In Thoughts----My Hindi Poem!---SILSILA AANE-JAANE KA----

सिलसिला   आने   जाने   का ----

मौसम    आते    हैं ,   मौसम   जाते    हैं ;
दिन    यूँ    ही    कटते    चले   जाते    हैं 

सुबह    आती   है    तो    शाम   का   इंतज़ार    होता   है ,
रातें    आती    है   तो    सुबह   का   इंतज़ार    होता   है

एक     त्यौहार     बीतता     है     तो ,
दुसरे     के    आने    का    इंतज़ार    होता    है;

लोग   आते   है ,  लोग   चले   जाते   हैं,
बस   एक   हम   हैं,   जो   वहीँ   के   वहीँ   खड़े   रह   जाते   हैं .



Chitrangada Sharan
19th June, 2013

Image source: Chitrangada Sharan

upper image: Google

100 Glorious Years Of Indian Cinema

It is difficult to say, whether Society influences Cinema or the Cinema influences Society. But whenever a situation in real life is correlated with a film sequence---whether it is a song or a dialogue, it seems cinema has tremendous influence on our mind, in our behavior.
So, you can listen to a lot of  filmi songs, whether it is a wedding or a party. So much so, that even lover's express their love by singing a film song only.
Indian cinema has certain characteristics, which is unique. Its extravaganza, songs and dance sequences, dialogues etc. No other country perhaps has so much variety in this powerful medium of entertainment.
How can you forget the dialogues like---------------
'--mere paas maa hai----'
'----kitne aadmi the-------'
'-----teesra baadshah main hoon----'
'----khush to bahut hoge tum--------'
'-----jinke ghar khud seeshey ke hon, woh dusron par pathar nahi maara karte----'
'-----jaani, yeh chaku hai, haath lag jaye toh khoon nikal aata hai-----'
'-----jeena yahan marna yahan, iske siwa jaana kahan-----'
'----aapke paaon dekhe, bahut haseen hai, inhe jameen par mat utariyega, maile ho jayenge-------'
'-----mogembo khush hua-----'
'-----k-k-k-k-k-k-kiran-------'
'------jo darr gaya, samjho mar gaya----'
'------don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai----'
'------picture abhi baaki hai------'
I mean, you can go on and on-----

Then there are countless immortal songs, never to forget dance numbers and unforgettable stories. I don't think it is fair to give grades to the films by counting them on a 1 to 20 or any other scale. Just imagine, how much imagination, time, money and devotion is required to make one good film. It doesn't matter, whether it is blockbuster or not, they all are impressive pieces of art and should be given respect.
100 years and still counting----CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
Chitrangada Sharan
Image Source: Google Images.

HAPPY AND COLORFUL HOLI--UNIQUE FESTIVAL OF INDIA

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     HOLI is perhaps the most unique festival of India, may be the only one of its kind celebrated  throughout the world. Holi colors bring along enthusiasm with themselves.

It is in fact a community festival---- more the  people, greater the enthusiasm and happiness. Each color has its own significance.  While the Red brings power, Pink brings love. White signifies peace and Yellow brings knowledge. Purple is for prosperity and Green is for development. And the choices may vary from person to person. But one thing is definite, they do bring about positive energy and happiness for all. 

Festivals have one sole purpose---to bring together people, by forgetting their differences. Forget all worries and rejoice---celebrate being human.
HAPPY HOLI.

                               RANGON KI MADHUR RANGOLI HO;

                              PHALGUN KI MAST TOLI HO;

                             RANG GULAL AUR ROLI HO;

                             SHUBHKAMNA AAPKO HOLI KI HO.

Image source: Google

Celebrating the Republic Day of India---Celebrate being Indian.

Every day we feel the pride of being an Indian. And today is of course the special day, when we fully engross ourselves in the celebrations. While the whole India is celebrating the 64th Republic day today, there is something which is missing.......What is it? The enthusiasm, I suppose.
Honestly, at the back of my mind some things are troubling my thoughts-----the corruption, the killing of the Indian soldiers at the 'Border', the heinous crime of 16th December,2012  and many more such incidents.
We do believe in the principles of ,
'SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH;  SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYAH; 
SARVE BHADRANI PASHYANTU; MAA KASCHITDUKH BHAKBHAVET;
OM SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI.
Which means, each becomes happy, each one of us are free from illness, each one of us are free from worries. May there be Peace, Peace and Peace.
So the happiness and celebrations are somewhat incomplete, even if one Indian is unhappy.
But, let us look at the positives----I presume everyone is conscious of his/ her  national pride, their rights and duties and responsibilities towards the country. It is so heartening to see that, especially among the youth. The protest march by the citizens shows or reassures, that democracy is still alive in INDIA.
HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!

Source: Google Images

The auspicious Ganesh Utsav---Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

The 10 day festival of  Shri Ganesh Pujan is here again!
 Celebrated throughout India, with full devotion and enthusiasm, it is one of most popular festival among every age group. Everyone is involved in decorations and arrangements to welcome the cutest Ganesha idols.
When I was at Bombay, I was so much influenced by the ten day festival, even I started to bring the Ganesha idol home.
 I have been doing this since the last ten years or so and each time there is renewed enthusiasm in the family.  We clean and decorate our homes. And the place, where we will install the God for the 10 days celebration. The wonderful and well sculpted idols are so cute.
And after the Pran pratishtha, (invoke or call the God by our prayers), we feel the God is sitting in front of you.
 We talk to him, share our worries and problems and seek his blessings to get our problems solved by his Divine grace.

Every day we  prepare sweets like Laddoos, Gujias, Modaks,  Malpuas and many other sweet and delicious recipes, which he might like and we imagine, he is loving it.

 It's a great feeling--the feeling, as if we are feeding the God. Whereas the fact is that the God is feeding us.
 But that is Bhakti--'Devotion' in its simplest form.
 And as we have read in our holy books---God is impressed only by 'Bhakti'--'Devotion.'
May Lord Ganesha bless everyone!


Chitrangada Sharan
All Rights Reserved.

A Tribute To The Teacher----Teacher's Day

गुरु  गोविन्द दोनों खड़े ; काके  लागू पाये,
बलिहारी गुरु आपकी ; गोविन्द दियो बताये।
-----संत कबीर

Saint Kabir glorifies the Guru or the teacher by this verse. Simple meaning is that if the teacher and the God, both are standing in front of me, whom should I pay my respect first, by touching their feet.
Then he answers that it has to be the Guru or the teacher, because without the Guru, how would I have recognized the God.


 Teachers play a vital role, in building the personality of boys and girls, thereby making a valuable contribution to the society at large.
  All over the world teacher's are paid respect, by celebrating Teacher's day.
 In India, it is celebrated on 5th of September, the birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan--an academician, a philosopher, former President of India and above all a teacher.
A teacher is a person, who not only  teaches a subject, but one who is a friend, a guide--the one who cares like parents.
There must be a strong bond between the teacher and his student.
 A good teacher never looses his patience and makes all efforts to clarify all doubts of his students.
 A true teacher motivates the child, not only in his academics, but prepares him to face the challenges of life.
 The teacher identifies  the positive points of the child and helps in nurturing them.
Having the quality of a good teacher and a good student is not so easy.
But, India is a country, where we have a very strong, Guru-Shishya Parampara. 

So do not forget to say a big 'Thank you' to your teachers, on Teacher's day and always!

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY.

WELCOME RAINS!

Welcome Rains!     
After a long long wait, the monsoon showers have arrived in Delhi, bringing the much needed relief from the intense heat and humid weather.
How the rain affects our senses!
The whole atmosphere has changed. Everyone has a smiling face and a happy heart. 
 Looking out from the balcony, watching the tiny droplets, gently and evenly flowing from trees, leaves, roof tops, ---it is such a wonderful sight; and what a wonderful feeling!
The cute and tiny droplets slowly wash away all your worries and anxieties.
 Looking out at the dark clouds, pouring water droplets, gives a feeling, as if I am communicating with the heavens.
 Every one looks happy--small children, school kids--smiling for no reason--people,  even the animals, the birds and the plants.
The winds blowing gently along the freshly bathed flowers and trees, spreading a definite fragrance---the unmistakable fragrance of rain soaked soil---just magical!
This is the time of the year, when  you spontaneously start humming a song, not to please anyone else but because your heart is happy!
Time for Pakodaas and Chai.
Enjoy the Rains.