Tiffin Tales 27

Hola...

Hope you all have started to a great week. To those who are celebrating 'Navratri' enjoy all the nine days of devotion, food and festivities. These nine days nine forms of the Goddess Durga will be worshipped. Many people will be observing fasts and having special food in place of regular food. The main emphasis will be on fruits and dairy products.

Bengali's do not observe fasts for nine days but the last four days known as 'Saptami, 'Ashtami', 'Navami' and 'Dashami' are of paramount importance. While it comes to eating Bengali's differ. Most people have vegetarian food on those three days while the larger section likes to devour non vegetarian items made specially on these days. On the day of Asthami Bengali's unite to have special 'Bhog' offered to the Goddess and relished by all. The Bhog is so special to Bengali's that all throughout the year no other day of the year the same Bhog tastes the same. Yes, i know all the Bengali's will unite on this thought.

We all have our different ways to praying and celebrating but what amounts most is our devotion and perhaps more than devotion is our acts and thoughts. Years back growing our parents would try to explain these things and lay stress on good deeds and actions. They never asked us to follow anything religiously but let us follow if our hearts wanted to do so. Now being a parent i also want to be a free thinking parent but somewhere my heart wants my children to learn and imbibe those things among themselves. I will never enforce or institute anything but anything that belongs to my roots and followed by my children will be my victory.

The above lines may seem philosophical, illogical, emotional or skeptical but holding on to ones's traditions and values can be a daunting task while living out of your place. There are distractions all around but inner voice should be the ultimate guide. These lines are an allegory to my morning conversation with my S. Tomorrow i shall discuss in details about our chit-o-chat. Please bear with me. Today's lunch box was beetroot rice and an omlette and the snack box had peaches and strawberries.This week yoghurt has been replaced by smoothie and shall continue this week. Take care friends....