Roses are for Valentines

To  tell  you  the  truth  I  am  not  a  great fan  of  Valentine' s  Day.
Love  means  never  having  to  say  'HappyValentine 's Day ' So  says  Seema  Goswami and  I  somewhat  agree  with  her. 
Well  first  of  all there is  the  sheer  pressure  of  it. All  the  entire  world seems  to  become  a  part  of  a  giant  global conspiracy to  turn  14th  Feb. into  a  day  for  celebrating  romantic  love ,  sh e says.Read  the  rest  of  her  article entitled BIN THE  RED  ROSES.
http://seemagoswami.blogspot.com/2011/02/bin-red-roses-love-means-never-having.html
In  case  you  think  I  am  the  Grinch  who  stole  Valentine 's Day  I  am  sharing  my  lovely  V roses  from  my  garden.

Had  a  very   peaceful  and  happy  day  today. Applied  henna  to  my  hair and  paid  some  bills. Now  I  am  going  to  make  minestrone  soup  for  supper.

Tomorrow  my nephew  Ashish (Ash  for short)  and  his  friend  Megan are  going  to  begin  the  first  leg  of  their  journey  to  India  from Canada. They  will  arrive  in  Kolkata  Wed 16th midnight.  From  their  they  will fly  to the  NE  to  visit  my sister  Namrita  and  then   come  to  Alld. on Feb  24th. We  all  are  so  excited.  And  I  am  busy  preparing.

Megan  is  a  Navigator' s  missionary  in  Ottawa. This  is  her  first  trip  to  India. I  am  really  interested  to  know  how  she  will  react and  what  her  observations  and experiences   will be   on  the  short  trip. I  am  making  so  many  plans to  give  Ash  &  Megan  a  good  time and  also  ensure  their  comfort  and  safety in  an environment  which  is  so  different  from  theirs.

I 've  had  many   foreigners -missionary  friends  come  and  stay with us.but  they  were well  settled  in India  and  knew how  to  take  care  of  themselves  etc.  Megan  is   brand  new - , hope  she   will  have  a  positive  experience.

Please  pray for  Ash  and  Megan  as  they  begin  their  journey tomorrow.

Celebrate India - Republic Day

62 years ago India became a Republic based on justice and equality.

January 26th is celebrated with enthusiasm and patriotism all over our country. Watch the video to see the bright and glorious India

Commonwealth Games 2010- Opening Ceremony- For the Honor and Glory of Sports

Enjoy the spectacular opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on Oct 3rd.

(L-R) Prince Charles and Camilla, President Patil with her husband, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his wife.

The Indian delegation led by Olympic gold medalist (shooting) Abhinav Bindra.

20,000 dancers moved gracefully center stage.

The Canadian contingent

Here is a news report from NDTV.

New Delhi:
The spectacular opening ceremony for the XIXth Commonwealth Games on Sunday put the spotlight back on to the Games. And for a change, the media that had largely been critical of Delhi's efforts in the build up to the Games, showered praise for the wonderful show.
The Guardian said, "Concerns of recent weeks forgotten as dazzling event launches games amid atmosphere of national pride and celebrations.

"The Telegraph, also published from London, described the event as, "The biggest sporting spectacle India has ever hosted kicked off in typically colourful fashion... And there we were thinking it might never happen.

"The Herald Sun that comes out from Melbourne went a step ahead comparing the opening ceremony to that of the Beijing Olympics stating, "Indian Games officials should feel proud of the opening ceremony, classy and showy but somehow warmer and less contrived than the Beijing experience." (The helium filled aerostat ballon suspended above the stadium)
The Australian, published from New South Wales, wrote, "After weeks dominated by the old India of corruption, poverty and chaos the new "Incredible India" of diversity and cultural pride showed its face."The opening ceremony took place at the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium that was dressed like a newly wed bride with Henna on her hands. And just so that the athletes don't miss out on all the action, the teams marched into the stadium right at the beginning of the programme, a first for the Commonwealth Games.The most beautiful moment of the night though was the huge roar for the Pakistani contingent. The 620-member strong Indian contingent led by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra got a stand ovation from the crowd.While Prince Charles declared the Games open, President Pratibha Patil said, "The Games are now open. Let the Games begin."The cultural show took the audience on a journey of the country showcasing the diversity that is India featuring everyday life of the common man. In the end, all the negativity and criticism was forgotten as "Jiyo Utho Badho jeeto" becomes the mantra for the next 11days.

The Tree of Knowledge suspended from the balloon.

Dancers from Manipur (NE India)

Shera enjoying his moment

The South African brought their vuvuzelas along

Dancing with the performers

Strict security is in place

International friendships being chiseled.
Here are videos which you must watch of you want to see the rich diversity and culture of India.
The firs t one is the percussion performance with drummers from across the length and breadth of India. Right in the midst of them is a 7 year old child prodigy, Keshav who is displays such magnificence on the drums.


In this video is a yoga display and an explanation of what yoga is. Yoga are exercises to unveil or attain the hidden god or Brahma in you, according to Hindu philosophy. This is done by activating the 7 chakras which arouses the kundalini at the base of the spine which is believed to be in the form of a serpent or sarp. One does yoga to arouse the kundalini or serpent.
After the yoga you can see The Great Indian Train Journey, which is a pageant of everyday Indian life seen while travelling on an Indian train.

The photographs have been taken from The Indian Express and IBN7 websites

Mary Kom of India wins World Women 's Boxing Title

Mary Kom, a mother of two little boys won the World Women 's Boxing Championship. In a TV interview gave thanks to Jesus Christ who gave her success. Read her story taken from The Hindu newspaper. And watch the BBC video which will tell you about her humble beginnings.

May Kom wins World Women 's Championship

_______________________________

Before the bout, Kom had said about her opponent - "I never take my opponents easy. On her day anybody can be dangerous. I have beaten her twice before and that gives me a good feeling but I can't really say whether it would be easy or tough."
After winning the World Women Boxing Championship title for a record fifth time, India’s M.C. Mary Kom is now targeting a medal in this year’s Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympics.
The boxing sensation outpunched Romania’s Stelut Duta 16—6 in the 48 kg final in Barbados Saturday.
“I would like to thank my husband and my sponsors for giving me the will power and encouraging me. I’m really really happy and I thank God,” said Mary Kom, a mother of twin sons from Manipur.
“I celebrated the victory with all members of the squad,” the 27—year—old said.
India will be hoping that Mary Kom wins the gold in 2012 London Olympics, where women’s boxing will make its debut.
“I can’t say anything about gold, but I will try my level best to win a medal in London,” said the champion boxer.
Women’s boxing will also feature in the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China, Nov 12—27. “I have been training hard to win medals in the Asian Games and Olympics,” she said.
It was a memorable victory for Mary Kom, who become the only woman boxer on the circuit to have won a rich haul of six medals in as many World Championships.
The Indian beat the Romanian for the third consecutive time.
Apart from Mary Kom, Kavita Chahal is the other Indian to win a medal in the championship, winning bronze in the 81 kg.
It was Mary Kom’s first title in the 48 kg category after winning the previous world titles in the 46 kg category.
In the inaugural World Championship in 2001 in Pennsilvania, Mary Kom won silver in the 48 kg category. She won her first world title in 2002 in Antalya, Turkey, and went on to successfully defend her 46 kg gold medal in the next two editions in Podolsk, Russia, and at home here.
She came back from a two—year sabbatical to clinch her fourth successive world title in 2008 in Ningbo City, China.
This year, the 46 kg category was dropped and the lowest weight category was 48 kg.
She was awarded India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, in 2009.
However, India’s overall performance in the championship dipped.
India were the champions at home in 2006 winning eight medals, including four gold. India finished fourth in 2008 with one gold, one silver and two bronze. This time they will have to contend with a gold and bronze each.

Keywords: Mary Kom, Women's Boxing, boxing world champ

I congratulate Mary Kom who worked so had to achieve he r goals an d become a world champion. Although in my opinion boxing should be reserved for the men 's arena, I am old fashioned. What about you? Do you think boxing should be a women 's sport?

Spiritually speaking we all are athletes on the track field of life. Let' s train with a purpose to win the imperishable prize.

24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9 (New Testament)

Jai Hind- Happy Independence Day India

School children in New Delhi (our national capital) rehearsing for the flag hoisting at the Red Fort. They are dressed in the colors of our flag

The rest of the photos are from different parts of the country showing people 's enthusiasm. (Courtesy IBN Live)

August 15th - India 's 64th Independence Day
Happy Independence Day to my countrymen all over the world.

Do watch these videos.
This the fast developing modern India





The heat, dust, struggles and tears of India

This is India to write home about.

India celebrates today

Today India celebrates her 60th Republic Day.
These 2 excellent videos showcase the
beauty,brightness, youth, progress, cultural diversity, moods, music, magic, colors which are splashed all over our country