Indian Newslink 15th Sept 2016 Digital Edition

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 24 COMMUNITYLINK Ganesha ‘At Home’ invokes piety and festive spirit Venkat Raman venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz For millions of Hindus all over the world, Lord Ganesha is an epitome of love, respect, friendship, admiration and adoration. He is an important member of every family and is the first Lord of Prayer. Vedic scriptures describe Lord Ganesha as the Most Merciful of Gods and hence, prayers are offered before the start of any venture. Similarly, all prayers – at home, at temples and at other social and community gatherings, begin with obeisance to this God, the first son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Ganesh Chaturthi, marking the Birthday of Lord Ganesha is celebrated by Hindus everywhere. This year’s celebration was held on Monday, September 5, 2016. While Temples and social groups performed special Poojas on that day, Ganesh Chaturthi was also marked by thousands of people in their homes throughout New Zealand. Each evening witnessed visits by relatives and friends, which, apart from the religious aspect, also served to foster goodwill and understanding. The Pooja Writing in Indian Newslink September 15, 2015 issue, Sai Bedekar, one of our photographers, had said that Ganesh Pooja involves the ‘Panchamrut’ Myopia can be seen as the root of delinquency According to former Principal Youth Court judge Andrew Becroft, the top 20% of youth offenders come from seriously deprived backgrounds with Priyanca Radhakrishnan fathers who might be in prison and mothers who have trouble monitoring links with education. In the United Kingdom, 23% to 32% of Youth Court attendees have learning disabilities compared to 2% to 4% of the general population. There is significant research on the correlation between learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency. There is evidence to suggest that children with undiagnosed vision problems are often mistakenly branded as delinquents. It may not then be a complete leap of logic to wonder whether undiagnosed vision problems may lead to low educational achievements, perceived delinquency and sooner rather than later, actual delinquency. I started wearing glasses at the age of seven. My first pair, lovingly chosen by my mother, was baby pink and incredibly thick. I was delighted at the prospect of wearing glasses – such a grown-up thing to do. My mother was significantly less excited that her child was so severely shortsighted at a very young age. She asked me why I had not mentioned to her or to my teacher that I was struggling to see people and objects. I remember telling her that I just thought that vision loss was a part of growing up; because, after all, my parents and all my grandparents wore glasses! Although I had been struggling to read what was on the blackboard, it did not occur to me to mention it to anyone or ask for help. It was only through the routine school eye-screening programme that everyone realised that I was quite shortsighted. Anecdotal evidence Anecdotal evidence indicates that there are a number of children in New Zealand who are possibly going through what I did, and are not telling anyone that they are struggling to see or read. Many are finding it hard to achieve at school because they have eyesight problems. Lord Ganesha in Temple Architecture or ‘five nectars,’ including milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery, with which the idol is bathed. He is then soiled with sandal paste and cleaned with water. “The Lord is then adorned by a red cloth called, ‘Vastra’ and the sacred thread. He is offered red flowers, ‘durva’ (grass), red hibiscus and food and smeared with ‘kumkum.’ A lamp is lit and Pooja bells ring while reciting Aarti. The main sweet-dish presented as ‘nevedya’ through this period is Modakas (Modagams in South India) and Karanjis. A Modaka is like a dumpling made from rice flour with a stuffing of fresh coconut, jaggery and dry fruits and is either steam-cooked or fried. Karanjis are half-moon shaped and taste like modakas. On the last day, following the Pooja, rice grains are placed on the head of the idol. At sunset, the idol is immersed in a well or a river, with the recitation of ‘Ganapati Bappa Moraya, Pudchya Varshi Lawkar Ya,’ inviting Him to return next year.” Auspicious Day Ganesh Chaturthi is observed Essilor Vision Foundation The Essilor Vision Foundation has been offering free vision testing to children in low decile schools for over a year. Since the pilot programme at a Hawke’s Bay decile one school in 2015, the Foundation has tested about 600 children from low decile Auckland schools and found that more than one in seven need glasses. The Foundation also offers free testing and free glasses for children under 16 years. According to Kumuda Setty, a Trustee of the Foundation, these statistics are similar to statistics in developing countries. This raises concerns that thousands of other school children could be living with undiagnosed eyesight conditions. It is a worry because there is a clear link between vision and academic achievement. International research indicates that about 80% of children’s learning is visual. On September 3, 2016, the Foundation partnered with the New Zealand Kannada Koota (an association for people from the South Indian State Chinmay, Shekhar, Vidya and Shruti Teke at their Home on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada and is observed by devoted Hindus all over the world from two to 11 days. Maharashtrians, like their Hindu compatriots worldwide, induct their children into learning with ‘Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha.’ Several Names Ganesha is known by a variety of names including Aumkara, Balachandra, Dhoomraketu, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Gajanana, Heramba, Kapila, Lambodara, Siddhivinayaka, Skandapurvaja, Sumukha, Surpakarna, Vakratunda, Vignaraja, Vigneshwara and Vinayaka. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi. There are also public celebrations called ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav’ of this festival in various parts of cities, with the local communities (mandals) with contributions from residents. It is common for groups to compete in creating the biggest and best idol and in presenting cultural programmes after dusk. Radical nationalist Bal Gangadhar Tilak organised Ganesh of Karnataka) to pilot a community vision-screening programme. Ninety Kannada Koota members were screened in the first screening offered to adult migrants. Strategic partnership I attended this screening on behalf of Louisa Wall, Labour MP for Manurewa and Patron of the Foundation. It was a privilege to learn more about the partnership between the Foundation and Kannada Koota, the support from optometrists like Campbell and Campbell and final year Optometry students from Auckland University who were also supporting the initiative. I learned about some of the barriers to accessing eyesight testing. Cost is an obvious one, and as income inequality increases, parents are often forced to work two or even three jobs to make ends meet. There is no time to take the children to have their eyes tested! Barriers to testing Lack of awareness of the need for vision screening is another barrier. Many migrants wait till their Abhay and Varsha Dhoke marking Ganesh Chaturthi in their new house in Melbourne Utsav in 1893 and since then, the festival is held throughout Maharashtra, evincing widespread community interest. Shekhar & Vidya Teke Popular musician, teacher and performer Vidya Teke (who hails from Maharashtra) celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi this year with a theme at her Mt Roskill home in Auckland. “Our emphasis this year was ‘Save the Environment and Mother Earth.’ We had installed an eco-friendly idol of Lord Ganesha in our home. We do not intend to immerse the idol (‘Visarjan’ Ceremony) in the sea. We will place the idol of our favourite God in a pot full of water in our home garden. Thereafter, we will use that water to nourish plants,” she said. Abhay & Varsha Dhoke Ganesh Chaturthi was ‘very special’ for former New Zealanders Abhay and Varsha Dhoke (Maharashtrians) who now reside in Melbourne, Australia. They marked the Ceremony with great piety on September 5 in their new home. “We feel extremely blessed to annual visit back home to get their eyes and teeth checked. I relate to this because I fall squarely into that category! Quality of healthcare in India can be compared to New Zealand standards, and is much cheaper. However, conditions are very different between the two countries, such that the lenses you get there may not protect your eyes from specific New Zealand conditions. For example, Ultraviolet intensities in the New Zealand summer are extreme on the international UV Index scale. So, while it is cheaper to buy your glasses in India, you may not be getting the protection you need in New Zealand. There was also talk of stigma attached to wearing glasses and parents not wanting to acknowledge that their children may be shortsighted. Here’s the thing – it’s not optional. If your child cannot see properly, it is likely to affect his or her educational achievement and potentially, even impact later in life. Young Offenders Let us consider the issue of youth offending. V S Srinivas and Chithkala in their Balmoral Home have completed construction of our new home according to our requirements and perform the ‘Grahapravesh’ (Opening) Ceremony three days earlier. Many colleagues and friends visited our home on Ganesh Chaturthi and the following days,” Mr Dhoke said. V S Srinivas & Chithkala It has been a significant year for V S Srinivas and his wife Chithkala, who hail from the Princely city of Mysore, which was once the capital of Karnataka. While he pursues his career as an Immigration Administrator at a law firm, she is a software specialist at a commercial organisation. They performed ‘Ganapathi Pooja’ in the presence of a number of colleagues and friends at their Balmoral home on Monday, September 5. “It has been a special experience. I learnt a lot about the Hindu religion and the importance of the Ganesh Festival,” Aaron Martin, his colleague and Immigration Law Practitioner at Turner Hopkins Barristers, Solicitors and Notary Public, said. Priyanca Radhakrishnan is a voracious reader, champions social and community causes and is a strong advocate of ethnic and gender diversity in corporate governance and in public life. She is a Member of the Labour Party Policy Council and lives in Auckland. If your community organisation is doing something interesting and you would like her to visit, please write to priyanca02@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 Model of the Fortnight COMMUNITYLINK 25 Flying high and catwalk are a part of Karma Challenges and hard work do not deter Riddhi Dhakecha, our Model of the Fortnight, for these provide a fillip to her ambition and drive. “I strongly believe in Karma as advocated by Lord Krishna. Humans will be identified and known by their work (Karma) not by the family of their birth. I want to keep trying; hard work and confidence motivate me,” she said. From Judo and Mountaineering that she experienced during her college day, Riddhi is now being trained as a pilot in Dargaville. However, her Plan B is to become a model. Arriving in New Zealand from her native India to pursue higher education in Business Management, Riddhi began modelling and instantly loved everything that came with it – ramps, photoshoots, promotions and applauding audiences. “I participated in Miss Indianz last year. It was a great experience,” she said. Career ambition Riddhi likes to give her best to achieve goals in life and career. “I know that nothing is easy in life; but nothing deters me and nothing stops me from doing my best. I want to be a Supermodel. I want to be always proud of my achievements,” Riddhi said. -Venkat Raman If you would like to be featured as our Model of the Fortnight, please contact us on (09) 3910203. Email: editor@indiannewslink. co.nz Young Agarwals prepare for Agrasen Jayanti Poojya Maharaja Agrasen Members at Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti’ 2015 Staff Reporter info@indiannewslink.co.nz The Agarwal community in Auckland would mark the ‘Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti’ on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 530 pm at Royal Oak Primary School, Royal Oak. Agarwal Association of New Zealand is organising the event, entry to which is by tickets priced at $15 (children under 12 will be admitted free). This year’s programme, organised by the Youth Wing, will comprise cultural performances, a Quiz, Karaoke and dancing. Fostering values Executive Committee Member Sandeep Agarwal said that since its inception nine years ago, the Association has grown from strength to strength. “As well as observing festivals such as Holi and ‘Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti,’ the Association aims to foster values among the youth and build a stronger community. We organise meetings and events for families and children. The Agarwal Association of New Zealand believes in volunteering and in serving the community,” he said. Mr Agarwal said that among the annual events of the Association are Tree Plantation at Friends of Oakly Creek, Donation of blood, clothes, flood and Christmas gifts to the Auckland City Mission. The not-for-profit association aims to promote the cultural, social, spiritual and economic interests of the Agarwal community, which accounts for about 200 families throughout the country. Supporting youth Mr Agarwal said that Association President Ambrish Gupta and Women’s Wing President Sudesh Mittal are committed to their roles and aim to bring about a positive change among the youth. “The Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti is in essence homage to the ‘Family God’ that has been an icon of peace, non-violence and harmony for 5140 years. The Maharaja was an epitome of sacrifice and compassion and a true socialist. He practiced and preached equality of rights and opportunities for all,” Mr Agarwal said. “Activities on this day are marked by social welfare activities such as food distribution, free medical camps and cultural events to spread the message of equality and brotherhood, following the footsteps of the great King,” he added. What: Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti Where: Royal Oak Primary School, Chandler Avenue Royal Oak, Auckland When: Saturday, September 24 at 530 pm Tickets: $15 per person children below 12 free Contact: Krishna Gupta on 021-02735285 Laveena Aggarwal on 021-0672376) Email: agarwal_nz@yahoo.co.nz
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