Scene 1:
3:00 am – a girl quietly gets up so that she doesnt disturb anyone, steps into the bathroom for a early morning shower. Gets ready, does her morning Sehri, reads namaz and sleeps again
Scene 2:
6:30 am – another girl gets up, takes bath so that she is fresh to please her Gods, quitely sips her morning cup of tea and gets busy in cooking the various sweets, makes a flower rangoli in the entrance of the house, decorates the place where her friend Ganesha will reside for next 3 days.
Scene 3:
7:30 am – another lady gets ready with a lovely saree and flowers in her head and does her sunday round of the Church, lights a candle and brings one home.
9:00 am – the first, second and the whole family along with the third girl do the pooja for Ganapati. The candle that the third lady brought is also lighted in the pooja room.
The first girl and third lady are my live-in help and house maid respectively and yes the second girl is me.
My live in is a person who keeps fasts during Ramdan though she is a hindu by birth and she broke her Roja in the evening by the Ganpati Pooja prasad.
I cant tell you how proud I was of my household yesterday. It seemed to be my wish for India coming true, if only this whole thing could prevail all over. Why cant we have all the religions existing everywhere together.
Yes I did have problems in this intially, when my maid told us that she wants to keep roja, my mother-in-law did not take to it well but me and N sat with her and reasoned that what is the problem? Just because you have someone of another religion in you house does that make your own belief less stronger and till ones own belief is strong enough I dont think it matters what is happening, God is within oneself after all.
Then came a point where she was like ok she can keep the fast but she will not do namaz here and she will not enter the pooja room and this is a point where I gave me, no hypocrisy in my house. Either she stays here be normals as she is.. or we just let her go and after lots of debate and convincing my mil let her do keep the fast and I respect her for this. Its really difficult for the people from that generation to accept and I am glad an proud that she did.
So it was a sunday for all religions in the house hold and yes I made the visit to the Gurudwara to mark the last end of the sqaure.
It might sound cliche but “hindu muslim sikh issai indeed bhai bhai”
Amem!!
PS: thanks for all those heart warming comments in the previous post, that post is the next I promise
hitchwriter said:
😀 😀
cheers to unity.. !! now lemme read the post !! 😀
Crafty Shines said:
hi five!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
😀 😀 😀
i am a disco dancer…tain tain tadain!!!
monikamanchanda said:
he he he monika dances like mad seing crafty on her blog on time
aahun aahun aahun
chak dee phatee
monikamanchanda said:
yes cheers hitchy!!!
and have u read it because where is the other comment?
vishesh unni raghunathan said:
nice 🙂 what matters when we are under the same sun? Born to parents human..and believe in a God , one?
monikamanchanda said:
thanks
i think i am having a dumb moment vishesh… but couldnt get what u said
Pixie said:
Me first! Since Hitchu hasn’t claimed it!! 😀 😀
monikamanchanda said:
lol 🙂 so not its a war of claiming 😀
hitchwriter said:
if that makes you happy kid… !! pixie… you first !!!! yay !!!!!
Swaram said:
Very bad Hitchu … u never gave up if/when I ever said that 😦
Pixie said:
LOL!! 😛
*Pixie dances away with Swaram for being the “first commenter” place by Hitchu and Monu!! *
monikamanchanda said:
lol u two sweet kiddos 🙂
richajn said:
really heart warming. wish everyone was like that.
monikamanchanda said:
thanks richa… i wish that too trust me its such a small thing I dont know why people make such a big deal abt it
i follow mine u follow urs simple
Pixie said:
Oh! This is indeed such a beautiful post! 🙂
Such co-existance in peace is so heart-warming Monu! 🙂
You are a kind soul.
{{{{hugs}}}}}}
Why is comment moderation still on?!!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks pixie…. and i think this is what is needed in the society
we have to learn to accept and co-exist peacefully else either we’ll get divided in pieces of waste away our cultural heritage
(((hugs)))
PS: i turned it off yaar dont know whats happening let me check again
Pixie said:
hehe!
So much Zabardasti!! 😉
why haven’t you dropped by? bolo bolo?!
Already my blog looks empty empty without Swaram and Crafty, do you also have to not come by?
*sniff* 😦
monikamanchanda said:
lol I am so sorry dear, my reader is so full havent logged in for 3 days now so was clearing one by one
coming there right away 😀
hugs now smile
Pixie said:
*Pixie waits by patiently*
🙂
monikamanchanda said:
i did come there na, hope the wait is over 😀
Prats said:
Wow
monikamanchanda said:
thanks prats
Iya said:
wow, thats how i want my india to be..
monikamanchanda said:
yes so I wish
monika said:
Yes, that’s how I would want my India to be.:)
Lovely post Monika.
Wish there were more households like yours!
monikamanchanda said:
amen monika
Smitha said:
That is indeed heart warming! You are so right, if everybody in India thought and lived like you all, we would have far less trouble.
Half our troubles are because we refuse to accept another persons beliefs and faith.
This was such a beautiful post.
Pixie said:
I agree Smithus!
We can eliminate most of our trouble if we are more accepting and tolerant!
you know, it doesn’t have to be another religion… it can be in your own home as well.
monikamanchanda said:
tolerance goes a long way pixie and in everything we do right from the strong religious and political beliefs to where we like to keep our knife in the kitchen
the minute u become tolerant and accepting of others life becomes so much more easier but sigh its easier said than done
monikamanchanda said:
“Half our troubles are because we refuse to accept another persons beliefs and faith. ”
thats bang on smitha
I wish everyone thought like that
Passionate Goof said:
Wow! This is such a beautiful incident Mon. I had tears in my eyes reading this. God bless the household and people where such love and mutual respect exists.
monikamanchanda said:
hugs goofy
u know someone had told my maid that ramdan starts next month i.e. why when u told me abt it on the chat that day I asked questions and when I went and told my maid she was like so thankful… and hence some part of thanks goes to u 🙂
if u are touched my this u are kind soul at heart too
Kosha said:
Wow! Really nice to know this! I wish this becomes a part of every indian household 🙂
monikamanchanda said:
thanks kosha all I can say is that amen
and yes welcome here 🙂
B K CHOWLA said:
Very nice post.It is very unusual for such a thing to happen in a Hindu family.Frankly,I may have had some reservations in a similar situation.
monikamanchanda said:
thanks and I know what u mean and kudosto u too accept most of the people will pretend they are fine with it
hitchwriter said:
Sorry read this a bit late…
wonderful !! thats India for you in a nutshelll !! the real India I tell you !!!
you konw my mom does tutions… and we have quite a few muslim kids coming in our house for tutions… !! and during Ramazaan my mom makes it a point that they break fasts at our house if they are coming for evening classes… even dates are arranged for them… !!!
we are one country !! we live together…
Personally I have no rituals… or I dont follow any religion.. but Indianism is one religion I would like to promote… !!
monikamanchanda said:
kudos to ur mom for this hitchy!!! I wish there were more people like this in the world
and yes I also brought a box of dates and gave her as someone had told me that they have to break thet fast with that and when I gave it to her she had tears in her eyes. I was happy
but I didnt know kids also keep the fast
and hitchy what a lovely thing u said “Indianism is one religion I would like to promote… !!”
bang on and u know N is like u just that he would replace indianism with naturisim there
suma said:
that’s a truly inspiring environment to bring up ojas in!
what better way to spread tolerance than practising it yourself.
loved the post
monikamanchanda said:
yes indeed suma I also believe in the fact that the change u desire starts from self
thanks dear
shilpadesh said:
Awww Monu that is soo sweeet! It touched my heart. Not everyone is as open as you are dear……celebrate yourself!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks dear
hugs
Puneet said:
Oh thats something really pleasing, soothing to see and read….
Salutations to your family …..
monikamanchanda said:
thanks dear 🙂
Reema said:
wonderful!!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks reema
sunder said:
Wonderful post..live and let live is the best policy….
monikamanchanda said:
I agree only if more and more people follow the same in everything we do
Swaram said:
Awesome! Very touching!
So nice to know all these faiths co-exist @ ur place 🙂
monikamanchanda said:
thanks swaram dear… faith is one isnt it
Meira said:
wow! that is indeed wonderful.
monikamanchanda said:
thanks meira
Joy said:
beautiful atmosphere….
monikamanchanda said:
thanks joy
sraikh said:
How grounded would Ojas be seeing all this religions in his house.
Yay for your mil changing her mindset.
Yay for you for having such a open mind.
and Yay for Ganpati!
monikamanchanda said:
and yay for u for such a nice comment 😀
craftyshines said:
monu!! that was beautiful…
u began this just so perfect! really…
Just because you have someone of another religion in you house does that make your own belief less stronger and till ones own belief is strong enough I dont think it matters what is happening, God is within oneself after all.
this was another brilliant bit! i can’t say it better than this monu! and yes, ur home became a mini Spirit of India…. coming together where superficial differences melt and just people remain…
lovely and touchwood!
hats off to ur MIL, i agree, it takes quite some adjusting for them to let go and willingly accept a change they never imagined they’s have to face! hugs to her!!!
and super tight hugs for you!!!!!!!!!!
i have adored that post of urs where u had put up the anthem as played at fame cinemas….with singers rendering it…
and now this is a beautiful follow-up of sorts!!!
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Indian Homemaker said:
love this post Monika! I like the fact that you noticed this warmth and inclusiveness in your family! We are the same 🙂
monikamanchanda said:
glad to hear this IHM I somehow knew this will be the response so glad
hugs
Abha said:
🙂
amen! and wish more and more homes become like this!
hugs!
monikamanchanda said:
yes abha amen!!!
and hugs back 🙂
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Pal said:
Wow! That is really incredible, Mon!!! Congrats, on being chosen by Blogadda 🙂
monikamanchanda said:
thanks Pal!!!
Winnie the Poohi said:
Owww! Thats so awesome! *hugs* and amen to this 🙂 may this unity be a part of every household! I once didnt tell i am going to my friends house for ramadan coz I knew he would refuse.. its not like he differentiates but he was afraid that I would eat non veg… but i didnt 🙂 aunty was very sweet really and we had awesome time 😀
monikamanchanda said:
I understand what u are saying poohi its a very common thing but I am just wishing it goes 🙂
hitchwriter said:
CONGRats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks hitchy
Smitha said:
Congratulations, Monika, being chosen by Blogadda!!!!! It was so wonderful to see your post there 🙂
monikamanchanda said:
thanks smitha 🙂
hugs
Sue said:
Heart warming……
monikamanchanda said:
🙂 thanks dear
myamusingmind said:
wow ..thats awesome!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks swati
Phoenixrritu said:
This is lovely. And congrats on the Tangy Tuesday Pick! Simply great
monikamanchanda said:
thanks ritu… and blogadda has been nice to me 🙂
Munchkin's Mom said:
Lovely!
monikamanchanda said:
thanks dear
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Aparna said:
A lovely post…..
shail said:
A heart warming post. If only this were the scenario all over the country!
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