Editorial - Ontario Konkani Association
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Editorial….
The white stuff we so lovingly call Snow has settled in the Amchigelle Lands.
There is not even a hint of this snow getting out soon. So all you Amchi mal-
gardo’s to chalduva’s “Huna Huna Bournvita Ani Kaapi Piyunu Baishachi …”
December was a real bummer. With the Covid numbers on the rise yet again
eSamachar
the spirit of an Amchigello was truly tested. With nothing worthwhile really to
do outdoors it was a huge effort for many of us to keep occupied. Some of the Issue January - 2021
brave ones did to the utter dismay of many when they went Snow Tubing,
Snow Shoe hiking. How about a Konkani Snow Man… even that was done in
some Brampton alley’s….Aiyoooo Deva ani kassalle warle!!!!
Well how about this we all know that in a normal family pitter patter of many Check out our website
brave heart Amchi Guys are trying to have their say in some matter. Well and Facebook page:
someone overheard this brave Darlo telling his Bailli that “randayanthu meet
chikke unne assa”…. I mean just imagine this guy’s guts yaar. Later on Sujeet
Kini went on with Vanita for a loooong hiking trail somewhere in the moun-
tains near Calgary and came back to tell us how nice and romantic that was. I
mean all this while our own Shiv Dada was mustering his Koke-Bengali in-
sides to raise this type of an issue with Nandini……Kya Dada…
In any case this E Samachar once again promises to be a very interesting read
for many of you. This month we cover specific details of Makar Sankranti and
its celebration across India. Madhav as usual excels in his Food Korner as is
Neha with her Kids section. Take the time to read up on Veena’s article on a
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Covid 360. A great insight into what we have in store as we pick up our lives
from the scourge of Covid 19 pandemic. We do have two very interesting arti- Editorial ..............................1
cles on End of Life Planning & Scattering of Ashes both of which were elo-
President’s Message ...........2
quently spoken by Rashmee and Sudhir a few weeks ago. Sadanand Mam’s
write up on OKA EPP Kit showcases the interest we have to putting our life in Upcoming Events…………... 3
order. All this and more are neatly tucked inside this Jan issue of our E Sa- Culture Corner ....................4
machar.
Jevan Khann .......................7
Yet again for the second time in such a short we begin the year with the loss of Health and Wellness ..........8
our own Nalini Pachi (Mrs Nalini Kamath Shenoy) For those of you who Senior’s Forum ...................10
know her, you will agree she had such a loving, pleasing personality not to
forget that angelic smile. The Bhajans that she sang with her melodious voice OKA Entrepreneur’s Corner
will forever ring in our ears. As our Sanatan Dharma tells us Life and Death .............................................11
are both a part of our lives. Our prayers are with the family as they muster the OKA Kids Corner ................13
strength to move on. Nalini Pachi’s memories will be forever cherished. Last-
ly as the Surya Dev engages in his celestial dance, crosses over from Dhanu Scattering Ashes .................14
Rasi to Makar Rasi we celebrate our auspicious Makar Sankranti. This year End of Life Planning ..........16
may we please take a moment to include Nalini Pachi in our prayers as well as Obituary ..............................18
we wish “Til Gul Gya Ani Goad Goad Bolla”.
I urge you once again to take this Jan 2021 edition of the E Samachar to one Contact Us:
quiet kopcho of your house and read it with a kadak chai and some kajoobi’s. ontariokonkani@gmail.com
Niranjan Kamath
Editor
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear OKA Family & Friends,
Happy New Year and Happy Sankranti. Wishing you and your loved ones much
health, peace & happiness in 2021.
No year has ever been as difficult and challenging as this past year and I am sure we
were all glad to wave goodbye to 2020. It tested us in more ways than we could imagine.
However, it also brought perspective into our lives like never before. There were times when
we wondered if we would get through, yet we found a way to pull each other up. Though diffi-
cult, there is light at the end of the tunnel. News of the vaccines and its roll out has renewed
our hope and resolve. We are in the midst of a ‘Stay at Home’ order and we owe it to each
other to be mindful of the guidelines and help flatten the curve. We understand and respect the
sacrifices our frontline and healthcare workers do for us and we will be ever grateful to them.
As we find ways to connect with each other, we were glad to see so many of you join
us for ‘Bingo Evening’ last Saturday, January 16, 2021. It was an evening of fun with so many
friends and family. We hope to see more of you join us for our future events. Our next OKA
Seniors Forum Information Session will be held on February 7, 2021 on a topic of much inter-
est ‘General Discussion on Wills & Estates’, please save the date.
We continue to make a conscious effort to keep our OKA website current with infor-
mation on events and resources available to our members. Please note a new addition to our
resources on the ‘Gurukul’ tab to help anyone interested in learning the Konkani language. It
is offered by Vishwa Konkani Kendra (World Konkani Centre). The classes are on line
(www.learnkonkani.in) and very good. We will make this link available on our OKA website
under Gurukul shortly. Besides ‘Gurukul’, I want to spotlight ‘Sangam’ on our OKA website.
As I continue to receive inquiries, please visit our website to avail this unique platform exclu-
sively for eligible Konkanis.
Once again, I humbly request anyone interested in joining the OKA Executive Com-
mittee to please reach out to me. We would love to talk to you. Please visit our website
www.ontario-konkanis.com and connect with us on Facebook. In addition, if you know of an-
yone who is not receiving OKA emails, please let me know by email oka-presidents@ontario-
konkanis.com. Also, if you would like to contribute an article to any of our segments or spot-
light an entrepreneur or your business please write to us.
Stay Safe, Be well.
Warm Regards,
Surekha Shenoy & Revi Kizhatil
.
Page 2
UPCOMING EVENT
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
First Virtual Information Session of the year 2021
Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 11:00AM to 12:30 PM
“General Discussion on Wills and Estate”
Keynote Speaker: Mukesh Bhardwaj, Lawyer
Panel Members
Ashok Bhatt and Raghunath Kamath (RK)
Ample time for Question-Answers
submit your questions to sadanand.mankikar@gmail.com
Zoom Link will be provided closer to the event
Page 3
CULTURE CORNER
Makar Sankranti 2021
Compiled by Niranjan Kamath
In the cold of mid-January, India comes alive in the celebrations of Makar Sankranti. Differ-
ent communities across states celebrate the winter solstice in their own unique ways as Surya Dev
does his celestial dance and moves from Dhanu to Makar Rasi
Makar Sankranti 2021 date is decided by the Hindu solar calendar and is on the first day of
the 10th solar month Magh when the Sun is making a transition from Dhanu Rashi to Makar Rashi (in
English, you would know it as Capricorn Zodiac sign). The month is also the coldest in the Hindu cal-
endar.
Most years, it would fall on 14th January (or 15th January) as per the Gregorian calendar and
is observed the same day if the ‘Sankranti’ occurs before sunset. If otherwise, it is celebrated on the
next day. In 2021, Makar Sankranti will fall on 14th January.
How is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
Hindus worship the Sun God or Surya Deva, and therefore, Makar Sankranti is an auspicious
day in the Hindu calendar for the worship of the Lord. Although there are 12 Sankrantis in total, Mak-
ar Sankranti is paramount of all and hence is accompanied by several spiritual practices with nation-
wide celebrations.
Devotees take a religious bath in the waters of the Holy rivers such the Ganga, Yamuna, Go-
davari, and others. It is a sign that all their sins have been washed away, and prosperity will prevail
from now on. Apart from the worship of the Sun God, people also pay homage to livestock and cattle.
They also perform charity activities and donate food and clothes to the less fortunate ones. A popular
Hindu belief goes, if someone dies on Sankranti, they are not reborn; instead, they go to Heaven.
Some places observe Sankranti as the day of Uttarayana -Uttara, meaning north, and Ayana,
meaning six months duration or the day of Winter Solstice when the Sun begins its journey north-
wards. In several other parts of India, the zest of Sankranti is embodied in the Harvest Festival since
the harvest season coincides with this time of the year.
Food being a major part of the celebration during any festival in India, Til (sesame) and gur
(jaggery) laddoos are widely popular as the sweets of Sankranti in India.
Every twelve years, along with Makar Sankranti, people also gather for Kumbh Mela (also well-
famed as one of the world’s largest mass pilgrimage). This year the Kumbh Mela will be held between
14th January to the 21st April 2021.
Although considered inauspicious Black is often considered to be the color as Makar
Sankranti, when it comes to festivals and religious activities. The reason for association with
Sankranti is, however, more of a customary scientific belief than a religious one.
The black color is known as an absorber of the rays of the Sun, and since during Makar Sankranti, the
Sun begins its journey towards the Northern Hemisphere, people believe that wearing the black color
will help them absorb all the good energy of the Sun as well as keep them warm during the chilly win-
ter days of celebration.
Although a dying practice in modern times, you could still spot a woman or two wearing
black sarees of a particular pattern called Chandrakala during Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti in India
Makar Sankranti is celebrated unanimously in India. While the festive spirits remain the same
throughout, Makar Sankranti takes myriads of forms and names throughout the country, with a variety
of stories to go by as the origin of the celebration in any particular state.
Khichdi – Uttar Pradesh
Khichdi is the name of a dish made of rice and lentils, and in North Indian states like Uttar
Pradesh, Khichdi is given out as donations during Makar Sankranti. Hence the name of the festival
becomes Khichdi at these places. Clothes, blankets, and even gold are added to the donations at times.
In addition to making charities, people fast during the day time. In Gorakhpur, a massive fair is orga-
nized known as the Khichdi Mela.
Page 4
CULTURE CORNER
Magh Bihu – Assam and North East
Sankranti is celebrated as a harvest festival called Magh Bihu in Assam and the rest of North-
East India. Makeshift huts called Bhelaghar or Mejhi are erected where friends and families flock to-
gether for a feast around a bonfire, and once it is over, the huts are burned down the next day. Several
places in the state also host traditional games such as buffalo fighting and pot-breaking (tekeli bhon-
ga).
Assam is also famous for Jonbeel Mela, which is held during the weekend of Magh Bihu and
is based on a barter system – yes, a fair without any currency!
Maghi – Punjab
Sankranti is a Hindu festival, but it also finds its observance amongst the Sikh community and
even some Muslims in Punjab as Lohri, a day before Makar Sankranti (also known as Maggi in Pun-
jab). Apart from remembering Sun God Surya and celebrating winter crop season, Lohri also pays
tribute to fire God Agni and is thus marked with the lighting of a bonfire. Bhangra and Gidha are per-
formed in circles around the bonfire. Youngsters go around collecting logs, gur (jaggery), grains, and
other items for the day of Lohri.
Makaravilakku – Kerala
In Lord Ayyappan’s holy shrine of Sabarimala, Kerala observes Makar Sankranti as Makara-
vilakku and is marked by the Thiruvabharanam (the lord’s sacred ornaments) procession and congre-
gation. The temple witnesses over half a million devotees who visit Sabarimala on Sankranti for the
Lord’s darshan.
Aarti or Deeparadhana is performed in the temple, and the lamp lighted during the ceremony
is termed as Makara Vilakku. The light can be sighted from a number of places, an opportunity that
devotees await as a part of the religious celebration.
Pedda Panduga – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
In Andhra Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is also termed as Pedda Panduga. Telegu women deco-
rate the entrance of their houses with Rangoli or Muggu and prepare traditional Telegu food and
sweets such as bobatullu, paramannam, pulihora, ariselu, etc. In many villages, you would spot a dec-
orated bull (gangireddu) with its master, accompanied by a flute and drum as they visit one door to
another.
Poush Sankranti – West Bengal
Every year during Makar Sankranti or Poush Sankranti, West Bengal witnesses the organiza-
tion of a huge fair at Ganga Sagar, the largest of its kind in West Bengal. Aartis are performed at the
fair too to thank the Sun God for his bountiful blessings as devotees also perform the ceremonial
cleansing by taking a dip in the holy water. In this part of the country, rice sweet called pithey are the
staple when it comes to Sankranti sweets, and there are multiple variants of the same, including Gokul
pithey, patisapta, Dudh puli, etc.
This time in 2021, several new measures are being taken at Ganga Sagar Mela, keeping in
mind the challenges of crowd control during COVID-19, such as sending out the holy water of the
river to devotees by post. Rituals will also be live-streamed across social media.
Thai Pongal – Tamil Nadu
Pongal is the name of a sweetened dish of rice boiled in milk and jaggery that people in Tamil
Nadu consume ritually during Makar Sankranti and hence imparts the name of the festival in the state.
It is also known as the thanksgiving festival for the year’s harvest. Celebrated over four days, different
animated rituals mark the days of Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanum Pongal.
Kolam or rangoli is also a major part of the festivities in the state.
Page 5
CULTURE CORNER
Vasi Uttarayan – Gujarat
The pataang or kite festival during Makar Sankranti is most prominent in Gujarat. Prepara-
tions in Gujarat start months before January for the International Kite Festival Uttarayan, with people
flocking from international destinations such as Italy, Malaysia, Japan, etc. Almost in every locality,
you’d find makeshift kite selling stores being set up and turning the whole place into a Pataang Ba-
zaar.
That said we in Maharashtra say “Till Gul Gya Goad Goad Bolla”.
Here’s wishing you all a day of grand celebrations and prosperity. Happy Makar Sankranti! Don’t for-
get to eat Puran Poli as well.
Page 6
JEVANN KHANN
By Madhav Shanbhag
That expressions of the Magic of Christmas or Diwali dhamoka bring feelings of hap-
piness and joy. Whatever we believe in, enjoying traditions, yearly events and special moments
brings cheer to life. We feel happiness because of the release of dopamine and serotonin. Happiness
and immunity go hand in hand.
The holiday spirit makes our busy lives stop and allows us to enjoy that special feeling. A
walk in the mall at this time of the year brings out feelings of love, brotherhood, and loved ones just
to mention a few. With the sound of gentle Christmas carols, a Santaclaus Ho Ho ho with kids lined
up up get that special hug, candy piled high, butter cookies, that aroma of Laura Secord chocolates
and freshly brewed coffee surely tickles the nose, lightens the mood and generates more appetite. A
Konkani would remark, aji jewana kasal aasa? And my chief emotional officer (CEO) Gujarati
would say, aaje jamwama su che?
In Canada we sing:
Santa Claus is coming to town, make your spirits bright
In a Konkani household this translates to:
Khushal Baren karo Tumaka! Kushal baren karo tumaka
Santa Claus ayalo Gadhi ghevnu!!
The phrase when in Rome, do as the Romans do is a sacred mantra for festive occasions in a
multicultural home. Pumpkin pie for thanksgiving, Turkey for Christmas.... and my own Mrs. Claus
has a few tricks up her sleeve to blanket our home with Christmas aromas. Get some hot water sim-
mering on the stove add to that aromatics like cinnamon sticks, pine, orange peels and a few cloves.
Add to that the aroma of home made ginger cookies, cinnamon infused apple cider, nutmeg laced
eggnog, and maybe even that undeniable scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree. With all these aromas
circulating in the air, it’s hard not to get into the Christmas spirit!
The subject of smells and fragrances is both daunting and endlessly fascinating. Daunting
because it involves many hundreds of chemicals and sensations for which we do not have a good
everyday vocabulary. Yet fascinating because it helps us perceive more and find more to enjoy in
the most familiar foods.
A bit of science: the aroma chemicals of herbs and spices are volatile. That is they are small
and light enough to evaporate from their source and fly through the air, which allows them to rise
with our breath into our nose. High temperatures make volatile chemicals more volatile, so heating
spices makes more of their organic molecules fill the air. Unlike most of the objects that we hear,
touch and see, aromas are an invisible yet intangible presence. To ancient cultures that knew nothing
of molecules and odor receptors this ethereal penetrating quality a realm of invisible beings. So
herbs and spices became important in the sacrificial fires during religious ceremonies. They are of-
fered to gods to invoke their presence and imagine their heaven.
There are two basic facts to keep in mind when thinking about the aroma of any food. First,
the distinctive aromas of particular foods are created by specific volatile chemicals that are charac-
teristic of that food. And second, nearly all food aromas are composed of many different volatile
molecules. Time to make some masala chai.
So, the next time you greet your woman wearing a French perfume or your man has Old
Spice on , go ahead and give a generous compliment. I bet you will be ripe for a peck on the cheek!
Here is wishing everyone Seasons greetings for the big stuff: to health, happiness and love and also
to cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and saffron, add to that butter, peppermint and almond flavour for
the unadulterated joy of baking.
With so much joy in the air a food quiz will have to wait until the next e Samachar.
Page 7
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
By Veena Shanbhag
Pharmacist
Now that the Covid-19 vaccine has finally been approved in Canada, we all have a lot of ques-
tions about the vaccine and the timeline for administering it.
I have tried to answer a few questions below. This is a developing subject and there is constant
new information coming in daily. I shall try to provide updates on a regular basis, moving for-
ward.Two vaccines have been approved by Health Canada at this time.
1. Pfizer-BioNTech
2. Moderna
Both these vaccines are mRNA vaccines. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a pro-
tein that will trigger an immune response, without using the live virus that causes COVID-19.
Our body then makes antibodies which help us fight the infection if the real virus does enter our body
in the future. During studies it has been found that maximum effectiveness is 7 days after the second
dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 14 days after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for people who are 16 years of age and older and
the Moderna vaccine is approved for people 18 years and older. ( Covid-19 vaccines in Canada )
Page 8
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Possible Side Effects:
Possible side effects are similar for both vaccines and they are mild to moderate, mainly, pain
at the site of injection, body chills, feeling tired and feeling feverish. Serious side effects like an aller-
gic reaction, are rare. Speak with your health professional of you are concerned about any serious al-
lergies or other health conditions you may have before you receive this vaccine.
How will the initial doses of Covid-19 vaccine be prioritized?
Initially there will be a limited supply of the vaccines available and this will necessitate priori-
tizing certain groups for vaccination. These recommendations are made by National Advisory Com-
mittee on Immunization (NACI).
Stage 1
•Residents and staff of congregate living settings that provide care for seniors
•Adults 70 years of age and older, beginning with adults 80 years of age and older, then decreas-
ing the age limit by 5-year increments to age 70 years as supply becomes available
•Health care workers (including all those who work in health care settings and personal support
workers whose work involves direct contact with patients)
•Adults in Indigenous communities where infection can have disproportionate consequences
Stage 2
•Health care workers not included in the initial rollout
•Residents and staff of all other congregate settings (e.g., quarters for migrant workers, correction-
al facilities, homeless shelters)
•Essential workers
For details on the rationale for prioritization as above please refer to the Health Canada website
Based on current estimates, 3 million Canadians will be vaccinated by March 2021. If all goes
as planned, commencement of vaccination in the general population will begin in April 2021 and by
December 2021, all vaccination for Covid-19 will be complete. (Reference- Canada’s COVID-19 Im-
munization Plan: Saving Lives and Livelihoods )
Lately, a UK variant strain of the coronavirus has been in the news that has been seen in sever-
al countries, including Canada. It has been found to be more easily transmissible, which means that it
can spread more easily in the population. The good news is that the vaccine manufacturers say their
products should be effective against it.
There are several other companies working on various forms of the vaccine which should be
available in the coming months. The reason we have these vaccines in a relatively short span of time is
because on January 11, 2020, the Chinese authorities shared the full sequence of the coronavirus ge-
nome, as detected in samples taken from the first patients. The virus was sequenced at the Institut Pas-
teur, France on January 29, 2020 which was useful in designing the right vaccines. (Sequence analysis
of SARS-CoV-2 genome reveals features important for vaccine design )
It has been a long and difficult year for a lot of us in many ways. Hopefully we have all found
some things to be grateful for and to appreciate. The development of the vaccine and the vaccination
programme will eventually help us to return to our lives as we knew them pre-Covid. In the mean-
while, please continue to wear your masks, keep physical distance and follow sanitation guidelines for
a little while longer. We can all get through this together.
Page 9
OKA SENIOR’S FORUM
By Sadanand Mankikar
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT
The Emergency Preparedness Kits are produced as a part of the OKA Emergency Preparedness
Program. The kits are brainchild of Ashok Bhatt who at the Focus Group meeting held on April 2017,
recommended developing “Death Box”. Through feedback and input from many the “Death Box” has
now morphed into the Emergency Preparedness Kit. These are financially supported by Raghunath Ka-
math.
These multicompartmental kits come in three sizes (small 6” x 10”, medium 9” x 12” and legal
size 11” x 15”) and include the Emergency Preparedness List, Estate Planning Information obtained by
Raghunath Kamath from Invesco and the End of Life Information obtained by Ashok Bhatt from the
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home. Prasad and Shilpa Ganguli and family helped assemble theses kits. Other
important information and items such as passwords, Bank Account and credit card information, emer-
gency contact information, FOBs/keys etc. can also be stored in these kits for easy access.
We plan to provide one complementary small size kit to each OKA family upon request. Addi-
tional kits may be purchased at a nominal cost (small size kit $4, medium size kit $6 and legal size kit
$10). Thus far, the volunteers team consisting of Lalita Dhareshwar, Lalita and Kishore Kulkarni, Su-
varna and Sadanand Mankikar, Kasturi and Kash Nayak, Vinaya and Gurunath Pai, Revi Kizhatil and
Surekha Shenoy has delivered 120 kits to 91 families in and around GTA. In addition, arrangements
have been made to forward 11 kits to OKA families in Ottawa, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick and
U.S.A.
Those who wish to obtain OKA Emergency Preparedness kits are requested to send an email to
sadanand.mankikar@gmail.com.
Page 10OKA ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER
By Surekha Shenoy
Rauko Inc.
I am, by no means a writer. When I decided to take the lead to write for the Entrepreneur’s
Corner for e-Samachar, it was my objective to highlight career paths and industries parents rarely
consider as options, with their children. I am guilty by practice and over the years have learnt to shed
some of the stereotypical beliefs. I continue to be amazed by our OKA entrepreneurs whose passions
stood the test of time. In this edition, it is my pleasure to showcase Neena Malebennur, Director,
Rauko Inc. from an industry that entertains us daily in our living rooms.
Neena was inspired by her father, Sunder Rau, a pioneer in special effects in India. Sunder Rau
founded ‘Rauko Effects Service’ in the 1950s, and had worked closely with filmmakers like Guru
Dutt, Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor and Feroz Khan to name a few. Her uncle, Adoor Devendra Rao also
did animation and special effects for films under the banner of Dev Arts. Her brother in law, Sanjay
Naik did special effects for films for the last 30 years under the MovieFx banner. Her sister Kanchan
Satyavanth, is the founder of Srishtikala School of Fine Arts in Bangalore, India.
Neena Malebennur
Director, Rauko Inc.
neenrau@gmail.com
It’s no wonder Neena dreamt to pursue film during her post-secondary education, however, due to
the negative societal views in India alongside the safety concerns for women in the film industry at
the time, she instead graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Statis-
tics.
However, this did not stop Neena. Despite all the obstacles in her way, after graduating from univer-
sity, she studied 3D design and multimedia. Her culminating project rewarded her with her first job
in the creative industry. She received training from Autodesk on their special effects software, and
traveled extensively to conduct training throughout India, to film studios such as Ramoji Film City,
Sahara TV, Eenadu TV, and many more.
After her marriage Neena moved to Oman and the limitations therein, forced her to transition into
Graphic Design and 3D design. Neena decided to try her hand at freelancing and thus her foray into
being an entrepreneur. Her clients included the likes of billionaire business group Suhail and Saud
Bahwan, Al Khamis, Gulf Shells, Proteger Inc., FocusSoftNet, and Attic Outdoors.
Page 11OKA ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER
Passion has a long life; it may be dormant but it lives deep within. Neena is a lifelong learner. She
realized that film is not only about technology, but also about the technique. It’s about narrating the
story in a visual way, rather than about the equipment you use. It is pure passion and a dream she
had as a teen, that Neena pursued her goal and studied in-depth film production ranging from direc-
tion, production and post production at Humber College when she immigrated with her family to
Canada in 2010.
After Neena graduated from Humber College, she freelanced and catered to small businesses such as
Remax agents, spas & massage therapists, travel agents etc before she landed a contract with RBC.
Today, Neena combines her 20+ years of creative knowledge and training to produce videos and
build training solutions such as eLearning, infographics and job aids for RBC employees and clients,
as well as at Rauko Inc., for corporates. She believes her filmmaking skills help narrate stories in an
engaging and fun way. We have all gotten a glimpse of Neena’s talent at our past OKA Diwali
Dham’OKA’ event in the Culture Criminals segment.
Neena hopes to inspire everyone to pursue their passion instead of following certain career streams
due to social pressures. She is happy to provide guidance and mentor those who wish to make their
creative passion, their careers. We wish Neena & Rauko Inc the very best as she launches her web-
site in the coming months.
Page 12OKA Kids Corner
By Neha Mallya
Say Hello to our OKA Gen Z – Arya Shet and Shaurya Shet
Introduction: Arya (5 yrs) was born in Nashua,
New Hampshire and moved to Canada with her
parents a year ago. She has a baby brother Shaurya
who will be 1 in December’20. Arya has opted for
virtual learning this year. Once she is done
with virtual school, Arya loves to colour, dance,
help with cooking and play with her baby brother.
Arya has a keen interest in learning dance.
She watches video tutorials and learns the choreog-
raphy by herself! She also likes to do a lot of pre-
tend play. Her favorite pastime is to be a Chef and
cook yummy food for her friends and family!. Be-
low is some of her beautiful art that she wishes to
share with us:
Please let us know if you wish for us to publish a similar short interview of your kid or grand-
kid (no matter the age) or if you simply wish to share any of their art/achievements/funny incidents
etc. with us.
We would love to know more about our OKA Gen Z.
Page 13SCATTERING ASHES
By Rashmi Bhandarkar MacPhee
In loving memory of my father, Dear Ratnakar Bhandarkar, who researched how to do eve-
rything “properly” (including the scattering of ashes), and taught us to do the same!
Scattering the ashes of your loved one can be an emotional undertaking. It may also be very
healing and possibly for the first time, very final. You may choose to scatter soon after the cremation
ceremony, you can wait for the next auspicious day, or you can wait many months or years. You
may wish to keep some ashes aside to one day be placed in the holy Ganga or a place that is senti-
mental. Some people create jewellery or other keepsakes using a small amount of their loved ones
ashes.
With a little bit of planning, you can arrange the logistics ahead of time, so you can focus on
the emotional aspect of the task at hand. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is the high-
est authority in the region and they specify that, "In Ontario, you may: ... scatter the remains from
cremation, on Crown land, including land covered by water, if it is unoccupied (for example pro-
vincial parks, conservation reserves, Great Lakes) AND there are no signs or postings that pro-
hibit scattering”. (You may wish to print this paragraph and take it with you, in case a police or
bylaw officer asks!)
During my research, I spoke with park rangers at three
Provincial Parks in the area: Bronte Creek, Earl Rowe, and Forks
of the Credit. Bronte Creek has a clearly marked scattering sign
and location. They provide detailed trail maps, landmarks, park-
ing prices, etc. (Specifically I was told, Park at Parking lot F, and
use the Half Moon Valley Trail to get to the creek/spot to scatter
ashes, a day pass must be purchased per vehicle for $18.) When
calling Earl Rowe, they mentioned that it is 'an athletic hike' if
you use the trail to get to the scattering location, but that there is
a closer way, from the side street, that is easy to navigate. (Due
to Covid, currently all parking lots are closed, including no street
parking on the side streets.) Both Earl Rowe and Forks of the
Credit are seasonal, meaning closed to the public from Thanksgiving until the Spring. It may be best
to wait until the water flows in warmer weather, for comfort and practicality, if you are scattering in
the waterways. These are three Provincial Parks that are near, however, any Provincial Park or Con-
servation Area or Crown land can be used. Note that if you call and ask, they may say no (perhaps
they are not aware of our aforementioned rights?). It is best to be respectful of their wishes so that
our broader Hindu community keeps its good reputation for this matter. Any non-private location
that touches Lake Ontario, for example, is also an acceptable scattering location. However, the land
touching may be municipal, and it is not acceptable to scatter on municipal land. It is advisable to
visit a few choices of scattering locations, before the day you have assigned for the actual ritual, to
plan it all out.
When choosing a location, a key aspect to consider is safety! You may hear from friends or
even the funeral director to go to a particular location, however, you should also consider who will
be attending your ash scattering ceremony. You may find a beautiful location, only to discover that
there are only steep, slippery rocks, that lead you to the edge of the lake. Will all members of your
family be able to navigate this, and is it worth it? Please be cautious, despite what anyone else may
tell you! Another aspect to consider is privacy. Choose a time of day and a place where you and
your family can say goodbye in peace. Realistically, think of the weather, you may wish to bring
wipes with you if it is a windy day and even if it isn't. To honour the environment, it's best to not
leave anything behind... no jewellery, fruit, or plastic flowers, though a small quantity of real flow-
ers are respectable.
Page 14SCATTERING ASHES
When it comes time to actually scattering the ashes, what will you do? You may wish to have a mo-
ment of silence, sing a bhajan, or consult your priest to see which mantras may be appropriate to
chant.
You may wish to spend some time, after you scatter, enjoying nature and the beauty around
you, as you lovingly release your departed loved one.
"Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near.
Still loved, still missed, and very, very Dear" -Unknown
Of note: The credit for installing Asthi Visarjan facilities go to Hon. Dipika Damerla Former Ontario
Minister of Seniors Affairs. At the initial Tele Town Hall OKA was represented by Ratnakar
Bhandarkar, Arun Kamat and Sadanand Mankikar. Later an Advisory Committee consisting of
members of South East Asian Communities including Pandit Roop, Naraian Sharma of Shri Ram
Mandir, and Sadanand Mankikar of OKA provided suggestions for making suitable modifications to
the areas where ashes can be scattered.
www.ontario.ca/page/arrange-funeral-burial-cremation-alkaline-hydrolysis-or-scattering#section-5
https://cottagelife.com/sponsored-content/the-dos-and-donts-of-scattering-ashes-in-ontario/
Page 15END OF LIFE PLANNING
By Sudhir Nayak
A Taboo topic in our society is “Death”. As such, many avoid discussing End of
Life planning. By avoiding this topic, individuals compromise themselves and their fami-
lies. We often put more thought into preparing for the vacation: transportation, airline, what
places to visit than planning for the End of Life. As part of the EPP team, we want to pro-
vide more details on this important topic.
Below are some of the benefits of preplanning a funeral:
•Reduce the emotional and logistical burden to your family of having to make arrange-
ments while grieving;
•Eliminates the financial burden to your family;
•Pre-paying locks in your costs at today's prices (Costs double on average every 10
years);
•Transfer your prepaid contract at any time to another funeral home (subject to condi-
tions);
•Protected by the Government of Ontario so is risk free;
•Special tax regulations allow your prepaid funeral investment income to accumulate
tax free; and
•Gives you a chance to think of options, discuss with family and come to a sensible con-
sensus.
The EPP team has reviewed multiple Funeral Homes and determined that the Chapel
Ridge Funeral Home is one of the widely used options for OKA members living in GTA
and surrounding areas. Most of the funeral homes provide multiple funeral options and be-
low are some of the options provided by Chapel Ridge:
Pre-arranging:
In this option, the type and details of the funeral are collected in advance. This op-
tion does not involve any form of payment in advance, so none of the financial benefits pro-
vided by the funeral home apply.
Paying in full:
This option involves paying in full at today's cost. Funds are held by a 3rd party fi-
nancial institution to generate a fixed rate of interest. The family is guaranteed not to pay
more for the funeral chosen during the actual funeral. Any excess funds are returned to the
family/estate.
Time Payments:
In this option, you do not have to pay in full. The payments are over 1 to 20 years.
This option provides insurance against premature death in case the person passes away be-
fore the plan is fully paid. This is a preferred option mostly for younger people and for peo-
ple who do not want to commit to a onetime lump sum while signing up for the funeral pre-
planning.
While signing up for the Funeral preplanning, it is advised to also look into a travel
protection plan. This plan is helpful if a death should occur while out of town or out of Can-
ada and helps in bringing a loved one back home with no legal complications or financial
burden. The travel protection is designed to take care of the arrangements and incidentals.
Page 16END OF LIFE PLANNING
Just one toll free call is all it takes to begin the process of bringing the person home
after the death. The travel companion feature also allows the traveling companion to return
home with the mortal remains or allows one family member to fly out to the place to bring
the body back to Canada.
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home has offered a prepaid funeral plan for $4270. This also
includes travel insurance worth $595 for a limited period exclusively for OKA members.
Please contact the EPP group for any clarification.
Give your family the gift of preparedness.
Note: EPP has no affiliation to Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Center. The
readers can choose any funeral home of choice for pre planning based on their conven-
ience.
Page 17OBITUARY
Nalini Kamath Shenoy
Dear Nalini Shenoy, 76 years old, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2021 at 4:45 PM at
Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington surrounded by her children, Sujatha (Sharon) and Ramu. She
will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends, especially by son-in-law Andy (Anup),
daughter-in-law Sheetal, and her four grand-children, Meghana, Devin, Neil and Maya.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joseph Brant Hospital by clicking this link:
Donations in memory of Nalini Shenoy
The family will plan a celebration of Nalini’s life when it is safe to gather again.
Page 18You can also read
