The Mahakumbh at Allahabad

This  video  will  give  you  a  glimpse  of  what  happened  on   the  banks  of  the  river  on  Jan 14th and  why  it  is  the   world 's  largest  religious  gethering.
 

Makar Sankranti

When the wind is high don 't moan and groan with it, just take out
your kite and fly it.
That 's what I said to myself this morning when my helper who does a little bit of house work did not show up. She has gone to the village to see her future son-in-law who had met with an accident.
Crowds of pilgrims poured into the city for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti and she could not get transport back because of the rush.
So I also took the morning off and had a leisurely breakfast out on the porch in the warm sun - and really enjoyed doing things differently which is my goal for 2011.

These are pictures of the International Kite Festival in Gujarat which takes place today.

January 14th is celebrated all over India as Makar Sankranti a Hindu festival heralding the harvest season. People take take baths in holy rivers and ponds in the quest to cleanse themselves from sin and gain salvation.

In my city Magh Mela a month long Hindu religious fair started today on the banks of the river Ganga at Sangam where 3 rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati have their confluence. Read more about it in THIS NEWS STORY

I took these photos from the web to show you what the bathing looks like.

This is man in search of freedom from sin and a guilty conscience.

Can the water of a river worshipped as Mother Ganga cleanse a soul from sin?

As persons we inherited a sinful condition from the fall of man.

Genesis 3

a. To be sinful means you accept and believe error Psalm 19 ;12

b. To be sinful means you practice error. Romans 3:9-18,23

c. To be sinful means you inherited a nature that wants to sin Romans 5 ;12-21

Jesus Christ came into the world to save mankind from the curse of sin. He gave his life for us on the cross - a sacrifice for sin - the only one acceptable to God. He shed he innocent blood for us to wash away our sin.

In this video sin has been personified and given a voice. Watch it carefully. CLICK HERE TO WATCH I AM SIN

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.

FIFA 2010-The Waka Waka Fever

The Grand opening of the FIFA World Cup took place last Friday followed by exciting matches which are keeping us glued to the telly in the evenings.Although India is not on the international football scene (cricket is worshipped here), the game is followed and cheered enthusiastically.

Bengal. Kerala and Goa are the 3 states where the game is most popular

.(Above)Lionel Messi ( ARG)

My fav teams are

Argentina

Brazil

Portugal

Italy

S, Korea

France

Germany

Japan

England

(Above)Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

Football paraphernalia and momentoes are selling like hot cakes here- team jersey 's, caps, posters and cut outs etc. Those who can afford it are buying the latest LCD and plasma TVs to watch the event in style with adoring friends and family. ..planning football parties.I remember the year when we were all living together and my sister Anju , BIL Prem and their 2 kids were visiting from Nigeria. We were a big jolly group of spectators. Prem used to provide the snacks and Sonia needed no nudging to make cups of tea or sherbet.Our friend Tigi and his German wife, Astrid used to come from across the river to watch the matches with us.One night everyone was centered around the TV , Prem and Anju were sitting/laying on an old camp bed and just as Tigi and Astrid entered the room, the bed broke and they crashed to the floor. We found that more entaining than the 90 minutes

Oh! those were the days. Its always fun to watch a sporting event with a good group of friends.The more the merrier. What do you think?

Its been very hot an d humid these past few days and electricity has been playing truant.

I 've had to take extra pain killers for my flared up joint pain.

This evening a woman came to return some money she borrowed from me. Recently I heard a dreadful news about her which would normally make me want to hate her. But when I saw her I did not feel any anger or animosity towards her. God wiped it all away otherwise I wouldn 't even want to look at her face. I know how the sister felt when she visited the convict in "Dead Man Walking".

Sports does not build character

It reveals it

- James Wooden

In the midst of the blaring of the vuvuzelas (South African horn) I am reminded of the sporting adventure of life

In the New Testament 1 Corinthians 9 says-

" 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

I have to examine myself and train myself so that I may not be disqualified.

If you are cheering for any team let me know and I will join with you.