On #IndependenceDay I write about Varanasi's famous mithai - the Tirangi Barfi of #Banaras which played a small part in India's freedom struggle. https://poojasodhi.com/the-tirangi-barfi-of-banaras/
The Story of Ramayana
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Banarasi Holi Lunch
Memories of Holi lunch from few years back at hometown Banaras https://poojasodhi.com/our-holi-lunch-of-banaras/
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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/timeless-reading-pride-and-prejudice/
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 https://poojasodhi.com/i-still-have-faith-in-this-country-its-people-its-military/
My 2018 Year in Books
The end of a calendar year is a time for retrospection, and it results in many year-end lists by journalists across the spectrum of fashion, movies, tech, music, political news and my favourite genre - books. Reading a blog by Sunil Sethi and an article by Seema Goswami (both of whom I follow to get... Continue Reading →
A Biography of Cancer – The Emperor of All Maladies
I have been meaning to read Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Emperor of All Maladies ever since it was released in 2010. However, the morbid subject matter made me pushing it back on my reading list. But over the years, I have come to hear about a new cancer case atleast once a week on an average,... Continue Reading →