Editorial
We are in the midst of the festive, wedding and activity season. These occasions come so thick and fast that before you can get over one, another one is upon us. But is anyone complaining? Nah! The spirit of the season, the colours, the lights, the attire etc. gives us such an adrenaline rush that we are all flushed with excitement. In previous seasons, during the Diwali rangoli competition, residents had complained about the high cost of candles making it difficult to light up the Rangolis adequately at night. With a view to mitigate the problem, it has been decided to leave the staircase lights on at the time of judging so that the residents’ efforts don’t seem futile.
The tribute to Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna through karaoke singing which was deferred from 29th September to 1st October was a bit chaotic as all and sundry, whether they had music in their genes or not, wanted to have their voice heard through the loud speaker. Nevertheless, it was fun while it lasted. Deepak, brother of Radhika Nathani ( A-301), who is an acclaimed singer, regaled the audience with his repertoire of songs sung to the strains of his guitar. Unfortunately, this musical soiree did not last long as others wanted a share of the pie. Thence, it was a free for all with Ramabadhran, Srikanth, Bhavani. Seema, Gomathi, Radhika, Murali, Raju, Sudha, Umapathi, Sahana etc. all lending their voices. The irony of the show was that none of them sang Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna’s hits although it was meant to be a tribute for these matinee idols. Ramabadhran brought the karaoke gear and the projector. This was preceded by a documentary of the origins of the earth. While it was very informative and extremely well shot, it had very few takers. Food offerings from Bhavani, Aruna, Soumya and Sudha were lapped up. Kashu with his sambar vada’s also did brisk business.
The time between Navratri and Diwali is a visual delight. Women flitting from one flat to the other dressed in their best Kanjeevarams and prized jewellery are a feast for the eyes and lift the mood. The prevailing bonhomie is infectious. As we men are not invited to this ‘strictly for women’ event, I had to rely on anecdotal evidence from my wife to report on the effort put in by some residents. The imposing Kolu of Sheela at C-005 was matched with the very creative and artistic ones of Sridevi (G-303), Shanti (G-004) and Mala (D-002), amongst others.
Programming the Quiz Competition bang in the middle of Navaratri was a bad idea when ladies are busy trooping in and out of homes and men are on call to take care of sundry tasks. Wiser counsels prevailed and the competition has been moved up the calendar.
Unseasonal heavy rains threatened to ruin the Dandiya Nite. It relented just in time for us to set up the stage, the food stalls and the equipment. Just as the show was to begin, a steady drizzle almost derailed the event. Just as we were considering winding up, the rain stopped and we were cranked to start but my laptop developed a glitch. Timely aid of a laptop from Aditi Rao of C-205 and a connecting lead from Srikanth set the ball rolling. The audience found the authentic garbha music too insipid to get their feet tapping. It required Srikanth the DJ, to rely on some Bollywood kitsch to get their bodies swaying and the dandiyas flailing. Amongst the women, only Aditi Rastogi, Aditi Rao and Meghana Chiplunkar wore the traditional dandiya attire and they looked absolutely gorgeous. Many of the girls namely, Radhika, Samiksha, Kiyana, Riya, Sreeja, Vedika and Vanshika however came dressed for the occasion and amongst the boys Aryan and Shantanu were a perfect match. It was great to see several women swaying to the music and generally having a jolly good time. Deepak Varma and Rohan Nayyar were the only men to dance in the midst of the gaggle of women. To lend them moral support Kunal Savarkar and I, both with two left feet, joined the fray. Meera Varma, Anu Nair and Vidya Venkat scorched the dance floor with some nifty moves. In contrast we men were a pale shadow. The food on offer was tasty and everybody had a whale of a time until another sharp shower sent us packing home.
Ram Lila has its strong adherents in rural and urban India. India’s rich repertoire of heroic tales is largely anchored to holy shibboleths. The countless unchanged retellings of the Ramayana have not lessened the public’s love for the tale. Riya Ramabadhran’s production of the truncated and contemporary version of the Ramlila, was enacted in the lawn on 24th October. To identify with the times, Riya very skilfully wove Bollywood lyrics into the tale. To conceptualise the mammoth epic to such brevity – nine acts fitting within a 45-minute slot – requires great intelligence and foresight. Since many amongst the female cast wanted to play Sita’s role, the script had three girls playing Sita in different acts. There is a lesson here for us adults in conflict resolution! Riya also gave the cast the freedom to choose their own costumes. Such out of the box thinking from a person so young augurs very well for her future. The hero of the episode, Aryan, had the privilege of playing the lone Ram. Shreeya as Ravan, Shreeja as Sita and the golden deer, Tanvi as Sita and Kaikeyi, Sahana as Sita and Soorpanaka, Aparna as Manthara, Samyukta as Dasarath, Samiksha as Prince, Mani as Lakshman, Anirudh as Kumbakaran, Sachin as Shatrugan, Kiana as Prince Asur and Radhika as Jatayu did a commendable job. Shantanu as Hanuman was just awesome. I have not seen the depiction of Ramayana evoke so much mirth. The choreographer, Riya, and the cast did a splendid job. The show ended with the burning of the imposing Ravana symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Our thanks to Srikanth who donated the effigy of Ravana. He and his family, Mr. Krishnaswamy, Prashant Gopal, Sri Hari, Siddhant, Mukul, Gokul, Sashwat and some members of the cast toiled for hours erecting and stuffing the Ravana with crackers and paper. Please view the pictures in the Yamuna Photo Album.
TT has become the latest fad for most youngsters in Yamuna. They can be seen crowding around the sole TT table under the club house. The competition in the TT tournament was intense. Both girls and boys competed in the same category. The results went true to form and the following children notched up victories. Kudos to the winners.
Mr. Narayanan of C-008 and Manoj Subramaniam, formerly of H-206 have been very supportive of the Society by donating some prizes for the participants of various events. We thank them immensely.
Table Tennis Singles/Doubles Tournament
| S.No. | Names | Address | Prize |
| 1 | Yohaan Abraham | A-008 | 1st |
| 2 | Anirudh Suresan | H-008 | 2nd |
| 1 | Aparna/ Jai Krishnan | F-103/A-302 | 1st |
| 2 | Anirudh/Sachin | H-008/A-202 | 2nd |
SNIPPETS
Mr. Akhil Sarda is the new tenant in A-208. He has moved in from Chandigarh and works as the State Head for United Breweries for UP and Uttarakhand. He leads a happy bachelor’s life listening to Classic Rock, reading Ayn Rand and P. G. Wodehouse and loves to watch Formula 1 races. He can be reached on 9560825666.
Another Yamuna girl, albeit currently living in Bangalore, ties the knot. Nitya Krishnamoorthy of C-103, got married in Bangalore on 18th October, 2012. In an elegant reception held at the Air Force Officer’s Club in Subroto Park on 27th October, Yamuna-ites, amongst others, were treated to some retro music, delectable food and spirits for those inclined to imbibe it. Nitya and her husband Suraj seemed lost in each other’s company. Romance was blooming, as they say! Rohini and Krishnamoorthy were the perfect hosts.
HEALTH CAPSULE
Goodness of Aloe Vera
Benefits for skin
- Aloe vera has long been used to soothe the skin. The juice quickly helps to ease the pain and itching associated with burns, cuts, sores, blisters and bug bites. Aloe contains both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties as well as ingredients that help to encourage cell regeneration and healing. High in collagen proteins, aloe vera is increasingly used in skin products like moisturizers and anti-aging creams.
- Aloe vera juice is said to prevent/reduce under-eye wrinkles and acne, and reduces dandruff.
The International Aloe Science Council has shown that aloe can be used to reduce mouth pain and swelling after oral surgeries. Studies conducted by the Council have also suggested that aloe vera can reduce the amount of bacteria found in the mouths of denture wearers. Aloe also helps to ease the pain of cuts and sores in the mouth.
Aloe vera for general health
Aloe vera juices help to improve the general immune system. It is used to control production of stomach acids and maintain the pH balance in the stomach. Aloe vera has a minimum of three anti-inflammatory fatty acids, which help in smooth functioning of the stomach and small intestines. It has a natural property to alkalize digestive juices and prevents over-acidity, one of the common causes of digestive ailments. Aloe vera juice helps in absorption of nutrients and neutralizes toxic elements.
Other benefits
- Helps to regulate blood sugar
- Helps with weight loss by increasing metabolic rate to burn more calories.
- Improves circulation.
- Aids in healing damage to internal tissues.
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Helps to reduce inflammation
- By using gels and sprays containing aloe vera, arthritis patients have experienced quick and significant relief from joint and muscle pain.
- Aloe vera gel works as a mild anaesthetic and is useful for reducing pain, swelling and itching. It also improves blood circulation to areas of injury.
Sangeeta Srihari (E- 103)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - NOVEMBER 2012
| Date | Time | Event | Venue |
| 3.11.12 | 6.30 PM | Quiz Competition with Sumathi | Badminton Court |
| 4.11.12 | 9.30 AM | Sports Day (for children and adults) | Main Lawn |
| 10.11.12 | 5.30 PM | Diwali Mela | Badminton Court |
| 13.11.12 | 6.30 PM | Judging of Illumination Competition | Between the blocks |
| 24.11.12 | 4.30 PM | Annual Day - Refreshments followed by welcome of Chief Guest, Invocation song, speeches, prize distribution, variety entertainment programme. Dinner from food stalls against payment. | Main Lawn |
