Sanskar has always been one of my favourite TV channels due to their religious content. This morning there was a nice rock music performance by 'Madhav Rock Band' consisting of Krishna concious youngsters singing "Krishna my Hero". The song featured dance by children in praise of The Almighty. I think that children need to be exposed to such programs instead of trash ones that are featured in our TV programs today.

New year's day

Today is the beginning of Tradisional new year for Kannada, Telugu and Marathi speaking people. My best wishes for the day to those who celebrate this day. According to Vedic Scriptures, this is the day on which the 9 day battle between Good and evil (between Lord Shree Raam and demonic Raavan) began and ended with the Lord's Victory. The day on which the battle ended is celebrated as Shree Raama Navami by Hindus all over the world.

Orange peel chutney

As I write this post, I am viewing 'Seasoning the Seasons' on NHK WORLD. It an interesting program  (like many on this channel) explaining 'Mikan' (a local citrus fruit resembling Orange).

At this time I fondly remember my beloved mother who used to cook delicious chutney from orange fruit peels.

As I write this post, I have the pleasure of viewing 'Direct Talk' on NHK WORLD TV. It is an interesting program with an interview with Ivan Penn, a young Afro-American journalist. The program includes a lot of material on American Civil Rights movement and works by Afro-American leaders like Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I remember my first ever article published nearly 50 years back in my College Magazine when I was a teenaged student working for my first degree. The inspiration to write the article entitled 'Racial Discrimination' came from the the circumstances in the US at that period of time. 

It is a well known fact that Dr Martin Luther King Jr himself was inspired by Mahaatma Gandhiji and Gandhian values.

Shree Thyaagaraajaa Fest and Kumbh Mela Fest

Today is one of the most important days in the Sanaathana Dharmaa (Hindu) calender. This day, reveredly known as 'Ekaadashi', occurs twice every month. I have described the significance of this day in my earlier posts.

A few days back, annual aaraadhanaa of Shree Thyaagaraajaa (one of the three most revered classical music composers and singers from Thanjavur district in Tamilnadu) was performed with classical musicians from all over the world at Thiruvaiyaaru. The fest went on in different places in the country and abroad.  Shree Thyaagaraajaa was not only a revered composer,  musician and singer, but also a great devotee of Lord Shree Raam. He was also blessed with the Dharshan of Lord Shree Ram and His Consort.

Another event that is inexplainably divine is the Mahaa Kumbh Melaa Festival that is being celebrated in Prayaagraaj  (Formerly Allahabad), where three divine rivers Gangaa, Yamunaa and Saraswathi meet. It is a great treat to view saints and experts under one roof delivering religious discourses and performing satkarmaas. 

As I am waiting for my fracture to heal further, I have decided to move in to a Senior Citizens' Home as soon as my orthopaedician gives his green signal after review on Wednesday.  Meanwhile it is comforting to receive calls from friends and well wishers including fellow patients at the hospital where I was admitted. I remember what my beloved mother used say: "If we are good to others, others will be good to us."

Blessing in disguise

As I write this post, I am in the inpatient ward of a local hospital canvalescing from a knee fracture a few days back. By God’s Grace, I am considered to be fit for discharge tomorrow.

I will miss the kind hospital staff, fellow patients and their attendants who had always been there to extend their physical help to me though my brother used to visit me once or twice daily and help physically in all possible ways whebever I needed, as usual. Despite her family commitments my sister too helped by being in the hospital for two days.

These few days kept me somewhat occupied, thanks to mobile based Internet and gadgets such as UTube.  I could derive the pleasure of listening to programmes of least importance (eg. Softrock) as well as those of most importance (eg. Devotional songs by Anup Jalota and K J Yesudas).

Vaamana Jayanthi

Past friday was an auspicious day in the Hindu calender. This is the day on which The Almighty Shree Hari descended on the earth billions of years back in His Vaamana Avataar and blessed king Mahaa Bali, the grandson of Prahlaadhaa, the greatest devotee of Lord Narasimhaa.

My beloved father's death anniversary

Today is the death anniversary of my beloved father according to Hindu calender.  As I had to go to Ashram to get the ritual performed, I didn't have time to write this post in the morning. Today is also the his birthday according to the English calendar. I  fondly remember him and my beloved mother who had always been a support to him.

 

Supreme Court's shirking responsibility and Public Administraion's perverted decision

We all know that recently our Supreme Court washed away it's responsibility of conducting trial on the case of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins and passed on the task of deciding as to whether to release them or to keep them in custody, to Tamilnadu Government.  Yesterday the TN Government decided to release them.

Any even minded good person will know that this is a dangerous move. I just don't understand how such things happen. I think that Mr Modi and his team or the President of India should intervene to avert such bad practices.  I think that people should stage rallies against wrong doings such as these. Criminals deserve severe punishment across barriers such that they don't dare to even imagine committing  crimes again.