From the Desk of your PCA Team ....
April has already come... as we welcome in April, the heat in Chennai is kicking up. The month of Kathri will be beginning soon. In much of Northern India, the Harvest of winter crops are being harvested. This is the beginning of Vasant Navaratri, also known as Ugadhi. The festival is known as Vasant Navarati in Gujarat and Ugadhi in Andra Pradesh. We thought we would take a few moments to give you some history of both of these traditions.
Japanese Cooking Demo
Beyond the celebrations, we had our Japanese team of parents design a beautiful cooking Japanese Cooking demo at the Westin this week. The cooking demo started with making Maki rolls - sushi rolls. Did you know that Maki means the action of rolling? We learned this new. Then we made different types of tempura. Interesting was that we learned how to make sure that the tempura batter did not come off the pieces.
With each piece items that we made, the best part of the process, was tasting each items as we went.
Ugadhi
Yugādi (Ugādi, Samvatsarādi, Telugu: ఉగాది Ugadi/Yugadi, Kannada: ಯುಗಾದಿ Yugadi, Konkani: युगादि Yugādi and Marathi: गुढी पाडवा Gudi Padwā) is the New Year's Day for the people of the Telugu,and Kannada communities[further explanation needed] in India. It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March–April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. Chaitra is the first month in Panchanga which is the Indian calendar. In some parts of India it is known as Vikram Samvat or Bhartiya Nav Varsh. Mostly prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Gudi Padwa which is the Marathi new year is also celebrated on the same day.
The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning): "the beginning of a new age". Yugadi specifically refers to the start of the age we are living in now, the Kali Yuga. The Kali Yuga began when Lord Krishna left the world. Maharshi Vedavyasa describes this event with the words "Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam". Kali Yuga began on February 17 or 18, at midnight, in 3102 BCE.
Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
On Ugadi Day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.
It is noteworthy that we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too.Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The celebration of Ugadi is marked by religious zeal and social merriment. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, eatables such as "pulihora, bobbatlu (Bhakshalu/ polelu/ oligalu) and Pachadi" and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called "puliogure" and "holige". The Maharashtrians make "puran poli" or sweet rotis.
Vasant Navaratri
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra" (also spelled Dasera). Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India and Nepal. Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after Dasera. Though there are in total five types of Navaratri that come in a year, Sharad Navaratri and Vasant Navratri are the most popular one. Hence, the term Navaratri is being used for both but mainly Sharad Navaratri here.
The Story of Vasanta Navaratri
In days long gone by, King Dooshibago was killed by a lion when he went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi's statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.
Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit's son came one day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.
The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.
The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devis helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.
Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to worship her with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navarathri. Then she disappeared.
Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navarathri.
Sudarsana's descendants Sri Rama and Lakshmana also performed worship of Devi during the Sharad Navarathri and were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.
According to the Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invoked the goddess Durga in his epic battle against Ravana. Although Goddess Durga was traditionally worshipped in the late spring, due to contingencies of battle, Lord Rama had to invoke her in the form of astam (eighth) Mahavidya (Maa Bagla) in the autumn and thus is known as akaal bodhan (invoking out of scheduled time). This autumnal ritual was different from the conventional Durga Puja, which is usually celebrated in the springtime. So, this Puja is also known as 'akal-bodhan' or out-of-season ('akal') worship ('bodhan'). This Rama's date for the Navaratri puja has now gained ascendancy and culminates with Dusherra in North India on the following day.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and have a Happy Ugadhi to those who are celebrating.
Signing off for this week.......
Upcoming Events
April 12, 2016 - ES Parent Coffee 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
April 12, 2016 - TLC Meeting 3:45 to 5:15
April has already come... as we welcome in April, the heat in Chennai is kicking up. The month of Kathri will be beginning soon. In much of Northern India, the Harvest of winter crops are being harvested. This is the beginning of Vasant Navaratri, also known as Ugadhi. The festival is known as Vasant Navarati in Gujarat and Ugadhi in Andra Pradesh. We thought we would take a few moments to give you some history of both of these traditions.
Japanese Cooking Demo
Beyond the celebrations, we had our Japanese team of parents design a beautiful cooking Japanese Cooking demo at the Westin this week. The cooking demo started with making Maki rolls - sushi rolls. Did you know that Maki means the action of rolling? We learned this new. Then we made different types of tempura. Interesting was that we learned how to make sure that the tempura batter did not come off the pieces.
With each piece items that we made, the best part of the process, was tasting each items as we went.
Ugadhi
Yugādi (Ugādi, Samvatsarādi, Telugu: ఉగాది Ugadi/Yugadi, Kannada: ಯುಗಾದಿ Yugadi, Konkani: युगादि Yugādi and Marathi: गुढी पाडवा Gudi Padwā) is the New Year's Day for the people of the Telugu,and Kannada communities[further explanation needed] in India. It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March–April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. Chaitra is the first month in Panchanga which is the Indian calendar. In some parts of India it is known as Vikram Samvat or Bhartiya Nav Varsh. Mostly prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Gudi Padwa which is the Marathi new year is also celebrated on the same day.
The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning): "the beginning of a new age". Yugadi specifically refers to the start of the age we are living in now, the Kali Yuga. The Kali Yuga began when Lord Krishna left the world. Maharshi Vedavyasa describes this event with the words "Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam". Kali Yuga began on February 17 or 18, at midnight, in 3102 BCE.
Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
On Ugadi Day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.
It is noteworthy that we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too.Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The celebration of Ugadi is marked by religious zeal and social merriment. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, eatables such as "pulihora, bobbatlu (Bhakshalu/ polelu/ oligalu) and Pachadi" and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called "puliogure" and "holige". The Maharashtrians make "puran poli" or sweet rotis.
Vasant Navaratri
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra" (also spelled Dasera). Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India and Nepal. Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after Dasera. Though there are in total five types of Navaratri that come in a year, Sharad Navaratri and Vasant Navratri are the most popular one. Hence, the term Navaratri is being used for both but mainly Sharad Navaratri here.
The Story of Vasanta Navaratri
In days long gone by, King Dooshibago was killed by a lion when he went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi's statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.
Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit's son came one day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.
The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.
The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devis helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.
Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to worship her with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navarathri. Then she disappeared.
Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navarathri.
Sudarsana's descendants Sri Rama and Lakshmana also performed worship of Devi during the Sharad Navarathri and were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.
According to the Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invoked the goddess Durga in his epic battle against Ravana. Although Goddess Durga was traditionally worshipped in the late spring, due to contingencies of battle, Lord Rama had to invoke her in the form of astam (eighth) Mahavidya (Maa Bagla) in the autumn and thus is known as akaal bodhan (invoking out of scheduled time). This autumnal ritual was different from the conventional Durga Puja, which is usually celebrated in the springtime. So, this Puja is also known as 'akal-bodhan' or out-of-season ('akal') worship ('bodhan'). This Rama's date for the Navaratri puja has now gained ascendancy and culminates with Dusherra in North India on the following day.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and have a Happy Ugadhi to those who are celebrating.
Signing off for this week.......
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April 12, 2016 - ES Parent Coffee 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
April 12, 2016 - TLC Meeting 3:45 to 5:15
April 13, 2016 - PCA City Tour
April 13, 2016 - Faculty Meetings 3:45 to 5:00
April 14, 2016 - Math Specialist Professional Learning
April 15, 2016 - HS Theatre Production
April 16, 2016 - Biannual General Meeting of the Association 9:00 to 10:00 am
April 13, 2016 - Faculty Meetings 3:45 to 5:00
April 14, 2016 - Math Specialist Professional Learning
April 15, 2016 - HS Theatre Production
April 16, 2016 - Biannual General Meeting of the Association 9:00 to 10:00 am
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Connect Magazine
AISConnect magazine comes out in the month of April this year. It is a magazine created by the parent community for the parent community. If you have an interest in writing, editing, creating layouts for this magazine, please email us at pca@aisch.org.
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PCA Ball Update
Our ball will be themed as Foods from Around the World. Foods will be set up as a variety of different stations from the different continents.
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Things happening around town....
References
1) http://thelightofeast.com/why-do-we-celebrate-ugadhi/
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadi
The Rugby Slums Club Chennai is pleased to invite you to a family day organized the 30th of April. Children and their families will be invited at our place.
Slums Rugby Club is an association law 1901 created in 2013. The RSC is based on a local structure (speed trust) and aims to help the slums children to discover Rugby (a sport that is unknown to them) and promote the values of this sport are: sharing, solidarity, team spirit or equality. To learn more click on the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rugby-Slums-Club-chennai-RSC/219647538200062
Young players of Rugby Slums Club are eager to meet you and share with you the relaxing, friendly and athletic day, for children and adults. We are organizing a mini rugby tournament, volleyball, carom, and pool (access to the pool is strictly for children accompanied by a parent).
A vegetarian meal will be served for the children of Rugby at 6.00 pm and another non vegetarian on the evening for those who wish.
Price: 1000 rupees per adult and 500 per child. Each family coming to the Family Day will get a T-shirt, for those who cannot be there a sale of T-shirts of the Club will be held during the 15 days prior to April 30th.
The benefits of this day will enable us to finance part of a Rugby Slums Club Chennai season.
Given the limited amount of space on the 30th of April, it is necessary to book your ticket before April 20th midnight. To book or information, feel free to contact me to the 9840233640 or email: vallud29@gmail.com
Do come, we are counting on you.
Rugby Slums Club Chennai - RSC
Thanjavur Calling
Would you like to visit Thanjavur without going anywhere far from Chennai or spending any money? Join us for a 'cultural connections over coffee' morning. Learn all about the dance, art and temples of Thanjavur at the iconic Global Adjustments India Immersion building. On display here, are doors and windows from across India to give you a peek into India's rich culture.
Date - April 27, 2016
Entry: Free. Limited Seats. First 40 attendees welcome.
Time: 10.30 am - 12.00 pm
Address: Global Adjustments
5, 3rd Main Road
RA Puram
Chennai 28
Agenda
10.30 - 10.45 - Networking over coffee and snacks
10.45 - 11.00 - Welcome and introduction
11.00 - 11.45 - Cultural activity
11.45 - 12.00 - Closure
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1) http://thelightofeast.com/why-do-we-celebrate-ugadhi/
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadi
