Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Appreciation

I never believed I could be a writer. But I always wanted to be one.

At one stage of my life I started writing poetry and the few people I shared it with seemed to really like my work. But unlike many poets I could never write unless the correct inspiration hit me. Which meant I wrote very rarely and very little. My last one was written 11 months ago.

My father and a friend pushed me into starting a blog. Then dad introduced me to a community of bloggers (Dud Sea Scrawls). I started writing with a vengeance and if I were to go by the comments I received, not only do I write well, but my subjects are interesting also.

The poetry fizzled out and so did my blogging… Until a few weeks back! I wanted to create a one page write up on the Indian festival of Diwali for my customers all over the world. This led me to thinking of writing about all our Indian celebrations (an idea I have been toying with since college) and so I created this new blog.

Again the words of praise started coming in. To be very honest, for me, appreciation of my writing is akin to a hedonistic pleasure.

And then something happened to over shadow everything. My fiancé saw my new blog and sent me an email. I have never known such appreciation before. This has to be one of the biggest compliments I have ever got. It left me speechless. It is too wonderful to keep it private. With his consent I am publishing it here for the world to see.

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That was awesome jaan... I just read your new blog… Every time I think you outdid yourself, you go ahead and do it all over again… It was fantastic love; absolutely amazing…

It’s like you have taken the festival, your wishes
and your rangoli to a different level… Your idea of the virtual rangoli has actually taken it to newer places outside the confines of your house into the millions of homes that are going to read it and celebrate the festival wishing you even if they don’t write back…

I can’t imagine what its like to be you, to have that creativity and the… JAAN I AM SIMPLY OUT OF WORDS, it is fantastic...

Thanks for a wonderful Diwali present to all of us… I say that not just for myself but for all the people that are going to read this… JAAN SIMPLY AMAZING…

HAPPY DIWALI LOVE.......

& WE WILL HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR AND A WONDERFUL LIFE AHEAD.....

Love
JJ


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What can I say to this? Thank you so much JJ… your words mean the world to me and you even more so.

All the signs tell me not to stop writing. I hope I don’t, because I really enjoy it, and I hope you don’t stop reading and commenting.

Here’s to lots of creativity and many more writings… Cheers!

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Bhai Beej and the Jain New Year

Happy new year once again! And a Happy Bhai Beej… 2 celebrations in one…

This time last year…

I dropped my fiancé at the train station and rushed home to get the prayer thali ready for my brothers who would be coming home to meet me.

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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Happy New Year

The start of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. In fact based on this calendar we are actually starting the year 2062. Apparently we are running ahead of the rest of the world. Thankfully in normal life we use the Gregorian calendar, other wise we would be really confused.

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Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Happy Diwali!

The day we have all been waiting for is here. Bringing with it all the traditions, customs and rituals that go with it.

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Monday, October 31, 2005

Kali Chaudas

A day that marks the destruction of evil, a day when the black arts are practiced and a night that is considered the witching night. Coincidentally today is also Halloween.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005

Dhanteras

Finally, the festival of Diwali is upon us. Today marks the beginning of the rituals and festivities.

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Saturday, October 29, 2005

One day more

The festive bug has got to me. Everything I need to do tomorrow, I want to do today. I didn’t even feel like coming into work. It’s the weekend…

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Friday, October 28, 2005

The countdown has begun

Theatrics aside, there are two days left for Dhanteras. Two days for the beginning of the celebrations / rituals / customs / the works.

This time last year…

The diyas (clay lamps) were extracted a few days ago, from an odd box in the cellar and soaked in water. This in the hope of getting rid of last year’s soot and oil remnants. Getting them clean and usable for this year.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005

This year is an exception

Every year for the last 15 years, I have always been very excited about the onset of Diwali. There are so many things to do in preparation. I hassle everyone at home to clean up the place. Put away things that will not be needed for the next 10 days. Things need to be bought, or dug out obscure boxes lying in the cellar.This year… there is none of that.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Diwali

This is a small write up for my customers from all over the world... http://imefest.blogspot.com/2005/10/diwali.html