Durga pujo is always bittersweet.When memories are taken out of the mind either they look too rosy or too distorted.One thing I always felt about Durga pujo is the pull of Kolkata.Wherever I have traveled to, I had to visit Kolkata.Maybe not gone pandal hopping, done nothing but visit the neighborhood pandal, but pujo in Kolkata you must visit once.The colors, the different pratimas, the food, the crowd and the madness.If Gods come alive because man remembers, the Maa Durga is called fervently the year around and is easily our favorite Goddess.’
We love her like our mother and wait for her to come and make all things better.Life always looks rosier with Durga pujo around the corner.
Memories of Durga pujo are full of pandal hopping with friends, visiting Maddox square, eating out, getting scolded for coming home late at night.Fast forward to now, its full of prayers, planning on meeting family and friends(if we can get the better of the traffic) and then going somewhere after the pujo to unwind for a few days.
With the passing year’s new memories get added, all jostling for space.What remains unchanged is my faith in the Goddess, the belief she does make me stronger.Life can take many turns, what stays the same is my belief that she will always guide my path.This Durga pujo when sudden news of personal loss colors my thoughts, celebrations are subdued.Everything happens around the little one.She needs her memories.You never know when you need to conjure patronuses to fight our own personal demons.
Be strong.Get rid of those demons and rise.Till next week.
Announcement
We will be back to hosting #ThankfulThursdaysevery week from October!
#ThankfulThursdays Prompt this week
Memories of Navratri /Durga pujo you are Thankful for.
You can also link up other thankfulness posts you have written.Tweets and Instagram posts are welcome too.Just spread #Thankfulness.
Thankful Thursdays Durga pujo
My favorite posts this week are :
Vidhi wrote something which you must read.Read it here.Congratulations Mocktailmommies two weeks in a row you are our featured blog!
As Vidhi said #ThankfulHeart remains a Happy heart.
Thankful Heart Vidhi of Mocktailmommies
Rules of linky:
Write on the prompt and Link Up.We have a fun new option.
You can submit tweet links and Instagram posts too.
You can also link up other posts.Just comment on this post and my co-hosts post and any two of the posts in the link up.Share using #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.
We deeply believe in community spirit.Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs.
Follow @misra_amrita @twinklingtina, on Twitter
Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST
Linky opens on Thursdays 00.00 hours.
The linky closes the following Wednesday 23.55 hours.
Write the post and Link Up with Amrita, Tina,
Generate your button code
By Joining the linky you are giving us permission to email and or tweet you a weekly reminder.
We share your entries on Twitter and other social media platform generously.
Who doesn’t like blog promotion?
Read, comment, share on the host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party.
Pro Tip – Networking and commenting are good for your blog’s health.Who
doesn’t like their blog to be read?
[bctt tweet=”God wants you to pray with heart and try harder.#ThankfulThursdays we pray together” username=”misra_amrita”]
Hindus celebrate Navratri and Bengali Hindus celebrate Durga pujo on the last five days of Navratri.What’s the difference? Oh, plenty.While fasting is a big part of Navratri all over North India, ask any self-respecting Bong what’s special about Durga pujo? Goddess Durga is loved as a mother, worshipped as Naari Shakti, warrior Goddess.The food-loving Bong has a Durga pujo and pet(tummy) pujo association.While the North Indians fast, we feast!
Mahishasura the Asur king was granted the interesting var(wish) of being un-slayable by any man in heaven or hell.Since men or asur , even in mythology refused to believe a woman could kill him, he became atrocious and started all sorts of evil.
The poor Gods came rushing to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu(the Trinity and supreme Gods of all God ) to save themselves.The combined energy of the Great gods helped form Durga.All the Gods then gifted her their own favorite weapons to arm her against Mahishasura.Community support is always helpful!Important lesson there.
Now we still believe Maa Durga is Goddess Parvati (Shiva’s wife)who needed to be convinced to leave her happy home to prepare for war.Definitely no work at home options here.The war takes time, so being a mother she prefers to bring her sons and daughters, Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik with her to earth, just like moms love workplaces with child care, so does Maa Durga.
Durga pujo in Malda: The one I loved!
Throughout this festival, I will share Pujos you must not miss.
Deshapriya park Durga puja
The famous D Park pujo which saw a stampede in 2015, has grown more and more popular.That fateful year the puja was closed off but we managed to catch a glimpse of the stunning work of art through cracks and crevices in the tarpaulin covering the perimeter of the park.
This year they have a Bahubali theme and it’s a work of art.Magnificent and stunning.
Deshapriya Park Location:
Reach this place by Metro.The best place to get off will be Kalighat station.If you are lucky enough to get an auto or taxi you will be dropped right at the footstep.But be aware there is often traffic diversions, close to the area so wear comfortable shoes.You will be walking for a significant distance
The upside:
After Deshapriya Park you can check out 3 major pujos within 10 minutes of each other, depending on diversions placed.Tridhara sammilani always a gorgeous pujo with plenty of artwork and special touches to make the trip worth mentioning. Ballygunj cultural and Samajsebi making a beautiful carnival-like atmosphere in Lake road and Lakeview road.The USP here is the ambiance and the transformation into a fairy tale like atmosphere, Bong style!
What should you wear?
Must: Comfortable shoes and clothes which keep you cool.
Pujo means Kolkata rocks the ethnic look.But you can actually wear pretty much anything.There’s a Boutique saree shop right next to the Samajsebi pujo, Indian Silk House Exclusives, which has some gorgeous silk weaves.They have exclusive pieces, so be ready for pockets getting lighter if you plan to pandle hop and shop.
Durga pujo:Top tip .go just before afternoon .When the all nighters are still sleeping and the morni g pandal hoppers are taking a break.
Eats ?
There’s no dearth of eating places.Plenty of street food vendors selling rolls, fries,phuchkas, chaats, Chinese Kolkata style, the Kolkata biriyani immitations and the mandatory ice cream.Other than that .you have two South Indian tiffin homes which are superb but have to wait and timings fixed.
Ramakrishna Lunch home and Udipi Lunch home.
Ecstasea: Delicious one of a kind seafood.They have take away too.
Marco Polo: Continental and Bengali with twists.Proper dining and expensive.
Tamarind: South Indian but not only the regular fare.They have the Chettinad cuisine in full glory with lip-smacking non-veg options.The problem is during pujo you may be offered a limited selection due to the rush.
Corner courtyard: Continental.Pretty decor, excellent service, good food.Expensive, small portions may keep you hungry.
Sweet shops plenty: Favourite is Bancharam.Interesting sweet and Bengali savory item will help keep you going if you are in a rush.
Cakes: Favourite cake shop near Menoka cinema hall.
5 Must carry in the bag :
For the look: Lipstick, lip balm, wet wipes and dry tissues(to get the shine off your nose before the pics).
Water bottle, since you will get thirsty.But take sips(you know why!).Glares, if daytime.
Plenty of change and cash to make your life easier.Small eateries and the street food vendors will be unlikely to accept digital payment.
UtsavApp : Claims it will cover 350 major pujos in Kolkata. You will find a guide map to these pujo’s with a backstory about the pujo to keep you updated.
It will also show the location-specific restaurants to keep you munching.
Emergency needs like police stations, hospitals and pay and use toilets are also being updated on this Social festival app.This app is launched in association with Kolkata police
You can upload your own pujo pics and share it on facebook too.It sounds amazing but I will be using it real time to review any glitches.
Download in Google play: It has a 4.3 rating and only available for Android at present.
Google map
MondayMommyMoments prompt 39
Share your Navratri stories, memories, and tips for pandal hopping !
Share your Navratri or Durga pooja, festival posts
I love traveling.But just like you can’t make all the mistakes in this world to grow wiser, you will be hard pressed for time and resources to travel all the places this beautiful world offers.
That’s where travel stories books and blogs are so loved.When I started reading Gayatri Gadre’s Off Beats I had little idea of what to expect.Offbeat places, we enjoy traveling to, but reading about them?Will it be entertaining?Will it make me a virtual traveler?Will it make me dream with eyes open?
Yes and yes.Gayatri weaves an Alice in Wonderland type travel story where you are offered glimpses into unique places, offbeat and still beautiful.
Magic seems to happen when travelers hear the stories from the monuments they visit when they can hear the whispering if the trees they pass.Gayatri has this unique ability to find the pulse of a place.It will not matter if you have never heard of it or maybe have no plans to visit it.But if you love to travel you will love reading this.
She tells the story of Anne Frank’smuseum and you can feel the hairs on your nape tingle.She describes the thrill of Paragliding, of wandering through London museums and French villages. Gayatri’s passion for traveling is evident in every word.Even if you are a seasoned traveler you will enjoy rediscovering India through Gayatri’s eyes.Of visiting Kaas plateau and tips on a road trip.Of getting lost and finding places!
What I wished for?
I was hoping for a little travel food stories too.About what she ate on the way and how it was she enjoyed on her travels.ButI will have to wait for her next books for more.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely!Off Beats is a book for the traveling soul.If you love to travel, if you enjoy the unknown, if you love history, nature and the warmth of real people, you will love reading this book.
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links.This means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to purchase.Read my full disclaimer.
I would rather call myself an explorer than an author, writing just happened. It all started as a need, need to travel alone from Pune (where I was studying) to my village during every vacation. As I progressed in my education, I also progressed to traveling to Mumbai on my own. In most of these, journeys I would sit alone, gaze outside the window with nothing particular on my mind and would discover a hidden side of me. I struck a conversation with myself. As I discovered the joy in traveling, my hunger for more traveling increased. So here is a piece of my travel experiences, just for you. But in case it leaves you craving for more, you can always come back to http://www.gayatrigadre.com/blog/By the way, for a living I offer digital marketing services to companies worldwide.
Book Blurb
This book offers insights into how author through her own life drew a learning to travel and explore more. Her experiences helped us elevate her own living style. She hopes this book will inspire you to travel, as an individual as well as a couple, family since there is rarely a better way to learn more about the world and the wonderful creations of nature including the most intriguing ones – people.
Nisha Duggal successfully climbed several rungs of the corporate ladder when she finally decided to ‘hit’ the next milestone i.e, having a baby. Now even after five years, she is still ‘trying’ to hit that milestone. Days, however, turned into months and months into years as Nisha, now 40, has so far spent lakhs of rupees at different infertility clinics to carry her bundle of joy in her womb. “When science failed to treat me, I tried many gharelu nuskas (home remedies) as well, but all in vain,” she said.
Nisha is not the only woman in India who is struggling with infertility, as there has been a spurt in the number of women who have been dealing with fertility issues.
Finding out the real cause of infertility is a complex process. Ranging from a visible cyst problem, fibroid or hormonal imbalance to complex genetic disorders and occupational hazards, the reason could be anything. In fact, strangely, infertility is not making any distinction in ‘choosing’ her patients as couples under 25 are also dealing with fertility problems in India. As per experts, nearly 15% of couples from the age group of 21 to 25 years are facing fertility problems.
Infertility, in both men and women, has become a common trend nowadays.
1 out of 5 couples is childless and their number is growing at an alarming rate
Since 1981, 5% jump in infertility in urban India
17% of childless women face with marital problems as compared to 2% with kids
10% of young males have sperm issues
In our society, where it is ‘only’ a woman’s job to take the ‘vansh’ forward, it’s hard to understand the pain and agony of a woman who is unable to conceive because the fertility issue is with her partner.
In a modernized society, the conceding problem has expanded and has impacted men as well. In fact, as per studies, male infertility is the cause in nearly 40% of couples facing infertility troubles as compared to around 20% a decade ago. The most common issues men face today are low sperm count, low mortality of sperm and morphology abnormalities.
It is an alarming rate which could be due to changing lifestyle, stress work atmosphere, high consumption of alcohol/tobacco and rising obesity among others. Then swelling of blood vessels around tests and hernia surgery can also lead to infertility among men.
Infertility in India
Dealing with infertility
To fight against infertility, it is essential to know the cause behind it. Many times, by introducing simple changes in your lifestyle, like quitting smoking/alcohol, taking up exercise, following a healthy diet, etc; it is feasible to conceive naturally.
Then there are IVF procedures which are spreading happiness in the lives of childless couples. However, the IVF treatment doesn’t come easy. The cost of IVF in India can range between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000. However, most couples have to spend over Rs 3 lakh due to multiple IVF cycles.
Then if the pregnancy problem is due to low or poor sperm quality, then a couple can go with sperm donor as well for which they would need to shell out anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, which again could vary from case to case.
When you are struggling with infertility, it can feel like no one is around there to support you. You might have thousands of friends on facebook, a long contact list on your Smartphone or lakhs of followers on twitter, but somehow, you would feel there is no one here to understand you. After all, they need to be in your shoes to understand how you feel.
When you broke up with your boyfriend, your friend’s shoulder is there to console you, when you crashed your car, your father and brother are there to rescue you. But when you are fighting with fertility issues, even your closest persons won’t be able to help you. Without experiencing your sadness and anger, it’s just difficult for them to say or do the right things.
We are building a holistic platform to educate, counsel, handhold and provide tools to facilitate informed treatment decision. We provide lifestyle and treatment counseling, not for patients going through infertility issues but also as a preventive healthcare.
We at InfertilityDost have come into existence with a prime objective of helping couples who face problems in conceiving. They say, you can’t understand a situation unless you don’t feel it. At InfertilityDost, we have a team of such people who may belong to different parts of the society but they all have experienced or seen infertility or fertility issues at some point in their lives. Either they were victim or witness!
Be her support:She needs you
We have developed an emotional support group on social media networks where you can talk and vent out your frustrations or anger anonymously. It is a platform where we salute those fighters also who fought and won the struggle of infertility.
Many times, ignorance about infertility and various treatments like IVF make the journey more difficult. We have a panel of experts which can guide you about infertility and various procedures associated with it.
Remember, we all have been on the same boat with one difference only— I traveled first, so I can understand what you have been going through. Sometimes, you don’t need lectures, advice or tips but only an ear that can listen to you and with whom you can be what you are without being judged.
Instead of blaming God for your state, take charge of your happiness and write your own destiny!For more such articles check out the blog.
The author of this article is Ms. Gitanjali Banerjee . The founder of InfertilityDost had a 10-year-long tryst with infertility wherein she decided to change the way this issue is perceived in society and managed by patients. She hopes to wipe away a few tears for those stuck on the journey to fertility. Her life’s biggest pain is now her greatest strength and she dreams of a society where infertility is just a disease, a curable one, and has no implications on your being a woman or man.
The best way to shop is when it’s a challenge and when it’s with friends.I avoid the jostling crowds that shop with religious fervor.With a kid in tow and hubby looking progressively mutinous , shopping for me is best done in the comfort of my home, online.
The immense amount of stuff that keeps accumulating with a child growing up, has made me a careful shopper.I buy after making a list.Window shopping online can be even more dangerous than in shopping malls.The websites will then keep on sending you emails with various price versions and you will be seeing that same product everywhere(called retargeting), till you give in and buy.
I have short to-dos when I go buying
I make a list of what I want to buy.I am a list person.I have lists for everything.There’s a deep-rooted pleasure in checking ut something on a list, with a red pen is
Keep an approximate budget.Buying and being guilty about it spoils the fun.
I check my home for similar items(happens for clothes, mostly) and think about why I want to buy.This I do because I love shopping and hate the process of finding a place to squeeze in the new purchases.It’s a dream that one day all the stuff will magically fit in.That’s why I always declutter before going shopping.Online or offline.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in the following part.This means if you click on a link and buy something I will make a small commission, which in no way affects the price you pay to buy it.Your help is the best way to support this website.Read my full disclaimer.
Shopping on a Budget and making money :3 steps
1)I keep a watch out for the heavily discounted sales on Amazon.Check out my curated list of Amazon sale seasons.The last 5 years of my experience with Amazon has shown they have the least price across all categories.The Great Indian Shopping Festival is coming up on the 21st.It will be running until the 24th.Make a list and shop smart. Get my list of must buy books to do more here.
Shop at the online portal which you love and money will be credited to your account as NEFT in the bank/Amazon vouchers/Flipkart vouchers. Check it out here.
Cashkaro : What you need to do
Cahkaro : Get real cash
Cashkaro:How can Cashkaro give you cash back?
Did you know the cash gets tracked to your account within 72 hours?Cashback generally gets confirmed
within 4-12 weeks and you get paid.This waiting time was the biggest con for me .
They are responsive to Twitter messages and have an easily navigable site.
Cashkaro :Show this to your hubby when you shop online next time
Durga Pujo is for worship and the prepujo days are for shopping!Shop smart and shop carefully.Money saved is money earned.Buy things which you need.
Warning from an ex-shopaholic
Avoid buying plastic and non-ecofriendly products
Do not buy makeup in bulk.They expire soon and are harmful when used beyond expiry date.
Invest in quality accessories and clothes which are classics.
Make it a game with a friend.The best deals you can find and on a budget.
Share with me on Twitter , by tagging me.I would love to know what you shopped for.Writing this for #MondayMommyoments.
MondayMommyMoments prompt 38
Share with us your mommy tips about shopping on a budget
RULES OF LINKY:
Comment on this post and co-hosts post You can write a post prompt or link up your new post in the linky. We share and visit each blogger who links up. This is not just a blog hop.This is a journey. That’s a total of at least 4 posts we want you to give some love. Write the post and Link Up with Amrita or Deepa.Follow on Twitter @Deepagandhi1 & @misra_amrita.
Use #Mondaymommymoments or #MMM in your post and share on social media using the same hashtag.
By Joining the linky you are giving us permission to email and or tweet you a weekly reminder.
Did you know reading blogs makes your Alexa better? We deeply believe in community spirit. Copy the badge code and put it at the end of your post.
Generate your button code
Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs. Prompts will be announced every Sunday at 21.00 hrs IST.Linky opens till Sunday 21.00 hours.
We always visit the blogs and promote them as much as possible.It’s like your own blog promo.What’s not to love? We share your entries on Twitter and other social media platforms generously. Who doesn’t like blog promotion? Click the blue button below and submit your blog post.
Disclosure: If you decide to buy or make a purchase, please do so after carefully reading the terms and conditions of the portals mentioned.This is my personal experience with these sites.Read my full disclosure here.
I am taking my Blog to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa and Blogchatter.
I love spending time at home. For me, it’s important to have a clean and fresh home. A few days back while getting a bookshelf painted, I made sure they took it to the shop, to get it done. Extra expenses, but these paints are full of nasty chemicals called VOC which spread all through the home. It is very harmful to children and adults too. I started researching VOCs from the time I was pregnant. That’s when women start having worries about the environment, air quality and the world in general. Our feeling of mortality and the world we are leaving for our child. India ranking among the top 10, in having most polluted indoor air didn’t make me feel happy.
I thought only burning wood and other biomass caused poor indoor air quality. The Narendra Modi government has subsidized LPG gas and has helped millions switch to healthier cooking gas options.But what about VOCs?That’s present even in urban and affluent homes. In fact, the indoor air may have five times more such pollutants than outdoor air.
But what exactly are these VOCs?
Formaldehyde, benzene, toluene(VOCs) are VOCs.Some of these VOCs are suspected carcinogens.VOCs or volatile organic compounds are emitted by a lot of products used in homes.
They include:
Paints, paint strippers, and other solvents
Wood preservatives
Aerosol sprays
Cleansers and disinfectants
Moth repellents and air fresheners
Stored fuels and automotive products
Hobby supplies
Dry-cleaned clothing
Pesticide
VOCs, evaporate into the air when you use these and even when they are stored.In fact, pressed wood furniture can emit VOCs several years after they are made. But why are VOCs bad?
What effect do Volatile organic compounds have on your body?
VOCs have a wide range of strange effects on your body. They can irritate eyes, nose, and throat. They may cause headaches and make you nauseous. Long-term exposure can damage liver, kidneys, and are cancer causing too!
Unfortunately, in India, emission standards for VOCs are not mentioned. Ask me why? The government forgot to make it mandatory. That’s why you end up inhaling VOC s in various amounts from many unknown sources. None of which are documented openly.
These are scary thoughts but you can still do a lot to make your room air fresh and clean.
7 Things I will do to make my new home air clean and fresh
1)I am getting my home painted with a lead-free eco-friendly paint option. God’s were listening because while before only a few brands offered this option now there are at least 3 well-known brands having an option of lead-free paint. But what has made me really happy is the new Asian paints Royale Atmos. The company claims the wall paint is not only lead-free but has an activated carbon mechanism to actively remove VOCs from room air. How effective is it?That I will need to find out.
How cool is that? I was very happy to hear this. Now my plan is to save enough money to be able to afford it for my new home. With innovations like this, I am excited.
2)I plan to keep a cute open container of baking powder in all the wet areas. This helps to decrease damp and mold. Mold can also make the room air of poor quality. It causes allergic rhinitis, asthma, and other allergic tendencies. Also, one wall getting damp can spread throughout the home. Mold problems are very difficult to get rid off. Prevention will definitely help.
3)I have also planned Vertical indoor gardensfor my balcony, living room and maybe the guest room. That again will depend on the total budget.I can start small, right?
The places where I can’t have a vertical garden I will have potted plants with low water need.
How many plants per person is adequate to give fresh air?
1 to 3 per 100 square feet is adequate.NASA very helpfully prepared a list of indoor plants which are efficient at improving indoor air quality and produce oxygen even in low light conditions indoors.
4)I will only use homemade pesticides for my plants. That’s what I do even now.
5)I plan to check the emission standards of my electronic appliances and act accordingly.
6)Buy sustainable eco-friendly furniture. Pressed wood has a very high quantity of VOC.So I am planning on using reclaimed wood or bamboo.I already have several wrought iron and reclaimed wood pieces. Definitely no leather sofas. There goes, my dream recliner! But it’s for good health. Right?
7)I am also going to avoid dry cleaning as far as possible. The fluid used for dry cleaning emits the VOCs for a very long time.
This is my 7 step plan of action for my new home. One to four I have decided, five is going to be challenging, six fun researching. Tell me in the comments below how you keep your room air fresh and clean.
Disclaimer: Writing this for an Indiblogger campaign with Asian paints.#CleanAirBeautifulHomes after loving the idea of Royale atmos.
Click to see the video, if you are too busy to read now. Don’t forget to subscribe!
