LEARNING IS LIFE

 Solar Calendar New Year, Mesha Sankranti, Slated to be Celebrated on April 14, 2016 Mesha Sankranti 2026 is celebrated on April 14th, a day regarded as highly auspicious in many cultures. It is a time for holy baths, prayers to the Sun God (Surya Dev), acts of charity, and fresh starts. This day marks the beginning of the solar calendar and is often linked to harvest festivals and rising temperatures. This occasion is an opportunity to pay tribute to the sun's energy, which plays a vital role in agricultural cycles, and it is a favored time for making donations to promote prosperity. On this day, devotees offer water from a copper vessel, ideally combined with red flowers, red sandalwood, or rice, while reciting the mantra. The benefits are believed to include peace, prosperity, and positivity. Prayers to the Sun God (Surya Dev), typically recited at dawn, call upon health, vitality, and wisdom. Popular chants include the Surya Gayatri Mantra (Om Bhaskaraya Vidmahe Mahatejase Dhim...

  Ode to  Singer Asha Bhosle (Asha Bhosle (8 Sept 1933 – 12 Apr 2026)  Ashaji, voice of grace 'n fire, In song, you found your heart's desire. Not just comfort, but a space, To build a self, with strength and grace. Cabaret's call, a peppy beat, Ghazals soft, a rhythm sweet. You carved a path, uniquely yours, Ignoring doubts, and closed doors. Jingles hummed, a simple call, You made them art, enchanting all. Asha Bhosle, name so clear, A timeless voice, we hold so dear.

 The mind is shaped, a box of views, A tiny room, of me and yous. It draws a line, a wall so tall, Creating sides, where all must fall. Inside, you fight shadows you made, Divisions drawn, a constant parade Of judgments harsh, and battles won, But happiness sleeps, beneath the sun. But break the walls, the lines unfair, Find open space, and breathe the air. Beyond the box, a wider view, The "real me" waits, the honest you. Unconditional, calm, and clear, No threat to hold, no need to fear. The reactive mind, it loses hold, A freedom blooms, more precious than gold

 Phule’s Legacy in Verse: Revitalizing Ballad Art for Art-Integrated Learning Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (jayanti: April 11, 2026) harnessed traditional Marathi ballads, known as Powadas, as a potent tool for raising social awareness and confronting the caste system, which celebrated compassion and equality. He employed these cultural expressions to connect directly with the lower castes, Bahujans, and Dalits, advocating for education and social reform, thereby making his efforts accessible to a broader audience. The ballad Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle yancha Powada, penned in 1869, showcased the courage and inclusive leadership of Shivaji Maharaj, aiming to instill pride and unity among marginalized communities by portraying a king who championed the rights of all people. The ballad Manav Muhammad or Abhang, which he incorporated into his extensive poetic works, centered on humanity and the universal brotherhood of man, striving to mend societal divisions. Today, his ballad poems c...

 MEANING "Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana" is a well-known saying or aphorism from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 47) that instructs us that we possess the right to carry out our designated responsibilities, yet we are not entitled to the outcomes or results of our actions. Important takeaways include prioritizing effort rather than rewards, remaining committed without being attached to success or failure, and steering clear of both inaction and selfish motives. POEM O little phrase, from Gita's song, A wisdom seed, both short and strong. A tiny key, to unlock doors, To truths unseen on earthly shores. A glimpse of self, a touch of grace, In working life, find sacred space. Where duty calls, and spirit flies, Reflecting God in human eyes. A whispered truth, a guiding light, To banish fear and make things right. A single phrase, a world to hold, A story ancient, yet untold. Note:  A Bhagavad Gita aphorism is a concise, profound maxim or sutra derived from  ...

  Divine Unity: Sarvaṁ Khalv Idaṁ Brahma : Poem on Vedic Aphorism One truth there is, a single, shining star, That lights the vastness, constant in its place. But minds-n-thoughts wear a cloak of many hues, And tongues tell tales of light in varied ways. Each eye that sees, reflects a different gleam, A facet caught from angles unforeseen. The mountain stands, a solid, rocky form, Yet each side shows a landscape of its own. The truth is one, a current deep and strong, That flows beneath the surface, swift and free. Though waves may rise in patterns ever new, The ocean's heart remains eternally. So listen close, to voices far and wide, For in the blend, the fuller truth we find. Though paths diverge, the summit is the same, A universal truth for all mankind. One truth there is, a single, shining star, That lights the vastness, constant in its place. But wisdom wears a cloak of many hues, And tongues tell tales of light in varied ways. Each eye that sees, reflects a different gleam, ...