Born Again...

Hi world (hi googlebot :-)), I have not been successful in my pratigya of one post daily....lots to say, but when it comes to penning it down, a really nice excuse comes up (my perennial fav is my writer's block, which I am beginng tosuspect, is really a case of laziness to write).
But a major event occured, which I must be share. I was born to a Brahmin household, but am not a Brahmin - at least I wans't, till now. Today I have my Janeu ceremony, and so, am a certified bona fide Brahmin...Yay!!!
Personally, I am not the religious kind. I don't pray, I don't rarely visit temples, and the only reason I don't eat non-veg on tuesdays is because I told my mommy dearest that I would not do so. But even then, I have realised that I am quite the traditionalist. I value my tradition, where I am coming from, and all the values that these traditions mean. It is for this reason that I value my Janeu thread and what it stands for. It does come with riders though, I cannot listen to songs, except bhakti songs (a rule already broken as I am writing this post while listening to songs on the comp), should not look at sunrise and sunset (I work in a call center, dude!!), must not curse (ohfercryinout.....OH FU.....Crap!!! this will be difficult), must not look at a bald woman (I think I might be able to do that) or a woman who has cut her hair (hmmm, better start practicing walking with my eyes shut).
The ideal age for a janeu is 7 years old, and I can see why. Cross the age of 13, and each of these rules becomes difficult to follow.
The ceremony itself was a short one, and was over in one hour. I was able to understand most of what happened, right from the invocation of the gods till the time I ask for the bhiksha. Post ceremony, I didn't feel any different, but I realise there must be more to this...