The treasure of art and culture, handicrafts and tradition – Rajasthan

Rajasthan has been a center of attraction and the most famous destination among tourists all over the world from a long time. Each and everything related to Rajasthan, whether it is its historical significance, art and culture, tradition, tourism or handicrafts; is always well taken and appreciated.

Rajasthan represents the soul of India and tourists all over the world are always interested and curious to know more about this glorious and magnificent place. Let us have a look at some of the celebrated things of Rajasthan.

Handicrafts

The famous Rajasthani handicrafts are famous not only in the state but also in the whole world. People go crazy for Rajasthani handicrafts which leave a positive impression on one’s mind. It also gives a royal look to the whole house, resort or any other building.

Some of the famous handicraft items of Rajasthan are Blue Pottery, Leather craft, Lac work, Weaving, Carpets, Carvings, Wood and Sandal Wood Work, Metal Work, Paintings and Stone Carvings.

Art and Culture

Art and culture of Rajasthan is celebrated and discussed all over the world. Rajasthani artists are invited in other countries for stage shows and celebrations. The royalty in Rajasthan art and culture is very much appreciated and respected. The raw music and dance with a meaning have been acclaimed internationally.

Folk Music is a very important and mandatory part of the culture of Rajasthan.

Folk dances like Kalbeliya, Ghoomar, Chari Nritya, Kachchi Ghodi, Gair, Terah Tali, Kathputli and Maand are the famous all over the world.

Tourism

Tourism in Rajasthan is one of the most important source of income as every year, end number of tourists visit this magnificent place. Tourists are always keen to explore the historical places and the beauty of Rajasthan and for this, always one trip is not sufficient.

Each and every city and town of Rajasthan is of historical importance and consists of a glorious past. The amazing forts, deserts, monuments and palaces in Rajasthan are always a subject of curiosity among the tourists. Some of the major tourist attractions of Rajasthan are mentioned below:

Amber Fort, Jaipur. Amer Fort

City Palace, Jaipur. City Palace Jaipur

Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh

Ranthambore Fort, Sawai Madhopur

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

Kumbhalgarh Fort, Udaipur

Jewelry

Jewelry of Rajasthan is popular all over the world. The famous Rajputana jewelry and its antique design is one that is in huge demand. Even the top actresses also like to wear and flaunt them. The meenakari jewelry, kundan jewelry, polki jewelry, ivory jewelry and more are some famous jewelry designs.

Lac bangles of Rajasthan are also an important part of the jewelry and is very famous.

Fairs and Festivals

The fairs and festivals of Rajasthan represent the history and culture of this place. People get glimpses of the real culture and tradition of Rajasthan in these festivals. Some of the most important festivals of Rajasthan are mentioned below.

Camel Festival, Bikaner

Nagaur Fair, Nagaur

Mewar festival, Udaipur

Gangaur Festival, Jaipur

Kaila Devi Fair, Karauli

Mahavir Ji Fair, Karauli

Summer Festival, Mount Abu

Teej Festival, Jaipur

Gogaji Fair

Kaliteej, Bundi

Dussehra, Kota

Ramdevra Fair, Jaisalmer

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A place to cherish in Kota – Garadia Mahadev Temple

Kota, situated on the banks of river Chambal, is a well-known city located in the southeast of northern Indian state of Rajasthan. This city is one of the major tourist locations of Rajasthan and one of the most attractive tourist spot here is Garadia Mahadev temple. This shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva is such an amazing treat to watch and is a perfect example of serenity along with beauty and peace.

In the rainy season, Garadia Mahadev temple also serves as a picnic spot as it gives the most breath-taking views of the blue waters of the Chambal River, gorge and the plains. To reach the shrine, devotees have to descend a few steps and then can get the most memorable sight of Lord Mahadev.

In the auspicious month of Saawan, devotees not only get to pray in front of their deity, but also spend some quality time with their families and friends on visiting Garadia Mahadev temple. The picturesque location and the sheer beauty can really make everyone lost in the beauty of nature.

 

A beautiful sight to behold for the nature lovers, Garadia Mahadev temple is located near the Chambal River on NH-76 that leads to Dabi and Chittorgarh. For the budding poets, writers, singers and other artists, this location serves as a blessing. For people seeking peace, tranquility, nature’s beauty and privacy, this place is the perfect destination.

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Meeting my older self...

I remember the days of my childhood and adolescence today, as I sit back as an oldie and memorize the amazing moments of my life.it gives me a feeling of immense pleasure when I think about the whole journey of my transition from an immature teenager to a responsible woman.  

There were many phases in my life which made me stronger and intense. I am happy today to be sitting with such positive thoughts and memories attached to my life about myself. I feel proud to be born and brought up in the hands of the most wonderful parents , I can ever imagine. I still remember, how emotional and sentimental I was; along with being over expressive... Sometimes, it was quite problematic for me at that age to be extremely expressive, as the expressions of anger, happiness, anxiety and excitement were easily visible on my face. Sometimes I faced troubles in my relationships because of my expressions because I was unable to control them. But thinking about it Now makes me satisfied that I was honest enough to show the real me to the world. I never faked myself for the sake of anything. I sang, I danced and I behaved like crazy at times, I screamed, j laughed loudly, I cried..I did everything that I felt to do from inside. It is an axiom that no one's life is perfect. I too faces many hardships which almost shattered me. But, at this point of time, I would love to remember all those things and my struggle in a positive way to make myself proud of my achievements in life. 

 

Today, as an oldie, I stand proudly, happy and smiling, celebrating my victory as a human being in life..

Effects of Social Media on Relationships

In the digital era, social media is playing a powerful role in daily lives of people. It has become a necessity and is really hard for us nowadays to imagine life without being on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp and all the other apps and social networking websites. I do not even need to discuss the popularity of these apps and websites in the lives of not only youngsters, but also children as well as the elderly. In fact, I found many of my childhood friends, whom I never imagined to be in contact again; on Facebook and Instagram and was so happy to meet them.

These apps and websites have really made our lives so easy and interesting. From a young 5 year old kid, to an elder one who is almost 70, we can find each and every person on Whatsapp, Instagram or the other end numbers of websites. A very easy and interesting way to stay connected and sharing our experiences with our friends and family..Isn’t it?? We feel so happy and proud to share our pictures, traveling experiences, new things in life and our feelings and achievements through various posts and links with our friends. What big groups of friends and family members exist on Whatsapp. We wish each other on birthdays, anniversaries and congratulate our friends and family members on their achievements. Big thanks to these social networking websites and life savior apps.

Now coming to some serious repercussions associated with the social media in our daily lives. This is totally my opinion, feelings and observation. Each and everything in this world has some positives and negatives. There were no such apps and websites when I was a kid. Today I can very easily compare my life with that of my son who is a 5 year old kid. I really feel that most of us can relate to this, as it is actually happening nowadays. We all used to play with our friends outside in the evening. Our giggles and cheerful noises were so loud that everyone in the neighborhood could hear and enjoy. You remember, there were fixed timings for watching television with some of our favorite programs being broadcasted on weekdays for which we used to wait desperately. We all used to chit chat with our families and friends, play till our mothers used to come, interrupt and scold us, enjoy picnics with friends, visit our grandparents and so many other lovely childhood memories are there which we still reminisce fondly.

Talking about this generation, there is a very limited interest in children to play outside with friends in the evening. The advanced technology tablets and mobile phones have replaced the fun of playing cheerfully in the gardens. Now the mothers scold their kids to go outside and play some outdoor games. All the children are born talented ones and geniuses these days to operate mobiles and tablets without any assistance. Forget about kids; husbands and wives will chat so sweetly with all the honey coated words through Whatsapp and Facebook, sitting in the same room. That is so sweet and romantic!!! It is another thing that they may have fought terribly few minutes before and not talking face to face. But their lovey dovey messages and comments on the social networking sites and their statuses may keep other people drooling over their love and affection for each other.

I really miss the days when social media was not there and my birthday used to be the busiest day in the whole year. From the very early morning, I used to get calls from friends and relatives wishing in the sweetest way. Those wishes used to make my day. But now the wishes have confined to Whatsapp and Facebook messages. People have time to surf the net unnecessarily for the whole day, but they have no time to call and wish personally. That gesture always created a kind of bond between people. Communication gap is increasing day by day now and this is really harming the special relationships which always used to be the priority for people at one point of time.

Children do not intend to visit their grandparents any more nowadays. And in case they are forced to do so, their best friends accompany them; their mobiles and tablets. They will be physically present inside their grandparents homes, but hardly showing any mental presence there. The oldies must be desperately waiting for their loved ones for the whole year, but they only get disappointments in the last. The smart children of this generation always have their smart phones and smart gadgets to show their smart moves in this really smart world to their not so smart grandparents. How painful is this.

So, the crux to all the discussion is that social media and the latest technology is not a bad thing when used in limits. But the overdose of anything is always hazardous. Always take out some time for the real thing, rather than the virtual reality. There are some real people, some precious relationships, which may be on stake because of this new high tech thought process. Give them your precious time and make the optimum productive usage of the new discoveries. Then only the world will be a real smart place.

Fighting And Winning The Battle With Negativity!

Do you have ever felt like keeping mum and just be alone? Do you ever had the feeling of leaving behind everything and had constant fear of failing or losing? Are you the victims of sudden mood swings, which later on make you feel embarrassed and ashamed? Most of us can really relate to these few questions; there are even many more such things which people generally experience. These are basically the repercussions of the negative thoughts that occur in the mind of people at any point of time. This is a very natural thing through which an individual goes through at many points throughout the life. What is more important is how to overcome this thought process to stay happy and calm in life.

Human beings are special, as they are full of emotions and sentiments. They do have feelings and this is what which makes them a unique creation of god. It is very obvious that all of us go through a roller coaster of emotions at various parts of our lives, be it is related to love, career, family or any other point of concern. Many a times, some such things happen that we are not able to cope with. A flare of negative thoughts may arise when things are not going the way that we desire. Yes, I do agree that it is very hard for a person to concentrate and think only positive when things are going wrong all the way. But it is not impossible, and we, as the best creation of god, can make everything possible.

Personally I relate a lot to this topic, as I too used to be occupied with negative thoughts very easily and to a great extent. The effects used to be so strong that my immunity system was getting affected because of my negative mindset. But, gradually after I started realizing that at a very early age, I am falling prey to serious health issues, just because of my perception; I decided to clear up the mess myself. I feel that I was slowly getting into the trap of depression which was breaking me from inside. This was seriously affecting me and my family too. But now I have learnt to segregate myself from all those negative thoughts by focusing on other good things that create positivity. There is always a solution to every problem; it is just that we have to gather the courage to find it ourselves.

If we think seriously, we will find that no one’s life is perfect. It is just a matter of fact that the people with a strong positive mindset have that strength to make it perfect. Human life is full of problems and it is basically a big circle which is made up of various happy and sad moments. Life is unpredictable and we should try to cope with the unexpected changes in a strong manner. It is truly said that life is a theatre and we all are parts of the drama. We should play our part strongly and maturely to make an impact on other people who could take a lesson from our performances.

Have you heard about the Law of Attraction? It says that positive thoughts attract positive experiences and negative thoughts attract the negative ones. So whenever you feel like engaging in any kind of negativity, just think about the law of attraction and start attracting the positive experiences in your life. Gradually your thought process and experience will take a positive side which will really make your life happy and balanced.

How about destroying a negative thought physically whenever it occurs in your mind!! Sounds weird I know...but just do a little crazy thing. I am sure you would love it afterwards. Whenever any bad thought arises in your mind which is actually annoying you, immediately write your feelings on a piece of paper. I actually do that. In fact this was the beginning of my love for writing. After you have written and expressed your bad feelings in the form of words on a piece of paper, crush the paper, turn it into a ball and burn it, tear it, flush it or do whatever else you want to. Trust me, you will really feel relaxed.

It is completely up to you to stop the flow of any kind of negativity in your mind, immediately when it starts to expand and make your life miserable. One very effective idea to stay apart from negative thoughts is to be in the good company of some healthy positive people. It is a fact that our behavior is very much influenced by the behavior of people with whom we spend most of our time. If the behavior turns out to be positive, it is great; but if it turns towards the negative side, just take a halt and step out of some kind of company.

There are end numbers of things which can be considered while talking about negativity. The thing is, we should be courageous enough to step up towards the positive side and refrain from being negative. Life is too short to waste in negative thoughts. Just keep a mantra alive in this life, to be happy, to be strong and to be positive. A very true saying indeed, “Live like there is no tomorrow”. Stop thinking about those who do not care for you; instead focus on those who really love you. Work hard towards achievement of your goals with a positive mindset. Stop being judgmental and enjoy each and every moment of this life. Life will be a blessing when you will be capable to keep those negative thoughts away.

Stay Happy, Stay Blessed...

Not a People Pleaser Anymore....

“Yes”, “Why Not”, “I will do that definitely”, “Of course”, “Sure”; and so many other phrases are there which are associated with people pleasing and are so sweet to hear! The constant desire to make everyone around happy and never to displease anyone by doing whatever is asked is People Pleasing. On analyzing, I found myself also to be affected by it to a great extent. Just to be safe from the guilt and unease created because of a ‘NO’, some people fall prey to this syndrome and yes, it affects the overall personality and the inner satisfaction of a person. Most of the times, whenever I was saying ‘yes’ to any person for some work I was not willing to do, there was a dilemma and kind of struggle inside which was shattering my self-confidence. Just for a courtesy and a good gesture, I was making myself a victim to this syndrome and was not able to feel the inner bliss and joy.

The most desirable and helpful people around are the People Pleasers. Once identified, people leave no stone unturned to take advantage of this person and situation. This humble person out of the generous nature is always there for friends, colleagues and family. Everyone can rely on this pleasing personality and the person can be a real rock star among friends and family!! But the actual thing is that the person himself suffers a lot and is always surrounded by the Fear of Failure and Rejection.

The positive image factor is crucial for people pleasers. They always want to be in the good books of everyone and if in any case a situation is created which shatters their image in the form of their denial for anything, it creates a feeling of failure and even depression among them. These people are putting themselves after everyone. They feel happy to be considered important and a much needed person among friends and relatives. But, the actual thing is that this habit of people pleasing may give some pleasure to these people by being the favorite ones, it has some serious side effects and consequences.

Low self esteem is the main reason behind this act of people pleasing. People make all possible efforts to please others so that other people may feel good about them and in turn they may feel good about themselves. If other people share a negative opinion about them, the opinion about themselves drops. Self awareness and self acceptance are the words which can help in coming out of this trap and feel confident, happy and satisfied.

Talking about myself, I am now free from this syndrome to a great extent. Yes, I am polite and always will be; but there is a huge difference between people pleasing and being polite. I have now learnt to put myself before anyone else if it is harming my personality and self confidence; and the art of saying ‘NO’ politely. And seriously, it gives a feeling of immense pleasure to be yourself and taking your own decisions freely and confidently, without being influenced by others. An important fact is, one who is polite is not always a people pleaser. Some people have politeness as an inbuilt character and I personally feel that no one should change the basic nature because of anyone and feel uncomfortable about the change. Be yourself and stay blessed always.

The most adverse effect of people pleasing is stress and depression. At one point of time, when you are just thinking about and working for others, ignoring yourself; a feeling of disappointment and chronic stress arises. Once in a while, you will always get the feeling of anger and anxiety for working on anything without your will, just to please someone else. To cope with the situation, stop over thinking and relax. Please accept the fact that we cannot make each and every person around us happy every time, everyone is not going to like you, and that is completely OK.

Very truly said, ‘To Please is a Disease’. It may sound hard to come out of this problem when one is afflicted with this disease, but it is not impossible. Just make up your mind, try hard and start living the life which you desire. The thing is, once anyone gets hooked to this syndrome because of any positive result, they get carried away and then nothing is authentic. So, value your peace of mind first and stop people pleasing completely. Be yourself, accept the reality of the world and feel the ultimate inner bliss and joy. STAY HAPPY STAY BLESSED….

Be Your Own Valentine

Single or heartbroken this Valentine’s Day? I understand that the singles may feel a little bit frustrated and jealous of the happy celebrating couples. On the other hand, lovers with broken hearts may be going through a phase of immense restlessness, anxiety and depression. Some of them may feel immense pain and even like the end of the world. It becomes very difficult for these people to cope up with the extreme grief and trauma and the situation gets worse over time and even ruins their lives. 

On a positive note, why don’t celebrate this valentine’s day in a different way and enjoy being single and independent. Let’s talk about the positive sides of being single this time. Valentine ’s Day is not meant only for lovers, it is the day to celebrate love; so why don’t love ourselves!! I can give you many reasons to be happy and celebrating this Valentine’s.

Enjoy every Valentine’s Day being you and only you until you are single. Dude, once you get married, there is no scope to celebrate your freedom. A self loving session; take a break, relax, sleep, go for a spa or watch your favorite movie and embrace single-hood. You come in the category of Fantabulous Singles and should be proud of that.

In this fast paced life, we seldom find time for ourselves. This is the perfect day to love being you and taking out some sweet precious time from the hectic schedule which you would have otherwise taken out for your beloved. Do you remember the last time when you talked to yourself? Really, it is a great idea to reduce stress, clarify your thought process and boost your morale. So, take some time out and pay attention to the special one who is always left out and ignored in your life.

This time, make a list of few qualities which make you special and unique from other people. I genuinely believe that every one of us is bestowed with some unique quality by the almighty. It is just the way we explore it within us. So, when you are single, you get ample time to give a deep thought, take the best out of you and feel great about it. Isn’t that great!!

One of the best things of being single which I can quote here is (please don’t take it otherwise, but this is a fact); you save a lot of money dude :). Now this is very obvious. Cards, gifts, dinner dates, lunch dates, pick up and drop, shopping, whole day planning, surprises, outings ...ahhhh....and so on. You are saved. Plan out something special for yourself with this saved money. Just gift yourself a special thing which you may be craving for since a long time. In addition to this, you are also saved from the stress of planning a superb date to woo your beloved....Amazing it is...

It often happens that you love something else, but because of the interests of your beloved, you sacrifice your priorities and being a genuine lover, you happily accept the interest of your loved one’s as yours. But hey, now as a single, you are free to do whatever you love to. Nobody is there to dominate or stop you to fulfill your desires. Whatever you love, you are free to do that happily without any constraints. Just delight your heart with your favorite activities and feel good and positive all the time.

When did you meet your besties the last time? This is the perfect time to meet them and recollecting all the happy memories of the past. It feels so good to meet your old college and school friends after a long time and sharing the best moments with them. Get involved in some real fun activities with the crazy gang. Laugh, watch movies, go for outings, shop and do what makes you feel better. This will the golden time of your life and you will create memories to be cherished forever.

It is totally up to you whether you see a glass as half-empty or half-full. This is your life, a gift to you by God and no one is allowed to ruin it because of any reason. Yes, some people hold a special place in every one’s life but it doesn’t means that the world ends if they leave you heartbroken. Be your favourite and stay happy and energetic all the time, in short, be your own valentine this time. Stay Happy, Stay Positive...