April springs 'Tulip Festival in Srinagar' !

When you think Tulips you think Holland. And for a good reason. Holland is the world’s largest producer of Tulips. But did you know that Tulips actually originated few notches southeast of there? From Persia – the modern-day Iran. It’s the same place Kashmir got its Tulips from during the 1600s. And all of April – Spring springs Tulips in Srinagar – Capital of Jammu & Kashmir State in India.

This April….head to the Tulip Terrain – Srinagar which is Asia’s largest Tulip Garden – the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden.

20 lakh Tulips of 70 varieties blossom on 20 acres of Srinagar landscape in Orange, Pink, Red, Purple, Yellow and White to dazzle you. Imagine walking endlessly through unending lanes with thousands of Tulips on either side of you. It will make you breathless. Guaranteed!

The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is gearing up for an ultimate show of their exotic beauties from 1^st to the 30^th of April 2012 in an official Tulip Festival in Srinagar. The Tulip Festival is hosted in the Tulip Garden – the natural habitat of the 2 million Tulips – on the banks of Dal Lake at the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountain Range. This festival will not only showcase Tulips, it would also give visitors a smack of the Kashmiri culture and cuisine. Several stalls and kiosks would be set up which sell authentic Kashmiri food and handicrafts from all nooks and corners of Jammu & Kashmir State while Kashmiri professionals would perform to the tune of typical Kashmiri folk-music on all days of the festival to entertain and enlighten tourists of their rich culture. It would be a feast to the eyes to see some of the most beautiful Kashmiri women perform gracefully in the cultural programs organized by the Kashmir Tourism Department.

And ladies….shopping beckons you. Like nowhere else….you would find all sorts of Kashmiri handicrafts such as precious-stone studded silver jewelry such as sapphire, emerald, rubies, jade, coral, garnet studded necklaces, ear rings and finger rings; precious stone studded caskets, boxes pen stands, trays etc; Kashmiri clothing; wooden artifacts and furniture and woollen carpets. Awesome!!

The Tulip Festival would last for 10 days in April from 5^th to 15^th but the Tulip Garden would be open till the 30^th of April for all visitors. If you miss this spring, you would have to wait a whole 365 days for the next Spring of Tulips in Srinagar. So….dont!

Saal Mubarak to our Parsi Palz this Navroz !

The 21^st of March this year 2012 is a reason to celebrate for more than just one sect of people of India.

Being a day marking the spring equinox – the 21^st of March is Jamshed-e-Navroz – the first day of the Zoroastrian year and the beginning of the Iranian Calendar and this day is considered to be Holy even by the Sufis, the Ismailis, the Alawites, the Alevis, and the Bahaiians worldwide and is also the basis for the Jewish festival – ‘Purim’.

Also referred to as the ‘Persian New Year’ and the ‘Parsi New Year’, the ‘Navroz’ festival has been celebrated by the Parsis for about 3000 years. Parsis worship Fire in the Fire Temples and they offer sandalwood sticks to the fire during a special thanksgiving Prayer called the ‘Jashan’. When inside the Temple, Parsis cover their head with caps or sarees until they step out of the Temple which marks the end of the Temple ceremony when they greet each other – ‘Saal Mubarak’!

On Navroz, Parsis offer to their guests – the ‘Falooda’ – a sweet milky beverage with a dominant flavour of rose syrup and other ingredients such as the vermicelli, basil seeds, jelly pieces and topped with ice cream – an Indian version of the original Persian dessert – ‘Faloodeh’.

‘Spring Cleaning’ or the complete cleaning of the house is done by every Parsi household just before the Navroz festival and the house is adorned with auspicious symbols such as stars, birds, fish and butterflies.

And on the day of Navroz, Parsis wear new and best clothes and gold or silver kustis and caps set up a ‘Haft Sin’ Table comprising 7 items symbolizing the seven elements which are of great importance to the Parsis –

o Candles - symbolizing the Fire.

o Mirror – symbolizing the sky.

o Apple – symbolizing the earth.

o Rose Water - symbolizing water.

o Barley sprouts or sabzeh wheat - symbolizing the plants.

o Goldfish - symbolizing the animals.

o Painted eggs symbolizing the humans and fertility.

Parsis also keep dry fruits, honey, milk, sheerbeeranj (sweet) and sugar on the Haft Sin Table.

Besides these, it is customary to even keep on the ‘Haft Sin Table’ the sacred ‘Avesta’ Texts of Zoroastrianism and the ‘Gathas’ – a collection of 17 hymns which were composed by the Founder of Zoroastrianism – the great Prophet Zarathustra – before the 3^rd millennium BCE in Greater Iran.

When friends or family visit a Parsi family on Navroz, the Lady of the House plays a pivotal role and leads them to the Haft Sin Table and offers them the eats from the Table.

Navroz evenings are typically spent in fun and frolic and watching the traditional ‘Navroz Naatak’ which are Parsi Plays revolving around the themes of comedy and thrillers. Though not very conspicuous, the Parsi Theatre in India has a strong and ever-growing fanfare. Some of the popular Parsi Plays in India are ‘Keku is my King Kong’; ‘Zabaan Sambhalke’; and ‘Jhan Jhov Tanh Baira’. And Dorab Mehta, Pheroze Antia, Homi Tavadia and Adi Marzban are reckoned with as the greatest Parsi dramatists.

Check the local theatre guides for schedule on Parsi Plays in town and go for it! You would not only get to see some of the most hilarious Parsi Plays ever….you would also see the entire Parsi community converge in the theatre with their friends and family – all decked up and having fun.

But before that, ensure you greet your Parsi friends, neighbours and colleagues – ‘Saal Mubarak’ on the 21^st of March.

Parsi New Year

The 21^st of March this year 2012 is a reason to celebrate for more than just one sect of people of India.

Being a day marking the spring equinox – the 21^st of March is Jamshed-e-Navroz – the first day of the Zoroastrian year and the beginning of the Iranian Calendar and this day is considered to be Holy even by the Sufis, the Ismailis, the Alawites, the Alevis, and the Bahaiians worldwide and is also the basis for the Jewish festival – ‘Purim’.

Also referred to as the ‘Persian New Year’ and the ‘Parsi New Year’, the ‘Navroz’ festival has been celebrated by the Parsis for about 3000 years. Parsis worship Fire in the Fire Temples and they offer sandalwood sticks to the fire during a special thanksgiving Prayer called the ‘Jashan’. When inside the Temple, Parsis cover their head with caps or sarees until they step out of the Temple which marks the end of the Temple ceremony when they greet each other – ‘Saal Mubarak’!

On Navroz, Parsis offer to their guests – the ‘Falooda’ – a sweet milky beverage with a dominant flavour of rose syrup and other ingredients such as the vermicelli, basil seeds, jelly pieces and topped with ice cream – an Indian version of the original Persian dessert – ‘Faloodeh’.

‘Spring Cleaning’ or the complete cleaning of the house is done by every Parsi household just before the Navroz festival and the house is adorned with auspicious symbols such as stars, birds, fish and butterflies.

And on the day of Navroz, Parsis wear new and best clothes and gold or silver kustis and caps set up a ‘Haft Sin’ Table comprising 7 items symbolizing the seven elements which are of great importance to the Parsis –

o Candles - symbolizing the Fire.

o Mirror – symbolizing the sky.

o Apple – symbolizing the earth.

o Rose Water - symbolizing water.

o Barley sprouts or sabzeh wheat - symbolizing the plants.

o Goldfish - symbolizing the animals.

o Painted eggs symbolizing the humans and fertility.

Parsis also keep dry fruits, honey, milk, sheerbeeranj (sweet) and sugar on the Haft Sin Table.

Besides these, it is customary to even keep on the ‘Haft Sin Table’ the sacred ‘Avesta’ Texts of Zoroastrianism and the ‘Gathas’ – a collection of 17 hymns which were composed by the Founder of Zoroastrianism – the great Prophet Zarathustra – before the 3^rd millennium BCE in Greater Iran.

When friends or family visit a Parsi family on Navroz, the Lady of the House plays a pivotal role and leads them to the Haft Sin Table and offers them the eats from the Table.

Navroz evenings are typically spent in fun and frolic and watching the traditional ‘Navroz Naatak’ which are Parsi Plays revolving around the themes of comedy and thrillers. Though not very conspicuous, the Parsi Theatre in India has a strong and ever-growing fanfare. Some of the popular Parsi Plays in India are ‘Keku is my King Kong’; ‘Zabaan Sambhalke’; and ‘Jhan Jhov Tanh Baira’. And Dorab Mehta, Pheroze Antia, Homi Tavadia and Adi Marzban are reckoned with as the greatest Parsi dramatists.

Check the local theatre guides for schedule on Parsi Plays in town and go for it! You would not only get to see some of the most hilarious Parsi Plays ever….you would also see the entire Parsi community converge in the theatre with their friends and family – all decked up and having fun.

But before that, ensure you greet your Parsi friends, neighbours and colleagues – ‘Saal Mubarak’ on the 21^st of March.

Just one day for these Women at work …..???

March 8, is celebrated as International Women's Day (IWD) and this has crossed a century of years beginning on March 19 in 1911 in Austria. 

 “Women are half of the world’s population, do two-thirds of the work, get one-tenth of the income, and are the owners of one per cent of the property” is a famous quote from the famed lady Krishna Ahooja-Patel – India.  

The major chunks of women populace in India are just spectators of the speed and technology adding value to the society.  They are not partners of it though they contribute towards every aspect of the growth in all walks of life.  

When the opportunity does not show up to you, look out and snatch it,  is the attitude that every Indian Woman needs today.  Ask, demand and fight for everything that is yours by right.
 I notice so many Women Construction workers go back to do all the domestic chores after a long and tough day at site.  They need the right kind of working gear so that they are protected and are safe.         

I visited many tea plantations  during holidays and always found women employed more in number for obvious reasons.  Women in India are similar to all other women across the Globe, they face the same day to day problems physically, biologically however they lack the comfort zones socially and politically enjoyed by their Global counterparts. The necessary labour laws have to be in place and implemented .

I often visit the local weekly market to purchase vegetables and fruits for the week.  I prefer to shop consumables from the locals than in the branded stores.  I developed excellent rapport with the women who come to sell regularly and the little ones tagging along their moms. Few of us from our colony organised a small play area for all these kiddos to be at by while the moms are busy. We organise some fun activities, share some eatables with them, tell stories or play a movie.  Believe you me, this makes the mothers so happy and they say that all of them look forward to the market day in our area.

 I visited a small town,  famous for the temple of Lord Shani in Mandapalli of east Godavari district. I stayed with a family who offer bed and breakfast to pilgrims visiting the town.  The woman of the house surprised me to no end. Do not think that I am exaggerating when I say that she does gardening, stitching, cooking for the guests and takes tuitions apart from the routine duties of the house hold.  She has an excellent and pleasant disposition despite all this work.  She cooked for us using the vegetables from her garden, provided a typical Andhra style stay and gifted my girls with two scarves beautifully embroidered with their initials.  

All my experiences of travel, be it daily commuting to work, official tours or a holiday with family have been enriched by chance meetings with fine women of quality, strength and will.  I learnt so many things from these women and evolved as an individual and I salute to all of them on this day.


The ‘Nalini by day and Nancy by night’ out sourcing job holding women make me wonder about them.  I know many who prefer to work in the night so that they can care for their families in the day.  Well women, when do you plan to take care of your selves,  is my constant question.  The position, package and the appraisals do not make up for all the quality personal time and health you lose working against the biological clock. I quote Swami Vivekananda, ' Arise! Awake! and stop not till the goal is reached. ' Women of India have  been doubling up to meet the expectations of the society for centuries. And certainly  have the potential to gather the will  to make a difference and add value to their status and lives.  Supportive leadership and consistent motivation will certainly catalyze this movement.

 A promise by every woman of India to take good care of herself coupled with a strong  political will of the Government of India to facilitate the same are required to really ‘Celebrate’ this day. Charity begins at home is my belief and I pledge today to spend one weekend of every month towards this cause of educating     ' these women at work ' by partaking in any relevant activities held at Hyderabad.