Ritu's 6th Birthday

Ritu's 6th Birthday :

Ritu , my neice's 6th birthday was celebrated in Cuttack on 15th of July 2015. The celebration was not attended by many due to bad weather conditions and bad roads witl pot-holes due to continuous rains before the event. As usual it was celebrated with a birthday cake and Dinner with close friends and relatives.
         All my other nephews and niece alongwith their mother  failed to make it for the celebration.
              Ritu was all crazy for receiving the gifts that she always waits for and cutting the cake.  She spoke to her cousins over phone and received their good wishes ! The night ended with sumptuous food and sweets alongwith icecream .

                                       Ritu



























It was fun !

The 8th Birthday Celebration of Gungun at Cuttack Home :

                Gungun my niece, is the most affectionate niece or nephew that I have amongst all. She is fun to talk to, as she is very mild, humble  and caring. She loves food and sleep, the more the merrier ! May be that is why , she is healthy and slow. I discuss about her likes and dislikes, whenever I go out for a morning walk or a drive with her. She is very possessive about me, whenever we play Ludo or whenever there are some differences.
Sometimes, I give more  time to her younger sister Ritu , as she is blunt, to get what she wants ! If Gungun sees me spending more time with Ritu, she goes to a corner and feels low. After asking her many times about the reason, she says she is getting used to it  !
Getting used to what ? Once, I asked !
"Ritu is beautiful, with fair skin and thin. She speaks fast and very well. She is good in her studies with A grades in all ! But I am her opposite ! Bulky, dusky, dumb and a B grader !"She said it once, in one go !
       I felt miserable about my position trying to see, if I could convince her, that it was not true. For a parent or a Guardian. all children are equal irrespective of their looks or talents. But a girl at seven could feel this and express it was not, what I expected from her. I hugged her tightly then , for a few minutes, wishing it would erase the feelings of inferiority of  her at a tender age. Now I spend more time with her. Take special care of her. Make her feel that talents and achievements can come,  even at a later stage. Life is a great teacher to explain when it is needed.
Now, I always make sure that I visit her and spend time with her during her birthday every year , wherever she is !
She is my Darling and I have all my prayers,  for her happiness and wellbeing wherever she is . May God shower her with health and Happiness  and let her blossom bright and beautifully and brilliantly  in the years to come !
                             Happy Birthday, Gungun !
 


                                                 GUNGUN WITH HER GANG



                                          GUNGUN WITH HER GANG

 
                                                Liza with KOONMOON

















 
                                                 GUNGUN WITH HER GANG

 

 

 

 





 

                             GUNGUN WITH HER FAV COUSIN BITTU

Buddha Purnima Celebrations

Buddha Purnima Celebrations :

               I celebrated the Buddha Purnima this time ,as always I did at Sanskriti , Anandgram (A farm House in South Delhi ). This is a Farm House in South Delhi on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road which is a walking distance from my Home in Ayaa Nagar. The first time I came here was in 1997,  when a Vietnamese monk Thich Nath Hahhn , a Professor in France visited this place for a three day session on Meditations, Chanting and prayers. There were discourses on Buddhism and on mindful living. It was a blissful experience to attend with many Europeans that included many ambassadors from many different countries.
        This year, it was very nice to see Shantum Seth leading the Sangha ( who is  the younger brother of Vikram Seth, the renowned author). He is well Educated and very gentle as a Human Being. He is also the son of Justice Leela Seth. The day started with usual walking meditations, talks and lectures and chanting. We lighted candles under a Banyan tree near the entrance of the Farm House as a symbol of respects for Buddha's enlightment. It was  followed by a sumptuous dinner.
     I visited the place this time with a group of my friends who are very close to me.  We enjoyed each others company while visiting and discussing about the place and people there apart from our life.
It was a great feeling for  all of us !



























            A few of my lady friends were also there for the event. It was a very pleasing experience to meet and discuss life with them.  




You can get details at :
www.buddhapath.com
and www.ahimsatrust.org

     However, I am a die-hard Hindu who believes in the rituals and practices of Hinduism. I consider Lord Buddha as an reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hence try to get to know everything about him.

April 2014 visit to BHUBANESWAR and Cuttack

April Visit To the Twin Cities:

               I visited Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in Odisha from 12th to 16th of April 2014. It was to see my younger brother and his family moving to their new self-owned house in Cuttack from Bhubaneswar. I am quite attached to his two daughters who are kids at 6 years and 4 years olds and are fun to interact with. They too love my company when I am with them. Going for long early morning walks and riding bicycles are fun for them. We always come back with Potato chips and chocolates after the walks in the mornings. In the evenings its ice creams and Mango Fruity juice.

          My Second day was spent with morning walks  and cycle rides in the early morning along with my nieces. We came back with toffees and other goodies for my nieces.
The lunch was with a dear friend of mine from New Delhi days in Cuttack city with chicken and fruits followed by a watching a movie "Bhoothnath " at a Theatre in the Central part of the city.
The next day was spent in Bhubaneswar over Lunch at a school friend of mine Dipak , who was one year junior to me in Sainik School. It started with Bela Pannas as it  was the Pana Sankranti day in Odisha. The food was a sumptuous vegetarian one. In the evening, I visited another batch-mate of mine from my school days, Anant Naik who is an Executive Engineer with PWD department with the Govt of Odisha. He invited me again, with Bela Pannas !
It was a great feeling, to celebrate a Sankranti with such beautiful friends !

( to be contd.)