Where are we heading?

As I unfolded today's Deccan Chronicle, I had more than one reason to frown. One could resonate with this and agree News these days are not soothing to us any more. More things happen around the world that is changing and challenging the way we live our lives.

The first disturbing piece of information is the trending hashtag, #MalePolish, a new trend where hundreds of men around the world are donning nail polishes and nail art. Well, why is this new trend so important. While things such as these are personal choices, do we have to go all over the Internet and exhibit viral posts?

The second one is about a case in SC where there are petitions about women to be allowed entry at Sabarimala temple, very soon after a ruling about entry to Shani temple.

These have been practices for some reasons and have to be adhered to. I hope fighting for equality won't go beyond this. There's a practice at Guruvayur temple where men should wear dhoti and be bare above waist. Practice is backed up with fact, that men need to absorb the rays from sanctum which have vibrations received via the pillars connecting to the top of the structure. Women need not do this because, they carry within themselves the garbha graha, the uterus which symbolises the presence of God in women.

Such are reasons behind why certain practices are held. Pray God there's no fight for equality that pushes boundaries beyond its limit.

Where are we heading to?

Love,

Known is a drop

Our forefathers have said, "Katrathu, kai alavu & kallaththu kadal alavau", a literal translation of this is, "known is a handful and unknown is an ocean." The English variant to this is what says, "Known is a drop and unknown is an ocean."

I recently went to a book shop in a mall and the cooking section of books caught my attention.

I saw a book that struck me so hard. The title of the book was, "125 million Italian recipes." While I possess limited knowledge in Italian cuisine, such as pasta, salads and pizzas,  a number as 125 million was hard to digest. But sure is a wake up call.

Love,

Truth is one, paths are many!

Having been raised in a traditional family with liberal stances, and being raised in Christian schools, I've always been open to a religion that isn't mine.

It was then I was in a school which preach "Truth is one, paths are many", a saying from its founder Swami Satchidananda.

Community prayers were held each evening where all students of all religion sit together, chant holy hymns of all gods.

Bible stories such as Noah's & Anon have fascinated me a lot. I picked up interest to read the holy Quran and in reading less than two pages, I realized I wasn't matured enough to continue reading it further.

Cultures across religions are always fascinating, and one life time isn't enough to explore them all.

Join me in my journey and share few insights in the comments below on your rich experiences in understating religion & cultures.

Love,

Cultural disasters

There's a saying India is a mosaic of cultures. But what needs to be looked in to is identify what is a cultural misfit to current situation and dump behind.

There are visible sources to learn from. I fail to understand why we don't pay attention to these learning sources.

This post is through observing cultural differences of people of north and south India in my regular cab transport.

There's a bunch of new hires from North, and almost all of them have loud voices, highly outgoing and very broad minded compared to the people of south.

While south Indians remain calm and have low voices in terms of interacting, are not as broad minded as the people from north.

A north Indian girl happens to sit casually  in the 11 seater  vehicle, immaterial whether it's a guy or a girl who's sitting in next seat. However, a south Indian girl throws tantrums about a seat next to a guy and goes about shuffling the seat arrangement of all people in the vehicle to get a seat next to her own gender or a free single seat.

I'm not judging whether it is right or wrong, but the need to throw behind inhibitions and thoughts that are irrelevant in current scenario.

Can the south & north imbibe & embrace each others best practices?