Quick Tips when a baby is around the corner

One of my dear friends is pregnant and I am super happy for her. Heres a quickie of what I intended to share with her. Hope it helps other would be moms too. 

As I was trying to recollect what should she buy. Heres what I could recollect. Got to write it all down before I totally forget in the next few years :) 

Medications and Oils: 

Eucalyptus oil - Most helpful in colds and coughs. Put 1-4 drops in a pan of boiling water. Have your baby in your lap. Ask your spouse to cover you both with a blanket. The steam carrying vapors of the oil help open us blocked nostrils. 

For clearing nose snorts.Nosefrida Aspirator/ - Highly recommended on Amazon 

Baby friendly thermometer. (One with more plastic and less glass exposed for the risk of falling down and breaking into pieces)

Fever medication. (I am against western medication (also known as allopathy) However this is one thing, I believe your home should have. ) India - paracetamol broken into tinier pieces helps. In US, stores sell Tylenol specific to the baby's age group.  

Clothes 

Shoes, slippers, sandles until age 6 months is a total waste of money. Another total waste of money are hand mittens. (better use socks to prevent the baby from scratching her/himself) 

Fancy clothes are useless too. The baby remains swaddled mostly or is throwing up or is getting a massage ( Very important to do - for proper blood circulation). Hence buttonless, hookless, pinless, too much of strings and addons less are recommended. Basically simple designs on gentle fabric (preferably organic) cottons are the best. Have at least 6-8 pairs of dresses on hand.  

Try to keep the head covered as much as possible. The reason is a lot of heat is lost from the head. The fat is what helps the baby to stay warm. A new baby is born without the fat - to help itself easily squeeze out of a mom's vagina during birth. 

Additional layers - to the extent that the baby is not loosing a ton of its body's water in sweat are always recommended too. 

Cloths

(1) 5-8 burp clothes. Size approx: 1'x6'' ( 1 feet by 6 inches) 

(2) 10-12 bed sheets. Size approx: 3'x2'. Preferably with plastic beneath and (organic is best) cotton on the side facing the baby. 

(3) 4-6 swaddlers. Minimum size approx 2'x2'. 

If you are India, you can tear a nice bedsheet into squares and rectangles. In US, if you are on a low budget, there is at least one Dollar Store in every neighborhood. You might have to visit a few of these stores to get everything you have on your list. They are unpredictable in what they carry. If you and your partner are ok with using second hand products - local Thrift stores are a good option too. 

More Info

Whats swaddling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaddling

The 5S by Harvey Karp: http://www.happiestbaby.com/5-ss-system-may-help-colic-symptoms/

A baby center video on the how best to swaddle (tightly wrap a baby to prevent him to wake up from his own jerks. (Swaddling process starts at 2 minutes). 

People / Newsletters I read and subscribed to

You will be spending a ton of time just sitting with newly born in your lap. So I HIGHLY recommend you always the the material next to you bedside / listen to / watch that you always wanted to read, but could not do so in the past due to lack of time.

For Birth Plans and Info on intervention-less deliveries 
1. https://www.pennysimkin.com/articles-resources/ - Check File Library 

2. If you are in the US, you are allowed to make way more choices. Heres an idea on how to write a birth plan.  

3. If I know you personally, I would be happy to share my personal birth plan with me. Just shoot me an email. 

Newsletters I subscribed to: 

Also when I was pregnant with Atharv, for baby related info, I had subscribed to tons of websites. The more one reads, the less there is worry about the day-to-day changes that are part of the growing process of a newly born baby. 

Babycenter.com AND Babycenter.co.in, 

Ivillage.parenting.com, 

Indianparenting.com, 

Swedish /Overlake/ Group - which ever your hospital is. They too have nice info.  

Post Delivery
Let me stress on this once again You will never again get this kind of time to read this much until several years in future. Here are some suggestions based on your interests 

1. Books (Novels, Non-fiction, technical), Magazines

2. Audible.com (If a laptop is not feasible, there is an app for smartphone 

3. Documentaries, TV serials on Netflix, Youtube, Youku etc.  

*****

Handling the 'Law' (especially Mother In Law!)  

You will get a ton of advice from your MIL. Some of her requests are doable. Some is not. Its your baby and not your MIL. Your focus should be on what is best for your baby and not how to explain situations to your MIL.  For instance, if you MIL expects you to keep your hands, legs and and head self covered - she has a point to make there. I did it with my second one and there is marked improvement of handling temperature variations in the second one than my first one. ( There were other factors too, such as my first one was a winter baby, where as the second one was a summer one. Plus by the time the second one came, we became vegans - which boosted the general immunity of my family by many times). Any how the point I was coming to. If you feel suffocated with a cap in 40 degrees celsius - you can very well show her you that you tried just because you wanted to be a good DIL and have been sweating since the last 30 minutes and perhaps are on the verge of a severe dehydration by now... which is worst for your kid than not wearing a cap yourself. Let her take the call and make her feel proud to have made that choice that over clothing the new mom was a bad idea to begin with. Win-win situation for both. 

If your baby's no longer an infant, heres a nice business idea - Start a 'MIL Management sessions'. I bet there are a lot who would like to join ;) 

More later.   

Affiliations to Organic produce in Bangalore, Karnataka

Pointers to organizations having to do with growing / selling / marketing organic. 

Gathered form pamphlets that I came across during my late 2012 visit to the beautiful city of Bengaluru 

1. Pure and Sure  www.PhaladaAgro.com 
Sy No 92/5, Kannalli, Segehalli Cross, 
Magadi Road, Blore - 560060 
+91 - 80 - 2853 6762/63/64 

These products are available at Reliance, Auchan and Godrej Nature's Basket 

They sell Organic Spices, Dals, Oils, Flours, Rice and more...

2. ICCOA - www.iccoa.org / www.indiaorganictradefairs.com 

951 C, 15th Cross, 8th Main, Ideal Homes Township, 
Rajeshwari Nagar, Blore 560 098
+91 - 80 - 28601183, 28607200 
info@iccoa.org 

ICCOA aims at becoming a Knowledge and Learning Center for all facets of organic argiculture and argibusiness by providing information services, advice, and market linkages to organic stakeholders. 


Other Pointers 
3. Tribal Health Initiative
Sittlingi, Harur Taluk, 
Dharmapuri Dist. Tamil Nadu - 636 906 
+91 - 4346 299061 / 299025 
office@tribalhealth.org
www.tribalhealth.org

Aims that people of Sittilingi Valley and Kalrayan hills lead a better quality of life. 

4. Srinidhi Nysargika Thota 
Devanahalli 572128, Tumkur, Karnataka 
+91 - 0816-2268811
appu.krishnamurthy@gmail.com 

Nandhana Spirulina - Nature's most powerful food for all

5. RainyFilters.com - save rainwater 
Anya Enterprises 
1 - S - 17 - 1141/11 1st Floor, Shreyas Chambers Building
Kulur Ferry Road, Chilimbi, Managalore - 575 006 
Aravind's Cell: 97411-24627  

6. Organic Dairy - Akshayakalpa Farms and Foods 
+91 - 08134-250047 
gns.reddy@akshayakalpa.org 

US School System Lingo

Sep 2014 

IEP: Individual Education Plan

UFEN: Urban Family Engagement Network Project 

MSP: Measure Student Progress 

FEAT: Family Engagement Action Team 

PLC: Parent Leadership Corps OR Professional Learning Community OR Parent Learning Community 

Anchor Competency - Ultimate Skill or skills that are our goals 

Stanford EducatioN Center = (Here). The central office for Seattle Public Schools Staff and Operations (Named after former Superintendent John Stanford)  

Meyers Briggs: A personality testing system that "types" people along 4 parameters 

PAC: Parent Advisory Committee 

Disaggregated: Data Broken down by sub group 

SES: Socio Economic Status  

OSPI: Office of Superintendent Public Instruction 

HOTS: Higher Order Thinking Skills (related to Bloom's Taxonomy) 

BLT: Building Leadership Team (every school has one. IS supposed to include admin staff, teachers AND parents) 

LC: Learning communities 

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths 

JIGSAW: Technique for breaking down larger amounts of information to share across a group 

IA: Instructional Assistance  

504: Legal Medically fragile Accommodation 

No Candles Diyas in Bday parties starting 2014

Until last year, I followed suit like everyone else and my two kids birthday parties were never complete without a birthday cake and beautiful candles adorning it! Once Renu Pal Bhabhi asked me why I used candles and I replied - well because everyone else does so and plus kids love to blow them out! It was not an answer she was going to get settled with! What followed was a discussion and finally a decision from my end - never to blow candles at my kids birthday parties again. I tried to put that reasoning into words after gathering from a few websites and editing.

Finally I copied and printed this on to a word doc, laminated it and have left a laminated copy at the Kent Hindi Temple - for anyone else who might like to borrow it; if celebrating birthdays at the temple while avoiding to blow candles!  

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Why aren’t Diya’s accompanying the cake? 
Following the universal  law of life,  everything on this planet is composed  of  five  basic  elements  or the  'Panchamahabhutas'. Loosely translated into English, these are: Akash - Space, Vayu -Air, Jal Water, Agni - Fire and Prithvi - Earth. It is thus true that all natural life including plants, animals and humanity at large are a combination of all these five core elements which are the essence of all life and existence.  One of these five - Fire or Vedic God Agni is also the purifier andour witness. Agni is therefore worshiped as the omniscient God.

Lighting  a  lamp  symbolizes  new  life,  new  beginning or spreading  knowledge. For  this  reason blowing out a Diya  is considered inauspicious or negative. To blow it  with our breath would be considered even more impolite and disrespectful to the very basis between us and the Divine.

On a lighter note you could see it as a contest. Fire might find it offending to be 'blown out'; as it usually has dominance over Wind, taking strength from it as it scorches and runs wild!

So why not blow candles like everyone else?
In today’s times, throwing parties and blowing out candles is a normal  practice  everywhere. It  is unknown  how  and  when  it started. But, certainly these practices do not have any ethos or a basis of any religion; neither Hindu dharma nor any other faith.Also  when  we  blow  out  candles, unknowingly  tiny  bubbles  of saliva leave our mouth and settle on the cakes’ top layer.

Tell me -why on earth should I be serving you unnecessary stuff with your slice of this scrumptious delicioso vegan cake? :)

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Yoni Ki Baat (YKB) - 2014, Seattle

Returning back from Yoni Ki Baat -2014 tonight (a loose adaptation of the Vagina Monologues), I am wondering what was it in my mind that led me to make up my own stories of YKB being a vulgar, filthy and hi-society women centric show, who had nothing better to do to pass their extra time or money.

In the society I live, just merely bringing up the Y word is bound to raise a ton of eyebrows. Those who bring up this word - even in just close female-only settings are bound to be labelled with words such as shameless or lajja-heen. In the tabooed Indian society where I grew up, it was okay (and sadly is still) to stare or even comment and wink at girls passing by, or position at nukkars strategically where men can get a good view of it, mostly not 'it', but just the garment alone. Say when the girl stoops to pump air in her bicycle tires. But and yes BUT! - it is  totally unethical by women to even utter the word.

Coming back to the Y ordeal. The way I was raised, girls coming from decent homes never brought up words of this category - and never never ever in such a public forum. For if they did, what would happen to the respect of errr, depending on 'whom-were-they-being-taken-care-of-by' - say parents: applicable prior to marriage...., that of husband and in laws: applicable post marriage..... or even the respect of their kids ... applicable at later stages of life. So important is the responsibility of ensuring no body's respect is hurt by the women's senseless remarks, and so heavy that burden - that between the daughter, wife/daughter-in-law and mom, there is no space left for the women herself.

Was this a male dominating society the reason that led me to think - what would women form YKB know about true love and relationships; about giving your 200% to your home, husband and kids and still constantly being showered with complaints; about natural child birth, nursing and raising kids, about the frustrations of wearing multiple hats - as you leave workplace and enter home - and each hat having no correlation with any other worn since that morning! And boy I was wrong!

There are women no different than you and me, and in many ways suffered more than you and I ever did. Rape victims - victims having their trust betrayed by their own near and dear ones; abortion victims - forceful abortions are no less victimizing to a would-be-mother; divorce victims after 2+ decades of happy marriage life - what other than a 'victim' do you expect me call such women - having given up her best years, and most productive time and energy to that one man, who leaves her at an age when she needs his emotional and moral support the most. And then there are those, just like you and me - having gone through those immeasurable moments of shame and confusion during our puberty ages and others who have gone through pain and suffering of nursing added with loneliness and depression in attempts to give the best to their child comprising their own sleep, health and well being. Its one thing to read about Nirbhaya in the media, have your guts churn and your fists clinch with anger - and it's a total different thing to actually have a person standing in front of you as she unfolds her darkest moments.

When I attended YKB - 2013, I was left speechless short of words to express myself. I relived my dark moments - when as a teenager I walked through the narrow roads of Turab Nagar wearing a thick khadi kurta with a even thicker duppata unfolded to make layers over layers of fabric, and with perhaps enough oil dripping from my hair  to boil a cup of tea. My head bent down starting at the potholed road, afraid lest my eyes accidentally met someone else's. Reciting Hanuman Chalisa in my head as I would see from the corner of my eyes - the stare from five shopkeepers on either side, scanning my entire being from top to bottom. I relived my first travel in a Delhi bus when I was standing and had a man double my age deliberately touchied my leg with his. Finally I developed some form of courage during college years, especially on those bus journeys between Bareilly and Ghaziabad - which on rare occasions were even all by myself. I relieved those times - when on countless occasions I had punched the guy next to me with my elbow, who pretending to dose off would have inch by inch expanded his four limbs in directions mysteriously all leading in my direction. After all these years the pain has finally gone, but the memories are all still fresh. A huge chunk of India, especially Northern India and even more specifically my hometown Ghaziabad - is a city full of such 'high quality' b*, that even today being a mom of two myself and well into my 30's - my own mom has my blind dad accompany me as my 'protector', if I ever have to step out of the home after dusk in an emergency situation!  

This year, as I sit down reflecting, I do not have enough words to thank Rita ji and other founding members of Tasveer and Aaina, who started YKB eight years ago and have given the women of Seattle and of Asian origin a platform to share their life's darkest secrets, to re-live their saddened pasts and emerge stronger - to not succumb to cowardice or become suicidal, but rebound, march forward choosing courage over fear and life over misery. All these women - every single one of them are more courageous than the rest of us, to have united together to help us unlearn, and teach anew that our pasts are not meant to be hidden, closeted and forgotten. But rather our pasts are to help us become even stronger as women, as caregivers and as parents. As we remind ourselves to believe in our daughters, we also teach them to be bold, stand up for themselves, for their rights and for all the things that matter to the women the most!

तुम्हारे नाम का

देह मेरी , हल्दी तुम्हारे नाम की ।

हथेली मेरी , मेहंदी तुम्हारे नाम की ।

सिर मेरा , चुनरी तुम्हारे नाम की ।

मांग मेरी , सिन्दूर तुम्हारे नाम का ।

माथा मेरा , बिंदिया तुम्हारे नाम की ।

नाक मेरी , नथनी तुम्हारे नाम की ।

गला मेरा , मंगलसूत्र तुम्हारे नाम का ।

कलाई मेरी , चूड़ियाँ तुम्हारे नाम की ।

पाँव मेरे , महावर तुम्हारे नाम की ।

उंगलियाँ मेरी , बिछुए तुम्हारे नाम के ।

बड़ों की चरण-वंदना मै करूँ , और 'सदा-सुहागन' का आशीष तुम्हारे नाम का ।

और तो और - करवाचौथ/बड़मावस के व्रत भी तुम्हारे नाम के ।

यहाँ तक कि कोख मेरी/ खून मेरा/ दूध मेरा, और बच्चा ?
बच्चा तुम्हारे नाम का ।

घर के दरवाज़े पर लगी 'नेम-प्लेट' तुम्हारे नाम की ।

और तो और - मेरे अपने नाम के सम्मुख लिखा गोत्र भी मेरा नहीं, तुम्हारे नाम का ।

सब कुछ तो तुम्हारे नाम का...

नम्रता से पूछती हूँ .... आखिर तुम्हारे पास...क्या है मेरे नाम का?

- Forwarded Message 

"Meat is Murder"! : More than 4 dozen reasons you should avoid it

Source 
https://www.facebook.com/paul.v.josefsson


"Meat is Murder"! :
"The Environment"

1. Conservation of Fossil fuel. It takes 78 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie of beef protein; 35 calories for 1 calorie of pork; 22 calories for 1 of poultry; but just 1 calorie of fossil fuel for 1 calorie of soybeans. By eating plant foods instead of animal foods, I help conserve our non-renewable sources of energy.

2. Water Conservation. It takes 3 to 15 times as much water to produce animal protein as it does plant protein. As a vegetarian I contribute to water conservation.

3. Efficient use of grains. It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans and grains to produce 1 lb. of beef and 3 to 6 lbs. to produce 1 lb of turkey & egg. By eating grain foods directly, I make the food supply more efficient & that contributes to the environment.

4. Soil conservation. (Earth Element)
When grains & legumes are used more efficiently, our precious topsoil is automatically made more efficient in its use. We use less agricultural resources to provide for the same number of people.

5. Saving our forests.(Earth Element)
Tropical forests in Brazil and other tropic regions are destroyed daily, in part, to create more acreage to raise livestock. By not supporting the meat industry, I directly reduce the demand to pillage these irreplaceable treasures of nature. Since the forest land "filters" our air supply and contains botanical sources for new medicines, this destruction is irreversable.

6. Asthetics. (Cause of All Cancer,Dibeties & so forth)
Decaying animal parts, whether in a freezer case or served in restaurants, can never be as asthetically pleasing to the senses as the same foods made from wholesome vegetable sources. Only habit can allow one not to perceive this: a change in diet makes this self evident.

"Personal Health"(Yatha Pinde Tatha Bramhande,Human Body & Universe is Homologous)
(LikeLord Buddhaji, Mahatama Ganghiji, Vivekandji & countless.)

7. No deficiencies.
There is no nutrient necessary for optimal human functioning which cannot be obtained from plant food.

8. High fat plus cholesterol.
Animal foods are higher in fat than most plant foods, particularly saturated fats. Plants do not contain cholesterol.

9. "Carb" deficient.
Meat is deficient in carbohydrates, particularly the starches which are so essential to proper health.

10. Vitamin deficient.
Except for the b-complex, meat is largely deficient in vitamins.

11. Agricultural Chemicals. Being higher on the food chain, animal foods contain far higher concentrations of agricultural chemicals than plant foods, including pesticides, herbicides, etc.

12. Exposure to livestock drugs. There are over 20,000 different drugs, including sterols, antibiotics, growth hormones and other veterinary drugs that are given to livestock animals. These drugs are consumed when animal foods are consumed. The dangers herein, in secondary consumption of antibiotics, are well documented.

13. Pathogenic Microorganisms. There are a host of bacteria and viruses, some quite dangerous, that are common to animals. When I eat meat, I eat the organisms in the meat. Micro-organisms are present in plant foods too, but their number and danger to human health is by no means comparable to that of those in meat.

14. Worms and other Parasites. Ditto on # 13!

15. Shelf life differential.
Plant foods last longer than animal foods. Try this experiment: Leave out a head of lettuce and a pound of hamburger for 1 day, which will make you sick?

16. Organoleptic Indications of Pathenogens.
Plant foods give tell-tale signs of "going bad". Ever hear of someone getting sick from "bad broccoli"?

17. Heart Disease.
Meat eating increases the risk of heart disease, this country's #1 killer. The correlation is an epidemiological fact.

18. Cancer prevention.

"Of all the natural cancer prevention substances found: vitamin C, B-17, hydroquionenes, beta carotene, NDGA, – none has been found to be animal derived. Yet most meats, when cooked, produce an array of benzenes and other carcinogenic compounds. Cancer is infinitely easier to prevent than cure. Soybeans contain protease inhibitor, a powerful anticancer compound. You won't find it in useful quantities in animal based food.

19. Disease Inducing. The correlation between meat consumption and a wide range of degenerative diseases is well founded and includes…..

20. Osteoporosis

21. Kidney Stones and Gallstones

22. Diabetes

23. Multiple Sclerosis

24. Arthritis

25. Gum disease

26. Acne. Aggravated by animal food.

27. Obesity. Studies confirm that vegetarians tend to be thinner than meat eaters. Obesity is considered by doctors to be a disease within itself.

28. Intestinal Toxemia. The condition of the intestinal flora is critical to overall health. Animal products putrefy the colon.

29. Transit time. Wholesome food travels quickly through the "G.I" tract, leaving little time to spoil and incite disease within the body.

30. Fiber deficient. Fiber absorbs unwanted, excess fats; cleans the intestines; provides bulk and aids in peristalsis. Plant food is high in fiber content; meat, poultry and dairy products have none.

31. Body wastes. Food from animals contain their waste, including adrenaline, uric and lactic acid, etc., Before adding ketchup, the biggest contributors to the "flavor profile" of a hamburger are the leftover blood and urine.

32. Excess protein. The average American eats 400% of the RDA for protein. This causes excess nitrogen in the blood that creates a host of long-term health problems.

33. Longevity. To increase ones risk of getting degenerative disease means decreasing ones chance to live a naturally long healthy life. Huzas and other peoples with large centenarian populations maintain lifestyles that are relatively meat free.

34. Well Being. I just feel better since "giving up" meat and becoming vegetarian.

Personal Finances

35. Health care costs. Being healthier on a vegetarian diet means spending less on health care.

36. Food costs. Vegetarian foods tend to cost less than meat based items.

"Ethics{

37. Love of animals.
I love animals as I love myself. I have no desire to kill them or cause them harm.

38. Stance against Factory Farming.. I cannot make a statement against factory farming if I myself eat animals.

39. Respect for Sentient Life.
I show gratitude to my Creator(s?) by eating as low on the food chain as possible.

40. "Economic Vote".
I show support of the meat industry and the way they operate when I purchase and use their products.

41. Small sacrifice The sacrifice I make is nothing compared to the animals, its life.

42. Natural diet.
Our hands, teeth, feet, intestinal tract…even our body chemistry is that of an herbivore.

43. Reciprocity. As you do as you rebound it anti actions i.e. cause of Negative Prarabdha(destiny,invisible sins)
" If I partake in the slaughter of animals, I will have to repay my contribution to that act.

44. "Protecting the Temple".
"Whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and soul" (E.G. White)

45. I believe in nonviolence. Slaughter isn't.

46. World Peace.
There can never be peace among men while men are declaring war on other highly developed life forms.

47. Clear conscience. I know what I'm doing is right. I feel good inside about my decision to remain "meatless"

48. Example. To live this way is to protect the underlying values of those around me.

49. Easy substitutes. There are vegetable based substitutes for every meat product imaginable.

GURU TATTWA, ALBERT EINSTEIN ,MOTHER TERESAJI, GANDHIJI, Patrick Doyle,Rawforbeuty Neeraj Kumar Krishna, PRARBDHA.
Knowledge, Science, Spirituality & Chaitanya-Dharma( Religion)Through Social Conduct in individual beings
Consciousness of self realization:Prarbdha-Karma, Faith,Emotion,Feeling, PEACE,LOVE,Humanity,Humility,Happiness,Life,Nature,Salvation with TRUTH . : UNIQUE Positivity of LORD BEING(God)."

GURU TATTWA, EINSTEIN ,MOTHER TERESAJI, GANDHIJI, POETYCA, Patrick Doyle, Rawforbeuty & etc., PRARBDHA.
"Consciousness of universal Frds. for welfare of Living & Non living (to over come the Global Warming) with Love & Peace within{Self Realized} with non-duality(Advaita),i.e. "Only One God" "ONE FOE ALL & ALL for ONE" i.e. *{"Holy Human"}*

Ramayana From Her Perspective - A review

Sep 22nd 2012 

ACT Theatre, Seattle 

"Ramayana is an age old story that has persisted through generations as a religious text to the faithful, as a literary text to the scholars, as an historic document to the believers, and as a bedtime story told by grandmothers to almost every kid growing up in India and beyond." This all encompassing opening line had already set up the stage for a wonderful performance that was going to be staged tonight. 

The thoughtful narration read by Agastya Kohli was for a refresher to some, an insight to others, a learning to yet others. But even beyond that, with every female character from Ramayan it gently touched upon, the narration also triggered a string of thoughts within one self; of why's and why-not, of who's and how's, of justice and in-justice and of the of the more probable reasons for which these events had taken place. For instance, who was to be wronged when Ahalya failed to receive justice. This and many other instances, one was forced to program oneself, to re-think about the story of Ramayan from a fresher perspective. 

The dance sequence started with Mandodari performed by Pratidhwani. Mandodari gestured very motherly. Next was a kind of disappointing choreography of Ahalya's story. There were inapt Western influences, which in my personal opinion, if replaced with some classical gestures in an attempt to display those same romantic feelings, could have had a much intenser impact while also being more apt in acordance with Ahalya's pious demeanour and the rest of the program. Besides this one off-the-track compositions, the other dances whether individual or collective gripped the audiences attention and gathered a lot of encouragement. The Pratidhwani group, puts immense efforts on their costumes and accessories. Multiple dance performances an year, leaves them with tons of elaborately designed and many intricate hand and machines stitched dresses; one which they able to use from their previous performances Darling Tere Liye to play Mandodari's heleprs or sakhiyain. 

'Vidya Guhan' of 'From Within Nucleus' performed more than just any classical Bharatnatyan. Her depiction of the nine rasas as experienced by Sita in her expressions and hand gestures gave gossebumps everytime she moved on to a new rasas. For instance, when she depicted shringaram, I could hear the tinkling of little bells beaded to her imaginary duappatta, as she draped it around her neck. When she dipicted veeram, there was a Rani Lakshmi Bai in front of my eyes. Her depictions of beebhastam and bhayam, both while squatted on the floor, gestured with her hands and facial expressions alone, suddenly filled me with deep empathy; in two very different ways; for that poor soul suffering at Ashoka Vatika. After karuna and hasyam, she depicpted Shantam in a couple of different ways. The last one where she closed her eyes, seemed to emit strong vibes of peace in all directions starting from the center where she stood so quietly. 

Next Shahana Dattagupta shared a very personal experience of the several coincidental events that inspired her to finally think deeper. A description of Ram's personality, as experienced by any believer in general and not necessarily a she's opinion alone; was picked up from a Bollywood movie. Her beautiful voice captivated the audience - as always.   

I had the opportunity to see a full fledged performance by The 'Urvasi Dance Ensemble' for the first time. They have made tremendous achievements, training classical dances to people of non-Asian origins with such perfection and fineness, that their perfection could easily leave professional South Asians dancers in awe and surprise. However I either missed a portion of the transcript, or there was a missing piece in the puzzle, which my blunt mind could not grasp. At the opening scene, it felt like the performer is Ravana. Ravana who starts this act with intense hand and torso movements, gradually leads the way to some highly advanced Yoga Mudras (being a revered Yogi himself), and finally depicting intense rage in his eyes. However later another dancer sitting quietly and patiently (not depicting as if in any deep meditative posture either) turns out to be the real Ravana and the seeker of performer's blessings; the performer who turned out to be none other than Shiva himself. In scene two, the toad and snake hopped and sneered artfully. But then again who was the elderly lady draped in that red sari, appearing from time-to-time in different roles? Some additional description if added to the narration would have indeed been helpful. For instance why did she have to die in one the scenes at Ram's arrow, when this other dedicated Ravana could have born the brunt of it? And plus why was she constantly pointing to her heart in her last moments? 

Basically one person performing multiple roles and the same role performed by multiple performers in a 5 min act, caused confusion in the viewer's mind. 

In addition to the dances described above, there were several other beautiful performances. Kaushalya is re-enacted by different performers and each time her tender motherly affection; when she gently lifts imaginary Ram, emaciates from her entire being straight into the hearts of every mother having come to watch her tonight. 

The beautifully choreographed dance sequences come to an end too soon. And now the deeply thought well written narration ruffles up newer emotions, as it very gently brings up and intelligently tackles one of the biggest controversies in todays 'shes' mind. The argument and counter argument picked up from famous conversations in the past on whether the Agni Pariksha was justifiable or not, leaves a ever lasting thirst to worship, read, believe and discuss Ramayan more than it has ever been done in the past. 

पुनि पुनि कितनी ही सुनी सुनाई, हिय की प्यास बुझत ना बुझाई, 

सीता राम चरित आति पावन, मधुर सरस आरू अति मन भावन 

Puni Puni Kitni hi kahi sunaii, Hiya ki pyas bujhat na bhuja-ii. 

Sita Ram Charit Aati Pawan, madur saras aaru aati man bhawan. 

Dairy Alternatives for Milk, Yogurt, Cheese etc.

These recipes have been extracted from other vegan gurus and complied here for a quick reference:

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1. Cashew Nut Cheese  

Recipe By

Dr. Rupa Shah 

https://www.facebook.com/rupa.shah1

Looks like: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3404021428888&set=o.430392387003433&type=1&theater

Ingredients
300 ml water
2 tsp agar agar powder or china grass ( double quantity)100g cashew nuts
½ oz (12.5g) nutritional yeast flakes
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp tahini
1-2 tsp onion chopped
1-2 tsp mustard powder
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp garlic crushed.

Directions
Makes 1 block of cheese.
Boil the water and sprinkle agar agar powder on top.
Stir and simmer for around 3 minutes.
Place in a food processor together with the remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Place in a mould e.g. margarine tub.( Round plastic box)

Chill in fridge overnight.

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