Celebrating Askhay Tritiya in Pashupatinath with Lakhbatti Puja

I asked momma about her favorite  seasons and festivals,she started describing the moments of her childhood as she enjoyed the festivals of Summer like Askhay Tritiya  ,which  is a very popular festival that the Hindus celebrate every year. It is considered as one of the most important days for Hindu community as it is the day of the birth of the Lord Parasurama. The Hindu community considers this day as a lucky day and believes that any venture such as a business or the construction of a building started on that day will follow betterment and prosperity.

The word Akshay literally translates to never ending or eternal and hence it is believed that this mahurta is very good for purchasing new things or starting new relationships or ventures. It is said that on this day Lord Kubera prayed to Goddess Lakshmi and was granted the gift of eternal wealth and prosperity.At Dhakalthok home ,my granny celebrates it with uncles and aunt who distributes prasad made by granny to all and we relatives spend the days doing bhajan kirtan there.Mom also kept Lakhbatti puja with rudra puja and my relatives prepared all items ready for puja. Devotees wishing to get their wishes fulfilled by any deity of their choice pledge to light 'Lakh Vatti': 125,000 wick lamps. Once the deity fulfills the wishes, the devotees light 'Lakh Vatti' at the temple using  Puja sardan: cotton wicks, sesame seeds oil, five-baked clay dishes .Preparations began about a week before the event, with large groups of women coming to the house to make hundreds of thapadis, bowls fashioned out of leaves used for doing puja (an act of worship) and eating prasad (food served at the end of a puja.

Granny starts her narratology as she is highly interested in Hindu religious rituals at Dhakalthok .I just jot down the points as she prescribe to me and the input gets the font shape in my blogs.In astrology position of Sun and Moon hold great importance and this also give such a great place to this day. It is believed that Sun and Moon are in the most radiant phase on this day. Akshay Tritiya is considered to be the day Holy Ganges River descended on Earth and it is also believed to the day since when the Treta Yug commenced.

3 priests start the ritual with dad and mom and I hear the sloks they recite is in Sanskrita and the books are written in Sanskrita language which has own rythm too.

1) While applying Chandan to Lord Krishna –

“Yam karothi thruthiyayaam Krishnam chandanam bhushitham
Vaishakhasyasithe pakshe Sayathyachyutha mandiram”

2) Parashurama jayanti mantra –

“Jamadagnya mahaveera kshatriyaantha kara prabho
Gruhanarghyam mayadattam krupayaa parameshwaraa”

3) While donating – 

“Sri parameshwara preethyartha muda kumbhadaanoktha phala vaapyartham brahmana yodakumbha daanam karishye thadanga kalasha pujyadhikam cha karishye”.

4) Kuber mantra – ever-lasting wealth in your life

“Kubera Twam Danadeesam Gruha Te Kamala Sithta Tam Devem Prehayasu Twam Madgruhe te Namo Namah”

•  Steps of puja as narrated in Sanskrit and Nepali language I just tried to copy them as they order to perform the ritual .Perform the Atma Pooja This is a pooja that is dome for the self purification. For this you can take a little water in your palm and pray to the Goddess to help you with the successful fulfillment of the pooja. Tilak and Aachaman Use sandalwood and kumkum to put a tilak on your forehead. Take some water in your palm and drink it. Sankalpa Take some more water in your palm and make a promise of completion of this pooja in front of the Goddess. If you are performing this pooja with a particular wish n mind, you can say it now. Asvahana and aasan Offer flowers and invite the Goddess into your home and into the area of worship. Offer her a seat and ask her to kindly accept your worship. Paadya Now offer water to the Goddess's feet. Aachaman Now offer water that has edible camphor mixed in it to the Goddess.
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 Dugdha Snan Now use cow's milk to bathe the Goddess or in other words, the Kalash that has established on the first day. Gritha Snan and Madhu Snan Use Ghee and honey to perform the abhisheka. Shakkara and Panchamrit Snan Use sugar and the panchammrit to perform the abhisheka. Vastra When the ceremonial bathing is over, offer the goddess clothes to wear. White is the preffered colour today. Chandan and kumkum Offer sandalwood and kumkum to the Goddess. Use them to apply a tilak on the Goddesses' forhead. Other things to offer Offer kajal, bilwapatra, dhruvapatra to the Goddess. Lamp and incense Now light a lamp that uses Ghee and offer the Dhoop or incense to the Goddess Chandraghanta. Bhog Offer the prasad that you have prepared to the Goddess. Aarti Perform aarti to the Goddess and also chant mantras that are dedicated to the Mother Goddess.

 It is the duty of the householders (grhastas) to take care of the guests. Guests are called atithi (one who comes without an invitation). grhe satrum api praptam visvastam akutobhayam: It is said that even if an enemy comes to one’s home, one should receive him with all respects. Even if there were no guests, it is the responsibility of the householder to go into the street and call out, “If anyone is hungry, please come. The food is ready. You can dine with us.” and give an opportunity for the guest to come.While the Pandavas were on exile, to help them take care of their guests, the sun-god gave them Akshaya Patra, a mysterious vessel which can supply unlimited quantity of food to cater to any number of people, as long as Draupadi (the wife of Pandavas) had not eaten.Guests are served  prsad of puri, jeri, potatoes curry, brown chick peas, kheer and tea.Prasad is made for “God”. And in Hinduism, God is everyone. He is within everyone, within every thing, within every creature. So feeding “God” is actually feeding “everybody”. No idol would eat the food, but people will. It is for their belief that a false play of presenting food in front of the idol is done.

It is therefore also advised to commoners, to offer their first meal to God. Some families even today follow this tradition. They offer some morsels of food to fire, and only then they would taste their food. Those who follow this “divine” tradition of prasadam, they rarely fall sick. They would be eating healthy food everyday.Also this tradition ensures that people, despite of their disbelief in God, can always feel secure at a temple. You never know who is going through a hard time. Maybe your offerings to “God” satisfy him in one of his human forms, who might be needing your help. This is a humanitarian system, a beautiful way of co-existing.

 Thus ,the story of Akshaytritiya celebration at home and Pashupatinath has been a long term narratology which my granny narrates with guests and we children enjoy at home with the bhog she prepares and we love temple visits with her ,so gathering with all relatives is the best policy of life to be communicative like her,social gathering and festive season make me happy and I just insert in a page of blog to compose HTML link to sort out the ideas which brainstorms in my mind.

Momma What You Mean By Sirubaree View Tower

Momma What You Mean By Sirubaree View Tower 

Momma What You Mean By Sirubaree View Tower 

Momma What You Mean By Sirubaree View Tower 

Momma What You Mean By Sirubaree View Tower 

My questioning motive is not limited to any edition made by Windows Microsoft but I love facebook use it as portfolio day by day collection of photoes with each angle from rural to urbanism ,I just keep on inserting them as flip card to manage as screenshots.Sirubari village is a Gurung settlement set in the hiss at 1700 meters above sea level. The climate is ideal at any season of the year. During the September to June season with warm days and nights. Sirubari village is a short drive and walk from Pokhara, the major tourist center for the Annapurna. The trail to the village is steep but well made and most people manage to reach the village after a three-hour walk. We will be welcomed into the community and invited to stay in the home of one of the villages.

Thus I just love my cousins describing about picnic spot there ,he was helping uncles to have lunch there ,they  start driving from Pokhara - Sirubari via Badhkhola, Darau. Lunch and welcome ceremony at Sirubari, and blessing by village lama (priest).Interact with home-stay families. Dinner with home-stay families. They collectively were working for Sirubaree as a campaign to visit Sirubaree in associaion to Sopal Samaj and I loved the moments I got the instructions from granny and uncles everyday to have some inklines in raw paper to nominalize my memo as part of visual images .

It takes to the dramatic Himalayan viewpoint to observe the Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Annapurna (8091 m), Fishtail and Lamjung Himal. You have to climb 2 hours uphill to reach the viewpoint, Gorujure. A farmer plants rice in June and harvest in November. The terraced field is a protection of land erosion during the monsoon season (June to September) in Nepal.The Sirubaree tower has been managed as view tower and major picnic spot and teams to be participate in such local tourism can be benefecial too,there is lots of other attractions like Dahare Deurali,Kushma Bridge and paragliding in Swarek Syangja,I also love Bhalupaharh view as a resident of Syangja Abhiyan Path.

Anyway Sirubaree view towe has been the major attractions for tourists in Pokhara as it near to Pokhara and a short trip from Pokhara can be benefecial to all internal visitors and tourists from other areas also can enjoy picnic and short driving in car easily with families.The rural scenerio ,food items and local rites in temple and Tri Sahid School add a charm to days of people who reach there on time.New year 2075 BS can be blessing for this area as Sirubaree tower has the beauty of locations to view through eyes and have the breath of loves with closed eyes ,its just like meditative mood ,cold air with mild voice heal the heart at Sirbuaree tower.

Lakhbatti Program At Home By Mom

Mom ,what do you mean by lakhbatti,I asked mom several times ,she answers the queries I have in my mind.Her answers are useful .Lakhbatti refers to a lakh batti  (literally means 100,000 lights) rite for a better future ,with no particular desire good things will happen, and according to Shastras (scriptures), your place is secured in Heaven.A night before the rite the battis are soaked in ghee or oil extracted from til (sesame) or mustard seed in an earthen pot.nce the ritual is over, the lights are kindled. As the battis are lighted, the hosts and their family and relatives crowd around the earthen pot, throw their hands closer to the flame and roll back to place over their closed eyes.Thirteen Brahmans, including one vijnya (expert), should be fed at the end of the ritual. Relatives of the hosts who are invited to share the blessings, also join in the feasts later on.Selrotee with achar is served as prasad with other food items .

Devotees wishing to get their wishes fulfilled by any deity of their choice pledge to light ‘Lakh Vatti’: 125,000 wick lamps. Once the deity fulfills the wishes, the devotees light ‘Lakh Vatti’ at the temple.

Wicks are soaked in oil, and placed 25,000 wicks in each of the five clay bowl. A silver dish with a silver and a gold wick is placed in the main bowl and decorated them all with vermilion.The devotee takes the main bowl of wicks to the deity, and lights them, brings it out and places it on the ground facing the deity. Then the remaining four dishes are lighted from the main dish and after circumventing the temple three times, they are placed one each at the four corners of the temple.

At the time of Baisakh 2075 ,there are many things in new year celebration and lakhbatti is one of them,it has been regular rite at home,we enjoyed a lot in Baba Bard Goriya Temple and the priest offers us the prasad with the knowledge he shares to us one by one.Hindu worship is primarily an individual act rather than a communal one, as it involves making personal offerings to the deity.Worshippers repeat the names of their favourite gods and goddesses, and repeat mantras. Water, fruit, flowers and incense are offered to god.My granny does regular kul puja with the help of uncles at home as she informs me only males are allowed to do so and lakhbatti remains another interesting part at home.

Puja At Dhakalthok Home

 Dhakathok home Panchamul Syangja to Sirindada travelogue and puja rituals with foodie have been my routine since my childhood and I love the friends who always chat ,call and sms with memo to Baba Bard Goriya Temple ,Sunwal ,Nawalparasi and the topic is same ,how do we manage puja at home and why do we follow traditions with parents ,the reasons of being loved to be loved something we do not understand as a part of Dasein,Dasein is a German word that means "being there" or "presence and is often translated into English with the word "existence". It is a fundamental concept in the existential philosophy of Martin Heidegger, particularly in his magnum opus Being and Time.

In the Hindu Culture, daily puja is considered as the simplest way to convey our ode to the supreme almighty for bestowing us with this life and fulfilling all our wishes based on our Karmas. It is a humble way to ferry our gratitude to the lord and the tradition past ages. From the time of Rishis, Daily Puja has gained its importance both as a spiritual practice and Aaradhana. This sacred activity performed during the morning is the best way to start a day and it connotes the popular Sanskrit saying, “Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavanthu” meaning wishing good for all.

If we honour God by performing His puja in an appropriate manner, just as the respectful way in which we treat a guest, then God will be pleased with us and shower His abundant grace upon us. Hence, the scriptures have taught us to abide by Dharma (Righteousness) in a ritualistic and bhāv (Spiritual emotion) enriched manner by teaching us to worship God in sixteen sequential steps, such as invoking God, offering Him a seat, offering Him water to wash His Holy feet etc. Performing puja in this manner is known as Shodashopachar puja, that is, puja performed using sixteen specific substances.

We get the benefit of sankalpa–shakti (Energy of resolve) of our Omniscient Sages only if we perform puja vidhi as advised by our scriptures. While performing puja as mentioned in the scriptures, utmost devotion and bhav are equally important. If there is a lack of love and devotion for God while performing puja vidhi, then it does not reach Him; for, God yearns for bhav.         Offering the upachars that have been performed strictly as per the science mentioned in the Scriptures and with an antahkaran full of faith unto the Deity, is termed puja of a Deity. Only then it is as per the expectations of the Deity, and can be called ‘puja’ in the true sense.

According to Buddhism, the world in which we live and all that happens to us is a result of our past actions. Past harmful actions create unhappy results and skillful actions create happy results. One way to purify obstacles we experience due to our past harmful action is through prayers and pujas. A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas to request their blessings or invoke their help.

The power of prayers derives from the sincere motivation of the person asking for prayers, as well as the pure mind of the persons performing the prayers.  It is said that prayers performed by ordained ones are especially powerful and effective as they are done on the basis of pure morality. But most importantly, making offerings to the different manifestations of enlightened beings, and to the sangha community generates and increases merit, our positive potential. Merit is needed to have success in all activities. 

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

Granny starts her lecture at Dhakalthok home where she has been running after puja bidhi with uncles and aunt.A Hindu family home is incomplete without a temple; irrespective of the home’s size, a temple, big or small or a puja room (if permitted by the space) is installed in a household. A home temple or the puja room is considered to be an integral part of the family as it plays a major role as the center of religion, belief, traditions and congregation. It is also the basis of Hindu Dharma.

One of the most visible external symbols of Hindu identity is the mark that many of us wear on our forehead. Origin of this practice is unclear. But, in ancient times, when the Varna system predominated, people used to apply tilaks differently that represented their Varna. Brahmins applied a white chandan mark signifying purity. Kshatriyas wore a red tilak that signified their valour. Vaishyas wore a yellow (usually turmeric) tilak which signified prosperity as they were traders. The Sudras applied a black tilak representing their service to all the above three Varnas.

But later, the tilaks were used to denote which Sampradaya one belongs to. The worshippers of Lord Vishnu wore a tilak in the shape of 'U'.

Girinagar Delhi ,A Short Walk From Govindpuri Delhi

My journey of visiting Girinagar Delhi is the most favorite thing in my life as home city I love Girinagar and the yummy street food and foodie life is the most interesting aspect of my life.The map of Girinagar in google mapcarta gives me multiple ideas make the interesting as they provide the various details of Girinagar Delhi.The closest stations to Govind Puri are:

 Govind Puri Metro Station is 115 meters awan walk 

 

Govindpuri Metro is 115 meters away, 2 min walk 

 

Kalkaji Mandir is 361 meters away, 5 min walk.

• The first favorite food is lemonade.The lemonade jar has a steel lid fixed with a handle. Enclosed in a layer of salted crushed ice, the jar is gently shaken around to ensure that the lemonade freezes uniformly into ice.
  
  When a customer arrives, the vendor opens the lid, crushes the lemonade ice, ladles it into a plastic glass, adds masala powder and spikes it further by squeezing a lemon. The iciness jolts you out of your heat-induced stupor. Nothing like a glass of chilled Nimbu Paani to refresh you, even on the hottest and most tiring of days! This rejuvenating drink is made of lemon juice, flavoured with the right proportions of salt and sugar. Cumin seeds powder and black salt add a real peppy dimension to this tangy drink. Although ready-mixes are available for Nimbu Paani, this homemade version will outdo them any day in terms of flavour, aroma and the overall refreshing effect.A punchier version of shikanji is banta, Delhi slang for lemon soda. Sealed with a glass ball called kancha, banta bottles are easily spotted in the North Campus area of Delhi University or any other busy markets, such as Lajpat Nagar.With its strong masala and extra lemon drops, it is very tart.

  Instructions

• Add 2 cups of water, add lemon juice to it.Add sugar.
• Mix well until sugar is completely dissolved.Add roasted jeera powder,black salt and salt.
• Mix well.Get ready with all your ingredients.Take your serving glasses, add ice cubes.
• Pour lemon juice.Add lemon slice and mint leaves and serve chilled.

Love For Parathas in Delhi

Delhi is known for 3 things – being the capital city of the most diverse country in the world, its rich history & the food!Delhiites take their food seriously. They have streets like Chandni Chowk & Parathewali Gali that is dedicated to serving Delhi’s delicious dishes. They have food walks for breakfast & tea-time that goes hand-in-hand with sightseeing. 

Delhi is also the birthplace of Butter Chicken & chaat (tangy street food).From Chandni Chowk to Majnu ka Tilla, Delhi is replete with many culinary delights.If you ask a Delhiite what are two things that really stand out for them about the city, it would be the rich history and the mouth-watering food.If you haven't eaten the deep-fried golden Aloo Parathas from Gali Paranthe Wali in Old Delhi, then you have surely missed out the best Delhi has to offer! The list of parathas available here is endless -- aloo, besan, methi, nimbu-pudina, bhindi, gaajar, etc. You'll also find a banana paratha, which can be ordered as a dessert.

Aloo Paratha is an easy to make North Indian breakfast dish. This traditional breakfast recipe is perfect for weekend mornings and is a complete meal in itself, this paratha recipe tastes great when served with raita and pickle.

• Step 1
  To make this paratha recipe, boil the potatoes and mash them in a large bowl. In the potatoes, add chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, salt, garam masala powder, chaat masala and mix well so that no lumps remain. Ensure that you have finely chopped the onions or the filling will come out.
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  Step 2
  Put wheat flour in a large mixing bowl. Add water gradually and knead into a soft dough. Make small-medium balls of the dough and roll them out into 3 to 4 inch circles. Add a spoonful of potato filling in the centre. Gradually press the rolling pin on all sides while making the parathas. Be very careful to apply pressure evenly. It is very important to insure that your potato mixture is mashed well and not lumpy or you will never be able to make perfect parathas.
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  Step 3
  Seal the dough and round it with the your fingers. Now roll them with a rolling pin into round parathas. Apply the pressure very evenly and gently on all sides.
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  Step 4
  Press very lightly so that the mixture does not come out. Heat a girdle and roast the parathas, cooking them on both the sides with a spoonful of butter. If you want to use less butter on the parathas, first roast them on both the sides on low flame and when they are slightly crispy, apply butter with brush on both the sides.
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  Step 5
  Serve piping hot with chilled yoghurt or pickle. You can also serve the aloo parathas with green chutney or coconut chutney or a light gravy. Ideally a light potato shorba goes best with aloo ka paratha. You can also make a quick onion-tomato-green chilli raita that tastes amazing with this paratha.
  
  
  
  
  Delhi and Delhi-ites are known as much for their insatiable appetites as they are for the unending variety of food found in the city. Any cuisine, Indian or international, you name it, we have it. But what really captures the essence of the city is the street food that changes colour and taste but gets only better with discovering the city.
  
  
  
  Another factor which you need to take care of is- the time of eating Parathas (or any heavy meal for that matter). There is a reason Punjabi’s eat Parathas for breakfast folks! They are rich in carbs, giving your body the energy to stay put for the day ahead. If you consume this bulk load of energy after the noon time, you wont do any favours to your metabolism. So savour this delicious and healthy treat every now and then taking care of the above factors and you wont hear your appetite complaining!
  
  
  Paratha also known as a flatbread is the traditional staple of the Indian subcontinent. Parathas can be eaten as a breakfast dish, lunch or as a snack. It is delicious, mouth-watering and a healthy Indian homemade food.  For a healthy version of Paratha, switch to other flour options such as Ragi, Jowar, Bajra, rather than wheat flour.  Also, avoid stuffing your paratha with potatoes. You can use various vegetables along with Potatoes as stuffing.
  
  
  
  
  Paratha’s made of whole wheat and other flours are more nutritious as it contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9. Paratha prepared without oil or ghee is a good diet food as it has low calories and low fat value which helps in weight reduction. Parathas made of whole grains are easy to digest, prevents gallstones formation, helps to improve metabolic disorders and reduces the risk of cancer. 
  
  
  
  
  Parathas can be made healthier by adding oats, Soya, Chickpea and Ragi flour as this will enhance the fibre intake and nutritional value.The joy of eating those butter-laden parathas with curd and pickle is above all. Moreover, they taste all the more scrumptious during the chilly months. We're sure all of you would agree to that. Delhi is home to unique parathas that are loaded with unusual fillings. If you're bored of having those regular stuffed parathas and want to surprise your taste buds with something new and exciting then head to these places mentioned below and devour them with a piping hot cup of adrak wali chai.
  
  
  
  

Celebration Of Festivals At Dhakalthok Home ,Panchamul Syangja,Nepal

Festivals are part of our life and they make our days happier.This Navaratree has lots of stories at home and we just ran about the food festive mood.The concept of festivals have emerged from the desire of celebrating what we have in our hands, what we have achieved. The celebrations also display our hopes for what we want in future, in the time to come. The last day and the first day of a year in any calander are celebrated all over the world. This signifies that something has ended; and a new era is beginning.

Keeping this situation in mind, if we see the concept of celebrating the festivals, then the modus operandi of such celebrations need a methodical change. If the festivals are for reducing the stress in general, we need certain changes. Take the case of a festival like Diwali. We purchase new clothes; we eat sweets; we go for visiting religions places and meet our friends and relatives. These things cost money. There is a big class in our society that hardly can afford such luxuries. For them there is no meaning of Diwali or any other festival. But they would keep looking at all of those who enjoy through the richness of their pockets. The poor people would feel the state of alienation; they would feel inferior; they would even feel being cheated, thinking that the wealthy people have kept their opportunities blocked by occupying major sources of income.

Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has emphasised to such an extent the motherhood of God.To celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young saplings to the goddess.During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures. 

Navaratri (nine nights) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Navratri takes place at the beginning of October around harvest time and, as the name implies, this festival is celebrated for nine days. Navratri is also known as Durga Puja.

There has been multiple stories about Navaratree or Chitre Dashai at Dhakalthok home ,we love our uncles doing PUJA at Kul Mandir of Dhakalthok home Syangja Panchamul.Also, Brahmin do kul puja remembering dead relatives in a 2/3 years gap which varies in classes of Brahmin. In most of the homes, it is compulsory to bath in the morning and worshipping god. Without puja in morning, day is not started.In marriage ceremony, bridegroom goes in the house of bride to marry her. They both worship fire and god and take around fire promising each other not to leave each other’s support, love in front of family, friends and relatives. Bride has to go in the house of bridegroom after marriage.

Also, for the adult boys, there is an important ritual which is compulsory for all boys of Brahmin castewhich is Bratabanda. It should at the appropriate age but nowdays many of the boys perform this custom just before marriage. The boy has to shave head and after this, sister has to put oil on his head and ear. For a boy, without bratabandha, marriage is incomplete.

Brahmin are much more involved in religion and in the home of this caste,t he family is well mannered. When a female of home is in the period then,s he is kept in separate room without allowing to touch any food and other members, too. They are not allowed to go in kitchen, puja room. They are not even allowed to enter to temple. Only after five days,s he can worship in temple and can make food. It is a good thing in one way, because she is not allowed to do works then in period, she can get enough rest.

But, by another way, it is bad too. Girl is kept in one room only and if she needs anything then she should call other family members. But, by the modernization of the world, the conservative view of Brahmin is somehow being changed. So, lately in many families, girls are allowed for other activities except cooking food and worshipping God during her periods.

On the 12^th day after birth, the Namakaran( Naming) ceremony is conducted with puja. The people involved in the baby naming ceremony are the paternal and maternal grandparents, parents of new born baby and relatives and friends.There are lots of stuff of Dhakalthok Home Syangja Panchamul and my diary gets closed as the lunchtime call by mom causes to have the prasad at home.