Raksha Bandhan - Lets give it a new meaning

Raksha Bandhan, a celebration of brother and sister bond.

A sister ties Rakhi ( wrist band ) to her brother as a symbol of their love, seeking lifelong protection and love from her brother. It's a day of happiness, excitement, love, vows.
A day of making your sister feel safe and loved throughout her life.

However, is this only for a day, is this only for your sister?

Today our country, the world is filled with atrocities, atrocities towards women, rapes, molestation. 

It's difficult in many cases and many places for girls to walk in public without bearing cat calls and lewd behavior on a daily basis. 

What life are we giving our sisters? 

Those too, are someone's sister, some brother somewhere wants and yearns for their protection. 

Just because it's not your responsibility, you are free to witness them being humiliated, tormented or even worse you are the one who does it. 

What kind of hypocrisy is it, when one vows for complete protection to his own sister and gives a damn to other girls? 

Does this make sense?

Shouldn't we change this scenario, isn't it about time? 

This Raksha Bandhan ask your brother to protect not only you, but other girls in any way he can. 

This Raksha Bandhan take a vow from your brother that he will respect all women no matter what. 

He will be the man, he will be the protector. 

Let's be the change, let's try and let's make an effort.

My brother, the protector - always.

So proud of you, for the man you have grown into. 

The respect you have for your sister and all other girls and women.

I know you will always try to do the right thing and follow the right path.

I am lucky to call you my brother.

Wishing you all a Happy Raksha Bandhan !!

Let all sisters be PROTECTED !!!

xoxo

Bhakti 

A little bit of kindness this Summer

Summer is here, it's just the beginning and the temperature are soaring. Everyone just needs a respite from this blistering heat. One doesn't want to venture out of the comfort of the home owing to the scorching sun. However the birds and stray animals brave the heat without any option.

These poor things fall victim to dehydration. They are instances of birds collapsing due to dehydration. 

With one small deed we can make a difference. 

Please put water outside your home or society for stray animals in clay pots or containers of no value which the animals can easily reach and have a drink. 

One can have water baths for the birds on the terrace, window sill, balcony for the little creatures as a small respite from heat. 

Keep a dish or container with a depth not more than1-2 inches so that they can easily have a quick dip, drink water and refresh themselves. 

One can keep some bird feed, simple grains, for the birds to enjoy a complete meal. 

A little bit of plants around will make your outdoors a sanctuary for birds and you will be surprised by the myriad visitors you get. The space will also cheer you up and will be your own little oasis a respite from the heat as well as the concrete jungle. 

If it's not possible, just keep a dish of water and be a saviour for the little creatures. 

Simple bird baths you can keep - 

Photo credits - Pinterest 

This is my Bird Bath - 

Please be generous and share water. 

A little gesture will help many. 

Enjoy the summer. 

xoxo

Bhakti 

Wagentine forever..

Along with all other lovely invitations sitting pretty in my inbox for this valentine, there was this  special one, and I decided that instance that my valentine this year is going to be that extra special.
So here I was all excited and dressed up for my Valentine eve celebrations. I reached my venue all with anticipation and enthusiasm.
Here I got a first glimpse of my valentines, they looked so cute, all on their four paws and little wagging tails , licking me lovingly.
So much warmth and unconditional love- all thanks to Blue cross, PALs and Prani project. For organizing this Dog walk on valentines eve- Wagentine.
The walk was organized in protest for poisoning of stray dogs and to spread the message of stray dog adoption and sterilization.
Killing stray dogs is not only inhuman but of no use, it doesn't stop breeding of new dogs, infact killing stray dogs invites problem that you may have never thought about, like new dogs from neighboring areas take the territories, dog fights, bites increase due to it.
sterilization is the solution for growing number of stray dogs and other problems arising out of this.
For assistance in sterilization of dogs in your area, one can call- 9689928688 / 9552607173 / 9373321134 / 9226108504 (Pune)

Adopt stray puppies, dogs, you will give them a home and love that they deserve
pros for the same-
you don't have to buy them.
they are low maintenance than the pedigree ones.
they are more loving and smarter than the pedigree ones.
They are better guard dogs than most of the pedigree breeds.
All the above are facts which are proved.
Buildings should adopt atleast one stray dog to complement the security as well as give them home.
(I have adopted two stray dogs and they have filled our life with love in every possible way, I can vouch for it.)

She is Naughty-- extremely possessive, loving, loyal and ferocious, I forgot to mention pampered brat.

This handsome dude is Blacky- street smart, ferocious, enthusiastic, very loving.

Tell me can their be a better valentine, than helping these cute ones, who shower us with their unconditional love.

The walk was organized from Alka talkies to FC college

for a cause

My wagentine

I request you all to please do your bit for the cause in whatever way you can.

You can get more information over here -

Blue Cross Pune

PALs - Pune Animal Lovers

Prani Project

Give a home to these loving creatures and see the way they make your life magical.

xoxo

Bhakti

Clueless

One question keeps haunting me from time to time- What is my Purpose in Life? This question leads to a series of thoughts and a thread of questions which leave me confused and clueless every single time.What am I born for? What is the reason I am in this world?

According to me there is a purpose for every bodies birth. A destiny to fulfill. A contribution to make to the world. The meaning for existence. I am not talking of a job or a degree, what I mean are the deeper things in life. Things that matter. Things by which we will be remembered, even when we are not there. Things that give us sheer happiness and satisfaction. They are not measured by how big or small they are. What matters that they are big in our life.

Realization hits many a times that the best things in Life are right in front of us, but I need to find identify it myself, don't I ?My search is still going on. I still am finding my purpose of being. I am still stumbling along the path of my personal enlightenment. I am still Clueless.

I came across this website the other day that said in order to know the purpose of your life, just write this question - What is the purpose of my life? and then start writing your answers with an open heart until you stumble upon an answer which really makes you cry. This just made me wonder after countless sleepless nights and amazing number of hours pondering over this question, I still haven't got an answer. So is this that easy, will this provide me with an answer. Guess, I will have to try it out to find it myself.

Does this happen to you ? Have you got your purpose of being ? Are you as clueless as me ?

Please do share your views with me.

And now for the ootd.

Top - Gift from sister

Denims- Levis

Bag - Dubai Market

Shoes- Dubai market

Neckpiece - Splash

xoxo

Bhakti

DIY -- Mobile Bird Charm -- Sparrow Sorrow

 

One evening I was just sitting in my balcony, everything was right, a bit of light breeze, green plants, monsoon blooms, tinkling of the wind chime. I was enjoying myself relaxing, but something  was missing. That something was the chirping of little sparrows. Those tiny pretty things flying in and out of the house, sitting in the balcony. Growing up on the stories of sparrows, feeding them, being fascinated with them, watching them dance in the courtyard. I can never forget those pretty eyes and those tiny active, cute birds.

 

 It really saddens me that they no longer visit me or the neighbourhoods. It's true, sparrows have declined and are disappearing slowly. Reason being our lifestyle. It's strange how we compromise on the things we have to welcome new changes and new ways of life. It's very disheartening that we do not bother and many of us even fail to observe the absence of such a pretty tiny creature.

 

So wont we try to do something at least. To bring the sparrow tales and the pretty creatures back. To teach children to share their food with them the way we were taught in our childhood (the joys).

Just sitting their in the balcony the absence of this innocent creature made my heart ache with the desire to see it again living in harmony with us. I will try, I won't give up. A sparrow will be back in my balcony to share my food, to dance to the tunes of nature. I will once again be mesmerised by its beauty.

 I will try and I will do.

 

Some Facts:

Reasons for decline:

 

Rapid urbanization

Extensive use of pesticides.

Lack of food and nesting sites.

Lack of insects.

Pollution.

Decline in native habitat and trees.

These are some of the factors.

 

 

Small things we can do from our end:

 

Keep bird feeders, water, in your balcony, terrace, window.

Small nest boxes.

 

Do take a look at these sites to offer a helping hand in a small but significant way.

Greenosai

natureforever

indiatogether

 

 

 

Till the sparrows come back to my balcony, I cannot just leave it vacant.

So I made myself my very own mobile colorful bird charm by recycling worn table mats.

Have a look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't it pretty?

 

My very own bright birds fluttering in the wind.

 

If this is the effect of makeshift ones, the real sparrows and birds are magical. Lets value them and bring them back to our home, their home .

 

Happy weekend!

 

xoxo

Bhakti 

 

 

 

Read India - Book in every childs hand

On a regular morning there was this email sitting cozily in my inbox titled 'The Idea Caravan' contest from indibloggers as a result of their partnership with-
Franklin Templeton Investments partnered the TEDxGateway Mumbai in December 2012.
for a very important cause- brilliant ideas painting a beautiful tomorrow.
This hooked me to my computer for a long time watching contestants and their ideas. The actions which were taken to bring in a change.

Ideas are the gateway to the future, umpteen possibilities, to an interesting, unimagined otherwise, beautiful and better life.

Although I was greatly inspired and admired all the other contestants, the ideology of one  
Rohini Nilekani truly resonated through me.
Rohini Nilekani is a founder and chairperson of Pratham books ( a non profit publishing house) with a motto of a book in every child's hand.

India being a country with a huge population where literacy campaigns are gaining strength due to low literacy owing to poor economic conditions in different strata's of society.
Literacy campaigns will be successful when children don't drop out of school due to lack of interest or not being able to read and therefore cant learn.
This will only develop through interesting reading material which will captivate a young readers mind motivating him/her to learn to read fluently.
People like Rohini have realized this and are acting towards the same through the Read India Movement.
There is a dearth of books available for such a vast population of children in India in so many languages. Pratham Books is working towards this.
Pratham Books has published 215 titles in English and 10 other Indian languages approximately 1500 books. Having printed over 8.5 million books, 10 million story cards and a readership of over 25 million. Most of their books are priced well below Rs 25 and hence are easy on the pocket. The books are available easily in villages and rural areas through partnering with different means and agencies, government, schools and innovative marketing. They have also got  books on creative commons, which can be read, shared, distributed, printed, saved hence helping children to read even in the areas having no access. They believe in creative collaboration and hence believe that every one can be a part of a solution and not a problem. With this mindset they invite everybody to create, retell, recreate, remix more stories on their site and help the children to read. Their vision is to reach 200 million children in India, to put 'a book in every child's hand' and believe this is possible with collaboration.

Every child has the right to that sparkle in the eye on seeing a new story book. Every child has the right to cuddle up with a book and be lost in the fantasy land. To dream, to let their imagination fly.
Every child has a right to a treasure house of memories. The joy of reading a story and its memory is sustained with one throughout the life. Living through the characters, fighting the villain, being the hero in our own fantasy land through our favorite book does make one of the most important part of childhood.
Lets do our bit in upholding this cause with Rohini and protect the childhood and its memories.
Lets give wings to little ideas and imagination which will build a beautiful future.




To know more visit on the link below ---

Rohini Nilekani http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BHqFGA78sEU

Pratham Books http://www.prathambooks.org/ We are the change, we are the solution. xoxo Bhakti