Bengali Bahu: Part 3 (Prayers and fasting)

West Bengal is worldwide famous for 'Durga Pooja'. Bengali ladies spend a considerable time in god-goddess prayers on a routine basis. There are few local folk tales about their fastings and prayers(pooja), which are kind of unheard in northern India.

There are few Shahsti's poojas in Bengal, which are kind of unheard in Northern India.

1. Neel Shahsti: Celebrated in the Chaitra month of Bengali Hindu calendar.
2. Ashok Shahsti:
3. Jamai Shahsti: Celebrated in the Jyeshtha month of Bengali Hindu calendar.
4. Durga Shahsti:

Goddess Shahsti is associated as the protector of children and its vehicle is 'Black Cat'. While in North India, Cat, in general, is considered as the vehicle of goddess Laxmi. And, on shashti, it is a fast of females and only niramish food is eaten without rice.

And, another vrat or pooja that is quite popular in Bengal is of goddess Mansa, which is associated as the goddess of serpents. And, Bengal is a kind of wetland, a coastal land and has rivers and lots of ponds so you can sight a serpent easily.

Vipodtarini Pooja: to protect in a family crisis.

Ranna Pooja

Thanda upas or fast:

Vishwakarma pooja: In north India, I have seen that the Vishwakarma pooja is performed after diwali, however in Bengal, Vishwakarma pooja is performed around Janmashtami.

Durga Pooja:

Every hindu bengali has nostolgia about durga pooja.

A global traveller: Bohemian

I love to travel. I always wonder what should traveling entail. There are different types of traveler. So, the following is a broad guideline to decide what to see when you are traveling.

1st Category
1. Architectures
2. Squares and Street
3. Vantage Points
4. Parks and Gardens
5. Churches/temples/religious places
6. Historical Monuments: Castles


2nd category:
i. Museums: If you love to know about history, then visit to a museum could surely interest you. There are many themed museums. You can not learn or know everything in a museum. But talk to the reception to get some leaflets to guide you to roam around and in the museum, so you know what do you want to explore in the museum. You would surely find something new there to explore. If you visit the museums with the kids, try to engage them in the activities like count or spot the specific objects or artifacts in the museums.


3rd Category:
i. Nightlife and clubs
ii. Food
iii. Music and clubs, stages

iv. Shopping
v. Events and Festivals

4th Category
i. Zoos and Animals
ii. Nature Parks

5th Category:
i. Rivers/Lakes/Ponds/ Sea beeches/waterfalls
ii. Mountains
iii. Glaciers
iv. Deserts
v. Jungles: Pine tree, Spruce tree, Fir tree, Larch tree, Cedar(Himalayan Ceder is Devdar).

6th Category:
i. Trekking/Hiking
ii. Watersports

There are broadly two types of travelers: Active and passive travelers.
Active travelers are those who immerse themselves in the architecture of the buildings and want to live the history of a place.
They love physical activities like trekking, hiking, rock climbing.
They breathe nature and capture moments through photography.
These travelers either watch all the documentaries or videos on the place before visiting it or after visiting the place.

While passive learners are those who just witness the place without indulging into the food delicacies of the place, just visiting the place without realizing its history or significance. They don't exert themselves through the activities.

Planning for Traveling:

1. See whether you need a visa for your travel destination.
2. If yes, fill the application form and submit the application fees.
3. Book the appointment for the visa interview.
4. Click the photo for the visa process.
5. Book the tickets.
6. See whether you need the visa for any layover country during travel.
7. See the weight and size dimensions of the luggage according to the airline specifications.
8. Buy the appropriate clothing like Jackets for winter, umbrellas or trench coat for the rainy season, shoes if it would snowy there.
9. Buy the toiletries in the travel appropriate size.
10. See whether you will be able to use the mobile phone in the destination country.

Traveling Shopping:

1. Cabin Luggage: It is very important to see the weight and dimensions of cabin luggage as every airline has slightly different dimensions for the overhead compartment. Like, recently I bought cabin luggage with hard outside shell, weighing 2.7 kg and size 57.5 cm. The usual dimensions are 56*36*23 cm =115cm or 45 linear inches = 22*14*9 inches

Travel Terminology:

1. Jetbridge

Experience:
Traveling is not about ticking the bucket list. It is all about the experience, a feeling and an expression of self. If we take traveling seriously and consciously, it is a great opportunity for self-discovery.
Recently, I got the opportunity to attend the event 'Pulotsav' i.e. a celebration of the work of Pu. La. Deshpande. He was the legendary Marathi author and artist.

All about EyeGlasses

I am both an explorer and a traveler. One of the most common accessories that I always carry with myself is Sun glasses.

There are few things that you should keep in mind while purchasing your sun glasses: 

1. Functionality: To protect from harmful UV-rays of run. 

2. Shape and Sizes (Small/Medium/large)

3. Style and Designs: Should match with the face cut of the person.

2. Shape: Sun glasses come in different shapes and sizes. 

The common shapes of sun glasses are:

i. Aviator

ii. Retro Square

iii. Sports

iv. Cat Eye

v. Round/Circular

vi. Rectangular

vii.Oval

viii. Butterfly

i.x Shield

x.WayFarer

xi ClubMaster

Size of the sun glass matter for the fir of the sun-glasses. In case of unisex sun glasses, it is only the size that differs.

Female sun glasses have more broad lenses and glossy accessories.