Le ROI Udaipur is a brand new addition to chain of hotels managed by ROI Hotels India

The 'City of Lakes' gets a new hotel. Le ROI Udaipur is the only hotel which is actually just within the City Railway Station, Udaipur. In fact Le Roi Udaipur is the first hotel to open at Udaipur Station and is just couple of minutes after getting off the train. The design of the hotel draws heavily from the rich Rajasthani heritage and culture and appears no less than a palace. The hotel’s interior is keeping in mind the likability and need of the travelers. Guests are sure to experience a vibrant, cosmopolitan and in style stay. One can even view Aravali mountain range and breathtaking sights from the window of the rooms or roof top!

Le ROI Udaipur is a brand new addition to chain of hotels managed by ROI Hotels India Pvt. Ltd. The company is a reputed name in hospitality industry and manages a group of boutique hotels in India. The ROI Udaipur offers tastefully crafted rooms at a budget price in the heart of Udaipur along with casual dining restaurant and banqueting facilities. Le Roi Udaipur has a shopping complex at its ground floor which will be accessible for non resident also. So, next time when you plan to visit the 'City of Lakes', consider staying at Hotel Le Roi Udaipur!

God is Beyond All Religions!

God is beyond all religions and no religion can claim to possess absolute truth or make the claim of being the norm for all the others. It is rational to believe that a truly religious person cannot be exclusive. They can recognize the presence of God in every religion. At the same time, God has no "chosen people" for all are God's people. A person who has experienced 'God' deeply within the roots of his own faith will not be threatened by other religions, instead he would rejoice in the diversity of religious experiences. It will be prudent to mention Sri Satya Sai Baba of Shirdi and Ramakrishna who did not find any contradiction in practising different religions. They exemplify the ideal of finding God in all religions and respecting the faith, symbols and practices of other religions. It is untenable to hold on to a position that God's revelation occurs only in a particular country or culture.

Sufi Muslim saint Sarafudddin Maneri had once acknowledged that, "A hundred thousand intellects cannot comprehend Thee, O, You who lie hidden from the gaze of eye and soul". Khwaja Abu Sa'id, another Sufi saint, declares: "No one knows the full story, hold your tongue, hold your tongue". Similarly, the Bible affirms that the ineffable mystery of God eludes understanding - "Can you penetrate the designs of God? It is higher than the heavens; what can you know?" (Book of Job 11:78).St Augustine, an early Christian thinker, warned those who hold absolutist claims: "If you know God,it is not God". For St Thomas Aquinas, Christian theologian of all times, the greatest of all knowledge about God is: "To know that one does not know God".   

Even upanishadic sages were aware of the incomprehensibility of the divine mystery. The mystery of God is so ineffable that, "The eye does not reach it, or speech, or the mind. It is not understood by those who understand it; it is understood by those who do not understand it," says the Kena Upanishad (1.3.4).The Absolute is anirvachaniyam or indescribable. Hence, after every description of God, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (3.9.26) adds "neti, neti" - "not so, not so".

Harmonious relationship between religions is possible when followers of all religions realise that the infinite mystery of God cannot be exhaustively grasped. The truth present in one's own religion is part of the infinite horizon of divine truth in which people of various cultures and religions are equal participants. 

Read more at: http://www.newageislam.com/no-religion-can-claim-to-possess-absolute-truth/spiritual-meditations/d/2740

God is too vast to be contained in just one religion!

Each of us, individuals and communities, has our own understanding of God. And, we strongly believe that our own perceptions of, or beliefs about, God are true - we may not be entirely wrong there, but at the same time not correct either! It is something like if we look up in the sky, we see in clouds in myriad shapes and sizes - some resembling like monkeys and lions, others like peacocks and whales or even a grandfather with a giant nose! While another person looking at the clouds, say sitting at a different country far away may find clouds forming different shapes like buildings or cars!

God is vast, very vast! While we are limited beings with, at best, only very partial understandings of God, our perceptions of God are naturally limited and partial. What often happens is that we imagine that our particular understanding of God, as represented by the particular religion we claim to follow, reflects His totality - just like the little child who thinks that the bit of sky and clouds that he can see is what the whole sky and its contents are all about. Also, because of this (our limited understanding, partial truth), we go about disparaging, denouncing, combating and even waging war against people who see God in ways other than ours, like children fighting with other children who see bits of sky and clouds other than those that we do.

Our respective perceptions of God may not be wrong, but at the same time they do not represent the whole story of the sky or the whole truth about or reality of God. "When we begin to understand where and how we have erred, we are led to realize that how such a terrible cost in terms of human lives are lost in the name of wars over and about religion," writes Roshan Shah in NewAgeIslam.com.

When, like the two boys who learn that the sky is much bigger than they had imagined, we are suitably humbled to realize that our understandings of God are just a limited and partial reflection of the Absolute Truth and that others also may possess equally valid (and equally partial and limited) understandings of the same, we might be inspired to reach out to each other in friendship, to learn more about God and goodness from each other and to enrich ourselves spiritually in the process!

Read more here: http://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/roshan-shah,-new-age-islam/the-%E2%80%98cloud-cloud%E2%80%99-game--insights-for-interfaith-relations/d/98287

When is Ramadan 2014?

Ramadan 2014 begins in the evening of Saturday, June 28 and ends in the evening of Monday, July 28 (Dates may vary). Ramadan, the most important religious observance in Islam, is an annual month of fasting. Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. During this month of Ramadan, Allah showers his blessings on the Muslims and makes special arrangements for ensuring that he makes the most of the opportunities provided by Him in the month. Rewards for good deeds are increased manifold, the paradise is decorated for those who fast and Satan is chained and confined so that he cannot misguide and lead the Muslims and lead them astray.

One of the greatest gifts of Ramadan month from Allah to the Muslims who fast, pray and recite the holy Quran sincerely for the entire month is redemption from the fire of Hell. Allah says that since the Muslims fast for Him, so He will forgive all their sins and ensure Paradise for them.

Also read: The Golden Gifts of the Glorious Month of Ramadan

* The exact dates of Ramadan 2014 cannot be determined in advance, due to the nature of the Islamic lunar calendar. Estimates are based on expected visibility of the hilal (waxing crescent moon following a new moon) and may vary according to location.

What do Muslims think of Modi's win?

The dream win for Narendra Modi, according to CNN, will bring a marked change in direction for the world's most populous democracy, a nation whose modern character has been defined by the inclusive, secular and liberal approach of the Congress Party, which has governed for most of the post-independence era.

Muslims to wait and watch for the promised good times

Various sentiments, feelings of insecurity to inclusive nature of Indian democracy is being discussed all over the world - among people, media and particularly muslims! Modi is still being considered as a deeply polarising figure and an unproven commodity on the international stage. However, it is more important to understand what do muslims in India think of Narendra Modi's win. If I take into account or go by what Urdu Press and Media is writing about this win of Modi, then in one sentence I would say that all editorial writers are asking Muslims to wait and watch for the promised good times.

A progressive web magazine NewAgeIslam.com says,"Pseudo-secular politicians had been scaring Muslims for long of a saffronised India under Mr. Narendra Modi. Even figures like 22, 000 Muslims will be killed in that scenario were bandied about." But do muslims in India have become politically clever enough to read and understand what the leaders say and actually mean (or act)! According to NewAgeIslam.com, a quick survey of Delhi's Urdu Press, the only barometer of Muslim opinion in the country available, reveals  that barring Shahi Imam's statement published in Mr. Aziz Burney's Azizul Hind daily, and the newspaper itself and a few columnists, no Urdu newspaper is engaged in scare-mongering. No dire predictions are being made. All have accepted the verdict of the people and say in a democracy the people's verdict should be always accepted and welcomed as it reflects the collective wisdom of the people. All editorial writers are asking Muslims to wait and watch for the promised good times.   

Roznama Rashtriya Sahara says, "We Respect People's Verdict. It says: "Since popular verdicts are a result of the collective wisdom of the people, they should be welcomed. This is the demand of the democratic principles as well. ... It will be premature to say how the new BJP government will behave, what attitudes it will display, what decisions it will take. .... In any case the government will be given time to reveal its policies and its attitudes. People are looking towards it with fear and expectations."

The editorial in Hamara Samaj bemoans the loss of secular parties and questions who is responsible for the defeat of secular politics in India. It holds secular parties themselves responsible for their loss and says there must be something wrong with them to have suffered such a comprehensive defeat at the hands of parties that are considered fascist.

In his victory speech, Modi said that he would carry every one with him

There are publications that have even taken positive note of PM-designate Modi's remarks in his victory speech that he would carry every one with him. Also, BJP President Rajnath Singh's repeated advice to party workers that no remarks should be made against any community (read Muslims) in victory celebrations has also been displayed prominently.

The foreign media, on the other hand, has reacted from calling Modi a deeply polarizing figure to calling his victory a rejection of Congress policies. The New Republic - an online magazine in the US, has described Modi as a leader known for his economic agenda and his controversial brand of Hinduism. While they positively regard his development policies, they do not seem to be very confident about the social development indicators that he presides on.

The Economic Times has published an article which says, "If comments of some influential clerics are to be believed, the BJP and Narendra Modi have managed to win their votes too". "Muslims have voted for the BJP in many parts of UP after Modi reached out to the community and assured them not to be fearful of a BJP regime. We don't fear him anymore and we are waiting for him to fulfill his promises," says Maulana Kalbe Jawad, the head priest of Lucknow's Shahi Asafi mosque, the country's largest Shia mosque. Maulana Jawad had campaigned against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, which has more than three lakh muslim votes.

To read more on what Urdu Media has to say on Modi's win, click here.

We want to leave good marks on the earth: Design Atelier

The vision statement of a leading New Delhi based Architecture firm, Design Atelier states, "We want to leave good marks on the earth. We want to work with a thoughtful integrity and a contemporary sensibility because we want our buildings to be loved today and to last. We would measure our work by the pleasure of the lives lived in our buildings and projects." The company says, "Our unequivocal focus is to influence the future shape of built environments through design leadership, expert knowledge and service excellence. We have been successfully engaged by major organizations- especially quality oriented corporations for their development projects in Institutional, Hospitality, Housing, Offices, Retail, and Educational sectors".

Aashish V. Karode and Sushil L. Karer, Principals, Design Atelier

Design Atelier is a nationally networked Architecture and Urban Design Firm focused on creating distinctive buildings and interiors in five service areas- Architecture, Campus Design, Hospitality, Workplace Design, and Retail Design. The company is based in New Delhi, India.

Design Atelier is also credited for giving major impetus to the green building movement in India. Recently, Chimes building of Gurgaon (developed by Design Atelier) was awarded the "Green Project of the Year" by Construction Week Awards 2013. Chimes building addresses issues of sustainability, sociability, making room for nature and program flexibility and was also awarded LEED/IGBC Gold Rating. 

Chimes building of Gurgaon was awarded LEED/IGBC Gold Rating

Design Atelier works to create a fusion that employs a basic modern sensibility and local material, art and craft to foster a contemporary architecture firmly anchored in specific local peculiarities and to create dramatic impact. We aim to differentiate each project by a careful orchestration of architectural elements that create a lasting and memorable image.

The Newlywed Indians Prefer to Honeymoon in Mauritius

Mauritius is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world and many newlyweds from India prefer to go to its tropical shores for a taste of luxury and romance. For many Newlywed Indians Mauritius is the perfect place to begin their lives together. Mauritius, actually, has been once awarded for being the Best Wedding and Honeymoon Destination and also for being Indian ocean’s leading honeymoon destination. 

While talking to travel agencies in India who specializes in honeymoon tours, IndiaNOMY spoke to Niti Batra who is one of the Director of Joy Travels Pvt. Ltd. She explained, "Most of the hotels in Mauritius  are located along the shore, near white sandy beaches and clear blue lagoons, making for a splendid romantic setting for honeymooners. Also, travel time too is short". Joy Travels book maximum bookings for Mauritius honeymoon package. 

The hotels in Mauritius ensure perfect settings for unforgettable moments for couples on their honeymoon. Most of them will welcome newlyweds with a beautiful presentation of fresh fruits in rooms, aided by a bottle of sparkling wine and option of romantic dinner on the beach. Private beaches, pleasant weather and a relaxed atmosphere all contribute to making Mauritius the most preferred destination for newlyweds. Honeymooners in Mauritius also benefit from discounts with the bride often staying for free! Wish to go for Honeymoon in Mauritius? Click here!

7th Delhi International Arts Festival

Delhi’s much awaited prestigious Arts festival is back to entertain Delhiites. This iconic Festival of arts that showcases all art forms from Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, Films, International performances and traditional arts and crafts from several Countries will be entertaining Delhiities until the 23rd of February, 2014.

The two-week Festival includes several rare and hitherto unseen in the Capital  traditional music and dance groups drawn from remote parts of India, like Singari Melam &Chavinattakam from Kerala, Ankhiya Bhawna and Borgeet from Assam, Karma & Sarfa Dance from Jharkhand, Hirni Birni Ki Katha fromBihar, Fakiri Songs & Mamore Puja & Rampa Dance from West Bengal and several others.

DIAF brings artistes from Spain, Italy, Egypt, and Mexico to enthrall the Delhietes with their amazing and unbeatable performance. Iranian illumination artistes and craftsmen will demonstrate at the National Museum & the Crafts Museum.

The Finale of this Prestigious Festival will be on the 23rd of February at 6.30 pm with a SUFI /QAWWALI NIGHT, which brings on stage the famous WARSI Qawwals of Hyderabad and Bharkat Sidhu from Punjab.

Highlights February 17, 2014

Literary Event

Readings by Children’s Writers/ Bal Sahiti

Gita Dharmarajan/ Chair

Surekha Panindikar/ Hindi

Prakash Manu/Hindi

Kamaljit Neelon/ Punjabi

Venue: Sahitya Akademi, Auditorium 3^rd floor, Rabindra Bhawan, Copernicus Marg

Time: 4pm-6pm

Dance & Music

DESAJ presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi as part of the New Delhi World Book Fair

Fakiri Songs/West Bengal                                                             

Kalari/Kerala                                                           

Nachani/West Bengal                                                         

Mamore Puja (Jhumar) & Ranpa/West Bengal                 

Hirni Birni ki Katha/Bihar

Venue: Pragati Maidan, Lal Chowk

Time: 4.30pm - 8pm

Film Festival: Remembering Farooq Shaikha

Katha (Hindi/ 1983/141 mins)

Dir. Sai Paranjpye Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval

Rajaram P. Joshi is a middle-class Clerk living in a chawl in Bombay. He is secretly in love with his neighbor, Sandhya karnik but is unable to disclose his love for her. Rajaram’s fast-tallking friend, Bashudev comes for a visit and makes himself at home. Bashudev starts wooing Sandhya and soon both are in love with each other. The karniks decide to marry Sandhya and Bashudev, much to misery of rajaram. But on the day of the engagement, Bashudev disappears, and the engagement is called-off. Rajaram offers to marry the devastated Sandhya, but she tells him that she has been very intimate with Bashudev, and is pregnant. It remains to be seen if rajaram will accept Sandhya or otherwise.

Venue: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road

Time: 7pm

Magic Show

By Murray Molloy, Spain

Murray Molloy has been performing and travelling all over the world from Australia to Laos and Portugal to Fiji, for more than fifteen years. He has performed on the street, in bares, clubs and festivals, in front of tribal chiefs and in the legendary Jim Rose Circus in America and the Edinbugh fringe festival. One of only fifty sword swallowers actually performing on the planet, and of these fifty one of twenty five that swallow curved swords and one of ten that swallow multiple swords at once! His repetoire also includes: Escapology, clown, comedy, magic, fire manipulation, fakirism, pirotechnics and contortionism.

Venue: Craft Museum, Pragati Maidan

Time: 4 PM

Highlights February 18, 2014

Magic Show

By Murray Molloy, Spain

Murray Molloy has been performing and travelling all over the world from Australia to Laos and Portugal to Fiji, for more than fifteen years. He has performed on the street, in bares, clubs and festivals, in front of tribal chiefs and in the legendary Jim Rose Circus in America and the Edinbugh fringe festival. One of only fifty sword swallowers actually performing on the planet, and of these fifty one of twenty five that swallow curved swords and one of ten that swallow multiple swords at once! His repetoire also includes: Escapology, clown, comedy, magic, fire manipulation, fakirism, pirotechnics and contortionism.

Venue: Select City Walk

Time: 5 PM

Children’s Film Festival

Gilli Gilli Atta/ Dir Pankaj Parashar

Cast: Aarif  Zakaria, Bhavani, Mukesh Ahuja, Johnny Lever & others.

This film using the element of comedy, depicts the triumph of innocence and goodness over everything including the evil.  The film shows that kindness and love are not just mere words but when put into action can result in change for the betterment of society.

Venue: National Museum, Auditorium

Time: 11.30am to 1pm

Lecture Demonstration

Geetha Kuncha/ BKS Verma

Painting to live music and dance is an art that Sri. B.K.S Verma specializes in. He does the painting as a performance to live audiences while responding to poetry or music and dance.

Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre/East of Kailash /Garhi

Time: 5.00pm

Highlights February 19, 2014

Magic Show

By Murray Molloy, Spain

Murray Molloy has been performing and travelling all over the world from Australia to Laos and Portugal to Fiji, for more than fifteen years. He has performed on the street, in bares, clubs and festivals, in front of tribal chiefs and in the legendary Jim Rose Circus in America and the Edinbugh fringe festival. One of only fifty sword swallowers actually performing on the planet, and of these fifty one of twenty five that swallow curved swords and one of ten that swallow multiple swords at once! His repetoire also includes: Escapology, clown, comedy, magic, fire manipulation, fakirism, pirotechnics and contortionism.

Venue: Crafts Museum, Pragati Maidan

Time: 4 PM

Lecture Demonstration @ Kala Kuteer

Simhanandini/Veena Murthy Vijay

Simha Nandini this dance is the combination of dance and drawing. This unique feature of drawing by the feet while dancing has been practiced by the priests of Kalahasti temple in AP. The lyrics are handed down traditions. The Taala of rhythmic cycle is the combination of six different Taalas with different cycke rounds. The dancer follows this Taala while dancing on a Canvas or Rangoli spread floor. Rare Charis & Karanas are incorporated in this dance.

Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, Kala Kuteer/Garhi 

Time: 4.00pm

Lecture Demonstration @ Kala Kuteer

Mayura Kauthuvam/ Oleti Rangamani

“HAMSA (Kalaratna)” awardee Smt. Oleti Rangamani is the daughter of Guru late Sreeman C.R. Acharya, an internationally renowned and dedicated guru of kuchipudi and temple dances and an acknowledged authority in Karnaas, Tandavam and Prenkhini Natyams. Sreeman C.R. Acharya has brough back this ancient culture to lime light after conducting a rigorous research on this subject. His daughter, Voleti Rangmani was closely associated in his research work. Oleti Rangmani will present Mayuri Kauthuvam along with her disciple Dr. Yashoda Thakre. 

Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, Kala Kuteer/Garhi 

Time: 3.00pm

Children’s Film Festival

Black Forest/ Dir Joshy Mathew

Venue: National Museum, Auditorium

Time: 11.30am to 1pm

Theater International

Quijote Wallah/based on “Don quijote” by Miguel de

Cervantes A theatre performance coming out from a mural on moving  walls, based on one of  the major works of  the universal literature,  Don quijote, is the starting point of   this multidisciplinary project. Street art, theatre, literature, and much more are involved in the  quijote Wallah Project. The oniric and surreal world not only dreamed but lived by Don quijote is not far away from the real and present world. He is treated by his fellows as crazy man simply because he looks at the world in a different way. His thoughts and his feelings and emotions leads his life through a world which doesn’t understand him, so it sometimes hits him, other times laughs at him, and  very few comprehends him and gives him a peaceful rest.

Venue: Select Citywalk, Saket

Time: 6:00 pm

Highlights  February 20, 2014

Performance

Mayura Kauthuvam /Oleti rangamani with disciple Yashoda Thakore

Simhanandini/ Veena Murthy Vijay with disciple Shama krishna

Geetha Kuncha - BkS Varma

Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, Kala Kuteer, Garhi

Time: 6 pm

Children’s Film Festival

Chhutkan ki Mahabharat/Dir Sankalp Meshram

Venue: National Museum, Auditorium

Time: 11.30am to 1pm

Highlights  February 21, 2014

Theatre-National

Chhaya Shakuntalam/Directed by k.N.Pannikar

It is a retelling of kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam. The title of  the play contains the word “Abhijnana” which is indicative of  oblivion and remembrance, two psychogenic functions of  the mind experienced by Dushyanta, the protagonist of  the play. The theme of  the play suggests that the limit of  one’s own rights irrespective of  whether one is the ruler or the ruled has to be prescribed by some superimposed sanction, lest the social equilibrium would be disturbed. Whichever age we belong to, the problem repeats in different contemporary dimensions.

Venue: Abhimanch, National School of Drama, Bhagwan Das Road, Mandi House

Time:  6.30 pm

Music-Dhrupad Festival

Pandit Pushpraj Koshti / Surbahar

Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar  

Venue: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Auditorium I, CV Mess, Janpath,

Time: 6.30 pm

Highlights February 22, 2014

Theatre-National

Jaat Hi Poochho Sadhu Ki/Directed by Rajendra Nath

The play opens with a narrative by Mahipat, who gives a hilarious biographical sketch of his life. His only aim is to become an M.A before bidding good bye to this world. He encounters countless rejections, spends time classifying rejection slips, and ultimately starts his study of  Sifarishim (Nepotism), which he believe the best weapon available today.

Venue: Abhimanch, National School of Drama, Bhagwan Das Road, Mandi House Time: 6.30 pm

Music-Dhrupad Festival

Jyoti Hegde / Rudra Veena

Ustad Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts,

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar / Dhrupad

Venue: Auditorium I, CV Mess, Janpath

Time: 6.30 pm

Highlights February 23, 2014

Music-Dhrupad Festival

Nancy Lesh-Kulkarni / Cello

Pandit Uday Bhawalkar / Dhrupad

Venue: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Auditorium I, CV Mess, Janpath, 

Time: 10.30am

Food Court,

Venue: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts,

Lawns, Rajendra Prasad Road

Time: 12noon onwards

On-going Exhibitions

Amrita Shergil -The Passionate Quest

Curated by Yashodhara Dalmia

Subodh Gupta - Everything Is Inside

Curated by Germano Celant

Venue: National Gallery of Modern Art, India Gate,

Time: 11am - 5pm

Gala Closing

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Lawns,

Entry: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road

Sufi & Qawwali, 6.30pm

Sufi -Barkat Sidhu / Punjab

Qawwali - Warsi Qawwals / Hyderabad

Nazir Ahmed khan Warsi & Naseer Ahmed

khan Warsi