Podcast appearances and mentions of ram navami

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Heirlooms & Trust: A Springtime Mystery at Lodhi Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2026-04-24-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: लोधी गार्डन का माहौल आज कुछ खास था।En: The atmosphere of Lodhi Garden was something special today.Hi: वसंत का मौसम अपनी पूरी छटा में था।En: The spring season was in full bloom.Hi: रंग-बिरंगे फूलों से सजी बगिया में हल्की-हल्की हवा बह रही थी।En: In the garden adorned with colorful flowers, a gentle breeze was blowing.Hi: पुराने पेड़ों की छांव तले लोग राम नवमी की खुशियाँ मना रहे थे।En: Under the shade of ancient trees, people were celebrating the joys of Ram Navami.Hi: चारों ओर हंसी-खुशी और श्रद्धा का माहौल था।En: Everywhere, there was a mood of happiness and reverence.Hi: आकाश के नीले भाल पर सूरज की पहली किरण पड़ते ही आरव ने गहरी सांस ली।En: As the first rays of the sun fell on the blue expanse of the sky, Aarav took a deep breath.Hi: उसका परिवार सदियों पुराना एक कीमती गहना बचा कर रखता था।En: His family had been preserving a priceless heirloom for centuries.Hi: पर आज वह गायब हो गया था।En: But today, it had gone missing.Hi: आरव के दिल में हलचल थी।En: There was turmoil in Aarav's heart.Hi: परिवार की इज्जत उसके लिए सबसे महत्वपूर्ण थी।En: Family honor was the most important to him.Hi: “इशानी, मैं तुम पर विश्वास करता हूं।En: "Ishani, I trust you.Hi: मुझे तुम्हारी मदद चाहिए,” आरव ने कहा।En: I need your help," Aarav said.Hi: इशानी ने आरव की आंखों में गंभीरता देखी।En: Ishani saw the seriousness in Aarav's eyes.Hi: इशानी अपनी सूझ-बूझ के लिए जानी जाती थी।En: Ishani was known for her intuition.Hi: उसे यह मौका आरव का भरोसा जीतने के लिए मिला था।En: She saw this as an opportunity to gain Aarav's trust.Hi: “मैं आसपास के दुकानदारों और आने वालों से पूछताछ करूंगी,” इशानी ने ठान लिया।En: "I will interrogate the nearby shopkeepers and visitors," decided Ishani.Hi: उन्होंने मिलकर गार्डन में घूमते हुए लोगों से बात करना शुरू किया।En: Together, they began talking to people strolling in the garden.Hi: एक बुजुर्ग महिला ने कहा कि उसने कुछ अजीब देखा था।En: An elderly woman said she had seen something strange.Hi: एक आदमी, जो आरव के परिवार का मित्र था, गहना हाथ में लिए जल्दी से निकला था।En: A man, who was a friend of Aarav's family, was seen hurrying away with the heirloom in hand.Hi: आरव और इशानी ने आदमी का पीछा किया।En: Aarav and Ishani followed the man.Hi: उन्होंने उसे गहने के साथ रंगे हाथों पकड़ लिया।En: They caught him red-handed with the heirloom.Hi: “क्यों किया तुमने यह?En: "Why did you do this?"Hi: ” आरव ने पुछा।En: Aarav asked.Hi: आदमी ने बताया कि वह परिवार पर अनजाने में बिगड़े कर्ज की वजह से ऐसा करने की कोशिश कर रहा था।En: The man explained that he was attempting this due to an unknown debt troubling the family.Hi: आरव और इशानी ने मिलकर गहना वापस लिया और बात को परिवार से छिपा लिया ताकि कोई हंगामा न हो।En: Aarav and Ishani together retrieved the heirloom and kept the matter hidden from the family to avoid any chaos.Hi: इस घटना ने आरव को सिखाया कि कभी-कभी दूसरों पर विश्वास करना कितना जरूरी होता है।En: This incident taught Aarav how sometimes trusting others can be crucial.Hi: वहीं, इशानी ने समझा कि धैर्य और सावधानी कितना महत्वपूर्ण हो सकता है।En: Meanwhile, Ishani realized the importance of patience and caution.Hi: वसंत की बयार में, दोनों ने एक नई दोस्ती की डोर बांध ली।En: In the spring breeze, they tied a new bond of friendship.Hi: लोधी गार्डन के फूलों की तरह, उनकी दोस्ती भी खिल उठी।En: Like the flowers of Lodhi Garden, their friendship also blossomed. Vocabulary Words:atmosphere: माहौलbloom: छटाadorned: सजीbreeze: हवाshade: छांवreverence: श्रद्धाexpanse: भालpriceless: कीमतीheirloom: गहनाturmoil: हलचलhonor: इज्जतintuitive: सुझ-बूझopportunity: मौकाinterrogate: पूछताछstrolling: घूमनाelderly: बुजुर्गstrange: अजीबhurrying: जल्दीred-handed: रंगे हाथोंdebt: कर्जretrieved: वापस लियाchaos: हंगामाcrucial: जरूरीpatience: धैर्यcaution: सावधानीbreeze: बयारbond: डोरblossomed: खिल उठीtrust: विश्वासpreserving: बचा कर रखना

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Chandni Chowk: A Festive Market Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2026-04-18-22-34-01-hi Story Transcript:Hi: दिल्ली के चांदनी चौक की खानपान और पारंपरिक वस्त्रों में सजीव बाजार में एक हल्की उमंग फैली हुई थी।En: In the lively market of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, filled with food and traditional clothing, there was a light excitement in the air.Hi: वसंत का मौसम था, और राम नवमी की तैयारियाँ शुरू हो चुकी थीं।En: It was the season of Vasant, and preparations for Ram Navami had begun.Hi: इसी भीड़-भाड़ भरे बाजार का हिस्सा थे दो खास लोग—रोहित और नीता।En: Among this bustling market were two special people—Rohit and Neeta.Hi: रोहित एक युवा इंजीनियर था, जो गणित में विश्वास रखता था, लेकिन उसके दिल के किसी कोने में सांस्कृतिक परंपराओं के प्रति एक खास लगाव था।En: Rohit was a young engineer who believed in mathematics, but in a corner of his heart, there was a special attachment to cultural traditions.Hi: वहीं, नीता एक उभरती हुई डिज़ाइनर थी।En: On the other hand, Neeta was an emerging designer.Hi: उसके मन में तराश की कमी नहीं थी, पर करियर को लेकर कुछ अनिश्चितता थी।En: She had no shortage of finesse, but she was somewhat uncertain about her career.Hi: राह लेते हुए, रोहित सोच रहा था, "क्या केवल इस बार एक पारंपरिक पोशाक खरीदकर मैं अपनी संस्कृति के करीब आ सकता हूँ?En: As they walked through the market, Rohit thought to himself, "Can I connect more closely with my culture by purchasing a traditional outfit just this once?"Hi: " जबकि नीता के दिमाग में कुछ और था।En: Meanwhile, Neeta had something else on her mind.Hi: वह चाहती थी खुद के लिए एक अनोखी पोशाक बनाना, जो उसके आत्मविश्वास को फिर से जगा सके।En: She wanted to create a unique outfit for herself, something that would rekindle her confidence.Hi: लेकिन बाजार के भीड़ में खो जाना आसान था।En: But getting lost in the market crowd was easy.Hi: चारो ओर दुकानें, रंग-बिरंगे कपड़े और हस्तशिल्प की बेशुमार वस्तुएं थीं।En: There were shops all around, colorful clothes, and countless handcrafted items.Hi: उनकी जेबें भी सीमित बजट के इशारे कर रही थीं।En: Their pockets subtly hinted at a limited budget.Hi: रोहित ने ठान लिया, "मैं नीता के स्टाइल सेंस पर भरोसा करूंगा, लेकिन बजट पर मेरी नजर रहेगी।En: Rohit resolved, "I will trust Neeta's sense of style, but I will keep an eye on the budget."Hi: "नीता को भी इस बार रोहित के व्यावहारिक सुझावों पर यकीन करना पड़ा।En: Neeta too had to rely on Rohit's practical suggestions this time.Hi: उन्होंने एक साथ काम करने का फैसला किया।En: They decided to work together.Hi: बाजार में भटकते हुए, वे ऐसे कपड़े तलाशने लगे जो बजट में हों और उनकी कल्पना को साकार कर सकें।En: Wandering through the market, they began to look for clothes that would fit the budget and bring their imagination to life.Hi: फैसलाकुन क्षण तब आया जब दोनों ने एक छोटी सी चाय की दुकान पर विराम लिया।En: The decisive moment came when they took a break at a small tea stall.Hi: चाय की चुस्कियाँ लेते हुए, उन्होंने अपने किसी पुराने झगड़े को सुलझाने की कोशिश की।En: While sipping tea, they tried to resolve an old disagreement.Hi: थोड़ी सी बातचीत में ही उनके बीच का मतभेद मिट गया।En: With just a little conversation, their differences disappeared.Hi: रोहित ने नीता से कहा, "तुम्हारे डिज़ाइन को देखकर मुझे गर्व होता है।En: Rohit told Neeta, "I feel proud when I see your designs."Hi: " नीता ने भी रोहित की समझदारी की तारीफ की।En: Neeta also praised Rohit's sensibility.Hi: बाजार से बाहर निकलते समय, रोहित अपनी पसंद का एक सुंदर पारंपरिक कुर्ता लेकर खुश था।En: As they exited the market, Rohit was happy with a beautiful traditional kurta of his choice.Hi: नीता ने कपड़े का एक अनोखा टुकड़ा चुना था, जिससे वह खुद के लिए एक अनोखा कुर्ता सिलेंगी।En: Neeta chose a unique piece of fabric, which she would use to sew a unique kurta for herself.Hi: इस बार वह अपने डिज़ाइन पर पूरी तरह से विश्वास कर रही थी।En: This time, she had complete faith in her design.Hi: वे दोनों बाजार छोड़ते हुए मुस्कुरा रहे थे, केवल कपड़ों के लिए नहीं, बल्कि इस नई समझ और दोस्ती के लिए।En: They both left the market smiling, not just for the clothes, but for this new understanding and friendship.Hi: राम नवमी का पर्व अब उनके लिए केवल एक त्योहार नहीं, एक नई शुरुआत का प्रतीक बन गया था।En: The festival of Ram Navami had now become a symbol of new beginnings for them, not just a celebration. Vocabulary Words:lively: सजीवexcitement: उमंगpreparations: तैयारियाँbustling: भीड़-भाड़attachment: लगावemerging: उभरती हुईfinesse: तराशuncertain: अनिश्चितताrekindle: जगा सकेhandcrafted: हस्तशिल्पsubtly: इशारेresolve: ठान लियाrely: यकीनwandering: भटकते हुएdecisive: फैसलाकुनbreak: विरामsipping: चुस्कियाँ लेते हुएdisagreement: मतभेदsensibility: समझदारीunique: अनोखाfabric: कपड़ेfaith: विश्वासbeginnings: शुरुआतfestival: पर्वsymbol: प्रतीकtraditions: परंपराओंconfidence: आत्मविश्वासpractical: व्यावहारिकingenious: चालाकdesign: डिज़ाइन

IAN UNPLUGGED 2613 032826Featured on Sat, March 28, 2026 from 3 - 4 pm on the “IAN UNPLUGGED” segment of Indo American News Radio (www.IndoAmerica-News.com) on 98.7 FM:On “Hey, Wassup?”, Jay & Sanchali speak with the deeply devout Gopal Aggarwal on the meaning of Ram Navami which was celebrated this past Thursday. They also speakwith volunteer Shri Chada and past president Rajeev Aluru to learn of the tremendous work that Ekal Vidalaya has done in educating rural backward communities in India,

This conversation explores a timeless tension in spiritual practice: rules that serve love, and rules that replace it. On this Ram Navami episode, Raghunath reflects on Lord Ram's appearance and follows that thread into a deeper exploration of Bhakti Yoga, Krishna, and the essence of spiritual wisdom. Drawing from the Srimad Bhagavatam and the story of the wives of the brāhmaṇas — the wives of Vedic priests whose devotion to Krishna transcended ritual formalism — the episode uncovers how true devotion arises not from external performance but from a transformed consciousness. It weaves through themes of meditation, sacred community, and the power of spiritual association (sādhu-saṅga — the uplifting company of practitioners), while also addressing the reality of "material exhaustion" as a catalyst for spiritual awakening. Thoughtful, practical, and deeply rooted in Vedic wisdom, this conversation reveals how devotion matures, how Krishna draws the heart beyond duty into love, and how to carry that consciousness into everyday life. ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

This conversation explores a timeless tension in spiritual practice: rules that serve love, and rules that replace it. On this Ram Navami episode, Raghunath reflects on Lord Ram's appearance and follows that thread into a deeper exploration of Bhakti Yoga, Krishna, and the essence of spiritual wisdom. Drawing from the Srimad Bhagavatam and the story of the wives of the brāhmaṇas — the wives of Vedic priests whose devotion to Krishna transcended ritual formalism — the episode uncovers how true devotion arises not from external performance but from a transformed consciousness. It weaves through themes of meditation, sacred community, and the power of spiritual association (sādhu-saṅga — the uplifting company of practitioners), while also addressing the reality of "material exhaustion" as a catalyst for spiritual awakening. Thoughtful, practical, and deeply rooted in Vedic wisdom, this conversation reveals how devotion matures, how Krishna draws the heart beyond duty into love, and how to carry that consciousness into everyday life. ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

IANR 2612 032126 Line Up4-6pm INTERVIEWSHere's the guest line-up for Sat, Mar 21, 2026 from 4 to 6pm CST on Indo American News Radio (www.IndoAmerican-news.com), a production of Indo American News. We are on 98.7 FM and you can also listen on the masalaradio app.By Monday, hear the recorded show on Podcast uploaded on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts,Radio Public and Breaker or go to our website and click on the IANR link. Our Podcast has been rated #2 among 100 Podcasts in Houston by feedspot.com. We have 6 years of Podcasts and have had thousands of hits.TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, SELECT FOLLOW ON OUR FREE PODCAST CHANNEL AND YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED OF NEW UPDATES.4:20 pm The US national debt has surpassed an ominous record, climbing to a record $39 trillion. This was five months after it reached $38T and $37T just two months before that. The war with Iran is costing about $1 billion a day and the Pentagon is asking for another $200 billion for the effort, above it's alreadysteep $1.5T budget. What is causing all this debt and what effect will such high debt have on our lives and the future of programs like Social Security and Medicare? We ask our frequent analyst Chetan Dave to comment on this.4:50 pm In this era of instant connectivity andpressures of never-stop work, one can often lose sight of the aspects of life than add joy and value, creating a relief valve. These “low touch” items, as the futurist Alvin Toffler referred to them, come from the creative and performing arts. And the Indo American Association has been bringing the best of the Indian arts scene to Houstonians for 33 years. We are joined by Executive Director Sheetal Bedi to tell us more and also about its 2026 calendar of events.5:20 pm Both and Eid al Adha fall on this weekend, and to mark the two occasions we asked representatives of each faith to explain the significance and how the community is celebratingthem. Mohammad Khan and Yasmin Udawala with the Indian Muslims Assoc. of Greater Houston will explain what the organization is planning, followed by Nazneen Khumbatta from the Zoroastrian community. Next week, Hindus will celebrate Ram Navami, and then, just around the corner, Jainscelebrate Mahavir Jayanti, Christians celebrate Easter, Sikhs & Hindus celebrate Vaisakhi and Jews celebrate Passover. Also stay tuned in for news roundup, views, sports and movie reviews.TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW, OR TO ADVERTISE, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 713-789-NEWS or6397 or at indoamericannews@yahoo.comPlease pick up the print edition of Indo American News which is available all across town at grocery stores. Also visit our website indoamerican-news.com which gets 90,000+ hits to track all current stories.And remember to visit our digital archives from over 18 years. Plus, our entire 45 years of hard copy archives are available in the Fondren Library at Rice University.

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Top news of the day: 29 Maoists dead in fierce Chhattisgarh operation, Ayodhya all set for Ram Navami celebrations, first after 'Pran Pratishtha' at Ram temple, Dubai's major international airport diverted scores of incoming flights on Tuesday as heavy rains lashed the United Arab Emirates, Buttler Ton Powers Rajasthan To Record IPL Chase Of 224,

'Surya Tilak' illuminates Ram Lalla idol's forehead at Ayodhya Temple on Ram Navami, Will abide by party decision: Rahul Gandhi on contesting LS polls from Amethi, Dubai airport runway flooded as heavy rain brings city to standstill, Lok Sabha election 2024: Campaign to end for phase 1 today, Saudis, UAE Warn of War Dangers as Israel-Iran Tensions Boil

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Ram Navami Vishesh Satsang : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Explore the story of the birth of Lord Rama and experience the joy of Ram Navami as we discover timeless lessons of courage, righteousness, and compassion.

Two Suspects in Salman Khan Residence Firing Case Remanded to Mumbai Police Custody, Patanjali case: Ramdev, Balkrishna Acharya ready for ‘public apology'; Supreme Court next hearing on April 23, Reception Not A Part of Wedding: Bombay High Court, Civil Services final results out, Aditya Srivastava from IIT Kanpur tops exam, Ram Navami to Be Celebrated on 17 April: Many Banks to Remain Closed

The historical pattern of Ram Navami riots shows that authorities have often denied permission for the procession to pass through Muslim-majority areas.----more----Read the article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/what-lies-at-the-heart-of-ram-navami-violence-indian-labels-like-muslim-areas/1517518/

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by Newslaundry's Prateek Goyal and freelance journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya. Snigdhendu had reported on the Ram Navami violence in Howrah and how the Hindutva outfits that had organised rallies “went against the set guidelines” issued by the police. He says large-scale celebrations of this sort intensified in the state only in the last five or six years, coinciding with the rise of the RSS and BJP.Prateek then explains his report on how the Madhya Pradesh government skipped procedure to recruit people close to the RSS for government jobs. The authorities feigned ignorance, he says, even as the chief minister attended a training programme for these new recruits.Tune in! Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:23 - Ram Navami violence in Bengal00:09:10 - Madhya Pradesh scam00:26:14 - Ram Navami violence in Bengal00:42:56 - RecommendationsRecommendationsPrateekCaught Out: Crime. Corruption. Cricket.SnigdhenduBells of Shangri-LaBasantMadhya Pradesh hired people close to RSS for govt jobs, skipping actual applicantsThe dreamers in danger at Gujarat's gateway to USProduced by Tehreem Roshan, recorded by Anil Kumar, and edited by Umrav Singh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The failure of police forces to tamp down communal violence in multiple states on Ram Navami demonstrates dangerous dysfunctions in police and intelligence systems. India has paid a high price for past failures, but little seems to have been learned.----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/security-code/dangerous-breakdown-of-policing-in-india-bengal-ram-navami-riots-is-proof/1499245/

In this podcast, Kushal speaks with Kanchan Gupta about the recent events where violent clashes took place for two consecutive days in Howrah. Are clashes during Ram Navami festivities becoming a pattern? They also discuss the PTI tweet where the West Bengal CM is quoted as saying "They (BJP) are deliberately entering minority areas with Ram Navami processions without permission". Follow Kanchan Gupta: Twitter: @KanchanGupta Muckcrack: https://muckrack.com/kanchan-gupta/articles #stonepelting #westbengal #howrah #ramnavamiviolence ------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to the podcasts on: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kushal-mehra-99891819 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rVcDV3upgVurMVW1wwoBp Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c%C4%81rv%C4%81ka-podcast/id1445348369 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-carvaka-podcast ------------------------------------------------------------ Support The Cārvāka Podcast: Become a Member on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPxuul6zSLAfKSsm123Vww/join Become a Member on Fanmo: https://fanmo.in/the_carvaka_podcast Become a Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carvaka UPI: kushalmehra@icici To buy The Carvaka Podcast Exclusive Merch please visit: http://kushalmehra.com/shop ------------------------------------------------------------ Follow Kushal: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kushal_mehra?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KushalMehraOfficial/? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarvakapodcast/?hl=en Koo: https://www.kooapp.com/profile/kushal_mehra Inquiries: https://kushalmehra.com/ Feedback: kushalmehra81@gmail.com

First, Indian Express' Anonna Dutt joins us to talk about rare diseases in India and how the government's latest move to exempt customs duty for imported medicines for rare diseases will help the people. Second, Indian Express' Santosh Singh discusses the violence during Ram Navami processions in Bihar and its impact on the state's politics. (06:54)And in the end, Indian Express' Abhishek Angad tells us a story about a man in Jharkhand who accidentally received 1 lakh rupees 2 years ago, but who is now in jail for it. (15:20)Hosted by Anwiti Singh Produced and scripted by Utsa Sarmin, Anwiti Singh and Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Ram Navami Violence - Causes and Cures _ A Hindu Narrative Needed

Fresh violence in Bengal during Ram Navami rally; BJP MLA ‘injured', Kejriwal a coward, his heroism confined within assembly: Himanta, Ahead of Trump's surrender, New York braces for protests and other top news in this bulletin.

On this auspicious Ram Navami week, Swami Mukundananda relates to us the untold story of the Divine Birth of Lord Ram. The virtuous and noble King of Ayodhya, Dasharatha has grown old and had a desire to have a child. He approached Sage Vasishtha and upon his instructions performed a Yagya or a ritual to please the Sun God to beget a child. The Yagya got completed successfully, the Fire god appeared after the Yagya and handed Dasharatha a pot of Kheer which Dasharatha distributed evenly to his three queens. The princes were conceived after the consumption of the Kheer. Months passed by after that and the time of the Divine Birth or the Avatar of Lord Ram came close. The Festivities started in Ayodhya in full swing, the river Sarayu was overflowing with joy and when the Sun reached its peak in the noon, in that auspicious moment, Kaushalya gave birth to Lord Ram. Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata. Sumitra gave birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna. King Dasharatha, the queens and the whole of Ayodhya was overjoyed to hear the news of the birth of the four sons. The Birthday of Lord Ram is celebrated as Ram Navami every year. It falls on the Ninth day of the Chaitra Navratri. On this special day, whoever prays to Lord Ram and Mother Sita with full Faith gets all the auspiciousness and their grace.

Donald Trump indicted; 1st US ex-president charged with crime, PM Modi reviews new parliament construction during surprise visit, 22 injured as clashes mar Ram Navami processions in several states and other top news in this bulletin.

In this episode, we discuss the festival of Sankranti which is celebrated by Hindus in various parts of Bharat with slightly different names and rituals. We present here, a conversation with a Hindu parent regarding the observance and celebration of this festival in the Telugu states of Andhra and Telengana. It is a conversation where the parent reminisces on the celebration of this festival in times gone by and how the celebrations have evolved over the decades. This should help Hindu parents and in this case, Hindu Telugu parents revive some of the modes of celebration of this important festival.General InformationSubscribers are requested to look for The Hindu Parenting notification emails for new podcasts/posts in their email promotions/spam tab and personally move these into the main inbox. Thereafter all posts will be delivered to their main inbox. Thank you!For questions that you'd like us to address, please use the form below:Hindu Parenting QuestionsFor comments and suggestions, please use the comments tab or write to us at contact@hinduparenting.orgPlease note that questions will not be answered on email.Do subscribe to our substack and follow us on our social media handlesTwitter: hinduparentingInstagram: hinduparentingFacebook: hinduparentingTranscript[0:03] Rekha: Namaste. Welcome to the Hindu parenting podcast. With Makara Sankranti around the corner, today's episode features a discussion on the festival. Makara Sankranti is celebrated, when the sun Surya enters the makara rashi known as the astrological sun sign of Capricorn in the English calendar. As with all Hindu festivals, Makara Sankranti, is celebrated all across India, parts of Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and Nepal, but with specific regional variations in name and customs. The festival is called Pongal, Bihu, Lohri, Uttarayan, or simply Makar Sankranti, depending on where you live. To help us understand how Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Telugu states of Andhra and Telangana, we have with us a special guest, a parent. namaskar Shashank garu, welcome to the podcast. [1:00] Shashank: Namaste. Thank you very much. [1:02] Rekha: So, let's start with your earliest memories of the festival. Where did you grow up? And what can you remember? What are your earliest recollections of Makara Sankranti.[1:14] Shashank: So I grew up in Hyderabad. And I was fortunate though to have part of my family from the coastal region of Andhra. So, you know, my mom's side is from the coastal 100 region. And Telugu people will understand why I'm making this distinction because within the Telugu states, there is quite a bit of variation. So I grew up in Hyderabad and you know, everybody, I think from Hyderabad, if you ask them what your memories were about Sankranti I think they would immediately mention kite flying. Right. And that was…My memories of Sankranti really are vivid around flying of kites. You know, my dad's side, they are third generation Hyderabadis. So in their family, kite flying, this is something that, you know, every generation participates in, and they get very passionate about it. We have lots of memories. [2:14] Rekha: Yeah, it is a simple introduction to a child, I think because kite flying is so inherently, you know, such an active thing to do, that it instantly hooks children onto the festival. So it's probably a good way to get a child interested in this festival, right? [2:35] Shashank: Absolutely, absolutely. So if you had asked me, you know, what is your favorite festival, it would be a very tough call between Diwali and Sankranti. That is how big Sankranti was for us. And exactly for the reason that you've mentioned! Because kids, you know, for us, it's it's very exciting. We have our winter holidays. And then soon after, you know, you have your Sankranti and the whole family comes together and does it so you're right. Yeah, for a kid I think even though you don't think of it, as really a religious thing that you're doing…you know, being in the outdoors and flying kites with your family and the whole neighborhood around you…and you're competing with the neighbors…It's a very exciting time of the year. [3:26] Rekha: That's That's wonderful. What was your typical Sankranti day like you woke up in the morning? Did you have a religious ritual that you had to follow? Because I think some of the rituals differ from place to place and even within the Telugu states, Coastal Andhra is different from Telangana. And each place has its own variations. Was there something that you had to do before you went kite flying, maybe like an oil bath. Very often. These are the things that are celebrated. Every festival in South India has an oil bath associated with it. So was that something?[4:06] Shashank: It was on the day of actually…I think you're.. thanks for reminding me of these things. So it was. But actually on the day before, on Bhogi, right. Sankranthi is not obviously just a one day affair, there is Bhogi and then there is Kanuma after. On Bhogi, the kids would all come together after you take a bath and do your puja and sit on a few chairs, in one corner of the room. And then what at least happened in my family is, you know, we called it Bhogi Pallu. So you would get berries of a certain kind and all the kids are basically showered with berries. Right? And I spoke to my mother recently and I asked her why do you think we do this? And she said that it's winter is a harsh period of time and because you know, you don't have central heating, you don't have things like that, and nighttime temperatures can fall and for various reasons, you know, maybe the viruses are also more potent during that time. So they, she said that it, maybe it's a celebration of you know, maybe warmer weather coming. And you start by celebrating all the kids who have who are healthy and who are there with you. So, but yeah, my really only religious thing that I really vividly remember is the Bhogi pallu part.[5:32] Rekha: This Bhogi pallu part also has an arti associated with that, if I remember right. My grandmother used to shower the children, the smallest children are often, you know, very excited by this…berries falling all over them. So they do that. And then there was an arti for the children. And that got them sufficiently excited to, you know, start the day off in this way. And then look forward to the rest of the festival. So typically, it's a three day festival, the first day being Bhogi, the second day, of course, the Sankranti, and the third day Kanuma. But let's just elaborate a little bit more on the kite flying, which I think happened on the second day, is that right? [6:22] Shashank: That's right. So it has happens on the second day, on the day of Sankranti. It would start really with sunrise, right? Like during sunrise, when you have twilight period, right? At that time, we would start flying what we called as light patang, right, so you will basically have a small candle that is attached to the string and you let the kite go further into the skies, and these lights, you know, basically light up the sky. So we started with that. And then by the time it's mid morning, I think it starts heating up. And the peak time is, I guess, you know, when the winds start picking up. And you know, and everybody's on the rooftops by mid afternoon, I would say. And late into the evening, you would keep flying kites. And it's obviously not just flying of kites, but you're competing with the others, right? So you're trying to cut the other guys right and at least the neighborhood that I was in, it was an older part of the city where you have multiple different communities living there side by side from, obviously, within the Hindu fold, you had like people from different cultures and different languages there. But we also had lots of, you know, people from other religions, right, we had a significant Muslim population living in the neighborhood, and we would all participate in this. And it was, in a way brought us all together. Right? So it was very, you know, I really have fond memories of that. And oftentimes, the funny thing is we, you know, people who could afford to buy better stuff would think that, look, I have better stuff here and I'm going to be dominating the skies. But then oftentimes you would see, kids from the nearby slum, flying kites from in between the buildings, and they would much better than us. So it was, was a way to be humbled by these people. Yeah. Yeah. Right. [8:31] Rekha: This is such a lesson for the kids. Because skill, they learn so many things, one of them being skill at doing a certain thing, you know, you get better and better at an activity, say, like, kite flying, and you see that your fancy equipment is not necessarily going to make you better. [8:47] Shashank: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And you know, your doing things by the book doesn't necessarily get you the results too, right. [8:54] Rekha: Yes, the interesting thing is the community participation, which is what is lacking these days. So it is not just a celebration, should not be restricted to family but if you can build a sense of community wherever you live, that creates a lasting memory for the child because of the social activity that it involves. So that's the takeaway from here I think for the parents.[9:23] Shashank: 100%! Because I think too often our tradition is reduced to a few things and sometimes from a very critical perspective people look at it. But just looking at Sankranti alone you can easily see that our tradition, our culture touches on literally every aspect of life. I mean, we've talked about kite flying but then there is all other traditions are also happening. While the kids are upstairs with maybe their dads and cousins, flying kites, usually the ladies in the house and your daughters, they are doing the rangolis, muggu, as we call it in Telugu. They are doing various other things that would keep them engaged. And, I'm sure they have fond memories of doing that stuff, too. And then, like you said, with the arti, it reminds me, people would sing their favorite songs. And on my mother's side, actually, it's almost like a talent show. After the lunch, we all sit together and, you know, someone who wants to read a poem will read a poem, another person might sing a song, another person might do a little dance, a kid might do that. So, you're right. I think it touches on many, many aspects. And that is, I think that that is to our advantage. We are fortunate to have the kind of culture where it's not very strictly religious, and it's not like one dimensional at all. [10:50] Rekha: Yes, it's beautiful integration of arts, of the tradition of drawing rangolis which happens on the day of Bhogi. So there's something in a Hindu festival for every taste, this is what I firmly believe. And whether it is food, now coming to food… Every festival has with it certain traditional foods. And with Sankranti, it does seem like jaggery and til or sesame seeds, nuvvulu, as we call in Telugu, are used. New rice, it's a time of the winter harvest. And we use til, jaggery and new rice to make many of the dishes. In neighboring Tamil Nadu it is also called pongal. So it's the new rice and foods,….sweets that are prepared with these warming foods Til also warms the body during during the cold season. So for whatever little bit of winter we have in India, this is a time that you know the body could use some warming up. And kite flying also ties into that so beautifully because you're forced to be outdoors, enjoying the morning sunshine, and let's not forget that this festival is alll about Surya Deva. So I think it comes together so beautifully. And did you get a chance to speak to your mother about the significance of this festival? I also know that there is a Haridasa tradition in Andhra where singers go from house to house or at least they used to, go from house to house singing songs about the epics I think. Is there anything more regarding this that you wish to share with us?[12:50] Shashank: My mother mentioned, I spoke with her just last night. And she mentioned that was big part of it, the haridasu or the haridasulu we would say. They would come every day during the month apparently, and on the last day, which I believe is Kanuma, they would show up to collect whatever, you know, people are willing to give them most likely would be, you know, if you're a farmer who's growing a certain kind of a crop, you would share some of that with him. If you're growing rice, then you would give a little bit of rice to them. So it was you know, it was a big part of the culture and then you also had what we call as Gangireddu. Right? So a bull would be decorated in a really beautiful way. And they they would teach a few tricks to the bull and they would take the bull from house to house. Yeddu in Telugu is bull of course. So there was that. And then she mentioned many other such things, which to me, the common theme there was… every class of people, every part of the society, in one way or another was celebrating through what is theirs. Right. So that is the good part of it too. Right? Everybody was not doing the same thing necessarily. Right? If you're a guy who is, good at, like singing and you know, Haridasu, right. So you would do that. And if you're, someone who's good with the cattle and whatnot, you would do that. But, the common theme is that this festival was so all encompassing that it touched on every profession, every class of people, and… she actually had a lot to say, and I'll just stop here because we want to keep it brief. [14:51] Rekha: Absolutely. So just to recap, there's the tradition of decorating a bull and taking it around. So just think about the child who loves animals. There's something for that child as well. There's something for the child who loves art, as usual with all our festivals. And another important part that you mentioned that I'd like to touch on, is the tradition of giving. You give whatever is in your capacity, to people who don't have as much or who don't get things all through the year as we do these days. So giving is a large part of our tradition that we have, unfortunately, forgotten. It's not just about celebration as a family or celebration with friends. But giving or daanam is tied into all the traditions. And that's something which will benefit us enormously. If we revive that and just think of somebody within our community who is much less fortunate. So that's, that's the thinking, a takeaway from this that needs to be encouraged in our children? So there's something for everybody. And I understand that you're right now not living in India [Shashank lives in Canada]. So as an NRI, as a person who doesn't live in India, do you find it hard to keep to the tradition of celebrating festivals, specifically with respect to Sankranti? Because I know you have such beautiful memories of the festival that I'm sure you'd like to pass on something to your children. So how do you handle that? And the weather also being very different from India, during this time of year, at least? How do you manage that?[16:48] Shashank: I think it definitely is more challenging when you're living abroad in a climate that is not conducive to kite flying this time of the year. And I think what I find, though, is if parents can be a little creative, they can still find that hook that will hook the child to your culture and your tradition. Like we touched on before, there is arts, there is music, there is food. And if you want to talk about the harvest, and the harvest seasons, there is the earth science aspects to it. So I find it a little difficult for sure. But then, if you can be a little creative, I think it's not difficult to get the child attached to the culture. What we do in our houses, is we try to do the Bhogi pallu part, we get the Telugu families together, and we do Bhogi pallu. And then, at least in our families, we also do the bommala koluvu, which is basically a display of all the toys in your house, and you have a certain theme and you try to use the toys and buy toys to show that theme in your house. We do that. And kids, I think, you know, even though they might have different interests, I think all kids; one thing they have in common is they love stories. And I do spend time telling them stories about you know, whether it's kite flying, whether it's the other stuff that we used to do as children. And I think, through those stories, they'll understand more through stories than through like a direct, like a lecture sort of thing, right? If you sit them down and say, Hey, this is what the tradition is, you need to follow, I don't think that is as effective as taking them with you along your journey of like reminiscing about about your childhood. And I find that to be much more effective. And last year, actually, during Sankranti, my son came running to me one day and he said, Hey, my teacher asked me to do a little art project and I said, okay, then what do you want to do? And he said, Hey, you were telling me a couple of days ago about kite flying, can you help me picture that scene? And I'll do a little sketch on that. And I helped him with that. And he did a little sketch of people standing on rooftops and flying kites, and he sent that to his teacher. And his teacher not only liked it, but she said, Look, I want to learn more about your festival. So, and he came back and we did a little bit of research. And he he went back and apparently she shared details of the festival with the whole classroom. So I think the point I'm trying to make is, it's an extra effort, but a bit of creativity is all it takes to get your child involved regardless of you know, what they like. [19:46] Rekha: This is a good point, even for people living in India, because very often when the child goes to school, they are expected…not so much expected, I think it's more self inflicted in Hindu families, that you don't take religion into school. And so we avoid all mention of our celebrations in the secular schooling that we have in India. But, you know, with so much encouragement abroad, I find that children abroad often don't hesitate because all the children bring in their traditions very proudly. And this is something that Indian parents also need to remember. And probably have the children share more freely outside the house, the little particulars. The little customs and rituals that we do at home, can be shared outside. That is a process of confidence building for the child. And people are much more open than you think. So, once you know about your identity, it's so much easier to talk about it and we should never shy away from it. [21:09] Shashank: Right. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. That has been my experience, actually. Yes. [21:13] Rekha: Let's talk a little bit about the science for the child who is of a scientific bent. Let's talk a little bit about the science of this festival. It's also called Uttarayan in many places. Uttarayan is typically a time when the sun starts it's northward journey into the northern hemisphere. And apparently, many 1000s of years before, Uttarayan used to coincide with Sankranti and they no longer do because of the axial precession of the earth. It's something that children may want to investigate on their own. Uttarayan meaning - uttar is north and ayana. The Hindu year is divided into two ayanas; Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. So there is such a beautiful scientific term built into the names we give our festivals. Anything that you wish to share about this? [22:19] Shashank: Yeah, I think the science part is definitely helpful. Because you know, it's a stereotype but I think it's not a baseless stereotype that Indian kids are generally attracted to STEM, right. So they're, whether because of parents or whether because of the environment they grew up in, they inevitably end up, majority of them in the sciences, right. So, I think the scientific angle to this whole festival of Sankranti, I think is something that any kid will find very fascinating. Not only the astronomical aspect that you just mentioned, but also the the weather patterns and the harvest festival, that it is actually; the fact that India has two harvests, and how both harvests are critical to nourish and keep healthy a sixth of humanity in that piece of land. I think it's a fascinating story. And I think, again, going back to what I said a few minutes ago, if you're a little bit creative, and passionate, I think, I think you can talk about weather science, you can talk about agriculture, you can talk about astronomy, like you said, and, the Indian kids being, inclined to the sciences, I think it would be a great conversation to have.[23:38] Rekha: Speaking of food, is there any specific food item that you used to prepare at home and which you're also carrying on now the tradition of food specific to this festival?[23:57] Shashank: So the second part of the question, what we are still doing on the aspect of food, unfortunately, I don't have much to say. But on the first aspect of what we did as children, I think two things that come up in my mind 1) is because my family, I grew up in Hyderabad, but this is really a very rural festival, right? Because we're talking about the harvest, we're talking about cattle and all that stuff that we mentioned earlier. It's a very rural festival and if you look today at Hyderabad during these days, it would look deserted during these three days, because everybody would go back to their little village or town that they came from. Because of that, because you know, the action really happens in the villages. But what happened in my family though, is during these days, we would be in Hyderabad but somebody or the other from the villages would send us some special items from there, whether it is you know, Putharekhulu [sweet] or whether it is some kind of a laddu, to it would come from there and we would all share you know, and the elders in the family would share stories about who sent this stuff and what they did as children. So that I remember vividly. And the other thing I remember is they would make some special food, especially on Kanuma. They would make stuff with urad dal, we call in Telugu, minaga pappu. So they would make stuff with that, and apparently it is supposed to be, you know, again, maybe goes back to what you said earlier, where maybe it gives you, you know, a little bit of warmth in the body, perhaps. But I heard that, you know, the day after Sankranti, which is Kanuma is when different families have different traditions around food.[25:44] Rekha: Yes, speaking of warmth, there is also the tradition of a bonfire in different parts of India. I think even Bhogi is associated with a bonfire. Probably, it ties back into a feeling of warmth that you need, in this mildly cold season in India. [26:07] ShashankThat's right. Warmth and also what I remember is, my mum actually mentioned it too, last night when I spoke with her is, it was not a fire that people made in their own little frontyard, but it would be like a community fire that they would make. Many times like on your street, you would get all the families would huddle around the fire early in the morning on the day of Bhogi, and the fire would be obviously would have wood, mainly burning to make the fire. But then you also have apparently items that are not useful anymore. Say there is a chair or a bed that is broken from last year, you would use all of that to burn it. And to me, it sounded like it is a way to cast off your past and you know, you're starting fresh, right. It's like, because every festival, you would clean things up. And in the house, around the house. And particularly for this festival, it sounds like that is an opportunity people take to get rid of all the stuff that they have, that is not working anymore. And then because you also have the harvest, you know, people are flush with money, so they would go buy new stuff. Sounds like that has been the tradition.[27:19] Rekha: That's nice. So we do see again, how everything comes together. You know, whether it's nature, geography. It's so closely tied into the Indian seasons, that nature is an important part of every Hindu festival. And then there is this process of reinventing yourself which is a constant theme that appears in all our festivals, the cleansing internally, which is your movement towards a higher plane… we call it spiritual consciousness today. But then there is this process of reinvention as you just mentioned. So at different levels, our festivals can be interpreted and for the child, it is more fun with kite flying, with food, with decorating animals, or, you know, making rangolis in the front yard, or the Bhogi pallu, the berries showered on you. So it does sound like festivals have a hook that we can use to attract children. And as you progress, there are different layers that unfold, you know, as you age. So again, coming back to the all encompassing nature of Hindu festival. So everything, there's something for everybody, of every temperament.So the last thing I do want to address is…Do you see any change now among the relatives that you have in India? Any feedback from them? Because there's a lot of change that's happening and the whole Hindu community is struggling to keep up with change. So any ideas on the change you have observed? Any ideas on keeping up? What can we do to make sure that our tradition continues and that we don't lose everything with the changing times.[29:32] Shashank: Unfortunately, I think I have a bit of a disappointing news from my own experience here. I feel like with families now spread across the country in India and sometimes even across the world in many cases, especially for Telugu families, I think it has become a little difficult for kids to be, for them to have the same kind of experience that you know, even my generation had. From what I'm hearing, I think my parents tell me that the situation there is nothing like what it used to be even 20-30 years ago.Part of the problem I think is families not being close by. Part of the problem I think is the devices, smartphones and whatever and the media that people are hooked to. And part of the problem I think is also how we are thinking about these festivals. I think at least in some families, we think of these as just another opportunity to get together and that's it… especially in urban India. I think what I am saying probably applies more to urban places and I have a feeling that in non-urban places, in villages and towns, maybe its not this bad. And when it comes to over here, in North America, my experience is that its been a huge change. When I go to a prominent temple in Canada, even on a major day when there is a big celebration and a big puja, you see lot of participation only from people who are new immigrants. Or if its from families that have been here for a long time, then its only the parents who are there. But rarely do you see their kids participating in these celebrations and that has been consistent. Whether I go on the Ram Navami celebrations and they do kalyanam there and I go on that day, its either just newly immigrated families or even families that are first generation immigrants, but then, second generation is nowhere to be seen. I definitely think that it is a problem. We should not end this conversation on a sad note, but unfortunately that seems to be the case, I think we seem to be failing on that front. Therefore, podcasts like this I believe are extremely important for us to think about what small ways we can connect the kids back to our traditions and culture. Even if you are not religious, this is not about just the religion, right? This is about your culture, this is about your language, your food, your arts, your music. So, at the end of the day, its also about India. And you cannot separate the two. You cannot separate all the things that I mentioned, you cannot separate them from India. So, I think when you lose the second generation, you are losing connection not just with the religion even though you might be thinking it's just a religious connection that is being broken. I think the connection to everything that I mentioned; arts, music, the geography of India. Everything.[32:32] Rekha: So beautifully said. It's not just one aspect that we lose, and the losing starts with language. If you can hold on to your language for as long as possible, there is a fair chance that many other things will survive. To end on a positive note, there are so many ways in which kids can get attracted to our festivals. Just giving the example of art (rangolis), a child who's interested in art, just get them interested in rangoli. For a child who's interested in animals, talk about the kanuma festival, talk about livestock, cattle, get them to be hands-on in some way, maybe using kite-flying. A hands-on approach really works with kids. For those in STEM, we can, as we discussed before, talk about the axial precession, talk about the difference between Makara Sankranti and Uttarayan and how they are slightly astronomically different and then get them involved in helping. For a socially conscious child, helping poorer members of the community through daanam and make them understand that  as Hindus, this is one aspect that we do, but doesn't get much publicity. Temples do a great deal of annadanam, of giving food to the needy. So there is something for everybody and you can get your child interested in many many many different ways. So, that, I'd like to think, is the takeaway from this session.Thank you so much, Shashank garu, for your valuable time, and we hope to see you on future podcasts. Thank you again, and as always, please write to us with your questions, comments, suggestions.  The next time, we will have another special guest on our podcast. We will talk about the Hindu calendar because it's the start of 2023. We'd like to talk about the Hindu calendar and how it's different from the Gregorian calendar that we follow today. So that's for the next podcast and thank you so much for listening. Namaste. Get full access to Hindu Parenting at hinduparenting.substack.com/subscribe

The best way forward from a crossroads such as the Ram Navami riots isn't victimhood or retaliation. It's reform, rationality and progress. ----more---- https://theprint.in/opinion/being-indian/communal-harmony-needs-sabka-prayas-indian-muslims-also-have-a-part-to-play/941707/ 

ThePrint's round-up of how pro-Hindutva media covered and commented on news and topical issues over the past few days.----more----Read the full article here: https://theprint.in/read-right/indian-muslims-have-stockholm-syndrome-what-pro-hindutva-press-said-on-ram-navami-violence/922419/

On Saturday, 16 April, violence broke out in Northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri following a Shobha Yatra organised to mark Hanuman Jayanti. The Delhi Police have so far arrested 24 people and apprehended two juveniles in connection with communal clashes that broke out in North Delhi's Jahangirpuri after a religious Hindu procession allegedly attempted to hoist a flag on a mosque. According to the FIR filed by the police, arguments between two groups escalated after a man named Ansar came with a few people and started an argument with those participating in the yatra. The argument escalated and stone-pelting and sloganeering started from both sides. And as per purported videos of the yatra uploaded on social media and eyewitness accounts, several in the procession were carrying saffron flags, swords, pistols, and sticks. The police have also recovered three firearms and five swords from the accused persons. The Quint's reporter Fatima Khan spoke to several members of the procession and they claimed that they carried the swords for “fun”. This incident also comes days after the violence that erupted during the Ram Navami processions in several parts of the country. However, the twist in this incident is that there was a heavy deployment of police in the area where this scuffle took place. As per a report by The Indian Express, the Shobha Yatra also had police permission and around 50 police officials were deployed in Jahangirpuri along with PCRs, MVPs, and drones. Later, DCP Northwest Usha Rangani clarified that the procession took place without any permission. In today's episode, we take you through exactly what led to the violence in Jahangirpuri through eyewitness accounts and The Quint's ground reports on the same. We also speak to Somya Lakahni, Senior Editor at The Quint to know the latest on the investigation. Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram Editor: Somya Lakhani Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur

The Bharatvaarta Weekly is our reaction to the news headlines of the week that was. If you liked this episode, then don't forget to subscribe to our channel and share this content. You can stay updated with everything at Bharatvaarta by following us on social media: we're @bharatvaarta on Twitter, facebook.com/bharatvaarta.in on Facebook, and @bharatvaarta on Instagram).

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/india-is-standing-up-and-defending-itself-but-is-uncle-sam-taking-note-of-it-10565421.htmlOn the face of it, Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar’s blunt responses to US pressure to toe its line regarding Ukraine are appropriate rebuttals to interference in India’s internal affairs. Because India has generally been reticent (for example in the face of aggressive Chinese statements), the general public has been delighted to see these as an example of a maturing of Indian resolve. I am not so sure. I have long advocated mutually respectful US-India ties. And I was delighted by the promise of the Quad as a coming together of democratic forces in the Indo-Pacific, especially as an antidote to the rampaging Chinese. However, I was apprehensive about the Biden Administration, because the track record of the Democrats towards India is, well, abysmal.In previous Democratic Administrations we had the spectacle of Madeleine Albright lecturing India rudely, and the dependably noxious Robin Raphel who was later accused by the FBI of being a Pakistani agent (she was cleared of those charges). The general tendency has been to treat India with disdain, if not contempt, partly as a vestige of Cold War attitudes, the silly Non-Aligned Movement, and inane moralizing by the likes of Nehru and Krishna Menon. Thanks for reading Shadow Warrior! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Besides, India was seen as a basket-case (with good reason: humiliating PL 480 emergency food aid was a defining moment, because Indians ate only when US ships showed up with grain that they would normally only feed to livestock). A country that cannot manage its basic food security deserves disdain. But those days are long gone, except in the minds of Atlanticist Cold Warriors: India is now one of the biggest exporters of grain, and will profit from the Ukraine war.In other ways, too, the power equation between the two countries needs to be re-thought. I am reminded of the story of the court poet of a king in India who wrote a poem comparing his king to the Emperor. He called his king the New Moon and the Emperor the Full Moon. Furious, the king wanted to know why he said that.The poet explained that the New Moon is waxing, and the Full Moon is waning. In a nutshell, that is the situation with India and the US. Barring some unforeseen calamities, relative Indian economic and military might is going to increase, and America’s is going to decrease. In the not too distant future, India’s GDP in PPP terms will exceed that of the US, and it is a matter of speculation when the GDP in nominal terms also does the same. This is not jingoistic chest-thumping, but a very real possibility.Thank you for reading Shadow Warrior. This post is public so feel free to share it.The US is suffering from something like a midlife crisis. That is odd, for a nation with immense endowment – a vast continent with all the natural resources one could possibly want – and blessed with friendly neighbors and vast oceans separating it from possible foes. Its people have long been the most industrious and most innovative on earth, and the country is a magnet for the best and brightest from all over the world. Its soft power, too, is unrivaled. Yet, the prevailing concerns that animate Americans seem odd: gender, abortion rights, human rights. They are not exercised over their virtual de-industrialization (and the loss of manufacturing jobs) courtesy China, nor the possible collapse in white collar jobs through automation and robotics. They seem blase about their profligate use of energy (NPR reported in “How much energy powers a good life?” a Stanford study that Americans use “nearly four times the energy needed to live a happy life”). This is clearly driving global climate change. They may well be living beyond their means, propped up by printing billions of dollars, which they can do because Nixon took the dollar off the gold standard. The dollar remains the global reserve currency. However, the sanctions against Russia may well result in the bifurcation of the global trading system, and the Chinese would love to make the renminbi the currency of choice. Yet, Americans are mostly worried about human rights. Granted, these are ethical issues that are the proper concern of rich countries, but there is a whiff of decadence: it feels like the self-absorbed navel-gazing of a civilization in decline, oblivious to the barbarians at the gates, and you know who said barbarians are. The word degringolade seems to sum it up: the possibility of sudden collapse. The further problem is that they are lecturing others when their own system is not exactly functioning that well. The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken injected a sour note into the recent 2+2 meeting with India when he said, gratuitously, that “human rights abuses” in India were being monitored by the US.It was ironic that Blinken made this statement on a day when somebody shot up 10 people in Brooklyn; the next day two Sikhs were beaten and robbed in New York City. And a Kashmiri Hindu was shot dead in Kashmir. The NY Times, in the wake of a fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer, said: “American police officers, over the previous five years, have killed more than 400 motorists who were not wielding a gun or knife or under pursuit for a violent crime."One could argue that human rights abuses are a problem for the US, too. The Chinese make the US squirm by listing instances. At a function (at Howard University, a historically black university), MEA Jaishankar said that India is paying attention to human rights issues in the US. He also talked about the threat of CAATSA sanctions on India, and in effect said that if the US were to impose those sanctions, India would find a way around them. Indeed, India did get around earlier American denials and sanctions: when it went nuclear, earlier when the US unilaterally repealed the treaty about supplying nuclear fuel to Tarapore, when the Biden Amendment (yes, same Biden) forced Russia to renege on its cryogenic rocket engine deal with India, and when a Cray supercomputer sale was canceled. So far, so good. Yes, India is standing up and defending itself. But the question is whether this is registering where it counts. The Indian media is agog with reports. However, the American media, so far as I can tell, didn’t report on this: which means that official America simply did not hear the retort by the Indian MEA. Furthermore, there is the Good Cop, Bad Cop story: Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh threatened India with “consequences”. An emollient Daniel Lu, a senior State Department official, made soothing noises. Victoria Nuland, the architect of the ‘Maidan Revolution’ in Ukraine in 2014, visited, and met with mysterious “thought leaders” and with Arvind Kejriwal.Shortly thereafter, the AAP government in Punjab demanded 50,000 crores a year from the Center to fulfill AAP’s own grandiose election promises of freebies; Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal casually dismissed the rape-murder of a 14-year-old Hindu girl by TMC cadres; the Tamil Nadu government ratcheted up separatist noises; and Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti shobhayatras were attacked with stone-pelting by Muslims. Pure coincidence? Or “consequences”? Is the Biden Administration now convinced that India will, and should be allowed to, pursue its own interests? I am just not so sure as others are. After all, I hear AUKUS is becoming JAUKUS (pronounced “jackass”), and that leaves India out in the cold clutching the Quad. 1247 words, April 14, 2022 updated April 17, 2022 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com

This week, host Akanksha Kumar is joined by Newslaundry's Laasya Shekhar and the Wire's Saahil Murli Manghani.Saahil discusses his investigative report about the campaign against Urdu through the Haldiram's controversy on Sudarshan News, and the products sold by the company abroad. “Even if you want to spew hate, I think Sudarshan News did not do their research properly,” he says.The panel goes on to discuss Laasya's report on the JNU violence, where six students were injured as members of Left groups and the RSS students' outfit ABVP clashed on the day of Ram Navami.This, and a lot more, as they talk about what made news, what didn't, and what shouldn't have.Tune in.RecommendationsAkankshaAre caste colonies furthering the divide in Rajasthan?Truth behind Dalit man's murder ‘over moustache' and a village bitterly divided in RajasthanOperation FinaleSahilWatch | Sudarshan TV 'Hates' Urdu, Arabic. But Here's What the Company, Its Advertisers Are DoingLaasyaThe Last Kingdom See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's National Interest, Shekhar Gupta explains why India cannot aspire for moral stature if we respond to criticism with prickliness and why Ram Navami riots & bulldozers won't help India's stature. Brought to you by  @Kia India  ----more----Read this weak's National Interest here: https://theprint.in/national-interest/vishwaguru-should-look-in-mirror-why-ram-navami-riots-bulldozers-wont-help-indias-stature/918056/

This week we talk about the Ram Navami Festivities, India's love for bullies, Tejusu's potential and Shiv Sainiks in Twitter Spaces.

On Cock and bull this Thursday, Cyrus is joined by Niveditha Prakasam, Arjun Chikalpatti, and our new co- host Navin Noronha. They talk about people sticking to each other in Mumbai local trains, female compartments and their cat fights, are straight men are more homophobic, and how many times were they pickpocketed. Moving on to the topics for the day, they discuss the tragic news coming out of the New York subway where a shooting took place and people looking for Uber cabs to go home where charged a high fee. They also delve into the Mumbai WIFI Mafia, Arjun fighting for street dogs in society groups and why is Cyrus calling himself a Lion. Further they discuss the JNU admin who broke silence and said that the clashes began after students objected to a ‘havan' inside the hostel on Ram Navami, a UP power department employee burning himself alive after an objectionable demand by his boss, and why Amy Wax calls India a shithole. Tune in for this and much more.You can follow Arjun Chipalkatti on Instagram at @arjunchipsYou can follow Niveditha Prakasam on Instagram at @niv.prakasamYou can follow Navin Noronhah on Instagram at @houseofnoronhaYou can follow Antariksh on Instagram @antariksht: https://instagram.com/antarikshtDo send in AMA questions for Cyrus by tweeting them to @cyrussaysin or e-mailing them at whatcyrussays@gmail.comDon't forget to follow Cyrus Broacha on Instagram @cyrus_broacha(https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_broacha)In case you're late to the party and want to catch up on previous episodes of Cyrus Says you can do so at: www.ivmpodcasts.com/cyrussaysYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcasts App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

In this episode, Iram Siddique joins host Snigdha Sharma to discuss the violence in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone and the demolition drive that followed the next day.Next, Sweety Kumari gives us details on the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in West Bengal's Nadia district.And finally, we bring you details of the arrest of a mahant, Bajrang Muni, for hate speech and rape threats.

On Cyrus Says, our fellow panelists are Shreyas Manohar, Punit Pania & Navin Noronha. They talk about Navin doing a better job than Silverie who is chilling in Himachal, and how fashionable is the panel, with Punit having a different hairstyle every day. They contemplate which of the panelist can carry what kind of alook, should spitting be an Olympic sport, and what sound they like to be called. The ponder on TSA agents being on all commercial flights since 1971 and what they are called, and JNU students clashing over non-veg food on Ram Navami, with Students getting beaten up and why should a university not be run by the students. When it comes to food, Cyrus and the panel talk about their love for food and how south India is not just vegetarian food lovers but also largely consists of non veg food, and Punjab having mostly Veg food lovers. They ask if our panel has ever been in a road rage and the funny incidents that have happened in their life, and also if they have ever bunked school. Is Faultily actually a word, 40 electric vehicles blowing up into a container in Nashik and why is A R Rahman angry with Amit Shah. Tune in for this and much more.You can follow Shreyas Manohar on Instagram at @shreyas_manoharYou can follow Punit Pania on Instagram at @punitpaniaYou can follow Navin Noronhah on Instagram at @houseofnoronhaYou can follow Antariksh on Instagram @antariksht: https://instagram.com/antarikshtDo send in AMA questions for Cyrus by tweeting them to @cyrussaysin or e-mailing them at whatcyrussays@gmail.comDon't forget to follow Cyrus Broacha on Instagram @cyrus_broacha(https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_broacha)In case you're late to the party and want to catch up on previous episodes of Cyrus Says you can do so at: www.ivmpodcasts.com/cyrussaysYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcasts App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

In this episode, Deeptiman Tiwary joins host Snigdha Sharma to discuss the Look Out Circular issued by CBI against former Amnesty India chief, Aakar Patel, and why it sets a dangerous precedent.Next, Sukrita Baruah gives us a lowdown on the violent clashes that broke inside JNU on the evening of Ram Navami.And finally, we bring you the latest updates on Pakistan's new Prime Minister

Yusra Hasan brings you the news from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, West Bengal and Pakistan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Several instances of violence, stone pelting, and arson rocked many states of India on the occasion of Ram Navami on 10 April. Reports of unrest and violence emerged from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat West Bengal, Goa, Mumbai, and New Delhi, where students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University were allegedly attacked by students affiliated with right-wing groups. Meanwhile, the clashes that erupted in Gujarat caused the death of a person. Several purported videos of these incidents uploaded on social media showed youth wearing saffron clothing, wielding swords, and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram' and anti-Muslim slogans, whizzing through the streets on their bikes.  In one instance, in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, a purported video uploaded on social media shows a group of men holding saffron flags and swords outside a mosque, with one man climbing the mosque's wall and trying to fix a saffron flag atop it. And in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone, as many as 77 people were arrested after incidents of stone pelting and arson occurred during a Ram Navami procession in the district. This is, however, not the first time such rallies have taken place on the occasion of Ram Navami. Over the years, right-wing Hindu groups taking out processions have led to tensions in many parts of the country, according to several media reports. In today's episode, we take a look at the reports of violence in some of these areas and analyse how the occasion of Ram Navami has been a weapon to spread communal hatred by certain right-wing groups. We speak to Teesta Setalvad, a journalist and civil rights activist, and Apoorvanand, a professor at Delhi University. Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram Editor: Somya Lakhani Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur

This week on Dirty Linen we're talking religious festivals because there are lots happening! The Hindu festival of Ram Navami (April 10 this year) celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama. Chef Harry Mangat returns to Dirty Linen to share memories of a celebration that isn't part of his Sikh culture but that he happily enjoys because the food traditions are so good!https://www.instagram.com/harry.mangat/?hl=enFollow Dirty Linen on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcastFollow Dani Valenthttps://www.instagram.com/danivalentFollow Rob Locke (Executive Producer)https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/Follow Huck (Executive Producer)https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTShttps://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork

Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama.  According to mythology, Rama was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born to King Dashratha and Queen Kaushalya in Ayodhya. Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Therefore each year, the ninth day is celebrated as Ram Navami. Hindu households celebrate the Navratri by doing puja and on the ninth day, they perform Kanya Puja, where 9 girls are invited at home and offered prasad consisting of sooji halwa, Kala chana, and puri. The Hindus believe that young girls are the manifestation of Devi. Listen to the podcast to know more about this festival of India. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/chimesradio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Leelas in chapter 25 are all about Damu Anna Rasne, and how he sought refuge at Baba's feet as he had no offspring, and the unique way in which Baba blesses him by giving him four mangoes. Two other Leelas mentioned in this chapter are about Damu's business speculations on cotton and grain, and how Baba prevents him from doing so, thereby saving him from severe financial losses. I shall now narrate his life story, then talk about how he resolved to bring a flag every year for Ram Navami as a token of his gratitude for Baba for blessing him with children. The ancestors of Damodar Savalram Rasane hailed from Rashin. They were known as the Rashinkars, but later adopted the surname Rasane. Damodar Rasane received Baba's blessings for a child in the most remarkable and unexpected manner, and thereby, he became the means for spreading Baba's fame. He was a very humble man, who sold bangles and utensils to earn a living. All his transactions yielded good profits, and he soon became rich. He had everything in life, but had no children although he married twice. Astrological curiosity made him explore his horoscope, and he found that a Paapi (Ketu) was seated in the Putrastan, and there was no Guru (Jupiter) influence to overcome this. The local astrologers he consulted declared that it was impossible for him to have a child in this life. Damodar had heard of Sai Baba and went to see Him. Baba had kept about eight mangoes from a basket to be given to him. The rest of the mangoes in the basket were taken away by the local children, who wanted more. When Baba said that there were no more mangoes, the children pointed to the eight mangoes. Baba said that they were for Damya, but the children said that Damya was not around. "I know that he is on his way. He is coming," said Baba. When Baba went out, some of the children took away four mangoes, leaving behind only four mangoes. Baba gave Damodar the four mangoes, saying, "Eat and die." Damodar was perturbed by hearing the inauspicious word 'die'. Noticing his perplexity, Mhalsapati told him that it was a blessing to die at Baba's feet. All the while, Baba was enjoying this exchange. The word 'die', which He used, did not refer to physical death, but to the spiritual death, which is the same as Brahma Pramada coming upon one who gets deeper into Samsarik life with the birth and death of progeny and family. Baba said, "Damya, do not eat these mangoes yourself, but give them to your wife." Damya asked, "Which wife should I give them to?” Baba replied, “Give them to your second wife. She will have eight children. The first two will be boys. Name the first Daulatshah and the second Tanashah." Taking up his notebook immediately, Damya wrote down the two names. As stated by Baba, Damya's wife gave birth to exactly eight children, one after another, and their sexes were in the same order given by Baba. It took 15 years for all their children to be born. Perhaps there is an astrological explanation for this. In Damya's horoscope, there was no ‘Guru Balam' to overcome the Paapi influence. But the all-knowing and all-powerful guru of Damya was Baba, and His Balam (strength), together with His favourable glances, could overcome the adverse influence of all the planets put together. Damya's first son was named Daulatshah, who came to be known as Nanasaheb Rasane. Nanasaheb became the trustee of the Shri Sai Baba Sanstan, and did a lot of work for the Sanstan. He carried on Baba's propaganda by spreading the Sai faith through lectures and other means, and he was fully deserving of the name Daulatshah. Damya, deriving a blessing of this very rare sort, became the means by which Baba's fame (for bestowing progeny and other blessings) got widely publicised in Ahmednagar. This was around 1895-97. Damya, wishing to show his gratitude, undertook to pay for the expenses of a grand flag-procession ceremony that took place every Ram Navami day. Two very tall flags were nicely decorated and carried from the mosque through the streets of Shirdi on that day every year, and finally brought back to be installed at Baba's Masjid to remain there as a mark of the stay of the very compassionate saint. Not content with this service, Damya was always ready to undertake further work and expense for Baba in other matters as well, such as the reconstruction of the Masjid. Baba saves Damya from incurring financial losses On one occasion, Damya was advised by a cotton trader to invest Rs. 50,000 in cotton trading and earn a profit of lakhs within a short period of time. Damya wrote to Shama to ask Baba for permission to make the investment. When the letter came to Baba, Baba said, "Damya wants to catch the sky. His head is wrong. He is trying to think of lakhs. Write to him that his present position is not bad, and ask him not to think of lakhs." Damya, with great regret, had to drop the idea of cotton speculation. Finally, he thought he would directly go and meet Baba and induce Baba t...

Chapter 15 describes how Baba explained to Das Ganu the style of Kirtan by Naarad, and how he made Cholkar drink tea saturated with sugar after fulfilment of his vow. And lastly, how, from their chirping, Baba understood about the lizard that came from Aurangabad to meet her sister in the mosque. Chapter 15 is called Sankat Mochan, and many devotees read this chapter to free themselves from all obstacles, by Baba's grace. Spreading the palms before Baba is completely surrendering the ego with humility, and knowing fully well that we are helpless without Baba's grace. Day and night (in good times and in bad times), He is our only refuge, standing behind us and showering His grace upon us. In this chapter, there is the story of Das Ganu all decked up with an Angrakha, Pheta and Uparna to perform a Kirtan. Baba, with his characteristic humour, asks Das Ganu where he was going all decked up like a bridegroom. Baba then tells him to get rid of all the outward show, and to perform Kirtans with a bare chest, like Narad Muni, the father of all Kirtankars. The only adornment required was intense faith and devotion, which became Das Ganu's Naradiya Paddhati. I will now relate the life of Das Ganu, and how Baba transformed him into Sant Kavi Das Ganu Maharaj. Ganpatrao Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe, popularly known as Das Ganu Maharaj, was born on 6th January, 1868, and passed away on 25th November, 1962. Das Ganu hailed from Akolner village, and was born in a Brahmin family. His studies started when he had his thread ceremony at the age of nine, and stopped when he was 14 years old, and he studied English only up to fourth grade. He married when he was 23, after which he came to Ahmednagar, but remained a vagrant and indulged in gossip. While wandering, he met a police superintendent, Mr. Kennedy, who employed him as a Sepoy for a monthly salary of nine rupees. It was when he was working as a Hawaldar in the police force that Nanasaheb Chandorkar took him to Sai Baba. Nanasaheb was the deputy collector at that time (around 1890), and Das Ganu accompanied him to ingratiate himself with Nanasaheb, but with no particular desire to see Baba. Das Ganu took a great deal of interest in Tamashas and village plays of an erotic and somewhat obscene nature, and even took part in them. He dressed like a female and pranced about in great delight. He also composed poems impromptu. Neither his professional ways, nor his personal life, met with Baba's approval. Baba wanted Das Ganu to walk a different path. With considerable effort, Das Ganu gradually withdrew from play-acting, but the police-force career was another matter. For more than 10 years, he resisted Baba's admonitions until fate wove such a web that circumstances compelled him to resign from the force, after several mishaps. In fact, if Baba had not extended his protection, Das Ganu would have been punished and disgraced, and might have even faced death. After retiring from the force, Das Ganu followed Baba's advice and settled at Nanded. He spent his time performing Kirtans, going where his devotees invited him. The annual Kirtan at Shirdi, on Baba's Urus, which coincided with Ram Navami festival, was also delivered by Das Ganu, even during Baba's times, from 1914. He kept up the custom for several decades, thereafter. His wife's death in 1919 left him childless, but unfettered to pursue the path of a Kirtankar. No monetary collections were made by Das Ganu for his work as a Kirtankar. He performed his Brahminical duties, carried on Puranik studies, and performed Kirtans, at which he was excellent. His needs were well taken care of by the devotees from various parts of the country with whom he stayed, upon their invitation. After all, Baba had assured him about his temporal welfare. Besides being a Kirtankar, he wrote several books, amongst which are Sant Katha Amrita in 1903, Bhakta Leela Amrita in 1906, and Bhakta Saar Amrita in 1925. The first book features some stories about Baba, and Baba is said to have blessed the effort. Though Das Ganu was one of the foremost Bhaktas of Baba, he did not spend too much time with Baba. Even when he was in Shirdi, he rarely saw Baba, who would not allow him to stay for long in the Masjid. He bade him to go to Vitthal Mandir, where Das Ganu lived and wrote about the lives of saints, or spent his time repeating the Vishnu Sahasranam. The spread of Baba's fame, especially in Maharashtra, is largely due to Das Ganu's Kirtans. But, it is true that his own faith in Baba was not very strong, and often wavered, as at heart, he believed Baba to be a Muslim saint, and not a Poorna Parabrahma. Despite the well-known miracle that Baba performed of making water flow from both his feet, in lieu of the Ganga in which Das Ganu wished to bathe, he was unable to drink that palmful of water which he gathered as Tirth, but only sprinkled it over his head. As he was a Brahmin, Das Ganu thought that he would be polluted by drinking th...