Modi Tops List Kids Corner....18,19,22,23

16 Austin South Asian | February 2022

Modi Tops List Of Popular World Leaders

By PAYAL MEHTA

NEW DELHI (ANI) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped the global rating amongst world leaders with an approval rating of 71 per cent. On the list of the 13 world leaders, US president Joe Biden is ranked at number six with a 43 per cent rating.

Biden is followed by Canadian President Justin Trudeau also at 43 per cent and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at 41 per cent.

Morning Consult Political Intelligence is currently tracking the approval ratings of government leaders and country trajectories in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“The latest approval ratings are based on data collected from Jan. 13-19, 2022. Approval ratings are based on a seven-day moving average of adult residents in each country, with sample sizes varying by country,” Morning Consult said.

In May 2020, the same website gave the highest rating to Prime Minister Modi with approval of 84 per cent. In May 2021, it dipped to 63 per cent. (Courtesy: IndiaWest. com)

After Telangana, Maharashtra State Minister Invites Elon Musk To Set Up Manufacturing Plant For Tesla

NEW DELHI – Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil Jan. 16 offered Tesla CEO Elon Musk to set up manufacturing in the state for electric cars.

This comes after Telangana Industry and Commerce Minister K.T. Rama Rao invited Musk to set up shop in his state.

In his tweet to Musk, Patil said: “Maharashtra is one of the most progressive states in India. We will provide you all the necessary help from Maharashtra for you to get established in India.

“We invite you to establish your manufacturing plant in Maharashtra.”

On Jan. 13, Musk had said that the EV maker is facing a “lot of challenges” for its car launch in India.

“Still working through a lot of challenges with the government,” Musk tweeted.

Musk was replying to a Twitter user, who asked: “Yo @elonmusk any further update as to when Tesla’s will launch in India? “Our state is a champion in sustainability initiatives and a top notch business destination in India,” he added.

Tesla wants to begin selling imported cars in India this year, but

taxes in the country are among the highest in the world.

serve to be in every corner of the world!”

In response to Musk, Rama Rao said Telangana is a champion in sustainability initiatives and his government would be happy to with import duties, it would become unaffordable in the Indian market with an expected price tag of around Rs 60 lakh.

Currently, India levies 100 per cent tax on imported cars priced more than $40,000 (Rs 30 lakh) inclusive of insurance and shipping expenses, and cars less than $40,000 are subject to 60 per cent import tax.

Meanwhile, Rao was praised by the Twitterati for his reply to Musk by eminent personalities including actors, journalists and industry leaders. They also supported the idea of EV in India.

“Love this car so much Elon Musk. Feels like hope is around the corner,” wrote actor Genelia Deshmukh.

partner with Tesla in working through the challenges.

“Hey Elon, I am the Industry and Commerce Minister of Telangana state in India. Will be happy to partner Tesla in working through the challenges to set shop in India/ Telangana,” he said in a tweet. With a $39,990 global price tag, Tesla Model 3 may remain as an affordable model in the U.S. but “Elon Musk, Come to Hyderabad - India! It will be epic to have you. The Government here in Telangana is terrific too,” tweeted actor Vijay Devarakonda. (Courtesy: IndiaWest.com)

COVID-19 Case Numbers Peak, Central Texas Health Leaders Eye New Variant Overseas

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Walkes said there’s no evidence that the new variant is in our community yet, but said it’s a reason to keep pushing for vaccines and continuing to use best practices like hand washing, masking and social distancing.

It comes as case numbers from the omicron variant in Central Texas have finally appeared to hit their ceiling. Projections from the University of Texas COVID-19 modeling consortium show case numbers declining as rapidly as they shot up. That’s consistent with what other areas that were hit early by the virus saw.

“South Africa saw a rapid increase in cases with a rapid decline as well, and we’re seeing that,” Walkes said. “The important thing for us to remember is that we’ve been in this spot before where we’ve been on the decline and anticipating a quiet hiatus afterwards. What has happened when we start seeing these declines is that people start to relax their mitigations efforts.”

Note: While APH says there appears to be a dip in the number of cases there is still a backlog of cases that APH says will show up on its dashboard. Walkes estimated there are 45,000 cases that are still pending entry. Health leaders say while we have large portion of the population still unvaccinated, new variants are something our community needs to consider before relaxing mitigation efforts. Of the eligible population in Travis County, 71% are fully vaccinated. That does no include children under the age of five that are not eligible.

“We have the risk, and run the risk of being in a situation where we are faced with hospital capacity challenges and economic challenges,” Walkes said. “It’s really important for us to continue to get our community vaccinated and to continue mitigation efforts.” Courtesy: KXAN

17 Austin South Asian | February 2022 5 Easy Ways To Enhance Digestive Health

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According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of how to live long and be healthy, the health of the digestive system is the core of optimum health. Ayurvedic medicine asserts the digestive system is based on the strength and balance of its Agni (fire), which enables the body to absorb, digest and assimilate food. The teachings suggest an imbalanced Agni creates undigested residues, which form toxins that create imbalances and can lead to disease. Some of the dietary guidelines for healthy digestion and strong Agni include:

* Allowing 4-6 hours between meals * Avoiding eating between meals * Avoiding foods with cold, wet and heavy qualities * Drinking ginger tea or hot water to stimulate the Agni * Starting a meal with pungent (hot), sour and salty flavors * Consuming a small amount of bitter taste before a meal to increase the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach Take a gradual approach to avoid upsetting your digestive tract and

Take steps to protect and nurture your digestive health with these tips:

Add Fiber to Your Diet Plant-based foods that are high in fiber fill you up faster, so you’re less likely to overeat, and they also help with digestive regularity. Increase your intake of highfiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. bump up your water intake as you go since fiber will absorb it and decrease the likelihood you experience gas or cramping.

Stay Hydrated Keeping your body well hydrated is like making sure your car’s engine is well lubricated. It keeps all your moving parts in sync and operating for top performance. Some fluids can also help with detoxification, which can be especially beneficial when your social calendar is full and your opportunities to overindulge are greater. An option like Buddha Teas’ Detox Dharma contains detoxifying herbs that stimulate your digestive system. Strengthening and soothing herbs are also incorporated into this balanced formula resulting in an effective yet gentle detox tea. For another solution, Turmeric Ginger Tea contains enough black pepper to make curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) bio-available in hot water, helping build healthy Agni.

Eat Slower In today’s busy world, it’s easy to scarf down a meal in record time. However, slowing down gives your body more time to process food. You’ll give your brain more time to communicate with your stomach and be more aware of when you’ve satisfied your hunger.

Start Exercising If you need one more reason to get moving, your digestive health could be it. Regular physical activity promotes better digestion. However, if you jump into a workout too quickly after eating, you could actually do the opposite. Eat light before exercising then have a protein-rich balanced meal for recovery afterward.

Manage Stress Too much stress can manifest multiple physical problems, including interrupting your digestion. Try mindful meditation or another method of relaxing and relieving stress. Getting plenty of rest can also help keep stress in check. If you’re looking for a good night of sleep, consider Buddha Teas’ CBD Sleepy Buddha Blend. Herbs for calming and relieving stress are paired with organic, water-soluble, THC-free CBD to leave you feeling restored and rejuvenated.

Find more solutions for enhancing your digestive health at buddhateas.com. Source: Buddha Teas Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Maju Varghese Quits As White House Military Office Head

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Indian American Maju Varghese is leaving his position as the director of the White House Military Office, according to a media report. “Right now, it’s best for me and my family that I kind of just try to strike a little bit more of a balance,” CNN quoted Varghese explaining his decision to leave the White House.

“One thing I learned during two tours here is it’s a demanding place to work and it’s because the work is really important, and we throw all of ourselves into this,” he said of leaving after a grueling year.

At the White House, his role included working with the military to ensure medical support, emergency medical services and presidential transportation, communications and organizing official ceremonies and functions. transportation and communications and supporting large events and global travel in and of itself is hard,” Varghese told CNN. “Now you throw Covid in, you’ve got to think about all that comes with health and safety.”

He worked closely with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy when he was the chief operating officer of Biden’s election campaign, and later at the White House to ensure everyone’s health during the pandemic.

Murthy told CNN: “The way he would run meetings and to both chart out a path forward, reassure people, his calmness in the face of serious adversity and uncertainty -- those are invaluable qualities that he brought to the operation.”

He had also worked for former President Barack Obama as a special assistant to the president and the deputy director of advance organising his travel in the US and abroad. He was also the executive director of Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s inauguration and swearing-in ceremonies and the festivities around it.

Varghese’s parents immigrated from Thiruvalla, Kerala, to the US, where he was born. He is a lawyer by training. CNN said that he did not reveal future plans. (Courtesy: IndiaWest.com)

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

18 Austin South Asian | February 2022 Kids Corner

Vasundhara Varadarajan

Abhiveer Annoji

Varsha S.L

19 Austin South Asian | February 2022 Tshechu

Tshechu are annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar Tibetan calendar.

The month depends on the place. Tshechus are religious festivals of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tshechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce.

The Thimphu tshechu and the Paro tshechu are among the biggest of the tshechus in terms of participation and audience. They are related to traditions in other branches of Himalayan Buddhism, many of which have been banned in Tibet.

The focal point of the tshechus are Cham dances. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingma teacher Padmasambhava and other saints. Typically, monks perform unmasked in certain group dances, including the Black Hat dance, while laymen perform masked, in largely different plays.

The monks are generally very precise in their movement, while some roles played by laymen involve considerable athleticism (such as the leaping dog shown below, who repeats this move over and over again). Groups of women perform songs, with limited dance movements, in between the plays.

Most tshechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel - a large appliqué thangka typically depict-

ing a seated Padmasambhava surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The thongdrel is raised before dawn and rolled down by morning.

Because tshechus depend on the availability of masked dancers, registered dancers are subject to fine if they refuse to perform during festivals

Padmasambhava, the great scholar, visited Tibet and Bhutan in the 8th century and 9th century. He used to convert opponents of Buddhism by performing rites, reciting mantras and finally performing a dance of subjugation to conquer local spirits and gods.

He visited Bhutan to aid the dying king Sindhu Raja. Padmasambhava performed a series of such dances in the Bumthang Valley to restore the health of the king. The grateful king helped spread Buddhism in Bhutan.

Padmasambhava organized the first tshechu in Bumthang, where the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava were presented through eight forms of dances. These became the Cham dances depicting the glory of Padmasambhava.

The dance schedule for each day of the four-day festival is set out and generally consists of the following dances.

Akbar And Birbal Stories

BIRBAL GIVES A SWEET REPLY

One day Emperor Akbar was in a very funny mood and thought of putting his courtiers to test. He came to his court and startled his courtiers with a strange question.

“If somebody pulled my mustache what sort of punishment should be given to him?” he asked. For a minute everyone was dumb-folded. They started discussing among themselves and came up with their answers.

“He should be flogged!” shouted one courtier.

“He should be hanged!” shouted another. screamed the third. Keep reading how did Birbal gives a sweet reply. Birbal gives a sweet reply Emperor was amazed. He was waiting for Birbal’s reply.

Akbar kept listening to everybody’s reply but was not satisfied. “And what about you, Birbal?” asked the emperor. “What do you think would be the right punishment if somebody pulled my mustache?” “He should be given sweets, kisses and lots of hugs,” said Birbal. “Sweets, kisses and hugs ?” gasped the other couriers.” Has Birbal gone mad, what is he saying, muttered one. Birbal. The courtiers smiled at each other as if they knew what’s going to happen.

“Yes, said Birbal. “Sweets, kisses and lots of hugs, because the only one who would dare to pull his Majesty’s mustache,would be his cute grandson.”

Emperor was pleased with Birbal’s reply and smiled. So pleased was the emperor with the answer that he pulled off his ring and gave it to Birbal as a reward. Then he said, “Yes, that’s my grandson who played this prank on me while I was seeping.

I woke up with the intention to punish this culprit, but seeing him sitting on chest and playing with my mustache made me smile and I hugged and kissed him.” Once again Birbal was successful in winning Akbar’s heart. On the first day, the performances cover: Dance of the Four Stags (Sha Tsam); Dance of the Three kinds of Ging (Pelage Gingsum); Dance of the Heroes (Pacham), Dance of the Stags and Hounds (Shawo Shachi) and Dance with Guitar (Dranyeo Cham)

On the second day the dances performed are: The Black Hat Dance (Shana), Dance of the 21 black hats with drums (Sha nga ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg), Dance of the Drums from Dramitse (Dramitse Ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg) and Dance of the Stag and Hounds (Shawa Shachi)

On the third day, the dances performed are: Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag), Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Tungam) and Dance of the Rakshas and the Judgement of the Dead (Ragsha Mangcham)

On the last day of the festival, the dances performed cover: Dance of Tamzhing Monastery in Jakar, Dance of the Lords of the Cremation grounds (the same dance as day 3), Dance of the Ging and Tsoling (Ging Dang Tsoling) and Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava (Guru Tshen Gye).

The last day of the four-day festival also marks the unfurling of the Thongdrel, a very large scroll painting or thangka, which is unfurled with intense religious fervour, early in the morning.

This painting measuring 30 metres (98 ft)×45 metres (148 ft) has the images of Padmasambhava at the centre flanked by his two consorts and also his eight incarnations.

Devotees who gather to witness this occasion offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings. Folk dances are performed on the occasion. Before sunrise, the painting is rolled up and kept in the Dzong before it is displayed again one year later.