2017 Ganesha Pooje Pictures

What can I say? The much awaited festival is over and after the Ganesha festival I sat in front of the Lord and stared at him for almost an hour. I just couldn’t believe the festival was over. It was the most hectic week. I just can’t believe how much energy, mental strength and patience it takes to perform these festivals as per traditions during the week. It was tough, but at the end well worth every minute we spent. This year my daughter was able to join us, so it was extra special.

Most flowers, banana leaf, Tulasi, grass-garike, patre leaves were from our garden. Mango leaves and Betel Leaves from my Sister’s garden.

As always, sharing some pictures for you all. Hope you all had a wonderful Ganesha Festival.

I planned on making simple food, but like I said since my daughter was there, it was complete in itself. Except modaka, which I couldn’t make.

Pooje Preparation pictures:

Pooje Pictures:

 

 

 

 

Full Profile Pictures:

 

 

Naivedya and Food:

Finally, Night Pooje:

2017 Shree Krishna Janmasthami Pictures

Hope you all had a wonderful and joyous Shree Krishna Janmasthami. The festival was on a Monday, so the whole morning was spent in meetings and work, and once the clock ticked 5.30 PM, I shut down the computer and got into festival mode.

Every time I FaceTimed my Dad, he was amazed to see how the Tulasi plant had grown and kept telling me that Lord Krishna just needs one Tulasi leaf offered to him and nothing but water. It is just devotion, dedication and utmost faith that he needs.

Seeing all the Tulasi that had grown, I had this wonderful idea of creating a Tulasi Vrindavana for Lord Krishna and hence the Tulasi plants you see in the picture.

Most of the festival preparation was done during the weekend, I even tied the Tulasi garland Sunday night since Monday morning was going to be hectic at work.

We prepared all the food yesterday evening after work, my Daughter joined us through FaceTime during the pooje until the end when we gave Argya to Lord Krishna. I just love technology, we can meet, share, see and perform ePooja remotely.  And today morning, I was able to show my parents all the pooje which we had done.

My own blog helped in getting all the links for songs, food items and recipes.

Food prepration like you see were items such as:

• Moong dal Kosambari
• Channa dal Kosambari
• Uppittu or Upma
• Avalakki
• Sweet Avalakki
• Chakli
• Thengolu
• Om Pudi
• Shankar Poli
• Rava Laddoo
• Besan Laddoo

Now for the next big festival Shree Gowri Ganesha Festival. Will post all links and recipes as we approach the festival.

May Lord Krishna Bless us all. Jai Shree Krishna!

Simple and Easy Mantras to Chant During Shree Krishna Janmasthami

These set of mantras were sent to me on whatsapp by my Sister Suma. However, there are many in the community who don’t know Kananda. I did my humble seva to Lord Krishna by quickly typing the same in English. All credit to whoever wrote the original text, I just translated the slokas.

Family,

Today is janmashtami. As per Srimad Acharya’s “ಜಯಂತಿ ನಿರ್ಣಯ Jayanthi Nirnaya” – a very powerful day to destroy major sins over many births if you do pray Krishna and fast on this day. How do we remember Krishna throughout the day?

Srimad Acharya had revealed some important but simple things to perform throughout the day and next day ಪಾರಣೆ. Try to chant these simple mantras at the times indicated:

While taking bath in the morning:

ಯೋಗಾಯ ಯೋಗಪತಯೇ ಯೋಗೇಶ್ವರಾಯ ಯೋಗಸಂಭವಾಯ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ

Yogaya yogapathaye yogeshwaraya yogasambhavaya govindaya namo namaha

After evening pooja and Argya chant:

ಯಜ್ಞಾಯ ಯಜ್ಞಪತಯೆ
ಯಜ್ಞೇಶ್ವರಾಯ ಯಜ್ಞಸಂಭವಾಯ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ

Yagnaya yagnapathaye yagneshwaraya yagnasambhavaya govindaya namo namaha

Just before going to sleep in the night:

ವಿಶ್ವಾಯ ವಿಶ್ವಪತಯೆ ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರಾಯ ವಿಶ್ವಸಂಭವಾಯ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃಭಾರತೀರಮಣಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಣಾಂತರ್ಗತ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಮಸ್ತು.

Vishwaya Vishwapathaye vishveshwaraya vishwasambhavaya govindaya namo namaha

At the time of next morning’s ಪಾರಣೆ chant:

ಸರ್ವಾಯ ಸರ್ವಪತಯೆ ಸರ್ವೇಶ್ವರಾಯ ಸ್ಸರ್ವಸಂಭವಾಯ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ

Sarvaya sarvapathaye sarveshwaraya sarvasambhavaya govindaya namo namaha

Nextday after ಪಾರಣೆ offer some dakshine to a bramhin and  chant

ಭಾರತೀರಮಣಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಣಾಂತರ್ಗತ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಷಾರ್ಪಣ ಮ್ ಅಸ್ತು by chanting:

Bharathiramanamukyaprananthargatha shree krishnarpanamasthu

ಧರ್ಮಾಯ ಧರ್ಮಪತಯೆ ಧರ್ಮೇಶ್ವರಾಯ ಧರ್ಮಸಂಭವಾಯ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ

Dharmaya Dharmapathaye Dharmeshwaraya dharmasambhavaya govindaya namo namaha

 

Instant Pan Recipe

This Sunday we had Satsangha of our Beloved Rayaru at Ms. Vandhana’s house. Satsangha has become an event which I look forward for every single month. The pooja, the prayer,  the bond we have with each and every family cannot be described in words. Each one of us have become so close that I feel that they are my sisters. Like I said, it is an unbelievable bond and to know each and every one of them has utmost devotion towards our beloved Rayaru is just amazing.

During this satsangha at Ms. Vandhana’s house, we were all stumped by two amazing food items, something very new for most of us and really really tasty. A pressure cooked lemon pickle which I will post soon, and this amazing and tasty pan.

Ms. Vandhana was kind enough to allow me to record the recipe, and here I am posting it as is. Thanks Vandhana for the amazing pan recipe. Hope this recipe is now going to reach every nook and corner that this blog reaches as well.

Ingredients:

1. 5 Betel leaves – torn into small bits
2. 2 tablespoon regular supari, or triveni supari
3. 1 spoon roasted saunf, or commonly called as fennel seeds, or Badi Saunf
4. Little honey to bind together
5. Roasted Coconut
6. Gulkhand – optional

Method:

1. Mix all of them together
2. Serve after a scrumptious meal.

Quick and Easy PC2 Palya

Can you guess what PC2 is? Of course, you can after seeing the image below –  Potato, Capsicum and Corn. Such a great combination, and can be done within minutes. Quick, and easy and yummylicious.

Ingredients:

• 4 Potatoes
• 2 Red Capsicum(Bell pepper), you can use any color, I used Red
• 1 box frozen corn
• 3 Green Chillies slit lengthwise
• 1 sprig curry leaves finely chopped
• 3-4 springs coriander leaves finely chopped
• 1 inch ginger finely grated
• Lemon juice to taste
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp oil, 1/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp jeera

Method:

1. Clean, boil and remove the skin of the potatoes. Chop into bite size pieces. You can boil them traditional way or use microwave.
2. Microwave the frozen corn.
3. I also microwave red capsicum for 3-4 mins until it is soft
4. Next, in a pan heat oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera, green chiilies, curry leaves. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
5. Next, add potatoes, and grated ginger. Keep frying for another 3-4 minutes on low heat.
6. Add Red Capsicum, and corn.
7. Finally, add salt, and coriander leaves.
8. Just before serving, add the lemon juice.

Another look at the yummy, quick and easy palya:

P.S: I ate it as is, but it is a good combination to use in a chapathi wrap, or eat it with chapathi. You can also use different colors of capsicum.