India beat Australia in the 2nd ODI in Nagpur. Having lost the first match to the visiting team India made up their loss in the second game. Having made a good score of 354 for 7 in 50 overs, they set a strong challenge before the kangaroos. Dhoni made 124 runs, his fifth ODI century which helped India to mass up this huge score.
The Aussies were all out for 255 playing 48.3 overs, paving way for India’s win by 99 runs.
After the two matches the Series is leveled 1-1 in this 7 match series.
Dhoni named the Man of the Match. Now its time to wait for the third ODI that’ll be played in Delhi.
Till then, “Good Luck Indian Team”.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Umpire David Shepherd dead
Former International Umpire David Shepherd died after a long battle with cancer. He was 68. Shepherd is regarded as one of the best umpires, stood in 92 Test Matches, 172 ODI’s and three consecutive World Cup finals.
Shepherd will be remembered for his superstitious habit of standing on one leg when the score reached ‘Nelson’, the number 111, thought to be unlucky.
Shepherd was a first-class cricketer. He played 282 first class matches for Gloucestershire in his 14 year cricketing career.
He will be fondly remembered by players, spectators and even the administrators. He is said to be one of the best umpires of the cricketing world. The world will always remember him for his wonderful contribution to the game.
Shepherd will be remembered for his superstitious habit of standing on one leg when the score reached ‘Nelson’, the number 111, thought to be unlucky.
Shepherd was a first-class cricketer. He played 282 first class matches for Gloucestershire in his 14 year cricketing career.
He will be fondly remembered by players, spectators and even the administrators. He is said to be one of the best umpires of the cricketing world. The world will always remember him for his wonderful contribution to the game.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Cricket Continued
With the ongoing cricket India-Australia series, talking about sports at this time will be more about cricket and less about the 2010 Commonwealth Games that will happen next year.
India having lost their opening One Day match has to give a thought of winning the next one. As an expert comment, Sourav Ganguly former Indian captain, thinks it will be better for team India if Dhoni bats at the third position. And agreeing to his thoughts is Adam Gilchrist, adding a Yes to Ganguly’s thought. But Dhoni has his own disposition and does not want to come up in the batting order.
Whatever the experts or the captain of the Indian team says, it is a matter of prestige for the Indian team to beat the great Aussies and win the series. After all playing in India in their home grounds is an advantage for the Indian side. Now it’s a wait and watch time to see how good are boys, at winning, to make every Indian cricket lover proud.
India having lost their opening One Day match has to give a thought of winning the next one. As an expert comment, Sourav Ganguly former Indian captain, thinks it will be better for team India if Dhoni bats at the third position. And agreeing to his thoughts is Adam Gilchrist, adding a Yes to Ganguly’s thought. But Dhoni has his own disposition and does not want to come up in the batting order.
Whatever the experts or the captain of the Indian team says, it is a matter of prestige for the Indian team to beat the great Aussies and win the series. After all playing in India in their home grounds is an advantage for the Indian side. Now it’s a wait and watch time to see how good are boys, at winning, to make every Indian cricket lover proud.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Golgappas on a Sunday
The mot interesting part of eating out is you have no trouble to serve others instead get a chance to be served with. With the change in weather at this time of the year, the sweat has dried out and tiredness taken over by energy and vigour, its great going shopping late afternoon.
The market place lures people and gives the call to buy. With money in the pocket, this can be possible. Even not in a mood to buy, there is always place for window shopping. This feature…window shopping…does give pleasure. Buying something of choice and coming out of a shop with packets in hand…a different pleasure.
Having finished with the buying…which of course eats up a lot of time…the day’s enjoyment is complete with some food. And what more if you have something of your own choice… maybe mouth watering golgappas. That may sound interesting for some who relish this.
My Sunday treat was with golgappas. Golgappa can be found in many regions in India, of course, with variations. Call it golgappa or pani puri it is the same. Even phoochka or gupchup is the same, just another way of knowing it…another name. The special water with its tangy taste makes it all the more tasty with the filling. Open your mouth wide open, shove in the golguppa into the mouth and give it a bite. The whole thing breaks down and brings out its very taste that these golgappas are famous for.
This treat was not from a roadside vendor but from a reputed food stall with its own trademark…for the sake of hygiene.
The tangy taste lingered for a long time and I’m waiting for the next time.
The market place lures people and gives the call to buy. With money in the pocket, this can be possible. Even not in a mood to buy, there is always place for window shopping. This feature…window shopping…does give pleasure. Buying something of choice and coming out of a shop with packets in hand…a different pleasure.
Having finished with the buying…which of course eats up a lot of time…the day’s enjoyment is complete with some food. And what more if you have something of your own choice… maybe mouth watering golgappas. That may sound interesting for some who relish this.
My Sunday treat was with golgappas. Golgappa can be found in many regions in India, of course, with variations. Call it golgappa or pani puri it is the same. Even phoochka or gupchup is the same, just another way of knowing it…another name. The special water with its tangy taste makes it all the more tasty with the filling. Open your mouth wide open, shove in the golguppa into the mouth and give it a bite. The whole thing breaks down and brings out its very taste that these golgappas are famous for.
This treat was not from a roadside vendor but from a reputed food stall with its own trademark…for the sake of hygiene.
The tangy taste lingered for a long time and I’m waiting for the next time.
Cricket Curried
There has been too much cricket for the Indian cricket players and also for the huge population of this country. With so much of cricket, the game is losing some of its taste…among the lakhs and crores who used to follow this game.
Earlier there used to be few cricket tournaments, and now cricket matches are played throughout the year. Nowadays with 20 over matches there is more cricket to play…less time for a result oriented match. On the other hand people also have less time to spend watching these matches. Some great cricket heroes have failed to get a place in the teams hence their fans have also lost interest in watching the game.
With so many changes coming in this game, it is moreover getting curried. With less cricket and lesser changes in the game cricket will again be followed religiously in India. After all there is so much Wanting in Waiting.
Isn’t it?
Earlier there used to be few cricket tournaments, and now cricket matches are played throughout the year. Nowadays with 20 over matches there is more cricket to play…less time for a result oriented match. On the other hand people also have less time to spend watching these matches. Some great cricket heroes have failed to get a place in the teams hence their fans have also lost interest in watching the game.
With so many changes coming in this game, it is moreover getting curried. With less cricket and lesser changes in the game cricket will again be followed religiously in India. After all there is so much Wanting in Waiting.
Isn’t it?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Diwali with Lights and Crackers
People are busy lighting up their homes for Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light. When India is lighting up, whole world does not want to lose the festive flavour of this country. Even President Obama wanted to get the feel of Diwali. It shows India and Her Festivals is attracting the West towards Her Festivals which have strong flavour, colour, music, mood and an air of oneness. The sound and the festive mood have stretched from Durga Puja and Dussera, to Diwali.
This festive mood stretches across this vast country, from the North to the tip of the South, from the East to the west. The mood melts into every person living in this land who is proud of the Tri Colour…Saffron, White and Green and the Ashok Chakra in the centre which symbolises strength.
People of India love food and Festive Time is the best time to have a bite into the different varieties of food. So many tastes are boiling in different pots in different kitchens in the different parts of this country where language, traditions, dress and living style may differ. But when you ask anyone, you can hear a single tone ringing, “Proud to be an Indian”.
This is India with Unity in Diversity.
As dusk falls earthen lamps filled with oil and cotton wicks dipped in it is lighted up with a flame that brightens up not only the home…also the area surrounding it. There is a choice these days to light up the home. Electric lights come in different colours and set in different designs line up to bring light as they are switched on.
The best part of life at this time is GREETING each other, and sweets and gifts having their own part to play.
After dusk, once the lamps are lit and the Puja is over it is time for the crackers to burst into flames, creating noise that is enjoyed as it is a part of this festival.
Whatever be the message of a Green Environment, Diwali will no doubt resound in the ears with the noise of the bursting crackers…that’s the joy of this festival.
This festive mood stretches across this vast country, from the North to the tip of the South, from the East to the west. The mood melts into every person living in this land who is proud of the Tri Colour…Saffron, White and Green and the Ashok Chakra in the centre which symbolises strength.
People of India love food and Festive Time is the best time to have a bite into the different varieties of food. So many tastes are boiling in different pots in different kitchens in the different parts of this country where language, traditions, dress and living style may differ. But when you ask anyone, you can hear a single tone ringing, “Proud to be an Indian”.
This is India with Unity in Diversity.
As dusk falls earthen lamps filled with oil and cotton wicks dipped in it is lighted up with a flame that brightens up not only the home…also the area surrounding it. There is a choice these days to light up the home. Electric lights come in different colours and set in different designs line up to bring light as they are switched on.
The best part of life at this time is GREETING each other, and sweets and gifts having their own part to play.
After dusk, once the lamps are lit and the Puja is over it is time for the crackers to burst into flames, creating noise that is enjoyed as it is a part of this festival.
Whatever be the message of a Green Environment, Diwali will no doubt resound in the ears with the noise of the bursting crackers…that’s the joy of this festival.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja
I’m back to tell you about how I had celebrated my Kojagori Lakshmi Puja. Five days after Durga puja, its time for Kojagori Lakshmi puja. Lakshmi is the daughter of Goddess Durga and every one likes her for she is the goddess of wealth.
In Bengali homes Lakshmi is worshipped on this Kojagori Purnima day and there is activity in the house till the puja is over. After an early bath I cleaned the puja area, not only the puja space but the whole house. Lighted the lamp and some incense sticks whose aroma filled the room. When I lighted my five tier electric lamp, the sparkles of the artificial light were like twinkling stars not in the sky but within the four walls of the room. Whenever I switch on this electric lamp my mind recalls the nursery rhyme “Twinkle twinkle little star…like a diamond in the sky”. The sparkles from the little bulbs are indeed like sparkling diamonds. Everyone say ladies love diamonds. And I am an odd lady out as I have not fallen in love with diamonds yet. Never mind I’m happy with my gold.
The next work was indeed worth the time spent on it. Made the paste of the rice I had soaked in water early in the day. This is the base for the Alpona that is spread with much care on the floor of the house. Alpona is the drawing created with the help of the fingers dipped in the thin liquid of the rice that had been made into a fine paste. For laying the alpona, first have to take a small piece of cloth that can be held between the fingers. Dip the cloth piece in the liquid between the five fingers, slowly take it out, gently press the liquid from the cloth that has been soaked with the thumb against the fingers and let the tip of the middle finger make the drawings on the floor. The puja place has a big circular drawing. The main design laid on the floor running from room to room is that of the feet of Lakshmi. This symbolises that the goddess has walked all round the house. This is an art going down from generation to generation.
The Lokhi Panchali was read in the evening and the bhog nothing special but fruits and sweets. There was luchi and tarkai. On this special day the food cooked for the puja has a special taste…maybe psychological or devotion attached to it.
Like the Durga puja, Kojagori Lakshmi puja will be celebrated again next year after the Pujas.
Waiting for Diwali…till then…
HAPPY DIWALI
In Bengali homes Lakshmi is worshipped on this Kojagori Purnima day and there is activity in the house till the puja is over. After an early bath I cleaned the puja area, not only the puja space but the whole house. Lighted the lamp and some incense sticks whose aroma filled the room. When I lighted my five tier electric lamp, the sparkles of the artificial light were like twinkling stars not in the sky but within the four walls of the room. Whenever I switch on this electric lamp my mind recalls the nursery rhyme “Twinkle twinkle little star…like a diamond in the sky”. The sparkles from the little bulbs are indeed like sparkling diamonds. Everyone say ladies love diamonds. And I am an odd lady out as I have not fallen in love with diamonds yet. Never mind I’m happy with my gold.
The next work was indeed worth the time spent on it. Made the paste of the rice I had soaked in water early in the day. This is the base for the Alpona that is spread with much care on the floor of the house. Alpona is the drawing created with the help of the fingers dipped in the thin liquid of the rice that had been made into a fine paste. For laying the alpona, first have to take a small piece of cloth that can be held between the fingers. Dip the cloth piece in the liquid between the five fingers, slowly take it out, gently press the liquid from the cloth that has been soaked with the thumb against the fingers and let the tip of the middle finger make the drawings on the floor. The puja place has a big circular drawing. The main design laid on the floor running from room to room is that of the feet of Lakshmi. This symbolises that the goddess has walked all round the house. This is an art going down from generation to generation.
The Lokhi Panchali was read in the evening and the bhog nothing special but fruits and sweets. There was luchi and tarkai. On this special day the food cooked for the puja has a special taste…maybe psychological or devotion attached to it.
Like the Durga puja, Kojagori Lakshmi puja will be celebrated again next year after the Pujas.
Waiting for Diwali…till then…
HAPPY DIWALI
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