Sundays in My City - Raksha Bandhan - August 10, 2014

from Bing Images, domain free

Spending so much time in India, I've had the pleasure of experiencing many

of its religious and cultural celebrations and holidays.  Raksha Bandhan is one

of my favorites and I wish we had a counterpart in the United States.  It is a Hindu

festival which celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters.  It

has also come to celebrate any such devoted relationship between men and 

women who are not related biologically.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, celebrated worldwide by Hindus, Jains,

and many Sikhs.   On the full moon day ( Shravan Poornima ), a sister ties a rakhi

( sacred thread ) around her brother's wrist, symbolizing her love for him.  She

offers prayers for his well-being and for his life-long vow to protect her.  The brother,

then, affirms his promise to protect his sister.  It is a festival which affirms family ties.

Preparations for Raksha Bandhan may begin well in advance.  Many sister weave

the rakhi for their brothers.  Some keep it simple with colorful string.  Others add

amulets and stones

This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.^[10][11] The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of theHindu lunisolar calendar.^[12]

            

 Raki bracelets, Bing Images, Domain free

The ceremony, typically, is performed in the morning, in front of parents and other family, 

with a diya ( lighted candle ), rotated around the brother's face, while the sister prays. 

 After prayers, the sister applies a mark ( tilak ) to her brother's forehead.  Next, the

sister feeds the brother some sweets from a rahki tray.

                                             

There are many websites and resources available if you would like to know more

about this special Hindu festival.  It is one of my favorites.  

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http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/ ( includes recipes, quotes, jokes and much information )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan

http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/

Sundays in My CIty - More of San Francisco's Painted Ladies - February 17, 2013

After physical therapy,  the other day, I drove around Pacific Heights,shooting a
few of the lovely houses.  This is best done early in the morning, before traffic
starts.  Even after living in the Bay Area nearly 30 years, these houses always 
bring a smile to my face and start my daydreams.

The trees are still pretty bare in February 

I wonder what it costs to heat one of these beautiful ladies

Nce in yellows and browns, with a touch of gold

Smaller but still lovely

This corner home looks like a good house several families

As always,San Francisco has limited parking

Here is a small one-car garage

A different style

This fairytale house with suit me just fine

Beautiful

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( Ocean Beach ) Sundays in My City -

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Six

Sundays in My City - November 27, 2011

My lovely daughter-in-law, Laura, a paramedic, had to work on Thanksgiving
( a 5PM to 5AM shift which was her bid this go round ), so she and Alex
invited Jeremy and I up to their West Sacramento home yesterday to
celebrate, instead.  It was actually a lovely drive up, without very much
traffic, beautiful sky shots with nice cloud formations and, even some
beautiful fall foliage, that whizzed by so quickly, I couldn't get pictures.

Christine and Roger came ( Laura's folks ), her brother, Robert, and his
wife, Kristin, and their two delightful little boys, Conner and Holden, and,
in addition to my two granddogs, the Calhouns brought Tigger, the new
shelter dog that joined their family when their beloved Gus died earlier
this year.

The food was absolutely delicious.  Alex and Laura bought a new grill and
the turkey was brined overnight and cooked on the grill - a first time
event for Alex.  It was just hilarious watching him at the task, with
Jeremy helping.  The bird turned out to be the yummiest I've ever
eaten and it just fell off the bone.  Carving it was so much easier than
last year with the electric knife!  There was, also, a whole array of other
treats - a FRESH green bean casserole, an unusual - and heavenly
concoction made from cornmeal and sweet potatoes, two different
stuffings, eggplant caviar, a lovely fruit compote with cranberries, dried
apricots and other good things, lovely California wines, plus appetizers
to keep us happy before dinner.

And, of course, dessert - pumpkin and two apple pies - one with a cream
cheese frosting ( my choice, of course - like I needed more calories ) and
one without frosting.

It was a wonderful family day and, thankfully, Jeremy drove home so I
could doze, intermittently, awakening suddenly, thinking we were about to
face catastrophe on a California freeway.  It must have been my full
stomach!

The skies over Fairfield, CA

Flat farmland near Dixon, CA

Jeremy ( 27 ) and Alex ( 29 ) Vukasinovic

Taffy, my first granddog

Bucky, granddog number two

Beautiful Laura, my daughter-in-law

Grandma and her pooches

Macro of table flowers

Bucky's favorite position

Such a sweet face!

Having fun in the kitchen

Working on a pony tail!

Ohhhh, that's nice, Uncle Jeremy

Forget that computer and use both hands...

Thanksgiving flowers

Smells scrumptious!

A piece on the plate, a piece in the mouth

How about dropping a bite of that turkey?

I'm waiting over here, too.

Alex with his mother-in-law, Christine

Laura and Alex

Nini and Holden

Laura and Holden

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Sundays in My City - Buddhas at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, September 18, 2011

Since my visits to the Hua Zang Si Buddhist Temple in San Francisco, my
intesest in Buddhism has become fueled even more.  I will do a post on
that place of beauty and serenity before I leave for India where I am sure
I will be exposed to even more opportunities to pursue my interest in this
religion.  In the meantime, I realize I never posted the pictures I took of
some of the Buddhas at the Asian Art Museum during my visit there a few
months ago with my friend, Joanne Olivieri, aka Poetic Shutterbug.  I
realize that I did not photograph all the accompanying cards so some of
the treasures are unidentified.  I will definitely have to return!

Additionally, let me apologize, in advance, about the quality of some of
the photographs, especially the identity cards.  Some are very poor and out
of focus.  We went on the free day for the museum and it was VERY
crowded.  It was difficult time in front of some of the exhibits to get
quality photographs.  I was just glad to be able to see them at all and I
wanted to share this incredible museum with you.  Please, if you ever
visit San Francisco, add the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to
your list of "must sees".

The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra on an Elephant

 

The esoteric Buddhist king of passion, Ragaraja

 

Crowned and bejeweled Buddha image and throne

Green and yellow Buddha

The Buddhist deity Achala Vidyaraja

 

The Buddhist deity Vajradhara

 

Seated Buddha, Sri Lanka

 

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

 

The Buddha Shakyamuni as an ascetic

 

The Seated bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

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