Thank you for for prayers and good wishes friends. I was up and about today and able to go out on business.
Yesterday we watched the grand opening of the Queen 's Baton Relay in preparation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games Oct 2010. It was a gorgeous and colorful ceremony broadcast live from Buckingham Palace . Indian sparkle and glitter against the backdrop of British pomp and pageantry. Fun to watch.
Dance, dresses and drums from different parts of India virtually turned the majestic Victoria Memorial into a mini-India as the countdown for the 2010 Commonwealth Games began
with Queen Elizabeth handing over the baton to President Pratibha Patil.The relay kicked off from the Buckignham Placae in London. A bunch of British students also joined the celebrations chanting the Sanskrit verses from ancient Rig Veda.As the sanskrit prayers speaking of unity and humanity of these students from St James school revereberated in the forecourt of the Buckingham Palace,
the crowd joined in withencouraging cheers and claps for their effort.The students provided the perfect icing on the vibrant function by performing Indian classical dance forms Bharatnatyam, Kuchupudi and folk dances like Bhangra and Dandia in front of Queen Elizabeth and President Pratibha Patil.Eleven athletes from India are part of the big show. Queen Elizabeth handed over the Baton to President Pratibha Patil. While England is represented by the legendary Lord Sebastian Coe, Katie Holmes, and Monty Panesar, India's bearers are its three medallists from the Beijing Olympics, former cricket captain Kapil Dev and Sania Mirza among others.(Below -India 's legendary sprinter Milka Singh
also known as The Flying Sikh.
He is 80 years old now and he has won 77 times in
80 international competitions)
But all eyes are on Suresh Kalmadi and Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell who have had differences over the utility of Federation CEO Mike Hooper."We always have issues, but we're talking," says Mike Fennell."There are issues but we will manage... as long as I can play tennis that's fine," says tennis star Sania Mirza. "It was my childhood dream to meet the queen," says Olympic medal winner Abhinav Bindra.
"It's interesting, you're part of your country and doing something as big as this, it's a great event, I will be happy and proud," says Kapil Dev, former India cricket captain."It's going to be fantastic, it's a matter of great honour and pride and I'm glad I'm here," says Misha Grewal, former national Squash Champion.Queen Elizabeth handing over the baton to President Pratibha Patil marks the journey that will last over 11 months before ending on October 3 next year in New Delhi.
But all eyes are on Suresh Kalmadi and Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell who have had differences over the utility of Federation CEO Mike Hooper."We always have issues, but we're talking," says Mike Fennell."There are issues but we will manage... as long as I can play tennis that's fine," says tennis star Sania Mirza. "It was my childhood dream to meet the queen," says Olympic medal winner Abhinav Bindra."It's interesting, you're part of your country and doing something as big as this, it's a great event, I will be happy and proud," says Kapil Dev, former India cricket captain."It's going to be fantastic, it's a matter of great honour and pride and I'm glad I'm here," says Misha Grewal, former national Squash Champion.Queen Elizabeth handing over the baton to President Pratibha Patil marks the journey that will last over 11 months before ending on October 3 next year in New Delhi.(courtesy NDTV)
10 Fertilize my soul:
Really cool--must have been quite a sight--go India!
..then again, when Trinidad or Canada are competing--well--my cheers might change (;
So beautiful. India is so colorful and full of life.
Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted
Such lovely colors in your country. I am so glad your feeling better.
I bet that was great to watch. So glad you're feeling better.
India, the jewel, sure made a spectacular impact.
I feel proud on India's behalf of the honor she were shown.
Congratulation.
From Felisol
It's wonderful that India will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. So much preparations have been initiated already. We hope that the games will be highly successful both for the host and the participants. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.
Hi Amrita:)
Many thanks for providing so much information along with lovely photos about this event which will no doubt bring glory and honor to our country.
I was attracted by the beautiful words which you have used--Indian glitter and sparkle against the British pomp and pageantry.
I remember we had the queen's photo in our house when she was newly married. She looked gorgeous and beautiful. Time takes its toll and doesn't distinguish whether a person is a king or queen or a commoner.
I was thrilled to see Milka Singh who was one of my athletic heroes in my younger days.
Have a nice day Amrita:)
Joseph
oh my goodness how absolutely BEAUTIFUL are the colors in your country. Although i am not familiar with most of the dances you mentioned, i have seen the LOVELY Bhangra. Thank you so much for sharing this WONDERFUL post and thank you, too, for your visits and SWEET comments! Have a TERRIFIC evening! :D
Let the games begin ... and what a beautiful beginning. This is my first time reading of these games .. great history/cultural lesson, Amrita.
such beautiful people amrita..the indian population and what a fine queen we have!
i nave always loved her and when i was a new teenager, i started to write to her and she always answered my letters via her maids in waiting.
one of those maids in waiting became many, many years after she wrote the letters from the queen to me, the god mother to lady di's first son, prince william.
her name is Lady Susan Hussey,
she is a lady in waiting who is very dear to the queen...
i liked this happy post amrita.
i always leave happy when i visit you...love terry
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