Baisakhi- Ram Navami Weekend in Delhi

Hi All,

Today is Ramnavami- the end of Navarata, following the harvest festival of Baisakhi in the Punjab and the beginning of the Tamil New Year(April 13).Most religions prescribe a strict code of restrictions in the matter of eating and drinking during holy periods. Nvaratra is the most liberal, I think. Allowing those observing the fast to eat, fruits,most vegeatbles, dry fruits, milk products and even breads ( Puris and Kachauris) fried in Desi Ghee made out of non cereal Attas ( flour) like Kutoo and Singhara.How can a devout Hindu be deprived of either salt or dessert, even for a few days. So Sendha Namak( rock salt ) is allowed and Makhane Ki Kheer for Hindus with a sweet tooth during the Navaratra ( 9 nights) fasting period. It is truly a boon to be born a Hindu. A totally liberal religion without physical or mental rigours!!

I stepped into the hallowed portals of the Delhi Public School ( RKP)the flagship of the DPS world wide network of High Schools located not far from where we live, for the second time last weekend..The first was in 1985 when I had gone to meet with the then Principal Mr R S Lugani to pursue him to admit our two sons in the 3rd and 5th grades, unsuccessfully. Both, however, did study there (free of cost) thanks to my wife being selected to teach in it's Junior Branch at East of Kailash.The DPS( RKP,) has over the years earned and preserved the formidable reputation of being the leader in a fiercely competitive academic world of Indian Schooling.

I was to pick up my wife who was attending a workshop for Teachers on the weekend.
Instead of waiting in the car outside , I decided to walk in- more out of curiosity than anything else.The building is less imposing than the school's reputation. But the small garden was neatly and aesthetically maintained. The playing fields located in the rear couldn't be seen.Well I am glad that I finally managed to get a glimpse of the premises where both our sons did their entire schooling and my wife has been teaching for over two decades.I wonder though why I was not invited to their Annual Sports Day and the various other cultural activities,as my aprents were to my school.

Delhi is becoming warmer by the day, but early mornings and late evenings are still pleasant. The winter annuals at home are surprisingly still doing well, particularly the Petunias, the Dahlias and Asters. The pictures carried in this Blog taken this morning are proof of this.

We saw " Khuda Ke Liye" in the matinee show at Satyam, Nehru Place yesterday. The first Pakistani movie to be released in India after many years.It's bold and sends several strong messages across the continents. The story on how those professing liberal Islam are caught between pressures of the fundamentalists among whom they have to live and survive, and the mistrust of the western world. The Sufi musical scores, though few, are beautiful. The US Law Enforcement autohrities and the hardline Mullahs preaching hatred in the name of religion have both been painted in deep black colour." All Muslims are not terrorists" pleads the Pakistan hero being tortured in a Chicago police interrogation Centre. " But why are all terrorists Muslims," asks the interrogator. All in all, a well directed, powerful movie with a strong appeal to audiences in the Sub-Continent.

Anther long weekend ahead. Thanks this time to Lord Mahavir, whose Jayanti falls on Friday April 18. Long live Lord Mahavir , Jainism and "Indian" brand of secularism which honours all religions alike by declaring a holiday for it's overworked Babudom, irrespective of the religion they profess, on Birth Anniversaries of their Prophets and Gods. "Ishwar Allah Tero Naam Sabko Sammati de Bhagwan"


That's all for this week.


Love and all the best for the week ahead.