Hey Friends! :-)

Hey! How are you friends? 🙂 I know, Its been a long looong long time since I’ve posted any updates and a LOT has happened!
Where to start???? Well actually I was very busy in study and other stuff, my 2 cousin’s wedding is coming up in 2015 so was really busy in shoppings and still very busy. You know, Indian weddings are crazy time, there are so many works, hungama, masti in indian weddings. Yes I like this wedding season but not much….let’s see what will happen. 😀

Okay so that’s enough for now, I will share my next post very soon 🙂 Hey one minutes, actually I want to share something with you friends, I saw a beautiful video on youtube few days back and I must say I really really loveeeeeeed it…. Its such a beautiful and touching video.. Please watch and practice! I’m sure our world will be a better place if we all keep these small things in mind…No words to explain the beauty of this message…The joy my heart felt inspired me to share it with all of you in hopes that you too will share it with all your friends. When we bring light into the world, darkness can never stay around. 🙂 So please watch and share this video….

Stay happy & take care…Much love! 🙂

BOOK REVIEW:- LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT by PREETI SHENOY.

Life is what you make it

Heya guys! 🙂 Hope you are all fine. 🙂 Finally I read Preeti Shenoy’s “LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT” 🙂 And today I am going to write a review on it.
The book title “Life is what you make it” does not connect with the book contents. One would expect that this is about taking life as it comes, managing tough spots and so on – instead this is a like a fictional story. If you are thinking that this is an inspirational book, that can get you out of your lows and that lays road to your goals, DO NOT look at this, Anyways I bought this book after reading so many good reviews, But I must say, I was little disappointed after reading it.

It is a fiction story written by Preeti Shenoy. Basically the story is about only one topic that is “Bipolar Disorder – A mental disorder marked by alternating periods of depression.” The story begins as a flashback. The story is about “Ankita Sharma” a young, intelligent, promising 21 year old management student and a beautiful girl with so many hopes and dreams. 6 months later, she found herself admitted at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) being treated for bipolar disorder. In the beginning Ankita was like just another girl living in a conservative family of Cochin (Karela). Ankita had a boyfriend named Vaibhav who got admission in IIT Delhi, We’re shown letters that Ankita sends to Vaibhav and Vaibhav’s reply. She was smart and pretty, guys easily fell in love with her. She was the art club secretary in her reputed St.Agnes college.
She used to visit the cultural fests between different colleges and that’s where she met Abhi. As Vaibhav and Ankita are in long distance relationship, Ankita easily gets closer to Abhi and Vaibhav is unaware of all these things.

Later Ankita has to break-up with Abhi. Ankita takes it too practically but Abhi takes it too emotionally causing an accident death of Abhi in distress. Later in a new city Mumbai, Ankita moves on and focuses on her studies. She tops her class in all the exams but there’s something wrong in her life, a sentence said by Abhi’s grandfather “Never belittle love” still makes her feel guilty. The death of Abhi affects her so much and so that she transitions to the high state of bipolar disorder, reaches the pinnacle of her personality and then descends into depression with two attempts at suicide. She loses all her senses. She is not able to write or read. She breaks completely. After the regular attempts of suicide, she has been moved to mental hospital where she met Dr. Madhusudhan. Her experiences in NMHI along with her interactions with Dr. Madhusudan that how he helped her through her treatment was really touching. The second half of the novel describes her fight with her disorder, And after sometimes Ankita recovered, she becomes normal, she drops MBA and confess everything to Vaibhav and suddenly THE END!

Overall, It is a time pass novel, I didn’t find it ‘Inspirational’. All other characters of the story is okay (not so good). I liked the character of Abhi the most. I would say that the writing style of Preeti Shenoy is good. I think this is a one-time read. I don’t say it is a bad book, but it is not so good one. It’s confusing why it is titled “Life is what you make it”. The topic or message of Bipolar Disorder is good, ainfact its really great. It’s a really nice message, I agree, but the story doesn’t bring it out like it needs to. The only positive point is the price of book. I hope next book from the author should be worth reading. Read it if you’re totally free and have nothing useful to do.

My Rating:- 3/5

Being a woman is Priceless !

Dedicated to every GIRL & WOMEN 🙂

A lot of men think they are doing women a favor by asking for her hand in marriage, but lets think about this:-

She changes her name, changes her home, leaves her family, moves in with you, builds a home with you, almost gives up in the labor room due to the unbearable pains of child birth, even the kids she delivers bear your name. Till the day she dies… Everything she does, (cooking, cleaning your house, taking care of your parents, bringing up your children, earning, advising you, ensuring you can be relaxed, maintaining all family relations) everything that benefit you….. Sometimes at the cost of her own health, hobbies and beauty. So who is really doing whom a favor???

Dear men appreciate the women in your lives always, because it is not easy to be a woman. 🙂

I am proud to be a Girl!!! 😊 I feel hurt when I see people getting depressed on birth of girl child and I feel more dishearted when I see even mothers feeling the same way and having a burning desire of being blessed with a son….its really really disturbing. 😦 Why? Why a female can’t feel herself proud. Woman is the best part of universe. These lines are for that every woman who is unaware of her strength and value..Girls you know what, being a woman or girl is NOT easy, so be yourself, be proud of yourself. 🙂

 ❤️ *Being a woman is priceless* ❤️

Happy Gurpurab :-)

Today is Gurpurab (Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji). Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the 1st Sikh Guru. Gurpurab is one of the big festival of Sikhs. Guru Nanak Gurpurab also known as Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav and Guru Nanak Jayanti.

It was 546 years ago, a saint was born. From childhood Guru Nanak showed a great interest in God and he also spoke of celestial things. He was Nanak, later he became a Guru, a dispeller of darkness, one who ushered in infinite wisdom and light, condemning the practices and beliefs of the society. Today, we celebrate his birthday with pomp, show, langars, prabhat feris, and visits to the Gurudwara, paying our respect.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on this day in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi now known as “Nanakana Sahib”. Generally two days before the birthday, Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book ) is held in the Gurdwaras. Kar seva and langars are organized in almost all gurudwaras.

On this day, mostly Gurudwaras are well decorated. The day starts with Prabhat Pheris, which are early morning processions that begin from Gurudwaras. Before the actual Guru Nanak Jayanti, there is a procession known as the ‘Nagarkirtan’ and further led by Panj Pyaras (Five Beloved Ones). The ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is read for 48 hours.

People carry Sikh flags known as the Nishan Sahib and organise a Palki of Guru Granth Sahib, singing devotional songs. An amazing display of swordsmanship and martial arts takes place which is a beautiful and unique sight to watch.

Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Once the procession is over, the ‘Langar’ also called Parsaada is served (a special lunch organised by the community at the Gurudwaras). People massively take part in offering food and also doing Seva of God. Langar is served with respect and love. After Langar there is a prayer session around sunset. It is said that Guru Nanak was born at 1:20 am and hence the followers gather and celebrate post midnight. Night prayer starts with starts singing Gurbani at about 1:20 am at night and The celebrations culminate at around 2 am.

Langar

On the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Karah Parasaad/Parsaada is prepared and served amongst everyone once the Puja is over. Karah Parasaad is a sweet dish which has the utmost blessings of the great saint.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji also gave us three very important teachings to practice:
1 • Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need.
2 • Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud.
3 • Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times.

I wish you all a very Happy Gurpurab…. May Guru ji’s Divine love & blessings be with you Always! 🙂

🙂 Guru Nanak Dev Ji De Parkash Purab Diyan Lakh Lakh Vadhaiyan! 🙂

My Diwali Experience

Diwali is definitely one of my favourite times of the year for a number of reasons, “The weather, The festivities, The amazing food, The beautiful display of lights, but mostly The time we can enjoy with our Family and Friends.” Taking place in October or November depending on the Indian calendar, the weather is just turning cool and the holiday feel is already creeping up on everyone when “the Festival of Lights” rolls around. 🙂
Almost before one month, we started our Diwali preparations. To prepare for Diwali, we clean our entire house and paint it before diwali so that it shine. Shopping is my favourite thing for diwali. During festive season I only think about shopping, shopping and shopping 😀 this year I brought so many things, Sarees, Suits, So many Makeup items, Lights, Diyas, Some other Decorating items for my home, Soooo many Snacks and Sweets & etc, And ofcourse my jaan 😛 my yummy yummyyy Chocolates 😀 lol 😛 🙂

Here you can see my Henna (mehndi) in this pic 🙂 (Sorry the pic is not so clear 😦 )

My Henna (Mehndi) 🙂

On diwali day, we would start our morning by washing our doorstep and using Kumkum (a red powder) to draw Swastikas (along with having a religious significance, the Swastikas are thought to be auspicious and are drawn on the doorstep to bring luck and prosperity to your home.) Then We wear new clothes, put mehndi, visit temple during the early hours in the morning…Then we prepare some sweets and some other yummy snacks. Then in the evening we exchange gifts and cards. We light oil diyas and lamps, candles and put rangolis. Rangoli is a tradition in which colored powders and rice are used to make different designs on the ground. I love decorating my house with so many lights…I light up my house with so many diyas and candles. 🙂 Then later in the evening we start our Lakshmi aur Ganesh Pooja 🙂 and pray to god. & Then after pooja, finally we burst crackers. 😀

My Chocolates!!!!!! 😀 🙂

It’s so much fun bursting crackers and looking up at the sky in the night to look at the colorful night crackers….I live it very much! I wish time would tick slowly. But really this year my Diwali was wonderful. I really enjoyed it! 😀 I put Dias and candles , made rangoli , had sweets….All in all the day was very good, filed with happiness..! 🙂

My RANGOLI 🙂 Made by me !!!

Made by me 🙂

But but but………..celebration isn’t ended 😉 Still People are bursting the crackers…Really this festival warms every one’s heart and makes us remember this day throughout the year. I am very glad to share my happiness with all of you friends. 🙂

Yummy ” Gulab Jamun ” 🙂 ..Made by my Mum 🙂

Thanks for reading & Let me know how was your diwali??? 🙂 Please share your comments!! 🙂