Africa Fest

As I would have mentioned in my previous posts, I continue my interest in non-political news items in Africa and in countries in which I worked. 

This evening, it was interesting to view a WION TV Channel report on how Ghanaians celebrated their Juneteenth last week.

I remember having viewed an interesting BBC WORLD documentary on this aspect in 2008 or 2009 when I was working in Cambodia. I remember the then US President Barrack Obama's visit to a port town in West Africa from where Africans were taken as slaves to USA. 

Afro-American history a proof of how Afro-Americans suffered in those years. 

I remember having read novels such as 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer' by Mark Twain during my teens in 1960.

Maadhwaa Saints

Tomorrow is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa calender. It is the anniversary on which Shree Vadhindra Theerthaa and Shree Vidhyakanta Theerthaa attained the Lotus Feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Shree Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

International Yogaa Day

Yesterday was an important day globally in general and in Bhaarath Varsh (India) in particular. The day was celebrated as International Yogaa Day.

Although Yoga is being populaised and practised globally as an excercise for well-being, it's implications are far deeper, from our Sanaathan Dhaarmic point of view. Let me share an interesting article on this aspect here.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏

The Beatles

Today is the birth anniversary of Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles. Best wishes for a happy birthday to him.

Paul McCartney with Sithaar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar

My niece's baby son

Recently Reshma, my beloved sister's younger daughter, delivered a baby son. Let me share his photo as follows:

Sushma (My elder niece) and the baby

I think that in our day to day worldly life, next to parents, siblings are a great source of emotional support. 

Best wishes to the baby, his parents, Sushma, her daughters, and all close relatives🙏🙏.

Krishnam Sarva Mayam🙏

Japan TV Channel

NHK WORLD TV CHANNEL  telecasts many documentaries featuring Japanese culture and traditions.  One such is Core Kyoto.  In this morning's episode "Seven Lucky Gods...", it featured a few shrines in the country. It is amazing that many Japanese shrines have aspects of Hinduism in them.

Although Budhdhism began after Gauthama Budhdhaa was born, it became very popular in India as well as South and South East Asian countries. Tibet, Bhutan and places such as Ladakh follow one type of the sect whereas Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Srilanka etc. follow the other, with some differences in their rituals.

Having worked in Bhutan and Cambodia, two Budhist countries, I have personally seen how the old Hindu tradition of meditation is followed strictly in households and schools in Bhutan as shown in the following image:

When I was working in Bhutan, all K-12 Schools were Boarding Schools. There used to be mandatory meditation by students for at least two hours daily.

Similarly, I have seen how the ancient Hindu tradition of receiving food by Hindu monks from households is still being followed in Cambodia as shown in the following image: 

Bhutanese and Cambodians seem to be proud of their traditions. Our youth should learn a lesson from this from our great ancient Hindu angle.

Tamilnadu Government

There has been drastic reduction in the powercut frequency in our area in Chennai. According to a News Report, the new State Administration has come up with draft policies and implementation to fix issues. The newly formed Government in Tamilnadu seems to have made a good gesture in waiving loans taken by farmers. Farmers are backbone of any community.

Let us hope that Shree Vijay and his team continue on their newly formed right track.

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. This day is celeberated as anniversary on which Shree Satysandhatheerthaa reached the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna.

Our revered Uttaradi Mutt has released info about Shree Satysandhatheerthaa as follows:

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏

My friend Suresh

I have always had very few friends. One of them is Suresh, a very good gentleman. He comes from Iyer Brahmin parentage. He did his B Com Degree from Delhi University. His wife passed away a few years ago. He has a married son who is a chartered acountant. 

Suresh served as an Agent in Life Insurance Corporation of India. Yesterday he sent a nice message that he received an Award from LIC for his service. His parents and my parents were very good friends. I come from Maadhwaa Brahmin parentage.

Suresh

LIC Award that Suresh won

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Lumumba's Africa

After many weeks, Russia Today TV Channel telecast an epidode of Lumumba's Africa this morning. Prof. Lumumba explained how the Organization of African Unity was founded. I remember my visit to OAU and it's library in Addis Ababa in 1982 when I was working in Ethiopia. It was a memorable experience.