A Magazine About Fiji and India Lifestyles Published in USA by Arun Maharaj
Published and Edited by Arun Maharaj - Hayward, California—USA 510—875 0568—indiafijitoday@gmail.com Cover Picture—Denarau Island—Fiji
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ARUN MAHARAJ
Publisher & Editor - Hayward, California—USA 510 : 875 0568 - indiafijitoday@gmail.com
Arun Maharaj California Jaycees and Jaycees International Senator Past Co-Chairman—California Business Advisory Council Former School Teacher in Fiji Past National President—Fiji Jaycees
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Mahend Bilimoria—Ba - Fiji Mahend Billmoria is a veteran businessman in Ba—Fiji. Having served the Ba community for years he is a well known personality of Ba for the former and current residents. Mr. Bilimoria is a Past President of Ba Jaycees and an active community worker.
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Fiji Community in America... Alka Yagnik in Bay Area Nick and Veena Khelawan with popular Indian Film Industry singer Alka Yagnik at Favorite Restautant in Hayward—California. Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan’s live performance in Hayward on Friday May 2, is said to be a wonderful event.
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Volume 1, Issue 1
Fiji Pictorial
Suva Market Scene
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By Arun Maharaj—Hayward California-USA
The Value of Today !!! Today, the most important day in our life, just goes by as we keep wondering about the past and future. In the quagmire of life, often in the thought of things Arun Maharaj that have happened and what may happen tomorrow our precious day, today, passes by. Human nature is such, that we dwell on the past happenings on which we have no control and often think about what may happen tomorrow, which is a mystery today. If our ‘today,’ is spent well and is fruitful to our life than obviously our past, as today will become yesterday, will be fruitful too and on today’s good foundation tomorrow may also be prosperous. The concept of appreciating things only when they are no longer with us is part of our normal lifestyle. Busy in our materialistic lifestyle we may not be able to think about things that are at with us today, they may they be our wealth, properties and even family members, relatives and friends. Why do we think and appreciate them only when they are no longer with us? We take thinks for granted ! Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you have to die tomorrow, and learn as if you have to live forever.” Even the ‘Jaycees’ philosophy says, “Live as if today is your last day...” What it simply means is to live today, to your best as today will never come back!
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Runnveer Singh Inside Jyoti Supermarket—Hayward
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A Unique Temple on the HillSide in Raralevu—Nausori A Unique temple founded not too long ago is a fascinating site to visit. It is believed to be the site of an old and abandoned temple which existed there decades ago during the ‘indenture system.’ Newly set—up, the temple has many small statues and small temples scattered in a wide area going down and upwards many steps. It is a full pilgrimage type set— up which is extremely unique in its structure. The only temple of the nature in Fiji, is worth visiting. Tremendous satisfaction and peace is felt as it provides you an atmosphere of undisturbed nature.
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Visiting ‘Ayodhya’ - the Birth Place of ‘Lord Rama’ The holy city of ‘Ayodhya’ in the Uttar Pradesh is the site of worship and pilgrimage for the Hindus in India and worldwide. People visit the city in large numbers as it is the place of the birth of ‘Lord Rama.’ The Summer neat is sometimes unbearable but the Winter visit can be very comfortable.
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Visitors on their way to Punjab...
Juhu Beach Stalls—Mumbai
Juhu Beach—Mumbai
A Dhaba on the way to Venarasi—Uttar Pradesh
Kamal Amrohi Film Sttudio—Mumbai
Sri Guru Gobind Singh College—Chandigarh
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Traveling Across ‘Bihar’ in the Eastern State The Eastern State of Bihar is far from the capital Delhi. While traveling in the interior by car you will come across difficult road conditions. The houses on the road side can be seen in the picture as village type. The state is on the far East of India with a population of 103 million and third largest in terms of population and Patna being the capital.
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The Fate of ‘Aashirwad’ Late Rajesh Khanna’s Former Home
Like people, other material things could also have certain fate and an ultimate destiny. ‘Aashirwad’ on Carter Road in Bandra, Mumbai had the privilege of housing Rajesh Khanna for many years. The first superstar of Indian Cinema, Rajesh Khanna saw the stardom and the height of popularity that no actor has ever seen in the Indian Film Industry. ‘Aashirwad’ is believed to have been an abandoned house until actor Rajendra Kumar bought it and named it ‘Dimple.’ Later the house was bought by Rajesh Khanna who named it ‘Aashirwad’. It is the house where superstar Rajesh Khanna and young actress Dimple Kapadia lived after their marriage and had a family. The building had the privilege of seeing the superstar at his highest level of stardom where people, particularly girls, are believed to have lined up in front of the building for hours just to have a glimpse of the star in his house. The craze of Rajesh Khanna in those days was do intense that is difficult to comprehend in today’s period of the Indian Film Industry. His hits after hits with particularly Mumtaz and Sharmila Tagore dominated the Indian Film Industry then. He became a phenomenon and industry by himself. Then came the time when his stardom started to dwindle and he faced separation from his wife and family. The very ‘house’ which had seen unimaginable fame and success of the star, started witnessing decline in its visitors. Eventually a time came when ‘Aashirwad’ had to bid farewell to its celebrity occupant as Rajesh Khanna past away there in 2012. Today ‘Aashirwad’ stands as a building without its celebrity occupant. source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Rajesh-Khannas-bungalow-Aashirwad
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The Cane Farms That Are No More - Today….. Fiji’s sugar cane industry during its peak days was not just an industry, its was a phenomenon. While it contributed towards Fiji’s major economy it was the livelihood of many in Fiji, whose life revolved around the cane farming industry. All of the west and most of the north was fully involved in the production of cane and the country depended on it as its major income earner. A lot of the farmers did not physically see a lot of money coming out of their daily hard work, many times in scorching heat, but they still depended on it as their sole income source. A lot of cash was traded with the goods and services they needed during the year for their living. The shop keepers in the sugar cane region made fortunes by providing goods to the farmers throughout the year on credit system and obtained cash when the cane payments were made to the farmers. Apart from the actual farming there were lots of other related activities carried out on A Once Thriving Cane Farm in Fiji around the cane fields. There was lots of socialization such as having tea, lunch and even grog sessions together and that provided a sense of belongingness and togetherness to the farmers. It gave them a community of their own which was far different from the lives in Fiji’s urban areas. If the cane farms could speak they would narrate many memorable events that took place there. Today many of these, once prosperous farms are lying idle covered with bush and have become history.
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Fiji Pictorial
A Scene in Central Suva
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Fiji Pictorial
A Scene at Ba Bus Station
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Fiji Pictorial
Rishikul College, Nasinu
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Fiji Pictorial
Ba Bus Station
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Fiji Pictorial
A Scene in Central Suva
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India Fiji Today Online Magazine
Objectives To Create an awareness about specific happenings in Fiji Community in America and abroad—To inform about the current happenings in Fiji in review form – ‘Fiji Today’—To enlighten issues on Fiji by ‘Fiji Feature’ — To provide reading material on Fiji’s past happenings by artic on ‘Fiji Flashback’—To recognize people in Fiji Community in Fiji, USA and abroad—Inform and entertain Fiji Community about India through articles and pictures— To share perspectives on philosophical aspects
Disclaimer—Fiji Today/Fiji Feature Fiji Today/Fiji Feature/Fiji Highlight is the editor’s view on the major happenings back in Fiji based on the information from ,Online Fiji Times; Fiji Live, Fiji Village, Fiji Sun; visitors to and from Fiji and other Fiji publications. These are editor’s own views based on the information from those sources. Contributing articles are the writers’ views and opinion only and any error/s and or misinterpretation are regretted and the editor / publisher is not responsible for any such error/s and or further discussions and or any liability. A Letter from Sydney is the creation and views of the writer and INDIA FIJI TODAY holds no responsibility about the content of the letter. The Publisher/Editor of India Fiji Today will not accept any LIABILITY, CRITICISM, ANNOYANCE or ADVERSE REACTION what so ever, to the contrary of its intention caused by any misinterpretation, miss-understanding or nonacceptance of the same. Advertisements
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