......The Festive Month is here....!!!!

.....finally the air is rife with impending festivities...with us unable to make it this time to Homeland 1...we r doubly alert to be in touch with fmly nd frnds far flung lest we miss the essence of these festivities....Panchami today here is witnessing quintessential sprucing up of our home for Devi Durga's arrival in the Palanquin tomorrow @ MahaSasthi....whn the "KolaBou"(Banana Tree draped in Ritualistic Saree" Pujan will be held in Evening in the numerous pandals thruout India especially Bengal ,Bihar,Assam,Odisha states of the Union...being an Expat. its time to narrate the stories related to the Puja to the children whose lives r a bit difft. as to wht were ours during these days....!!!....both Nanu & Panu r well versed with mythological characters of the Mainland thnks to Archana's efforts...nd hv lot of interest in Pujan too,mimicking our daily practices nd efforts...."BangaliNet.com" is our service provider with all details available nd possibly ..e-Pujan also available as Anjali, Arati nd usual timings....above all the recipe is thr for Archana which will be difft. frm the routine this week....its the purity of thougths nd efforts tht count to make the festivities a success....with time now to re establiosh old contacts,exchanging of Greetings ....we surely will go on the overdrive.....with Chhoti's arrival frm Abu Dhabi today(Niece) its a truly icing for the kids who r waiting patiently for her...we hope to be in Diwali nd Chhath festivities nxt mth @India nd make gud any loss tht will be incurred here if at all any....!!!.....its gud feeling again to be back in business of writing this update...!!!...Till then "Happy Durga Puja Festivities"....

.......Come September.....!!!!!

......Sept is the month to watch here in terms of its huge significance of the Run off to Presidential Polls in mth.end......the formations of 7th instant now narrowing to a contest between the clear cut winner MDP(Maldivian Democratic Party) & Runners up PPM(People's Party of Maldives). Internationally the first round had been eulogized in the exercise though few allegations & complaints r thr, as it is in any part of the world.....Freedom is an attribute which has cut across countries, language, economics, nd however & whtever its the most cherished parameter of modern existence :... exercising ur vote.....the jauggernaut  of Democracy is rolling thruout the world nd this tiny nation is no exception.....the patient long serpentine ques nd nearly 90% turnout in the first round is indicative of the popular mood of Freedom, independence nd self reliance....Long Live Democracy....!!!!

........Festoon & Placard time here.....!!!!!

......1st week of Sept will witness Presidential Elections here, a huge step for a fledgling democracy.....all preparations r on the way nd 50% in First round will see a candidate win....or else 2nd round in 2 weeks time will be called for....there r four formations here with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), The Peoples Party of Maldives (PPM),JumhooryParty(JP)& its Coalition & a Coalition of Current President including Dhivehi Raiyetunga Party (DRP)......multiparty elections were held for the first time in 2008....Maldives Islands have all relevant Institutions in place nd people by nd large r oriented nd excited to participate in the elections.....the gud thing here is all activities related to meetings nd rallies r in Evening aft. the days wrk for most people....it doesn't disrupt normal life...but the evenings r long hrs...often late nite.....tru 2 the Idyllic Island atmosphere of sea breeze nd cool atmosphere......!!!!!

....Eid Mubarik....!!!!

.....with festivity in the air....I can already sniff the winds of change,  as to the year,  with Eid in August & Durga Puja in October....these festivities r imp.for the huge subcontinent populace....transgresses all barriers....for the Current Golden moment :its Eid Mubarik frnds!!!.....the mth long obeisance culminating in the Celestial Crescent of hope, joy nd magnanimity....with traffic off the streets the age old practices of meeting nd congratulating each other....the laid back nd thread bare interactions on the way thru the streets...!!!...thru out childhood, my Father being a public figure, people used to visit us on the day with gifts, blessings nd Food packages deliciously prepared....nd my Mother equally reciprocating....being staunch Hindus, never deterred us frm mingling into the festivity a hallmark of our tru ancient civilization.....as the Indian railways of this part ,had a sizeable Muslim employee strength especially in the Operating side with the Loco Running Staff with its Drivers, Firemans, Foremans, Fitters, Shunters.....so whn Azim Driver used to call on us with an entourage ....nd a big "...Salaam walaikum....!!! " .....we r witnessing a regular scene of bonhomie, brotherhood ,mutual trust nd respect...the Trade Union Leader in my father was worshipped like a deity...& Das Babu was a household name in tht community....on Dussehra on Bijaya Dashmi day we wr witnessing the same scene at home with Azim nd his entourage well ensconed.....!!!!.....the Christian community was not far behind, with the likes of Peter Saheb,O'Neil Saheb, Anthony nd Paul Hansda all sr employees intermingling with us on many a festivity....the Church at Carmel Convent nd St.Columbas truly imparted a cosmopolitan culture to the Santhal Pargana Town known for its gud weather,water nd tourism in as many as numerous Resort like Villas dotted the landscape of Madhupur....!!!!....my compulsory invitation @ Panama House on Eid Day to meet Shahid, Sarfraz nd their parents....the sumptuous lunch, the mild mannered warm reception had already beginning to open newer vistas of acceptability,comradeship nd cosmopolitan character, a tool, which has come in so handy,....even far far away....... whn I think introspectively....!!!!

...Close encounter ......with a date......a date to remember....!!!!

.......my mother appeared cheerful today as I rang her up in the wee hrs as Arnav had to seek her blessings on account of his 4th B'Day......the little fellow a gushing rivulet now in terms of his narrative & exploits ...his current aquisition of Toys....Dirghojeevi  hou, Nikhut,Nirogi theko( meaning Long Life,unblemished nd Healthy Life) was her standard wish frm times immemorial percolating on us...!!!....when I spoke of my Late Father's Death Anniversary :also today.....she told me how strongly she feels of His presence in Arnav....reconciling death with birth....loss with gain....!!!....today being a Somwari of Sawan nd a wrkin day the In house celebration & rituals r performed....with coming Friday slated for the party....which he has accepted gracefully....both Archana & Me r Happy ......the Maldives Sun & Breeze in gud stead.....the Children growing up alarmingly.......We thank the Lord for his bounty....& giving us a reason to live.....!!!!

......a month......an action....!!!

.....as July slips out gradually, can't but adore its progress.....it's the Holy month of Ramaadan here, with people ritualistically fasting & there is this remarkable hurry in the daily chores with gr8 deal of alertness....as the Iru : Sun, makes its final lunge west.....there is a feeling of relaxation in the air.....with the Muezzin's call heralding giving up the fast for the day......the atmosphere is more laid back quite in contrast.....as the Bazaars look terribly busy these days nd people wrking overtime.....culture & religion & its way into life is probably never seen more in unison.....!!....I like this change in routine nd services adjusted & rendered accordingly.....the record downpour in Apr-May is yet to be surpassed in July....though occasional hold ups r thr....returning home in fine drizzle with the Golf cap as the umbrella is a soothing balm aft the skirmishes in the clinic....& I hv developed a penchant for it....!!!....the much needed exercise....!!....feel emboldened with lot of wrk at the table with discussions online nd regular exchange...ably supported by my long lost frnd with whom I hv bridged the gap....this is the best thing tht happened in July....& time is not far whn we meet......!!!....& repose the same confidence as we had before......time has not jaded our  frndly investment which we had started in 1985 frm Day 1....this is wht I call graduation & maturation of our contemporary evolution.....!!!.....needless to say again, tht  the Heart is on Cloud Nine......!!!!!  

......Monsoon & the Concert....!!!

.......June looked like a watershed mth professionally though the Ultra sound clinic remained closed for the better part of the mth for want of a part to be imported frm SGP.The Disease process sweeping the Clinic with all its hue nd varied forms often keeping me on the Tenterhooks.....the Acute, overshadowed, the Chronic....nd the gud run still continuing at least the 1st week proved......picked up a string whch I had left long time ago....nd surely its a pleasure.....my Science Blog forays nd the guidance frm my esteemed colleague frm Nottingham is a feeling of well being so close to the heart.....!!!!..with my shallow knowledge on a variety of subjects being honed & guided is the high point in recent yrs.....whn u get back the August company in whtever little measure, the feeling is of ........resurrection....rejuvenation .....redemption......!!!!....whn ur conviction for whtevr Gud is firm.....Gud Heaven's will shower its bounty.....!!!!.....the Heart on cloud Nine with the Children's Annual Concert on ......its time to take a seat in the hall watch them perform....remembering your own performances with .....Bapi & Ma.....as if still watching us ......our highs & lows monitored in tht comfort zone.....which is infinite nd Rock solid....!!!!