March events

On the 2nd of March I was sad to leave the Awaas residents and staff  after a visit lasting 6 months. On 26th February I was given a good send off at a 'leaving party' in our neighbouring resort. 
On my departure on 2nd March the dining room was filled with residents who  wished me a good journey and asked me to come back again. Ashokji presented with an envelope containing money gifted by the residents. I will buy something to remind me of my Awaas days. My most sincere thanks for this unnecessary, but treasured, gift.

82 yrs v. 88 years!

This, my second visit to Awaas, has enabled me to get to know everybody much better. I put on my painting uniform again and once again gave those residents, who had newly painted walls, a choice of colours for their internal doors and cupboards.

 I was able to give  physiotherapy treatment to Mr Abhyankar after his fall and by November he declared himself 'mended' and ready to play badminton again. Our daily badminton sessions at 7.15 am were very enjoyable although I am a very noisy player and was teased about my ooh's and aah's waking the residents around the angan.  

The Holikar Tree

March 9th and 10th saw the celebration of HOLI,  Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love" 

The festival signifies the victory of good over evil. It signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. 

The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the  in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. 

The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, or Phagwah.

Ashok the Awaas manager arranged for a bonfire near the goshalla. There were onion pakora snacks too! At lunch time there was a special yellow dahii 

   The second day is associated with the throwing of coloured powder or squirting coloured water through large syringes. Those who want to indulge in the colour spraying and throwing wear old clothes and it is advisable to keep the colours away from the buildings.

Most of the residents joined in and used the provided colours to make marks on one another's foreheads, like a tilak

It is one time when men can throw colour at women relations. These days environmentally friendly dyes are available as  some of the dyes are quite toxic. One year my grey hair was red for weeks after Rangwali Holi!

I was informed by Sainath that 12th March  was a special day in Maharastra State where Awaas is situated as it isShivaji day.  Maharastrans are very proud of the history of their state especially since the ascendance of the ruler, Shivaji, in the 1600's. 

Sainath. a proud Maharastran, made a poster on the white board that stands in the dining room and sent it to me to put in this blog. 
I started to research Maharaj Shivaji  and his history and came across some controversy about the date of celebrating Shivaji's birth.

Apparently when Freedom Fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak celebrated Shivaji Jayanti with grandeur, starting a tradition, it was believed that he was born on 6th April 1627. 

But in 2000 , when the Congress- NCP government was in power they formed a committee comprised of historians, The committee said that Shivaji was born on 19th February, after which the government decided to celebrate Shivaji Jayanti on 19th February. 

However, the Shiv Sena party, who were in opposition, objected, and maintained that Shivaji Jayanti should be celebrated according to the Hindu calendar, which says that Shivaji was born in the 3rd day of month of Fagun. 

This has always been a big deal for Shiv Sena supporters. Now the political scenario has changed and the current government is a coalition of Congress-NCP and the Shiv Sena.

 To avoid a rift in the government Shiv Sena will celebrate according to their tradition so that this year it is to be celebrated on 12th March of our Gregorian calendar.

The most important event of March 2020 is the growing realisation that a new virus disease known as Coronavirus Covid 19 has been circulation in China since late November and has , with a high death-rate, spread to so many countries of the world that it is now officially a 'Pandemic'. This new virus is particularly virulent and has, like other coronaviruses of recent years, spread from animals into the human population.  There are no vaccines against it at present and it is known to be dangerous for older people and those with weak immune systems, diabetes and heart problems..

Our Awaas residents and staff have been informed about the precautions they must take and the Management and Trustees will be doing everything possible to keep them safe.

 Everyone must do his part to avoid Covid 19 from reaching our Awaas family.

 We have to hope and pray that we will all come through this difficult time.

 Keep safe, keep connected and keep calm.  


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