Eid Mubarak....

Hurrah! it is Eid today.

After fasting for the whole month, Muslims celebrate their happiness as an auspicious festival called "Eid". People are so excited and joyous on this day. They get up early in the morning, with the first ray of sun, have bath and get ready for Namaz. Muslims wear their traditional clothes kurta-pyjama, put itr(liquid for good smell, but not scent), eat something sweet, usually 3,5 or 7 dates dipped in milk and go to Eid-gah(the place where Eid Namaz is performed) for Namaz. It is surprising to see such a large crowd that gathers for Namaz. Mats are even put up on streets for people. then Namaz is performed with full discipline. After Namaz people cuddle each other greeting them"Eid Mubarak". Even strangers are wished with the same enthusiasm and affection. And then the tradition of meeting people begins...

On this day, Muslims visit their relatives houses, wish them affectionately and eat shewaain. Even people who haven't seen each other for years meet each other. Such gatherings rejuvenates people's love for each other and bring them closer. Children also enjoy themselves a lot. They receive Eidi(a small sum of money) from elders.They use this money to buy toys, sit on different types of rides that come in the area, chocolates etc.

Eid is a festival celebrated in peace without any noise. It has a very special importance in every Muslims life. It is a sign of unity among them which shows that even if they don't meet regularly they are still together and remember each other.

The sign of Eid's Arrival...

Finally the crescent has appeared.

People kept their eyes on the sky continuously, eagerly waiting for a glimpse of the crescent. The moon after enjoying the curiosity of people decided to fulfill their wishes and showed its presence for a while. One glance was enough to make the whole country rejoice and start their preparations for the auspicious festival to be celebrated the next day. A feeling of felicity waived over the entire nation and people set their foot ready to run for the preparations.

It is such a happy feeling to see people enthusiastically running to buy the commodities, clothes, decorative articles etc. Children running all over the area shouting out of delight the slogan"chand dikh gaya(moon has appeared)". People start buying shewaain, the traditional sweet prepared at every Muslim's house on Eid. Some busy bargaining with the shopkeepers to cut costs of the clothes. Attractive well designed kurta-pyjamas, pathani suits, shalwar jhampals to be seen everywhere. A man with his four children making hastes in buying his childrens clothes, shoes, topi's and various other accessories. At the same time controlling his children from splitting up in so much of crowd. All these scenery add up the excitement and impatience for the coming day.

Also you can see long queues in the saloons and beauty parlors. Everybody doing a complete make over from their face to toes just for one day. Women making mehendi designs on their palms and feet, doing facial bleachings, buying all sorts of ornaments to match their clothes. Simultaneously preparing Masala's required for shewaain and other dishes.

People hardly sleep on this night. Nobody can wait anymore for the dawn to arrive. They all are busy with the house cleaning, decorations, making more space for the visitors etc. One crescent changes the whole scenario, fills everyone's heart with joy, enthusiasm and impatience. Such happiness is never seen on any other day or festival. I love this night called "chand raat".

Secret of Success....

We always come across some people who excel in any field they choose. They always make us ask one question,"What is it in him that makes him so successful?". But we never receive a convincing answer or any trick or procedure that we can apply in our life to become successful. However have we ever wondered how much these people struggle to achieve success? Success is not a one night work or trick. They work tirelessly and persistently to gain success.

Everybody knows Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers ever. He was asked the same question by an ordinary man like us. Socrates politely asked that man to meet him near the river close to the village next day. Next day when the man reached the bank, he saw that Socrates was standing in the river half dipped in water. Socrates called him to join in. Man, full of confusion and curiosity entered the river to join Socrates. Socrates griped the man and pushed him into the river not allowing him to come out. Man tried hard with all his strength and energy to come out and breathe and take oxygen. But Socrates was stronger than him and had held him firmly. When the man was totally exhausted and began suffocating for want of oxygen, Socrates released him. Man came out and started gasping. Socrates asked him,"In water, what was the thing you wanted the most?"."Oxygen", replied man. Then Socrates said,"You will achieve success only if you want it as desperately as oxygen in water. Then you will apply all your strength and energy and will indeed be successful."

So readers if you want success make sure that you are diving your 100%. There must be total dedication, persistence and most importantly desire for success. Only then success will touch your feet.

There are some very good books in the market that I will recommend to everyone. "You Can Win" and "Think and Grow rich" are some of them.

Swine Flu Attack

All are familiar with the recent epidemic that broke through globally. Swine Flu. I still remember the time when it first hit America few months back and became headline of so many leading newspapers. It spread like fire and soon news poured from all over the world of people dying because of this disease.

The disease arose fear in people's heart. People began fearing to come into direct contact with others. Commuters began taking precautions by wearing masks and avoiding too crowded places. It created a havoc and government declared that all colleges and institutions in Mumbai to remain closed for a week to control the spreading of disease. Even after a month of that mini vacation that students received, some schools are still cautious which is evident from the fact that they canceled picnics of students.

The reason for such an enlarged outbreak of this disease is that it is contagious(transmits from person to person) within a range of 3 feet and can survive a little longer than usual in the environment which results in contamination of air. This air when inhaled by an healthy individual brings the virus H1N1 in his body resulting in swine flu.

However it is nice to see that gradually the spread has ceased down and now people are back to their normal life with same enthusiasm and pace. Doctors worked day and night in all hospitals to curb it and they have almost controlled the situation. Researchers are also working on the vaccine for Swine flu and government has claimed that it will be ready by 2-3 months and then we can live a swine-flu-fear free life.