8 Things to Shop for this Ganesh Chathurthi

Ganesh Chathurthi is one of the most enthusiastically celebrated festivals in India, overtaken in merriment perhaps only by Diwali! It is celebrated to mark the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed deity. The festivities last for 11 days, with the grand finale being a spectacular event, with lots of music and colors.

But the fun part of the festival goes well beyond these 11 days, with preparations beginning as much as two months in advance. Special markets are set up, colorful goods are displayed and there is a buzz in the air. Amidst all this, it is easy to get lost and confused, wondering what to buy. So knowing how busy you are, we’ve created a list of 8 must haves to shop for this Ganesh Chathurthi. Here we go!

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1. Decorations – No festival in India is complete without the right decorations. Get torans, streamers and garlands in traditional colors of red, orange and yellow. If you want to go the eco friendly route, opt for torans made of mango, coconut or plantain leaves. For more bling, choose garlands made of artificial flowers, glitter, beads and satin ribbon. For good deals, visit wholesale markets.

2. Ganesha Idol – To be on the safe side, most people book their idols a couple of months in advance, in which case you can ask for customizations. Else, ready made idols are easily available; you can even buy them online! Be aware of the material the idol is made of. They are available in plastic, rubber and plaster of Paris, but if you care for the environment, clay idols are the way to go.

3. Accessories for the Idol – The Ganesha idol is the central point of this celebration and needs to be decorated too. It’s best to buy the accessories after you’ve bought the idol, so that they are in proportion. The idol is usually seated on a pedestal, so get one that fits. Get beautiful decorative ribbons, colorful scarves or dupattas and flowers. You can also get jewelry for your idol in shades of gold or silver. Don’t forget the headgear; you can either choose a crown or mukut, or opt for a turban.

4. Prayer Supplies – If you’re conducting the prayer from home, you’re going to need all the relevant supplies. Stock up on incense sticks, camphor, sandalwood paste – plain and red, turmeric, betel nuts, saffron, ghee and coconuts. Shortly before the actual ceremony, buy mango leaves, betel leaves, milk, fruit and flowers. You are likely to find everything at a single store that sells prayer supplies.

5. Lights and Lamps – This is one area where you can mix and match the modern and the traditional. Lanterns and diyas are quite popular, along with fairy lights. A tray to hold the smaller lamps is useful. Take care to check all your electrical settings in advance, so that your fancy lights don’t literally give you a shock on the main day!

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6. Sweets – Many homes make their own sweets for Ganesh Chathurthi, but if you’re not, place orders in advance to avoid the last minute rush. Popular sweets for Ganesh Chathurthi are besan laddoos, motichoor laddoos, modaks and barfi. There are now modern variations like dry fruit and
chocolate modaks, so do your research before buying.

7.  Groceries – You can’t just eat sweets the whole time, so you need to prepare for other meals as well! Stock up on staples like oil, grains and sugar. Check your festival menu and buy jaggery, lentils, beans, potatoes and vegetables. Make sure you keep in mind the number of guests, if any.

8. Clothes – Probably the favorite item on the list for many! Make the most of the End-Of-Season-Sales and online deals; they offer good discounts on clothes for the entire family. This is also a good time to buy clothes for the extended family and gifts for friends and relatives that you don’t see that often. A great opportunity for everyone to flaunt their traditional wear!

This list should cover your basics for the festive season. Now that we’ve taken the stress out of shopping, you can go ahead and enjoy this time to the fullest. Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!

5 Exotic Indian Monsoon Destinations You Must Explore

Unlike popular belief, travelling during monsoon can be quite enjoyable and affordable in India. After the sweaty summers, one can explore the beauty of the Indian landscape during the rains from June till around October. Around this time, both crowds and prices come down steeply.

There are many places in different corners of India, which unveils a new story during monsoon but we will tell you about few important, accessible and tourist friendly ones.

1.    Munnar in Kerala

Munnar, a beautiful hill station located in the backdrop of the lush green steeps of Western Ghats is one of the most sought after monsoon destinations in India and also known for its extensive tea estates and spice gardens. The scenic beauty of the greenery covering the undulating hills contouring the deep valley is just breath-taking. Enjoying the flora and fauna during the rainy season also has its own thrill.One can enjoy a quite retreat staying in resorts within the tea valley savouring fish delicacies. One can also take a sneak peek to Alleppey and Periyar National Park, a wildlife sanctuary famous for Indian elephants.

While in Kerala, do not forget to shop for home grown spices, local delicacies such as Cheepappam, Kuzhalappam, Avalos Unda, Churrutu and Achappam and handmade Aranmula mirror.

 (Image Courtesy: kerala-tour-package)

2.    Coorg in Karnataka

Another hill station in the heart of Western Ghats, Coorg is considered the most favourite destination in Karnataka. Clad in beautiful hills, waterfalls and huge stretch of coffee plantation, Coorg has an array of affordable home stays that stand out with their hospitality. Enjoying the green foliage of nature drenched in rain with delectable traditional cuisines like bamboo shoot curry and rice dumpling (Kadumbuttu) is a pleasing experience. Coorg is also famous for its wines and beverages. Some of the other places to visit in Karnataka during this time are Chikmanglur, Gokarna, Jog falls, Mullangiri etc. Jog Falls, the second highest plunge pool surrounded by green forests is a major tourist attraction.

 

(Image Courtesy: trip-go-trip)

3.    Goa

Goa has always been a fun destination for both Indians and foreign tourists. Apart from beaches, sand and sun, Goa also offers a picturesque scenery, beautiful waterfalls, dense forests and wildlife sanctuaries.  Dudhsagar Falls or Sea of Milk is a thrill to visit during this season when the waterfall looks like a flow of milk down the mountain with thriving forests around. One should also enjoy the evening boat cruise down the Mandovi River which in itself is a magical experience. Overall Goa during monsoon is as happening as any other season with off season discounts, serene ambience and palatable traditional fish curry and other sea food eateries.

 (Image Courtesy: hill-stations.tourtravelworld)

 4.    Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh

Next on the list is Pachmarhi, a lesser known yet a majestic and cosy monsoon retreat from Central India. Also known as Queen of Saputara ranges, Pachmarhi will enchant you with its verdant forest reserves, mythological roots and glorious history. A few of must visit monsoon attractions in Pachmarhi are V-shaped Handi Khoh Hills, Dhoopgarh sunrise and sunset point, Mahadeo rock paintings, Pandava Caves and Saputara National Park. This lovely hill station also has magnificent waterfalls such as Bee Fall, Duchess Fall, Silver Fall and Apsara Vihar, all of which come alive in full force in the rainy season.

Your trip to Madhya Pradesh would be incomplete if you do not include the mouth-watering namkeens and other savoury delights in your shopping bag!

 (Image Courtesy: ghummakar)

5.    Leh – Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir

The Cold Dessert of the North is the most amazing place to visit during monsoon. The rugged terrain, intertwined mountain passes, emerald lakes and virgin valley bathed in sunshine is a breath of fresh air.  It is highly accessible during monsoon as roads are clear to travel and the drive is an awesome experience. The place is also dotted with monasteries and historical monuments. Trekking and river rafting are also major attractions. The festivities open during monsoon which includes spectacular procession of dancing and singing villagers in traditional costumes. Some of the local cuisines include butter tea, momos, chhang (local brewed barley) and tsampa (roasted barley flour) including rice.

Along with taking back a treasure of memories; why not also pick up exclusive and authentic Kashmiri products such KagziBadam, MamraGiri, Walnut Kernels White, Dried Apricots and Kashmiri Willow Cricket Bats on your way back to home?

 (Image Courtesy: aapkisaheli )

Are you ready to pack your bags and get ready to drench in one of the most captivating vacations this monsoon?

How Independent are We?

It’s that time of the year again, when patriotic songs and tricolor messages do the rounds on television and social media. Every year, come August 15 and everyone’s feeling gung ho about India and everything Indian.

But what about the remaining 364 days of the year, barring perhaps, Republic Day? Are we really that into the tricolor then or do we push it to the back of our minds and focus on the next release of the latest gadget from the west?

If you look closely, you can see that the definition of independence shown above has a lot of ‘self’ in it. Mahatma Gandhi added another ‘self’ to his vision of an independent India – self reliance or self sufficiency, otherwise known as ‘swadeshi’. Translated literally, it means ‘of one’s own country’. It refers to the movement that was started in pre-independent India, where communities were encouraged to be self sufficient in order to remove any dependency on outside forces, like the British. The movement was fierce, with people deciding to use only Indian goods, burning their imported clothes and picketing stores selling foreign goods.

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How the tables have turned! We wouldn’t dream of burning our western designer label clothes now, would we? Globalization and commercialism are the order of the day, with Indians, especially the youth, opting for products that are manufactured anywhere but in India. The number of authentic Indian craftsmen is fast dwindling and their art is disappearing with them. Now, it’s easier to find information on the top trends from the Paris Fashion Week than on the Kathputli craft from Rajasthan!

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And it’s not just the things we use or the food we eat; even our lifestyle choices are becoming largely westernized. Which begs the question this Independence Day: how independent are we really? We make grand statements and express great pride whenever India is in the news for achieving something, but how authentic is this ‘Indianness’?

Mahatma Gandhi says, “To believe in something and not to live it, is dishonest”. So let’s not make empty proclamations about our love for the country. Let’s try to be independent in every sense of the word, so that future generations are self reliant, self respecting and authentically Indian. Jai Hind!

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Rakhi Purnima – It’s Significance across the Country

India is a land of festivals drenched in a spectrum of colors, lights, rituals and wishes. One such jewel in the garland of festivals is Raksha Bandhan interchangeably known as Rakhi Purnima or simply ‘Rakhi’. Since this falls on the auspicious full moon day of Hindu month Shravana, the word Purnima is attached to this. As the name Raksha Bandhan depicts, it is symbolic of the bond of protection, trust and well being.

Symbolic significance

On the occasion of Rakhi, sister puts tilak on brother’s forehead, ties a thread namely known as rakhi on his wrist and wishes for his good health, long life and wellness, in turn the brother ushers promise of protection and occasionally gifts for his sister. The ideology of rakhi has been extended to a broader multicultural aspect wherein rakhi is tied between close friends or to soldiers who are leaving their homes. In today’s socio-political environment, sometimes women also tie rakhi on political or social leaders as a notion of trust and prosperity.

Mythological significance

Indian mythology is replete with stories on Raksha Bandhan. One of the most popular story is of Lord Indra been tied rakhi by his wife to protect him.  Epics like Mahabharata also refer to the usage of rakhi between Lord Krishna and Draupadi.

Historical Significance

One of the legendary narratives from Indian history mention Alexander’s wife tying a rakhi on King Purushottam’s hand to protect her husband from getting slain. Another most popular theory is of widow queen Rani Karnavati sending a rakhi to Emporer Humayun seeking protection from Bahadur Shah who was about to conquer her kingdom, which Humayun honoured by defeating Bahadur Shah.

Rakhi as celebrated in different regions of India

Rakhi celebrations in different parts of India have been illustrated in details below:

1.    Kajari Purnima or Shravani (Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, , Madhya Pradesh)

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with a lot of pomp and zest in central and northern India. It includes various worshipping of gods and goddesses along with the ceremony of tying rakhi and exchange of gifts and sweets. It is also very important for farmers as it marks the beginning of the monsoon season when they worship the goddess to seek blessings for good crop. Kajari Purnima means full moon and hence it is celebrated on the full moon day of August. It also holds special significance for women blessed with a son. They worship Mother Earth for a span of seven days, the final ritual being on the seventh full moon day.

      2.    Avani Avittam or Upakarmam (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa)

Avittam is one of the 27 stars and Avani is the Tamil month when the full moon occurs, hence the name. It is believed to be an auspicious day for Brahmins. They take the holy bath and change their holy thread called Janeyu or Yajnopavita, amid chanting mantras on this day and take vows to follow their traditions and duties. The pious ritual of Mahasankalpam on this day is believed to be taken for atonement of all past sins.
(Image Credit: www.drikpanchang.com)

      3.    Jhulan Purnima (West Bengal)

In parts of Bengal, Jhulan Purnima marks the conclusion of five day long ceremony of Lord Krishna and Radha swaying on a swing (jhula). The swing is usually decorated with flowers in myriad hues, ornaments and other embellishments. This festival is mainly to reminiscent the playful relationship between Lord Krishna, Radha and their friends. Sometimes schools, colleges or political parties in Bengal celebrate this occasion as a new hope of good relationship.

(Image Credit: www.nitaigauranga.blogspot.com)

4.    Nariyali Purnima (Maharashtra, Goa)

It is widely celebrated in the fisherman community specially the Koli, as this marks the end of monsoon and beginning of the fishing season. They worship the sea god Varuna and offer coconuts and celebrate by putting vermilion on each other’s forehead as a symbol of prosperity.

(Image Credit: www.aratiwpcoder.wordpress.com)

5.    Pavitropana (Gujarat)

On this day, they worship Lord Shiva to pray for forgiveness for all past sins and wrong deeds. It is believed to rinse all past sins of a person in the ritual. As a part of the ceremony, a cotton thread soaked in a mixture of cow ghee, curd, milk, urine and excreta (panchagaivya) is wrapped around the deity to seek his divine blessings.

6.    Janaeu Purnima (Nepal)

Here, janaeu means sacred thread which is tied on the wrist by a senior family member or relatives. They enjoy this day with special food called Kwati which is a soup of sprouts of seven different grains.