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Mythology and folklore is India’s tour de force and The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi, is an exhilarating cocktail of reality and myth blending them like never before showing how rich indeed they are! Based on the credence that our conduct, deeds and the destiny are the deciding factors in transforming an ordinary man to God, the book talks about Lord Shiva, who through sheer acts of valour and fortune became impregnable, God like! This epic becomes more enigmatic and fascinating with each turning leaf of the book, which goes on to portray a simple, barbarian, entertaining yet audacious Lord Shiva, the denizen of the mountains of Mount Kailash Mansarovar as a chilled out youthful tribal leader with blue throat, whose favourite pastime is smoking marijuana with his friends, but gradually goes on to become the most sacrosanct, respected, feared, loved and admired legend. Lord Shiva the slayer of vice rises to become the lord of all Gods into Mahadev. The book deals delightfully...

The songs of birds wake me up more gently than with the deafening music of the temples. A biker catches me with his two young friends on the bike! The race with cyclists trains me and brings me on a hilly plateau, dotted with palm trees where alternate steppe and rice crops. I see a bamboo plantation near a house with a cross, an old chapel. Flocks of buffaloes and goats graze on hills closer and closer like waves. I see a man in balance. He hung his sheaves at each end on a stick and carry it on his shoulder. Rocks are being transported to the new road that is being prepared. I arrive at a beautiful climb and climb to a pass. On the other side, it is a lake of dam that I discover with its small fishes. And then, it softens. We go out gradually from the hills and cross a steppe with crops, mainly rice. We cross a palm grove and then a vast neem forest keeps me in the shade for a few kilometers. A flurry of trucks rushes on the bridge of the Tilpara Barrage. As soon as I get there, I fi...

Here is a collection of english and bengali sms for the occassion of Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra and Bijaya Dasami N-Nav chetna A-Akhand jyoti V-Vighna nashak R-Ratjageshwari A-Anand dayi T-Trikal darshi R-Rakshan karti A-Anand mayi Maa Nav Durga bless u. Fortunate is the one who has learned to admire, but not to envy. Good wishes for a joyous Navratri, with a plenty of peace and prosperity. May this Dasara light up for you the hopes of Happy times and dreams for a year full of smiles! Wish you Happy Dasara. As the candlelight flame your life may always be happy, As the mountain high, U move without shy, As sunshine creates morning glory fragrance fills years as Flory, All darkness is far away As light is on its way. Wishing U all a very Happy Vijaya Dashami. Bengali SMS Dhaker awaj dhaikurkur Sonajay oi agomonisur Mayer ebar asarpala Suru holo mojar khela Tai nie sukhimon Janai agam avinandan Suvo Mahalaya/Navratri! Himer paras lage prane Sharodiyar agomone agamonir khabor ...

Navaratri, literally the Nine Nights, is a festival dedicated to the worship of the deity or šakti, the divine Mother, the feminine expression of God. This celebration occurs twice a year: the first is in spring, in the months of March/April and the second in autumn, in the month of September/October based on the lunar cycle. In the sacred texts of the Puranas and Dharma-shastra, reference is made to two (or four) Navaratris: a spring one called Chaitra Navaratri, which is less common, and an autumn one, Sharada Navaratri, which is much more deeply felt. At a regional or individual level, the Magha Navaratri between January and February and the Ashada Navaratri, between June and July, at the beginning of the monsoon season, are also celebrated. How is Navratri celebrated? Different types of pujas and ceremonies are performed by different communities. On each of the nine days, many people observe fasting. They eat only fruits, vegetables and dairy products. They perform specif...

Khichuri, as it's popularly known by Bengalis, has a porridge-like texture and is made with rice, moong dal, ginger, and lashings of desi ghee. Bhog is closely related to Puja. Although various types of food are found in the Bhog of Puja at home, Khichuri is the most popular Bhog in the neighborhood. Whether it is a festival or an everyday meal, khichuri can easily transcend these categories. Khichuri can also be seen as a link between different cultures in different parts of South Asia. Khichuri is made by mixing dal with a little spice and sauteing it, but the spices used vary from place to place. The interesting thing is that whether khichuri will be very simple or like a royal feast depends on the wishes of the cook and the eater. If desired, it can be made very elaborately or very simply. Thin khichuri with less spices to heal the sick body, steaming hot khichuri on rainy days, and khichuri made with the aroma of thick ghee to offer to Thakur on the day of Puja - like Maa Du...

Switzerland is a wonderful country. There is everything to do everywhere for couples, families with children, and groups of friends. They have everything very well mounted especially in the central area of the Alps. Switzerland is a wonderful country and we could be here for a month without stopping to see and do things. Contents [ hide ] DAY 1: Bern Our flight left in the morning and before boarding, we changed to Swiss francs. The change was not bad, and with that, we had for the entire trip (not counting the hotels that we paid with a card). In the flight, they give us coffee and a chocolate bar. We arrived very early in Geneva, around 11:30 in the morning and at the airport we took a train that took us to the central station. The airport is very close to the city and it took us about 5 minutes. In the station called Geneva Cornavin, we left the luggage in a consignment that I think cost us 6 francs and we went to visit the city. We left the station and I do not know very well but...

I arrived after an hour ride. It is a little less warm thanks to the rain. Once settled in the hotel, I aimed at the College Street area, a little over a kilometer away. I then head to College Street, where the reputed universities and colleges are. There is the famous Indian Coffee House, in an old building like any other, with the highest ceilings I have ever seen. It is overflowing with people, and it is more difficult to find a free table than a needle in a haystack. Here meets writers, artists, thinkers, to chat in an endless adda and that's why it is impossible to find a table. After around 15 mins, we found a mini table. After the sunset, I settled at a table in the mythical Indian Coffee House nearby, a landmark of intellectual and Bengali scholars, who spend their evening philosophizing. It is called the anarchist cafe and is the only public place where it is still possible to smoke a cigarette. The waiters wear white uniforms and a fan-shaped turban for the best effect. R...

Goa is one of those states that I think has fascinated me, although it is undeniable that it has spas that meet expectations. There is fine sand, crystal clear sea, vegetation, exoticism and sunsets that do not need Instagram filters. I had to face the chaos of cities like New Delhi or Calcutta or Varanasi and had been overwhelmed by vendors especially in cities like Agra and Jaipur. Now I look back and wonder if I really liked Goa for its warmth or if it was simply that in contrast to the rest of the country I found a delicious breath of fresh air amid the chaos, pollution, crowded streets and the millions and millions of people. Goa, a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years captivated me by its silence, by the slow pace of its people and by the conversations less focused on the commercial and more on the cultural exchange and the curiosity of the locals. Goa still attracts thousands of partiers who seek to gather on the beaches and enjoy the raves of techno music, the Goa trance s...