Gday India Sep 2021 Issue

SEP 2021

w w w. g d a y i n d i a . c o m . a u

VOL 15 ISSUE 173

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AUSTRALIAN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

Slowing The Spread and Keeping Our State Safe

“This is not where we wanted to be as a community, but we need to keep cases low so we can get more people vaccinated” - Premier Daniel Andrews

The Melodious

Creators of Mirzapur winner at IFFM 21 best web series on OTT platform credits the divine synergy behind its roaring success

Genius

Conquering the stage at this year’s The Voice, twelve-year-old Janaki Easwar has proven age is just a number Winner of IFFM short film competition from Melbourne, Australia, Pulak Bose talks about ‘The New Sun’ (Notun Surjo)

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Anmol Anand, Debasree Das, Dileep Narayan, Dr Raj Kotharu, Gary Nair, Harpal Sandhu, Manjit Sethi, Narisa Dawar, Sanchita Abrol, Karthik Arasu, Abhi Narayan, Gurpal Singh, Monisha Iswaran, P. Harsora, Nandita Chakraborty, Archita Baweja, Barinderjeet Kaur, Gurpal Singh, Muktesh Chibber, Shivani Prabhu, Payel Ghosh Disclaimer: Opinions published in G’Day India are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. No advertising design or material is to be reproduced without the written consent of the editor. All copyrights reserved to G’Day India.

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Slowing The Spread and Keeping Our State Safe

MELBOURNE, Sep 1: Over the past 72 hours, the advice from our public health team has been that we still had a promising chance to bring this under control and to bring cases down. We were charting our way out of this outbreak with easing at thresholds of lower cases.

Last night, with cases already in triple figures, too many mystery cases and too many people infectious out in the community, that advice changed.

With the number of positive cases this high, the speed at which this Delta variant is spreading and so many Victorians still to be vaccinated, our Chief Health Office advises it is unlikely we will be able to bring our case numbers down.

Throughout this pandemic we’ve always followed the health advice. Today is no different.

Due to the ongoing level of community transmission and the continued number of unlinked cases popping up across the state, Victoria’s lockdown will be extended.

Victorians cannot afford to open up and let this virus run free – our hospital system would be overrun, our frontline staff would be placed under too much pressure and quite simply, people would die. We need to

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continue to slow the spread of the virus until more of us are vaccinated.

This is why Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has declared that almost all of the current lockdown restrictions will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine. This is estimated to be around 23 September.

Until then there will still be only five reasons to leave home: shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and study, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated. Other restrictions – including mask wearing – will stay the same.

However, from 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September, playgrounds will re-open – with strict rules to keep everyone safe.

Playgrounds will be for children under 12 with only one parent or carer, and adults should not remove their masks to eat or drink.

Playgrounds will also have QR codes for checking in.

In-home care – like babysitters – will also be expanded to school aged children but only if both parents are authorised workers.

When 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one vaccine dose we will look to ease restrictions a little further.

At that point, the 5km radius will expand

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to 10km – so exercise and shopping can take place up to 10km from your home.

If there’s no shops in your 10km radius, you’ll be able to travel to the ones closest to you.

Victorians will be able to exercise for an extra hour, for up to three hours per day.

Outdoor personal training will be allowed with up to two people plus the trainer. Outdoor communal gym equipment and skateparks will reopen.

Private inspections of unoccupied premises for a new purchase or end of lease will be permitted but only one household may attend at a time, with the agent staying outdoors during the inspection.

Victoria’s construction workforce will also

be able to increase to 50 per cent when 90 per cent of their workers have received at least one vaccine dose, subject to epidemiology at the time. Up to five staff will be able to work onsite at entertainment venues to broadcast performances.

While these restrictions are implemented statewide for now, we will review the epidemiological conditions and subject to public health advice, we will consider easing parts of regional Victoria next week.

To ensure our senior students sitting year 12 exams have certainty and are ready for exams, from Tuesday 7 September until Friday 17 September we will put in place a priority vaccination program.

As part of this program, year 12 students will be given priority booking access at our state-run clinics, as will their teachers and examiners. Students and teachers will need to book an appointment, as walk ups are not available as part of this blitz.

Students and teachers will be able to book one of these priority appointments from Monday 6th September. The Department of

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Health and the Department of Education will work directly with schools, and students and parents will receive the advice on how to arrange a booking through their schools.

As we reach the national cabinet threshold of 70 per cent and 80 per cent of people double dose vaccinated in Victoria, we will ease more restrictions at set intervals, as part of the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.

Getting vaccinated has never been more important – it is well and truly our way out of this pandemic. Nearly three weeks ago we announced a goal to administer 1 million doses in five weeks, and so far, we’ve delivered just under 500,000 doses.

If you’re yet to be vaccinated, please book your appointment today – either in the state system, or in your general practice or local pharmacy. If have any questions or concerns you can talk to a GP, pharmacist or to a senior and experienced immuniser at our state-run sites.

The best vaccine is the vaccine you can get today – while we’re limited on Pfizer appointments because of supply, there are 72,745 Astra Zeneca appointments available across Victoria over the next three weeks.

Astra Zeneca is a safe and effective vaccine – and if that’s what’s available, then that’s what you should get.

All Victorians are encouraged where possible to book their vaccination appointment by visiting portal.cvms.vic. gov.au or by phoning the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

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New Monash Hubs to Boost COVID Vaccine Manufacturing

MELBOURNE, Sep 1: A new purpose-built facility at Monash University will increase Victoria’s medicine manufacturing capability, including COVID-19 vaccines, thanks to a funding boost from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney today announced the $21.65 million trio of projects at the Clayton campus, including the $13.8 million expansion of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC), which will produce Australia’s first mRNA vaccine for clinical trials.

MMIC has already played a vital role in developing tools to combat COVID-19, including a therapy inhaled through the nose.

The new facilities include more office space and laboratories to strengthen collaboration between scientists and medicine manufacturers – further cementing Victoria as a leader in medicine manufacturing.

The funding will also help create the $4.63 million oNKo-innate hub which will drive innovation in the development of cancer therapies, and the creation and commercialisation of treatments.

The project will also support the $3.21 million UP-LINK University Partner Collaboration Space which will be a home

for start-ups to digitally streamline smart manufacturing. It is the first component of the larger Monash Smart Manufacturing Hub project that will help drive increased research commercialisation and entrepreneurship.

The project will create opportunities for about 1,000 students, and more than 350 jobs direct research positions and secondary jobs as well as 100 jobs in construction.

Construction is due to be completed next year.

The Government contributed $16.1 million to the project in a joint effort by Monash University and its partners and was one of many pitches from universities to the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, which was developed in response to the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the sector.

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The unprecedented $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund is supporting universities with capital works, research infrastructure projects and applied research focused on boosting Victoria’s productivity and economy as the state recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

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Have Your Say on Victoria’s New Mental Health System MELBOURNE, Aug 31: Victorians are being invited to have their say about the local mental health services they want to see as the Andrews Labor Government delivers a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

The development of new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services is at the heart of the mental health reform ─ allowing Victorians to get the care they need much sooner, and closer to their families and communities.

The new services will act as a “front door” to the reformed mental health system – connecting Victorians to the care they need in their own community and focusing on prevention and early intervention for adults who are experiencing mental illness or psychological distress as well as treatment for alcohol and drug addiction.

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended 50 to 60 new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services be established across Victoria by the end of 2026.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 included $263.8 million to start work on the first 20 of the new local services across Victoria, with six fast-tracked facilities to open in Benalla, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong, the Latrobe Valley and Whittlesea next year.

Creating community care starts within local communities – and Victorians are invited to share their thoughts on local services and the design of the treatment, care and support through the Engage Victoria website at: engage.vic.gov.au

Virtual Celebrations of

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75th Indian Independence Day

MELBOURNE, Aug 15; The 75th Independence Day of India was celebrated in solemn and dignified demeanour virtually by Global Hindu Association For Reform and Sustainable Societies, (GHARS) Melbourne, in collaboration with Consulate General of India, Melbourne and Ayush Darpan Foundation, India, as part of the ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Ambassador of India Hon Consul General Raj Kumar hoisted the National Flag in the morning at Consulate General of India, Melbourne. The celebration was initiated with the Indian national anthem followed by a welcome note by the Chair of GHARS, Mr Dharmendra Dhade and a video produced by Hon Retired General Vijay Kumar Singh, Minister of Railways & Transport and Civil Aviation India, was played. The guest of honour Hon Raj Kumar, Consul General of India in Melbourne, addressed the prominent members of the Indian community.

The Ambassador delineated the ethos and the themes of the Amrit Mahotsav during his keynote address.

Prof Rajesh Sharma, RMIT University Melbourne (son of an Indian freedom fighter, followed with an inspirational speech. Then we were honoured by

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the presence of our respected guest Bollywood actor & producer Karan Aanand, who delighted us with a patriotic poetry on the auspicious day.

Presence was marked by various dignitaries who did wonderful live cultural performances & attended the Independence Day celebrations virtually amongst other prominent guests, Dr Navin Joshi (Founder) Ayush Darpan Foundation, Mrs Jessi Kaur, California, USA, Mr Amarjeet Singh Bhamra, APPG, UK, Dr Neeraj Thakur, Sydney, Australia, Ms Svetlana, Moscow (Russia), Mrs Narmada Kumar, Mr Ashish Khurana, Mr Yogesh Bhatt, Mr Vikas, & Ms Sarita Mcharg, Melbourne, Mrs Simran Likhari, Vancouver, Canada, Prof Girender Tomar, India, Alokita Dhar, Mumbai India. The programme was coordinated, hosted and concluded with an inspirational speech by Dr Vanita Sharma, Secretary GHARS, with a thank you note to all the honorary guests, participants, collaborators, supporters and media supporter G’day India, Indian High Commission, Canberra for the support and best wishes from his excellency Manpreet Vohra in an email, Consul General for offering immense support.

(G’day News Desk)

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New And Upgraded Bus Services Across Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Aug 31: Travelling by bus will be more convenient, faster and less crowded with an overhaul of some of Melbourne’s most popular bus routes and two extra services.

Delivering on its election commitment, the Andrews Labor Government will introduce a new bus route 816 from Keysborough South to Noble Park Station from 28 November to provide additional public transport to the growing area south of Keysborough connecting residents to local shops and schools.

The service will run seven days a week – every 30 minutes during the weekday peak and every 60 minutes off peak. On weekends, services will run every 60 minutes.

Travelling to and from work and education in Parkville will be quicker thanks to a new limited-stop bus connecting Victoria Park Station to the University of Melbourne.

Starting 20 September, the new Route 202 bus service will run every 10 minutes between Yarra Bend to the university and Parkville’s medical and research precinct,

allowing people to board from Victoria Park Station.

The high-frequency shuttle bus will also pick up passengers from stops connecting with the 11, 86 and 96 tram routes, providing a more efficient and comfortable way for students and workers to reach the precinct.

It will also eliminate the need for people commuting from Melbourne’s northern and north-eastern suburbs to travel into the CBD to get to the university or Parkville-bound services.

In further improvements to bus travel, timetables for 19 bus routes will be updated to better align to passenger demand.

Changes across the routes from 20 September include increased frequency at popular travel times and some services starting earlier or finishing later, particularly on weekends. Nine bus routes will also have their off-peak services increased.

The upgraded services will connect passengers to education and healthcare facilities including the Box Hill Hospital, employment, and local shopping precincts including Highpoint Shopping Centre, Queen Victoria Market, Doncaster Shopping Centre, and the Melbourne CBD. Commuters will also benefit from improved co-ordination with train timetables, providing a more reliable connection between buses and trains.

There will be additional weekend services to the Melbourne CBD and St Vincent’s Hospital on Routes 905 and 907, part of the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) SmartBus service, including services extended to midnight on Sunday nights.

Updated timetables are now available at ptv.vic.gov.au or on the PTV app.

AFL Grand Final Relocated in The Interests of Football MELBOURNE, Aug 31: The Victorian Government has agreed to the relocation of the 2021 AFL Grand Final from the home of football, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

We cannot risk the health of Victorians by rushing back to crowds at events before it is safe to do so.

In enabling the Grand Final to be relocated, the Victorian Government has secured an arrangement that locks in the most celebrated Australian sporting event at the MCG for an extra year – until 2059.

In addition, the MCG has been guaranteed an extra eight AFL premiership season matches over the next five AFL seasons, from 2022 to 2026, representing four games over and above the agreement from last year.

These additional matches are on top of the underlying commitment from the AFL to schedule a minimum of 43 premiership matches per season at the MCG. More football will be taken to regional Victoria, with a guaranteed four AFLW

premiership season matches to be played at regional Victorian venues over a three year-period starting with the upcoming AFLW season.

The AFL will also extend Victoria’s hosting of the NAB AFL Draft to 2023 as the NAB AFL Draft in 2021 is expected to be held as a virtual event due to the impact of the pandemic.

Should the 2021 AFL Grand Final not be able to be played in front of a crowd, then the MCG remains ready to host the game.

The Victorian Government and the AFL are continuing to work together to reinforce Victoria’s position as the home of Australian football as part of the landmark agreement between the parties in 2018 that includes the $225 million Marvel Stadium upgrade.

In addition to retaining the MCG as the home of Australian Football, the long-term agreement between the Government and the AFL incorporates a partnership to develop multicultural, indigenous and women’s football and guarantees AFL matches for regional Victoria.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Grants Fund New Playgrounds, Community Centres, Libraries

MELBOURNE, Sep 1: The Victorian Government is helping local councils upgrade libraries, improve playgrounds and build better community facilities for growing communities.

Acting Minister for Local Government Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the opening of the $50 million Growing Suburbs Fund and the $10.1 million Living Libraries Infrastructure Program.

Some 16 urban fringe councils can now apply for funding through the Growing Suburbs Fund, which will deliver more playgrounds, parks and community centres in the state’s fastest-growing areas.

Previous projects supported include $4.3 million for the Southern Peninsula Integrated Youth Services Hub and $1.5 million for the Brunt Road Integrated Child and Family Centre in Cardinia Shire.

Since 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund has delivered more than $325 million towards 256 projects, creating over 8,800 jobs.

All councils and regional library corporations across Victoria are now able to apply for funding to upgrade or deliver a new library.

Under the program, councils can apply for grants of up to $1.5 million to expand and modernise existing libraries, build new libraries or buy new mobile library vans through the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program.

Earlier this year Glen Eira City Council began work on modernising the popular Bentleigh Library, funded through the program. The library will soon expand to be a community centre and base for the council’s youth services, including counselling and career advice.

Since 2015, the Government has invested more than $32 million into 95 Living Libraries projects, as part of $236.8 million for new libraries, upgrades to existing facilities and library vans.

Public libraries provide a safe and inclusive space for people to gather, learn and connect and have continued to adapt and serve their communities throughout coronavirus restrictions.

For more information, visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au

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Digital Jobs Training, Placement Boon for Workers and Businesses MELBOURNE, Aug 31: Thousands of Victorians will get the chance to work with some of Australia’s biggest companies, as part of a program that is upskilling mid-career Victorians and providing businesses with much-needed digital workers.

The Victorian Government’s $64 million Digital Jobs program will support up to 5,000 Victorians to reskill, with participants provided with industry-backed training, followed by a placement in a digital role.

Businesses looking for digital talent are being urged to sign up to the program, which is the first of its kind in Australia and responds to the growing need for tech skills across all sectors.

Some of Victoria’s top employers have already signed on, including ANZ, Amazon Web Services, Carsales, Infosys, MYOB, NCS, Salesforce, Siemens, Swisse, SYPAQ and Zendesk.

Participants will complete 12 weeks of skills training at a leading Victorian training provider in fields such as data analytics, web development, digital marketing, cloud computing and cyber security. Following the training, participants will undertake a 12-week paid internship with a Victorian business to further develop their new skills.

The first cohort of 450 participants is set to start industry placements in October.

Victorian businesses are invited to host the mid-career participants, who are each supported by a $5,000 wage subsidy.

Businesses will also gain access to the broader talent pool of potential employees, who will be ready to step into a wide range of digital roles.

ANZ will be hosting 30 Digital Jobs participants in their teams across Victoria, offering them a combination of on-the-job learning and formal training. Participants will

also be partnered with ANZ leaders who have a passion for employee development.

Some of Victoria’s top training providers are delivering the courses: RMIT Online, General Assembly, Generation Australia, Cyber CX, the University of Melbourne, Victoria University Polytechnic, Federation University, La Trobe University, Monash College, Bendigo TAFE Kangan Institute, Goanna Education, Academy Xi and DDLS. For more information on the program visit vic.gov.au/digitaljobs

Strengthening Anti-Hate Protections in Victoria MELBOURNE, Sep 2: Victoria will become the first state or territory in Australia to make the public display of Nazi symbols illegal – in a landmark reform to help stamp out hateful behaviour and boost human rights protections.

The Andrews Labor Government will also extend the state’s anti-vilification protections beyond race and religion to cover areas such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and HIV/AIDS status.

To help people subjected to vilification seek justice through the courts, the Government will make civil and criminal vilification easier to prove.

Earlier this year the Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee delivered its report on the effectiveness of the state’s anti-vilification laws – which had bipartisan support from the committee.

The report found that sadly, vilification is all too common for many Victorians – including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, particular faith groups, those who identify as LGBTIQ+ and people with a disability.

The harm caused by hate conduct and vilification can be profound, affecting the physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals and often preventing them from feeling comfortable participating in their

community.

The Government’s response to the report vows to better protect the community from vilification and discriminatory practices and boost human rights and equal opportunity for all.

Planning is underway on the best way to make these changes, with some recommendations requiring the government to change laws and others needing input from the Victorian community –such as community groups that experience vilification.

The Government will also legislate a ban on the public display of Nazi symbols,

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expected in the first half of 2022, in recognition of the rise in neo-Nazi activity and its role in inciting hate behaviour.

Extensive consultation will be undertaken on how the Nazi symbol ban is crafted, to ensure appropriate exceptions are in place, such as for educational or historical purposes, or for other uses of the symbol.

The Government’s Anti-Racism Taskforce is also developing Victoria’s new AntiRacism Strategy, which will complement the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Children aged 12 to 15 years now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

CANBERRA, Aug 27: Children aged between 12 and 15 years will be able to book a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine from September 13 following the Morrison Government’s decision to implement expert medical advice.

Bookings will be available through GPs, Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. Each state and territory will advise when their state vaccination clinics will open to this group.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) reviewed detailed medical evidence and recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination in all children and adolescents 12 years of age and above.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Moderna vaccine would also be made available subject to approvals from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and ATAGI recommendations for 12–18-yearolds.

“Vaccinating young people will protect them and provide peace of mind to their family,” the Prime Minster said.

“Importantly, this decision provides the opportunity for families to come together to visit their GP and get vaccinated.”

Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield Lieutenant General John Frewen has been working with the Commonwealth and states and territories on coordinating an approach for this age group while supporting those jurisdictions wishing to undertake a school-based vaccination later in the year.

This detail will be outlined by each state and territory.

It is expected that all children 12-18 years of age will have access to a vaccine during the course of 2021. The age group between 12 and 15 comprises of approximately 1.2 million children.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the decision was based on the final advice of ATAGI and approval by the TGA. In their advice to Government, ATAGI concludes that the severity of COVID-19 is less in

adolescents compared with adults.

“To date, we’ve administered almost 18.4 million COVID-19 vaccines around Australia. I want to thank everyone who has come forward so far to receive their first and second doses, you’re doing an incredible job,” Minister Hunt said.

“I would encourage all parents from September 13 to visit the eligibility checker and book your child in for their vaccination, so we can ensure all Australians are protected from COVID-19.”

Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the rollout of the vaccines to younger Australians should give more confidence to jurisdictions to keep schools open and community activity alive.

“Some students have missed more than half a year of face-to-face learning, and it is critically important that we get all students back in classrooms as soon as possible,” Minister Tudge said.

“Keeping kids in schools is so important, not just for their education, but for their mental health, physical development and to have those critical interactions with their peers and teachers.”

Parents should check the COVID-19 eligibility checker from 13 September to book in their child’s vaccination.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is also currently considering the use of the Moderna vaccine in 12-17 years of age as a priority, with a decision expected soon.

Pharmacies will come on board to administer Moderna subject to approval by the TGA and ATAGI. The Commonwealth Government has secured more than 280 million COVID-19 vaccines, including 125 million PfizerBioNTech vaccines and 25 million Moderna vaccines.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

CEOs of 80 major companies urge Australian authorities to stop lockdowns

CANBERRA, Sep 1: Some 80 major Australian companies called on state premiers in an open letter to cease COVID-19 lockdowns.

The restrictions have been in place since June in many Australian cities, triggering anti-lockdown protests and arrests. "We ask governments to work together to implement the National Plan and chart a path out of the current lockdowns," the letter, obtained by The Australian Financial Review newspaper, said.

The businesses, whose chiefs drafted the letter, include retail chain operator Coles group, telecommunications company Telstra, airline Qantas and major banks, which all together employ up to 1 million Australians.

"Providing a light at the end of the tunnel will encourage more Australians to get vaccinated. We need to give people something to hope for, something to look forward to, something to plan around, and to be confident about their futures," the letter read, adding that there may be far-reaching

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consequences of protracted lockdowns, which are now invisible.

The Australian authorities are aiming to vaccinate 80% of the population, but even afterward, some restrictions will still keep in force. To date, the government has administered over 12 million vaccine doses, which was enough to fully vaccinate 35.7% of people aged over 16, and to give at least one shot to 59.6% of the population over 16 years old.

(ANI)

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500,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses boosts September vaccine rollout

CANBERRA. Aug 31: Australia’s vaccine rollout will be boosted by 500,000 extra Pfizer-BioNTech doses to be distributed next week for immediate use, following a dose swap deal secured between Australia and Singapore.

Australia will gain access to 500,000 Singaporean doses now to boost the vaccine programme in September, while in December, Australia will supply 500,000 Pfizer doses to Singapore.

Prime Minster Scott Morrison said the vaccines would be provided to all states and territories for distribution by primary care and state and territory vaccination sites on an equal population basis, following batch testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“This deal gives us the further supplies we need as we bring new groups into the programme for Pfizer, including 12- to 15-year-olds from September 13, and the 16- to 39-year-old age group that has already commenced,” the Prime Minister said.

“I said we would leave no stone unturned in bolstering our vaccination programme. This deal comes on top of the Polish agreement that has already boosted our national vaccination rates to exceed those achieved in the United States and United Kingdom at the peak of their programmes.

“I would like to convey my special appreciation to Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, for our direct engagement over this arrangement, and his Government for their support, highlighting how two governments can work together and manage vaccine stocks before they expire.

“I also extend my thanks to Minister Hunt, Minster Payne, Australia's High Commissioner to Singapore Will Hodgman and his team, and our Health Secretary Professor Murphy for bringing this arrangement together.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said Australia was working with other countries to manage the global challenge of COVID-19.

“This demonstrates how our diplomatic capability can deliver in ways that protect Australians and strengthen Australia’s security and prosperity,” Minister Payne said.

“Just as Australia and Singapore are working together, Australia is cooperating with partners in the region to save lives, advance economic recovery, and build health systems to protect against future pandemics.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the Australian Government is working every day to bring forward vaccine supplies to ensure every Australian will have access to the COVID vaccine this year.

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“With increasing supply, we encourage all Australians to come forward and be vaccinated at more than 9,300 locations around the country,” Minister Hunt said.

“I particularly want to thank our health officials, both in Singapore and Australia, and our High Commission in Singapore for their work.”

There is no purchase cost associated with the deal to source the vaccine doses, which were manufactured in Belgium.

More than 19.3 million doses have now been delivered across the country, with more than 1.9 million doses delivered over the past week.

PER CAPITA DISTRIBUTION: New South Wales 159,236 Victoria 131,149 Queensland 99,745 Western Australia 51,294 South Australia 34,934 Tasmania 10,675 Australian Capital Territory 8,344 Northern Territory 4,622 To find your nearest vaccination site please visit https://www.health.gov.au/ resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccineeligibility-checker.

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NEWS INDIA

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Defence against Talibanization of India

As the last batch of US marines was flown out of Kabul on August 31 ending a 20-yearlong US occupation of Afghanistan, questions regarding the future of Indo-Afghan relations have rocked Indian talk shows and YouTube channels alike. The biggest worry seems to be two fold.

Firstly, will Afghanistan facilitate antiIndian Pakistani jihadi proxies by allowing them to shift their training and operational headquarters to southern Afghanistan, and secondly, whether or not the numerous jihadi groups still active in Afghanistan, like the ISIS-K, will become powerful rallying point for pro-jihad Islamist groups inside India.

Last week the local residents of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) nervously gazed at members of Lashkar and Jaish returning from Afghanistan. A mullah by the name of Rahim delivered a fiery sermon to youth who had gathered to listen to him at a mosque in Chakothi just 500 yards away from the Line of Control (LoC). Recruitment of young men for Jihad in Kashmir is being carried out uninterruptedly by jihadi groups inside the mosques dotted alongside the

border towns of LoC in PoK. Simultaneously, Pakistan army troops have moved into the suburbs of Muzaffarabad, the capital city of PoK. Locals have accused them of grabbing their fertile fields and hereditary lands. A protest was held just days ago in PoK against the army land grab at Jabbara-Tap in which residents of several villages participate.

Only last week the Indian army foiled an attempt by jihadist to infiltrate the Valley via the LoC. Then on August 30 another attempt was encountered in which at least two terrorists were reportedly killed.

Amid the chaos in Kabul the situation in the region is becoming challenging by the hour.

As the Taliban conduct door to door search identifying and executing those on the Black List of 'collaborators' and women are being forced out of jobs and made to wear hijabs, both Pakistan and China are lobbying among the nations of the world and vying support for the Taliban claiming that the Taliban of today are more tolerant of dissent, well versed in the art of diplomacy and are "intelligent" people.

Pakistan and China both are supporting the Taliban for different reasons. Pakistan looks at an Afghanistan controlled and ruled by the Taliban as the fulfilment of her erstwhile desire to achieve strategic depth against India. China's eyes are laid upon more than one trillion dollars' worth of natural resources buried in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Hence, the strategy to counter the terrorist threats against India hailing from Pakistan after it shifts jihadi camps across the border into Afghanistan and strategy to counter the economic expansionist motives of China require a two tier military and political strategy.

A clear and objective military strategy against Pakistan attempts to engage Indian army and commit terrorist attacks in the Valley is the need of the hour. In my opinion not one but several surgical strikes should be on the cards of an Indian military strategist. One such target could be the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) training center situated near Mangla at the foothills of PoJK. Chinese economic expansionist tendency is linked with her objective of eliminating regional competitors. India is fast becoming a global economic power house. Announcement

by Japan's $64 billion Toyota Tsusho to shift some of its major manufacturing operations from China to India back in November 2020 is just one such example to suffice my argument that China will leave no stone unturned to sabotage and even engage in limited war against India.

Pakistan and China share the same views when it comes to India. They both want to weaken India. China is supporting Pakistan to achieve her objective by terrorist sabotage in Kashmir. The euphoria that has been generated by the victory of the Taliban is encouraging Indians infected with the ideology of Jihad and directing them toward a more dangerous and sinister ploy: Communalism.

We have to confront it with an iron hand.

India does not have to go to war with another country. We never have. But if India's sovereignty is challenged consistently and begins to effect the progress of our nation then we are left with no choice but to strike our enemy with a vengeance both at home and abroad.

By Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza

India administers over 1 cr vaccines in a day for first time

New Delhi, Aug 27: India, for the first time, administered more than one crore vaccine does in a single day under its nationwide mass vaccination drive against Covid-19.

This is the highest-ever vaccination

achieved in a single day since the start of the vaccination drive.

In another significant achievement, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the 62 crore landmark and presently stands

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at 62,17,06,882, as per the provisional report of the Health Ministry.

Hailing the feat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Record vaccination numbers today! Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat.

Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success."

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said: "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas - This is the same effort by which the country has crossed the figure of more than 1 crore vaccines in a day. The tireless work of health workers and PM Modi's determination to #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine is paying off."

In a separate development, India has also crossed the landmark milestone of administering at least one dose of Covid vaccine to 50 per cent of its adult population.

India's dose administration rate was around 18 lakh per day before June 21.

However, since June 21, it had gone up to almost half a crore per day.

(IANS)

Mumbai neurosurgeon 1st Indian to get AANS honour

MUMBAI, Aug 26: Well-known Mumbai-based neurosurgeon Dr. B.K. Misra has been conferred the prestigious American Association of Neurological Surgeons 'International Lifetime Achievement Award in Neurosurgery', an official said.

Dr. Misra is the Head of Department of Surgery and Division of Neurosurgery & Gamma Knife Radiosurgery at the P.D. Hinduja Hospital.

He becomes the first Indian to receive the AANS honour which was conferred on him at a virtual ceremony during the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting 2021 held in Orlando this week.

"We have the best of tech, infrastructure and skills at par with the best in the world to treat the most complex neurosurgical conditions and even have the potential to become the destination for neurological treatment," Dr. Misra said on receiving the award.

The Hospital CEO Gautam Khanna lauded Dr. Misra's medical accomplishment and accolades as a testament to his dedication and treating thousands of patients under his care.

AANS is the world's apex body of neurosurgeons that has bestowed its highest global recognition to Dr. Misra -- the President of Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons and the World Federation of Skull Base Societies, and the 1st Vice-President of World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

With a long string of credits and firsts, he was the first in the world to execute an Image-Guided Aneurysm Microsurgery, first in south Asia to perform a Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and first in India to perform an Awake Craniotomy for brain tumours.

Earlier, he received the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award-2018, and contributes through numerous publications to improve the quality of education in neurosurgery and facilitate spreading the treatment for neurosurgical patients in poor countries globally.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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Over 1 lakh kids orphaned or lost a parent amid Covid, SC told NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has informed the Supreme Court that over a lakh children have either been orphaned, lost a parent, or abandoned amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic from April 2020.

The child rights body, in an additional affidavit, told the top court that these children need care and protection. The affidavit was filed in a suo motu case on contagion of Covid-19 in children protection homes.

According to information uploaded on its Bal Swaraj portal by the states and Union Territories, the child rights body said up to August 23, there are total 1,01,032 children who are in need of care and protection. The data reflects children who have lost either lost a parent or both between April 1, 2020 to August 23.

The affidavit said out of the total 1,01,032 children -- 52,532 are boys, 48,495 are girls, and five are transgender.

According to the data collated after entries from

states and UTs -- 8,161 children have become orphans, 92,475 have lost either of their parents, and 396 have been abandoned.

The data shows that 10,980 children are in the age group of 0-3 years and 16,182 are in age group of 16 to up to 18 years.

The affidavit also said that in Delhi, there are total 5,391 such children -- 5,101 have lost one parent ,275 have become orphans, and 15 are abandoned.

In Maharashtra, there are total 15,401 children -- 14,925 have lost one parent, 470 have been orphaned, and six have been abandoned. The child rights body the data analysis regarding uploaded individual child entry is in the process.

The case was taken up for hearing by a bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose.

In July, the NCPCR had informed the Supreme Court that over 75,000 children have either lost one or became an orphan during the pandemic and they are in need of care and protection.

(IANS)

Indian food services market to hit $13 bn in GMV by 2025

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Although massively under-penetrated when compared to the US and China, online penetration of food services market in India is set to grow two times by 2025 with the right tailwinds -- likely to clock a gross merchandise value (GMV) of $13 billion, a new report showed.

Although the market was hit by the pandemic, it has also accelerated the pace of online adoption.

"Similar to many other markets, this market is also seeing a rising online growth especially post-Covid, and it is gaining prominence in the overall share of the market," according to data provided by market research firm RedSeer.

"While foodtech services (like Zomato) are doing IPOs and raising big bucks, the

domestic market still lags behind in the food services market when compared to global counterparts, which means there is a lot of scope," the report noted.

However, the market is continuously growing with a number of drivers.

"India is expected to be the third largest consumer market by 2030 which will be a major boost for overall consumer economy, increasing growth of online food delivery with more digital adoption, penetration in smaller cities, growth of the branded food services ecosystem and aggregation of standalone restaurants by the online platforms, among others," the findings showed.

Although the market largely remains unorganised, the good news is that there is a shift towards the organised side and the

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growth of it is expected to be 14 per cent by 2025.

While on the other hand, the unorganised segment will see a mere growth of 5 per cent, said the RedSeer report.

Concurrently, the online segment is also significantly growing as players are innovating on offerings, themes and business models to adjust to the evolving needs of the consumers.

"Moreover, as the online adoption is growing, consumers are now finding these services more reliable and a growing inclination to order from these platforms.

Research shows that all the cohorts will grow significantly except family," said the report.

(IANS)

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NEWS WORLD

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

20 years, $2.3 trillion spent, 2,400 US troops killed: America's longest war, in numbers

NEW YORK, Aug 31: As the last of America's C-17s flew into the night from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport just before the clock struck midnight in Afghanistan Monday, the costs of America's longest war began sinking in at home.

Thirteen fallen US service members, mostly in their 20s and born just around the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, returned 24 hours ago in the last of the caskets from Afghanistan, draped in the US flag.

US President Joe Biden became the fourth commander in chief to stand in reverence, his head bowed, as the heroes came home. Over the last 20 years, more than 2,400 US service members have been killed in Afghanistan alone.

Here are some numbers from America's longest war. The data on casualties and costs (approximations) are sourced from the Costs of War Project at Brown University and covers the time period between October 2001 to April 2021. Other data are sourced from a combination of Pentagon, White House and US State Department briefings.

Number of people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania: Nearly 3,000.

Date on which US Congress authorized use of US Armed Forces against those responsible for the September 11 attacks: September 18, 2001.

Time at which the last US planes took off from Kabul airport on August 30, 2021: 3:29 pm in Washington, DC. Number of days between Taliban takeover and total US withdrawal: 15.

Number of people killed in a suicide attack three days before the US left Afghanistan: 13 US service members and 169 Afghans.

Total number killed in Afghanistan alone, last 20 years: 171,000-174,000 America's total expenditure on operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan: $2.313 trillion.

American military members killed in Afghanistan: 2,461.

US contractors killed in Afghanistan: 3,846.

National (Afghan) military and police deaths: 66,000.

Afghan civilian deaths: 47,245.

Number of Americans who remain in Afghanistan, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken: "under 200, likely closer to 100".

Number of "hard core" Islamic State terrorists who remain in Afghanistan: At least 2,000.

US vehicles and systems disabled before withdrawal: 27 Humvees and 73 aircraft.

The last task US troops completed before catching the final plane: They disabled the C-RAMS (Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar System).

The last people to board the final US plane out of Kabul: Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and acting US ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson. Donahue coordinated the final evacuation effort for the US.

By Nikhila Natarajan

Taliban have more Black Hawk choppers than 85% countries

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: US Republican Congressman Jim Banks has revealed that the Taliban now have more Black Hawk helicopters than 85 per cent of the countries in the world.

Banks, who served in Afghanistan as an officer in charge of supplying weapons, said: "Due to the negligence of this administration, the Taliban now have access to $85 billion worth of military equipment."

The militant group's metamorphosis from rag-tag guerrilla force to highly professional, impressively equipped army has been at the expense of Western taxpayers, the report said.

The UK and the US have picked up the tab not only for the eye-wateringly expensive hardware, but also the training budget -- as the Taliban's ranks have been swollen by defectors from the Afghan National Security Forces.

The irony is that the Taliban's newfound arsenal was supposed to prevent Afghanistan falling into Taliban hands, it added.

The group appears to have helped themselves to the state-of-the-art MBITR-2 (Multi-band Intrateam Radios) favoured by US Green Berets but denied to most conventional UK personnel. They were issued to Afghan government forces.

What's more, their weapons appear

immaculately clean and well maintained, their uniforms looked washed and ironed and they carry their weapons as British soldiers are taught to carry theirs.

The transformation in the group's appearance and capability could scarcely be more vivid or disturbing, the report said.

Sandals and shalwar kameez have been replaced by combat boots and tailored camouflage uniforms.

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Ancient AK47s are nowhere to be seen.

Instead, today's Taliban carry US Green Beretissue M4 carbines with telescoping stocks.

The Taliban of 15 years ago were seldom if ever seen wearing helmets. But today their headwear is more expensive and more advanced than that worn by most British troops, it added.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

We are not done with you yet, Biden warns ISIS-K

WASHINGTON, Sept 1: US President Joe Biden warned the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), the group which killed 13 US troops in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport and said that the US is not done with the terrorist group.

"To ISIS-K we are not done with you yet," Biden said, adding that "to those who wish America harm, we will hunt you down and you will pay the ultimate price." Biden's address to the nation comes a day after the last American military planes left the country, concluding the nation's longest war nearly 20 years after it began.

Biden, in defending a decision that has drawn scrutiny for its execution, said the

real decision in Afghanistan was "between leaving and escalating," framing his choice to withdraw troops as the only option aside from surging more forces to the country.

"I was not going to extend this forever war, and I was not extending a forever exit," he said.

The United States forces left Afghanistan on Tuesday morning, marking the end of a chaotic and messy exit from America's longest war.

Biden also said this is a new world, the terror threat has metastasized across the world, adding, "the threat from terrorism continues, but it's changed. Our strategy needs to change too."

"I know that the threat from terrorism continues in is pernicious and evil nature, but it has changed, expanded to other countries. Our strategy has to change too.

We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries. We just don't need to fight a ground war to do it," he said.

Following the end of the United States' war in Afghanistan, Biden referred to the American lives lost during the conflict's final days.

Noting that the success of the US's withdrawal from Afghanistan "was due to the

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incredible skill, bravery, and selfless courage" of the US military and diplomats, Biden said that the 13 fallen soldiers who perished as part of the operation would not be forgotten.

"Twenty service members were wounded in the service of this mission. Thirteen heroes gave their lives," Biden said adding that "We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude we can never repay, but we should never, ever, ever forget."

Biden said American service members performed their duty despite a dangerous and ultimately deadly environment in the war-torn country.

"Risking their lives, not for professional gains but to serve others," Biden said of US's troops, noting that the work of evacuating Americans and Afghan partners was not "a mission of war" but rather "a mission of mercy."

The President contended that the US military was prepared to deal with all those events, even though he himself has admitted that the US was caught off-guard by the quick collapse of the Afghan army.

"This is the way the mission was designed. It was designed to operate under severe stress and attack, and that's what it did," Biden said.

(ANI)

'US left behind over 100 Javelin portable anti-tank missile systems in Afghanistan'

NEW DELHI, Aug 31: Russia’s Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has claimed that the US left behind more than 100 Javelin portable anti-tank missile systems in Afghanistan.

Shoigu now believes that the militant group is better equipped than the Ukrainian

Army.

He told the YouTube channel Solovyov Live that the terrorists' considerable cache of weapons, and vehicles, is a massive risk for Afghanistan, the report said.

"Javelins are supplied to Ukraine from the US," Shoigu said.

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"I don't remember how many, a few dozen, or so," he added.

This means that the Taliban now has more of them than the Ukrainian Army.

The Javelin is a portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile that uses automatic infrared guidance.

It has been used extensively in the war in Afghanistan, as well as in Iran, Syria, and Libya.

According to Shoigu, the large number of weapons now in the possession of the Taliban is a huge threat.

As well as Javelins, the militant group now has access to Black Hawk helicopters, Hercules planes, and thousands of Humvees, amongst other vehicles.

They also have thousands of guns and a whole host of other firearms, the RT News report said.

Last week, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby admitted that the US administration has no idea of the inventory taken by the Taliban.

"Obviously, we don't want to see any weapons or systems fall into the hands of people that would use them in such a way to harm our interests or those of our partners and allies," he said.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

G’Day Mate

!

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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Getting married in Australia CHANGES TO MARRIAGE FORMS AND CERTIFICATES 2021 The Attorney-General’s Department has finalised a review of the approved forms made under the Marriage Act 1961 and Marriage Regulations 2017. The review has taken into account feedback from stakeholders including comments received during the public consultation on the draft revised Notice of intended marriage form (NOIM) in October 2018 and following the commencement of marriage equality in December 2017, as well as previous work to streamline and modernise the forms.

As part of the review the department consulted with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Department of Home Affairs, the National Archives of Australia, state and territory registries of births, deaths and marriages (BDMs), celebrants, their representative associations, and members of the public.

Three marriage forms have been updated following the review – these are, Notice of Intended Marriage form, Official Certificate of Marriage form and Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage form

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The updated marriage forms will be available for use from 1 September 2021. There is no transitional period for the use of marriage forms approved under section 119 of the Marriage Act 1961 (the Act).

From 1 September 2021, all couples and authorised celebrants must use the new marriage forms.

Old Notices of Intended Marriage forms signed and submitted to an authorised celebrant before 1 September 2021 will remain valid for a period of 18 months.

There are no changes to the Form 15 Certificates of Marriage that is given by the celebrant to the couple immediately following the wedding.

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

The Melodious Genius Conquering the stage at this year’s The Voice, twelve-year-old Janaki Easwar has proven age is just a number

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t’s not every day we come across talent from Melbourne who walks with such confidence, gracing us with her melodious voice. Meet Janaki Easwar, the youngest contestant ever to perform on Channel 7’s The Voice.

She conquered the stage, singing Billie Eilish’s ‘Lovely’ and made it her own, both by making all four judges turn their chairs around during the blind audition and by melting our hearts in our homes.

On Monday night, we saw the emerging artist, Janaki ditching her traditional kasavu (a threaded handloom shawl with a golden border) for a dusty pink stylish skirt and top, looking gorgeous, standing on a raised platform she pulled off a huge song by Zayne ‘Dusk till Dawn in her own style. The variation in her voice was enough to prove that she’s here to conquer. Though she missed out a spot in the semi-finals during the knockouts in ‘The Voice’, she has definitely turned heads, the warmth and love of the Australian public going crazy in social media is a standing proof to this. “I am happy with this I feel great to represent and be recognised in this platform.”

Says Janaki, her goal was always to enjoy the journey not the destination. She didn’t have any particular song choice if she had to choose; according to her she makes everything unique. The judges may have been conflicted with the song choice but then again Janaki made it her own, her band of followers may be disappointed for now, for her not making it through the knockouts but they know they will be seeing much for her in the future. ‘The Voice’ is just a stepping stone, she is already a STAR. Janaki’s trademark will be just a hint of Indian in her arrangements, making her songs distinctive. Speaking to Janaki’s parents they couldn’t be happier and everything is a bonus, channel 7 giving this platform and the love from the Australian public is enough for their daughter’s career to progress.

The journey in ‘the voice’ may be over for her now but it’s already the beginning of an unfinished journey and there’s so much to come for this star. So here is an open invitation to take a sneak peek into her life, what ticks her? Her parents, her music and the moments during her first blind auditions.

Her parents migrated in 2007 from Calicut, North Kerala, and are now living in Montmorency, Melbourne. Her parents Divya and Anoop are both IT professionals; the proud parents are seen visibly crying their eyes out on national TV. After their humble upbringing with no exposure to the western world – especially Divya, who travelled three hours every day to high school and had no electricity at home until she was thirteen – they can now see the world through their twelve-year-old daughter.

Born and raised in Melbourne as an only

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

child, Janaki’s time is shared between her parents and her little Moodle (puppy) Kami.

“Music has always been a part of my life, especially from Dad’s side of the family.”

Anoop is a singer and master of ceremonies, actively participating in Indian community events around Sydney and Victoria since migrating to Melbourne. Janaki adds that her uncle, Arun Gopan, is an Indian actor/singer in Malayalam.

She grew up listening to Indian songs around the house. “But the time that I really decided that music is what I wanted to do was in Year 4 when I started learning western music at JAANZ, which is my singing school.”

Janaki says that’s it’s really fun.

On asking who’s been her biggest inspiration with her singing career, she doesn’t hesitate speaking highly about her parents, her singing coach David Jaanz, and Tori Kelly the singer from American Idol, just because she proved the judges wrong after being rejected.

Encouraged by her singing coach, David Jaanz, Janaki decided to take a giant leap of faith into the reality show The Voice. When Mr Sethi, editor-in-chief of G’day India and The Indian Weekly, asks her what she was feeling before and after her auditions, she

smirks. “My heart was really racing, and I was boiling with nerves. The whole atmosphere was foggy, the lights … all that pressure.”

Janaki mentions she loosened up once she started to sing and it was even relieving when all four judges turned their chairs, surprised at seeing a twelve-year-old with her unusual outfit. Choosing Billie Eilish’s ‘Lovely’ was all about storytelling in the variation that suited her voice. “It’s such a beautiful song. I like listening to it, especially being on the lower side and vibe.” Making it her own song, she pitched it lower – and it was a successful experiment indeed. Billy Eilish, too started her career at a young age.

Mr Sethi asks why she chose Jessica Mauboy as a coach from the judges – this is a no-brainer for Janaki to answer. “Jessie was my first choice; her aura is so warm and welcoming.” Though things got overwhelming with such outstanding pitches from all four judges (Rita Ora, Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy and Guy Sebastian), who all wanted to sway her to their camps. It was her mum Divya who came to her rescue, signalling to her first choice, Jess.

Also trained in Carnatic (Indian classical music), it was equally a proud moment for all of us when Janaki sang the classical Raga.

On asking where she inherited such a calm and composed aura, she looks at her dad and giggles.

“My mother is usually the one who gets nervous, it has to be my dad.”

Life hasn’t changed for the little artist, as her social media is still being managed by her parents.

People send her incredible messages through social media, and it is all monitored by her parents. What about the luxury of playdates with friends? Well!

Due to lockdown, they are all

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homebound but Snapchats and phone calls happen a lot at home.

Will stardom pressure her? Will her brush with fame be disadvantageous? To that Anoop, Janaki’s father, explains that his daughter is on a journey – and as she herself explained so beautifully, this is a step towards her music career. The Voice is not a destination, but only the beginning.

Has she thrown any star tantrums lately?

Her father laughs. “She’s mature for her age, no tantrum shown.” Janaki giggles, rolling her eyes to her father’s words.

If Janaki is not singing, then she can be seen playing with makeup; her beautifully done eyes beaming through the screen are testament to that. Like a typical twelve-yearold, Janaki thinks working in a makeup store could be fun.

Writing songs comes naturally to her so as a career, definitely it has to be music, releasing EPs and albums. She listens to Tamil and Hindi songs around the house; she loves Neeti Mohan as one of her favourite Indian singers.

Singing gospel and Zooming with David Jaanz has developed Janaki’s voice naturally, experimenting with range and flexibility. She’s been blessed with a voice that is rare.

Janaki’s message to young girls is all about determination – have a dream but have fun and don’t get so caught up with it. “Work hard and run with it.” Janaki says.

She is already a star; no song is big enough for this protégé. The future is bright and beautiful with the wisdom of such lovely parents guiding this young genius who loves her makeup, her abstract art, Snapchatting and dancing – making us Australian Indians and the wider Australian community proud. I couldn’t help quoting Tori Spelling: “Everyone in life has a purpose, and nobody’s purpose is better than anyone else’s.”

By Nandita Chakraborty

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FEATURE

Made in Melbourne

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Winner of IFFM short film competition from Melbourne, Australia, Pulak Bose talks about ‘The New Sun’ (Notun Surjo)

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hen a bunch of friends decide to make a short film, it’s a fun factor but what happens when these homegrown talents win a serious award under the same umbrella along with Manoj Bajpai for best actor and Suriya Sivakumar, Vidya Balan, Pankaj Tripathi etc in various categories at the 12th Indian Film Festival Melbourne Awards,

on the 20th of August. It becomes magical!

We spoke to the director of Notun Surjo (the new sun) Pulak Bose winner of this year’s entry from Australia at the IFFM’s short film competition. He tells us this is a great recognition for him especially to be recognised in a platform with the same league of people from the Bollywood industry is truly aspiring for young film makers like him. Bose came to

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Melbourne, in 2014, working in the IT industry and initially started his version of story -telling with music, photography and videography.

His love for cinema started as a kid, exposed to cinema at an early age he grew up loving Satyajit Ray films, which he has beautifully passed on to his young son and wife.

Cinema is magic to him and winning this award encompasses him with that boost of self -confidence; sealing the deal for him and his team that the they are on the right path.

Bose makes an interesting point that story tellers and story- telling is been going on for centuries and the beauty is how to tell a simple story for short films. One doesn’t need to create a three- hour climax, as it’s a slice of a bigger story that takes the audience straight to the climax quickly.

According to Bose the seeds for short films were planted in 2019 when he and his team member Chondryma Chakrobortti went to IFFM 2019 awards night, seeing array of short films they decided to just do it. As we all know how life has done a 360 for all of us in 2020 with lockdowns but for some it’s been unstoppable. Especially for Bose who went and made a film in 2020. His film ‘Tinted’ was chosen as one of the best three films at the lockdown Anticlock’s film makers challenge competition in 2020.

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

But, 2021 with the start stop and repeat mode Bose and his friends just went on to create a five -minute short, Notun Surjo (The New Sun), a thought provoking, heartrending film revolving around human trafficking, thus fitting the bill for this years’ short film competition’s theme – ‘Modern Slavery.’ Bose thought nothing is more relevant in these times to voice the political displacement,

pocket Cam 60’ at iffm. It is an addition to his collection with the Cannon he is now more than equipped to shoot a story that is decadent.

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MELBOURNE 2021 AWARD WINNERS The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) which was held virtually on August

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Raghavan, Onir was also the presenter of the awards.

IFFM honored Pankaj Tripathi with the Prestigious Diversity in Cinema Award presented by LaTrobe University. Additionally, Soorarai Pottru walked away with the Best Feature Film and Suriya won the Best Actor award from the same film. Vidya Balan won the Best Actress for her widely acclaimed film Sherni and Mirzapur S2 was given the Best Series Award. Ace filmmaker Anurag Basu picks up the Best Director trophy for the feature film Ludo. The Equality in Cinema Award for Short Film was given to Sheer Qorma, and Best Indie was given to Fire in the Mountain.

Speaking about the winners, the festival’s director Mitu Bhowmick Lange, says, “We congratulate all the winners and their teams for making great films that were loved by the audiences across the globe. It is about time that we have conversations in cinema and about cinema that are not mainstream and biased. It is time to present the diverse sensibilities through narratives that are ground-breaking and all the winners of the IFFM awards symbolize this fervour of thought.”

COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS:

effected by what he saw in the news, the human crisis involving at the borders of Assam and West Bengal. So basically, the movie had very little scripting done. The banter between the main characters Chondryma and Suman actually became the dialogue of the film.

Bose and his team used his garage as a set in Melbourne to create the middle -class

20th announced, its grand winners for its 12thedition. This year’s festival boasted an impressive line-up of feature and short films from across the cinemas of India. Representing the theme of Diversity through Cinema, IFFM had an overwhelming response from across the globe.

The festival was attended by various

house of Bengal in Melbourne, all the props were broken stuff, even a recycle tea cup or a fan was upcycled for the set.

Bose says this is only the beginning for him and his team, a promising future is surely in the making. His next idea is to make another short film with his Win, the ‘Black Magic

dignitaries of Australia, The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, The Honourable Minister Luke Donellan, Minister for Child Protection, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Ms. Caroline Pitcher, CEO Film Victoria and by eminent Indian artists like Anurag Kashyap, Shoojit Sircar, Richa Chadha, Sriram

IFFM Short Film Competition (Australia) Notun Surjo – The New Sun | Directed by Pulak Bose IFFM Short Film Competition (India) MIXI (CHAKKI) | Directed by Jyotsna Puthran Jury Special Mention: Vikas Khanna for Valley of Fireflies Best Feature Film – Soorarai Pottru Best Performance Male (Feature) – Suriya Sivakumar (Soorarai Pottru) Best Performance Female (Feature) – Vidya Balan (Sherni) Best Director – Anurag Basu (Ludo) Best Series – Mirzapur Season 2 Best Performance (Female) in a Series – Samantha Akkineni (The Family Man 2) Best Performance (Male) in a Series – Manoj Bajpayee (The Family Man 2) Equality in Cinema (Short Film) – Sheer Qorma Equality in Cinema Award (Feature Film) – The Great Indian Kitchen and God on the Balcony Best Indie Film – Fire in the Mountains Diversity in Cinema Award – Pankaj Tripathi (presented by LaTrobe University) IFFM Disruptor Award – Sanal Kumar Sasidharan Jury Special Mention – Prithvi Konanur – Best Director for Pinki Elli?

Best Documentary Film – Shut Up Sona Jury special Mention: Nimisha Sajayan: Best Performance (female): The Great Indian Kitchen (GDI News Desk)

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

The Magic Of Mirzapur Winner of IFFM21, best web series on OTT platform, Director Gurmmeet Singh and Writer Puneet Krishna credits the divine synergy that happens once in a lifetime behind the roaring success of Mirzapur 2 in an interview with G’day India.

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onquering accolades and fame, team Mirzapur set to conquer fans across the globe. Bringing a small town of Uttar Pradesh to the forefront of the world map -Mirzapur is a heartfelt Desi show, conceived much before the times of Gangs of Wasseypur but the creators only got around writing about it in 2016. The director of the show Gurmmeet Singh and writer Puneet Krishna just knew they were on to something very big and entertaining here but reaching to such popularity something that they did not expect, and it is indeed a blessing the way their fans have adored the show to this OTT platform of Amazon. Puneet speaking on behalf of his brother Vineet Krishna, a co-writer, believes that the whole show elevated when the directors took it to the next level.

Being a storyteller, there is nothing called reversed engineering in the making of Mirzapur according to Puneet. Being a longer format where the content is for over fifteen hours for two seasons; everything had to happen organically. Breaking it down further Puneet explains that they had to go into the mind of the characters of Mirzapur and constantly think like them. What they (characters) would do in a given situation and that’s the only way to write a story as both the brothers just kept honing their craft, stuck to what they knew best and wrote a brilliant script. The writers just knew the character so well that they didn’t need to probe into anything.

The creators of the show were concerned about how women will warm up to the rich violence, but director Gurmmeet feels fortunate that certain anxieties were redundant when the show was well received by its female audiences also. The show was an open canvas, neither the writers or the directors were restricted as Mirzapur did not choose its audience; the audience chose them.

They had no parameters as such for taking this show global as it just took off naturally.

Mr Sethi, chief editor of The Indian Weekly and G’day India asked the writer

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

director duo about the violence in the series, wasn’t the violence preventing it from being a family friendly show? Answering to Mr Sethi’s question both Gurmmeet and Puneet acknowledged about the script demanding a lot of brutality. Gurmmeet especially was pondering how such gore and violence can attract one human being and dispel the other?

Gurmmeet simply breaks this down by admiring the tenacity of series like Games of Thrones and film-makers like Tarantino who have reached to the global audience with their contemporary set-up. This is exactly what he as a director intended to achieve with

Mirzapur. Their attempt was to attach the audience with the violence further into the story rather than taking them away. The idea was not to romanticise and cut away from the violence, in fact they wanted to create an impact by intertwining it with the main fabric of the storyline. Season 2 was not only mature, but it had a different beat and colour and a lot of people now have the choice to banter between these two seasons. Some audience might favour the edginess of the fast paced first season or the slow brewing emotions of season two. However, saying that Mirzapur 2 is an action-packed season where the details come to life with the

characters.

It is also a collaborative medium, as coproduced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Kassim Jagmagia, Rupali Suresh Vaidya and Abbas Raza Khan. The enormous support from Excel and Amazon was enough for them to put it together to create this magic.

According to Gurmmeet there were many favourite moments from both the seasons but to name a few, one has to be the climax scene in Mirzapur2, and another how Munna had to kill the compounder.

Mr Sethi asked both Gurmmeet and Puneet, ten years from now if they had to look

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back and change anything in Mirzapur what would they change? The answer to Mr Sethi’s question was simply a ‘no.’ What they have created is pure gold, but if they had to be over critical about themselves, then it would be a scene or two artistically.

What’s next for Mirzapur? Is there a season 3 on its way? As it is shooting Mirzapur 2 in the middle of a pandemic was tricky as its release got delayed and yet again in the middle of a second wave, restrictions, lockdown and managing dates from the caste had been a gigantic task. Yet, it is too early to say when season 3 would release but efforts are underway.

So, as we wait to take another plunge into the world of Mirzapur, the journey for writer Puneet is to be sublime, live up to its punter’s huge expectation and go beyond the storytelling of Mirzapur. As for Gurmmeet he is not an avid reader or a cinephile like Puneet, but his journey is equally important than his destination. The people he meets along the way inspire him to bring his artistry to life.

Apart from the cricket pandemonium shared between India and Australia both Gurmeet and Puneet are extremely humble about the love they have been endorsed from their Australian fans. Though the pandemic has kept them from coming to Melbourne for this year’s festival, they promise to keep the art of storytelling bubbling away, creatively, and naturally. We at G’day India wish them a whole lot of good wishes to keep the saga of Mirzapur alive.

By Nandita Chakraborty Interview Courtesy: Indian Film Festival of Melbourne & Amazon Prime Video India

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

BETTER YOUR YOGA PRACTICE WITH THESE TIPS If there is anything that the past one year has taught us, it is that the health of one’s body and the mind are of paramount importance and need more attention than we usually give. Getting some type of exercise for both has become vital, and one of the easiest ways to do both at once is to practice Yoga.

The quality of life in yoga is measured through the transformation of a wellmaintained body with absence of illness and pain, tranquillity of mind, cultivation of energy and ultimately reaching higher levels of autonomy in your practice. Yoga has a very precise, direct and practical approach towards every instance of life and towards yoga practice. But Yoga is not just what you do on the mat, its guiding principles permeate within the very essence of being.

If you’re really keen on starting, here are some easy, do-able tips that can get you started on a journey you will not regret taking.

Suggestions by Sarvesh Shashi, Founder, SARVA: 1. Set a specific time, separate space and focus on the yoga practice preferable at a time when your body has good energy after a restful period. It may be in the morning or evening, this time differs according to everyone’s schedule.

2. Practice on an empty stomach. Set the time for practice after 2 hours of any meal consumption. Small amounts of liquid can be consumed in these 2 hours.

3. Always practice yoga on a mat or blanket to avoid contact with the floor while practicing yoga for your own comfort. It aids in ease of practise, it is easier on the joints and avoids energy transference on an otherwise cool floor.

4. Distractions are unavoidable but setting up the practise in such a way that it’s easier to focus on yoga for the whole duration is definitely possible. For example, maybe you can’t put your phone on silent, but you can leave it in the adjoining room. Or maybe complete privacy may not be possible, but you can definitely invest in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones which will transport you into a space of focus while taking an online class.

up to create good blood circulation all over the body before practicing asana for better results. Sun salutations are an excellent warm up before asana practice.

injuries. If you’ve had a serious injury, severe pain or are recovering from a surgery, you may want to consult a doctor and of course inform your trainer of these injuries as well.

6. Pay attention to your breathing pattern for specific asana for an effective practice.

Inhalation and exhalation patterns matter in each and every aspect of your practice.

The wrong breathing patterns will cause cramps or pain or simply the inability to reach your true potential in the asana.

8. Practice yoga under the guidance of a Yoga Teacher. Whether you are practising in person or online with a group of friends, finding the right teacher is the best motivation you can get to continue your journey.

9. End the session with a proper cool down, relaxation and meditation for a refreshed finishing. Yoga is a psychophysiological art for the training of the mind which is just as essential as the body.

7. Be 10. Lastly, be present every moment of the mindful class. Thinking of cooking tonight’s dinner of or about the presentation that is due next your morning will mar the experience of your Yoga workout. It’s not easy, but that is why it is worth it.

(IANSlife)

5. Start the session with a good warm

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FEATURE

We live in a world where we take care of our skin more than we spend time healing our hearts, but who said we can’t look good while doing both. Tanning is one of the most common beauty problems. With India’s climate and scorching heat, we tend to get a suntan, no matter how hard we try.

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

THE BEST WAYS TO TREAT A SUN TAN?

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Moringa Oil: Rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and behenic acid, moringa oil is age-old healing and beautifying oil that helps in reducing stubborn blemishes, scar marks, and suntan. You can apply Try the best sunscreen, or even wear moringa oil before you go to bed to allow full-sleeved clothes; chances are that you Gram flour + Curd + Honey Homemade your skin to absorb the oil as much as may still get a tan. Besides, if you love to mask: When used together in a mask, possible and do its magic. Take a couple groom, getting rid of a suntan would be on these 3 ingredients consist of antioxidants, of oil droplets and massage them on your top of your list. natural acids, and enzymes that help face, arms, neck, and wherever you feel lower inflammation in the skin caused due you have got tan. You’ll see the result in a So, let’s dive deep into all you can do to sun exposure, fight bacteria, heal skin couple of days. to treat a tan with these quick home and reduce pigmentation. remedies and/or products that would In the end, we want you to know why it is work best for your skin: How can you make this mask? essential for you to take care of your skin 4Take 2 spoons of fine gram powder from the sun in the first place. Why Coconut Oil: This is the first and most 4 Add 2 spoons of honey and add 2 is protecting skin important from common choice. Coconut oil is packed spoons of fresh curd sunlight? with skin healing properties, from 4Mix thoroughly and keep aside inflammation to soothing the skin, it’s the 4 Wash your face with a mild face wash Sun is the most excellent source of go-to for improving skin health. However, 4 Dab your face with a towel Vitamin D; however, even mild exposure one should note that it is recommended 4 Now, gently apply the mask to your to UV rays can affect our skin in more that you use coconut oil during the night face and neck. (You can apply the ways than we even know. If we spend and not during the day -- especially in same mask on your arms or legs.) After excessive time under the sun, it can lead the sun; as coconut oil is made of 90 per applying the mask, let it sit and dry for to temporary or permanent skin issues like cent saturated fats and is thick in nature, over 10-15 mins sunburn or even skin cancer. allowing it to capture unwanted heat which 4 Once it is about to dry, use cold water

might damage the skin further, instead of and scrub your face with the mixture on So, it’s best you apply sunscreen before making it better. your face. After massaging your face, you step out, and also indulge in some wash it with cold water, and pat dry with skin healing therapies in case you spend Scrub Grit: A fine scrub-like mixture of a soft towel. For best results, use this too much time outdoors. products like coffee, walnut, rock salt, mask at least 2 times a week

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe and coconut oil have proven to be a great way to exfoliate and remove a suntan, especially from your arms, elbows, neck, and face. Several products are available in the market which offer amazing results when used 2-3 times a week.

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LEGAL

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

A Hindu Marriage and Divorce in Australia BY GURPAL SINGH

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he marriages solemnised under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 carries a peculiar problem. A marriage under Hindu Marriage Act can only be dissolved on the grounds specified therein to include adultery, cruelty, desertion, ceased to be a Hindu by converting to another religion, has been incurably of unsound mind or has been suffering continuously or intermittently from mental disorder of such a kind and to such an extent that the one cannot reasonably be expected to live with the other spouse, suffering from a virulent and incurable form of leprosy or venereal disease in communicable form, has renounced the world by entering a religious order, or has not been heard of as being alive for a period of seven years or more, no cohabitation for a period of one year or upwards after the passing of a decree for judicial separation in a proceeding to which one was a party, no restitution of conjugal rights after the passing of a decree for restitution of conjugal rights, husband since the solemnisation of marriage was held guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality, the girl repudiated the marriage after attaining the age of eighteen years in a case where the marriage was solemnised before attaining the age of fifteen years.

The law does not recognise the irretrievably broken marriage as a ground for divorce and the cases where the marriage is dead for all intents.

The Law Commission of India recognised

the problem in its report of 2009, and advised the parliament of India to introduce an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to include another ground for grant of divorce being ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’ between the parties.

In addition to the recommendations made by the Law Commission of India, the Indian courts have on various occasions, exercised its discretion under the constitution of India and allowed divorce on the ground of ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’. The parliament seems to be totally oblivious of the urgent need to correct the anomaly of the law and provide much needed support to the cause of people married under the Hindu Marriage Act and seeking quick and smooth dissolution of the marriage.

This quagmire raises various issues and escalation of dispute between the parties who had made their home in countries other than India. One of the other party would take a stand in the court primarily on the ground that Hindu Marriage Act does not allow the ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’ being a ground of marriage.

Such a stand is taken even though the litigating party may be living in the foreign country and in this situation Australia, enjoying all the amenities being offered by the Australian government including but not limited to grants, tax benefits, Centrelink benefits and child support etc.

The immediate reaction of such a stand results in the inability of the Judicial Registrar to hear the application for divorce and grant the same in case the conditions of divorce were made out. The matter would then be referred to the Judge for adjudication on the evidence presented before it.

Often it is seen that the party litigating would appoint some family member as an attorney and initiate the proceedings including criminal proceedings without even going to India while continue to enjoy the comforts of Australian life merely as a knee jerk reaction or otherwise arm-twisting exercise to extract financial gains which one may not be otherwise entitled. The approach of the Indian courts and Australian courts in such a situation seems to be in line with the expectations of the private international law which requires that the people of Indian origin should respect the family law jurisdiction of the local court where they ordinarily live rather than implicating each other in multiplicity of litigation.

The Australian courts are cautious of litigious and vindictive nature of litigants from Indian background who process multiple cases in different jurisdictions merely to cause harassment rather than genuinely working out the exit strategy from the bad relationship. The Australian courts have over-written the objection to exercise the jurisdiction under Family Law Act and even directed the party litigating to ensure that the cases filed in India are withdrawn and an affidavit confirming such a withdrawal is filed in the court. A non-compliance is tantamount to a contravention of the order and the concerned person can be punished for contravention of the order.

Gurpal Singh is the principal lawyer of Melbourne law firm, Saundh Singh & Smith Lawyers | W: www.sssl.com.au

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OPINION

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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Diversity – Is it only for Tokenism, or will it lead to real Inclusion?

BY KARTHIK ARASU President of “Australia India Sports Council

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he Indian Australian community are one of the most contributing migrant communities in Australia.

The passion and enthusiasm we bring to any space are unrivalled. Yet, we see time and again we have been left behind in the list of names, be it for Government/ Non-Government Boards, community representations and even politics.

Do you ever question why Indian Australians are always left behind? Are we only good for group pictures but not good enough to be in positions of decision making?

Let me be clear before anyone is getting ready to give us a lesson on integration or enlighten us about the few positions Indian Australian community members hold.

This opinion column is on the vast majority of denials and pushbacks. It is for asking equal opportunity, to say the least, at least in the tokenism structure, for starters.

If you disagree, please be our guest to wait and watch from the sidelines in the hope you may get picked up for being nice. Even if you are picked up, we can assure you that it's because of the constant advocacy by many who are not happy to be the 15th man in the team and are fighting to be in the playing eleven.

The way Australia is heading, the playing eleven is bound to change, and there are3 and will be positions with diversity as a

requirement. Still, unfortunately, Indian Australians are taken for a ride. Are we not diverse enough to make the cut?

Let's talk about an issue that Australians faced a few years back. God Ganesha was mocked in a Lamb advertisement, the community was furious, and many complaints were made to the then Advertising Standards Bureau. All complaints were rejected and were given a poor response citing "Humour" is acceptable even if it mocks and ridicules one's faith or Gods. As there was no Hindu representation on the board, the committee could not even understand the issue, and even worse, they didn't bother to consult the faith representatives.

The system was in such a way, to appeal, we need to prove that the board has failed to see merits, and if we win the right to appeal, our appeal will be in front of the board which rejected our complaints in the first place.

Only two appeal applications were made, and eventually, we won in our appeal, and the advertisement was removed and banned immediately. Same board and the same complaint, but what was different this time?

We explained why the board's decision was wrong, and we proved how it's unfair. In the process, we also questioned the board's understanding of the issue to begin with. The third-party lawyer who decides on the right to appeal agreed with us.

Today, after a few years, we are still yet to make headway into these boards, organisations, and positions. Yes, there are one or two, and that's how it starts, but that one or two is far too small for a fast-growing community and not being represented almost anywhere. We have so many talents and strengths, yet we face the most challenging/ daunting battle to make it than most communities.

If you question, why? Many will answer

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that we as a community are divided and do not work together; instead, we work individually. This argument may be partially correct, but the most important reason is that we as a community are failing to understand our strengths and settling for entry tickets when we can be the performers.

In a meeting, one of the community members from another community said jokingly; you guys don't look diverse enough; you are happy with anything given. I was taken aback by what he said, but there is probably a point if we think about it.

If they mock our Gods, we push it aside as ignorance; if they ridicule our language, we take it as humour, if they make fun of our food, we move away so they won't be offended, we are trying to hide and in the process are lost in the crowd.

Even worse, some of our own community members invent and create issues that are non-existent in Australia for their selfish personal reasons. They either do this for their political affiliations in India or for gains from global groups with clear agendas to divide and malign us.

We are fighting not one, not two, but many battles to find our ground; it shouldn't be this way. Our strengths are far greater than our shortcomings, and it's time we use our strengths rather than complaining about our misgivings.

Diversity in high positions is integral for the community to feel included and accepted.

Multiculturalism should not be just a heavily advertised tagline; it should be promoted, celebrated, and nurtured, so everyone gets a chance without discrimination, regardless of where they come from or how they look.

It's time we as a community come together and ask or even fight for what we want and deserve. It's time we make the cut and not been left out.

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FESTIVALS

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Ganpati Bappa Morya BY ARCHITA BAWEJA

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anesh Chaturthi also popularly known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Indians across the nation in honour of the birth of Lord Ganesha. As per the Hindu calendar, this auspicious occasion is celebrated in Bhadrapada month, or August/September as per the Gregorian calendar. Lord Ganesha is known to bring good fortune, wealth and prosperity and every auspicious occasion is started by evoking his blessings called Shubh Aarambh.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival that begins with the welcoming of Lord Ganesha idol at home or in private pandals. The festival is celebrated throughout India with exceptional zeal and fervour in Maharashtra.

Four main rituals are performed during the 10-day festival: Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan.

The excitement of Ganesh Chaturthi settles in weeks before the festival actually begins. Artisans start preparing clay idols of Ganesha in different poses and sizes. The Ganesha idols are installed in beautifully decorated 'pandal' at homes, temples or localities. The statue is also decorated with flowers, garlands and lights. A ritual called

Pranapratishhtha is observed where a priest chants mantra to invoke life in the diety.

Prayers are then offered to Ganesha’s idol in 16 different ways. This ritual is called Shhodashopachara. People celebrate by singing or playing religious songs, dancing to drumbeats, and lighting up fireworks, all of which add to the festive mood.

The Uttarpuja ritual is then performed, which is about bidding farewell to Ganesha with deep respect. This is followed by Ganpati Visarjan, a ceremony wherein the statue is now immersed in water. While carrying the statue to the sea and while immersing it, people generally chant in the Marathi language 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya', which means 'Goodbye Lord, please come back next year'.

This festival is also celebrated in many places around the

world like Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Europe, USA and in Melbourne-Australia, many Hindu temples organise cultural programs, Ganpati pooja and Prasadam for devotes who come together to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.

Going back to history it is believed Lord Ganesha was created by Parvati out of dirt from her body to guard her in the absence of Shiva. She gave him the task of guarding her bathroom door while she took a bath.

In the meantime, Shiva returned home and Ganesha, who didn't know who Shiva was, stopped him. This angered Shiva and he severed Ganesha's head after a tiff between the two. Parvati was enraged when she came to know about this. Lord Shiva, in turn, promised to get Ganesha back to life.

The devas were sent to search for a child's head facing north but they could only find an elephant's head. Shiva fixed the elephant's head on the child's body, and that is how Ganesha was born.

An elephant head, a tusk and a human body carrying the wisdom of the universe. A tray of sweets on one side and a tiny mouse on the other. A lotus in one hand and a crown on his head. The second arm raised with an axe. A third lifting in benediction and blessing.

This is the mighty Ganesha. A god revered by millions around the world. The lord of wisdom and the one who removes all obstacles!

Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Archita Baweja of Melbourne is an engineer by profession but a writer at heart

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Discovering the Unique Silo Art Trail of Victoria

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BY DEBASREE DAS

ungry for adventure? Well, isolife has made all of us crave new adventure, so I am taking you on a virtual tour to Victoria's unique Silo Art trail.

Yes, you heard it right, I have been a tourist in my own state and this time I took a drive to explore the Northeast of Victoria to the Murray trail surrounding the borders of New South Wales up North of Victoria.

Benalla’s famous Silo Art trail speaks volumes about its rich history and takes you back to a time that is worth discovering.

Situated in less an a 3-hours drive from Melbourne, this small town offers you nothing less than a wanderlust trail.

Meander through the street of Benalla, as you take in the town street art. Benalla is home to over 70 murals by well-known street artists.

North-east Victoria Silo Art Trail The high country of Victoria resounds with a dozen forms of art and the below trail is worth the drive.

In less then 45 km which you can cover in less than an hour to explore the unseen and beautiful art of the local artists of Benalla.

Benalla has been recognised as Victoria’s leading arts and cultural centre.

1) Goorambat Silo 2) SOPHIA of Goorambat 3) Devenish Silo 4) St James Silo 5) Tungamah Silo Every art is a creation of an artist whose name you will find engraved on the Mural/ Silo Art.

In Benalla, they say art in everything, you got to see it to believe it! Make sure to support the local cafes and eateries when you visit them.

Just when you thought you have seen enough, head towards the North of Victoria where Murray River trail is waiting to show you a bit of medieval history.

Echuca-Moama, Murray River trail Take a cruise past the historic port of Echuca and under the 150-year-old Echuca Moama Bridge.

I took an evening sail with some refreshment, while seeing the sun go down the mighty Murray, the feeling was unique.

Make sure to explore the Port of Echuca Museum to learn all about the rich history.

The Silo Art Trail From the freezing border of Victoria, which offers you amazing Boutique coffee, it also offers you an amazing art trail.

While driving towards Echuca, make sure to stop over in the following

places to grab some Instagram shots.

1)Rochester 2) Colbinabbin 3) Tongala 4) Rushworth Their stunning wetlands with art on the background promises to wade off your Winter blues away.

Laid back, the rustic Northern towns of Victoria offers an idyllic country life. Grab a bite at the local café or explore the Port of Echuca day long while settling in during the sunset at the local pub.

Or take the last Cruise across the mighty Murray while the sun goes down on the historic Port of Echuca.

Being on the borders, you get to see fewer Victorians venture here. Therefore, in the next school holidays when you run out of ideas for where to head, try to explore this unique Silo Art trail of Victoria.

Please do give me a follow on my IG handle @travelinstylewithdebs, to know what I am exploring today.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @travelinstylewithdebs for your daily fashion inspiration. travelinstylewithdebs

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TECH

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

APPLE CAR MAY COME WITH EXTERIOR SCREENS TO SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS The long-rumoured Apple Car is expected to use LED screens all over the vehicle to inform other drivers what the self-driving system is doing.

In a patent granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday titled “Exterior Lighting and Warning System. Apple’s system would involve the creation of displays that are placed around the vehicle and this long display is expected to show a variety of information to other road users.

The display would show braking information, the speed of the car and other messages in the form of graphics as well as video.

For drivers parking the vehicle, the displays could show a goodbye message, or welcome the user on arrival to the vehicle itself, the report added.

The upcoming Appel can is expected to use a “C1” chip based on the A12 Bionic processor with in-cabin AI capabilities such as eye-tracking.

Apple will require a chip foundry with capacity for automotive processes, which Samsung or TSMC could supply to Apple.

The Apple Car is already rumoured to feature LiDAR technology, which could add a lot of depth to onboard AI functions.

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the launch of Apple Car is unlikely to happen until 2025-2027.

In a research note, Kuo said that Apple Car specifications are yet to be finalised, adding that he would not be

surprised if the vehicle’s launch time frame is pushed even further to 2028 or later.

Kuo cited three main issues with Apple Car: Uncertainty about the launch timing, uncertainty about the supplier and vehicle specs, and uncertainty around Apple’s competitiveness in the EV and self-driving car market.

(IANS)

5.8-INCH TESLA HUMANOID ROBOT COMING NEXT YEAR, SAYS MUSK Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced that his company is working on a humanoid robot and the prototype will arrive sometime next year.

The face will house a screen to display important information. The code name for the bot inside the company is “Optimus”.

The 5.8-inch bot would be used to handle automated machines at Tesla factories, as well as some of the hardware and software that powers the Autopilot driver assistance software, Musk announced during the ‘AI Day’ event.

The robots will be designed to handle “tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring.” “In the long term I do think there needs to be universal basic income. But not right now because the robot doesn’t work,” Musk said.

“Basically, if you think about what we’re doing right now with cars, Tesla is arguably the world’s biggest robotics company because our cars are like semisentient robots on wheels,” Musk said.

According to Tesla, the aim is to develop the next generation of automation, including a general purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring.

The bot is “intended to be friendly and navigate through a world built for humans,” he added. The Tesla robot will weigh 125 pounds and have a walking gait of 5 miles per hour.

“We’re seeking mechanical, electrical, controls and software engineers to help us leverage our AI expertise beyond our vehicle fleet,” the company said.

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(IANS)

VIRTUAL

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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Netflix rolls out Spatial Audio support on iPhone, iPad

Video streaming giant Netflix has confirmed that it is now rolling out Spatial Audio support to its iPhone and iPad applications.

According to 9To5Mac, this enables an immersive experience using directional audio filters, and it has been a long time coming to Netflix users.

A Netflix spokesperson has confirmed to the tech website that the company has started rolling out Spatial Audio support on iPhone and iPad on iOS 14.

The toggle for managing Spatial Audio is located in the Control Centre. The spatial audio feature is exclusive to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, the report said.

Introduced in June 2020, Spatial Audio is Apple’s take on 3D audio for headphones.

The company says that spatial audio is an immersive experience using directional audio filters to “play sounds virtually anywhere in space, creating an immersive sound experience”.

According to the report, this will put surround channels exactly in the right spot,

even as you turn your head or move your device. iOS 15 takes Spatial Audio to the next level with a new Spatialize Stereo option, which simulates the Spatial Audio experience for

non-Dolby Atmos content.

This allows AirPods Pro and AirPods Max users to listen to pretty much any song or video, the report said.

(IANS)

‘Angry Birds’ maker sued for violating child privacy New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced a federal lawsuit against the developer of popular “Angry Birds” mobile gaming franchise.

The lawsuit in federal district court claimed that the video game developer Rovio Entertainment collects and sells the personal data of children under the age of 13.

Balderas claims that Rovio “monetizes children by surreptitiously exfiltrating their personal information while they play the Angry Birds Gaming Apps and then using that personal information for commercial exploitation.” The personal information collected includes data like device names, online activity history and more.

The suit claims that Rovio’s practices violate state privacy laws as well as the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires that developers of child-directed games obtain parental consent before collecting any personal information from players and if a developer creates a game targeted at a

broad audience, the developer still must take steps to ensure that it does not collect information from users under the age of 13.

Now, the state seeks an injunction prohibiting the company’s data collection practices, civil penalties, restitution, and

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other relief.

The game was first released in 2009 and has led to 35 spin-off games and has an estimated total of 4.5 billion downloads to date.

(IANS)

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RELATIONSHIPS

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

How do you deal with a snoring partner?

Snoring can be frustrating and annoying, especially for those who sleep with a snorer. The National Sleep Foundation reports that one in three men and four women snore every night.

Though snoring is often overlooked as a minor issue, it can occur due to various reasons requiring immediate attention.

Obesity or being overweight is one of the leading causes of snoring. Snoring accompanied by irregular breathing is a sign of cardiovascular disease risk. Sleep apnoea can be another condition that increases the chances of snoring. Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which the breathing repeatedly stops and resumes again. Fortunately, plenty of remedies are available to treat snoring naturally without using over the counter (OTC) drugs.

Obesity or Excess Weight For those who have started snoring after gaining weight, shedding some extra pounds can be quite helpful. Obese people tend to have excess tissue and fat in the neck region, which can reduce the airway size and elevate the risk of airway collapse. Studies have proved that weight reduction can eliminate the frequency of snoring with increased weight losses causing near to complete elimination of snoring.

Sleeping Position Snoring accelerates when people lie in the supine position or on their backs.

When someone

lies down on the back, the tissues surrounding the airway are pulled down by gravity, making it narrow. Research and studies on snorers have revealed that the intensity and frequency of snoring reduce considerably when they lie on their sides.

Blocked Nasal Passages Snoring can also be prevented by keeping the nasal passages open. When the nose is clogged or blocked, air moves in much faster, leading to snoring. Hot oil massages or nasal oil drops can open the blockages in the nose. Also, a hot shower before bed can be quite beneficial as the moisture opens the nasal passages and reduces the chances of snoring.

Hydration Staying hydrated is crucial not only to avoid snoring but also to maintain overall health and well-being. When the body is dehydrated, secretions in the nose and soft palate becomes stickier. This can obstruct the proper flow of air and cause snoring.

For men, it is

recommended to consume at least 3-4 litres of fluid every day, while women must consume 2-3 litres of fluids daily.

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Smoking and Alcohol Researchers believe that snoring in smokers can occur because of oedema and upper airway inflammation. While it takes time to show the effects but quitting smoking can significantly lessen the chances of snoring. Alcohol is another substance that relaxes the muscles around the airway, increasing the likelihood to snore among drinkers.

Therefore, it is often recommended not to indulge in drinking in the hours leading to bedtime.

The tips mentioned above can bring positive results if tried daily. It is important to try them all to find the ideal remedy that helps.

By H.P. Bharathi

LIFESTYLE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

35

Internet bullies are just as mean in real life

If you think the internet is responsible for making people more aggressive when engaging in political talks online, then you might be wrong as new research suggests that it just makes the behaviour of aggressive people more visible.

behaviour was about the same online and in real life.

According to Daily Mail, the study, from the political science department at Aarhus University, debunks the long-held theory that people are only nasty while posting anonymously online.

The study, published in the American Political Science Review, found that people who are nice may choose to avoid all political discussions online -- whether the forums are hostile or not.

The researchers did find that the hostility levels of online political discussions are worse than offline discussions, but that the frequency of

The study indicated that “aggression is not an accident triggered by unfortunate circumstances, but a strategy (hostile people) employ to get what they want including a feeling of status and dominance in online networks”.

As per the report, the researchers began paper with an apparent dig at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was named the Time Magazine ‘Person of the Year’ in 2010.

“Facebook wants to populate the wilderness, tame the howling mob turn the lonely, antisocial of random chance into a friendly world,” the Time Magazine article on Zuckerberg reads, as cited by

the researchers.

The researchers noted that efforts from social media giants to get people to engage in civil discussions on topics such as politics have failed spectacularly.

“Online discussions about politics turned out to be nasty, brutish and not nearly short enough,” the researchers wrote.

(IANS)

the

and world

60% students say parents are now more involved in their learning

In the wake of the study-from-home model of schooling, a new survey shows that many (60 per cent) students report increased involvement of their parents in their education as compared to pre-pandemic times. The finding suggests that parents who are working from home are also making time to support their children on their learning journeys in different ways.

The survey by online learning platform Brainly examined the evolved role and response of Indian parents regarding their wards’ education. It showed that most parents have adapted to the new, onlineassisted model of learning.

On being asked whether their parents are comfortable with the hybrid model of education which combines virtual instruction with assistance from online learning resources, 64 per cent of the surveyed

at ease with the fact that their children are using digital devices and the Internet to learn and multiply their minds, besides engaging in recreational activities.

The survey revealed that parents are “assisting their children during the online classes (31 per cent), helping with their homework and assignments (22 per cent), or making the students learn experientially (16 per cent).

students replied in the affirmative. This marks a shift in the sensibilities of Indian parents in sync with the increasing role of technology in facilitating education in the post-pandemic era.

Previously, children were assumed to be spending recreational time over the smartphone and the Internet. The new trend suggests that Indian parents are now more

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“Eight in 10 students said that their parents are helping them in other manners such as by encouraging them to explore more things, offering mental and emotional support, addressing doubts and queries, helping with activities, or by finding tutoring or coaching courses.”

By Siddhi Jain

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HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Does using oil on your hair cause it fall?

Oiling your hair dates back centuries; hair needs some amount of natural oil to maintain its colour, shine and lustre and to help protect it from the harmful sun.

“When you oil your hair, it helps to improve circulation in the scalp and stimulates the hair follicle. While there is no direct relation to oiling and hair growth, proper oiling can protect your hair and prevent it from getting dry,” believes Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist and Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics.

Oiling the hair helps: 4By preventing the hair from becoming dry

leave it for more than one hour. If you leave the oil for a long time, it can clog the pores and cut off the oxygen reaching the hair leading to damaged hair, boils on the scalp and eventually hair fall.

4 By sealing the cuticle and helping the hair strands heal.

Oiling needs to be done in the right manner for it to actually benefit your hair. Make sure that you don’t rub the oil in too harshly and don’t

Also, oiling is not suitable for people who are suffering from dandruff or have a naturally oily scalp. Leaving the oil on for too long attracts dust and particles to the scalp. Different hair oils have different benefits, and you can select one according to your hair concern just don’t go overboard with it.

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

BERRIES, APPLES, WINE MAY IMPROVE YOUR BP LEVELS

Unable to manage your blood pressure levels? Eating flavonoid-rich foods like berries, apples, pears and drinking red wine can lower systolic blood pressure levels, as well as improve greater diversity in gut microbiome, according to new research.

Recent studies also found a link between gut microbiota -- the microorganisms in the human digestive tract -- and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death worldwide.

Gut microbiota is highly variable between individuals, and there are reported differences in gut microbial compositions among people with and without CVD.

The study, published in the journal Hypertension, showed that up to 15.2 per cent of the association between flavonoidrich foods and systolic blood pressure could be explained by the diversity found in participants’ gut microbiome.

With increased research suggesting flavonoids may reduce heart disease risk, this study assessed the role of the gut microbiome on the process.

Flavonoids are broken down by the body’s gut microbiome - the bacteria found in the digestive tract.

Eating 1.6 servings of berries per day (one serving equals 80 grams, or 1 cup) was associated with an average reduction in systolic blood pressure levels of 4.1 mm Hg, and about 12 per cent of the association was explained by gut microbiome factors.

Drinking 2.8 glasses (125 ml of wine per glass) of red wine a week was associated with an average of 3.7 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure level, of which 15 per cent could be explained by the gut

microbiome.

“Our gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolising flavonoids to enhance their cardioprotective effects, and this study provides evidence to suggest these blood pressure-lowering effects are achievable with simple changes to the daily diet,” said lead investigator Aedin Cassidy, chair and professor in nutrition and preventive medicine at the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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Researchers examined the association between eating flavonoid-rich foods with blood pressure and gut microbiome diversity. The study also investigated how much variance within the gut microbiome could explain the association between intake of flavonoid-rich foods and blood pressure.

The study evaluated 904 adults’ food intake, gut microbiome and blood pressure levels together with other clinical and molecular phenotyping at regular follow-up examinations.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

ASK DR. RAJ… This months Q’s:

Q: What types of exercise are most suitable for someone with arthritis?

A: Following are some of the types of exercises that can help people with arthritis: Light dancing and Tai Chi - to improve joint movement and relieve stiffness.

Aerobic or endurance exercises – to improve fitness and control weight.

Cycling and Walking – to strengthen muscles and bring about well being.

Yoga – to see promising results with improvement in joint health, physical functioning and mental/ emotional well-being.

Health tip:

and most convenient remedies.

In initial stages there is more probability of cure compared to in later stages.

Q: How long will it take the homeopathic medicines to control hair fall / loss?

A: It would take anywhere between one month to six months.

It depends on different factors like age, hereditary, occupation, any chronic or recurrent health conditions, stress etc. Some sufferers with chronic health conditions like diabetes may have to use a 3-4 week homeopathic medicine course once every 6 months.

In most of the cases you don’t have to use any medicines once you find the improvement. But Warm water exercise is an excelyou may choose to continue with lent way for those with arthritis to a homeopathic hair oil to sustain build up strength, ease stiff joints the strength and health of your and relax sore muscles. Waters hair. buoyancy greatly reduces the Coconut oil, curry leaves, ghee, pressure on your joints, making it yoghurt, fresh fruits and vegies, easier to perform needed range water, low sodium, sugar diets, of motion exercise. nuts etc promote healthy hair growth.

People are increasingly turning to Homeopathy for an effective anBy Raj Kothuru swer for arthritis. Not to mention Please send any of your health related questions to drraj@aurahealth.com.au with Ask Dr Raj as the subject side effects that follow. Homeline or ph: 94788649 / 0425761826. The questions will opathy is also one of the easiest be published with your identity protected.

37

Ayurvedic texts credit ginger with aphrodisiac properties. Add some to your dinner to beat bedroom blues

All You Need to Know About Sleep Dentistry

Pick one! A horror movie night or a visit to the dentist? If you just opted to watch a horror movie over going to the dentist, and find yourself constantly avoiding seeing your dentist, you seriously need some help.

But don’t worry, you are not alone. Many Australians deny visiting the dentist despite a bad state of their oral health. This fear of the dentist or dental procedures is often known as dental anxiety or phobia in severe cases.

The good news is a revolutionary technological advancement in dentistry can help you face your fears. Sleep dentistry is the procedure you must be asking your dentist for the next time you visit them. And as far as our experience goes, you surely are going to call the dentist after reading this blog.

1. What is Sleep Dentistry?

Sleep dentistry is the process used to provide a virtually pain-free and comfortable dental treatment to patients using a range of sedatives.

It is used to perform various dental treatments that otherwise would have been painful for a patient.

People suffering from dental anxiety and phobia also benefit a great deal from sleep dentistry as they no longer need to worry about the pain and discomfort.

This process is often also called ‘sedation dentistry’, disregarding the minute difference between the two which stems from the choice of sedatives. Some sedatives, such as general anaesthesia, produce a calming effect where the patient can sleep during the dental procedure.

While some lighter sedatives, such as laughing gas, can only make you dizzy and relaxed enough to lay still during your dental treatment.

2. What types of sedation are used?

Sleep dentistry uses a wide range of sedatives to suit individual needs and make dental treatments less scary. The most common types of sedation used are as follows: • General anaesthesia • IV sedation • Happy gas or nitrous oxide • Oral sedation • Anti-anxiety medication/ sedation via inhalation All these sedation options produce varied results that help dentists provide their best dental treatment. A patient can select any sedation option that suits their dental treatment requirements and general health. Sedatives are also used with analgesics to ensure the patient has maximum comfort during their dental treatment.

3. Are there any side effects of sedation?

As with any other surgeries, the

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after-effects of sedation may show for a short period following the surgery. Some of the side effects of sleep dentistry include dry mouth, mild headache, dizziness, nausea, and visual disturbances. These side effects are rare, and one might not experience any. However, to minimise the health risks for a patient, our dentists make sure the patient is not allergic to a sedative.

We conduct a thorough medical history investigation of every patient to determine their suitability for sleep dentistry. We encourage patients to share their medical history before proceeding with sleep dentistry.

4. What is the follow up required?

The follow up after undergoing a sleep dentistry treatment mainly depends on the type and duration of the dental treatment itself. For example, a patient with dental implants will have a different follow-up regime than the one who had a root canal treatment. Our dentists at Healthy Smiles Dental Group provide each patient with a customised and detailed followup plan to ease things and avoid confusion.

5. Who is suitable for sleep dentistry?

The following types of patients are deemed the best candidates for sleep dentistry: • People with severe dental anxiety or phobia • People with conditions causing involuntary movements • People with a severe gag reflex • People with low pain threshold • Anyone who needs extensive dental treatment • People with extremely sensitive teeth.

However, please note that certain other health conditions need to be determined before proceeding with the surgery. Consulting a specialist sleep dentist will help you decide better. To know whether you are a candidate for sleep dentistry, visit our Healthy Smiles Dental Group clinic in Blackburn. You can also book an appointment by calling us on 03 9877 2035.

Dr Ved Berani BDS(Mum), ADEC(Aust), MBA(Melb), FIADFE, MFGDP(UK) Principal Dentist & Clinical Advisor Healthy Smiles Dental Group 150-152 Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South VIC 3130 Call us: (03) 9877 2035 www.healthysmiles.com.au

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HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

TIPS TO HELP KEEP CHILDREN SAFE FROM COVID-19

With children under 18 being one of the large vulnerable and unvaccinated groups, it is crucial to keep them extra protected from being exposed to the many variants of the Covid-19 virus.

According to Jeeson C Unni, Consultant Paediatrician, Aster Medcity, Aster DM Healthcare, children are as vulnerable to the novel coronavirus as adults. Studies have shown that infection and transmission in children and adults are similar.

“Even though most children have asymptomatic or mild infections, they are an important source of transmission to others. Severe infections and mortality have frequently been reported in young infants and children with comorbidities, largely post 3-6 weeks of asymptomatic or symptomatic infection.”

classmates after over a year, children must remember to socially distance as much as possible. If you want to, simulate a classroom at home, let your siblings or parents be your classmates, and practice following all protocols. It is also important to not share lunch, water bottles and other edibles. Try to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds every hour.

mask with a snug but comfortable fit. New masks, like the one made by Keeo Life, use a unique combination of anti-microbial coating which uses organic extracts. These components, when mixed in a controlled environment and further applied to the mask’s surface, provide a shield against the SARS- CoV-2 by trapping these viruses on the surface and killing it.

2. Masking is extremely important. It is important to mask up always and have a

3. Covid-19 has made sanitization awareness a universal thing. Whether going out with friends to play, or with family, or to school or coaching, children must carry individual sanitisers with them.

Remember to use it every 20-30 minutes if you are touching other surfaces frequently.

4. As soon as vaccines become available for the population under 18, don’t hesitate and sign up for a slot at the earliest. Meanwhile, it is always better for all adults in the family to vaccinate themselves, since children can be carriers of the virus as well, even if they are asymptomatic. It always helps to give children their regular flu shots and vaccines for other diseases on time.

Here are tips to keep children protected in these times: 1. As many Indian states reopen schools and invite children back to the classroom, it is crucial to remember to behave in a Covidappropriate manner at all times.

While excitement may run high at reuniting with friends and

(IANSlife)

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

39

SUGARS IN BREAST MILK MAY HELP PREVENT INFECTIONS IN NEWBORNS Sugars in breast milk can help prevent Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections in human cells and tissues as well as in mice, researchers have found.

The GBS bacteria are a common cause of blood infections, meningitis, and stillbirth in newborns. Although GBS infections can often be treated or prevented with antibiotics, the bacteria is becoming increasingly resistant.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), or short strings of sugar molecules abundant in breast milk, might be able to replace antibiotics for treating infections in infants and adults, said the researchers from the Vanderbilt University in the US. “Our lab has previously shown that mixtures of HMOs isolated from the milk of several different donor mothers have antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against GBS,” said Rebecca Moore, graduate student at the varsity.

“We wanted to jump from these invitro studies to see whether HMOs could prevent infections in cells and tissues from a pregnant woman and mice,” she added.

The researchers studied the effects of combined HMOs from several mothers on GBS infection of placental immune cells (called macrophages) and of the gestational membrane (the sac surrounding the foetus).

“We found that HMOs were able to completely inhibit bacterial growth in both the macrophages and the membranes so we very quickly turned to looking at a mouse model,” Moore said.

They examined whether HMOs could prevent a GBS infection from spreading through the reproductive tract of pregnant mice. “In five different parts of the reproductive tract, we saw significantly decreased GBS infection with HMO treatment,” Moore added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 2,000 babies in the US get GBS each year, and 4-6 per cent of them die from it. The bacteria are often transferred from mother to baby during labour

and delivery.

An expectant mother, who tests positive for GBS is usually given intravenous antibiotics during labour to help prevent early-onset infections which occur during the first week of life.

Interestingly, the incidence of late-onset infections (which happen from one week to three months after birth) is higher in formula-fed than breastfed infants, which suggests that factors in breast milk could help protect against GBS. If so, the sugars could perhaps replace antibiotics, which in addition to killing beneficial bacteria, are becoming less effective

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because of the rise in antibiotic resistance, the researchers said.

The findings will be presented at the upcoming fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

40

NOBODY COULD HAVE IMAGINED ME AS BEENA IN ‘MIRZAPUR’:

RASIKA DUGAL As the web series ‘Mirzapur 2’ wins the ‘Best Series’ at the ongoing Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2021, actress Rasika Dugal recalls how, post the release of the show everyone told her that it was hard to imagine her in the character of Beena Tripathi.

Rasika Dugal bagged two nominations for her work in the film ‘Lootcase’ and the web series ‘Mirzapur 2’.

Talking about her characters in both the projects, Rasika said: “I must say these two women in ‘Lootcase’ and ‘Mirzapur’ are so different. In a way, it was an opportunity for me to be versatile as an actress. Since I am a little introverted, shy and clumsy in real life, which is just the opposite of who Beena Tripathi is, in Mirzapur, nobody could have imagined me as Beena in ‘Mirzapur’. She walks her way and carries herself with a sense of dignity and there is a sense of sensuality in her personality. It was an interesting character because she is firm and fearless. On the other hand, in ‘Lootcase’ which was a comedy, Lata is a simple, God-fearing woman, morally upright and always walks the line. So as an actress for me

I AM ENJOYING MY JOURNEY FORWARD: ARJUN KAPOOR

receiving nominations for both the work was very special.”

The new season of the web series ‘Mirzapur’ was released on Amazon Prime Video. The show also features Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Vijay Varma, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Shweta Tripathi Sharma.

Since most of her work, especially cinema be it ‘Qissa’, ‘Tu Hai Mera Sunday’, ‘Hamid’, ‘Manto’ travelled to film festivals and the actress received a lot of accolades, for that Rasika believes that thanks to the OTT platforms, such films are not niche anymore and actresses like her are gaining great visibility.

“It really feels great when our works get viewed by the universal audience.

The audience who comes and watch films at the festival are pure cinema lovers.

They watch and analyse our work with great detail, and they also draw parallels from other international cinemas. That is great. But because of OTT platforms when these films are getting released and viewed by a larger audience on OTT it gives a different sense of satisfaction.

Every now and then we get feedback from the audience on social media because someone somewhere watched ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Lootcase’, ‘Manto’ for the first time!

Another way for us to know how curious the audience is, when they ask, ‘when is the new season coming?’” shared Rasika.

(IANS)

Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor took everyone by surprise with his impressive physical transformation. He considers his fitness journey to be a work in progress and says he is thoroughly enjoying his journey forward.

Arjun said: “I have to tailor-make my diet and constantly customise it because of my constant health journey forward. So, yes, along with the intense workout sessions that I have been doing with Drew Neal, I have changed my meal pattern completely.”

Arjun feels healthy food should also be tasty for someone like him to stay motivated. The actor says he is a work in progress with every meal and every workout session.

“Staying healthy is a combination of several factors - training, diet, state of mind, and the desire to take one day at a time. These things, in combination, helps anyone stay on the road to better fitness,” said the 36-year-old.

He added: “I’m just happy that I have found my groove and am thoroughly enjoying my journey forward. I, like every other person, is a work in progress and I’m at it, every single day, every single meal.”

(IANS)

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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IT’S CONVENIENT TO ATTEND VARIOUS FILM FESTIVALS ONLINE:

RICHA CHADHA Actress Richa Chadha finds it convenient to attend various film festivals online and view great cinema.

Due to the pandemic restrictions, film festivals have gone digital. Richa has been part of many esteemed film festivals in the capacity of a jury member before.

Richa said: “Film festivals have come up with alternative formats and being on the jury for festivals amidst a pandemic is the beginning of a new change.

She added: “It is very

convenient to attend various film festivals online and view great cinema. This was not the case in the pre-pandemic world that required us to travel.”

Richa is a known personality in the film festival community and has been a member of the Marrakech Film Festival in 2015 along with Hollywood filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.

She has also been a jury member at the Nara International Film Festival held in Japan in 2016, the short film jury for MAMI in 2017 and this year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

(IANS)

‘SHUBH MANGAL SAAVDHAN’ SHOWED PEOPLE WANT TO DISCUSS TABOO TOPICS: AYUSHMANN Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has never shied away from featuring in movies dealing with taboo topics. He says the success of his films such as ‘Vicky Dono’ where he played a sperm donor and a man with erectile dysfunction in ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’, reinstated his belief that people in India want to discuss taboo topics.

“After ‘Vicky Donor’, ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ reinstated my belief that the people of India want to discuss taboo topics out in the open and in their own way address them for the good of society,” he said.

The 36-year-old actor said that the success of the film told him to stay on course and try to bring more such themes out of the closet and into mainstream cinema.

Directed by R.S. Prasanna, ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ released four years ago on this day. It talked about a shy boy named Mudit, who before his wedding, discovers he suffers from erectile dysfunction.

“I felt that having a discussion on these things was necessary.”

Ayushmann credits ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ for changing the course of his career.

Ayushmann said: “I debuted in Bollywood with a bold taboo subject of sperm donation in ‘Vicky Donor’, thanks to Shoojit Da, and that showed me how the audience was changing and embracing subjects that were disruptive.”

“’Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ gave me the courage to pick my subsequent films and put all my faith behind it,” he said.

The actor, who is called as the poster boy of content cinema, added: “With ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’, I returned to this territory with Aanand L. Rai and R.S. Prasanna.

Their genius was in sensitively showing a subject like erectile dysfunction and making it entertaining and supremely palatable for audiences to engage.”

The actor feels fortunate that in this process he found directors whose creative vision was so original that it blew him away.

“I thank everyone associated with this film for empowering me to become an artiste who relishes in sparking conversations in India. I want to do just that through my next few films like ‘Anek’, ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ and ‘Doctor G’,” he says.

It was the success of the films that made Ayushmann sure that the audiences want to talk about these topics.

(IANS)

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

42

MY PARENTS WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S WRITTEN ABOUT ME: KIARA ADVANI

I can play roles in any genre: Jackie Shroff

Actress Kiara Advani, who is receiving a lot of praise for her performance in the recently released ‘Shershaah’, says that her parents always read comments on social media about their daughter.

As the actress is always being scrutinised by the netizens, asked about how her family responded to that, Kiara said, “I ignore it (mean comments) as it does somewhere affect me. I want to have a normal day, and I don’t want to go into reading comments.... we’re also humans.

Sometimes I think, ‘oh my mom will read it, my father will read it and they don’t like it,’ and they do (read it).

“My parents hashtag Kiara Advani every day, they want to know what is been written about me, what my fans are saying

about me...they enjoy it. I tell my mom to ignore it, but she tells me that she wants to know what is being said about me. So, when you talk about culture, I believe that being respectful to one another is an important part of it. People should understand ‘ki yeh (actors) bhi insaan hai, inke bhi emotions hote hai’, they are sensitive, and there must be a reason behind it.”

(IANS)

DEEPIKA PADUKONE TO STAR IN CROSS-CULTURAL ROMANTIC COMEDY Indian actress Deepika Padukone will be starring in an upcoming international yet-untitled cross-cultural romantic comedy.

STXfilms, a division of Eros STX Global Corporation, announced the company is developing a romantic comedy for Deepika, who will also produce the upcoming film through her Ka Productions banner.

Deepika, who was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World

by Time magazine in 2018, said: “Ka Productions was founded with the aim to develop and produce purposeful content with global appeal.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with STXfilms and Temple Hill Productions, who share Ka’s ambition and creative vision and look forward to bringing impactful and dynamic cross-cultural stories to the world.”

The announcement was made by Adam Fogelson, chairman, STXfilms Motion Picture Group.

Fogelson said: “There is a reason Deepika is one of the biggest global stars to come from India. She is enormously talented with an infectious personality

and her profile continues to grow as an international superstar. While she has been a phenomenal success in many Eros International films, we are thrilled to be building a romantic comedy with her and our friends at Temple Hill.

“We believe this project gives us the opportunity to tap into the spirit, voice, characters and vibrant settings of India and New York in ways that made ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ feel so authentic and fresh.”

The studio is also in negotiations with Temple Hill Productions Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen, who has produced the ‘Twilight’ franchise and ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ among many others to develop the project, which will be a sweeping cross-cultural romantic comedy centred around Deepika.

Isaac Klausner is overseeing the project for Temple Hill. Deepika made her English language film debut as the female lead in ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’, co-starring with Vin Diesel. In Bollywood, Deepika will be seen in Kabir Khan’s ‘83, Shakun Batra’s yet-untitled film, the Hindi remake of ‘The Intern’ with megastar Amitabh Bachchand and the actioner Hrithik Roshan.

(IANS)

In his 39-year-long journey in the world of acting, Jackie Shroff has starred in over 200 films in several languages and has dabbled in almost all genres possible. The actor calls himself an open book and says that he is not opposed to doing anything when it comes to movies.

Jackie, who is fondly called as ‘Jaggu dada’ by his fans and friends, is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming thriller ‘The Interview: Night of 26/11’, where he will be seen playing a war correspondent.

Speaking about not limiting himself to one genre, Jackie said: “I think directors saw ‘Devdas’ in me, ‘Sai Baba in me, ‘Mission Kashmir’ in me....It’s not a conscious choice, it’s just the kind of roles I kept getting over a period of time.”

“I have just been an open book and I am not opposed to doing anything. I am not like ‘I want this or that’. So, I have been lucky. I am an open book. I can do anything,” the 64-year-old added.

‘The Interview: Night of 26/11’ is directed by Laurens C. Postma, and also stars Anjum Nayar.

Jackie shared details about his role: “I am a war correspondent who is compelled to do an interview of a superstar which he doesn’t like and how an interview turns into a mystery.”

“It is a Dutch film. It was fun to be working with an international director on a suspense film.”

Monty Sharma has done the background music and dialogues have been written by Prawal Raman.

The screenplay was penned by Laurens and Farrukh Dhondy.

‘The Interview: Night of 26/11’ has been produced by Pappee Sangtani, Sunitha Ram, Laurens Postma, and Fourth Wall Entertainment.

(IANS)

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JOHN ABRAHAM STARS IN MERCY FOR ANIMALS ‘BE NICE’ CAMPAIGN Bollywood actor and producer John Abraham appears in a new Mercy For Animals India ad encouraging people to be kind to animals. The ad’s tagline reads, “In a world where you can be anything, be nice.”

“Animals deserve our love, respect, and freedom,” says the ‘Satyameva Jayate 2’ star. “Through this campaign, I am giving out the message that the least one can do to help animals is to be nice to them. I have and always will stand up for animals in need.”

The actor had recently asked his fan support the fight against cruelty to animals by signing a petition addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Abraham has been at the forefront of animal protection, lending his star power to various animal welfare campaigns.

Commenting on Abraham’s compassion for animals, Mercy for Animals CEO Nikunj Sharma said: “His appeal to fans to support stronger animal protection laws shows that he cares deeply about animals and their rights. He has always stood by animals when needed.”

Mercy for Animals, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this month, has been campaigning for an end to the exploitation of animals for food for the sake of a sustainable planet.

Sharma said, “As Mercy for Animals celebrates its fifth anniversary, we hope that John’s message will resonate with animal lovers all over the country.”

(IANS)

NOT SATISFIED WITH WHERE I AM, THERE’S A LOT MORE TO DISCOVER: KRITI SANON Kriti Sanon has found her feet in Hindi cinema in just seven years.

She has worked on hits such as ‘Heropanti’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’ and ‘Lukka Chuppi’ among others. The actress does not want to stop as she says she is not satisfied with where she is and is sure that there is still a lot more inside of her to discover.

The 31-year-old actress, who secured a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, added: “I am an engineer, who happened to find her luck in acting and found what she is meant to do. With Dimpy (her character in ‘Heropanti’), I was still finding my way and mark I have always been a thinker so I tend to think and question a lot. I want to learn.”

Kriti made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with ‘Heropanti’, where she was paired opposite actor Tiger Shroff.

Looking forward, the actress, whose latest release is ‘Mimi’ has her diary full as her line-up includes ‘Hum Do Humare Do’, ‘Bachchan Pandey’, ‘Bhediya’ and ‘Adipurush’.

In a chat, Kriti spoke about how she sees her journey in Bollywood.

Kriti said: “I think my journey has been very fruitful and I believe that your journey should have an upward curve and a graph it shouldn’t go stagnant at any point. There should be something that you are constantly

Kriti is also a “quick learner” and says she wants to grow. The actress said: “I want to become better than what I am already doing and that has always been a driving force for me.

I am just happy to see that I have grown, and I have learned a lot more about my craft. I know a lot more emotions and acting as a process of a craft of mine.” learning and growing and I am not from a film background and I didn’t think of becoming an actor for the longest time.”

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“I am not satisfied with where I am, I am sure that there is still a lot more inside me to discover. So, that is what is exciting.”

(IANS)

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FOOD

bon appétit

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Did you know:

Lactic acid in yogurt helps smooth and exfoliate skin. Use a thick kind with active cultures for the greatest benefits

Chef Kunal Kapur's creative hacks

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s work from home continues, snacking remains at an all-time high. Making mindful choices is imperative given the current times, where our health is of utmost importance. The hassle of daily life leads us to choose the easiest way out to cope up with hunger pangs -- ordering from a food delivery platform or binging on easily available packaged foods.

According to Mintel, snacks play a significant role in total food intake for the day which demands them to be functional and provide sensorial satisfaction. Over 98 per cent of snackers have indulged in varieties of salty snacks in the last few months.

However, indulging in a salty-savoury snack is not always a mindful option for keeping our health in check. Over the past year, we

have adjusted to the new way of life and most of us have adopted a dose of self-care to keep active and lively. Many are now on the watch for guilt-free recipes but do not want to compromise on taste.

Chef Kunal Kapur shares a few mouthwatering snack hacks that can help satiate cravings in the most convenient manner.

RAJMA SALSA Who says that rajma can only be enjoyed as a curry? Rajma is a rich source of dietary fibre, which helps in maintaining cholesterol levels. Very often we want to take short breaks between work, to munch on something light and crispy. Instead of a bag of flavoured, salty potato chips, you can choose to make crackers from the leftover chapatti or have your most loved khakhra

with homemade dips and sauces. Rajma Salsa can be easily prepared at home with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, and coriander. In fact, you can also use the same meal-time preparation of the rajma gravy or curry and flavour it in different ways for an exciting sauce. Just remember to boil some extra rajma the next time.

QUINOA CHEELA (QUINOA PANCAKE) There are multiple ways to consume quinoa; quinoa upma, poha, cutlets and even cheela. Quinoa is loaded with protein; it is a versatile alternative to other pulses. Grind a bowl of soaked grains and add chopped vegetables of your choice like carrots, capsicum, and more to prepare the batter.

Prepare these thin and crispy pancakes on

a hot tavah. Toss sliced green chillies, black mustard seeds and grated coconut in a pan as an accompaniment or enjoy it with some fresh mint chutney. Quinoa cheela is perfect for when you want to take a short yet filling bite if you have missed a meal.

DESI OATMEAL (SPICED OATS) Oats are incredibly nutritious and filled with many other benefits making them the ideal mindful snack. The Indian palate is naturally inclined towards freshly prepared foods and delicious flavours like chutney, curry, lemon, masala, and tomato; ready-tocook products have now started to include these tastemakers into their compositions.

Indulge in a bowl of mouth-watering Saffola Masala Oats, which comes in variants like Classic Masala, Masala & Coriander, Curry & Pepper, Peppy Tomato and Veggie

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Twist. Desi oatmeal can be enjoyed with fresh nimbu, bhujiya sev, roasted peanuts, sour cream with spring onions, basil pesto, crackling spinach and much more. You can opt for this during evening-time when you need something savoury and filling.

THE BHEL TWIST Try Bhel with a twist. Make it with pomegranate, pears, sprouts, sweet corn, cornflakes, boiled chana, oats -- you name it!

Bhel is a refreshing, customizable and quick to prepare snack option perfect to satisfy your early evening or late-night cravings. For flavouring, try lemon juice, gud ki chutney, coriander chutney, fresh green chillies.

Don't forget to accompany your snack with refreshments! Here are a few beverage

pairing hacks, so you can enjoy a burst of flavours.

Grab masala chai spiced with fresh ginger, haldi, cardamom pods, and sweeten with jaggery. Sip it out of an earthen kulhad for a truly Indian experience. Try ghar ki lassi flavoured with fruits of your choice like mango, apple, banana, and sprinkle with cinnamon or powdered pista. Else, keep it simple with a honey-ginger tea that can be enjoyed both hot and cold and spiced with various condiments.

Improving your snacking habits involves making small changes every day and choosing conscious alternatives. With a plethora of ingredients to choose from, you can get really creative during snack time!

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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The wonders of saffron during pregnancy

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o matter whether it’s your first time, second, or third pregnancy, it's one of the most cherished times in a woman’s life. It’s an emotion that cannot be described in words.

Motherhood is undeniably a life-changing experience, but it comes with great responsibility too. When you find out your pregnant, the first thing that probably comes to mind is taking care of your overall health and of the little one growing inside of you. Being healthy becomes very important to you. A balanced diet, good habits, and being happy are important; however, amid these, saffron is highly recommended during the nine months. Saffron aka Kesar is an exotic spice, derived painstakingly from the flowers of Crocus sativus, which usually forms a part of several Ayurvedic recipes and has numerous health benefits.

Ayush Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Rasayanam, shares all you need to know about how it helps you during your pregnancy.

TACKLES YOUR MOOD SWINGS Mood swings have always been the most common issue that women face during these nine months. It's due to a variety of factors such as rapid hormonal changes or the physical discomforts of pregnancy.

At one moment, you might be on top of the

world, at another, you might find yourself rolled into one corner of your bed with tears in your eyes. These mood swings make you short-tempered and irritable. Saffron works wonders as it produces serotonin, which modulates your mood by amplifying the blood flow in your body. This helps you cope up with your emotional ups and downs, and lets you remain in high spirits.

LET’S YOU SLEEP WELL All the physical discomforts that you feel during this journey have adverse effects on your sleep. You probably waste a lot of time tossing and turning around all night, while all you had to was drink a warm glass of saffron milk.

It soothes anxiety and uplifts your overall mood, therefore, helping you sleep well.

RELIEVES CRAMPS Cramps occur more frequently because of the hormonal changes that a mother-tobe goes through during pregnancy. They can be mild and bearable or at times, severe and intolerable. These can easily be prevented. The exotic spice, saffron, acts as a painkiller to relieve the pain and soothes all the muscles in your body.

Reduces high blood pressure

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Pregnancy affects blood pressure levels as the blood circulation usually increases during this time. When taken in small amounts, saffron significantly reduces your blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to hypertension, which is common during these months. Saffron rescues you from it.

BOOST HEART FUNCTION All those junk food cravings during pregnancy surely increase your calorie intake, which, in turn, increases your cholesterol levels and affects cardiovascular health. Saffron helps in reducing cholesterol levels. Thus, protect your and your baby's heart health. The substances in saffron prevent the clogging of arteries and increase the oxygen levels in your body.

PREVENTS ALLERGIES Allergies and infections are bound to happen when you are pregnant. Saffron potentially helps you in fighting all the seasonal allergies, difficulty in breathing, chest congestion, and more. This magic spice is sure to free you from all the unwanted diseases in your body.

Saffron is packed with amazing benefits, especially for pregnant women. Consuming a small quantity of it is safe and very beneficial for your overall health. It has no side effects as long as it has been taken in the right quantities. It's advisable to consult with your doctor.

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

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DIET

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

How To Build Up Your Immunity BY DEEVYA GUPTA

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ow more than ever is the time to put your health first and take steps to increase your immunity. An overall holistic lifestyle approach is the best way to ensure that you are achieving this.

Food and nutrition can help your body minimise how often one may fall sick or strengthen overall immunity. Other lifestyle factors such as enough sleep, reduced stress levels as much as possible and regular exercise can also be a part of a wellbalanced lifestyle.

Including a variety of fibrous foods and keep the gut strong With a variety of fruits and vegetables, you will also be having an intake of a variety of nutrients and vitamins entering your body.

It is important to keep up the variety and balance as this is what makes up an overall healthier body response to fighting off colds.

Aside from the extra vitamins and nutrients, fruits and vegetables also provide fibre and prebiotics for your gut to improve your gut's overall health. A healthy gut (balance of good and bad bacteria that naturally lives in the gut) will also assist in building up immunity and keep you happy from inside and out. It is easier to have the recommended 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruits per day if you try to incorporate it in more than one meal per day.

Keep up vitamin D levels Overall, in Australia, Vitamin D levels trend on the lower side, especially within our community. If you are not getting your 30 minutes of sunshine daily in the winter

months, then you may consider having vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D is rarely found in foods, however there are a few food sources that contain small amounts such as: Eggs, salmon, some fortified milks and margarine. The main source will be sunlight and supplementation. Vitamin D has a very important role in keeping up immunity as well as overall health. A deficiency in Vitamin D has been linked to several underlying health conditions.

Tip: Keeping mushrooms in direct sunlight for 1 hour outside and consuming 100g can give you your daily dose of Vitamin D!

Keep well hydrated Our body is made up mostly of water, and water helps to regulate our body in crucial ways. Keep up your recommended minimum of 8 glasses per day as this will help keep your body flushing out all the daily toxins and keeping your cells well hydrated.

Warm water is also fine to consume if you find it easier to drink. If you don’t enjoy the taste of plain water, you can flavour it with a slice of lemon or your favourite fruit for flavour. There are also non-caffeinated herbal teas which can make the taste of water more enjoyable. Limit your caffeine intake to moderate as caffeine can dehydrate the body.

Drink alcohol only in moderation Alcohol intake has been linked to reduced immunity, therefore only keeping to small and irregular amounts in moderation may help restore your body’s immunity. The current recommendation suggests that if you drink, you have no more than 10 standard drinks in one week and you have at least a few alcohol-free days during the week.

Follow a balanced lifestyle approach Remember to keep up with your body’s sleep requirements, reduce as much stress as possible, keep up exercise and avoid smoking wherever possible for optimising your body’s immune system Please note this advice is of a general nature. If you have any concerns or queries you should get tailored advice from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and always consult with your General Practitioner before making any changes.

Deevya Gupta is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian in Melbourne | W: www.abcofnutrition.com.au

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RECIPE

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

Southern Fish Curry

This Southern Fish Curry is one of my specialties with authentic south Indian spices; it is a treat to the taste buds. Enjoy with Basmati rice or Brown Rice, Roti Chanai or bread of your choice.

Ingredients: 450 gm white fish fillets 2 tbsp olive oil or ghee 1 tsp aniseed 1/2 tsp fenugreek 3 tbsp coconut, grated 2 med onions chopped 4-5 curry leaves 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 2 tbsp coriander powder 2 small tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup coconut milk 2 tbsp tamarind paste (opt) salt to taste

recipe

Serves 2-4

BY MANJIT SETHI

Method: Clean and cut the fish fillets into big slices.

Heat 1 tbsp oil and roast aniseed, fenugreek, grated coconut, onions and curry leaves until light brown. Blend to make a paste Heat oil in a pan, add ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder and salt. Mix well and stir in the tomatoes along with a little water. Boil for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the paste along with the coconut milk and allow to boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low.

Gently add fish pieces with the tamarind paste if desired and simmer until the fish is tender. Serve hot.

Tip:

from the private collection

Use a firm fish of your choice. The curry always tastes better the next day.

Garnish:

fresh chopped coriander leaves

Serve:

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ASTROLOGY

G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) Mesha (Aries)

Vrishabh (Taurus)

Mithuna (Gemini)

Any dispute or litigation that you might be involved in would almost certainly be decided against you. You must work hard to get the decision deferred on any such dispute to a later and more favourable period. There is every chance that any pending loan applications or a new proposal for fresh advances from a bank would not be approved or delayed on one count or the other.

Most of you would have to struggle quite a bit to realize planned objectives and even after this, may achieve little success.

Traders of all descriptions and those in overseas trade have a similar fate in store for them. This month the stars are favourably disposed towards your health affairs and should remain quite fit with minimum fuss.

This month, is not very favourable, your financial prospects don’t look too bright.

Performing arts and other practitioners of the Corporate would do well to store up for the rainy day since they are going to face an extremely lean period. The launching of new projects could easily get stuck. You could well find yourself working quite hard, with little gains.

Best days: 3, 12, 30 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream

Best days: 9, 18, 27 Lucky Colour: Green, Blue

Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow

Simha (Leo)

Kanya (Virgo)

This month your financial prospects are quite beneficial and you should do very well.

Writers, painters and others of their calibre should do very well in commercial terms and also have much satisfaction at their creative output.

Traders should also make a lot of money, and what is more realizing their complete profits. In fact, most of you should be able to realize your expected gains in full.

This month the combination of stars facing you is none too favourable for your financial prospects, and your efforts would bear little fruit, despite your association with several people of learning.

Most of you, may have to struggle quite a bit to realize your anticipated objectives and even then achieve little success.

Best days: 5,3 Lucky Colour: White & Orange

Best days: 3, 12 Lucky Colour: Orange, Green

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

This month there are excellent chances that you would have a number of opportunities to advance your financial prospects. Professionals and practitioners of the other arts would have an extremely satisfying time not only in times of financial gains but also in terms of creative output. Traders in general, would also fare well, and be able to realize their profits in full. In fact, most of you would be able to realize your objectives.

Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Makara (Capricorn)

Tula (Libra)

M: 0425 660 220

Karkat (Cancer)

Your financial prospects are not seems most of you would tend to struggle quite a bit to realize planned objectives, and even then achieve little success. any pending loan application or a proposal for a fresh advance to banks or financial institutions is unlikely to be cleared in a hurry.

In fact this month could well mean a spell of dull plodding.

The working atmosphere may not be very pleasant either.

Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Vrishchik (Scorpio)

This is a helpful month, during which good fortune will bless you with good health. You only have to make some minor readjustments to remain in the pink of health.

The most important of these is to chalk out a schedule of activity so that you do not over-exert yourself. Undue strain on your physical and mental resources would not be congenial for your system at all. you must avoid unpleasant places and people.

This month is quite favourable for your financial prospects. Some of you would have a way of handling your workers or subordinates which would enable you to derive maximum benefit from their services. This could well be the most important gain in a month that would even otherwise be beneficial. There is also the possibility of good fortune coming to your door-step.

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Meen (Pisces)

Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

You have many opportunities for advancing your financial prospects this month, You would be endowed with a great deal of self-confidence and the ability to take the initiative, and this would give all your actions a touch, just the sort of asset which ensures success. Any speculation is likely to succeed. In fact, some of you can look forward to an unexpected windfall.

The picture so far as your financial prospects are concerned is pretty bleak, Musicians, dramatists, film- makers, and practitioners of the other arts would do well to make provisions for a rainy day, since they would face a trying time during this coming month.

But speculative activity could turn a difficult situation into an impossible one.

Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue

Best days: 5, 3, 6 Lucky Colour: White, Green

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Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange

A fairly smooth sailing to reach your targets, in so far as your career is concerned.

Some old person or a female colleague would render extremely beneficial service to you, that would substantially boost your career prospects.

Though you would tend to work quite hard, the gain would more than which your effort. Travel also would generate gainful results, and any sojourn to the south would be particularly helpful.

Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White

Have a laug h

HAVE A LAUGH

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER An 80-year-old man went to the doctor for a general check-up.

The doctor was shocked to see his health, Asked-'What is the secret of your good health...?'

- 'I get up before the sun rises and go out for cycling and then come and drink two glasses of wine!

Maybe this is the secret of my health. ' Doctor - 'Okay, but can I ask you how old your father died ...?'

- 'My father died ...?

Who told you that he died?

Doctor (surprised): - 'You mean that you are 80 years old, and your father is still alive ...?

So how old is he now ...? ' - 'He is 102 years old and cycling with me this morning and then took two glasses of wine' Doctor - 'This is very good. This means that the long life is in your family's genes.

So how old was your grandfather when he died….?

--- 'Hey why are you killing my grandfather now ...?'

Doctor (puzzled) 'You mean that you are 80 years old, and your grandfather is still alive very much!

What is his age ......? ' --- 'Yes, he is 123 years old.'

--- 'I think he too must have cycled with you this morning and taken wine too ......?'

- 'Take a cold breath! No, Grandpa could not go this morning, Because He is getting married today.

Doctor (on the verge of going mad) 'What did u say, marriage ......? Why would he want to get married at the age of 123…?

--- 'Who said he wanted to get married ...?

He had to be forced.

- 'But why ........ Doctor shouted!

- 'Girl is pregnant, that's why!'

The doctor has been cycling regularly and drinking wine ever since, The clinic is CLOSED

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G’DAY INDIA | SEP 2021

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