The nation today marked the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, memorializing the nearly 3,000 people who died that day in solemn remembrances that included the ritual reading of victims' names at the sites of the attacks, public tributes to lost loved ones and private tears and grieving among those they left behind.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
ChocolateNirvana.jpg
heaven sent desserts- new dessert joint in the hillcrest/northpark area. DELICIOUS and creative sweets! The decor is very posh-and hillcrest typical in its hipness. a great addition to the areas now famous cafe colabria and claire de lune. We loved this place-i recommend it! (30th & university)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
White Rainbow
I write to you all again about my beloved
"White Rainbow" is set to open on April 7th in
12 Cinemas.
"White Rainbow is the story of four remarkable women and their journey to overcome the societal stigma and grim reality of widowhood. Abandoned by their families, impoverished by a system that fails to recognize them, and denied even the most simple grace of wearing color, they find the resolve to transform their lives, and in doing so, the lives of Vrindavan's widows.
The elder streetwise, Roop, rejected by her own children and forced to make her way on the streets. Gentle Mala, disfigured by her mother-in-law, a servant and illicit lover to a priest. And young Deepti, widowed at age 15 and forced into prostitution.
Together, this disparate group challenges the myths and traditions that surround not only the treatment of widows in Indian society, but the widows' own resignation to their fate. And, in the process, their own transformation takes hold. No longer destined to a fate of poverty and servitude, the women emerge empowered with the belief that they are the champions of their own lives. The film inspires us all to see the Rainbow present in every woman." -(source) "White Rainbow Offical Movie Site"
BBC NEWS- "Film Highlights Widow's Plight"
By Anu Anand
BBC correspondent in Vrindavan, north
Five years ago, Indian director Deepa Mehta tried to make a film about the exploitation of widows. But she and her film crew were forced to quit after violent protests by Hindu leaders.Now, the spotlight is back on the ill-treatment of India's widows. A new film, by an Indian-American director, tells harrowing tales of sexual and physical abuse.
Harsh lives
In the fading light of afternoon, nearly 300 women sit chanting on the marble floor, their skeletal faces shrouded in white saris. It is the second shift in Vrindavan's largest widow ashram (religious retreat), some 200 kilometres east of the Indian capital Delhi. Many have been forced to shave their heads. All wear the color of grief, waiting for the day they too will follow their husbands into the afterlife. The women struggle to stay awake. But they must, because a shift here earns them one plate of rice and lentils, just enough to survive.Their story is now being told on-screen.
Film exposes reality
A new film called White Rainbows tells the story of four widows in Vrindavan - who were raped, disfigured and abandoned by their families. It is based on the real life story of Mohini Giri, today, India's leading advocate of widows' rights. She says the film tells the ugly truth. "The atrocities are manifold - one is due to hunger, the second - no shelter - they have to depend on men who in turn molest them or take advantage of their vulnerability and the third is illiteracy - they are not educated. "Not having these three things leaves them in a dismal state."
Dharan Mandrayar is the film's director. An Indian living in
Forced out
Most widows I talked to said this was their fate. Anita Yadav is 29-years-old. After her husband died of alcohol poisoning, she too fled to Vrindavan with her three young children. "My brother in law kept trying to molest me. He'd come to my room again and again. I complained, but my in-laws took his side. "They said, either marry him, or get out." But Anita has found a rare sanctuary. She lives in a rescue mission run by Mohini Giri who has joined hands with Dharan Mandrayar to spread the film's message.
Here, the women wear colorful saris - red and green, white with purple polka dots - to reject the stigma of widowhood. They can pray or simply watch TV. These small freedoms are important. And after the violent opposition to the last film on widows in
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/36118
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
...India
OK, So I finally brought myself to blog. I swear I didn't feel like retelling my story...I hadn't completely processed it yet...come to think of it, I dont think I really have quite now...
First impressions...India is, as many before me have said, and asault on all the senses. One of the reasons its so hard to explain is because you dont just 'visit' India, you 'Live' it..The plane ride was horrid..in transit for 2 days. We arrived in Bombay. Security checks-got felt up. haha..from Bombay we flew to our first stop in our Itenerary. Hyderabad, in South India...the place we stayed at, ICRISAT was an agricultural institute- a reasearch facility. Basically what they do there is use science to enhance crop life- ie. genetically enhance their ability to withstand plagues and thrive in harsh weather. "Science with a Human Face," using it more practically to meet the needs of the area. The facility is amazing. It is centered in thousands of acres of green land. aswell as shielded from the choas of the city. We were there for a week-the mind boggling contradictions began there. The contrast between posh urban hubs and the meager slums was amazing. on one side of the city you would see sky rises, technology, westernization-on the other hunger, people literally living on the side of the road, kids being bathed on the street. HUNGER...poverty.
While in hyderabad we did sight seeing ofcourse. The Charminar and Golconda Fort were the highlights, as you have seen on liliavilla.com. We did shopping, CRAZY haggleling, im quite good. haha..beautiful tapestries and crafts...colorful...saree shopping :) ...but we also did various seminars with the local universities, after all it is a womens studies course. The womens movement is vibrant in India. It was a pleasure to meet activists who are changing womens lives as we spoke. MANUU was our host, a university dedicated to reaching Muslim women, and preserving the Urdu language-spoken mostly by muslims in india, and the language of pakistan. The most heartfelt moment was when we visitied one of the villages where the women were taking charge and forming "federations" to problem-solve and improve conditions. the welcomed us with music..we had an open forum with them-exchanged questions. THEY WERE SOOOOO curious in our way of life. they asked us if we had husbands (lol), what we did for work, how womens conditions were in our country-they had no real geographic idea of where America was...but what hit home the most was when we met their children and a school. they asked us what kinds of crops do we grow. wow...they didnt want us to go, and kept asking us questions. they were all younger than 13yrs. very sweet. that day was new years eve, and they gave each of us a present they made. i got a necklace, and she said "wish you a happy new year," it was beautiful...the people were beautiful...it was a very emotional day for all of us..to see the kindness of a people who literally have nothing, so warm, friendly, and who gave us a little something to wish us a happy new year...
im in New Delhi...already went to the Taj Mahal..I will continue with this later..gotta go!!
life's got me thinking about alot of things..