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“Life is a combination of magic and pasta” observed Federico Fellini, the celebrated, all-time great and influential Director known for his films that blended fantasy and baroque, and brought together beauty and earthiness. Whether pasta represents fantasy; or ornate, he never explained but to many like him the Italian food does offer an aspect ofContinue reading ““Eataly””

A Time for IntrospectionNavratri by any account is a celebration of demise and destruction of demons and demonic instincts. It is supposedly a triumph of divine over ungodly, good over evil, virtue over vice. Good and virtuous may be relative concepts and so may well be bad and evil. Yet, there is a continuity andContinue reading “Maya’s Manifestations”

A Spur to Industrial growth New Jersey, the Garden State of USA, was one of the first to attract enterprise and industry soon after the country declared itself independent in 1789.Over 240 years ago, in July,1778 when Alexander Hamilton, the trusted compatriot of George Washington temporarily rested at a mighty Fall, the sight fueled hisContinue reading “A Riparian Ribbon of Pristine Nature”

One has heard of King Cobras but a King Crow? Crows brook no rivalry. They are not only intelligent and industrious, they are invidious and artful too.And if one were to recollect the story of ‘Kakolukiyam’ of Panchtantra (Of crows and Owls), one would concede, even if with reluctant respect, the unusual cunning and craftinessContinue reading “Black Drongo-The King Crow”

A Quest To Discover Self, God and Religion “I believe one religion is as good as the other. There is none in which one could not just become a sage, and none in which one could not just as easily engage in the most inane form of idolatory.” There is a spiritual connect between GermanyContinue reading “Herman Hesse’s Journey”

Neelkanth literally means one with a blue throat or neck. In Indian mythology, Lord Shiva is called ‘Neelkanth”. He is called so because after the churning of the sea when poison fulminated from the bowels of the sea, no one was able to withstand this deadly venom or poison. Devtas and Asuras – both ranContinue reading “The Shiva Among Birds”

The term Paradise Bird is a misnomer. The actual paradise Bird has little to do with paradise nor it is even a bird. Yet in popular perception so steeped is its legacy with sentiments of luck and good tidings, that the bird is commonly referred to as Paradise Bird. This remarkably attractive bird began itsContinue reading “The Bird from Paradise”

The tragedy that claimed two lives in the stampede in the Banke Bihari Temple on Janmashtami day is both sad and unfortunate. To what one must attribute this painful and avoidable mishap? To administrative lapses or the indiscrete and undisciplined enthusiasm of the devotees? Or to the past ‘karmas’ of the ones who lost theirContinue reading “A Prayer to Lord Krishna”

Janmashtami commemorate an energy which is deemed both a God and the finest and strongest representation of a human being, in fact a super human being. His life and deeds can scarcely be understood or explained within the parameters of human capabilities. One may call Him the most humanized God. A Way to Live ButContinue reading “What Does Janmashtami Celebrate?”

The Moment of Moral Renaissance The nation, we the people of India, are celebrating the 75th year of our independence. There is energy, enthusiasm, involvement all around. Never before the festivities were so elaborate, the diversity and the innovation to appropriately mark the occasion never so brilliantly devised. We are determined to make our countryContinue reading “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava”