Brisbane Indian TImes - January 2024 Edition

A Division of Qld Multicultural Times

Print Post Approved PP : 424022 1724 | ISSN 2652-6182

Volume 20, Number 5 Saturday, January 13th, 2024

As God is One, we respect all Religions

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AYODHYA GEARS UP FOR THE PRAN PRATISHTHA MEGA EVENT

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 07 3268 6188 One lakh Tirupati laddus will be distributed during the Ayodhya Ram Temple megaevent One lakh Tirupati laddus, weighing 25 grams, will be distributed amongst the devotees and esteemed guests participating in the mega-consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

All the guests and devotees participating in

the grand consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 will be treated to 'Srivari laddu', the famous prasad offered to Lord Venkateshwara in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world-famous Lord Venkateswara temple, has announced that it will distribute one lakh of the

'Srivari laddu' prasadam during the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony.

Ayodhya is getting decked up for the "Pran Pratishtha" at the temple on January 22, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other special invitees, are set to attend the mega event.

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Inside

• Local News ..................................4-33 • Real Estate ................................12-15 • wwww ...................................... 24-25 • India News ..................................... 34 • Fiji News ......................................... 36 • Entertainment .............................. 38 • Health & Well Being .................... 40 • Business Directory/Classified ... 43 • Sports News ................................... 44

A Division of Qld Multicultural Times Published Monthly OWNERS / PUBLISHERS: Umesh Chandra OAM & Usha Chandra ADVERTISING: 0430 193 715 sales@indiantimes.com.au JOURNALIST/ CORRESPONDENTS • Thakur Ranjit Singh (NZ) • Thilliar Varnakulasingham (NZ) • Shalendra Prasad (Fiji) • Rama Gaind (Canberra) • Ml. Nawaaz Ashrafi • Imam Muhammad Aslam • Pastor Joseph Dass • Haji Abdul Rahman Deen • Jitendra Deo • Nimisha Modi • Ranjita Pillai (Immigration Matters) • Peter Lane Rai • Awadhesh Sharma • Shailendra Singh • Gagan deep Tandon • Ravi Vastrad • Brian Sullivan (Photography) • Amod Datar • Rajesh Chand • Ashok Attri

From the Publisher Welcome to the first edition of 2024; so much happened last month.

Queensland has a new premier, and Ram Mandir will be inaugurated (Ayodhya Kumbabhishekon) on January twentysecond.

Walking into 2024 feels like peeking through a crack in the door and slowly slipping into space. There’s something different in the air in 2024. After the holiday season – and whether it was joyous or complex – there’s a willingness to make 2024 excel. The past few years have challenged every family I know in ways big and small. While good and evil always form the mix, I hope you and your family find this new year gentle, with luck and the best goose bumps in little everyday joys.

To reboot, to make memories, to make it count. Instead of promising ourselves so much, I hope we are more pragmatic.

Travel is increasingly becoming more and more invaluable, not for work, but to enrich our lives.

But really, what stands out to me is personalisation in everything we do and how we achieve our personal goals daily, weekly, and monthly. It’s no longer about our to-dos but our ta-das.

Our small but ever-growing team focuses on innovation, sustainability, positive experiences and, most importantly, building our community through events and expert guides.

We thank you for all your support so far, and we can’t wait for you to join us on

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Opinions carried in Brisbane Indian Times are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Brisbane Indian Times. Brisbane Indian Times will not be held liable for any advertising / editorial content - Advertisers supply / approve content therefore should any content be deemed inappropriate it is the advertisers / correspondents responsibility.

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2 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

what’s to come in 2024. We are looking forward to meeting you on the journey.

It’s a fresh new year! Are you the type of person who writes out a detailed list of New Year’s resolutions, or are you more like me – a shrug and a sigh, “Well, I’ll do the best I can”?

A fresh calendar is like a clean house or car; it’s satisfying and gives a spark of hope. My calendar is already filling up for 2024 – vacation planned, trips to see

family, work (of course), and unending local events.

Even though the Holidays are in the rear-view mirror, we still have things happening in our community in January.

This year, our focus remains community events and news; we are ever so thankful to all the community organisations for their continued support.

What a year 2023 has turned out to be. It is safe to say there was no shortage of news in our City and our beautiful county.

We had our fair share of sensitive topics, but they could not outdo all the positive stories and events pouring into the newsroom weekly. The spirit of generosity and care for our small but proud community by its members was unmistakable.

On behalf of the in-house team and external correspondent staff, I am privileged to thank our readers and subscribers for their support and honest responses to our coverage over the past twenty years.

We are committed to doing the same in 2024 and promise to keep bringing you relevant, timely, essential stories with the utmost honesty and journalistic integrity.

We will continue to welcome all of your letters and individual submissions, hoping to publish as much as possible.

From December, I took on additional duties with GOPIO International as the new editor-in-chief for their monthly International News Bulletin; this is a very responsible role previously handled

by GOPIO International Chairperson Thomas Abraham – the first issue we put out received a favourable response encouraging feedback around quality and inclusiveness.

So, here’s to another year- may it bring you everything you desire.

Until next month, Happy reading!

—Umesh Chandra OAM- Publisher

BIT FEBRUARY 2024

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Time to say Aloha to Hawaii

By Rama Gaind American writer, humourist, entrepreneur, publisher and lecturer Mark Twain (1835-1910) loved Hawaii, calling it “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.”

He often thought about Hawaii when he was not there — like me. A beautiful tropical vacation hot spot, visiting the Aloha State has been a long-held dream, which would have been realised in August 2020, had Covid not intervened.

Nevertheless, unattainable it is not. Dreams don't work unless you take action and the surest way to make them come true is to live them — in the not-too-distant future.

What is it about America’s 50th state that’s so relaxing?

It’s widely regarded as one of the most leisure vacation destinations because of its world class beaches, incredible weather and laid-back island culture.

A surfer’s paradise, these lush volcanic islands are

synonymous with golden sunsets and friendly vibes.

From its beautiful white sandy beaches, majestic mountains and steep valleys to its city life, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean, located 3,857 kilometres from San Francisco, California, to the east.

The capital, Honolulu, is located on the island of Oahu. Known for its many beautiful beaches, Waikiki is the biggest tourist attraction of them all. This beach is the coolest spot due to its top-rated luxury hotels, museums, historic and cultural sites.

Expect to find warm blue waters lapping at the shores of ancient volcanic terrain, sandy shores ranging from glistening black and creamy white to golden, with one beach a peculiar shade of green.

Where do we start with the tourist attractions?

Start with Diamond Head State Monument, Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks, Waimea Canyon State Park and Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Then there’s the thick jungle landscape of the Akaka Falls State Park, which I’m told, opens up to one of the most incredible sights you'll

Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger in Hawaii. see in Hawaii. It's named the Akaka Falls, a major waterfall hidden within the jungle. Spend the day hiking through nature trails or spend a relaxing day in the Makena Beach State Park to enjoy the beach options.

Holiday packages Natural sights are aplenty on this string of scattered islands and holiday packages are both exotic and alluring.

Combine flights with accommodation, and you can explore this far-flung

Hawaii is a beautiful tropical vacation hot spot unlike any other in the world.

treasure, complete with delicious tropical cuisine, fascinating Hawaiian traditions and dramatic landscapes. Booking your vacation will be just the beginning of an incredible tropical island getaway.

If you are flexible with dates, the great fares at competitive prices are available. Hawaiian Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all fly to Honolulu from Australia.

Package deals are also in abundance for hotels,

like this one in Honolulu at Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger. Back by popular demand, this escape overlooks Waikiki Beach with daily breakfast and daily drinks. Steps from one of the world's most famous shorelines, you'll find Hawaii's first and only craft hotel. It is a tropical haven in an unbeatable location.

Outrigger is an iconic destination set right on Kalakaua Avenue — Honolulu's vibrant shopping and entertainment precinct.

Embrace the laidback Hawaiian lifestyle as you explore the very best the island has on offer from this ultra-cool launchpad.

Now that international travel is back on our itineraries, rules and regulations have changed.

Plan and prepare before take-off, and be sure to check and comply with all airline and government travel requirements before arriving at the airport.

Above all, have a wonderful holiday!

Hawaii has something for everyone to enjoy.

THIS IS 2024

Pastor Suresh Dass Joseph josephdass@optusnet.com.au Dear reader, it is with great joy, we bring to you the word of God. The year 2024 presents new opportunities to be thankful to God and for one another. Most of us are getting into the mood of being focused, determined, and ready for some goals to be achieved, but if we are not careful, we could easily slip back into our old habits and miss out on achieving much.

So today, why don’t you decide to break out of an old habit, move away from things

that no longer add value to your life, or get serious about getting into a new business plan, work, or lifestyle?

In the bible (Exodus 12), we read of God telling Moses to remind the Hebrew people who were enslaved people in Egypt at the time that at the beginning of the new year and on the tenth day, they would begin their journey to freedom. They were told to place the blood of a lamb on their doorpost and lintel.

This was a sign that God was going to protect them, get them out of slavery, and lead them into their promised land Israel. All their past pain and suffering was coming to an end, and God was going to remove their enemies away from them. The Israelites, on their part, were to trust God in everything and hold their peace. The peace spoken here is inner peace. This is the place inside the heart where you won’t allow worry, doubt, offense, bitterness, confusion, or distress. This

4 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

place inside you should be a place of peace, rest, and faith, where you know that God is in control. But if you keep allowing yourself to live offended and upset and letting the negative things, come into you, your place of peace will become polluted.

The scriptures also remind us to place a guard over our hearts, for it is going to impact the kind of life we are going to live in 2024. That means you must be careful what you allow to enter your heart. By allowing the disappointments and hurts of the past, the pain, the negative words someone said, and stress will poison your heart. It will affect everything about you.

It will affect your work, relationships, attitude, energy, and vision.

When the children of Israel left Egypt to move into their new season, it was the beginning of the months to follow. They needed to stay quiet, hold their peace,

and trust God for what was coming. They were to have a good attitude, focus on the vision, and trust God to lead them to their promises. It is the same for us as we enter 2024. This new year presents you with many opportunities, but there could also be some opposition. If you can maintain a good attitude, stay focused on your goals and destiny, keep away from distractions, and not let your past mistakes hold you back while trusting God, then not only will you come to the end of another year, but you will find yourself healthier, more robust and full of energy.

Here are 3 things we can learn from Moses.

1) A bad attitude is like a flat tyre. You won’t go anywhere unless you change it. Some people with Moses could not make it to the promised land. They kept dwelling on their past disappointments and pain.

They were easily offended,

proud, disobedient, and unruly. Their bad attitude towards God, their leaders, and others poisoned their lives, and they died on the way.

2) Be a victor and not a victim. Good and bad things happen to all of us.

God has given you enough strength, energy, and wisdom to be a success in 2024. A victim mentality will drain your energy and rob you of the power to make wise decisions, thus holding you back. So, you spend valuable time blaming others for what someone said or did to you and making no progress.

3) Do not allow others, opinions from moving toward your goals and destiny. Not everyone will celebrate you, so stay clear of harmful, discouraging, and pulling-down words.

Some people are not going to move towards where you are going. As you take the highway of having a good attitude while holding

your peace, you will find yourself healthier, stronger, and making progress. While most people are happy for you, some people could get jealous. They could even have opinions about you. But remember, people may have their opinions about you, but people do not have the final say; God has the final say.

The scriptures remind us that we live, move, and have our being in Christ. This is our place of trust and abiding in Jesus. Just like Moses, God asks you to trust Him as you progress through 2024.

As we enter the new year, hold on to your peace, keeping your heart and mind in the right places so that your life, too, can be in the right places as you move forward and embrace everything God has for you in 2024.

I pray and declare a blessed and fantastic New Year of 2024 for you and your family.

God bless you

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Dissolving Karma — Sadhguru Karma is the accumulated impression of past activity, either of thought, emotion or physical action. The quality of the karma that you gather is not necessarily in terms of action alone. It is also in terms of the volition with which action is performed. This moment, the very way you think, feel, understand and act is a deep conditioning of past activity. That is karma.

When there is a clear space between you and your body and mind – it is not that you are trying to watch this or that – simply a clear space has come, then whatever karma that is there in the mind, the body or energy, everything has become separate from you. If one establishes this distinction in their life, if it becomes a living reality, there is no karma for that person. Nothing touches him or her anymore.

This is not something that you do mentally. If you have an aversion to karma and are trying to push it away, in the effort to push it away, you only build more karma. But if you come to a living experience that “this body is not me, this mind is not me,” then there is a different kind of wisdom and understanding in you.

When you understand only with the intellect, it

Hesitation is the worst sin.” In hesitation you kill life. If you deprive yourself of any experience, whether it is pain, suffering or joy, if you avoid it that is big karma.

If you go through it, it is not so much of karma.

Today, in the name of civilization, education or etiquette, educated people are not able to experience any of their emotions fully. They cannot cry fully or laugh loudly. leads to deceptive states.

A philosophy will give you some semblance of balance in your life, but it does not liberate you from the deeper karma.

If a person follows this philosophy, he will become joyless. He will become reasonably balanced and stable, at the same time he will slowly become lifeless.

If you bring lifelessness into you, that itself is a very negative karma because you are just suppressing life.

Krishna says:

6 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

“Hesitation is the worst sin.” In hesitation you kill life. If you deprive yourself of any experience, whether it is pain, suffering or joy, if you avoid it that is big karma. If you go through it, it is not so much of karma.

Today, in the name of civilization, education or etiquette, educated people are not able to experience

any of their emotions fully.

They cannot cry fully or laugh loudly.

With this, slowly they become joyless. A deep sense of frustration establishes itself. You will see, simple people who laugh and cry as it comes are so much freer because the very process of life is dissolution of karma.

Every living moment of your life, if you live it totally, you dissolve enormous amounts of karma. Living totally does not mean having a party.

Anything and everything that comes, you experience it fully and intensely.

That dissolves enormous amounts of karma.

Ranked amongst the fifty

most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service.

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PARAM PUJIYE DHARAM GURU ACHARYA PT. RAM HARSH TRIPATHI JI A GREAT INDIAN MYTHOLOGY SCHOLAR OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY FOR RELIGION

NAV VARSH 2024 KI SUBH KAMNAYE The year 2024 is a very significant year for the living being. But for human beings, it is a learning year for future years. The whole world is jumping to get more and more, but where is the "Goal" no one thinks. Something is hidden behind the nature.

In coming to spiritual life, a neophyte first begins to awaken the very existence of God as he overcomes atheistic misconceptions. Next, he comes gradually through practice, to take up a relationship of service to "God" through serving the spiritual master.

Every moment the world is changing rapidly. The youth generation is jumping to achieve more, but nature can't admit it.

This is the gap between present-world activities and nature. After all this year make the balance between humanities and nature.

YEH VARSH MANGAL MAYA HO!

Dharam Guru Acharya Pt Ram Harsh Tripathi Ji Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir, Brisbane Australia

SARVE BHAWANTU SUKHINAM GOD BLESS YOU ALL

AYODHYA GEARS UP FOR THE PRAN PRATISHTHA...

CONTD. FROM PG 1 Over 7,000 people are on the invitee list of the temple trust, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, including politicians, Bollywood celebrities, cricketers, industrialists and more.

Addressing a press conference in Tirumala, executive officer of TTD AV Dharma Reddy said, "We have decided to distribute one lakh 25-gram laddus as a goodwill gesture to the devotees and VVIPs at the Ayodhya event".

"The consecration ceremony is a historic moment for all followers of Sanatana Dharma. As TTD's primary objective is the propagation of Hindu

religion, culture and values, we are honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the Ram Janmabhoomi pooja," Reddy said.

Meanwhile, invitation cards for the grand consecration ceremony are being sent to guests. The guest list includes many

8 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

sadhus, seers, and foreign invitees.

Additionally, actors Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, who played the roles of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in the famous TV serial 'Ramayan', have also been invited to the event.

Ram Mandir complex,

constructed in the traditional Nagara style, will span 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width, and reach a towering height of 161 feet. The temple will feature floors 20 feet high, adorned with an impressive arrangement of 392 pillars and 44 gates.

Preparations for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 are intensifying, with the installation of artificial intelligencepowered CCTV cameras in the surrounding areas.

A senior police official confirmed the installation on Saturday, citing the expected large influx of visitors for the ceremony.

Piyush Mordia, Additional

Director General (ADG) of the Lucknow Zone, informed ANI that the police administration had convened a meeting with Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra, to discuss the forthcoming 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony.

An Ayodhya Police meeting with the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Trust authorities occurred regarding the upcoming 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

The objective was to ascertain the event's sequence of proceedings," ADG Mordia stated.

"Police deployment has been organised, and artificial intelligence-enabled CCTVs have been strategically

positioned throughout the district, including the areas around the Ram Temple and tent cities," the senior officer added.

Emphasising visitor convenience, the official assured, "Our personnel will be deployed in a manner that ensures minimal disruption for pilgrims attending the grand ceremony."

The much-anticipated event is set to witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the consecration ceremony in the Ram Temple on January 22. Notably, the ceremony has attracted significant attention, extending invitations to several VVIP guests from India and abroad.

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Ashok Nichani visits the GOPIO Oceania region Ashok Nichani, the immediate President of The Connecticut chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), visited Australia and New Zealand in December.

He met many GOPIO Leaders in the respective regions. Umesh Chandra, OAM Executive Vice President of GOPIO International, organised a dinner function in honour of Ashok Nichani at Indian Brothers restaurant in Taringa.

Members of GOPIO Queensland, GOPIO Gold Coast and GOPIO International attended the event. He also visited the Gold Coast and met GOPIO Members there.

In Sydney, he met Harmohan Singh Walia Oceania coordinator of GOPIO International. This was a shining example of the networking power of GOPIO International which is accorded to all Members.

Ashok Nichani is a very successful businessman and owns a chain of hotels, he has been a staunch member of GOPIO International.

In the previous years, GOPIO CT ( USA) has raised funds for other charities, such as Women’s Mentoring Network of Stamford, Future 5 of Stamford and Teach

for America, a national organisation.

Founded in New York

in 1989, GOPIO is international network people of Indian origin.

an of

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha proudly announced the celebration of Diwali and Annakut The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha proudly announced the celebration of Diwali and Annakut at the Queensland Parliament, a vibrant tribute to cultural inclusivity and appreciation.

Held on November 29, 2023, this event gathered an esteemed audience, including Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, along with notable figures such as Hon. Speaker Curtis Pitt, Hon. Treasurer Cameron Dick, Hon. Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Hon. Education Minister Grace Grace, Hon. Multicultural Affairs Minister Linard, Leader of the Opposition Mr. David Crisafulli, Hon Consul of India, Brisbane Mrs. Archana Singh, Qld Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, and prominent Indian community leaders.

Their presence underscored the event's significance in fostering communal harmony and cultural appreciation.

The speeches delivered

by Hon Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Curtis Pitt, David Crisafulli, Mrs. Archana Singh, and Katarina Carroll emphasized cultural unity, multiculturalism, and community collaboration.

Premier Palaszczuk highlighted the imperative nature of community unity and shared values, echoing

by David Crisafulli, who stressed the intrinsic value of multiculturalism.

10 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

The evening featured children and youthful volunteers reciting Sanskrit verses and prayers advocating for global peace and harmony, emphasizing Diwali's deeper spiritual values. With a gathering of 100 honored guests, the celebration symbolized the victory of light, goodness, and knowledge over darkness. The Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam theme, depicting the world as

one family, was a focal point.

An interactive "Gratitude Board" encouraged attendees to express their understanding of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, fostering reflection and unity.

The event's success marked

not only the commemoration of Diwali and Annakut but also stood as a platform for cultural exchange, spiritual enlightenment, and communal harmony within Queensland's Parliament.

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Australian home values surge 8.1% in 2023 Behind the strong headline annual gains, conditions have become more diverse and generally slowed through the final months of the year CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index (HVI) rose 8.1% in 2023, a significant turnaround from the -4.9% drop seen in 2022, but well below the 24.5% surge recorded in 2021. December’s 0.4% increase saw 2023 finish with a relatively soft monthly rise in home values.

“This was the smallest gain in our national monthly HVI since values started rising in February,” said Tim Lawless, CoreLogic’s research director.

“After monthly growth in home values peaked in May at 1.3%, a rate hike in June and another in November, along with persistent cost of living pressures, worsening affordability challenges, rising advertised stock levels and low consumer sentiment, have progressively taken some heat out of the market through the second half of the year.”

Despite the annual 8.1% increase, the year was punctuated by diversity, with the annual change in housing values ranging from a 15.2% surge in Perth to a -1.6% fall across regional Victoria.

One of the main trends through the year has been the widening disparity in the rate of home value growth across the capital cities.

Dwelling values have been rising at more than 1% each month on average

across Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane since May, while in Melbourne and Sydney the pace of growth has slowed sharply since the June rate hike.

Melbourne values declined through November and December while Sydney home values are stabilising with a monthly growth rate of just 0.2% in the final two months of the year. The smaller capital cities have been soft through most of the year, with Hobart (-0.8%) and Darwin (-0.1%) recording an annual decline in values in 2023, while the ACT recorded a rise of just 0.5%.

“Such diversity across the capital cities can be broadly attributed to factors relating to demand and supply,” Mr Lawless said.

“In Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, housing affordability challenges haven’t been as pressing relative to the larger cities, and advertised supply levels have remained persistently and substantially below average. The cities where home value growth

has been lower or negative through the year are showing higher than average levels of advertised supply alongside annual home sales which ended the year below the five year average.”

Capital cities have generally recorded stronger growth conditions relative to regional areas. Across the combined capital cities index, dwelling values were up 9.3% in 2023, more than double the 4.4% rise recorded across the combined regional index.

“Stronger conditions across capital city markets is a reversal of the early COVID trend which saw regional markets experience higher demand amid strong internal migration. Regional migration trends have mostly normalised through 2023, and the significant capital gains recorded through 2020 to 2022 has meant many regional markets have become less affordable,” Mr Lawless said.

Although housing values have risen across most

regions in 2023, five of the eight capitals are still recording home values below record highs. At the end of the year, Sydney values remained -2.1%

below their January 2022 peak, Melbourne values were -4.1% below their March 2022 peak, ACT values are still - 6.3% below record highs and Hobart

values are down -11.2%.

Darwin home values are -2.8% below their cyclical high in August last year, and -7.2% below the record high set back in May 2014.

Home prices set to break new records in 2024, with three cities tipped to outperform all others Stage three tax cuts, soaring population growth and lagging housing supply could see national property prices rise up to 4% over 2024, and as much as 8% in some capital cities, a new report predicts.

The latest PropTrack Property Market Outlook Report, released Thursday, forecasts home prices across the country will grow between 1% and 4% over the next 12 months, slightly slower than the 5.5% pace of growth recorded so far in 2023.

Property prices reached new record highs in November after rising for an eleventh consecutive month.

PropTrack director of economic research and report author Cameron Kusher expects the trends that fuelled prices in 2023 will likely persist, underpinning price growth next year despite higher interest rates.

“Reflecting on 2023, a number of factors drove the home price rebound,” Mr Kusher said.

“The volume of stock available for sale remained at persistently low levels while buyer demand also increased significantly, fuelled by a housing

shortage and strong population growth.”

Over the 12 months to March 2023, Australia’s population increased by 563,205 persons – the equivalent of the entire population of Tasmania.

“More up-to-date indicators from overseas arrivals and departures data show little evidence of a slowdown,” Mr Kusher said.

The planned stage three tax cuts, due to come into effect from the middle of next year, could also fuel demand for housing as higher income earners get

12 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

a boost to their take home pay.

“These factors will likely lead to further price gains.”

Where prices are expected to rise the most While the pace of price growth is tipped to slow nationally, forecasts vary widely across states and territories as imbalances between supply and demand intensify.

In Sydney and Melbourne, where total listing volumes are now back above the decade average, price growth is set to be more subdued, compared to Brisbane,

Adelaide and Perth where supply remains extremely tight.

“In Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, total listings were more than 30% below their November decade average,” Mr Kusher said.

By comparison, total listings in Sydney and Melbourne are 1.6% and 10.8% above their longterm average respectively.

Sydney prices are forecast to rise between 2% and 5% in 2024, down from a strong 8.3% in 2023.

Melbourne is expected to see growth of between 1% and 4%.

Mr Kusher said Perth (+5% to +8%), Adelaide (+4% to +7%), and Brisbane (+3% to +6%) are likely to lead home price growth across the country after consistently recording strong gains in 2023.

Prices could ease in the smaller capital cities of Canberra (-1% to +2%), Hobart (-2% to +1%), and Darwin (-3% to 0%), the report predicts.

“Looking at home prices in 2024, it’s important to consider the current market trajectory, where interest rates could head, what could happen with housing supply, and the impact of the interest rate

hikes that have already occurred,” he said.

Reserve Bank of Australia handed households an early Christmas present on Tuesday after leaving interest rates on hold at its final meeting of the year.

But the previous 13 rate hikes between May 2022 and November 2023 have seen mortgage repayments surge by 62% on average, and reduced borrowing capacity by more than 30%.

AMP chief economist Shane Oliver estimates a variable rate borrower with a $600,000 mortgage will have seen around an extra $17,000 a year added to their mortgage payments.

“Most may have sought a better deal but even if they got a 0.5% discount on their mortgage rate it would now amount to an extra $14,900 in extra mortgage payments,” Mr Oliver said.

“It’s hard to see this not having a big impact on household spending.

Particularly given the RBA’s analysis based on variable and fixed borrowers that around one in seven households with a mortgage were already cash flow negative in July, which will likely be

higher by now.”

Rate cuts expected in 2024 Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday revealed the household savings rate fell to 1.1% in the September quarter, its lowest level since December 2007 and down from the pandemic high of 24%.

AMP estimates the household savings rate will turn negative over the coming quarters as households continue to run down buffers accumulated during the pandemic.

CBA head of Australian economics Gareth Aird said the savings rate is now comfortably below its fiveyear pre-pandemic average of 6%.

“The data is reflecting a stretched household sector that at the individual level is cutting back on spending due to the effects of elevated inflation, rising interest payments and a big lift in tax payable,” he said.

It’s the latest round of economic data to come in softer than expected, with inflation easing to 4.9% over the year to October, raising bets that the RBA may be forced to start cutting rates next year.

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Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Samaj Havan Yajna Satsang at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre

For further information on Havan Satsang program at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre 198 Learoyd Road Willawong QLD 4110 please contact Vice President Mrs.Sushila Pathik 33146059 ओ३म ्

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Inc members held a rewarding/gratifying Havan Yajna and a very fruitful constructive and successful Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19/11/2023 at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre.

Members attended the AGM with great enthusiasm, confidence and positivity willing to work for the betterment of the organisation/Samaj and to do good to the world with righteousness, integrity, uprightness and fairness. Numerous matters of concerning the Samaj were deliberated during the meeting and the election of office bearers was conducted.

Patron of APSQ Retd Justice Pandit Devendra

Pathik Ji and former President Dr. Sukhvir Singh Ji both thanked all the members for their excellent contribution, teamwork, support and cooperation throughout the year and looked forward to members support, collaboration and participation in all future

Samaj activities .

Office bearers/Executive Committee members for 2023-2024.

President- Mrs Nirmala Ray. Vice President-Dr. Sukhvir Singh, Mrs Sushila Pathik and Mr Arunesh Prasad.

General Secretary-Mr Hari Chand.

Assistant SecretaryRajesh Chand.

Treasurer- Mrs Roslene Suman Chand.

Assistant Treasurer-Mr Dinesh Kumar.

Executive Committee Members- Mrs Kaushilya Kumar, Mr Ajit Deshwal,Mrs Lakshmi Singh, Mrs Aruna Deo, Mrs Sushila Sen and Mr Satish Chand, Mr Danny Singh, Mr Ravinder Singh.

The following were also unanimously appointed by the APSQ membersPatron-Pandit Devendra Pathik and Auditor-Mr. Jitendra Kumar.

Current trustees of APSQ are Mr.Sukarm Pal Singh Mr.Mul Chand and Mr Dick Sen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024 The new year is celebrated all over the world with fun and excitement. The day is celebrated in different places throughout the world, like a festival. New Year is celebrated with great pomp and cheerfulness all over the world and people celebrate in their own way. The new year for different society is different and its significance also differs among different cultures . The celebration of the new year reflects towards a new beginning and it teaches us to move forward. Whatever we did last year, successful or unsuccessful, learning from last year to proceed with a new hope is the significance of this celebration.

It is a day of reflection for many, as they look back on the year's failures and successes, pinpointing certain aspects of their lives they wish to change for the better, things they could do differently in the new year without regrets.

Milestones like New Year's Day merrymaking in our

in our visions, missions, and the journey in our lives towards our destinations.

Let's start fresh and make meaningful positive changes in 2024. May the New Year bring you all good health ,grand adventures, great opportunities, happiness, peace, and prosperity.

lives provides a great opportunity for us to stop to take a breather, so as to be

18 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

able to reassess our bearings in life; to see where we are as part of the bigger picture

ईश्वर संसार का राजा है ।

यदि आप सख ु ी जीवन जीना चाहते हैं, तो आपको सबसे पहले ईश्वर को संसार का राजा, आपके कर्मों का साक्षी, और सच्चा न्यायाधीश मानना होगा। इस वाक्य को सदा याद रखें और बार-बार दोहराएं, कि "ईश्वर हमारे कर्मों को सदा दे खता है । उन कर्मों का ठीक प्रकार से हिसाब रखता है , और समय आने पर हमारे कर्मों का ठीक-ठीक फल भी दे ता है ।" इतनी बात बार-बार दोहराएं। प्रतिदिन कम से कम 10 बार दोहराएं। धीरे -धीरे यह सिद्धांत आपके मन में बैठ जाएगा। यदि यह सिद्धांत आपके मन में बैठ गया, कि ईश्वर पूर्ण न्यायकारी है । वह सब कर्मों का ठीक-ठीक फल दे गा, माफ बिल्कु ल नहीं करे गा। तो इससे आपका स्वभाव अच्छा बनेगा। आप अच्छे काम करें गे, और बरु ाइयों से बचें गे। क्योंकि मनुष्य का यह मनोविज्ञान है , कि दं ड कोई भी भोगना नहीं चाहता। यदि बुरे काम करें गे, तो ईश्वर अवश्य ही दं ड दे गा। इसलिए दं ड को समझने और याद रखने वाले लोग गलतियां नहीं करते। जैसे आप चौराहे पर ट्रैफिक

पुलिस वालों के दं ड को समझ कर लालबत्ती पार नहीं करते। इसलिए सब ु ह शाम ईश्वर का ध्यान करें ।सबके साथ सच्चाई और ईमानदारी से व्यवहार करें । झठ ू छल कपट धोखा अन्याय बेईमानी आदि पापों से बचें । यही सख ु ी जीवन जीने का रहस्य है । स्वामी विवेकानन्द परिव्राजक, निदे शक -दर्शन योग महाविद्यालय ओ३म ्

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Tertiary Hospital in Fiji: A Dream That Still Remains a Dream care for benefit of all.

Basically, there are three levels of health care: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary:

Thakur Ranjit Singh, FIJI PUNDIT I had widely written very comprehensive four-part-series on this extraordinary tertiary institution in Lautoka, when we were hoodwinked by the Lautoka heart surgery.

There is a 40acre land in Lautoka adjacent to Golf Course, and all proposals had been in the pipeline for very long.

Two loyal world-renowned medical sons of Fiji, Pathologist Dr Karam Singh (Sydney) and Carcinologist Dr Michael Sushil Chandra (Iowa, USA) had commenced this over forty years ago, and still trying, after going through four past Prime Ministers: Ratu Mara (Alliance), Sitiveni Rabuka (SVT), Mahendra Chaudhry (Peoples Coalition) and Laisenia Qarase (SDL).

All attempts over four decades fizzled out due to either political instability or political misfortunes.

These two dedicated Fiji sons are no longer young, they are ageing octogenarians (over 80), and the time is running out.

It was hoped the People Coalition Government will make a difference, but little appears to have changed in Fiji’s Ministry of Health.

Dr Singh had written to the new Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Antonio Lalabalavu on 29 December, 2022 and both the Doctors subsequently met the government, and were given new approvals and blessing (see below), but it appears Minister Dr Lalabalavu and his Permanent Secretary, are operating on different frequencies to the PM and his Deputy.

THE TYPES OF MEDICAL HEALTH CARE To get an appreciation of what Fiji needs, I will attempt to educate on the different levels of health

1) PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. This consists of care given to patients in the private GP offices, outpatient clinics, dispensaries and small community or rural hospitals staffed by general practitioners.

Examples are Savusavu, Taveuni, Navua, Tavua or Ba Aspen hospitals/ dispensaries/ health centres.

Aircraft analogy: a piper sigleengined propellor airplane, good for local island-hopping only.

2) SECONDARY HEALTH CARE. These are regional hospitals with facilities for x-ray, labs etc. and have full time staff of specialists in general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and genecology.

Examples of these in Fiji are the CWM Hospital, Lautoka Hospital and the Labasa Hospital.

These centres get referrals from the primary care, and handle general surgical procedures etc.

They refer complicated cases such as cardiac, cancer etc, requiring specialist treatment to tertiary facilities overseas.

Aircraft analogy: Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, suitable for domestic services only 3) TERTIARY HEALTH CARE These facilities are the most advanced and have full time specialists and subspecialists in all facets of medicine and surgery disciplines.

They offer comprehensive tertiary care to the patients, and have the full capabilities of handling cardiac, neurological, cancer and all the other subspecialty cases in medicine and surgical disciplines.

There is no tertiary hospital in Fiji and the surrounding South Pacific Island countries now.

Examples of tertiary hospitals would be Auckland Public Hospital, Auckland Mercy Hospital, St George Hospitals in Sydney, Batra and the Apollo Hospital in India, among others Aircraft analogy: Boeing Jumbo 747, Dreamliner, or Airbus A 350 or A380, - world-class planes for going around the world.

And this third one, Tertiary

Cardiologist DR MICHAEL SUSHIL CHANDRA of Iowa, USA facilities is what we have been dreaming for over four decades.

Clarification: Suva Private Hospital remains a primary-care hospital. It was started by some GPs and hence remains a primary - care hospital. It is not a secondary like CWM Hospital, as it locums the specialists from there on a parttime basis BENEFITS OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN FIJI 1) A Big Boost to Regional Cooperation This tertiary hospital project has the potential to be the biggest regional cooperation after USP. This facility aims to develop a HUB and Spoke Model, with hub being the advanced Tertiary care hospital in Fiji supported

by Secondary care facilities in neighbouring countries, like Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and others.

2) Promoting and Enhancing Pacific Medical Education Medical education throughout Fiji in other scattered institutions and Fiji School of Medicine would link with expertise and facilities to provide world-class exposure and medical education in Fiji, and promote medical education in the wider Pacific Forum countries.

3) Other Benefits 1) Promoting regionalism and tertiary medical education in Fiji and the Pacific 2) Tertiary healthcare for Fijians, with partnership from Itaukei Institutions.

3) Boost and potential for medical tourism 4) Enhance confidence in Fiji by South Pacific Diaspora.

DR KARAM SINGH-pathologist -Sydney, Australia 4) Proposed Facilities There will be 120-200 beds with provision of expansion, specialised operating theatres, dialysis chairs/ machines, extensive diagnostics capabilities, comprehensive medical laboratories, pharmacy, specialist doctors in respective areas, inhouse ambulance and recuperating accommodation facilities with 360-degree view on Tavakubu hill.

Support of Deputy PM/ Minister for Tourism.

On 21 April, Deputy PM and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka wrote to the two doctors expressing his support on the establishment of an Internationally Accredited World-Class Tertiary Hospital in Fiji. He expressed that such a facility in Fiji would not only enhance the quality of healthcare services, but also improve Fiji's position as a medical tourism destination in the South Pacific.

“Health is now an integral part of tourism, as the new norm postCOVID places health standards as a key determinant in the choice of destination. For Fiji, the huge 'baby boomers' segment continues to avoid Fiji due to questions relating to health standards and facilities.

We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens,” he told them.

He pledged full support of the government to establish a firstclass medical facility in Fiji. ” We are very grateful that members of the Fiji diaspora are returning to invest in their homeland, and we stand ready to support your project in bringing it to fruition.”

Views of Sitiveni Rabuka as PAP leader and then as PM Sitiveni Rabuka, when PAP leader, had already blessed this project three years ago,

Happy New Year = Live in Christ Jesus said “Arise and Shine…”

2 Corinthians 5: 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Dear Reader, and marvelous a truth.

We are excited to bring you To experience a happy new the Good News for 2024. Our year, we need new mindset. To theme simple and clear; to make get new mind set we need to God real and personal. And to cut off the old mindset. Just as reveal our Creator as a God of our computer cannot run on old compassion and forgiveness. So software after we have installed that we may know how to relate a new one. We need to know to Him. Just like a Father and that our past mistakes and sins Children have a loving and living are removed. Just as a virus is relationships. detected and erased from our It is important to understand computer. that God is not an object or an Virus in human life is the work image or an imagination of of evil one, The Bible calls him human mind. God is a living satan and the devil. He comes and loving Person. His awesome to corrupt, steal and destroy power and characters are human life. But Jesus came give unchanging from generation us new and an abundant life. to generation. We find this (John 10:10) fascinating truth revealed This new life is the result of through the pages of The Holy receiving Jesus into our heart Bible. This is a life transforming and mind. Therefore, anyone 20 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

is in Christ, qualifies to receive new mind and heart. This happens as God’s Holy Spirit begins to shape our life day by day. This is illustrated in the nature by the way a butterfly is born. A worm in the cocoon is transformed into a beautiful creature. This new creation is completely different in colors and characters. Similarly, we can be transformed by power of God’s word and Spirit.

The Word of God teaches us how we can cut of our past sins.

It even reveals us how to break off from our generational curses and enter into the blessings of God. We need to recognise that we all have fallen short of God’s moral standards. Let us look at the true story of a religious guru named Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was a religious guru lived in the middle east 2000 years ago. In his quest to know God personally, he came to Jesus. Nicodemus recognised that Jesus was sent by God. But he failed to see that Jesus is the eternal God in human form.

Jesus was always self-existing from the beginning as the Word of God. His birth through virgin

Mary was fore told through many prophets of Israel. Like this guru, we must seek God with all our heart and mind in complete humility. Only then we begin to experience the God of grace.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” That makes Jesus as the Author of all life, and the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

If you follow a religion, it will never fully satisfy your longing to meet the living and loving God. But if you follow the One who truly loves you, you will begin to experience true new life. You begin to His plan to give you a purpose driven life.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, that unless one is born again in the spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God. Humans can only reproduce humans, but only the Holy Spirit can give rebirth to our spiritual life. God sent Jesus to this world to save all humanity from the sin and

The TERTIARY HOSPITAL CONCEPT: This is the concept of custom and purpose designed and built tertiary hospital complex in Tavakubu, Lautoka, Fiji. It has been 40 years in planning with approval from 4 Prime Ministers but stuck now with the Fiji First Government. The only chance of it going ahead is a change in government.

Lautoka Hospital is a secondary hospital, badly run down, hardly able to provide toilet papers, Panadol, clean sheets etc, is expected to commence heart surgery by Khaiyum-chosen medical outsourcing company, ASPEN. Agreement was signed over three years ago, but no show till strategically timed just before the election. Such delipidated hospital cannot be renovated as a tertiary facility with second-hand equipment.

No medical specialist worth his salt would wish to work in an illdesigned and ill-equipped neglected hospital, masquerading as a tertiary Hospital. and sounded very visionary.

He had seen it as a “catalyst” to other sectors of our economy in generating investment and creating employment opportunities, particularly in Fiji’s growing tourism industry and its direct linkage to other sectors, such as agriculture.

Just last month, on 13 June, 2023, PM Rabuka reiterated his initial blessings and provided Fiji government support for this project headed by Dr Singh and Dr Chandra in a letter of support to them.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Fiji, I am pleased to express my support for your endeavour to establish a Tertiary Hospital. I believe that this new hospital will go a long way to complement other existing health facilities in the country to bridge the healthcare delivery gap and improve access to quality healthcare services,” he said.

He assured the government’s support and cooperation to facilitate the establishment of

this hospital and wished the two medical maestros of Fiji every success in their efforts to establish this tertiary facility, and he looked forward to witnessing its successful completion.

Indeed, what a dream of the PM and his Deputy.

It can only become a reality if the Minister of Health and his Permanent Secretary can have the same vision and operate on the same frequency. It certainly appears this is not happening.

Just pray the two doctors do not give up because of this bureaucratic bumbling.

In the meantime, we need to keep on dreaming…...and keep saying….FIJI HAS A DREAM….

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, a media commentator and a blogger based in Auckland. He has written extensively in a four-part blog series on the tertiary hospital in Fiji, and they are in the bottom shelf of Fiji authorities. Views expressed here are that of the author and not necessarily that of this publication]

death. Because we all have fallen to a decease called ‘sins of the soul’. Our blood is corrupted, our soul is deceived by the devil of this world.

God has made a remedy for all our sin and sickness of the soul. The only remedy is the blood of Jesus. God loved the world and He has given His Son. He alone can save the world from eternal judgement.

How can we escape from the grips of sin and satan? And how can we forget the regreats of the past year?

Only when we put our trust in Lord Jesus and believe that Jesus died for our sins to redeem us from our real enemy the devil.

God loved the world. And God took real action to save you and me. God gave to the world what the world really needed to live in peace. God needed to wash our sins by the sinless and spotless blood of His Son. For the Life is in the blood, and the blood of eternal God alone can offer eternal life. Only condition is that we repent of our wrong ways and put our hope in Jesus Christ.

significant purpose of your new life. No religion or tradition can give you an unconditional love; and a supreme love that is offered by Jesus Christ is an invitation to save your soul.

This is the way to our Mukti and Moksha. Here is the prayer that lead you to a happy new year.

For I am absolutely convinced that finding and receiving God’s love and mercy is the most

Therefore, we invite you to pray this with a sincere heart; ‘Dear Father God in Heaven, today I thank you for your word that has touched my heart.

I repent of my wrongs and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart that Jesus died for my sins, God raised Jesus from the dead for my Mukti (Salvation). Blood of Jesus has reconciled me to the loving relationship with my creator. Now help me to know Jesus more and more so that I can grow in the knowledge of your grace and mercy. Teach me your ways so that I can be person who will learn to honour you and learn to love each other’.

Amen Please email to us your encounter experience, so we can help you to grow in the understanding your Creator and Redeemer. navig8grace@gmail. com

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 21

Bhagawan Shree Swaminarayan Shree Swaminarayan started the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu Vaishnav tradition.

His followers consider him an incarnation of God and adore him as Bhagawan.

They worship him in parallel with other Hindu divine personalities in temples.

Swaminarayan advocated rational religious interpretation of scriptures and worked for the welfare of women and poor, and for eradication of prevailing social ills.

Early life – Swaminarayan was born in Chhapaiya village near Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on 3rd April 1781. According to the Vikram Samvat calendar, it was Chaitra Shukla Navami, the day of Lord Ram’s birthday. The newborn baby was named Ghanashyam Pande. His father’s name was Dharmadev Pande and mother’s was Premvati Pande.

Before Ghanashyam’s birth, his parents had visited Varanasi on a pilgrimage. They listened to religious discourses there and became disciples of Swami Ramanand. During the trip, they visualised in a dream God in person, who was pleased with them and promised to be born as their son. Subsequently, Ghanashyam was born on the Ram Navami day confirming their dream's veracity. He had older and younger brothers named Rampratap and Ichchharam respectively.

Both parents had a religious disposition, which influenced Ghanashyam in his childhood. At the age of eight, the family priest performed his sacred thread ceremony. By the age of ten, Ghanashyam had mastered the Veds, the Upanishads, the Gita, the Ramayan and the Mahabharat under the guidance of his father.

Subsequently, Ghanashyam accompanied him during his trip to Varanasi to participate in philosophical discourses. He also engaged in discussions, which were held among the learned scholars. Witnessing his performance, scholars were impressed with his intelligence and learning capacity.

The family moved from Chhapaiya to Ayodhya.

Ghanashyam used to attend religious discourses at various venues in the city. He noticed anomalies in religious teachings of various preachers and argued with them on their impractical statements.

Before he turned to the age of eleven years, his mother and father passed away.

Ghanashyam felt utterly detached from a normal life.

His brother Rampratap tried to arrange his engagement for a wedding to attract him in domestic chores, but he declined. He wanted to understand spirituality from religious gurus, who lived in the Himalayas and other sacred sites.

At the age of 11, in June 1792, he left his home and

started a journey towards the Himalayas. He adopted a new name, Neelkanth Brahmachari, and sought to learn from sages and religious scholars the tenets of Hinduism that included Jeev, Ishwar, Maya, Brahma and Parabrahma.

Over the next eight months, he travelled to various pilgrimage sites including Haridwar, Kedarnath, Badrinath and Lake Manasarovar. He met sages and discussed his queries with them.

He returned to the plains and travelled via Ayodhya to Nepal. He wandered through mountain ranges and arrived at the Muktinath temple, where he performed an austere penance for over two months. He stayed for five months at the residence of the king of Butwal, a kingdom in Nepal. He then travelled towards Pokhara and en route, he met Gopal Yogi, an expert in Astang Yog. Neelkanth learned under his tutelage and attained mastery in Astang Yog over a period of one year.

In 1797, he arrived at Kamakhya temple in Assam. He detected iniquitous activities in the name of religion by so called Tantriks and Mantriks. He visited Gangasagar and then arrived at Jagannathpuri in 1798. He also travelled to South India and visited Venkatadri, Kanchipuram and Srirangam.

At Srirangam, he read writings of Ramanujacharya and other scholars and attained proficiency in the Vishishtadvait philosophy.

Meeting with Swami Ramanand - From the South, travelling north through Maharastra, he arrived in Gujarat. He went to Loj, a village in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Swami Ramanand, the founder of Uddhav Sampraday, had his ashram in Loj. Ramanand, whose childhood name was Ram Sharma, was born in Ayodhya. In search of knowledge he left his home at an early age. A guru named Atmanand initiated him into a religious order and named him Swami Ramanand. He travelled to South India and stayed at Srirangam. He studied Ramanujacharya’s books and became a devoted disciple.

He acquired divine vision in a trance and began preaching about Bhakti, Dharma, Gyan and Vairagya.

Ramanujacharya’s other devotees disliked his activities. He left Srirangam and came to Vrindavan.

There, he acquired divine insight.

Lord Krishna reminded him in a dream that he was Uddhav, his friend in a previous life and advised him to spread the knowledge that was passed on to him. Ramanand started a separate Sampraday called Uddhav Sampraday.

Swami Ramanand travelled far and wide and initiated people into

22 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

his Sampraday. Uddhav Sampraday flourished, and many devotees and sadhus joined his group. He had a large number of followers in Gujarat. They treated him as a true Guru who would help them attain salvation.

Among his many devotees, Swami Muktanand was a senior sadhu. He was responsible for managing the Loj ashram.

Swami Ramanand lived in Bhuj, Kachchha region during this period.

Neelkanth met Swami Muktanand, who realised the itinerant’s divine aura.

He informed Neelkanth about Swami Ramanand’s glory.

Neelkanth remembered his father’s words about his spiritual guru Swami Ramanand and realised that he was the same person. The atmosphere of the ashram impressed Neelkanth.

Neelkanth tested Muktanand on tenets of Hindu spirituality, including questions on Jeev, Ishwar, Maya, Brahma and Parabrahma.

Muktanand patiently answered all his queries. Neelkanth was pleased with Muktanand, and realised that Swami Ramanand would be even more accomplished.

He decided to stay at the ashram to meet Swami Ramanand. When local people learnt that the new Brahmachari was originally from Ayodhya, they began calling him Sarajudas after the name of the River Sarayu in Ayodhya.

After months of waiting to meet Ramanand, Sarajudas became impatient, and on Muktanand’s advice, he sent a letter to Swami Ramanand through a devotee. Swami Ramanand was pleased at receiving the letter and hearing about him from the messenger. He himself desired to see Sarajudas.

Both met in Piplana, and stayed together for four months.

Some times later, Swami Ramanand organised an initiation ceremony for Neelkanth Brahmachari.

He initiated him into his Uddhav Sampraday in October 1800, and named him Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni.

Subsequently, recognising his traits, Swami Ramanand appointed him to be his successor and to lead the Uddhav Sampraday.

Sahajanand was 21 years old. After thirteen days of Sahajanand’s selection, Swami Ramanand died.

Head of the Sampraday - Fourteen days later, Sahajanand Swami addressed a large assembly of devotees. He asked them to chant the Swaminarayan Maha-mantra. According to his interpretation, Swami in the Maha-mantra means devotee or Aksharbrahma. Narayan means Parabrahma or God. The term Swaminarayan signifies the intention of devotees to worship God. The Uddhav Sampraday came to be identified as the Swaminarayan Sampraday and Sahajanand Swami became known as Swaminarayan.

Devotees started chanting “Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan” in honour of their spiritual Guru. The chanting had a hypnotising effect on many devotees.

Swaminarayan introduced a puritanical approach to worshipping Krishna. His mode of worship was one of majesty similar to those promoted

by Vaishnav teachers such as Ramanujacharya and Yamunacharya. It differed from the licentious form of Krishna, which was popular among various other Krishna based Sampradays.

During his wandering, he had noticed malpractices at sacred places, which he tried to eradicate.

He introduced separate sections for male and female devotees in temples and religious gatherings.

He preached against the consumption of meat and intoxicants such as alcohol or drugs. He opposed animal sacrifice during

religious ceremonies.

He also advised against adultery, suicide, criminal activities, gambling, ghosts and tantric rituals. In some communities, female infanticide and the practice of Sati were common. He opposed these practices and supported widow remarriage.

During famine, he collected funds to help the poor. He encouraged his followers to combine devotion and dharma to lead a virtuous life. His followers took vows before becoming his disciple.

He welcomed people from all castes and religions in his Sampraday.

Thousands of people attended his sermons and joined his sect. He initiated over 2,000 sadhus, of which 500 were initiated as Paramhans, spiritual teachers regarded as having attained enlightenment.

They played significant roles in the growth of the Sampraday.

He encouraged a spiritually charged and morally pure community to tolerate, serve, and prosper together. He reaffirmed the principles of Hindu Sanatan Dharma by strengthening its three pillars: temples, scriptures, and the accomplished guru.

After becoming the head of the Sampraday, he started dressing in a white dhoti, saffron top and a small cap.

Later, he started wearing the garments his devotees offered him. In expensive attires, he looked like a Maharaja or God. He used to ride a horse on journeys and many sadhus followed him during his travels.

Shikshapatri and Vachanamrit are two essential books authored by Swaminarayan.

Shikshapatri is a small booklet containing 224 guidelines, which is to be followed for a balanced spiritual and social life. It is a collection of teachings that Swaminarayan taught his disciples during sermons.

Vachanamrit is a collection of his dialogues recorded from his discourses by his followers.

His devotees most commonly use it. It contains views on Dharma, Gyan, Vairagya, Bhakti, which are necessary for a Jeev to attain Moksha.

Swaminarayan arranged the construction of six large temples. The first was built in Ahmedabad in 1822. Subsequent temples were built in Bhuj, Vadtal, Dholera, Junagadh and Gadhada in Gujarat.

Swaminarayan communicated with leaders of other religions. He met with Reginald Heber, a contemporary Christian leader in India. Heber noted that around 200 horse-mounted disciples accompanied Swaminarayn as his bodyguards. Heber had 100 horse guards. As a result of the meeting, both leaders developed a mutual respect for each other.

Swaminarayn enjoyed a

good relationship with the British administration. In 1830, Swaminarayan met with the British Governor of Mumbai, Sir John Malcolm. The Governor praised Swaminarayan for bringing stability to several lawless regions of Gujarat.

Swaminarayan encouraged the colonial government to implement measures to stamp out the practice of Sati.

Moksha - Swaminarayan had been unwell since early 1830. When he realised that death was near, he gathered his followers and announced his departure.

On 1 June 1830, Jyeshth Shukla Dashami, after ritual bathing, he sat on a stool in lotus pose and passed away.

He was cremated according to Hindu rites at Lakshmi Wadi in Gadhada.

Before his death, Swaminarayan established a line of gurus as his successors. He set up two seats of leadership, one at Ahmedabad and the other at Vadtal. The administrative division of his followers into two groups was detailed in a document written by Swaminarayan called Desh Vibhaag Lekh.

Despite his progresive views on social issues, various religious groups criticised him and his movement.

He allowed himself to be worshipped at par with deities by his followers. He advocated for women’s progress but his actions supported the patriarchy. He promoted a casteless society but would not personally dine with the lower castes. He was criticised for accepting huge donations and dressing and travelling like a Maharaja.

He was accused of deviating from Veds and other ancient scriptures.

In the 20th century, due to varying interpretations of the original succession guidelines, several branches split-off from the main Sampraday.

The largest among them is Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which split off from the Vadtal Gadi in 1905.

Another major group is Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, which split off from the Ahmedabad Gadi in the 1940s.

The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha has develped into an international movement with thousands of centres spread around the world. It has built fascinating temples at many places in India, Europe, Africa and America.

Its temples are famous tourist attractions and are centres for displaying magnificence of Indian culture. Its volunteers and sadhus participate in many social, moral and spiritual care activities.

Swaminarayan’s teaching continue to propogate through his disciples, sadhus and temples.

—Awadhesh Sharma www.hinduguru.com.au

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 23

Who, What, Where, When...

The delightful Mc for the magnificent show

Ustad Surinder Khan on stage with select talented musicians at the Sham E Ghazal night

Darshil Shah, Ashutosh Saroch, Umesh Chandra OAM, Yousuf Alikhan and Kush Sami at the Ustad Surinder Khan concert

Paramjeet Namdhari controlled the sound for the show and filmed the event in 4K

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC, PSM addresses attendees at UN Human Rights Day 2023 at St John's Cathedral.

Parminder Singh (Harman), the man behind the successful show, worked hard to put together this magnificent show.

Clem Campbell President of the United Nations Association of Australia Queensland, thanks the Governor and everyone for attending the UN Human Rights Day 2023

The Cathedral Chamber Choir performed at UN Human Rights Day 2023 held at St John's Cathedral

Queensland Multicultural Council founder and trustees meet QMC committee members in preparation for the upcoming AGM 24 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

Who, What, Where, When...

Brisbane Community & Faith Leaders Dinner - Thursday, 14 December 2023, co-hosted by QPASTT and Multicultural Australia

Members of Lord Mayor Multicultural Round Table at the last meeting of 2023

Nicole Andronicus, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Micheal Chen ( Chair), and Kerry Xynias at the last Lord Mayor’s multicultural round table meeting for 2023

Globenet Realty proudly supports the United Fellowship. Umesh Chandra OAM and Usha Chandra received an appreciation award from Pratima Das.

A united Christmas fellowship arranged by Empowering Church coordinated

by Pastor Suresh Joseph Das ( Centre)

Guests at the last citizenship ceremony of 2023 organised by Brisbane City Council, The ceremony reception is held in the Gold Mirror room, and the post-citizenship reception with representative family is held in the Balmoral Room.

Jess Pugh MP and Police Commissioner Katarina Caroll APM join in the celebration of Diwali Annakut at Queensland Parliament House.

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Ex Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s last official event for the Indian Community in that capacity

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 25

TULSI PUJAN DIWAS WAS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT POMP & DEVOTION ON 25TH DECEMBER

The content of this article is taken from the satsang (spiritual discourse) of H.H. Sant Shri Asharam ji Bapu. Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in September 1893.

A hundred years after him, Pujya Bapu Ji addressed the same Parliament in September 1993 and the whole parliament reverberated with the chanting of Hari Om. Both of these world-renowned spiritual leaders addressed the audience for much longer period than the given time and the audience were absorbed in listening to them.

To save the youth who are being ruined due to the lustful festivals like valentine’s day, in 2007 Pujya Bapu ji-initiated celebrations of Matri-Pitri Pujan Diwas (Parents worship day) on 14th February. Pujya Bapu ji felt that, due to the blind imitation of Western culture there has been a steep rise in the incidences of alcoholism, suicide, and other immoral activities, especially among the youth during the last week of December. To rescue the youth from this debauchery and denigration, Pujya Bapu ji came up with the idea of worshipping a sacred Tulsi plant (holy basil). So, with a view to awaken the cultural pride of the India and to save the countrymen from mental slavery, in 2014, he initiated celebration of Tulsi Pujan Diwas on 25th December.

Dear readers, the popularity of Tulsi Pujan Diwas on 25th December is increasing year by year.

This had become a topic of discussion. Tulsi Pujan Diwas wishes and topics were seen largely on social media and Tulsi Pujan Diwas topics were all over in the printed media. Tulsi Pujan Diwas is a beautiful Hindu festival dedicated to worshipping the sacred Tulsi plant, revered as a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi. I hope that you too have celebrated Tulsi Pujan Diwas with great pomp and devotion.

The Tulsi plant holds medicinal properties and is considered a symbol of purity and life. Celebrating Tulsi Pujan Diwas also serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental awareness and living in harmony with nature.

The holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum also known as Tulsi plant, is a revered plant in Hinduism and Ayurveda for its spiritual and medicinal properties.

Tulsi Pujan Diwas is a special occasion that combines vibrant

celebrations, tradition, and devotion. This is a day to enjoy the bounty of Eternal Hindu culture, the beauty and importance of the Tulsi plant, as well as the spirit of communal brotherhood. It is a time for devotees to express their gratitude to Goddess Tulsi and Lord Vishnu for their blessings. They offer prayers for good health, prosperity, and happiness for themselves and their loved ones. In essence, Tulsi Pujan Diwas is a celebration of devotion, purity, and the divine feminine energy. It's a time to connect with nature, strengthen relationships, and seek blessings for a brighter and healthy future.

Celebrations of Tulsi Pujan Diwas on 25th December was initiated by Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu in India in 2014. Today, it is widely observed around the world.

The festival's celebration has gained popularity as a result of broader initiatives to raise public awareness of Hindu culture and the many health advantages of the Tulsi plant. Every year, Shri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti, Yuwa Sewa Sangh, Bal Sanskar Kendras and Mahila Mandal wings of Sant Shri Asharamji Ashram organise this ceremony across the globe.

Free distribution of Tulsi plants and Tulsi plant awareness books was arranged. The events were organised in temples, parks, schools, colleges, corporate offices, societies and in the big malls.

In India, people start preparations for this event weeks earlier. BJP MLA from Jaipur's Hawa Mahal seat Balmukund Acharya swung into action, organized a state level event and launched a Tulsi Pujan Diwas Poster.

Through the organisation of this event in schools and colleges, the Bal Sanskar Kendra team plays a vital role in educating and connecting the younger generation with the Sanatan culture. A large number of people thronged the celebration venues in schools, temples, societies, malls and parks to celebrate Tulsi Pujan with the full devotion. Kirtan Yatras were organized at many places and the atmosphere was filled with the slogans of “Bapu Asharamji ki jai”. Thousands of poor were given free food, clothes, blankets, shoes and other essential items.

This event was observed outside of India in America, Singapore, Australia, and England. In Australia Tulsi Poojan Diwas was observed nationwide by Shri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti

26 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

Australia & New Zealand Inc. throughout Australia's major cities. There were hundreds of participants in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

In London, the event was organised in International Siddhashram Shakti Centre.

To listen 24X7 live divine Satsang of Pujya Bapu Ji, please search “Mangalmay live” on google, visit http:// www.ashram.org/live or search “THE SBM STUDIO” on you Tube. By the Divine Inspiration of Bapu ji, the weekly sessions of Bal Sanskar and yoga are held in Brisbane and Sydney. To know more about His Divine Holiness Bapu Ji, please watch this video. https://bit. ly/2uZvJuN Shri Yoga Vedanta

Seva Samiti Australia & New Zealand Inc. will be organizing Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas on 14th February and will be distributing free school bags to kids on Matri Pitri Poojan Diwas in all cities

of Australia & New Zealand.

To get a free copy of monthly spiritual magazine RishiPrasad in your mailbox in Australia or to get free online subscription of Rishi -Prasad, please contact by email at

bskamd@gmail.com or by WhatsApp/phone at +61 426 834 434 & +61 405 277 802.

Please read more about our Vedic culture in the next issue of The Brisbane Indian Times.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 27

Isra & Miraj

By Ml. Nawaaz Ashrafi Al-Isra’ & Al-Mi^raj Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the One Who exists without a place. To Him belong the endowments and proper commendations. May Allah raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad and his kind Al and Companions and protect his nation from what he fears for them. May the Lord of Heavens and Earth grant us the sincere intentions and guide us to the acceptable deeds.

Thereafter, Allah sent the prophets as a mercy to the slaves and supported them with miracles to indicate the truthfulness of their message. Of all the prophets, our Prophet, Muhammad, was blessed with the most miracles. Al-Isra’ and alMi^raj are among the many miracles of Prophet Muhammad.

The miracle of Al-Isra’ is confirmed in the Qur’an. In Surat al-Isra’, Ayah 1, Allah said: which means: [Praise be to Allah Who enabled His slave, Muhammad, to make the journey at night from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid alAqsa in Jerusalem, which is surrounded by a blessed land.] This journey is also confirmed in the sahih hadith. As such, there is scholarly consensus (ijma^) Prophet Muhammad journeyed in body and soul the night of al-Isra’ from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsain Jerusalem. Moreover, these scholars indicated the person who denies al-Isra’ is a blasphemer for belying the explicit text of the Qur’an.

Before the Prophet took this night journey, the ceiling of the house in which he was staying was opened, and Jibril descended. He cut open the chest of Prophet Muhammad and washed that open area with Zamzam water. Then he emptied something from a container into the chest of the Prophet to increase his wisdom as well as the strength of his belief. This was done to prepare the Messenger of Allah for that which he had yet to see in the upper world from among the wonders of the creation of Allah.

Al-Isra’ After the Prophet performed the Evening Prayer (^Isha’), Jibril came to him with a white animal, slightly larger than a donkey yet smaller than a mule. This animal was the buraq,–one of the animals of Paradise. Jibril held the buraq by his ear and told the Prophet to mount it. When the buraq was mounted, the Prophet set forth.

The buraq is a very fast animal; the length of the buraq’s stride is the farthest distance it’s eye can see. The Prophet and Jibril arrived to a land with palm trees. Jibril

told the Prophet to dismount and pray, so the Prophet dismounted the buraq and prayed two rak^as. Jibril asked him, “Do you know where you prayed?” and the Prophet answered, “Allah knows best.” Jibril told him, “This is Yathrib; this is Taybah. “.” (These are two names for the city of al-Madinah.)

Before the Prophet emigrated to al-Madinah, it was called Taybah and Yathrib.

It earned the name alMadinah after the Prophet emigrated to it.

The buraq continued with the Prophet and Jibril until they reached another place.

Again Jibril told the Prophet to get down and pray. The Prophet dismounted there and prayed two rak^as.

Jibril informed the Prophet of the name of that place; it was Tur Sina’.

Once again the buraq took off with the Prophet and Jibril. Once again it stopped, and the Prophet dismounted and prayed two rak^as. This was in Bayt Lahm, where Prophet ^Isa (Jesus) was born. Then the buraq continued with the Messenger of Allah until they entered the city of Jerusalem. There the Prophet went to Masjid alAqsa. Outside was a ring used by the Messengers of Allah to tie their animals.

The Prophet tied his buraq to this ring. Then the Prophet entered the masjid where Allah assembled for him all the Prophets–from Adam to ^Isa. Prophet Muhammad moved forward and led them all in prayer. This is an indication the Prophet is higher in status than all the rest of the prophets and messengers.

1On Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, Allah enabled him to see some of His wondrous creations. Allah enabled the Prophet to see the world (dunya) like an old woman.

However, this old woman was wearing a great deal of jewelry, and in this there is an indication signifying the reality of the world.

2- Allah enabled the Prophet to see Iblis. The Prophet saw something on the side of the road which did not dare to stand in his way or speak to him.

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What the Prophet saw was Iblis. Originally, Iblis was a believer and lived with the angels in Paradise. When Allah ordered the angels to prostrate (sujud) to Prophet Adam, Iblis was ordered to prostrate to him as well.

The angels prostrated to Adam in obedience to Allah, because angels do not disobey Allah. However, Iblis did not obey, and he objected to the order of Allah. He said, “You created me out of fire, and You created him out of clay. How do You order me to prostrate to him?” So this objection by Iblis to the order of Allah was the first blasphemy he committed.

3- On his journey, the Prophet smelled a very nice odor. He asked Jibril about this pleasant scent and Jibril informed him this good smell was coming from the grave of the woman whose duty used to be to comb Pharaoh’s daughter’s hair. This woman was a good, pious believer.

One day, as she was combing Pharaoh’s daughter’s hair, the comb fell from her hand.

At this she said, “”Bismillah.

“Pharaoh’s daughter asked her, “Do you have a god other than my father?” The woman said, “Yes. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allah.”

Pharaoh’s daughter told her father what had happened.

Pharaoh demanded this woman blaspheme and leave Islam, but she refused.

At that, Pharaoh threatened to kill her children. He brought a great pot of water and built a great fire under it. When the water boiled, Pharaoh brought her children and started to drop them into that pot one after the other. Throughout all this, the woman remained steadfast to Islam, even when Pharaoh reached her youngest child–a little boy still breast feeding–but she felt pity for him. At that, Allah enabled this child to speak. He said to his mother, “O Mother, be patient. The torture of the Hereafter is far more severe than the torture of this life, and do not be reluctant, because you are right.” At this the woman requested Pharaoh collect her bones and the bones of her children and bury them in the same grave. Pharaoh promised her that–then dropped her into that boiling

water. She died as a martyr.

The good odor the Prophet smelled coming from her grave is an indication of her high status.

4- During his trip, the Prophet saw people who were planting and reaping in two days. Jibril told the Prophet, “These were the people who fight for the sake of Allah (mujahidun). “).”

5- The Prophet also saw people whose lips and tongues were clipped with scissors made of fire. Jibril told the Prophet, “These are the speakers of sedition (fitna) who call people to misguidance.”

6- He also saw a bull which exited a very small outlet, then was trying in vain to return through that small outlet. Jibril told the Prophet, “This is the example of the bad word– once spoken, it cannot be returned.”

7- The Prophet saw people grazing like animals, with very little clothing on their private parts. Jibril told the Prophet, “These are the ones who refused to pay zakat. “.”

8- The Prophet saw angels smashing some people’s heads with rocks.

These heads would return to the shape they had been, and then the angels would smash their heads again– and so on. Jibril told the Prophet, “These are the ones whose heads felt too heavy to perform prayer– the ones who used to sleep without praying.”

9- On his journey the Prophet saw people who were competing to eat some rotten meat–ignoring meat that was sliced and unspoiled. Jibril told the Prophet, “These are people from your nation who leave out that which is permissible (halal), and consume that which is forbidden ((haram).

“This reference was to the fornicators, that is, the ones who left out the permissible (marriage) and committed sins (fornication).

10- Also, the Prophet saw people who were drinking from the fluid coming from the bodies of the fornicators, (water mixed with blood).

Jibril indicated to the Prophet these were the ones who were drinking the

alcohol which is prohibited in this world.

11- The Prophet saw people scratching their faces and chests with brass finger nails. Jibril said, “These are the examples of those who commit gossip ((ghibah). “).”

Al-Mi^raj 1- After the Prophet took this night journey from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, he ascended to the upper heavens. The Prophet ascended to the heaven on stairs, called al-mirqat, in which one step is made of gold and the next of silver, and so on. These stairs are veiled from us. The Prophet ascended these stairs until he reached the first heaven.

When the Prophet and Jibril arrived at the first heaven, Jibril requested the gate to be opened. The angel assigned to that gate asked Jibril, “Who is with you?”

Jibril answered, “It is Muhammad.” The angel asked Jibril, “Was he dispatched? Is it time for him to ascend to the heaven?”

Jibril said, “Yes.” So, the gate was opened for him, and Prophet Muhammad entered the first heaven.

There, Prophet Muhammad saw Prophet Adam. To Adam’s right, the Prophet saw some bodies, and to Adam’s left, other bodies. If Adam would look to his right he would laugh, and if he would look to his left he would cry. Adam was seeing the souls of his descendants. Those on his right were his descendants who would die as believers and those on his left were his descendants who would die as non-believers.

Then the Prophet ascended to the second heaven. In this second heaven was where Prophet Muhammad saw Prophets ^Isa and Yahya. ^Isa and Yahya are cousins; their mothers were sisters. They welcomed the Prophet and made supplication (du^a’) for him for good things.

The Prophet ascended to the third heaven, where he found Prophet Yusuf. Prophet Yusuf was extremely handsome.

Allah bestowed half the beauty on Yusuf. Yusuf received the Prophet with a warm welcome and made

supplication (du^a’) for him for good things.

Then the Prophet ascended to the fourth heaven, where he found Prophet Idris.

Idris welcomed the Prophet and made supplication (du^a’) for him for good things. In the fifth heaven, the Prophet encountered Harun, the brother of Prophet Musa. In the sixth heaven, he encountered Prophet Musa. Each of these Prophets received Prophet Muhammad with a warm welcome and made supplication (du^a’)’) for him for good things.

Then the Prophet ascended to the seventh heaven, and that is where our Messenger saw Prophet Ibrahim. Prophet Ibrahim is the best of the prophets after our prophet, Muhammad.

The Prophet saw Prophet Ibrahim with his back against al-Bayt al-Ma^mur.

To the inhabitants of the skies, al-Bayt al-Ma^mur is like the Ka^bah is to us, the inhabitants of the earth.

Every day 70,000 angels go there; then exit from it, and never return. The next day another 70,000 angels go, come out, and never return.

This will continue until the Day of Judgment. In this, there is an indication as to the greatness of the numbers of the angels–their numbers are far more than the numbers of the humans and the jinns together.

In the seventh heaven, Prophet Muhammad saw Sidrat al-Muntaha–a very big tree of sidr. Each of the fruits of this tree is as large as a big jar. The leaves of this tree are similar to the ears of the elephants. Sidrat al-Muntahais an extremely beautiful tree. It is visited by butterflies made of gold.

When these butterflies gather on this tree, its beauty is beyond description.

Then the Prophet ascended to what is beyond the seven skies; he entered Paradise. He saw examples of the inhabitants of Paradise and how their situation would be. He saw most of the inhabitants of Paradise are the poor people .

The Prophet saw other things on the night of his ascension. He saw Malik, the angel in charge of the Hellfire. Malik did not smile at the Prophet when he saw him, and the Prophet asked why. In answer to the Prophet’s question, Jibril said, “Malik did not smile since the day Allah created him. Had he smiled for anyone, he would have smiled for you.”

In Paradise, the Prophet saw some of the bounties Allah prepared for the inhabitants of Paradise. He saw the Hur ul-^In: females Allah created who are not humans or jinn. They are in Paradise and will be married to those men Allah willed them to marry.

CONTD. ON PG 29

Isra & Miraj CONTD. ON PG 28 The Prophet saw the wildan ul-mukhalladun: creations of Allah who are not human, jinn, or angels.

They are a very beautiful creation of Allah whose appearance is like laid-out pearls. They are servants of the inhabitants of Paradise.

The least in status of the People of Paradise will have 10,000 wildan ulmukhalladun to serve him.

Each one of them would carry a tray of gold in one hand and a tray of silver in the other hand.

The Prophet saw the Throne (^Arsh), which is the ceiling of Paradise.

The Throne is the largest creation of Allah in size; Allah did not create anything bigger in size than it. The seven heavens and the earth in comparison to the Kursiyy, are like a ring thrown in a desert, and the Kursiyy in comparison to the Throne, is like a ring thrown in a desert. The seven heavens and the earth in comparison to the Throne are like a seed of mustard compared to the ocean. Allah created the Throne as a sign of His Power and He did not create the Throne to sit on it.

Allah created the Throne to show His Power. It is carried by four angels, and on the Day of Judgment, it will be carried by eight.

The Prophet said he was permitted to speak about one of these angels who carry the Throne.

In describing this angel, the Prophet told us the distance between his ear lobe and shoulder is the distance a fast-flying bird would cover in 700 years.

Then the Prophet ascended beyond Paradise.

He reached a place where he heard the creaking of the pens used by the angels who are copying from the Preserved Tablet. It is at that location Prophet Muhammad heard the Kalam of Allah, which is an attribute of the Self of Allah. He heard the Kalam of Allah which does not resemble our speech–so it is not something that occurs bit after bit. It is not letter after letter or a word that comes after another word.

Rather, it is an attribute of Allah which is eternal and everlasting. It does not resemble our attributes. The Kalam of Allah has neither silence nor interruptions. It is an attribute of Allah, and it does not resemble the attributes of the creation.

The Prophet understood several things from hearing this Kalam of Allah. He understood the obligation of the five Obligatory Prayers.

At first, Allah obligated fifty prayers. When Prophet Muhammad encountered Musa, Musa told him to

make supplication (du^a’) to his Lord to ease the obligation of fifty (50) prayers, because his nation could not handle that. Musa said, “I have experience with the people of Israel, and I know your nation cannot bear that.” So the Prophet asked his Lord to lessen these prayers for his people. Five prayers were eliminated. Once again, Musa told the Prophet to ask Allah to lessen the number of prayers. Allah did. Nine times the Prophet made supplication to Allah to lessen these prayers– until these prayers were lessened to five Obligatory Prayers. So Prophet Musa was a great benefit to us.

Had we been obligated to pray fifty prayers a day, this would have been a difficult matter for us.

From the Kalam of Allah, the Prophet also understood that a good deed would be written for the person who intends to do a good deed, even if he did not do it. Also, the good deed performed would be registered for he who performs it as at least ten good deeds–up to 700 good deeds. For some people, Allah would multiply the reward of their deeds more than that. Additionally, if one performs a bad deed, it is registered for him as one bad deed; yet for he who inclines towards

committing a bad deed and then refrains from committing it, a good deed would be registered for him. Here one should note the difference between two matters. If a thought crossed a person’s mind about doing something sinful, and this person wavered in this thinking, i.e., considered whether he should do it or not, then he refrained from doing this for the sake of Allah, this is written as a good deed.

However, if a person has the firm intention in his heart that he wants to commit a sin, it would be written for him as a sin, even if he does not do it.

The Prophet Returns to Makkah After all these matters took place with the Prophet, he returned to the city of Makkah. Some scholars said the Prophet’s journey took about one-third of the night, i.e., his journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, then to the heavens and what is above them, and then back to Makkah the next day the Prophet told the people what happened to him the previous night.

The blasphemers belied the Prophet and mocked him, saying, “We need a month to get there and back, and you are claiming to have done all this in one night?”

They said to Abu Bakr, “Look

at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night.” Abu Bakr told them, “If he said that, then he is truthful. I believe him concerning the news of the heavens–that an angel descends to him from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in a short period of time– when these are on earth?”

At that, the Companion, Abu Bakr, was called “asSiddiq”–because of how strongly he believed in all what the Prophet said.

The blasphemous people questioned the Prophet: “If you are truthful, then describe to us Masjid al-Aqsa and its surroundings.” They asked this because they knew Prophet Muhammad had never been there before the previous night. Allah enabled the Messenger to see Masjid al-Aqsa, and he described the masjid and its surroundings in exact detail.

Moreover, the Prophet said, “On my way back, I saw some of your shepherds grazing their animals in a particular location. They were searching for a camel they had lost.” The Prophet continued by giving the description of the camel.

When these shepherds came back, they told their people what happened to them–precisely as the

Prophet had already told them.

These blasphemers admitted the Prophet’s description was exact.

Despite that, they were still stubborn and rejected the faith. They did not accept Islam. Only those whom Allah willed to be guided, will be guided. The person whom Allah did not will to be guided, will not believe–regardless of how much explanation or how many proofs he is shown.

The person whom Allah willed to be guided, surely he will be a believer. Many people witnessed miracles and still did not believe.

Many people witnessed the miracle of the Prophet’s splitting of the moon. Those who refused to embrace Islam said, “This is magic.

Muhammad played a magic trick on our eyes.”

They even asked the people of a faraway land who witnessed the moon split in two. Despite this, they still did not believe. They said, “The magic of Muhammad is powerful; it even reached the faraway lands!” This was their response to witnessing a miracle– instead of believing and becoming Muslims.

We ask Allah that we would all die as Muslims.

We ask Allah to bestow on us the bounty of entering Paradise without torture.

And Allah knows best.

Kavita ji

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 29

The Requirements for Sádhaná 13 October 1978, Patna By Shrii Shrii Ananadamurti Párvatii asked Shiva, “What is the minimum requirement in order to become a sádhaka?” Shiva replied, “Sukrataer mánavo bhútvá jiṋánii cenmokśamápnuyát.” When living beings attain a human form as a result of their actions, then they become competent to do sádhaná.

The next question posed by Párvatii was, “What qualifications such as age, academic qualifications, character, etc., should a human being have in order to do sádhaná?”

Regarding age, it might be appropriate to say that there are basically four stages in human life. In the first stage, the primary duty of the human being is to receive knowledge and do dharma sádhaná. In the second stage, one must fulfil worldly duties and perform dharma sádhaná. In the third stage, one must see to any remaining family responsibilities and perform dharma sádhaná.

Finally, in the fourth stage, when the human body has become incapable of performing worldly duties, one must do dharma sádhaná alone. So there are no barriers of age as far as the requirements for sádhaka are concerned.

There is an old story about this. Once a child named Dhruva started doing sádhaná and singing bhajanas at the early age of five.

This scared the eminent rśis and munis. They thought that this young boy would surpass them in spiritual excellence. So, as devotees, they all implored Náráyańa to save them from being defeated and humiliated. Náráyańa sent Nárada to resolve the issue.

Nárada means “one who spreads devotion”. So Nárada came to the boy Dhruva and tried to allure him with toys, sweets, a kingdom, and things of that sort. He inquired why the boy was so enthusiastic about sádhaná and bhajanas at such an

early age, especially when he had a whole lifetime at his disposal for spiritual pursuits. Dhruva replied, “Kaomára ácaret prájiṋah dharmán bhágavatániha, Durlabhaḿ mánuśaḿ janma tadapyadhruvamarthadam.”

“O Nárada! You are a sage, you know much more than I do. Yet I wish to mention, in order to clarify things, that we get a human form after numerous animal lives.”

“Sukrtaermánavo bhútvá.” This human life is attained through the medium of lots of clash and cohesion. Of all creatures’ existence, this human existence is the most rare. But even rarer is the human body that has been perfected through sádhaná.

Shravańáyápi bahubhiryo na labhyah Shrńvanto’pi bahabo yaḿ na viduh, Áshcarya vaktá kushalo’sya labdhá Áshcarya jiṋáta ́ kushalánushiśtah.

Even after getting human life, only a few get the opportunity to listen to dharmika discourses.

Among those, only a few develop the desire to practise dharma sádhaná. And even among these, only a few actually grasp the spirit of Sádhaná. Those rare ones who understand, perform sádhaná, and reach the goal are truly blessed.

In the effort to perfect oneself, even if one faces obstacles and hindrances from one’s elders and near ones, one must ignore them.

This is not a sin, not a crime.

Dhruva further said, “Nárada, who knows what will happen tomorrow? You have become old and you got the opportunity to do sádhaná and sing bhajanas at this age. But in my life, the sun may or may not rise tomorrow. Suppose I die tonight? So how can I wait till old age?” Then Nárada went away silently. “Dharmán Bhágavatániha,”

30 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

said Dhruva. All men should try to become established in Bhágavata Dharma in childhood. Then one is likely to have a lot more time at one’s disposal.

What is Bhágavata Dharma and what are the qualifications for it?

The one qualification is prapatti, that is, “I have surrendered everything unto Bhagaván.

Whatever He wants I will do.”

Those who get established in this feeling at an early age are true human beings. What is Bhágavata Dharma? It is vistára (psychic expansion), rasa (flow) and sevá (service).

Bhágavata Dharma differentiates humans from animals. There are some attributes which exist in trees, animals and humans alike, and there are other attributes which exist in animals and humans only. Furthermore, there are certain attributes which are unique to human beings.

Some people say, “The human being is a rational animal.” I refute this statement. In my opinion, the human being is not an animal. The human is a rational being. Human existence is an ideological flow.

Therefore, the human being is not an animal. Just as plants and animals are both living things but are not alike, similarly, animals and humans are both living beings but are not alike.

Animals move but plants do not. Animals cry but plants do not. What, then, differentiates humans from animals? Vistára, rasa and sevá. These are the three essentialities of Bhágavata Dharma, and it is Bhágavata Dharma that differentiates human beings from other creatures.

Everybody wants expansion.

The desire for expansion is the innate characteristic, the dharma, of human beings. No one desires to remain kśudra – a tiny thing.

All wish to expand their psychic arena. In order to quench this

thirst for vistára, one must do sádhaná regularly. In this way a day is sure to come when one’s mind will become one with the Cosmic Mind.

The second factor is rasa, and third is sevá. Since time immemorial there has been a never-ending flow of Cosmic cognition. Human beings want their desires to coincide with His will. When one is able to achieve this, the life of the unit becomes successful and complete. This is rasa. Human life is blessed. In the Shástras such people are called “áptakáma”. This desire to become one with Parama Puruśa exists only in human beings, not in other living beings; neither in animals nor in plants and trees.

The third essential factor of Bhágavata Dharma is sevá. Only humans are aware of their own identity. Plants, animals and material objects are not aware.

A rupee does not know that it is a rupee. A mango tree does not know that it is a mango tree. A jackal does not know that it is a jackal. But humans know that they are human.

Human beings also know that Parama Puruśa is their source of impetus, is their Father, and that they are all His children. As His children, they have a brotherly relationship with all other jiivas, or unit beings. Due to this knowledge of brotherhood, the human is superior to all other beings. Parents are greatly pleased when they find that their children have been loved and helped by someone. Similarly, Parama Puruśa will be pleased when you serve His creation – not only human beings, but also plants, animals, and the rest of creation.

That is, bhúta yajiṋa, pitr yajiṋa and nr yajiṋa are to be performed.

Those who have this feeling are in the real sense of the term human beings. Just having the body of a

human does not make a person a real human being, a rational being. Those in whom this feeling has arisen will be called followers of Bhágavata Dharma. They are doing the sádhaná of Bhágavata Dharma. So, “Kaomára ácaret prájiṋah dharmán Bhágavatániha, Durlabhaḿ mánuśaḿ janma tadapyadhruvamarthadam.”

At the earliest age possible a wise person will start following Bhágavata Dharma, will start Bhágavata Dharma Sádhaná. To follow Bhágavata Dharma, the only requisite qualification is total self-surrender.

After Dhruva made his reply, what happened?

Náráyańa appeared and asked the boy to get up, telling him he was very young, and asking what the necessity was of doing sádhaná at such an early age. Then Dhruva said, “The sádhaná was for You, and You have come. So now I will get up.”

You must remember the fact that, to realize Him, age, sex, academic qualifications and such things are not relevant. Great scholars, senior people and mahámahopádhyáya pańd́itas may lag behind, while an illiterate person races ahead and fulfils his or her purpose. You should not have any inferiority complex in your mind regarding age, sex, education, etc. You are His children. It is your birthright to reach Him, irrespective of your status, academic qualification, or age. Make proper utilization of this right.

13 October 1978, Patna Shrii Shrii A'nandamu'rti founded many spiritual and social service organisations, including Ananda Marga. Acarya Krsnapremananda Avadhuta is a representative living in Brisbane.

He can be contacted on the following number: 0422823341

SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE)

Brisbane (South Maclean)

Thai Pongal Festival on Monday 15 January 2024

SWAMI SARANAM

SRI AYYAPPA SEVA SANGAM QLD INC (REG NO. IA4624500)

doing the

MAKARAJYOTHI AYYAPPA POOJA (PADI POOJA) AND BHAJAN AT SELVA VINAYAKAR TEMPLE (Ayyappan Sannidhi) ON 13th JANUARY 2024.

Program

Time

Pongal - front of the temple

6:00am

Pongal Pooja/Soorya Pooja

8:00am

Regular Pooja

POOJA WILL BEGIN AT 6.00pm.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEEPARADHANA BHAJAN WILL START AND FINISH AT 8.00pm.

PRASADAM/FOOD WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER BHAJAN

AYYAPPASEVA SANGAM INVITES YOU ALL TO ATTEND THE POOJA

9:00am

Pongal Prasatham and Annathanam- (Free lunch)

10:00am

Evening regular Pooja

7.00pm

Annathanam (Free Dinner)

7.30pm

Significane of Thai Pongal: Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community. It is a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest.

Pongal also marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, which is considered an auspicious month. It usually falls on the 14th or 15th of January each year.

Pongal is also the name of the dish made and eaten during this festival. It is a mixture of boiled sweet rice. It is derived from the Tamil word pongu, which means “to boil over”.

Visit Brisbane Sri Selva Vinayakar (Ganesha) Temple and get the Blessing of Lord Ganesha Temple Website: http://www.sriselvavinayakar.org 4915-4923, Mt Lindesay Highway, South Maclean, Queensland-4280, Australia, Phone: +61 7 5547 7302

Unnikrishnan Nair on behalf of Sri Ayyappa Seva Sangam Qld Inc. Call: (07) 3192 5188

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 31

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan Qld Inc (DJJS) Ram Leela celebrating Pran Pratistha of Ram Temple On 30th December 2023, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan Qld Inc (DJJS) joyously celebrated a historic occasion we are about to witness in 2024. Pran Pratistha (consecration) of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, after it had been a bone of contention for nearly 500 years. DJJS with its event ‘Kab aaoge Ram humare? Abhi Dashanan nahi mara!! Delved into profound lessons about life and practical spirituality learned through the divine plays of Lord Ram. The event commenced with a beautiful Ganesh Vandana performed by a young DJJS volunteer, followed by live Devotional songs. The event highlight was Ram Leela, who completely mesmerised all the attendees. The insightful explanations by a learned DJJS volunteer, accompanying the divine play, busted myths and misconceptions propagated around Lord Ram. The event acknowledged the triumph of light over darkness and enlightenment over ignorance.

The celebration attracted a substantial number of community members, with special recognition given to our esteemed guest Magistrate Veena Goverdhan (Magistrates Court of Queensland), Mr Parveen Gupta (Principal Solicitor, River City Lawyers) and Mr Manish Saini (Member, Indian Communities of Gold Coast – ICGC) and other learned attendees. We appreciate the support from Bhalla’s

Our Vision is “To usher into a world wherein every individual embodies truth, fraternity, and justice through the eternal science of self-realisation called Brahm Gyan, uprooting all social evils and threats in its wake. 'Brahm Gyan’ is an eternal technique through which we can practically experience and realise God. These are not mere words. DJJS has been steadfast in its mission for 31 years, with millions of volunteers in India and around the Globe.

DJJS is doing and has done several social and spiritual events together with the Government of India and other state governments in India.

Restaurant, Bombay Bliss Restaurant (Pimpama) and Punjabi Taste Restaurant.

In conclusion, heartfelt thanks are extended to His Holiness Ashutosh

32 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

Maharaj Ji, the Head and Founder of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS).

His divine guidance serves as the bedrock of our achievements, providing

strength and illumination to every volunteer present at the event.

ABOUT DJJS: Divya Jyoti

Jagrati

Sansthan, or DJJS as we call it, is a registered socio-spiritual, not-forprofit organisation. DJJS’s Vision is from ‘From Self Awakening to Global Peace’

IN AUSTRALIA: DJJS has been actively working in the community for over eight years. It has been organising and participating in various social, cultural, and spiritual events like Shiv Aaradhna, Mata Ki Chowki, Bhajan Sandhya, Sai Sandhya, Indian New Year, Krishan Janamasthmi across different cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and here in Brisbane. Furthermore, we have been organising the International Day of Yoga for the last six years now, and our event pictures of 2019 were even shared by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, from his Twitter account.

Thank you very much to everyone who took the time to be there on the auspicious evening.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 33

Buzz grows over Shringla entering Lok Sabha election fray from Darjeeling The state Bharatiya Janata Party unit supports the move, while current BJP candidate Raju Bista is open to competition.

New Delhi: Could former foreign secretary and G20 coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla be a potential Lok Sabha candidate in 2024 from Darjeeling? Posters that emerged all over this West Bengal hill town over the New Year weekend have generated some buzz to the effect.

The posters, featuring the 61-year-old Shringla in a suit, in his avatar as president of the Darjeeling Welfare Society, and simply greeting everyone for the new year, seem innocuous.

Still, the launch of the

society just a year before the elections, in mid-2023, and the spread of the poster has everyone guessing.

On Tuesday, Shringla’s only response when asked about the posters was a counter question – on whether there were a lot of them around town. In September, after the launch of the society, he brushed off a similar question. “Don’t believe media speculation,” was what he said then. The secretary of the society Dechen Chimi Wangdi said that the society’s objective was to work towards the welfare of the people of Darjeeling.

The state Bharatiya Janata Party unit has supported the move. Party member Sanjib

Union home minister Amit Shah reviews security scenario in J&K

Biswas said: “All of us would want a professional after having seen politicians for the last three terms.’’

Another person keeping a close eye on developments is BJP’s sitting candidate Raju Bista. “If someone wants to dream about that seat, I will wish them well. According

to Indian law, everyone has the right to contest.’’ Only 37, Bista was brought in to replace the party’s veteran leader SS Ahlulwalia from this seat in 2019.

While Ahluwalia didn’t confirm Shringla’s candidature, he seemed supportive of the move.

“Darjeeling needs a lot of development. Simply politics isn’t going to work here. If you want to restore the lost glory of the town, you need a visionary who has had international exposure,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents like poet Raja Puniani say all that matters is who delivers the long cause of Gorkhaland.

“It is the only agenda that is instrumental for any political move. BJP has proved itself as a failure in addressing the long pending demand of Gorkhaland (since 1907 when Hillmen’s Association had submitted a memorandum to British Administration for formation of a separate autonomous body for

Hill people of Darjeeling province) as Congress failed in prior to BJP. Whoever it is, the candidate should be favouring the century long issue of Gorkhaland, or else the leader will not be favoured by public in the long run in Darjeeling constituency.”

Shringla was India’s foreign secretary between 2020 and 2022 and ambassador to the US between 2019 and 2020. He also served in Bangladesh and Thailand. Apart from G20 and his tenure as foreign secretary during the pandemic, Shringla worked closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the “Howdy Modi” event in Texas in 2019.

In ULFA deal, a long and complicated quest for closure Guwahati Last Friday, 16 senior leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) stood beaming in a gleaming wood-panelled government room, the traditional red-andwhite scarf draped around their necks. They formed a single file behind Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

What does data tell us about road accidents in India?

A day after December 21 terror attack, three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were found dead after they were allegedly picked up by the Army for questioning.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where five soldiers were killed by terrorists in an ambush in Poonch district a fortnight ago.

A day after the December 21 terror attack, three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were found dead after they were allegedly picked up by the Army for questioning, sparking outrage. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and army chief Pande had visited Poonch in the wake of these incidents.

Officials said lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, national security adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Army staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande and top officials of intelligence and other security agencies attended the meeting on Tuesday.

“The home minister has been briefed about the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” an official said.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir administration had

announced compensation and jobs to the families of the dead civilians and said legal action on the matter has been initiated. Sporadic violence continued in Jammu and Kashmir since the beginning of 2023.

Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a series of encounters last year that left 54 persons, including 28 terrorists and 19 security personnel, dead, officials said.

The officials have ascribed the uptick in violence to “desperate attempts from across the border” to revive terrorism in the region.

While 31 persons, including 10 terrorists and 14 security personnel, were killed in Rajouri, 15 terrorists and five security personnel were killed in Poonch district.

Three terrorists were killed in the Reasi district.

Most of the terrorists were killed while attempting to sneak into this side of the border, the officials said.

In May last year, five Army personnel were killed and a major-rank officer was injured in Chamrer forest during an antiterrorist operation. A foreign terrorist was also killed in the operation.

34 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

Here is what data on road accidents and their treatment within the criminal justice system tells us.

A strike by truck operators against the new provisions in the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for hit-andrun cases has had a serious effect on transport services including that of essential commodities in various parts of the country. What is this controversy about? Here is what data on road accidents and their treatment within the criminal justice system tells us.

What is the share of hit-and-run cases in total accidents in India? Data from the ministry of road transport & highways (MoRTH) shows that the share of hit-and-run cases in total road accidents and deaths was 14.6% and 18.1% in 2022. These numbers were 16.8% and 11.8% in 2021. Are hit-andrun incidents the biggest cause of road accidents and road accident deaths in India? Data shows that there is no overwhelming cause of road accidents or road accident deaths in India and a number of causes such as head-on collisions, hit from back or hit from side have an almost similar share in these numbers. To be exact, share of hit-and-run among nine types of road accidents and

related deaths was fifth and second in 2022.

Rogue drivers are a big menace on Indian roads This shows in the dominance of speeding in the breakup of road accidents by type of traffic violation. About 72% of total accidents and 71% total deaths in road accidents in 2022 were on account of over speeding, MoRTH data shows. Data also shows that India’s highways are far more accident prone than normal roads. While national and state highways had a share of just 4.9% in total road length in 2022, 60.5% of the total deaths in road accidents happened on these roads.

Which kind of vehicles are the worst offenders when it comes to road accidents?

Ironical as it may sound, the biggest offenders are also the biggest victims here. MoRTH data gives the break-up of road accidents

by crime vehicle and victim vehicle. Data shows that two-wheelers led the pack in terms of both crime vehicle and victim vehicles. In fact, two-wheelers hitting twowheelers are the biggest entry in the crime-victim matrix. As far as trucks and lorries are concerned, they were the second largest entry in the crime vehicle group and their biggest victims were two-wheelers.

Do perpetrators go free after a hit-and-run accident?Not if the trial is completed. Conviction in hit-and-run cases is better than in other accidents. For example, the conviction rate of hit-and-run cases where trial was completed in 2022 was 47.9%. For other accidents, this rate was just 21.8%. Even murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder had lower conviction rates: 43.8%

and 38.7%. It is another matter that over 90% of hit-and-run cases remain pending in courts in a year, similar to the other three crimes listed here. This trend also held true in years before 2022.

But police seem to have a harder time in filing a charge sheet in hit-andrun cases than the other three crimes listed above.

Charge sheets were filed in only 66.4% of hit-and-run cases disposed of by police in 2022, compared to 81.5% of murder cases, 84% of culpable homicide cases, and 79.6% of other accidents.

A big reason for charge sheet not being filed in hit-andrun cases is the police not finding evidence even if they believe the case to be true.

Such cases of insufficient evidence/untraced/no clue accounted for 28% of hitand-run cases disposed of by police in 2022 compared to 11% for murder cases, 9% of culpable homicide cases, and 11% of other accidents.

This suggests that not finding the perpetrator could be a reason behind low chargesheeting rate of hit-andrun cases. While the BNS clause might be motivated by this fact, it seems to have triggered a backlash in an important part of India’s transport economy.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 35

FOCUS ON FIJI China’s Xi, US President Biden exchange congratulations on 45 years of diplomatic ties Beijing (Reuters) -China’s President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulations with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.

Xi, in his message, said both countries have “weathered the storms and moved forward in general”, which has enhanced the well-being of their peoples and contributed to world peace, stability and prosperity, according to the ministry statement.

Xi called China and U.S. forming ties “a major event” in the history of bilateral relations and in international relations.

China-U.S. ties have been frosty but Biden administration officials have

visited Beijing and met with their counterparts to rebuild communications and trust in the months leading up to a high-stakes summit between Xi and Biden in San Francisco in November, deemed an opportunity to cool tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Xi said the summit has pointed out the direction for both nations’ ties, under a future-oriented vision.

“I am willing to work with President Biden to continue to steer and navigate the China-U.S. relationship for the benefit of China and the U.S. and the two peoples, and to promote the cause of world peace and development,” Xi said.

The U.S. is due its presidential election in November, in which former president and outspoken

Taiwan president says ties with China must be decided by will of the people

Taipei (Reuters) -Taiwan’s relations with China must be decided by the will of the people and peace must be based on “dignity”, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, said “reunification” with the island is inevitable.

China has been ramping up military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over democratically governed Taiwan, which on Jan. 13 holds presidential and parliamentary elections.

Xi’s comments, in a New Year’s Eve address, struck a stronger tone than the previous year where he said only that people on either side of the Taiwan Strait are “members of one and the same family”.

Asked about Xi’s speech at a New Year’s press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai said the most important

principle on what course to follow on relations with China was democracy.

“This is taking the joint will of Taiwan’s people to make a decision. After all, we are a democratic country,” she said.

China should respect the outcome of Taiwan’s election and it is the responsibility of both sides to maintain peace and stability in the strait, Tsai added.

China has cast the election as a choice between war and peace and has refused multiple offers of talks by Tsai, believing she is a separatist.

Tsai has made bolstering and modernising Taiwan’s defences a priority, including pushing an indigenous submarine programme.

“Everyone’s home has locks on them, which is not to provoke the neighbours next door but to make yourself safer. This is the same for the doors to the

36 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

critic of China Donald Trump is campaigning against Biden to come back for a second term.

NEW YEAR’S WISHES Xi also exchanged New Year’s messages with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, and both announced 2024 to be a “friendship year” for both countries, launching a

series of activities for that, the Chinese foreign ministry said separately.

Xi said China is willing to work with North Korea to deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance exchanges and cooperation, promote greater bilateral ties and make new contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

On New Year’s Eve, the Chinese leader exchanged greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin as well. This year is the 75th anniversary of China and Russia establishing diplomatic relations.

Russia’s economic reliance on China has grown as the country becomes increasingly isolated, hit by sanctions especially from Western countries since its invasion of Ukraine, a war which will enter its third year come February.

Xi said China and Russia should “continuously consolidate” and develop ties “featuring permanent goodneighbourly friendship”, along with comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation that would serve both countries’ interests.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong, who defeated Republic of China forces led by Chiang Kaishek in a bloody civil war.

Mao declared the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949, while Chiang’s government fled into exile in Taiwan in December of that year.

No peace treaty has ever been signed to end the war and the Republic of China remains Taiwan’s formal name.

Xi said in his New Year’s address on Sunday that China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable, striking a stronger tone than he did a year earlier with less than two weeks to go before the democratically governed island elects a new leader.

Police calls for sense of safety and responsibility after accident Parents and guardians have been cautioned by the Fiji Police Force to monitor their children’s whereabouts during the New Year celebration after a child was hit by a vehicle on Monday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACPO) Livai Driu who has called on for sense of safety and responsibility said the New Year celebration is expected to continue throughout this week and is calling on all parents to monitor their children’s celebration.

ACP Driu said seven-year-old child of

Cunningham who suddenly ran across the road in the midst of celebrating with other children and was hit by a passing minivan at around 4pm.

“Our children will be the ones celebrating the New Year this week by splashing water amongst each other, banging of drums and swimming. Despite this

celebration, it needs adult supervision to see that it doesn’t get out of hand and most importantly for their own safety,” ACP Driu said.

“There have been mishaps in the past years as a result of New Year’s celebration and a few people have been taken to task.”

ACP Driu said as much as they want people to celebrate the New Year, safety should be the first priority.

The child was taken to CWM Hospital where she is currently been admitted.

Investigation in to the incident is underway.

From the Editor-in-Chief’s desk: Your January 3 briefing More people will be removed from the Bus Fare Assistance program this year, says Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya.

That’s the big news on the front page of The Fiji Times for Wednesday, January 3.

In the second story on the front page, 500 social welfare recipients will be put to work this year and out of the welfare program, says

country. Taiwan’s people want peace, but we want peace with dignity,” she said.

Taiwan’s government has repeatedly warned China is trying to interfere in the election, whether by using fake news or military or trade pressure, and Tsai said she hoped people could be on alert for this.

After China accused Taiwan of erecting trade

Ms Tabuya.

barriers and ended some tariff cuts for the island, China last week threatened further economic measures.

Tsai said Taiwan’s companies must look globally and diversify.

“This is the correct path, rather than going back to the path of relying on China, especially as in China’s unstable market there is unpredictable risk,” she said.

Fijians were doing over the decades, what they were thinking and the things they could relate to. Only in The Fiji Times.

Back in History Follow us as our journalists go through files of The Fiji Times over our 153 years of existence, every day, from Monday to Friday, on Page 6 of The Fiji Times. Follow us on a journey of discovery as we highlight issues we covered over the years, giving you some perspective of what

People Follow us as our journalists travel the country to bring you stories about people, their hopes and aspirations, and their challenges! Only in The Fiji Times.

“We have always welcomed healthy, orderly interactions across the strait, but trade and economic exchanges cannot become a political tool.”

China has taken particular exception to current Vice President Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate for Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Party (DPP) and who is leading

in opinion polls by varying margins, saying he is also a dangerous separatist.

Both the DPP and Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang say only the island’s people can decide their future.

Tsai cannot stand again after two terms in office.

She will step down in May when the next president is sworn in.

GOPIO Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Distinguished Bengali Community leader Manab Kar Passes away Manab Kar passed away on Tuesday second, January 2024, at the age of EightySix years. The funeral was held at Federation Chapel, Centenary Gardens, in Sumner Park on Tuesday, 9th January 2024. He was one of the founding fathers of the Bengali Society of Queensland and a recipient of the GOPIO Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Following is an extract from his introduction at the India Day Fair 2018.

“Every Year, GOPIO Qld recognises one of our community elders; these people may be behind the scenes now but have done so much for our community in the past. They are the pioneers who have set the foundation stone for us to build upon, and we have another such wonderful person who has worked

tirelessly for the Indian Community in Queensland now; what we must realise is that when these people were doing what they are doing today, they had more significant challenges, but

that did not stop them, they moved on did what they had to do and overcame the obstacles, Today we are proud to announce this year GOPIO Qld Lifetime achievement award, and he is none other

than Manab Kar or Manab Da. “ He came to Australia in 1970 in Sydney and then to Brisbane in 1971 with his family. He worked as an engineer in different

private organisations in Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns. While working in other organisations, he was also associated with many community activities like the Bengali Club, Hindu Mandir Inc., India Australia Society, etc. and served as the “Patron” of the Bengali Society of Queensland, Brisbane.

He started Durgapuja and Laksmipuja in 1992 at 22 Tucker Street, Chapel Hill, at their residence, and those Pujas continued for three years. Then, the Bengali Society was formed, and the BSQ started Puja.

Hindu Mandir was incorporated in 1991 and was the founding member, vice president, and president.

He was also the Chairperson for the publication in 1997.

This Hindu Mandir was established at Burbank and is now known as “Lakshmi

Narayan Mandir.”

Mr and Mrs Subhra Kar were awarded the “Community Volunteer” Award in 2005 by the Multicultural Community Organisation, Brisbane Indian Times.

Manab Da and others started “Ramkrishna Mission and Swami Vivekananda’s Puja and prayers in Brisbane in about 1985, and now it is a big organisation in Springfield.

He and others formed the “India Australia Society” to exchange Indian and Australian cultural activities.

He was the founder member and president of that club.

He has also been an active committee member of Radio 4EB Manab Da leaves big shoes to be filled; our community will greatly miss him, and his legacy will live on.

Shakti Global Unveils Ambitious Mission to Bring Holistic Health and Spiritual Care As the highly anticipated launch of Shakti Global approaches on January 28, 2024, the community welcomes a not-forprofit organisation with a transformative mission.

Shakti Global, newly established and rooted in the heart of Gold Coast, is committed to bringing holistic health through health and spiritual education. With a focus on creating a supportive and secure environment, the organisation aims to provide solace, promote selfless service (seva), improve health, and enhance spiritual journeys.

Shakti Global's journey commences with a small group of like-minded individuals united by a shared goal: to serve the community with dedication and passion.

Despite starting with minimal resources, the organisation embraces this mission with hope and determination, confident in the positive impact it can bring to the lives of individuals in the community.

The inaugural launch of Shakti Global is on January 28, 2024, at 10.00 am Venue: Helensvale cultural centre, 62 Sir John Overall Drive, Helensvale, 4212, QLD. This is a free event; we invite you to register at https:// www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1160845.

Shakti Global's initial activities centre around a series of educational sessions led by experts worldwide. The organisation recognises the diversity of perspectives in achieving holistic health Call: (07) 3192 5188

and spiritual well-being and aims to provide a platform for individuals to explore these enriching insights.

While starting with broad educational sessions, Shakti Global is responsive to the community's needs. Later in the year, the organisation plans to introduce more focused courses tailored to its members' specific requests and requirements.

This dynamic approach ensures that Shakti Global remains a flexible and adaptive resource for the community's evolving needs.

Considering the changing cultural landscape in Australia, Shakti Global recognises the increasing need for Hindu spiritual care. The organisation strives to cover this gap by providing spiritual support to those seeking spiritual care rooted in Santana Dharma principles, which revolve around fostering a deep connection with the divine and seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Acknowledging the challenges families face in a new land, Shakti Global is set to launch culturally sensitive mental health support for the community. This initiative aims to assist immigrant families in navigating the complexities of adapting to a new environment and addressing the cultural challenges of raising young families.

Shakti Global welcomes and appreciates any support from the community as it embarks

on this empowering journey. The organisation invites individuals to join hands in making a

positive difference. The commitment is to work together toward a future where holistic health,

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spiritual fulfilment, and cultural sensitivity converge for the well-being of all. For more information

on how to get involved, please visit our website. https://shaktiglobal.org/ get-involved/

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 37

SCOOP: Bobby Deol’s character to be revived in Animal Park

Now that the producers have confirmed the sequel to Sandeep Vanga Reddy’s Animal, the curiosity regarding the renewed content has been piqued.

Here is what this writer has found out about the sequel: it will have as much action as the original, but the emotional content will also be raised to appease the family audience, which was completely obliterated in the first part.

More importantly Bobby Deol’s character, which dies in Animal, will be revived in Animal Park. “Besides Ranbir, Bobby proved the biggest USP of the film.

Although his character dies at the end of Part 1, the producers are planning to revive it,” said our source.

Bobby Deol is all for a sequel. “When we were shooting Animal, we would talk about a sequel in a hypothetical way; what it would be like if a sequel was to be made, how would my character be part of it, etc. I only know what you know. But I do know that characters when they become popular in a franchise, are revived even after they die,” said Bobby Deol.

Animal, which was released a month ago, turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of Bollywood.

Also starring Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Tripti Dimri, the movie is produced under the banners of T-Series, Cine1 Studios and Bhadrakali Pictures.

Fighter director Siddharth Anand dismisses runtime rumors; says, “Real run time is under 2 hours…”

Filmmaker Siddharth Anand has put an end to rumours swirling around the runtime of his upcoming action epic, Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. Amidst speculation that the film might clock in at a hefty three hours, Anand took to social media to clarify, "Fighter run time rumors. Real run time is under 2 hours 40 minutes."

The makers recently unveiled the film's adrenaline-pumping teaser, showcasing Hrithik as a fighter pilot soaring through the skies and Deepika alongside him, both portraying dedicated Air Force officers. The glimpse, packed with aerial stunts and patriotic fervour, left audiences roaring for more.

Fighter, presented

by Viacom18 Studios in association with Marflix Pictures, boasts real Sukhois, Indian fighter planes, adding authenticity to the action sequences.

Anil Kapoor,

Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi also star in pivotal roles.

This marks Hrithik and Deepika's first on-screen collaboration, adding to the anticipation surrounding the film. Hrithik and Siddharth Anand have previously delivered hits like Bang Bang and War, while Deepika and Anand collaborated on Pathaan.

Earlier, Siddharth had said in a statement as quoted by news agency PTI, “The teaser launch is an exciting prelude to the spectacle we aim to bring to the screen.

It's just a fraction of the drama and intensity that the movie encapsulates.” He further added, “This glimpse hints at the meticulous craft, from the exhilarating aerial sequences to the powerful performances by our talented cast. We're thrilled to unveil this glimpse and set the stage for the thrilling spectacle that awaits audiences on January 25th, 2024.”

38 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

SCOOP: Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao to be the guests on Koffee With Karan grand finale episode As this year’s Koffee With Karan draws to a close, the question on the minds of all Koffee addicts is: Who will be Karan Johar’s guests on the grand finale? This writer has the answer. It is none other than Aamir Khan and his ex-wife Kiran Rao. Of course, they have done many interviews together.

But this is the first time they are coming together after they officially called off their marriage.

In fact, a source close to Karan Johar informed, “This is the first time a divorced ex-couple is coming together

on Koffee With Karan.

Neither Aamir nor Kiran

was too keen on sitting on that controversial couch.

They agreed mainly as Kiran has a directorial film coming up, Laapataa Ladies on March 1, which Aamir has produced. Having agreed to be on the couch, they have spoken on everything, including why they decided to divorce officially and why they continue to be friends.”

The grand finale of Koffee With Karan will be streaming on January 18. Aamir was on Koffee With Karan the last season, with Kareena Kapoor Khan where Aamir famously stated that anyone who graces the controversial couch, gets into trouble.

John Abraham buys Rs 70 crores bungalow in prime Mumbai location: Report Bollywood action hero John Abraham has broken the mold, trading in the sky for the ground in a record-breaking real estate deal. As per a report by Money Control and according to documents accessed by IndexTap.com, John has purchased a sprawling 5,416 sq ft bungalow in Mumbai's prestigious Khar area for a staggering Rs 70.83 crore. The property, nestled along Khar's bustling Linking Road, boasts not only an expansive bungalow but also an additional 7,722 sq ft of land, offering the actor ample space and privacy in the heart of the city....

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Bigg Boss 17: After double eviction, Anurag Dobhal, aka UK07 Rider, eliminated from Salman Khan-hosted show Popular YouTuber Anurag Dobhal, widely recognized as UK07 Rider, faced an unexpected exit from Bigg Boss 17. The surprising turn of events unfolded during a nomination task, orchestrated by former captains Munawar Faruqui and Isha Malviya, along with the current captain Aoora.

Anurag's eviction adds a new layer to the evolving dynamics within the Bigg Boss house, with only a few weeks remaining until the grand finale.

The nomination task that led to Anurag's exit involved former captains Munawar Faruqui and Isha Malviya, along with current captain Aoora, selecting housemates they deemed least deserving to stay. Munawar chose Anurag, Isha nominated Ayesha Khan, and Aoora selected Abhishek Kumar.

Subsequently, the remaining housemates were tasked with unanimously voting to evict one of the three nominated members, leading to Anurag's departure.

Munawar-Anurag Spat: Tensions escalated earlier in the day when Ayesha Khan returned to the house after a brief medical observation. Anurag Dobhal accused Munawar Faruqui of smirking when Ayesha was hospitalised, sparking a heated exchange. Despite Ankita Lokhande and Mannara Chopra coming to Munawar's defence and dismissing Anurag's claims, the YouTuber persisted in provoking Munawar.

Anurag's frequent mentions of his fan following outside the house further fueled

Release Date Movie Name 12 JAN 2024 Hanuman 12 JAN 2024 Merry Christmas 12 JAN 2024 Captain Miller 13 JAN 2024 Saindhav 19 JAN 2024 Main Atal Hoon 19 JAN 2024 Dashmi

Audience Score 64 66 59 57 60 00

irritation among fellow housemates.

The nomination task announcement took Anurag by surprise, turning the tide against him. The unanimous vote to evict him marked the end of his journey in the Bigg Boss house.

Anurag Dobhal's eviction comes as a turning point in the evolving narrative of Bigg Boss 17. With the departure of notable contestants like Rinku Dhawan and Neil Bhatt in a double elimination during the Weekend Ka Vaar.

Release Date Movie Name Audience Score 25 JAN 2024 Fighter 75 02 FEB 2024 Section 108 70 09 FEB 2024 It End'S With Us (English) 00 09 FEB 2024 Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's Next 0 09 FEB 2024 Azaad 38 16 FEB 2024 Madame Web (English) 00

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 39

Things to know about taking treatment for hepatitis B Not everyone diagnosed with hepatitis B requires medication. The decision for treatment is based on test results obtained through regular liver monitoring by doctors.

Therefore, regular liver monitoring (six monthly for most people) is crucial for your doctor to make informed decisions.

For detailed information about the tests needed for regular monitoring, please refer to our B Health Booklet at www.eccq.com.au/bbv.

Hepatitis B is caused by hepatitis B virus. The virus can infect people mainly through blood contact (also mother to baby and sexual contact). Hepatitis B medication can reduce hepatitis B virus in the body.

If you are required to take medication, it is essential to strictly follow the prescribed dosage and schedule as directed by your health care providers. This will ensure the medication works properly.

Currently there are 3 different hepatitis B medications available in Australia, namely Entecavir, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) or Tenofovir

cause serious problems for your liver and health Discuss with your doctor if you need to travel for a long period of time to make sure you have enough medications for your trip.

• Regular tests (every six months, more often in the first year of taking medication) to make sure the medication is working.

• Let you doctor know before taking herbal or traditional medicines or any other medicines. They may interfere your hepatitis B medication.

Alafenamide (TAF).

It’s important to note that each medication requires to be taken differently: 1. Entecavir: Take on empty stomach only; You should not eat food for 2 hours before and after taking the medicine. It is easier if you take this medication first thing in the morning and wait for 2 hours to eat breakfast; or take this medication at bedtime after eating dinner 2 hours or longer.

2. TDF: You can take TDF

with or without food.

3. TAF: Currently this medication is only available with a private prescription.

It is not listed under the PBS Schedule. This means you will have to pay full price to buy this medication regardless of having a Medicare Care or not. This medication needs to be taken with food.

Remember: • Take one pill every day at the same time.

• If you miss a dose, take the medication as soon as possible when you remember if it is the same day and then take your normal dose the next day.

• Do not take 2 doses at one time or in the same day.

• Do not share your medication with other people, such as your family members or friends. Sharing may cause harm.

• Make sure you do not run out of medications; stopping and starting medications can

Tips: • If you cannot remember what time to take your medication, set an alarm on your phone or ask your family member to remind

you.

• You can buy a day of the week medication box from your chemist and fill it once a week. Or you can ask you chemist to make up a Webster pack, these are very helpful if you need to take other medications at different times.

• You can ask your healthcare providers including pharmacists for a free interpreter if you need language help.

• If you do not have a Medicare Card and would like to access cheaper medication, please contact us for further information.

For more information about hepatitis B please visit our website www.eccq.com. au/bbv. You can email us at health@eccq.com.au

Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health Program Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ)

Korean Rice Water For A Glowing Skin Korean rice water, known for its skinbeneficial properties, has been a traditional beauty secret in Korean skincare routines for centuries.

Packed with nutrients, this simple yet effective DIY recipe can help you achieve a glowing complexion.

Nimisha Modi

Hetvi Hair & Beauty 0412350013

Hey Girls, hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year break. As we return back to our busy schedules, let me share something I started using recently and it works well with my skin: Korean Rice Water for a Glowing Skin.

How to make Korean rice water for a glowing skin Incorporating Korean rice water into your skincare routine is a simple and cost-effective way to achieve a radiant and glowing skin.

Korean rice water, known for its skinbeneficial properties, has been a traditional beauty secret in Korean skincare routines for centuries.

Packed with nutrients, this simple yet effective DIY recipe can help you achieve a glowing complexion.

Here's how you can make Korean rice water for radiant skin: Ingredients Uncooked Rice: Begin with a small cup of uncooked rice. Option you can use any type of rice for the best results.

Water: You'll need approximately 2 cups of water for soaking the rice and extracting the rice water.

Steps Step 1: Rinse the rice Take the uncooked rice and rinse it thoroughly under cold running water.

This helps remove any impurities or surface contaminants.

Step 2: Soak the rice Place the rinsed rice in a bowl and add about 2 cups of water. Let the rice soak for 15–30 minutes. During this time, the water will begin to take on a cloudy appearance.

Step

3:

Agitate

40 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

and

extract rice water After the rice has soaked, agitate it by gently rubbing the grains between your fingers. This action helps release the beneficial nutrients into the water.

Strain the rice water into a clean bowl, separating it from the rice grains.

Step 4: Fermentation Optional For enhanced benefits, you can opt for fermentation. Leave the strained rice water at room temperature for 24–48 hours. Fermentation

increases the nutrient content and makes the rice water more potent.

How to make Korean rice water for a glowing skin.

Step 5: Storage Once fermented (if you choose this option), store the rice water in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator. The cold temperature not only preserves its freshness but also provides a refreshing sensation when applied to the skin.

How to use it 1) Cleansing: Use the rice water as a cleanser by applying it to your face using a cotton pad. Gently wipe your face to remove impurities and traces of makeup. This acts as a gentle, natural cleanser that won't strip your skin of its natural oils.

2) Toning: Apply the rice water as a toner. Use a cotton ball or pad to gently dab the rice water on your face. The toning properties help balance the skin's pH, promoting a smoother complexion.

3) Mask: Mix the rice water with other natural ingredients like honey or aloe vera gel to create a hydrating face mask.

Apply the mixture evenly and leave it on for 15–20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

4) Bath Soak: For an indulgent skincare routine, add rice water to your bath.

The nutrients can nourish your entire body, leaving your skin hydrated.

See you next month, have a wonderful time.

Simone Patterson OAM launches bold DV awareness campaign Sim one Patterson, founder of The Sanctuary Women, Children, and Pets Refuge on the Gold Coast, has had enough.

This year, we have witnessed 72 women killed due to domestic violence in Australia, with 11 children included in this heartbreaking number.

Simone launched an awareness campaign and protest throughout December 2023, featuring red shoes and crosses, along with photos of all the victims killed this year.

Simone incorporated a significant amount of red at each event.

Simone is advocating for politicians to enforce mandatory ankle bracelets for all high-risk domestic violence perpetrators, and women should be provided with safety watches to give them warning and time to escape from potential attacks.

We urgently need stricter sentencing for perpetrators of domestic violence.

"Every three minutes in Australia, someone calls the police about domestic violence, with many women on the Gold Coast fleeing with nowhere to go or staying to protect their animals."

"At The Sanctuary, we are the only shelter on the Gold Coast that accepts both pets and boys over 12 years old to ensure there is no barrier to women leaving a violent situation."

Ms. Patterson's driving passion to establish the shelter began in 2015 when she attended the Allison Baden-Clay rally and was devastated by the plight of women affected by domestic violence.

"The problem is enormous, and not enough resources or expertise are being dedicated to help

women in these desperate circumstances, so I took action."

As a qualified social worker with a background in women's refuges, drug and alcohol, foster care, and prisons, Ms. Patterson mortgaged her home to raise the funds to establish

The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is privately funded and heavily relies on donations and support from the community.

"We receive no government funding, and there have been several times when I thought

I would have to shut the doors due to a lack of funds, but so far, we have managed to keep operating."

For more information about The Sanctuary Women, Children, and Pets Refuge, please visit: sanctuaryrefuge.com.au

Unseasonal increase in respiratory infections hits Queensland Queenslanders are urged to prioritise good hygiene habits this festive season amid an unseasonal surge in respiratory infections across the state.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the recent increase in hospitalisations due to respiratory infection was unusual for this time of year.

“There are currently 322 patients in Queensland hospitals with COVID-19 and 66 patients in hospital with influenza,” Dr Gerrard Call: (07) 3192 5188

said.

“The number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 started climbing in mid-October, plateaued throughout November, and then took a surprising turn upwards again in December.

“The current number of Queenslanders in hospital with COVID-19 is more than four times higher than midOctober.

“While influenza hospitalisations remain far below their winter peak (more than 400), their

summer rise is still unusual.”

Last week, 2,162 cases of COVID-19 and 836 cases of influenza were recorded.

Overall, there has been more than 73,000 influenza cases recorded this year, far exceeding the 2022 total of 44,431.

Dr Gerrard added the number of tests coming back positive for Mycoplasma had also tripled since the end of November.

“We have not seen significant numbers of cases of Mycoplasma infection

since before the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“The increase in cases corresponds with similar recent experiences in the Northern Hemisphere.”

Dr Gerrard suggested the current respiratory infection rate rise was likely due to two factors – the rise in gatherings ahead of Christmas and the influx of travellers from interstate and overseas.

“I urge everyone, especially during upcoming festive gatherings, to

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Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections, so it’s important we protect our loved ones this festive season by staying home when we are sick.

practice good hand hygiene habits and stay away from vulnerable friends and relatives if you are sick,” he said.

"Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections, so it’s important we protect our loved ones this festive season by staying home when we are sick."

Dr Gerrard also reminded Queenslanders over 65 to get a COVID-19 booster if they had not had one this year.

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024 — 41

2024

Yearly Predictions Aries ( 21st March to 20th April )

Taurus ( 21st April to 21st May )

Gemini ( 22nd May to 21st June )

In the beginning of this year, you will have ample support of the transiting Jupiter and hence you will be able to carry out your plans, but Saturn will demand you to work hard. You need to little lower your professional ambitions.

Also, you may feel that your finances have become stagnant and on a slightly downward swing. But, you must keep yourself motivated as the positive impact of Venus will begin to be felt and will start giving you good rewards as the year advances. In the beginning of the year the Sun, Mars conjunction may not allow you to enjoy your love life and the dullness may frustrate you at times. But as the year advances, Venus-Mercury conjunction will help you to make a big romantic step right away. Due to the impact of Venus-Mars conjunction, your sensuality will be very much in the forefront from around the month of February. So get ready for some hot romance. In the beginning of the year, positive energy of Mars will help you in terms of your health. Remember whatever your mind will say, your body will follow.

Hence keep your mind balanced and positive. Hectic schedules may burn out your energy. General health issues will be present frequently during this period till the end of March. You will get good planetary support by the conjunction of transiting Venus and Mercury in the beginning of this year. This can help you progress well in your studies, perform well in your examinations as well, and rise to good levels. Also, there are chances for a favorable turn of events if you are intending to pursue studies abroad.

The favorable impact of Venus, Mars and Mercury will bring growth in your career from around the mid of February. You can now achieve the most favorable results. However, you will need to be very cautious with your money matters from around mid of March as the Mercury’s conjunction with North Node can be very complex.

Venus will bless you with success and prosperity in the beginning of this year. If you are in business, Mars will make you feel a sudden surge of energy and may also have many ideas to expand your business. Keep patience as Venus will bring successful phase for you and a good time to look for additional income around the month of March. Venus will bless you with the perfect time to enjoy intimacy with your partner but Mars will give you some shocks and surprises in the middle of February hence get ready for a wild ride in your love life. From the beginning of the year Jupiter could prove to be a blessing for you in your studies. Your hard work is likely to get you one step closer to your dreams. The impact of South Node suggests you to devote more time to your health. From around the month of March, the benevolent Jupiter will bring good times as there are chances of promotion at your work place. You will have strong positive momentum, if you are doing business. A tangible increase in profits is possible around the mid of March.

Jupiter will bring some new opportunities your way around the month of April. There will be some misunderstanding, doubts or insecurity in your love life around the month of March. Keep yourself balanced and positive as some long distance travel opportunities with friends and beloved ones will come your way and the impact of Venus may boost your love prospects gradually. Mercury around the month of April will bring a lot of balance within yourself which can help your studies. From around the month of April, the impact of stars will make you understand how important doing regular exercise for health. However, it will be very much important for you not to overdo it. In the beginning of May, the impact of North Node might cause some stress in your mind. Try to modulate your emotional responses to avoid unnecessary issues at your work place.

This year will remain highly productive for your career related matters. The beginning of this year will be good for your financial status. It can be the ideal time to put in action long conceived plan to push ahead your financial prospects. The impact of Jupiter will help you to make steady progress. Venus indicates that your creative vision will set you apart from the rest at your work place. If you are willing to put extra efforts, you will be fully supported by the Jupiter in your studies. But South Node can disrupt the harmony of your love life. In relationship matters, you need to find some time and space for each other regardless of your other commitments. Gradually around the mid of February, Venus will bless your love life and if you are not in relationship, you will come across a person who you will be interested in you. In the beginning of this year, your health will be sensitive due to some old or existing health issues. But the impact of Mercury may keep you in good cheer and improved health status from around the month of April.

Mercury will also bring positive momentum and likely to be favorable for making some important career moves from around the month of April.

Change is in the air, if you are doing business. Mercury will also give you chance to go out and interact with experts and that will also make you able to expand your skillset which will help your growth in studies. Venus will make you full of love and you will be celebrating the good moments around the end of April. You will have comfortable stability around the month of May and you should not worry regarding money matters. Mars will help you to stimulate your love life and take relationship on a fresh new level.

You should be ready for a romantic time around the month of June. If you looking for a new relationship, Venus will bless you to find your match.

Cancer ( 22nd June to 22nd July )

Leo ( 23rd July to 22nd August )

Virgo ( 23rd August to 22nd September )

In the beginning of the year, the impact of North node might not allow you to break the shackles so easily. If you are in business, something may go wrong in your planning. However, there will be plenty of openings for improving your financial status as the period advances.

The beginning of this year may also remain highly auspicious for you to take up higher education. Venus may also help you to achieve higher level of intimacy with your sweetheart. Mercury might bring opportunity to meet someone, if you are not involved in any relation yet. Your immune system will remain highly efficient and hence here will not be any serious health issues this time around. Around the month of February, Mercury indicates that someone could approach you with a particularly inventive idea for career growth. Venus will boost your financial strength through innovative ventures. But, the impact of North Node could bring some emotional frustration in your love life. Around the month of March, some excellent options as well as reasonable solutions will make you able to find higher elevation in your work. Some good earning opportunities will be facilitated by the favorable aspects of Venus and Mercury. Venus may bring wealth of feelings and romance in your life. But the South Node may bring some complex conditions and may not allow you to enjoy the true colors of love.

Your health status will be fragile this time around. From the month of April, planets will inspire you to think big, with a perspective for the future. Venus may bring amazing harmony in your love life and relationship matters. But North Node may make over ambitious and force you to take undue risk which can be very disruptive for your financial planning. Your education is going to be blessed by the favourable impact of Jupiter. This can be a good phase for your overall health as well.

In the beginning of this year, the impact of shadow planets as well as Saturn do not foretell a good time for your career but the combined impact of Jupiter and Venus indicates beginning of a delightful phase from around the mid of January. You must keep patience though. Mercury indicates that you may have many ideas and strategies floating around in your mind to strengthen your financial but, it can be misleading. If you are doing business, some impulsive actions or decisions might bring problems. The movement of South Node will not be so favourable for you around the month of February.

Increments or promotions are hard to come. Also, there will be some serious differences with the elder members of the family. Some negative thoughts and anxiety around the month of February may cause digestion problems.

Mercury may however bring constructive changes from around the mid of February. It will bring plenty of good things to happen in your personal life.

It will be highly romantic as well as passionate phase due to the combined impact of Mars and Venus. As the year advances, due to strong support of Jupiter, you will be able to focus better and you will have stronger chances to achieve your goals in your studies. Mars indicates the period around the mid of March will be highly productive for career progress. If you are in business, it will remain good for the completion of previously started projects. Jupiter will make you able to strengthen your position so the period till June may bring some good growth opportunities amid problems created by Saturn. Planets can bring additional income through inheritance, joint ventures or from old investments in property or assets around the month of March. If you aspire to international opportunities, this phase can also give you positive results. However, Mars indicates that you will be in a hurry to get into romantic relationship which may prove to be a mistake.

The year looks progressive for you but in the beginning of this year, career related matters shall look uncertain due to the complex impact of South Node. Things shall start to fall in place gradually due to the Mercury’s support.

The movement of Venus will give an upward push to your finances. But there may be some issues where you may have ego clashes with your mate and disturbances due to the impact of South Node which may hamper your mood.

Saturn will demand you to keep check on your energy levels and adopt necessary discipline to keep yourself healthy. You may be somewhat lazy and tend to ignore self-discipline in matters related to your health regimen.

From around the ending part of January, your performance in studies would begin to take a positive turn gradually but you may have to struggle hard to get expected results. The positive impact of Venus will begin to be felt gradually around the month of February and hence an investment that you make during this phase will start giving you good rewards as the year advances. Your personal life is likely to be a roller-coaster due to the disturbances caused by the impact of South Node in routine matters till mid of February. Month of March is likely to bring many opportunities for growth and gain. Jupiter will facilitate gains and new ventures as the year advances.

You will have ample support from Venus to empower and manage your finance efficiently. In existing close relationships, some kind of boundaries or walls may develop due to the impact of South Node. But Venus may help you to take the relationship to the next level of understanding and satisfaction from around the last week of March. From the ending part of February, you are to make progress towards your fitness goals as well. The period around the mid of April can be a very important and sensitive phase of your love life.

Libra ( 23rd September to 22nd October )

Scorpio ( 23rd October to 22nd November )

Sagittarius ( 23rd November to 21st December )

Your career will get positive momentum in the beginning of this year. If you are doing business, it may bring major boost to business prospects due to the impact of Mars.

Mercury also indicates a good phase to carry out the business plans. Saturn might help you get some good financial gains from your past investments. But some unexpected expenses may also disturb your financial planning to an extent around the mid of January, indicates the North Node. Venus may bring scopes for a happy encounter with your beloved one. But the period around the end of January may bring some complex situations in your love life. As the period advances Venus may help you hold on to old and existing relationships. Your energy level and vitality will be good but you may have fluctuations in your energy levels around the end of February. Mercury suggests that it will be good time to cross the frontiers of the mind by expanding knowledge and skills. The impact of North Node may bring some stress at your work place around the month of March. If you are doing business, you may be able to expand the customer base with some extra efforts. Uncertainty will reduce gradually and Mercury will give you a chance to deliberate and review of your career prospects.

The impact of Jupiter may make you able to strengthen your financial position as the year advances. Mars will also do its bit to help your financial vision. Gradually, you will be clearer about how to achieve your goals and hence the pace of your financial progress is likely to start picking positive momentum. The period around the month of May will be the time to make solid financial plan and implement it in stepwise manner to strengthen your financial status. The impact of Venus will bring love in your life and if you are in committed relationship, the period from around the last week of April will be ideal to take the relationship to the next level.

In the beginning of this year the impact of North Node may bring added responsibilities at your work place. Also, the impact of Mars may bring some complicated matters.

If you are doing business, you must not take undue risk till mid of February. You may get financial opportunities around the month of February but not all opportunities will turn out to be promising. Jupiter however indicates that your income will be stable, meeting your expectations. The complex energy of South Node indicates that this is not the right time to propose or to express your feelings. However, if you have recently started seeing someone, there will be opportunities for developing the relationship further during the month of February. You may at times face uncomfortable situations in your health around the middle of February. Not to worry though. Mercury shows a favorable phase for your studies from around the mid of February. If you are doing business, it will be supportive to explore new territory or launch a new product around the month of March. At career front, you may feel much more supported as around the month of April. The impact of Jupiter may bring new opportunities for progress in your career. You and your beloved are likely to enjoy your fair share of love due to the blessings of Venus around the month of April. But some personal problems seem to be creating a divide in your relationship due to the complex energy of South Node. So, you need to remain alert around the month of May. Due to the strong support of Mars around the month of May, you will be able to defeat the rivals, as well as get new and rewarding news in the workplace. Things may look little tight at financial front around the month of June but it will be good to pay more attention to long-term investments and savings. Some issues related to joint finances or inheritance may come to fore.

The impact of transiting Sun and Mars may help you to perform well and strengthen your position at your work place in the beginning of this year. If you are doing business, you will be able to grab important projects. The period around the end of January will be a good period to make investments for financial security, indicates Mercury.

But there may be some heated arguments with your mate under the influence of Mars and a certain unrest will be brewing if you are in committed relationship. Your support system will be stronger and assistance of friends or mentors will be quite helpful in your studies. Jupiter may mostly remain in your favor and hence you are likely to have good health status. As the year advances, pace of progress is likely to start picking positive momentum due to the support of Jupiter and Mars. The period around the month of March can be a good period to carry out the plans that you may have in your and if you are in business, you may be able to implement your planning which may increase growth tremendously. Saturn will however demand strict financial discipline. If you make the mistake of squandering your money, you are likely to face the results. The period around the month of March will remain favourable for you if you are in committed relationship. You may proceed with your studies with interest around the month of March. But, you are likely to face some demanding situations due to the adverse impact of South Node.

Thankfully, from around the mid of April, Mercury may make you able to grasp complicated subjects very efficiently. Some stress around the month of March may however affect your health every now and then. But good planetary support may also help you improve your stamina and fitness after mid of April. Around the end of May, the impact of Mars will help you march forward in your career.

Capricorn ( 22nd December to 20th January )

Aquarius ( 21st January to 18th February )

Pisces ( 19th February to 20th March )

Venus is likely to bring some good opportunities for growth and gain in the beginning of this year. Some complicated issues may keep bothering you due to the impact of North Node but if you have your basics right, you may eventually get the success that you always deserve. Mercury’s impact suggests that you may need to review or recreate your financial plan. Gradually, your efforts might bring positive results and financial gain. But refrain from borrowing or lending as the impact of North Node indicates a somewhat tricky time around the end of February. Venus is likely to bring joy and harmony in your love life and relationship in general. If you are in committed relation, the period around the end of January will be good to take the relationship to the next level. Your love life will be exciting but, at times your stubborn approach is likely to make your relationship vulnerable during the month of February. A new relationship is likely to be formed, somewhere around the middle of February. Your creativity will be on high but, your lack of concentration may cause problems in education, indicates Mercury. Saturn will force you to bring more discipline in your life to improve your results in exams. Mars indicates that there may be some fluctuations in your health status around the month of February so you must avoid extremes at emotional or physical levels. However, you need to keep a close watch on your productivity and performance around the month of March so that you can earn better place and appreciation in your career. Saturn indicates some unexpected expenses around the month of April which might disturb your financial planning to an extent. Due to the impact of North Node, your interactions with your beloved ones may become somewhat difficult around the month of April. Planets may help you strengthen your financial status from around June.

The year will remain progressive but Mars indicates a hectic phase in the beginning for your career related matters. The beginning of this month may bring disruptions and may not augur well for accumulating wealth. Also, Mercury may bring some uneasy moments in your relationship. The impact of stars may remain favourable for your health though. The impact of Saturn will force you to become extra attentive to financial matters. Jupiter and Mercury are likely to help you make improvement in your performance in studies. As the year advances, Jupiter seems supportive for increasing earnings around the month of February. The combined impact of Mercury and Venus will boost your love life. However, Saturn indicates your low resistance may make you prone to some seasonal health problems. If you are in business, you could make some impressive advances around the month of March. The impact of Venus around the month of March will make you able to meet some of your old friends. If you are not happy with the job, this can be the right time for you to look for a new job. The impact of Mars and Mercury foretells happy times for professional activities around the month of April. Finances are boosted with the help of family and social connections. But you need to watch for over-sensitive reactions while dealing with some important relationship matters. There may be some problems in your studies. Whatever defects are there in your financial planning; Saturn will show up this time around. This phase may boost your love prospects but, you must keep in mind that some unexpected issues can change the equations of your relationship. Saturn indicates that money flow will be slow around the month of May. There may be some tricky issues to face in your personal life. Also, it does not look good times if you are pursuing higher education.

In the beginning of this year Jupiter will open up doors for new opportunities for your career advancement. If you are in business, you may improve your level of productivity.

This could be a good time for long-term financial planning and strengthening your financial status. Venus indicates that you will have joyful relationship. Gradually, Mars will bring fresh opportunity for benefits through your social network as well as new contracts. But South Node around the mid of this month might make you uncomfortable with your health.

From around the month of February, Mars will be disruptive for your career advancement. Venus may bring opportunity to enter a relationship. Mercury will make you very much focused and mentally sharp in your studies. For business people the period around the end of February will be important as there will be some positive development in some of the pending matters.

Jupiter will remain supportive and your income will be quite decent but may tend to feel some pressure due to some old commitments. Around the month of April, Saturn may demand you to work for extended hours to cover up your acquired commitments. Venus will bring positivity and optimism in your love life. Mercury will not be so advantageous for your studies and this will make your somewhat lazy. As the period advances, Jupiter will help you to think about development and put in action a long-conceived plan for achieving higher growth. North Node indicates a possibility of some minor injury this time around hence need to take adequate precaution and do not do things in a jiffy. Around the month of May, Mercury may make you aware of the opportunities coming your way. This phase may remain favourable if you are doing business as well. Chances of new projects are also expected.

Mars may denote good times for your finances and investments too. Venus will bring harmonious impact on your love life.

42 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

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Can’t handle spicy food? Poms whacked for ‘offensive’ chef move for India tour England’s cricket team has been panned for taking a professional chef on their upcoming tour of India since some players “refuse to eat spicy food”.

Manchester United’s chef Omar Meziane will travel with the team for their five-Test series, which begins in Hyderabad on January 25 – even though the squad already stay in five-star hotels with elite restaurants.

Meziane is widely respected for his work with the England football team from 2017-2022 as well as the Great Britain rowing team at the 2016 Olympics.

Nick Hoult, who revealed the news in The Telegraph (UK), wrote: “England insist it has nothing to do with not trusting hotels to provide clean facilities and is instead about ensuring players, especially those who refuse to eat spicy

food, are eating nutritious meals rather than filling up on energy bars and pizzas.”

Indian cricket great Virender Sehwag cheekily joked on X, formerly Twitter, that England needed a new chef after the retirement of Alastair Cook, writing: “The requirement came after Cook’s departure. Won’t be required during the IPL.” Former India cricketerturned commentator, Aakash Chopra,

sarcastically wrote: “Good idea. I am sure that the majority of English players must be bringing in their chefs for the IPL too, year after year. As if.”

And veteran Indian cricket journalist Anand Vasu wrote: “They only stay in the fanciest five to seven star hotels that have award winning chefs and multiple restaurants.

At one level this is just offensive.”

'Teams are scared': Aussies' key Vaughan made a remark that India is an team...': Ashwin's strong factor for Warner's replacement underachieving reply to ex-England star's assessment

Australia’s selectors will consider whether replacing an aggressive David Warner with a circumspect opener could throw out team balance It might seem like nitpicking to highlight the shortcomings of Australia's three most prolific Test batters over the past three years, who have accounted for nearly a quarter of the team’s runs and more than two-thirds of individual centuries over that period.

Against Pakistan in recent weeks, there have been more reminders of the prowess of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith; Khawaja's 90 in Perth put the result of the series opener beyond doubt, Labuschagne made three half-centuries in the final two Tests in the most difficult batting conditions, while Smith helped save their bacon in the second innings in the closest Test in Melbourne with a 176-ball 50.

That trio remain as important as ever to the Aussie top-order.

But with David Warner now leaving a vacant spot in the top four alongside them, the pace at which the remaining incumbents are scoring has become a valid point of consideration.

Since Khawaja's return two years ago, no one in the world has scored more Test runs.

But, among those with at least 1,000 runs over that period, only three players have scored at a slower strike rate than his 46.35.

Australia's number three and four meanwhile have each suffered notable slowdowns in recent years. Over his first 30 Tests, Labuschagne scored at a rate of 56.04 runs per 100 balls. In his last 16, that figure has dropped to 44.50 per 100.

Smith's strike rate has similarly dipped from 56.38 up until the end of the 2019 Ashes, and 46.96 in 37 Tests since.

Even Labuschagne, who credited Warner for having lifted his own batting tempo when they batted together, knows the outgoing opener brought something to the team that the rest of them do not.

"The fear oppositions have

for a guy that has played for 10 years – teams are scared," Australia's No.3 told cricket. com.au after sharing in a 119run stand with Warner that clinched victory over Pakistan at the SCG on Saturday.

"When Dave Warner comes out, it's like 'anything could happen here' – he could get 50 off 50 and take the game away from you."

The same could be said for Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, who have each launched rousing counter-attacks from further down the order in recent times.

But the question remains whether the balance of Australia's line-up would be thrown out by replacing their top-order aggressor with a more circumspect player.

Or whether they have a choice. "There's not another David Warner out there," coach Andrew McDonald told reporters.

"The ability to put pressure back onto the bowler all the time – it was a joy to watch in his final innings. That'll be considered in terms of what we look for in an opener, but it's more so what we look for in the top seven batters.

"You can have complementing skillsets within that and how they operate and function.

"But there's no doubt you want some players within that order that are able to put pressure back on. We've seen Travis Head to do that with great success in the last 12 months or so."

In that respect, the Aussies know Warner is truly irreplaceable.

Of openers with at least 2,000 Test runs, only two have scored as quickly (Virender

44 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan) while only three (Alastair Cook, Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Smith) finished their careers with more overall runs.

Tellingly, none of those players are Australian. It follows then that none of the leading contenders to replace Warner are in the mould of him either.

Over the past season-anda-half of the Marsh Sheffield Shield, the strike rates of Marcus Harris (46.7), Matthew Renshaw (44.4) and Cameron Bancroft (42.6) are not the kind of numbers that strike fear into opponents. Nor is the career mark of Cameron Green in Test cricket (46.63), with the allrounder also a legitimate contender to replace Warner, either as an opener or as part of a rejigged middle-order.

Strike rate is, of course, not the be-all and endall. As Labuschagne noted after wrapping up a third consecutive win over Pakistan a day to spare: "Most of the games are finishing in four days, so I don't think that's going to be an issue."

The value to those further down the order of the KhawajaLabuschagne-Smith led toporder grinding down their opponents should not be understated either.

Think back to Australia's famous win at Edgbaston last year. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon's clutch final-day matchwinning stand did not happen in a vacuum; after England made nearly 400 on the first day, Khawaja proceeded to bat for over 13 hours across both innings, wearing out a bowling attack featuring two pace bowlers older than 36, as well as a spinner who had not played

Ravichandran Ashwin spoke in detail about Michael Vaughan's assessment of the Indian team.

Last week, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan ignited a debate when he suggested that the Indian cricket team has not lived up to their potential despite possessing considerable talent and resources.

According to Vaughan, India's performances have not been truly commendable, especially as they have not secured any global trophies over the past decade. Vaughan initiated this discussion during a Fox Sports panel conversation held amidst the second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG. During the discussion, he directed a query about the Indian team to former Australian batter Mark Waugh. "They haven't won much in recent times. I think they are (an underachieving side).

They don't win anything. When was the last time they won something?

With all the talent they have, all the skill-set (they should have achieved more," said Vaughan.

India's star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now reacted to Vaughan's remark.

While Ashwin agreed that India haven't replicated their bilateral series successes in ICC events, he insisted that the Test team has remained “one of the best” in the past years.

“Michael Vaughan made a statement after the first Test that India is an underachieving team.

Yes, we haven't won ICC trophies for years. We call ourselves the powerhouses of the game. But the Test team has been one of the best traveling teams in the vicinity. We have seen many great results,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“After he said that, so many experts from our own country started questioning if India is an underachieving team. Frankly, it made me laugh. Picture yourself. Just reverse the situation. SA batted first in this Test after winning the toss. If SA had batted first after winning the toss in Centurion, wasn't there a chance they could have gotten all out by 65?

Even India was staring at the barrel at 20/3, thanks to Virat and Shreyas' partnership from there to save us.”

India drew the two-match series against South Africa 1-1, and have won their last two Test series in Australia.

The side had also drawn against England in 2022, with the five-match series level at 2-2. Further talking about India's credentials in Tests, Ashwin stated that the experts get into “unnecessary details” in their criticism.

“So, both cricket and Test cricket are differentiated by fine margins. In a country like India, where we talk cricket in every nook and cranny and consider the sport a religion, I feel we criticize and nitpick too much and get into unnecessary details. I think these are blinding us,” said Ashwin.

“What we need to understand is that it is still a sport. The fact is that a quality cricket team with good mental fortitude and mental skills can make a comeback from wherever they are, and this Indian team has time and again proved it.

Yes, we lost two WTC finals.

I accept it wholeheartedly.

But in the case of Test series, a comeback is always possible.”

first-class cricket in 18 months.

By the Test’s final session on a dead pitch, Australia were able to win a battle of attrition.

Australia’s middle-order aggressors have also often benefited from batting with one of the more conservative top-order players; Head and Smith's 285-run partnership during the World Test Championship final against India last year is the most notable example, while more recently, Marsh and Smith put on 153 in a Test-defining stand in the second innings in

Melbourne against Pakistan last week.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey noted that the top-order's long stints are seeing him more regularly come in to face the second new ball.

"They've all scored plenty runs for Australia their own way," said Carey. "They find ways to hang in in tough situations.

"Uzzie's patience is one that I admire. There's no pressure on those guys because as soon as Travis and Mitch get out there, we know the game can

accelerate.

"It is nice coming in when the ball is a bit older, definitely, when the quicks have got some overs into them. So no qualms from me, hopefully they spend more time out there."

But the message from Australia's leaders is clear.

"I think in Test cricket, there are some things that remain true, and that is you've got to be putting the pressure on the opposition, you've got to be ticking over the scoreboard – not always, but most of the time," said Cummins.

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ICCI Qld Christmas Lunch and Business Excellence Awards ICCI Qld Christmas Lunch and Business Excellence Awards was held on Thursday 7th December: Congratulations to the recipients of the ICCI QLD Business Excellence Awards 2023 The following winners were announced: "Cav Guido Canale AM Large Business of the year" – Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium stood out for its ethics and innovation in its involvement in the Italian and international communities.

Suncorp has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving people's lives and promoting ethical values through numerous charitable and fundraising initiatives.

"Carlo Crocetti Small business of the year" – Dreamin' Australia Dreaming Australia, led

by Maria Clara Vetruccio, is a niche educational agency focused on young Italians looking for study, work and travel opportunities in Australia—an example of strength, leadership and integration into the community.

ICCI acknowledged all finalists for their hard work and dedication in reaching this significant milestone.

Allan Pidgeon, AM president of ICCI said, “The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

in Queensland would also like to recognise the excellent offerings and capabilities of those companies who received high commendations from the judges following their nominations for the Business Excellence Awards. Both Selecta Foods and SLF Lawyers play a pivotal role in servicing the Italian community of Queensland and the NT and the broader community within Queensland and the NT. We are very grateful to Dreamin' Australia, Suncorp Stadium, Selecta Foods, and SLF Lawyers for their meritorious nominations.

Thank you to all ICCI Queensland Members, Sponsors and Supporters who joined us and a special thanks to our special guest, the Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the Italian Consul of Italy to Queensland

and Northern Territory, Luna Angelini Marinucci.

Thanks to our Judge Greg Skyring, former Commissioner of Electrical Safety, Cav. Adj. Prof. Phillip Di Bella and Ian Humphreys, senior partner of Ashurst and our Chambers Honorary Solicitor.

Thank you to our major sponsors: Ferrari Brisbane, Ghella Mapei Australia, Merthyr Village, and in particular to the invaluable collaboration of our lunch sponsors: Crown Family Jewellers, Peroni, Casella Family Brands, Gerbino's, Bertocchi and all the Board Members and guests who contributed to the success of the lunch.”

The fully sold out lunch was attended by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and other invited Multicultural community leaders.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) and Essential Screen Skills Announce Inaugural Screen Careers Expo Set to Provide a Gateway to the Screen Industry Gold Coast, Sunday 11th February – The anticipation is building as AACTA and Essential Screen Skills proudly launches the inaugural Screen Careers Expo. This pioneering event is set to showcase the endless career opportunities within the dynamic world of film, television, digital media and gaming.

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic said “This expo is really a onestop-shop for anyone with an interest in a career in screen.

We will have all of the major local tertiary education and training providers on the ground as well as experts on hand to discuss and explore all components of working in our great industry. Film and TV production is flourishing, and the opportunities are vast. If you harbour even the slightest ambitions, this expo will give you everything you need to make the next step”.

Running from 9am until 5pm on Sunday 11th

February 2023, AACTA and Essential Screen Skills will welcome a number of leading educational providers and industry figures to Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast, where they will help interested students understand the endless career and training opportunities available in this leading industry.

Head of Film, Screen & Creative Media at Bond University, Dr. Darren Paul Fisher said “AACTA coming to the Gold Coast is significant, as it really does confirm the city as a key screen hub both nationally and globally.

The Screen Careers Expo is hugely exciting, as the way to continue the vibrancy and sustainability of our industry is to grow capacity and develop new talent. It’s critical that we engage, guide and inspire the best and the brightest young minds, as those that are in high school now are the future of our industry”.

The Screen Careers

46 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2024

This expo is really a one-stop-shop for anyone with an interest in a career in screen.

We will have all of the major local tertiary education and training providers on the ground as well as experts on hand to discuss and explore all components of working in our great industry.

Expo promises to be an enlightening experience for attendees, providing them with unprecedented access to industry insights, networking opportunities and a direct line to the pulse of the Screen Industry.

“This expo will ensure that students, new filmmakers and emerging crew are armed with the vital information and ‘know

how’ to select and maintain a career in our vibrant, exciting and thriving screen industry” remarked Laura Clelland, Director of Essential Screen Skills and Essential Crew.

The career panels will provide first-hand accounts of breaking into the industry, building a career in the online space and the future of the screen industry, while the networking opportunities will allow students to partake in touch and try workshops and technical craft explorations.

“The Screen Careers Expo is a very important initiative. It will help people understand what careers are in the industry and the long term prospects for the future.

With unprecedented access, to key speakers, who will provide valuable input for students and the wider public who would like to get into the industry” explained Lynne Benzie, President of Village Roadshow Studios.

Jacqui Feeney, CEO, Screen Queensland said,

“We are pleased to support the inaugural Screen Careers Expo.

Together with the AACTA Festival and Awards, this event is an unmissable opportunity for local emerging and established practitioners to explore new career pathways and exchange ideas. Each year, our industry employs thousands of skilled creatives, crew, post-production experts and on-screen talent, and we are committed to growing the capacity and impact of our state as a world-renowned screen powerhouse.”

Held the day after the AACTA Awards presented

by Foxtel Group, the Screen Careers Expo will form part of AACTA Festival, a fourday celebration of Australia’s vibrant screen industry. With more than 70 events, the AACTA Festival will present a dynamic array of panels, meet-and-greet, screenings and activities offering a place for the Australian screen industry to connect from February 8-11, 2024. AACTA

Festival will be held at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast, a destination renowned for its beauty and vibrant cultural scene.

Key Details: 2024 AACTA Industry Awards presented by Foxtel Group & After Party Presented by Screen Queensland: Thursday, 8 February 2024 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group & Official After Party: Saturday, 10 February AACTA Festival: Thursday, 8 February – Sunday, 11 February For information on the AACTA Awards and ticket sales, click here.

For information on the AACTA Festival, click here.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Official hashtag: #AACTAFestival #AACTAs | Instagram: @aacta | YouTube: /AFIAACTA | Twitter: @aacta | Facebook: /AACTAAwards | Web: aacta.org | TikTok: @ aacta

New Miles Government Ministry sworn in The fresh-faced Miles Labor Government Ministry has been sworn in at Government House.

The 19-strong Cabinet reflects Premier Steven Miles’ priority to deliver better services for all Queenslanders.

Easing cost of living pressures, health care, housing, community safety and the clean energy transition are at the core of new look portfolios.

The Miles government will also continue to take strong action to drive Queensland’s economic plan for the future – supporting new industries and creating jobs where they are needed most.

New Minister Nikki Boyd will take on the portfolios of for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Corrective Services.

Bart Mellish takes on Transport, Main Roads and Digital Services, while Lance McCallum adopts Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development.

Charis Mullen will have

responsibility for Child Safety, Seniors, Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs and Michael Healy will continue to champion Tourism and Sport.

The revitalised cabinet will meet for the first time tomorrow (Tuesday, 19 December).

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Steven Miles: “I want Queenslanders to know that every single member of my government is on their side and will be working day and night to deliver a better Queensland.

“My Minister’s know what’s important to me and what’s important to Queenslanders – easing cost of living pressures, delivering better healthcare and housing, and keeping our communities safe.

“With fresh faces comes fresh ideas, which is exactly what we need as we charge into a new year.

“I want to thank new Minister’s Nikki, Bart, Lance, Charis and Michael for welcoming their new

responsibilities. I have every confidence they will be

effective leaders.

“My team will hit the

ground running to unite our great state and deliver

what matters Queenslanders.”

most

for

MILES GOVERNMENT MINISTRY

ALI KING

Assistant Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works

MINISTER

PORTFOLIO

JENNIFER HOWARD

HON. STEVEN MILES MP

Premier

Assistant Minister for Treasury, Trade and Investment

HON. CAMERON DICK MP

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment

SHANE KING

Assistant Minister for Clean Energy Jobs

CORRINE MCMILLAN

Assistant Minister for Education and Youth Justice

JAMES SULLIVAN

Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans Affairs

HON. GRACE GRACE MP

Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing

HON. SHANNON FENTIMAN MP

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women

HON. YVETTE D’ATH MP

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

HON. MICHAEL DE BRENNI MP

Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs

HON. MEAGHAN SCANLON MP

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works

HON. MARK RYAN MP

Minister for Police and Community Safety

HON. LEEANNE ENOCH MP

Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts

HON. DIANNE FARMER MP

Minister for Education and Minister for Youth Justice

HON. MARK FURNER MP

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities

HON. GLENN BUTCHER MP

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water

HON. SCOTT STEWART MP

Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals

HON. LEANNE LINARD MP

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation

HON. NIKKI BOYD MP

Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services

HON. BART MELLISH MP

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

HON. LANCE MCCALLUM MP

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development

HON. CHARIS MULLEN MP

Minister for Child Safety, Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Multicultural Affairs

HON. MICHAEL HEALY MP

Minister for Tourism and Sport

ASSISTANT MINISTER

PORTFOLIO

BRUCE SAUNDERS

Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development, and Jobs.

JULIEANNE GILBERT

Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing

BRITTANY LAUGA

Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure

Call: (07) 3192 5188

www.indiantimes.com.au

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