Garba Dance – A Lively Traditional Dance Form of Gujarat

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October 14, 2019

The high octane energetic dance form that has fans all over the world is a wonderful mix of tradition and culture. Garba, the dance form that originates from Gujarat comes from the Sanskrit word ‘garbha’ meaning the womb. This dance is performed in circular motions with a lamp or statue/picture of the Goddess Shakti, also called Amba, in the middle. Garba dance is the main highlight during the nine day Navaratri celebrations, though it is also performed on other social occasions.

Garba Dance History and tradition

Garba is almost the synonym for Gujarat’s cultural heritage. Though the dance is fast paced and extremely vibrant it has a deep symbolic root. It is believed that the lamp, around which the dance is conducted, represents life, particularly a fetus inside the womb. The circular dance motions are in sync with the Hindu belief of a cyclic rotation, namely, birth, life, death and rebirth again. The forms change, however, what remains constant is the lamp or the Goddess in the center signifying that the universe represented in the form a feminine divine remains unchanged at all times.

Another interpretation is that the lamp is a symbol of divinity. The same holds true for people, where divinity resides in the core of their being and it only needs to be recognized and sustained through time.

Cultural Significance Garba Dance

garba dance importance — *Image –* Restless mind via Flickr

Garbha dance, however, has a huge cultural significance. The costumes, songs and the coming together of people highlight its true merits and popularity. Women wear a chaniya choli accompanied by a dupatta usually worn in the Gujarati style. The colors of the clothes are usually red, orange, yellow or bright vivid colors with mirror work that is one of the main embroideries of the state. The women adorn themselves with heavy jewelry, such as jhumkas, payal, chudas, bajubandh and many other traditional accessories. The men also are dressed in traditional clothes, such as pajama and ghagra and a pagdi, usually from Bandini fabrics and shoes called mojris. The dressings during garba are its main cultural stronghold, finding and maintaining its roots in its state of origin.

The songs also mostly are in the Gujarati language and in spite of its many modern influences it is difficult not to associate the Garba with its traditional roots. With remixes and Bollywood influences, as well as mass appeal globally the essential idea and execution of the traditional dance form has not drastically changed due to foreign influences.

Garba Dance in Modern Times

Garba Dance Modern Inputs — Image – Donald Judge via Flickr

The Garba of today is many a time mixed with Dandiya Raas, another folk dance of Gujarat. The main difference between Garba and Dandiya Raas, is that in Dandiya Raas sticks are used in both hands while dancing. Most of the modern Garba dances are influenced with Dandiya Raas as well and hence the line between the two folk dances is usually blurred to create a sort of fusion that incorporates both the dance forms together. The costumes remain same, so do the songs and the vibrancy of the dance.

Since a lot many people from the Gujarati community have migrated to the US and Canada, the Garba is a popular community event in these nations too. In the US every year, Garba dance competitions are held by more than 20 universities at a grand scale.

The Fun and Frolic Spirit of Garba Dance

The Fun and Frolic of Garba Dance — Image – amazingarfa via Flickr

The biggest value of Garba lies in its fun factor. The social mingling along with the super energy and extreme enthusiasm make it one of the most loved dance forms of India. No matter from which part of the world you hail from, it is hard to not find yourself soaked in the whirlpool of frenzy and action while a garba performance is unfolding. It is equally hard to not find yourself foot tapping and your body swaying to the beats of a language or music that you may never really understand. It is the coming together of life which is vibrant, happy and in so many ways circular. There are the happy times, sad times, worrying times. There is joy, sorrow, confusion, anger and all of it moves around in cycles. The symbolism of garba is thus about living the moment, letting your inhibitions take a back seat and enjoying the aliveness and absolute spiritedness of life.

Taxi Fabric: Decking up Mumbai Taxis

By

probirbanerjee

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October 12, 2019

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The relentless monsoons and the ubiquitous Mumbai taxis are considered the perfect recipe to a disastrous day! Mumbaikars, who are drenched by heavy rains, might try to hail a cab, but, these taxis are synonymous for trouble. Taxis and local trains are the lifelines of India’s financial capital, a city where people are forever rushing somewhere. While the trains run on time, it is hard to find a taxi when you need one! However, now a quiet and inspiring team of creative souls are making a fervent effort to change that.

What it’s All About

They are a design cult popularly known as ‘Taxi Fabric’. Sanket Avlani, with a group of other enthusiastic designers, has launched a campaign to add up aesthetics to a mundane Mumbai taxi ride. The team at Taxi Fabric tries to reduce the woes of taxi rides by making the taxis interesting enough to match the Bollywood capital’s ever funky lifestyle. Actually, it’s an interesting idea to re-design the taxi seat covers to give them a classy look.

Almost all of Mumbai taxi cars are old Premier Padmini or Fiat 1100 models that have been running in the city for decades. These old and sunken Premier Padmini cabs that have black-and-yellow faces are now getting transformed with an artistic make-over from Taxi Fabric. Avlani and his hip team have brought in young designers to refurbish the old taxis to give a whole new meaning to cab rides in the city.

Taxi-fabric-1 — Source: Taxi Fabric@Tumblr

Taxi Fabric, in fact, brings the shine to these otherwise boring taxis. The extravagant designs with foliage, petals, animal-like imagery catch the fancy of Mumbai travelers. Although he is an employee of an advertising agency called Creativeland Asia, Avlani puts his efforts that aspire to change the steady and mundane. To be frank, it’s a funky creative idea to change the very experience of taxi rides!

Talking about the origin of his idea Avlani says, he regularly had to take a taxi daily to go for work. Being a designer and an avid art director, he naturally got the idea of redesigning the dumb taxi seat-covers to make taxi rides memorable for everyone. The domain of art depiction is limitless, and the designs are so too. The ‘Taxi Fabric’ project is not for profit, and there is no cost to the taxi owners for getting a stylish and soul-stirring design. Interestingly, the cab drivers of Mumbai do not quite have the patience for style, but Avlani’s heart-warming adornment techniques of the interiors has reignited their imagination as well.

Transforming Taxi Interiors

While redesigning the taxis is an offbeat task, it is tough one as well. Basically, the seat covers are given creative psychedelic designs, along with textured faux leather, hang alongside the rear-view mirrors, the neon lights, and the fiber portrait onto the dashboards. What come out as an output are taxis that are just an infinite illustration of gorgeous and meticulous design.

No wonder, young designers are quite excited in helping out Mumbai cab and taxi drivers revamp their interiors. Designers at Taxi Fabric are open to contribute towards this project just because it takes their designs right to the streets amid the crowd and makes the city life a bit more vibrant.

The team at Taxi Fabric asks the few avant-garde taxi drivers to take note of the reaction of the people who are lucky enough to get into a refurbished taxi. The result has been overwhelming. To monetize the effort, a model is being prepared that will supply fabrics to those who make taxi-covers. Although it seems to be a challenging idea, the taxi and cab drivers seem to be ready to pay for a bright, cool and no-nonsense vehicle.

Travel in Mumbai is sometimes long and dull, and several customers book taxis regularly to work and back. Adding creative designs to seat covers is surely going to gauge the pulse of the passengers apart from making the journey a memorable one. Not surprisingly, taxi drivers are more eager to this change.

Taxi Fabric is still in a nascent stage, but the effort has been hailed by one and all. And, why not? If art can make our journeys a bit less monotonous and provide us with an aspiring hue of classy fabrics when we expect it the least, it is an effort everyone should be in for. If you get lucky enough to experience it in Mumbai, pay the respect to team Avlani for making your journey unputdownable.

Images Courtesy –
taxifabric.tumblr.com

Mohiniyattam Dance – Grace and Elegance Personified

By

Caleidoscope

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October 7, 2019

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Kerala is the land of rich culture and arts. Mohiniyattam is a major proponent of the dance forms in Kerala and distinctly recognized by its off white sari and graceful moves. One of the eight main classical dances of India, Mohiniyattam is important, because it has a strong regional influence and is performed with unparalleled skill and elegance in Kerala. But the dance form has seen its share of ups and downs. From being a flourishing art form to reaching its lowest point during the colonial rule, Mohiniyattam has survived and revived itself to maintain its glory and excellence over the years.

The Roots of Mohiniyattam Dance

Like all the other classical Indian dances, Mohiniyattam also finds its roots in the Natya Shastra, a Sanskrit text written by Bharata Muni. The Natya Shastra acts as the basic bible that almost all the classical dance forms of India follow. Its depth of knowledge, expression and style are probably unmatched and its strength is highlighted in the variations and stunning display of story and skill by all the classical dances of India. The Nritta is a form of pure dance which is technical and highly skilled, whereas, there is the Nritya which is all about expressions and elegance. Both nritta and nritya form an integral part of the dances.

The other classification is based on the Tandav style that uses power and vigor as its main central exponent. The Lasya style is all about delicate grace and elegance. Mohiniyattam belongs to the Lasya style and hence its expression is a like a fluid poetry of movements of the face and body.

History of Mohiniyattam Dance

Mohiniyattam finds it origins in Kerala and its references are found in sculptures and carvings in temples. The various dance postures and poses are identifiable in the temples, such as the Vishnu temple at Trikoditthanam. Several books written in the 16th and 17th century also talk about the dance forms of Kerala. Mohiniyattam, however, flourished during the 18th and 19th century under the patronage of the Maharaja of Tranvancore. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, the Maharaja, himself was a renowned musician and artist and it was under his guidance that Mohiniyattam found its present formation.

But the art form saw a massive decline during the British rule. The dance began to be associated with the Devadasis of South India alone and were often seen with contempt and disgrace by the foreign rulers. The temple dancers were looked down upon and in various ways curbed, such as bans on Devadasis and bans on temple dancing. In 1941 the law deemed that there could be voluntary dancers but they would not be compensated. This led to huge protests by artists. These bans or curbs were on all the classical dances of India and hence this sense of oppression became an added catalyst for the Independence struggle. Notable artists who led the protest from the front and whose contributions to the survival of the dance form was imperative are Vallathol Narayana Menon, Krishna Panicker, Mukundraja, Thankamony, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma and more.

Today, Mohiniyattam is an important and essential part of not only the culture of Kerala, but also India. It is performed and followed with much enthusiasm and love across the nation.

About Mohiniyattam – The vocals, dance and more

Music in Mohiniyattam Dance — Image – Brad Coy via Flickr

Mohiniyattam is similar to Bharatanatyam in the sequence it follows. Besides, the nritta and nritya that act as the overall binding feature, the sequence of Mohiniyattam includes the Cholkettu, Jatisvaram, Varnam, Padam, Tillana, Shlokam and Saptam.

The dance itself is extremely graceful and the footwork is in line with the softness of the music and rhythm. Usually performed solo, the dance is accompanied by Carnatic music and the recitation is by the dancer herself or another vocalist. The songs are written in hybrid of Sanskrit and Malayalam, known as Manipravalam.

The musical instruments used in a Mohiniyattam performance are the various types of drums, such as the mridangam, idakka, as well as, the flute, veena and the kuzhitalam.

Costume of Mohiniyattam

The most attractive and distinguishing element of Mohiniyattam is its costume. The costume is relatively simple when compared to the other classical dance forms. And yet it is this simplicity that makes a striking impact on the onlooker. The dancer is dressed up in a cream or ivory sari with a golden border. Her matching blouse and the golden waist belt that tucks the pleated sheets in fan like folds make the look ethereal. With simple basic jewelry, such as anklets, bracelets and necklace the hair is usually tied up in a bun adorned with flowers.

Mohiniyattam dance is a wonderful and mesmerizing performance to watch. The story unfolds, the music beats in rhythm and the vocals arouse a sense of calm and meaning. Mohiniyattam is definitely the pride of a culturally and artistically rich nation.

Benefits of Selecting the Best Trendy Men’s Training T-shirts

By

Caleidoscope

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October 2, 2019

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Men’s Training T-shirts — Image – Pixabay

Regular exercise is very crucial for your mental wellbeing and health but for this you will need to wear the right kind of apparel. You should wear workout clothing during the workout session because it will have a positive impact on your physical performance. Additionally, you will also get into the best mindset with the right kind of workout apparel and hence, you should stress on the importance of selecting the best kind of clothing. Among the various options, you should select training t-shirts that will help you to tackle your workout session in an efficient manner. The selection of the right kind of workout outfit is very important so that you can derive maximum benefits from your workout session. Therefore, it is important that you look for trendy men’s training t-shirts that are also considered as the most popular workout outfit. It is also a wardrobe essential that you will need so that you will get the most versatile option for your workout needs. Thus, you need to select the right cut, style, design and look of the shirt so that you can enjoy the benefits from this outfit.

Men’s Training T-shirts-01 — Image – Pixabay

There are many benefits offered by trendy men’s training t-shirts as it allows you to workout comfortably and conveniently for getting the desired outcome. Additionally, recovering after the workout will also be accomplished with the use of these tshirts so that you will enjoy the best outcome. You can also do intense workouts with these workout outfits that have been designed for making your body relax and enjoy the workout session. This t-shirt is also known to offer benefits of ease of movement so that you can do a wide range of exercise and workout with complete ease and unmatched comfort. You can easily lift heavy weights or perform stretching easily without being restricted by tight fitting or uncomfortable outfits. Along with offering you comfortable movement; you can also prevent all kinds of skin related issues including skin allergies or irritation. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the fit, size and fabric of the outfit, for performing all kinds of exercise without any restrictions. If you want to get a fit physique then it is important that you look for the best workout that will make your body better than before. This can be achieved with the right kind of clothing that will help your body to get the best appearance.

Trendy men’s training t-shirts are especially designed for making your training session a more comfortable and convenient option. It is generally made in breathable and lightweight fabric that offers ease of movement so that your workout will become more beneficial. Additionally, you will enjoy wearing the t-shirts for a long period of time without getting skin irritation. The right kind of training outfits can boost your confidence level so that you will perform in a better manner. You will love spending more time while working out when you are physically fit and mentally satisfied with your overall appearance.

Agrima Kaji – An Illustrator Who Sees Women for What They Are!

By

Tasneem Sariya

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September 27, 2019

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When I first looked at Agrima Kaji’s illustrations I was drawn by the innocence and princess-like aura of her women. It is almost like you expect them to blink, wink, smile, reprimand or stare back at you depending on which illustration you cast a look.

Watching cartoons since she can ever remember, Agrima’s illustrations are in some ways an extension of her own diverse background. And she manages to capture with her series and illustrations not only her own, but also the essence of hundreds of women across the country and the globe.

In conversation with Agrima Kaji, about her passion for art, her interest in women from different regions and fields and her acumen in creating petite, yet powerful mini-series.

Q: Since when have you been interested in art? Where did you learn it?

A: I was interested in art since my childhood. I was fascinated with the world of animation and the fact that such an amusing world existed parallel to our boring world. I used to draw all over my house walls and always strived to someday make a masterpiece out of it.

Q: Which artists have inspired you?

A: All the animations have inspired me, but Leonardo da Vinci and Walt Disney are my inspiration as an artist.

Q: Why do you represent women from different fields or regions in your creations? In other words, what made you choose to create art that is concentrated on women, their achievements and their cultural diversity?

A: I love the fact that we live in a world with different cultures and history. Every culture has a special story to celebrate; this is what makes our world so colorful. I choose to represent women in my series since I see the series as a part of my Identity. Just like my series, my identity is also diverse and colorful.

I have lived in different states of India but it amazes me how different we are from each other in spite of staying in the same country. For many, that’s a reason to discriminate against one another and develop biases, but I was always fascinated by how different we are from each other and was eager to learn different stories which everyone grew up with.

However, my origin (like many) is not clearly defined by state boundaries. My grandmother is from Punjab, my grandfather was from Himachal and my mother from Uttarakhand. I am married in a Gujarati family! So when someone asks me where are I am from, I usually reply with a smile and repeat my origin map trails. After hearing this, I see people confused and thinking “so how should we group her in our heads, what conclusions can we draw from this?” or “which language will she understand?” With the modernizing times, our origins have become blurry but we are still stuck with the same old biases, which need to change.

I feel women hold an important part in every culture and this should be celebrated. I often think that women are the leaders in moving our identity forward, but sadly, they are treated like just vessels and instruments for various responsibilities but never given freedom, authority and respect. So, I decided to represent our cultural diversity with women.

Q: Tell us a bit about the different series that you have created, especially the cultural diversity series. Which have been your personal favorites?

A: I started by making a Kashimiri Girl, which is one of my favorites since I was excited for the whole series in my head. With every illustration I thought about how I would look wearing this in my everyday life. My favorite mini-series was the north-east series, where I realized how influenced the designs are from their lifestyle, nature, beliefs and celebrations. I was a bit scared and surprised while making illustrations of women from the states I belonged to because with each new element I learnt something more about myself.

Q: Do you prefer digital illustrations over other forms of visual paintings and creations? What do you think is the scope of digital illustrations in India?

A: I love digital illustrations, since our ecosystem is surrounded by digital products these days and hence, we need to wisely use it as a powerful medium to communicate with people. I love other forms of art as well, like painting, sculpting and photography but I understand the importance of digital medium and want to use it.

The visibility and discoverability of digital illustration for a common Indian is a bit restricted. India still needs to register this as an art form in its mind. I feel the scope is huge, since the digital medium has endless possibilities for a creative brain.

Q: Are you open to customizing your creations as per customer requirements or do you prefer creating your own thoughts and illustrations and then showcasing them?

A: I usually create my thoughts and Ideas, but I take custom illustration requirements and contracts too.

Q: As an artist, what motivates you?

A: Seeing my art touch someone’s life and soothe their pain and thoughts.

Q: What are the challenges that you face as an illustrator? Do you think it is a lucrative career option?

A: Being an illustrator is difficult in India but not impossible. It’s a long run and you need to believe in yourself during each point. Sadly, a freelance illustrator is not yet termed as a ‘stable’ job option. You need to create a strong network for illustrators and inspire each other to grow on the way to attain its true power and freedom. Illustrations relieves me from the world outside of me and connects me with the world inside me, hence it comes with a lot of freedom and happiness.

Q: What advice would you give young artists?

A: Be true to yourself, don’t follow trendy design styles, learn sketching from scratch, practice a lot, never be shy of a new medium and techniques even if you think you will fail, never stop believing in yourself and look for strong reason / topic to create art rather than doubting yourself. Because there will be a lot of people telling you that ‘you can’t draw or do anything in art’ but you need to shut those voices and open their eyes.

Q: What are your future plans or upcoming series?

A: I recently completed a series of inspirational women around the world, a mini-series on Audrey Hepburn and now creating a series on powerful women in India in the field of science. I am also working on a miniseries in emotional wellbeing.

Q: Besides, depicting women which other topics, social issues or objects do you prefer creating?

A: Yes, the topics are endless, but I want to take up one topic at a time. I feel the topic of mental and emotional wellbeing is under-represented and still treated as a stigma in India. I want to do some work on it.

Q: Lastly, how much of an impact do you think art has on society?

A: Art can only move the lives it touches. In order to have an impact on society, art needs to reach the common people’s lives and society needs to reach out to art as well. Art is a concept which needs a medium to travel and place to reside. Art is different for each of us and speaks to everyone differently, that is why art is very personal but in order to broadcast its impact, we need to let it influence us.

Here is wishing Agrima the very best for all her upcoming series and looking forward to seeing through her illustrations, a unique interpretation of society and women.

For latest Updates on Agrima’s Works, check out her social pages.
https://www.instagram.com/madeby_agrima
https://www.facebook.com/madebyagrima

5-day Travel Guide to Dubai

By

Caleidoscope

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September 25, 2019

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5-day Travel Guide to Dubai — Image – Pixabay

Dubai is one of the favourites and most visited holiday destinations for Indians. It takes only 3 hours and 25 minutes to reach there. This city is known for its glamour, luxury shopping, and skyscrapers. The modern architecture and nightlife are another charm of Dubai. Not to miss Burj Khalifa and the artificial islands are amongst the popular tourists’ attractions.

List of things to carry when you travel to Dubai

Here are things you should carry for your holiday to Dubai:

Documents: Do not forget to carry your passport, air tickets, and visa.
Medicines: Some drugs used in India are prohibited for use in Dubai. Check them and carry your medicines along with the prescription.
Gadgets and power banks: Carry your camera, glares, mobiles and of course the power bank for the time when your mobile runs out of battery.
Daily Essentials: If you are travelling with a baby or if food is your concern when outside, pack some light ready to eat food.
Travel Insurance Policy: The cost of medical treatment is very high in Dubai. Hence, for any urgent medical assistance, you will be spending more than usual. Buying a Travel Insurance policy is wise under conditions of:

Medical Evacuation and Illness.
Loss of belongings like money, passport, luggage, etc.
Delay in flights.
Cancellation costs for flight and hotel bookings. (t&c apply)

Here are your 5-day travel guide tips to Dubai:

Day 1: Work up your excitement at Palm Jumeirah

5-day-Travel-Guide-to-Dubai-Palm-Jumeirah-1 — Palm Jumeirah – ckilger via Flickr

Excited and thrilled to explore Dubai, start your first day at Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island. Start early and grab breakfast at any of the cafes around. You can then take a walk till Jumeirah beach where you should try flyboarding and other sports. Grab some lunch and relax. As the day gets close to sunset, you can go on a Desert Safari to watch stars and enjoy under the open sky.

Day 2: Dubai Frame. Shopping at Gold Souk and Spice Souk Deira

Gold on sale at the Gold Souk – Elroy Serrao via Flickr

Start the second day with Dubai Frame. It is situated at a height of 150m and offers a stunning view of the old Dubai on one side. Most of it has smaller and old buildings, residential and small scale commercial complexes.

Well, on the other side you can view the futuristic city of Dubai. It is the newly developed city with high-rise buildings, superior infrastructure, and clean roads. Next, visit Souk-a traditional Arab market of Dubai. This market place has shops that sell gold, spices, dry fruits and herbs.

Day 3: Aquaventure Waterpark and Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise

How about spending a day at aqua venture waterpark? It has 15 rides and slides, rapids, pools, and private beach. After you are happy and fulfilled, make your way to Dubai Marina-The Dinner Cruise. It will not only offer you dinner but an ambience that you will cherish.

Day 4: Hot-Air Ballooning, Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai

Begin your day with hot-air ballooning flying over the Arabian Desert. It will be an incomparable sight to see. After lunch move to Mall of the Emirates. You can shop, watch a movie and dine at any of the famous restaurants there. Do not miss Ski Dubai, another park in the Mall of the Emirates covered with snow everywhere for skiing.

Day 5: Burj Khalifa and Dubai Miracle Garden

Your trip will not complete until you visit Burj Khalifa. This mighty tall building of 828 meters is the highlight of Dubai. Go as high up till 124th floor using the lift that takes you up high in just 60 seconds. At this height of 452 meters, you will get to see the wide-extending view of Dubai city.

Next visit the Dubai Miracle Garden where millions of colourful flowers arranged in various shapes and forms will catch your attention.

Where do I buy Travel Insurance Policy?

There are many Travel insurers but here are the reasons for you to choose Digit Insurance.

Affordable Product as you get $100,000 plan for 2 people for 7 days in UAE cost around 714 INR. Not even 1% of the total cost of the trip.
They cover injuries happening during adventure sports which is not covered by most of the competitors.
Easy claim process – You can just give a missed call and their team will get back to you. The procedure is online, and you can just upload the documents for fast processing.
Zero Deductible which implies that you don’t have to pay anything. Your insurer will manage the expenses.

The best time to visit Dubai is during the months of November to April. January and February are the busiest months because of the Dubai Shopping Festival. But make sure that you get your visa for Dubai in advance. You would not need one if you have a visa for the US, Schengen countries, the UK, etc.

The Aghori Way of Life – Kumbh Mela and Moksha

By

Sahana Rajan

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September 24, 2019

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The Kumbh Mela is in full swing with thousands of devotees, inquisitive travellers and most importantly, sadhus and Aghoris gathering at Nashik to take part in the world’s largest religious gathering. The historic tradition of Kumbh Mela brings together the two indelible desires of humankind: immortality and the reign of good over evil. This year Nashik celebrates the drops of immorality that scents and spreads enlightenment through the land. The festival began with the hoisting of flag of Akhara at Sadhugram on 14th August 2015 and will go on until the end of September.

Source

The centre stage of Kumbh Mela is the worship rituals of Aghoris, who have captured the interests of religious thinkers and historians for centuries now. Aghoris are ascetic Hindu monks from the Shaiva sect who worship the Bhairav form of Shiva. An Aghori sadhu is typically seen holding a skull (kapala), which is a cryptic message to devotees for renouncing the eight bondages to the material world – five sense-experience, intelligence, ego and identity and is also carried by the Aghoris as a continuing torch of their doctrines. Misconceptions about the Aghori tradition (like the alleged cannibalism) arise because we are often in unawares about the beliefs from which they originate. In the following points, we mention the beliefs of Aghoris and the derivative practices:

1. Give Up the Ego: Be One with All

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According to Aghori tradition, moksha (liberation from suffering) is achieved through complete renunciation of one’s personal identity and in this process, one must confront the nature of body including encounters with faeces, urine, phelgm and other bodily fluids.

Practice: A true aghori has to give up his name, even the identification as a male or female or transgender and gradually give up every socially and culturally conditioned label attached to their life. This is the initiation into the cult of Aghori tradition.

2. Everything is One: Animals, Plants and this Body

Source

Brahman is considered the ultimate reality and any form of duality is a form of illusion, due to ignorance. Brahman is the immanent source of everything in the world, following the words of Upanishads (which form last part of Vedas).

Practice: Aghoris are known to have deep love for nature, especially animals. This is in harmony with the image of animal-companion dog who stands with Bhairava.

3. You and I are Made Of Clay: Only Different Shapes

Source

Any form of distinction that we make which is supported by our language through concepts and categories is the result of ignorance about the reality of the world. There can be pragmatic function of language: use of words like ‘table’, ‘chair’ to point out objects but to think that there are permanent meanings to words: “self” exhibited through every form of “me”, “my”, “mine” is where ignorance is rooted.

Practice: Eating of human flesh because one gets pleasure from it is cannibalism. However, aghoris eat human flesh, even stool and urine to accept the body and its decomposing state- to accept the reality of disease, old age and death. They are indifferent- experience neither pleasure nor pain- towards such an act. Often mistakingly deemed as those who want to find purity in filth, aghoris do not see a distinction between purity and dirt. For this reason, they are known to use human oils from different parts of the body as medicines, apart from the smoking of marijuana.

5. Sex is Not About the Body: It is About The Spirits

Source

The aghori follow the rule of maithuna which is the act of sexual intercourse as taught by the spiritual leader. The ritual of sex generally involves location of a graveyard where consenting women are smeared with ash of the dead and the consummation takes place on the graves of the dead. The background includes chanting of mantras and beating of the drums. The act moves towards its climax spanning over an hour where the man and woman are said to become incarnations of Shiva and Shakti, thus gaining supernatural powers. These powers are not the reward that one seeks but are unexpected gifts. The real purpose remains to transcend the erotic dimension of sex and experience the spirituality in the act.

Do you think it is possible to have intuitive insight into Truth, as the Aghoris claim to have? Have you experienced this ever? Do their beliefs justify the practices they follow: eating of flesh and faeces, sexual intercourse on graveyard, smoking of cannabis? Do these practices conform to tradition Hindu principles?

Remembering the Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50 Years Ago

By

Abdul Jamil Urfi

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September 23, 2019

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Remembering the Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50 Years Ago — Source

Jamil Urfi’s book ‘Biswin Sadi Memoirs, growing up in Delhi during the 1960’s and 70’s’ (https://cinnamonteal.in/authors/jamil-urfi/) which is a nostalgic, personal remembrance of the bygone 20th century or the Biswin Sadi was published last year. In this extract from the book he recalls the mystique surrounding the moon and the moon landing on 20 July 1969.

This year celebrates the moon landing by NASA’s Apollo 11 mission fifty years ago. There has been much excitement about it this year and also on account of India’s own efforts to send the VIKRAM lander (named after the man behind India’s space mission Vikram Sarabhai) to the moon. The Chandrayan-2 of our very own ISRO.

Apollo 11 Moon Landing — OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The moon, the most conspicuous and largest celestial object in the sky fascinates all of us. Infact one of our most enduring childhood memories is that of watching the moon. I remember as a little boy, on full moon nights basking in its soft glow, watching it intently, examining its scars and craters.

Growing up, one heard plenty of Hindi nursery rhymes and poems about the moon, perhaps the most well known being, ‘Chanda mama duur ke’ in which the moon is likened to a moody, temperamental, maternal uncle.

There was also another poem which I remember was included in our lesson books, written by the Urdu poet Afsar (https://www.rekhta.org). Simply titled ‘Chand’ it visualized the moon differently—not like the moody, fussy, maternal uncle but as a more playful object. Its opening lines were:

tum naddī par jā kar dekho

jab naddī meñ nahā.e chāñd

kaisī lagā.ī Dupkī us ne

Dar hai Duub na jaa.e chāñd

In the bygone 20th century or the Biswin Sadi the first manned mission to land on the moon—the United States’ Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 was hailed as a defining moment for the entire century, a triumph of science and technology. For most of us who grew up in the 60’s it was something which was immortalized in Hindi film dialogues and songs. In a sense ‘Biswin Sadi’ and the moon landing were mentioned together. For instance, in the hit film of the 1970’s, Johny Mera Naam, the lead actor Dev Anand could be heard mouthing the dialogue:

Janab ye beeswein sadi hai, aaj kal insaan chand pe rehne ki baat kar raha hai…

On the day of the actual moon landing I remember there being a lot of excitement and the adults discussing it. Some weeks later father took us to see an exhibition which had been organized at the American Embassy in New Delhi where samples of moon rock and a life-sized model of the spacecraft Apollo 11 and its different stages were on display.

I don’t remember much of the moon rocks but the spacecraft models, displayed out in the open, were really fascinating.

But back then it seemed incredible that two men had actually set foot on the moon—the yellow disk which hung in the night sky. I remember that night very well (a Google search tells me the exact date) though I was only eight years old then. I lay on my bed in the open courtyard and looked skywards, trying my best to spot those men who were on the moon, but that was impossible. I gazed and gazed at the millions of stars and the Milky Way. Surely, behind the layers and layers of stars there would be a point where there would be no stars and beyond that . . . perhaps a vast area of darkness beyond which . . . ? Did anybody have an answer? Many years later, when I got interested in reading Hindustani poetry, I came across the famous lines (by a famous poet), ‘Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain.’ (There are other worlds, beyond the stars.)

But in 1969, aged nine years only, I hadn’t heard of these lines. All that I recall is that on the night of the moon landing, I lay in my bed contemplating the secrets of the cosmos while gazing at the moon. I must have got exhausted and finally gone off to sleep after a long search.

Scroll Paintings of India – A Fine Mix of Story-telling and Art

By

Tasneem Sariya

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September 23, 2019

3

Scroll-Paintings-of-India-01 — Image Source

Indian Folk arts are a delightful mix of artistry. The different types of Scroll paintings are an integral part of the visual arts and most of these are as much about tradition and culture as about skill, color and craft. The scroll paintings as the name suggests are paintings done on scrolls. Used as tools for story telling by wanderers in earlier times, scroll paintings in many ways are like movie reels of today’s time. The commentary was done by the balladeer community accompanied by music and dance as they travelled from village to village retelling the stories that were manifested on the scrolls.

Each area or village developed its own scroll paintings and hence these paintings carry with them rich history, as well as, regional traditions and cultures. Known as Cheriyal in the Telangana region, Patachitra in Bengal and Orissa and Prasasti Patra in Gujarat and Maharashtra the scroll paintings were popular almost all throughout the country. However, the Cheriyal and Patachitra are the predominant types of scroll paintings and are survived till date.

Cheriyal Paintings

The Cheriyal paintings always were and continue to be distinctly regional and local in style and origin. The local temple art and Kalamkari traditions along with art traditions of Deccan and South India are the most important influences on the Cheriyal paintings. These paintings are a version of the Nakashi art, which is an art form practiced in Telangana. The Nakashi arts are scrolls that are narratives of mythology and folklore. The stories though a part of the Puranas and Indian Epics are also fraught with local traditions, peculiarities and customs that make the Cheriyal paintings a wonderful cultural expression.

Today, however, the demand for long scrolls has disappeared and artists are forced to constrict the Cheriyal paintings to limited episodes or characters of a particular story. Yet, the story was very different in the earlier times. The scrolls were three feet in width, could be 40-45 feet in length depending on the story and had around 50 panels. The scroll paintings flowed like a film roll as the storyteller would begin narrating along with his team who would provide the musical effects to make the story interesting. The scroll painting was usually tied to a tree or held by hand as narration unfolded.

Characteristics of the Cheriyal Paintings

The Cheriyal paintings are characterized by their bright colors and the free imagination of the artists. The themes and characters are very easily identifiable, such as stories from Ramayan, Mahabharata and Krishna Leela. The main story is made relatable by using rural scenery, such as men working in paddy fields, women in the kitchen or celebration of different festivals. The costumes also reflect the traditional dressing style of the Andhra and Telangana region. The prominent characters are usually drawn as the larger than the rest and are more detailed in outline and expression.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPQeDlKYooE

The process of making the scroll paintings is quite elaborate. The canvas is made from khadi cotton and is mixed with starch, white mud or suddha mati, paste of tamarind seeds and gum water. This procedure is repeated thrice and every coating is dried before the next is applied. The artists make the outlines of the paintings on the canvas once it is ready.

The Cheriyal paintings were given the GI or Geographical Identification tag in 2007 and today very few artists remain who practiced this art form.

Pattachitra Paintings – Odisha

Pattachitra are also cloth based scroll paintings but these are from the eastern regions of West Bengal and Odisha. Pattachitra too is a depiction of Hindu mythology and folklore and is one of the oldest forms of paintings dating back to more than a thousand years.

Puri Jagannath culture inspired Pattachitra – Wikimedia

In fact, the origin of the Orissa Pattachitra dates around the time of the establishment of the Lord Jagannath shrine in Puri, but this could also be because unlike sculptures, paintings are not able to survive the vagaries of time for too long.

Lord Jagannath, however, has been the most important influence of the Pattachitra paintings. The themes of the paintings revolve around Lord Jagannath, stories of Radha and Krishna, stories from the Mahabharata etc.

The painters of pattachitra are called chitrakars and the entire family is involved the making of the paintings. Women prepare the glue, canvas and applied the fill in colors. The master or main painter draws the outline of the painting. Each of the paintings is done on small cotton cloths and the canvas is prepared using chalk and gum from tamarind seeds. The painters are usually such experts that instead of using a pencil or charcoal for the outline, they directly use the paints before filling in the vivid colors. Each small cloth canvas is then sewn together to form the long final scroll.

The different types of pattachitras in Odisha include the Tala Pattachitra where the paintings are drawn on palm leaves and are finally stitched together to form the scroll. The Bhitti Chitra refers to paintings made on walls.

Pattachitra – West Bengal

Similarly, West Bengal Pattachitra is divided into Chalchitra, Dugra Pat, Medinipur Pattachitra and Kalilghat Pattachitra. The themes revolve on mythology and stories from epics. However, the West Bengal pattachitras also include secular and regular themes, such as elections, family planning, accidents, evils of dowry system and so on.

*Bengal Style Pattachitra –* Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Every pattachitra is accompanied with a song which is sung as the artist unfurls the painting. This tradition is known as Patua Sangeet and is performed by the patua or painter.

Though both Odisha and West Bengal practice the pattachitra there are many regional and cultural differences in their styles and art. This is why; the GI of Pattachitra has been registered as Orissa Pattachitra and West Bengal Pattachitra separately.

Cheriyal and Pattachitra

The Pattachitra community is slightly better off in comparison to the Cheriyal painters. The patuas have more opportunities and market and their works are often displayed in exhibitions. Also since the themes of the patuas are more universal they are more acceptable and are also used in textile designs. However, both the Cheriyal and Pattachitras can be considered the first medium of stories and their magnificent depiction, artistry and use of imagination make them undoubtedly an integral part of the cultural and art history and forms of our country.

Cricket as Part of Indian Culture

By

Caleidoscope

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September 21, 2019

0

Cricket as Part of Indian Culture — Image – Wikimedia

There are many cultures and religion followed in a secular country like India, but the only thing that unites the heart and soul of every Indian is cricket. Although India’s National game is hockey but cricket in India has got a huge fan base. With a great many vigorous devotees, cricket is one of the supreme cultures in India. ‘Men in Blue’ is one of the best-known adjectives with which the crazy cricket fans of the country like to call their national cricket squad. Be it a school going child or a retired elderly person, the appeal of cricket has charmed pretty much every Indian. People schedule out all their activities, travel arrangements, leaves, etc. keeping in mind about the timetable of some good matches. During some intense matches different cricket news sites as the Stumped.app gets overloaded by a majority of Indian peoples to get an update about the game. Cricket is additionally the quickest method for befriending an Indian. Regardless of which part of India it is, one can discover children playing cricket with full of energy and enthusiasm anywhere.

Though cricket is the national game of England it is not that much popular in the country. It is also observed that with time West Indies cricket is also losing its sheen. But we Indians who got the game from the British rule has kept on being the fantastic supporters. Indeed, after the introduction of the tremendously prevalent Indian Premier League (IPL), the cricket fever has gone into totally new skylines of popularity and magnificence.

Emily Crick has completely described in her paper, “Cricket and Indian National Consciousness”, that India is a nation that has reached to the level of unity that she always dreamt about and the one and only cause for this is the craze and love for cricket among the people of the nation.

As the game is very much popular in India, it attracts a large number of sponsors as well. Additionally, past stats suggest that the Indian team plays a much higher number of games as compared to any other cricket team across the globe and each game is treated like a ritual. It will be really hard to get a vacant seat in the stadium whenever there is a match in the country. Apart from international matches, domestic tournaments like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy has also got a good number of supporters. These are some of the important factors that make The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the wealthiest cricket board around the world. Whenever the International Cricket Council (ICC) conducts any tournament, it earns most of its revenue from the nations whose people are crazy for cricket.

Cricket being a religion does not come up with any holy book but has several of its Gods. India has delivered a few incredible cricketing legends who have contributed hugely by setting individual achievements in cricket history. These cricketers have also been respected by several awards from international association, cricket boards and universities for their unachievable milestones and records. Legends like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, etc. have given this game a bright past. Some great talents named as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kholi, etc. have made the people of India well accustomed about its sheen present, proving the fact that cricket is going to have a good future in India. It will be totally wrong to forget the greatest of all the legends. You are guessing it right, its’s Sachin Tendulkar. It has become a popular saying that if you believe cricket to be a religion then Sachin is the living God for it. Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as the star cricketer of all time. He is worshipped and admired by not only the Indians but by almost all cricket fans and players on the Earth.

In addition to the above-mentioned Gods in India, the culture of cricket also consists of its festivals which is celebrated in the form of victories. Every win is celebrated, cheered and admired by all. But whenever the Indian team loses, all the people of the country motivates them, inspires them and congrats them for a good game.

In addition to making individuals nibble their fingernails in stress and tension, cricket plays a noteworthy job in setting up a worldwide diplomatic relationship as well. In the blog of the University of Southern California, Paul Rockowner has written that there was a period of rising tension in 1987 between the two neighboring countries i.e. India and Pakistan on the matter of Kashmir. Armies at the borders from both the sides were at high alert. Rajiv Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister invited the President of Pakistan, Zia ul-Huq to attend the Test match between India and Pakistan in India. Pakistan’s President accepted the proposal and the incident played an important role to drop this rising tension into ease.

The dedication and love for cricket in India is an incredible indication of progress and harmony. Today we see a dream in the eyes of many teens to be the next Sachin or the next Dhoni of the country. The fantasy is legitimate in an obvious sense. With a “cricket-kit” on their shoulder, these inspiring eyes are dreaming to spread the spirit of sportsmanship and removing away some of the devilish concepts of war, terrorism, and hostility from society. The love and passion of a cricketer can only be known by individuals who have spent the whole day practicing hard on the cricket field, running with the ball, against the ball, and after the ball. We should stand along with them, support them and should keep them always inspired and motivated for their dream.