Thursday, October 22, 2009

Happy Diwali!

I've always enjoyed learning about other cultures and their celebrations. A few years ago I stumbled across Diwali...and fell in love.




Diwali in history



The history of Diwali is replete with legends and these legends are moored to the stories of Hindu religious scriptures, mostly the Puranas. Though the central theme of all legends point out to the classic truth of the victory of the good over the evils, the mode of their presentation and the characters differ. Diwali, being the festival of lights, lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of festivities and to bring those thoughts in to the day to day lives.



The five day of Diwali

The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. The second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi. It is the fourteenth lunar day (thithi) of the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. The third day of Diwali is the actual Diwali. This is the day when worship for Mother Lakshmi is performed. On the fourth day of Diwali, Goverdhan Pooja is performed. The fifth day of the diwali is called Bhratri Dooj. It is a day dedicated to sisters.



Hindu Mythology

The Story of Rama and Sita: Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil.



The Story of King Bali and Vamana Avatar(the Dwarf): The other story concerns King Bali, who was a generous ruler. But he was also very ambitious. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check King Bali's power. Vishnu came to earth in the form of a Vamana(dwarf) dressed as priest. The dwarf approached King Bali and said "You are the ruler of the three worlds: the Earth, the world above the skies and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with three strides?" King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the King, who agreed to dwarf's request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu and his three strides covered the Earth, the Skies and the whole Universe! King Bali was send to the underworld. As part of Diwali celebrations, some Hindus remember King Bali.



The Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna: Lord Vishnu in his 8th incarnation as Krishna destroyed the demon Narkasura, who was causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Narkasura was believed to be a demon of filth, covered in dirt. He used to kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him. Eventually, their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil.



Krishna and The Mountain: In the village of Gokula, many years ago, the people prayed to the God Indra. They believed that Indra sent the rains, which made their crops, grow. But Krishna came along and persuaded the people to worship the mountain Govardhan, because the mountain and the land around it were fertile. This did not please Indra. He sent thunder and torrential rain down on the village. The people cried to Krishna to help. Krishna saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day of Diwali is a reminder to Hindus of the importance of food and it is a time for being thankful to God for the bounty of nature.





Sikh Festival Diwali

In Sikh perspective, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji from the captivity of the city, Gwalior. To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the towns people lit the way to, Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple), in his honour.



Jain Festival Diwali

Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. For on this occasion we celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established the dharma as we follow it. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13th in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42.
 

 Diwali Traditions & Customs


Deepavali, the literal meaning of which in Sanskrit is 'a row of lamps.' Filling little clay lamps with oil and wick and lighting them in rows all over the house is a tradition that is popular in most regions of the country. Even today in this modern world it projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life. It is associated with many customs and traditions. One of the most curious customs, which characterizes this festival of Diwali, is the indulgence of gambling, especially on a large scale in North India.



The first day of five day long Diwali celebrations is of great importance to the rich community of western India. Houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the night. Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils.



Lakshmi-Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya In villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day .



On second day there is a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra of taking bath before sunrise with oil and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders. In northern India, especially in places like Punjab, Diwali is dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama. While in Bengal, Kali/Durga, the goddess of strength, is worshiped. Diwali is one of the few Hindu festivals, which is celebrated in every part of the country, even in states like Kerala that has Onam as its main festival. To the Jains, Deepavali has an added significance to the great event of Mahaveera attaining the Eternal Bliss of Nirvaana.



Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on the fourth day. This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning 'mountain of food'. In temples especially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milk bath and dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are offered to the deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach and take Prasad.



Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in every Hindu household. In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his "Aarti" with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents. Diwali celebration is a very happy occasion for all.




Diwali Meaning & Significance

Deepavali is a festival where people from all age groups participate. They give expression to their happiness by lighting earthen 'diyas' (lamps), decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their households for partaking in a sumptuous feast. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame.



It is one time in the whole year that children volunteer to leave their beds long before the day begins. In fact, the traditional oil bath at 3 a.m, is the only chore that stands between them and the pre-dawn adventures. They emerge, scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps, candles and scented sticks(agarbathis), the wherewithal for setting alight crackers and sparklers.



On Diwali night, little clay lamps are lit in Hindus homes, but now a days colored electric lamps are also used. What is the significance of lighting a lamp? There is a logical answer to this question. It is through the light that the beauty of this world is revealed or experienced. Most civilizations of the world recognize the importance of light as a gift of God. It has always been a symbol of whatever is positive in our world of experience.



To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, etc. Competition is stiff, and even the little girl in silk frocks and their finery are watching out for the best sparklers and flowerpots, the rockets and Vishnuchakras, which light-up the night sky like a thousand stars. Grown-ups are the soul of generosity. Festive bonhomie abounds.
 
 
Diwali Recipes
 





Royal Vermicilli Kheer
Ingredients :
Vermicilli - 1/2 cup (thin variety)
Milk - 4 cups
Sugar - 1/2 - 3/4 cup
Cream - 1/4 cup
Ghee - 4 tabs
Almonds - 2 tabs
Cinnamon powder - 1 level tsp
Bananas - 3 (small)


Method

Fry vermicilli in 2 tabs of ghee,till light gold in colour.let it gets cold.Skin almonds-chop them into small pieces.Fry in 2 tabs of ghee,tillwell toasted.



Boil the milk,add the vermicilli and keep on stirring over low heat tillthe vermicilli is just cooked and the milk is thick.(Do not over cook the vermicilli).Reduce heat and add sugar little by little-stirring all the time till the sugar dissolves.



Remove from heat,when cold,mix in the cream,almonds,cinnamon powder and chopped bananas.Serve chilled with a little silver varg on top for decoration.






Rice Kheer

Ingredients :
Rice - 1/2 cup
Milk - 6 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Camphor - pinch
or nutmeg - pinch

Method

Wash rice well, and cook it with milk till semi thick(stirring all the time so that the rice does not stick to the bottom of the vessel and the rice is well cooked.
Reduce heat,add the sugar,little by little when sugar is well incorporated remove from fire.
Fry in ghee the cashewnuts and raisins,till golden in colour.When cold add to kheer.Powder camphor or nutmeg and add that too.Serve hot or cold.

You could add 1/4 cup of beaten cream when the kheer is cold.Instead of sugar you could heat 1-1/4 cup of palm jaggery(or ordinary jaggery) with a 1/4 cup of water-when jaggery completely dissolves-strain and when cold,add to the cold thickened kheer.Add powdered camphor or nutmeg.




Carrot Halwa.

Ingredients :
Carrots -1/2 kg
(preferably Red Delhi Carrots)
Milk -1 litre
Cardamom -4 to 5
Sugar -1/4 kg
Charmagz -1 tbsp
(dried melon seeds)
Ghee or cashew nuts -100 gms
Almonds -a few


Method
Scrap carrots and grate them.Bring milk to a boil in a heavy bottomed pan.Add grated carrots.Cook on medium heat stirring occasionally without closing the lid till the mixture is fairly dry(Opp-30 to 40 mts).Add sugar, cardamom crushed and melon seeds,mix well till everything becomes semi solid dry. Then add ghee and fry well by adding the nuts cashew nuts and badam. Decorate with silver foil and serve after getting cold.

Besan Ka Ladoo

Ingredients :
Ghee - 225 gms Besan - 225 gms Castor sugar - 350 gms Cashewnuts chopped - 1 tsp Almonds chopped - 1 tsp Pistachio - 1 tsp

Method

Place the ghee and besan in a pan over a low heat.
Keep stirring the mixture to avoid the formation of lumps.
When the mixture is cooked, it will release an aromatic flavour.
Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool.

Add the sugar and chopped cashewnuts to the besan mixture and stir in thoroughly.
Now mould small balls of appropriate size, from the mixture
Serve hot or cold









Lentil Salad

Ingredients :

Split green gram -

(without skin) 1/4 cup

Gram dhal - 1/4 cup

Coconut - 1/2 cup

Cucumber - 1 cup

Green chillies - 2

Ginger - 1 cm

Lime - 1/2

Oil - 1 tabs

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Mustard - 1/4 tsp

Urrad dhal - 1/4 tsp

Red chillies - 1

Hing powder - pinch





Method



Clean and soak both the dhals overnight in water. Next morning wash well, and drain off all the liquid. Chop green chillies and ginger. Grate the cucumber and squeeze out the juice.



Just before serving, mix the dhals, green chillies, ginger, cucumber, salt and coconut. Heat oil, add mustard, urrad dhal, red chillies and hing. When mustard splutters pour into the salad, squueze lime juice into it and if liked, add chopped coriander leaves to it. This is a traditional salad and is very nutritious.






Gram Dhal Vada

Ingredients :



Gram dhal - 2 cups

(channa dhal)

Coriander leaves - 1/4 cups

Salt - 3/4 cups

Curry leaves - little

Red chillies - 4

Green chillies - 3

Ginger - 1 cm

Onion - 2





Method



Soak gram dhal in water for 2 hours. Wash with water and drain off water. Chop onion, gren chillies, curry leaves and coriander leaves. Grind the dhal coarsely with red chillies. Add all the other ingredients - make into wadas, deep fry in oil till golden in colour. Can be served hot or cold - very tasty!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

How cool is this?






The Scavenger Project




This is as much a social experiment as it is an art exhibition. You will receive a universal list that you (and every participant involved) will use to visually interpret each item. Any medium may be used as long as it can be shipped to us (or photos taken and included on a CD). Experimentation and thinking outside of the box is the name of the game.




The final outcome is to document the project in two ways, including multiple exhibitions (at galleries in Brooklyn, NY and Seattle, WA) and in a book.



At least one of your items will be included in the book.



The Book To document the project, we will be creating a book out of the submissions we receive. Each person who participates will have at least one of their submissions printed in the book.
The book will be perfect bound and printed in full color with approximately 60-80 pages.



You can pre-order the book now along with your project for a $5.00 discount.



The ExhibitionsMay 21st, 2010

Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Art Library

Brooklyn, NY

June 4th - 6th, 2010

Seattle, WA

Form Space Atelier

2407 1st Avenue

Seattle, WA

The T-Shirt To go along with the project, we’re releasing a limited edition screen printed t-shirt. They are printed on American Apparel 100% cotton tees.



They include the list on top center of the back of the shirt just incase you’ve forgotten your list when inspiration strikes.



T-shirts start shipping October 20th. Price includes shipping!



You can purchase a t-shirt to the left with your project submission for a discounted price.



The RulesGeneralRulesFAQsAgreementTo participate in this project, simply add it to your cart on the left and then proceed with the check out process. We will then send you a welcome packet along with the list of items for you to interpret.



Your goal is to create a piece of artwork, object, or some form of an idea based around each item on the list.



At least one of your pieces will be included in both the book AND the exhibitions.



You may use any medium to create your artwork. However, please keep in mind that you must ship the artwork to us in the mail, so make sure your work is at a size that is able to be shipped. You may also submit your work on a CD. However, by submitting only with a CD, we can unfortunately not include your work in the exhibitions (only the book.) Please make sure to read the details in the "Rules" tab about using a CD to submit.



Due to the nature of the project, we are unable to send work back to you. Please keep this in mind when submitting originals. Because of this, you may want to have your work professionally photographed and submit it on a CD. The collection of artwork will be stored at Brooklyn Art Library in 2010.

___________________________________________________________________________
 
What fun!!!
I think I must do this!
 
http://arthousecoop.com/projects/scavengerproject

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Pretty Pretty lights

Get Out: Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks Overnight



The Orionid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show tonight into the predawn hours Wednesday, weather permitting.


This annual meteor shower is created when Earth passes through trails of comet debris left in space long ago by Halley's Comet. The "shooting stars" develop when bits typically no larger than a pea , and mostly sand-grain-sized, vaporize in Earth's upper atmosphere.


"Flakes of comet dust hitting the atmosphere should give us dozens of meteors per hour," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.


People in cities and suburbs will see far fewer meteors, because all but the brightest of them will be overpowered by light pollution. The best view will be from rural areas (the moon will not be a factor, so dark skies will make for ideal viewing).


When and how to watch


The best time to watch will be between 1 a.m. and dawn local time Wednesday morning, regardless of your location. That's when the patch of Earth you are standing on is barreling headlong into space on Earth's orbital track, and meteors get scooped up like bugs on a windshield.


Peak activity, when Earth wades into the densest part of the debris, is expected around 6 a.m. ET (3 a.m. PT).



Some meteors could show up late tonight, too. Late-night viewing typically offers fewer meteors, however, because your patch of Earth is positioned akin to the back window of the speeding car.


The Orionids have been strong in recent years.


"Since 2006, the Orionids have been one of the best showers of the year, with counts of 60 or more meteors per hour," Cooke said.


Some of those counts come in flurries, so skywatchers should find a comfortable spot with as wide a view of the sky as possible. Lie back and allow 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, then give the show at least a half hour to play out through spurts and lulls. Meteors could appear anywhere in the sky, though traced back they will appear to emanate from the constellation Orion.


Telescopes and binoculars are of no use, because meteors move too quickly. Extra warm clothing is a must, and a blanket and pillow or lounge chair allows comfortable positioning so you can look up for long stretches.





Reliable event





Predicting meteor showers is tricky because the debris comes from multiple streams.





Each time comet Halley passes around the sun on its elongated orbit – every 76 years – it lays down a fresh track of debris for Earth to plow through in subsequent years. Those tracks spread out and mingle over time, and we pass the tracks each October during our 365-day, nearly circular trek around the sun.





Japanese researchers Mikiya Sato and Jun-ichi Watanabe say activity in recent years is related to debris put in place from 1266 BC to 911 BC, and this could be another good year, according to NASA.





Even if that prediction does not hold, the Orionids will almost surely put on a decent show. Prior to 2006 and going back many years, the Orionids have produced a reliable 15 to 20 meteors per hour at the peak, for skywatchers with dark skies.



As a bonus, this time of year you can expect an additional five to 10 sporadic meteors per hour – those not related to the shower.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Holy Cow!



I promised to write about things that cause ripples....well..the little jar above certainly rippled my life! I have chronically dry skin and had resigned myself to becoming an alligator. ......Not any more. this stuff is amazing!
It's not greasy, it's not stinky (it's got a nice light clean smell to it)...it sinks right on into your skin it doesn't stain.

My skin feels amazing!
If you have dry or rough skin you've got to try this!

and it's incredibly cheap.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Saturday, October 3, 2009

For those of you who are against Non-traditional marriage....

I thought I'd lay a little biblical marriage on ya...




yup...that pretty much sums it up.
I've often wondered with that much booty in the palace how anything ever got done.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Justice

Websters defines justice thusly
 jus·tice


Pronunciation: \ˈjəs-təs\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French justise, from Latin justitia, from justus

Date: 12th century

1 a : the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments b : judge c : the administration of law; especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity

2 a : the quality of being just, impartial, or fair b (1) : the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action (2) : conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness c : the quality of conforming to law

3 : conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness









A havard professor is teaching a course on Justice...and it's fascinating.


http://www.justiceharvard.org/

He poses some hard and interesting scenarios. There are episodes of the various class discussions online.
It makes for very interesting watching.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

I got no reason to bitch...




One of his mottos is ...never...ever ...give up.

I can appreciate that spirit.

Go visit his website... get inspired.