India – Rolling in Budapest (2024)

This year was the 32nd Városliget (City Park) Children’s Day, with more than 40 program locations awaited those interested over the weekend to spend time wuth their children and enjoy the the kids smilling faces as they took over the city park. The goal was to focus during the 2 days festival event on health, sports, culture, internet security and the presentation of nations.

Also the event was to enable people living in poorer financial circ*mstances to participate in high-quality, cultured programs, to have fun, play sports, and learn without paying any entrance fee. Renowned artists and musicians were entertaining the audience on the main stage.

Several Budapest-accredited embassies and cultural institutes awaited those interested in different cultures, customs and tradition at the Street of Nations tents and on the stage set up on the spot. A record number of 23 countries, including the Philippines, Peru, Georgia, India, Japan, China, Latvia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Qatar represented their nation at the program this year.

Report and snap by Aggie Reiter

Below are the dates, times, and countries/regions where the Japanese Film Festival Online 2024 will be held. This will be held for the third time this year since 2020. There will be 25 films and TV dramas shown in 27 countries/regions where the festival will be held, both of which are the highest numbers ever. In addition, we will also introduce a new short movie from the video series “MINI THEATER JOURNEY” and the “Japan Mini Theater Report” which describes the insights gained from the production of the series.

Dates and times … Mark the dates in any of the interests!
June, 5. (noon) to 19 (noon), 2024 … 23 films
June, 19 .(noon) to July, 3. (noon), 2024. … 2 TV drama series (20 episodes)
Reminder! Japan time. The number of films/TV dramas and the period of distribution vary depending on the country/region.
Countries/regions (27 countries/regions in total)
Europe … France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, UK
Africa … Egypt
Asia … Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mainland China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Americas … Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, U.S.A.
Oceania … Australia, New Zealand
Subtitles … Up to 16 languages including English
(Some films/TV drama series may not be available in all countries.)

Attention call by Aggie Reiter

From August till October 2023, the Japan Foundation (JF) will hold a special feature “JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA 2023” which will shine a spotlight on the “mini-theaters” that support the diversity of Japanese film culture and adding to the vibrancy of local communities.

On-site Japanese film festivals around the world … The “Japanese Film Festival (JFF: JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL)” is a film festival organized by JF, showcasing primarily new Japanese films at various locations. It was initiated in 2016 with the objective of reaching 10 ASEAN countries and Australia, under the slogan “Japanese movies anytime, anywhere.” Since its inception, the festival has expanded its reach to include China, Russia, India, and Brazil, actively promoting the allure of Japanese cinema worldwide …for deepth details, to view hosting country screenings … here you go: (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/world/index.html).
Below the films on screen: 12 films will be screened online for three months. All films are free of charge and can be enjoyed worldwide (some films are not available in all regions), excluding Japan, until October 31.
… And Your Bird Can Sing (2018) by MIYAKE Sho
… Follow the Light (2021) by NARITA Yoichi
… LONELY GLORY (2022) by SAKON Keitaro
… An Artisan’s Legacy, Tsunekazu Nishioka (2012) by YAMAZAKI Yuji
… Hey! Our dear Don-chan (2022) by OKITA Shuichi
… A Muse Never Drowns (2022) by ASAO Nozomi
… A Girl in My Room (2022) by TAKAHASHI Natsuki
… TENZO (2019) by TOMITA Katsuya
… HANAGATAMI (2017) by OBAYASHI Nobuhiko
… BON-UTA, A Song from Home (2019) by NAKAE Yuji
… Techno Brothers (2023) by WATANABE Hirobumi
… Bachiranun (2021) by HIGASHIMORI Aika

Update: Aggie Reiter

March 20. 2022. – 2 p.m. CET / 5 p.m. GST

– Live in 27 hours – Live from Dubai Expo 2020!

On Sunday – 20th of March, Judit Polgár … the strongest female chess player of all time and the Hungarian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 joint action … “Judit Polgár vs The World”, the world’s first interactive community chess simul, strengthen and put this togetherness into a new context. There will be hosting a global and integrated social event and during the game 11-board online simul, Judit Polgár will face ten influencers with a total of cca. 6 million followers simultaneously and virtually … i.e. the whole world on the “world chess board”. It will be integrated social event for millions of people virtually as to sit down and play “Live” against a single player.

In the influencer’s section, among others, Judit will play with a children’s community on one board, and in line with the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) “2022 – Year of Women” initiative, members of a women’s community on another.

Over the past two years, the pandemic has significantly transformed the lives of individuals and communities. Entering a new digital era, however, the online sphere has opened up new horizons, which has also affected the chess world. The number of people starting and actively playing the game, devoted fans following tournaments, broadcasts, and prominent figures in the sport has grown at an astonishing pace and scale. New communities, events, and platforms have been born in parallel.

Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol. 3 – The Hedgehog

As she said: “Throughout my playing career I have found the Hedgehog one of the most difficult type of positions to master. The basic aim of this video is to improve understanding of these complex positions and to help tournament players score better.”

Arkady Dvorkovich – President of FIDE acknowledges: “This event can be regarded as a milestone in the global promotion of chess, offering a unique experience to a record number of participants thanks to its innovative and brand new format. I am curious of the final result, but even more so eager to enjoy the sportive tension and excitement. Will be in the air while the world will be challenging the legendary chess queen Judit.”

I am extremely excited for this challenge and inclusive social event as Chess Connects Us in the virtual universe”, admited Judit.

Influencers vs Judit

The influencers will make their moves after consulting with their followers.

The participants:

Otzdarva – Alex (Spain)
Agadmator – Antonio Radic (Croatia)
Samay Raina (India)
Rey Enigma (Spain)
Magnus Chess Academy – children’s community (USA)
Jennifer Shahade + US Chess Girls Club (USA)
Pepe Cuenca + Chess24/ES (Spain)
Anna Cramling (Sweden)
Keti Tsatsalashvili (Georgia)
Anna Rudolf (Hungary)
The World vs Judit
Can the world chess community beat Judit Polgár?

On the world board, all participants in the game can vote on the next move on a dedicated platform. The system will make the move suggested by most players.

The matches will be played in the Hungarian Pavilion’s Dome in the event’s built-in studio on custom digital chessboards. Judit will comment on the moves and strategies from there, involving influencers and their followers in the conversation. Professional commentators and surprise guests will support the show from the studio in Budapest.

No age limit, anybody who can play chess on a computer may join.

Anyone can join the event, it is enough to know the basic rules of chess.

May join the event by using: computer, tablet, smartphone, PC any kind of device which is connected to the internet. For better experience it is advised to be in use laptop or PC.

The First Global Interactive Community Chess Simul will be available live on the ChessConnectsUs – Twitch Channel … or watch the event streamed at: https://www.twitch.tv/chessconnecstus

Update Aggie Reiter

Japan brought their latest trends in Japanese cinemafor movie lovers to watch in their armchair free online films within the Japanese Film Festival (JFF).

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is a project held by the Japan Foundation to promote Japanese film around the world. With a slogan of „Japanese Film Anytime, Anywhere.” The program was launched in 2016 for 10 ASEAN countries and Australia. Since then holding the Festivals with the latest Japanese films and expanding their network in including countries such as: China, Russia, and India. In the 2019-20 year was held festivals in 56 cities in 12 countries, whilst watched by more than 170000 viewers.
This year, in addition to the conventional in-person Japanese Film Festival (JFF) events, held a “JFF Plus Online Festival for online viewers in the 20 countries. These were: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary.

The JFF is under the umbrella of the Japan Foundation which is Japan’s only institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world. With the objective of deepening mutual understanding between the people of Japan and other countries/regions, our various activities and information services create opportunities for people-to-people interactions. Online Festival took place from November2020 up to March 2021 in 20 countries around the world bringing 30 Japanese films ranging from the latest hits to always popular anime and the classics.

All the JFF screened films had subtitles in Arabic, Burmese, Central Khmer, English, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese language.

Tsukiji Wonderland 2016 – Documentary – length time 1h 50min. Director: Naotaro Endo
Synopsis JFF „Through the lives of professionals working at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, the film portrays how Tsukiji has been the center of fish culinary culture and helped Japanese food culture to flourish as we know it today.”

Adding to the documentary … overall: Tokyo – Edo in 1923 was a grand earthquake and whilst rebuilding the venue over the decades Tsukiji became over the decades one of the biggest World Fish Market providing huge service to the world fish food by hard working people. They have daily wholesales fish auction and was clear to learn “most important is the “jouhou” (the information) without the info the fish would just sit there.

Tsukiji is One of the Seven Food Wonders of the World.

Tsukiji has its artisan culture. Was said, there are 10 days in a year when fish taste its best, but each season has its own variety in fish … Spring: brings shellfish … March: is the icefish season … Tune in the Spring are the best in taste. Tuna is all around the season, but during the summer they aren’t so fatty. Tuna live deep in the sea they do not have to struggle on the hook, they aren’t vital because of the food they eat. Summer: Sweetfish started to fish in june and they are caught in the river. Autumm: Typhoon at its best. Scallops arrive at ESqUISSE alive. Winter: more variety in fish and they get more fatter pufferfish – mackerel.

During the JFF was not all drama, documentary, musical but were animated features, films, cartoons for kids and interviews with Japanese directors.

Thanks to the JFF to watchthrough free online movies during in the festival!

@ Aggie Reiter

Estas Tonne will be holding a concert as a stop of his international VISION Tour

Thursday, October 21, 2021. starting 7 p.m. – MOMKult – Budapest

The concert will be held at MOMKult on behalf of the Fonó Buda Music Hall.

Due to the epidemic situation, Estas Tonne’s 2020 international autumn tour will arrive in Budapest with the theme originally planned for 2021.

Music is an intangible and elusive branch of art that can effectively influence our inner vision, which is why the tour was named VISION. “Telling a story with music that has no text is a special way of expressing it. The student can create the story that suits him or her without the narrator saying anything. Of course, I also experiment with songs, poems, and stories. Among them are things that are no longer important at all and there are some that come naturally.” so had the artist admits.
Join Tonne’s spiritual journey, pushing the boundaries of our inner into revelation.

Estas Tonne was born in Russia and started playing guitar at the age of eight. He moved to Israel with his family in the 1990s and then took his trip to New York, where he had just arrived a week after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He met street musician Michael Shulman, with whom he later performed at the 9/11 anniversary commemoration, and also released a joint album. Tonne as a street musician.

He has turned up in many places from Mexico to India, hence the name gipsy troubadour or modern troubadour. He uses his instrument as if it were a whole band. He plays a six-string acoustic guitar without plucking, combining the solo with rhythm and walking bass. Today he is a guest of many major festivals around the world. In 2014, he joined performed at the Everness Festival in Hungary.

Tickets can be purchased to his concert to a/m date through: https://fono.jegy.hu/?lang=en

© Aggie Reiter

This is another famous and classic easy recipe among Hungarian families.

The Hungarian “Bird’s milk” – “Madártej” is a vanilla custard containing foam dumplings whipped from egg whites, and originates from France. In 1834 this sweet dessert made from milk and eggs made its way to Hungary as deeply loved delight for sweet tooth individuals.

Bird milk is an imaginary name, more than probably a wandering term that originally referred to an imaginary food (its history dates back to antiquity).

The word bird milk has appeared with different names in many European languages since the middle of the 18th century. The Hungarian name as Bird’s milk – Madártej is known in the world having named differently …

The dessert made its success all through the Continent. It can be found in almost all the countries in Europe and even in India … e.g. “Oeufs á la neige” – (eggs on the snow) or “Ile flottante” – are often available in French bistros. The floating islands are known by the English speakers and also for Spaniards. In addition to us, the Romanians also follow the bird’s milk line. The Austrians go on calling it canary milk “Kanarimilch”. In India, “Rasmala” is made without eggs and cardamom, which is also flavored with pistachios and saffron.

Receipt – Ingredients – for 4 person – peparating time: 20 mins.

For the basic cream … 6 eggs separated, pinch of salt, 150 g sugar, 1 liter milk, 12 g vanilia sugar (1 packet), 3 tbs flour, 10 dkg raisins Instead of the 1 packet of vanilla sugar or a little aroma, if possable choose 1 real vanilla stick, it’s worth it, it gives the bird’s milk a yummy taste.

Step-by-step Cooking … Meringues beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. Add 3 tbs of sugar and beat until stiff. Bring half of the milk and scraped seeds of vanilla stick to boil in a large pot, then reduce to a simmer. Scoop up egg-sized peices of beaten egg white mixture and gently slide into the simmering milk. When the meringues rise, carefully turn them and cook on the other side. (about 1 min. egy side) Set then after aside.

For the vanilla sauce … add the rest of the milk into the pot and let it start to simmer again. Mix the yorks with the remaining sugar and flour. Add the vanillia suger to the simmering milk. Remove from the heat, pour slowly – ladia-by-ladie – into the york mixture, whisting constannly. Then pour the mixture in the warm milk. Add thróe raisin Place the pot back on to the heat and cook over low heat until the sauce sóbegins to ticken.

To assemble and serve, spoon meringues into a glass bowl. Pour the vanilla souce on top sprinkle with raisins. Best is when cold, so store in the fridge for a while before serving, but maybe in between someone has discovered it and many are missing. Then off you go it only take 20 mins to get this yummy dessert ready again.

© Aggie Reiter

“Diwali” or “Dipawali” means lighting “Diya” or earthen lamps.

Diwali festival is set on the date by the Hindu calendar so it varies in the Western calendar. It usually falls in October or November. Diwali is a New Year festival in the Vikrama calendar, depending on the cycle of the Moon in the month of Kartika. This festival is celebrated on “Amasvasya” considered to be the darkest day of the month. This day is chosen to brighten up with earten lamps in billions of homes.

Diwali, is a 5 Day Festival celebrated by millions of people across the world every Autumn. The theme of Diwali is marked with firework displays and family feasts. The festival is observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, with its main theme the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Diwali alsois the festival of love, light, and happiness, furthermore, typically this time is meant to get along with friends and loved ones.

In 2020, Diwali commences with Dhanteras on November 12. It concludes on November 16. The main celebrations happen on the third day (this year, on November 14). Deepavali is usually celebrated a day early in South India, but sometimes occurs on the same day, when the lunar days overlap.

Legend says … “On this day the protagonist of the iconic epic “Ramayana” Lord Ram had returned from his 14 years of exile into the forest with his wife “Sita” and brother ’Laxman’ after defeating the demon king “Ravana”.The day he arrived, Ayodhya was lit up with “Diyas” or handmade earthen lamps with cotton wicks and oil. This tradition has been followed till now. This legend symbolises the victory of good over evil. According to the Hindu tradition, this day Goddess laxmi enters the homes of every Indian to bless them with wealth, prosperity and happiness. In another tradition, God Ganesha is also worshipped together with Laxmi and he is said to bless everyone with good fortune. All in all, its a festival to spread happiness, harmony, peace all around as well as within us. A day not only to clean the houses from every nook and corner, and wear new clothes and make delicious food, but to also clean up our hearts and minds of all negativity and spread goodwill around.”

In India thousands of candle and clay lamp lights illuminate houses, shops, streets and markets. It’s that magical time of the year when the doors are lined with diyas and also with colorful patterns, rangoli for decoration and to spread positivity within the colors and to welcome Laxmi – the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, and luck.

This year, things will be a little different for all due tothese challenging times ofCOVID-19 Pandemic and the organizers indeed will be aware in properlywearing themask andkeeping distance.

©Aggie Reiter

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The Kashmir’s Kupwara District Gets Electric Current Power for the First Time Since Independence.

LastvillagealongLoC(landofControl)

The Keran village is cut off from the district for nearly six months every year due to the heavy snowing- heights of nine to 12 feet during the harsh winters, and the COVID-19 lockdown. The Kupwara district administration connected 3 villages located along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran area to the national electricity grid, ending a wait since Independence for power supply. The tasks ere not easymcaused by the shortage of manpower for the work after restrictions of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is an arduous five hours journey to Keran on a fair-weather road that meanders through apple and walnut orchards of the Kashmir Valley and the Pherkian Pass at 10,000 feet in the Shamasbari Ranges.

A power grid has been installed. This will now provide the village with electricity for 24 hours. It will also help residets get rid of noise and pollution caused by the diesel generator set in the area. With the electricity project nearing its completion, the local administration constructed and improved roads in the area.

The government has also given the go ahead to plans to construct 100 new panchayat offices adding to repair another 100 buildings.

For three hours of electricity, the Keran area, with a population of 14,000 in four panchayats, was till recently dependent on three old diesel generator (DG) sets, for which fuel was transported from the district headquarters.

Installed over decade back, the three DG sets were prone to frequent breakdowns further disrupting the meagre power supply, more so in winters when conducting repairs are next to impossible. In 2012, the area’s residents were hopeful that a solution to their power problems was found. The plan was to extend power lines to Keran and establish a grid station. But hopes started to with as no substantial progress was made on the project for nearly seven years, apart from the installation of some solar lighting systems that had limited efficiency even during the summers for some villagers. Not being directly connected to the national power grid threw Keran into extreme backwardness with lack of industries and limited access to medical facilities and television.

All the essential commodities, especially food items and essential drugs are stored in advance for an year in the area to cater to the winter requirements during the cut off area. It was among 112 districts of the country that were chosen for quick and effective transformation.

The Kupwara district administration swung into action deploying multi disciplinary teams to ensure corridor clearance for the entire stretch of the electricity line, that passes through several villages, steep slopes and dense forests.

It may seem as a small project for the district, but has hugely triggered revolutionary changes in the lives of the common masses starting from switching on a television set as and when they want, to better healthcare, water supply, lift irrigation systems and impacting almost every walk of life now dependent on power supply. The people who were living on the zero line are very pleased for the change to come.

CulturalheritageofKashmir is multi demensional as the variegated backdrop of its phyisical exuberance which has nursed and inspired it all along. Its sanctity and evergreen stature can be conveniently inferred from the chast shimmering snow, with its virgin top to toe, adorning the towering peaks of its mountainous periphery. Rosy blush lending perennial health to our warbling brooks, roaring waterfalls and sedate and solemn lakes. To crown all, this verynectarine glow has most meanfully groomed out metal attitude to glean unity amidst seeming diversty. It is a nonstop mental journey with no mile-posts to cool its heels upon. This is a Happy Valley..

Adding Culture – Tradition – Dance, Craftworks and Cuisine.

Culture and Traditional … Jammu’s Dogra is very different from the Kashmiri culture. The Dogra culture is instead much similar to that of neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Traditional Punjabi festivals such as Lohri and Baisakhi are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the region, along with Accession Day, an annual holiday which commemorates the accession of Jammu & Kashmir to the Dominion of India.

ItisimportanttonotethatKashmiricultureispredominantlyfollowedonlyintheKashmirvalleyandDodaofthe Chenabregion.JammuandLadakhhavetheirowndistinctculturesthatareverydifferentfromthatofKashmir.

Handicrafts … Handcrafts have been the main-stay of the State’s Economy since Centuries. The dawn of modern era of industries least affected the viability of the crafts that always had the capacity to hold sway in even International Markets. The Wanvun, Roaff, carpet/shawl weaving Kaleenbafi and Koshur Sufiana forms a very important part of Kashmiri identity.

Traditional Dance …The Dumhalis a famous dance in the Kashmir valley, performed by men of the Wattal region. The women perform the Roaff, another traditional folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts.

Cuisine … holds a unique place among different world cuisines … having good resources of water spread area in the shape of streams, rivers, springs and Irrigation sars. Thus has tremendous scope for development in fisheries sector both in trout and food fisheries. Also keeping up with the tradional the Salted tea or Noon Chai also called Sheer Chai is the traditional drink and is cooked in a Samavar, a Kashmiri tea-pot. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts. Kehwa, traditional green tea with spices like cardamom, Saffron and almond, is served on special occasions and festivals. Kashmiri weddings are regarded incomplete without the Kashmiri traditional food known as Wazwan, which is typically spicy food cooked by the traditional cooks (Waz). Wazwan is a multi-course meal in which almost all the dishes are meat-based.

Kashmir a.k.a. witnessing many spiritual gurus who migrated from their homeland to Kashmir.

© Aggie Reiter

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Everyone has a sake in International Joga Day

Yoga … implies perfect harmony of body and mind. It implies the harmonious integration of personality. The most common benefit of Yoga practice is the sense of well being at all levels of our existence

The Embassy of India in Hungary was celebrating this year’s 6^th International Day Of Yoga – 21^st June, 2020

This year the theme for the International Day of Yoga is “Yoga From Home’”. Keeping the theme in mind, Embassy of India is to organize a series of events that will not just follow “social distancing” but would also connect with as many people of Hungary as possible.

It is specially designed to be easily adoptable by majority of the people irrespective of age and gender, and can be learnt through simple training sessions, even through online classes (individuals facing health issues are advised to consult a physician before taking up Yoga practice).

To celebrate the International Yoga Day, Embassy of India has collaborated with eminent Yoga teachers from major cities in Hungary included Budapest, Szeged, Debrecen and Pecs to participate in „Live Streaming” of Common Yoga Protocol from their studios, led was by Ms. Ankita Sood, Yoga teacher of Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre @ Budapest from the iconic Hero’s Square in ’Live Streaming’ method.

Highlighting the importance of this occasion, Ambassador of India in Hungary, Mr. Kumar Tuhin has said, „This year, the whole world has faced unprecedented challenges. The global pandemic has severely impacted the world economy, our health – physical and emotional, and our well being. The positive role that Yoga plays in teaching us the path from illness to wellness and in connecting our body, mind and soul so as to bring holistic health, is well recognized. As the theme itself beautifully conveys, Yoga is able to meet diverse needs and is adaptable in different situations, it gives the maximum health assurance at individual, family, society, and global levels.”

Also H.E. has several initiatives been taken up under his stewardship to propagate and promote Yoga across the country and abroad. Through various digital activities, Embassy of India in Hungary is hoping to further expand the outreach of Yoga this year and involve as many persons as possible on the digital domain paving way for a unique experience for the yoga enthusiasts and also contributing to the success of this significant international event.

The a/m upon previous News Conference

Snaps are shared by India Embassy Budapest

Aggie Reiter

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