Category Archives: Poems-Birthdays

Poem on Sunir’s 30th Birthday

I recently came upon an e-mail from Shannon dated June 02, 2009 which says:

” Hi everyone,
 
I thought I would pass along the poem I wrote for Sunir’s 30th birthday, which I recited at our BBQ party last weekend.”

Shannon

__________________________________  
 
Speaking to you as a loving wife,
I’d like to tell you about the man in my life.
In Niagara Falls in 1979,
Sunir Shah entered the family line.
In Hamilton he spent his early days,
Before moving to Deep River for life’s next phase.
He learned computer programming at age four,
He’s a smart guy; who could ask for more?
He went to Carleton for his first degree,
In math and computer science, we’d all agree.
After university, he headed to Europe,
Far from the land of maple syrup.
Fortunately for me, he then decided to go,
To do his Master’s in Toronto.
Introduced at the Madison by Sunjay Mistry,
We hit it off and the rest is history.
A wedding in the fall, sealed with a kiss,
Has been the start of marital bliss.
He’s like pecan pie, my favourite treat:
He’s warm and brown, nutty and sweet.
So join me in celebrating Sunir’s first thirty years,
Please raise your glass and all say Cheers!
Shannon

Poem- Happy Birthday, SachinMan

 

 Tuesday 20 July, 2010

Our grandson, Sachin,  became 1yr. old today   He along with his sister , Sitara, and his parents are presently on a visit to England . He &  Sitara are enjoying the company of their  grandma (Maternal ) and their dad’s sister , brother-in- law and Yashmin (their cousin sister) .

I have written a small poem to celebrate his birthday . Here it is:

 

                                      SachinMan    ( 20 July   2010 )                        

 

Your mischievous smile and twinkle in the eyes
Do win hearts every moment


Your satiated demeanour and contented yawn
Brings joy and happiness to our hearts


Your crawling and  standing up to “cruise” along a sofa
Bring delight to our hearts      

                                                                                                                           
Every week of your growth in mental and motor skills
Fills   our hearts with delight                                                                                                                                              
you do   recognise and play with your own toys
This cheers  your sister Sitara to no end  

 
Now that you are 1 yr old ,   a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY
From   the bottom of our collective hearts


 Our SachinMan our linkage to future along with Sitara
We wish you many years of joy and success.


  nana , nani and the whole family
                                                                    

 

 

 

A tribute to Baa , my mother

 

A memorial Prayer (Puja) for our mother (Kasturben)   -passed away in Nairobi, Kenya

on Saturday 24 April 2010

Location:  Deep River, Ontario, Canada on Friday 14 May 2010.

————————————————————————————————

A tribute to Baa , my mother

Namaste Pranam Baa – I bow to your graciousness

Your sacrifice and forever a smile on your face

——-

We respect your spirit of service

  also the spirit of responsibility that goes with it

——-    

We understand your circumstances and extended family bond  

but  never felt left out when growing up in your bosom

——-

We   soaked up your love and care all these years

Your magnanimity and self-control are etched in our hearts

———

 We had a shelter to come to whenever we hit a storm

Your words of wisdom always carried us through difficult times.

———–

We have you in our collective memory which is deep

May you rest in peace      – Namaste Pranam Baa

———-

Pravin Shah

 

Poem- A tribute to my mother (our Baa)

 

A memorial Prayer (Puja) for our mother (Kasturben)  

– passed away in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday 24 April 2010

Prayer Location: our home in  Deep River, Ontario, Canada

When: Friday 14 May 2010 at 8.00 p.m

————————————————————————————————

A tribute to Baa , my mother

Namaste Pranam Baa – I bow to your graciousness

Your sacrifice and forever a smile on your face

——-

We respect your spirit of service

  also the spirit of responsibility that goes with it

——-    

We understand your circumstances and extended family bond  

but  never felt left out when growing up in your bosom

——-

We   soaked up your love and care all these years

Your magnanimity and self-control are etched in our hearts

———

 We had a shelter to come to whenever we hit a storm

Your words of wisdom always carried us through difficult times.

———–

We have you in our collective memory which is deep

May you rest in peace      – Namaste Pranam Baa

———-

 Further notes:

1)

This Mother”™s Day was a special  day -as it came just a few days after my mother  (Kasturben) passed away in Kenya (on Saturday morning – 6.10 am Nairobi time – 24th April 2010)  .

The kids – Sitara and Sachin along with their parents Nina/Sunjay as well as  Sunir/Shannon had gathered in Toronto when we were there – so we all can have a Memorial Service (Puja) for her .

This was organised at Ram Mandir on Export Blvd. (off Derry Road), Mississuaga on Mothers Day   (9 May 2010) at 4.00 p.m. Pandit Vijay conducted the Puja.   We all were there but also joined by Kathy & Doug (Shannon”™s parents),  Jayaben ( Sunjay”™s auntie) and by Bindu &  Raju   (my father”™s cousin brother Bharmal”™s daughter  (Bindu)  and her husband, Raju ) .

Pandit Vijay was enthralled to conduct the Puja at Shree Jalaram”™s feet and we were all gratified by Shree Jalaram”™s compassionate eyes.   Sitara participated in the Puja well and seriously and when I emotionally broke down- she was there to comfort me and put her hands on my shoulder and  face and assured  me that all is okay and  not to cry. She is a god-sent child who could restore one”™s faith in destiny.

2)    After coming back from Toronto, this Friday (14 May) we had a Prayer meeting for our Baa  at our home in Deep River . Some 30 people participated.

Bhajans were sung and prayers offered.    One of our friends (Ken) talked about our knowing each other since last many years  and offered his & his family’s condolences as well as talked about “loss of a mother” in general and how she can be missed – as she gave so much to her sons and daughters over the life time. Ken lives in Deep River.

Peter  also offered his & his family’s  condolences and said the following  (Peter lives in Petawawa/Pembroke) :

Hi, Pravin, Jackie, Nina , Sunjay, Sunir, Shannon and the family

The fundamental pattern for any community is a congregation getting together at a grieving friend’s place to pray and remember fondly a loved one.

Today we all privileged to do so. It is beautiful gesture as all wonderful, caring friends of Pravin and Jackie are united as one in prayer, here and far away.

The closest bond we will ever know are bonds of grief . But even at such a time, the sons and daughters and their families are grateful to have known and associated with Pravin’s mother. Gratitude is a higher tribute than grief as I know they are all proud and grateful for their beloved mother  and grandmother.

I would like to share a little poem with the group. It is dedicated to mothers, grandmothers – past, present and future – and of course to our spouses and daughters.

 ———-

There’s a magic in a mother’s touch

And sunshine in her smile

———-

There’s love in everything she does

To make our lives worthwhile

———-

We can find hope, courage and love

Just by looking in her eyes

———

Her laughter is a source of joy

Her words are warm and wise

———

There is kindness and compassion

To be found in her embrace

———

And we see the light of peace

Shinning from a mother’s face.

———-

Prior to conducting the “arti ” in praise of our Guardian Angels , Sunjay , our son-in-law, reminisced and gave a brief but moving narrative  of his visit to Nairobi, Kenya with Nina (our daughter) after their wedding (in 2004) to seek blessings from Baa.  He remembered the joy and a happiness on her face.   He also mentioned  the subsequent visit made by his mom (from England) to Kenya to spend some time with Baa and family . This visit was organised together with us  (Nina’s   parents) when we went to Kenya from Canada.

The Puja was completed with the “arti” and subsequently all had refreshments  together.

Postscript:

 

Both kids (Sitara and Sachin) also came with their parents – though Sitara had gone to her BabySitter during the day. However, Sachin could only participate in the Prayer at the   beginning as it was his bedtime – Puja started at 8.15 p.m with the singing of Lord Genesha’s ” Stuti”  by Sarah ( one of Art Of Living members) . Sitara remained at the Puja though it was her past bedtime too. She remined for about half time and then went away to the Recreation Room and watched TV . She did come back during the “Arti” time.  

Sitara remained all excited seeing so many people at home and singing “bhajans” etc at the Puja. She paid attention to her nani singing and when her nana read his poem for Baa. It was difficult for to decide when to get ready for bed – it was past mid-night and we had to cajoled her to change into her PJs and do teeth brushing. After that , the kids went with their parents to Mackey as Sitara did not want to sleep over.   She did kid around with her mom that she likes her room here at her grandparents home as it is well appointed with “Princess motif”  bed sheets and other items.   Then she would give a mischievous look to her mom.

 

Pravin Shah

 

         

       

           

                 

                         

                                     

                                                       

                                                                                 

                                     

                 

       

   

Sunir/Shannon – 1st Wedding Anniversary

 

Today, 11 October 2009 is the first (1st) Wedding Anniversary of our son – Sunir’s wedding to Shannon.

They are in Europe at this time as they went there to celebrate the occasion with Shannon’s sister Erica . Her boyfriend Matt (who is from France doing post-graduate study in Ontario, Canada) is still in Kingston, Ontario trying to complete his Ph.D..

 ———————————

I wrote a poem for this ocassion which I sent them by electronic mail to them to-day.

Poem
                                                                                                                                                  11 October, 2009
Celebrating our son Sunir’s 1st Wedding Anniversary
  

Our happiness multiplied many-folds when you were born
Anxiety evaporated when your sister Nina welcomed you with a smile
The joy effervesced when you took to robots and computers
  

We jumped with ecstasy at your first job at 16 and gone to the university
This combo remained steady all thru your university life which mesmerised us all    
You are the twin twinkling star with your sister, both illuminating the family
  

The “empty nest” syndrome   hit us the most when you were gone from home
You were our focus and delight for many years when your sister was away
Those days are now gone to our memory lane and forever reminisced with glee
  

Then we heard the thunder of a young man’s love – going from Toronto to Kingston
A four-year rumble ended with a bang and Shannon brought a rainbow display
Your wedding day October 11 ,2008 is etched in our heart bringing ecstasy par excellent  
  

The young son   transformed to a young man all ready to take on the world
A supporting charming and graceful wife at your side, what a pair
We can weave many dreams and savour all the possibilities for future to unfold.    
  

Both of you along with Nina, Sunjay, Sitara and Sachin are a constellation in our life
This is all we want in our life whatever years we have to enjoy the sparkle
We pray your and Shannon’s happiness forever and ever.         dad
 

 

Pravin Shah

Being Grandparents -12

This post is a continuation of  the earlier posts (Being Grandparents ,Being Grandparents – 2, Being Grandparents – 3, Being Grandparents – 4, Being Grandparents – 5, Being Grandparents -6,Being Grandparents -7, Being Grandparents -8 , Being Grandparents  -9  ,  Being Grandparents -10 & Being Grandparents -11)   as the previous  posts were becoming a tad bit busy.

Friday 25 Seprember, 2009   –   A Welcoming Party for Sachin

Today, Sachin’s grandparents held a welcoming party (in this good world0 for Sachin – now that he has become 2 months old.   Many of the Community’s  ladies were invited and two neighbour ladies (Kathy – next door neighbour & Penny -the neighbour from across the road). Four friends-colleagues (ladies) from his dad’s office also came to the party (They were Nancy -who got married recently, Mahsa -whom Sitara adresses as Mahsa Masi( her auntie), Thanuga & Juiliet).

There was so much food and grandma had prepared a mango-pie cake with two green booties. His nani (grandma) did a splendid job preparing the meals .   Sitara just enjoyed the party. She is a girl who loves her brother and not a single streak of jealousy or being left out. She played with Sachin and said to him ” I love you” and “I want to hug you”.   Sachin was all wonderrful and enjoying himself very stately. Many ladies played with him. Mahsa read books to Sitara – she just loved it.    

Here is a poem Sachin’s Grandpa – (that is me) wrote for the occasion.

Sachin
The Boy has arrived

our lives have changed for better

His sister is just fabulously excited

Sitara , announcing to the world

I have a brother, calling out

with a joyful smile – Sachin,   Sachin

The Boy has arrived

A dash to be with the family

arrived a bit early than expected

July 20 of 2009 was   propitious

what an excitement he made

For all to celebrate in welcoming him

The Boy has arrived

Welcome, welcome,   welcome

Chorused all together

the parents   most loudly

Grandparents just hoarse  

with excitement.

Welcome party organised by his grandparents in Deep River on Friday 25 September 2009

Welcome Sachin.  Saturday    03 October , 2009   –   A Welcoming Party for Sachin

Sachin’s parents held a welcomimg Party at their home for Sachin – amongst his dad’d & mom’s   work colleagues .

It was party with dessert only – in the afternoon   beteween 1.30 p.m to 5.00 p.m .  

His nana was occupied inhis Professional Engineers Congress in Pembroke but his nani went early to participate . There were some 30 peple who attended the party.

Also his nana managed to attend at about 4.00 p.m as his meeting (with Engineers) In Pembroke finished early. Sitara   jus enjoyed the party and was circulating with all the guests.

She was overjoyed when she saw her nana coming and came running to him for an extended hug

 Tuesday 06 October 2009

I am told by Sachin’s mom that he is now responding to Hi and says back   “iiiieee” on his own infant way – sinc eabout 2 days now.    

Also his mom went to Pembroke today to submit an application for  his passport – so he is getting ready to go overseas  – to England to meet his paternal Grandma and his masi (His dad’s sister and family) .  

He is now almost 3 months old and is a quiet boy.   Sitara just loves him and keep looking after him with so much soft approach -an understanding rarely seen in a 2 year child.

Pravin Shah

 

 

Sitara’s birthday – 2 year old – a Poem for her also.

Our Sitara became 2 year old on Wednesday 5th August 2009 (having born in 2007).  

The past two (2) years have been just heaven – she is charming, polite and considerate. Very clean and would pick up any garbage and put   it in the waste basket(s). She likes to have book read to her. She can pick up alphabet   (part of it) and remember all the stories. She gives flying kisses togetherw ith normakl kisses and hugs . She knows how to do Jai Jai (prayer mode with clasped hands) to our Guardian Angel (Shree Jalaram) -all learnt on her own by observation. She dances to “cows come home” on Indian songs -without getting tired and just enjoy the activity.   She does dozens of puzzles without any help from adults – without tiring but with keenness and alert mind.

She likes to go out and play in the  park and on swings and slides. She  likes to go on a walk with her nana & nani on the street adjoining the house.

With all that,  she knows to go to sleep in time at her afternoon nap and in the evening for the night. She goes with saying “Good Night” and with a smile –         after brushing her teeth.  

This year she has had three birthday celebrations.

1st was on Sunday 2nd August, 2009 at her grandparents’ (nana & nani) home in Deep River. Her SunirUncle (her mama) amd her ShannonAunitie (her mami) had come from Toronto ( being a long weekend ) to greet the new arrival – Sachin -Sitara’s little brother – who was born on Monday 20 July 2009 and also to celebrate Sitara’s 2 year birthday. The whole afternoon went frabulaously – with both mama & mami enjoying and cuddling both the kids. Sitara’s birthday was celebrated with a cake (baked by her nani)   and merry birthday song – the song was sung at least three times – well an extra effort was made especially by her nana.   She had a pink balloon (with words Princess -Happy Birthday) tied to her hand. She enjoyed it much and when unfastened, she just loved to let it go up to the ceiling and chasing it with her tiny body and hands. of Course she was lifted a few times by her dad to bring the balloon back to her.

Her Aunt Jo (Joanne) — who lives in Ottawa but visiting her parents in Deep River — also dropped by to celebrate the arrival of Sachin and Sitara’s birthday.

She got a good number of gifts to play and enjoy from the family members and from her Aunt Jo.

2nd was quietly celebrated at their home with her  parents   and Sachin – on her actual birthday Wednesday 5th August 2009.

3rd celebration is held for Saturday 08 August 2009 at her parents home (10.00 am to noon) – all her small tiny friends are invited to the party – from the Day Care and also others  from the parental friend circle. Of Course her nana & nani are also invited.

Her nana has written a   small poem for her to celebrate her 2nd birthday.

 

Your valued hug!
Twinkle Twinkle  little Sitara
Our precious twinkling Star
  

Mummy’s Teapot, daddy’s Bhajiuu
Nana’s  Thapli  and angel to nani
  

Sweet, Sweet Sitara,  our Miss Muffet
quietly sat on her tuffett with a smile
  

A joy to your baby brother Sachin  
His sister planting Hugs and kisses
  

Our girl is now grown to two year old
We  all enjoy her boldness all around
  

Your dancing feet with laughter
a fable already afoot for fun
  

So Happy Birthday our two-year-old lovable
your hugs and kisses valued highly by us all.
  

We love you!

nana
August 2009

We   all had a great party on Saturday 08 August 2009 at her parents home . Many of her friends (of her age or little older) came with their parents  and their little sisters/brothers (all younger than 5 months).   They had a ball of a time. For craft, each of them made a crown for herself/himself – all enconsced on tiny chairs around a lower table – specially made by Sitara’s dad and located in the sunroom.

Sachin had a great company of tiny tots -all being held by their parents or  Sitara’s nana & nani.   Sachin just lapped the party up -with no crying or any fuss but just revelling it silently and watching around with his eyes and listening to noise (from toys and kids playing around) and laughter. All Sitara’s friends played and enjoyed many toys that Sitara  ‘s parents had deployed in the living room.

They had two (2) cakes -one made by Sitara’s mom from allergy free ingredients and the other specially decorated  for Sitara’s birthday by Valumart in Deep River. The kid and parents enjoyed the meal and cake cutting with Sitara blowing  the candle(s) -helped by her dad.

This is what her grandma (nani) wrote in the Birthday card for Sitara.

My dear princess, Sitara

‘Happy Birthday’, our dear

Princess, Sitara!

Nani gives you a flying

kiss, lots of warm hugs

and love.

You are two years

today on August 5th 2009.

We all have had a lot of

fun and warmth from

you our Princess, the

last two years and want

to have the same and

more.

          Love you my Angel.

                                            nani

Thursday 13 August 2009  

Sitara & her brother (Sachin) had the opportunity to spend this  day in Deep River with their Grandparents .   This was the day for Sachion to visit his doctor .   And also it was FEN day for Sitara in Chalk River  (and thus also fisrt for Sachin) So their mother brought them to  Deep River early. Sitara   had breakfast  – infact all of them including  their mom had breakfast  here.    Sachin’s doctor weighed him   and hey, he gained some 6 ozs . This   is the major growth after his birth on Monday 20 July 2009.

Both children and their mom spent the day with Grandparents – ofcourse after their FEN in ChalkRiver.   They had dinner which was joined by their dad . Grandma had made Jalebi (and also Mango Juice – from can) .   Sitara went out into park and in the jungle with both of her Grandparents. She is an equaL  opportunity spreader of love and companionship. When she has her nana she asks for her nani also and when she is with her nani, she asks for her nana    . This way she enjoys both of them (her nani & nana). So she went to park   & jungle behind the house with both her Grandparents. She show squirrels, birds , a   dog and traffic flow (including cars, vans & a big truck) on Hwy 17. She collected few of pine acorns and some small sticks.   After dinner, she spent time playing with nana & Sachin. She also danced on Indian Music tunes  (and enticed her nana to join in dancing with her) . Before she left for home with her parents and   Sachin, she spent time with her nana on the computer and watch some of the photos and videos of her birthday (held on Saturday 8 August 2009). She just lapped those photos and  videos and did not want to go home.  

Bye the way, nana thanks you for the nice cookies that  you helped your nani (when she visited you at your home) to bake on Wednesday   12August 2009 . Your mom brought that for me to enjoy.

Pravin Shah      

1st Birthday – our little precious angel- Granddaughter

Yes, she (that is our precious angel – Sitara) has arrived fully to the family – a one year lifespan.She can toddle and walk around. She knows her grandma & grandpa – of course she is completely attached to her parents . She knows all her toys – and she  smilingly shares these with other kids who do come to visit.

She likes to climb the stairs and have started to know how to come down from these stairs safely.

She is a world traveller – having travelled overseas twice and within   Ontario (especially Toronto & Ottawa ) numerous times. She has been to Quebec City too.

Her parents organised her Birthday Party yesterday ( 02 August 2008) – a 3 days ahead of real birth date -as her mama (Uncle – Sunir) and his fiancee Shannon can come  here in Deep River due to the long weekend (Civic Holiday). They came particularly to attend her birthday party .   The party was held at Mackay –  with some 8 kids (including Sitara) and about 10 adults .

Grandpa read a poem (which  took him about 3 months to construct).

The poem is :


Sitara”™s 1st Birthday   — (born on 5th August 2007)

 

“Our Precious Little Angel”


Your wonderful smile and sweet cooing
Always charming and constant wooing
  
Sitara, you are a precious bundle of joy
The heart ruptures with a delightful ahoy!
  
One year to you is a long time to mature
For us it is the best of time in nature
  
Crawling all around exploring intensely
The world opens up to you so profusely
  
A baby born to explore has started walking
The granny goes stalking her all around
  
Your toys scattered on the floor for play
Tiny books and bells sing hooray
  
A charming granddaughter whose claim
An excellent link in the family chain
  
Sunir and Shannon go ga ga over you
The whole world goes ra ra around you
  
You are the “love of our hearts”
Enchanting   “notes of music”™ so smart
  
Sitara, we wish you a very Happy 1st Birthday

“Our precious little angel” to cherish for a lifetime

                                            Love

                your  nana & nani  
  

After    the birthday party (2.00 p.m to 4.00 p.m) , the family relaxed a bit till 7.00 p.m and after that all came to Deep River to particiopate in the Summerfest activities (and to enjoy Fireworks). Nina’s friends Anjali & Avik had come from Waterloo with their son Nayan to participate in Sitara’s birthday.

While in Deep River, Sitara had a visit from Pankaj/Priyanka with their two kids – Teerth & Devki. Both Sitara & Nayan played with Teerth & Devki for a while before all     went downtown to watch fireworks.

_________________________________________

Tuesday   5 August 2008

This is the day Sitara was born a year ago at Ottawa Hospital.

Grandparents went to Mackay to celebrate the day with Sitara and her parents. The whole afiernoon was spent there. Sitara played with grandparents for about an hour and then went to sleep. Boy did she ever slept so long!!   She got up around  5.00 p.m . After her milk, we  (Sitara, her parents and us) spent time together to open her gifts from her Birthday party (of 2 August 2008).   She enjoyed openning all the gifts (of course helped by her elders).

Note: Her dad downloaded all the video film  shorts taken by her Granddad on his camera. The shots are really excellent memory. Here is the text of e-mail received (on 5th August 2008) from Sitara’s mom

” thanks so much for the videos from sitara’s first brithday party!   There are some great videos for her to remember her day by!
 
yay! ”

 

Here is what grandpa wrote back in response.

” It was my pleasure as  I am Sitara’s grandpa and she is “love of our hearts”.

You are a great mom and Sunjay a great father. Your happiness is infectious and make our hearts flutter a lot.
Take care

Pravin Shah

Mother’s day -2008

This year’s mother’s day is a special for our family. Nina (our daughter) will be with her new born baby daughter (Sitara) – and our first grandchild and celebrate her first mother’s day with a party for her and Sunjay’s friends at their residence in Mackay.

Nina & Sitara have established an excellent bond between themselves. Nina is always talking to Sitara in a very understanding way and always calls her a “lady’ and exudes love when playing or talking or giving her nourishments. Nina remains very active to take Sitara to outside activities such as attending FEN sessions and taking her to swimming. Nina just beams when with Sitara . We grandparents are very proud the way Nina is really with Sitara and finds her a very good company at all times. Between all this Nina  also  provides all the space to Sitara’s dad as he also is very fond of Sitara and looks after her  needs (be that feeding her, playing with her or taking her to swimming   etc,) Sitara is very fortunate to have such loving parents who are bonded with her.

We , the grandparents, will be away to Windsor for attending an Engineering event.

We were not quite removed from the Mother’s Day celebration. When we travelled to Windsor on Wednesday 07 May, we stopped at Mackay to play with Sitara. Oh! she was wonderful – crawling on her fours and occassionally sitting on her feet (hunched like a “rabbit) and like in a prayer mode.   She would give the most broadest of smiles and clap her tender hands in joyous burst.

Well, the Mother’s Day was coming and what must be going in her mind. She is already a good 9 months  old   and recognising her mom & dad but also her grandparents well.

Here is our observation and sentiments – all crafted in the our Neon car while driving to Windsor.

 Nina,

Bless your beloved heart forever Sitara

Sitara is gift to cherish forever

A HAPPY 1st Mother’s Day to you

dad & mom

The following is Sitara’s sentriments as observed.

A thankful infant – an imagery !

On that Special Day

Sitara sat in her “rabbit” pose

Hunched on her feet, in a prayer mode

the heart oozing

“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY”

Clapping lovingly with her soft hands

With her warmest and joyous smile.

An Observant     (her granddad)

How I turned into a Pujari (a Priest for Hindu faith)

We were invited to participate in a Puja (prayer) gathering at Subhash M. residence in Pembroke on Sunday 2007 April 15. Subhash and his charming wife Prabhaji were celebrating the arrival of their first grandchild (Diya Jyoti). Diya Jyoti was born one month ago to Avanish & Nisha (proud parents) . Avanish is the eldest son of Subhash/Prabhaji. Many Congratulations to the new parents.

This was also the day when Subhash crossed the magic line of 65 years in age. Many Congratulations!

I was asked to prepare something for the Puja (blessings for the young one and also some words for the Senior).

Well it so happened that Subhash/Prabhji’s newly wedded younger son (Rahul) and his  wife (Sangita)had also come from Boston for the occasion. Many Congratulations to the newly wed.

My conversion to Pujari status came inadvertently as I perfomed blessings Sutras (Hindu prayers to Gods) -all in English. The appropriate Sutras fell in my domain  from search in the Internet to varIous Hindu websites and accidently picking up right Sutras for the occasion.

I also developed a  Couplet/Poem   for the baby. This is embedded in the text below which I delivered at the Puja.

This is a day full of pride and joy for which we all offer heartfelt thanks to our GODS ( Sankar, Vidhnu & Brahma ) and their incarnates over the millennia in the land of Bharat.
First, on behalf of all of us who are present in this assembly, I like to congratulate Avanish & Nisha for recently becoming parents to lovely Diya Jyoti. We also congratulate Subhash & Prabhaji for promotion to becoming proud grandparents.
I am so pleased to see Rahul   and his wife, Sangita also here to-day. They have travelled from Boston. Our Congratulations on your recent wedding.

A new baby brings excitement and energy in a household. Diya Jyoti represents a continuum in the Mehta family chain. Our prayers are that she brings wonderful omens of good fortune and success to the whole family.
  

A Couplet/Poem (by Pravin Shah)  

A baby”™s love is freely given.
Diya Jyoti”™s heart bears no preconceived prejudices
She is pure and innocent in her chuckles and smiles.
  

A baby”™s love is freely given.
Diya Jyoti brings hope, love and joy to all
She is an epitome of calm and cheer in our lives
  

A baby”™s love is freely given.
Thank you Lord for our precious little one
Help us to relish the blessings you have given us  
A baby”™s love is freely given.
  

Amen

  In Indian/Hindu tradition, when baby is born the father will set up a Sacrificial fire for worshipping and offers oblations with the following mantras
” Bringing you up as my daughter in this home of mine, may I be able to maintain a thousand people! May the Goddess of fortune never desert the children and the animals from the child’s line! I mentally transfer to you the vital force that is in me. If I have done any thing wrong – too much or too little in this ceremony, may the all-knowing benevolent Mystic Fire make it just right for me!”    “I put the Earth into you, I put the Sky into you, I put the Heaven into you, I am putting the whole of Earth, Sky and the Heavens into you, my child!”
  


  

According to Grihya-sutras, the father murmurs the chants near the ears of the child:“I administer to you, O my child,
The wisdom of the honey, and of ghee
Blessed by god Savitru, the bountiful.
May you live long, under God’s protection,
For hundred autumns to come!”
  
After a month the baby is presented to the sun, as the sun (god Savitru) is seen as a very important astrological phenomenon and a reflection of God.
  
  
Om ! Shanti ! Shanti !

 I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Subhash for attaining that magic line of 65 years in age. On behalf of all of us here, we wish Subhash the best of everything for the day but also for many more years to come.
  

The following poems I wrote earlier, I believe are appropriate for the occasion. I believe lots of inner struggle goes in our minds at the time when we attain mature age

Destiny

Meandering thru life
Picking up this and that
Bobbing high and low
Going sideways
Here I am wondering where I am
What for and why?
Kids have flown the coop
Empty quiet living room
Internet contact to the world
Just meandering thru life
Someday my ship will arrive
That I guess is the destiny.
  

Pravin Shah
                                                                                                                                                                
                                                 THE MAGIC LINE
The 65 years of life age is the magic imaginary line
That imaginary line of dependence to independence
65 years of life rushed by with some ups and some downs
This is the license to be grumpy, grouchy and irritable
An air of conquer and   “I don”™t care” attitude
Sit at home and collect my CPP, OAS   & free medicines?
Fewer taxes to governments for this and for that
The hidden traps unseen when crossing over the magic line
Retirement takes you away from colleagues and friends
The old abode suddenly becomes too large to manage
Your kid”™s memory is still intact though they left the coop
The struggle to decide where to move drives you mad
Downsize, remove clutter, have a hobby goes the refrain!
Organize family records, photos and memories for simplicity
Be smart and have financial plans to spend pension money
Go travel, go to Mexico, go to sun, run from the snow and cold
A constant clamor to go for vacation from friends and neighbors
Loneliness of retirement and senior years loom large
Mental and physical ailments become the daily grind
Well, going over 65 years is not that magic line or is it?
To establish priorities and clarity of purpose is the panacea
 Remove past grudges and accept the world as it is
Keep your humour and daily exercise
 Establish a spiritual bondage with the world and the Creator
AMEN
  
The crossing of magic line is made meaningful by the timely arrival of Diya Jyoti.   I believe Mehta”™s   ship has arrived with the baby”™s chuckle and smile. Many more will come to enhance their destiny. The first born, a little bundle of joy, will navigate their lives till kingdom come. Subhash, we pray for your happiness, fullness in life and a great journey from here to eternity. Enjoy your 65th.
  
Pravin & Jackie Shah