Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money."

- Cree Indian Proverb

Sri Rama Navami Subhakamkshalu!

  శ్రీ రామ నవమి శుభాకాంక్షలు!

   శ్రీ రాఘవం దసరధాత్మజ మప్రమేయం 

   సీతాపతిం రఘుకులాన్వయ రత్న దీపం|
  ఆజానుభాహుం అరవింద దలాయతాక్షం 

  రామం నిసాచర వినాసకరం నమామి ॥

Kuchipudi Arangetram!

 

Congratulations to my nieces on their

 Kuchipudi arangetram!

"Dance, like music, knows no geographical boundaries, no linguistic barriers and no racial divisions. All walls crumble where art is concerned. It is a great unifying and integrating force."
- Vempati Chinna Satyam

April showers!

Jaya nama samvatsaram!

You can read the significance of Ugadi and ugadi pachadi in Ugadi Subhakamskhalu!

Ugadi begins on Suklapaksha Padyami day in Chaitra maasam.

Ugadi or commonly said Samvathsaradi as the name says it is the  beginning of new era, the season of spring is associated with this lunar based festival. Ugadi is the New Year for the Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Sindhi speaking people around the world. Most of the countries around the world celebrate their New Year based on lunar cycle, unlike the Gregorian Calendar. I would like to put here what I know about how the Hindu lunar calendar is read. This is my basic understanding. 

Kali'yugam - 1200 divya-samvatsaralu

1 Divya samvatsaram-360 samvasthsaralu

60 samvathsaralu names-Prabahva to Akshaya

Jaya nama samvathsaramu (March 31, 2014-March 21, 2015)

1) Uttarayanam 2) Dakshinayanam

Ruthuvulu (seasons) (6) - maasamulu (months) (12)

Vasantha ruthuvu - Chaitra maasam, Vaisakha maasam

Grishma ruthuvu - Jyesta maasam, Ashada maasam

Varsha ruthuvu - Sravanam, Bhadrapada

Sarad ruthuvu - Aswayuja maasam, Karthika maasam

Hemantha ruthuvu - Margasirsha maasam, Pushya maasam

Sashir ruthuvu - Magha maasam, Phalguna maasam

Maasam - 2 pakshalu (fortnights) Sukla paksham (waxing moon phase), Krishna paksham (waning moon phase)

Thidhi (days) – Padyami, vidiya, thruthiya, chavithi, panchami, sashti, sapthami, ashtami, navami, dasami, ekadasi, dwadasi, thrayodasi, chaturdasi, pournami (full moon); the first 14 days repeat and the month concludes with amavasya (no moon day).

 

Welcome the New Year with complete anticipation, hope and eagerness. Look forward to a bountiful year of prosperity, satisfaction and peace. Have a very happy Ugadi!

March- the month of marriage anniversaries

Dictionary meaning of anniversary is annual recurrence of a notable event. In day-to-day life anniversaries are more of memories and celebrations.
The month of March is special to my family. My parents, my two brothers and I, all of us are associated with our marriages to this month. Last week my parents are celebrated their 61^st marriage anniversary. My parents were in their teens when they got married, that long ago. Needless to say it was a typical Hindu traditional arranged marriage. They did not have a honeymoon, per se. Do I need to say, there were no honeymoon's at all in any traditional Hindu families 50 plus years ago. They are happy with with 3 children, and 6 grandchildren. We all think that my mom and dad used to argue forever, now we know it is all for making children happy and not to cause inconvenience to us. Last week even we celebrated our anniversary, I will share more about it later. It is not all, couple of weeks back my elder brother celebrated his 24th marriage anniversary. They are blessed with two sons. To conclude the list, my younger brother's marriage is also associated with March. He was engaged this month 19 years ago. He is blessed with two daughters. How time flies......to bring special flavor in our life in its own way.

"Newlyweds become oldyweds, and oldyweds are the reasons that families work."

-Author Unknown

Thoughts and prayers

May God bless the 239 souls rest in peace

"May every sunrise hold more promise, every moonrise hold more peace." 
-Author Unknown

Eating with hands!

Eating with hands! What?

Has your mother ever told you to wash your hands before eating your food. "Mom can I eat with spoon" is the immediate question. Here is the answer for them which I recently read in Business-Standard.
Food is the God's given gift. We are honoring by eating with our own hands instead of using other modalities. Our hands are more hygienic when washed with water. We connect with food with a sense of touch. I know we are busy and eating on rush. Can we put some effort to eat once a day mindfully with our hands. We can find help, by thinking through these realities. Enjoy the food by licking your fingers, it tastes good ;-) as we did as a child.

Here is part of the text from Business-Standard:
"Our hands and feet are said to be the conduits of the five elements. The Ayurvedic texts teach that each finger is an extension of one of the five elements. 
The thumb is agni (fire) - you might have seen children sucking their thumb, this is nature's way of aiding the digestion at an age when they are unable to chew.
The forefinger is vayu (air), 
The middle finger is akash (ether - the tiny intercellular spaces in the human body), 
The ring finger is prithvi (earth) and 
The little finger is jal (water)," 
the paper explains.

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."
 -Voltaire

Happy Parents' Day!

Happy Parents Day!

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."
-Anne Frank

Happy Doctor's Day!

For a change we can prescribe all the doctors, a day full of smiles on Doctor's day.

This is a forwarded message from my inbox, thanking all the doctors for their service.

Somebody asked “You’re a doctor? How much do you make?”

I replied: “HOW MUCH DO I MAKE”

I can make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you’re scared ….

I can make your child breathe when they stop

I can help your father survive a heart attack

I can make myself get up at 4 am to make sure your mother has the medicine she needs to live…  and I will work straight through until 4 am to keep her alive and start the day all over again”

I work all day to save the lives of strangers…

I will drop everything and run a code blue for hours trying to keep you alive”

I make my family wait for dinner until I know your family member is taken care of...

I make myself skip lunch so that I can make sure everything that I did for your wife was correct...

I work weekends and holidays and through the night because people don’t just get sick Monday through Friday and during normal working hours

Today I might save your life

How much do I make?

All I know is, “I make a difference.”

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." 
-Voltaire

Diamond wishes!

60th Wedding Anniversary. The "diamond jubilee" of love that was meant to be. My parents are fortunate to celebrate their anniversary this week.
Their love began since the day my dad tied the knot to my mom 60 years ago, in their teens. It was an arranged marriage. Even-though they had seen each other once before, they did not have a full picture of each other in their minds. During the ceremony, my parents, as any young couple did not understood the deeper meanings of the vows they were taking. They were in divine language, but they understood that they have be together in good or bad situations. With the blessing of their elders, their bond grew and will last for eternity. They have created memories which will last forever within the depths of their heart.
They have shared wonderful times together and with their family; and wish them to continue to cherish the joy that arises from that. I am sure they are proud to see their three children grow as responsible adults in leading their respective families. We are proud of having you as our parents!
Congratulations on your special anniversary and our heart felt wishes from your children, their spouses and grandchildren. We wish you both a healthy life with peace all around.

"The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret".

-Henry Youngman

Happy Women's Day!

Woman play a pivotal role in our life, as mother, sister, daughter, wife and friend. No matter whatever role they play, they shower love and care for others.

Dedicate this Women's Day by watching this amazing art video.

 

International Language Day!

According to UNESCO, out of about 6000 languages no more than 200 have the status of national language. Looking at these numbers, we can see many languages are endangered. 
Language is fragile. Language and culture are intimately linked, language holds meanings of rituals and cultures which is easily passed on to the next generation. The loss of language is more than the loss of transactional communication. For social purposes you may require and so have to learn different languages; that should not stop respecting your OWN mother-tongue, with which you grew up. Don't loose the sweetness of your mother-tongue which is close to your heart.
If your mother-tongue is Telugu (తెలుగు), you will definitely enjoy this video. You may find similar in your languages too.

"Speaking your mother-tongue is not a disability!"

-Colette Grinevald

Black beans

The general consensus in the health community is that beans are in general, a “health” food and that when combined with rice, form a perfect protein for vegetarians. Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Moong beans, kidney beans, black-eyed beans, are not new to any kitchen. Black beans has entered our kitchen as they are one of the least processed and less chemically treated beans. Needless to say for its high content in fiber, protein, antioxidants along with numerous other vitamins and minerals. My research on internet made me believe among all the groups of food, no group has more health-supportive mix of protein plus fiber than beans. I figured out dried beans soaked and cooked at home have better taste and texture when compared to pre-cooked or canned beans. Black beans have satiny skin, leaves lots of colored water when soaked. Clean the soaked water couple of times until you get clear water before you cook. When cooked the bean have creamy texture and sweet flavor. It is best and easy to cook in a pressure cooker. Beans can be eaten in varied ways. I use black beans as any other beans in my cooking.
History: Native to Americas dates back at least 7000 years. 

Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris

One among the 14,000 species of beans

Health Benefits: 
Digestive Tract Benefits-regulate colon, prevent constipation and other bowel problems 
Benefits for Blood Sugar Regulation-glucose control 
Cardiovascular Benefits-heart health, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure

Usage:
Once you've cooked your black beans, they're easy to add to several dishes. 

The Cuban dish of black beans and white rice traditionally served on New Year's Day for good luck.
Can be used in salads, soups, in making Indian curries. I have used these beans replacing garbanzo in 'chole' which goes well with wheat tortillas or chapathis.

Black bean patties from ground black beans paste by adding spices.

Many refrain to eat beans to get these health benefits because of the side effects of Gas and Flatulence. To reduce these side effects cook beans with herbs like turmeric, cumin, bay leaf. If using canned wash and drain the water thoroughly. The body gradually adapts to increased bean consumption.

P.S. Approach with caution for any allergies when you try new food produce/products.

 "Hunger makes raw beans taste sweet."
-Dutch Proverb