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Showing posts from September, 2025

Maha Navami 2025

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Maha Navami 2025 On this sacred day, Maa Durga is worshipped in her Siddhidatri form, marking the culmination of Navratri and the splendour of Durga Puja. The air resounds with the beat of the dhaak, the fragrance of dhuno, and the devotion of pushpanjali. The bhog offered to the Goddess, later shared as prasad, becomes a symbol of her grace. Maha Navami is more than a ritual—it is faith, beauty, and togetherness, before the farewell of Vijaya Dashami. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 01.10.2025

Durga Ashtami 2025

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Durga Ashtami 2025 – The Day of Divine Triumph Maha Ashtami, also known as Durga Ashtami, will be observed on September 30, 2025. On this sacred day, devotees worship Maa Maha Gauri, seeking her blessings with Durga Saptashati Paath, Hawan, Mantras, and Kanya Puja. It marks the day when Maa Durga slayed Mahishasura, symbolizing the eternal victory of good over evil. Communities unite in spiritual fervor, fasting, prayers, and celebrations. “Om Sarva Mangal Maangalyaye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike, Sharanyaye Tryambike Gauri Narayani Namostute.” — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 30.09.2025

Maha Saptami 2025

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Maha Saptami 2025 On 29th September 2025, devotees across India—especially in Bengal—celebrate the sacred Maha Saptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja. This day marks the beginning of Maa Durga’s battle with Mahishasura, symbolizing the eternal triumph of good over evil. Rituals begin with the Nabapatrika Puja, followed by prayers, offerings, dhak beats, and vibrant cultural celebrations. On this day, Maa Kaalratri, the fierce form of Adi Shakti, is worshipped to remove fear, negativity, and obstacles from life. Maha Saptami reminds us of inner strength, resilience, and the power of faith—a call to rise above darkness with courage and devotion. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 29.09.2025

Subho Saptami 2025

On this sacred Subho Saptami, may the Mother’s grace cleanse the shadows within, Awakening light where doubt lingers, and strength where fear abides, Every breath a hymn to Her eternal power, Every step a march toward truth, surrender, and liberation. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 29.09.2025

🏏 India Wins Asia Cup 2025! 🏆

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🏏 India Wins Asia Cup 2025! 🏆 A glorious triumph for Team India — a blend of passion, skill, and determination has brought the coveted Asia Cup home once again. 🇮🇳 #AsiaCup2025 #IndiaWins #TeamIndia #Champions #BleedBlue #Cricket #ProudMoment — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 28 September 2025

Durga Puja 2025

Durga Puja 2025 Wishes On this auspicious Durga Puja, may the Divine Mother, who is praised across the scriptures, illumine your heart with strength, wisdom, and grace. From the Vedas (Rig Veda 10.125 – Devī Sūkta): “Aham eva svayam idam vadāmi juṣṭaṁ devebhir uta mānuṣebhiḥ; yaṁ kāmaye taṁ tam ugram kṛṇomi taṁ brahmāṇam tam ṛṣiṁ taṁ sumedhām.” (I, the Goddess, alone give speech to gods and men; whom I love, I make mighty—him I make a seer, a sage, a learned one.) From the Upanishads (Kenopaniṣad 3.12): “Umā Haimāvatī Brahmavidyām vyācacakṣe.” (It was the Goddess Umā who revealed the supreme knowledge of Brahman.) From the Puranas (Markandeya Purāṇa, Devī Māhātmyam 5.16): “Ya Devī sarvabhūteṣu śakti rūpeṇa saṁsthitā, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ.” (Salutations again and again to the Goddess who abides in all beings as Power.) From the Āgamas (Devī Tantras): “Sarvaṁ śaktimayaṁ devi, sarvaṁ devi-mayaṁ jagat.” (O Goddess, all is filled with Your power, the whole univer...

After 120 days of perseverance in Odisha’s Similipal forests, photographer Prasenjeet Yadav has captured the elusive black tiger on his camera trap

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After 120 days of perseverance in Odisha’s Similipal forests, photographer Prasenjeet Yadav has captured the elusive black tiger on his camera trap. This rare frame, shaped by science, patience, and storytelling, has made history by appearing on the October 2025 cover of National Geographic — the first time a black tiger has been featured. The black tiger of Similipal is not only a marvel of nature but also a reminder of fragility and resilience. It speaks of what we may lose if we neglect conservation, and of the wonders that survive when forests are protected. “Twelve years ago, I dreamt of telling this story. Today, that dream is on the cover of National Geographic,” Yadav reflects. A proud moment for India, for conservation, and for the enduring magic of the wild. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 26 September 2025

On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, we fondly recall his remarkable contributions to our nation

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On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, we fondly recall his remarkable contributions to our nation. A distinguished economist, statesman, and academician, he served India with humility and wisdom across decades of public life. From his pioneering role in shaping India’s economic liberalization as Finance Minister in 1991 to his tenure as the first Sikh Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, his leadership left an indelible mark on our country’s progress. Under his stewardship, India witnessed the launch of landmark initiatives such as the National Rural Health Mission, Right to Information Act, and Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. His vision also placed India firmly on the global stage with historic moments like the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and the founding of BRICS. Remembering Dr. Singh today, we pay our heartfelt tributes to a leader whose integrity, intellect, and service will forever inspire generations. Venkataramanan Ramase...

S.L. Bhyrappa (20 August 1931 – 24 September 2025) Celebrated Kannada novelist and thinker S.L. Bhyrappa passed away today, 24 September 2025

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S.L. Bhyrappa (20 August 1931 – 24 September 2025) Celebrated Kannada novelist and thinker S.L. Bhyrappa passed away today, 24 September 2025. For decades, his works reshaped Indian literature with depth, controversy, and timeless relevance. From Vamshavruksha and Parva to Mandra, Aavarana, Yaana, and his final novel Uttarakaanda, his writings transcended boundaries and sparked enduring debate. Translated into several languages, his books remain among India’s bestsellers. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Saraswati Samman, and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, Bhyrappa leaves behind a literary legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 24 September 2025

Zubeen Garg’s untimely passing on 19th September 2025 has left Assam and the nation bereft of a voice that was not just music but lifeblood itself — raw, restless, tender, and rebellious, like the Brahmaputra he so often evoked

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Zubeen Garg’s untimely passing on 19th September 2025 has left Assam and the nation bereft of a voice that was not just music but lifeblood itself — raw, restless, tender, and rebellious, like the Brahmaputra he so often evoked. If Bhupen Hazarika was the timeless river, Zubeen was its surging wave, carrying forward the torch of cultural pride with fearless honesty and modern resonance. His tragic end in Singapore has shaken millions, yet his legacy endures in Bihu fields, in cinema, in protests, and in the quiet corners of hearts that found solace in his songs. Though we grieve the unfinished journeys, we bow in gratitude, for Zubeen leaves behind not only melodies but a philosophy — to live true, to sing fearless, to embody one’s essence fully — and in that truth, his voice has merged with eternity, a flame that will never fade. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 23rd September 2025

Puja Pandal Siddha Happyville

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Puja Pandal Siddha Happyville

Siddha Happyville, Rajarhat Chowmata

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Siddha Happyville, Rajarhat Chowmata is glowing with Mahalaya spirit — the air sings of Pujo vibes and festive anticipation. ✨ 📸 Photo Courtesy: Owners Group — Venkataramanan Ramasethu  21.09.2025

At sunrise today, Chennai’s Bengali community welcomed Maa Durga on the sands of Elliot’s Beach with soulful music, graceful dance, and heartfelt devotion

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At sunrise today, Chennai’s Bengali community welcomed Maa Durga on the sands of Elliot’s Beach with soulful music, graceful dance, and heartfelt devotion. The city’s spirit and the Bengali vibes merged beautifully, carrying the essence of Mahalaya—when prayers, songs, and the sea breeze together mark the dawn of Durga Puja festivities in Chennai. 📸 Ramesh Shankar / The Times of India (TOI) #DurgaPuja #ChennaiPuja #ElliotsBeach #MaaDurga — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 21 September 2025

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on 20th September that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been chosen as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on 20th September that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been chosen as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema. He will receive the award on September 23, 2025, at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is the first actor from Malayalam cinema and only the second recipient from the Malayalam film industry after filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan (2004) to be felicitated with this recognition. The first-ever Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred on Devika Rani in 1969, who is remembered as the first lady of Indian cinema. Venkataramanan Ramasethu September 21, 2025

Subho Mahalaya 2025

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Jalsaghar – The Eternal Music Room (1958)

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Jalsaghar – The Eternal Music Room (1958) Adapted from Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay’s short story, Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar is a profound meditation on fading aristocracy and the enduring power of art. In his fourth feature, Manickda (Satyajit Ray) weaves a quiet, poetic narrative where music and silence carry equal weight. Chhabi Biswas delivers a towering performance as Zamindar Biswambhar Roy, supported by Begum Akhtar, Roshan Kumari, Bismillah Khan, and others whose artistry enriches the film’s music room. The aging zamindar clings to music and tradition within his crumbling palace, even as wealth, family, and time slip away. The music room becomes both his sanctuary and his downfall. Initially met with hesitation in India, Jalsaghar later won the Presidential Award for Best Film and secured Ray’s global recognition. Preserved in 1996 and restored by Merchant Ivory, Sony Pictures Classics, and Criterion, it stands today as one of cinema’s most enduring masterpieces. Venkata...

Storytelling is the beautiful paradox where chaos finds structure, where sanity need not always be intact, yet imagination flows like an unstoppable river

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Storytelling is the beautiful paradox where chaos finds structure, where sanity need not always be intact, yet imagination flows like an unstoppable river. To write is to dance on the fine line between madness and meaning, embracing fragments of disorder only to weave them into something that touches hearts. It is in this raw space—where reason loosens its grip—that the true spark of creation ignites. For stories are not just words on paper; they are vessels of memory, emotion, and possibility, carrying both the chaos of the mind and the order of art into eternity. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 21st September 2025

மகாகவி பாரதியாருக்கு பாமாலை

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மகாகவி பாரதியாருக்கு பாமாலை சங்கிலி கிழித்த சிங்கக் குரல், சுதந்திரம் விதைத்த சூரியன், பெண்ணுரிமை புகட்டிய முன்னோடி, மனித நேயத்தின் ஒளிவிளக்கு! இன்று நினைவு நாளில் உனக்கே எம்மின் வணக்கம். வெங்கடரமணன் ராமசேது 11.09.2025

Remembering Mahakavi Subramania Bharati

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Remembering Mahakavi Subramania Bharati (11 December 1882 – 11 September 1921) on his death anniversary today. A fearless poet, journalist, and reformer, Bharathiyar ignited the spirit of freedom, fought for women’s rights, challenged social evils, and envisioned a just, awakened India. His immortal verses — from patriotic hymns to tender songs like Chinnanchiru Kiliye — continue to guide and inspire us. Though his earthly journey ended at just 38, his words remain eternal, echoing the voice of liberation and equality. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 11 September 2025

Shiva Temples that Remain Open During Eclipses — Vedic, Agamic, and Advaitic Spiritual Perspectives

Ordinarily, during eclipses many temples remain closed. Yet, certain ancient Shiva temples stay open and continue their rituals even during such times. The foundation of this lies in the truth that the essence of those deities cannot be touched by the so-called impurity of eclipses. The Vedas and Upanishads whisper to us a profound secret: “Īśāvāsyam idam sarvam” — the entire universe is pervaded by the Lord. Even if the sun disappears, even if the moon vanishes, the light of the Self forever shines. External phenomena cannot ever touch the Supreme. The Purāṇas glorify the Sapta Vītanga Sthalas and the Pañcha Bhūta Sthalas. In Tiruvarur, Lord Thyagaraja is celebrated as the One “untouched by eclipse or blemish.” Similarly, the Pañcha Bhūta temples of Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, and Kalahasti — symbolizing fire, earth, air — represent eternal principles that never waver. They remind us, even during eclipses, of the changeless truth. The Āgamas describe Chidambaram’s Lord Nataraja as “N...

Onam 2025

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Thiruvonam reminds us of harmony, prosperity, and the timeless joy of togetherness. May this Onam 2025 fill every heart and home with abundance and happiness. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 05.09.2025

Teachers’ Day 2025

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A teacher is not just a guide, but a light that shapes destinies with wisdom and love. On this Teachers’ Day 2025, I bow with gratitude to all who have been my eternal inspiration. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 05.09.2025

Onam 2025

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Onam is Kerala’s most cherished cultural festival, celebrated with grandeur and tradition. As the official state festival, it ushers in the harvest season with joy, prosperity, and gratitude. Across the globe, Malayali communities come together during these ten vibrant days to honor unity, abundance, and heritage. In 2025, Onam begins on 26th August and culminates in the grand Thiruvonam on 5th September . — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 03 September 2025