#today festival in india

[mannbhaavnii]

a very happy diwali people 🪔

[ancientcraftnoccultism]

Introduction To Candle Magic

Ancient Craft & Occultism

___

By KB

Introduction

Welcome back witches in training! We've been covering a lot of ground bases lately, especially within the realms of spellwork. Today, we're going to take that a bit further by opening our horizons to the infinite world of Candle Magic! In this lesson, we're going to discuss basic color magic, the history of candles, and how to use candles in your craft. Let's get to it!

A Brief Candle History

The exact origin of the candle is quite a debate among historical scholars, but there is a large sum of evidence that suggests candles made of beeswax were used in Egypt and Crete as early as 3000 BCE. Other early candles were fashioned using tallow-soaked tapers manufactured from fibrous materials like rushes. Rushlights were one of the first types of enclosed light we are aware of, yet they were unlike candles as we know them today because they lacked a wick. The impoverished continued to utilize them for centuries because they were also inexpensive to produce.

It may come as no surprise that the Romans are credited with creating the first wicked candles by continuously dipping a roll of papyrus into tallow, a converted form of beef or mutton fat, while wrapping it around a length of twine. Candles were still used in the same manner, but they had superior quality and a longer lifespan than rushlights.

However, candle production was not only practiced by the Romans. Wicked candles were "invented" by numerous other ancient civilizations who also used local plant-based waxes. The eulachon fish, which is so oily that when dried, it would burn like a candle when you ignite one end, was used as a candle by tribes in Alaska and Canada. The Chinese used wrapped ricepaper as wicks. In India, wax was created from the fruit of the cinnamon tree.

Candles, in any form, were a significant component of religious rites throughout this time. The Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, was originally documented around 165 B.C. Constantine, the Roman emperor between 306 and 337 A.D., mandated the use of lamps during Easter celebrations. Indeed, from roughly the time of Constantine, lights have played a significant role in religious events and signify the purifying light of God.

Candle flames were seen by ancient peoples to reveal enigmatic things. One could experience an altered state of consciousness and see gods, spirits, or the future by gazing into a flame. In a magic ceremony for "dreaming true," or getting information from dreams, the late Egyptians of the third century B.C. utilized lamps and possibly candles. He retired to a pitch-black cave that faced south and sat there gazing into a flame till he saw a god. Then he went to sleep, hoping that the deity would show up in his dreams and provide him with the answers he was looking for.

The Roman Christian scholar Tertullian fiercely objected to the ancient Pagan practice of lighting candles and lights during religious ceremonies, calling it "the useless lighting of lamps at noon." Candles and lamps were used in Christian rites from the fourth century, but candles weren't put on church altars until the later Middle Ages, starting in the twelfth century. Consecrated holy candles are used in ceremonies for blessings, atonement for sins, and the exorcism of demons, all of which were instituted by the Catholic Church.

Using Candles In The Craft

Candles have long been used as versatile tools, but in witchcraft, they can also be used for divination, spirit sensing, casting spells, and a variety of other things. Let's jump right in.

Divination - Reading the wax and observing how the candle really burns are the two most popular techniques for candle divination. You must observe the candle's burning pattern, including its height, flickering, and the presence of many flames, in order to make a prediction based on how it burns. Two flames could indicate assistance from the afterlife in achieving your objective. Even the hues of the flame may give you a clue as to how well your efforts are going. However, there is no agreement on what these indications signify. While some practitioners hold that a candle that burns tall and strongly indicates that one's request will be granted, others draw attention to the fact that the wick's length and quality, as well as an air vent, can affect how the candle burns. Prioritize your intention over the candle's burning process. You can always read the wax once it hardens, or pour the wax directly into cold water for it to harden and then interpret the symbols, much like you would with bone throwing, or scrying. Personally, I also like to pay attention to the smoke and interpret the way the smoke from the candle flows in order to interpret surrounding energies.

Spirit Work - Fire scrying is the most common way to communicate with spirits, and as it's the only method with candles I have experience with, that's what I will be discussing here. I encourage you to do your own research into spirit communication outside of my suggestion, because I'm sure there are plenty other methods out there. Again, there is no base consensus in a means to interpretation, as spirits and practitioners alike have different ways of communication. Just like with any other scrying, its imperative to stay connected to your personal energy while connecting with surrounding energy to properly interpret the signals you are receiving. Connecting with deities is also possible using this method of Candle Magic.

Rituals/Spellwork - In rituals and spells, candles are used to increase vibrations, represent specific elements and other important objects or creatures, use symbolism, and seal items like letters or spell bottles. Even candle spells can be created simply lighting a candle with intention. It is very common to carve, dress, and anoint candles in aid for ritual and spellwork as well. Fire being the main force driving the work, of course.

Worship - Candles are often used as offerings for various deities. Symbolism, color, and dressings can all play a part of this as well. They are also used as a beacon for an entity to guide you through your working.

Candle Correspondences

When undertaking serious candle work, choosing the right candle colors is crucial. Each hue has a unique meaning and possesses unique abilities. It's crucial to pick colors that align with your aims while working with candles in spells or rituals. Please remember that this is a very basic list and that the things you will read in your personal correspondence are far more significant than anything you will read here.

White - Attraction, Purification, Protection, Balance, Clarity, Grounding, Healing, Hope, Innocence, Optimism, Peace, Truth, Willpower

White can take the place of any other color when not available. Just a bit of visualization is required.

Black - Acceptance, Afterlife, Banishing, Binding, Determination, Endings, Justice, Loss, Release, Break, Security, Grief, Negativity, Patience, Persistence, Rebirth, Strength, Self Control

Red - Assertiveness, Courage, Creativity, Energy, Desire, Loyalty, Motivation, Power, Survival, Change

Yellow - Action, Communication, Learning, Finances, Business, Intellect, Inspiration, Knowledge, Wisdom, Stimulation

Pink - Acceptance, Affection, Beauty, Compassion, Healing, Family, Harmony, Kindness, Longevity, Nurturing, Partnership, Prosperity

Green - Abundance, Agriculture, Beauty, Creativity, Family, Fertility, Healing, Luck, Environment, Nurturing

Purple - Authority, Enlightenment, Spirituality, Emotions, Imagination, Influence, Truth, Wisdom, Overcoming Fear

Orange - Adaptive, Ambition, Confidence, Courage, Discipline, Energy, Freedom, Justice, Positivity, Pleasure, Stimulation, Travel

Blue - Honesty, Truth, Trust, Dreams, Sleep, Mental, Wisdom, Leadership, Fertility, Marriage, Healing, Study

Brown - Endurance, Animals, Balance, Courage, Grounding, Stability, Protection

Silver - Awareness, Intuition, Money, Purification, Potential, Stability, Success, Celestial

Gold - Abundance, Ambition, Money, Happiness, Power, Influence, Solar energy

Even if you aren't aware of it, the type of candle and the type of wax it is made of may have an impact on your craft. It can all come down to functionality or magical implications.

Taper Candles

Taper candles are tall, thin candles with a tapered top; they are often placed in vintage, smaller candle jars and are more ornamental and symbolic. Shorter taper candles are typically used to seal objects with wax. They can, however, be utilized for any task.

Pillar Candles

There are many different types of pillar candles, but these are the ones I see used almost exclusively. They differ from being short and fat to being tall and slim. They can be utilized for a variety of purposes, but I've found that rituals are where they're most useful.

Votive Candles

Votive candles are little and barely taper more at the base. They are frequently placed in glass candle holders and are used as offerings to deities. Given that their modest, tapering size is what makes them votives, their sizes rarely fluctuate. But they do come in a variety of colors. They are often white.

Tealights

Tealights are tiny, thin, and short candles. You can use them to make offerings, perform spells and rituals, decorate, or even keep wax warmers warm. I frequently observe this kind of candle being used, largely because they are the least expensive candles available.

Now, let's go over some of the different wax types.

Beeswax

It used to be difficult and dangerous to obtain beeswax, which added to the candle's mystique and spiritual power. Beeswax is a natural substance that burns more slowly, making it a premium item among contemporary candle spiritual practitioners; yet, because of its price, it may not be the best choice. Beeswax candles are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and hues and can be rolled, poured, or dipped. Longer ancestral rituals that demand higher vibrations and purpose work best with these candles.

Soy

People who use earth magic sometimes like soy candles since they are natural. Although they tend to burn for a shorter period of time than beeswax candles, they keep fragrances quite well. When dressed, they can also be extremely fragile and challenging to mold or carve. The majority of soy candles are already housed in glass. They are most effective when utilized in ancestral rituals for healing and rebirth.

Paraffin

Since it's a byproduct of the petroleum industry, many people consider it to be less natural than the available alternatives. The fact that it releases chemicals like toluene into the air makes it a poor choice for poorly ventilated areas. Other than providing the foundation for candles, I haven't discovered any sources that discuss the magickal powers of paraffin itself. I found a few for petroleum jelly, which is frequently used as a foundation for herbal salves, but they mainly praised how simple it was to use as an ointment. Even our non-human ancestors may have used petroleum, according to some sources, which makes it a solid foundation for ancestor magic.

[harvardfineartslib]

“Could it be that human beings—whether Indian or Japanese—are like fishermen who cast their nets to fish but can only reach relatively shallow waters? We know a lot of things and are constantly learning more, but maybe what we have most in common with each other is what is unknown to us. The depths of the ocean, and our relationship to that world, still remain hidden and mysterious.” - Mayur and Tushar Vayeda

Brothers Mayur and Tushar Vayeda made this artists’ book.  They are from the indigenous Warli community in Maharashtra, western India and grew up in the village of Ganjad. After studying animation and business management in Mumbai, the brothers taught themselves the traditional art of Warli painting.

Warli art is traditionally created by the women in the community, who decorate the walls and floors of their homes, as well as community spaces and for festivals. As such, Warli paintings were temporary, constantly renewed and recreated.

Today, both women and men make Warli painting, and they are also made more permanent on paper or canvas. The Vayeda brothers incorporate traditional Warli painting style but create a new vision.

In this book, the Vayeda brothers tell their journey from Ganjad to a small Japanese island called Awashima, connecting the village stream they knew from their childhood to the deep oceans they encountered in Awashima.

The deep for the text Arun Wolf and Gita Wolf from an oral narrative by Mayur Vayeda and Tushar Vayeda. Chennai : Tara Books, [2020] Vayeda, Mayur [artist] Vayeda, Tushar [artist] HOLLIS number: 99157144381803941

[zeherili-ankhein]

Ok one thing I see every year during this time and I'm again seeing nowadays, that is shaming bangali people for eating non-veg during Navaratri

First of all, Navaratri and Durga Pujo are VERY different. This is basic atp I mean.. but still...

And it's not only about Bangalis, Assamese people, some Odisha people and even some parts of North Eastern people I believe (forgive me if I'm wrong) also have the concept of non veg in their diet even during Puja, Devi Puja to be specific.

And second thing, Bengal's Shakta traditions and rituals are A LOT different.

Like some families have traditions of offering Jora Ilish to Maa on Ashtami, with the believe that's her favourite fish. While some families (like mine) go complete veg on that perticular day.

And most families usually eat mutton on Nabami. That's like a must in most households. Some places even had the ritual of Patha Bali during Sandhi Pujo on Ashtami or on Nabami. That is mostly changed with pumkins or ash grounds nowadays though.

Meat in some places is offered as Bhog to Maa. And on Dashami, some places again offer her fishes as that's the day she leaves us for another whole year.

Also you'd be further shocked to know it's not only during Durga Pujo that we have the tradition of non veg.

Some families just like mine, have the tradition of Ranna Pujo, which is celebrated the day before Vishwakarma Pujo. This Puja is for Maa Manasa, and during this, Maa is offered various dishes made of fishes including Ilish or Rui. Some even offer prawns as Bhog.

And guess what? A lot of places still have Bali Pratha during various Kali Pujos that happens all around the year. I've seen myself.

Most Shaktipeeth, Including Kamakhya and Kalighat also have the same Bali Pratha. I just said those two places because I've seen them myself.

(I do agree it's not really good to kill animals but I'm just saying what is true)

Some Kali Pujo, even have rituals that includes alcohol, yes read right even alcohol as an offering to Maa. Believe me or not, this is 100% true.

So stop saying random stuff like why we are consuming non veg or how we are not following the rules, because rules are different in every part of India.

Yup! That's all. Now be kind and understanding and let us all enjoy our own festivals hmm?

Also to piss off people who'll still say dumb stuff, I ate momos and biriyani today cry about it

[disastress-i-guess]

Happy new year!... Again

Bonus Akechi because I forgot the baby I'm sorry

Akechi's yapping under the cut.

The New Year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner.In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today, New Year occurs on January 1 (New Year's Day, preceded by New Year's Eve). This was also the first day of the year in the original Julian calendar and the Roman calendar (after 153 BC). Other cultures observe their traditional or religious New Year's Day according to their own customs, typically (though not invariably) because they use a lunar calendar or a lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year, the Islamic New Year, Tamil New Year (Puthandu), and the Jewish New Year are among well-known examples. India, Nepal, and other countries also celebrate New Year on dates according to their own calendars that are movable in the Gregorian calendar.

An example of another new year is Chunyipai Losar, the traditional day of offering ( Dzongkha: buelwa phuewi nyim) in Bhutan. It is observed on the 1st day of the last month of the Butanese lunar calendar. This means it usually takes place in January or February in the western calendar.And this year falls on 12th of January. Some people claim that residents of Bhutan made their annual offering of grains to Zhapdrung Ngakwang Namgyel in Punakha on this day. The Trongsa Penlop is said to have led the representatives of eight eastern regions in their offerings, as the Paro Penlop coordinated the people of western Bhutan and the Darkar Ponlop oversaw the people of the south. In this regard, some people place a great significance on this New Year as a marker of Bhutan’s sovereignty and solidarity. However, some scholars contest that no clear evidence of such practice exists. In any case, many feel that before Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s unified Bhutan as a state, the local population in some of Bhutan’s valleys celebrated this day as a New Year. As a result, even the government instituted by Zhabdrung in the 17th century, then largely a monastic court, saw this time as an important part of the year. The retirement and appointment of high officials in the government and the monastic body took place mainly during this New Year celebration.This New Year is primarily observed in eastern Bhutan, where it also referred to as Sharchokpé Losar, or New Year of the eastern Bhutanese. However, the observance of this New Year is not limited to eastern Bhutan and today with easy communication facilities, migration of people and intermarriages between various regions of Bhutan, people all over Bhutan observe this New Year. Like other Bhutanese seasonal festivals marking a new season, the Chunyipai Losar falls around the Winter Solstice. It also falls after the agricultural work for one season is completed and before the new harvest cycle begins. Thus, it is a seasonal celebration which is aligned well with the agrarian populace.

At the end of the day this is all inane information that the artist is using to justify the fact that they are posting this drawing 12 days late and as a means to share their culture despite the fact that the artist themselves are very out of touch with thier culture and in fact forgot that it was chunyipi losar until they were reminded by thier family and did little to observe or celebrate the day outside of baking a cake with a concerningly large amount of butter.

[0intp0]

Do you guys know what was the biggest surrender of our history after world war two?

It was the surrender of Pakistani military against Bangladeshi

On 16 December 1971.

But today I didn't grab your attention only to give you some random history facts.

We Bangladeshi students need your help! So please read this article till the end

After the partition of the Indian region in 1947, two independent nations were born.One India and one Pakistan.

The country of Pakistan was divided into two parts, East Pakistan, currently Bangladesh and West Pakistan, currently Pakistan.

But the distance between the two regions was thousands of kilometers. So uniting them into one singular nation was definitely foolish.

To think that the partition actually happened because of religion is laughable on itself but this is a topic of debate for another blog.

Even though we got our freedom from the British empire the people of East Pakistan kept on getting exploited by the west pakistan government.

Note, from now on I will refer to East Pakistan only as Bangladesh because the way we were exploited by our own so called government which only resided on the west pakistan and left us on poverty clearly indicates they never saw us as their own people.

Pakistan didn't only exploit us politically and financially, but they also tried to take away our unique Bengali identity from us.

They banned our traditional Bengali festivals like Noboborso (which is Bengali new year) They tried to ban Rabindra sangeet in fact, they even tried to replace our Bengali alphabet with the Urdu alphabet.

People were already protesting against it and were participating in every traditional festival

But the elastic snapped when they tried to take away our mother tongue, Bangla

When a pakistani politician made the announcement that "Urdu and only Urdu will be the only national language of Pakistan" in Dhaka university's convocation, it was the students who roared in disapproval.

In 1952, breaking the curfew, students and common people went on a protest for our mother language Bangla.

The police started to shoot them and the soil of Bangladesh became stained with blood and Bangla became the only language for people had given up their lives.

That's why we celebrate "Sahid dibos" and "international mother language day" on 21st February.

Throughout the fight for our existence, freedom and culture, students of our nation had always played a crucial role.

They also made a student's political party "Chatro league"

After the election of 1970, when the Pakistani government didn't agree to give power to the Bangladeshi political party "Awami league" our students again started to organize protests and other activities

Finally "Awami league" ordered for a mass protest. 2nd march Dhaka and 3rd march the whole Bangladesh was shut down.

On 2nd march 11 am "Chatro league" students hoisted the flag of Bangladesh in Dhaka university.

All this information dump was for you all to understand how the students of Bangladesh had always played a crucial part in our liberation.

Our students have always been fierce and had stood up for injustice even if they had to sacrifice their life for it.

And right now history is repeating itself!!!

Again students are getting attacked because of their protests but this time, it was our so-called "chatro league" and the government who are doing this inhumane act.

They are beating the students with rods, throwing bricks at them and even police are shooting them.

Only because we wanted the quota policy to demolish. Only because we wanted equal opportunity for civil jobs.

On 25th march 1971, the Pakistani military committed genocide in Dhaka. They attacked sleeping students in Dhaka university and protesters on roads who were still protesting at night.

And now the same thing is happening, history is repeating itself.

Students of public universities are getting attacked in their own dorm rooms, they are getting beaten to death by the so-called "chatro league" members. There are screenshots of the chatro league leaders group chats flothing around the internet where they command the other members to stab the protester students.

There was a time when Chatro league claimed they always stood up when our mother and sisters needed protection

And now those same people are beating up those same sisters they vowed to protect

The police are shooting the protesters like they did in 1952 language movement

The only difference is in the past we were oppressed by another nation's government

But this time it's our own people who are causing our student's blood to stain our roads.

Please do not ignore us. Reblog this post or use the hastag #savebangladeshistudents to create awareness

[mikasasrippedtoenail]

The Plight of Indian Widows

A woman's dignity is not her own possession. Her life is at the mercy of men around her. She is a commodity to be owned and sold first by her father then her husband. Her entire existence is tied to her servitude to those around her. After giving so much to the world, there is little life left inside of her. Yet, the world still demands her forfeit of this little life after the death of her husband. In India, a woman was expected to burn herself alive in the holy pyre of her husband's body as a show of loyalty in a practice called Sati that was outlawed in 1929(yet it is still rampant today in many rural parts of India).

With her husband no more, she must have no reason to live.Widowhood is the harbringer of acute discrimination for women in South Asia. Widows are ostracized by society and shunned by their family to live a destitute life in "Vidhwa Ashrams". Even the shadow of a widow was believed to inflict depredation and brought. They are called witches and man-eaters. They are forbidden from wearing anything but white clothes and are expected to practice strict abstinence. Widows in Afghanistan are called besarparast, meaning "household without a head". It is customary for a woman to shave off her head to appear undesirable. Her sexuality is confined, her needs and wants must die alongside her husband. Widow remarriage-although legal- is deeply stigmatized as a grave sin.

Widows are not considered to be a part of society. They can neither celebrate festivals nor travel without a religious purpose. In some extreme cases, they are made to drink the bathwater of their husbands’ dead bodies and have unprotected sex to "cleanse themselves of the sin of causing their husbands" death. Young widows also fall prey to the leering eyes of men. Child brides especially are prone to fall victim to manipulation by people around them. Men consider that since marriage has taken away her "innocence", she can now be sexually exploited.

Barring a few states, married women cannot inherit their husband's property. This lack of financial stability is the root cause of their exploitation. Most husbands leave their wives penniless. What little savings he might have had are spent on funeral rites. Relatives do not want to support her financially, considering her children and herself as excess baggage. Her parents also close the doors on her face for it is often said - "only a woman's dead body should come out of her husband's house."

This new found vulnerability makes her an easy prey for prostitution. A primary form of survival for widows is to sell their body through pimps. However, in most ashrams, they are forced to perform sexual favours by the heads of the ashram to gain money. The heads use their political power to silence the widows from raising their voice against this rape. With nowhere else to go, this cycle continues. The widows who get pregnant from this rape are "mauled by quacks for a painfully searing abortion and If that’s not done, then they would have an extra mouth to feed and an extra pair of hands to beg."

As of today, India is the abode of 42 million widows-a social class that is woefully exploited. Widows are often forced to dedicate the remaining parts of their lives to their religion. They must have no desires or wants except singing the God's praise. Widowhood for most women marks the death of their happines and social life. Although with changing times the attitude towards widows is turning positive, it is the bitter truth that the condition of widows from orthodox regions live a terrible life.

Laws protecting women are scarce- let alone widows. In India, widows are considered to be the class 1 heirs of ancestral properties. However, most of them are uneducated and unaware of the laws surrounding them. They are easily manipulated by relatives to give up their rights to the property. As for self acquired property, most men do not mention the name of their wives in their wills. After 2005, women alive on december, 2005 have a right over their father's ancestral property alongside their brothers. One must not forget that women inheriting property is still not socially acceptable in India and women who recieve property are few and far between.

To uplift widows, one must make them aware of the rights around them. Government and local NGOs should work together to organize awareness campaigns on the rights of widows. Women without capital left behind by their husbands should get a monthly stipend. "Vidhwa Ashrams" should be heavily regulated. More so, the social stigma shrouding widows must be removed. Treatment of women belonging to marginalized communities are a reflection of how dire the situation of women's rights are in India. Opening women owned women only shelters is the prime solution for the upliftment of women.

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

The number of murdered victims at the music festival was thought to be over 260. It has now been confirmed to be over 360. IDK if this updates the total figure of victims in the massacre, but if it doesn't (meaning, if this is just identifying which victims were killed at which scene), it means almost a third of the civilians slaughtered by Hamas, were killed at that party. Young people who just wanted to dance, enjoy life and celebrate peace.

This picture from Gaza yesterday shows Hamas terrorists (you can see the RPG one of them is carrying) walking down the street escorted by kids, who are being used as human shields.

And another Hamas terrorist admitting that this is an intentional tactic used by the organization:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by יוסף חדאד - Yoseph Haddad (@yosephhaddad)

A Brit reporting from Israel:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lee Kern (@leekern13)

The Iran-funded Houthis in Yemen have kidnapped a ship for being "Israeli." It's likely rented by an Israeli company, but it's been confirmed that there are no Israelis on board this ship. This incident is a clear escalation from Iran's proxies. The ship was traveling from Turkey to India with an international crew of 22 people, meaning all of their countries are now involved.

UEFA refused to hold a minute of silence for the Israeli victims at the start of a match between the Israeli and Polish youth national teams in soccer, despite the fact that it's customary to do so when terror attacks take place. The youth teams decided on their own not to play during the first minute of the game. Might I add, the Israeli national teams include Arabs.

You might remember that I posted about 12 years old Liel Hezroni being pronounced dead a few days ago. It happened after the evidence showed there was no chance for her to survive what the Hamas terrorists did in the murder scene where the rest of her family's bodies were found (when it's known that she was with them), and despite no body of hers having been identified. Today, remains of a body found by archeologists (employed to help with the ashes of the massacre victims) were confirmed to be hers, and now she can at least be given a proper funeral. May her memory be a blessing.

In case you still think the world is treating Israeli victims fairly, here's a small reminder of how much our lives don't count... When we're putting up posters of our kidnapped women and kids, people feel comfortable ripping them down.

Hamas is claiming the death of a third Israeli hostage in captivity. They claim he died of a heart attack. Yeah, that might happen to an 86 year old kidnapped and tortured. And if that's what happened, then it's still murder.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[axellaniez]

The Synagogue of Singapore: A Historical Overview

As someone with a rich Jewish heritage, the history of the Maghain Aboth Synagogue in Singapore holds a special place in my heart. This synagogue represents not only the perseverance and unity of the Jewish community but also my personal connection to a legacy that has endured for generations. It's a beacon of faith, culture, and history that resonates deeply with my sense of identity and belonging.

The Maghain Aboth Synagogue, located in Singapore, is the oldest Jewish synagogue in Southeast Asia. Established in 1878 by the Jewish community, primarily comprised of Sephardic Jews from Baghdad, it has served as a central place of worship and community for over a century.

The Jewish presence in Singapore dates back to the early 19th century, with traders and merchants arriving from regions such as India, Iraq, and Persia. As the community grew, the need for a dedicated place of worship became evident. The Maghain Aboth Synagogue was constructed on Waterloo Street, designed in a neoclassical style that blends with Singapore's diverse architectural landscape.

Over the years, the synagogue has witnessed significant events, including World War II, when it served as a refuge and community center during the Japanese occupation. Despite the challenges, it remained a steadfast symbol of the Jewish faith and resilience in Singapore.

In the 20th century, the synagogue underwent renovations to preserve its structure and accommodate the growing community. It continues to serve as the focal point for Jewish religious life in Singapore, hosting services, festivals, and cultural events.

Today, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue stands as a testament to the enduring legacy and contributions of the Jewish community in Singapore. It not only represents a place of worship but also a historical landmark reflecting the multicultural tapestry of the city-state.

Axel Laniez

[mostly-marvel-musings]

Can you make like an Indian female reader x Tony stark and pepper Potts, well it's your choice about pepper but yeah. Can you possibly make it angst, fluffy and smut in one shot pls?? It can be like they met her at some event in India etc but I want her to belong to India only🫠🥺

The Bridesmaid

A/N: Have I been waiting for a request like this or what 🥹 Dear @chaoticnerdsublime I know there’s no smut but I hope you enjoy this :)

Pairing: Tony Stark x Indian! Reader

Warnings: 18+ fluff, some angst?

Word count: 2665? Ish.

Tony Stark Masterlist

.

An urgent knock on the toilet door made Tony startle, frowning as it turned insistent and quite irritating.

“Aap zara jaldi karenge, please?” a female voice came through with words he couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

“Sorry?” he called back, finishing his business quickly and cleaning up.

“Would you mind hurrying up? It’s kind of an emergency.” she repeated this time in a language he understood, the voice seemed to get him curious to know about the person attached to it. It was one of those voices that got him wondering.

“I don’t mean to be rude but the last time I checked, this was the men’s room, ma’am.” he called out, a small smile on his face as he wiped his hands, hearing a click of a tongue outside the door.

“I appreciate you pointing out the obvious but, like I said, it’s an emergency and there’s a long queue for the ladies room. Now, are you planning on settling in there or–”

The door swung open, revealing the most gorgeous set of eyes and the most intriguing face Tony Stark had seen in his life. She rolled her eyes, muttering a ‘finally’ under her breath before brushing past him and locking the door behind her, leaving behind a lingering scent of roses and the same intrigue he’d had when he first heard her voice. He walked out of there, not before glancing behind once more with a small frown on his face.

The drive over to the venue was long and tiring, the balmy weather turned cooler as evening approached, rendering the skies in hues of fiery orange and purple. He had been invited to attend a wedding of a former MIT colleague in India, well not just the wedding but a week-long event of festivities. Something that was a common occurrence here, he was told.

The venue was stunning. A palace, quite literally, that had been turned into a boutique hotel, decorated to the nines for the wedding. The colors, the smells, the people, all of it was a bit overwhelming at first for him, but he grew to enjoy it.

As Tony entered the gardens where an event known as a ‘sangeet’ was, he was handed a welcome drink, which turned out to be a spiked sherbet. Mingling with other guests, he made his way to meet his friend, the groom. As he was chatting away, among the collective giggles that sounded through, Tony picked up a familiar voice, one he had heard just a few hours ago.

Sure enough, it was the same girl he had bumped into, or rather it was her who stumbled in the men’s room and had lingered on his mind. She was stunning, to say the least, wearing one of the most beautiful outfits, decked in jewelry and make-up that highlighted her best features.

Tony felt an unstoppable urge to go up to her, he simply couldn’t help himself. Clearing his throat he made his presence known, a few of the women surrounding her gave him judgy looks, stifling giggles for reasons unknown.

“Oh! It’s you!” You exclaimed, instantly recognizing the man before you, giving him a genuine smile, you held out your hand which he accepted.

“Y/N Y/L/N, I stormed in your stall earlier today, I’m sorry.” You placed a lock of hair behind your ear, staring down at your clasped hands, taking notice of how warm his hand felt against yours, it was a perfect fit.

“I remember you. Tony Stark, it’s a pleasure.” He shook your hand but didn’t let go, letting his sunglass-clad gaze roam over you some more. Reluctantly you let his hand go, still feeling his touch on your skin long after you had parted.

“Wait—you’re Anthony Stark?”

“The one and only.”

“Ah. I’ve heard a lot about you, you’ve got quite the reputation.” You teased, stopping one of the serves to get yourself a drink.

“One that precedes me. Please don’t believe everything you hear.” He shook his head, for once hoping he hadn’t been such an infamous personality and not always for the right reasons. Afterall he did want to make a good first impression.

“Well, stick around to prove it wrong, then maybe I won’t.”

He raised an eyebrow at you, smirking in response as he downed the rest of the drink he held. There was something about you, definitely.

“Are you a friend of the groom too?”

“Nope. The bride, she’s my best friend. We practically grew up together.”

Speaking of whom, you heard her call out your name urgently, effectively cutting your conversation with the billionaire, genius short. Tony wanted to know more, everything, but it would have to wait; and he would have to think of ways to spend more time with you since his time in India was limited.

“I’ll find you later, Anthony. Don’t be a stranger, okay?” you smiled, giving his arm a friendly squeeze before excusing yourself. That little gesture warmed his heart, given he was surrounded by strangers in a country that was miles from home, your friendly face and kind eyes made him feel at ease.

.

Light music played on the speakers as the usual murmur of people chattering floated through the halls of the palace. The mehndi or henna tattoo on your hands was almost done, the elegant, intricate designs and patterns and the peculiar, earthy smell always made you happy. It was still a long way from drying but the breeze kept blowing your hair into your face, driving you to a point of irritation.

“Need help?”

You heard a familiar voice before the man poked his head from behind a pillar, looking far too amused. Sleeves rolled up and yet another pair of expensive tinted glasses, the man looked dapper, a bit more relaxed but still quite out of place.

“I’m starting to think you’ve been spying on me, Mr. Stark.” you feigned shock, shaking your head in lame attempts to get your hair to behave, but it wouldn’t budge.

“I mean, this little struggle is way too entertaining to miss. May I?”

He chuckled at your adorable pouty face before your unruly hair was tucked behind your ear, his fingers caressing your face ever so gently and leaving a trail of tingly feelings behind. The gesture made several hopeless butterflies flutter in your belly.

“How’d you sleep?” You cleared your throat, rolling your eyes at the people who stopped in their tracks to stare at the man who didn’t have eyes for anyone else but you.

“I don’t sleep much. Are you from here?” Tony’s nose twitched before he sneezed, narrowing his eyes at the drying henna on your hands.

“Oh no, home is miles away. But I have been here before, as a child. It is one of my favorite cities.”

You smiled as he asked more questions about you and your life, answering all the questions you had with utmost honesty as well. You realized how easy it was to talk to the man, though he seemed to have an aura about him, it was somehow meant for others, not you.

It was only later as he picked up his jacket that you noticed he was in a suit again.

“Are all of the clothes you’ve brought so…Western?”

“What do you mean?” Your question made him frown and look down at his choice of outfit.

“I mean, you’re at an Indian wedding. A nice sherwani would’ve been more appropriate, don’t you think?”

“A sher-what?”

You giggled, explaining what it was.

“My stylist picked these out for me, I’m sorry I had no idea. I’m coming off as ignorant, aren’t I?”

He scratched the back of his neck, nervously.

“Maybe out of place, not ignorant. But we can fix that. There’s some great stores around here, if you want I could take you shopping.” You suggested, feeling bad that you made him self-conscious all of a sudden.

“I would love it! I—I mean I would appreciate it. Thank you, Y/N.”

“Just give me like half an hour?”

You raised your hands up to show the mehndi still needed time to dry. Agreeing to meet him by the cars they had arranged to let people drive around, you parted ways. This day was suddenly looking up for more than one reason now.

.

“Try one in the white, I think you’ll carry it off well.” you nodded at the gorgeous sherwani with intricate design, holding it up against Tony’s chest and urging him to put it on.

It had been a fun day walking around the streets, strolling into stores to buy some traditional clothes for Tony Stark. With people stopping him to take pictures and autographs, it was quite endearing to watch him engage with them, patiently pose for pictures and entertain them with little quips and tales. You hadn’t missed the sneaky looks and gazes as you conversed with people at the stores or drove him around the city.

“What do we think?” you called out, pacing outside the trial room as you waited for the man.

“I think I might have to fire my stylist.”

You giggled, clapping your hands in delight as the man stepped out looking unbelievably dapper, and rather hot if you’d allowed your thoughts to run wild. You turned your attention to the selection of dupattas they had, quickly scanning through them until you found a piece you were looking for.

“It was missing this. There. Now you’re done.” you draped a red dupatta you’d found with small white bandhani details all over it. It truly made the outfit come together and what was Iron Man without a bit of that signature red anyway?

“I needed you, Y/N. Where have you been all my life?”

You met his gaze in the mirror, cheeks warming as he sent you a wink. Paying for the clothes, you put the stuff back in your car, feeling a little sad that your time with him was almost over. Tomorrow the two of you would go separate ways after the wedding. Almost sensing the same, Tony let out a sigh as he took a seat in the passenger seat, leaning his back and turning to you, placing his hand on top of yours with a smile.

“I’ve had the best day, Y/N. we should probably head back huh?” trying to think of ways to extend this, he wasn’t prepared to let you go so soon. As if on cue, your phone started ringing, it was one of the relatives at the wedding, probably calling you back. You stared at the screen for a moment before switching it off and throwing it in your purse.

“I’m not ready for the day to end just yet.” you stated, surprised at your own statement as you heart beat against your ribcage, hoping to God he felt the same way. Tony, impressed beyond belief, gave you his winning grin.

“Me neither. Ice-cream? My treat.” he frowned as you shook your head, pulling the car out of parking and heading to one of your favorite spots in the city.

“I’ve got a better idea. Kulfi. With a view.”

It was an ancient fort in ruins now, though it still offered stunning panoramic views of the city and the lakes surrounding it. Your timing couldn’t be more perfect as the sun was on the cusp of setting, the skies were a dramatic pink and orange as you grabbed a couple of kulfis. Handing one to Tony you grabbed his hand and hurried towards your favorite spot, missing Tony’s chuckle at your excitement.

“Aren’t you needed back at the wedding, Miss Y/L/N?”

You hummed, perching yourself on the stone ledge as Tony did the same, angling his body towards you.

“If we go back now we would miss this gorgeous sunset, wouldn’t we? They’ll survive.” you smiled, your eyes shining in the golden sunlight that had bathed the surroundings.

Soon enough you were left mesmerized as the sun set behind the horizon, it brought back memories from your childhood when you had first visited the place, eating the same kulfi you were now, watching the city change colors along with the skies with the same child-like wonder.

“What do you think?” you murmured, eyes on the glistening water of the lake.

“Stunning.”

Your cheeks turned warm once again because from your peripheral vision you could tell his eyes weren’t focused on the view, they were on you.

You spoke about the randomest of things as evening drew on, not bothering to check your phone or the sky for a fact that it had turned gray with clouds that promised a light shower or two.

Tony made you laugh, he was a good listener and really paid attention and in a way made you wonder why you hadn’t met before.

“When do you go back to Malibu?” Not even attempting to mask the tinge of sadness as you spoke, picking on the invisible lint of your dress.

“Tomorrow. Midnight. Listen, Y/N—”

“We should head back.”

Cutting him mid-sentence, you stood up and began walking back; however, the weather had other plans. Soon fat droplets of water splattered across the limestones, drenching you and Tony within seconds.

It was a good fifteen minute walk back to the car but the rains showed no sign of stopping. Tony called out your name but you didn’t stop, not wanting him to see how heartbroken you were. It wasn’t everyday you felt this way. Not over someone you had met just forty eight hours ago. Then again, it wasn’t everyday that Tony Stark stumbled into your life.

You felt him grab your hand and pull you back, making a run for a dilapidated section of the fort that had a part of roofing intact.

“Y/N.”

“Y/N, look at me.”

Suddenly, it wasn’t the rain or the wind that sent shivers down your spine. It was the man who stood before you, approaching you slowly until he had you caged with his arms on either side. His eyes locked into yours in a way that had your heart threaten to beat out of your chest.

“Tony, don’t…” you trailed off, doing nothing to actually push the man away. Truth be told, you didn’t want to.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re leaving.”

His face was now mere inches from yours, gaze dropping down to stare at your lips.

“I could stay. Or you could come with me.”

As much as you wanted to believe, you knew you came from different worlds and the possibility of it working out seemed slim.

“Tell me you don’t want me as much as I want you and I’ll step away.”

You felt his hand cupping your face, forcing you to look up into his brown doe eyes. That seemed to melt away all your defenses and any protests that the rational part of your brain would throw at you. Shutting your eyes, you closed the distance and kissed him. Tony responded immediately, pulling you against his chest as his soft lips molded against yours perfectly, savoring you.

Something warm and fuzzy bloomed in your chest as you kissed, your drenched state quickly forgotten as you lost yourself in the taste of him. You had silly grins on your faces when you finally parted, foreheads touching and breaths shallow.

“You’re something else, Y/N.” he whispered, stealing a few chaste kisses while your arms found their way behind his neck.

“You’re one to talk, Anthony.”

“So…would you come with me?”

“I’ll think about it. Would you stay first?” You murmured with hints of a playful smile on your face.

“I’ll think about it.”

This was so much fun to write especially since it hit close to home. If you’ve got questions about some of the things/words here, just ask! My desi readers, if y’all picked up the Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani reference, hit me up!!

[goldammerchen]

Hima bullying his OC (Hetalia Prussia)

...Or "Forever Alone" jokes made over the years (2007 - 2014)

(It's possible I still missed something).

2007 Christmas – Original Story part 5 (Explicit/Mature! No kids!)

(And the post it's already long! Fuck!) In the next page, Fran helps with a revenge, this backfires, and... He is given away to a fan?!

設定資料で何故かオーストリアだけ貧乳とか書かれてる

Old Blog: 2008/04 (in Japanese). "Not rewarded"

Nonlinear – Valentino – Final Chapter

Dejected collection (2008)

The whole way he behaves towards Ita during 2009 April's Fools Event (also Rode and Erzsi), mentioning this here because is so one-sided lmao (at the same time RusPru is also very one-sided loool)

From the event adaptation: Hetalia Drama CD Interval Vol 1: The CD Of The Awesome Me – Track 05 “What’s up with that guy”

Prussia: “Italy-chan! Let’s go on a date at the river Danube today!” Italy: “Ah~ a photo of the bird!” Prussia: “Danube! Danube!” Italy: “I really like drawing pictures of birds like that. They are so small and cute~” Prussia: “Date! Date!”

From that CD song, Track 8 or "My Song That Is Written By Me, For Me" (yup)

Being alone is too much fun! (Too much fun too much fun…)

Requests (2010)

Philhellenism (2011), or why it is he fucking alone down there lmao (the sleepy series has groups! In this post EGY, GRE and TUR are away from PRU)

2011 Halloween Overflow – Page 2. Not exactly on topic but kitawiki highlights how he gets quiet after India tells him he has many friends

...

Overflowing Passion (2012), BTT/BFT song from Hetalia Digital Single The Best Plus α

Prussia: So much fun alone!

France: Let’s talk about love Prussia: Solitary passion is the best, too!

2013/2014 Halloween Comic – Page 5 (backup on blog)

Extra, from Some guys I doodled (2014)

【Bierßen】 (Beer + Prussia) You’ll find him in festivals. He likes to make people drink beer that he’s already taken a sip from.

no comments about that, I have mentioned this before enough times.

Conclusion: there is plenty of reasons why Hetalia Prussia has fame of loser/pathetic and why he is that, at least in interpersonal sense(?). After all, we are talking about the same character that threw away a book about how to socialize with people, concluding that after... sneezing? (he also became fed up with a how to draw manga book after sneezing). He is well educated and skilled and can learn shit fast, but that is something different! He is someone capable, and there is multiple references about him being bored "out of his mind" because his brother does everything (or talking about wanting to be remembered), the type of info that adds to his pathetic image, in the literal sense of the word, or pitiful, to sound less harsh.

[ritchiepage2001newaccount]

Project2025 #CorpMedia #Oligarchs #MegaBanks vs #Union #Occupy #NoDAPL #BLM #SDF #DACA #MeToo #Humanity #FeelTheBern

JinJiyanAzadi #BijiRojava Raqqa largely liberated, Rojava revolution holds commune elections [UPDATES]

The flags of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and Shengal Women's Units (YJS) were planted in the city centre of Raqqa, which had been the capital city of ISIS, on September 14…

RELATED UPDATE: Şîrîn Mihemed serves the Rojava Revolution with her pen and voice

RELATED UPDATE: Lessons From Rojava for the Paradigm of Social Ecology

RELATED UPDATE: SDF arrests ISIS leader in Raqqa

RELATED UPDATE: Kongra Star expresses solidarity with the resistance of women in India

RELATED UPDATE: Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison in Germany

RELATED UPDATE: American troops, Syrian Democratic Forces capture ISIS leader behind prison break

RELATED UPDATE: [VIDEO] US captures ISIS leader in Syria

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4859156-us-captures-isis-leader-in-syria/

RELATED UPDATE: 5th Children's Festival continues in Raqqa

FURTHER READING:

[hexjulia]

Historians calculated the staggering value of colonial profit for Willem III (also king of England, Ireland and Scotland), Willem IV and Willem V for a report published at the request of the Dutch parliament last week before a widely expected apology over slavery from the Dutch king.

The study, State and Slavery, is the first to quantify the financial value to the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau of colonial trade that included enslaving at least 600,000 African men, women and children and between 660,000 and 1 million people from Asia to be tortured, exploited and robbed of their freedom and their names. It is a legacy for which Willem-Alexander is expected to present a formal apology in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark on 1 July, the festival of Keti Koti (breaking the chains), 150 years after Dutch slavery in effect ended.

The €545m equivalent exceeded the money that the rulers, known as Stadhouders, took as heads of the state and military. Between 1675 and 1770, William III netted 1,094,998 guilders in his share of profits from the Dutch East India Company – the equivalent of €196m today.

[multidimensionalguidance]

Organize Your Life With Astrology 🗂️

Most of the knowledge that we can accessibly find online on Astrology is usually related to self knowledge or self development, but not necessarily the ways that we can apply cosmic knowledge to benefit our day to day.

There’s a series of tips I’m actively working on, and results I’m looking forward to sharing soon that have me all giddy and excited. Now, today in particular it will be about a topic that is far from new, yet shouldn’t be overlooked when learning Vedic Astrology. To me this is Panchang, specifically, the Nakshatra of where the Moon is located in on a daily basis.

Just with these two concepts, you'll be able to completely change your everyday life from stagnant to fluid, but first, let me briefly explain these terms below 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Panchang is the astrological daily calendar based on the Indian calendar. It is one of the most popular reference for astrologers and people of the Hindu community who rely on a day's planetary position to determine auspicious timing, festivals, etc. Nakshatras on the other hand, are the 27 lunar mansions or sectors along the ecliptic which delivers us unique and specific lessons through the stories of its ruling deities.

In general, Panchang and nakshatrashas have a lot of information that requires a certain comprehension of India's culture and religion, so I do not advise blindly jumping into making any assumptions without informing yourself properly.

In order to start applying Vedic astrology in an efficient yet respectful manner start by paying attention to the daily nakshatra, learning a bit about its general information, and noting down the situations that occur in your daily life that aligns with the themes of said lunar mansion.

For example:

Between July 9th-10th I was feeling a strong urge of unwinding and relaxing in a spa, but wasn't sure about what day would be best for it. I immediately looked up the Moon's nakshatra and saw that it was in Leo, specifically in Purva Phalguni nakshatra which is ruled by Venus. The themes of this lunar mansion are all about marriage, relaxation, luxury, resting, music, relationships, art, celebrities, etc.

Once I saw the favorable activities of this nakshatra and noticed how it aligned perfectly with what I already wanted to do, I said "f*ck it" and chose a random Spa that I felt called to. Mind you, this decision making occurred quickly, and once I got the place I had the best experience ever! 10/10 all across the board. The staff, design, amenities, treatments, building, and even other clients doing some procedures like me were amazing. It was exactly what I needed.

Even the aesthetic of the entire spa matched perfectly the Leo and Venus energy the day was exuding. Take a look for yourself and make your own judgement 🤭✨ Royal blues, women sculptures, beautiful architecture and interior design. Even the sunlight entering fully through the entire space screams Leo ♌️🔥 with a Venus twist.

Now, think of all the moments where you’ve had to doubt yourself from what to do or how to arrange your week/month/year as best as possible. Well, staying in tune with the Moon's nakshatras (and Tithi's but that will be a topic for another entry) will prove to be a huge game changer in your life.

In Vedic Astrology, the Moon is one the (if not the most) important planetary influence when it comes to our mind and bodies. We can see immediate results within our near environment and ourselves (when aspecting your inner planets). So, once you're able to apply through actions everything you've learned and observed about nakshatras, your life will start aligning with the best possible results. You’re no longer unaware of how to make your everyday experience positive, no matter how big or small.

Hope this information becomes useful for those who aren't familiarized with it, eager to continue learning, but not sure how to apply it in practical terms. Remember to always stay curious! Experiment, test, and repeat until you feel confident on how to navigate your life while using any tool.

¡IMPORTANT!

I’m currently working towards paying off (3k left) my recent M.A degree in Psychology, so I will be open for all type of readings until I can meet that goal. Accomplishing this would be a huge milestone for me, and I truly appreciate in advance anyone that's interested in booking readings or showing support. Click here for more information about my services!

Also, if you'd like an artistic and personalized (to match your chart’s energy) Panchang calendar that has the Tithi's, daily nakshatras, favorable or unfavorable activities, and any other specific insights that could help you organize your days/weeks/months better all in one aesthetically pleasing way, DM me! 🌹✨

[pchuaymee]

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi in 2023! 💐🐘🥰

Today I will not tell about Ganesh Chaturthi in this year, becuz, I'm exhausted and I'm very busy to find more about the festival too. My reason is the festival maybe relative with historical in India (Or Bharat) too. So, I will tell about this festival in next year for I can find about fact more.

And here it is my song about the festival that I like to recommend, because, it is a song of movie name is "Don" which my favorite song while I'm painting it.