Labor Day:

 Labor Day:

Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog Posting Labor Day 2021

In the USA, the first Monday of September is celebrated as Labor Day to celebrate and honor hardworking laborers.

Official or unofficial, the first Labor Day march, parade, picnic, and celebration was held in New York on Sept 5, 1882. Approximately, 25000 union members and their families filled Reservoir park in New York.

In the later part of 19th century labor movement and trade unions had picked up steam. Different labor groups were active and had their own days to honor hardworking labor.

There are two versions of the history of the roots of Labor Day, two theories for two gentlemen with the same last name are credited for establishing Labor Day. Some credit Secretary of Central Labor Union ( CLU) Matthew Maguire and some credit P. J McGuire, VP of American Federation of Labor( AFL).

In Sept 1882 there was a public parade organized by Central Labor Union of New York in connection with a secrete General Assembly of Knights of Labor. Matthew Maguire proposed that there should be a National Labor Day.

Another gentleman P. J McGuire was VP of AFL also said to have proposed the first Monday of September be the ideal day to celebrate due to the good weather conditions and that day falls between the two main US Public holidays of July 4th and Thanksgiving.

In 1894 US Congress made is an official federal holiday for federal employees.

May 1, 1885 ( old European May Day) is most important because on that day AFL passed a resolution of eight-hour day.

Since May 1, 1886. eight hour working has become a norm.

Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog Posting Labor Day 2021

Festival of ONAM- The most important festival for the people of Kerala and Malayalies

 A new series:

Something interesting, new and intriguing to me:'

Written by Vijay Bhatt 8-21-2021 for Blog posting.

ONAM FESTIVAL:

HAPPY ONAM to all Malayalis.

Onam Celebrations ( Aug 12-Aug 23 2021: The most important religious and cultural festival of people of Kerala and Malayalis.

Mythological background:

In Bhagwat-katha there is a story of king Bali ( AKA Mahabali)

This King Bali paternal lineage was: Rishi Kashyap->Hiranyakashyap-> Pralhad-> Virochan -> Mahabali. He was considered an ASUR.

-By defeating DEVAs, when Mahabali won all three worlds ( Skies, Earth, and the Paataal), Devas became uncomfortable, requested Vishnu to fight Bali. But Vishnu refused to fight his own devotee.

Mahabali had arranged a celebration YAJNA for victory.

Vishnu took an Avatar of a very small body of dwarf - VAAMANA, After the YAJNA King Mahabali, granted wishes of all. The small dwarf boy VAAMANA asked for 3 simple small size steps worth of space. Mahabali graciously agreed. Vishnu grew almost infinite size first two steps covered all areas Mahabali ruled. For the third step, Bali offered his head. Vishnu put his foot and pushed him in PAATAAL. Devas were happy. At the same time Vishnu was happy for Mahabali's devotion. Vishnu LIBERATED and blessed Bali a boon that ONCE A YEAR Mahabali can revisit all the space and land he ruled.

Traditions and celebrations:

ONAM is the festival of celebration for Mahabali's devotion, yearly return to his kingdom, his righteousness, virtues of DHARMA, humility and values of keeping the promise to VAAMANA.

The Thrikkakara temple in Kochi is VAAMANA avtar temple and is the main center of festivities. This is also temple of Mahabali, and Shiva.

Onam is a combination of religious festivities of King Mahabali's annual return, annual harvest season, trade, and celebration for 10 days of cultural programs, decorations, RANGOLI sports competitions, varieties of dances, performing arts.

Daily varieties of fancy foods and fun!

Written by Vijay Bhatt 8-21-2021 for Blog posting.

Indian Idol 12: A singing competition show(?): Written by Vijay Bhatt Aug 15, 2021

 Indian Idol 12: A singing competition show(?): Written by Vijay Bhatt Aug 15, 2021 for Blog posting and sharing.

Indian Idol 12: A singing competition show(?): - by Vijay Bhatt:

Congratulations to Pavan Deep Rajan, who got the most votes of Indian Idol12 , 75 weeks season with the best ever set of contesting finalists.

As a musician/singer, I must say that each of the finalists deserves to be the winner. We accept results and move on regardless who was your personal favorite.

Purely on singing quality point of view, my favorite has been Arunita.

All six were almost equal (16/20-20/20 difference). I wish they had changed the rules and offered all of them the title of Indian Idol. Here is why.

If they changed the singing competition in to an almost Kapil Sharma show or a Big Boss, or a Match making show or a fashion show? Why not change the rules and declare all of them the idols.

India has many deities, devi/ devta..! So many movies are multi-star! So many sat-gurus, So many sects within Hindu religion, So many New Year's days according to the region and culture. So many festivals. We even have to Freedom days ( Independence Aug 15, Republic Jan 26). Why not multiple Indian Idols?

The original judges, Vishal, Neha, Himesh, had selected the gems!

It is a classical example of how the creative director Niraj Sharma and team deteriorated the original platform of Indian singing/music in to a low grade flashy, low class comedy, dance, match-making, soap-opera type, BHEL-PURI show!

There is an excellent word in Hindi called "गरिमा ", a respect, an honor, a stature. This show brought down the singing talent's respect to low class talent show.

They gradually did makeover of female contestants by changing costumes, especially of Arunita, tried to convert her in to a B grade Bollywood heronie exposing her skin. An 18 years old girl, singing nightingale was transformed in to Big Boss's Sunny Leon, and asked by low class Reena Roy to feed Pavan as if he is her lover and recite some low grade love lines!

Karan Johar even went too explicit as if he is getting them married right there!

So pathetic! So shameful for teenager Indian girl who is born and raised with 'Indian values' and culture. Is this our cultural value?

If I were a parent could not let daughter be subject to such drama in front of the national tv. in a 'singing talent competition'. I would accept such drama if it was an audition or screen test for film acting casting competition.

Some very well respected legendary singers/musicians ( we know them well, will not name), have openly expressed dismay on social media.

As public, I appeal to all those who read this, must send clear message to Sony India CEO( that Sardarji who took credit for the show at the end), that this is not a Singing Competition Show. He and his team should be ashamed of themselves, no matter how much (financial) credit they take and get TRP.

Sony EXPLOITED these innocent divine talents for 75 weeks/150 shows and offered them 3Lakhs 2Lacks only??? Please write to Sony and challenge them.

There are still millions of us, Indians, who will not let our culture go to the tubes and let pious performing art of Indian singing be normalize to such a low class entertainment.

Best wishes and Congratulations to PAVAN, ARUNITA, SAYLI, DANESH, NIHAL, SANMUKH PRIYA! We are proud of you! You are truly the treasure of our music!

Indian Idol 12: A singing competition show(?): Written by Vijay Bhatt Aug 15, 2021 for Blog posting and sharing.

navraas: Guru Purnima ( Day to celebrate and Recognize all ...

navraas: Guru Purnima ( Day to celebrate and Recognize all ...:   Guru Purnima: Written By Vijay Bhatt ( For Blog Posting 7-23-21) What is so special about GURU-PURNIMA, the GURU-FULL MOON -DAY? Why there...

Guru Purnima ( Day to celebrate and Recognize all who taught us something)

 Guru Purnima:

Written By Vijay Bhatt ( For Blog Posting 7-23-21)

What is so special about GURU-PURNIMA, the GURU-FULL MOON -DAY?

Why there is this beautiful, humbling, classy, and spiritual tradition in Indian culture (irrespective of religion) to celebrate and recognize our Guru ( a teacher, mentor, guide, inspirer, coach, or trainer) on the full moon day of month of Ashaad per Lunar calendar, during this beautiful monsoon season!

Here is why. To remind ourselves who are in our foundation of who we are in our journey from nothing to whoever we are!

There is nothing 'absolute' in the world. Nothing! Everything is 'due to something'.

When something happens it is 'because' something happen'ed'.

Everything is effect of something else.

If you read Stephen Hawking's book Brief History of Time, you will realize the chain of events which had to happen for the formation of this planet and then for us to be talking today on this planet.

Having said that, our skills, attributes, knowledge, and simply our 'being' is due to 'someone other than you did something', and as a result, you are here and who you are, including your knowledge, skills, and talent.

No one is born with anything, other than the body- the hardware which is a gift out of a few beautiful loving moments our parents had! - that is also their action!

We are born with a hardware and a basic self-evolving Operating System called our brain!

We did not even know how to suck milk the first time. Our mother is our first teacher who taught us survival's first lesson- how to eat!

She taught us much more...So she is our first teacher. - Our first Guru!

Fast forward few years on the earth, our parents or elders taught us how to stand, walk. eventually, we learned how to speak because 'they' were speaking. Had they not been speaking... you would not have known any language - Thus our parents and initial surroundings are -our Guru!

Our environment as a child around us taught us a lot without formally doing so - the environment is - our Guru!

Fast forward few years and a child ( more so the parents) feels proud having passed elementary school and then high school!

School formally trained you- Teachers are - our Guru!

Further, those who taught where to go to get the knowledge are our Guru! They showed us the direction.

Further, in real life we acquire skills, craft, information, methods, and knowledge in different fields, be it art, science, or information on anything- there was always someone before you who did it, and was willing to show you the way. He/She is our Guru!

It takes a lots of individuals to make you- 'you' - and we must recognize them. That is why Indian tradition celebrates Guru Purnima ( Recognition of all teachers on the full moon day of Ashadh)

I express my sincere gratitude to all the listed above! - All My Guru! Pranam!

We all celebrate Valentine's Day very enthusiastically with roses, to celebrate Guru Purnima - I offer one such beautiful rose in the name of all our Gurus!

Guru Purnima:

Written By Vijay Bhatt ( For Blog Posting 7-23-21)

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Review of Netflix web series 'RAY': ( of episode#2#3)

 Review of Netflix web series 'RAY': ( of episode#2#3)

(Review Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog postings July-15-2021)

Based on Legend Satyajit Ray's short stories.

Directed by Srijit Mukherji, Abhishek, and Chaubey Vasan.

Written by Niren Bhatt and Siraj Ahmed.

Reviewing only the two I enjoyed. #2 and #3. Very artistic and thought provoking. (other two watch only if you have extra time)

#2 Bahurupiya and #3 Hungama Hai Kyon

Bahurupiya: Satyajit Ray's (story name: Bahurupi) : A unique story about appearant and real identities- only can be expected from a legend like Ray. It said more than what it actually said! Salute Mr.Ray!

Kay Kay Menon and Rajesh Sharma carry the characters well.

Direction: Directors could have done miracles with such an astonishing plot!

Written by Niren Bhatt and Siraj Ahmed: Not as effective.

Hungama Hai Kyon: Satyajit Ray's (story name: Barin Bhowmik-er Byaram): Classic level! About an unusual, not much discussed and rare human weakness! This weakness can be of material or as well as intellect. You will never stop being surprised enough till the end with unexpected twists but consistent with the plot! Salute Mr.Ray!

Active: Manoj Bajpai and Gajraj Rao both acted the role well.

Direction: The flow from different time zones is done very artistically! Very well done. Use of some relevant Urdu poetry is enjoyable if you understand the real meanings of these gazals.

Written by Niren Bhatt and Siraj Ahmed: Good literary writing.

Enjoyed the meaningful dialogs.

After watching( #2 and #3) you will say at least once 'Nice'! Maza Aaya!! SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

It is about time to tell the monopolized Bollywood cartel that there is art of films out there too!

Enjoy!

( Review Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog postings 7-15-2021)

કોવીડ ઈયર્સ: COVID (Y)-Ears: written by Vijay Bhatt July 11th 2021

 કોવીડ ઈયર્સ: COVID (Y)-Ears: written by Vijay Bhatt July 11th 2021

ફ્રાઈડે ની સાંજ, સરસ પવન, બેકયાર્ડમાં બેસીને, મારો પ્રિય રેડ-વાઈન, જે હું નાપા વેલી વાઈન કન્ટ્રી માંથી ખાસ લાવ્યો હતો, તેની લિજ્જત લેતો હતો અને સાથે હતી ભરૂચી સિકંદરની સીંગ!

અચાનક જ મહેશનો નો ફોન આવ્યો. સહેજ કેમ છો, કેમ નહિ, આમ તેમ વાત. લાગ્યું કે તે વાત કરવાના મૂડમાં હતો. પછી તો તરત જ એ માંડ્યો બોલવા. જાણે બોલવે ચઢ્યો. પોતાના બધા જ પ્રશ્નો, મૂંઝવણ, ઘરની, કામની, પત્નીની, અને બોસ ની ફરિયાદ. એક પછી એક અનેક , એકી શ્વાસે!

મને મજા આવતી હતી. નહિ કેમ કે તેને ઘણી મુશ્કેલીઓ હતી. નહિ કેમ કે તે ફરિયાદ કરતો હતો. પણ કારણ કે હું મારો પ્રિય વાઈન, સાથે સિકંદર ની શીંગ, અને એક મિત્ર સાથે નિરાંતે વાતો કરતો હતો, તે પણ ફ્રાઈડે સાંજે!

જોકે માર્ચ ૨૦૨૦ પછી આજ સુધી સોમવાર અને શુક્રવાર માં ખાસ ફરક નથી હોતો. તો પણ, જેમ કહે છે ને TGIF! ( થેન્ક ગોડ ઈટ ઇસ ફ્રાઈડે!).

મારી પાસે સમય જ સમય હતો તેના માટે. તેનો એકધારો એકતરફી સંવાદ(dialog) , જોકે સંવાદ જ્યારે બે વ્યક્તિ વાત કરે ત્યારે ગણાય. આ તો મોનોલોગ(monolog) કહી શકાય ડાયલોગ નહિ. અમુક વાત પત્ની વિશે, તો વાત જાય બોસ ની ફરિયાદ પર, અને બીજી મુંઝવણો. બધી જ વાતમાં અને બધાને વિષે જેમ અગ્નિ શામક પાઇપ નો આખો નળ ખુલી ગયો હોય તેમ ધોધમાર, વિના સંકોચે, ખુલ્લી તલવાર થી ફરિયાદ અને ભાંડે.

હું અવારનવાર "હા" .. "હ" .. "યસ"... "બરાબર" .."યસ" બોલ્યા કરતો તેથી તેની વાગ્ધારા ને ટેકો મળતો રહેતો. જાણે ઘણા વખતથી બોલવાનો ભૂખ્યો થયેલ અને પોતાની આપવિતી સંભળાવવા તત્પર માણસને કોઈ કાંઈ પૂછે અને એ જેમ તૂટી પડે, તેમ જ.

'બેફામ' ની ગઝલનો શેર યાદ આવી ગયો:

"થાય સરખામણી તો ઉતારતા છીએ તે છતાં આબરૂ ને દીપાવી દીધી..

કોણ જાણે હશે કેવી વર્ષો જૂની જિંદગી માં અસર એક તન્હાઇની,

કોઈએ જ્યાં અમસ્તું પૂછ્યું કેમ છો, તેને આખી કહાની સુણાવી દીધી."

સાચે જ જો મેં પુરેપુરા ધ્યાનથી સાંભળ્યું હોત તો મને બધી જ વાત પુરા સંદર્ભથી સમજણ પડત. પણ શું ખરેખર એવા ધ્યાનથી સાંભળવાની જરૂરિયાત હતી, તેને કે મને? ના. હું માત્ર એક સારા મિત્ર તરીકે વર્તાતો હતો, પણ એક આદર્શ અને ધ્યાનસ્થ શ્રોતા તરીકે તો નહીં જ. છતાં કોઈ માણસ પિસ્તાલીસ મિનિટ સુધી એકધારી જુદી જુદી ફરિયાદ અને ગાથા ચલાવે રાખે, તે સાબિતી છે કે તે માણસને કાંઈક કહેવું છે!

ખેર, જે હોય તે. હજી સુધી તો મેં માત્ર સાંભળ્યું. મેં કોઈ સૂચન કે સલાહ આપી ન હતી.

હું તો હતો માત્ર તેની કહાની નો, તેના પ્રશ્નો નો, એક માત્ર રડ્યો ખડયો, ઝપાટા માં આવી ગયેલો સહાનુભૂત શ્રોતા!

હું રાહ જોતો હતો કે તે જરા થંભે તો હું કાંઈ કહું. મારું શાણપણ બતાવી હું તેને કાંઈક એવું આપું જે મફત આપવા મોટાભાગના લોકો તત્પર હોય છે તે- 'સલાહ'!. મારા વર્ષોના નીવડેલ અનુભવની મહામૂલી મૂડી ના ખજાના માંથી કાઢી ને એક બે સલાહ રૂપી જણસો તેને આપવા હું પિસ્તાલીસ મિનિટ થી રાહ જોતો રહ્યો.

તેની આટલી લાંબી વાતો કાંઈ ફોગટ માં થોડી સાંભળી છે?

પણ મારું આજનું નસીબ માત્ર સરસ રેડ વાઈન અને સિકંદર ની શીંગ પૂરતું જ મર્યાદિત હતું. મારી મૂલ્યવાન મફત સલાહ એક જરૂરમંદ મિત્રને વહેંચવા જેટલું મારું સદ્ભાગ્ય મારી આજ ની કુંડળીમાં ન હતું !

છેવટે તે થોભ્યો. મને કહે "વિજય, થેન્ક યુ, આજે એટલું બધું સારું લાગ્યું કે આપણે બે મિત્રો એકબીજાને આપણા પ્રશ્નો ની વાત કરી અને એક બીજાને (!) સલાહ આપી. કેમ ચાલે છે બીજું? કેમ છે પત્ની, બાળકો? તું યાર લકી છે. ખેર, કાંઈ પણ કામ કાજ હોય તો કહે જે. સંભાળજે. સમય બહુ ખરાબ છે. આજે આપણે ગપ્પા માર્યા એટલે સારું લાગ્યું. બહુ ચિંતા કરવી નહીં. બધું બરાબર થઈ જશે. બસ આ સમય નીકળી જાય એટલે છૂટ્યા!" આમ એણે મને સલાહ આપી. એ બોલ્યા જ કર્યો. હું હજી કાંઈ મારા તરફથી કહું ત્યાં તો તેણે કહ્યું " ચાલ, બાય, થેન્ક યુ" એણે ફોન મૂકી દીધો.

મને થયું, કે બે કે ત્રણ પુરા વાક્ય બોલ્યા વગર જ, મેં મારા મિત્રને કેટલું સારું લાગે તેવી મદદ કરી! તેને પ્રશ્નો હતા, પણ તેને શું ખરેખર તેના પ્રશ્નોના જવાબ કે નિરાકરણ જોઈતા હતા? ના. તેણે મને સલાહ લેવા કે જ્ઞાન લેવા ફોન કર્યો હતો? ના. તેને માત્ર જરૂર હતી બે કાનની! સહાનુભૂતિપૂર્ણ , ધીરજ વાળા કાનની.

એક એવો જણ જે તેને 'સંભળાવે નહિ' પણ તેને 'સાંભળે'!

આ કોવીડ કાળમાં, બધા ને અનેક મુંઝવણ અને પ્રશ્નો છે. પણ મોટિવેશનલ સ્પીકરસ ને બદલે જરૂર છે મોટિવેશનલ લિસનર્સ ની!

અહો રૂપમ અહો ધ્વનિ જેવા, નવા ફૂટી નીકળેલ ડેલ કાર્નેગીઓ, ઓન લાઈન ભાષણકારો, પૉવર પોઇન્ટ પ્રેઝન્ટેશન્સ , લાઈફ કોચિંગ એડવાઈઝર, ઝૂમ અને યુટબ પરના જ્ઞાનીઓ, કરતાં જીવંત અને પ્રત્યક્ષ 'સાંભળનાર કા'ન' ની જરૂર છે.

એક મિત્રના કા'ન પેલા ગીતા ના કા'ના ની ખોટ પુરે!

બાય ધ વે, હું દરેક શુક્રવારે સાંજે છ પછી ફ્રી જ હોઉં છું, સાંભળવા.

શરત એટલી કે રેડ વાઈન નાપા વેલી નો, અને શીંગ ભરૃચી સિકંદર ની હોવી હોવી જરૂરી છે.

-Vijay Bhatt July 11h 2021

Indian Idol12 is entering the last phase! Each contestant is an Indian Idol! Best set ever!

 Indian Idol12 is entering the last phase!

Javed Akhtar did excellent! Showed is legendary style and great hands-on guidance and appreciation. What a great demonstration of writing a song, composing and Arunita singing it! I appreciate this part a lot!

-I am still very disappointed in the ( worthless loud mouth) judges... who have no 'class' to be judges. The new lady judge, sister of Neha Kakkar, Sonu Kakkar is equally useless with no real musical advise. She repeatedly mispronounces Sayli's name as SAYAALI... and no-one to corrected her!

-Also, while the singers are singing, the camera is too frequently focused female judge Neha and now on her sister Sonu. While a singer is singing, the focus of the camera should be on the singer and musicians ( May be TRP gets higher by frequent showing off low-cut dressed female judges.. in a music show?- disgusting!).

-Also, instead of emphasizing her singing our classless host Aditya-keeps praising Arunita's beauty. This teenager girl next door, is a natural, a simple looking girl without any make-up. Her asset is her singing, not her beauty. I still cannot understand why they put tons of make-up on her ( not on others) and try to make her a heroine, which she is not, she is a singer! THE!

- Also, the 'love CHAKKR' between her and Pavan is totally tasteless.

- These reality shows at times become a comedy, romantic, or circus shows.

I miss the eariler original SaReGaMaPa ( with Sonu Nigam and few other hosts) shows where Pt Jasraj, Naushad, Kalyan ji, Jagajit, Khyaam, OP Naiyaar, etc visited as judges and augmented and enriched our culture and art of music!

( Still I must say that Indian Idon12 CONTESTESTANTS ARE THE BEST EVER ON THIS PLATFORM! Mucho Kudos to EACH OF THEM.

EACH ONE IS A TRUE INDIAN IDOL!)