Feb 092015
 
Ramayana The Game of Life Shattered Dreams : Book Review

Book Review: Ramayana – The Game of Life Shattered Dreams The epics are called epics because they are epic in every sense. I don’t make any sense?  Right? Well what to do, I started this post to write a review of Ramayana- The Game of Life , Shattered Dreams book 2 by Shubha Vilas. But how do you review an epic you were raised  on, as lullabies by your doting granny? When you heard story of Rama as a toddler, read about him in Amar Chitra Katha, saw him in Ramleela in the neighborhood and later on TV.  So Ramayana [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Feb 082015
 
Ber : A fruit with Mythological Signficance

Beri Wala Bagh and other musings about Ber the fruit Statuary Warning: This post is nothing about Travel. So I will not feel bad if you want to skip and move on with your browsing. But I would feel awesome if you are interested in travel and may want to check this little story about the kindness of strangers in Rural Rajasthan, or how I met a Home Stay owner with Gandhian values in Wayanad Kerala,  during Kerala Blog Express. Those of you are still with me, thanks for still being here, you guys are awesomeness + sweetness combined, desi gets an [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 222014
 
Diwali is a festival of Lights

    Celebrating an Eco Friendly Diwali: A festival of Lights Diwali is the biggest festival in India celebrated across regions and religions.  It started as a festival of lights when as per Ramayana Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile in the Jungles.  When he returned to Ayodhya triumphant after defeating demon king Ravana the citizens of Ayodhya illuminated the city with oil lamps, hence starting the tradition of ” Festival of Lights “. Notice  Diwali or Deewali or Dipawali is a festival of lights, I am not sure when the tradition of burning [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 122014
 
Karwa Chauth Moon

  Pictures of Karwa Chauth Moon So like many years this year also the moon of Karwa Chauth decided to get late and make my dear wife wait more before she could break her fast. Though I am pretty sure all Indians know what Karwa Chauth is, but since desi Traveler gets lots of traffic from US, UK, Europe and Australia  ( though I am not sure it is the desi diasporas in these countries or natives who read desi Traveler )  it would not be wrong to give some gyan about Karwa Chauth. You see in India most [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Sep 272014
 
Making of Ravana in Tatarpur Village Delhi

Making of Ravana for Sale: The demon king gives livelihood to hundreds of people Navatri or the nine nights is a period when most of the country prepares for Dussehra and is Ram may (राम मय). The stories or Ram’s victory over Ravana is enacted in form of Ram Leela ( no not the Bhansali version with bullets doing ballet with Bollywood belle Dipika Padukone, but the real one with bows and arrows ) across the country, especially north India in form of stage plays with the good winning over evil. But as the good old Winston Churchill said [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 142013
 
Ravana on The Roads

  Making and Burning of Ravana Dussehra is one festival that has so many symbols attached with it. The winning of good over evil, Ram over Ravana, destroying of demons by women power  in form of Bijoy Dashmi  during Durga Puja. I was talking to my niece and nephew about the same, just when they were going out to watch the burning of Ravana and they sent me some pictures on knowing that I am missing them and burning of Ravan in Delhi. So here they are all clicked by cell phone by my budding photographer niece and nephew [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Apr 172013
 
Book Review of Business Sutra By Devdutt Pattanaik

A Book Review of  Business Sutra-Devdutt Pattanaik Now you may wonder why I am doing a book review of Business Sutra by Devdutt  Pattanaik  in desi Traveler, a travel blog.  Now since desi Traveler loves all things desi  and as I have spent my share of life energy chasing Luxmi  while being a corner room critter for US companies I thought I would be able to do some justice to this wonderful book. In Business Sutra Devdutt Pattanaik takes you on a mythological journey using symbols, stories and rituals to relate to how we look at doing business and [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 112012
 
Salt Pans of Tal Chapar Rajasthan

A visit to the Salt Pans near Tal Chapar Wild Life Sanctuary   Q: what is common between Mahatma Gandhi, Roman Soldiers, Timbuktu, Tal Chapar and Angelina Jolie? Well you guessed it right it is Salt. I know the title of the post is a give away. White Eared Bulbul Gandhijee had a close relationship with Salt production in India as he led   the march to Dandi in the cost of Gujarat to protest against the salt monopoly and excessive tax by the colonial masters in India. That march on March 10, 1930 changed the course of Independence [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 032012
 
The Sacred Center of Hampi Temple

The Sacred Center of Hampi Temple – Where History and Mythology Live Together A Guide and Tourist at  Sacred Center of Hampi Temple   The sacred center of Hampi temple is where most of the religious and tourist action happens. Right in the middle of a Bazaar (crafts village like a flea market) you can see the main Virupaksha temple from miles. After passing through the bazaar, dodging the aggressive vendors trying to sell you things and more aggressive beggars trying to sell you heaven in both present and afterlife, you reach the sacred center. There is a small camera fee you need to [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Sep 212012
 
Birthplace of Hanuman and Temples Of Hampi

Hiking To The Birth Place of Hanuman Near Hampi The Birthplace of Hanuman Temple This is the third post on Hampi with TCPC As we were staying on the Kishkindha side of Tungabhadra, day one was dedicated to exploring the various temples in the area. This part is called Anegundi and is believed to be the capital of empire before Hampi rose to prominence.  Is it not amazing how many towns and cities have had their share of being the capital of a mighty empire and you had to fight mighty armies to reach them, and yet today they [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]