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Hello All,

I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........

A very happy, prosperous and joyful Ugadi/Gudi Paduva/Baisakhi/New year wishes (27/03/09).

Ugadi means, 'yuga' (era) + 'aadi' (beginning); the start of an era. This is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term ‘Ugadi’ for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, ‘Gudi Padwa/Gudi Paduva’. Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New Year day ‘Cheti Chand’. In Punjab and Haryana, for Sikhs, it is ‘Baisakhi’ (originally Vaishakhi); in Kerala it is called as ‘Vishu’; in Assam this day is called ‘Bihu’ and in Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as ‘Puthandu’. Also, as ‘Poila Boishakh’ in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, as well as by people in Tripura.

It is an ancient harvest festival in many regions, which also marks beginning of a new year, and new harvest season. People in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Sindh region celebrate it on the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra (generally, first week of April – April 6th/7th) where as it is celebrated in mid April (April 13th/14th) in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Assam, West Bengal and other regions of the country.

Ugadi/Yugadi is celebrated on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar (which indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year). The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March/April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. In the terminology used by the lunar calendar, Yugadi falls on Chaitra Shudhdha Paadyami or the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra. This generally falls in the month of March or April of the Gregorian calendar.

Vasanta Navaratri (literally - The 9-night Spring festival) starts on this day, Chaitra Shudhdha Paadyami and culminates nine days later on Sri Ramanavami which falls on Chaitra Sudhdha Navami. On this day of Yugadi, people traditionally gather to listen to the recitation of the religious almanac (Panchaangam) of the coming year, and to the general forecast of the year to come. The day begins with ritual showers (oil bath) followed by prayers, and then the sumptuous feast along with a special dish, a specific mixture of -

1) Neem Buds/Flowers for Bitter
2) Raw Mango for Tangy/Umami
3) Green Chilli for Hot/Spice
4) Jaggery/Sugar for Sweet
5) Tamarind Juice for Sour
6) Pinch of Salt for Salt

This mixture with all six tastes is called "Ugadi Pachhadi/Pickle" in Telugu and "Bevu-Bella" in Kannada, symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise), which should be accepted together and with equanimity.

Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter and umami
All the six with a mix make one’s life yummy
Each of these has its own esteem and taste
None of these can be termed as a waste
These basic components depict states of life
From the start till the stall, in small or rife
Every person will have his or her own share
But should handle the times with utmost care
Treating them with balance is challenging
Winning them treats us with the zing thing
Troop would say hail ‘the queen’ or ‘the king’
Swoop the way and sail on the success wing…

Many many happy returns of the day.

All the best and take care….

With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.

# posted by Srikanth @ 2:30 PM 11 Comments

Hello All,

I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........

A very happy and serene, joyful and divine Milad-Un-Nabi wishes (09/03/09).

Mawlid (Eid Milad un Nabi - Mevlid in Turkish - “Birth of the Prophet”) is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. The origins of the observance can be traced back to the Fatimid dynasty in eleventh century Egypt, four centuries after the death of Muhammad as a Shia ruling class festival. The term Mawlid is also used in some parts of the world, such as Egypt, as a generic term for the birthday celebrations of other historical religious figures such as Sufi saints. Mawlid is derived from the Arabic root word, meaning to give birth, bear a child, descendant.

Milad-Un-Nabi is celebrated on the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad, the Last Prophet/Messenger of God of Islam. Sunni Muslims celebrate this Five (5) days earlier to the day on which Shia Muslims celebrate this festival. Shias observe the event on the 17th of the month, coinciding with the birth date of their sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq, while Sunnis observe it on the 12th of the month. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year. The earliest accounts for the observance of Mawlid can be found in eighth-century Mecca, when the house in which Muhammad was born was transformed into a place of prayer by Al-Khayzuran, mother of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth and most famous Abbasid caliph. Public celebrations of the birth of Muhammad did not occur until four centuries after his death. It was originally a festival of the Shia ruling class, not attended by the common people, with the first official Mawlid celebrations occurring in Egypt towards the end of the eleventh century. The Fatimids were descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah.

The early celebrations included elements of Christian and Sufic influence, with animal sacrifices and torchlight processions along with public sermons and a feast. The celebrations occurred during the day, in contrast to modern day observances, with the Fatimid ruler playing a key role in the ceremonies. Emphasis was given to the Ahl al-Bayt (an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family) with presentation of sermons and recitations of the Quran. The event also featured the award of gifts to officials in order to bolster support for the ruling caliph.

The first public celebrations by Sunnis took place in twelfth-century Syria, under the rule of Nur ad-Din. The practice spread throughout the Muslim world, assimilating local customs, to places such as Cairo, where folklore and Sufic practices greatly influenced the celebrations. By 1588 it had spread to the court of Murad III, Sultan of the Ottoman empire. In 1910, it was given official status as a national festival throughout the Ottoman empire. Today it is an official holiday in many parts of the world. Among non-Muslim countries, India is noted for its Mawlid festivities. The relics of the Muhammed are displayed after the morning prayers in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir at Hazratbal shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar. 'Shab-khawani' night-long prayers held at the Hazratbal shrine are attended by thousands of people.

Milad Mubarak….

Many many happy returns of the day.

All the best and take care….

With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.

# posted by Srikanth @ 1:47 PM 3 Comments

Hello All,

I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........

A very happy and honoring Women's Day wishes (08/03/09).

International Working Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8th every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is an occasion for men to express their concern, love and respect to the women around them and in their lives, in a way somewhat similar to Raksha Bandhan, Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.

Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc/a group of countries in special alliance). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. It is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts. In some countries (such as Romania) it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The first IWD was observed on 28th February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it came to commemorate the 1911 ‘Triangle Shirtwaist Factory’ fire. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. By urban legend, women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8th March 1857 in New York City. The garment workers were protesting against very poor working conditions and low wages.

More protests followed on 8th March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen by the ‘Second International’ and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin. The Second International (1889–1916) was an organization of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris on July 14th, 1889. Among the Second International's most famous actions were its (1889) declaration of May 1st as International Workers' Day and its (1910) declaration of March 8th as International Women's Day. It initiated the international campaign for the 8-hour working day. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on 8th March 1913.

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Following the ‘October Revolution’, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8th, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of outstanding merits of the Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in rear, and also marking the big contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and struggle for the peace".

After the collapse of the Soviet Union celebrations of IWD were abandoned in Armenia. Instead April 7th was introduced as state holiday of ‘Beauty and Motherhood’. However, people still kept celebrating IWD on March 8th as well and Public discussion held on the topic of two ‘Women’s Days’ in Armenia resulted in the recognition of the so called ‘Women’s Month’ which is the period between March 8th and April 7th. In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women. Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8th presents in Russia. In countries like Portugal and Romania, it is usual, at the night of 8th March, groups of women celebrate in "women-only" dinners and parties. In India, IWD holds a lot of significance. Many celebrations are held during the day. This portrays the power of women in the modern era and how vital their role is in the society. In 1975, which had been designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to and began sponsoring International Women's Day.

Many many happy returns of the day.

Women are not complete without men
And there are no men born without women
Balance and equality between both is a good omen
Let us all wish and pray for it to be forever…….amen!!!

All the best and take care….

With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.

# posted by Srikanth @ 9:20 PM 0 Comments