The Indian Panorama

Year: 2023

  • New York State Governor Hochul signs legislation making Diwali a holiday in NYC public schools

    New York State Governor Hochul signs legislation making Diwali a holiday in NYC public schools

    Says “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we’re taking an important step to recognize and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar,”

    FLUSHING, NY (TIP): In a historic move, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation making Diwali a school holiday for New York City public schools. “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we’re taking an important step to recognize and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar,” Hochul said on Tuesday, November 14.

    The legislation requires that all public schools in New York City be closed on the “15th day of the eighth month of the Indian calendar in each year, which is known as Diwali,” a press release issued by Hochul’s office said.

    Hochul said that the legislation to designate Diwali as a New York City school holiday is “an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate traditions from across the world.” Hochul signed the legislation during a special reception at the Hindu Temple Society of North America in Flushing here to commemorate Diwali.

    In a post on X, Hochul said that she believes a celebration of light should not be commemorated in the dark.
    “That’s why tonight, we took action to bring people together. As we gathered to celebrate Diwali, I was proud to sign historic legislation making Diwali a New York City public school holiday!”

    Governor Hochul lights the lamp. To her right are seen Jenifer Rajkumar and Joseph Addabbo Jr. (Photo: Jay Mandal/On Assignment)

    According to the New York City Department of Education, there were 1,047,895 students in the NYC school system, the largest school district in the United States, in 2022-23.

    Of those students, 16.5 per cent were Asians. There are 1,867 schools within the Department of Education as of Fall 2022, including 275 charter schools. The press release said that the legislation amends the education law to declare Diwali a holiday for New York City public schools.

    “Many people of the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist faiths in New York City and throughout the state observe the festival of Diwali and more than 1 billion people around the world celebrate this holiday,” the release added.

    New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who is the first Indian-American and first Hindu elected to New York State Office and led efforts to make Diwali a school holiday in New York City, said generations of New Yorkers to come will now observe Diwali, the Festival of Lights. “By signing my bill, we say to over 600,000 Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist New Yorkers, ‘We see you, we recognized you, and Diwali is an American holiday’”, Rajkumar said. Rajkumar said she was proud to lead and win the fight for the Diwali School Holiday this year. “Today, my historic Diwali bill is officially signed into law,” she said as she thanked Hochul for signing “my momentous bill.” Rajkumar noted that for over two decades, the South Asian community has lobbied for the Diwali holiday.

    An Indian instrumental music performance (Photo: Jay Mandal/On Assignment)

    “With the signing of my bill, we have lit an everlasting lamp in the hearts and minds of all New Yorkers. This is an achievement that will outlive me,” she said. New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo said that in this time of “local and global racism and anger”, Diwali’s message is critically important and needed.

    “Diwali is a joyous occasion that holds immense significance for millions of people around the world and in our state. As we come together to commemorate this festival, we are reminded of the Diwali holiday’s message – the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil,” Addabbo said.

    “The Diwali celebration not only represents the rich cultural heritage of our diverse community but also serves as a reminder of the values that bind us together. It reminds us of the importance of compassion, kindness, and understanding in our interactions with one another,” he said.

    Addabbo voiced appreciation for Hochul’s approval to acknowledge Diwali as a school holiday and commended Rajkumar for her initiative in passing the legislation in the Assembly and working with his legislative team in passing the bill in the Senate. New American Voter Association President Dr Dilip Nath said in the release he is proud to see Hochul finally fulfilling a long past Diwali recognition holiday into law.

    “On the day of the Diwali so no student will have to choose between celebrating with their family or their school obligations.” Indian Diaspora Council International President Ashook Ramsaran termed the signing of the legislation as a “significant achievement following decades of grassroots efforts” in New York.

    Ramsaran said in the press release that Diwali is the ‘triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil’ and its lessons are more relevant as turmoil, inhumanity and divisiveness impact many people worldwide.”

    Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad New York President Bhajan Sarker said the 300,000 New Yorkers who celebrate Diwali will now be able to celebrate it with their entire families without being forced to forgo sending their children to school.” Nepali Community Leader and Executive Member of the Hami Nepali NabarajKC said, “On behalf of the Nepali Community we are profoundly grateful to our beloved Governor Kathy Hochul for recognizing the Hindu community and Diwali festival of lights.” Before Governor Hochul signed the legislation, she lit the traditional Diya to inaugurate the program. Earlier, artists gave an Indian instrumental music and an Indian classical dance performance. (Source: PTI)

    Photo: Jay Mandal/On Assignmentp
  • Super Sunday: Determined India, formidable Aussies

    Super Sunday: Determined India, formidable Aussies

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, wishes to silence the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the final of the World Cup on Sunday, November 19. If any team can silence 1.3 lakh people in the world’s biggest stadium, it’s Australia. Silences have been few and far between, however, during India’s campaign — they have compiled a perfect record of 10/10. India’s dominance has been intimidating. When they’ve bowled first, they’ve won by an average of six wickets, with almost 11 overs to spare; when they’ve batted first, they’ve won by an average margin of 175 runs. The closest shave they’ve had was in the semifinal — when the Wankhede Stadium crowd did become silent for 25 overs during New Zealand’s chase — though they still won by 70 runs.

    The team is working like a perfect machine, with every player in form. The injury to Hardik Pandya in the fourth match in Pune upset the balance, but it was a blessing in disguise — it brought in fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who has tormented batsmen with his unerring line and length. He’s picked up 23 wickets at an incredible average of 9.13. On top of the batters’ list is, of course, Virat Kohli, the man of the moment, with 711 runs. It’s easy to believe that this is his tournament, after two failures — as captain in 2019, vice-captain in 2015. As a 22-year-old, he had won the winners’ medal in his first World Cup in 2011; at 35, there’s a sense of inevitability about him winning a second medal in probably his final World Cup.

    Rohit Sharma, who regrets to this day his absence from the 2011 team, was his usual laidback self on Saturday. He said he’s shaped the team in his philosophy of playing fearlessly, damn the consequences. He didn’t say it would be just “just another game”, as sportspersons often say; he said the team would have to remain calm. The focus would be “on their work for the team, rather than thinking this is the biggest moment of my life”, he said, adding: “Of course it is, there is no doubt. You can’t hide from that. But it’s important to remain calm because if you are calm, you can play your role well.” At the world’s biggest stadium, named after the Prime Minister himself, and in his political fortress, the game can’t be considered just a game — it acquires deep political salience.

    On form, it’s difficult to see India losing; but after two losses, Australia have strung together a sequence of eight wins. Cummins’s team is the second-best in the tournament, and he’s desperate to be the best and add to Australia’s five World Cup titles “There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent, and that’s the aim for us tomorrow,” the captain said, but it’s difficult to imagine 1.3 lakh people going silent on Sunday night.
    (Source: PTI)

  • As Gaza war rages, waiting for the other shoe to drop

    As Gaza war rages, waiting for the other shoe to drop

    With the Israel-Hamas war dragging on, the world wonders how big a crater it would cause on global geopolitics and the economy
    India needs to be on its toes watching the Israel-Hamas conflict, which could do considerable harm given our huge exposure to West Asia. Resultant high oil prices would be bad for our economy. The current account deficit and inflation would surge. If global growth is impacted, our exports and investment inflows may suffer. The geopolitical instability may pose a threat to the security of our nine million-strong diaspora in West Asia, and raise questions about the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched with great fanfare in September.

    By Mahesh Sachdev

    The Israel-Hamas war is now in its sixth week. Like the proverbial landlord, West Asians and much of the world, are currently in suspended animation wondering when and where the “second shoe” will drop and how big a crater it would cause on regional and global geopolitics and the economy.

    While West Asia is no stranger to such shoe falls, several aspects of the current scrimmage are familiar, although some are new. We need to dwell on them briefly before making any prognosis of the crisis. It has been just over 50 years since the 19-day Yom Kippur War of 1973, 41 years since Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and 17 years since a 33-day inconclusive war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

    Israel was forced to leave Gaza in 2005, largely due to Palestinian resistance after a 38-year-long occupation. Since then, it has launched several military campaigns against Gaza: 2008 (lasting 22 days); 2012 (eight days); 2014 (50 days); and 2021 (11 days). Almost all Gaza conflicts involved Hamas firing rockets and the Israel Defense Forces making extensive air raids and missile attacks with occasional forays by armor-tipped infantry. Their ceasefires were always mediated by Egypt, the only Arab country that has a border with Gaza. Of late, Qatar has developed some proximity with Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a sister militancy in Gaza, through financial support and sheltering their leaders.

    Landing a blow on Israel
    Counting the differences, this ongoing conflict has proven to be far bloodier and more destructive than all its predecessors. It has already lasted longer than any — except the conflict in 2014. It has been the first time that Israel has suffered a major intelligence and security failure since 1973, denting its fabled impenetrable security and omniscient intelligence set-up. It has resulted in Israel suffering the largest number of war deaths and hostage-taking in a single day. Unlike previous instances of Israel fighting a non-state actor, this time it has had to contemplate the real possibility of a combination of Hamas, the PIJ, Hezbollah and the Houthis with Iran-allied Shia groups harassing the American military presence in Iraq and Syria in tandem. Further, following the “Abraham Accords” and recent progress towards normalization with Saudi Arabia, the regional geopolitics has shifted from an Arab-Israeli binary set-up to a more complex arrangement now. A prolonged and wider conflagration could risk a reversal of these hard-won diplomatic gains. In addition, it could draw in Iran which has become a more potent existential threat. At the same time, Israel’s abject failures on October 7 have dimmed its role as the possible anchor of a regional anti-Iran security alliance. While the Israel-Hamas conflict has hogged attention, other distractions such as the Ukraine-Russia war, China-United States frictions and global economic fragility are lurching around.

    A re-enforcement of regional tenets
    All these weighty new factors notwithstanding, the Israel-Hamas conflict has re-enforced some long-forgotten regional tenets. First, it has dramatically re-established the centrality of the “Palestine Cause”, demonstrating that 35 years of U.S.-sponsored peace-making has failed to bury it. An Israeli military solution at huge humanitarian costs could delay and complicate the situation, but may not take it to status quo ante October 6 2023. Second, the conflict has demonstrated that despite all talk of West Asia’s growing multipolarity, the U.S. remains the ultimate arbiter of the region’s security and stability. Third, thanks to its hydrocarbon assets, trade choke points and the existence of potent non-state terror actors, West Asia’s geo-economic importance remains undiminished. Even as West Asian events are often counter-intuitive, the Israel-Hamas war seems to be moving towards a denouement. Israel has gone for broke by besieging the major Gazan hospitals by alleging that Hamas uses them as human shields. It is a high-risk gambit: if the information is correct and the siege succeeds, Israel would achieve its twin objectives of breaking the back of Hamas and releasing the hostages. Otherwise, it would have to eat a humble pie at home and face a public relations disaster abroad.

    For several reasons, Israel does not have time on its side after six weeks of tumult. According to an Israeli newspaper, even if war remains confined to Gaza, it could be financially ruinous, with cost estimates running to $51 billion, or a tenth of the national annual GDP. A rough Indian equivalence could be a war costing $350 billion. Israeli rulers are already on notice domestically, in abeyance due to the national crisis, for their various lapses. If the Gaza conflict goes awry or expands into a “forever” regional war, public support for the “national” government could easily evaporate. Israel’s iron fist pursuit of its war aims may be popular at home, but the serious collateral damage is a hard sell abroad, particularly to Arabs and Muslims. In recent days, the tide of global sympathy has perceptibly shifted away from the Israelis’ anguish after the October 7 outrage towards the suffering of the Gazan civilians. Most Arab regimes have no love lost for Hamas — long shunned by them as part of “political Islam” that could stir up the masses. However, by waging a protracted, no-holds-barred asymmetric conflict, Israel is pushing the Arab regimes towards Hamas, much to their chagrin. Arab regimes’ evident failure to prevent mass death and destruction in Gaza discredits them in the eyes of the putative Arab street. Thus, Israel’s single-minded pursuit of a military solution has a huge accompanying cost for the moderate Arab regimes — and they do not like it. Even the U.S., Tel Aviv’s ultimate protector, has gone beyond the usual “bad cop, good cop” routine and publicly distanced itself from Israel by calling for a “two-state” solution and “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza.

    It is still too early to predict the eventual outcome of the conflict. In the worst-case scenario, it could be a Greek tragedy involving the killing of the hostages, conflict expanding to envelop first the non-state actors and, eventually, Iran. The World Bank predicted on October 31 that in the war’s worst-case scenario, oil prices could rise to $157 a barrel. Many Wall Street honchos foresee such eventuality upending the fragile post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery into a global recession. Further, Israel still seems to be thinking aloud about its exit strategy, abjuring the adage, “The longer you stay, the more chaotic the exit”. It appears to have no good options to extricate itself from the messy aftermath of October 7.

    For India
    India needs to be on its toes watching the Israel-Hamas conflict, which could do considerable harm given our huge exposure to West Asia. Resultant high oil prices would be bad for our economy. The current account deficit and inflation would surge. If global growth is impacted, our exports and investment inflows may suffer. The geopolitical instability may pose a threat to the security of our nine million-strong diaspora in West Asia, and raise questions about the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched with great fanfare in September. With both Russia and Israel, India’s two most important defense suppliers, being currently mired in wars, our defense procurement may face uncertainty. A protracted conflict may also fan international terrorism. On the positive side, high oil income may raise prospects for higher investment and remittances from the Gulf countries. India would need to be careful to leverage putative job openings in Israel, lest it put its citizens in harm’s way. Besides, replacing Palestinian workers with Indians may further stereotype India. The conflict has already subjected Indian diplomacy to some inelegant shifts, although we quickly regained our traditional balance. All in all, New Delhi should keep its ear close to the ground and wait for the second shoe of the Gaza conflict to drop, hopefully, without any further seismic convulsions.
    (The author is a former Indian ambassador and an Arabist)

  • Hitting below the belt in poll season

    Hitting below the belt in poll season

    Central investigation agencies and Governors being used to weaken the Opposition’s will to fight

    “The BJP was touted as the ‘party with a difference’. We thought it signified better governance, but instead we got the electoral bonds to finance political parties in place of the crossed cheques that electoral trusts established by corporates would issue transparently to various parties operating in the vicinity of their factories.

    By Julio Ribeiro

    Another step the BJP took to ensure an ‘Opposition-mukt’ polity was to literally release ‘tigers’ in the form of Governors and Lt Governors on hapless Opposition parties. The most recent example is of one of my own tribe (the Indian Police Service), who sits in the gubernatorial chair in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Governor RN Ravi has forced even a dyed-in-the-wool politician like DMK’s MK Stalin to approach the Supreme Court, pleading to be allowed to function like BJP governments in the Hindi heartland.”

    Can you blame the Prime Minister if voters give him credit for the superb performance of the Indian cricket team in the ongoing World Cup? I would not. But if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shows its true colors and leaks unverified information against a popular Chief Minister like Chhattisgarh’s Bhupesh Baghel just before the voters in that state wend their way to the polling booths, that would be called ‘hitting below the belt’. Boxers get disqualified if their blows land below the belt of the opponent. Why then is it permitted during elections, which have almost entered the category of a blood sport?

    The double-engine governments, of course, do not require class monitors. They know what they have to do.

    The Congress has sought the intervention of the Election Commission of India. That august body is making efforts to rebuild its good name, which was in danger of being obliterated. Recently, it has acquired the spine to question Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. But I doubt if it will find the law on its side in this distasteful matter.

    The ‘caged parrot’, the CBI, has been replaced by a puppet on strings. The power of appointment has served the party in power well. The Delhi Chief Minister has been served with a notice in the liquor policy case, which has succeeded in keeping some important AAP leaders in limbo. It is a novel method of dispersing political opponents and it has certainly marred AAP’s ability to give the poorer sections of Delhi’s population quality education at the school level and quicker access to medical help at the mohalla level.

    The BJP was touted as the ‘party with a difference’. We thought it signified better governance, but instead we got the electoral bonds to finance political parties in place of the crossed cheques that electoral trusts established by corporates would issue transparently to various parties operating in the vicinity of their factories.

    Another step the BJP took to ensure an ‘Opposition-mukt’ polity was to literally release ‘tigers’ in the form of Governors and Lt Governors on hapless Opposition parties. The most recent example is of one of my own tribe (the Indian Police Service), who sits in the gubernatorial chair in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Governor RN Ravi has forced even a dyed-in-the-wool politician like DMK’s MK Stalin to approach the Supreme Court, pleading to be allowed to function like BJP governments in the Hindi heartland.

    Non-cooperation of Governors with Opposition-ruled parties was not so common before 2014. Reports of such adversarial contests have been recorded in an alarming degree from Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala and Telangana. The double-engine governments, of course, do not require class monitors. They know what they have to do.

    The Supreme Court has never been assailed by so many complaints against Governors. When it was asked to adjudicate the Tamil Nadu imbroglio, I sensed a sense of fatigue in the Chief Justice’s remarks in the court. He asked the parties why they could not sort out their differences keeping the Constitution in mind. But the contestants are not bothered about the Constitution. One wants to install a ‘double engine’, while the other thinks that a ‘single engine’ is more appropriate for the people. There is, subsequently, no meeting point and rapprochement is not likely to happen. Incidentally, a ‘single-engine’ government is permitted by our Constitution.

    Delhi has a governance system under which babus take policy decisions. The government elected by the people has no real role to play. In the union territory of Puducherry, the Centre installed an old colleague of mine from the police service as Lt Governor. She gave the Chief Minister a rough time till he was voted out of office.

    The use of Central investigation agencies and Governors to weaken the Opposition’s will to fight and thereby get re-elected to high office is accompanied by the targeting of the hearts and minds of Opposition legislators en masse to form double-engine governments. Had that resulted in improved governance, all sins would have been forgiven. But that does not happen. On the contrary, the temptation to indulge in corruption is reinforced!

    It is clear that the route to power has been mapped out. First ensure emasculation of Opposition parties by setting the ED, the CBI, the NIA, et al, on their tails. If they win the elections even after the investigating agencies have dug their teeth into them, go for mass defection of elected legislators of Opposition parties by the lure of office so that double-engine governments are installed in the states. If the difference in numbers is not conducive to a takeover, release Governors or Lt Governors to make the government in question impotent.

    This plan will backfire when the voters see through the game. That is what the ruling party, which is working according to those plans, should worry about. Even the poorer sections of the populace have cottoned on to what is being perpetrated. They are beginning to realize that jobs will not be forthcoming through such machinations and that their present lot of poverty and deprivation will end only if those who have benefited greatly from the right-wing policies invest their money in creating jobs. But that is not happening.

    In the meantime, the government is changing laws to give itself the last word on appointments in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other centers of higher learning. If the autonomy enjoyed by these institutions is taken away, the standing of these IIMs and others in the job market will diminish. This will force bright students to seek avenues in foreign universities. But then the students, besides being bright, will also have to be well-heeled, which puts the poorer sections at a disadvantage.
    (The author is a highly decorated Indian Police Service Officer and a former governor)

  • Shame isn’t working. George Santos must go

    Shame isn’t working. George Santos must go

    Shame is not in the Santos lexicon. At this stage, the dangerous precedent would be set by allowing him to remain
    Rep. George Santos has had all the process he is due – and all the donor-financed Botox he deserves.

    By Ruth Marcus

    With the release by the House Ethics Committee of a damning report that offered new details about Santos’s endless lies and sordid self-dealing, the New York Republican must be expelled as soon as possible. Santos poses a test that even this House should be able to summon the will to pass, and his belated declaration that he will not seek election to a second term is entirely inadequate to the appalling circumstances of his conduct.

    Before the ethics report, the question of how his fellow lawmakers should deal with Santos presented a tough case. He faces federal indictment on multiple felony charges, and it has been clear since even before Santos was sworn in that he was elected under false pretenses. Pretty much everything he told voters about his background was a lie, and his self-serving assertions that he is somehow the victim of a smear campaign, not the perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents, only deepen his culpability.

    And yet, expulsion from the House is a drastic measure, one the Constitution wisely requires be accomplished by a two-thirds majority. The House has resorted to that step just five times — ousting three members for joining the Confederacy and, more recently, two others who were convicted of criminal offenses. So, it was understandable earlier this month that lawmakers of both parties balked at voting to expel Santos.

    “This would be a terrible precedent to set,” Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.) said at the time, “expelling people who have not been convicted of a crime and without internal due process.”

    “I can think of four or five Democratic members the Republicans would like to expel without any criminal conviction or adverse ethics findings tomorrow simply because they hate their politics,” Raskin added. “Indeed, the same New York Republicans who want to expel Santos now because he is a complete political albatross for them acted to vigorously defend him in the spring because they wanted his vote for their party on the floor. If members are not going to be expelled for purely political reasons, we need to stick to due process and the rule of law.” Good for Raskin, and the 30 other Democrats who voted with him.

    If New York Republicans had a vested interest in seeking to oust Santos, others, including new House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), were not coy about conflating matters of due process and political survival. “We have a four-seat majority in the House,” Johnson told Fox News’s Sean Hannity. “We have no margin for error, and so George Santos is due due process, right?” No, he’s entitled to due process whatever the margin, not simply because it’s politically expedient.

    Now, the due process argument has evaporated with the Ethics Committee’s unsparing conclusion that there is “substantial evidence” Santos violated the law and that his conduct “warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House.” Indeed, the panel’s Republican chair plans to introduce an expulsion resolution. As the report lays out, Santos “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit. He blatantly stole from his campaign. He deceived donors into providing what they thought were contributions to his campaign but were in fact payments for his personal benefit. He reported fictitious loans to his political committees to induce donors and party committees to make further contributions to his campaign — and then diverted more campaign money to himself as purported ‘repayments’ of those fictitious loans.”

    The details are sordid bordering on satire. Santos spent thousands in campaign funds at spas, including for multiple Botox treatments. He used campaign funds to pay for a Las Vegas trip at a time when he told campaign staff he was on his honeymoon. He had $20,000 in campaign funds transferred to his company, then tapped the money to make $6,000 worth of purchases at Ferragamo, withdraw $800 from an ATM at a casino and pay his rent. He set up a political consulting firm, solicited contributions from supporters and then diverted $50,000 into his personal accounts, and used the money for, among other things, a $4,127.80 purchase at Hermes and “smaller purchases at Only Fans,” an adult website.

    If any doubts remained about whether he deserves expulsion, Santos dispelled them with a self-serving post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Santos decried the bipartisan report as a “disgusting politicized smear that shows the depths of how low our federal government has sunk. Everyone who participated in this grave miscarriage of Justice should all be ashamed of themselves.”

    Shame is not in the Santos lexicon. At this stage, the dangerous precedent would be set by allowing him to remain.
    (The author is Associate editor with the Washington Post)

  • Congress will usher in a Golden Telangana and fulfil the aspiration of the people

    Congress will usher in a Golden Telangana and fulfil the aspiration of the people

    The 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held on 30 November 2023 to elect all 119 members of the state’s Legislative Assembly. The results will be declared on 3 December 2023.

    Congress is committed to the cause of women, the marginalized and the minorities. It has always ensured that the dalits, SC and ST along with minorities get plum posts in administration. Even in the neighboring state of Karnataka, it gave the Chief Minister’s post to a backward class leader. The party’s commitment to providing a level field to different sections of society is consistent and continuous.

    By Rajendar Dichpally

    The election in Telangana is seminal in more ways than one. It is the battle between Congress and BRS. Congress is the party which has pledged to empower the people of the state, while BRS is committed to empower one family. Congress is dedicated to work for the marginalized, BRS is determined to uplift the rich, the powerful and the venal.

    Congress has a legacy of performance, BRS has a history of huge corruption, colossal failure and broken promises.

    Congress is a party of reforms, BRS is a party of scams.

    The congress party bought some landmark reforms during its last tenure at the state as well as  the center.  These include ‘Right to Employment’, ‘Food Security Act’, ‘Right to Information Act’, ‘US-India Civil Nuclear Deal’, ‘108 ambulance and health scheme for the poor’, fee reimbursement, farm loan waiver, landmark irrigation projects – the list is long.

    Congress party initiated major irrigation projects in the state during its last tenure. These projects will change the fate of millions of farmers in the state, in a few decades, for the better. The party’s commitment to farmers has always ensured that farmers will not have to take recourse to suicides due to failing monsoon or poor crop.

    Congress has also battled tooth and nail, the ogre of corruption.  When it was in power from 2004-2014, it allowed its own leaders and allies like DMK to be examined for corruption charges. Moreover, it did not shield the corrupt and let the law take its course and put the accused in jail.  Kanimozhi, Raja, Y.S.Jagan are some glaring examples.

    BRS ushered in scams by the dozen. Some notable ones include :

    Kaleshwaram Project Scam, Mission Bhagirath Scam, Miyapur Land Scam, Passport Scam, Car Dealership Scam, Palamara Lift Irrigation Scam, Sand Mafia Scam, EAMCET Paper Leakage, My Home Land Scam and Bathukamma Funds Scam.

    As a result of BRS’ inefficient and corrupt government the state is suffering from a humongous debt of 4 lakh crore rupees. In fact, corruption begins from the home and hearth of KRS – his daughter Kavitha has been summoned by the ED in the liquor scam.  Congress is committed to the cause of women, the marginalized and the minorities. It  has always    ensured that the dalits, SC and ST along with minorities get plum posts in administration. Even in the neighboring state of Karnataka, it gave the Chief Minister’s post to a backward class leader. The party’s commitment to providing a level field to different sections of society is consistent and continuous.

    BRS on the other hand has failed miserably in all the promises it made – whether  making a dalit the Chief Minister, ensuring 12 percent reservation to Muslims, building 2-bedroom houses for the poor, free education or waiver of Crop Loans up to 1 lakh for poor farmers or in reaching out to women. KCR’s first term did not have a single woman as a minister in his cabinet!

    While the Congress and its leadership believe in internalizing and spreading a ‘scientific temper’, the present Chief Minister has let superstition take over rationality and logic. He runs the state from his farmhouse instead of the state secretariat. He also demolished the old secretariat and built a new one spending crores despite the acute financial crisis the state is reeling under.  The money, which could be used for a far more worthy and vital cause, has instead been wasted in pampering egos and serving superstition.

    The Congress Party has given 6 major promises to the people of Telangana:

    –  Under ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme, women will get 2,500 every month, gas cylinder for Rs 500 and free bus travel.

    –  Under Rythu Barosa’ scheme, farmers & lease holders will get Rs 1500 while farm laborers will get Rs 12,000 per year. Bonus of Rs.500 per quintal will be given on paddy.

    –  Under ‘Grih Jyothi’ scheme, 200-unit electricity will be provided free.

    –  Under ‘Indira Amma Indloo’ scheme, free land and aid of Rs 5 lakh will be given for construction of houses.

    –  Under ‘Yuva Vikasam’ scheme, students will be given assistance of Rs5 lakh and also international schools will be opened in every district of Telangana.

    –  Senior Citizens will be given pension of Rs 4,000 and provided health insurance up to Rs 10 lakh.

    If we just take a look at its track record, the Party is sure to fulfil each and every commitment with sincerity of purpose and an unerring focus.

    Now let us take a look at history.  Telangana was granted by Congress Party under the visionary stewardship of Smt.  Sonia Gandhi  against the toughest of odds.  The dreams of crores of people of Telangana came true because of the resolve of the leader and its party to fulfil the promises made in the manifestoes in 2004 and 2009.  Yet another golden example of a party which walks its talk every time. Contrast this with the response of KCR and his party which has legacy of failed promises and pathetic performance.

    The choice in the elections is clear. We are confident the people of Telangana will rise to the occasion and using their pragmatism, conviction and wisdom will elect and select the party which stands tall in every word and every deed. I appeal to the lovely people of this great state to vote for Congress – the party which epitomizes equality, transparency and trust. Let us usher in a new era for our state and our country – an era of progress, prosperity, peace and fulfilment.

    (The author is General Secretary of IOC)

  • Bridge to nowhere: On India’s voice, Israel and the Palestinian cause

    India should be forceful in articulating its position on Gaza

    Two weeks after abstaining from a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that called for a ceasefire in the Israeli strikes on Gaza, India voted in favor of five of six annual draft resolutions at the UNGA’s Fourth Committee that criticized Israel for increasing settlements in the Occupied Territories, was in favor of Palestinians’ right to homes and property, and supported the UN Refugee and Works Agency (UNRWA) operating in Gaza. The official explanation of the votes as “routine” affirmation of India’s traditional policy has only added to the confusion over the government’s stand on the crisis. Its Explanation of Vote in the original UNGA resolution in October said that India could not vote for a resolution that did not include an “explicit condemnation” of the October 7 attacks by Hamas. However, none of the six resolutions, including one in which India abstained, that discusses investigating Israel for rights violations, actually referred to the October 7 attacks. These were instead identical to resolutions that India had voted for before, and neither India nor any other country at the Fourth Committee deliberations proposed amendments. The Israeli envoy, in fact, demanded a rejection of the “anti-Israel” resolutions as they did not contain references to the current situation. Cuba argued that the resolutions were important to vote for, but that they also did not contain references to the more than 11,000 Palestinians killed, including 4,000 children, and the displaced (nearly a million). India did not propose amendments, nor did any Indian diplomat speak, although a lengthier explanation may be expected when the resolutions are put to a vote by the UNGA next month — by which time more of Gaza would have been flattened.

    At a time when every day counts, New Delhi appears unwilling to exert itself to making a difference. True, the government continues to hold its traditional stand on support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution (which it reaffirmed during the recent India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial meeting), and that it “stands by” Israel, with “zero tolerance” for terror attacks. However, it has not joined the call for a ceasefire or explicitly asked for an end to the strikes on civilian targets, where Israel claims it is hunting for Hamas fighters and searching for hostages. Nor has it named Hamas for the terror attacks or changed Indian law, as the Israeli Ambassador to India called for, to designate Hamas as a terror group. More than a month after Israel’s reprisals began, the government must explain its position on the conflict, including where, if anywhere, India could play a role in alleviating the situation. The upcoming Voice of Global South and G-20 virtual summits may present the opportunity to articulate options for ending the violence, recovering Israeli hostages, as well as post-conflict scenarios for Gaza and Palestinians. India’s voice, once known for being forceful and balanced on such issues, must not be replaced by an expedient silence.

    (The Hindu)

  • Biden-Xi summit

    Thaw in bilateral ties is welcome

    The four-hour-long meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco marks a much-needed thaw in relations between the world’s most powerful nations. During their first in-person interaction in more than a year, they have agreed to open a presidential hotline and resume military-to-military communication. Addressing the media after the meeting, Biden candidly said that ‘the US will continue to compete vigorously with China, but will manage that competition responsibly so that it doesn’t veer into conflict or accidental conflict.’ Striking a conciliatory tone in his address to a gathering of American executives, Xi said the world needed China and the US to work together, and it was ‘wrong to view China as a threat and play a zero-sum game against it’.

    The bilateral ties had hit a new low in February after the US shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. Last year, China had snapped inter-military communication after then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan despite Beijing’s objections and warnings. Taiwan continues to be a prickly issue as Biden has called for restraint in China’s use of the military in and around the strait. He also raised concerns over alleged human rights abuse by China in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. The meeting indicates that the US and China are not averse to adopting a pragmatic approach in order to reduce bilateral tensions, even though Biden has riled Beijing by reiterating that Xi is a dictator. Both are prioritizing their interests and trying to find a common ground while being mindful of their differences. These developments are important for India, which is locked in a prolonged standoff with China in Ladakh. With New Delhi’s strong relations with Washington not influencing its other bilateral ties, the onus is on Beijing to go the extra mile to maintain peace and stability in its neighborhood.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Thanksgiving Day

    Thanksgiving Day

    Thanksgiving Day is annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. This year, the day falls on Thursday, November 23. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. The American holiday is particularly rich in legend and symbolism, and the traditional fare of the Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. With respect to vehicular travel, the holiday is often the busiest of the year, as family members gather with one another.
    Plymouth’s Thanksgiving began with a few colonists going out “fowling,” possibly for turkeys but more probably for the easier prey of geese and ducks, since they “in one day killed as much as…served the company almost a week.” Next, 90 or so Wampanoag made a surprise appearance at the settlement’s gate, doubtlessly unnerving the 50 or so colonists. Nevertheless, over the next few days the two groups socialized without incident. The Wampanoag contributed venison to the feast, which included the fowl and probably fish, eels, shellfish, stews, vegetables, and beer. Since Plymouth had few buildings and manufactured goods, most people ate outside while sitting on the ground or on barrels with plates on their laps. The men fired guns, ran races, and drank liquor, struggling to speak in broken English and Wampanoag. This was a rather disorderly affair, but it sealed a treaty between the two groups that lasted until King Philip’s War (1675–76), in which hundreds of colonists and thousands of Native Americans lost their lives.
    The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanksgivings,” days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought. The U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national Thanksgiving upon the enactment of the Constitution, for example. Yet, after 1798, the new U.S. Congress left Thanksgiving declarations to the states; some objected to the national government’s involvement in a religious observance, Southerners were slow to adopt a New England custom, and others took offense over the day’s being used to hold partisan speeches and parades. A national Thanksgiving Day seemed more like a lightning rod for controversy than a unifying force.
    Thanksgiving Day did not become an official holiday until Northerners dominated the federal government. While sectional tensions prevailed in the mid-19th century, the editor of the popular magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book, Sarah Josepha Hale, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day to promote unity. She finally won the support of President Abraham Lincoln. On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.
    The holiday was annually proclaimed by every president thereafter, and the date chosen, with few exceptions, was the last Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, attempted to extend the Christmas shopping season, which generally begins with the Thanksgiving holiday, and to boost the economy by moving the date back a week, to the third week in November. But not all states complied, and, after a joint resolution of Congress in 1941, Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1942 designating the fourth Thursday in November (which is not always the last Thursday) as Thanksgiving Day.
    As the country became more urban and family members began to live farther apart, Thanksgiving became a time to gather together. The holiday moved away from its religious roots to allow immigrants of every background to participate in a common tradition. Thanksgiving Day football games, beginning with Yale versus Princeton in 1876, enabled fans to add some rowdiness to the holiday. In the late 1800s parades of costumed revelers became common. In 1920 Gimbel’s department store in Philadelphia staged a parade of about 50 people with Santa Claus at the rear of the procession. Since 1924 the annual Macy’s parade in New York City has continued the tradition, with huge balloons since 1927. The holiday associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans has come to symbolize intercultural peace, America’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family.
    Days of thanksgiving in Canada also originated in the colonial period, arising from the same European traditions, in gratitude for safe journeys, peace, and bountiful harvests. The earliest celebration was held in 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Nunavut to give thanks for the safety of its fleet. In 1879 Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day on November 6; the date has varied over the years. Since 1957 Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in
    October.
    Thanksgiving is the most popular and well-known American holiday. Each year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans gather to eat a traditional meal of turkey and pies, and spend time with family and friends. In fact, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest travel day of the year in the country, as Americans drive and fly to go meet family.
    The holiday has become so much more than a simple day of thanks. With parades, TV specials, and more, Thanksgiving is seen as the kickoff of the holiday season. The Friday following the holiday has been dubbed “Black Friday” – a day that shoppers lineup early in the morning to get the best sales and discounts for their holiday shopping.
    Thanksgiving Day food
    Turkey has become all but synonymous with the holiday. According to the National Turkey Federation, nearly 90 per cent of Americans eat the bird — whether roasted, baked or deep-fried — on Thanksgiving Day. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
    Pardoning of turkey ceremony
    Since the beginning of the mid-20th century, the president of the United States has “pardoned” one or two Thanksgiving turkeys each year, sparing the birds from slaughter and sending them to a farm for retirement.
    Other countries that celebrate Thanksgiving Day holiday
    Canada has its own Thanksgiving Day, on the second Monday in October, and Liberia celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November.
    Black Friday sale
    A month-long shopping season for the winter holidays begin after Thanksgiving, with Black Friday kicking off the season.

  • FINALISTS COMPETE FOR COVETED SASSY AWARDS

    • By Mabel Pais

    As part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival (November 3-19), and closing the Fest, the top five finalists of the 12th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition will compete for coveted prizes.

    Competition Finalists (Credit : NJPAC)

    The top five finalists are Daryann Dean (Los Angeles, CA), Bianca Love (New Orleans, LA), Tyreek McDole (St. Cloud, FL), Ekep Nkwelle (Washington, DC), and Emma Smith (London, UK). Chosen from a record 280+ submissions representing 37 countries, these gifted young contestants from around the world represent the next generation of great jazz singers.

    They will compete on Sunday, November 19, 2023, on the iconic NJPAC stage in front of a live audience and before a distinguished panel of judges, including acclaimed female vocalists Jane Monheit, Madeleine Peyroux, and Lizz Wright; NJPAC’s Jazz Advisor and multi-Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride; and three-time Grammy Award-winning producer and executive vice president of Mack Avenue Records Al Pryor. Hosted by WBGO Radio’s Pat Prescott, this special event will also include performance by G. Thomas Allen, winner of the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

    PRIZES

    The first-prize winner of The SASSY Awards will receive a $5,000 cash award, second-place $1,500, and third-place $500. The winner will perform alongside past winners and special guests at the Sarah Vaughan Centennial Concert Hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater on April 19-20, 2024, at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

    THE SASSY COMPETITION

    The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, also known as “The SASSY Awards,” is open to singers over the age of 18, of all genders and nationalities, from anywhere in the world, and not signed by a major label. Entrants are judged on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation, and ability to swing. What has become one of the top annual vocal competitions in jazz, The SASSY Awards offers outstanding jazz singers a one-of-a-kind platform for embarking on a career in the music business—and offers audience members a chance to discover the jazz stars of tomorrow. Past winners include Cyrille Aimée, Jazzmeia Horn, Ashleigh Smith, Arianna Neikrug, Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, Laurin Talese, Samara Joy (Grammy winner for Best New Artist 2023), Gabrielle Cavassa and Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, G. Thomas Allen, and Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso.

    SARAH VAUGHAN & NJPAC

    The competition recalls the humble beginnings of legendary jazz singer/NEA Jazz Master Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) who, back in 1942, was a Newark teenager and winner of an amateur singing contest at the Apollo Theater. That memorable night helped launch the lifework of one of the most successful, influential jazz vocalists in the history of American music. NJPAC has a long history of preserving and celebrating Sarah Vaughan’s music and impact. In 1999, NJPAC officially proclaimed the street in front of it as “Sarah Vaughan Way.” In addition to The SASSY Awards, NJPAC hosts several celebrations in the 2023-24 season honoring the centennial of Vaughan’s birth. Earlier this year, NJPAC paid tribute to “The Divine One” at its Women@NJPAC Spotlight Gala. In 2024, NJPAC partners with Jazz at Lincoln Center for the Centennial Concert series (April 19-20), and more.

    THE COMPETING FINALISTS

    Daryann Dean   

    Learn more at darynndean.com.

    Bianca Love

    Learn more at linkedin.com/in/bianca-love.

    Tyreek McDole      

    Learn more at tyreekmcdole.com.

    Ekep Nkwelle

    Learn more at ekepnkwelle.com.

    Emma Smith

    Learn more at emmasmithmusic.co.uk.

    TICKETS

    For tickets to watch the performances, visit NJPAC.org

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

    Follow NJPAC Online:

    Website:      njpac.org

    Twitter:       @NJPAC

    Instagram:   @NJPAC

    Hashtag:      #NJPAC

    Facebook:     facebook.com/NJPAC

    YouTube:      NJPACtv

    Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

    Website:      njpac.org/takeastand

    Hashtag:      #NJPACTakeAStand Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

    ——————————

    ENCHANTING HOLIDAY CONCERT TRIUMPHS LIGHT OVER DARKNESS

    • By Mabel Pais
    NJ Youth Chorus singers (Credit : Wharton Arts)

    Light up this holiday season with a stunning performance by the New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC) and special guest handbell choir, the Walsh Memorial Bell Choir from the Presbyterian Church of Morris Plains. This enchanting holiday concert is illuminated by candles of peace, hope, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness.

    As part of the 2023-24 season’s vision to engage alumni by building a passionate, caring, and broad community of chorus members, the concert features NJYC Alumna Emmalee LaFean. Readings and Carols: Season of Light (whartonarts.org/calendar/njyc-readings-and-carols) will take place on Sunday, December 3 at 4:30 p.m. at the Morristown United Methodist Church located at 50 South Park Place, Morristown.

    NJYC Founder and Director Trish Joyce said, “Since the dawn of time, light has been celebrated as a symbol of hope, peace, wisdom, truth, and goodness.  It is a common thread, woven throughout humanity. We are excited to present a program which celebrates the importance of light in the cultures dear to our NJYC families. Our choristers will light the Advent wreath, Menorah, and Diyas; share readings and poetry; and lead the audience in songs and carols honoring the light within all of us.”

    Joyful selections performed by NJYC’s Coriste ensemble, led by Director Trish Joyce, and Camerata ensemble, led by Director Dan Malloy, include ‘Veni, Veni Emmanuel’ by Michael John Trotta, ‘TāReKiTa’ by Reena Esmail, ‘One Light’ by Evan Ramos, ‘Night of Silence’ by Daniel Kantor, ‘Faith is the Bird that Feels the Light’ by Elizabeth Alexander, ‘Hold Out Your Light’ by Stacey V. Gibbs, ‘Season of Light’ by Jacob Narverud, and ‘Carol of the Bells’ arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky. Arrangements of seasonal favorites will be performed by the Walsh Memorial Bell Choir and soloist Emmalee LaFean.

    TICKETS

    Tickets priced for adults, discounts for seniors & students, are available at NJYC.org 

    Wharton Arts

    Learn more at WhartonArts.org

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)

  • HOLIDAY CLASSIC TRADITIONS STAY WITH NJS IN NJ

    • By Mabel Pais

    SYMPHONY CONCERT WITH JOSHUA BELL

    Joshua Bell (Credit : njsymphony.org)

    Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell joins the New Jersey Symphony in concert in a program featuring Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.

    The world-renowned artist will not only play the solo violin in the incredibly virtuosic violin concerto but will also lead the orchestra from the concert-master’s chair during the entire program, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, making Bell both the soloist and the conductor of the performances.

    The program includes Mendelssohn’s Overture to his opera, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ based on Shakespeare’s play.

    Bell, an Indiana native who has been playing professionally since age 14, is currently on a world tour of major orchestras, including the New Jersey Symphony, and has just released a new album on Sony Classical, ‘Butterfly Lovers.’ He recently commissioned a series of new works for violin and orchestra called ‘The Elements,’ from composers Jake Heggie, Jennifer Higdon, Edgar Meyer, Jessie Montgomery, and Kevin Puts.

    In addition to his busy concert career, Bell is Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a chamber orchestra based in London (United Kingdom).

    PROGRAM

    Joshua Bell Leads the New Jersey Symphony

    New Jersey Symphony Classical

    Joshua Bell conductor and violin

    New Jersey Symphony

    Newark – Thursday, November 30, 1:30 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

    Newark – Friday, December 1, 8 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

    Morristown – Sunday, December 3, 3 pm, Mayo Performing Arts Center

    Mendelssohn Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

    Beethoven Symphony No. 4

    Pre-Concert Conversation

    The Symphony invites all ticket holders to attend a free classical conversation starting one hour before the performance on Friday, December 1, at 7 pm and Sunday, December 3, at 2 pm. Learn more about the music from New Jersey Symphony musicians, guest artists and other engaging insiders.

    TICKETS

    More information on Concerts and Tickets to the Performances are available at njsymphony.org/events

     —————————————— 

    GOSPEL HOLIDAY CONCERT

    WHEN:  Saturday, Dec 9 @ 4 PM

    WHERE: Newark Symphony Hall’s Terrace Ballroom

    Concert Information

    New Jersey Symphony Gospel Chorus | Gwen Moten, director

    Dorthaan Kirk emcee

    New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players

    This family concert is general admission. 

    Spotlighting celebrated artists from Newark and beyond, the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players laud the power of the first instrument—the human voice—with a gospel music-inspired holiday extravaganza. All are invited to come ready to sing, dance and clap along!

    TICKETS

    Tickets are available for purchase at my.njsymphony.org/20344/21017

    ————————————————-

    HOLIDAY CLASSIC: HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’

    Sherezade Panthaki, soprano joins the singing

    Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. (Credit : njsymphony.org)

    The New Jersey Symphony will present two performances of the beloved holiday tradition, Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ Friday, December 15 at 8 pm, and Sunday, December 17 at 7 pm. The Symphony will perform the entire Oratorio, including Part I (popularly known as the Christmas portion) as well as the familiar ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’

    The concerts will be conducted by Nicholas McGegan, Music Director Laureate of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, and Principal Guest Conductor of Capella Savaria in Hungary. With a career spanning more than five decades, McGegan is considered an expert in 18th-century music, of which ‘Messiah’ might be the most famous example.

    Joining the Symphony and McGegan are a host of guest vocalists, including Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Key’mon W. Murrah, countertenor; Thomas Cooley, tenor; and Tyler Duncan, baritone. Singing the well-known choral sections are the Montclair State University Singers, under the direction of Heather J. Buchanan.

    The performance on Friday, December 15 takes place at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, located on the Princeton University campus, directly across from Palmer Square in downtown Princeton. Preceding the performance, at 7 pm, audiences are invited to join Buchanan and the Montclair State University Singers as they lead a festive singalong of holiday songs and carols, which includes a brief rehearsal of the famous “Hallelujah Chorus.”

    The Sunday, December 17 performance takes place at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Seating is general admission and priced based on location inside the basilica.

    Handel composed the famous oratorio in just 24 days. Messiah was premiered in Dublin, Ireland, in April of 1742. It became an annual tradition in London after 1750 and has been performed countless times by orchestras and choruses around the world since.

    PROGRAM

    Handel’s Messiah

    New Jersey Symphony Holiday Tradition

    Nicholas McGegan conductor

    Sherezade Panthaki soprano

    Key’mon W. Murrah countertenor

    Thomas Cooley tenor

    Tyler Duncan baritone

    Montclair State University Singers | Heather J. Buchanan, director

    New Jersey Symphony

    Princeton – Friday, December 15, 8 pm, Richardson Auditorium

    Newark – Sunday, December 17, 7 pm, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

    Holiday Singalong

    Princeton – Friday, December 15, 7 pm, Richardson Auditorium

    TICKETS

    For more information on concerts and tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events

    New Jersey Symphony

    The Emmy and Grammy Award-winning New Jersey Symphony is redefining what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. The Symphony is renewing its deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be a new experience; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of our organization-all to better reflect and serve our vibrant communities.

    Connect with NJ Symphony:

    1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)

    njsymphony.org

    @NJSymphony on Facebook, lnstagram, TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter

    @NewJerseySymphony on YouTube

    Email: information@njsymphony.org

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)

  • Weekly Horoscope-November 20 to 26, 2023

    By Chirag Daruwalla – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla

     Aries

    Ganesha says this week you will be very busy with household work. Married people will now be able to get out of the problems of family life a little and heave a sigh of relief. People living a love life will experience some problems. There may be some distance between you and your family, and some ideological differences may arise. Try to remove these in time, so that the relationship can run well. There will be some household expenses now. Your responsibilities will attract your attention. Meanwhile, you will try to maintain coordination in your work. Both your home and office will need you. Things will get sorted out only if you manage well. Time will be good for employed people. Your hard work will continue. People belonging to the business class will get relief from some problems. You will move forward in business with new energy. Be careful of your opponents. Talking about students, you will have to work hard now. Now they will also work hard, which will also benefit them. From a health point of view, you will have to take care of your health now. It will be important to control your eating habits. The beginning of the week is good for travel.

    Taurus

    Ganesha says this week will be better for you. However, the domestic life of married people may be full of conflicts, so be careful. This time will be very good for your love life. Romance will increase in your relationship and understanding with each other will also improve. You will also meet some new people, which will increase your circle of friends. Religious thoughts will come to mind. You would like to do good to people. You will triumph over your opponents. He will not be able to harm you even if he wants to. You will be successful in court-related matters. Your hard work will be successful for you, and you will achieve success in expanding your business by connecting with people doing business in remote areas and states or contacting foreign countries. Talking about students, at this time their minds will be focused on studies. You can get success in competition. From a health point of view, you will have to take care of your health now. The beginning to the middle of the week will be a good time for travel.

    Gemini

    Ganesha says this week will be good for you. You will be busier with your family activities. In the family, you will have to take care of your mother’s health, because she may fall ill now. This time will be better for my love life. You will enjoy your love life openly. You will gradually get success in removing the tension that has persisted till now. This time will be much better for married life. You may get a big benefit because of your spouse. At this time, you will get every kind of support in your business, and you will progress. Your income will also improve. You will benefit from many sources. Luck will be on your side, which will get things done. You will have to pay some attention to your job. Instead of bringing here and there things in your mind, concentrate on your work. Talking about students, they will have to concentrate on their studies. If you do not pay attention to your studies, then you may have to face problems. From the health point of view, there will be some improvement in your health as compared to before, but you will have to pay attention to your eating habits. Except for the last two days of the week, the rest of the time is favourable for travel.

    Cancer

    Ganesha says this week will be good for you. Your relations with friends will remain good right now. There will be less stress in marital life and love life will also improve. You should think carefully about your relationship. Your self-confidence will also be strengthened, which will lead to success in work. You can get tremendous benefits by applying for any government tender. Working in stock market or real estate will also prove to be very beneficial for you. At this time, you will be successful in earning good money. This time will be favourable from a job point of view. Your boss will also seem happy with you. They will test your abilities by watching you tackle challenges. Talking about students, at this time they will need solitude for their studies. take care of it. From a health point of view, your health will be good at the moment. However, you have to take care of your diet. Some days in the middle of the week will be good for traveling.

    Leo

    Ganesha says this week will be moderately fruitful for you. Now your expenses will be higher. There may be some lack of coordination with family members. The health of an elder in the family may also deteriorate, so be careful at this time. There can also be a function at home, in which many people will come. However, there is a possibility of some discord with siblings. There will be definite chances of profit from the government. Your enemies will be defeated, and you will get a one-sided victory over them. If you are standing in any election, then you may get a good chance of winning. Time is favourable for the job, continue working hard and pay more attention to your work. People doing business will work hard in their work. You will become so engrossed in work that you may even lose your senses. But take some breaks in between and eat good food. Do not ignore your health, only then you will be able to stay fit. Talking about students, this is a good time for technical and management students. They will be able to perform better. The beginning of the week will be good from a health point of view.

    Virgo

    Ganesha says this week will be good for you. Your confidence will also increase significantly, due to which you will be successful in your work. However, suddenly you will feel feelings of both love and separation from love. On the one hand, you will feel that you should separate from this material world, and on the other hand you will start desiring all the material pleasures. In such a situation, there will be conflict in your mind, which may affect your friends. Whether you are married or enjoying a love life, this time will be full of ups and downs. You will have to make efforts yourself to improve it. Your income will be good. The bank balance will increase. There will be a reduction in expenses, which will make the time favourable from the financial point of view. Your position in the job will remain strong. You will seem satisfied with your work, and you may also get some new deals in business from your superiors, which will increase your confidence. Talking about students, they will now be able to concentrate completely on their studies. This will also give them proper results. From a health point of view, there is no major problem visible at present, but there are not even minor problems. The beginning of the week is good for travel.

    Libra

    Ganesha says this week will be good for you. You will be successful in maintaining a balance between your family life and personal life. Married people will also feel the increasing tension between love and intimacy in their domestic life. Your behaviour may irritate them a bit. Time will be better for your love life, but you will have to control your anger. Now there will be a sudden increase in expenses, which may surprise you, but you will have to spend. There will be some expenditure on luxuries too, so you have to understand that it should not be heavy on your pocket. Time is good for business. Some new tasks will come before you, in completing which you will use all your strength, yet ultimately victory will be yours. Talking about students, they will be very positive about their studies and will work hard. You will be successful in the job. From the health point of view, there may be ups and downs in your health at this time. You may have a high fever, so be careful. Be alert about the weather. The beginning of the week is good for travel.

    Scorpio

    Ganesha says this week will be good for you. Married people can organize a party to forget the stress of family life. We will try to make the relationship lighter and stronger through mutual dialogue. At present, luck will favor you, which will give you a chance to move forward. This will get your work done. Situations at the workplace will gradually move towards favourability, but you will have to maintain a good rapport with the people you work with, otherwise, you may get into trouble. Take special care of this. The week will be beneficial for those doing business. You should expect to get good profits from your hard work. You will also try to invest. Talking about students, time will be favourable for them also. From a health point of view, you will have to take care of your health now. Control your diet and follow your daily routine. The beginning and middle of the week is a good time for travel.

    Sagittarius

    Ganesha says this week will prove to be mixed for you. There will be some lack of happiness and peace in family life. There will be discord in the family over some issues and there will be a lack of mutual coordination. Your family’s happiness will decrease. Right now, you will be away from home for a long time due to work, due to which you will feel a lack of happiness, yet you will remain very emotional. You will suddenly do something that will surprise your family. You will get support from friends. Will feel less interested in work. You will be successful in business. Married people will live their family life to the fullest, but they may also have arguments with their spouses. Time is not very good for love life so try to remain calm and take time. Talking about students, time is good for them. You will get results for the hard work you have done. This week will be full of ups and downs for you from a health point of view. Take care of yourself.  The time after the first two days of the week will be good for travel.

    Capricorn

    Ganesha says this week will bring favourability for you. Relationship with spouse will be good. There will be intensity in the relationship. You can plan to travel somewhere with your loved ones. Family life will be full of satisfaction. Father’s health may decline. Your confidence will increase as your position becomes stronger. People will come to you for advice. Your hard work in business will increase and it will take some time to get the final results. However, you keep trying. Will surely succeed. Luck will favor you. Religious sentiments will increase. Health will improve. Talking about students, they will get good results in the field of fine arts. From the health point of view, there will be some improvement in your health. The first day of the week will be good for traveling and the last two days of the week will also be good for traveling.

    Aquarius

    Ganesha says this week will be moderately fruitful for you. There may be mild tension in the domestic life of married people. Time is good for a love life. You will be more vocal about your relationship and will accept the relationship openly. This week there will be a lot of expenses and the income will be moderate, so you will have to pay a little attention so that the situation does not get worse. Time will be good for employed people. You will consider your work as worship and will work hard, which will give you positive results. Your colleagues will also support you but stay away from laziness. This is a good time for business. Most of your time will be spent on travel and during this time you will get a chance to meet some new people. You can also get benefits from the government sector or avail the benefits of any government scheme. Talking about students, time will be good for them. From the health point of view, there may be ups and downs in your health at this time, so take care of your health.

    Pisces

    Ganesha says this week is going to be very good for you. The domestic life of married people will be very happy. Your spouse will openly express his/her feelings to you, which will make your relationship sweet and move forward in the right way. Those who are in love life should enjoy this time. Now you will get relief from the problems going on in your relationship. You may be on a trip at the beginning of the week. In this journey, you will also take your close people along with you, due to which the journey will be completed in a very beautiful manner. Now your income will increase, which will strengthen your financial position. What could be better than getting support from friends? Talking about students, at this time their minds will be focused on studies. This will give you success in your studies. From a health point of view, your health will also be better now. You will be successful in your work.

     

  • Birthday Horoscope-November 20 to November 26

    November 20

    Ganesha says today might be a good day for you to create new contacts that will benefit your career. Additionally, you would experience unexpected career advancements. If you go out and participate in clubs and other social activities, you would be quite successful socially. Compared to the previous several years, your income would be significantly higher. Even if they can be possessive at times, your loved one would be supportive and helpful. Minor health issues like backaches, stiff necks, or body aches will cause a lot of trouble.

    November 21

    Ganesha says although you are very talented, you need to learn to control your occasionally domineering and haughty behavior. This time, businessmen would diversify their operations into new, lucrative directions. Dealing in real estate might be quite profitable for you, but you should anticipate some partner resistance. Make the most of it since for some people, this is a new romance. Yoga and meditation should be practiced for both physical and spiritual benefits.  Your children will likely have some exciting news to share.

    November 22

    Ganesha says you are a person who is ambitious, competent, organized, sober, and straightforward.  Slow projects would pick up steam. If there are any disagreements, they will be resolved and you will feel relieved. Coworker romances could blossom, but they would be very fleeting. You would keep ahead of others thanks to your competitive spirit, which would also make you well-liked by your fellow students. Friends will be supportive yet obstinate.

    November 23

    Ganesha says many people’s financial situations get better, and some people even inherit property. Your confidence will increase as business prospers and you make money. The legal issues that have been weighing on your mind will be resolved to your satisfaction. For some, promotions and pay raises are likely. However, romance won’t be enjoyable because you’ll constantly be thinking about your regular conflicts and disagreements. Both academically and athletically, students will do incredibly well.

    November 24

    Ganesha says the highlight today will be starting new employment and assignments. Transfers and promotions for select staff. Long-term returns on property investments will be favorable. You will travel frequently and successfully, earning money along the way, and you will develop enduring relationships.  Your relationships with people of the opposite gender will get stronger, giving your life a new and exciting direction. Your mood will improve after hearing some thrilling news from kids. Anxiety and tension may be brought on by an increase in your medical costs due to your parents’ health.

    November 25

    Ganesha says the upcoming season is favorable for launching new businesses. Projects that have been lagging up until now would pick up steam. If there are any disputes, they will be resolved and you will feel relieved. Coworker romances might start to grow, but they would be quite fleeting. You would keep ahead of others thanks to your competitive spirit, which would also make you well-liked by your peers. Friends will be supportive but also demanding.

    November 26

    Ganesha says your ability to sway a sizable population is very strong. You are in the spotlight because of your modern, revolutionary beliefs, but you need to curb your occasionally stubborn and envious behavior. You would have a lot of energy this year, and if you used it well, you would achieve great success. Financially, it appears to be a good time to purchase property and equities, but all purchases should be made with the long term in mind. Later in the year, a far-off trip looks likely, probably to attend a fortunate event.

  • Virat Kohli slams historic 50th ODI ton in IND vs NZ World Cup semis, shatters Sachin’s twin world records

    Virat Kohli slams historic 50th ODI ton in IND vs NZ World Cup semis, shatters Sachin’s twin world records

    Ending his semi-final curse at the grandest stage on Wednesday, Nov 15, run machine Virat Kohli played a masterful knock against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand to surpass his idol Sachin Tendulkar at the famous Wankhede Stadium. Continuing his sublime run in the 2023 World Cup, Kohli shattered Tendulkar’s triple records in a single innings during the first semi-final of the ICC tournament. Batting first in the rematch of the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Mumbai, India made an impressive start with captain Rohit Sharma dominating the Kiwi pacers in the powerplay. However, Rohit was stopped in his tracks in the 8th over as the Indian skipper perished for an entertaining 47 off 29 balls. Continuing the tradition of cashing in on the starts given by openers Shubman Gill and Rohit, premier batter Kohli took up the role of an anchor as the former India skipper notched up a brilliant half-century in 59 balls against the Black Caps.

    Kohli surpassed Tendulkar by smashing his eighth fifty-plus score in the 2023 World Cup. Master Blaster Tendulkar had registered 7 half-centuries in the 2003 edition of the World Cup. Kohli, who has eight 50-plus scores in the 2023 World Cup, achieved the iconic feat in 10 innings. Tendulkar had unlocked the same milestone in 11 innings at the 2003 World Cup.

    After scoring his 72nd One Day International half-century, Kohli then set his sights on smashing Tendulkar’s massive milestone at the World Cup 2023. Enjoying a 93-run stand with Gill, who was later retired hurt in the 23rd over, Kohli then teamed up with an on-song Shreyas Iyer to put India on the verge of registering a challenging total at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli moved into the 80s in the 33rd over to break Tendulkar’s long-standing World Cup record. Kohli received the loudest cheer when he took a comfortable single off Glenn Phillips on the third ball of the 33rd over. The former India skipper zoomed past Tendulkar by scoring 674-plus runs in the 2023 World Cup. The Little Master amassed 673 runs in the 2003 edition of the World Cup in which Sourav Ganguly’s India made it to the final of the ICC tournament. Fresh from shattering Tendulkar’s twin records, Kohli entered the nervous nineties in the 36th over.

    Kohli, who gifted himself a record-equalling century on his 35th birthday against South Africa, slammed his century No.50 to eclipse Tendulkar for the third time in the first semi-final of the World Cup. No player in the history of ODI cricket has slammed more centuries than Kohli. Carried on his shoulders by a young Kohli after the 2011 World Cup final, batting legend Tendulkar hit century No.49 in his 451st ODI innings. Twelve years after Sachin’s World Cup swansong, former India skipper Kohli became the first player to slam 50 ODI centuries in the 41st over of the Indian innings.

  • It’s India Vs Australia in the final

    It’s India Vs Australia in the final

    Kolkata (TIP)- Australia overcame a spirited challenge from South Africa by three wickets in the second semifinal of the World Cup here on Thursday, November 16, to set up a title clash with hosts India.

    The final will be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Nov 19, . David Miller struck a 116-ball 101 and lifted South Africa to 212 all out after his team had lost four early wickets.

    In reply, Australia stuttered before completing the chase of 213 with 16 balls to spare as South Africa choked yet again on the big stage. Travis Head blazed away to 62 off 48 balls while David Warner smashed 29 off 18 in an opening stand of 60 to lay the foundation for Australia’s chase.

    Earlier, Miller hit eight fours and five sixes during his rescue act, and brought up his century with a maximum over deep midwicket off Australian captain Pat Cummins.

    Opting to bat after winning the toss, South Africa were off to a disastrous start losing both their openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma with just eight runs on the board in the sixth over.

    Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram too didn’t last long, leaving South Africa precariously placed at 24/4 in the 12th over. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were the wreckers in chief early into South Africa’s innings.

    A partnership of 95 runs between Miller and Heinrich Klaasen (47 off 48 balls) steadied the ship before Australia struck again to remove the latter through Travis Head.

  • 10/10 Men in Blue Stay Unbeaten

    Mumbai: Making the big stage his own, Virat Kohli added more lustre to his larger than life persona with a historic 50th ODI century that extended India’s bullish World Cup run to the title clash even as New Zealand threatened to spoil the home team’s party with a lion-hearted fight, here Wednesday, Nov 15.

    The semifinal tilted heavily in India’s favour after Rohit Sharma’s team put on board a massive 397 for four, bulldozing the Kiwi attack but before the hosts romped home by 70 runs for an unprecedented 10th win in a row, New Zealand did cause considerable anxiety in home team’s camp. It was Daryl Mitchell’s valiant 134 off 119 balls that had the Indian hearts racing as the equation became a gettable 112 from 54-balls with six wickets in hand but Kuldeep Yadav delivered under pressure a price-less two-run 42nd over that released the pressure.

    Pacer Mohammed Shami, who had scalped top four Kiwi batters earlier, then sealed the fate of the Kiwis by ending Mitchell’s belligerent knock and ended up with a gold-standard seven-wicket haul.

    Shami is serving reminders of his class in each and every game since making the playing XI after being left out initially and he only made it bigger at the big stage.

    When it was alleged that India tried to take advantage by opting for spin-friendly track, it was a fast bowler that made the ball talk.

    New Zealand folded for 327 in 48.5 overs and India rejoiced a hard-earned memorable victory with yet another team effort, that earned them a shot at their third ODI world title.   A fearless Rohit Sharma (47 off 29) dented the confidence of New Zealand bowlers with his ultra-risk, power-packed knock that blew away the pressure of the big semifinal, leaving the stage for Kohli (117) to conjure up the knock that perched him atop a mountain from where displacing him does not seem possible for a long time to come.

    Shreyas Iyer not only watched Kohli take the crown from his idol, Sachin Tendulkar (49 ODI centuries), from the best seat in the house but he himself made a huge contribution in India raising a mammoth total, albeit his knock of 105 was overshadowed due to the sheer significance of Kohli’s milestone mark.

    New Zealand has always been a big-match team and it fought through Mitchell and inspiring leader Kane Williamson (69) but in the end their efforts only saved them from the ignominy of losing by a bigger margin.

    Rachin Ravindra (13) and Devon Conway imploded under pressure and the Kiwis did not get the kind start which is required for such targets.

    Fourth ODI World Cup final for India

    India have now reached the ODI World Cup final for the fourth time, having won the trophy in 1983 and 2011. India had ended runners-up in 2003 and will know their title clash rival on Thursday when five-time champions Australia clash with South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

  • Chhath Puja or Surya Shashthi

    Chhath Puja or Surya Shashthi

    Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival which is historically celebrated in Bihar-Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and India’s eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal in the most elaborate form. This festival is celebrated mainly in Bihar- Jharkhand. But it is also prevalent in areas where the presence of people of Bihar-Jharkhand is present. This festival is celebrated not only in India but also in foreign countries. This festival has now become prominent in the India capital, Delhi. The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.
    It is called Chhath due to Sun Shastri’s fasting. This festival is celebrated twice a year. For the first time in Chaitra and the second time in Kartik. The festival celebrated on the Chaitra Shukla Paksha Sashti is called Chaitra Chhath and the festival celebrated on the Kartik Shukla Paksha Sashti is called Kartik Chhath.
    Chhath Puja is a four-day festival. It starts with Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and ends with Kartik Shukla Saptami. During this fasting, the fast will continues for next 36 hours. During this time they do not even accept water.
    Nahay Khay
    The first day of Chhath festival or it can be said that Chhath festival starts from this day, this day is known as ‘Nahay-Khay’. This day falls on the Chaturthi of Kartik month, Kartik Shukla Chaturthi. On this day, first of all the house is cleaned and sanctified. On this day, the fasting person can eat food only once in a day. On this day, the devotees take a bath after thoroughly cutting off the nails, etc., washing their hair thoroughly with clean water. Vratis take bath in the nearby river Ganges, a tributary of the Ganges or a pond. While returning, he brings with him Gangajal which he uses for cooking. The fasting eats food only once on this day. In the food, Vratis use pumpkin vegetable, moong gram dal, rice. This food is cooked in a bronze or earthen pot. Mango wood and earthen stove are used for cooking. When the food is prepared, first the fast eats the food, only then other members of the family eat the food.
    Kharna and Lohanda
    The second day of Chhath festival is known as Kharna or Lohanda. It is celebrated on Panchami of Kartik month. On this day, the fasting fasts fast for the whole day. Do not take even a drop of water before sunset. In the evening, kheer is made using rice jaggery and sugarcane juice. Salt and sugar are not used in cooking. After giving these two things to the Sun God, they do ‘solitude’ in the same house, that is, they accept it by staying alone. All the family members go out of the house at that time so that there is no noise. It is against the rules of the festival to hear any kind of sound for the fasting person while eating alone.
    After eating the fast again, he feeds the same ‘Kheer-Roti’ to all his family members and friends and relatives. This whole process is called ‘Kharna’. Rice pitha and ghee-laden roti are also distributed as prasad. After this, for the next 36 hours, the fasting fast is kept Nirjala. At midnight, the fasting prepares special prasad Thekua for Chhath Puja.
    Sandhya Arghya
    The third day of Chhath festival which is known as Sandhya Arghya. It is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. This day is a special day of Chhat Puja. Special prasad like thekua, also known as rice laddus or kachvaniya, is prepared for Chhath puja. For Chhath Puja, a basket made of bamboo called Daura is put in the offerings of worship, fruits and kept in Devkari. After offering worship, in the evening a coconut, five types of fruits, and other items of worship are placed in a basket, which the man picks up with his hands and takes it to the Chhath Ghat. It is not impure so that it is kept on the top of the head. On the way towards Chhath Ghat, women usually go singing the song of Chhath.
    Usha Arghya
    Arghya is offered to the rising sun on the morning of Kartik Shukla Saptami on the fourth day. Even before sunrise, the fasting people worship the rising sun god at the ghat. The dishes offered in Sandhya Arghya are replaced by new ones, but the tubers, roots, fruits and vegetables remain the same. All the rules and regulations are the same as in the evening prayer. At this time only the fasting people stand in the water facing east and do Suryapasana. After the worship is over, the ghat is worshipped. After distributing prasad among the people present there, the fasting comes home and also distributes prasad to his family at home. Vratis come back home and worship the Peepal tree in the village, which is called Brahma Baba. After the puja, the fasting is completed by drinking sherbet of raw milk and eating some prasad, which is called Paran or Parana. The fasting people eat salty food this morning after fasting from Kharna till date.
    Popular Katha
    Many stories are prevalent in relation to Chhath fast. According to one of them, when Pandavas lost their entire palace in gambling, then Lord Krishna suggest to Draupadi for Chhath fast. When Draupati completed the fast, her wishes were fulfilled and the Pandavas got the Raajpat’s back.
    According to one belief, Lord Rama and Mata Sita fasted Kartik Shukla Shishtha on the establishment of Ramrajya after the Lanka victory and worshiped the sun god. Saptami had received a blessing from Sun God after re-rituals during sunrise.
    Scientific point of view
    If the Chhath festival is seen from a scientific point of view, then a special astronomical transformation on the date, at this time, the ultraviolet rays of the Sun are gathered in greater quantity than the normal on the surface of the earth, hence due to its possible maladies, the power to protect is achieved. Following the festival of Chhath Puja, the animals are protected from harmful effects of sun light. In Hindu religion, Lord Sun is worshiped for the treatment of various types of skin diseases including leprosy diseases.

  • Mussoorie: The queen of hill stations

    Mussoorie: The queen of hill stations

    Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations located at a distance of 290 km from Delhi in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. With a backdrop of the Shivalik range of Himalayas and doon valley, Mussoorie, also known as Queen of The Hills, stands at an altitude of 7000 feet above sea level. With a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year, Mussoorie was once the British summer capital.
    The British remnants can be seen in the city in the archaic architecture of the hotels and churches. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mussoorie is The Mall (also known as the Mall Road), which is a slightly steep boulevard with eateries and other shops lining its entire stretch. From the little houses spread around the area to the architecture of even the lamp posts, The Mall gives off a distinct colonial vibe.
    PLACES TO VISIT
    Amongst the places to visit in Mussoorie, Kempty Falls easily tops the list. Perched at an altitude of 1880 in the Garhwal Himalayas, ‘Queen of the Hills’, Mussoorie is an ideal holiday destination. Established by the British in 1823, the vibe of that era continues to linger in its churches, libraries, hotels, and summer palaces. Take in panoramic views of the city atop Lal Tibba, relive the days of the British Raj at Gun Hill or walk around the pleasant four-kilometre long promenade of Camel’s Back Road. Birdwatchers and photographers can head to the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mall Road of course, is great for an evening stroll.
    CAMEL’S BACK ROAD
    Camel’s Back Road is a four-kilometre-long stretch, named after a natural cluster of rocks that are shaped like a camel’s hump. This road connects two prominent locations, starting at Library Point and leading up to Kulri Bazaar. The slope adjacent to the road contains a colonial cemetery that dates back to the mid-19th century. With its beautiful views of the surrounding hills at sunset and sunrise, it is ideal for early morning and late evening walks. Horse rides and rickshaw rides are also available. Surrounded by rocky mountains and green woods, its perfect for a tranquil break from the hustle-bustle of Mussoorie’s Mall Road.
    BENOG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
    Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountain peaks. It serves as the natural habitat for rare species of birds including mountain quails and red-billed blue magpie, as well as wildlife like the Himalayan goat, the Himalayan bear, panthers, deer, and leopards. Thickly forested with pine and fir trees, the area is also rich in medicinal plants. Take in stunning views of the surrounding peaks, and sit beside the Aglar River which flows down from Mussoorie into the sanctuary. This is an ideal jaunt for nature lovers and bird watchers.
    SHEDUP CHOEPELLING TEMPLE
    Also known as the Tibetan Buddhist temple, this was set up by the Tibetan population in Mussoorie and is located on the Happy Valley road close to the IAS Academy. The Dalai Lama took refuge in Mussoorie after he escaped from Tibet, before the Tibetan community was granted refuge in Dharamshala. The temple has a serene vibe and is especially suitable for those seeking a bit of tranquillity amidst the madness. Housing many Tibetan literature and books, the temple is adorned with clay lamps and colourful prayer flags.
    THE MALL
    Take a leisurely stroll along the Mall Road, which is the heart of Mussoorie. Although it’s jam packed with throngs of tourists on foot and in vehicles, this is an exhilarating experience which will give you a chance to get in a spot of shopping too. The two-kilometre-long stretch begins from Library Point and goes all the way up to Picture Palace, although you won’t find it as long owing to the variety of stalls selling bric-a-brac, snacks and other knick-knacks along the way. We suggest munching on a hot fire-roasted ‘bhutta’ (corn on the cob), which is absolutely essential to make the experience complete. Look out for stores selling woollens and shawls.
    GUN HILL
    This is the second highest point in Mussoorie, and is located about 400 feet above the Mall. You can access it by ropeway or take the half-hour-long trek from the court complex on the Mall road. Once you’re up, use one of the telescopes on the edge to get sweeping views of the mountain peaks from a close range. Back in 1857, the British had placed a large firing gun here during the Sepoy Mutiny, and it is said that subsequently, a canon was fired from Gun Hill every afternoon so that people would know that it was noon and adjust their watches. Although the gun was removed in the 70s, the name has stuck. Today Gun Hill accommodates the water reservoir for Mussoorie.
    LAL TIBBA
    Lal Tibba literally translates to mean the Red Hill, and refers to the highest point in Mussoorie. All the broadcasting stations of All India Radio and Doordarshan are situated here, and access is restricted since the Indian Military is stationed here as well. You can take in the panoramic views through the lens of an old telescope mounted atop a 20-metre-tall tower at the edge of the cliff. We also suggest you take a horseback ride around the area to really take in the experience in its entirety.
    MUSSOORIE LAKE
    The Mussoorie Lake is a relatively recent tourist attraction that has been developed by the Dehradun Development Authority. Located about 6 kilometres before Mussoorie on the drive up from Dehradun, it’s a good place to make a pit stop on your way to the hill station. Enjoy boating in one of the paddle boats, grab a quick bite at one of the small restaurants around it, and take in beautiful views of the valley below.
    KEMPTY FALLS
    These vertical waterfalls are one of the most popular spots for tourists visiting Mussoorie. The water cascades down from a height of 40 feet and crashes against the boulders below before splitting into five streams. Plunging from a mountain placed at about 1,364 metres above sea level, the Kempty Falls are usually crowded with tourists, so the best way to take them by is by picking a picnic spot at a vantage point and observing them from a distance. The more adventurous can also take a dip in its cool water.
    MUNICIPAL GARDEN
    Initially known as Company Bagh, the Municipal Gardens are an ideal family outing. With sprawling colonial gardens, green lawns, a fountain in the centre, a lake, a nursery with 800 different species of flowers and a wide range of saplings for sale, it is a beautiful attraction for tourists visiting the hill station. Don’t miss the mammoth China tree in the garden, and take a short boat ride on the lake. Located just a couple of kilometres from the Library Point, it’s easy to access and makes for a superb early evening pit-stop.

  • India’s exports rise 6.21 pc to $33.57 billion in Oct; trade deficit widens to $31.36 billion

    India’s exports rise 6.21 pc to $33.57 billion in Oct; trade deficit widens to $31.36 billion

    New Delhi (TIP)- India’s merchandise exports rose 6.21 per cent to USD 33.57 billion in October this year, even as the trade deficit touched a record high of USD 31.46 billion during the month, government data showed on November 15. Imports increased by 12.3 per cent to USD 65.03 billion in the month under consideration due to a jump in gold imports. Inbound shipments of gold rose by 95.5 per cent to USD 7.23 billion. Oil imports also increased by 8 per cent to USD 17.66 billion during the month.
    The country’s trade deficit in goods in October last year stood at USD 26.31 billion. The deficit (difference between imports and exports) during October is the “highest” because of the largest import figures, Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry L Satya Srinivas told reporters here. Cumulatively, exports during the April-October period this fiscal contracted by 7 per cent to USD 244.89 billion, while imports fell 8.95 per cent to USD 391.96 billion. The trade deficit during the seven-month period was USD 147.07 billion against USD 167.14 billion in the corresponding period last year.
    Gold imports during the period rose 23 per cent to USD 29.5 billion, while crude oil imports dipped by 18.72 per cent to about USD 100 billion during April-October this fiscal.
    Briefing reporters on the data, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said the trade numbers in October reflect ‘green shoots’ of recovery in outbound shipments.
    “I am hopeful that we will be crossing the last year’s figures,” he said, adding the positive growth is there despite a fall in commodity prices, “but we are waiting and watching” the global situation.
    Exports are impacted due to the geopolitical situation and other risks like high inflation and economic slowdown in advanced economies; the Russia-Ukraine war; China-Taiwan and China–US issues; and the Israel-Palestine war. Source: PTI

  • China’s Alibaba scraps cloud unit spin-off citing US chip curbs

    China’s Alibaba scraps cloud unit spin-off citing US chip curbs

    Beijing (TIP)- Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Thursday, November 16, it was cancelling a planned cloud service spinoff announced this year over US chip restrictions, as it reported results for the third quarter of 2023 that were in line with market expectations.

    The company saw a 9 percent year-on-year increase in Q3 revenue, it said Thursday, following several difficult years and despite a broader economic slowdown.
    “Alibaba Group delivered a solid quarter, marked by renewed momentum and energy across multiple businesses as a result of our strategic reorganization,” CEO Eddie Wu said in a press release on Thursday, referring to a major restructuring plan announced by the group this year.
    Announced in late March, the plan involved splitting the group into six distinct entities that will be able to separately pursue funding through public listings.
    But on Thursday the company said it would call off the spinoff of one part of its business, its Cloud Intelligence arm, in light of “the recent expansion of US restrictions on export of advanced computing chips”.
    “We believe that a full spin-off of Cloud Intelligence Group may not achieve the intended effect of shareholder value enhancement,” the company said in its earnings release.
    “Accordingly, we have decided to not proceed with a full spin-off, and instead we will focus on developing a sustainable growth model for Cloud Intelligence Group under the fluid circumstances,” Alibaba said.
    The company’s sales for the quarter ending in September came in at 224.8 billion yuan ($31 billion), in line with predictions by Bloomberg analysts and down from 234.1 billion yuan in the previous quarter.
    Alibaba is a key player in China’s expansive digital economy and the operator of a major online shopping platform.
    The Hangzhou-based group’s performance is considered a barometer of domestic consumption, which has flagged in recent months.
    The firm has faced new headwinds in recent years, as Beijing has imposed tighter restrictions on the domestic tech sector, while weak consumer spending saw it record its third consecutive quarter of single-digit revenue growth earlier this year.
    Thursday’s figures follow results earlier this week from Alibaba’s arch-rival JD.com, which posted better-than-expected revenues of 247.7 billion yuan.
    Alibaba has said it aims to achieve a “more nimble” structure in order to maintain competitiveness in the face of new regulatory challenges and mounting pressures on the global economy.
    The e-commerce company was founded in 1999 by Jack Ma, who has kept a low profile since late 2020, when a speech he made attacking Chinese regulators was followed by Beijing pulling the plug on a planned IPO by Alibaba affiliate Ant Group.
    A record fine of $2.75 billion was later imposed on the tech giant for alleged unfair business practices.
    Source: Reuters

  • ‘Sahara matter will continue even after Subrata Roy’s death’: Sebi chief

    Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch on Thursday, November 16, said the Sahara matter will continue for the capital markets regulator even after the death of the group’s founder Subrata Roy.
    Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Ficci event, Buch said for Sebi, the matter was about an entity’s conduct and it will continue regardless of whether an individual is alive or not.
    Roy, the controversial founder of the group, died on Tuesday, Nov 14, after a prolonged illness. It has been reported that refunds of only Rs 138 crore have been made to investors even though Sahara group was asked to deposit over Rs 24,000 crore with Sebi for further refund to investors.

  • Reliance JioCinema signs up Pokemon in kids entertainment push: Report

    The entertainment unit of India’s Reliance has signed a deal with The Pokemon Company to show children’s shows and movies on its platform, two people with knowledge of the deal said, its latest bid to boost content amid a domestic rivalry with the Walt Disney Co and other streaming services.
    The deal, signed this month, will make JioCinema’s streaming app the “exclusive” India platform partner for more than 1,000 episodes and around 20 movies of the Japanese anime series, one of the sources said, without disclosing any financial details.
    The shows and movies will be dubbed into three Indian languages to broaden their appeal, the source added. Pokemon has spawned a global multi-billion dollar media franchise spanning trading cards, games, TV shows and movies. Viacom18, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s entertainment joint-venture that runs JioCinema, and The Pokemon Company, owned by video game company Nintendo and affiliates, did not respond to a request for comment. Adding child-focused content is Ambani’s latest push to expand in the Indian streaming market which research firm Media Partners Asia estimates will be worth $7 billion by 2027.
    Netflix and Amazon are among JioCinema’s competitors, but Ambani has most recently taken on Disney’s Hotstar app, with both offering free streaming of cricket matches.
    In total, JioCinema will add around 3,000 hours of children’s content, including movies and shows from Entertainment One, Animaccord, Cartoon Network Studios and DreamWorks, the sources said.

  • With robotic AI chemist, scientist inch closer to make oxygen on Mars

    With robotic AI chemist, scientist inch closer to make oxygen on Mars

    A team of Chinese scientists have developed a robotic artificial intelligence (AI) chemist that would help produce oxygen from water on Mars using meteorites from the Red Planet.
    The lack of oxygen, essential for long-term survival, was one of the greatest hurdles humans have to overcome to immigrate to Mars. However, the recent discovery of water activity on Mars has shown promise.
    Scientists have explored the possibility of decomposing water to produce oxygen through electrochemical water oxidation driven by solar power with the help of Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalysts. The challenge was to find a way to synthesise these catalysts in situ using materials on Mars, instead of transporting them from the Earth, which was costly. To address this, a team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed robotic AI chemist that can synthesise and optimise OER catalysts automatically from Martian meteorites.
    “The AI chemist innovatively synthesise OER catalyst using Martian material based on interdisciplinary cooperation,” said Prof Luo Yi, leading scientist of the team from USTC.
    Their research was published in the journal Nature Synthesis.
    The AI chemist created an excellent catalyst using five types of Martian meteorites under unmanned conditions. The catalyst can operate steadily for over 5,50,000 seconds at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and an overpotential of 445.1 mV.
    A further test at -37 degree Celsius, the temperature on Mars, confirmed that the catalyst can steadily produce oxygen without any apparent degradation.
    Within two months, the AI chemist has completed the complex optimisation of catalysts that would take 2,000 years for a human chemist. Source: IANS

  • Nothing will soon allow Android users to send iMessages

    Nothing will soon allow Android users to send iMessages

    Nothing is becoming the first Android brand to offer Apple’s iMessage-like features, exclusively available on iPhones, to Android users. The London-based smartphone maker has announced a new messaging platform called Nothing Chats, specifically designed for Nothing Phone (2) users. This marks a significant departure from other iMessage clients on Android, which traditionally have been developed by third parties rather than the brand itself.
    Starting this Friday, November 17th, Nothing Phone 2 owners will be able to experience the coveted blue bubbles of iMessage, enabling seamless communication with iPhone users. Nothing states that the intention to bring iMessage to Android is due to its aim to break down barriers between phone users by providing messaging services powered by Sunbird. The company asserts that, in order to achieve this goal, users must trust Sunbird.
    According to the company Sunbird’s architecture is designed to deliver messages directly between users without storing them on any intermediary servers. However, to ensure seamless iMessage integration, Sunbird temporarily stores user iCloud credentials in an encrypted database on a Mac Mini located in either the US or Europe, depending on the user’s region. These credentials serve as a relay for iMessages sent through the app. After two weeks of inactivity, Sunbird securely deletes this account information, explained Nothing’s US head of PR, Jane Nho, in an email conversation with The Verge.
    How Nothing Chats work
    “Nothing Chats” app enables users to exchange messages through blue bubbles. The app is currently in a Beta phase, with plans for additional features and improvements in the future. Users can stay informed about updates by signing up for notifications.
    To use Nothing Chats, users will need to log in with their respective Apple IDs to set up the app with iMessage. The company emphasizes that chats on this platform will maintain end-to-end encryption, aligning with Sunbird’s privacy policy.
    In a video on YouTube, Nothing CEO and co-founder Carl Pei provides further insights into the app’s features. He reveals that once available the Nothing Chats will support both individual and group messaging, complemented by features like typing indicators, full-size media sharing, and voice notes.
    While read receipts, message reactions, and message replies will be initially unavailable, they are slated for inclusion in future updates. The company encourages users to stay tuned for upcoming developments as the app undergoes continuous refinement during its Beta phase. The Nothing Chats app is scheduled to launch on November 17 and will initially be available to users in North America, the EU, and other European countries. The app’s initial rollout will be limited to these regions; the company has not yet announced when it will be expanded to other countries or to older Nothing Phone (1) models. Source: India Today

  • NASA, ISRO gearing up to launch joint space mission to map globe every 12 days

    The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is set to be launched in the first quarter of 2024 after a few tests, particularly those related to vibration, NASA officials have said.
    “ISRO is projecting the first quarter of next year. So, I mean, that’s ready,” NASA NISAR Project Manager Phil Barela said during a media interaction.
    He is expecting the launch of NISAR (spelt as ‘Naisar’) “not earlier than January” from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota aboard the ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-II.
    The mission, which has three-year duration, aims to survey all of Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days. This will start after a 90-day satellite commissioning period.
    Regarding the key tests that are pending to be undertaken, Barela said, “The vibration testing that’s underway, but there’s a whole slew of performance tests that we need to do.”
    Battery and simulation tests have to be done to make sure that the system works fine, he said.
    “We’ll be doing performance testing on the radars and various spacecraft electronics. So, a lot of testing remains but the big environments test, the only one remaining now, is vibration,” Barela said.