Glyptic Art: October 2006

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Is this necessary ?

Now I wana get into a serious topic…. Is marriage very much essential in a person’s life?

Day in day out, many people ask me this question. ‘When are you getting married?’
‘When are you planning to get settled?’ Does settling in life means getting married?

Basically talking about me I would love to remain single and keep myself free of all the unwanted commitments that marriage would get me. But on and off when I meet relatives and seek their blessings their first wish for me would be to get married…..

Marriage is the deeper commitment. For some it has religious meaning, because you pledge yourselves before God.

Marriages are made in heaven or so we assume. But in truth marriage is a mere social custom developed in order to maintain discipline in society. And I feel discipline does not come just by getting married but is definitely something that you have instilled in you from your childhood.

People cite many reasons for getting married. As days goes by, you need a support. You need someone to share things with. You need to have kids and watch them grow. Your generation should not stop with you It is a special type of feeling. You can only feel it and not explain it. Without marriage, there is no meaning for life etc.

Do u think it is impossible for a girl to stay alone? When it comes to marriage it is easier for the guy to live up to the expectation of just the girl he marries, but when it comes to the girl she is always expected to fulfill the expectations of her husband, in-laws and also their pet dog if they have one!! Most of the guys are not ready to sacrifice or adjust to the girl. But for her the people, the surrounding, the way of life itself is new together with the strong feeling of leaving her own family. But who cares?

I just hate a guy who says he does not want his fiancée to work….. what a male chauvinistic attitude!!

The present society is much more evolved than the past and people have greater goals in life than just to have a family and raise kids! And the restrictions caused by marriage too are many. After marriage people need to make a whole lot of sacrifices to keep their relationship going, whether they like it or not.

I want to see my daughter get married in my lifetime is a common statement that almost all girls of my age would hear but is this going to give her any happiness? For the parents a mere decent looking guy working in an MNC with highest pay is more than enough to get their daughter married. but is this the only criteria for the girl?

Don’t u think a decent amount of understanding is necessary to lead the rest of the life peacefully? As far as I am concerned I am totally not interested to get married just for the sake of it. I am sure I can enjoy more if I stay alone

What is the benefit I get, by forcefully getting married? Wouldn’t it be screwing the life of someone, by getting married just because of pressure from parents or for the above mentioned selfish reasons?

And many marriages I have known are merely contrived. The couples live with each other more out of compulsion from family, than out of real love or even if there is any love it vanishes after the first few years!!

But my question is what is wrong in staying single? If a person enjoys his privacy and doesn’t mind being alone, then what is wrong? Work is good, so is life.

May be it is totally a different issue if u get in love and have a liking towards the other person that u feel u cannot stay away from that person anymore then there is a meaning to that marriage but definitely not otherwise….. so what is the state for the person who haven’t been struck by the cupid’s arrow?

So is marriage really necessary? Do we have to keep this custom alive just for the sake of tradition or is there a middle way out?

Posted by Saraswathi at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

IN SOLITUDE...................

Well after the noise of diwali its silence all over.
At times I feel being solitary is much necessary in life as it relieves the stress faced by because of the noisy world outside.
Being a talkative person, if I suddenly go silent then people close to me starts getting worried and start asking like if am ok, is something bothering me etc etc. Too sweet of them, but I end up talking more when I actually wanted to be silent.
Being an ardent lover of music and listening to the same almost always I sometimes feel even that should be reduced to some extent to get rejuvenated though it is absolutely true that music relieves stress and acts as a massage to our mind and soul.
We should definitely try exploring oneself as being in solitude is much important. Usually people like to be alone only when they are upset or angry but I feel even in the epitome of happiness after sharing it with whoever we know it is as much imp to take time for oneself and to enjoy being in seclusion. According to me there is nothing wrong in talking to oneself regarding any problem or whatever because no one knows us better than ourselves.

Sitting in the balcony with cool breeze blowing over my face at around 9 pm
before going to bed sipping a hot cup of milk and just spending time alone where
memories brush through the past and dream about future is just awesome.

Just write about whatever u feel makes u get rid of stress and lets all check it out too!

Posted by Saraswathi at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

DEEPAVALI TO DIWALI !!

Not long ago when children expressed a desire to own a new toy or clothes, fathers would always say, "Wait till Deepavali when I get my bonus and then you'll get it." But today's children don't really have to wait till October for the goodies. Rising disposable incomes, easily available credit options and, of course, a more liberal attitude toward spending has certainly impacted the lifestyle of the new millennium Indian.

Thanks to fat pay packets, more frequent foreign jaunts and double incomes, splurges and merry-making are no more exclusive Diwali do's. Indeed, the festival is seeing a mega make-over.

Deepavali is one of the most important that has come a long way and undergone a lots of changes in the way we celebrate them.

During my grandmother’s days they used to make lots and lots of sweets at home and distribute it to neighbors who also share the ones they made with us.
But now my mother hardly makes one or two varieties in very small quantities and gets the rest from the famous sweet shops! This too is done as a “saasthram” (just for the sake of ).

In another few years I seriously do not know whether I would make them either. The best would be to get everything from the shop. First of all who has the time for it or who the hell is gona slog in the kitchen for hours together for just one sweet…. No way

A small dialogue to experience the impact of this change

Those days:
"mami neenga enna sweet pannninel? Nan burfi
paninen ne? na mysorepa try panninen padhame sariya varala”

Today:
"nennnga enga sweet vanginel? Nan Krishna sweets la than epavum vanguven
Indha thadava anandha bhavanla try panninen sagikala di!”

Moreover deepavali is more about sharing. We would have read in the books that goodies are made and distributed to neighbors. Guess that is only for the books. God only knows who my neighbours are. In this jet speed life who do u think is gona take their time out to find out about people living next door. We hardly know who they are then where is the concept of sharing ?!

Earlier, it was a time when we would not only look forward to the new gifts and toys, but shopping itself was a vital part of the festive experience. Today, with most people shopping round the year, the experience has lost more of its intensity

Whatever may be the fables and legends behind the celebrations of Deepavalii, all people wear new clothes and buy jewellery at this festive time.. Diwali has become commercialised as the biggest annual consumer spree because every family shops for sweets, gifts and fireworks.

So, with celebrations and festive spends evenly spread out throughout the year, it's only to be expected that children are mildly excited about any kind of traditional festivity. I feel that kids are far less sensitive to the festive occasion today, and it is pretty much a forced-down affair

Speaking of children and rituals, are Indian parents getting more conscious of culture, rituals, festivities, etc? In other words, are we taking to these ritualistic indulgences simply because there's so much material enjoyment and all of us want to go back to our basics?

At the end of the day, I think everyone, at some point, recognizes the existence of some thing like a super natural power and looks up to one of the areas for solace. I suppose people go back to basics, look for roots, and anchor points when under stress and miss the rituals. The main reason why we are becoming more spiritual is because of the stress that each of us go through as individuals."

So how do I end such a long article filled with frustration….. May be this statement would console me!!

In all this frenzy of shopping and eating, the steady, burning lamp is a constant symbol of an illuminated mind !!

Please pour in your thoughts and lets all together try to make things better!!

Posted by Saraswathi at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sunday, October 15, 2006

THE SARI RUSH.........!!

Its diwali season and u can see large hoardings with your fav stars posing for the silk sari rush that is going on .With changing times tradition also move towards the branded way, as competition forced the textile shops to innovate consistently and offer rich variety of choices to the modern women.

I noticed that half the population is going to Times Square of Madras, hereby affectionately called as T-Nagar. What is the reason for such an analogy you might wonder? Take a walk down Ranganathan Street and Usman road; you will see that old form of advertisement has given way to neons and mercury vapor lamps all over. None of the traders will go easy during this shopping season and the word "discount" is used liberally in all shops, which indicates that shopping season is underway

Vivaga, Ishwaryam, Reversible, Maya, Parampara, Vastarakala and the list goes on - All these Sarees are self branded by the shops and promoted effectively by employing Kollywood stars like Jothika, Sneha, Meera Jasmine, Boomika and now Sudha Ragunathan to create the interest among the masses.

Mind it, if u gift the reversable sari to your wife and ask her to wear it for 4 occasions as the sari can be worn in different styles, it's still a single saree for women, though it costs around four times of a normal one. . Such simple logic won't work out in the Venus world, whom you can't satisfy even by gifting a entire shop.

Moreover i feel it is not worth spending more than 6000 for a silk sari, as it requires too much of maintenance!

AND FOR THE LOVING HUSBAND WHO GIFTED THIS..... WHAT DOES HE GET
"Ambathu arubathu aayiram koduthu podavai vaangi irukkom, Idhukku matchaa nava rathna valayal , jimikki ellam paootunda dhaane nanna irukkum"
Can you trust someone to wash/iron this saree?
"Velaiakaari eduthundu oaditaa? Sunday annaiku summa dhaane irukkeenga. Oru alasu alasunga. UngaLukkum exercise pannina madhiri irukkum. Thoacha mattum mudinjudha? Mottai maadila vadaam kaaya vakkara madhiri, idha kooda irundhe paathukanum"
SO ALL U GUYS OUT THERE....... BEWARE!!

All these innovations and modernity didn't affect the sales of pure traditional player NALLI, who is my favourite. When all the others compete with each other to show innovation and reduce prices showing "discount" all over the city, Madras Mami's with deep rooted traditions still throng Nalli during festival seasons. I feel there is a strong sentiment attached to most women incl me when it come to buying of silk for which the trust created by the shop owners are more important than fancy and catchy offers!!

Hmmm... Guessed my diwali silk sari is from Nalli? So what are you waiting for? Shop around and show your love in Silk this Diwali to your dear ones.....

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL MY LOYAL READERS!!

Posted by Saraswathi at 3:18 AM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, October 09, 2006

fun in the sun !!

Yesterday I enjoyed wasting a lot of time!!

TIME THAT IS ENJOYED WASTING IS NOT TIME WASTED!!!

I had a very good experience going out with my team mates at office. We went to a theme park near Chennai.
I feel all this is really important to have a good rapport with colleagues. The ten of us I am sure would have enjoyed thoroughly, not just because of the time spent on rides but definitely for the quality time we spent together as a family.

This paved way for a better understanding and better relationship. In my sincere opinion a personal bondage is necessary to work at peace and with proper pace. Moreover it was a kind of relief from our routine work and definitely a measure to revitalize ourselves….

Now guess all of us are ready for the routine again fully recharged and to deliver the best…….

Posted by Saraswathi at 1:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Glyptic Art

CARVING & ENGRAVING THE IMPACT OF EXPERIENCES