Yesterday in a gathering one of my friends asked me, if I had an arranged marriage? My answer to her was, yes and we are now married for 50 years. Her question kept me thinking and made me post this today: An arranged marriage is a type of marital union where the bride and groom are selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents. In some cultures, a professional matchmaker may be used to find a spouse for a young person. Arranged marriages have historically been prominent in many cultures. The practice remains common in many regions, notably South Asia, though in many other parts of the world the practice has declined substantially during the 19th and 20th centuries.
My
parents and family made the match for me and at that time this was the way
marriages happened in India. We had limited help from our extended family. We’ve
grown old together now, seen each other like friends amidst plenty of ups and downs…I’m
grateful to our families for bestowing me with a life partner who has supported
me through thick and thin. He has ensured that I pursued my dreams, with him by
my side. Posting for you all a photo of two trees in a background where the
trees are grown together in nature side by side and thrive. It was not a match
made in heaven, but as you know, “opposites attract” and the rest is
history!!!
Sarita (Kuni) is an Indian feminine given name meaning “a
river”. It is also one of the many names of the Hindu goddess Durga who is the
stronges among all God and Goddess. Since she is the youngest child in my
sister’s house we all called her as “Kuni” the lttle girl. While walking today
I tried to concentrate my thoughts on Kuni my niece. She is a gift whose worth
can’t be measured except by the feelings in my heart. I came to know her ever
since she was born since I used to visit my sister in summer and other time.
As time passed
I saw her more since I married her uncle. Our bond became more strong since I
became Khudi as well as mausi. We spent lots of good and bad time together.
I often felt her caring nature and how much she does when I visit my
sister’s home (her mom’s home). She has travelled even 6x back and forth from
her house to my sister’s home just to make sure that I am doing O.K and have
everything as I need. I feel very fortunate to have my nephew; nieces make me
feel so loved. She is a little bit of my childhood that is never lost no matter
where I live or how old I am. I am dedicating two songs for her today because
she is related 2x to me. She is the youngest and the best. So one song
dedicated for her being a child and the other one as she grew up. Please enjoy.
Yeh Ishq Hai [Full Song] Jab We Met — Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor
Music is an aural art. Music is a language. Yesterday evening, I had an opportunity to listen to Sax Jugalbandi-Confluence at our temple where we are celebrating Ganapati festival from Sept 2-12. Every evening we have the good luck to sit and enjoy dance, classical music or drama. Last night when I was listening to the artists, it took me to another world. I tried to pinch myself few times to make sure that I am in this world. I had such a wonderful relaxing experience that I felt like I was on top of the world.
Listening to the artists, I enjoyed stimulates the release of dopamine that made me feel rewarded. Being an active person, I am always drawn to dance music. It helps me to solve problems, elevate mood or proof reading tons of medical documents which I do for my daily work. There is no such thing like magic habit wand for our happiness. Thru my writing I have created an external and internal environment that has allow me to thrive. I am very brief today with my post. Pl see the link for a dance song I chose for you all above. How does music boost your mood, to feel happier and more relaxed? I would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment if you can.
It is bit crisp today when I took my walk. Generally, I think about my family back home and try to concentrate my thoughts what or about whom I will post in FB. I have been thinking to write about Reema my eldest sister’s granddaughter ever since she was a baby. She has visited me every time I went to India. Thanks to her parents Buni and Subhra. When children are older they may opt not to come and see me but that was not the case with Reema. She came each time and smile without getting much chance to talk to us (no body has a chance to talk when we Satpathy family get together). What a beautiful angel she is, who touches everyone’s hearts with her warm and affable nature!
As her grandmother I will say that she is truly a
“pari”, and we feel humbled by her presence! She radiates positivity
by meeting me always and leaving a warm lingering presence behind!!An only
child to her parents that to when all her uncles have sons, she is reserved yet
chirpy and vivacious—she is somebody I am proud of!!! I am also very proud
that my nephew Buni and his wife Subhra who have brought her up to know us
which is an important social skill we all long to have with our children since
extended fy is not there. So long my dear granddaughter Reema. I feel your
presence just the way I feel the cool breeze of Bay of Bengal and U still smile
at me just like the jasmine flower of our back yard. With love I dedicate
today’s post to you. The picture was taken here and the song is chosen for you
by my beautiful, fun loving, smart niece #Moonmoon.
Stay happy,healthy and close to all of us.
Tribute to all who taught me how to live, love and learn.
Undoubtedly
a teacher is the person who helps us grow our mind and our personality.
Teachers help us become better human beings. They are the ones who take up the
responsibility to educate the newer generations in order to build a better
world. For me everybody is a teacher.
I
have learned from nature how to enjoy the present moment. My children taught me
how to enjoy sports and be in sync with the people in my adopted country,
instead of living in the past. I have learnt to enjoy simple things like reading
a book or buying supply for home in a frugal way from my husband. My sisters, brothers
and father taught me to work hard and never to give up at the time of
adversity. My work as a nurse in intensive care unit taught me how to remain
calm in the midst of chaos and remain focused to do what is best for the patient by doing one thing at a time. My
friends taught me how to love and be loved unconditionally.
Finally, you all my readers indirectly taught me to tell my story, so it does not go to grave with me. It will stay for my children and grandchildren to read and say that is my mother or grand mom. So I have launched a blog and will keep on telling my story till I can. My gratitude to all of you who are my teachers. I plan to be a curious and studious student till the last day I breathe. Enjoy the beautiful song I chose for you all and the photo. With love.
Yesterday, Nuakhai and steps: A big thank you to all my friends and for those who wished me “Nua Khai” yesterday. Now it’s time to pay tributes to the Gods & Goddesses. A time to pay tribute to mother earth, and the much awaited Juhar time among families, friends. I have opted to take more steps on my daily routine after this special day. So I feel lighter and encouraged to pursue my healthy living. No khiri or Puri for me and my husband to celebrate this day. We both ate left overs from delicious meal I made for my husband’s birthday. My hope for me and all to up our understanding, love for each other. Hope your day was as good as mine. With these wishes I post this for you all.
Nothing says “I love you” better than one of my best happy birthday wishes for my husband Sudhanshu, which is imminent. We have been married for the last 50 years and he knows me more than any other person in this earth. He is my best friend, lover, and one who completes my soul. We are there for each other in good and bad times. As an 18-year-old after marrying him, I left Puri, Odisha to make a new life for myself. I had no concept what marriage can bring to me and how it will change my life. All I knew is that I will able to go to college since he promised that to my sister, who also happens to be his sister-in-law. I trusted my fate and thought that my father knows the best for me and so also my husband will be.
We had two children in Mumbai and I got comfortable taking care of Sudhanshu and my Children at home. I never forgot to continue my studies, which I started doing even before the children came to my life. Finally, I graduated with B.A. (Honors) with Economics. Then Sudhanshu decided to come to USA. After six months I followed him and came to Chicago, Illinois where he had a job. With limited money and resource, he always thought of me and our children. He got a small house in the suburbs so our children can enjoy having a yard, rather than staying in a sky-rise apartment. The community college was close by and so I pursued my education and get a job.
Birthday comes once a year and I want to tell him how amazing he is who never ceases to surprise me till this day. I have always received respect and equality from him. My life would not be the same without him. So I post this saying here to you! Your kindness, your strength, brilliance and your everlasting Charm-I love you so much. Have a great birthday.
Books were like a catalyst to me, which triggered up the reaction to make me into what I am today! The conversation randomly started with my niece Moonmoon asking me as to Aunty, you were telling me earlier that you were not exposed much to books earlier, and craved for education, then how did you manage to read?? Her question put me in a sweet position to walk you all down my memory lane, when I read one of my favorite books (Dhupa) written by Dr. Mayadhar Mansingh.
As a young girl one of the way I spent summer time was reading poetry and short stories sitting on the branches or under the guava tree at our backyard. We had limited money for essential stuff like food, clothes. My family did not buy books except text books since we had no extra money. Being a girl I was not allowed to go to library and borrow books which was farther from my home. I always loved story and poetry books. Books used to take me to another world which was beyond. While reading the book I often thought as if I was the character in the book. So I had to find a way to read story books spending my own money due to our family circumstance. Luckily my elderly neighbor always needed help to do their chore in exchange of giving me some money. I used to earn one “Anna” by delivering 3 vessels of drinking water to them from the public tap which was quarter kilometer away from their house.
One distinct incident I remember is the day when I collected 8 “anna” and bought the book “Dhupa” which is one of my all-time favorite book till this day. It was a very hot day in middle of June but I was happy to earn that money. I put one foot ahead of another carrying the water vessels to deliver while thinking about the love poems and how I will enjoy reading them sitting on the guava tree branch. It gave me a chance to buy my own favorite book.
Today I can buy the book sitting at home simply charging with my credit card. Actually I was gifted the book to read. When the package arrived I looked at the book few times and hoping to jumping jack out of joy. The cover page of the new book is beautiful. Somehow the intensity I felt having the book was not there. Not sure what can it be. May be I did not work hard or maybe I read it few times. My inquisitive mind kept on wondering for the cause.
Perhaps I was missing the experience I had reading the books sitting on the branches of our back yard guava tree. Please listen to the song which is chosen by me and Moonmoon with lot of discussion about my feelings reading the book.
Today’s post is a gift from no one but my dear niece, friend Moonmoon from Mumbai. The tribute song is also chosen by her to match the post. The thought of this post started by a conversation with her about me and my marriage.
Hey my chirpy chatterbox aunty, did you have a love marriage? Was uncle your Prince Charming, and you his Cinderella??How did you both meet? Isn’t uncle a wee bit elder to you in age? You had told me that you were a good student and wanted to study, then how come you got married at 18? Did uncle promise your sister that you could continue your studies?? All these question came from Moonmoon which compelled me to think about the day when my marriage was fixed with Sudhanshu.
I knew that it was a crisp April day when proposal came for my marriage. My dad told my sister that two brides for two brothers, that too of the same family?? It’s something unusual in Odisha, in our family and it’s considered inauspicious too!! But as Doris Day had once sung…”Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be”, the future’s not ours to see, Que Sera Sera…!!in the same way, destiny interlude in the form of my brother in law, and sister who ensured that I did marry into the same family, as they felt, I had it in me to adjust anywhere and everywhere…!! This way me, the bride…Sudhanshu, the bridegroom, crossed our paths in the most clandestine manner, and the rest is history
It seemed like a fairy tale story and someone wrote my name there to be with him. My sister and brother in law started their family with very limited income and did not want me to have the same experience.
As a to be bride, I felt like a child, apprehensive about the future, yet eager to taste the fruit, and to add fuel to fire albeit in a positive way, my would be brother in law’s words rang in my ear, Chandu can adjust anywhere, she has quality like salt which can mix with any food and enhance its taste. That is what my brother in law told Sudhanshu when my marriage proposal came Sudhanshu asked his opinion. My sister requested him that if possible let her finish college since that is what was my dream. Casually foreign returned educated Sudhansu answered my sister that why not if she chooses to study. Thus started my journey to become Mrs. Chandra Misra leaving my Saptapthy last name and Chandra mani first name.
Within few days my life took a different turn and I became the bride. My Jeevan Sathi (life partner) is Diya to my Bati….my provider, protector, lover and above all my husband in every sense of the term😊
Today that I finish college and completed 50 years of our married life I wish I thank my brother in law who made it possible for me to have this life. His one sentence to my his brother made a mark in my life.
I wish that my dear brother in law were alive to see how his brother kept the word…and Chandu who was salt according to him, did so well in life…I owe him big time…may his soul rest in peace. Posting a picture of my sister , brother in law and us for you all where you can see how all the girls left me alone and went to see Sudhanshu when he entered as a bridegroom to our Pathuria Sahi, Puri home.
Today’s post is dedicated to Anindita Nanda who is known as Anu to most of us. Posting a song for her with a link and a photo with an exquisite Odissi posture at OSA’s golden Jubilee celebration in Atlantic City, NJ.
No dancer ever became successful riding on their natural born talents only. … Dancers must work very hard to persevere keep dancing. They give years of their lives plus their sweat, tears and sometimes blood to have the honor and pleasure of performing on stage. Only people who are passionate about dance can sustain the vigorous training and routine. I feel very proud that not only she is dancing here but spreading our Odissi dance all over in USA and Europe. So here I give a big shout out to you Anu for your upcoming performances. Our state Odisha is lucky to have daughter like U who is making Odissi dance popular in every corner of the world.
What I like about Anindita is that she may be a prominent artist on the stage but she can come down as our next door girl whom I know for many years. She has travelled many places abroad and in USA for her performance. Unfortunately, I have not attended many of her performance but she is always ready to support me when I need to write about her in my fabulous fable post.
I know that dance is hard work and dancers lead very disciplined life. They get many invitation and call for their professional performances. Still she never stays away to answer my message or giving O.K that “Chandra bhauja go ahead with your story about her”. That simplicity yet aristocrat nature touches many people’s heart and so also mine.
I feel very proud to post this for her today and please support her next show on Sept 14th with her students performing .. details to follow: She is proud of each one of her student to be immersed in dance and spreading the light of the art Odissi.
