This is amazingly our third Republican Day here in India.
This one got off to an energetic start. The first (that I know of) Adarsh Vista Republican Day run. A 5k early morning run/walk/cycle round the lanes of our complex. The route had been carefully measured out and only involved taking one lane twice.
The emails from the Vista MC did encourage participants to wear the tricolor of the Indian flag (saffron, white and green). However compared with our Indian counterparts the boys and I put up an excellent show.....maybe our t-shirts were more Dutch orange than Indian saffron but we had tried! We definitely sacrificed style for color - me in Ad's green footie socks and the boys in their Indus shorts, looking black in this pic but really dark green.
Participants, probably about 75 in number, of all ages and athletic prowess took off, some waving flags. Ads and I took it pretty seriously and finished our circuit with the front pack. Wills sprinted, walked, short cutted and had a great time with his buddies.
Later, we were back at the clubhouse for the flag hoisting, which happened so promptly I nearly missed it...and breakfast -well deserved after the early morning activity.
Happy Republican Day to all our Indian neighbors and friends, who make us feel so welcome in their country.
This one got off to an energetic start. The first (that I know of) Adarsh Vista Republican Day run. A 5k early morning run/walk/cycle round the lanes of our complex. The route had been carefully measured out and only involved taking one lane twice.
The emails from the Vista MC did encourage participants to wear the tricolor of the Indian flag (saffron, white and green). However compared with our Indian counterparts the boys and I put up an excellent show.....maybe our t-shirts were more Dutch orange than Indian saffron but we had tried! We definitely sacrificed style for color - me in Ad's green footie socks and the boys in their Indus shorts, looking black in this pic but really dark green.
Participants, probably about 75 in number, of all ages and athletic prowess took off, some waving flags. Ads and I took it pretty seriously and finished our circuit with the front pack. Wills sprinted, walked, short cutted and had a great time with his buddies.
Later, we were back at the clubhouse for the flag hoisting, which happened so promptly I nearly missed it...and breakfast -well deserved after the early morning activity.
I've always liked the Indian National Anthem, Jaana Gaana Maana, as it sounds sort of haunting, more like a prayer and less like a battle cry or statement of sovereignty than some other national anthems, but never bothered to find out what it means in English. This is the English translation the boys sing at school. The words are a poem written by Tagore.
O! Dispenser of India's destiny
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab,
Sind, Gujarat, and Maratha,
Of the Dravid, and Orissa and Bengal.
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
It mingles in the rhapsodies of the pure waters of the
Yamuna and the Ganges.
They seek only thy auspicious blessings.
They sing only the glory of thy victory
The salvation of all people waits in thy hands.
O! Dispenser of India's destiny.
However, it could change....the following clause is in the Indian Constitution:
"The composition consisting of words and music known as Janaganamana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorize as occasion arises, ..."
Anyway, to the current words the flag was hoisted and saluted.
Happy Republican Day to all our Indian neighbors and friends, who make us feel so welcome in their country.
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