Panchlingeshwar - An embodiment of serenity

Cascading stream

In 2009, our office took us to a religious spot, Panchlingeshwar for our Annual Conference.

Panchlingeshwar is situated in the Balasore District of Orissa. The name itself connotes that the significance of the place is bestowed on the esoteric beauty of the five lingams of Lord Shiva. Nature here has unfolded itself in the most bounteous way. The bucolic beauty has gracefully fused with the numinous splendour of the place.

The stream flowing over five lingams

The five lingams are enshrined in the Nilgiri hills. It is an amazing sight to see the stream continuously flowing over the lingams. We were unable to see the original and ancient lingams because of the cascading water. One local guide told that during the month of Shravan, devotees from various places assemble here to pay homage to Lord Shiva. They pour holy water in the stream which flows over, bathing the lingams. People need to lie over the rocks to touch the lingams. 

The bael tree with five leaves in one stem

The guide showed us one more interesting and distinctive breed of Bael tree. Bael tree is considered to be one of the sacred trees of India. It is said that worship of Lord Shiva can not be completed without bael leaves.We generally get to see three leaves together in one stem of the tree. But here this sacred tree bears five leaves together in a stem. Five leaves, five lingams…the divine correlation enthralled me. 

Since the place is quite a few kms away from Baleswar City, it might take some time to arrange for something on an emergency basis. So it is better to be well-equiped with medicines and other necessary items.

A moment before it started to rain heavily

We met these humble company on our way to the temple

A trip to Outram Ghat

I wait the whole week for my dearie Sunday. I never allow Monday blues to overpower me. Instead I say myself…”Sunday is on the way. So make plans to splurge into good times.”

One Sunday me and my friends went for an outing to Outram Ghat. Outram Ghat is situated in Babughat area. It is one of Kolkata’s popular riverside spot. Ghats are always fascinating because it allows ample scope to see people performing various activities of their belief or taste. At one side one might see someone doing any religious ritual. On the other side one might witness a photographer waiting patiently for the sun to go down. And as the right time approaches his camera becomes tremendous busy in taking snaps.

We took a ride in boat across River Hooghly. From balancing on an oscillating boat, sitting on the wooden seats, feeling the ripple of small waves with palms…all were so soothing and amazing. We got to see the breathtaking view of the Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge) named after Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, famous Philanthropist and Reformer of Bengali Education.

We, who stay in metropolis, seldom gets any scope to enjoy the surroundings of a rural area. However the appealing beauty of the place and the meticulous movement of the oar by the old ferryman gave us a transitory feeling of being amidst a milieu pertaining to a village. 

We played the song “majhi re” sung by Shaan from the movie Bong Connection. It was like icing on the cake. It blended aptly with our moment of bliss.

Sharing some snaps taken on my mobile. 

                                                

Striding with my utilitarian umbrella..

Ever felt privileged for owning an umbrella? Ever flaunted an umbrella? I never did. However, yesterday changed my outlook. Just as I stepped out from office, it started to rain. Most pedestrians were caught unarmed at the sudden shower. Even though I was clutching my umbrella, the blowing wind was shaking my confidence. I was wondering whether the wind will blow away my umbrella or will the wind impart a disfigured look to it. To my relief, the wind became milder but the rain started pouring heavily. For many people including me, the route to bus stand is quite a long one. It has one of the busiest footpaths. People keep jostling to walk on it. No one will ever see this walkway devoid of crowd.

But rainfall paved the way for me to see the distinct beauty of this path. To be more precise, rain god granted me the opportunity to walk in an empty path where I could move without restraint. For the first time I did not struggle to bypass anyone. Despite the downpour, I felt happy at the unexpected discovery. Then I realised, very few people could take this maiden trip of treading the deserted way. Those less fortunate had taken shelter here and there. Every face reflected an irritated look. They might be humming, “rain rain go away/ come again another day”..I knew the disgust on their face is not only for rain. There is another problem which is more annoying. Water clogging happens here in no time.

So I marched along proudly with envious eyes staring at me. (Ok, this might be an exaggerated imagination of mine!)

Still I can not deny the fact that my printed umbrella offered me a room to enjoy my way back home in an unusual manner.  Atlast my ma’s constant encouragement to carry an umbrella unfolded in surprise of unique taste! 

May peace be granted to our beloved Nose..

Nose pricking is undoutedly one of the most annoying activity often practiced by various people whom we meet in our daily life. I was sitting in my desk when I noticed a senior personnel busily pricking his nose. I looked away. But sometimes I swap my saintly mind with the devilish one. So I thought of witnessing the whole episode. He was digging ang digging, bringing out debris from pre-historic times. Then he made a ball out of it and stared at it for few seconds. After that he placed it on his table and started kneading it with the backside side of a pencil. Next he threw the painstakingly kneaded ball into the floor. End of saga.

People generally become oblivion of surroundings when they start pricking their nose. Then time and place cease to hold importance of primary nature. I understand there must be some uneasiness inside their nose which drives them to do the sinful act. But there are some people for whom it is a mere habit. Whatever the reason may be, it definitely mars the personality of a person. However intelligent, good-looking a person may be, this very act creates negative impression in a moment. Not only this, random pricking might harm the inner walls of our nose which can lead to bleeding too.Sometimes I wonder whether this continuous habit can lead to permanent change in shape and size. :D

In this blog, I would like to share a link from the well-known website of Dr. Ben Kim. The link is on how to sleep better. It relates proper cleaning of nose with good sleep. I feel even if someone doesnot have sleep disorder can also go through this link to know the proper procedure of cleaning the nose. It might save them from getting caught unguarded.

The link is as follows: How to Sleep Better

Jingling Riches!

This post has no connection with critical money matters. No discussion on share markets or insurance. In short no elderly dialogues.

Times have come and gone but money has always remained the cynosure of all eyes. The key purpose for obtaining money might be different but the urge to possess it has been strong since time immemorial.

If I raise a question..who had a coin bank as a kid? All hands will go up! Yes..shapes and sizes must have been different. The leisurely act of dropping coins in the piggy bank was far more pleasurable than the act of saving money in a poker-faced bank.

As a kid I was the proud owner of three coin banks but my favourite was one earthen coin bank. It had a traditional look with copper glaze. It was a tedious job to retrieve coins from it without causing permanent demolition. Still I loved it because it provided me the scope for using my colors and artistictic excellence. The whole body used to get a colourful look with drawings which now have a name…”abstract art”.

I remember how I used to bother my parents by asking for coins everyday. I used to feel impatient unless and until the bank was full to the brim. When this target was achieved the next goal was to spend the money. An oscillation of yes and no used to happen. It was saddening to spend the money but the thought of buying something with hard saved money was gratifying. I used to spend mostly on icecream sticks, candy floss and stickers. It was like my cave of riches!

With age, my consumption has reduced also. Though often I feel the urge to grab a candy floss, smell it and feel it melting in my mouth. But logic nips the wish. I do not buy stickers anymore. Can not stick them on official reports.

Everyday childhood days are going far and far away. It is bidding me good bye. I try to hold it but all in vain. My dreams of grown – up years have overshadowed the little wishes of childhood. But I know the days can not dissappear for ever. Life is a drawing without an eraser. So traces of early day’s memories will flicker by often to prove its presence…to say that it will be there whenever I will need to stop, stare and enjoy the fleeting glimpses.