Festival of lights

Deepavali ~ This word is a compound of two words 'Deepa' and 'Avali' in Sanskrit. Deepa means light and Avali means row. Thus the literal meaning of the word is 'row of lights'. The festival of lights symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind.

The most significant esoteric meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". The heart of Hindu philosophy, is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman, comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Anandha (Inner Joy or Peace).
Deepavali celebrations include fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing sweets and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

Wish you a very Happy and Prosperous Deepavali !

Friendship ~ a treasure for life

There are a handful of relationships where we get to make a decision. Friendship is one of them. We meet many people in our day-to-day life: at work, in school or in the neighborhood. Few individuals leave an impression. More often than not, friendships start off with a good feeling about a person that remains for long in our memory amidst a fast paced life. I believe every individual is unique. What really takes me by surprise is the way people interact and complement each other. I know a few friends who can read me inside out. I've always been grateful for their presence in my life. What a relief it is when there is no need to word each emotion you feel whether you are excited, anxious, confused or frustrated.
It's a privilege indeed to be understood by someone you care and love. To me, it's a priceless treasure !

'Friends are the siblings God never gave us' - Unknown
This post is a dedication to my wonderful friends who have been there for me always and love me just as I am.

Good Night, Sleep Tight !

There a many many greetings people say often. For eg. Good Day To You, Have a Great Afternoon, Nice To See You, etc., It generally gives you an upbeat feeling if things haven't been going so well or a little more enthusiasm when everything is working out just fine. Recently I came across a piece of interesting information.

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. That's where the phrase "Goodnight, sleep tight" comes from.

So no longer in the modern days of futons and innerspring mattresses resting on bed frames, "Goodnight, sleep tight" doesn't make sense...so have a Goodnight !