Katoomba: more spring

wattles .....

... and spricot

Katoomba: Spring

snowdrops and plum blossom


and dahlia

One-day national mourning on Bismillah Khan's death

The Indian Government today declared a one-day national mourning in view of the death of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan saying that his demise was a national loss.

Expressing condolence at Khan's death, who has been credited with taking the shehnai from the marriage mandap to the concert hall, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the legendary musician would be given a state funeral. Flags would be flown at half mast in all the government buildings as part of the mourning.

"We will observe a national mourning. His death is shocking for us. It is a national loss and we will not be able to replace him soon," Patil told reporters.

Khan had the rare distinction of playing the shehnai as the Indian flag was unfurled at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi to mark the country's independence from Britain in 1947.

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The Signature

the remaining spoonful of The Signature at Vulcan's
sunset at Eastern Creek