching Tom Cruise – one of my favorites once upon a time.  Yes, when I say that his movies have always made me to like him.

This time, I was wondering how Tom Cruise would be as he crossed 50 and to tell you the truth he looks younger or rather I would say he doesn’t look older.

The movie started and I was thinking the previews are still on, as I was engrossed on the upcoming November release of James Bond.  I am a Bond fan and always watched James Bond on the first day it gets released. As I was watching the preview of James Bond, slowly the movie turned on and as soon I see Tom Cruise jumping and catching the flight… I was just glued to the screen.

Through out I enjoyed every scene of the movie as it was getting deeper in to the story. The best I loved the motorcycle chase as the chase was going on I was remembering how I used to race and I only remembered my friend Mic.

We enjoyed racing and we always discussed different techniques of the motorcycle race.

I love action movie and I loved every bit of it. If you love action then this is the one to watch.

I thoroughly enjoyed as the theater was awesome and so were the seats, I had rolled back my seat such that it was kind of laying on the bed and watching the movie. Its an experience with the thriller packed action movie – Mission Impossible – every possible way the movie was fun.

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." 

Happy sixteen, till now I don't know what it mean...!!!

This was the day when 

The stream of strength

Followed with me to walk

When I was thinking "am alone"!

A journey which I chose

A journey she walked without knowing

The trust brought us together

To fall and rise like a true dawn!

Feeling of togetherness

A time well spent on relation

Which made us best friends

Only to grow together once again!

I know the time will come

To say goodbye in life

But am sure she will carry the relay

Being a living extension of mine!

A girl who is always there for me

A girl who comes and shares everything

Crazy, silly, witty and funny

Sometimes like my mommy

I enjoy even today the childhood

As you treat me like a baby

Happy sixteen, till now I don't know what it mean

As numbers never meant anything to me

Live the moment and explore life

As by now you know it all

Good or bad it all makes sense

When only you think it is right ;)

~ Dawn

Spring has sprung someone said,....

It was the darkest clouds
that I had seen
When the dangerous thunder 
blink in between
It scared me to death yet, 
gave me a view to be seen
It was worth a glance as 
I needed that shock to align
The dawn came in early for me 
I guess, not to be mean
The scent of the flowers, budding 
new leaves with bees been 
It brought that sunlight inside, 
spreading the light to shine
Time to be merry and not whine 
The fragrance, the beauty, 
the little things which felt are mine
The feeling of joy and assurance
Its another day and a new lifeline 
Spring has sprung someone said,
Shred the dry leaves and grow like mine
The new buds and new dewdrops 
Bringing the magic to nature with rain
Aha! nature has its ways to undress 
And make love to the divine!

~ Dawn

Karsh is Krazy

The weekend had begun in a classical science fiction way on Friday evening with the pure magic of Karsh Kale’s breaking the rules.

Yes, he loves to break the rules and guess what? Music lovers love it more and more as each time he breaks the rule.

I mean one can think of playing certain instrument based on the ragas and jam the session. But Karsh Kale is known for his musicianship who bridges between the time, space and era in one single round. Believe me, you got to experience it for once at least in life time.

I happen to watch him twice by now and last time even though it was an awesome composition and orchestration, the sound system wasn’t that good. This year, he totally turned things ups and down. I mean you got to give that chance to self to mesmerize a moment that is being created just for you.

It was such an auspicious feeling as I just felt am just born now and its long way to go in this feeling to be nurtured forever.

A feeling one cannot put it in words, as something that one can feel is always a feeling that one person explores within. It cannot be the same for the other person as that person will have his/her own version of feelings.

The best part I felt is the drummer and a table and keyboard player – Karsh and his enthralling team (Max ZT on Santoor, Indian classical vocalist – Aditya Prakash, who toured with Ravi Shankar and Alam Khan on Sarode – son of maestro Ali Akbar Khan), when they performed it was ‘zone’ moment where nothing can distract you in life. A moment which kept the audience wondering what will be next and at the end we did get the surprise with the presence of rap singer Mandeep Sethi.

I ended up thinking Karsh is Krazy !!! :D