Ten Nights Fest

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Navaraathri Fest (Ten nights fest). Women in Hindu households set up dolls this evening and begin the Fest tomorrow. 

I fondly remember how my beloved mother prepared for the Fest. My beloved father, I, my sister and brother helped her in the process to some extent. I have described how we celeberated in a few previous posts.

Before shifting to my current residence, I was residing as tenant in the house of a retired Engineer. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, he and his wife are well qualified Engineers and are adorably simple and good natured.

After shifting residence, I phone to my landlord and his wife; they too phone to me some times. This evening I had a phone call from my landlord's wife on her own behalf and in her husband's behalf. As with all good friends, we inquire about each other's welfare.

This afternoon I received a photo of their dolls arranged for the fest. Following is the photo:

Advanced Nava Raathree wishes to them.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Sanathana Dharmaa Info

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. This is the last day of the 15 days long Pithru Paksha (also known as Mahalaya Paksha).  Ancestral worship is performed during this period.

Today is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Madhava Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu jeevoththama🙏

John Lennon's birthday

Today is the birth anniversary of John Lennon of The Beatles, the legendary  softrock band of 1960s and '70s.

I think that  people of my age at 75 will keep remembering songs written and performed by John and the other three guys (Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr).

I vividly remember the sunny morning on 8 December 1980, the day on which he was shot dead. I was home on 2 months long annual vacation from my work in Bhutan. I and my parents were in Tirunelveli, a town in Tamilnadu; we performed aayush homam for my beloved father's welfare. My brother was working in Tirunelveli as Senior Sales Representative in a popular FMCG Company. My sister was in her matrimonial home in Vellore.

That day was very important to me as it was the birth anniversary of Ramesh, my beloved brother. With heavy heart I remember my beloved brother.

The Beatles

Ramesh, my beloved brother 

Shree Krishnam Sarva Mayam🙏

Time management

Yesterday I booked for an auto (autorickshaw) to pick me up at 9.30 am this morning. I was ready by 9.20 am. At 9.40 am, the auto guy said "Aiyaa, I'll come in 15 minutes after dropping my brother at his school". This kind of lack of time management is unfortunately very common in our country. I think that mamy of us need to learn time management from westerners.

Nana Patekar

Movie actors come and go; some are remembered by their fans for years. One such actor was Nana Patekar. As Shree Narendra Modi, our PM remarked in his condolence message, Nana Patekar has left a void in our movie industry. 

Online shopping oddity

A few days ago I placed an order for a lizard repellent plug in device as listed in Amazon website. The product details seemed to be satisfactory. I did receive the items but none of them worked well. Hence I wrote to Amazon that the items need to be returned to seller and my money, back to me. When I filled the option for return, following message appeared on Amazon webpage to my utter disappointment:

"NOTE: We aren’t able to offer policy exceptions in response to comments. Do not include personal information as these comments may be shared with external service providers to identify product defects."

Thus I lost Rs 499 from my hard earned financial resource.

Inffective e Governance

This evening I tried to update my address in my Aadhaar Card in their website. As it didn't work, I installed the App. As required in the App, I  entered my Aadhar Number and my RMN. The App prompted me to get  my face authenticated. I tried nearly 10 times. Every time it ended with the following message: "Time out". I experienced the same difficulty two weeks ago.

I don't understand how the Aadhaar App lacks quality and thereby puts people into difficulty. It is very very frustrating. 

I think that our Central Government is ineffective in such matters. They do need to fix such issues in a practical manner rather than just promising things glamorously and theoretically.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fests

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Being Wednesday, Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu is today's Presiding Deity. Being Dwaadashi, Shree Hari manifestation of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu is today's Presiding Deity. Devotees offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Vishnu today.

Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi 

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. It is known as Sarvesham Ekaadashi or Indira Ekaadashi. Shree Mahaa Vishnu devotees fast on this day, meditate on Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi on this day. Devotees engage in spiritual activities strictly as laid down in our Sanaathana Dharmaa Scriptures.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Maadhwaa Saint

Tomorrow is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender as the anniversary of the day on which Shree  Vidyapayonidi Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Lord Shree Krishna in His Viswaroopa Avathaar

Krishnam Sarva Mayam🙏

Milestones in recent history

Today is a very important day in recent history of Bhaarath, our great country, as the birth anniversary of Gandhiji. 

I nostalgically remember my boyhood days when this day used to celeberated by all communities. 

I also remember my memorable visit to Gandhiji's Phoenix Aashram when I was working in Southern Africa in late 1980s and early 1990s. The Ashram was set up by Gandhiji.

It is odd that our successive Governments have not used his views on Basic Education in our School Systems properly.

Today is also the birth anniversary of Shree Lal Bahadur Shastriji, another great leader that our Bhaarath had.

All TV Channels in our country telecast programs about Gandhiji. One such was Amrita TV. In today's episode of 'Sandhya Deepam', the charismatic anchor explained how Gandhiji used the revered Bhagavath Geethaa in his own life.

Screenshot of today's 'Sandhya Deepam'

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Travelogue

It was pleasure viewing a travel program featuring Ireland on travelXP. I have had a special liking for Ireland as it is a relatively peaceful country unlike it's neighbour Northern Ireland. This country is the birth place of many poets, novelists and dramatists. This country's classical dancing traditions are immensely interesting as depicted in movies such as Titanic in which the hero, played by Leonardo, is a youngster from rural Ireland. 

I remember viewing this movie in Mahesh Reddy's house on a sunny afternoon in Chittoor in 1998. Mahesh Reddy was the CEO of Camford English Schools.

I joined their Senior School as Principal the next day. Chittoor has always had a special place in my heart as my birth place. My maternal grandparents were settled there.

Many formerr US Presidents including J F Kennedy and Bill Clinton are said to be from Irish ancestry.

teavelXP TV Channel is an informative channel. Still, I don't like many of their shows that show half nude women and men. Such shows need to be banned.

Ancestral worship

Day before yesterday, I performed ancestral worship of my beloved parents and brother. As I mentioned in day before yesterday's post, worship is performed not only to ancestors but also to all others who passed away including relatives, friends and acquaintances. 

Although my beloved sister too passed away, according to Sanaathana Dharmaa Scriptures, I can begin performing the ritual for her only after one year goes by after her demise. In my next year's ritual I intend adding her and Naagamani maausee  (my beloved mother's elder sister) and Shree Balaji Rao (her husband). I like and respect them. My maternal aunt and her husband were very good, unlike other relatives of that generation. 

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Google's birthday

According to Google Doodle in Google , Info, Google celebrates it's birthday. As all of us know, Google has brought in numerous benefits to us. It has helped in many areas including Education.

Ancestral worship

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. It begins the 15 days long Mahaalaya Paksha. Ancestors, relatives and friends who have passed away are worshipped with specific spiritual rituals during this period. I performed the ritual for my beloved parents and beloved brother this morning.

My beloved parents 

My beloved brother 

En route the venue where I performed the rirual, I spotted a beautiful peacock as shown in the following photo amidst green plants:

Peacock is of special significance to Indians. It is our national bird. It is a vaahanaa of Shree Kaarthikeyaa, one of the sons of Lord Rudhraa. Most importantly, it is close to Lord Shree Krishna.

Lord Shree Krishna 

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Message from my niece

A few minutes ago Reshma, my niece (my beloved sister's younger daughter) sent a few photoes when Harish, her cousin (her paternal uncle's son) visited her family. Let me share the photoes as follows:

L to R: Baby Agasthyaa (Reshma's baby boy), Reshma, Harish and Murali (My sister's husband)

L to R: Satheesh (Reshma's husband) and others mentioned in the previous photo

Reshma and Satheesh work as Electronics and Communication Engineer and Mechanical Engineer turned IT Engineer respectively. I think that Harish works as an Engineer and is settled in the US. He is married to a caucasian girl and they have a son.

Toyota Corolla

As I am typing this post, I am viewing an interesting TV documentary 'INSIDE TOYOTA'.

Screenshot from the doc

Screenshot from the doc 

As a self driving car owner and driver who had driven my favourite Toyota Corolla 1.3 L for a few years when I was working in Southern Africa, I had first hand experiences with my indispensable car. When I returned to India, I liked to bring my car with me. But unfortunately Government of India had fixed 300% customs duty for any car new or used. Hence as it was not economically feasible, I sold my car in Southern Africa itself and bought a locally manufactured car after return from Southern Africa. 

I and my car in 1990

I and my car 1987

I still miss my Toyota Corolla. 

Shree Rudhra Paarvathi Fest

Tomorrow is a very auspicious in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Devotees perform Uma Maheswara Vratham on this day and offer special worship to Shree Rudhraa and His wife Shree Paarvathee.

Shree Paarvathee sametha Shree Rudradeva anthargatha Shree Lakshmi Narasimhaa🙏

Shree Paarvathee sametha Shree Rudradeva anthargatha Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Shree Paarvathee sametha Shree Rudhraa Devaa🙏

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Multicultural melting pot

This morning I had the opportunity of viewing two interesting documentary shows: One on DW TV and the other on Aljazeera TV. Both feaured multiculturalism. I tried to provide a link to the DW documentary in this post, but in vain; it was not listed even in DWTV'S 'Latest Episodes' and was not available on Utube.

The Aljazeera doc featured Africans and Indians recruited to work as slaves in sugar plantations in the Carribean. Despite the hardships that these people faced, Indians managed to preserve their cultural and traditions. 

Viewing the two documentaries was somewhat like reading a novel by Mark Twain.

I think that our youngsters should be guided to view such serials so that they can appreciate the values handed down by ancestors and follow them to this day.

Tigray in turbulence

This morning I heard a news report that violence has erupted again in Tigray region in Ethiopia. 

I nostalgically remember a few weeks of my stay in Makelle, capital town of Tigrai, along with my fellow country folks from India; we were teachers recruited to teach different subjects in Ethiopian Government Senior Secondary Schools. I remember our visits to restaurants, shopping centres and cinema halls that showed popular Hindi language movies from our country. 

I particularly remember one evening when I and Sebastian (Sebastian Perumcheril John), my Malayaalee colleague from Keralam, had our dinner at Abraha Castle, a castle turned restaurant. The gravy was vegetarian and made of green leaves. It was delicious. There was my favourite 'makkiatho' (strong coffee with milk).

I wish that peace returns to the region as early as possible.