Durga Puja: A Few Glimpses into the Pujas of our Locality

Durga Puja is the greatest festivals of we Bengalis. And rightly so. From the varied design of pandels to the large idols of gods and goddesses to the colourful lighting- no other festival can match the grandeur of Durga Puja in Bengal.

This year, the unseasonal rain during Puja acted as a spoiler. Still, the pandals and the streets were teeming with people, whenever the rainfall stopped for a while. Today I'll share some pictures of Durga Puja in our locality, Andul, which is some 13 kms away from Howrah. Lets take a look and share your thoughts.

This is our own parar pujo

The area adjoining the pandal has been themed on countryside Bengal

The deity inside a local pandal

My son inside a pandal

This is the pandal of a famous Puja of our locality

The idols inside the pandal

The pandal has been made of the spare parts of automobiles

Decoration of the roof of the pandal

The famous Puja of Andul Rajbari

Another local Puja

All the photos have been clicked by me. Do share your valuable feedback. How you enjoyed your Puja days? 

Happy Festive Season to all of you.

Children from Broken Homes

"Jadidang hridayang mama, tadidang hridayang taba..."
(As long as I reside in your heart, so long will you reside in my heart).

The bride and the groom chants these mantras, and go around the sacred fire seven times. In marriage, they take the vows to be with each other until death does them apart. To be with each other not just in this lifetime, but for seven consecutive lives. 

But in recent times, we are witnessing a good many number of marriages resulting in divorce. With increasing opportunities for education, women are also availing themselves of job opportunities and earning as much as their male counterparts. With none of the partners being dependent on the other, the institution of marriage is becoming redundant. Women these days are  increasingly opting out of bitter marriages, rather than forcing themselves to compromise and to stay in a bad marriage just for the sake of financial security or in fear of the social stigma attached with the D-word. I am not against breaking up of marriages. When a relationship has gone toxic, there is no point in continuing it, for whatever reason it may be, because ultimately in the long run, it doesn't do any good to both the parties. But what about the children born out of such wedlock, that resulted in divorce ultimately? Does divorce affect the social, mental and physical health of a child?

There is no point in denying the fact that yes, to some extent, divorce does affect the child. After all, all children need the love and care of both the parents. It's natural. Let us delve deeper into the negative aspects of single-parenting.

1. Children recognize quite early in life that they belong to one sex or the other- that they are a boy or a girl. This is termed by psychologists as gender identity. According to psychology, children have a preference for imitating the behaviour and dress of their same-sex parent. As they become increasingly aware of these similarities, they conclude that they are "a boy like Daddy" or "a girl like Mummy". However, other factors have also been found to play a role in gender development, so this is only part of the total story. But then, what happens to children who are growing up in families where one of the parents is absent? Think about the single-mothers raising sons and single-fathers raising daughters.

2. Think about the children, who after reaching their adolescence, become aware of the meaning of the D-word. Adolescents react to divorce with fear, anxiety, and guilt. They become angry at the remaining parent, wondering, " What did she/he do to make my father/mother leave?" And sometimes they blame themselves: "Why doesn't he love me anymore?"

3. Research (Lemme, 1999) suggests that one lasting effect of divorce that has emerged in recent years is this: Children whose parents divorced seem to be significantly less likely to marry than those whose parents did not.

4. Think about the child who sees both parents of his/her friends to attend the parent-teacher meetings, the annual function at school or the school sports. Think about his/her sense of loss.

But this is not the whole story. Growing up in dysfunctional families- families that do not meet children's needs- can actually  harm them way more than growing up in single-parent families can do. For example, consider what it is like for children growing up in homes where the father is alcoholic. And try to imagine what it is like for youngsters who must deal with parents who suffer from serious psychological problems- problems that may cause them to act in unpredictable, abusive, or even physically threatening ways. Clearly such parents do not provide the kind of guidance, consistent control, and support children need for successful development. Research findings indicate that when these factors are lacking, children and adolescents are at increased risk for a wide range of problems, such as drug abuse, stealing, disobedience at home and at school, and overt aggression.

In such a scenario, it's far more advisable to break the marriage, than continuing it any further. May be, in that case, children will miss the love of one of the parents, but then, the other parent usually will try to compensate for that loss by trying to take the place of both the parents. Children will get a healthy atmosphere to grow up where there will not be any abusive languages or any kind of domestic violence. With time, they will gradually begin to appreciate the kind of effort that his/her single parent has put into for their proper upbringing and well-being.

Let us all hope for a better future for all our children. Children are the future of mother earth. Their well-being will ensure the well-being of this planet in future. Let them all grow up to their full potential.

This post is written in line with the Prompt : Divorce affects the social, mental and physical health of a child. Agree or disagree? #divorce

The Story of a Mobile

It is mid-October. The early morning air is crisp and cool, the sunlight has the colour of honey. Standing on the second-floor balcony of her house, she is fidgeting with her old mobile. It's an old model of Nokia, with beautiful sky-blue colour. This mobile has witnessed many happy moments of her life. It is privy to many sad moments too.

She opened the gallery of the mobile. A deluge of memories came gushing by. There's the picture of her soft, fair palms, adorned by Bridal mehendi. She on the day of her aiburo-bhat, a plate full of delectable dishes in front of her, ready to be eaten. She in a bright yellow saree, with brigher shade of yellow turmeric pasted on her cheeks, an entourage of aunties and friends surrounding her. She in the bright red Benarasi Saree of a bride, exchanging garlands with him. She smiling coyly at the camera, her forehead full of bright red sindur, just applied by her husband, the sacred fire being the witness. She in the bright green jardousi saree, her hand entwined in his hand, both smiling at the camera, on the day of their wedding reception. 

Then there are pictures of their honeymoon by the sea-side.

Their first Valentines Day celebration together.

First anniversary.

First Durga Puja after their marriage.

Now she opened the audio-files. He calling her whore. She recording the abusive languages to be produced to court for getting divorce from him.

The weight of these memories feels heavy on her heart, as if they are almost crushing her soul. Her heart is too tired to carry on these memories. They lie hidden somewhere in the labyrinth of her mind. The Nokia phone with it's sky-blue colour makes them re-surface in her mind, intensifying her suffering, her pain.

She tried to get rid of the phone in past six months, after they legally parted their ways. She tried an assortment of ways. The first thing she did after the divorce was to purchase a brand new Samsung mobile. She then discreetly removed the sim card from her old Nokia mobile, and inserted the same in her newly purchased one. Now the remaining task was to dispose the old mobile. On one occasion, she placed the old mobile on a bench of the Railway platform, before boarding the train. A tea-vendor patrolling the platform yelled, "Didi, you are forgetting your mobile. Look on the bench, here." "Sorry", she mumbled and placed the mobile back in her handbag. On another occasion, she tried to throw the mobile in the water of the Ganga river. While she was taking a last look at it, at the life she has left behind, somebody on the Howrah bridge thought that she had plans of committing suicide and came hurriedly to alert her. No doubt, she was deeply ashamed and had to leave the place in a hurry. There were many failed attempts after that. Now she has gave up those ill-conceived plans.

She decided to keep the mobile locked up in the farthest corner of her wardrobe. The Nokia mobile with beautiful sky-blue colour. The bitter-turned beautiful life. The life with her first love. The death of her first love.

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My Way of Staying Fit and Healthy

"It is health which is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver."

---Mahatma Gandhi

We have all grown up hearing the popular saying "Health is Wealth". Who doesn't want to stay fit and healthy? Yet no matter how much you want to make healthy choices, it can feel like there simply isn't time. But it is actually possible to be both busy and healthy. All you need to do is just make a few changes in your lifestyle. Start small and build from there.

Just take a look at these simple tips and try to follow them. I am sure at least a few will stick.

1. Exercise

We have all become accustomed to sedentary lifestyles. You need regular physical activity to stay fit. For that, you need not join a gym club or struggle hard to get up early to do Yoga. Start simply by walking thirty minutes every day. Walk to the park with your kids or a neighbour you'd like to catch up with. If possible, sign up swimming or dancing lessons. Take the stairs. Park your car far away from your destination.

2. Eat healthy

Reduce fat intake, cut down on sugar, processed food, junk food and opt for fruits and vegetables. Select vegetables with the boldest colours- cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, grapes, and leafy greens. You can have your favourite dessert or Biryani once in a while, but moderation is the key.

3. Never skip breakfast

4. Avoid Late Night Meals

Have dinner at least a couple of hours before you hit the bed. Also, late night snacking might result in indigestion which interferes with your sleep.

5. Have lots of fluid

Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water every day. It not only flushes your system, but also keeps your skin good and healthy.
You can have warm water with apple cider vinegar for detoxification of your body and curing acid reflux. Just add one teaspoon of organic raw unfiltered Apple cider vinegar to warm water and have that in empty stomach in the morning.
Have infused water throughout the day. For that, take one cucumber and cut it into slices. Add these to a big jug of water. Squeeze half a lemon into the water. You can add a few slices of apple for sweetness. Sip this throughout the day. It will help your body detox and flushes you out.

6. Improve Sleep

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals that interfere with sleep. Get a minimum 8 hours sleep, because it relaxes your mind and keeps you healthy.

7. Avoid Pessimistic Thinking

This, by far, is the most poisonous drug ever known to humanity. Think positively and develop an optimistic attitude towards life. Smile as much as you can. Positive thinking and optimism leads to increased life span and lower rates of depression, ultimately resulting in better psychological and physical well-being.

8. Manage your stress

Stress not only makes you feel awful emotionally, but it can also exacerbate just any health condition. It's true that it's nearly impossible to lead a completely stress-free life now-a-days. But you can change your response to stress. So the next time you feel stressed, just take a few minutes of deep breathing. It'll calm you down. Learning meditation and Yoga will help in stress management too. Getting good at any of these approaches will take a little time and practice, but the pay-off could be substantial.

I am joining Saffola #ApneTareekeSeHealthy initiative and sharing my ways of being healthy in association with BlogAdda.

Life is a box of.....

She is Shabnam, a young woman from Rakhine province of Myanman. She got married less than a year ago and is now carrying a four-month life in her womb. In recent past, some masked men had beheaded her husband, as they are Rohingyas, the nowhere people. Those men did not spare even a single male member of her family. She did not know how she managed to cross to Bangladesh across the unending hilly terrain, treacherous jungle tracts and turbulent waters. But she did finally make it to Bangladesh. This woman, sitting in stony licence in one corner of the makeshift camp for Rohingya refugees, numbed by the recent turn of events, eyes staring into nothingness, at Kutupalang Camp, what does life mean to her? Perhaps for her and people like her, life is a box of lemons- sour in it's every bite.

She is Puja, mother of Priyam, a 7-years-old child, who was found brutally murdered inside the premises of his school. Puja had everything a woman can ask for. A loving husband and two small kids- she had a perfect family. Her husband is well-established and both of her children are students of a reputed International school. Everything seemed perfect until that fateful day. That day she got a call from school informing her that her son was injured. She rushed to the school, then to the nursing home, only to find her son dead. From that moment onwards, life is a box of red chillies for her- whose every bite always leaves her eyes teary.

She is Rohini, a celebrity movie actress. This Durga Puja, she will be busy inaugurating Pujas in Kolkata. As far as Puja inaugurations are concerned, she is in high demand. Though she has told some organizers that it was impossible to keep all requests. Moreover, one of her block-buster movies will be released just after the Pujas. Yes, life has been kind to her. For her, life is a box of sweets.

Each one of us go through different life experiences. Call it destiny, or the will of the Almighty, you are presented with a box, the contents of which are not decided by you. But it's upto you how you will react to your box. 

 ‘This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, 

an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.’

This is a WOW post!

Clean Air, Beautiful Homes

When you think of air pollution, you most likely conjure up images of the moving vehicles in busy urban streets, or exhaust smoke from power plants, or smoke from burning city waste, fuel-wood, etc. But do you know that in reality indoor air can be 5 times more polluted than the outdoor air? This is because contained areas enable pollutants to build up more than open spaces do. Just take a look at these facts and figures:

• About half a million women and children die each year from indoor air pollution in India.
• 28% of all deaths due to indoor air pollution in developing countries occur in India.
• A pollutant released indoors is one thousand times more likely to reach people's lungs than a pollutant released outdoors (called the Rule of 1000).
• Nearly 50% of pneumonia deaths among children under five are due to particulate matter inhaled from indoor air pollution.

Unlike outdoor air pollution, the effect of indoor air pollution is health related and less of an environmental issue. Some people react to indoor air contamination by coughing or sneezing or things like that, but the symptoms go away as soon as they leave the building. For others, there are more serious effects, especially if they are exposed to the contamination for a longer period.

Here are some sources of indoor air pollution that might surprise you:

1. Candles

As lovely as they can be, most candles will pollute your home with harmful gases and sediments. While burning, all candles release some soot particles that become airborne and can lead to respiratory problems.

2. Secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke, comes from incompletely burned tobacco products. In the short term, exposure to secondhand smoke can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. In the long-run, it can cause many of the same health problems as smoking, like wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis,, and lung cancer. Asthma attacks may be triggered by secondhand smoke exposure.

3. Air Fresheners

Most store-bought air fresheners emit toxic pollutants at levels that may lead to health risks. 

4. Cleaning Products

Many conventional household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals like alcohol, chlorine, ammonia or petroleum-based solvents, all of which can have negative effects on your health, irritate your eyes or throat, or cause headaches.Some cleaning products release dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to chronic respiratory problems and aggavate allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Products containing VOCs include most aerosol sprays, chlorine bleach, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture and floor polish, and oven cleaners.

5. Kitchen Stove

A poorly ventilated kitchen can cause a huge amount of air pollution in your home.

6. Building materials and furnishings as diverse as

• Deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation

• Newly installed flooring, upholstery, or carpet

• Cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products

7. Personal Care Products

Tips and Tricks to Ensure Clean Air Inside Your Home:

Fortunately, there are ways you can minimize air pollution in your home. Here goes some simple steps to take to ensure clean air in your home:

1. Improve Ventilation

Improving Ventilation will drastically improve the air quality of your home. Open windows every day and allow the household air to exchange with air outdoors. It's probably the easiest thing you can do.
Another thing to remember is to use exhaust fans when cooking and showering or using hot water in the bathroom.

2. Eliminate odors, don't mask them

Find the source of bad smells (a rotting potato in the cupboard? musty blankets? a pet accident?) and clean it up. Where appropriate, use a box of baking soda in the area instead of air fresheners.

3. Wash very dirty or dusty laundry in the hottest water.

4. Buy Houseplant

Not only are they beautiful additions to your home, but houseplants have powerful toxin-removing capabilities as well. These natural little air cleaners don’t look out of place, make distracting noises or cost money to maintain; all they need is a little water and sunlight.The best varieties to reduce indoor air pollution include the Boston fern, English ivy, spider plant, peace lily and areca palm, just to name a few. Keep two plants per 100 square feet where you need them most and you can expect cleaner indoor air in no time.

5. Ban Smoking

Don't smoke or allow others to do so in your home.

6.  Cleaning

A regular cleaning schedule is an obvious and effective action to improve air quality. 

• Use a vacuum cleaner. Apart from floors and carpets, vacuum walls, carpet edges, upholstered furniture and any spot where dust accumulates.
• Mopping floors will collect additional dust that a vacuum cleaner can miss.
• Keep out dirt with doormats at entrances to your home.
• Wash pillows, sheets, and comforters once a week to reduce exposure.

7. Use Royale Atmos by Asin Paints

As the festive season is just round the corner, many of you might have plans to give your homes a makeover. This time, try a paint that not only looks good, but also helps to purify air and improve air quality inside your home. 'Royale Atmos' by Asian Paints just does that. It's activated Carbon Technology reduces harmful pollutants from the air.

Just take a look here: https://www.asianpaints.com/atmos. 
This is a very informative link. You will get to know a lot about indoor air pollution and the role of 'Royale Atmos' to combat it.

Here's wishing a happy, clean and pollution free festivities to all of you in advance.

Nail Art: Enjoying Myself

Today is Sunday and I don't have any specific plan to spend the day. So I thought about doing some fun thing. Hey, what about painting my nails? Not just simple painting with nail polish, I wanted to do something different. After all, our greatest festival, Durga Puja, is round the corner. After watching few DIY nail art videos on Youtube, I wanted to do the same. I purchased one set of nail art tools and the product got delivered today. I used two different shades of nail paints: Bluish grey and Orange. In the lazy afternoon when my son was taking a nap, I went ahead to implement my first nail art experiment. And here's the end result:

How is it? Do share your feedback.

Happy Sunday to all!