my first ride story..........

hey.........m just back from my first ride on my new firefox fusion....i bought that after spending a considerable amount of time on the net searching for a sub-10k bike with gears...didnt have enough time to check out i person so just bumped into a firefox showroom and quite liked the FUSION...so bought one, i also had a look at la soverign WAVE..but didnt quite like the feel of it while i took a test ride..
the guy who delivered the bike forgot to get the lock....so i thought its a good way to start off...the bike station is a good 8kms from my place, so i decided to give it a go and get the lock myself and start off.....wohh...initial 10-15 mins were really nice and smooth..i was loving the way it rides, but asa i crossed about a km and half, i began panting....i was riding a bike after a gap of almost a decade....it took me 20 mins to reach INORBIT (which i cover in less than half the time in my car)...i never knew that reaching inorbit would take so much time...but on my way towards the bike station, i was getting anxious glances from people....
my speed was average..i dunno maybe in 20's...but the best part was beating the traffic, where a truck blocked the way for all the vehicles, i loved the way i sailed through the vehicles, to cross the traffic...i crossed 5kms and took a turn towards goregoan station on my way towards the bike station, still a km to go and i decided to halt for a sugarcane juice...man, it reminded me of my childhood days when we used to cycle to the football camp and halt for taking liquids half way....
i finally reached the bike station and sales guy was pleasantly surprised to see me, i took the lock and started my way back...finally reached home after an hour of riding...

Considering my first ride, i was completely exhausted.but felt so proud of my first ride....

i am not an expert on making comments on bikes ride quality, their gear shift n all...but all i can say is I felt great riding this beauty...

Got a firefox Fusion..

Finally got the FUSION...after spending considerable amount of time on the net...here are the pics...

Movie Review - NEWYORK

hey...

just came back from the multiplex...went to watch NEWYORK, I was just leaving the multiplex when one of my friends was just getting in to watch the same movie...He asked me, "How is NEWYORK"? I just replied, you'll like the movie!!!

So, basically Newyork is take on 9/11 attacks and the story revolves around that, but the thing which is different in this is, it depicts the emotional side of it. it suceeds to an extent in doing that. it gives an insight about how the US held around 1200 people as suspects for the attacks, which they didnt have any evidence and ultimately had to be released....that portion about the torture is shot very accurately, it does create an impact!

The movie is REAL( i mean it) u do relate to the circumstances under which one might take up acts that might be harmful to the society...

Neil does a good job at his role and is convincing as an undercover FBI agent, parts of the conversations shot between him and irrfan are picked up from a video game "Black"....but are effective, he delivers a good performance....katrina and john do a good job too....it seems irrfan is the next Iftekar...seems to play a cop every second movie and seems to master the art of interogating(last time he did this was in slumdog)

music is good and fits the situation perfectly...my fav is the JUNOON track....

overall a good movie, personally I would rate it 3.5 out of 5

so, Take some time off and watch this movie....worth a watch....

Ladies....Know your right!

This is important read –
For Girls – It obviously makes sense for them to know their rights.
For Boys - It can help them protect their wives, friends, sisters and mothers

An incident took place in Pune - a young girl was attacked by a man posing as a plain clothes officer; he asked her 2 come 2 the police station when she & her male friend didn't have a driver's license 2 show. He sent the boy off 2 get his license and asked the girl to accompany him to the police station. Took her instead to an isolated area where the horrendous crime was committed. The law [which most of us are not aware of] clearly states that between 6 pm and 6 am (from sunset until sunrise), a woman has the right to REFUSE to go to the Police Station, even if an arrest warrant has been issued against her. It is a procedural issue that a woman can be arrested between 6pm and 6am, if and ONLY iff she is arrested by a woman officer & taken to an ALL WOMEN police station. And if she is arrested by a male officer, it has to be proven that a woman officer was on duty at the time of arrest.

Note: Read National Human Rights Commission Report for elaborate details.

Enjoy every moment!

Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth.

If the marble falls, there is no point in coming first.

Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble.

Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life.

Else, you may achieve success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously.

Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here.

We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity.

If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years.

And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends.

Do we really need to get so worked up?

It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love.

We are people, not programmed devices.

"Don't be serious, be sincere."

Enjoy every moment ................

Movie Review - Fast and The Furious 4

Hey, just couldn't have missed out on this one...I am a FAN of the Fast and furious series so this one was a must watch for me!

So it is really worth it? does it match up with the last three flicks? read on....

Opening sequence
I have not seen a killer opening sequence like this in the series, its just two good...the landscape in which it is shot is looks two awesome and just couldn't stop shouting in the theater!!! what a killer sequence!!

The story -
The movie feels more or less like a sequel to the first one, this one has Letty (Dom's GF) getting killed through a gang of bad boys (braga)...Dom going out for the bad guys and in his pursuit Brian joins along as he needs braga to crack the drugs racket!! A plot that is not too new I would argue...we already see that in a lot of Hindi movies don't we....

but when you are watching a movie like The fast and furious, you hardly care about the story, all of you want to see is Cars RACE .and trust me this doesn't not fall short of expectation...this movie has introduced racing with traffic on...all you have is your GPS and you follow the instructions....The race sequences in the movie are just awesome....I was actually feeling the thrill and was yelling out loud in the theater...

The Fast and Furious series throws light on new types of racing styles with each movie...this one introduced Traffic in races (as Tokyo drift was all about Drifts!!)...

Another highlight are the Tunnel sequences,they are so terrific that it is too good to believe that someone can drive in maddening speeds inside the tunnel....

Performances -
Vin diesel as Dominic Toretto puts up another killer performance, his screen presence is immense and overshadows all the others. Paul Walker as Brian O'Connor also puts up a good performance. Also back is Jordana Brewster as Mia, Dom's sister and Brian's love interest, and Michelle Rodriguez as the tough-as-nails Letty, Dom's girlfriend.

Saving...

Verdict -
All in all...a movie that does not disappoint at all...being a FAN of the series I expected a lot more out of the and to be honest my trill quotient was fulfilled to an extent...a couple of killer race sequences would have added to the trill nevertheless...

I would give 3.5/5 for the movie...

I would definitely recommend it to be watched....I don't need to mention but to reinstate You MUST watch it in a theater to experience the thrill!!

so fellas go out and enjoy this movie, just incase you haven't done as yet!!

J

Udaipur - WoW!

Wednesday afternoon, doing some routines work, going through the project plans etc,a weekend approaching, well whats the program!..we decide to have take a trip to udaipur. just 15 mins of thought over it and we were all the way to booking our tickets on the net, so here we were all set for the weekend, tickets booked, travelogue downloaded, had all the info about udaipur all we were waiting for is Friday evening.

Well, we had just two days so we didn't want to spend a fortune on a trip, we had 6k in our kitty and what a trip we had!

Udaipur is in the southern part of Rajasthan, closer to Ahmedabad (in Gujarat) than to Jaipur. It is famous as the Lake City, for its rich heritage and for its beautiful gardens. Situated nearly 1900 metres above the sea level, it is a part of the Aravalli ranges. Its beauty is accentuated by the presence of mountains that serenade the city from all sides, as well as by some natural and artificial beauties that can’t quite be imagined. The city appropriately derives its name from Maharana Udai Singh who was instrumental in creating it in the year 1559.

It was a weekend, so we didn't had just 2 days to explore the place, Day 1 morning we start, here are the places that are actually worth checking out.

1) Fateh Sagar Lake – its just beautiful!!! the mountains at the backdrop of the lake look just awesome. Nehru park is situated inside the lake, park is located in the center of the lake and they have a ferry service which takes u to the park, the park is beautiful and is a photographer's treat, the view that it provides is just breathtaking. Visit the place in the evening to get the best view!

2) Saheliyo ki Bari – This again is a wonderful place, the way it has been built just amazes you that how luxuriously the queen must have stayed. Its got a fountain at the center, surrounded by four pillars, the work done on them is just spectacular. It one of the places that you should miss in udaipur coz of shear ecstatic value. Its got a unique cultural riches in it which can just be experienced when u actually present out there.

3) City Palace – the name itself says it all, its located in the heart of the city, shell out 0 bucks and you are in the palace, my first expression on entering this palace was “wow”......the place is spectacular to say the least, it gives a good aerial view of udaipur and again is good for photography. Its got a museum which displays the legacy of mewar, the rulers. I was amazed to see the amazing armor which was on display, so many varieties of swords, guns, shields. I forgot to mention, a tank is put up on the entrance. The palace contains lot of rooms, each room has got its own uniqueness about it. Be sure to enter the palace having lots of time, as it will atleast take 2 hours to explore the place. But its worth it!

4) Jagdish Mandir – Just adjacent to the city palace, a good temple.

5) Sajjangarh fort – THE best place in udaipur, if u don't go here then your udaipur trip is incomplete, its situated on the mountain. It takes some effort to reach at the top, there's a ticket gate u have to pay to take your vehicle up there, trust me that ride is just superb, there are some climbs and the road is not so wide so if two vehicles are crossing then u have to be carefull...on the top MONSOON PALACE is situated which is a treat to watch, U can view entire udaipur from there, the view is just WOW!!! it also has a garden, the best part about the place is that, u can actually see that udaipur is surrounded by mountains on all sides, do a 360 degree turn and all that u can see are mountains.

6) Pichola Lake – A beautiful lake again...a must see for every tourist, its situated on the banks of lake palace. U should visit the lake in the evening time to get the best view and spend some quality time. It's got a boat ride which will take u for sight seeing around the lake, also has camel rides which u can enjoy!

7) Lok Kala Museum - An interesting collection exhibited by this small museum and foundation for the preservation and promotion of local folk arts includes dresses, turbans, dolls, masks, musical instruments, paintings and - it's high point - puppets. Regular 15-minute puppet shows are held daily and are included in the admission charge.

8) Mataji Temple(Through rope car) – I dont recollect the place but there is Mataji temple on the mountain, there's a ROPE CAR which takes you on the top where the temple is situated, again a good
experience.

9) Bagor ki haveli – Again a palace worth checking out, it is now a museum which has all the historic facts about the cultures followed in udaipur, the most interesting thing I found there was different types of turbans that people wore. Worth seeing!

10) Gulab bagh – A good one if u have explored udaipur and still have a couple of hours to spare then check this out, its got a rose garden, a zoo to keep u occupied for a couple of hours.

11) Garden Restaurant – One of the most important places, its not a historic restaurant but tops it all when it comes to food, they serve delicious THALIS, we had our dinner and lunch over there. The speciallity about this restaurant is it offers a package for lunch which includes checking out the vintage cars that are owned by the king. Great combo...dont miss that!

I would say that U should visit udaipur atleast once to explore the place and check out the lakes and palaces. The scenic view is just awesome so get your best lenses on work!!

Enjoy

- J

Rituals and Routines - Why do we follow them?

Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? Why do we…….
1.Why do we light a lamp?
2. Why do we have a prayer room?
3. Why do we do Namaste?
4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?
5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?
7. To touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor.Why is this so?
8. Why do we apply the holy ash?
9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?
10. Why do we fast?
11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?
12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
17. Why do we worship tulasi?
18. Why do we blow the conch?
19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
20. Why do we offer a coconut?
21. Why do we chant Om?
22. Why do we do aarati?

1. Why do we light a lamp?
In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously - Akhanda Deepa. All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion. Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth. Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals. Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray: Deepajyothi parabrahma Deepa sarva tamopahaha Deepena saadhyate saram Sandhyaa deepo namostute I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

2. Why do we have a prayer room?
Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa - repetition of the Lord’s name, meditation, paaraayana - reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing etc are also done here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old - communes with and worships the Divine here. The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness. The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated. Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions. Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 5 - Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere - hence the need for a prayer room. Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.

3. Why do we do Namaste?
Indians greet each other with namaste. The two palms are placed together in front of the chest and the head bows whilst saying the word namaste. This greeting is for all - people younger than us, of our own age, those older than friends, even strangers and us. There are five forms of formal traditional greeting enjoined in the shaastras of which namaskaram is one. This is understood as prostration but it actually refers to paying homage as we do today when we greet each other with a namaste. Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than meets the eye. In Sanskrit namah + te = namaste. It means - I bow to you - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. Namaha can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another. The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet another, we do so with namaste, which means, "may our minds meet," indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love and humility The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity, the Self or the Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we salute with head bowed the Divinity in the person we meet. That is why sometimes, we close our eyes as we do namaste to a revered person or the Lord – as if to look within. The gesture is often accompanied by words like "Ram Ram,” "Jai Shri Krishna", "Namo Narayana", "Jai Siya Ram", "Om Shanti" etc - indicating the recognition of this divinity. When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just a superficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communion with another in an atmosphere of love and respect.

4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?
Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily, when we meet elders and particularly on important occasions like the beginning of a new task, birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles, prostration is accompanied by abhivaadana, which serves to introduce one-self, announce one’s family and social stature. Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 6 - Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign of respect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders personify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love for us and the sacrifices they have done for our welfare. It is a way of humbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects the strong family ties, which has been one of India’s enduring strengths. The good wishes (Sankalpa) and blessings (aashirvaada) of elders are highly valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughts create positive vibrations. Good wishes springing from a heart full of love, divinity and nobility have a tremendous strength. When we prostrate with humility and respect, we invoke the good wishes and blessings of elders, which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why the posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables the entire body to receive the energy thus received. The different forms of showing respect are : Pratuthana: Rising to welcome a person. Namaskaara: Paying homage in the form of namaste Upasangrahan: Touching the feet of elders or teachers. Shaashtaanga: Prostrating fully with the feet, knees, stomach, chest, forehead and arms touching the ground in front of the elder. Pratyabivaadana: Returning a greeting. Rules are prescribed in our scriptures as to who should prostrate to whom. Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge in ascending order of importance qualified men to receive respect. This is why a king though the ruler of the land, would prostrate before a spiritual master. Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata have many stories highlighting this aspect.

5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped. In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a businessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions. Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U,” Shiva worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on). The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer - "May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be righteous in my deeds.” Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces. The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 7 - causes a headache. The tilak and pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic reusable "stick bindis" is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of decoration.

6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?
To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given respect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But in ancient India every subject - academic or spiritual - was considered divine and taught by the guru in the gurukula. The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent reminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in Indian culture. From an early age, this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books and education. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the Goddess of Learning. In fact, each day before starting our studies, we pray: Saraswati namasthubhyam Varade kaama roopini Vidyaarambham karishyaami Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa O Goddess Saraswati, the giver of Boons and fulfiller of wishes, I prostrate to You before starting my studies. May you always fulfill me?

7. To touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?
Man is regarded as the most beautiful, living breathing temple of the Lord! Therefore touching another with the feet is akin to disrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for an immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humility.

8. Why do we apply the holy ash?
The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash. Bhasma (the holy ash) is the ash from the homa (sacrificial fire) where special wood along with ghee and other herbs is offered as worship of the Lord. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as abhisheka and is then distributed as bhasma. Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead. Some apply it on certain parts of the body like the upper arms, chest etc. Some ascetics rub it all over the body. Many consume a pinch of it each time they receive it. The word bhasma means, "that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered.” Bha implied bhartsanam ("to destroy") and sma implies smaranam ("to remember"). The application of bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called vibhuti (which means "glory") as it gives glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her. Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 8 - Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred chants) signifies the offering or surrender of the ego and egocentric desires into the flame of knowledge or a noble and selfless cause. The consequent ash signifies the purity of the mind, which results from such actions. Also the fire of knowledge burns the oblation and wood signifying ignorance and inertia respectively. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with the body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. This is not to be misconstrued as a morose reminder of death but as a powerful pointer towards the fact that time and tide wait for none. Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva who applies it all over His body. Shiva devotes apply bhasma as a tripundra. When applied with a red spot at the center, the mark symbolizes Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire seen and unseen universe). Tryambakam yajaamahe Sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaa rukamiva bhandhanaan Mrytyor muksheeyamaa amrutaat "We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spread fragrance in our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death – effortlessly, like the fall of a rip brinjal from its stem."

9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?
Indians make an offering of food to the Lord and later partake of it as prasaada - a holy gift from the Lord. In our daily ritualistic worship (pooja) too we offer naivedyam (food) to the Lord. The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. Man is a part, while the Lord is the totality. All that we do is by His strength and knowledge alone. Hence what we receive in life as a result of our actions is really His alone. We acknowledge this through the act of offering food to Him. This is exemplified by the Hindi words "tera tujko arpan"– I offer what is Yours to You. Thereafter it is akin to His gift to us, graced by His divine touch. Knowing this, our entire attitude to food and the act of eating changes. The food offered will naturally be pure and the best. We share what we get with others before consuming it. We do not demand, complain or criticise the quality of the food we get. We eat it with cheerful acceptance (prasaada buddhi). Before we partake of our daily meals we first sprinkle water around the plate as an act of purification. Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the plate acknowledging the debt owed by us to the Divine forces (devta runa) for their benign grace and protection, our ancestors (pitru runa) for giving us their lineage and a family culture, the sages (rishi runa) as our religion and culture have been "realised", aintained and handed down to us by them, our fellow beings (manushya runa) who constitute society without the support of which we could not live as we do and other living beings (bhuta runa) for serving us selflessly. Thereafter the Lord, the life force, who is also within us as the five life-giving physiological functions, is offered the food. This is done with the chant praanaaya swaahaa, apaanaaya swaahaa, vyaanaaya swaahaa, Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 9 - udaanaaya swaahaa, samaanaaya swaahaa, brahmane swaahaa After offering the food thus, it is eaten as prasaada - blessed food.

10. Why do we fast?
Most devout Indians fast regularly or on special occasions like festivals. On such days they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple food. Fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa. Upa means "near" + vaasa means "to stay". Upavaasa therefore means staying near (the Lord), meaning the attainment of close mental proximity with the Lord. Then what has upavaasa to do with food? A lot of our time and energy is spent in procuring food items, preparing, cooking, eating and digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull and agitated. Hence on certain days man decides to save time and conserve his energy by eating either simple, light food or totally abstaining from eating so that his mind becomes alert and pure. The mind, otherwise pre-occupied by the thought of food, now entertains noble thoughts and stays with the Lord. Since it is a self-imposed form of discipline it is usually adhered to with joy Also every system needs a break and an overhaul to work at its best. Rest and a change of diet during fasting is very good for the digestive system and the entire body. The more you indulge the senses, the more they make their demands. Fasting helps us to cultivate control over our senses, sublimate our desires and guide our minds to be poised and at peace. Fasting should not make us weak, irritable or create an urge to indulge later. This happens when there is no noble goal behind fasting. The Bhagavad-Gita urges us to eat appropriately - neither too less nor too much - yukta-aahaara and to eat simple, pure and healthy food (a saatvik diet) even when not fasting.

11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?
We cannot draw a circle without a center point. The Lord is the center, source and essence of our lives. Recognizing Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance of pradakshina. Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the center. This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the Lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.

12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
The reason is not, as a person said, to avoid a traffic jam! As we do pradakshina, the Lord is always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as we circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an auspicious life of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source of help and strength, as our guide - the "right hand". Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them? - 10 - Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava. May you consider your parents and teachers as you would the Lord. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our parents and divine personages. After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognize and remember the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolized in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.

13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
The Lord, the life in us, pervades all living beings, be they plants or animals. Hence, they are all regarded as sacred. Human life on earth depends on plants and trees. They give us the vital factors that make life possible on earth: food, oxygen, clothing, shelter, medicines etc. Hence, in India, we are taught to regard trees and plants as sacred. Indians scriptures tell us to plant ten trees if, for any reason, we have to cut one. We are advised to use parts of trees and plants only as much as is needed for food, fuel, shelter etc. we are also urged to apologies to a plant or tree before cutting it to avoid incurring a specific sin named soona. Certain trees and plants like tulasi, peepal etc., which have tremendous beneficial qualities, are worshipped till today. It is believed that divine beings manifest as trees and plants, and many people worship them to fulfill their desires or to please the Lord.

14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell? The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness. Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace. As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting: Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam Kurve ghantaaravam tatra devataahvaahna lakshanam I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, So that virtuous and noble forces enter (my home and heart); and the demonic and evil forces from within and without, depart.

15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
First of all what is a kalasha? A brass, mud or copper pot is filled with water. Mango leaves are placed in the mouth of the pot and a coconut is placed over it. A red or white thread is tied around its neck or sometimes all around it in a intricate diamond-shaped pattern. The pot may be decorated wit designs. Such a pot is known as a kalasha. When the pot is filled with water or rice, it is known as purnakumbha representing the inert body which when filled with the divine life force gains the power to do all the wonderful things that makes life what it is. A kalasha is placed with due rituals on all-important occasions like the traditional house warming (grihapravesa), wedding, daily worship etc. It is placed near the entrance as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy personages. Why do we worship the kalasha? Before the creation came into being, Lord Vishnu was reclining on His snake-bed in the milky ocean. From His navel emerged a lotus from which appeared Lord Brahma, the creator, who thereafter created this world. The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable names and forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the world from the energy behind the universe. The leaves and coconut represent creation. The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka. The consecration (kumbhaabhisheka) of a temple is done in a grand manner with elaborate rituals including the pouring of one or more kalashas of holy water on the top of the temple. When the asuras and devas churned the milky ocean, the Lord appeared bearing the pot of nectar, which blessed one with everlasting life. Thus the kalasha also symbolizes immortality. Men of wisdom are full and complete as they identify with the infinite Truth (poornatvam). They brim with joy and love and respect all that is auspicious. We greet them with a purnakumbha ("full pot") acknowledging their greatness and as a sign of respectful and reverential welcome, with a "full heart".

16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
The lotus is the symbol of truth, auspiciousness and beauty (satyam, shivam, sundaram). The Lord is also that nature and therefore, His various aspects are compared to a lotus (i.e. lotus-eyes, lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc.). The lotus blooms with the rising sun and close at night. Similarly, our minds open up and expand with the light of knowledge. The lotus grows even in slushy areas. It remains beautiful and untainted despite its surroundings, reminding us that we too can and should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, under all circumstances. The lotus leaf never gets wet even though it is always in water. It symbolizes the man of wisdom (gyaani) who remains ever joyous, unaffected by the world of sorrow and change. This is revealed in a shloka from the Bhagwad-Geeta: Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha Lipyate na sa paapena Padma patram ivaambhasaa He who does actions, offering them to Brahman (the Supreme), abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it. From this, we learn that what is natural to the man of wisdom becomes a discipline to be practiced by all saadhakas or spiritual seekers and devotees. Our bodies have certain energy centers described in the Yoga Shaastras as chakras. Each one is associated with lotus that has a certain number of petals. For example, a lotus with a thousand petals represents the Sahasra chakra at the top of the head, which opens when the yogi attains Godhood or Realisation. Also, the lotus posture (padmaasana) is recommended when one sits for meditation. A lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence, the lotus symbolizes the link between the creator and the supreme Cause. It also symbolizes Brahmaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma. The auspicious sign of the swastika is said to have evolved from the lotus.

17. Why do we worship tulasi?
In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the tulasi For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is regarded so self-purifying. As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial being. She believed that Lord Krishna tricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to become a stone (shaaligraama). Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would adorn His head. Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the worship of tulasi. She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi. Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding. This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till a single tulasi leaf was placed along with the wealth on the scale by Rukmini with devotion. Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world. The tulasi leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various ailments, including the common cold. Yanmule sarvatirhaani Yannagre sarvadevataa Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha Tulasi taam namaamyaham I bow down to the tulasi, At whose base are all the holy places, At whose top reside all the deities and In whose middle are all the Vedas.

18. Why do we blow the conch?
When the conch is blown, the primordial sound of Om emanates. Om is an auspicious sound that was chanted by the Lord before creating the world. It represents the world and the Truth behind it. As the story goes, the demon Shankhaasura defeated devas, the Vedas and went to the bottom of the ocean. The devas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. He incarnated as Matsya Avataara - the "fish incarnation" and killed Shankhaasura. The Lord blew the conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. The Om sound emanated, from which emerged the Vedas. All knowledge enshrined in the Vedas is an elaboration of Om. The conch therefore is known as shankha after Shankaasua. The conch blown by the Lord is called Paanchajanya. He carries it at all times in one of His four hands. It represents dharma or righteousness that is one of the four goals (purushaarthas) of life. The sound of the conch is thus also the victory call of good over evil. Another well-known purpose of blowing the conch and the instruments, known traditionally to produce auspicious sounds is to drown or mask negative comments or noises that may disturb or upset the atmosphere or the minds of worshippers. Ancient India lived in her villages. Each village was presided over by a primary temple and several small ones. During the aarati performed after all-important poojas and on sacred occasions, the conch used to be blown. Since villages were generally small, the sound of the conch would be heard all over the village. People who could not make it to the temple were reminded to stop whatever they were doing, at least for a few seconds, and mentally bow to the Lord. The conch sound served to briefly elevate people's minds to a prayerful attitude even in the middle of their busy daily routine. The conch is placed at the altar in temples and homes next to the Lord as a symbol of Naada Brahma (Truth), the Vedas, Om, dharma, victory and auspiciousness. It is often used to offer devotees thirtha (sanctified water) to raise their minds to the highest Truth. It is worshipped with the following verse. Twam puraa saagarot pannaha Vishnunaa vidhrutahakare Devaischa poojitha sarvahi Panchjanya namostu te Salutations to Panchajanya the conch born of the ocean Held in the hand of Lord Vishnu and worshipped by all devaas

19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
Shaanti, meaning "peace", is a natural state of being. Disturbances are created either by others or us. For example, peace already exists in a place until someone makes noise. Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is naturally experienced since it was already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness. Therefore, every one without exception desires peace in his/her life. However, peace within or without seems very hard to attain because it is covered by our own agitations. A rare few manage to remain peaceful within even in the midst of external agitation and troubles. To invoke peace, we chant prayers. By chanting prayers, troubles end and peace is experienced internally, irrespective of the external disturbances. All such prayers end by chanting shaanti thrice. It is believed that trivaram satyam - that which is said thrice comes true. For emphasizing a point we repeat a thing thrice. In the court of law also, one who takes the witness stands says, "I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth". We chant shaanti thrice to emphasise our intense desire for peace. All obstacles, problems and sorrows originate from three sources. Aadhidaivika : The unseen divine forces over which we have little or no control like earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions etc. Aadhibhautika: The known factors around us like accidents, human contacts, pollution, crime etc. Aadhyaatmika : We sincerely pray to the Lord that at least while we undertake special tasks or even in our daily lives, there are no problems or that, problems are minimised from the three sources written about above. May peace alone prevail. Hence shaanti is chanted thrice. It is chanted aloud the first time, addressing the unseen forces. It is chanted softer the second time, directed to our immediate surroundings and those around, and softest the last time as it is addressed to oneself.

20. Why do we offer a coconut?
In India one of the most common offerings in a temple is a coconut. It is also offered on occasions like weddings, festivals, the use of a new vehicle, bridge, house etc. It is offered in the sacrificial fire whilst performing homa. The coconut is broken and placed before the Lord. It is later distributed as prasaada. The fibre covering of the dried coconut is removed except for a tuft on the top. The marks on the coconut make it look like the head of a human being. The coconut is broken, symbolising the breaking of the ego. The juice within, representing the inner tendencies (vaasanas) is offered along with the white kernel - the mind, to the Lord. A mind thus purified by the touch of the Lord is used as prasaada ( a holy gift). In the traditional abhishekha ritual done in all temples and many homes, several materials are poured over the deity like milk, curd, honey, tender coconut water, sandal paste, holy ash etc. Each material has a specific significance of bestowing certain benefits on worshippers. Tender coconut water is used in abhisheka rituals since it is believed to bestow spiritual growth on the seeker. The coconut also symbolises selfless service. Every part of the tree -the trunk, leaves, fruit, coir etc. Is used in innumerable ways like thatches, mats, tasty dishes, oil, soap etc. It takes in even salty water from the earth and converts it into sweet nutritive water that is especially beneficial to sick people. It is used in the preparation of many ayurvedic medicines and in other alternative medicinal systems. The marks on the coconut are even thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires.

21. Why do we chant Om?
Om is one of the most chanted sound symbols in India. It has a profound effect on the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and vedic prayers start with Om. All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting - Om, Hari Om etc. It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its form is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign. Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M". The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond. The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm). Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form symbolizes Lord Ganesha’s. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweetmeat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha's hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything - the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all form and the Formless.

22. Why do we do aarati?
Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to welcome an honored guest or saint, we perform the aarati. This is always accompanied by the ringing of the bell and sometimes by singing, playing of musical instruments and clapping. It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is referred to as the lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling movement to light the entire form of the Lord. Each part is revealed individually and also the entire form of the Lord. As the light is waved we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply behold the beautiful form of the Lord, illumined by the lamp. At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head. We have seen and participated in this ritual from our childhood. Let us find out why we do the aarati? Having worshipped the Lord of love - performing abhisheka, decorating the image and offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of the Lord in all His glory. Our minds are focused on each limb of the Lord as the lamp lights it up. It is akin to silent open-eyed meditation on His beauty. The singing, clapping, ringing of the bell etc. denote the joy and auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of the Lord. Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines the Lord (Truth), our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord. Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume even while it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the guru and society, we should willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume" of love to all. We often wait a long while to see the illumined Lord but when the aarati is actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify that each of us is a temple of the Lord. Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarati flame, so too the guru reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of knowledge (or the light of spiritual knowledge). At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illuminated the Lord light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful. The philosophical meaning of aarati extends further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of this wonderous phenomenon of the universe. It is due to Him alone that all else exist and shine. As we light up the Lord with the flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the very source of all light, which symbolizes knowledge and life. Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and fire, that of speech. The Lord is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them. Without Him, the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. The Lord is beyond the mind, intellect and speech. How can this finite equipment illuminate the Lord? Therefore, as we perform the aarati we chant; Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra taarakam Nemaa vidyuto bhaanti kutoyamagnib Tameva bhaantam anubhaati sarvam Tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhaati He is there where the sun does not shine, Nor the moon, stars and lightning. then what to talk of this small flame (in my hand), Everything (in the universe) shines only after the Lord, And by His light alone are we all illumined.

- J

Switch off on 28th March!

lets do this, switching off the lights on 28th March for one hour between 8.30 p.m to 9.30 P.m.

This is required, if the entire world can take some proactive measures to for this cause, then why can't we?
I know a lot of us are thinking about the inconvenience of doing this but we have to be the change that we want to see. Imagine if everyone co-operates in this movement then, so much of power is saved in an single hour. I am sure each of us know the benefits of saving power, I need to mention it over here and sound it as a lecturer.

So guys, be it your fav reality show or the match, or some business news, or your daily soaps on your TV, please sacrifice this one hour for the cause and switch off the lights!

Just for an hour!!!!!


Cheers,
J

Nano bookings - Rel Power IPO bhai-bhai?

Finally the nano is launched, It looks great ,great specifications and the best thing about it is ofcourse the price.
The bookings as known are going to start from 9th april and there will be application forms worth INR 300 available in some 30,000 centres across India. A lucky draw will decide the first 1 lac pround owners of the car. but having selected in the draw would mean waiting for the car to be delivered within a year, only 50,000 cars are to be rolled out this year.

So the car is cheap, but should you buy it? The answer is YES, of course you should. Almost all the reviews talk great about the car, it looks, mileage, room for 4 passengers. I need not mention the review of nano here, if you google it, you will land up with 100 reviews about nano.

I appreciate Mr Tata business sense, He knew it from the very beginning that One lac rupee car is going to generate a lot of interest and would be a revolution for the auto markets in the world.
The demand for it will def much higher than the supply, I am not surprised that only 50,000 cars will be available this year. Nano is the dream car for most of the middle class families in India, and believe it or not, almost everyone wants to own one. considering this even if 100,000 people (thats bare minimum) apply for the car, thats 300*100000 = 30000000/- just for the applying to get a Nano (does it remind you of an IPO last year???) Imagine the amount that the company will earn through actual application forms and their interest. I am confident that will surely be higher than what Tata's would normally earn by selling some of its own best selling models.
Thousands of people will rush in to apply for the Nano, I hope the transperancy is maintained will deciding the lucky ones, because if that doesnt happen than we could a lot of black marketing happening (remember Iphone saga??) People would try and trade it for some quick buck on Nano. lets hope its a fair process and most deserving people get to own it!

Backwaters

This is one pic that I truly cherish, Its just awesome I had clicked this in Allepey while traveling on a house boat.
I just love the way it has turned out to be, the view of the sun in between the palm trees.

-J

Kerala - truely heaven on earth

I am on an India tour it seems, In my past years I have traveled some of places in India. Always wanted to visit kerala but never got a chance. Atlast, the tour was planned and was finally on my way to kerala. the fastest way to reach kerala from mumbai is ofcourse by air, so we flew to cochin and then on starting the kerala tour. The Journey, read on......

Cochin -
Well that was the place I landed,had one day at the hotel, Amisha and me went out for some sightseeing, but unfortunately couldnt find any place, except for a couple of malls shown by chandran (Our driver).

Munnar -
Its truly awesome, We went there from cochin and the road trip itself was very good. we stayed at T&N which is a good hotel. Here, are places that we visit and a must see ...

• Blossom Garden - This garden has so many varieties of flowers that I was just trilled. one of the rep's told me that they have collected plants from all over the world. Def. worth a visit if you are interested in gardening. I mean it had some 10-15 varieties of cactus plants.

• Echo point - great place, where poeple come and shout all kind of stupid things like (Hello...,Ohh....Can you hear me...etc etc) There were some couples over there too...one guy was going to shout his wife's name BUT she didnt let me shout. she was too embarresed I guess!

• Mattupetti Dam - Great place, the view of the lake in the backdrop of mountains is too good, it is a popular picnic spot and people come there with thier family to enjoy the boat rides, horse rides. We, ofcourse had a good speed boat ride, they charge around 250INR and tour it around the lake for 30 mins. Quite good...we also had a good horse ride, the most important thing that you should try out is the elephat ride, its just awesome...That road is uphill and it hardly can has two lanes for the vehicles, imagine having a elephant ride on such roads!!!
• Kundala Lake - This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, don't expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills.
• Atukkad Waterfalls - A scenic waterfalls amidst hills and jungles. You can find a road leading to Atukkad Waterfalls on Kochi road (just about 5 km from Munnar). This road is very narrow and needs a lot of experience to drive on

Thekaddy -
Thekkady is enchanting as the road winds through tranquill countryside, rich plantations & thick jungles. The sanctuary, 60 km from Idukki, 190 km from Cochin and 114 km away from Kottayam is open throughout the year , but the best season for a visit is from September to March. The sanctuary is centered around the large (24 sq km) artificial lake formed by a dam across the Periyar river. We stayed in forest resort which we good....

Allepy -
It is famous for its houseboats, the place is full of houseboats and you will find a lot of them in all shapes and sizes, cost ranging from INR 6000 to INR 20,000 for a night. You have an option to take the backwater tour in a boat or stay overnight in an houseboat. Poeple prefer the latter as it is an experience. They serve authentic keral food in all courses (rice, dal, papad,vegetable) which are good. Once you get in an houseboat and start exploring backwaters, you will be amazed....people actually use boats as a means to commuting, just as we use rickshaws and trains. some of the views along the journey are breathtaking. not to mention you will have the company of lots of houseboats around you along throughout......a typical overnight houseboat journey will start in the afternoon,they would tour the lake and halt in the evening at a village, its typically the village where the houseboat staff belong, that ensures that there are no mishapes happening at night. In the evening you have to make sure that you close all the curtains and seal the houseboat against any insects, coz you are at the bank of a lake and the chances of them getting in cant be rules out...leaving that aside its an experience to cherish. Next morning after breakfast, they drop you at the port.

Kovalam -
Kovalam is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. it has some 4 - 5 beaches alongside. amounst them kovalam beach and Uday samudra are the beaches that you must def see.
we went to uday samundra where we could hardly find any Indians, the beach had a lot of foriegn tourists. the water in the beach was clear and if you want to take a dip...please do it.
other places to see in kovalam is Neyyar dam, it is just a water reservoir. it has a restaurant and facilities like boating and lion safary. lion safary is closed on monday, unfortunately thats the day we had for kovalam so couldnt explore that tour, but we have a good speed boat ride (again!!)

so, these are the places you should def look out for while planning your kerala tour. ofcourse there are a lot many places in kerala itself but dont miss out these places......

I had an awesome tour and would recommend everyone to visit kerala atleast once, because it has a nice mix of hill stations, backwater, wildlife and beaches. I can hardly remember a place which has so many things to explore in the same tour......

I have made up my mind to visit kerala atleast once a year, what about you?


- J