Newly popped up trends that are taking a toll on the true meaning of Diwali.

Transcending back in the 90s, it was a world of simple glory and tranquillity.  Everyone had a simple way of living and they gave utmost importance to their traditional roots. That was the time when Diwali was truly celebrated as a majestic and grand festival. With the thought of hefty bonuses, Diwali is no longer considered a festival. It has become a marketing gimmick for large end retailers and e-commerce websites. Today, people are flooded with innumerous Diwali offers and sales.

1. New dimension of gifting

Started as a simple trend of sending sweets to loved ones, gifting has a new meaning now. Sending chocolates and varied Turkish delights to relatives has changed the whole game. If it is a beloved relative, a colossal showpiece and lavish chocolates are staple gifts. There was a time when grandparents used to gift their children money and sweets, but now it is all about the latest smartphone and laptop.

2. Rangoli

Back in 90's, women were always excited to make rangoli. But now, after the 9-5 job, nobody has any energy left to create these art pieces. By putting an end to the laborious task of making rangoli, machine-made rangoli steals one’s heart away. Now, there are all types of LED and floating rangoli in the market. But nothing can beat the happiness and excitement, once the day-long process of handmade rangoli ceases.

3. Card Party

Uprooting from generic get together to card parties, the new generation has added a new aspect to the Diwali festivities. Pre-Diwali cards party sets the mood for Diwali. People flaunt about how busy they are due to these upcoming parties. For them, their religious and spiritual meaning of Diwali is at rest while they indulge in unnecessary money splurge.

4. Changing market scenarios

Earlier, every aspect of Diwali had a handcrafted touch to it. Today, there are all kinds of services available. Going out for Diwali dinners has replaced delicious food cooked at home. Even the sweets that were sent out to the relatives were made at home earlier. But the new savoury and delicacies available in the market have entered the loop. This has blown away the whole concept of handmade sweets and there is no personalised feeling attached to this form of gifting.

5. Digital Hypocrisy 

There is no end to the digital world, the more you explore it, the more you get addicted to this puddle. With the advent of numerous e-commerce websites and shopping portals, it has become easier for the working professionals to stay on top of their game. Instead of going to the market and witnessing all the festivities, they prefer to give wings to their requisites digitally. Trendy clothes, chic accessories, urban bags, comfortable shoes, etc. form a part of the online Diwali business.

6. Social Media 

Back in 1990’s, there was no way to share pictures of your Diwali decorations and beauteous rangolis. As you enter the technology-driven paradise, you ponder upon social media and its reach. People are more concerned about making their decorations picture-perfect. Flaunting your Rangoli, new clothes and accessories by clicking perfectly angled selfies and uploading them to Facebook and Instagram has reversed the whole ball game. With the new geo-location filters and festive stickers, Whatsapp and Snapchat have garnered all the Diwali traffic. Is this what we have become? Making rangoli and decorating our house for the sake of it or are we truly celebrating this festival with high spirits?

7. Festive Gatherings 

There was a time when Diwali gatherings had a different feel to it. It was about enjoying the laughter and fun with everyone. All relatives used to come together to celebrate this auspicious occasion of lights, but now sending a mere Whatsapp message is enough to maintain these ties. Festive gatherings today are all about flaunting your new clothes and jewellery. Following an individualistic approach, is it because of the dawn of nuclear families?

Yes, we know it is a fast-paced world and nothing is dynamic. Changes are a part of life and we should adapt to these changes. But amidst these drastic changes we seem to have lost ourselves. Are we still connected to our Indian culture or just racing against time for happiness? We leave you to ponder upon this thought and hope that you make the best choice this Diwali.

Weekly Newspaper Jan 29, 1780 till March 23, 1782

The First Indian Owned and Edited Newspaper was issued in English in the year 1818

Hicky's Bengal Gazette or the Original Calcutta General Advertiser was an English language weekly newspaper published in Kolkata (then Calcutta), the capital of British India. It was the first newspaper printed in Asia, and was published for two years, before the East India Company seized the newspaper's types and printing press. Founded by James Augustus Hicky, a highly eccentric Irishman who had previously spent two years in jail for debt, the newspaper was a strong critic of the administration of the Governor General Warren Hastings. The newspaper was important for its provocative journalism well before its time and its fight for free expression in India.

Samachar Darpan (Bengali: সমাচার দর্পণ) was a Bengali weekly newspaper published by the Baptist Missionary Society and published in 23rd may 1818 from the Baptist Mission Press at Serampore in the first half of the 19th century.

The newspaper was published every Saturday and was edited by John Clark Marshman. Its price was 4 annas per copy. It contained news, both Indian and European, collected from various sources, particular from English newspapers. It also contained brief articles on various subjects. It carried some material of educational value which made it respected and popular among the educated people.

Thai Steam Fish Curry made by Neelu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvGbcKXZBLg

The recipe made by our Neelu for the lunch the "Thai Steam Fish Curry" on April 28th, 2017 . Please follow the above link. 

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Maha Sivaratri

Maha Shivaratri Special: Why Milk Plays a Significant Role in This Festival

Sushmita Sengupta  |  Updated: February 24, 2017 17:07 IST

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Highlights

• Maha Shivaratri or "the Great Night of Shiva- is a Hindu Festival"
• This year the festival will be celebrated on 24th February
• On Shivaratri various offerings are made to the Shivalingam

Hindus all over India and abroad are celebrating Maha Shivaratri today. Maha Shivaratri, literally translating to the 'Great night of Shiva' is celebrated with great fervor by the Hindu community. Celebrated on the 13th night and the 14th day of the month of Phalguna or Maagh according to Hindu calender, devotees wait for the auspicious day to appease Lord Shiva by praying, fasting and offering a bevy of fruits and flowers. The major Shiva temples like Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain or Somnath Temple in Gujarat witnesses an outpour of devotees often ranging in lakhs. Hindus also throng Varanasi to take a spiritualistic bath in the Ganges to redeem their sins and seek Lord Shiva's divine blessings.

In other parts of the country, people resort to other ways mentioned in holy scriptures to appease Lord Shiva. One such way is offering raw milk to a Shivlingam. The practice has been ingrained in almost every Hindu child who is a devotee of Lord Shiva, but what is the reason behind this age old practice?

On Shivaratri various offerings are made to the Shivalingam. As part of Maha Shivaratri’s Abhishekam, the Shiva linga, a signifier of Shiva’s abundant power is given a ritualistic bath. According to Shiva Purana on the eve of Maha Shivaratri, the devotees bathe the linga with milk, honey, ghee, curd, and sandalwood paste while chanting ‘Om Namaha Shivay’. Traditionally, bael leaves, which have to be a stalk with three leaves, are kept on top of the linga. Ber or jujube fruit is also given as a special offering to the God on this day.

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The pagan God is believed to be an ardent lover of milk, which brings all his devotees together on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri with their abundant offerings of milk and fruits for their beloved deity. While the objective of pouring milk on the linga is an act of purification of one’s soul, other legends indicate that it is offered for its soothing effects on the hot-tempered deity.

Religious Symbolism - Samudra Mathan

During the Samudra Mathan episode in Hindu Mythology, the milk-ocean was churned in an epic arrangement where all kinds of productive herbs and potions produced was to be divided between Devas and Asuras. But the churning also threw a pot of deadly poison Kalakatoom, which had the power to wipe out entire creation. Sensing an imminent destruction, the anxious devas ran to Lord Shiva for rescue and on their behest he took the divine responsibility of saving everyone, and swallowed all the poison. Goddess Parvati pressed his neck so that the poison does not reach his stomach. Thus, it stayed in his throat neither going up nor going down hence his popular name, Neelkantha - the one with a blue throat!.

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The toxic level of the poison was enormous, hence to calm down its impact, the Devtas performed Ganga Abhishek on Lord Shiva. The Milk Abhishekam done by Shiva devotees is believed  to be a symbolic representation of the epic episode helmed by the Devtas to express their gratitude to the mighty Lord Shiva.

Devotees believe that the external Abhisheka will further their devotion and adoration for Lord Siva and eventually lead to internal Abhisheka with pure and abundant flow of love.

Scientific Reasons

The act of offering milk has opened a lot of contemporary debates which argue against the age-old practice, dubbing it as wastage of resources which could instead be put to use for the nourishment of underprivileged and needy. The believers have offered their own arguments to counter the claims underlining scientific basis of the practice.

The Shivlingams made of stone, metal or clay are located in the most positive and pious place in the temple, emanating tremendous amounts of positive energy. When milk, which is believed to be one of the best conductors of positive energies, is poured on to the lingam, the flow of energies begin to concentrate towards the lingam, and the devotee becomes the receiver of the outflow for his closest proximity to the lingam. Regular chanting of Om Namah Shivay

calms his mind, and tempers the tremendous energy that is emanated.

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Also, the lingam isn’t just a stone, it encompasses faith of multitudes across the world, therefore to preserve the lingam so that it doesn’t chip and break away like other stones, it needs a minimum amount of fat content. Various temple authorities claim to recycle the milk as charnamrita and prasadam to the devotees and poor children who throng the temples around Shivratri.