6th ANNUAL CULTURAL PROGRAMME

SANATANA DHARMA FOR THE DEAF

6th Annual Cultural Programme

5 pm, Sunday 18th December 2005

Gujarati Kelamani Mandal
Amulakh Amichant Vidyalaya

(near SNDT College
opp. Union Bank of India)
76/A, Kidwai Road, Matunga,
Mumbai – 400 019, INDIA

Programme: Lectures, Plays, Contests, Pooja,
Prasadam and others.

Donation Ticket: Rs. 50/=

Further information: contact Tushar Kansara (SMS: 98925 92528), Tanuj Marwah (SMS: 98925 90290) or Geeta Saraiya (SMS: 98672 96830)

Email: hkwad108@yahoo.com or sdd108@rediffmail.com

DEEPAVALI

Diwali which falls on 31st October 2005 is one of the brightest festivals not only in India but also in other parts of the world. The original form of Diwali is Deepavali which means a row of lights. It is also known as the festival of lights. During Deepavali a house is lit with little earthenware vessels containing oil and a lighted wick. A few days before the festival, the houses are usually cleaned. Deepavali also marks the advent of new season and the sowing of new crops.
Deepavali usually commemorates the triumph of Lord Rama over the demoniac king Ravana and Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. It is generally celebrated on four days. The first day is Narakachaturdasi - the day when Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. The second day is Dhanalakshmi Pooja. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Mahavishnu, would fulfil the wishes of the devotees on this day. The third day marks " Bali Padyami" - the day when Lord Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu, humbled the demon king Bali. The fourth day is " Yama Dvitiya" or " Bhaiya Dooja" - the day which is observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers.

LET DEEPAVALI LIGHT UP OUR LIFE
LET SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE ILLUMINATE OUR INTELLIGENCE AND MIND

Hare Krishna!

Anantadev Das

ALWAYS CHANT:

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

STEVEN WILHELM

Steven and Anantadev

We, the members of SDD, miss Steven Wilhelm who left Bangalore for USA on 11th October 2005. Being a professional analyst, he was instructed by his company in USA to work for its branch in Bangalore from January 2005. During SDD programme in National College, Jayanagar on 2nd October we hosted short farewell party for him. Being admirer of rich heritage and culture of India, he enjoys being absorbed himself in Indian culture.

During Janmashtami programme in Bangalore on 28th August, Steven helped Anantadev a lot. Since he usually hugs others (whenever they meet), Anantadev called him `Hugging Steven’. He and K.S.Chandramouli are very close to each other. And he is greatly impressed by Chandramouli’s character. He is also dear to students of Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf.

Steven was very disappointed to leave Bangalore unexpectedly as instructed by his company. He misses deaf persons here, people here, Indian culture, Bangalore and India. He hopes to visit here again in the future.

Activities of SDD

Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf (SDD) under the guidance of Shri Anantadev Das Prabhu strives for the cultural, educational, social and spiritual revolution for the deaf not only in Bharat (India) but also all over the world.

The main activities of SDD are as follows:

1. SDD gives the deaf opportunities to cultivate their healthy and non-sectarian faith in Lord Krishna and Bhagavad-Gita.
2. SDD contributes to the improvement of their written language.
3. SDD organizes food distribution programme.
4. SDD organizes cultural programmes in Mumbai and Bangalore.
5. SDD holds Bhagavad-Gita and Proverbs programmes regularly in Mumbai, Bangalore and other parts of India.
6. SDD educates the deaf to give up smoking and drinking and to appreciate the importance of vegetarianism.
7. SDD strive for the development of sign language in India.
8. SDD gives the deaf opportunities to improve their relationship with the hearing community.
9. SDD emails spiritual messages regularly to its members all over the world.
11. SDD guides foreigners (especially the deaf and hearing interpreters) to learn about spiritual values and tour the ancient and spiritual places in India.
10. Other activities.

For further information, please contact Shri Anantadev Das ( email: sdd108@rediffmail.com ) ( SMS Cell: +919845457727)

SDD PROGRAMME IN COIMBATORE

Coimbatore is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu, one of India’s states. It has many salubrious areas and more than 25,000 small, medium, large and tiny industries and textile mills. There are also many educational and religious institutes. Though Anantadev had been told a lot about Coimbatore, he had never been there till he visited there on 18th September 2005. Thanks to Shri K.Murali of Deaf Leaders (Coimbatore) who, for a few years, kept pursuing him to come and lecture to deaf persons there, he came, saw and appreciated some charming areas in it. In the morning on Sunday, Murali took him to his bungalow from Coimbatore railway station. Anantadev saw an awe-inspiring hill some thousands metres away from the bungalow. Murali said there is a big well-known Hindu ashram on the hill. Due to a paucity of time Anantadev was not able to visit it and hoped to visit there in the future. Perhaps Murali is the most prominent deaf person in Coimbatore. He is fired with a lot of enthusiasm for his projects to help the deaf, especially in the educational field, not only in Coimbatore but also in many parts of India. He is greatly impressed by Anantadev’s lectures and talks. His aged hearing mother, deaf wife Sudha and eleven years old hearing daughter Sneha are staying with him. Sneha has extraordinary ability to grasp any talk between persons in signs.

Anantadev was scheduled to lecture to deaf members of Coimbatore Association of the Deaf at 3.00 pm on Sunday. Murali rode with him on his scooter to the association’s office in YMCA complex. Anantadev was introduced to some members of CAD including Vice-President Subramaniam and General Secretary Balasubramaniam. Murali had told him that Anantadev would lecture in an open air. Since the open area was exposed to the sun, the sun is still shining and more and more deaf members were expected to come pouring for the programme after 4.00 pm, he was requested to wait till 4.00 pm and agreed to it.After 4.00 pm the members of CAD arranged everything for SDD programme both outside and inside the border of a basketball YMCA ground. Shri Anantadev began with his lecture on `Proverbs’ like 1) A bad workman blames his tools, (He advised the audience not to point out others’ faults without realizing their own faults. Otherwise it could boomerang on them). 2) A friend in need is a friend indeed (You can have friends everywhere but it is difficult to find a true friend. True friend means someone who is helpful to you in need. But Lord Krishna is the True Friend who always remembers you and want you to come back to His spiritual world. He never leaves you). 3) A tree is known by its fruits. ( When you taste any fruit you come to know the basic nature of the tree. For example, when you taste a mango, you will have a real concept of a tree. Similarly you should not judge a person by his outward appearances and garments but judge him by his inner qualities and manners). 4) Barking dogs seldom bite. (Someone criticizes you too much without reason but fails to hurt you if you can tolerate him, knowing he has his own faults). 5) Charity is universal duty. (Everyone should be charitable. Charity is everywhere in the world. When you contribute for others’ betterment, you sometimes feel better. But when you do your charitable work for the Lord’s activities, you will feel more better and safe.).Then Anantadev asked the audience to give examples of the proverbs. A few members in the audience did it.

He spoke about Lord Krishna and His childhood friend Sudama, Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna’s refusal to kill his enemies, Krishna’s disapproval of such refusal, His cruel uncle Kamsa’s murdering six babies and Krishna’s effortless killing the demoniac persons including Kamsa during His childhood. He appealed to the audience to chant ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ regularly and not to expect quick results of such chanting. The results should be surely manifested in due course.Later Shri Subramaniam the Vice-President of CAD garlanded Shri Anantadev and Shri Balasubramaniam presented him a souvenir of Lord Ganapati. Finally with the audience totalling 50 CAD members,Anantadev recited Hare Krishna mantra. Snacks which were offered to Lord Krishna by him were distributed among everyone. Everyone was satisfied.

New URL for Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf

Sunday, 25 September 2005

Hare Krishna!

I am pleased to tell you that this new blogs url has been created for Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf in order to keep you informed about the worldwide activities of SDD, my and members' messages. You are welcome to send your messages, ideas and news if they are beneficial to both SDD and members.

Yours sincerely in the service of the Lord,

Anantadev Das