Issue : 08Vol. : 33 28-08-2013Date : Pages : 04

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is an annual commemoration of the birth of the

Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September; However, in both traditions it is the same day. So, we have works like Vishnudharmottara Purana saying Krishna Ashtami is in the Bhadrapada month and Skanda Purana stating that it falls in the month of Shravana) in the Hindu calendar. Rasa lila, dramatic enactments of the life of Krishna, are a special feature in regions of Mathura and Vrindavan, and regions following Vaishnavism in Manipur. The Dahi Handi celebrate God's playful and mischievous side, where teams of young men form human towers to reach a high-

hanging pot of butter and break it. This tradition, also known as uriadi, is a major event in Tamil Nadu on Gokulashtami. Hindu celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. Images of Krishna's infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. At midnight devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. Some temples also conduct reading of the Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita. (Source: Wikipedia.org)

Today Midtown is celebrating 'Gokalashtami' in a distinctive way. Come, let us enjoy the celebrations.

Congratulations!! to all Rotarians completing 10

years of meaningful association with Rotary.

Thanks to the 'Navarathnas' for hosting today's

dinner. BTW due congratulations to Rtn.Nandoo

too, as all these members were inducted to the

club during his presidentship!!!

Midtown Celebrates Janmashtami

Dear RotariansTime flies ! July and August has just sped past us. A great experience of team work in

executing interesting service projects balanced with fellowship. You must be enjoying reading all the action neatly presented by our editor.

This last day of the month we get together for fellowship meet with Krishna Theme. Preparations are underway to give you the best of times, memorable and enjoyable. Rtn Mohan along with Dr. Prahlad has something special up their sleeves.

September is hectic too. The Youth Services Month is packed with interesting projects for the youth. Amaravani Award instituted by our Bheemanna's family is on 4th Sept. This is followed by Inauguration of new Interact and Rotaract Clubs of Saradavilas High School and Degree College on 7th Sept. Induction of new members is planned on 11th Sept. Diksoochi 2013 is on 14th Sept. Rtn Raju Baliga as Chairman of Diksoochi is in full swing preparing and Rotaract Mahajanas are participating in a noticeable way. Rtn Sanjay our Director Youth Services is handling projects as calmly as he always does.

Our Partners in Service IW Sisters, RCC Vinyas, Interact RMA & Depaul and Rotaract Mahajanas are marching ahead with impact creating projects to benefit the community at large. You have been supporting all through and our sincere thanks to you. The Dream of Each Rotarian a Project is coming true as Midtown Rotarians are volunteering to participate in large numbers to do such wonderful projects. It is indeed great times at Midtown.

Warm RegardsRtn. Bhanu

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Innerwheel News

Innerwheel club of Mysore Midtown has won 5 awards at the District Assembly. The official information was shared by IPP Ann. Anupama Ravindranath. The club has bagged following awards-Personalised Service – I, Disabled/Spastic – I, Old Age – II, Continuous Project – II & Fellowship – IICongratulations to all Innerwheel members for the recognition.

AwardedThe recipient of the "Service above self" award from Dist.3180 this year is PDG.Rtn.Jnana Vasanth Shetty.

Mr. Subba Rao C. R.

Past member of Rotary Mysore Midtown passed away on 26thAugust 2013

He joined Midtown in the year 1991. An avid cricketer and anhumble person he was in Midtown for more than 12 years

May his soul rest in peace

20.04.1938 - 26.08.2013

Midtown visits ‘Ajitha Nele’Ajitha Nele brain child of Late. Sri. Ajith Kumar- a

gold medallist engineer- houses 20boys. To quote one of the caretakers these boys are not orphans as long as they have Ajitth Kumars and similar thinking individuals in the world. They are boys without shelter and the love and care of biological parents.

Evening started as usual with Narayana Bhatru's Poori, chole, chutney and a champakali. When the food was ready, golden brown pooris yummy looking, Rtn. Narendra asked the children to start having their evening meal. To my utter surprise children replied "You are our guest along with all your Rotarian friends. We will after all of you eat", a value which is rarely instilled in most of our middle class, educated families. It nearly brought tears to Rtn.Narendra's eyes. After much persuasion and us joining them with dinner plates in our hands children sang prayer songs and started their meal. President Rtn.Bhanu Chandran and Secretary Rtn.Dr.Prahalad conducted a brief meeting after singing the National Anthem in chorus.

Mrs.Leelavathi spoke about the humble beginnings of Ajitha Nele and the noble gesture of many individuals. She specially mentioned the involvement of Midtown Rotarians. All the Birthday and Anniversary greetings announced by Dr. Prahalad was greeted with 'Jai SreeRam' by the children which added a special touch to the wishes. Rotarians generously contributed Rs. 10,000 that was the sunshine box collection along with a R.O water purifier as part of the community project. Rtn Balaji brought all the children cups of delicious Ice cream as a pleasant surprise. As this community project was a joint project with IWC Mysore Midtown Ann.Sudha and Ann.Anupama represented IWC and from the club donated a Kailash wet grinder which was the requirement of Ajitha Nele. Rtn. Venkatesh proposed Vote of Thanks and the meeting was adjourned. I cant think of a better way to spend a pleasant Wednesday evening.

-Ann. Anupama

Rotary Hoarding with 4-way testThe redesigned hoarding can be now

seen on top of Murugan Medicals

building in Saraswathipuram. The busy

road offers tremendous 'Eye' traffic for

the banner and is a great way of

spreading the spirit of “Rotary”. Thanks

to Rtn.Narendra Babu for the vantage

space and to Rtn.D.Srinivasan for the

awesome design.

Rotary Quiz

Answer: b. 1985

Rotary membership reached one million

in which year?

a. 1979

b. 1985

c. 1992

d. 2001

1. Is it the TRUTH ?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned ?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned ?

Rotary Information

Anniversary Wishes

Rtn. A.R.Alagappan2nd September

‘Amaravani Award'

Date : 04-09-2013 Time: 6.30 pm

Venue: Rotary Hall, J.L.B. Road

Please Attend

Next Week

Rotary has approved a US$500,000 Rapid

Response grant to address a recent polio

outbreak in Somalia. As of 14 August 2013,

there have been 110 cases of wild poliovirus

reported in the Horn of Africa- 100 cases in

Somalia, and 10 cases in Kenya. The outbreak

in Somalia occurred in the Banadir Region of

the country, where a large number of children

had not been vaccinated against polio due to

inaccessibility. This is the first outbreak in

Somalia since 2007 and in Kenya since 2011.

The Rotary grant to the World Health

Organization will cover operational costs,

including human resources, training, and

transportation of health workers during

August immunization activities aimed at

reaching children under 10 in all accessible

areas of Somalia.

Practical Innovation

Traffic apps and email clients are all well and good, but there are few things that really highlight the world-changing potential of the smartphone as well as medical applications. People delivering access to affordable care in developing nations always serve as friendly reminder that our devices can be so much more than distracting casual gaming platforms. Eye examinations are one of the clearest applications on that front -- around three years ago, MIT's Media Lab introduced us to a $2 box that could transform handsets into a mobile eye clinic.

Peek offers much of the same, albeit without the need for a (relatively) bulky add-on. Developed by members of the International Center for Eye Health, the app can conduct visual acuity, color vision tests, among several others. It also keeps a record of patients examined along with geotagged info.

More details at: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/peek/

Co

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More details at: http://www.endpolio.org/news/2013/08/08/rotary-approves-$500-000-emergency-grant-for-somalia