On Ramanavami, how the story of Rama pervades through the fabric of life in India? The story of Ramayana is not just about a scripture but the narrative encompasses the social fabric beyond religious thought in India, it has become omnipresent in different ways across the length and breadth of the country and presents itself in…
Kanjak Puja
We are a country where girl child is worshipped every Navratri. And so are innumerable Goddesses. But as the girl becomes a woman she is not granted her independence to choose her way of life, it is mandated by the family or society at large. What is the point of celebrations such as these? My…
Apple tells a story …
Yesterday I watched the Apple Event through my Samsung phone tele casting on the Sony TV - smart generation of technology with its seamless integration. We have come a long way since the 1st Apple Phone and the 1st Apple Live New Launch broadcast. Apple reiterated the point that engaging content and stories is essential…
Banarasi Holi Lunch
Memories of Holi lunch from few years back at hometown Banaras https://poojasodhi.com/2018/03/04/our-holi-lunch/
Khele mashane mein Holi
Banaras starts celebrating Holi 6 days before on Rangbhari Ekadashi when Shiva is supposed to come home first time with his consort Parvati post marriage and his followers welcomed them by playing colours with them. And next day Shiva's followers play Holi with ashes at famous cremation grounds of Banaras and this Pandit Channulal Mishra…
A Maha Shivratri special memory of Banaras
What triggers a memory? The senses - the smell or the taste, the sound or the sight. And some memories are more vivid than others. Every Maha Shivratri I am reminded of the year of my Boards. It was 2nd of March - exactly two days before the Class X exams started. As was my…
Shiva Shiva …
Amish Tripathi calls him "Dude of the Gods". Others call him by various names - 1008 names to be precise - Bholenath, Mahadev, Shankar, Shambhu, Rudra, Neelkanth, Nataraja or Shiva are some of the more popular ones. He is a paradox - as a destroyer and a benefactor, as an ascetic as well as a…
Sitāyana – The Story of Sitā
The launch of new book by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni made a huge splash on Twitter towards the end of last year or may be it caught my eye because I follow many authors and book publishers to get the book references to read in future. But I had not read any of her books till…
A timeless reading especially on Valentine’s Day
I read Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice at least once every year, today I was channel surfing to at least watch the movie, it wasn't showing anywhere and neither it was available on Netflix or Amazon Prime - so it's back to the ever classic book for tonight's reading.https://poojasodhi.com/2017/07/03/timeless-reading/
Rang de Basanti
Keeping memories alive, a look back on Basant Panchami - BHU celebrates its founders day with Saraswati Puja and lot of festivities!
Beating the Retreat Ceremony
Celebration of India's Republic Day ends with Beating the Retreat ceremony, reposting an old blog http://poojasodhi.com/2013/01/29/i-still-have-faith-in-this-country-its-people-its-military/
The Tirangi Barfi of Banaras
The fight for Indian Independence was fought at many levels - from the boycott of foreign made clothes, to making salt and by making statement through food. And Banaras (Varanasi) led the way by creating special mithai (sweets) during the Independence movement. The commonly known Tirangi Barfi (tri-colour sweet) was an Independence Day and Republic…