I just love my friends!
...and in today's world real friendships are really rare...and women friends!!!That's another story!
I have a singing group where we are 15 members! and since the last 30 years or so, we are still going strong...I have a group called the 21 group...We are 21 members, no president no committee...new decisions are put to the vote...and no problem...again going strong since the last 30 years!

I believe that most women find it difficult to give an honest compliment to another woman.
Well one of my friends is Varuna Harchandrai...She is always ready to help! Simple things, which most of us never seem to have the time (or pretend not to have the time) to do!

So we gave her a surprise birthday party to thank her.
...and in the process we celebrated aur growing older/younger in heart together...so 'I sang my favourite things for seniors'(originally sung by Julie Andrews)..Sing along with me in the same tune...

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings
Bundles of magazines tied up in strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions
Bathrobes and heatpads and hot meals they bring

These are a few of my favourite things

Back pains, confused brains and no fear of sinning
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning
And we wont mention our short shrunken frames
When we remember our favourite things

When the joints ache
When the bones creak
When the knees go bad
Then I shall remember the great life I've had
And then I dont feel so bad :)

Madhurya, Radhakrishna Prabhu and myself




A few days ago I visited the Mid Day Meal Project in Mumbai.

This program is a project of the Government of India, and is being implemented by ISKCON Food Relief Foundation in Mumbai.

It is a remarkable state of the art kitchen and there are four of them! Tardeo, Mira Road, Palghar and Nigdi.
As of today 1,00,000 underprivileged students from 700 schools benefit from this project EVERYDAY
There is no discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, creed or sex.

What particularly impressed me was that a wholesome clean meal is provided to a child, for whom this may be the only meal of the day!
Also the mother has to send the child to school so that he may get his daily nourishment. In the process his mind and brain is also nurtured.

With a generous contribution from a corporate bodies and philanthropic individuals, for the cause of the underprivileged children in India, they hope to maximize the capacity of this program by setting up more kitchens to cater to more schools and increase the number of beneficiaries many folds.


Kudos to Madhurya Project Promoter,(madhurya@middaymeal.com )and Radha Krishna Prabhoo

The Mystical No. 9 of Navratri

'Nav' means nine and Ratri means night. These nine nights occur on equinoxes when the sun is vertically overhead at the equator. The Cosmic Mother is worshipped during these 9 days.

The number nine is closely associated with the process of Creation in the cosmic time cycle. It is considered 'puran' or complete. Any number multiplied by nine gives a figure that adds up to nine.

Ratri means night. The Rigveda states that creation came about when everything was covered in the darkness of night. Navratra signifies the concept of 'Back to Godhead'. The entire cosmic cycle cosists of three phases: Creation, Preservation and Dissolution. If one was to split each part into triads, then 3 times 3 would be 9.

She is the 'Garbha' (Womb) from where the Universe manifests. The word 'Garba' (The dance performed during Navratri) stems from 'Garbha' and symbolises the 'Dance of Creation'

There are 9 cosmic wombs or Nava-yonis.

According to the Tantric concept:

56 rays proceed from the Sahasrar Chakra (Highest Chakra, on top of the head) to Muladhaar Chakra. (Lowest Chakra at the base of the spine) This constitutes the earth element. 62 rays in the Svadistaan Chakra (Near the sexual organs) to form the fire element. 52 rays in the Manipur Chakra (At the Solar Plexus) form the water element. 54 rays in the Anhata Chakra (Near the heart Chakra) establishes the air element. 72 rays in the Visudhi Chakra (Near the throat) pertains to the ether element. 64 in the Ajna Chakra (Center of forehead) designs the mind. These add up to 360 potencies. In a circle form, it would indicate eternity. The 360 digit adds up to nine.

The universe is composed of 36 'tatvas' and there are 360 'tithis' in a lunar year. Both numbers add up to 9.

The No 9 is the Highest number. After the number 9, comes the 0. In order to truly worship the Lord either become complete (with all the great qualities) like the number 9, or empty (devoid of ego, or in a state of total surrender) like the 0.

Celebrated Eid with eminent Quawaals, Munawwar Masoom and Wadali Bros.
It was a concert hosted by the Times of India at Bandra Fort, Bandstand, Bandra.
It was heartening to see various communities enjoying a very spitirually uplifting experience!
I also attended an Interfaith lecture hosted by MRA where I spoke on Women and Peace...In the photograph you will see Uzma Nahid, Director of Iqra delivering her part of the lecture on the same topic.
Both hers and my lecture was very well received!

Understanding Hinduism


The moral viewpoint of the vegetarians’ belief is based on the theories of Ahimsa and Karma. Ahimsa believes In non-aggression and non-violence on any living creature and the law of karma proclaims that we are the builders of our own destiny and that from good deeds joy shall come and from evil deeds, suffering.

Since meat-eating would necessitate the slaughter of animals which is a violation of the ahimsa theory, vegetarians do not indulge in non-vegetarian food as they do not want to increase their karmic debts by partaking of flesh.


The yogis claim that a vegetarian diet is conducive to meditation.

Today, new biological discoveries tend to show that flesh eating is not essential for good health and some biologists are even of the opinion that flesh eaters are more susceptible to illness than vegetarians.

The ancient Hindus were however not fanatic about whether to eat meat or abstain from it but looked more Into the practical aspect.

Understanding Hinduism 3
Most Hindus know about the Karma Theory...Would you like to know more?
Click:
http://dalsabzi.com/Articles/karma%20in%20the%20Practical%20world%20Mid-day.htm

Understanding Hinduism 2
Hinduism doesn't say that only Hindus go to Heaven.
Hinduism believes that all paths lead to that ultimate one.

I have written earlier:
I feel that, sadly Hindus do not know much about their religion...even though happily all know about the Karma Theory...So I thought maybe write a few lines for the busy ones to get acquainted with the Hindu Way of Life.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the philosopher who became vice president of the Republic of India, in his book, The Hindu View of Life, writes:
Hinduism requires everyman to think steadily on life's mysteries until he reaches the highest revelation. While the lesser forms (including idols and images) are tolerated in the interest of those who cannot suddenly transcend them there is all through an insistence on the larger idea and purer worship...Every man has a right to choose that form of belief and worship which most appeals to him...Hinduism is not a sect but a fellowship of all who accept the law of right and earnestly seek for the truth.

Hindus are not aggressors. They are not vengeful. There is no record of their having invaded alien lands. They do not claim to have exclusive rights to define divinity. But when they are mocked at, whether by atheists or by people of other faiths, they are not going to sit back as in centuries past and keep their anger to themselves...
Mr M.V.Kamath wrote in the Free Press Journal, Thursday, October 4th, 2007

I feel that, sadly Hindus do not know much about their religion...even though happily all know about the Karma Theory...most importantly every Hindu is taught to respect every religion and Master that has walked on the planet...no matter which religion they 'belong' to...

I was the only Hindu girl in a class of over 40 spanish students way back in the 1950s.
My fellow students would ask me how come Hindus worship monkey gods, cows and elephants...I had no answer way back then...but eventually I delved into our Scriptures and came up with a great understanding of our great 'Sanatan Dharma'

Respect all religions but get acquainted with your own!

Do read:
Hindu Customs and Beliefs
Dadi Nani ki Kahaani
It is up for free perusal under 'Books'on my website:
www.dalsabzi.com