Expressing his views on a move to set up a Muslim regiment in the Sri Lanka Army, Gatambe Rajapawanaramadhipathy Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Thera waed of adverse effects of such a step.
“The establishment of an army regiment on ethnic basis will inevitably lead to the aggravation of ethnic conflicts, and this is quite contrary to the “Mahinda Chintanaya programme” advocating the creation of harmony among all races including Muslims.” the Thera said. He said the establishment of a Muslim regiment would add momentum to the decades long conflicts between two racial groups, Sinhala and Tamil despite peace and harmony prevailed during the long history of Sri Lanka.“Since the Muslim community do not appear to have claimed for a separate army regiment for their protection we do not know whose interest such a move will serve” he said.
The Thera requests the Sri Lanka Army to abandon that idea if such a step was being taken to establish an army regiment on ethnic basis which will lead to envy, selfishness and conflicts among racial groups. (182)
"The multibillion wedding industry in India is on a new high" said Divya Gurwara, CEO of Bridal Asia, which has been organising an annual exhibition and a fashion show in New Delhi. "Flamenco dancers, helicopters showering rose petals on the guests and even a recreation of the Niagara Falls are no more a rare sight at Indian marriages. With fresh ideas percolating by the hour, the Indian wedding bazaar is continually reinventing itself to meet the increasingly flamboyant tastes of customers. Our aim is to provide under one roof everything that is required for a perfect contemporary marriage," Gurwara told me just hours after the eighth edition of her Bridal Asia Fashion Show and Exhibition ended in New Delhi this week.
This latest showing had participants from the entire subcontinent. "There is a common cultural thread binding this part of the world, which is why we had six designers from Pakistan, besides some of the best talent from across our country", Gurwara averred.
Here is a sample of what we saw at the New Delhi fashion show and exhibition. Bhairavi Jaikishen showed Indo-Weste silhouettes of short kurtis with trousers and dupattas to compliment the attire. Her trendy lehengas with heavily sequined embroidery pulsated with colour. Surily Goel unveiled both cocktail and bridal wear: A special line of traditional saris for cocktail events in pinks, oranges and lemons embellished with unusually combined mother of pearl sequins rubbed shoulders with sexy cholis, embroidered on waistband. There was a sense of youth in Goel's wardrobe.
Once marriages were made in heaven. Not actually, but a bit of earth was transformed into a bit of heaven. Homes were decorated with the freshest of flowers, floors were beautified with colourful rangoli, brides were bathed in turmeric water and dressed in shimmering silks and dazzling jewellery, and guests were fed and pampered silly for at least a week. For, that is how long the wedding ceremonies took!
The initial post-independent decades saw a curb in such festivity: Food shortages and Nehruvian socialism discouraged pomp and splendour, and I remember that there was even a rule restraining the number of guests one could invite for any function.
But, Socialism and moderation have now been swept aside by the winds of consumerism in an era where some draw the fanciest of salaries and have such large disposable incomes that they are always wondering where to dump the dough. Why not on marriages? Yes, why not ?
Some Indian weddings have become elaborately lavish affairs, particularly in cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai, where each rich family wants to outdo the other. It is, therefore, not surprising that an average of Rs 25 lakhs are spent on each marriage, and with 60 per cent being budgeted for saris, jewellery and other accessories, the Indian bridal industry is a Rs 40,000-crore annual business today. The remaining 40 per cent goes largely for food and entertainment.
Their hospitality was indescribable and I must agree with them that it does seem their cook could well be the best Pizza-chef in Kabul. We all spoke at length about Afghanistan, its future, its hopes and regrets and also, of its past. I have heard this from several people now, of how in the 60's, Kabul was the favorite holiday destination for people around the region, especially Pakistanis. Those were the days when women wore mini-skirts, when people sang and danced, when cinema halls were packed and the moderate Afghanistan was thriving.
Then came the Soviets, the Mujahideen and the last blow- the Taliban. Afghanistan, and cosmopolitan Kabul, went back a century and a half, and the time machine's jouey back to the present, seems a much slower one. Nooria and Assad spoke proudly of the Pashtun traditions, and Nooria, in a simple track suit, with her short, curly hair nodding emphatically to stress her point, told me that she was a Pashtun and that things like the infamous burqa, "is NOT our Afghan tradition!"
Assad was fiercely critical of the Karzai govement and its failed promises, which the world is slowly starting to acknowledge as well.
Similarly, at the Indian Ambassador's house the other night, I met Suleiman, who at 20-something, is the Vice-President of the Investment Support Agency. He studied in England, is married and has retued to put his education and experience to good use. One of the most delightful meetings I have had so far, was Farhad and my visit to Khalid Pashtoon, an MP from Kandahar, the most notorious and violent of the Afghan provinces, where just today, there was another suicide attack.No meal is complete without a steaming cup of chai subz or Green Tea and a cute little detail I noticed was that tea here is always served with a little toffee or two!
Between Fahim, Sorabh and Sattar, who work at the guesthouse I am staying in, I have got a perfectly functional inteet connection at my desk in my cozy, warm room, from where I can watch local and satellite TV anytime during the day or night.
The jouey from Delhi is only an hour and 45 minutes. And yet, I see we know so little about the reality of Kabul. There’s more normalcy here than the suicide attacks would have us believe. Don't fear the worst. Smile. For Kabul smiles too.
The Phoenix
It has stopped snowing now and the cold has set in. Kabul has been covered in snow for the last few days, which gives it a surreal look of snow-white purity, innocence and yes, peace.
I have, over the last several days, met several interesting people- joualists, both Afghan and khariji (foreign), govement and security spokesmen, diplomats, govement officials, representatives of aid organizations and equally importantly, your average Afghan citizen.
It retains the `small Mercedes' size of the C-Class, Vibram Five Fingers Treksport was introduced more than 10 years ago to replace the 190 range - minus its predecessors' military boxiness. The C230 is fitted with 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, giving it a sporty stance. The bi-xenon headlights with cleaning system come in a high-gloss, clear-lens package. A new front apron with large intakes and three-slat radiator grille Men's Vibram Five Fingers KSO Black With White Grey the anterior a shark-like profile. All in all, you can't tell this C230 from its predecessor, save for the V6 badge from the frontside profile.Lexus, Toyota's premium brand, has introduced a special edition version of its RX350 4x4, adding pounds 3,500-worth of extras for pounds 2,500 as Men's Vibram Five Fingers KSO blue black looks to tempt buyers into its showrooms. While the standard kit list includes cruise control, eight- speaker sound system with in-dash six-CD changer, five-speed automatic 'box, leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, Xenon headlights, privacy glass, Men's Vibram Five Fingers KSO Brown control air conditioning, speed-sensitive power steering and nine airbags, the Limited Edition model adds perforated leather upholstery, electrically-adjustable heated front seats, 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat, 18-inch five- spoke alloy wheels and metallic paint.COTTONFIELDS AND CROSSROADS is a film that proudly highlights the Garza brothers' Mexican American heritage and their musical influences, tracing the long line of working musicians in their family tree for whom music has been a way of life and, like working in the cotton fields, a means of survival.