Sunday, August 31, 2008

Weekend Snapshot: Train Travel




This weekend we travel by train to granny's house (my mom's place) which my son calls 'Nani Ghar' and looks forward to meeting his grandparents. I have always been fond of travelling by train, and now my little preschooler does too. Our journey by train is about one and half hour.

Train journey to us means watching people get in and get out of the train and learning names of stations, observing hawkers call out loudly to sell their wares, some shopping and lots of skywatch through the train window. Also, we look forward to the bhel wala selling yummy bhel for Rs.5 a packet.
We both carry our own cameras, mine a Sony Cybershot and his, a toy camera.
As I click photographs, he imitates me and looks for an angle to take his shot
;-) and pretends he got a cool shot.
I make sure we are not travelling during peak hours and having fun.


Have a great weekend and lots of fun.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Saturday Photo Hunter Theme: Beautiful

Navi Mumbai's Railway Stations are one of the very few stations in India which boast of beautiful infrastructure.



Juinagar Railway Station



Juinagar is a railway station in Navi Mumbai, the twin city of Navi Mumbai and one of the largest planned cities in the world. Juinagar Station Complex is located in sector 11 of Sanpada node and is adjoining to Sion-Panvel Highway. Station complex consists of shopping area on the ground floor and well-integrated shops/ office premises on the first and second floors. This station caters for three corridors viz. Mankhurd-Belapur, Thane-Turbhe-Nerul & Thane-Nerul-Uran.


Thursday, August 28, 2008

Height Restrictor At Sanpada Subway

Sanpada (E)


Sanpada (W)

 The Sanpada Station Subway connects Sanpada node (East) to the rest of Navi Mumbai. Most of the peak hour traffic uses the subway. The subway is designed to allow vehicles upto 2.5 m.

Earlier taller vehicles entered the subway easily but got stuck halfway where the roof descends. It would take even a few hours to get the vehicle out, resulting in traffic jam for hours with no entry or exit. The only option then was to use the subway near Turbhe Naka, which was not convenient and took more time. The flyover was not opened then. There was no sign put up anywhere stating the height of vehicles allowed in the subway.

Now, with the installation of the height restrictor on both the sides of the subway, taller vehicles back off at the entry and head for subway no.2 or the flyover at Palm Beach Road, thus avoiding peak hour traffic jams.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

ABC Wednesday - 'F' for FLYOVER


SANPADA FLYOVER


The Sanpada flyover photos shown in the collage are in clockwise order.

The Sanpada flyover has given the residents of Sanpada every reason to rejoice. The flyover connects Sanpada to Palm Beach Road, thus improving the connectivity of Sanpada node with the rest of Navi Mumbai. Problems with flooded subways and oversized vehicles getting stuck in the subway (resulting in a major traffic block) were a nightmare to Sanpada residents.

The opening of the flyover to all vehicles including heavy vehicles, and two NMMT bus routes already plying on this route via Millennium Towers to Vashi has eased the traffic at Sanpada subway. The flyover is a boon to the residents of Sanpada.


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

After School

Seeing these kids returning home from school reminded me of my school days.
I and my sister would look forward to eating ragda pattice outside school, at a hawker's cart. The 2 rupees mom gave us everyday was meant for snacks from the school canteen, but we used to eat out of one rupee in the canteen, and then eat imli(tamarind) and ragda pattice after school. This was our big secret that we would never tell mom.
What does 'After School' remind you of? Did you head home straight after school?

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Weekend Snapshot: Krishna Janmashtami

Today we celebrated Krishna Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna.


Happy Birthday, Krishna !

In cities like Mumbai, Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan temples and homes light up during the festival. Cribs with Baby Krishna dolls in traditional costumes are decorated and displayed in homes. Through Raas Leelas (dance dramas), the performers enact incidents from Krishna's life.

The festival is celebrated with pomp and splendor. People fast till midnight, the time of Krishna’s birth. Poojas, or prayer ceremonies are held in temples and homes to welcome the lord at midnight amongst joyous singing of hymns. Prasad (sweets offered to the Lord and later eaten by devotees) is distributed to everyone and it is time for everyone to have a hearty vegetarian meal.
The most popular sweets made on this day are laddoos and payasam (kheer).

Dahi Handi is celebrated on the day after Krishna is born at midnight. The festival is also known as ‘Gopal kala’. The name comes from a dish or a mixture of yoghurt, pounded rice and jaggery, which is offered to Krishna on the day. The same mixture is placed in the Dahi Handi pot.


According to legends, Krishna was very fond of curd and butter. He and his friends used to steal butter from the houses in Vrindavan. To save their curd and butter from Krishna and his friends, women used to keep it in a pot and hung it from the ceiling of their houses so that it could not be easily reached. But Krishna and his friends used to form a human pyramid and easily steal and eat the curd and butter.


During the 'Dahi Handi' ceremony, a large earthenware pot is filled with milk, curds, butter, honey fruits etc. and is suspended from a height between 20 to 40 feet. The pot is also decorated with flowers and currency notes. Young men and boys come forward to construct a human pyramid by standing over each other's shoulders till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. They practise weeks in advance to make the festival a great success.
This ceremony replicates Krishna's love for milk and butter.

Today, Dahi Handi is a major event in major cities and towns in Maharashtra and involves lot of money and large crowds. Prizes for breaking the Dahi Handi pot arre sponsored by various political parties ranging from 1000 Rupees to 2 million rupees.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Saturday Photohunter: Theme "Wrinkled"


If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should not grow old.
-James A. Garfield

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.
People grow old by deserting their ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up wrinkles the soul.
- General Douglas MacArthur

Age may wrinkle the face, but lack of enthusiasm  wrinkles the soul.
- Danish proverb

To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent - that is to triumph over old age.
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Friday, August 22, 2008

Skywatch Friday

I tried to photograph the sun with the dark clouds and see what I got. This photo was taken near International Infotech Park yesterday evening a couple of hours before sunset.

For beautiful skies around the world, click below.




Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Trendy Indian Sari

Most Indians, even fashion designers believe that no dress other than the 'Sari' makes a womam look graceful, stylish and sensuous. Saris/sarees are back in the market with a bang.

New colours, fabric, prints (also self-printed) in chiffon, chignon, georgette and also tussar & pure silk adorn the market this festive season.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

ABC Wednesday - 'E' for Elephant Headed God

Sri Ganesha



Ganesha - the Hindu elephant deity riding a mouse is very popular and pervasive in the minds of the masses.
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
Read more about Ganesha here

Monday, August 18, 2008

Making A Living

I spotted this 12 year old girl near the gift shop that I posted on Tuesday. She was selling bracelets made of alphabet beads. I asked her to make one with my son's name on it. It was interesting watching her, as she weaved the bracelet in less than five minutes.
Have a close look at the beads she had.
Here's the bracelet she made for me.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Weekend Snapshot: Sunday Breakfast

Weekend Breakfast Special: Idli Chutney



Unlike South Indian homes, Idlis are not prepared very often in my kitchen. So, it is Weekend Special breakfast atleast twice a month. For those who don't know, Idlis are steamed rice cakes made of rice and lentil batter, served with sambar or chutney (which are South Indian dips).

Today we are having Idlis with spicy Tomato Chutney. My li'l one also loves idlis with (no-chilli & spice) coconut chutney.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Saturday Photo Hunter Theme: Colorful


Happy Raksha Bandhan



Today is Raksha Bandhan, which means the bond wherein the strong will protect the weak from all evil. It is a celebration of a brother and sister inseperable bond of love and trust. The sister ties a 'Rakhi' or 'Raksha' on the brother's wrist. The brother accepts the rakhi and thus takes the responsibility of protecting his sister from all evil. Sisters pray for the longlife, safety and well-being of their brothers. Sweets & gifts are also exchanged.



It is a very colorful festival like most other Indian festivals. I went shopping for my rakhis and gifts yesterday and I saw crowds shopping for sweets, rakhis, bangles, jewelry and also mehndi. It was Independence Day and many people were out shopping for festive discounts offered.


Here are the last year's Rakhi comments. I still don't know how to explain to Shek: What do you have to say?

Shek said...
i have tried time and again and miserably failed to explain fellow americans as to how an unrelated boy and girl can become brother-sister. "Why would they do that?"Help me out here.

Leena said...
I was trying to understand also thisconcept sister-brother :) Are they just friends - "bestis"?I love your colourful decorations and clothes as well.


magiceye said...
lovely bright colors - signifying the joy the festival brings!


Tara's Talk said...
Very lovely colors! Interesting photo for me;) Thanks for sharing it!
Anu said...
Shek, I'm not sure if I can answer that, but I'll make sure I'm askin lots of people, including family this time, and I'll be back with the feedbacks soon.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Skywatch Friday

We saw these unusually dark clouds in Navi Mumbai last weekend. Even more strange was that they just passed by, leaving a dull sky. After another 36 hours on Monday afternoon, it rained very heavily.


Happy Independence Day

Independence Day was celebrated today morning at 0930 hours at Millennium Towers, Sanpada. After the flag hoisting, children sang patriotic songs from Hindi films to mark the 61st Independence Day of India.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Sweets were distributed and important announcements were made. Everyone was dressed in white with orange or green. Participation of many members made the event a grand success.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Lucky Bamboo


The lucky bamboo makes a perfect gift for home and office decoration, unique wedding favors and centerpieces (Spiral, Heart Shaped - Heart Bamboo, or Lucky Bamboo Flower), baby shower, birthday party, and special events.

The bamboo has been a symbol of good fortune in the Asian culture more than 4000 years. It is highly recommended by Fengshui masters to enhance positive flow of energy in the surroundings. In ancient Asia, this plant was considered a member of the bamboo family, however, modern science classifies it as Dracaena Sanderiana.
Feng Shui is the ancient practice of bringing the natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance in our surroundings. This is believed to produce greater harmony and a more positive life experience.

Because lucky bamboo is able to thrive in many areas of the home or workplace where other plants would not, it is valued as a means to enhance the positive flow of energy or "chi" in these areas.

The bamboo stalk is valued as a perfect symbol of the wood element. A red ribbon tied around the stalks symbolized the element of fire. The addition of a little fire assists enhancing or "igniting" the positive result that is desired.
What do the various numbers of stalks mean?


3 stalks = attracts happiness
5 stalks = attracts wealth
7 stalks = result in good health
21 stalks = offer a very powerful all-purpose blessing

Information sourced from http://www.winnipegflowers.com/

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

ABC Wednesday - 'D' for DADAR


  • If you ask any Mumbaiite, what is 'D' for? Most of them will say D for DADAR.
  • Dadar, the most crowded railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway, is divided into Dadar East and Dadar West by the railway line.
  • Dadar has the only railway station common to both the Central line and the Western line; this makes it a transit point and the most crowded railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
  • Dadar West market is a very popular shopping destination for residents of central Mumbai.
  • Some of the prominent landmarks of Dadar are Pritam Restaurant & Dhaba, Hindmata Cloth Market; St. Paul the Apostle Church, behind Hindmata Theatre; Guru Nanak Gurudwara, opposite Chitra Cinema; behind Chitra Cinema; Dadar T.T. Circle.
  • The Parsi Colony in Dadar has the famous Five Gardens, actually something like seven to eight gardens separated by roads.
  • Opposite the exit of the Dadar Railway Station is located the newly constructed Swaminarayan Temple .
  • Hindu Colony in Dadar has several major educational institutes clustered together: the Ruia College, the Ruparel College, the Podar College and formerly the King George, but now known as the I.E.S. School, after its operators, the Indian Education Society.




Monday, August 11, 2008

Gift Shop

It's festival time in Mumbai - Raksha Bandhan 16th Aug, Krishna Janmashtami 24th Aug and Ganesh Chaturthi 3rd Sep, and Dussehrra and Diwali in October, and most of the gift shops will display traditional decorations. This shop 'Brut Collection' in Sector-17 in Vashi has a beautiful collection of torans (door hangings) and other handmade wall decorations, popular during festivals.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Weekend Snapshot

Center One Mall

The Center One mall in Vashi is a popular hangout for the youth and families too. It has Food Bazaar on the ground level, where you can get all your weekly grocery and other foodstuff. My favorite is Pantaloons, coz it offers new fashion and great style for 365 days of the year. There is Benzer for men, Sayonara, Giny & Jony, Lilliput and 4 to 14 for kids, a ladies bag shop, also a bindi shop and so much more.

The Food Court on the fourth level has a large variety of food to choose from. There is Brijwasi, Chaat Centre, Baskin Robbins icecream, Bombay Blues, McDonalds...There are more than 50 food outlets so that you don't leave the mall without a burrrp....
;-) How can I forget the gaming zone and play gym for kids on the fourth level?




Center One mall is my favorite hangout with my preschooler. If we are not at granny's place(my mom's place) on the weekend, then we hang around here for a couple of hours every Saturday or Sunday afternoon.