Happy Mother's Day

Happy Ugadi 2012

Nandana Nama Year Wishes to All My Family Members,Friends,Blog Friends ,Readers &Followers.

Fortunate is the one who has learned to Admire,but not to envy.

Memories of Moments celebrated together...

Hope this Ugadi brings in Good Fortune & Abounding Happiness for  All of You!
Happy Ugadi !!

Ugadi 2012~ Nandana Nama Samvatsara Ugadi 2012

Ugadi is the New Year (Lunar New year) for Telugu and Kannada Speaking People and it ushers in the Spring season.In 2012 ,the date of Ugadi is March 23.Nandana Nama Samvatsara begins on March 23,2012.Ugadi (Yuga & Adi) means beginning of  an astronomical cycle.It is also the first day of Chaitra,the first month of the traditional Hindu Calendar followed in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.Ugadi is also known as Chandramana Ugadi or Chandramana Varsha Thodaku or  Vatsara Arambha.

For the telugu and Kannada Speaking people ,Ugadi day begins with an extensive oil bath.Rangolis or Kolams are drawn infront of homes and doors and windows are decorated with a 'Thorana' -Mango leaves strung together.Then it is time for the preparation of the famous "Ugadi Pachadi" in Andhra Pradesh.In Karnataka,it is the "Bevu Bella".

A major event on the day is "Panchanga Sravanam"- predictions for the year.It is organized at temples and by cultural and social organizations.

Ugadi festival Food

"Ugadi pachchadi" is one such dish that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tanarind which truly reflect life - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes!

Symbolic eating of "Pachhadi"The Kannada, Telugu and the Konkani diaspora in Karnataka and Kerala,people celebrate the festival with great fanfare; gatherings of the extended family and a sumptuous feast are 'de rigueur'. The day, however, begins with ritual showers (oil bath) followed by prayers, and then the eating of a specific mixture of six tastes (షడ్రుచులు), called Ugadi Pachhadi (ఉగాది పచ్చడి) in Telugu and Bevu-Bella( ಬೇವು-ಬೆಲ್ಲ) in Kannada, symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise) , which should be accepted together and with equanimity.

The special mixture consists of:

Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness

Raw Mango for tang

Tamarind Juice for sourness

Green Chilli/Pepper for heat

Jaggery for sweetness

Pinch of Salt for saltiness

You can also check out the details of Ugadi with more elaboration Here and Here

Happy Valentine's Day ~ Gunta Punugulu / Pongadalu

Hi Friends,After a short break I came with my recipe  tried it and came out well & tastes good; and this result was said by my husband.

So,For this Valentine's Day I impressed my husband with these "Gunta Punugulu".My husband likes this snack item very much as his mom (My MIL) prepares him  often when we visit her.

I know this item and liked it from my school days from my GrandMother as she cooks for all her grand children as a evening snack.I liked this item and well known from her only.I Love her & her recipes too.

I learned this from my mother and tried for the day ,enjoyed happily by my Husband & Kid.

Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Dosa batter-1cup (You Can Use Left over Dosa Batter )
• Onion- 1 medium size chopped
• Green chilies-3 no chopped
• Curry leaves-few
• Salt to taste
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• Grated Carrot-1tbsp
• Turmeric- a pinch
• Chanadal- 2tbsp soaked in water for an hour
• Oil to cook
• Gunta Punugula Pan/Penam

Preparing Dosa batter:

• Soak 3 cups raw rice,1 cup Urad dal,1tsp fenugreek seeds over night .
• Grind these to a fine  paste and ferment the batter for 6-7 hours.
• Combine the salt .

Method for Gunta Punugulu:

• Take the fermented dosa batter in to a bowl.
• Mix the chopped onion,green chillies,turmeric,cumin seeds,grated carrot ,soaked Chandal & the curry leaves by breaking with fingers.
• Mix the batter with spoon or by your hand.
• Place the Gunta Punugulu Pan on stove under mediuym heat.
• Drop little amount of oil in each hole.
• Pour the batter with spoon in to holes.
• Turn with a fork or spoon when you see pores forming on the top.
• Apply oil if it is sticked to the pan.
• Turn it and cook well.
• Transfer these to a plate .
• Garnish with few chopped onions and taste with Karam podi .
• Serve with tomato sauce for Kids.

 Impress these item for your Sweet heart & Lovely Kids on this Valentine's Day!!Enjoy

One more information & news to all Friends those who see my Blog ; I am travelling back to India .So sharing this news to all of you my dear Friends.Enjoy all the festivals & advance wishes for the coming Shivaratri Festival on Next Monday (Feb-20-2012) .After settling in India, soon I will start  posting  My recipes.Bye Bye to all my dear friends.

Happy Saraswati Pooja

Saraswati Jayanti (or) Saraswati Pooja

Saraswati Puja 2012 Date is Saturday 28th of January. This festival is primarily celebrated in Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa.

Saraswati Puja is performed on Vasant Panchami every year. The festival celebration takes place on the fifth day of brighter fortnight of the month of Magha based on the Indian calendar. It is understood that Goddess Saraswati was born on this particular day. On this day the devotees offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati, who symbolizes knowledge as well as learning.

Who is Goddess Saraswati

Goddess Saraswati happens to be the consort of Lord Brahma and is known to be the Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom. She personifies knowledge, science, arts and crafts. She also represents Shakti, inspiration, creativity and presents herself at a time when Nature is in all its splendor and the weather is very pleasant. Her presence is indicative of inspiration as well as passion. In Buddhism Goddess Saraswati is considered as guardian deity that protects and assists Buddhist practitioners and upholds Gautama Buddha’s teachings.

Saraswati is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. She is dressed in white, which represents purity and rides the white swan.

Legend of Saraswati Puja

Goddess Saraswati is considered to be the Goddess of learning as well as speech. She represents the union of power and intelligence from where organized creation emanates. She possess the knowledge of all the scriptures, Vedas, musical power, dances and poetry. She is the person who has revealed knowledge and learning to mankind.

Goddess Saraswati originates from the Vedic river that has disappeared. This link indicates her sense of fluidity in all walks of life. She is the embodiment of wisdom, intelligence, fortune, brilliance, nourishment, splendor, contentment as well devotion.

The belief held is that Goddess Saraswati endows people with powers of wisdom, speech and learning. She has four hands which represent four aspects of the personality of human beings in learning process, mind, learning, intellect, ego and alertness.

About Goddess Saraswati Picture

Saraswati is the Goddess of leaming, knowledge, and wisdom. The Sanskrit word sara means "essence" and swa means "self." Thus Saraswati means "the essence of the self." Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

In Her popular images and pictures, Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (some pictures may show only two arms), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds a book and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her. This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:

• The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes supreme knowledge. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes supreme knowledge. The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.
• The four arms denote Her omnipresence and omnipotence. The two front amms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world. The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand.
• The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind.
• The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.
• The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.
• Two swans are depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.
• A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behavior as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge.

Celebration of Saraswati Puja

The arrival of springtime is celebrated. Nature decorates the tree and plants with new blossoms. Families dress up in bright yellow and gather around the idol of Goddess Saraswati and pray that they are blessed with knowledge.

Kites are flown high on this day, making the sky look colorful.

Mantra For Goddess Saraswati

yaa kundendu tushhaar haara dhavalaa
yaa shubhravastraavR^itaa .
yA vINaavarada.nDa ma.nDitakaraa
yaa shvetapadmaasanaa

 

Rituals of Saraswati Puja

Devotees dress up in yellow and gather around the idol to pray for knowledge. Flower as well as wild berries are offered to the Goddess. Students keep their books near her idol and seek her blessings. On that day the students do not do any writing or reading. Then puja is performed with sandalwood, joss sticks, ghee, and incense. Slokas are read and conch shells are blown and drums are beaten. Devotees eat only vegetarian food. Children are initiated into learning by writing the word “Om”.

Some people perform the pitri-tarpan( homage paid to dead ancestors).

Saraswati Puja is an auspicious occasion for those interested in enhancing their knowledge and learning. It is a day for the family to get-together and pray that they are a success in every walk of life.

Happy India Republic Day Wishes

In triumph & in tragedy

One Nation, under God 

Indivisible.

And pledge allegiance to the flag of our Motherland.

And to the republic for which it stands,

With liberty and justice for all,

United we stand.

India is proud to Celebrate its 63rd Republic Day.

Divya's Cooking Journey Wishes the Nation & all the Indians with a Very Happy Republic Day.

Enjoy this great day remembering our National Heroes & the Leaders who fought for this day & struggled for the Constitution and turned India in to a Republican Country.

I remember my Celebrations in India When I was a Child.Me as a Child enjoyed this great day by Participating in the Cultural Programs like Singing Songs & performing the dance which explains about our Nation & our freedom fighters.Those Songs are very famous .Hope Indians may know those songs well .They are "Nee Dharmam Nee Sangam Nee Desam Nuvvu Maravaddhu" , "Nenu Naa Desam Pavithra Bharata Desam".These two songs are always highlighted the Celebration which explains all the Freedom fighters Struggling for our Country.Students disguise them well as the National leaders and perform their Characters to the Song in the Dance when the song plays. 

I remember two Characters Katta Brahmana was always performed by one Student Hemanth as he was tall and fat.Gandhiji was Performed by Savith as he uised to cut his hair to look as Gandhi.Those days are really Golden days. I post those pictures when I am back to my home place.I wish my kids also to enjoy all these.

So Indians,be proud to be an Indian & Never forget our Motherland & Respect ; try to Share your past memories with your kids as a parent and kids will enjoy .

Here is a  National Anthem video and don't forget to stand and salute to our "MATHRUBHOOMI" when you play it.