Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations in Texas

Lord Krishna, the god of love with his consort Radha

Over the weekend we had been to Houston to participate in the well organized, colorful, and wonderfully scintillating Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations. The festival was organized by Hindus of Greater Houston, a non-profit organization formed to promote Hinduism and remove the popular misconceptions about the oldest religion in the world. The beauty of the event was that there was no fees charged either for visitors or for vendors who kept booths. The only condition however was that only Hindu non-profit organizations were permitted to have booths.

This was the first time I felt a Hindu presence in the United States. Temples and other spiritual locations apart this was the only ceremony which had a pure Hindu feel to it. Part of the feel came from the fact that everyone who entered the auditorium were asked to remove their foot wear as a mark of respect to the deities installed there. Nearly every large temple in Houston had their booth with a picture of their deity or the Utsav Murti. This was one place where we could a glimpse of various gods and goddesses in one place.

The ceremonies were quite similar to those festivities organized in ashrams of modern Hindu Swamis like the Prasanna Trust or Art of Living Foundation. The highlight of the evening was live performance by Ghazal Maestro Anup Jalota who held the audience spellbound by his rendition of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Rama and Krishna.

There were numerous other performances by children, Krishna costume competition and the event was capped up by a Dandia or community dance which went on for about an hour and half. The devotional evening started off at 5.30 pm and continued until 1.00 am. As I came out of the auditorium I was heady in the spirituality and felt really happy that at last I have participated in a proper Hindu festival celebration. I wish similar festivals could be organized in Dallas too and every other American city where there is a Hindu presence.

Ceremonial welcome to guests on a carpet flanked by traditional figures

The center of attraction a mega rangoli with Radha-Krishna idol in the center

Ghazal Maestro Anup Jalota rendering soul soothing devotional songs

Packed auditorium during Anup Jalota's performance

The band of Guruvaurappan temple getting ready for performance

Lessons from a Banyan Sapling

I captured the above picture on the mobile phone camera. There is nothing significant in this picture at a first glance. Depending on the eye of the beholder there is a pillar, asphalt floor, cars... yes it is a parking lot. This is the parking lot of DFW Airport. The reason for this plant attracting my attention is simple. The surroundings are completely hostile, but still a tiny seed has taken root and broken through the asphalt, concrete and tarmac to be precise and grown into a sapling. Whether it grows into a tree or not is not the matter of consideration. The fact that this tiny seed without anyone caring for it or watering it has been able to pierce through the earth, gather nutrients and grow to this extent proves its mettle and determination.
I had heard a quote earlier in my life "The greatest oak tree was once a tiny seed". That is what I feel a lesson for all of us, be resilient, determined and never let your eyes stray from your goal. Then like this sapling here we too will be able to pierce through all the obstacles and succeed in reaching our goal.
On a lighter note
Even the mighty America can't tame nature. Plants grow even in the most strongly built parking lots.

Home Pooja Pictures

I had blogged about Ganesha Chathurthi celebrations in DFW and how we participated in various places. This was a kinda test for me to remember what we would do while I was in India and try to replicate the same as closely as possible. Of course it would be difficult to arrange for 108 types of leaves and blades of grass here unless we lived in our own home with a backyard. Our worship was simple, it would have been better had my parents been here. Hopefully next year we'll be with parents either here or in India to celebrate the festivals.
Here are some pictures of the worship we offered at home.

Ganesha Festival Celebrations

Ganesha Idols on Sale at Taj Mahal Imports Today Hindus living across the continent of America celebrated the festival of Ganesha Chathurthi. While people like us performed simple to elaborate rituals at home with offerings of Modaks, fruits, and flowers. Hundreds of Hindus congregated with families at the several temples across the DFW Metro area to view, participate and offer ceremonial worship to the Universal Lord of knowledge.
Later in the afternoon we visited Taj Mahal Imports which in my opinion is the largest Indian store in the metroplex. The store had an array of Ganesha idols for sale which were being eagerly bought by devotees. Evening we participated in the exuberant celebrations at the University of Texas at Dallas. A group of Hindu students from India had got together and staged the festival in a simple but very devout fashion. I particularly liked the initiative of few students who had compiled a collection of songs in Marathi, Sanskrit and Hindu in praise of Lord Ganesha. Hymns in praise of Ganesha rent the air around the apartments and it was great to be part of this celebrations. This is a small saving grace for my life in the US.
Of course it is not necessary to mention that during these occasions the pain of separation from India, parents and family and the community with which I would celebrate the occasion, gets heightened. I guess it will continue to be there as long as I am here.

Ganesha Festival Celebrations

One of the things I miss about India being in the US is the multitude of festivals we celebrate back home. The ambiance of the entire country is transformed during these occasions. Here the Indian or rather I should say Hindu community is so small that it is barely visible. Hence except major festivals such as Diwali nothing else is celebrated.

Image via Wikipedia

Tomorrow is Ganesha Chathurthi when the lord of wisdom, knowledge and the remover of obstacles is worshiped. We visited the Ganesha Temple in Plano this evening and hope to participate in the ceremonial worship tomorrow.
Being a default volunteer of Sankara Eye Foundation, I am trying to participate in organizing a Fund-raiser Dandia event in September. In order to promote the event we visited one of the leading Indian grocery stores in the area Taj Mahal Imports and there I was elated to see a group of young students dressed in neo-traditional Indian clothes, wearing a saffron band on their foreheads chanting "Ganesha Bappa, Moraya". We chatted up with them and came to know that about 300 students are getting together in an apartment to celebrate the Ganesha festival tomorrow.
After a long time I saw something that resembles Indian festival ambiance. I am gladdened today.

Possible Causes of Swine Flu

Since we are talking about Swine Flu I thought it would be pertinent to discuss how and why this disease might have entered the human domain. Reportedly the first instances of the outbreak was found in Mexico from where it spread to US and then to the rest of the world. It is common to have pigs as pets in the US and I guess in Mexico too. People in the west are more demonstrative in their affections than those in the east. Hence the pictures below which received as an e-mail forward show how much love people give to their pet pigs. The mail lead me on a thought process and then I wondered if the excessive love for animals displayed by caring humans, especially the overwhelmingly affectionate westerners is one of the prime reasons for humans contracting Swine Flu??

I am no expert on veterinary science or in medicine and hence there is no technological thought or scientific inquiry for this analogy. This is just a thought which came into my mind after seeing the pictures on the forwarded e-mail.

Whether it provides a solution for understanding Swine Flu or not, the mail definitely brings a smile on our faces. The ultimate reason for life is happiness and jokes is one way to be happier than we are.

Mask Scarcity leads to innovative solution!

It is often amidst extreme adversity the most creative ideas flourish. I guess the latest pandemic to hit the world, Swine Flu has also spawned few innovative ideas. The Pandemic sweeping across the world is leading to a massive spurt in sales of surgical masks. Markets are sold out of masks and there is a growing demand for this protective gear. This couple obviously couldn't buy a pair of surgical masks because they were sold out. But being ultimately creative people they arrived at a unique solution and made up a pair of masks out of a single garment. Check it out...

Switzerland: The Year Round Travel Destination

My favorite hobby is travel and to be precise adventure travel to places with dramatic landscapes, rolling countrysides, mountains, fast flowing rivers, heritage monuments, and a rich culture of food and drink. This description sometimes seems too much and people say that it is difficult to get a destination that satisfies all these conditions. As for me I did one such location in the heart of Europe, Switzerland. I have made it my goal to Discover Swiss "Pearls" next year. An informational website about the country says that it has cultural influences from France, Germany and Italy.

Switzerland for me is about the memorable experiences it offers. I'd love to get into the activity of Making Cheese at Ticino. Swiss cheese is very delectable and if I can make it myself the high is definitely ultimate. In my religion bells play a very important role. The bell foundry in Berger, Barau, Switzerland offers a unique opportunity to visitors. We can cast our own bell by decorating sand moulds. Now that is what I'd call a unique experience. I would then go to the Medieval paper making plant to know how we could save trees. Then of course a visit to the cattle ranch to get close to the cows and finally cap my visit with a ride in horse carriage in Lucerne.

If you haven't been to Switzerland and are wondering where to go this summer or fall just make it a point to check out the Swiss Pearls and there is a high probability you will visit this nation.

Independence Day Celebrations, Houston

It has been two years since I celebrated our country's Independence Day in India. Last year on Independence we were driving from Dallas to Los Angeles, this year we attended the India Culture Fest at Houston. Organized by the Indian Culture Society, Houston this annual extravaganza features dances, mostly Bollywood and fusion, singing, booths from profit and non-profit organizations and of course food.
This event was like several other Desi events I attended, the same old dances, same old costumes and same old crowds etc. The same old boring MCs who have no clue what they are doing. There were few changes though, the first positive change was that there was a performance by a Mariachi band. The band belted out three desi numbers, two Hindi and one Kannada. That was a heartening and positive change that I felt that India is making some kind of impact upon other cultures.
The other aberration I noticed was during the performance of a so-called desi band. It was Independence Day the band should have started the performance with a patriotic number, but no, they start off by singing Zubanallah..... I was shocked to hear that and for the next half an hour song after song it was Shah Rukh Khan all the way. I wonder when Indian's will ever learn to be patriotic??? This is one of the reasons I don't like to attend celebrations in the Pakistani-dominated Texas.

reBlog from authenticorganizations.com: Wal-Mart Knocks Off the Girl Scouts

The perils of Capitalism, as experienced in its own home - America.

I found this fascinating quote today:

Just when you think your opinion about Wal-mart might be changing… Just when you think that maybe, just maybe, Wal-mart was learning to be a better citizen…
Wal-mart turns around and does something really … despicable.authenticorganizations.com, Wal-Mart Knocks Off the Girl Scouts, Aug 2009

You should read the whole article.

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...

Canadians, Get ready for New Sweepstakes and Contests

How would you like to have an additional $10,000 spending money? I am pretty certain 99 percent of us would answer this question with a big, resounding YES, I'd love it. You know what if you are a resident of Canada, you could be eligible to win this $10,000. In this economy $10,000 would be of great help to most of us.

Let me tell you about the contest which will enable to win fantastic prizes. I am pretty sure you have heard about Stouffers-panini, the ultimately tasteful snack/ meal from Nestle. Well as part of their promotion campaign to launch new globally-inspired tastes they are conducting this online contest. The grand prize is $10,000 and three winners are going to walk with this money. There are other prizes which include cash, prizes and Panini products. All you need to do to be eligible to win is to register here and wait for the prize intimation.

The four new flavors being launched include the Bistro Meatballs & Peppers, Bistro Chicken Souvlaki, Lean Cuisine Grilled Vegetable & Goat Cheese, and Lean Cuisine Mango Chiken Tikka. If you are already a Stouffer's Panini fan then I'd say just go ahead and try the new flavors. If you are new to this product I would say there has been no better time than now to try the product. Enjoy the delectable taste of Stouffer's Panini and participate in the contest that will enable you to win one of three $10,000 cash prizes, Sony Digital Camcorders and loads of other prizes.

Storm Water Drain, Plano, Texas

I am sure you are wondering about the title of this blog post and why I chose to write about something as mundane as a Storm Water Drain. Well there is a reason why I chose to write on this subject. First and foremost storm water drains in India as well as in the US usually are converted creeks/ streams. That is the only similarity that exists between India and the US drainage.
In India this would probably also take the role of a regular sewage line and within no time it will be stinking and full of trash. Here the creeks are maintained and given adequate space to expand during thunder storms and showers. Of course there is trash here too, there are dirty people in the US too. These people throw plastic wrappers, metal cans, and other wastes into creeks and drains and pollute them.
This particular drain is located in Plano city in Texas and I was passing by and thought I'd take a picture of the way the creek has been maintained with stone walls on either side. I wish that Indian civic planners will learn and start preserving our natural resources for the future.

Branson, Missouri - The most exotic summer getaway

I have been in Dallas, Texas, US for nearly two years, during this time I have taken short and long trips mainly going west towards New Mexico, Arizona and California. I am yet to explore the attractions of other parts of this continent-sized nation. Most of my friends have told me about Branson, Missourie and its shows. Everyone is of the opinion that Summer is best enjoyed by visiting Branson and taking in the shows, culture, theatre, golf, and other attractions of the city.

One of the most important considerations while travelling is where to stay. So before I researched the attractions of Branson I searched for the hotels. I am quite finicky about the type of hotel I would like to stay and finally zeroed in on two hotels, Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. I chose these two hotels for my accommodation because of several reasons. The first and most important being the location, all the major attractions are within easy reach from here. Then of course the second and equally important reason for staying at the Hilton would be its fantastic service, luxurious rooms, and great restaurants.

Hotel finalized I did my research about Branson and what it has to offer to me. Indeed Branson is one of the most happening places in the US and if one doesn't visit this place he/ she is missing out on some great fun activities. I am completely enamoured by several of the attractions of Branson and have made up my mind to get there as soon as possible. While at Branson I would take a day off to visit the Track Family Fun Parks and enjoy go-karting, bumper cars, arcades, mini golf, and several other offerings. Then I would probably take in the Branson Ball Knocker which offers a superb down hill ride while strapped in the inside chamber of the 12 ft ball. After these hectic activities I'd of course visit Dino's Karrot Cake Company & Cafe to enjoy a scrumptuous meal of cakes, pastries and rolls. Feeling heavy after the meal I'd head straight to Branson's IMAX entertainment complex to catch a movie.

A visit to Branson would come to naught if one didn't visit some of Branson's 49 live entertainment theaters and enjoy the shows. These theaters are all located within walking distance from the Hilton hotels so all the more better that I stay there. Then of course for other member of the family there is loads of shopping opportunity at the numerous antique shops, specialty boutiques and outlet malls close to the hotels.

Of course after a busy day of sight seeing, shopping, and activities one would love to grab a cocktail and relax to good music. This can be done at the Trofi Restaurant within the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, so one wouldn't have to walk or drive after getting drunk.

My suggestion is just go ahead and take a trip to Branson, this summer or plan a trip for the next. It would prove to be a very memorable getaway with your loved ones or alone.