Random 1.0

1. Triple Planet Huddle: Like the tip of a cosmic arrow pointing toward the heavens, three bright, star-like planets form a distinct triangular pattern in the darkening skies above the Himalayas in the last week of May.

Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter slowly converged just above the northwestern horizon over the course of a few weeks. But their proximity as seen from Earth is an optical illusion, since the three planets are actually separated by hundreds of millions of miles.

Sunlight reflecting from the surface of Mercury takes just over nine minutes to reach our planet. And light on a one-way trip from the gas giant Jupiter to Earth takes nearly 51 minutes to reach us.

2. Monsoon is here:

3. A peacock atop a Gulmohar tree:

4. The peacock celebrates the advent of the rains:

5. Gulmohar ('Gul' means 'Flower' and 'Mohr' is 'stamp'. However: "Gul" also means "Flower" and "Mor" means "Peacock" - and this seems more appropriate in summing up the physical appearance and beauty of this tree + flower. The latter is also known as Krishnachura or Krusnachura (Bengali/Oriya: crown of Krishna). And Krishna is the Eternal Peacock (Mayur).

6. The Milky Way curves through the night sky over Figueroa Mountain, California:

7. Squirrel (Kathbedali) and Polash Phool (Flame of the Forest):

8. Everyone likes coffee :)

9. Rainbow:

10. Narkel Naru:

11. Dance like this:

12. The Jadukor from Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen: 

13. Bhooter Raja Dilo Bor - Hirok Rajar Deshe:

14. Amor Shristi: Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen:

15. Sonar Kella - Unth ki kanta bechhe khaye?

16. Sonar Kella:  Topseda, Mukul aar Feluda:

17. Paye podi baghmama koro nako raag mama, tumi je e ghore ke ta janto... Hirok Rajar Deshe:

18. Lokkhi Pyancha (Lakshmi Pyancha - the Barn Owl or Common Barn Owl): Considered very auspicious. 'Vaahan' of Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi (the consort of Shri Maha Vishnu). ['Vaahan' - not to be taken literally, 'coz 'Garuda' or Eagle - Shri Maha Vishnu's 'vaahan' - is not the bird per se.]

19. Howdy?!

20. Baghmama - Shantoshishto lyaj-bishishto:

21. But most importantly: Laugh!

Pictures: Pics #3 and #4 courtesy: Mr. D.K. Vasudevan.