Fraudulent manufacturers and online atrocities

A few days ago I placed order for a wooden mandir to keep my idols and poojaa items via Amazon Online Store. The item did arrive but without any instruction manual to assemble the mandir. The package simply contained a few wooden pieces (like the ones ised in 2 D jigsaw puzzles) and a few nuts and screws. The item was not like what the manufacturer advertised in the Online Store; it was very misleading as shown in the webpage. I tried to assemble it from the image as given by the manufacturer and as shown in the following photo:

But my attempt was futile.

I placed an order for a headrest for my computer chair day before yesterday. Advertisement for this item too was misleading in the Online Store.

I conrinue trusting Amazon Online. But I don't trust fraudulent mamufacturers who mislead consumers.

Lord Shree Krishna Fest

Fifth Ratha Yaathraa of Lord Jagannaath (Lord Shree Krishna) is performed at ISKCON Attapur today. Different ISKCON Temples situated in many countries perform this sacred ritual on different days.

R to L: Lord Shree Krishna, Shree Shubhadhraa and Lord Shree Balabadhraa 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Raama Hare Raama 

Raama Raama Hare Hare🙏🙏

Good friends

In almost all Senior Citizens Homes, residents go to the dining hall to take their morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, evening coffee/tea and dinner. I had always preferred room service to this. Now I realise that dining hall is better as we have opportunities of meeting different kinds of people. When we meet good people, it reduces the lonliness level.

A few days ago, I mentioned about meeting a nice gentleman at the dining table. This afternoon during lunch time one fellow resident introduced her sister and niece who came to visit her. Her sister told me that the nice lady said that I am her best friend. I don't know whether I deserve her compliments. 

This morning, wife of the landlord, in whose house I was a tenant before moving to my current residence, phoned me and inquired about my health and how I am gettling settled in my new place. A few days ago her husband phoned me for the same reason. Both husband and wife are well qualified engineers and admirably good people. I phone my landlord sometimes inquiring about their health.

I remember my beloved mother's saying that if we are good to others, they will be good to us.

My beloved parents

Jai Shree Raam🙏

Lumumba's Africa

Being Friday, I could view 'Lumumba's Africa', my favourite programme on Russia Today TV Channel. In today's episode, Prof Lumumba explained how the French Government is still continuing to dominate African countries. 

(There are a few advantages like oases in deserts in colinisation. For example, I could attend French language classes at the Alliance Francais in Gaborone twice a week, wrire the qualifying exam for Certificate of Proficiency and obtain the Certificate without much difficulty. I and my friends could attend the classes in the evening after school. Gaborone was about an drive from my place of residence, thanks to the highway and my reliable Toyota Corolla 1.3L. I wish that such advantages continue and disadvantages sorted out).

TV Screenshot of today's episode

Hindu Fests

Today is a very auspicious in the Hindu Calender for the following reasons:

Today is Friday, the Presiding Deity of which is Shree Lakshmi Devi, our Devine Mother and wife of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

Today marks the beginning of Dakshinaayana.

Today sacred river  Bhaageerathee from the Himaalayaas manifests in the sacred river Thungabhadhraa in Southern India. 

Today is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Shushilendra Theerthaa and  Shree Keshava Wodeyaru attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

L to R: Arjuna and Lord Shree Krishna 

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Raam and Shree Krishnaa Fests

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender for the following reasons:

In Uttaradi Mutt, the age old tradition of Shree Raama Rathothsavaa (Festival in which Lord Shree Raam is seated in a decorated Chariot and taken in procession for devotees to have a dharshan of Him) is performed by Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt.

The sacred rituals related to Rath Yaathraa of Lord Jagannaath (Lord Shree Krishna), Lord Balabhadraa (Lord Balaram, elder brother of Lord Shree Krishna) and Shubhadhraa (sister of Lord Shree Krishna) is begun at Puri, Odishaa.

Priests adorning the wooden idols

 of 

Lord Balabhadraa, Shubadhraa and Lord Jagannaath

 at the Puri Temple

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Story writer on loneliness

This evening NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel's 'Direct Talk' featured Yogisawa Satoshi, a brilliant Japanese author. He has written a few stories on loneliness. Although I was known as a voracious reader during my school and college years, I had not read any of his stories. 

After my college studies, I continued my reading habit until a few years after the beginning of the current millenium (year 2002 or so) according to the western calender. I remember my almost daily visits to the British Council Library; it was about 10 minutes walk from the South India Regional Office of Macmillan India Limited. I had to visit the library as part of my job as Education Officer in MIL. This was a time when Internet's influence was beginning to change book reading habits globally.

This evening's spisode of 'Direct Talk' was of significant interest to me after having lost my beloved parents as well as siblings. As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, I can identify with lonely people. 

By the way, although I have liked many songs by The Beatles, I identify with their Eleonor Rigby for the past few years more intesnsely than ever before. Paul McCartney wrote the song. Following is a photo of the lyrics of the song as written by Paul:

Courtesy: Sir Paul McCartney 

I liked many songs by The Beatles such that I used to sing them in social gatherings of relatives and friends, when travelling in buses (such that only I could hear them), in unofficial meetings of senior officers in the Cambodian Ministry of Education, etc. The Beatles were the best softrock band of their times.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Shree Krishnaa Temple

As I was browing my mobile Net, it was joyful to visit ISCKCON Temple at Vadodara, Gujaraath. I fondly remember my visit to the Temple when I was working as Content Development Manager in Edukite Learning, a K-12 Elearning Materials Development Company, in Vadodara. 

I also fondly remember my visit to Raaghavendra Swaami Mutt at Vadodara; I was told that it was founded by respected Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of Uttaradi Mutt to which I belong. 

Raaghavendra Swaami Mutt, Vadodara

I  thankfully remember Shree Amarnaathjee, the autorickshaw owner and driver who took me to these places.

Lord Balabhadraa, Shubadhraa and Lord Shree Krishna 

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Sabarmathi Aashram

As I was viewing a travel documentary on Gujarat on TravelXP TV Channel this afternoon, it was interesting to hear that the famous Sabarmathi Aashraam was founded by Mahaathmaa Gandheejee with his twenty disciples at his Phoenix Aashram. I have mentioned briefly about my visit to Phoenix Aashram in a few previous posts.

In the late 1980s or so when I was travelling to South Africa from Vellore, my hometown in India, after terminal holidays, when I disembarked at Johannesburg International Airport on route the domestic airport near the town where I resided, my unaccompanied luggage didn't arrive. I was given transit accommodation at a hotel inside the airport and was asked to wait until my luggage arrived and then take the domestic flight. 

As I was waiting for my luggage, I happened to meet a South African Indian gentleman by name Bakul Patel. He said that his house was just in Suburban Johannesburg; he said that he would be glad to take me to his house; he said that I can stay as long as I wished and that I can leave for my town after claiming my missed luggage. He was very kind. He was one among the many very wealthy South Africans of Gujaraathi origin. During my 3 days stay, he took me to his parent's house and siblings' houses. It was nice to know that they followed our culture and traditions remarkably. 

During my stay there, Bakul's father took me to the Phoenix Aashram. It was a very memorable visit.

Gandheejee.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Mario Miranda

This evening, as I was browsing the online edition of Reader's Digest India, I came across an article on Mario Miranda. The article took me to my school and college days when I was a regular reader of 'The Illustrated Weekly of India', popular weekly magazine. The magazine used to contain 'Young Folks' League', a column for children contributed by 'Aunty Wendy'. Those were golden days.