Connecting with nature or self?

"आई थांब, तुझ्यासाठी काहीतरी बनवतो मी".

Mom, let me make you a cool summer drink.

After returning from school today, he chirpily offered to do something for me. These moments are rare and don't see the light of day often, so before his mood changed, I happily told him to go ahead. 

 

From mid-June on, the serious business of learning, studies, and exams is over, and now it's just some or other activities at school where kids can relax and enjoy the time waiting for summer vacations. As an Indian parent, I can never get comfortable with T's attitude towards school and learning in general, but I am also learning as a parent, and I try to accept the German school system and try to see something good in it. Side-effects of learning the Bhagwad Geeta. 

The dilemma

My mother-in-law left for Pune today after spending two and a half months with us in Germany. And suddenly the house seems empty without her. Her presence is always soothing and has a calming effect on people when she smiles from deep within. She is very spiritual and the glow on her face and the deep understanding of people and life has come from not only this birth but also from many previous births of accumulating knowledge and good deeds which I believe very strongly. I so wish to be like her, but I think I am not ready yet and need much more deeper knowledge. We often held spiritual discussions and celebrated many occasions here. It's always good to have a parent around, no matter how old we grow. 

A year that was 2023

As I sit writing this post, just one and a half hours before Germany rings into the new year, I am overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the year that was 2023. There were many firsts this year and the events and people have brought sheer joy and gratitude into my life. 

Roots

My son, aged 11 years old has spent more than half of his life in Germany, and sometimes he acts more German than Indian which becomes a little harder for me to digest and accept. I sometimes feel he is getting away from my roots, my culture, my belief system, the Indian food ecosystem, the morals and values, and in general away from everything that is Indian for me. But there are times when there are pleasant surprises and there comes a small sign from above that assures me that it's not as bad as I assume or believe it to be. 

Bygones be bygones?

My little brother K,

Yes, you will still be the little brother to me, though you are now all grown up now. I have held you in my arms right after you entered our world with a grinning smile. You made me a proud Tai and I couldn't stop looking at your tiny little hands that held my hands so firmly, to never let go. There was an age difference of around 15 years between us, but that was never a problem in our bonding. Your parents (my mama and mami) considered me as their elder daughter and I could spend a lot of time seeing you growing up, going to school gatherings with you, going to the Girgaon Chowpatty, and having fun during horse rides, having bhel puri, watching Tom and Jerry repeat telecasts with you and laughing our hearts out at all opportunities possible.

राम तांडव स्तोत्र - विलक्षण अनुभवाचा अविष्कार

सर्वांना दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा 

दर बुधवारी रात्री आठ वाजता आम्ही राम रक्षा स्तोत्र म्हणण्यासाठी ऑनलाईन भेटतो. गेले दोन महिने आपल्या मुलाकडे आलेल्या शीतल काकू देखील आमच्या ह्या बुधवारच्या सत्रात सहभागी होत असत. त्यांच्या सुनेला कोणीतरी बर्लिन मध्ये भेटलं होतं आणि त्या व्यक्तींनी माझा नंबर तिला दिला होता. तिने माझ्याशी संपर्क साधून काकूंना आमच्या साप्ताहिक सत्रात जोडून घ्यायची विनंती केली. मी लगेच त्यांना जोडून घेतले. शीतल काकू अगदी उत्साही आहेत, त्यांना बरीच स्तोत्र येतात, त्या अगदी आनंदाने ती स्तोत्र आम्हाला म्हणून दाखवतात. मध्ये नवरात्रीमध्ये आम्ही बुधवारी देवीची वेगवेगळी स्तोत्र, आरत्या म्हटल्या. त्यात ही त्यांनी अगदी छान असे अष्टक म्हणून दाखवले. आता त्या दोन आठवड्यात भारतात परत जाणार आहेत. काल त्यांनी आम्हाला राम तांडव म्हणून दाखवलं. माझ्याकडे शब्द नाहीयेत त्याचे वर्णन करण्यासाठी. इतकं सुंदर म्हटलं त्यांनी ते स्तोत्र कि प्रत्येकांनी शेवटी त्यांना अगदी भरभरून दाद दिली आणि आभार देखील मानले.

Shri Ganesh Stotra - An online musical experiment

The year 2020 changed the course of history and humanity. Things that seemed impossible to do took on a course of their own during this time. Traveling in general was curtailed, and meeting people, which we all took for granted, became a luxury. Due to COVID, meeting people physically was replaced by meeting them online, via WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and many other platforms that we might not even be aware of. Musical events, kitty parties, group discussions, and family events all took place online. Slowly, life came back to a new normal, where people returned to their workplaces, but not like before. It got limited to a few days a week, but online meetings were still going strong.