Happy Navaratri...

Navratri (नवरात्रि) is a Hindu Festival worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava meaning Nine and Ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti. female divinity are worshipped.
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Wish one and all HAPPY NAVARATRI

Chocolates, Candies...

As the traveling date to India approaching, started going across to take few unique and finnish specials along with me. In the process lot many advised me to carry chocolates that are really finnish. Hmm... I took it up , it did sound good to me as I have few nephews and niece back at home who would love them.
Sonja, my colleague helped me to visit nearest Panda chocolate factory. Sonja and me left to Vaajakoski, Finland which is quite near and just hardly 10 - 15 minutes drive. So many varieties, with her help I did take many of them.







And here is my whole selection of different varities :)


yummy....

colors @ Jyvaskyla

It's been 4 months here at Jyvaskyla. I landed here in June which was mid-summer. Enjoyed the glorious, bright sun through out the day and night. And now started getting the feel of Winter already. Getting used to the foggy days, lazy and not so bright mornings. The best part is the colors I find around. The deep and lavish green trees are slowly losing it's greenish. There is entirely different feeling when I see this transition of the colors.
Today on the way back to home, I was really excited about these colors and took few snaps. It was really good that I captured them...










Hope I capture more of them...

Saunaa and Candle light dinner

Well after tired with shopping I went to Bijesh's apartment which is quite far and made bit more tired. Anyways, it was worth and enjoyed the Sauna at his apartment. During sauna, was talking to Estonian guy, Russian guy and a Finnish for over one hour length sauna.
Now that body got enough rest now rushed backed to apartment to fill my hunger. We cooked Sambar, Majjiga pulusu (masala curd), Rice and had enjoyed the candle light dinner :)




Hmm.... how does this look :)

Shopping, Lunch @ Afghan Restaurant

Very busy and tiring saturday...

Bijesh's call woke me up and I soon joined him at the City center to do shopping. I picked few blazers (Batistini) and suits (Signor) from Dressman. Lots of choice and it was very difficult to pick few and luckily Bijesh helped me with few good deals.
Then we moved to nearby Afghan Resataurant, where we enjoyed the Pizza Buffet.

Team Lunch & Horse riding @ Laukaa

hmmm... a nice break from routine coding, development ...work. It was guaranteed a nice team outing and it is :)
The day of beautifully planned and implemented and every moment was used amazingly.

11.00 Long lunch in Figaro
13.00 Leaving from Jyväskylä to Laukaa
13.30 At the stable (changing clothes, saddling...)
14.00 First groups riding lesson
15.00 Second groups riding lesson
about 16.15 Leaving from Laukaa to Jyväskylä
about 16.45 Back in Jyväskylä
Being vegetarian I have only one choice... vegetable mossaic dressed with few sausages, beans, fried eggplant, carrot...
I know you people would surely like to have a look at it, well here it is:

Well, though it looks simple it was stomach filling
Then we started to stable @ Lauka, it was 30 mins drive by car. As soon as we reached the stable, we were shown the horses and started with few basic tips like how to brush/clean the horse, how to ride!
The whole album here...


More about the stable... http://www.haapasalontila.net/
Map : http://picasaweb.google.com/tosumanthkrishna/HorseRidingLaukaa/photo#map

Ganesh Chaturthi @ Jyvaskyla, Collage

Thought I would explore the picasa3 and started creating movies and collages with the existing photos.  Started with "Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations" - Lord of Obstacles.

From GaneshChaturthi celebrated @ Jyvaskyla

Desi's Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi @ Jyvaskyla

Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Read more from here...
Back in India it used to be great gala time. I used to roam around streets to visit Ganesha Idols installed in every street. It is celebrated as 10 day festival with songs/dances/stage dramas/shows, sweets. And the festival mark its end by immersion of Ganesha Idols in nearby lakes/water tanks.
Well there are lot many bests associated in celebrating Ganesh puja. All Hindu festivals start with Ganesh Chatruthi, Lord Ganesha is the bes tower of Wisdom, Lord who clears obstacles, Satsang (spiritual gathering), Singing bhajans, devotional songs and various food items.
I felt I am going to miss all those bests, as I am here at Jyvaskyla, Finland. But believe we desi's made it possible. All the Indians gathered and did the puja in the traditional way.

• Roshan sang bhajans, devotional songs
• Jitender sang few oriya and hindi devotional songs
• I recited Ganesh Atharva Sheershana stotram, Mantra Pushpam
• I narrated the stories relevant to the puja
  

And we had lots of prasadam and sumptuous dinner. Thanks to the hosts :)