“Maa ashchen baaper baari” – The homecoming of Devi Durga

Its 2 days away from “Mahalaya” and a week apart from Durgotsav / Durga Puja… and I can actually smell bhorer sheuli r mishti gondho (fragrant sweet smell of the morning bloom) with the gentle breeze blowing in my backyard. And then I wake up to realise it is not Sheuli (the fragrant white flower of Bengal) but the fragrant native bloom I planted last week. Perhaps, it is the exuberance my soul carries around this festive season and I find myself so close to my Bengal, my people, my family and my fond memories of childhood.

“Maa ashchen baaper baari” – (It is the home coming of Durga Devi from her inlaws’ to her parents’)

Yes, indeed, the homecoming is celebrated in the awakening of the conch shell and the deity is invited with the rhythm of dhaak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhak_%28instrument%29). And as the days get closer, the nature hymns “Aagomoni” in the backdrop of the golden sun.

 

Come “Mahalaya” and Bengalis get busy to complete the final preparations for their greatest festival - Durga Puja. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - "Jago Tumi Jago". This is done through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs.

 

 

Since the early 1930s, Mahalaya has come to associate itself with a radio program called “Mahisasura Mardini” or “The Annihilation of the Demon” – which is played at pre-dawn, around 4 am in the morning. For nearly six decades now, every house in Bengal wakes up in the pre-dawn hours, 4 am to be precise, on the Mahalaya day to tune in to “Mahisasura Mardini” broadcast.

This All India Radio (AIR) program is a beautiful audio montage of recitation from the scriptural verses of “Chandi Kavya”, Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama. As the recital begins, the serene morning air resonates with the long drawn sound of the sacred conch shell, immediately followed by a chorus of invocation, melodiously setting the stage for the recitation of the Chandi Mantra (sacred chants).

Well, my family gets to bed early the previous day to wake up to listen to the Chandi Mantra from youtube on Mahalaya - even here in Australia – and gets immersed into the spirit of homecoming of Devi. 

 

 And as we listen, we remember the man, Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose legendary voice narrates the story of the descent of Durga to earth through Mahalaya Chandi Paath (sacred chants of Devi Chandi). 

 

Sir Bhadra has long passed away but his divine aura of narration submerges each Bengali soul in quiet moments of the Morning Prayer as we say –

"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha"

 

 

The quintessential asset of a Bengali Bride - (collectively served in a platter)

The best feature to highlight a Bengali home can be inherited from a Bangla wedding and when it comes to this discretion, what could be better than serving a platter of a Bengali Bride's asset to enhance the decor on your table-top.

 

And when it comes to picking the best of the bridal asset, shidoor kouto (vermillion container) , gaach kouto, kori and sankha is definitely my pick from the lot.

Each of these items have their own significance in a Bengali wedding (significant to the bride and to the family she is entering to). The "Gaach Kouto" is a pot containing a red powder, called sindoor, and a silver coin, which is believed as an accessory of Goddess Lakshmi. So Gaach Kouto symbolizes to bring wealth and blessings of Maa Lakshmi.

Talking about another significance, "Sankha Porano" (wearing Sankha bangles) ceremony is performed by the bride at her wedding. She dons a new sari and the sankha pola, or the conch-shell bangle that has been washed in turmeric water. While the priest chants the sacred verses, 7 married women help the bride wear this bangle that is symbolic of a strong and long lasting relationship.

So why not carry the blessings of Maa Lakshmi and the bond of a long lasting relationship embedded in the decor of your house to make it symbolic, colorful yet meaningful hub.

DIY Indian Pearl Earring drop - simple yet elegant

Aspired by the DIY ideas on pinterest - I wanted to take up a completely new project for this weekend. And walla, here I pick something fresh ....
                  ...... my weekend project - simple yet elegant Indian Pearl earring - made at home with ease.

This is a lovely DIY project which you can wear for yourself or gift it to your family & friends.
And guess what I did to the ones I made - gifted to my best friends for their birthday :-)

This is a very basic design for beginners and I hope to share with you few other ideas as I create them.
For now, here goes your 5 simple steps to make your own Indian pearl drop -

Things you need (I shopped them from Spotlight) -
2 Headpins
6 Beads
Pliers
2 Earring wires

1. Take small amount of beads (I used 3 with 3 different sizes) and put them on the headpin. 
2. Keep 1 centimeter on the top of the headpin and then cut with the sharp part of your pliers.
3. Take flat nose pliers and in the part at the end of where you cut it, curl it around one time.
4. Take the earring wire and open the circle with your pliers.
5. Hook the earring circle onto it and close up the circle on the earring wire.

Isn't that simple? - Now try yours and do not forget to share your elegant pearl drop DIY with me.

"BRINGING INDIA HOME" - My home tour I

A beautiful house is every women’s dream – a house where the family comes together to share special bonds, a house where memories are created & re-created, a house to share love with someone special, a house to re-live your dreams, a house you can truly call “amaader baari” (our home)…. As my husband and I embarked on this new journey to get closer to our dreams, we built our abode of love this year holding each other’s hand. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, rests our dream abode “Snehalok” (meaning light of love).

The underlying theme behind each décor in the house was vibrancy and color – so we started filling the lounge room was vibrant colors, red being the primary theme. We used Indian traditional-looking wooden furniture in contrast with the modern-style couch in blood red. Old styled vase, brass antiques, silver pots, jewel-beaded lamps and Turkish kilim rugs were used to reflect vibrancy in the room.

The Lounge Room:

Our Buddha corner in the lounge:

An essence of "light of love" is the bond shared between Radha and Krishna – and symbolically to rejoice over the resonance of true love, you can find peacock feather all over our lounge, living and master bed.

And how can Ganpati Bappa not be there on our living space:

The sun-kissed morning space is shared between the three of us with our cuppa of chai - my husband, I and our lucky bamboo.

Another favorite corner of the house is shared with Rabindranath and my gitobitan (collection of Rabindra Sangeet, songs written by Rabindranath Tagore). We have recently purchased a french chalk-board, quite an antique one, which we use to write a Rabindra Sangeet each day - songs based on mood, weather or month - after all, Tagore's songs are plenty to choose from!

Again an embodiment of love portrayed in peacock-feather colors in our master-bed.

The master-bed:

And when it comes to the choice of paintings I would love to have at my house - my preference always takes lead on Dithi's art (http://deezden.blogspot.com.au/) and on Rajasthani paintings. Dithi is a very talented artist whom I have known through her blogs for quite sometime now. And with the news of my dream home, here she sent her wishes along with Ganpati Bappa to look after my house while we stay at work.

Another unique theme for our decor is BnB - Brass n Bengal, which you can find in almost all corner of our house. To dazzle the space with our light of love, we do prefer an amalgamation of perfumed candles with the traditional oil-lit brass diyas (Indian lamp). And being a bong, you can find Bengal in our kitchen to corridor. So our home is never complete without seeking blessings from Maa Durga and Sree Krishna.

[Note: Please do not copy or publish the content and photos without my permission]

Copyright © Chondryma Chakrobortti 2013. All Rights Reserved.

A maiden attempt on Asha Bhosle's Bengali song

"Mohuaye Jomechhe Aaj"....

I love this song of Asha Bhosle sung in Bengali and always wanted to cover this.
This was the song my mother always sang to make me dance, when I was a kid - and I would gladly perform to the beats :)

Song Title: Mohuaye Jomechhe Aaj
Movie/Album: Chokhe Chokhe Kotha Bolo – Bangla
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Year Release: 1984
Cover by: Chondryma
Picture courtesy and video edit: Chondryma

Hibiscus / Shoe-Flower / Laal Joba for Ganesha - and its significance

As a kid, I always wanted to seize the laal joba or red shoe-flower offered to Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi, or was fascinated by the same flower offered to Kali Maa during Kali Puja in Bengal. Never cared to know why this particular flower is being offered to the two powerful Hindu deities, until my mother narrated the story one day -

"My child, the red color of the flower is a personal favorite of Lord Ganesha and Devi Kali.

The 5 petals of the Hibiscus denote the warding of negative energy and the welcome of the positive energy into the Universe from the "panchamahabhutas" or 5 basic elements (akaash, jal, vayu, agni, dharti). On a more practical level, it is the seasonal flower of the Bhadrapad month of the monsoons, hence our ancients have advocated this particular flower. Especially the color red is highly auspicious."

And with an echo of this message, I have planted a laal joba to offer Ganpati Bappa and also to devot at Matri-Charan (Goddess Kali's Feet) at my desi home in Australia -

And thus, the beliefs, were carried along ~

• We should pluck flowers fresh only after taking bath
  
• We should not pick the ones (flowers/leaves) fallen on the ground (except Paarijat).
• We never offer Nirmalya (reused flowers), flowers that have already been offered by others. 
• We must not throw/fling flowers on the idol. Always offer them with both your open palms at His/Her feet.

Maa always taught me to offer God with utmost care & devotion and I meant to follow her words (as a kid) to deserve the sandesh and nokuldana (Sweet offered to God) at the end of her Puja. Haha ....

Kesari bhat - the south canteen food for college days

I have lived on Kesari bhat (or sheera in Maharashtra) for days after days, while I was graduating from Bangalore (Bengaluru now). The Kesari Bhat (Semolina sweet dish) offered at Sagars' in Southern India is something I craved every evening and each plate had cost me not more than Rs. 5-7 INR, if I remember correctly. BTM's shanthi sagar, Jayanagar's shanthi upahar, krishna chinai and Adyar Ananda Bhawan joints were my hot picks. I reclaim that the Kesari Bhath made in southern India beats any other semolina dessert of any other Indian state. It's a must try, special mention to the Karnataka's Pineapple Kesari Bhath.

Kesari bhath is a popular Indian dessert.There is a large choice of kesari bhath varying from place to place, depending on availability of products. It might be cooked with pineapple or banana, mango and rice. The classical ingredients used for its preparation are semolina, sugar, ghee, water and milk.

Kesari bhath has its origins in Karnataka and is a popular sweet dish during festivals such as Ugadi. Having lived in Southern India for 6 years, I have managed to bring home few southern culinary delights to my kitchen and here treating hubby today with the very famous "Pineapple Kesari Bhath" - a taste from the college canteen ~

 I am not very good with recipes and measurements, but trying to put things together so you can try this easy delicacy at your home. Please amend the measurements according to your taste.

Ingredients -

1 cup rava / sooji / semolina
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup ghee (you can reduce the quantity and use 50:50 ratio oil: ghee)
1 cup milk and 1 cup water
1 cup canned pineapple cubes with the juice
1/4 tbsp cardamom powder
1/8 tsp food color (saffron color) dissolved in 2 tbsp of milk
1/4 cup cashew and raisins fried in ghee

Procedure -

Fry rava in a heavy bottomed pan by stirring continuously. Make sure the rava doesn't burn at the bottom. Once the rava is fried properly, you won't be getting the raw smell anymore. Take the content out in a flat dish - spread it and let it cool.

In another heavy bottomed pan, heat 1 cup milk, 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar and bring to boil. Add the cardamom powder and throw in the pineapple pieces with the juice. If you think the milk might curdle, then add before boiling and let the entire mix come to a boil till the solution has a syrupy texture. Now add the food color dissolved in milk and simmer.

Gradually slide the fried rava, little by little, so no lumps will form in between. Add the remaining ghee and 50% of the fried dry fruits and mix well. Stir till desired consistency is reached. Once the water is absorbed well, taste for sugar and turn off the heat. Serve with the remaining dry fruits on top.

Picture Courtesy - Chondryma
[Please do not copy or publish the photos without my permission]

My Yatra Diary...: 'One Picture From My Photo Album' Contest!

My Yatra Diary...: 'One Picture From My Photo Album' Contest!

CAPTION - "A frame of dream dipped in reality" - The sight of Telstra Tower

Down the memory lane ~

Even though we never heard an Australian weatherbee shout “MONSOOOOON” (Australia has 4 seasons only), we could still call it a monsoon day with light drizzles on our car window as we drove past Goulburn. Reminded me of those days spent in Ooty or the holidays in Coorg (in Southern India). 

Driving at 100 kmph with Kishore Kumar songs being played on the CD, added quite a charm to the drive. It was 4:45 P.M. and we were driving back from Sydney after completing our rehearsals for the upcoming Kishore Kumar concert in which I am the lead female vocalist to perform.

I always adore the scenic drive from Sydney to Canberra with lush greens around and crystal blue sky above, spotting one or two kangaroos (if you are lucky) and treating your eyes to the sight of windmills erect on the rocky terrains. You can also find miles and miles of eucalyptus trees running past your driveway.

If your are driving early at sunrise, it is enchanting to catch a glimpse of the hot air balloons floating around the sun creating THE Magical Moment to witness.

But honestly, for me, the major attraction of the drive always been the glance of Telstra Tower as we approach Canberra. I have captured Telstra tower in all behavior and colors, but always wanted to shoot a picture I can treasure for years - a picture close to my heart - a picture of a dream turned reality - and never knew it was this day I will be lucky to have my "frame of dream dipped in reality".

History ~

To torch the history, Telstra Tower was originally named Telecom Tower, however locally it was simply known as Black Mountain Tower. Black Mountain is a sensitive and stunning part of the Canberra environment, a national park of significant interest in the ecological world with its unique collection of flora and fauna. 

Apart from being important as the transmitting station for Canberra television services and FM broadcasting services, and as a base station for other radio communication facilities, Telstra Tower is a key station in trunk communications for Canberra, and an important node in the intercapital broadband network. It is also important in respect of television relaying, catering for up to 5 simultaneous interstate relays as well as national regional relays from Sydney and Melbourne and relays originating in Canberra.

This magnificent structure cost $16 million to build and attracts 430,000 visitors per year.

The magic moment ~

As we approached closer to the tower lookout, we had to pull over on the side to witness the magic – witness the cloud cuddle the tower in its arm. It was one of a kind and we never saw anything similar before. It was the most mesmerising feeling hubby and I had to appreciate the nature and His creation. Though we could not manage a decent capture from the drive way / highway, we had to rush to a prime spot to find the perfect shot and here it is a moment to treasure - "The dreamy tower"

And end to a perfect day in a perfect way !!!!

Hubby and I were the lucky ones to witness the Synergy created by the aura of the Telstra Tower peeping through the clouds – The photo was clicked around May 2011 while we were driving from Sydney to Canberra and witnessed the Black Mountain in ecstasy.

Inviting Maa Durga before Basanti Puja or Vasant Durga Puja 2013

This canvas art is Chondryma's work and copying or any modification to the original is strictly prohibited.

Basanti Puja / Vasant Durga Puja is observed during the Chaitra Navratri (sometime in mid April) in most parts of India. However, it is not as popular as Navratri or Durga Puja in Ashwin or Kathik Masa (October, commonly known as Sharadotsav in Bengal and elsewhere).

Similar to that of Sharadotsav, Basanti Puja is held during the last four days of Vasant Navratri. Some of the rituals followed in Bengal during Durga Puja are followed in North India during the Vasant Durga Puja – like worship of a Girl child (Kumari Puja) and Ghatsthapana (It literally means installing a pot which symbolizes Goddess Shakti). A Pot with image of Goddess Durga embossed on the side of it is placed in the Puja room. The pot is placed on a bed of sand. This is performed on the first day of Navratri. 

 History ~

It is believed that Lord Shri Rama changed the period of Durga Devi Puja (Durga Navratri) from Ashwin to Chaitra Masa. During the time of Ram – Ravan Yudh (the war between Lord Ram and the demon Ravana), Rama was unable to stop Ravana and wanted to seek blessings of Goddess Durga Mata. To demolish Ravana, Lord Sri Rama invoked Goddess Durga Mata during the Hindu month Ashwayuja or Ashwin (period between September or October) and thus achieved victory over Ravana.

Hindu Myhtology describes the observance of Durga Navratri in Ashwin month as Akal Bodhan or untimely invocation of Goddess Durga, as Lord Sri Rama worshipped the Goddess in untraditional Hindu month of Ashwayuja masam.


So, here I am stretching my imaginations on the canvas and inviting Maa Durga to visit my home this Navratri. And wishing all my readers a very happy and pious Vasant Navratri. 

Few information are taken from Hindu Blog.
All pictures are canvas painted by Chondryma with acrylic paint.

Buttery Silk Avocado Shake - Easter Special 2013

Have you ever tried amplifying a savory dish with a hint of avocado in it? As a matter of fact, Burmese do use avocados in drinks and ice creams, to get a creamy rich consistency and believe me, it tastes sensational.

Apart from that fact that Avocados are hailed for their rich and creamy flavour, did you know they are also considered the world’s healthiest fruit? The health benefits in avocados come from their high nutrient content - packed full of vitamin K, dietary fibre, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin C - eating avocados has shown to lower cholesterol and help regulate blood pressure and evokes a reaction in women comparable to that of chocolate :-) :-) :-)

Almost every Asian country makes own version of their fresh avocado shake. But this Easter I was introduced an extremely delicate Avocado shake by my friend “P” who recently traveled across Burma and filled her taste palette with all Burmese delicacies. So, my Easter 2013 kitchen celebrated a Burmese corner - when I prepared Pree’s Rangooni rice with mutton curry (with my variation) while "P" prepared thick n rich Avo shake for me.

The first time I saw avocado in a sweet drink, and suffered a culture shock. Did you know in Vietnam, like elsewhere in Southeast Asia, avocados are used for sweets? Most often times, the flesh of this rich berry is combined with condensed milk, which amplifies the avocado flavor.

So here goes P’s buttery silk avocado drink - 

Makes about 2 1/2 cups, enough to serve 2 or 3

1 and 1/2 ripe medium avocado

2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (we used condensed lite milk)

1/4 to 1/2 cup milk

Scoop the avocado flesh into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients, starting out with the least amount of milk and puree until completely smooth. Taste and add additional milk, depending on the avocado type and if a thinner consistency is desired. 
 

Here’s a little tip. Let your avocado shake sit for 10 to 15 minutes in the fridge. The buttery, avocado flavor will become more pronounced resulting in a tastier shake. Serve chilled.

Also made some special dessert for our Easter celebration tonight -

"Sinfully chocolate" - Chocolate Mousse with shredded coconut and shaved chocolate for our dessert tonight at home - Enjoying our Easter Holidays... Happy Easter to you all !!

 

Photography credits –

Easter picture from redbubble.com

Avocado-shake and chocolate mousse pictures by KJKA author, Chondryma.

Please do not copy the content or pictures without her permission.

Rangooni rice recipe has been taken from Pree’s blog - here