Odisha Divine Music Fest

This year's annual event of 'Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav' got inaugurated in Odisha a few minutes back. In this festival, performing artistes from different states in India, entertain viewers by letting them enjoy Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Grace through the artistes' performances.

Holi Fest

Yesterday was an auspicious day to Hindus in general and Vaishnavites in particular. It was celebrated as Holi Pournima. I think that today is celebrated as Holi with festivities to commemorate the Divine pastimes of Lord Shree Krishna, an Avataar of Shree Mahaa Vishnu, in many regions of India and on a global scale in all regions with Hindu population.

As a person who worked in Bhutan for a few years, I have always shared an interest in the region including countries such as Nepal, with strong historic ties with India (besides the important fact that Nepal is the birth place of Seethaa Devi, consort of Lord Shree Raam, an Avataar of Shree Mahaa Vishnu). I had the joy of viewing thid year's Holi Fest on Nepal 1 TV Channel.

Charleston and it's Afro-Americans

As a travel enthusiast in my younger days and a fan of travel documentaries at present, I have always liked books and other media on travel. In this way,  Foxlife TV  Channel has been of much interest to me. 

I had the pleasure of watching a program titled 'Padma Lakshmi's Taste of the Nation' in the channel. It featured Charleston, South Carolina, its people and their food. More importantly it gave an insight into how Afro-Americans in the city have contributed to the city's history. 

Such programs are like reading Mark Twain's novels. 

The program reminded me of my good looking caucasian penpal from this historic city, during my college days. I have written about her in my earlier posts.

International women's day

The United Nations Organisation has designated today as International Women's Day. 

Divine Discourse

This afternoon I could derive from joy by viewing Shree Indradev Saraswathiji Maharaj's divine discourse on 'Shreemad Bhaaghavath Kathaa' on Sanskar TV Channel.

Mahaa Shiva Raathri

Today is a very auspicious day to Hindus all over the world. This day is celebrated as Mahaa Shiva Raathri. Vaishnavites like me among the Hindu community use this day to worship Shree LakskshmiNaaraayana who resides in the heart of Lord Shiva.

Ekaadashi

Yesterday was a very auspicious day in the Hindu almanac. It was Dashami and Ekaadashi. Today, devotees observe fasting as revered respect to Shree Mahaa Vishnu, our Divine Father.

Divine Discourse

This evening, in his Divine Discourse 'Bhaagavath Katha' meaning 'The Divine Story of Shree Mahaa Vishnu' on Sanskar TV Channel, Poojya Bhai Shree Ji explained as to how the sacred river Gangaa is "the Supreme Reality in liquid form".

According to Scriptures,  Mekong, the river that flows through many countries in South East Asia including Cambodia, got it's name from the sacred term 'Maa Gangaa" meaning 'Mother Gangaa'.

Seetha Fest, Shree Raam Temple and Mr Seshacharyulu

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu almanac. This day is celebrated as Seetha Jayanthi (meaning 'Seetha Devi's birth anniversary). On this day, the Divine Mother and Her Husband Lord Shree Raam are offered special worship.

Following image shows a Kondapalli doll of Lord Shree Raam with His wife Seetha Devi and His brother Lakshman; Hanumaanji, the greatest devotee of Lord Shree Raam offers his humble respects  to the Divine Parents.

(I remember my visit to Kondapalli, a small village near Vijayawada, alongwith Mr Seshacharyulu, my colleague at Nalanda Vidya Niketan. Mr Seshacharyulu was the Head of the Department of Sanskrit in the school. He and his brothers were taking care of Shree Raam temple in a village known as Ibrahim Patanam, on the outskirts of Vijayawada, known as the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh. He was a very simple nice gentleman and a scholar in Sanskrit and Telugu. He used to be popularly known as 'Ditta kavi'. 

I tried to access a photograph of him from my computer. But when I upgraded my Computer Operating System from Windows XP to Windows 7 at Hulett Packard Sales and Service Centre in Kodambakkam area (Chennai), although I asked the technician to transfer all data into the upgraded version, it was not done and thereby I lost much data. 

However, I could access a photograph of this gentleman from Google Search a few minutes back; following group photo taken nearly two years back in Vijayawada at a School function shows Mr Seshacharyulu (Standing third from right):

Demise of Mrs Lalitha Bharathan

Indian cinema in general and Malayaalam language cinema in particular have lost a versatile, gentle and talented actress with the demise of Mrs Lalitha Bharathan last night. As Mammootty, the famous Malayaalam film actor said in his tribute, she was one of the finest actors in the Malayalam cinema.