the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world..........

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world……………

“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world’…. The saying goes true. It’s the hands of the mother which rocks the baby’s cradle. She carries the baby in her womb for nine months bearing all the pain and peril. Here the mother is not selfish. She feels the pain to be sweet, as she has an incompatible love for the innocent one growing inside. And when it comes out she does everything to that child. She helps in various ways and gives the child good disciple and moral.

She creates a good citizen by teaching the values of life and the child grows out with a greater personality. The child’s achievements in life and his role as a human being makes him the ruler of the world and here is the hands that had rocked the cradle rules the world through the child.

But………..What if the hands that rocked the cradle become selfish? How is it possible for a mother to be selfish? Yes it’s possible for some. They struggle hard and bring up the child in the world, where they expect things in return form the child when he or she grows into a complete adult. She was so domineering and desirous of the child, that every second the seed of selfishness was emergent in her. Her possessiveness has curved her into selfishness without her being aware of it. She becomes so egotistical that she cannot share the child’s love or his material belongings with other person. Here as a mother she is so possessive that she can’t accept another person to love her child and the child to share his/her love. She becomes blind with selfishness that she starts torturing the other woman in her son’s life. She doesn’t take the concept that the other woman in her sons life is also deeply in love with her. Child who guides and stands for him in his happiness and sorrow; who is only a symbol of sacrifice. Here the child starts suffering between the two women. If he is a genuine person he takes the side of the truth, but if he is not genuine he just listens to the mother and follows her guidelines through the mother may be wrong. Here ultimately the mother is making the child a sinner. So the saying “The hand that rocks the cradle will destroy the world’ by creating sinners in the world. It’s the call for the mother and a humble request ---- never ever make your child a sinner for you will be cursed by the people and a day will arise when your own blood will curse you for making him so bad a sinner. Awake and arise O mothers, don’t create sinner in the world, give great heroes to the world. You will be remembered forever.

By :
Ms. Anita Gamage

How to get that first interview....?

How to get that first interview….? Every person’s doubt

“What to do to get that first interview?” This is the question that arises in every person’s mind who wanted to start a career. The solution is simple; we at PATHE can guide you.
When you look into this sophisticated world, you’ll find assorted kind of people; fraught to accomplish success in life. To maintain international trade relation, almost all the offices in the world, has made English has an official language. All the paper work is done in English. The communication is in English. We use a speckled array of modern techniques to build up the business. The days are gone when the messenger used to run long distance to pass the message. Now we have modern methods for mass communication. English is the standard language used for this mass communication.

Why do we need to learn Business and Office English?
The answer should be easy. English is a universal language (global language in case we are not the only creature who can speak.) The world has changed. We can no longer live solitary in our country to any further extent. If you want to learn the world you need to learn English....

To muddle through the modern technology and to achieve success in life a person must be well-versant in English. When you enter into a multi-national company they glance at your CV, which creates the first impression about you. So you should be the best CV writer to get that first interview! Again the question arises what to do to get that first interview? The answer is simple. Learn English according to your need.

Pathe provides you Business and Office English. The course is designed for those who have standard knowledge in the English language, but lacks confidence in the use of language for their business and office environment. The Programme offers a chance to improve English you need for the work.

Why Business English at Pathe?
PATHE’s Business English courses are highly practical and individually designed. It presents goal-orientated training to rapidly improve your Business English skills by qualified & friendly Lectures panel. It is a guide to other English Courses with City & Guilds and BEC, UK; it bestows confidence in your ability to conduct business in English with greater verbal fluency to face business situations. It endow with professional approach and interaction with clients with confidence to effectively represent you to others. Pathe provides improved cross-border communication with colleagues and clients with enhanced comprehension skills and excellent pronunciation.

The classes are supported on multimedia presentation and with lots of activity like mock meeting, preparing agenda, memos, fax, e-mail and more over telephone etiquette. The four skils are developed with review of grammar.

To discern more about our programme visit our website www.patheacademy.org and read about our past students comments and Achievements through them; or walk into our centers at No 37, School lane, Kollupity, Colombo 3; No 128/A, Stanley Thilakarathne Mawathe, Nugegoda. Tel 2827700; 111- ½ Maya Avenue, Kirulapona, Colombo 6, Tel 2586418.

For further details regarding the course, please feel free to contact Ms. Anita Gamage, Coordinator for English Programme on 2502012 or write to anita@patheacademy.org.

How to get that first interview??????? Don’t worry! PATHE has a solution for you.
Join for Business and Office English at PATHE and get ready to get that first interview.
By: Ms. Anita Gamage

New Year in India

In the month of April, people are busy with shopping, renovation and preparing sweets to welcome the New Year in SriLanka. It’s not only in SriLanka even in some parts of India April 14th is celebrated as New Year. Just have a look at the various places and their way of celebration in India:
Vaisakhi- In PunjabVaisakhi is one of the most significant holidays in Sikh calender, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. Vaisakhi is celebrated by the Khalsa as their birthday every year, the day corresponding to the event when they were created by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
This day is also observed as the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year celebrated by the people of Nepal and Indians in West Bengal, Tamilnadu and Kerala and some other regions of India. The particular significance attached to the occasion shows regional variation outside of Punjab too. In Himachal Pradesh, Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi, while in Bihar; Sun-god Surya is honoured. The festival is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu (or Vaishakhi) in Kerala, and the Sinhalese/Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka. Besides Punjab, Vaisakhi is widely celebrated as traditional harvest festival in many northern states of India, such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

Vishu – New Year of Kerala Vishukani or Kanikanal
The Vishukani, also called Kanikanal, is inseparable from Vishu. According to the age-old belief of Malayalees, an auspicious kani (first sight) at the crack of dawn on the Vishu day would prove lucky for the entire year. As a result, the Vishukani is prepared with a lot of care to make it the most positive sight so as to bring alive a wonderful, propitious and prosperous new year! Normally, the responsibility to put the Kani in order falls on the experienced shoulders of the eldest lady of the house. A traditional Kani is prepared as described above. There could be minor deviations from place to place. There are also beliefs that if you do not see a proper Vishukani, then you will lose a year from your life or have bad luck, depending on how much you see.

Rongali Bihu- In Assam
Rongali Bihu (mid-April, also called Bohag Bihu), the most popular Bihu celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year (around April 15) and the coming of Spring. This marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and is also observed in Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu though called by different names. It's a time of merriment and feasting and continues for several days. The farmers prepare the fields for cultivation of paddy and there is a feeling of joy around. The ladies make pitha, larus (traditional food made of rice and coconut) and Jolpan which gives the real essence of the season. The first day of the bihu is called goru bihu or cow bihu, where the cows are washed and worshipped, which falls on the last day of the previous year, usually on April 14. This is followed by manuh (human) bihu on April 15, the New Year Day. The folk songs associated with the Bohag Bihu are called Bihugeets or Bihu songs.

Puthandu, in Tamil Nadu
Pathandu or better known as Tamil New Year, is the celebration of the first day of the Tamil new year traditionally in mid-April by people of Tamil origin in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in India, and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. People greet each other on this day by saying Iniya Tamizh Puthaandu Nalvazhthukkal. This is in keeping with the Hindu solar calendar.
Tamil people celebrate Tamil new year on April 14. There are several references in early Tamil literature to the April new year. Nakkirar, the author of the Nedunalvaadai mentions in the 3rd century that the Sun travels from Mesha/Chitterai through 11 successive Raasis or signs of the Zodiac. Koodaloor Kizhaar in the 3rd century refers to Mesha Raasi/Chitterai as the commencement of the year in the Puranaanooru. The 8th century Silappadikaaram describes the 12 Raasis/zodiac signs starting with Mesha/Chitterai. The Manimekalai alludes to the Hindu solar calendar as we know it today.

All these shows that though the method of celebration is different but the concept is the same to integrate love, peace and prosperity. Wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Anita Gamage

Sinhala and Tamil New Year

In April (the month of Bak), when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) in the celestial sphere; Sri Lankans begin celebrating their New Year or Aluth Avurudhu (in Sinhala) and Puththandu (in Tamil). It marks the end of the harvest season and also coincides with one of 2 instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka. On the day of celebrations, the sun is directly above Koggala (where a sun devale can be found). A new year of the Saka era begins with each festival. 

However, unlike the Western celebration of the New Year at midnight on December 31st, the Sri Lankan New Year begins at a time determined by astrological signs. Also unlike western traditions; the ending of the old year, and the beginning of the new year occur several hours apart from one another (this span is determined by astrology as well) - this period is, aptly enough, referred to as the nona gathe (neutral period). During this time Sri Lankans are, according to custom, encouraged to refrain from material pursuits, and engage solely in religious activities and traditional games. 

The date upon which the Sri Lankan New Year occurred, while determined by astrological signs, also tends to coincide with the end of the harvest season - for this reason, many farming communities celebrate the New Year while gathering fruits that have fallen from their trees. 

Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the New Year with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp. In some communities, women congregate to play upon on the raban (drum) to warn others of the incipient change in the year. 

Families indulge in a variety of rituals which are carefully determined by astrological calculations - from lighting the fire to making the kiribath, (milk rice) to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels. 

Once these are done, the partying really begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of kaung (small oil cake) and kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat, originally from the Netherlands).

Aurudu has become an important national holiday for both the cultures of the Sinhalese Buddhists and the Tamil Hindu Sri Lankans, and is unique as such, as it is not celebrated in the same manner elsewhere in the world (some countries do celebrate a similar festival on the same date or a near date) . 

History 

The mythological conception of a `Aluth Avuruddha' is that the Prince of Peace called Indradeva descends upon the earth to ensure peace and happiness. He comes in a white carriage wearing on his head a white floral crown seven cubits high. He first dips, like a returning space capsule plunges, breaking earth's gravity, into a `kiri' or sea of milk. 

The actual history of the New Year goes back to primitive period in Sri Lankan history. Various beliefs, perhaps those associated with fertility, gave birth to many rituals, customs and ceremonies connected with the New Year. The advent of Buddhism in the third century BC led to a re-interpretation of the existing New Year activities in the Buddhistic light. The majority of the people in the country were Buddhists, and as such, it is that the Buddhist outlook was predominant in transforming the New Year rites to what they are now.

Hinduism, on the other hand, existed side by side with Buddhism, in medieval times. New Year practices interpreted in the Hinduistic way developed among the Hindus. Buddhism and Hinduism were historically connected with each other. Their philosophies were running along parallel dimensions, except for certain ultimate truths concerning the self, the way to achieve emancipation and the nature of a creative god and nirvana (which Buddhism denies). There was no serious contradiction in New Year rituals that are found among the Buddhists and Hindus. 

Rituals – Customs 

Bathing for passing year 

The customary bathing for the passing year is equally important facet. Herbal bath gives physical purification. When one takes a herbal bath over the entire body, anointed with gingelly oil or mustard oil that provides a soothing effect for the body. Herbal baths are prescribed in Vedas too. 

For this year, water mixed with the Juice of Bo leves is recommended. Body massage and herbal bath promotes blood circulation, and it is considered the best method of maintaining positive health. Herbal baths are prescribed as a method of treatment in many nervous disorders and diseases of the muscles and joints. 

Promote family bonds 

Another salient feature of the New Year is to respect the elders and to strengthen relationships with neighbours. Usually, visiting relations and friends and exchanging presents, greeting them with a sheaf of betel is the order of the day. Betel is considered a sacred herb with many medicinal values. Chewing of betel along with cloves, cardamoms and arecanut after a meal is considered the best way to strengthen the gums. A chew of betel cleans the mouth, and wades off bad breath. The juice of betel leaves promotes digestion, kills organisms which are harmful to the body. The value of betel is also appreciated in Buddhist literature. Building up confidence, love, friendship and hope among elders, relations and friends plays a great role in achieving mental, physical and social wellbeing. Arrogance, hatred, sorrow, pangs of jealousy, cruelty are all considered as mental illnesses. Exchanging sheaves of betel and paying respect to elders brings about a new feeling of freshness.

The elders feel that they are accepted, wanted and venerated by their kith and kin. This warmth helps to a great deal to the elders in maintaining good health and vitality. 

Nonagatha 

The nonagatha is the transitional period in the planetary movement and considered to be inauspicious to start any propitious work. Therefore, this time is set apart for religious observances. Ayurveda envisages a method of treatment known as Daivavyapasharaya or spiritual therapy. This therapy involves the use of mantras or incantations such as Aushadhi or sacred herbs,Mani or precious gems, Mangala or propitiatory rites, including oblations, bali or offerings and homa or sacrifices, Niyama or vows, prayaschitta or cremonial pevitence, uparasa or fasts swastyayana or prostrations and pranipata - gamana or pilgrimages and so on.

Ayurveda explains that transitional period at different seasonal variations changes an imbalances in the body humours or forces namely Vata, Pita, Kapa. Therefore it is advised to have light food or complete fasting (Langana) during such periods. So that minimal fluctuation in the three Dosha will take place. Therefore during nonekata it is the custom to be aloof from all normal activities and to confine only to religious observances. 

Food value 

The food which is taken during Sinhala New Year has many nutritious values. Sweet meat such as Mung Kevum, Konda Kavum made of brown rice, flour, Unduvel made of undu are indigenous sweets. All they have many food and nutritious values. Taking meals at an auspicious time with all family members sitting together is a noble, and healthy custom. This happy get together should be adapted at all meals, and not confined to the New Year table alone. Many indulge in unwanted arguments and talks while taking meals. The Avurudu custom, gives the signal to avoid such unhealthy manners. Happy state of mind is very necessary for the proper digestion of food. Ayurveda makes it clear that wholesome food taken at proper time in proper quantity will not digest properly if the person is in bad mental state, such as fear, sorrow or arrogance. Therefore happy state at meals is ulmost importance in attaining healthy digestion. 

Complement of New Year 

Anointing of the head with Nanu (medicated shampoo) and oil is described in Ayurveda as a way of promoting health, specially massaging the scalp with oil and cleaning the head with medicated decoction known as Nanu. It promotes the growth of hair. It improves a sound sleep and balances the body humours. These rituals and New Year custom are healthy. Therefore they should be incorporated in our daily life for greater progress and prosperity. 

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhalese_New_Year)

Wishing Sri Lankan all over the world a happy and prosperous new year…