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SAFAL FEST 21 63 YouGo with Rajni- Let’s Be Mindful Series
SAFAL FEST 21
This Year SAFAL 2021 is being organized on Saturday 27th November 21 at the Brush Farm House 19 Lawson Street Eastwood NSW 2122.
Time : 10 am to 6pm Free Entry (Subject to Covid Conditions) Ample Road Side Parking.
The Safal Fest 21 Organising team is headed by Kedarnath (Kevin)Pagaddinnimath Festival Chairperson & Secretary/CoFounder ASAF inc/
Ash Gholkar : Festival Director & President /Co-Founder ASAF inc/Safal
Balaji Mani : Treasurer ASAF/ inc/Safal
Our Directors:
Dyu Dcunha, Jeyakumar Ramasamy, Kavitha Jeyakumar, Kithsiri Karunaratne, Nagendra Adhikari, Rekha Rajvanshi, Sabrin Farooqui, Shahid Malik, Saliya Tennekoon.
Due to Covid Restrictions and Lockdowns the Festival will be concentrating only the Art Exhibition, Literary Panel Discussion, Poetry Slam, and the Talent Quest (Which includes Solo Singing and Solo Dance Competition, with Children 12 years and above allowed to Participate this year) Expression of Interest is being called for Participation in Art Exhibition, Poetry Slam , Solo Singing and Dance Competition. Links to Expression of Interest Form is available on the Safal Page website which is on the Flyer.
How to cope with post- lockdown anxiety
Just a reminder for today and every day. Mental health matters. Look after YOU.
By: Sumeet Chawla
As much as everyone wants to get back to some sort of normal, our lives have gone through dramatic change the past several months. Be prepared that the end of lockdown might be as hard for us, as it was in the beginning of lockdown. It may take time to find our way back and readjust to the new differences. It’s okay to feel anxious about life after lockdown. As challenging as the pandemic has been, the uncertainty of what post-lockdown life will bring, can trigger anxiety. Returning to things that were normal before lockdown, may now bring about feelings of uncertainty. Those who were unhappy in their offices or in certain family, social group contexts may now feel a sense of uneasiness about having to return to these settings. All this time, many of us got used to living a certain way. Many of us have developed new routines that we have gotten comfortable with. Lockdown might have provided a safe place for some, away from social pressures, therefore when things change, there is a lot to process. Even if we welcome the change, it does not make it any less difficult. You are not alone and your feelings are valid.
Think about what it is that you can control. Prioritise self-care and managing your stress. Remind yourself that you are in control of your own lockdown easing, in terms of which places you are going to go, who you want to be around with etc.. Take it slow, know your limits and share your thoughts with your loved ones. Say no or cancel plans- you are allowed to change your mind. Currently there may be less commitments on our calendar, but over the coming weeks this may fill up with school commitments and social functions. Prioritise which events you will go to and if you are feeling anxious, do only that which makes you feel comfortable. Still take steps to keep yourself safe, whether that be continuing to social distance, wearing a mask, not wanting to meet indoors etc.. Consider what your personal boundaries are. Continue to focus on a healthy diet, regular exercise and staying hydrated. Create manageable to do lists, get a good night’s sleep and connect with loved ones. Try not to compare yourselves to what others are doing, as we will all face these times differently.
For children returning to school after lockdown: Discuss with your child any worries they may have about the virus and returning to school. Acknowledge this is a difficult time and problem solve together. Focus on the positives such as seeing their friends again, returning to face-to-face learning with their teacher etc..
If you are feeling very anxious or not coping, please contact your GP and seek psychological support. It always helps to talk to a professional, for support and strategies on managing your symptoms better and improving your wellbeing.
I hope these tips help you as much as it helps me. I wish you all the best over the coming weeks as life returns to a new normal.
Image credit: www.learning-mind.com
Sumeet Psychologist | MGeront, MAPS
How Hema shed 20kgs in 87 Days with Hormonal Reset!
A mother of 2 teenage boys, Hema Raaj shares her mesmerizing journey of releasing weight through hormonal reset and how she moved from being Highly Diabetic to Non-Diabetic in as short as 87 days.
By: Poornima Vamsi
It has been great pleasure for one of Poornima’s (www.poornimavamsi. com/optin-2) clients to join her 87 days program, follow through 3 pillars to transform her HEALTH to achieve her DREAM VERSION. In her own
words, she describes how she came out as a confident and motivated person improving her self image and more importantly standing as an example for her family who followed through her path and are leading a healthy and contented life.
Hema Raaj is an entrepreneur and a mother of two teenage boys and standing at a ‘3 digit weight’ has always been a major concern for Hema and a year earlier she noticed she had serious diabetic issues leading to severe fatigue. This was an alarm when Hema decided to seek help, mainly for releasing weight; she was not very hopeful for bringing down her sugar levels.
Diabetes is something that we all think is not reversible but through the 87 Days Program that Poornima caters to, made it possible for Hema to bring down her sugar levels, which is nothing less than a miracle.
Hema has struggled with weight issues for 13 years, she had tried everything but always bounced back no matter what she did and then she decided to talk to Poornima to help her release and more importantly retain it.
The unique thing which Hema mentioned while working with Poornima is; she used ‘Energetic Meditative Practices’ as the main ingredient, as Poornima strongly believes if you can get your mind around it you can achieve your Dream Health with ease and flow. Poornima strongly believes that the first and foremost thing in achieving dream health is by satisfying your subconscious mind and that will happen when you DON’T deprive yourself of
your favourite and traditional foods.
The 3 pillars that Hema used in the combination of eating her traditional food, improving her metabolism through home based exercise, and using ‘Energetic Meditative Practices’ to achieve her dream health allowed her to see the results she was so desiring for several years in a short span of time. She believes it works
like medication but without medication.
The program is very simple to follow and hence an individual will see consistent and tangible results every week. It did not only help Hema release 20 kgs of weight
in 87 days, but it also helped her bring down her fasting sugar levels to 90 from 180 and her 3 months average of HbA1c came from 10.6 to 5.3 - from highly dia-
betic to non-diabetic Hema affirms to all those people who think that diabetes cannot be reversed without medications to see her as an example and suggests they ought to enroll themselves in FREE Training and get in touch with Poornima at www.poornimavamsi.com/optin-2
By Poonam Naik
Elvis Martin, a young Indianborn Australian social justice advocate, is one of the influential youth voices today. In recognition, Martin has been given the prestigious ‘Young Community Achiever of the Year 2021’ by the India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA) to add to his other accomplishments such as Victorian Premier Leadership Award in 2018 and several others.
Martin is the Principal Ambassador of the National Youth Commission Australia, a Director of VMIAC, and a Council Member of the Mental Health Commission among others. He has been responsible for co-establishing several important not-for-profit councils, such as the Co-health Youth Action Council and has represented Australia at international government and bilateral summits, such as the One Young World Summit that brought together youth leaders to work on a international urban policy agenda. In his own words, Martin says: “My mission is simple; I want to help those in need” and this is what he is keen to dedicate his life to. This encompasses promoting compassion, equality and human rights, and advocacy around issues such as mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, suicide prevention and the LGBTIQ+ community, as well as using his platform to advocate inclusion and equality for Indigenous Australians.
His work is informed by his share of difficult struggles earlier in life and he seeks to become a strong voice for those who experience hardship and do not themselves do not have a voice. Not only working closely with young people directly to promote community awareness, Martin actively works at different levels of government and with others to influence politicians and administrators to develop better policies and create more effective strategies that make a difference for those young people most in need: “I want to live in a world where being
vulnerable is not seen as being incapable nor a life sentence”.
Martin was once an international student himself, so he understands the challenges that many international students face but believes positively that Australia does provide opportunity and support for international students, not only in their careers but in terms of their social identity and awareness as well. “No country is perfect”, Martin says, “but Australia is probably the most successful multicultural country in the world today. I am proud to say that I am now an Australian citizen”.
As an award winner, Elvis Martin will be meeting the Prime Minister of Australia and the Governor-General as well as the Premier of Victoria. He has shown a deep commitment for the issues he supports and has achieved a series of extraordinary accomplishments for someone in their mid-twenties.
Elvis Martin have been recently appointed to Anti-RACISM Taskforce of government. He is\ the only Indian background person on this taskforce and very proud to serve the people and make changes to reduce racism and any form of discrimination.
Elvis Martin have also been Named 30 under 30 winner for Out for Australia.
Retracing Guru Nanak’s journey
By Sheila Dhillon
Over 550 years ago, Guru Nanak travelled across the distant lands of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka for over two decades on an altruistic pursuit to spread the message of the oneness of creation.
To relate with people of diverse cultures and belief systems, he engaged in philosophical and social dialogue, and through the medium of words and music, he gracefully imparted experiential and spiritual insights, fearlessly challenged the binary constructs of society, and relentlessly opposed gender, religious, racial and class inequalities.
In the 21st century, geopolitical restrictions and cultural mandates impose immense challenges to trace Guru Nanak’s extensive travels as approximately 70 per cent of the places he travelled to fall in geographies where filming is difficult.
However, in January 2019, a team led by Singaporean couple, Amardeep Singh and his wife, Vininder Kaur, embarked on a journey to retrace Guru Nanak’s footsteps. This herculean task, extending far beyond personal ambition, is aimed with a passion to preserve Guru Nanak’s teachings that perceives no borders or human divisions.
Allegory theme artwork by Datti Kaur. It depicts Guru Nanak’s life journey through people, culture, nature and multifaith sites. The artwork, while centred on Guru Nanak’s life, does not personify him.
Aided with the analytical study of the oldest ‘Janamsakhis’ (biographies of Guru Nanak)and supported by the allegoric messages in Guru Nanak’s verses, the team spent over three years filming all the geographies and multi-faith sites visited by Guru Nanak to present his life events in the form of a 24-episode docuseries.
Undeterred by adversities, they travelled
from the deserts of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to Mount Kailash in Tibet, explored remote regions of perilous Afghanistan, experienced the scorching heat in Iraq, scaled the arid Baluchi mountains in Pakistan, sailed across the waters of the Indian Ocean to disembark in Sri Lanka, blended with the Persian culture in Iran, crossed the delta region in Bangladesh and mapped all four directions in India.
Retracing Guru Nanak’s journey
Amardeep Singh (Director, Host) at the Cold Desert in Baltistan (12,000 feet) in Pakistan.
“In a world that is so fragile and volatile, there has never been a better time to understand why Guru Nanak’s travelled for 22 years to share his experiential wisdom and propagate the oneness of humankind,” said Amardeep Singh.
Weekly episodes of this docuseries are available for download at no cost on the website TheGuruNanak.com. In the next phase, this docuseries, produced by ‘Lost Heritage Productions’ and ‘SikhLens Productions’, will be translated into Punjabi and Hindi.
Imam Reza Ahrine in Iran.
Sikh Youth Australia and the Young Sikh Professionals Network are proud to support the launch of ‘ALLEGORY, A Tapestry of Guru Nanak’s Travels’, which chronicles the vast expanse of sites that were visited by Guru Nanak during his lifetime.
Commenting on the docuseries, Dr. Mohammad H. Qayoumi, President Emeritus, San Jose State University said, “As a practicing Muslim, I have found this docuseries filled with symbolic spiritual messages of Guru Nanak which will be enjoyable for everyone who has a curious mind. I highly recommend them to all viewers.”
For Amardeep and Vininder, every moment in Guru Nanak’s footsteps was philosophically liberating. It encouraged them to challenge their own conditioning, unlearn, relearn and assimilate the beauty of unity in diversity.
Amardeep Singh (Director, Host) and Vininder Kaur (Co-Director) with Khalida Begum, a Muslim lady in village Khost (Afghanistan), along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Amardeep Singh (Director, Host) with Dr. Raghunath, the last Nanakpanthi resident of Kandahar (Afghanistan). Along the banks of a river in Baltistan (Pakistan)
Colours of Turbans: Amardeep Singh (Director) with villagers in Afghanistan.
Co-Director (Vininder) and Cinematographer (Salman Alam) in a moment of joy after completing Tibet filming.
Amardeep Singh (Director) in Tibet. Filming Guru Nanak’s narrative in Sri Lanka.
During a lunch break with the Sikh community in Afghanistan.
Introducing Windows 11
By: Sarang Vengurlekar
Windows 11 has been released and it is the very latest Operating System for all desktops and laptops. It brings with it more features and stunning graphics. It brings balance to your desktop as it has easy to use tools that can help optimise your screen space and provide better productivity.
Combine Microsoft Windows 11 with Microsoft 365 subscription and you have the works. There are new ways to connect as Microsoft Teams is built in and you can reach anyone for free as long as they too have a Microsoft Teams account.
The new way to work is to work seamlessly and Windows 11 provides just that. All your Microsoft Office packages including Powerpoint, Outlook and Teams can be open in multiformat layout. You will also love Windows 11 if you are a gamer as it provides excellent graphics and reality display.
There is so much more to discover with Windows 11 that is impossible to list on one page. So the next step is to start using Windows 11.
How do I get Windows 11?
Any new Desktop PC and laptop that you purchase from now on will have Windows 11 preloaded. The good news is that if you are a Windows 10 user then you are also eligible for a free upgrade.
It is simple:
Go to Check for Windows updates (mssettings:windowsupdate) or select “Start” then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
the url list below:
https://www.microsoft. com/en-au/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck
Enjoy your journey with the latest and the greatest operating system from Microsoft. If you like this article then be sure to give us your feedback by sending an email to sarang@vengurlekar.com
Ensure you have checked compatibility of your PC to run Windows 11 by going to
YouGo with Rajni - Let’s Be Mindful Series
Pandemic Yoga : Life after lockdown - Looking after your Mental Health
By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra
Most of know I like to keep my writing relevant and connected to current happenings. October is Mental Health month and as we come out of lockdown once again, what better time than now to reflect on our mental wellbeing and how we can pace ourselves into a suitable rhythm as we adjust to life after lockdown.
Listen to how you feel
Are you happy the lockdown has ended? Are you delighted to be able to go out again and indulge in a cuppa with friends? Or are you carrying feelings of apprehension, having been in isolation for so long you feel anxious about social mingling?
Pace yourself
You may be experiencing mixed feelings about stepping back into life after lockdown. Let your feelings guide your pace. It is ok to avoid situations or settings if you feel uncomfortable. It is completely OK to take your own time to resume social gatherings and interactions in a manner that helps you and your family feel safe.
Manage your expectations
The restrictions in your area may be lifting/already lifted. Life is expected to return to normal, but what is the normal and how soon will we return to that normal completely? As schools, workplaces, shops, restaurants, and gyms begin resuming operations guided by the local covid-19 restrictions, remind yourself that not all places will open or operate the way or in the hours that you might be used to. Similarly, festive occasions may still not be celebrated in their usual style. Be mindful that this is a transition phase and things may take longer to return to normal and also that the normal may be different to what you are used to. following Mindfulness techniques
Check in with yourself through meditation
Make time to meditate daily or as regularly as you can. Meditation is not about sitting with no thoughts. It is about spending time alone and quietly by yourself, with yourself, meeting and acknowledging your thoughts and making an effort to accept things the way they are. A few minutes spent with yourself without judgement or urgency are few precious minutes you invest towards keeping yourself mentally and emotionally fit. Use the time spent in quiet to check in with yourself and sense your pace.
Create your calm
Make use of creative hobbies, artwork, music, dancing, walks in nature, reading, anything that will help you to spend a few peaceful minutes being comfortable with yourself alone. Use the time well by also engaging in mindful breathing and managing your pace.
Change your inner dialogue
You may not be ready to resume the old normal way of living just yet. Know that it is perfectly ok to have your own feelings about it. At the same time, talk to yourself kindly and send yourself positive affirmations that all is well and will continue to be well.
Mindful breathing:
Deep conscious breaths as many times a day is the surest way to calm the nerves and regain balance especially in this time of uncertainty or anxiety. If you can, engage in a few minutes of pranayama – guided breathwork at the start of your day.
Mindful action
Every action that you perform, make an effort to be present and in the moment. Whether you are driving, cooking, walking, do so with awareness and complete attention to the action. Conscious action helps you to focus on the task at hand, calms your breath, relieves stress and makes it easier to disconnect from disturbing thoughts.
Gratitude
There is no surer way to fighting anxiety or any negative feelings towards the changes that we have had to get used to. A minute spent in gratitude and a silent thanks to the universe for things that are still in your control, for the safety and wellbeing of your loved ones, for this moment and this breath you just took, will help you more than you know.
There YouGo! Some mindfulness tips to check in with yourself and maintain your mental wellbeing as you navigate the transition into life after lockdown.
Yours mindfully, Rajni Follow Rajni on Facebook @YogaWithRajni
