tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57549272064883344742026-10-19T07:59:22.754+09:00Petals!A Journey To The Inner Self |
Reflections on Culture, Spirituality and BhaktiSwapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.comBlogger662125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-52690045498052434792026-06-30T00:37:21.399+09:002026-06-30T00:37:21.400+09:00Pineapple in Korea's Kimchi Jjigae: Brilliant Hack or Absolute Food Crime?Wondering what is Kimchi jjigae in Korean? Or why have videos of pineapple in Kimchi Jjigae— Korea's much loved spicy non-vegetarian stew which has salted fermented vegetables and rich flavours, became so controversial? Sounds bizarre, doesn't it? Just as I would be horrified if pineapple chunks were added to our traditional Sambhar! If you understand Korean cuisine and enjoy its Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-86331645591124784092026-06-05T12:10:17.019+09:002026-06-05T12:10:17.019+09:00What is Agjak? Korea’s Viral Peach DessertWhat is Agjak? Turns out it is Korea's most talked about dessert right now. Looks tempting and sounds like a poetic expression, doesn't it? Well, it looks yummy![READ: Where to Eat in Kochi, Korean Instant Noodle Consumption] [Agjak - This is an AI-inspired image for Petals! Blog]Yes, it caught my fancy too when I Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-39889848006640550832026-05-30T16:34:29.954+09:002026-10-04T01:59:17.355+09:00How To Light Diya: Big Mistakes To AvoidWondering how to properly light a diya? What are some common mistakes to avoid while lighting diya at home? As a child, I used to watch my grandmother light the Nilavilakku or the traditional lamp at home. Back then, I didn't understand its deeper significance. [READ: Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku]Lighting a diya or a lamp embodies our inner journey from darkness to light. The transition Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-2751006188874788572026-03-12T15:35:00.001+09:002026-03-12T15:36:36.020+09:00Divine Splendour of Attukal PongalaAttukal Pongala: The year 2026 raced through with so many unexpected milestones, the most significant one being the opportunity to offer Attukal Pongala.What began as a family get-together culminated in a precious and most beautiful blessing from Devi or Bhagawathy, as we Malayalis refer to the Divine Mother. As my humblest offering to Attukal Devi, I offer this writing to Bhagawathy, with aSwapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-11707965025757180662025-11-25T04:39:00.000+09:002025-11-25T04:39:13.624+09:00Best Christmas Greetings Messages Want to check out some best messages for Christmas? There's something magical and instantly playful about Christmas. As Helen Steiner Rice says, "Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day." [Image: Toni Cuenca @ Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-49451337349393490932025-10-25T18:14:00.000+09:002025-10-25T18:14:48.115+09:00Korean Instant Noodle Consumption Second Highest in the WorldWho doesn't love noodles? Koreans rank as no 2 globally for instant noodles consumption! According to World Noodle Organisation, Korea is ranked the second largest consumer of instant noodles, after Vietnam. This trend raises health concerns but experts suggest that adding vegetables and other ingredients can address the drawbacks of consuming refined carbohydrates and salty soup. Those who are Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-67959588034705641032025-10-16T15:04:00.000+09:002025-10-16T15:04:40.186+09:00Korean Pet Travel: Must-Know Rules from Korea Tourism Organization [Image: Anna Evlanova on Unsplash]Latest news from Korea Tourism Organization: Pet-friendly travel norms for Korean travellers! According to a comprehensive report released by the Korea Tourism Organization, in cooperation Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-54292332495361464752025-10-10T02:55:00.002+09:002025-10-10T02:58:09.606+09:00Poland's FIRST Library in a Metro StationGood news for book lovers as Poland scripts history! Warsaw scripts history as its first-ever underground library offers over 16,000 books for readers to borrow.[For all posts on Books & Culture, subscribe to Svara's Newsletter] Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-4979955191403828792025-10-06T15:07:00.012+09:002025-10-06T15:53:21.244+09:00Japan's Century Club is booming!Wow, Sanae Takaichi is all set to become Japan's first female prime minister! Let me confess: Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, has always fascinated me, right from the time I've been reading History books. And that is why it caught my attention when I read that the country's number of centenarians have hit a record high of nearly 100,000, with 88% being women! When I was Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-57884516390718485202025-10-04T16:06:00.005+09:002025-10-04T16:15:19.680+09:00Vietnam's $25 Million Tourist TargetVietnam tourism soars high! Latest news reports indicate that Vietnam is poised to see a tremendous surge in the number of tourists who visit year after year. [Image: Marina Lobato @Unsplash]Year after year, Vietnam receives Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-36658758202989972742025-10-02T14:44:00.005+09:002025-10-02T15:07:05.256+09:00Vidyarambham: The Labyrinth WithinHarishree Ganapataye Namaha! Vidyarambham begins! On this auspicious day of Vidyarambham, Malayalis honour this timeless tradition of invoking Goddess Saraswati's blessings. Worldwide, this day is honoured by Malayalis as a day of learning. Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-65957787478620184392025-09-23T19:36:00.001+09:002025-10-02T14:48:50.629+09:00Best Navaratri Wishes, WhatsApp Messages, GreetingsBest Navaratri wishes, greetings and messages: Navaratri celebrations mark a vital cultural bridge in today's digital age as we send heartelt expressions of loving wishes to family members, friends, peers and acquaintances who are connected to us. [Watch on YouTube: Significance of Navaratri celebrations] How to wish Navaratri wishes?Wondering how to wish Navaratri in different Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-66233368240019043452025-09-23T02:53:00.005+09:002025-09-23T18:27:40.673+09:00What is Navaratri?Navaratri 2025: What is Navaratri and why is it celebrated? Celebrating the advent of the Divine Mother (Maa Durga or Devi) marks the celebration of Navaratri. For 9 nights, the belief is that Devi descends to earth and her divine energy and presence is accessible every devotee, making it the most powerful time to intensify sadhana. [WATCH | Navaratri, Vidyarambam and Kollur Mookambika Temple]Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-59291464347821014762025-09-16T18:22:00.006+09:002026-07-28T15:10:39.353+09:00How to block negative energyWondering how to block negative energy at home? As a child, I used to watch my mother and my aunts light the evening nilavilakku every day. In those days, OTT platforms and TV channels were mostly absent. Today, I appreciate and respect their unwavering routine, their deep reverence for Sandhya Vandanam or prayers at the time of sunset and their Bhakti.[Connect on Facebook] [Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-85918023814682345792025-09-04T00:12:00.005+09:002025-09-23T03:05:29.693+09:00Best Onam greetings and messagesHappy Onam! What is the best message for Onam? As Malayalis celebrate the grandest festival of the year, this is a joyful celebration you want to enjoy to the fullest. To send your best Onam greetings, scroll down and pick your choice. [Connect on Facebook] How do you say Happy Onam greetings in many ways? Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-87118552276713777882025-08-27T19:43:00.002+09:002025-08-27T19:46:02.801+09:00Best Message for Ganesh ChaturthiHappy Ganesh Chaturthi wishes! The spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi festivities is in full swing and one can feel it everywhere. When I was a child, the adorable form of Sri Ganesha used to fill me with wonder. What exactly is the best message for Ganesh Chaturthi? Let's find out! [Let's Connect on Facebook] &Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-26582392559905934092025-08-01T16:19:00.010+09:002025-08-27T17:25:29.177+09:00Which Sadhana is Most Powerful?Which sadhana is most powerful? What are the signs of progress in sadhana? What are some guiding principles for progress on the spiritual path? If you have read the Ramayana, you would know about the dedication and selfless sacrifice of Hanuman Ji, and based on that, one can consider "Duty, Discipline and Devotion" as essential. [Let's Connect on Facebook][READ: Power of Hanuman's Work and Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-51652575225816962322025-07-02T16:36:00.007+09:002026-07-24T02:41:20.440+09:00Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti, is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship. When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-6098213376111575652025-07-01T22:37:00.001+09:002025-07-01T22:37:40.603+09:00Krishnapuram Palace: Kerala's Royal MarvelKrishnapuram Palace near Kayamkulam: I was travelling with my family after offering prayers at the famous Ochira Parabramham temple. A family friend from Kollam insisted that we should visit the 18th century Krishnapuram Palace that was a temporary dwelling place of the Tranvancore kings. And that is how we came to the Krishnapuram Palace near Kayamkulam.One of the first stunning sights that Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-7268493023725185332025-05-29T13:40:00.004+09:002025-05-29T13:41:39.842+09:00Sarkeet Movie Review: Brilliant performances by Asif Ali, OrhanSarkeet Malayalam Movie Review: This Asif Ali-starrer is a gentle, powerful and heartwarming film in the way it depicts relationships and how a child's world is brought to life with a dose of harsh reality that threads adult relationships. It's not your typical masala formula movie with slapstick comedy - this is a transformative film that explores the relationship between stressed out adults andSwapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-90193539315427058672025-05-06T02:04:00.009+09:002026-05-30T00:31:02.148+09:00Scientific reason behind lighting diyasLighting diyas at home is a part of my childhood. What is the science behind lighting diya? For decades, Hindu households light the diya or deepam every morning and evening. However, increasingly, there are many questions regarding why this practice is integral to the well-being of a Hindu home. Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-32744475919150506142025-04-02T16:37:00.000+09:002025-04-02T16:37:03.473+09:00Bhakti: Mirabai's Greatest WealthMany of us make the mistake of being 'part time devotees' - of course, we are busy, we have important work, personal commitments and we are too exhausted by it. At the end of the day, we don't even feel like lighting the lamp or praying. Sometimes, we begin to think how does lighting a lamp bring a difference to our already hectic lives? [READ: How Do You Light Deepam and Best Time to Light Diya]Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-24805294322608453782025-03-31T00:10:00.006+09:002026-05-30T00:35:44.772+09:00Power of Hanuman's WorkFrom dawn to dusk, we work - all of us are engaged in some task or another. Many tend to work almost on autopilot. Happens, doesn't it? Sometimes, we engage in activities that may not be of use to us and results in waste of time. Distractions trouble us - it could be a colleague talking loudly in the phone, and we may do the same too, without realising we are distracting others at work. &Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-7785109119283256352025-03-20T18:30:00.004+09:002025-03-20T18:42:18.632+09:00Officer on Duty on Netflix: Kunchacko Boban's electrifying performance!Kunchacko Boban's Malayalam movie 'Officer on Duty' is now available on Netflix! Before the OTT release, I had watched the film in a nearby theatre. Now, you can watch this Kunchacko Boban thriller on Netflix.Note: All images in this blog are sourced from Kunchacko Boban's verified Facebook page.[READ: Watch Padmarajan's Movies]Officer on Duty on Netflix: Director, Star Cast, MusicDirected by Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754927206488334474.post-20073529867822065552025-03-06T16:47:00.003+09:002026-04-11T02:03:40.754+09:00Revisiting My Old Blog Posts: What I Learnt Have you ever read your old blogposts and been struck by how your outlook and language have changed? Recently, I read some of my earliest posts on this blog. And I felt quite emotional about it. [READ: My Sun is my Light] Few points sprang to my mind:I used to write about personal things - it was a space to share my daily reflections, and now I no longer do that - now I am more guarded and Swapna Raghu Sanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.com1