A cup of Assam Tea

 I don't know about you, but for me, the holiday's mindless eating showered me with much love, yeah, a bit of weight gain.  Post- Diwali  celebrations are going on, and I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year.  Last week, I visited a friend for a small, casual post-Diwali celebration and the week of Halloween. Yup, Halloween was in my mind, hence the black. I chose a black a-line salwar with lots of pleats, and it easily hides my Diwali love handles (love handles). Added a pair of silver earrings, a large black bindi, and neutral sandals. The rest of the look is simple, featuring minimal makeup and an easy, natural hairdo. I hope you like the look.

      I have a habit of not throwing things away. Keep them with me for years and years. This also creates a little trouble in my life from time to time. People who advocate minimalist approach, say that it is not just clot and clutters your physical lifestyle and mental state. I have old New Year cards sent by my school friends, a small container that mom sent snacks couples of years back; there are so many countless things, a little swan by brother's friend bought with his pocket money, my paper where I received a great compliment from my teacher. Not only physical attributes, but fragrances, little fragments of childhood lullabies, a  small conversation, people names, compliments, so many things stay with me.        If you are a mother or parent, you might know how much your child's milestone memories matter to you. Just the other day we had our community get together. I was planning on what to wear, then an old saree came to my mind, ...

      Hope you all had a great week and great Diwali for those who celebrate. This year Diwali fell in mid of the week. After coming back with kids from there after school activities, I was running late but had already done some preparation for a few things, a few days back. In India, Diwali is a holiday, and here in the USA, it's a regular weekday.       But I just could not let go the joy of lighting diyas with my family,  relishing good food and decking up for Diwali dress. I made a festive dinner and lighted diyas with my kids. This year I successfully avoided refined flour and white sugar. Didn't felt must of a  difference. On the weekend, we had one lovely dinner with old friends and another at our place with some new friends. Loved the lighting, the laughs and sharing food with old and new friends.       Presenting you a little bit of our Diwali celebration. I am wearing a light pink sharara with gota work ac...

      15 years back I left Assam, India making a new home in Connecticut, USA. I left a few festive, fair, smell, fragrance, family, friends and much more. While you leave something at the same time you gain a few too. You all might know that at this time in India, Indians celebrate the most glorious festival Diwali "A celebration of light". As I am from the eastern part of India, Bihu is the fulcrum festival. After coming to the USA, we started celebrating Diwali as equally as Bihu . We love preparing sweets and exchanging with friends and putting lights to decorate the house with candles and Diyas earthen lamps. With our neighbor, we celebrate Diwali where kids perform dance and music with all the cultural programs and an array of good Indian food. We celebrate our roots and heritage, trying to give kids the essence of India. Kati Bihu celebration. Photo Credit - Parasha Konwer       Along with Diwali, back in Assam India, we celebrate o...

      I grew up in the mid-80s and early 90s Assam, India where we celebrated our birthday parties with home made food even the cake was made by our moms. There was no elaborate decorations or video games or pizzas. However, our happiness or celebration was not any less than today's birthday. As every childhood has its own charming tale. Those were the days indeed.       In those times, the menus were fixed almost for every household. Crisp Luchi (fried dough) was a must have for a birthday or any other celebrations accompanied with green gram thick velvety gravy and succulent tomato chutney (bilahir tok). The other day my daughter completed five years. It was on a weekday, and we celebrated it at home, and on Saturday she is going have her actual birthday party with friends. I thought why not celebrate it in our old back home way, how we used to. Just like my mom, I made luchi and quintessential bilahir tok. They say, you re-live your childhood ...