Happy Birthday To Me!!!

It is my birthday today. One more year gone past. Does one look forward or back ward? Certainly forward. But there are learning's from the past, and events and associations and feelings and so many moments of life which one wants to cherish. So birthday is a mixed bag of feelings. Of the days gone past which will never come back and the future...the unknown, what lies ahead in life.

For me it is a day to enjoy myself with the family-parents, brother and husband. I owe my being alive, and whatevere I am to my family. For the constant love and caring they have shown. For their courage and support. God has given me life for which I am very greatful to him, but family has given me an identity.

I don't beleive in making resolutions. One does not have to wait for a birthday or a newyear to change what is not correct in one's life.

I owe it to myself to constantly improve my self, my life and keep myself happy. My happiness is my responsibility. If anyone else adds to it I am greatful to him/her. If anyone subtracts from happiness/makes me unhappy I forgive the person. This attitude helps me keep a balanced outlook to life. On my birthday I am filled with a deep sense of gratitide to the Universe for my existence.

An attitude of gratitude is what I ask of God. My birthday present from God....Pleaseee bring peace to the world and tons of happiess and health to all.

What is...will not be

That is the true nature of our Universe. What is ...will one day not be. This law applies to all the constituents of the Universe. Everything changes form, it has to change form. The bright Sun we see today, will become cold and die away thousands of years from now. Stars die and so do living creatures. Chal (moving, free) beings die; achal (fixed) things such as trees, earth and mountains too die. Dying here refers to ceasing to exist in the same form. If all the things in the world are changing constantly or dying, then why are we human beings so scared of death? Or is it that over thousands of years, the religious gurus have instilled a fear of death in our minds. They have created a non-ending business out of death. Is death something to be really feared? Or is it just a natural process or a change? Is there anything after death? Another life...a heaven...a hell ??? The religious pandas have created many rituals after death which innocent people keep following. Out of the fear that something will happen. There are no religious rituals done when an animal or a tree dies? The why has human death been turned into such a big business? And a perennial one too. According to Hindu philosophy, the human body is made up of Panchtatv (Earth, Fire, Water, Space and Air). Our mortal remains go back to the Panchtatv. Nothing remains after death. It is a full stop. Human death is as natural a process as the death of any other being in the Universe. Accepting death as a natural process or transformation from one form to another, frees our mind of fear.

Shubh Deepavali

Deepavali is an Indian festival, celebrated by the Hindu's. It is also extremely popular as the festival of lights all over the Asian sub-continent. According to the Hindu calendar, Deepavali falls on Kartik Amavasya usually in October or November. It symbolises the victory of good over bad. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Ram and his wife Sita returned home after 14 years of exile.

Deepavali means loads of activities which start almost a month before. It is a good time for all the families to clean their homes, plan for the sweets, clothes and other shopping!!!

On Deepavali day, all are decked in new clothes and there is a lot of excitement in the air. Night time is for lighting the oil lamps, candles, bursting crackers and the traditional Lakshmi Puja followed by a round of gambling (it is considered auspicious). I particularly like decorating the main entrance of my house with colourful Rangloi made of flowers and dry colours.

People say that things change as we grow old. But for me the excitement, enthusiasm and fun during Deepavali has remained unchanged. I eagerly look forward to it every year and feel the blues when Deepavali is over. It suddenly feels like...ohhh ...one more long year to wait for the next Deepavali!!!! Wishing everyone a fun-filled, happy and prosperous Diwali.