Peepal tree weds Neem tree..

Yes you heard it right.

I wasn't very aware of this intriguing custom until recently.
It is believed that Peepal tree, called Ashvattha in Sanskrit should be married off to the Neem tree, both of which are normally grown near each other. The significance of this marriage, though not specified in any holy scriptures,are stated differently by different people.

One version of the belief maintains that the fruit of the Neem tree represents the male; the leaf of Peepal stands for Yoni, the power of female; and the union of the two ( the fruit placed on the Peepal leaf ) depicts 'Shivalinga' which stands for 'creation' through sexual union.
It is said that people circle the trees, after this ceremony to get rid of their sins.

There are others who believe that attending such a wedding, can bless you with whatever you ask for. Many unmarried souls attend this holy marriage to ask for the obvious.
Many women tie red and yellow threads around the tree in the belief that they will be blessed with children.

In some northern states, people are also said to have married of Peepal trees with Banyan trees (Alada mara) with similiar intent.

Well, among all the interesting beliefs and rituals associated with trees, this is one.Yesterday, the long standing Peepal and Neem close to our house were married off. It was a two day long celebration and many attended the same.
I will end this post by wishing our Peepal and Neem a very happy married life, from all our readers..

Our country!!

Today I came across this really inspiring slide show on India. I have seen lots like that before. But this one somehow made quite an indelible impression. It wasn't entirely accurate, as one of my colleagues put it. But it did the job. It got me thinking.

The first thing it did was to make me silently promise myself that I should read the Bhagwat Gita. I don't know a single Christian youth who has not read the bible.
I don't know a single Hindu youth who has read the Gita. Ofcourse, many manage to get hold of abridged versions ... But apart from all that, its quite shameful that most young Indians have let go of their roots, quite comfortably. Infact that very same slide show had a mention of how many applicants for American H1-B visas, Indians accounted for.

I have seen innumerable other blog posts, forwards,video clips and other such articles of information, aimed at essentially awakening any such patriotic feelings that might by lying dormant in people, being furiously circulated through the most technologically advanced mediums of communication. But it rarely ever does anything more than inspire someone into writing a post like the one I'm writing. So what am I doing besides rambling?
Well for one ,I in my small way, will try and help the cause by not following the herd to the Americas and Australias of the world to improve their economy, after having leeched enough from our India.

And there are others , who are doing much more like the guys from IIT, Bombay that formed Lokparitran , a political party aimed at using education and technology to do something more than just earn fat paycheques.
Bless their souls.