Happy Diwali 2013

Diwali is almost over but hey... good things and good deeds can be done anytime. This image is courtesy of JK YOG, I just removed the name of their organization digitally and published it on my blog. No copyright infringement is intended.

If I were in India it would have been one pig fest eating till my stomach busts, sweets, savories, etc. But then I am in America and don't even know any Indian families that celebrate these festivals well enough that I get invited to their place. Anyway festivals or not life goes on...

Confederate Hellcat: Motorcycle Inspired by The Mahabharata

Image Courtesy Wall Street Journal

It is rare that one comes across someone saying that they have been inspired by the Hindu Epic Mahabharata. Specially in the day when ridiculing everything that is connected to Hinduism, Hindu spirituality or Hindu Epics is a fashion. This morning I read an article in Wall Street Journal about a master motorcycle designer Ed Jacobs and was heartened to note that he derives his inspiration from "Arjuna the silver-bright and unconquerable charioteer (should have been warrior) in the Mahabharata" among others.

Ed Jacobs is the chief designer at Confederate Motorcycles a boutique that manufactures custom, aesthetically designed, two wheeled beauties. I read the entire article and was awe struck by the attention to detail that makes this motorcycle the beauty that it is. Confederate's X132 Hellcat is their latest offering which is priced at $45,000 is one beauty on two wheels that will make every bike lover go weak in their knees.

According to the article Ed Jacobs got his inspiration to design motorcycles after he visited India and rode the Enfield Bullet to the Himalayas. He decided to work and build beautiful motorcycles that are aesthetic, functional and unique. I am glad that at least this individual has acknowledged that he derived inspiration from the Hindu Epic Mahabharata.

I wonder how many Indian designers of any kind - be it motorcycle or software or car would even think of the Mahabharata as a source of inspiration and even if they did how many would acknowledge the fact. Because if they did, there is every likelihood that the Indian media would brand them "right wing Hindutva fascists."

In my next blog post on the same topic I will discuss how motorcycles made in India could get a more intimate feel by simply renaming the models. It goes around to make a statement that we are aware of our heritage and are rooted in our culture, which unfortunately I think India is fast loosing.

Happy Krishna Janmashtami

Today is Krishna Janmashtami... the birthday of Lord Krishna the supreme personality Godhead. If I were in India with my parents we would have celebrated the festival in a traditional way, but I am here in the US where the only festival celebrated is Christmas. Well you give some to get some....

This is the greeting card I received online from JK YOG a leading Hindu Non-Profit group here in the DFW area.

Holi The Festival of Colors

Holi the Hindu festival of colors is just round the corner. This year it is going to be celebrated on March 20, 2011. One of the unique features of this festival is the concept of smearing our family and friends with colors. Earlier the coloring was a predominantly North Indian concept but now it is a national festival celebrated the same way. This festival depicts the dawn of spring when new leaves spring up in plants, and there is a riot of color in the outdoors.

There are numerous legend associations to Holi but personally for me it signifies the vibrancy of Hindu heritage and culture that is unique and quite superior. A religious tradition that accepts diverse schools of thoughts and has an answer to pretty much every spiritual and philosophical question.

Hindu Pride.... Abysmally low....

Throughout my short life I have come across people of many religions. What makes everyone different from people of Hindu faith is the pride of followers or lack thereof. I have come across very few Hindus who are proud of their religious identity... more so if they are from India or those born in the United States. This is ironical because everything that has come from Hinduism is trendy, cool and sought after in the United States. Even in the so-called Bible belt of US Yoga is popular, meditation is trendy, Kirtan, chanting of Sanskrit mantras are popular.

When it comes to identifying oneself as a Hindu, there is a huge gap. People from India would rather identify themselves by their regional, linguistic, national, or caste identity rather than their larger religious identity. This is perhaps why even Europeans who have gotten attracted to Hinduism's philosophy are hesitant to say they are Hindus but say they like "Eastern Philosophies" better than "Western ideologies".

I wonder when Hindus will start taking pride in their religious identity?

An Exclusive Diwali 2010 gift for you!!!

Like I said in my earlier post Dasara/ Dushera, and Diwali are two of the major festivals celebrated by over a fifth of the world's population. Diwali is especially relevant to all Hindus/ Indians across the world. The festival has gained immense popularity and official recognition in several countries with a significant Indian population. In 2003 White House celebrated the Festival of Lights and the US congress accorded official in 2007. Now with over 2.5 million Indians living in America Diwali is one of the major celebrations in most major cities in the country.

Philosophically Diwali is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and love over hatred. The best way to celebrate this is by getting together with family, and friends. In America families get together for Thanks giving, in India Diwali is one of the major festivals when extended families get together.

Diwali is celebration of life, family, community, and relationships. This is the season of giving, to loved ones, family, friends, business associates, etc. In India large corporations wait for this season to launch new products so people will be motivated to buy. This trend has now extended into America with American Express pioneering the effort. The global services company has launched a new gift card designed for Diwali celebrations. I would say this is a great way to express your love to family, friends and associates who are celebrating this festival.

The American Express Diwali gift cards are available in numerous denominations of $25, $50, $100 and $200 and are available for a limited time. Now here is the chance of giving this card instead of cash along with the sweets. Cash is old fashioned, the American Express Diwali themed gift cards are the trend of 2011, but available in 2010.

Now here is your chance of winning a $100 Diwali Gift Card, right here in my blog. American Express has graciously agreed to let five readers of this blog receive $100 Diwali gift cards. There is a little catch though, you need to give the right answer to the question below: You could either post it as a comment in response to this blog or email me directly with your answer. If you are the winner you will receive an exclusively designed $100 Diwali Gift Card from American Express. That will add another $100 to your shopping budget this festival season.... Hurry, the last date to respond to this contest is October 14, 2010.

Diwali Quiz Question
The third day of Diwali is specially sacred because....
a. Lakshmi the goddess of wealth is worshipped
b. Lord Vishnu rid the world of Evil by killing Narakasura
c. Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile

Choose the right answer and like I said either email me the answer or post it as a comment here.

This offer is exclusive for residents of United States. If there are more than one correct answers, winner will be chosen by draw of lots.

Heartening News from India

I have been following the Ayodhya dispute since it hit the national headlines in the 1980s. It is good to see some sort of a verdict from the courts on the issue now, finally. The mob had its say and did what it had to do, that was an angry, passionate, mob and the repercussions were not good for the entire country. But now after several years people have moved on, and there are other priorities in front of the nation's youth now. This is precisely the reason the courts have been able to deliver a reasonably fair judgment.

I am pretty sure the secular intelligentsia, media celebrities, and politicians are highly disappointed with the judgment. I am pretty sure now people of India are aware of the games the secular people play. That is why there has been no riots and trouble after the judgment.

Personally speaking I am happy with the judgment. The courts have responded to the sentiments of the hither-to beaten down majority of India. They have upheld the sanctity of a holy space for Hindus even while showing token respect (or appeasement) to the Muslim Invader and his descendents who ruled India for several centuries. I hope this will continue and Hindus will gain more respect not only in India but across the world.

Hinduism Summit at Chicago

The Forum for Hindu Awakening is conducting a Hinduism Summit from April 24, 2010 at Chicago, IL. The aim of this summit according to the organizers is to "promote an understanding about the unique science behind Hinduism concepts and practices, and provide practical guidance on living Hinduism...."

One of the good results of living in a foreign country for Hinduism is that Hindus here are willing to come to a common platform forgetting their caste, region, heritage, guru, philosophy, etc and discuss the religion in general.

Unfortunately in India though a Hindu-majority nation, this kind of summits are rarely held and even when they are conducted they tend to be dismissed as some "RSS-type event" and touted as a "Hindu Fundamentalist event" by the mainstream left-inspired media. Caste based and narrow group based events are encouraged across the country.

Luckily in the US a new Hindu Awakening is possible and hopefully all Hindus will come together as one strong group rather than weak fragments. I will not be attending this event in person but will get updates on the web and keep myself informed.

Hanuman Jayanthi Celebrations in Dallas

Since yesterday the Datta Yoga Center has been celebrating the Hanuman Jayanthi festival. The actual birthday of the Simian God is tomorrow March 29, 2010. Today was an attempt to chant the Hanuman Chalisa 1008 times. I could not be part of the chanting because of work schedules but did chant the Hanuman Chalisa once today.

I would say the Hanuman Temple at Frisco, TX in DFW Metro area is one of the grand Hindu shrines here. This is also perhaps the most dynamic shrine, with numerous activities to educate American-born children about Hindu culture, traditions, languages, scriptures, Sanskrit holy chants etc. Whenever I visit the temple I feel as if I am back in India for the few minutes I am in there.

The organizers did a great job in putting together this event.

Kashmiri Hindus Suffering Silently since two decades

Islamic Terror reared its ugly head in India way back in the late 1980s. It was masquerading in the guise of freedom fighters of Kashmir who wanted to separate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the republic of India. It was and probably continues to be supported by the Muslim majority of the state.

On 19th January 1990, terrorism became so rampant that hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Hindus didn't have any option but to leave their homes and become refugees in their own country. Their homes were plundered by marauding neighbors, Hindu men were killed mercilessly and women were raped and tortured in the most inhuman manner possible. The then ruling congress government instead of taking stringent military action against the terrorists told the Kashmiri Hindus to move to makeshift refugee camps in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country.

A majority of these refugees continue to live in these camps as refugees in their own country. The local and national government or the human rights agencies doesn't seem to be concerned about the plight of these displaced people.

Now across the world this day is being celebrated as the Kashmiri Hindu Exile Day I wonder when the world will stand up and take notice of the untold atrocities being inflicted upon Kashmiri Hindus by the Islamic terrorists in their homeland and the apathetic government in India. These people certainly deserve to be given their basic human rights.

Happy Makara Sankra & Pongal

Today is Makara Sankranti and Pongal Festivals, a festival that is associated with the movement from darkness to light. Today is the day when the sun begins its northward motion. When I was in India I didn't really bother to celebrate the festival to the fullest extant, but now being in the US there is little opportunity to participate. Moreover whatever one does the ambiance is never right here. A Hindu festival is best enjoyed in the land where it originated, i.e. Bharat/ India.

I can only make a resolution that next time I visit my home and if it is providentially during a festival I should participate complete in the celebrations. Here it is limited to customary temple visit, possibly eating out and maybe visiting some friends.

Festive Occasions Make Me Miss India the Most

The annual Indian (Hindu) festival season begins in July with the Varamahalakshmi Vratha and then continues on till November where there is the big bang of Diwali and then there is a brief lull in celebrations. Then again in January the festival season begins with Sankranti or Pongal and continues on to Rathasapthami, Shivrathri, and on to Ugadi.
Hindus in the United states celebrate these festivals in a different manner adapted to suit the local circumstances. Deep inside every ardent Hindu's heart is this longing to go back to India and I am pretty sure this feeling doubles or triples or even quadruples during festivals. At least for me it happens, there is a general feeling of being lost in an alien land, where money matters more than people, materialistic possessions are more important than your ethics, where individual freedom and happiness is paramount and everything can be sacrificed/ given up to attain it.
Tomorrow is twin festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Upakarma. The former celebrates the brother-sister bond and the latter is when my dad always gave me nuggets of spiritual wisdom. Living in the US I don't have either for the second consecutive time. I guess there will be several more times to come...

Apt Message for Indians in general and Hindus in particular

One of the most fearsome realities of modern world is the threat of global terror... Global Islamic Terror... to be precise. Jihad in the name of Islam has disturbed the peace of several nations including Islamic theocracies. People cry out that few terrorists are giving bad name to the majority of peace-loving Muslims. Well maybe it is true, but I don't see any evidence. Why are Muslims supporting terrorists in places like Kashmir (India)? Why are there so few Muslims in the Indian army? The population of Muslims in India is about 23 percent, but they comprise less than 5 percent of the Indian army. Why? don't they feel patriotic about India? Or are they not interested in fighting against their Islamic brothers from across the border?
Anyway this post is not about them but it is more for us. Like it is said in the picture message... the world suffers because lot of good people don't do anything. That is precisely the message for Indian government and people. We are good people, focussed so much on economic advancement and development of the country that we fail to see the threat from across the border and from within. The threat of Islamic jihad... threat of unpatriotic populations who are happy to take arms against their home country and its majority populations.
Will Indians.... Hindus... ever learn????

India's National Flower comes under attack!!

Everything that is ancient, historical and related to Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism in India seems to be wrong in the opinion of scientists, secular politicians, forward thinking individuals. The media takes pleasure vicarious pleasure in bashing Hindus and Hindu practices at every possible pretext. Well this time it is India's National Flower and one of the most auspicious flowers for Hindus that is coming under attack. I read this newsreport on Times Of India in which the newspaper's reporters state that cultivation of Lotus plants are responsible for death of several tanks in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.

According to the article the lotus flower has become a menace in Kanyakumari, causing havoc to dozens of ponds and tanks depleting the ground water and thus leading to unbalancing the fragile ecology of the district. And these facts were revealed by none other than the Chairman of Nature Trust and a former principal scientist of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, R S Lal Mohan.

Since it comes from an eminent scientist I would say these findings might be true. But with Sonia Gandhi at the helm of the central government and a pro-Christian, anti-Hindu government in place in Tamil Nadu, I wonder if the research has been fixed?

The newsreport goes further to say that there were 3,500 tanks in the district during 1960s and about 1,050 had perished due to weeds and that weed is Lotus. I never knew that Lotus was a weed, and why does the eminent scientist refer to this as a weed and say that it has been cultivated in the same breath. When a plant is cultivated it ceases to be a weed, this is common sense. Weeds which destroy lakes are species of Water Hyacinth which thrive on surface of water and destroy lakes by cutting out oxygen supply. Lotus leaves also cover surface of water but they don't grow so dense and thickly as Water Hyacinth.

I wonder why scientists, governments, politicians, missionaires always tend to pick on Hindu practices, icons and beliefs constantly?

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