Festivals: Vesak Day

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Tomorrow is Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, is a significant holiday in the Buddhist calendar. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The holiday is celebrated on different days in different countries, but it usually falls on the full moon day in May.

The day of Vesak is considered the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. The origins of Vesak Day date back to ancient India, about two and a half millennia ago, in 623 BC, when Buddha was born in Lumbini, a small town in present-day Nepal. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha was born on the full moon day in May, attained enlightenment on the same day several years later, and passed away on the same day at the age of 80. These three events are celebrated as Vesak Day.

The celebration of Vesak Day varies from country to country and even within different schools of Buddhism. However, some common practices are observed by most Buddhists on this day.

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One of the most important practices on Vesak Day is the offering of alms to monks and nuns. This practice is called dana, which means giving or generosity. Buddhists believe that offering food and other necessities to monks and nuns is a way of accumulating merit, which can lead to a better rebirth or even liberation from the cycle of rebirths. In some countries, such as Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, it is customary for laypeople to wake up early and line up along the streets to offer alms to the monks.

Another important practice on Vesak Day is the recitation of the Buddha’s teachings, or sutras which contain the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha, and Buddhists believe that reciting them is a way of showing respect and gratitude to the Buddha. In some countries, people gather in temples to recite sutras together. The lighting of lanterns is also a common practice on Vesak Day as Buddhists believe light symbolises wisdom and enlightenment, and lighting lanterns spreads this wisdom to others. In some countries, such as South Korea and Vietnam, people hang colourful lanterns at home and in public places. Buddhists also engage in acts of kindness and compassion on Vesak Day including donating to charities and volunteering at local hospitals or orphanages.

Vesak Day is a public holiday in many countries with significant Buddhist populations, including Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. In many of these countries, Vesak Day is celebrated with elaborate ceremonies and processions, which often involve the participation of government officials and other prominent figures.

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Some common practices observed during Vesak Day include the gold gliding of Buddha statues, the consumption of vegetarian meals, the lighting of oil lamps, the performance of charitable deeds or volunteering, as well as the participation in religious talks by venerable monks. Devout Buddhists will go to temples to attend activities such as chanting scripture, listening to sermons, the three steps one bow and bathing of the Buddha ceremony. The celebration also includes the practices of Giving, Virtue and Cultivation and the doing of good and meritorious deeds.

In Singapore, devout Buddhists will visit their nearest temple, prepare their offerings and engage in many rituals. One of the most popular rituals is the bathing of the Buddha. Worshippers crowd around basins or pools decorated with garlands of flowers and dominated by a small central elevated statue of the child Siddhartha. Ladlefuls of water are scooped from the basin and poured over the statue, in remembrance of the Buddha’s birth. Other common practices include monks chanting and acts of generosity by Buddhist organisations and temples like the freeing of caged birds and animals, and visiting and giving alms to the poor and needy. Silent marches or meditations in the evening end the daylong celebration.

In Sri Lanka, Vesak Day is celebrated as a three-day festival, during which the streets are decorated with colourful lights and people gather in temples to meditate, listen to sermons, and offer alms to monks. In Thailand, people celebrate by visiting temples and offering food and other necessities to monks.

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The Four Noble Truths, the cornerstone of Buddhist teaching, include the reality of suffering, which teaches that pain is an intrinsic aspect of life and is produced by the impermanence and instability of all things. The cause of pain is explained as craving and attachment in the truth of the reason of suffering. Attachment to things, people, and ideas, according to Buddhists, causes misery since everything in the world is ephemeral and prone to change. The reality of the cessation of suffering provides hope by teaching that suffering may be terminated by letting go of craving and attachment, the ultimate goal of Buddhist practise, which is attained by gaining Nirvana, the state of perfect peace and liberation from the cycle of rebirths.

The Four Noble Truths, which make up the core of Buddhist doctrine, include the truth of suffering, which believes that all things are ephemeral and unstable and that suffering is an inevitable component of life. The cause of suffering is explained as craving and attachment through the truth of suffering. Buddhists believe that as everything in the world is fleeting and prone to change, attachment to objects, people, and ideas leads to suffering. By demonstrating that suffering could be terminated by letting go of craving and attachment, the ultimate objective of Buddhist practise, and realised by achieving Nirvana, the state of perfect peace and freedom from the cycle of rebirths, the reality of the cessation of suffering offers hope. When considered collectively, the four Noble Truths offer a guide to leading a life that is meaningful and rewarding, free from pain and brimming with wisdom and compassion.

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Vesak Day is a day for introspection and contemplation as well as festivity. The deeply significant day is a chance for Buddhists to ponder the Buddha’s teachings and how they might be applied to daily life. It is a time for reflection, renewal, and rededication to the teachings of the Buddha, as well as an opportunity to express gratitude, compassion, and generosity towards others. Vesak Day reminds us that the Buddha’s teachings are still relevant and inspiring today, offering a path towards greater compassion, mindfulness, and inner peace.

In My Hands Today…

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Beyond the Border: An Indian in Pakistan – Yoginder Sikand

Beyond the Border, based on two journeys that Yoginder Sikand undertook to Pakistan, covering Lahore, Multan, Hyderabad (Sindh), Moenjo Daro, Bhit Shah, and Islamabad, among others, is a strikingly unconventional account of what life is like for “ordinary” Pakistanis. The Pakistan he discovers only remotely resembles the stereotypical Muslim nation of the Hindu imagination. From Shiela, the daughter of a feudal lord, named after her mother’s Indian best friend to a rundown local eatery owner who offers the author free food because Sikand is the first Indian to visit his stall, encounters with Pakistanis from all walks of life draws up a very different picture – that Pakistan is a country as diverse, paradoxical and rich in narratives as India.

Departing from the fiercely polemical rhetoric common in Indian and Pakistani accounts of each other, Yoginder Sikand, not only gives lie to the strategist’s view of the India-Pakistan divide, but dispels the myths that have filtered into the Indian psyche about Pakistan being the terrible other. In this brilliantly perceptive and quirky travelogue, he illuminates the Pakistani side of the story, while telling his own tale of exploration and self-discovery.

World Milk Day

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A drink which every human being is intimately familiar with, milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals and is the primary source of nutrition for their young, including breastfed human infants before they can digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulating components in milk contribute to milk immunity. Early-lactation milk, which is called colostrum, contains antibodies that strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of many diseases. Milk contains many nutrients, including protein and lactose.

Milk is a staple food in many households around the world. It is a rich source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that are important for the growth and development of the human body. However, the production of milk has a significant impact on the environment. The dairy sector is responsible for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation.

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As an agricultural product, dairy milk is collected from farm animals. According to Statista, the volume of cow milk produced worldwide has risen steadily over the last several years. In 2015, 497 million metric tons of cow milk was produced worldwide, by 2022 that figure had risen to around 544 million metric tons. India is the world’s largest producer of milk and the leading exporter of skimmed milk powder, but it exports few other milk products. New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands are the largest exporters of milk products. The US CDC recommends that children over the age of 12 months should have two servings of dairy milk products a day. More than six billion people worldwide consume milk and milk products, and between 750 and 900 million people live in dairy-farming households.

To celebrate the importance and nutritive value of milk as a global food, the Food and Agriculture Organization or FAO of the United Nations established World Milk Day. The day has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001 and is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector. June 1 was chosen because many countries were already celebrating a milk day during that time of year.

The day provides an opportunity to focus attention on milk and raise awareness of dairy’s part in healthy diets, responsible food production, and supporting livelihoods and communities. FAO data shows that more than one billion people’s livelihoods are supported by the dairy sector and that dairy is consumed by more than six billion people globally.

The theme for World Milk Day 2023 is “Reducing the environmental footprint of the dairy sector while providing nutritious foods and livelihoods” The 2023 theme will focus on showcasing how dairy is reducing its environmental footprint, while also providing nutritious foods and livelihoods. This theme highlights the importance of sustainable dairy farming practices that can help reduce the environmental impact of the dairy sector.

One way to reduce the environmental impact of the dairy sector is to promote sustainable farming practices. Sustainable farming practices can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation. For example, farmers can use renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power to power their farms. They can also use organic farming practices that do not rely on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Another way is to promote the use of alternative dairy products like soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk which have a lower environmental impact than traditional dairy products. They require less water and land to produce and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

World Milk Day is an opportunity to celebrate the dairy industry while also promoting sustainable dairy farming practices. By reducing the environmental footprint of the dairy sector, we can ensure that future generations have access to nutritious foods and livelihoods.

In My Hands Today…

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The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain – Bill Bryson

In 1995 Bill Bryson got into his car and took a weeks-long farewell motoring trip about England before moving his family back to the United States.

The book about that trip, Notes from a Small Island, is uproarious and endlessly endearing, one of the most acute and affectionate portrayals of England in all its glorious eccentricity ever written.

Two decades later, he set out again to rediscover that country, and the result is The Road to Little Dribbling. Nothing is funnier than Bill Bryson on the road—prepare for the total joy and multiple episodes of unseemly laughter

Short Story: The Blue Dupatta

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Jayanti took out a package from her cupboard and caressed it gently before handing it over to her daughter, Ritu. Ritu was surprised to receive the package as she had seen it in her mother’s cupboard growing up and had never been allowed to even touch it. The package was wrapped in tissue and then wrapped with a cotton cloth. In wonder, she opened the precious package and looked in wonder. “Mummy, is this for me?”, she asked in wonder as she opened the package and found a beautiful blue silk dupatta, embroidered in Kashmiri embroidery with flowers all around. “This is gorgeous, mummy! I didn’t know you owned something so beautiful. If I had known, I would have borrowed it from you a long time back.” “And that’s exactly why I hid it from your greedy eyes all these years”, Jayanti lovingly chided Ritu and she packed it back and kept it in her suitcase. Mother and daughter were packing for Ritu’s imminent travel to Mumbai from their hometown of Guwahati in Assam. Ritu had been offered the position of management trainee at a prestigious organisation after her MBA.

“This dupatta is very special to me and holds so many memories. It was part of a set of two that my best friend, Rituparna, and I got made when we were growing up in Kolkata”. We had promised to always be there for each other, but after I married your father and moved to Guwahati, I lost touch with her. In our days, there was no internet and WhatsApp that you people have today. STD phone calls were expensive and only used in an emergency, so all we could do to keep in touch is write letters to each other. Rituparna and I wrote to each other for a few years, and then the letters stopped. I even went to see her one year when I was in Kolkata, but they had moved. I heard from their neighbours that uncle had passed away and Aunty and Ritu moved to stay with Aunty’s brother in Bangalore. They had not left any forwarding address, so all I have today to remember my friend is a photo and this dupatta”. Jayanti wiped her eyes as she extracted a small, faded photo from her bedside table. The photo showed two girls about 17 years old, with their arms around each other, smiling broadly at the camera.

Soon, Ritu departed for Mumbai and life went back to its usual routine. Ritu used to call her mother daily to update her on what she was up to. She had been allocated a shared house and the icing was that Ritu got along like a house on fire. The two girls had many things in common and it was not unheard of that Jayanti would also speak with Jaya. Jayanti loved speaking with Jaya and felt some connection with her, though she could not pinpoint what. She kept asking her questions because she seemed very familiar, as though she knew her from somewhere, though it was the first time both were meeting each other.

Soon, it was time for the festival of Diwali. The girls, both very excited to celebrate the festival of lights alone for the first time were planning very hard on the celebrations. After discussing on what they would prepare for the festival, the planning soon moved to what they will wear. Both had something they wanted to show the other and ran to their rooms to bring it out.

“Tadah! This is what I am going to wear” Ritu exclaimed, thrusting the blue dupatta towards Jaya only to see Jaya showing her the same dupatta. “How, how is this possible?” stuttered Jaya. “How do we both have the same dupatta? Amma told me that this is one of a kind”? Ritu was equally flabergastted. “Mummy also told me that this was a one-of-a-kind dupatta and she and her best friend had gotten them specially made to celebrate their friendship”.

Both Jaya and Ritu were so surprised to see them have identical dupattas. Soon they started comparing stories. “Ritu, did you notice something else?” Jaya pondered. “My name is a derivative of your mummy’s name and your name is very similar to Amma’s”. “You are correct Jaya” Ritu concurred. “Let me tell you a story” and Ritu told Jaya the story of her mother’s and Rituparna’s friendship.

“My mother was from Kolkata, originally. They moved to Bangalore to Amma’s mama’s place after my nana’s death. Amma must be around 20-21 and she got married to Baba there and settled down in Bangalore where I also grew up.” This, from Jaya who was trying to put the pieces together. “We must solve this mystery once and for all.” Ritu stood up and started making plans. “Let’s call both of them here for Diwali and get them in one place. If they are best friends who have lost touch with each other, then this Diwali will reunite them. And if we are completely wrong, then it’s a Diwali we will celebrate with our families.” “Correct” Jaya concurred and started making calls.

Both Ritu and Jaya called their parents and made arrangements for them to fly down to Mumbai. For Jayanti, it was her first flight and she was very apprehensive and excited to take the long flight from Guwahati to Mumbai. Rituparna had a relatively shorter flight and so reached Mumbai first. Jaya had gone to the airport to pick her parents up and brought them back to the apartment. By the time they returned home, Ritu had left for the airport to pick her parents up.

On returning home, Ritu quickly messaged Jaya who then ensured that her parents were inside the room when Ritu brought her parents inside the house. She welcomed Jayanti and her husband and both Jaya and Ritu stood in front of Jayanti and told her they had a surprise for her and that she had to close her eyes. They blindfolded her and made her stand in the centre of the room. Once that was done, they did the same to Rituparna and brought her into the room where Jayanti was standing. Both Ritu and Jaya went and stood behind their mothers and in a move that was coordinated, removed the blindfolds simultaneously while shouting, “Surprise”.

Jayanti and Rituparna stood in shock and did not understand what was going on. They were here to meet their roommate’s parents to celebrate Diwali. Then as if a bulb went off simultaneously in each other’s heads, both recognised their best friend and then they couldn’t wait to be in each other arms. Tears flowed copiously as both friends tried to put the last 25 years into this hug. Finally, they stepped away from each other and turned to their husbands who were looking at this scene bemusedly as they had no idea what just happened. They introduced their friends to their spouses and the two friends sat down to catch up on each other’s lives that they had missed all these years.

“How did you know that Ritu was Jayanti’s daughter?” Rituparna asked her daughter while Jayanti looked at Ritu with the same question in her eyes. Both Jaya and Ritu looked at each other and dashed out of the room, returning with the blue dupatta that had made this reunion possible. “The blue dupatta” sighed Rituparna and Jayanti and caressed the heirloom. “Without this, we would have never made the connection and found that you both were best friends who had lost contact for all these years” Ritu explained the story of how the girls figured out the connection between the blue dupatta and their’s mother’s friendship.

The next day, as Jayanti and Rituparna lit the lamps to start the Diwali pooja, they had a special prayer for their friendship. As they lit the diyas and fireworks, they looked at each other and their families and thanked the blue dupatta for bringing their friendship back to them after a quarter of a century.