tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43130639082912094582024-03-13T03:56:15.680-07:00Story Time From IndiaMemories Of Another DayAnita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-62668760891966053772018-03-06T22:51:00.001-08:002018-03-06T22:57:18.556-08:00Manali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Delhi is well connected by road to several hill stations and this year we decided to visit Manali, 544 km away in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh .It is connected by air too with a small air strip.There are several hill stations closer to Delhi which have unfortunately lost their charm due to commercialization and other factors.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_hKy-_EWOlWEstahqmupx-g0IWJkegWXAPisVIAa44B7DJR6Woz40au8WDerQUMqbmIH7jEakfQfExYGcGxezrNfUw9d2m23o9Iz580yeN6L4EwIeTWl_e3xU9olfZVcdgLAtXtA0QI/s1600/Manali+44_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="960" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_hKy-_EWOlWEstahqmupx-g0IWJkegWXAPisVIAa44B7DJR6Woz40au8WDerQUMqbmIH7jEakfQfExYGcGxezrNfUw9d2m23o9Iz580yeN6L4EwIeTWl_e3xU9olfZVcdgLAtXtA0QI/s320/Manali+44_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> We started in the afternoon around 1 pm as we had already planned to break journey for the night and were in no hurry . The national highway is dotted with tolls, hotels, restaurants and comfortable hotels. We drove down to Chandigarh , took the road to Manali and slowly the mountain range emerged much to our delight. It started getting colder and we stopped for the night at a mountain side hotel between Sundarnagar and Mandi, a prudent decision indeed.<br />
After breakfast we started the ascend , driving in the mountains during the night could be hazardous and we would also miss the beautiful scenery fruit orchards and the tiny colorful hamlets dotting the road. The pine scented fresh air and the natural beauty of the Kullu valley raised our spirits and we admired the snow clad mountains in the far off ranges and the mighty Beas river flowing alongside.There are many adventure sports camps all along the road offering para gliding , white water rafting, trekking etc.<br />
As we drove higher the Beas river became narrower and stony , several smaller streams and waterfalls merged into the river.The hair pin bends and the changing scenery and the small hospitable cafes offering refreshments kept tiredness at bay.We criss-crossed the river many times , the bridges are narrow and the traffic is regulated by allowing one side traffic at a time. We had plenty of time' to stand and stare' at the awesome scenery and nobody minded the delay.<br />
After more hill driving the 3.8 km long Aut tunnel loomed ahead , situated on the Chandigarh Manali highway, it is the gateway to Kullu- Manali region and unavoidable . The dimly lit tunnel seemed never ending, shadowy , musty, lacking fresh air circulation ,the fumes of the slow moving trucks and speeding buses contributed to the mustiness.It was comforting to see highway staff hard at maintenance work in the lengthy tunnel. One is aware of driving through the the massive mountain range, an engineering marvel no doubt but it is a relief to see the sunlight and breathe in the fresh air again .Hopefully better lighting and ventilation will improve its ambiance and appearance.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFWnEed117R-6OEG56NNn_T2oSHuRaQD8B8HjvOeoDzbADAtxd5j3lq1CBuJNwPQwL5m3hLEKqxAWtiIKLVqxnoUilz_Y8ulh9_Y5_t0FDiZwpCB_o26jKUOjuXDa8XAOBG4Rmq7-aXs/s1600/Manali+419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="960" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFWnEed117R-6OEG56NNn_T2oSHuRaQD8B8HjvOeoDzbADAtxd5j3lq1CBuJNwPQwL5m3hLEKqxAWtiIKLVqxnoUilz_Y8ulh9_Y5_t0FDiZwpCB_o26jKUOjuXDa8XAOBG4Rmq7-aXs/s320/Manali+419_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> The beautiful scenery and pine tree clad mountains topped with snow like huge ice-cream cones welcomed us and the river Beas gurgled alongside like a trusted friend ! But placards warned tourists not to venture into the seeming harmless river as water levels could rise anytime due to melting glaciers in the upper regions.<br />
Manali is a small hill town retaining its rustic charm on the banks of the river Beas , there are many hotels in various price range and Tibetan cafes offering authentic cuisine . the Mall road has shops selling local as well as branded merchandise.The town has a bustling market dominated with Kashmiri goods , surprisingly Kullu shawls etc were in short supply.We were lucky to see snow and also witness snowfall during our short trip.<br />
After a light snack we rested in the afternoon , it started drizzling but hope of witnessing a snowfall kept us happy. The light rain did not deter people from roaming in the bazaar, with or without umbrellas enjoying the nippy weather.<br />
Our wish was granted and late at night we saw a fair share of snowfall . It was indeed magical to see snow flakes falling all around !Morning saw a different scene as the mountains were lavishly covered with fresh snow and looked awesome in the bright sunlight.<br />
We could not visit the famous Rohtang Pass which is about 51 km away from Manali as it was closed for public in winters. It is the gateway to beautiful Lahaul and Spiti valley and Ladakh , folklore says that this pass was used by traders long ago , the famed Silk route from China ! A permit is required as it is under our army /military due to its strategic location.<br />
We were told to visit Solang valley , about 14 kms from the city where para gliding and other adventure sports are held . We reached Solang valley and it started drizzling and snowing again, it was indeed a great and nobody minded getting wet. Tiny shops offered gumboots ,heavy coats and winter apparel on rent.Small cafes did roaring business selling noodles, tea and Tibetan delicacies.Though small the Solang valley offers a variety on entertainment including a rope-way , yak , pony rides and even sking !<br />
The bad weather forced us to cut short our day trip and we could not enjoy the rope-way. Public amenities were closed as it is not the regular tourist season but still the car parking was full and the place was crowded. The constant drizzle and the walk on the slippery fresh snow is unforgettable, steaming cups of tea , momos and omnipresent noodles kept our energy levels high. It is a memorable experience to have steaming cups of tea at a roadside stall in the backdrop of snow ladden pine trees and boulders , come rain , hail or snow ! Afternoon was spent in shopping and admiring the beautiful temple, thankfully no vehicles are allowed on the mall road.<br />
There are many tourist spots around Manali , we did not have the time to visit the famous waterfalls, temples and other places.We returned the next day , back home to Delhi , refreshed and invigorated from our short weekend trip with beautiful memories.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-39688917866171849112016-10-17T23:02:00.001-07:002018-03-06T22:54:35.176-08:00Nainital <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nainital is a beautiful hill station in Uttrakhand surrounded by mountains with an emerald green lake of the same name. Nainital district is also called the lake district because there are many lakes in the region. I have many well -loved memories of this hill station which I visited with my parents.<br />
There are many scenic spots in the region and one can spend several days touring them in the comfort of taxi or buses available.One can stay at hotels according to one's budget, restaurants offering various cuisines are a top favorite of tourists. Small as well as large shops are well stocked with ready to wear clothes, dresses and woolens like caps, sweaters, mufflers . Souvenirs made of wood like clocks, walking sticks , toys and candles are sold in many shops.<br />
Nainital is easily accessible by road , one can reach Kathgodam by train and take a taxi or bus to the hill station. Pantnagar is the closest airport . One can see the awesome mountains from Kathgodam, the winding hill roads take us through the lush green scenery with halts at tiny stalls selling fruits and steaming cups of tea and snacks. It is difficult not to stop and admire the scenery and breathe in the fresh unpolluted pine scented air !<br />
Day one- reach Nainital in the afternoon , relax in hotel room , take a walk on the Mall Road , shop, take a boat ride in the Naini Lake and take in the local ambience or take the aerial ropeway to see the awesome Himalayan range !<br />
Day two- visit Bhim Taal , Saat Taal , Naukuchia Taal by cab, Taal by the way means lake .<br />
Day Three - Visit Mukhteshwar and see the orchards, temple and trek to see the waterfalls.<br />
Day Four- Nainital has a high altitude zoo ,one can also visit other popular points /spots like Dorothy Seat, Tiffin Top, Snow View all situated atop the mountains in Nainital itself. Horses are available on hire, the aerial cable car goes up to the Snow View , the more adventurous can enjoy the trek.The local , helpful guides and tour operators offer many other day site seeing trips.Car parking is available in some hotels and public parking lot is also there in Mallital. Vehicles are not allowed in the evenings on the Mall Road leaving the road free for tourists.<br />
Personally I have not had the pleasure of taking the cable car as the queue is pretty long and it operates only during the peak tourist season. I remember trekking to Snow View , Dorothy Seat with my father and walking around the lake, not to forget the pony rides. Even today we can see the colorful yachts skimming the surface of the lake like butterflies! The tiny stalls lined the Mall Road earlier too. This time we visited the old local book store in its antique stonewalled building also housing the Billiard Room. It was a pleasure to see the lake facing Public Library busy with people , a rare site indeed in today's world. The Band Stand where people gathered in the evenings to enjoy music lies vacant, the parade ground is used by kids for playing and parking cars.<br />
All in all Nainital has a lot to offer to all age groups . Summer is the peak season, people also come during Dushera vacations and to enjoy the snow fall in winter. Light woolens are required at all times as the temperature falls significantly even after a short shower , one can see locals attired in sweaters round the year ready to face all eventualities!</div>
Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-42125754253631981182016-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:002016-05-12T05:16:51.875-07:00Delhi- Mukteshwar road trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This year we decided to go by road from Delhi to Mukteshwar in Nainital district and it was an unforgettable experience no doubt! It was an unplanned trip just after the jungle fires with the news channels showing fire dousing operations in full steam and it was heartening to see the trees bravely sprouting new leaves.<br />
We started early morning and stopped for breakfast at food halt with well known food chain restaurants catering to all tastes from burgers to pizzas! After gorging on pancakes, burgers etc we proceeded to Rampur and took a turn leading to Nainital , a well known popular crowded hill station. More of that later.<br />
Mukteshwar is a beautiful gem nestled in the Himalayan range in the Nainital District away from the hustle-bustle . Situated at an impressive altitude of 2286 meters in the Kumaon range of mountains , it is around 343 km from Delhi and is well connected with an airport at Pantnagar.<br />
The road is spotted with wayside stalls selling fresh fruits like guavas, apricots and sugar cane juice.We drove down on winding pine lined roads with an enthralling view of the graceful mountain ranges.The crisp unpolluted cool mountain air did wonders for our pollution weary souls! We stopped at Bhimtal to admire the serene lake and take photographs and proceeded to our destination.<br />
Mukhteswar is full of fruit orchards, well maintained resorts and lodges and pine tree lined roads. Its a sight to see fruit trees overladen with ripening fruits like apricots, peaches growing in abundance. The local people are gracious and friendly and one can shop for local products like apricot jam,pickles and woollies.<br />
The weather is cool and pleasant leaning towards chilly in case it rains .It snows in winter and most resorts offer lodging and boarding making it a pretty relaxed vacation . It was a pleasant surprise to see exotic flowers in nearly all houses and resorts. Hydrangeas, foxgloves, calla lilies, fuchsias ,snowdrops, pansies, petunias, poppies, hollyhocks bloomed in profusion. Roses is all colors and varieties graced verandas and gardens. It is an enchanting and picturesque scene complete with wooden chalets with sloping roofs and well maintained gardens.<br />
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The return journey was awesome with clouds swirling on the road and rain showers making an appearance and blowing away the next minute. The locals are always clad in woollies knowing full well that a spell of hot weather would be followed by rains bringing on the chill again.It took us approximately 8-9 hours each way with snack breaks etc but totally worth it.<br />
Mukteshwar is a bit off the beaten track and maybe that is the secret of its pristine beauty!<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-47188068118753698802015-11-09T03:33:00.001-08:002015-11-11T22:43:28.998-08:00Diwali Recollections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Diwali was a major festival in our household, it heralded the onset of winter and preparations began much in advance. Shopping expeditions to buy candles, decorations, fire crackers were planned well ahead. Fire crackers like rockets and bombs were Diwali staples, anar, chakris and phooljari were considered good enough for kids only.<br />
The house was given a thorough cleaning ,old unused stuff was relegated to the store room but rarely sold to the local kabaddi. The store room held many treasures for kids, one could find relics of the W W II like my uncle's water bottle, knapsack , old magazines, books and other equally interesting things.<br />
The main Diwali day was spent cooking yummy food, sweets, making a chowk for Lakhsmi Ganeshji pooja at home. My Mom wore her special beautiful black multi -colored printed silk sari for the Diwali pooja and looked gorgeous ! Dinner was a lavish affair with festival specials like puris, sabjis, dahi vadas and kheer gracing our huge eight seater dining table. After dinner fire crackers were let off in the lawn . Next day was spent in getting the debris of firecrackers cleared , burnt out candles , diyas removed from parapets and walls and visiting relatives and friends.<br />
The second day after Diwali was celebrated as Bhai Duj or the festival where the sister applies tilak on her brother's forehead for his well-being and prosperity . The drawing room/living room furniture was rearranged , the carpet covered with sheets in accommodate the guests. The myriad snacks and sweets prepared earlier were laid out on the dining table , plates , cups and saucers made ready for serving tea to guests . My aunts and their families joined in the celebrations and were warmly welcomed.<br />
Post lunch we all got ready to welcome relatives and friends who joined in the celebratory game of cards Playing cards was mandatory , small fortunes were made and lost amidst lots of fun and gaiety and innumerable cups of tea prepared by my Bhabhis and myself as Mom was given the privilege of relaxing with her guests.<br />
The youngsters gathering around in the dining room helping in looking after the guests while the elders played cards and enjoyed themselves. Later I was lucky enough to be allowed to join in as my father's banker making neat stacks of small change for him!<br />
The evening saw the guests leaving for their own homes , exchanging warm wishes, bringing to an end the festival of lights Diwali.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-90438668476433447172015-11-06T21:04:00.000-08:002015-11-06T21:19:22.227-08:00Winter Musings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Winter has arrived and it reminds me of the long lazy days spent reading, chit-chatting or just enjoying the sun drenched front veranda at home long ago.My father had marked a sundial on the wall for my Mom so that she knew the approximate time while relaxing from her household chores.<br />
The spacious veranda was the hub of all humdrum activities and often visitors commented that it could be converted to a room ,it was done years later after my Mom passed away putting an end to the veranda activities and an entire era.Our veranda had a set of comfortable cane chairs and a divan , knitting reading , studying ,eating peanuts , listening to cricket commentary on the transistor and keeping a watch on the gate were some of the activities indulged in by various members of the family as per their interest.<br />
My Mom was a great letter writer and maintained cordial relations with all relatives with letters full of family news.The important letters were read and reread and kept aside carefully for future reference. We kept an eagle eye for the friendly postman to do his morning and afternoon rounds and drop much awaited letters in the postbox installed at the gate. It also meant frequent trips to the post office to buy stamps and other varieties of postal paraphernalia.And yes, who can forget the cards -Birthday, Diwali, New Year, all selected with care and handwritten with love instead of wishes being posted on FB ! Dozens of cards were purchased well in advance , wishes handwritten and envelopes addressed , stamps stuck by kids as being the least important jobs.<br />
Now of course people hardly ever know the address of any relative as all invitations are given verbally on mobile phones and info exchanged thru emails and FB :) , house address is not required anyway as engagements, marriages , functions are held in hotels and other venues with the home kept out of all celebrations.No chance of any relative dropping in later unannounced !!!!!<br />
Winter flowers and veggies were lovingly tended during the day and most visitors happily went home with cauliflowers, cabbages, radishes etc freshly picked from the back garden. The front garden had a lawn, perennial roses and seasonal flowers , a guava tree which gave awesome guavas during winters !<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-59828251762604133552015-06-06T04:41:00.000-07:002015-06-06T04:50:56.882-07:00Qutub Minar <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Qutub Minar ,a World Heritage Site , is located in Mehrauli , Delhi is a must for every tourist. The visitor is greeted by the well maintained historical monument and its green lawns and pathways. A nominal amount is charged as entry tickets and the meandering pathway leads to the awesome monument which is a marvel in architecture. Its said that the top few stories fell due to ravages of time and nature,even today the beautifully sculpted Qutub Minar leaves one speechless.<br />
The Qutub Minar's construction was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak ,the first slave king and completed by his successors Illtutmish in 1368 and finally Feroze Shah Tughlaq added the fifth and the last tower. It is said to be built upon the ruins of the capital of the Tomars and Chauhans. We can see the surrounding buildings and courtyards strewn with the remnants of the previous structures which were used to in the construction.<br />
The red sandstone Minar is approximately 73 meters tall with 378 steps and is decorated with intricate carvings and religious text. Earlier visitors could climb up winding stairs and view the surrounding locales but now public entry is disallowed.<br />
The Qutub Minar complex also houses the Iron Pillar which is equally famous and has inscriptions of the ancient Hindu period.A mosque is also located in the same premises.<br />
Many Bollywood movies have been shot in this complex and Qutub Minar and tops the list of every Delhi tourist . It also makes a dry history lesson come alive!<br />
Delhi Metro connects this historical attraction to the rest of Delhi , there is also an E-ticketing facility and parking area for vehicles.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-28359567653258638962015-05-13T06:42:00.002-07:002015-05-13T06:50:26.627-07:00Dhanaulti Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpafvsFGxGjJAedzfOfqJVmeV9yqdkieC-ra2D29DaILNOJm5twjLn5V0S8OmhJ-O1v67GSDlY9RWEAl0rMiF9fModeaTdZ1wVMM1XceqJR5OKX8B8Tqk8url47MrnU5Q3_75lnp74CrE/s1600/20150505_135151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpafvsFGxGjJAedzfOfqJVmeV9yqdkieC-ra2D29DaILNOJm5twjLn5V0S8OmhJ-O1v67GSDlY9RWEAl0rMiF9fModeaTdZ1wVMM1XceqJR5OKX8B8Tqk8url47MrnU5Q3_75lnp74CrE/s320/20150505_135151.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtRMmGV5qMTuhg1oXvbMNYkfrB1BR7YerSWKDTgicYWWlQGzqm44LAhvlkVGALonTLniCzocU2Qb0Logm54E21PDrVVR1X3tcYM-wsQZgU0O2SuaW05TXrF6Hn4QsrQFI-bTDS0Qp4tA/s320/20150505_135007.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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This year we decided to visit Dhanaulti a small hill town away from the hustle and bustle of over crowded ones like Mussorie. We wanted to find a small untouched hill resort with a pristine snow view , towering pine trees and unpolluted air.<br />
Dhanaulti near Mussorie seemed perfect as it is a small hill resort with few good hotels, small quaint shops , roadside tea -stalls and eateries on the winding pebbled road.<br />
We also found two well maintained Eco-Parks with a small cafeteria offering tea,biscuits , pakoris and Maggi noodles.A nominal fee is charged as entrance fee and easy pathways lined with beautiful flowers, shrubs await a visitor. Wooden huts, swings and slides have been provided in the open clearings as the entire area is hilly and ideal for climbing , the top of the hill offers an awesome view of the snow clad of the Himalayas.<br />
The local people are friendly and helpful ready with directions , though its difficult to get lost in a single road town!The mornings and evenings are cold even in May , light sweaters and shawls are a must.<br />
Our trip was a big hit with all the family members big and small,we could not get enough of the pure mountain fragrant air and congratulated ourselves on our good choice of a hill resort!<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-6933478622468333992014-12-19T20:54:00.002-08:002014-12-20T06:15:43.004-08:00Clay Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love flowers,period ,perhaps this has inspired me to create clay flowers which do not wilt and stay fresh for years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA9k56vQpWZDsrTTPTb9hykGatqhZRIyqo9EQFPWXI5zmflSHSE0afyzkts_Ax6ZxoBznAp0XIkkpmFW6KCkYHRw7fY2qaMXnudN7KlioOcX1DMZTjX5eJOu8V3DYcuDCg3-BaaXh_-s/s1600/0+FL+dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA9k56vQpWZDsrTTPTb9hykGatqhZRIyqo9EQFPWXI5zmflSHSE0afyzkts_Ax6ZxoBznAp0XIkkpmFW6KCkYHRw7fY2qaMXnudN7KlioOcX1DMZTjX5eJOu8V3DYcuDCg3-BaaXh_-s/s1600/0+FL+dec.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a>One of my students asked me as to how I could identify flowers and their parts like stamen, calyx,sepals and of course petals , the credit goes to my family who always maintained a well tended garden.There were seasonal flowers for winter, summer and even monsoons! It was but natural to create flower arrangements for the house using the flowers available.<br />
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We had a beautiful garden planted with seasonal flowers and perennial flowers like roses, bougainvilleas , hedges, shrubs and also a well tended vegetable garden like most of our relatives and friends , my friend even had a green rose climber! </div>
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Fortunately I can identify most flowers as the gardeners were kind enough to tell me the names of the various flowers. </div>
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Lucknow has a famous Botanical Garden , flower and plant sellers put up stalls in every nook and corner of the city and are well versed with their craft and give full details of the height and flower size of the plants , also how to look after them.</div>
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Nowadays few people have the luxury of having a spacious garden , gardeners are also a lost breed.Apartment living does not allow much scope for gardening, lack of sunlight and space is a major hindrance. One can have a balcony garden but sunlight is a must for growing flowers,ornamental plants do not interest me.</div>
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Luckily I stumbled on clay flowers on the internet and started making flowers, what should I make today ?</div>
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-48066476267400834112014-10-22T06:01:00.000-07:002014-10-23T02:53:03.742-07:00Diya Sellers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_lkUKDqSV2W8lbQ2kf028B-l5PGQqszZXstHB1vhTzZkuxQmyH1-6YR302g3G_3d8pvrLMpjAd3Dzo5Ntwk8EoKhNjZGlZiJLn33XPLE21wJLlEvqkpR_q9FM4q2A6DSe3h08x4LLac/s1600/1+diyas5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_lkUKDqSV2W8lbQ2kf028B-l5PGQqszZXstHB1vhTzZkuxQmyH1-6YR302g3G_3d8pvrLMpjAd3Dzo5Ntwk8EoKhNjZGlZiJLn33XPLE21wJLlEvqkpR_q9FM4q2A6DSe3h08x4LLac/s1600/1+diyas5.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y5e-aTuh-_g4HeCTKaoLpJ7rKviKiy7nDBwrvbupffASgwx33kQogFCBv9j6PKnxmpY4VqpKbe590-guWo8s7SMPhAy8YIIGRaF7fo_XNZth0KHNBj4vXznPWa9AKxhr9pP705AqJoE/s1600/1+diyas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y5e-aTuh-_g4HeCTKaoLpJ7rKviKiy7nDBwrvbupffASgwx33kQogFCBv9j6PKnxmpY4VqpKbe590-guWo8s7SMPhAy8YIIGRaF7fo_XNZth0KHNBj4vXznPWa9AKxhr9pP705AqJoE/s1600/1+diyas.jpg" height="155" width="200" /></a> Diya sellers are a common site on roadsides with heaps of diyas of various size and shapes eagerly waiting for buyers. Beautiful handcrafted terracota diyas are sold a few days prior to Diwali and mysteriously disappear after the festival !<br />
Does anyone spare a thought for these poor vendors who wait for the entire year to make some money and buy something for themselves? Their dreams and hopes rest on these few days of festival , God forbid if it rains then these people are left with piles of unsold diyas .<br />
The process of making terracota diyas is quite laborious and lengthy,a special type of clay is required,a potter's wheel is utilised and later the shaped diyas are fired in a kiln. Various types of household utensils like bowls and plates made of terracota belonging to Indus valley civilisation can be seen in museums .<br />
People happily spend thousands of rupees on irrelevant stuff like gifts which are generally passed to others or put away without being put to use.<br />
Let's not haggle with these poor artisans for a few rupees , they too have to fulfill family obligations like the rest of us and wait eagerly to make some profit during Diwali season .</div>
Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-66498774694516937182014-09-29T06:19:00.000-07:002014-09-29T06:19:07.629-07:00Movies Then and Now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU-JNLNxuXKmiDZfoGxgU-7x6hUsQ2IUBQxvkZcqsTFQKejvn3fT7WSt8uIb0DdAofzeCLJ7rjANRSyx9d9D81-ub8AINS4e3r3VgQdRFTyhC5hEhZ8BCw_6DzuF7TSMEOX1xvDtzL3I/s1600/P+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU-JNLNxuXKmiDZfoGxgU-7x6hUsQ2IUBQxvkZcqsTFQKejvn3fT7WSt8uIb0DdAofzeCLJ7rjANRSyx9d9D81-ub8AINS4e3r3VgQdRFTyhC5hEhZ8BCw_6DzuF7TSMEOX1xvDtzL3I/s1600/P+roses.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
Multiplexes have become commonplace nowadays, most people head towards a Mall to unwind during weekends and holidays. Its usual to spend a day shopping, have lunch/dinner and later top it with a movie ! One is sure to catch a movie of one's choice as several shows are running at any given time. No need to rush for tickets as they are already booked and paid for online,what fun!<br />
Anyone who has seen movies earlier will vouch for the missing magic , the thrill of getting tickets in advance booking, asking for Balcony aisle seats , getting cold drinks and snacks served there itself ! And the screen, wide ,beautifully decorated with folded curtains , elaborate designs on walls of the hall itself.<br />
Most cities had cinema halls famous for their beauty and decorations. Delhi had many nice cinema theatres in Cannaught Place ,I remember many seeing hit movies there with my parents.<br />
Now the multiplexes have screens the size of handkerchiefs ,tiny halls with a democratic seating arrangement ,unaware junta can be in a shock getting the front seats after paying a few hundred bucks!<br />
No edibles are allowed inside multiplexes in the name of security and one ends up paying Rs 100 for (hopefully) 100 pop corns in a paper container.Not only popcorn , a staple at movies ,one has to buy water and other snacks at exorbitant rates.<br />
The new generation easily spends at least 500 bucks per head watching a movie without blinking an eye but bargains with the poor vegetable vendor or worse the peanut seller and grumbles about rising prices !<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-61859175533591549002014-05-17T09:56:00.002-07:002014-05-27T00:34:53.416-07:00Summers and Sparrows <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWdRVmfnz2Zl0O3OUwGjzRhruB3h51i5mwGpJB0rgPD5xNfUckT8N1u61PlEtFipqJJm0Yq9imxJs1KHzItLNkiXI3kIBvJ_r5k2gtYVHh3l2m-lCsa_-3MFGR1nzHpzIX75iMvyuldM/s1600/Spa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWdRVmfnz2Zl0O3OUwGjzRhruB3h51i5mwGpJB0rgPD5xNfUckT8N1u61PlEtFipqJJm0Yq9imxJs1KHzItLNkiXI3kIBvJ_r5k2gtYVHh3l2m-lCsa_-3MFGR1nzHpzIX75iMvyuldM/s1600/Spa.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sparrows have become nearly extinct and rarely seen , earlier they were pretty common and considered city birds.March and April were busy months for these small birds, nooks and corners in the houses and the conical attachment of the ceilings were their favourite spots! The male and female sparrow flew up and around, collecting tiny twigs, cotton , thread and anything that could make their nest cosy and welcoming .Their chirping and twittering went on ceaselessly throughout the day.<br />
Nearly all households kept rice and cereals scattered in the courtyards for these tiny birds who arrived at the same time everyday for their ration.These bright- eyed birds were harmless , chirpy and considered a part of life unlike today when even a single sparrow is considered a guest!<br />
Sparrows are rarely sited , its said that the new lifestyle has harmed their survival .<br />
Childhood summers meant sparrows flying around nesting, studying for exams and then long vacations when guests were heartily welcomed.There was no need or demand for separate bedrooms, AC , no lavish spread outs or entertainment , but was there was lots of fun, laughter and chirping of sparrows !<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-10939926994434485732014-03-27T03:58:00.000-07:002014-03-27T03:58:14.413-07:00Family Tree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The phone call was out of the blue,my Mama / Uncle ,my Mom's cousin brother to be precise, wanted to create a family tree and wanted my help in filling in the blanks in the family history.I had to send him all the details of my parent's life, my siblings ,marriages ,kids, the works.<br />
It was great to see that our ancestors were remembered with love and respect , a lot of old family history was recollected and exchanged at the family reunion.<br />
Painstakingly my Uncle collected the information from all concerned but surprisingly a few members just refused to respond. They were unconcerned that someone was sincerely working on this project , carefully filling in the information and trying to get the now widespread far-flung family together.<br />
It was amazing to find close relatives again and exchange photographs,phone numbers,but some just stonewalled the project.<br />
The reasons can be personal, old memories can evoke nostalgia, tears and sometimes even heartburn.<br />
It was difficult even for me to delve into old photographs of my childhood , see long gone beloved faces again, the old memories came flooding back along with tears.<br />
Maybe the relatives who are slow in responding do not want to bring out and air memories of yore.<br />
Perhaps they are too busy in the present to recollect their childhood , go back to the roots which have nurtured and nourished their ambitions and dreams.<br />
Perhaps do not want to cloud the present with the shadows of the past.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-60935179126203346412013-11-30T02:26:00.000-08:002013-12-01T06:10:28.815-08:00Weddings then and now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The great Indian wedding has lost its charm and seems synthetic and too perfect, almost robotic.<br />
Earlier marriages were long drawn out affairs celebrated with the help of close relatives and siblings. Wise grandmothers and aunts would keep a hawk's eye on the proceedings and give orders on how exactly each ritual,ceremony had to be done.Trays of goodies would be happliy devoured with steaming unending cups of tea irrespective of the weather.<br />
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Uncles and cousins would make the verandah or the outer room their headquarters and discuss arrangements for the wedding day with laddus and mithai as accompaniment.Sleeping arrangements were informal and long night time chats were always fun and full of gossip.</div>
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The day would start with a lot of jokes and jolly banter amongst the elders over steaming cups of tea.The 'Halwai'would be stationed in the backyard churning out delicious puri-aloo,halwa , pakori and other delicacies and the air would be heavy with directions being shouted in all directions.</div>
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The kids had a field day and ran all over the house eating what they wished knowing full well that they would not be reprimanded at all.The bride was dressed up by friends and aunts, bhabhis, the boys took photograhs and also went around making the guests comfortable.</div>
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Now the scene has changed drastically, aunts and uncles want separate AC rooms attached bathrooms ,a dedicated car with driver who would take them sight seeing and shopping.No more discussions, food marathons, no mithai (but dry fruits are welcome ), no roughing it out in the main house, a hotel room is most welcome.</div>
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The marriage day arrives, the bride comes to the venue directly from the beautician ,generally difficult to recognise under layers of make-up! The photographer is the most important person as he directs the proceedings,sometimes the bride and groom have to hold the pose just-so for a picture perfect photo.</div>
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The buffet is laid out and the guests give their gifts, have their fill and walk out little caring to welcome the 'baraat' unlike the days of old when the baraatis were served first.</div>
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Earlier it was imperative to be invited properly, a personal handwritten letter no less with the formal card following later.Each relative thought herself/himself the most important person without whom it would be impossible to perform the wedding!</div>
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Now it hardly matters who arrives or not, the less the merrier, less hotel rooms, less headache and less enjoyment.</div>
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-60326368967575108392013-04-06T20:52:00.001-07:002013-04-09T09:21:28.614-07:00Manali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUlrfXmO38rxDmUqaVQIcgejLRVEuh0vE9tdOn1qqXkmsE_KWL0OrBj9YtZ0ICYVQGjxzG0PQ_EMGAZlKptMlEZGgmg7qxnN_W2skumedd2JHRtXeeVY5QV9X3VOMkyhouDoRGnvsJZI/s1600/_Manali.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUlrfXmO38rxDmUqaVQIcgejLRVEuh0vE9tdOn1qqXkmsE_KWL0OrBj9YtZ0ICYVQGjxzG0PQ_EMGAZlKptMlEZGgmg7qxnN_W2skumedd2JHRtXeeVY5QV9X3VOMkyhouDoRGnvsJZI/s320/_Manali.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Manali is a beautiful picturesque hill town in Himachal Pradesh. Unlike Simla it is in a valley with awesome river Beas flowing alongside , infact the rivers criss-cross the entire area.It is 585km from Delhi and it takes approximately 16 hours to reach , but the gruelling drive is worth it.It is connected by air too , but a drive is the best way to enjoy the changing scenery and weather.<br />
Situated high up in the Himalayas Manali is picture perfect and is surrounded by lush forests and snow clad mountains.The fast flowing icy Beas river fresh from the glaciers is a sight to behold!<br />
There are many tourist spots like monastries, temples, water falls for an avid tourist.Vashist hot sulphur springs maintained by Himachal tourism are quite popular, one can visit the baths on a nominal payment and enjoy the benefits of the healing waters.<br />
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Rohtang Pass located 51 kms from Manali is the gateway to the ancient silk route which was frequented by traders between India and China long ago and is still used. One has to get permission from local authorities as the Pass is of strategic value with military presence. Special heavy duty vehicles and buses are available for tourists as the road is rough in places and requires good knowledge of mountain driving. As we go up the winding mountain roads we can feel the atmosphere changing, the air becomes crisp and pure with snow-laced road lending a unique charm.<br />
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Rohtang Pass is 3980 meters above sea level and is gateway to higher Lahaul and Spiti valleys.The mouth of river Beas , Beas Kund is accessible from here. The Sonapari glacier is a hot tourist spot and one has to trek or take a horse ride. Yak rides are a novelty for both young and old.<br />
There are small roadside dhabas or hotels offering tea, cold drinks innovatively cooled in the flowing waterfalls make one smile.<br />
One can take a taxi for seeing Rahalla Falls , Gompa Monastry ,Hadimpa temple and other tourist spots. For the adventurous Solang Valley offers para gliding and winter sports in winters.<br />
Manali is not about just gorgeous tourist spots, it has a bustling market, comfortable hotels and all modern facilities required for a perfect holiday.<br />
We visited Manali some time back , and returned via Kullu to Delhi .Himachal Pradesh is simply the most favourite holiday spot for our family.</div>
Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-64470847378673005842013-01-17T03:28:00.000-08:002013-01-17T03:28:20.862-08:00Taj Mahal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Taj Mahal has been called one of the wonders of the world and indeed it is a marvel in stone.Its also a World Heritage Site visited by thousands of tourists from both India and abroad throughout the year. It was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and contains the graves of the couple and also other family members.<br />
Its said that the Mughal rulers had a penchant for building massive structures in rememberance for the dead and the Taj Mahal is one of them. A novel idea indeed as the various structures have withstood time and tide , Humayun's tomb in Delhi being one of them. More of that later .<br />
There are several romantic stories associated with Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Mahal who were known as Prince Khurram and Arjumand Banu in their younger days. Its said that young Khurram glimpsed Arjumand in a bazaar and fell in love with her in 1607 and married her in 1612, both were teenagers at the time.<br />
It was not as if Mumtaz was Shah Jehan's only wife, he had other wifes too, maybe for political reasons! But Mumtaz was his one and only eternal love and this has been re-enforced by Hindi films depicting their love story.<br />
Tragically Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth in 1631 while having their 14th child and Shah jehan promised to make a grand monument for her. This resulted in the Taj Mahal which took 22 years,22,000 workers and craftsmen from far and wide to construct this beautiful mausoleum in white marble.Intricate plant carvings, calligraphy , lattice work and much more make this an architectural wonder.<br />
I remember visiting the Taj Mahal with my parents as a child and do not have many memories. Its my later visits which made me realise just how gorgeous it looked framed in the blue skies.The beautiful well laid out gardens with water channels and the lush green gardens surrounding the structure are seen to be believed and looks ethereal when viewed on a full moon night.<br />
Several stories float around this awesome monument,its said that Shah Jehan ordered that the hands of the artisans be cut-off so that they would never be able to make another one.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-77519674355658236432012-12-14T20:12:00.000-08:002012-12-15T19:29:58.140-08:00Winters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I grew up in the northern part of India where summers and winters are clearly demarcated. Summers are hot , dusty and winters are bitterly cold . Fortunately my school had long vacations for both the harsh seasons and we all looked forward to them.I love both the seasons as it means an entirely different life style ! I missed the lovely winters while staying in the southern part of India and found the climate monotonously hot and humid.<br />
Winter meant a variety of flowers and roses in full bloom. Our garden was a very well looked after and had a large variety of seasonal flowers round the year.My Mom had a nice vegetable garden and we all enjoyed tending to it .<br />
We had a good selection of awesome roses and were much appreciated by one and all.Roses are still my favourite flower and I have made them in various materials. Though Orchids are the flavour of the season and are considered very exotic ( maybe because they need a special climate to grow) roses win hands down everytime.<br />
Fortunately I have a garden and have gorgeous roses growing in abundance like the above.My gardener appreciates my knowledge of plants and my ability to identify flowers correctly.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-45334241984759491912012-11-04T20:29:00.000-08:002015-10-29T03:20:21.591-07:00Karva Chauth -Fasts and Feasting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fasting is a way of life in our country, people fast for religious, social and health reasons. My Mom also fasted on specific days , specially 'Karva Chauth', a fast meant for the long life of husband and it apparently worked as my father lived to the ripe age of 90!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSzU7PB14ii_Nob1jyLF5Bpe2Vs2C1_nRfUtdBsY8nf39hOQTQLWlnND_NuNeXVoc3akoHbSzmqdELw5qTqPw-NVFZcmMJC-TwhwIgFW_KN6WaP7_B0De7dEYPSv5PQ3X3gNxCNo8SPc/s1600/karwa-chauth-celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSzU7PB14ii_Nob1jyLF5Bpe2Vs2C1_nRfUtdBsY8nf39hOQTQLWlnND_NuNeXVoc3akoHbSzmqdELw5qTqPw-NVFZcmMJC-TwhwIgFW_KN6WaP7_B0De7dEYPSv5PQ3X3gNxCNo8SPc/s1600/karwa-chauth-celebration.jpg" /></a> On Karva Chauth a good Hindu wife fasts for her husband's long life and welfare , one is allowed to have light snacks or 'sehri' before dawn break , the rest of the day no food or water till the moon is sighted, a tough fast indeed! I remember that some sweets were kept apart for Mom's sehri , but the rest of the day she had to do her normal chores and prepare a tasty dinner as well as apply 'mehdi' or henna on her palms! Maybe all this helped her and other dutiful wives pass the time quickly.<br />
Preparations for doing 'pooja' in the evening started in the evening as space was cleaned and ear-marked , a 'chowk' four-sided symbol was drawn on the floor with rice powder , a thali was made ready with necessary ingredient for pooja. Dinner was special with lots of dishes made for the occasion.We kids were generally unaware of the hardship Mom underwent doing all this on an empty stomach!<br />
I remember Mom wearing a nice sari , getting ready to do pooja ,my father tried to look nonchalant as this particular festival was for husbands only. He himself did not believe in fasting, praying as he was non- religious but he never forbade my Mom from following her rituals.<br />
The evening was spent trying to sight the rising moon , story said that if one prayed and did pooja when the moon was just rising then one got a young husband in the next birth. If a lady was lazy in sighting the moon then she was assured of getting married to an old man. We had a lot of fun joking about such stories and did our best looking in all directions to sight the rising moon! <br />
A small pooja was done outside, water and sweets were offered to the moon and the hubby's face had to be seen through a sieve, yes a sieve! One had to look at the Moon through the sieve and slowly turn to see the hubby through it. This scene has been portrayed in many block-buster Hindi movies with great effect.<br />
Another pooja had to be done inside and stories narrated about wives who suffered immensely as they forgot to follow the rituals, all sorts of bad things happened to the poor husband because of their tardiness.We knew the stories by heart as the same stories were narrated evey year, but there was a lot of joy and happiness around as the festival was celebrated.<br />
Now 'Karva Chauth' has acquired a very materialistic tinge with advertisements exhorting husband's to buy expensive jewellery, dresses for dear wife.Modern wives now spend the day in beauty parlors instead of slogging at home in the kitchen on an empty stomach, generally people dine out .The mehdi walas make a killing ,charging exorbitantly to apply mendi .There are jokes where the wife threatened to break her fast during the day if the hubby did not gift her jewelry threatening his very existence!!<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-44819372032452837512012-09-25T22:43:00.001-07:002012-09-25T22:47:55.439-07:00Dushera <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We all looked forward to Dushera as it meant that Diwali, another big festival was closeby , it also heralded the onset of winter. I remember going to watch 'Ramleela' based on the great epic 'Ramayana' at the local open air theatre in the city.<br />
Ramayan is a long narrative poem penned by Tulsidas a great poet, it tells the story of King Dasrath his three wives and four sons Ram, Laksmana, Bharat and Shatrugan.It is an enchanting tale which has mesmerised millions of people through the ages.It is a story of victory of good over evil , a simple concept which has stood the test of time.<br />
'Ramleela' portrays the stories of Lord Ram and his consort Sita , starting with Lord Ram's marriage and culminating in burning of the effigies of evil Ravana and his relatives along with a fabulous display of fireworks.It is held for 10 days ending on Dushera when Lord Ram shoots Ravana with an arrow. Ravana is shown having ten heads as he was a learned person , a fitting opponent of Lord Ram !<br />
'Ramleela' depicts the events and incidents from the great epic , the roles are played by local artistes who recite the dialogues in a dramatic sing -song manner . Its great fun to see the actors dressed in costumes of that age ,using bows arrows, swords in an expert manner.The entire story is depicted in performances spanning 10 days. There are no tickets and the everybody is welcome to enjoy the show.<br />
Ramleela is still held in most towns and still popular despite the advent of electronic media.<br />
Dushera ushers in winter as it falls in September-October and the evenings are cool and pleasant.</div>
Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-63282613714630592532012-09-01T04:04:00.002-07:002012-09-01T04:04:53.392-07:00Bikaner,Rajasthan <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHKVo6TY8NtF6mLMQnO0LPHZkgr0jbgkIKUVCENv0fHxgZojE51RMpIxWCZVKICSMjdDmd5nRbMIKYUuU4jiDeDZ1yY9NAff2aYy4zsSE8Xi2EdbBCzriVcHaJiUCxCIhv4LDLzqGShg/s1600/deserttourism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="175" width="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHKVo6TY8NtF6mLMQnO0LPHZkgr0jbgkIKUVCENv0fHxgZojE51RMpIxWCZVKICSMjdDmd5nRbMIKYUuU4jiDeDZ1yY9NAff2aYy4zsSE8Xi2EdbBCzriVcHaJiUCxCIhv4LDLzqGShg/s320/deserttourism.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div>My father got transferred to Bikaner, Rajasthan and for the first time we went to live outside Uttar Pradesh.By this time , being the youngest I was the only kid left at home with parents as my brothers were either working or studying.<br />
We travelled bag and baggage to Bikaner changing trains at Delhi.Rajasthan is the most vibrant state of India,offset by the golden sand dunes which are a sight to behold.<br />
It was an overnight journey from Delhi to Bikaner and the scenery was simply amazing, there were large sand dunes streching till what seemed eternity.Of course no one could escape the sand storms which raged at regular intervals and covered everything with fine sand.<br />
Bikaner was an erstwhile princely state and the local people held the royal family, Maharajahs in great respect and regard.I remember the people used to get down from their bicycles when they saw the cars with the royal number plates! The rulers had integrated themselves into mainstream politics by joining political parties. <br />
If there are Maharajahs can forts and palaces be far behind? The Junagarh Fort built in 1593 is steeped in history and and an imposing structure.The Lalgarh Palace built in 1903 has beautiful marble work and gardens.<br />
Bikaner has many temples , the best known is the Mata Karni temple or the Rat temple where rats are revered and fed milk by the devotees.Only my father visited this temple as my Mom and I were scared of rats!<br />
The people of Rajasthan are tall , sharp featured and colorfully attired , the women are dressed in embroidered blouses and lenghas or long skirts with matching 'odni'or dupatta which protects them from the relentless sun and sand.Both men and women wear Mojaris or handmade embroidered leather shoes which are practical for the terrain.The men use turbans and wear dhoti-kurtas , now of course most have started wearing modern dresses.<br />
Camels are used for pulling carts, drawing water and transportation , no wonder they are called the 'ship'of the desert!Camel ride is a must, one feels on top of the world , the ride is bumpy but it is an experience of a lifetime.<br />
Since my father had to make official trips to Delhi, my Mom and I used to tag along much to the chargin of my teachers as I missed school!<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-23229871477254425172012-07-23T05:30:00.000-07:002012-07-28T06:14:27.630-07:00Hazrat Ganj Lucknow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The above scene is of Hazrat Ganj , the heart of Lucknow, it has great shops, eating places and offices, this shows my father's office of Northern Railways.</div>
The rickshaw in the picture is a very popular and cheap mode of transport , it gives a livelihood to thousands of migrant workers and is also pollution-free!Its a great feeling to take a rickshaw ride and slowly reach one's destination.Even today it transports me to my carefree days of youth!<br />
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Ganjing or walking around Hazrat Ganj is a good pastime for many.Ganj is actually quite small, just a straight road maybe about a kilometer long.There is also Halwasiya market, included in Ganj along with a shopping complex called Janpath to house the old mini shops of Lover's Lane.Janpath has many shops selling awesome 'chikanwork' dresses and clothes for both men and women. One is assured of meeting old school friends, colleagues , relatives roaming around in Ganj on a Saturday evening.</div>
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Surprisingly there are many bookshops in Hazrat Ganj, 30 years ago or earlier there existed a massive Universal Book Depot , a huge bookshop from where we got cards, school/college books, stationery ,pencils and later ink pens! But it closed down and gave birth to several Universal Book Depots! Apart from these there are plenty of other book shops selling novels, magazines cards etc.</div>
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Even today when I visit Ganj I make a beeline to the shops I frequented with my Mom , Bhabhis and friends.I can still locate the best shops for most of the things including crockery, clothes , toys, books and other things though I have been away from Lucknow for decades .</div>
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Ganj holds memories of movies seen at Mayfair, Basant, Capitol , Novelty,Tulsi apart from shopping, eating expeditions.We never ventured beyond these movie halls due to various reasons. Now of course new spanking glittering Malls have sprung up replacing Ganjing!</div>
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The attraction for Lucknow never fades , I have yet to find a city which is better than my hometown. The best chat is served right next to the above building as also 'pan' which melts in the mouth............</div>
</div>Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-73062258975816646522012-07-15T22:15:00.002-07:002012-07-16T05:12:20.129-07:00Lucknow-the city of Nawabs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After getting transferred to various cities my parents decided to settle in Lucknow as it was my Mom's favourite city. They had stayed in all the major cities of Uttar Pradesh like Allahabad,Banaras Kanpur but found Lucknow the most suitable and lovable.<br />
What makes Lucknow so lovable, is it because its a compact city, with an International airpot, excellent schools and colleges, a reputed university and superb medical facilities??<br />
Perhaps its all this and more which cannot be pinpointed. <br />
Maybe I am biased towards Lucknow because its natural to love the place where one grows up unless one is a robot! Decades have passed but I have yet to taste better 'chat' , kebabs ,mangoes , guavas to name a few delicacies . The much acclaimed Alphonso mangoes cannot hold a candle to the delicately green and yellow tinted mildly fragrant tasty Dasheris . <br />
The famous local floral Chikankari or embroidered dresses and clothes are popular worldwide, the handworked shadow embroidery is seen to be believed and traditionally done on super fine cotton in pastel colors.<br />
Lucknow has been the capital of Awadh under the rule of Nawabs and later a Residency was built by the Bristish and a huge cantonment flourished beyond the old city. .<br />
The city has lots of historical monuments and gardens built by the various Nawabs and of course the massive Residency wrecked during the First War of Independence fought by Begum Hazrat Mahal for Lucknow. Jhansi Ki Rani, Tantia Tope and the elderly Bahadur Shah Jafar were other leaders who had made a frontier against the British rule.<br />
But more of that later !</div>Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-3974825144277831522012-05-17T21:28:00.001-07:002012-05-18T03:20:21.058-07:00Delhi- Retail Therapy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><br />
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Delhi is a thickly populated city attracting thousands of migrants every year.No doubt its expensive as compared to other cities but an enterprising person can make money too.There are a myriad opportunities present for everyone. I have seen well-off aged ladies taking orders for home- made pickles, hand -knitted sweaters enthusiastically.<br />
Actually the Punjabis are very hard working and enterprising, after the Partition many people coming from Pakistan made Delhi their home. They worked hard and prospered,bought shops and made it a success due to their warmth and sincerity. Trust me it's very difficult to leave a shop without making a purchase!<br />
Palika Bazaar , the underground air-conditioned market at Connaught Place is always bustling with bonhomie and life. Its a task to walk through the by-lanes as shop keepers ask ,"Madam, kya chahiye?" , bargaining is mandatory. A sale goes on like this , "Madam,this is for Rs300 only," leaving the shop Madam says ,"Too much , its worth only 150!". After 5 minutes of friendly haggling ultimately both will settle Rs 200 or slightly less. Madam will good at getting a heavy discount and the seller will grin at his friends after making a neat profit, a transaction giving happiness to both! <br />
Delhi is a shopper's paradise as things are really cheap at whole -sale rates. Stitched clothes are a big business and are exported to foreign countries. Sarojini Nagar in South Delhi is a young girl's dream come true as its's full of beautiful dresses, accessories and other things.Most of the colorful clothes are export rejects , they say heaps of clothes get rejected for a minor fault and sold at dirt cheap prices to recover the initial cost. One can buy gorgeous clothes for a pittance and appear trendy and hot!<br />
Auntyji's or middle aged ladies prefer shopping at Karol Bagh which is vast market with several lanes lined with shops.There is an entire lane of jewellery shops and so on.My Mom shopped at the best shops at Karol Bagh for family weddings. She said that the big names took care to maintain high standards and it was money well spent ,she was right, the saris looked good for years!Large heaps of fashionable handbags are sold on the pavements like vegetables at Rs 100 each!<br />
Dilli Haat with village ambience is a great place to shop for ethnic stuff and also see real artisans working on their wares. Its a good way to have a glimpse of Indian arts and crafts and taste the local food if one cannot visit all the states.Now there are two Delhi Haats , one at South Delhi and the other at Pitampura.<br />
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<br />Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-13872327860115427062012-05-08T21:27:00.001-07:002012-07-16T05:13:19.760-07:00Delhi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Delhi , the capital of India is a shopper' paradise and one can find almost anything in the by-lanes of Chandini Chowk in Old Delhi.Even high flying designers out-source their embellishments from the famous Kinari Bazaar. During my childhood we visited Delhi quite often and I loved shopping around with my Mom while Father fulfilled his official engagements.My brothers were great movie buffs and it was mandatory to watch the latest movie in the best cinema houses of the period and brag about it back home at Lucknow. <br />
I remember shopping at Janpath as a young teenager for trendy bags and clothes.We also shopped at Karol Bagh for gorgeous printed Silk saris for my Mom. She got me a doll's china tea-set complete with a teapot, teacups etc from a crockery shop in Chandini Chowk !Its tough for anyone to believe now that I was the pampered brat of the family thoroughly spoilt by my parents and brothers.<br />
Delhi has a special place in my heart because of the beautiful memories and also because it's a well laid out city full of greenery, flowers , wide clean roads and a great shopping experience.But there is more to Delhi than all this and that is the history behind the existence of the city. <br />
Co-incidently this year is also New Delhi's centenary. Exactly 100 years ago the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi and the British architect Lutyen's planned and created a new city.So now we have the New Delhi with it wide roads and Old Delhi with its old monuments and fabled bazaars!The Metro Rail connects both , and its an exhilarating experience to emerge from the spanking new Metro and walk into Old Delhi !<br />
Legend says that the Pandavas created Indraprastha , the first city at the same site as of Delhi today.There have at least 8 cities built throughout the centuries.Many times the rulers tried and tested other locations but all came back to Delhi. Its geographic location has much to say for its popularity. Its easy to control the western and eastern borders from Delhi while the great Himalayas guard the north and the seas the South!<br />
Delhi has seen the rise and fall of seven powerful empires ruled by famous emperors and I personally love to visit the old monuments literally strewn around the city.The superb Light and Sound Show at the Old Fort is a must to experience the by-gone era!<br />
The Tomar Rajputs were the first rulers to have established their kingdom and built Lal Kot in 736 AD at the same location, later the Chauhan Rajputs took over the city and renamed it . The ruins can still be seen at Mehrauli where Qutub Minar was later built.<br />
Several stories revolve around the brave Chauhan king Prithviraj Chauhan. He fell in love with Princess Samyukta, daughter of his arch rival Jaichand and attented her 'Swayamvara'or groom choosing ceremony as an uninvited guest in disguise and kidnapped the willing bride! This fuelled the hatred between Prithvi Raj and Jaichand paving the way for the Muslim invasion by Muhammed Ghauri from Afghanistan.<br />
Qutub Minar or the victory tower was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, a slave left by Ghauri to rule who later became independent and started the Slave Dynasty.</div>Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-42046046119050691982012-04-18T05:20:00.000-07:002012-04-18T19:40:30.929-07:00Shimla -Queen of Hills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrLGOgxiyebXdLgVzatD-B2jF6f1_ULkZ_OBXt0LH-o6p4p8J0dT6ADOHuZR55_tt5EMwC1JGHVYBT5Mo6ThBq98w-JHeV3Vdka5l_aHLLaWOS9okWeRu01uXlm-xa8GiR_uOTceASkA/s1600/sim00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrLGOgxiyebXdLgVzatD-B2jF6f1_ULkZ_OBXt0LH-o6p4p8J0dT6ADOHuZR55_tt5EMwC1JGHVYBT5Mo6ThBq98w-JHeV3Vdka5l_aHLLaWOS9okWeRu01uXlm-xa8GiR_uOTceASkA/s200/sim00.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Summers and hill stations were synonymous for us as Father worked in the Railways where many facilities were provided to employees and their families.We visited Shimla several times and its still my favourite holiday spot!<br />
The Britishers missed their English climate and found the Indian weather hot and humid. They discovered these scenic locales and developed them into lovely hill resorts complete with structures, churches and the layout like back home in England. The lords and ladies moved to Shimla to escape the summers and spent their holidays there.<br />
There are plenty of stories about the events, happenings, and some view points like Scandal Point which needs no explanation!Its easy to imagine Victorian ladies and promenading on the Ridge,there is also an old Theatre where plays were staged for their entertainment. We can catch a glimpse of a long gone era in Shimla as the town has many buildings dating back to the last century. Christ Church ,located on the Ridge is a tourist landmark and has beautiful stain glass work .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Ul8UZSy7Vndbi7PY2n3pkHIvK0QA4TfORuCnZVMoeKUfB5_uqWnOgYqtUwVuEekwWrL4Xx7UQPvgE4D6cvg6X3pD9HyMJ178438fdGdNtDAOVtSAYSkj-JpNiszUAGJBNppvFy_JIw/s1600/Shimla_India_Ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Ul8UZSy7Vndbi7PY2n3pkHIvK0QA4TfORuCnZVMoeKUfB5_uqWnOgYqtUwVuEekwWrL4Xx7UQPvgE4D6cvg6X3pD9HyMJ178438fdGdNtDAOVtSAYSkj-JpNiszUAGJBNppvFy_JIw/s320/Shimla_India_Ridge.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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A horseride was mandatory for us , as usual my Father being an expert rider cantered away while we kids had a stableboy leading our horses!The best part was staying in a hotel and having resturant food , we could order exotic stuff and have icecreams everyday!The view from the Ridge is picturesque and one can see the awesome mountain range.A walk on The Mall or bazaar is an experience by itself and has shops selling coffe, snacks,woollen clothes and local handicrafts. <br />
We heard strange haunting stories circulating about an empty horse drawn carriage moving on the Ridge at midnight, and also about the myriad tunnels built between Kalka and Shimla. Maybe all these stories were concocted to make a small hill station seem exciting and mysterious!<br />
We always went by train and enjoyed the gradual changing landscape and the looming mountains getting closer and closer!Coming back was depressing as it meant coming back to routine humdrum life and leaving the beautiful Himalayas.The narrow gauge railway track connecting Kalka and Simla has a small toy train being pulled by a small engine for ferrying tourists, it's now a world Heritage site.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVJ6e9kQSKa8db6Ud9WHQqp71joyEwGXDxb9LAMMirlARK-PaCVdghpUgP5ZmbtYtQYjLwnjY4tH55nLPJOxJczfWQevmNVLA5SUdKFn8wPmOXDrgOkVIGpX2ucN8GNOJTkMPzI9pbLw/s1600/Simpng.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="230" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVJ6e9kQSKa8db6Ud9WHQqp71joyEwGXDxb9LAMMirlARK-PaCVdghpUgP5ZmbtYtQYjLwnjY4tH55nLPJOxJczfWQevmNVLA5SUdKFn8wPmOXDrgOkVIGpX2ucN8GNOJTkMPzI9pbLw/s320/Simpng.png" /></a></div><br />
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Shimla is still a beautiful hillstation and is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It snows in winter and the summers are mild as compared to the plains. Winter sports like sking are popular in Kufri. Mashobra, Chail, Wild Flower Hall are all panaromic picnic spots full of pine trees, orchards and flowers!My recent visits to Shimla have been roadtrips from Delhi which were equally enjoyable as the previous train ones.<br />
My sun sign is Pisces and I am supposed to love water but my heart belongs to the mountains. Given a choice I would always opt for a trip to the hills that explains why I have never visited Goa as yet!Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313063908291209458.post-34661182725099525552012-04-11T04:26:00.001-07:002015-11-07T23:29:53.165-08:00Welcome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><br />More Images at <a href="http://www.goodlightscraps.com/">GoodLightscraps.com</a></center>
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My parents lived during the age of glorious transition.Electricity was a novelty , it was the era of silent movies and gramophone records. They witnessed the Second World War , the emergence of free India and saw man walk on the moon on television !<br />
This is a tribute to their life and age.<br />
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My mother passed away long back but my father lived to the ripe age of 90 , this year is his Birth Centenary 1911-2011. <br />
This blog is a recollection of anecdotes relating to my childhood and later years when my world was complete.The family albums have disappeared due to a tragedy,they were many black and white photographs yellowed with age. I hope whoever has them really knows their value.<br />
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Anita Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044456808377349285noreply@blogger.com0