Sunrise At Gopalpur-on-Sea

The holiday was special and meant a lot,
We would get to unwind in the scenic spot.
The resort room was comfortable and cozy,
The experience was delightful and rosy.

The stars winked and the moon shone extra bright,
Gopalpur-on-Sea waters sparkled in the moonlight.
Soothing lullaby of the waves hypnotized deep!
The luxurious night invited us to rest and sleep.

Though I had decided to wake up before sunrise,
Letting go of wishes, I shut my eyes feeling nice!
My body cajoled- "Please let me sleep late!"
"If not one sunrise, another will soon be in fate!"

Ganesha - Odisha Handicrafts

Lord Ganesha is much-loved everywhere in India and the world. Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated in a grand way in Odisha and in India. The pandals must be seen to be believed. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated once a year, but Lord Ganesha is worshiped everyday. There are many temples devoted to the lord. The Elephant God is also depicted in various handicrafts in Odisha.

It is wonderful to share some images of the exquisite and incredible handcrafted Ganesha items designed in Odisha, India.

Paper Mache Crafts:
Paper Mache Crafts of Odisha are designed in various forms including colourful animals and Gods.

Talapatra (PalmLeaf) Crafts:
Palm-leaf is skilfully etched and painted to depict mythology.

Stone Sculptures:
Odisha's artisans have always created magic with stone. The temples and sculptures provide testimony.

Happy Or Hopeless By The Window Seat ?

Life seems fine and happiness reigns by the window seat. 

The views are spectacular sometimes. One is filled with awe while viewing the clear blue sky and the vast expanse, the rich colours of the sun, the pretty shapes of the clouds, the flock of birds...

While I'm travelling by air, I like to occupy the window seat to witness all this and more. Sometimes, I spot an 'Oxbow lake' and some other natural features, and remember my Geography Ma'am and school text-books.

But, over the past several years, life by the window seat makes me wonder about the lack of greenery and forest-cover. Why are such great patches barren and devoid of any trees? 

The Alien Guest

She rechecked.

It was really him with another woman.

She was furious.

How could he do this to her?

He had no right to play with her trust.

She followed them secretly across the wilderness oblivious to the happenings in the world...

PHOTO PROMPT© Jan Wayne Fields

A spaceship had landed some hours ago.

The police was in search of a missing alien.

Seeing her with a binocular, they inquired if she had spotted the alien.

She nodded and pointed towards the tent...

The media interviewed her for 'Breaking News'.

No one knew the reality- the alien had randomly selected his form; thus totally resembled him...


Any clue what happens next? Do share in the comments below.

100 Words Story

Linking with Friday Fictioneers 

IndiSpire Edition-184- Do you have that one person who was once your best companion but now a complete stranger? What changed? #Friend2Stranger

ABC Wednesday- G for Guest

Odisha India Handlooms

Spicy Saturday Post Here

I am yet to visit most parts of our world. But, wherever I have been, I am conscious that I am not in my motherland, rather I am a cultural ambassador of India there. I make it a point to wear Indian clothes and use Indian products most of the time, especially when I am abroad.

Wearing Indian handlooms attracts a lot of attention. Random strangers stop by to shower gracious compliments- "Very nice costume", "So pretty", "Lovely dress", "Love the pattern/design/print", "I want something like what you are wearing!"...

The cloth/design refers to the Ikat cloth and handlooms of Odisha that I wear most of the time. 

The bright colours and patterns and varieties of dress-materials and Sarees steal hearts.

The Flood

The formidable dam of the past bursts at this hour:
The deluge and flood overwhelms my heart,
The waters lose no time to smartly play their part, 

Stirred and shaken, I shrink, shrivel and cower, 

Thorns pierce; I'm like an unloved trampled flower.

Bulls-eye! I'm the real target hit by the flood-dart...

Is it too late to journey ahead in my bedecked cart? 

Rejuvenate my once-upon-a-time spirit and power? 

Cycle Of Birth And Death

Here

You left me here without saying goodbye,
I know not where you went & how & why...
I screamed out loud hoping you'll hear me,
Despite my best efforts, I failed miserably...

They tried to reason with me fearing I'll go mad,
They couldn't fathom how much I was sad.
"Love makes the world go crazy", they said.
Earning back my loved ones was in my head.

I resolutely set out with a purpose that rainy day.
Clouds, Wind, Rain, Lightning...came my way.
The rainy-clouds thundered & showered their grace.
I didn't wipe the tears & raindrops from my face.

VanaMahotsav In Bhubaneswar

There is little doubt that the temperature is rising and we are feeling the heat.
Plant more trees and help our cities to beat the heat.
More trees are a necessity and a treat.

Our Planet Earth needs to be treated right, else with our haphazard ways, we have to bid goodbye to it and look for a new home...

By 2100,8 degrees Celsius warmer cities
Or
Better planet🌎 with more trees?
Plant #Trees please🌲🌳#WED2017 #WorldEnvironmentDay #environment pic.twitter.com/ztaIxLWfW4

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) June 3, 2017

Trees are much needed. Unfortunately, "everybody wants to park in the shade, but not many are willing to plant a tree."

Hope everyone wants to plant a tree just like everyone wants to park in d shade! #PlantTrees #Trees 🌎 #Earth#WorldEnvironmentDay #WED2017 https://t.co/ekGZ43pUNa

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) June 5, 2017

Some are willing, but they have no clue how to go about it! Last year, I was looking for a space for my Mango saplings.

Need-any free space/land where I can plant my Mango saplings🌱 & they'll be allowed to grow into trees🌳.
Pl inform.🌿 pic.twitter.com/6oDCkhazpv

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) June 22, 2016

After much follow-up, I was given five tree-guards from Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). I planted five saplings on the roadside, but I still have the rest of the saplings at home...

This year I had been looking forward to join in the VanaMahotsav event.

Did you know that #Vanamahotsav was started in 1950 by the then Union Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr K. M. Munshi? #conservation pic.twitter.com/RHE5mHjaTW

— Amar Chitra Katha (@ACKComics) July 3, 2017

At Vana Mahotsav, announced decision to observe 7 July as State Plantation Day & plant record 50 lakh saplings in one day across #Odisha⁠⁠⁠⁠ pic.twitter.com/ShvB4lv84T

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 2, 2017

Proud to be actively involved along with members of Aryan Cub -  a local youth club, Baristha Nagarika Sangha - Senior Citizens Association, BMC officials & workers, Forest Division officials, and enthusiastic neighbours.
Together we have planned a plantation event.

Look who all occupied our car's backseat today! I tried to memorize their names!

Driven to be planted on VanaMahotsav !

Excited to attend our very own VanaMahotsav in Bhubaneswar!
Here are the details:

Date: 7th July, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Venue: Aryan Club Sporting Ground, located in the next lane of Happy Hours School, Sahid-Nagar, and near SBI, Sahid-Nagar, Bhubaneswar.
All are invited!

If you are in Bhubaneswar and you have always dreamed to plant a tree, you are most welcome to join us.

Note- The plantation space is limited. Be punctual to get a chance!

My #CityEvent post for IndiSpire Edition 176
Three Word Wednesday- Goodbye, Memorize, Haphazard

Have you ever planted a tree in your life? Do share in the comments below.

Rasagola Dibasa In Social Media

Once a year, we get to find many posts, tweets and images celebrating Rasagola Dibasa #RasagolaDibasa. Our Social Media timelines get filled with information and tempting pictures of Rasagolas. This post has some FAQs about Rasagola Dibasa in Social Media.

What is Rasagola Dibasa? 

Rasagola Dibasa is a day in the honour of Rasagolas and also dedicated to the lovers of this delicious sweet/dessert. 

In Odia language, the word Dibasa means day.

#RasagolaDibasa means Rasagola Day.

#RasagolaDibasa is a day of celebration just like #PakhalaDibasa and #UtkalaDibasa; Rasagola-lovers celebrate Rasagolas on this day! 

How, when and where did Rasagola Dibasa begin?

Niladri Bije is the last day of the Ratha Jatra. On this day, devotees offer Rasagolas as 'bhoga' to Lord Jagannath. Thus, Rasagolas have been associated with Puri Jagannath's Ratha Jatra for centuries. 

Niladri Bije connection with Rasagolas

When the Gods enter the Temple after their trip to their aunt's place, Lord Jagannath is permitted to enter the Temple premises only after He placates His wife, Goddess Lakshmi by offering her Rasagolas. She is angry and asks many questions that Lord Jagannath answers during their conversation called 'Bachanika'. Sweet Rasagolas come to the rescue of the Lord of the Universe and help Him gain entrance!

In Social Media, the idea began on Twitter with the hashtag- #RasagolaDibasa with everyone's involvement starting from March 2015 onwards.

Why was Rasagola Dibasa proposed to be celebrated on Social Media?

Social Media has great power to educate people and dispel wrong notions. In Social Media, Rasagola Dibasa with the hashtag #RasagolaDibasa was proposed to celebrate Rasagolas. Social Media was the medium adopted to reach everyone and share about Odisha's Rasagola history and information that Odisha is the birthplace of the Rasagola. Many are not aware about Odisha's culture and Niladri Bije of Ratha Jatra that has the Rasagola connection for centuries now.

Rasagola has centuries-old link with Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri

The Fault In Our Stares

There were a lot of intentional stares & stolen glances.
As next-door-neighbours, we had plenty of chances.

His room's window overlooked mine.
This two-sided love-story seemed just fine!

He loved to stand & stare, & I did the same too.
Why we indulged in this love-sports we had no clue.

"Mere saamne waali khidki mein ek chand ka tukda rehta hai"-
He sang this Hindi movie song without fail almost everyday.

"A piece of the moon resides in the window in front of me."
I felt like a movie-star as he sang love-songs faithfully.

They said it must have been because of the fault in our stares,
On our respective walls, our photographs stare with glares.

"Zara tasveer se tu nikal ke samne aa", he's blunt.
"Please emerge out of the picture & come in front."

No one can hear our songs, smell our scent or see us revel together.
We died 7 years ago; now our pasty photos stare at each other...

Also linking with Three Word Wednesday