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The Indian Wedding, or Shaadi as its called in Hindi, is a feast-to-all-the-senses kind of an experience, delightful and fun filled, unless of course, you are the one getting married. Well, we are not going to talk about the aftermath just yet.
For now, here is a picture essay of a wedding I attended in Spain this summer. This visual experience would not be complete, without somehow including in your head, the sounds of the jingle of the bangles, the music of the folk dances, the DJ playing it up for us on Bollywood dance floor, the shrieks, the murmurs, the laughs and the sobs, the sounds of kids crashing into the tassels of the bead curtains and the plenitude of well wishes, the chants and the hums.
Enjoy!
The Indian American Life
On Living Out Loud – Read by Rachana
https://youtu.be/KHnRhdHrQyE - Want To Listen To The Article Instead? - The Actions Of A Free Man Here’s the truth. The things that make us feel alive, laughter that makes our ribs ache, projects that ignite curiosity, connections that fire...
Writer-At-Large: The Invisible Brandons Among Us
Listen to the essay- Yesterday I went to a restaurant with a couple of my friends. For now, let's call the place CF Pangs. We were shown to a booth in the back, and I briefly excused myself to use the restroom. As I came back, I saw our waiter, Brandon,...
Why I Really Have 3,452 Friends: The Quiet Ethos of Enduring Friendship
- Fun days are when I meet many brand new strangers and also have a chance to invite some of them to my home. Yesterday was one such day. I was witness to an event where two friends who had never met after 7th grade, but had stayed in touch, met in person after...
I Crashed a Wedding in Seville. Sorry, Curiosity Got the Better of Me.
- I have so much to write about Spain and its aura, but where can I really begin? I’ve already written about an Indian wedding in the heart of Sitges, and a child who was a cutter at the Mirador de San Nicolás in Granada. I also wrote about how Spaniards camp...
ఎన్నో భయాల్లో ఇది ఒకటి – A Poem by Rachana
నాలోని భావాల లోతు వినిపించాలంటే,తెలుగు తప్ప నాకు మరో భాష తెలియదు.నిజంగా చెప్పాలంటే, తెలుగులోనే చెప్పాలంటే —ఈ పదాలు, ఈ వరుసలోనే రాయాలి. నీ కోసం శ్వాసల సముద్రం నింపుకుంటా,కానీ నీ తలపు తీరాన్ని తాకగానేనా ఊపిరి ఆవిరైపోతుంది —మిగిలేది నీ జ్ఞాపకాల తడి మాత్రమే. కోపం వస్తోంది...
Babysitting and Brain Rot Stations: What Kids Can Teach Us About Living in the Now
- Last week, one of our funniest Swamijis (Ramakrishnaji) was in town for a Satsang, so I was assigned the task of babysitting kids at a local chapter of the Chinmaya Mission. As I got on with the task of monitoring what I wondered would be a wolf pack of...
When East Met West Under the Georgia Sky: A Fusion Wedding at Serenbe
Two Worlds, One “I Do” What can two families born 8000 miles apart yet raising their kids in the deep south of the US have in common? Their children, who inspite of cultural differences, might go on to make promises to love each other forever. And that's what I...
What Marcus Aurelius and Kahlil Gibran Can Teach Us About Surviving (and Thriving) in the Age of AI
- The Poet In My Memory "In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness, and that longing is in all of you." Kahlil Gibran wrote in his seminal work, The Prophet. The first time I came across the name Gibran was in my childhood when my mom would read...
A Playlist Of Sanskrit Chants: Unlock the Hidden Power Of The Brain Through Vedic Chanting
Enhancing Memory And Thinking James Hartzell, an independent researcher has explored how Vedic chants rewire our brain and elevate our thinking. He recounts a study in which Vedic pandits in India were scanned via structural MRI. These practitioners had over 10...
Paneer Butter Masala Recipe: Restaurant-Style Creamy (or Light!) Version You’ll Love
- Paneer Butter Masala (Rich & Creamy or Light Version) This is what I make for my kids and they love it, not sure if it can be called Paneer butter masala in the traditional sense LOL Ingredients • 2 tbsp oil• 6 cloves• 2 small cinnamon sticks• ½...
Unlock the Sanskrit Effect: How Vedic Chants Transform Your Mind, Body & Spirit
- The Sanskrit Effect There are few times in life you’re humbled by the events that you involuntarily become part of. And yesterday was one of them, when I was part of a group of listeners to experience the Vedic chanting from Yajur veda in ghaṇa pati style. At...
Choosing Growth Over the Easy Win: How to Navigate Life’s Crossroads
- That Y In The Road As a student (indirect) of Swami Chinmayananda, his teachings have had a profound impact on how I live my daily life in a personal capacity as a mother, wife and friend. I also try to imbibe Guruji's teachings in how I interact with my...