Zilker Park Vision Plan

17 Austin South Asian | October 2021 Zilker Park Vision Plan

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department are currently leading the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan to involve the community to develop a Vision Plan for the entire 350 acres of Austin’s beloved park. It is the first comprehensive planning initiative in the park’s 104-year history. Learn more about how to get involved in the Vision Plan planning process.

What is the Zilker Park Vision Plan? Zilker Park is home to many destinations, historical sites, programs, and natural resources and includes Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, and events such as Blues on the Green and Austin City Limits Music festival, and much more. The Zilker Park Vision Plan is a community-driven process to plan for the future of the park and will consider many different aspects of the park from conservation to parking to programming to preservation and much more.

Why is it important for the community to participate in this planning process for the Zilker Vision Plan? Zilker is a special place to Austinites from diverse backgrounds and experiences and is home to a vast array of natural resources, historical sites, gathering spaces, and destinations. To plan for the park’s future requires a process that is equitable, inclusive, and includes many different voices and perspectives.

The community feedback will help us have a roadmap to guide decisions for the park so that the future of the park reflects the vision of the entire Austin community.

How can the Austin Asian community help influence this plan and participate in the planning process.? Attending the community meetings and sharing input throughout the process is a great way to participate. We also encourage the Asian community to attend the pop-events. The Parks and Recreation Department plans to host 2 pop-events in each of the 10 council districts. The Asian comtinTexas.gov/ZilkerVision.

What is the purpose of the community meetings? The community meetings and other engagement activities aim to reach all Austinites to identify your

munity can help influence the plan

by sharing their stories and memories of spending time at Zilker Park and their ideas for the future of the park. To find a pop up event or other input opportunity, visit Aushopes and desires for this jewel of Austin.

Are these community meetings inperson or online via social media? The community meetings will be held virtually via Zoom and Facebook live. In addition, the Parks and Recreation Department will meet people where they are through a series host pop-up events around Austin.

What are the future dates for the remaining community meetings? The list of future community meeting dates can be found on AustinTexas.gov/ZilkerVision.

How is the vision plan being funded? Funding for this planning process is a result of the 2012 General Obligation Bond that was approved

by City of Austin voters in November 2012.

Which areas of Zilker Park need to be restored? The planning process will assess all aspects of the park with a comprehensive lens including but not limited to: programming, maintenance, environmental features and ecology, historical preservation and cultural resources, transportation, circulation, and parking, as well as business operations and management.

Where can we find more information about the Zilker Park Vision Plan? For more information, please visit AustinTexas.gov/ZilkerVision. Please spread the word with your neighbors, colleagues, family and friends.

Successfully Caring For Orchids Is Easier Than You May Think

Some people shy away from orchids because they appear fragile, but mostly these gorgeous plants are just misunderstood.

Even if you’ve never owned a houseplant or tried your hand at gardening, you can successfully grow Phalaenopsis (moth) orchids.

Perfect for beginners, they are easy to grow and require minimal care.

To get started, check out the tips and resources available at justaddiceorchids.com. Orchid care is easier than you may think. All you need is a bit of knowledge to keep your orchid happy and healthy for successful blooms again and again. (StatePoint)

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

18 Austin South Asian | October 2021 Kids Corner

Vasundhara Varadarajan Abhiveer Annoji

Halloween

Halloween or Hallowe’en (a contraction of “All Hallows’ evening”), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day.

It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

One theory holds that many Halloween traditions may have been influenced by ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which may have had pagan roots; some scholars hold that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow’s Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. Other academics believe, however, that

Halloween began solely as a

Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow’s Day.

Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films. (Continued On Page 23)

Aditri Gautam

19 Austin South Asian | October 2021 History Of Lumbini: The Birthplace Of Lord Buddha

Nepal is the hidden treasure of South Asia. The country has many hidden treasures that are still unknown to the public.

With the likes of Mount Everest, Durbar Square, and Nagarkot, Nepal is one of the dream countries to visit for any traveller.

One of the most followed spiritual figures worldwide is the great Buddha. His teachings are widely followed by the Buddhist monks and his followers.

However, Nepal is directly linked with Buddha and Buddhism via a place named Lumbini. This beautiful place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As per the Buddhist tradition, Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who is also known as Buddha. This place is located in the Terai region of Southern Nepal and is very close to the Indian Nepalese border. Irrespective of their religion, people from all walks of life are always fascinated by the beauty of this place.

It is easy to reach Lumbini due to Gautam Buddha Airport at BhairaLater on, Mahaprajapati took over the role of becoming Siddhartha’s foster mother. Later on, Buddha left his luxurious life after watching the pain and suffering faced by the poor. Later on, Buddha found enlightenment. Buddhism is now one of the most followed religions in the world.

Important Historical Moments in the History of Lumbini

The legendary Indian Emperor developed the Lumbini which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ashoka had visited Lumbini around 248 BCE and had erected a pillar that had the content commemorating the birth of Buddha. Later on, he built a wall around the village and created four stupas to mark the spot.

A Chinese pilgrim named Faxian made another visit around 403 CE. The history and beauty of Lumbini fascinated Faxian, and he wrote about it in his works named “A record of the Buddhistic Kingdom”.

Later on, as time passed, another Chinese pilgrim named Xuanzang visited Lumbini after two hundred years. He observed that the pillars were destroyed by lightning and the popularity of the site had decreased gradually.

After many years, the area came under the control of the Muslim leaders and was destroyed and later on, was under the control of the Hindu kings.

hawa. Apart from the airports, there is an ongoing construction work going on for building hotels across Lumbini to promote the beauty and uniqueness of this place.

According to many Buddhist

sources, Buddha’s mother Maya was travelling from Kapilavastu to her parent’s home. But, suddenly, she went into labour at Lumbini.

It has been speculated that Maya gave birth with no pain while standing between twin Sala trees. The most astonishing fact about this theory was that the baby could speak immediately after it was born. The child said that this was his final rebirth, and then, the baby took seven steps to the four cardinal points and a lotus flower sprang

forth with each step. The divinities washed both Maya and her child. This started a religious ceremony in which people bathe the baby Buddha when they celebrate Buddha’s birth. As cited by many Buddhist sources, Maya died seven days after giving birth to the Buddha.

Akbar And Birbal Stories

One day Akbar asked Birbal – “ Birbal tell me why don’t hair grow on my palm?” Birbal as usual answered in a very calm tone, “ Jahan pannah!

It’s your daily rou tine to donate stuff to the poor because of that no hairs grow on your palms.”

Akbar was very elated to hear h i s praises but he wanted to take this conversation a little further.

He again asked, “Birbal , why don’t hair grow on your palms?”

Birbal replied, “ I take so much donations from you and because of that there are no hairs on my palm.”

Ha.ha..ha.. Birbal indeed is very funny.. What do you think King Akbar’s next question for Birbal would be?

Will he be able to answer that question? Let’s read further.

Akbar wanted to defeat birbal in this talk, he again questioned Birbal, “ Why there are no hairs in our courtiers palms?” Birbal understood that emperor was testing him so he replied, “ Badshah!

The answer to this one is pretty simple.

When you give me rewards than these poor courtesies get zealous and start rubbing their hands and because of that no hairs grow on their palms.

Everyone’s jaw dropped after listening to Birbal’s answer.

King Akbar understood that there is no point in arguing with Birbal as he is Hazir jawab – ready to answer on any topic. The shifting of rulership based on religion severely affected the condition of Lumbini as the site was being destroyed gradually.

In 1895 CE, a German archaeologist named Alois Fuhrer was successful in rediscovering Lumbini. Alois had unearthed some structures built by Ashoka.

There was a temple which depicted Buddha’s life. The temple also covers the actual place where Lord Buddha was born. This place was discovered in the year 1996 CE.

Present Lumbini

Lumbini is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It acts as one of the major tourist attractions in Nepal. In the year 2001, Nipponzan Myohoji built a Peace Pagoda in the park. This Peace Pagoda is visited by many people daily irrespective of religion and culture.

The history of Lumbini is an important site for Buddhists and Hindus. The ruins of the ancient monasteries depict the story of the rise of Buddhism culture.

The sacred Bodhi tree, the ancient bathing pond, and the pillars are an integral part of Nepal’s history too. To dig out more facts and showcase the beauty of Lumbini, there are multiple monuments and monasteries.

The Lumbini International Research Institute is also present at the holy site which focuses on the history of this heritage site. As Lumbini is one of the four main pilgrimage points, it is Nepal’s most important treasure.