The last few days of the year!(excerpt from a msg!)

Radha was given in marriage to Krishna in the presence of Brahma, the priest for the occasion, with decorum befitting the wedding, and 'seeru' and 'sirappu' (gifts and pomp): this was the finale to the Bhajanotsava of four days in the (Brahmana) Samooham Hall this forenoon. It was good to hear of the BrahmaVyvarthaPurana, perhaps,the only Hindu text that talks in some detail of Radha, and describes the wedding in elaborate passages. A version of ancient tales might speak of Krishna (and Radha) as Yadava's, of, perhaps, a Kshatriya clan, in some context, but the wedding was certainly a Brahmana proceeding, with KanyaDanam, MangalyaDharanam and SapthaPadi, and the gothra (lineage) of bride and bridegroom were announced repeatedly, in compliance with procedural requirements: Radha of HaritheGothra descent and Krishna, VasishtaGothra. Elaborate Bhajanotsavam item, the wedding: interesting, fascinating! (Bhajans following 'sampradaya' patterns, are fast becoming major cultural programmes, with fast tempo music in chorus,mesmerising devotee crowds into loud and frencied participation in another form of spiritual development, a kind of BhakthiMovement). Ananya&Agastya are arriving tomorrow: the Bhajan, over today, would have been a novel item for the children! Maybe, they will find a novel entertainment item in the (Jumbo) Circus on show in the city this week! And the elephants and the fireworks (much noisier than July 4 in the US) in two temples nearby later in the week! We (the residents' association)have a new year eve 'party' on Dec 31 evening, as well. Hope you are all doing well. Once again, Season's Greeting from all of us! (and, thank you for the good wishes in the messages received from all of you!) -- lovingly, rj.