January 2018 Welcometo the First Equality and Diversity Newsletter from the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. the Ne

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

January 2018 Welcometo the First Equality and Diversity Newsletter from the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. the Ne January 2018 Welcome to the first Equality and Diversity newsletter from the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The newsletter aims to raise awareness of the Equality and Diversity calendar and share events reflecting the diversity of our staff and patients including key events for persons with any of the nine protected characteristics. We want this newsletter to be as interactive as possible and would like to include your stories and photos in future editions. Please contact the author if you have anything you would like to share for the year of 2018. Orthodox Christian New year starts 14th January Many Orthodox Christians who observe the New Year’s Day date from the Julian calendar may spend the day reflecting on the previous year and think about meaningful resolutions for the New Year. Many people celebrate the day with family or friends to welcome the New Year. Activities may include fireworks, large meals and music entertainment. Chinese Year of the Dog starts 16th February For some people, wishing friends and family a Happy New Year begins later than the 1st of January. According to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, the Chinese year beginning in 2018 is the Year of the Dog. Chinese New Year, also known as the "Spring Festival" in modern mainland China, is China's most important traditional festival, celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. What is Equality and Diversity? The nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act are: 1. Age 2. Disability 3. Gender Reassignment 4. Marriage and Civil Partnership 5. Pregnancy and Maternity 6. Race - including Nationality and Ethnicity 7. Religion or belief 8. Sex 9. Sexual orientation Equality is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are not treated differently or less favourably, on the basis of their specific protected characteristic. Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the aforementioned areas. Bullying, harassment or victimisation are also considered as equality and diversity issues Celebrating Diversity& Recognising Equality Page 1 of 3 Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people’s differences to contribute and reach their full potential by promoting an inclusive culture. Events 1st Jan 16th Jan . Mary, Mother of God - Catholic . Martin Luther King Day Christian . Feast Day of St Basil - Orthodox Christian . Gantan-sai (New Years) - Shinto . Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Orthodox Christian 2nd –4th Jan 17th Jan . Mahayana New Year - Buddhist . Blessing of the Animals - Hispanic Catholic Christian 4th Jan 18th –25th . World Braille Day . Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Christian 5th Jan 19th Jan . Twelfth Night - Christian . Timkat - Ethiopian Orthodox Christian . Guru Gobindh Singh birthday - Sikhism . Theophany, Baptism of Christ – Orthodox Christian 6th Jan 21st Jan . Epiphany - Christian . World Religion Day - Baha'i . Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany) - . Triodion begins - Orthodox Christian Orthodox Christian . Saint Agnes Day – Christian . Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) - . Zacchaeus Sunday – Orthodox Christian Christian . Nativity of Christ - Armenian Orthodox 7th Jan 22nd Jan . Orthodox Christmas Day—Orthodox . Vasant Panchami, Saraswati Puja - . Feast of the Nativity - Orthodox Hinduism Christian . Baptism of the Lord Jesus - Christian 8th Jan 25th Jan . Feast of the Holy Family - Catholic . Conversion of St. Paul - Christian Christian . Seijin no hi (Coming of Age Day) – Shinto 10th Jan 27th Jan . Fast of Tevet 10 - Judaism . Holocaust Memorial Day 13th Jan 28th Jan . Maghi - Sikhism . Saint Thomas Aquinas Day – Christian . Saint Hilary’s Day – Christian . Triodion begins – Orthodox Christian 14th Jan 31st Jan . New Year – Orthodox Christian . Tu BiShvat - 15 Shevat ( (Arbor Day) - . Makar Sankranti/Pongal – Hinduism Judaism . Birthday of Guru Har Rai – Sikhism . Thaipusam - Hinduism Celebrating Diversity& Recognising Equality Page 2 of 3 Want to know more? 10th January - Tenth of Tevet Asarah BeTevet), the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a ,בטבת עשרה :Hebrew) fast day in Judaism. It is one of the minor fasts observed from before dawn until nightfall. The fasting commemorates the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia - an event that began on that date and ultimately culminated in the destruction of Solomon's Temple (the First Temple) and the conquest of the Kingdom of Judah (today central Israel). The day has no relationship to Hanukkah, but it happens to follow that festival by a week. The Tenth of Tevet falls seven or eight days after Chanukka, depending on if the preceding Hebrew month of Kislev has 29 or 30 days in the relevant year. 27th January - World Holocaust Day World Holocaust Day is the day for everyone to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of people killed in Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. It marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. 22nd January - Vasant Panchami, Saraswati Puja - Hinduism Vasant Panchami, also spelled Basant Panchami, is a Hindu spring festival. It is observed on the fifth day of the Indian traditional calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of January or February. The festival is celebrated in various ways depending on the region. Many revere the goddess Saraswati, the Hindu deity of learning, arts and music. She is celebrated with visits to her temples, by playing music, as well as the day when parents sit down with their children, initiate them into writing letters of alphabet or study together. Others mark it as the festival of god Kama, the Hindu deity of love, by remembering the loved one particularly one's spouse or special friend, celebrating it with spring flowers. Its link with the god of love and its traditions have led some scholars to call it "a Hindu form of Valentine's Day". Others wear yellow clothes and eat yellow rice to emulate the yellow mustard (sarson) flower fields, or play by flying kites. 8th January - EIJIN NO HI (Coming of Age Day) Coming of Age Day (成人の日, Seijin no Hi) is a Japanese holiday held annually on the second Monday of January. It is held in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year, and to help them realise that they have become adults. Festivities include coming of age ceremonies (成人式, seijin-shiki) held at local and prefectural offices, as well as after-parties among family and friends. Contact Hayley Aplin at [email protected] or on 01793 605426 if you would like to contribute to the next edition. Celebrating Diversity& Recognising Equality Page 3 of 3 .
Recommended publications
  • Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion
    HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 36 Number 2 Article 11 December 2016 Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion Georgina Drew University of Adelaide, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Drew, Georgina. 2016. Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion. HIMALAYA 36(2). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol36/iss2/11 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion Acknowledgements I offer heartfelt thanks to Mr. Jayhari Srivastava, a lifelong Uttarkashi resident, who served as an assistant for the fieldwork outlined in this article and for portions of my PhD research from 2008-2009. His input and expertise was invaluable. I also extend my gratitude for funding from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Provost Office of The New School. Finally, I offer my sincere appreciation to Thomas J. Mathew, who provided comments
    [Show full text]
  • List of Festival Celebrations at Durga Temple for the Year 2020
    LIST OF FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS AT DURGA TEMPLE FOR THE YEAR 2020 1. New Year Mata Jagran Wednesday, January 1st 2. Vaikunth Ekadeshi Puja Monday, January 6th 3. Lohri – Bonfire Celebration Monday, January 13th 4. Makar Sankranti Monday, January 14th 5. Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Wednesday, January 29th 6. Maha Shivaratri Utsav Friday, February 21st 7. Holika Dahan Monday, March 9th 8. Holi Mela To Be determined Tuesday, March 24th – 9. Vasant Navaratri Mahotsav Thursday, April 2nd 10. Durgashtami- Durga Hawan Wednesday, April 1st 11. Shri Ram Navami Thursday, April 2nd Shri Ramcharit Manas Akhand Paath 12. Saturday, April 4th Begins Shri Ramcharit Manas Akhand Paath 13. Sunday, April 5th Bhog Shri Hanuman Jayanti 14. Tuesday, April. 7th Samoohik Sundar Kand Paath 15. Baisakhi – Solar New Year Monday, April 13th 16. Akshaya Triteeya Saturday, April 25th 17. Guru Purnima Saturday, July 4th 18. Raksha Bandhan Monday, August 3rd 19. Shri Krishna Janmashtmi Tuesday, August 11th 20. Haritalika Teej Friday, August 21st Shri Ganesh Chaturthi 21. Saturday, August 22nd (Annual homam) 22. Labor Day – Annual Saraswati Puja Monday, September 7th Sharad Navaratri Utsav Saturday, October 17th – 23. Garba Dance (in hall downstairs) Saturday Oct 24th 24. Durga Ashtami Hawan Friday, October 23rd 25. Vijaya Dashami - Dussehra Sunday, October 25th 26. Dussehra Mela To be determined 27. Sharad Purnima Saturday, October 31st 28. Karva Chauth Puja Wednesday, November 4th 29. Dhan Teras Thursday, November 12th 30. Deepavali Saturday, November 14th 31. Annakoot (Goverdhan Puja) Sunday, November 15th 32. Tulsi Vivah Wednesday, November 25th Kartik Purnima - Kartik Deepam - 33. TBD Shata Rudrbhishak 34. Geeta Jayanti Friday, December 25th 35.
    [Show full text]
  • 47 Apart from Diwali1 and Durga Puja,2 Few Hindu Religious Festivals
    “CHILDREN HAVE THEIR OWN WORLD OF BEING”: AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES ON THE DAY OF SARASWATI PUJA SEMONTEE MITRA Apart from Diwali1 and Durga Puja,2 few Hindu religious festivals are organized and celebrated publicly in the United States. Saraswati Puja is one such festival. Saraswati Puja, also known as Vasant Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrated in early February to mark the onset of spring. On this day, Hindus, especially Bengalis,3 worship the goddess Saraswati, the Vedic goddess of knowledge and wisdom, music, arts, and science. She is also the companion of Lord Brahma who, with her knowledge and wisdom, created the universe. Bengalis consider participation in this puja4 compulsory for students, scholars, and creative artists. Therefore, Indian American Bengali parents force their children to participate in this festival, whereas they might be lax on other religious occasions. As a participant-observer of this recent Indian festival in Central Pennsylvania, United States, I found that the cultural scene—the collective, communal celebration of Saraswati Puja—was not as simple as children of foreign-born parents following a transplanted tradition and gaining ethnic identity. On the contrary, I noticed that Indian American Bengali children typically indulged in activities such as games that are not traditionally part of the religious observance in India. Their interactions, both in and out of the social frame of a religious ritual, especially Saraswati Puja, reveal that in America the festive day has taken on the function
    [Show full text]
  • Calendar 2021 Employee Diversity and Inclusion
    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2021 Employee Diversity and Inclusion Here at the IET, we are dedicated to demonstrating our Our first multi-year Equality, Diversity and Inclusion commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), Strategy launched in October 2019. The strategy and advocating inclusivity in engineering is a crucial validates our efforts to embed EDI throughout the element to addressing the skills shortage that currently institution and shows that our efforts are joined up threatens UK engineering industry and enables us to and are fundamental to us achieving wider change. represent the global membership base in which we serve. This approach supports equal and professional Adopting methods that enable us to recruit from all opportunity for all. We recognise the importance of sections of society allows us to widen the talent pool, promoting equal opportunities for all and ensuring that inspire a broader range of individuals and show that all processes across the organisation are inclusive. engineering is for everybody. As one of the largest PEIs in the world; we have This calendar for 2021 highlights major key dates and a duty to promote engineering to everybody and religious holidays that we as an institution celebrate. encourage organisations to do more around promoting The calendar also outlines our many events that happen the importance of embracing equality, diversity and throughout the year that we hope to welcome many of inclusion. It is important that we demonstrate that we you to. are a welcoming and inclusive engineering institution where everybody has an equal opportunity to succeed. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion January This month can also be referred to as Dry January.
    [Show full text]
  • Guruji Golwalkar
    Syllabus Year I, Quarter I Age Group : 9 to 12 Gokulam is the place where Lord Krishna‛s magical days of childhood were spent. It was here that his divine powers came to light. Every child has that spark of divinity within. Bala- Gokulam is a forum for children to discover and manifest that divinity. It‛s objective is to enable Hindu children in US to appreciate their cultural roots and learn Hindu values in an enjoyable manner. This is done through weekly gatherings and planned activities which include games, yoga, stories, shlokas, bhajan, arts and crafts and much more...... Balagokulam is a program of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). www.balagokulam.org Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Table of Contents January Shloka / Subhashitam / Amrutvachan ....................................4 Geet ........................................................................................6 What is Bala-Gokulam? .........................................................7 What is Hindu Dharma? .........................................................9 Makar Samakranti ................................................................11 Project ................................................................................14 Exercise ................................................................................15 February Shloka / Subhashitam / Amrutvachan ..................................18 Geet ......................................................................................20 Shri Guruji Golwalkar ..........................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • The Indian Luni-Solar Calendar and the Concept of Adhik-Maas
    Volume -3, Issue-3, July 2013 The Indian Luni-Solar Calendar and the giving rise to alternative periods of light and darkness. All human and animal life has evolved accordingly, Concept of Adhik-Maas (Extra-Month) keeping awake during the day-light but sleeping through the dark nights. Even plants follow a daily rhythm. Of Introduction: course some crafty beings have turned nocturnal to take The Hindu calendar is basically a lunar calendar and is advantage of the darkness, e.g., the beasts of prey, blood– based on the cycles of the Moon. In a purely lunar sucker mosquitoes, thieves and burglars, and of course calendar - like the Islamic calendar - months move astronomers. forward by about 11 days every solar year. But the Hindu calendar, which is actually luni-solar, tries to fit together The next natural clock in terms of importance is the the cycle of lunar months and the solar year in a single revolution of the Earth around the Sun. Early humans framework, by adding adhik-maas every 2-3 years. The noticed that over a certain period of time, the seasons concept of Adhik-Maas is unique to the traditional Hindu changed, following a fixed pattern. Near the tropics - for lunar calendars. For example, in 2012 calendar, there instance, over most of India - the hot summer gives way were 13 months with an Adhik-Maas falling between to rain, which in turn is followed by a cool winter. th th August 18 and September 16 . Further away from the equator, there were four distinct seasons - spring, summer, autumn, winter.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021-2022 Faith-Based and Cultural Celebrations Calendar ■ Typically Begins at Sundown the Day Before This Date
    Forest Hills Public Schools 2021-2022 Faith-based and Cultural Celebrations Calendar ■ typically begins at sundown the day before this date. grey highlight indicates highly observed July/August/September 2021 March 2022 ■ July 20 .....................................Eid al-Adha – Islamic ■ 2 .............................................. Ash Wednesday – Christian ■ August 10 ................................Al-Hijira – Islamic ■ 2-20 ......................................... Nineteen Day Fast – Baha’i ■ August 19 ................................Ashura – Islamic 7 .............................................. Great Lent Begins – Orthodox Christian ■ Sept. 7-8 .................................Rosh Hashanah – Judaism ■ 17 ............................................ Purim – Judaism ■ Sept. 14 ...................................Radha Ashtami – Hinduism 17 ............................................ St. Patrick’s Day (CHoliday) ■ Sept. 16 ...................................Yom Kippur - Judaism 18 ............................................ Holi – Hinduism ■ Sept. 21-27 .............................Sukkot – Judaism 18 ............................................ Hola Mohalla – Sikh ■ Sept. 28-29 .............................Sh’mini Atzeret – Judaism ■ 19 ............................................ Lailat al Bara’ah – Islam ■ Sept. 29 ...................................Simchat Torah – Judaism ■ 21 ............................................ Naw Ruz – Baha’i 25 ............................................ Annunciation Blessed Virgin – Catholic
    [Show full text]
  • PONGAL and Makar Sankranti- Book for Kids
    Written by Srividya Vishwanathan for itsallaboutkidsplay.com Story of Pongal/Makar Sankranti www.itsallaboutkidsplay.com Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in southern part of India. It is known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of India. India is an agricultural land. Pongal/ Makar Sankranti is a thanksgiving festival, thanking nature and deities for the bountiful produce. The 4 days of PONGAL include This festival is celebrated for 4 days in 1. Bhogi Pongal month of January. Rice, pulses, 2. Thai Pongal turmeric, and sugarcane are harvested 3. Mattu Pongal during this time. 4. Kannu Pongal Story of Pongal/Makar Sankranti www.itsallaboutkidsplay.com \ Day 1 - Bhogi Pongal This day is celebrated thank the rain god Indira. People thank him for the proper rain which resulted in abundant crops. Another ritual performed is burning of unnecessary household items in a bonfire. Household is cleaned in preparation of the main day of Pongal. Story of Pongal/Makar Sankranti www.itsallaboutkidsplay.com Praying to sun god Sweet Pongal Salted Pongal Day 2 - Thai Pongal This day is celebrated to thank the sun god. In Tamil the word “Pongal “means “Overflowing” signifying abundance and prosperity. Kolam Traditional prasad of rice cooked in milk is prepared. Sweet and Salt versions of Pongal are made. Traditionally Pongal is cooked in earthen cookware. Kolam/Rangoli are drawn in front of household. Pongal being cooked in earthen pot Story of Pongal/Makar Sankranti www.itsallaboutkidsplay.com Day 3- Mattu Pongal This 3rd Day of Pongal is dedicated to cows. Cows help a lot in farming and are treated as a holy animal.
    [Show full text]
  • What Do You Know About Hinduism?
    UWS An Inclusive Community UWS Multifaith Chaplaincy September 2008 What do you know about Hinduism? Followers of the teachings of the Vedas are called Hindus. Hindu staff and students form a substantial part of the UWS community. Acknowledging and respecting Hindu identities at UWS therefore requires, in part, a basic understanding of what Hinduism and being a Hindu is about. About Hinduism Hinduism originated and developed in India over the last 3,000-3,500 years. It is the majority religion in India. Hindus believe in one Supreme God who manifests him/herself in many different forms. Some of these include Krishna, Durga, Ganesh, Sakti (Devi), Vishnu, Surya, Siva and Skanda (Murugan). Hindus believe: • in the Vedas (scriptures) • there is one Supreme God who is the creator of the universe • in reincarnation • that everyone creates their own destiny (karma) There are four major Hindu denominations classified according to their respective focus of worship. Vaishnavism Vaishnavism worship Vishnu and his incarnations, particularly Krishna and Rama, as the Supreme God. Saivism Saivites worship Siva (also spelt Shiva) as the Supreme God. Shaktism Shaktas worship God as the Shakti, Sri Devi or the Divine Mother in her many forms. Hindu Dress Code Traditional Hindu women wear the sari. Traditional male Hindus wear the Smartism white cotton dhoti. Smarta Hindus view the different manifestations of God as equivalent. They accept all major Hindu gods and are commonly known as liberal or Women in particular may wear a dot (tilak) of turmeric powder or other non-sectarian. coloured substance on their foreheads as a symbol of their religion.
    [Show full text]
  • Part I the Religions of Indian Origin
    Part I The Religions of Indian Origin MRC01 13 6/4/04, 10:46 AM Religions of Indian Origin AFGHANISTAN CHINA Amritsar Kedamath Rishikesh PAKISTAN Badrinath Harappa Hardwar Delhi Indus R. NEPAL Indus Civilization BHUTAN Mohenjo-daro Ayodhya Mathura Lucknow Ganges R. Pushkar Prayag BANGLADESH Benares Gaya Ambaji I N D I A Dakshineshwar Sidphur Bhopal Ahmadabad Jabalpur Jamshedpur Calcutta Dwarka Dakor Pavagadh Raipur Gimar Kadod Nagpur Bhubaneswar Nasik-Tryambak Jagannath Puri Bombay Hyderabad Vishakhapatnam Arabian Sea Panaji Bay of Bengal Tirupati Tiruvannamalai-Kaiahasti Bangalore Madras Mangalore Kanchipuram Pondicherry Calicut Kavaratti Island Madurai Thanjavar Hindu place of pilgrimage Rameswaram Pilgrimage route Major city SRI LANKA The Hindu cultural region 14 MRC01 14 6/4/04, 10:46 AM 1 Hinduism Hinduism The Spirit of Hinduism Through prolonged austerities and devotional practices the sage Narada won the grace of the god Vishnu. The god appeared before him in his hermitage and granted him the fulfillment of a wish. “Show me the magic power of your Maya,” Narada prayed. The god replied, “I will. Come with me,” but with an ambiguous smile on his lips. From the shade of the hermit grove, Vishnu led Narada across a bare stretch of land which blazed like metal under the scorching sun. The two were soon very thirsty. At some distance, in the glaring light, they perceived the thatched roofs of a tiny village. Vishnu asked, “Will you go over there and fetch me some water?” “Certainly, O Lord,” the saint replied, and he made off to the distant group of huts. When Narada reached the hamlet, he knocked at the first door.
    [Show full text]
  • Thaipusam in Malaysia: a Hindu Festival in the Tamil Diaspora
    Index A annathanam, 248–49, 260 Adi Dravida castes anti-Brahman movement, 77 association, 109 Appadurai, Arjun, 37–38, 55n11 ban on Kopkamtib, 280 Arasaratnam, S., 8–9, 12n11, 88–89 caste boundaries and inter-caste Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple, perceptions, 89–90 Palani definition of, 34–35 Brahman Thaipusam. See Brahman kangany recruitment, 87–88 Thaipusam, pada yatra Murugan temples, 141 caste deity of Chettiars, 93 Penang Mariamman temples healing traditions, 257 admission to, 89 Idumban, 267 Sangams, 88–89, 91 kavadi ritual, 256 in Thaipusam, 330 mythology, 299–300 Agamic Hinduism, 20, 26, 30, 36–37, Panguni Uttiram, 257 98 self-mortification, 257 Agamicization, in Malaysia, 115–19 Arul Mihu Navasakhti Vinayagar Agamic pantheon, 290 Temple, 277 Agamic temples, 91–93, 96 Aruncalan, M.V., 44 Agastya, 169 astrology, 308 Agnimukhan, 155 asuras, Murugan’s battle with, 334–36 ahamkara, 144 asuric inversion, 150 Akhiresa, 143 axis mundi, as pilgrimage sites, 290, alankara deepam, 200, 301 292, 297 aluga kavadi, 213, 238n82, 250 ayuta puja, 23 Kallar festival, 258 in Penang, 250 B amnesia and trance, 323–24 Babb, Lawrence, 198–99, 270, 309 Amos, Eva, 349n150 Banugopan, 155 anava, 51 Barber, Benjamin, 8 Anbe Sivam, 48 Barron, J.M., 89 16-J00516 12 Thaipusam in Malaysia.indd 391 11/1/17 2:38 PM 392 Index Batu Caves Thaipusam, 297–99 Vaishnavite imagery, 197 abishekam, 207 vel placement, 187 alankara deepam, 200 vibhuti, 225, 229, 235n49, 236n51 asrama, 190 Beardsworth, Timothy, 327 Cave Villa, 194–95, 198 Beck, Brenda, 339–41 chaulum, 207 Bhagavad Gita, 41 crowd maintenance, 202 bhakti movement, South India, 41–43 Dark Cave, 191 impact of, 42 devastanam management, 201, Nayanars, 43–45 233n25, 235n43 and transgressive sacrality, 43–47 foreign tourists, 28 bhuta, spirit worship, 99–101 funfair and retail stalls, 210 Biardeau, Madeleine, 258 Golden Vel, 207, 211 Bilainkin, George, 129n87 Hindu murthis and temples, 186–87, Blackburn, Robin, 67 193, 196 Bose, Subhas Chandra, 4 kaliyuga, 194 brahmadeyas, 26–27, 47 kavadi ritual.
    [Show full text]
  • Festivals of India
    2016 Festivals of India Supplement REFLECTIONS A Hindu Cultural Center of Albany Hindu Temple Society’s Newsletter devoted to the Capital District’s Indian-American community particularly its seniors Festivals of Indias Supplement Editorial: Indian Heritage Awareness for and Through Our Children By Ram Chugh, Ph.D. A large number of children and adults participate in these activities. Through such engagement the younger Namaste. At the outset, I express my generation becomes aware of our rich heritage, and adults deep gratitude to Dr. Sastri Sreepada themselves begin to further understand the nuances and for spearheading this initiative to significance of our culture and religious practices. encourage young boys and girls from Indian families to write short essays on To encourage such engagement, the HCC Newsletter festivals of India. I thank our 14 young Reflections will publish short articles written by our young writers for their time and effort, and Indian-American students on various aspects of our religion their parents for their support. I also and culture. This Festivals of India supplement is our first such thank Vijay Oruganti and Kodi Kothandan who formatted issue. and designed this Supplement. We plan to publish one more supplement later this year. To Our Albany area Indian community regularly celebrates encourage greater participation for the next issue, we will be the festivals captured in the essays. This is heartening seeking articles on three themes. We will announce these because our festivals are a key vehicle for preserving our themes and submission guidelines through the Hindu Temple culture, values, and traditions. Nevertheless, members of and the Cultural Center bulletin.
    [Show full text]