AWAKENINGS

The Union Budget 2023-24 presented by Nirmala Seetharaman, Union Finance Minister is the first Budget in Amrit Kaal. The vision for the Amrit Kaal is an empowered and inclusive economy that is technology-driven and knowledge-based with a robust financial sector. Modi’s Government aim is to make India that is Bharat a Number One Developed Economy in the World by 2047 – i.e. 100th Year of India’s Independence and all his moves points towards this lofty target. To achieve this lofty target, the present budget had identified 4 transformative opportunities to be leveraged before reaching India@100: ·        Economic Empowerment of Women through SHGs ·        PM VIshwakarma KAushal Samman (PM VIKAS) ·        Tourism Promotion in Mission Mode ·        Green Growth The Budget adopts the following seven priorities which is rightly called ‘Saptarishi’ – which will be the guidi...

  A Salient Points from President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation on the eve of the 74th Republic Day, in New Delhi.   While Babasaheb Ambedkar and others gave us a map and a moral framework, the task of walking that path remains our responsibility. We have largely remained true to their expectations, and yet we realise that much remains to be done to realise Gandhiji's ideal of 'Sarvodaya', the upliftment of all.   We need to modify our lifestyle if we want our children to live happily on this fragile planet. One of the changes suggested pertains to food. I am happy to note that the United Nations accepted a suggestion from India and declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Millets were essential ingredients of our diet and they are making a comeback among sections of society. Coarse grains like millets are eco-friendly as they require less water to grow and yet they provide high levels of nutrition. If more and more people turn to millets, it will help...

The festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Devi Saraswati and devotees worship her on this day.    In Punjab and other adjoining regions it is celebrated as ‘Basant Festival of Kites’. It is celebrated on the first day of spring and falls on the fifth day of the month of Magha.  It also heralds the start of Holi preparations, which take place 40 days following the feast. Maa Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning, music, and the arts is honoured throughout the festival.   Basant Panchami is a unique Hindu festival that is celebrated with different names in different regions. It is observed as ‘Sufi Basant’ in Sufi shrines, in Punjab and other adjoining regions it is celebrated as ‘Basant Festival of Kites’, in Gurudwara it is observed as ‘Sikh Festival’, in the state of Bihar, it is celebrated as ‘Harvest Festival’ and the birth anniversary of ‘Deo-Sun God’.  In these regions, Vasant Panchami is celebrated with different rituals ...