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Ashura and Baishe Srabon Today, 8th August 2022, is coincidentally both Ashura ( عَاشُورَاء  ʿ Āshūrāʾ ) – the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram, a day of mourning for many Muslims (especially those of the Shia denomination) – and Baishe Srabon, the 22nd of the Bengali month of Srabon (mid-July to mid-August), which is the death anniversary of the famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর, robindronath ṭhakur ) (1861-1941) according to the Bengali calendar. On this occasion, I present my translations of two poems of another iconic Bengali poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam ( কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম, kaji nojrul islam ) (1899-1976). Nazrul's own death anniversary is also this month, on the 29th according to the Gregorian calendar.  The first poem is a song of mourning for Muharram, titled Moharrômer Cha̐d Elo Oi ( There Comes the Moon of Muharram ). It talks of this month of grief that every year brings back unhappy collective memories of the Battle of Karbala in which Ima...
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 Farmers' Victory - 11 December 2021 To celebrate the victory of their protests, namely getting the three farm laws that would have hurt them repealed, the protesting farmers declared 11th December as Vijay Diwas (Victory Day). In honour of this, I offer my worship to Lord Balarāma today. Balarāma, Bearer of the Plough, is the god of agriculture.  Many æons ago, Balarāma, in a fit of rage, dragged the entire city of Hastināpura with his mighty plough. In December 2021, manifesting in the collective might of the farmers, he dragged Indraprastha (Delhi) with his plough, striking terror into the hearts of the oppressors. This victory is not an end. The struggle is not over. May Balarāma raise his plough again and again whenever there is injustice.
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Karthigai Deepam, Karttik Purnima and Gurpurab 2021 The full moon day in the month of Karttik (roughly November), this year on November 19th, is celebrated as Karttik Purnima or Dev Diwali (Diwali of the gods) in northern India. Dev Diwali is also sacred to Jains. It is the day when some saints have been born, but more importantly, the day when the Chaturmas, four months of religious restrictions, ends. For Jain munis (ascetics), the Chaturmas means that they cannot travel. But on Dev Diwali, that restriction is no longer there. Also, Palitana, an important Jain pilgrimage site, opens up on this day.  I am grateful to my friend Mitali Shah for explaining the significance to me.  I begin my worship with Lord Ganesha, the first to be worshipped. For Sikhs, Karttik Purnima is Gurpurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak, founder of the religion. Here is a lovely painting of Guru Nanak that I have placed in my altar: By https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/e2/8a/1897563e7eebdf8...
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 Sūrasamhāram 2021 Veṯṟivēl, Vīravēl! Victorious Vēl, heroic Vēl! Today (9th November 2021) is Skanda Ṣaṣṭhī this year, known as Kanda Saṣṭi ( kanta caṣṭi கந்த சஷ்டி, or kanta caṭṭi கந்த சட்டி) in Tamil. Skanda is Lord Murugaṉ ( Murukaṉ முருகன்), also known as Kārttikēya. Ṣaṣṭhī means sixth day. Murugaṉ is Ṣaṇmukha ( ṣaṭ + mukha , six-faced), Āṟumugaṉ in Tamil ( āṟu-mukaṉ ஆறுமுகன்). He was born as six babies to the six Kr̥ttikā star goddesses, and when he reached Goddess Pārvatī's lap, he became one child with six faces and twelve arms. Thus, the number 6 and the ṣaṣṭhī tithi (6th date), especially in the śukla pakṣa (bright half, waxing moon) of a lunar month, are both very sacred to him. Every śukla ṣaṣṭhī is Skanda Ṣaṣṭhī. The śukla ṣaṣṭhī of the Kārttika month, this year falling today, is especially sacred. The name Kārttika is derived from the Kr̥ttikā stars. Also, this particular Skanda Ṣaṣṭhī is the day when the asura Sūrapadman...
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