Readers are requested to treat this as an open letter to Menaka Gandhi.

Every year, around this period, I get the jitters and my mind spins out of control. The reason why? It’s Bakri Id and my neighbouring building will slaughter 6 full bodied goats on that day!

Auspicious? Or Obnoxious? I must say that some religious sects and cults are still confined to the constraints of the past and have just not evolved or kept pace with the times.  How can animal slaughter be good for anybody? And, especially in this day and age?

Some customs, even in the most advanced religions like Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, should have been made obsolete, but are thriving to this day. How good is that?

I called animal welfare organizations, who gave me contradicting signals. While the SPCA, Mumbai Branch said it was legal to sacrifice goats, Karuna, the NGO for animals said to file a case as it was illegal to chop off animals for religious purposes.

So, now I’m in a quandary and there is no time to save these animals. Anyway, conservationists all over the country are trying hard to save dying species, and some of us have the gaul, read ignorance, to sacrifice living beings!

Despite being literate, some people just don’t get it and out grow moronic traditions of the past. Since when did it become fashionable to sacrifice some body or being to keep your security and prosperity in tact? How primitive, isn’t it?

I request modern, if there are any, Muslims, to educate and inform their families and friends of the ill effects of animal slaughter. Will the hugely delightful and glamorously vegetarian Shahid Kapoor oblige? Do we even have a PETA chapter in Mumbai?

Neha Singh

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Is baar nahin - Poem by Prasoon Joshi | Is baar nahin lyrics | Is baar nahin video




Ganesh Chaturthi is the most popular festival in Maharashtra. During Ganesh Chaturthi Ganeshas mother Gauri and son are welcomed, consecrated and worshipped together. The idol of Goddess Gauri is brought home and placed nest to Ganesh with a lot of enthusiasm.

Before the idol of Gauri enters the home, Gauri’s footsteps are drawn with kumkum and then married women bring Her into the house. Some families bring the idol of Goddess Gauri. Some keep the photograph of Gauri and some keep the Kalash (copper vessel/pot) and the face of the Goddess is made with coconut. The Kalash contains barks of 5 different trees and then consecrated with mantras, with which Goddess’s Avahaan is done and She comes and resides. Next to the Goddess is another Kalash which represents Lord Shiva. So we have the whole family together with Lord Shiva, Goddess Gauri and their son Shri Ganesh.

Goddess Gauri stays for one and half days. Naivedya (fruits, cooked food and sweets) are offered and Aarti is done as per Vidhi (performing rituals based on the Panchang or the right and auspicious timings).

Friends and Families gather together to worship and enjoy the presence of Ganesh and Godess Gauri in their home for few days. Ganesh Chaturthi - Ganesh festival ends on Anant Chaturdashi with heavy heart, all feel sad at the  time of Visarjan / immersion of Ganesh / Ganapti and Gauri. But Ganapti - Lord Ganesh promises to return again the following year and every time the devotees long for Him. Ganapati Bappa Morya!! Pudhchya varshi lavkar ya! Ganapati gele gavala, Chain pane na aamhala !

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet for this Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi : Adventures in circumnavigation : In a couple of days, Lord Ganesh festival - Ganesh Chaturthi, an annual celebration of India’s elephant-headed God, begins in many Indian households. One of the stories about Lord Ganesh is about a circumnavigation contest where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the parents of Lord Ganesh and his brother, had their sons compete to navigate the planet. While his brother literally traveled the circumference, Lord Ganesh is said to have navigated his parents, arguing that circumnavigating his parents wasn’t unlike circumnavigating the whole world, since his parents were his world.

Actually, Lord Ganesha’s argument theoretically holds true at two places on the planet - the north pole and the south pole. So, if Lord Shiva and his wife had in fact been sitting at either of the poles, circumnavigating them would have meant circumnavigating the planet.

But Commander Dilip Donde of Indian navy isn’t using any of the tricks that Ganesha used. Donde, an experienced diver for Indian navy, is on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will take him around the globe in a 56-feet yacht, over a distance of about 22000 nautical miles. Donde’s 9-month ride includes 4 halts - in Australia, New Zealand, Falkland Islands and South Africa.

The yacht named Mhadei (named after Goa’s river Mandavi) was manufactured in India, but several parts including the board have been imported from abroad. Donde’s circumnavigation has been funded and sponsored by his bosses at India’s defence ministry.

Just a month ago, Donde completed a solo sail from Mauritius to Goa in preparation for this world tour. To qualify for the honor of circumnavigating the planet, a yachtsman has to complete at least 21,600 nautical miles, cross the equator, cross every meridian and end the journey at the starting port. Commander Donde’s Sagar Parikrama (Circumnavigation) begins today and will go on for the next 9 months. Good luck Commander. Lord Ganesh, the God of wisdom is with you. And so will be the Gods of wind and of the oceans.

Source : Its IndiaTime

Modak Recipe - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet

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Ganesh Chaturthi - Mumbai will not have many artificial lakes for Ganesh Visarjan this year. BMC is not in a mood to create 19 artificial lakes as it had announced earlier as BMC didn’t get enough response from devotees. Last year  eco-friendly immersions had got good response though.

The civic body had asked the citizens’ groups to inform them if they wanted to have an artificial lake in their locality. Also the eco-friendly immersion was suggested to people by the BMC with financial assistance. But people did not show interest.

So, the BMC has cancelled its plan to have additional lakes and will reduce the number from that of last year from 25 to 17. With the result there will be no artificial lakes in Bandra, Dharavi and Girgaum. It costs almost Rs 3 lakh on one lake. Though the citizens’ groups promoting the eco friendly immersions are not happy with the BMC’s move.

This Ganesh Visarjan choose the eco-friendly methods to avoid adding to the traffic congestion and water and noise pollution on immersion days.

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet




Janmashtami Songs - Sri Krishna is a form of Lord Vishnu’s. Sri Krishna is one of three major Hindu Gods. Sri Krishna is Considered to be the Lord’s one of the most lovable and divine incarnation, Lord Krishna unlike other Gods is not only considered as a divine deity but also as a companion, a friend, a guide and Guru. It is said that chanting his name and remembering his deeds and leelas by true heart brings auspiciousness as well as success to the family of the devotee. Sri Krishna himself was a manifestation of joy at all levels.  All the devotees of Lord Krishna thus celebrate his birthday, Janmashtami with immense joy and fervor. On the occasion of Janmashtami, people relish on scrumptious food and sing and dance in the names of Lord Krishna. There are several popular Krishnashtami songs sung by some of the renowned artists of the country. Here are sone Janmashtami songs.

Jai Madhav Madan Murari

Singer- Jagjit Singh

Jai Madhav Madan Murari,
Jai Keshav Kalimalhari,

Sundar Kundal Naiyen Vishala,
Gale Sohe Vaijantimala,
Ya Chav Ki Balihari,

Kabhun Loot Loot Bagi Khayo,
Kabhun Madhuvan Ras Rachayo,
Nachat Vipin Bihari,

Karuna Kar Dropadi Pukari,
Pat Mein Lipat Gaye Balihari,
Nirak Rahe Nar Nari

Jai Radha Madhav, Jai Kunj Bihari,
Jai Gopi Jan Walabh, Jai Girdhar Hari,
Yashoda Nandan, Brij Jan Ranjan,
Jamuna Teer Ban Chari,

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Jag Mai Sunder Hain

Singer- Anup Jalota

Jag mai sunder hain do naam chahe Krishna kaho ya Ram
Bolo Ram Ram Ram, Bolo Shaam Shaam Shyam
Makhan Brij mai Ek churave, Ek ber bhini ke khave
Prem bhav se bhare anokhe dono ke hai kaam
chahe Krishna kaho ya Ram

Ek Kans papi ko mare , Ek doosht Ravan sanhare
Dono din ke dukh harat hai Dono bal ke dham
chahe Krishna kaho ya Ram

Ek Janaki sang viraje
chahe Sita Ram kaho ya bolo Radhe Shyam

Bolo Ram Ram Ram, Bolo Shyam Shyam Shyam

Itna To Karna Swami

Singer- Anup Jalota

Itna to Karna Swami, Jab Praan tan se nikle

Govinda Naam leke, Tab pran tan se nikle,
Shri Gangaji the tat ho, Jamuna Ka vanshivat ho,
mera sawla nikat ho, jab pran tan se Nikle

Pitambari kasi ho, Chabi maan main yeh basi ho,
Hotho pe kuch hasi ho, jab pran tan se nikle

Jab kanth pran aye, koi rog na sataye
Yam darash na dikhaye, Jab pran tan se nikle

us vakt jaldi ana, nahi Shyam Bhul Jana,
Radhe ko saath lana, jab pran tan se nikle,

ek bhakt ki hai arji, khud garj ki hai garji
aage Tumhari marji jab pran tan se Nikle
Itna to karna Sai, Jab pran tan se Nikle

Happy Janmashtami to all.

Dahi Handi in Bandra

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