Shower from the Nature " SNOW"

Morning i got a call from my Co-volunteer Shilpa, her voice mixed with lot of happiness and excitement she said " Aishu, please come out side, there is snowing". Immediately with all curiosity i ran out but there was no snow fall, Then only i realized that i was not in Bensheim but in Münster with my host sister. From the time we arrived Germany, the only question we four volunteers used to ask was "When it is going to snow?". Many of them said that it won't snow so early in the place where I live. But now breaking all these statements God showered snow for us. But unfortunately at that time i was not in my place,that was a big disappointment for me. The whole day with my host sister in Münster big Christmas market I was hoping that there had be snow. Since I never seen it before I kept saying to Rosa. Oh my God! It better to be snowing here also! I 'm going to be so sad and mad if i didn't see snow fall. But all the time she comfort me with hopeful words.

The same day evening i started my way back to Bensheim by train, all the way to my home I prayed to God when I reaching there some snows should be there. I started to push the time to run fast. But suddenly the train has stopped. All the passengers were seems like tensed, as I didn't understand the announcement which they made in the train as it was in German. I asked the girl who sat beside me. What she said was very shocking for me " One man crossed railway track while the train was running  (Committed Suicide)". I felt very bad to be there in the train, I felt like I am in the hell. They announced that after clearing whole track only they will start. It will take five hours. Oh my God! I can't explain my feelings through words. It was really a tragic journey. One side I had hard feeling for the man who committed suicide, other side I felt I m very unlucky that i couldn't see snow fall.

As it was midnight I didn't get any connection train to Frankfurt. My host mother talked with the girl who sat beside me in the whole journey. As she informed me that you can come with her till Zwingenburg I will be waiting there. A great thanks to my host mother and the unknown passenger. In the early morning I reached Zwingenburg. My host mother was waiting for me there. When I get down from the car Oh my God I can't believe that Yes its SNOWING!!! The scenery changed from green to pure white and I was filled with such bliss. To see something for the first time is to see something in its purest and most childlike form of beauty.

Having lived in south part of India all my life where there is sun and rainy season were covered me all year round, the only time that I have seen snow in the movies and n the theme park (Artificial Snow). As I never been in the north part of India in the winter season, I never experienced it.

The first fall of snow is not only a seasonal change, but also a magical event. When I went to bed last night where I experienced one kind of world and wake up in another. Quite different mesmerizing feeling. It was my first shower of snow from the God. Early morning when everyone were sleeping in my home I enjoyed the white beauty. While I m sitting in my garden at 3.30 am,the snow began to fall again, drifting against windows, politely touching earth and then falling with disappointment to the ground. It was really cold outside. Every step I take feel like I'm crunching the snow below my boots. That reminds me my boots are not good for snow, since the snow can seep in and melt on my feet. Then, after the first steps I realized how slippery it is and forced myself to remember to be really careful while walking. Everything was covered in white flakes, it was so magical. Within hours all vehicles had their first layer of snow. Everything was white streets, cars, plants. I was amused to see a couple of kids trying to slide down using the snow sled.

Myself and my Co-volunteers in Naturschuttzentrum spend our half of the day in the snow world. We were found a great joy by throwing snowballs at each others and by making snow man. I felt like I was five years old again.

Since it is the first snow of the winter, It is not a very thick snow and unfortunately , the snow didn't last too long and by the afternoon the snow fall has stopped and the white slowly melted away, mixing with dirt in the ground and becoming a brownish slush.

Snow clearing machines were soon out on the street, clearing the main roads and drive ways, pushing the snow aside. Vehicles were driving more cautiously than ever, to avoid skidding. 

Still waiting for seeing other day of white beauty......!!!

First Touch of the Snow

The snow I know is from the movies I watched or the cartoons I loved.  Seeing snow was always in my wish list but didn't know when it would be fulfilled. From the time we arrived Germany, the only question we use to ask was - 'when is it going to snow?  Will we be able to see the snow?'

Many said it won't snow so early in the place where we stay. I didn't loose my hopes as I thought if snow doesn't reach our place then I will surely reach where the snow falls. But not less than a miracle, the first advent for me began with seeing the snow. Sitting in my bathroom when I watched out, to my shock there was snow falling down.  I felt like God switched on his machine and sprayed his showers of blessings on us. 

I got ready for church and went out of the house to experience my first touch of snow. I truly didn't even feel the cold as I was overheated inside with joy. No words could express my happiness. After the church was over,  the snow was all around like the world around me became white. The next thing I did was calling everyone in India especially my family and friends to show them too the snow that I see.  Selfies, pictures and videos were the only thing I was taking on the way back home.

Then I decided to go to the zwingenburg family (where two of the volunteers stay) and that was the beginning of doing all the things I ever wanted to do in the snow.  I got my partner, Paula (my four year old friend). She taught me to make snow angels and together we build the snow man. The best part was while building the snow man, the only song which was running in my mind was "Can we build a snow man" from the movie Frozen and was imagining Olaf while building it.

The next part was having a snow ball fight in which I and Paula made a team against her Mumma and Evelin Akka (my Co -volunteer). I cannot express the happiness I gained doing every single activity.

From childhood the only white thing which I knew in a Christmas tree was cotton and today when I see snow on the trees, it's truly a treat for my eyes.


We four have different experiences from the first touch of snow and indeed this was my story.

Why do some Indian people paint a red dot on their forehead?

First of all, I should say sorry for this post because its purely related to a Hindu Cultural aspect. But it has been a topic that i had on my mind constantly  for the last 7 months in Germany. Many times i came across by this question from German people. So i just thought about sharing this too through my blog. 

That question was "Why do you paint a red dot on your forehead ?" , " Sometimes you have this point on your forehead but sometimes haven't, Why?"

Don't be wonder all my Indian friends, for all my German friends its like a point so i really want to share what does it really meant for all Indians who belongs to Hindu religion. Sindoor or Vermilion holds lot of importance in Indian society among the people who belongs to Hindu religion. That point is called as "Bindhi" or "Pottu". And it has many other names too (Tilak, bottu, Kumkum, Sindoor etc).  First of all i am not a big fan of this Bindhi. . Basically i did not wear this everyday. In my young ages i also used to wear this but i never tried to think about the meaning for this that much. But now of course Yes! As i am representing India in Germany i should be aware about all the aspect of Indian livings it may be cultural, traditional,economical,educational or political. 

First i would like to share the scientific aspects behind this Bindhi and how it connected with religion belief. According to Hindu religion, on one hand bindhi is used to cover or protect the Third Eye of insight within the soul. This notion of the "Third Eye" is predominant in Hindu religion. One of the God Lord Shiva's third eye is located on his forehead, is capable of intensity and power. At the same time the spot on the forehead between the eyebrows is an important nerve point called a chakra. A chakra is major nerve of spiritual, psychic and bodily forces in the human body. There are seven chakras, with the forehead being the sixth. The chakra is called the Agna and it symbolizes command and wisdom. The people belongs to Hindu religion believes that the bindhi or kumkum dot retains the energy of the body. This third eye is used for seeking concentration by Lord Shiva so the followers also doing the same with this auspicious dot. 

The scientific reason behind bindhi is quiet interesting, On the forehead between two eyebrows is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of energy, the red kumkum between the eyebrow is helps to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying bindi the points on the mid brow region and Adnya chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles achieves self realization or reaches a higher level of spirituality.  

But how the customs of  Indian society consider Bindhi?

In the earlier days women wearing the bindhi as an auspicious sign of marriage and guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage. If women are wearing bindhi in between two eyebrows it means that they are Unmarried. If women are wearing on the top of the forehead and in between eyebrows then it indicates they are married. The real colour of bindhi is Dark Red (Which is made out of Kumkum). It represents the life long commitment to her husband and is often times removed once if she becomes a widow. But of course in this modern world this culture also got some changes.  

On man , the Tilak takes the form of different lines, indicating his religious affiliation. Usually this Kumkum is of more than one colour although normally it is vermilion. Each color denotes worship towards particular Hindu Gods. Red, Yellow, Saffron, White, Grey and Black are the normal Tilak colour. 

" Sometimes you have this point on your forehead but sometimes haven't, Why?"

Writing this post makes me realize how little Hindu I am. I am not an atheist. I believe in all Gods. I believe they are all the same but at the same time we used to call them by different names. Although i do not follow these traditions everyday. So there is a lot of reasons which made me to wear the bindhi. But for me the society fact or customs is enough reason not to wear it. 

Now in this modern society Bindhi become a part of beauty aspect. It doesn't symbolize religion or social status but only used as a beauty spot. So sometimes i also used to wear it not in the aspect of indicating religion but as a beauty spot and of course for scientific reason.