Exploring the Majestic Murals At The Big Temple in Thanjavur

August 16, 2022

#Didyouknow that in Thanjavur, India, a temple called ‘Big Temple’, over thousand years old, rich in sculpture, an architectural granite marvel is home to majestic murals as well? We are talking about the Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur dedicated to Lord Shiva of the Hindu trinity. Built by Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty, the temple is also called Rajarajeshwaram and Periya Kovil. It is located on the bank of River Kaveri in south India. The temple was built during 1003 and 1010 A.D. The structures included gopura (gateway), the main temple, the vimana or tower, inscriptions, sculptures and murals. Additional structures were added over the centuries, and the temple has faced some damage in its history as well. The temple has the largest Shiva linga in India and is the first place to commission the brass Nataraja or Lord Shiva as the Lord of Dance. There are separate shrines for Nandi, Goddess Parvathi as Brihannayaki, Kartikeya or Subramanya and Ganesha. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Cholas were great followers of Shaivism. There are inscriptions on the temple walls; music and dance were an intrinsic part of the temple’s programmes. Tamil hymns of the Nayanmar were recited by the pidarars (priests). A southern branch of the Marathas was established in 1674 when Ekoji Bhonsle, half-brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji I seized Thanjavur from the Nayakas.

Majestic Murals At The Big Temple in Thanjavur Brihadeeshwara temple — Brihadeeshwara Temple, 11th century, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Wikimedia

Under Maratha rule in the 18th and 19th century, Thanjavur became the premier cultural centre in South India. Under Serfoji I the Big temple was renovated, his mural is in the 2nd mandapa of the Subramanya shrine, also the mural of Serfoji II. Starting with Shahji II (r. 1684-1712) they styled themselves as Cholanadus. The Marathas looked after the temple very well. Shahji wrote multilingual songs in praise of Shiva as Brihadeeshwara. Serfoji II contributed as well and renovations happened under him. He built a dhwajastambha, a flag pole and a masonry podium for dance by the devadasis. The temple is an imposing structure and is the largest Hindu sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, 59.82m tall. The Nayakas were successors to the Cholas followed by the Marathas. The main temple contains the linga sanctuary, ‘linga’ being the anionic form of Lord Shiva. This is surrounded on four sides by a narrow internal passageway that opens into a vestibule with side doorways and a mandapa, a pavilion to the east. There is a Nandi pavilion and a towered gopura set within a big walled compound. The compound is lined with a peripheral colonnade and contains a number of subsidiary shrines.

Story of the murals

The murals at the temple complex have a history of their own. The temple has a circumambulatory pathway with many frescoes along the walls from the floor to the ceiling. They were discovered in 1931 and restored in the 2000s by the Archaeological Survey of India. The frescoes/murals relate to Hindu mythology, especially Lord Shiva, though there are paintings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali and images of the Chola kings as well. The images of the murals have been bit damaged by burning of camphor and soot from the lamps in the temple over a period of time. Around 16 Nayak period frescoes were superimposed on the Chola murals and they were restored by ASI by de-stucco process and displayed separately. The Thanjavur temple is a repository of stone carvings and reliefs, wall and ceiling paintings and thickly encrusted plasterwork. There used to be metal statuettes of deities inside the temple but the metal images have now vanished. The Nayakas and Marathas added further artistic dimensions. The Bronze Nataraja in the minor shrine from Rajaraja’s time is still there and worshipped. The murals from this period and are very interesting from the artistic viewpoint but are inaccessible to most visitors since access is restricted to the passageway around the linga sanctuary where they are located. However, they are available at the ‘’Interpretation Centre’’ in the South colonnade of the walled compound.

Themes of the murals

The murals were made 4 metres above floor level depicting Hindu deities, royals, attendants, sages, musicians and dancers in different ambiences. They also reflect the courtly culture of the period. The Chola murals survive in an incomplete and deteriorated condition and were discovered by in 1931 as already mentioned. The murals were partly visible, being partially concealed beneath Nayaka compositions. There is some similarity of the murals to Chola bronzes as well. The murals in the main temple include Lord Dakshinamurthy with Bhairava, Lord Shiva as Tripurantaka, story of Sundara-murti Nayanar, a poet-saint, Rajaraja worshipping at Chidambaram with his three queens and images of ascetics. Murals are there on the western and northern walls of the passageway that runs around the linga sanctuary. There are paintings on the Nandi pavilion and minor shrines too. The Nandi pavilion is the first structure one sees on entering the temple compound. It was added during the Nayaka period, it could possibly be a replacement of a Chola period feature. The pavilion houses a huge seated Nandi. The pavilion has a painted ceiling showing winged angels and fantastic birds., The Nayaka panels include Tripurantaka, courtly personages and bearded ascetics. The Brihannayaki shrine houses the principal Goddess of the Thanjavur complex, built during the 13th-17th century during Pandya, Nayaka period. It faces the raised podium in the middle of the temple compound and the ceiling paintings are over the central aisle, of the Devi Mahatmya narratives. The Nataraja shrine was made during the Nayaka time and has the Chola metal icon. The Chandikeshwara shrine is six metres from the main temple consecrated to one of Shiva’s most faithful devotees. The Subrahmanya shrine was built by Sevakka Nayakas, expanded in later Nayaka times. Shivaji II had this later mandapa walled in and embellished with a gallery of royal portrait murals. The Ganapati and Karuvar Devar (Guru of Rajajraja) shrines are in the western part of the walled compound. The Ganapati shrine has a stunning painting of Subramanya. The inner face of the walls of the temple are lined with a continuous colonnade. A Nandi is placed in the middle of south colonnade. Paintings on the rear walls of the west and north colonnade date from the period of Shivaji II. There exists a plethora of divinities, rishis, devotees and attendants. The west colonnade starts with Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali then Ganapati riding a blue rat, mooshaka or his vehicle, also called vahana. Shiva-Parvati, Subrahmanya with peacock with Valli and Devasena, an elephant and a courtly couple. The west colonnade also has the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati with a standard in the middle, dancing Shiva flanked by Vyaghrapadha and Patanjali, two demons flying through the air. There is also Yashoda with infant Krishna, Lord Rama and Sita, a moustachioed figure probably Ugra Pandya spearing fish in a river and a battle scene between two armed figures, most probably Lord Rama and Ravana. The north colonnade has narratives from the Tamil Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam, a ‘purana’ of Madurai. The scenes include a Maratha couple worshipping Shiva and Parvati among others. Another group of paintings include a bull and a cow, Maratha warriors riding horses, courtly women paying homage to a male figure, woman worshipping Shiva on the mountain. Some faded scenes include worship of Shiva, musicians, also duck and bird headed figures venerating a linga, rishis (sages), Parvati and a linga and warriors riding horses.

Glimpses of the murals

The murals are hundreds of years old. However, one can still marvel at the murals at the Big Temple and feel their majestic grandeur. As we have understood, the murals include, murals from the Chola, Nayaka and the Maratha times. Let us see a few of them.

Rajaraja I and his guru – This mural shows the king Rajaraja I with his guru, Karuvar Devar. This is a Chola period mural.

Majestic Murals At The Big Temple in Thanjavur Rajaraja with his guru — Rajaraja I and his guru, mural, 11th century. Wikimedia

Celestial dancers – A mural depicting celestial dancers is also from the Chola times. The dancers are well-coiffured and wearing pearl jewellery. Though faded over the years, the mural still fascinates with its vibrant colour scheme and is reminiscent of the Ajanta frescoes.

Majestic Murals At The Big Temple in Thanjavur Dancers mural 11th century — Dancers, mural, 11th century. Wikimedia

A ceiling fresco – The image shows a ceiling fresco at the Nandi pavilion with a lotus mandala in the centre, and four fantastic parrots in the corners around which is a vegetal scroll border. This was probably made under the Nayakas.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur-Nandi-pavilion-Brihadeeshwara-temple — Nandi pavilion, Brihadeeshwara Temple, Thanjavur. Wikimedia

An ornate ceiling mural, Nandi pavilion, 13th-17th century.

Majestic Murals At The Big Temple in Thanjavur Nandi pavilion Wikimedia

Goddess Kali – The fresco in the west colonnade depicts Goddess Kali with all her weapons and two attendants waiting over her with flywhisks.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur-Goddess-Kali — Goddess Kali with attendants, mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Goddess Saraswati – The goddess of learning is seen with Tamburu and Narada, celestial musicians in the west colonnade. She is holding her majestic veena seated against a bolster and is flanked by the musicians.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur-Saraswati — **Goddess Saraswati,** mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Marriage of Shiva and Parvati – The divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi is depicted with a standard in the middle. Mural in the west colonnade.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur Marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati — **Marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati**, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Shiva-linga – An ekamukha shiva linga with an elephant paying obeisance.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur Shiva-linga — **Shiva-linga**, mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

King spearing fish – An interesting mural probably depicting Ugra Pandya spearing fish in a river, mural in the west colonnade.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur A king with an arrow spearing fishes in a river — **A king with an arrow spearing fishes in a river**, mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Lord Ganesha – A mural shows the elephant headed God on his vehicle, mooshaka flanked by two attendants. His consorts Riddhi and Siddhi are seated by his side. mural in the west colonnade.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur-Lord-Ganesha,-mural — **Lord Ganesha**, mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Gajalakshmi – A mural of Gajalakshmi in a posture of blessing, seated against of bolster, flanked by two elephants.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur Gajalakhsmi mural — **Gajalakhsmi**, mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

Goddess Durga – A scene from the Devi Mahatmya showing Goddess Durga shooting arrows at demons.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur Goddess Durga fighting demons — **Goddess Durga fighting demons**, mural, Brihannayaki shrine, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

The Trinity– A mural depicting a multi armed Lord Shiva dancing the urdhva tandava. He is depicted with the four-armed blue God, Lord Vishnu and four headed Lord Brahma.

Majestic-Murals-At-The-Big-Temple-in-Thanjavur The Trinity — **The Trinity,** mural, 13th-17th century. Wikimedia

References –

Michell, George and Viswanathan Peterson, Indira/ The Great Temple at Thanjavur – One Thousand Years, 1010-2010, Mumbai: The Marg Foundation, 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihadisvara_Temple,_Thanjavur (accessed 3.08.2022)

10 Most Heart Warming Speeches by Indians

Aditi Bose

August 10, 2022

A great speech is not only about the words you speak but also about how you speak, including the tone and body language. What about a great speech that warms the heart? That goes a step further. It gives birth to myriad emotions within you and is remembered always.

Here are the top ten heart warming speeches made by Indians. Don’t be surprised if some ‘famous speech by an Indian’ does not make it to the list, as we have new entrants. It is because the criterion here is that it needs to warm the heart. The list is as per the year in which it was delivered.

Swami Vivekananda

“Each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality…”

Swami Vivekananda gave this speech at the World Parliament of Religions at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1893. His initial salutation, “Sisters and brothers of America” got a standing ovation from the 7000 plus present there. Not only did this speech introduce Hinduism to North America but also sought to explain the reason for disagreement between different religions. He also said that for Indians, religion was not the need of the hour and that he sought aid for the impoverished people of the land. His lecture left a deep impact on the Americans.

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Bal Gangadhar Tilak

“Freedom is my birthright. So long as it is awake within me, I am not old.”

In 1908, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was sentenced to six years imprisonment at Mandalay Jail in Burma for his rebellious writing. To revive the Nationalist Movement when he returned, he founded the Home Rule League in 1916. Together with Annie Besant, he toured the country telling people in simple language the meaning of home rule or Swaraj. Thus the nationalist spirit slowly began to see a re-awakening. Tilak gave this heartwarming speech, at the first anniversary of the formation of the Home Rule League, in 1917, at Nasik.

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Mahatma Gandhi

“We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.”

Mahatma Gandhi spoke these words on August 8, 1942 while addressing the A.I.C.C. at the Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August KrantiMaidan) in Bombay on the eve of Quit India movement. The words ‘do or die’ in the speech reinstates his strong belief in the fact that determined passive resistance was the best way to free the motherland from the British rule. The words were strong enough to make the people of the land rise up as one for freedom, causing uproar and eventual imprisonment of many. Read full speech here.

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Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

“Give me blood and I promise you freedom!”

Netaji said these words in Burma in July 1944. He escaped his house arrest in Calcutta in 1941 and escaped to Germany to establish the India Legion. But when he began to face difficulties he moved to Singapore where he started the Azad Hind force. This army fought the British but the campaign failed. Bose, however, refused to give up hope. He strongly believed that the British were fast losing ground and India would surely taste freedom soon. Thus was delivered Bose’s best-known speech which inspired the youth and became their anthem during India’s struggle for independence. Read the full speech here.

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Jawaharlal Nehru

“The light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere…Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the Father of the Nation, is no more.”

Jawaharlal Nehru delivered this moving speech extempore on 30th January 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The helplessness and the sorrow of the masses was reflected in his voice too when he spoke unrehearsed over All India Radio. The good orator that he was, his choice of words and phrases brings out the poise that he maintained even during the hour of sorrow. He also made a plea against communalism while asking the people to remain calm. Read the full speech here.

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Mother Teresa

“And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?”

In 1994, when Mother Teresa spoke at the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast, it startled many. Even though a nun, she didn’t shy away from offering definitive views on topics like abortion. In front of a gathering of over 3,000 people she criticized abortion even though two staunch supporters – President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore – sat right there, uncomfortably. Robert Dugan, an official of the National Association of Evangelicals said that her speech was “as bold a prophetic confrontation as I’ve ever witnessed.” Watch the full speech here.

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Narayan Murthy

“Most of our behaviour comes from greed, lack of self-confidence, lack of confidence in the nation, and lack of respect for the society”

In 2002, Narayan Murthy delivered this speech on The Role of Western Values in Contemporary Indian Society at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in Delhi. By comparing Indian and Western cultures, Murthy eloquently tells how the former lacks in civic sense. Through a didactic tone he urges the Indians to bring about a social change. He uses witty remarks and allusions. The urgency in his voice will make anyone sit up and listen to him. The words were honest, factual and inspiring. Read the full speech here.

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Sachin Tendulkar

“I know I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, prayed for me, done so much for me.”

Sachin Tendulkar played his last day of international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium. And millions witnessed the farewell speech of the ‘master blaster’ in 2013 after India sealed the series against West Indies. Everyone present including his mother and former colleagues were left emotional and misty eyed including the man himself who rarely lets any emotion show on his face. Sachin had surely hit a straight six into every one’s heart with his speech. Watch the full speech here.

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Rahul Dravid

“He was, primarily, like me, a No.3 batsman. It is a tough, tough job”

When Rahul Dravid spoke at the Sir Don Bradman Oration in Canberra in 2011, he became the first non-Australian to do so. His speech reflected his character – precise, erudite, meticulous and thoughtful. It was indeed heartening to hear the gentleman of Indian cricket speak about the greatest legend that the sport has ever seen. And when the occasion was over, the nature of conversation had changed. Instead of talking about the grand venue, it centered more around the speech and the speaker. While many adjectives have been used to describe this speech, the oft-repeated one has been ‘insightful’. Listen to the full speech here.

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Abdul Kalam

“We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others.”

In the speech that Abdul Kalam delivered at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad in 2011, he outlined his visions for India. He pleads his countrymen to become more involved in the nation-building process. And his speech gains credibility because he speaks about his experiences at the Indian Space Research Organization. He manages to unite the listeners by using the term ‘we’ instead of ‘I’. It is definitely one of his finest speeches because not only is it dignified throughout, but the words also pull you out of your comfort zone by the sheer simplicity and hard truth of it. Read the full speech here.

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13 Important Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Cscope Staff

August 9, 2022

Tips-for-Traveling-with-a-Baby-01 — Photo by Valeria Zoncoll on Unsplash

Travel can be an enlightening and eye-opening experience for children of all ages, introducing them to new cuisines, activities, and perspectives, as well as providing excellent family time. Traveling with children may be a daunting prospect – irregular schedules, large packing lists, and irritable children are just a few of the difficulties you may face. But don’t get rid of your flight tickets just yet! Continue reading this post for some helpful hints on how to make traveling with your infant easy and enjoyable. After all, you and your children should enjoy every moment of exploring the world and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Travel with the least amount of time and as much ease and comfort as possible

Journeys by car or train to the selected location should be simple and straightforward. Hilly and undulating roads, for example, going to remote hill stations, serpentine trails, or jungle resorts are not recommended while traveling with babies. Even if you’re driving, remember that the infant is too small to navigate the twisting, hilly, and tough roads. Prolonged travel makes them grumpy and uneasy, so select a place that can be reached in the shortest amount of time.

Choose between a direct flight or one with a lengthier stopover

It is vital for a parent of a baby or young child to limit the number of connecting flights. Landing is usually what causes air pressure on a baby’s ears, causing pain and crying in the aircraft. Furthermore, less time spent on travel implies only fewer opportunities for a mid-flight tantrum.

If you must arrange a connecting flight, allow for additional time on the ground between flights. Unless your flight is considerably delayed, two to three hours should be enough. You don’t want to be rushing through the airport while carrying a baby, diaper bag, car seat, and other travel necessities.

Layovers are perfect for getting some non-airplane food, changing a dirty diaper, and, most importantly, letting your kid run about and burn off some energy! Consider planning a connection with an 8-hour+ overnight stopover for long-haul flights. This allows your family to relax in a hotel before continuing to your destination.

Fly During Nap (or Happy) Time

Tips-for-Traveling-with-a-Baby-02 — Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

It may not always work, and your child may be too preoccupied to sleep, but scheduling flights around their nap time gives you a higher chance of a pleasant journey. If you can’t travel when they normally sleep, try to arrange the trip around times of day when you know they’ll be happy, which is generally in the morning for most newborns.

Bring double the baby necessities

Bring twice as much formula, diapers, bottles, baby food, and nutritious snacks as you think you’ll need on the aircraft. You’ll thank us if your flight is substantially delayed or canceled.

When flying, the last thing you want to deal with is a hungry, thirsty, messy infant. This is especially true if you are stranded on the runway, circling above a storm, or have to sleep in a hotel room for an unplanned overnight trip.

Protect your baby’s ears

Sucking or chewing relieves ear discomfort caused by fluctuations in cabin pressure. Bring along formula or pumped breast milk. Then, while the baby is properly secured, you may offer your infant a bottle throughout takeoff and landing.

Remember that breast milk and infant formula are exempt from the liquid restrictions. Bring sealed liquid formula or purchase a water bottle at the airport to combine with a powdered formula for formula-fed newborns.

If your youngster does not like bottles, a sippy cup or pacifier will suffice. Chewing on a cracker or cookie might also be beneficial to older babies and toddlers. You should also ask your physician to prescribe ear pain relievers before flying with your infant.

Keep any loose things in transparent bags

Bottles, bibs, burp cloths, diapers, clothes, and other baby necessities should all be put in zip locks of varying sizes so that you can readily obtain what you need. In this manner, even if anything from the outside, such as passports, documentation, or food trays, comes into contact with the contents of your essentials, they are still secured.

Consider a Light Itinerary

Infants are not well served by frantic travel arrangements and erratic tour itineraries. Going out every morning for a rigorous sight-seeing itinerary on a 5-day trip is not a good idea with babies. They are too young and fragile to handle the stress of travel. If you’re going on a beach vacation, plan to spend days there eating beach cuisine and creating sand castles. In short, plan your trip with minimal sightseeing and maximum leisure in mind.

Don’t forget entertainment

Bring a goody bag with some of your baby’s favorite toys and some surprises. Nesting toys, baby-proof mirrors, rattles, musical toys, soft animals, pop-up toys, plastic keys, and teething rings are all options. To make packing easier, only take a few. A portable play yard creates a quick, child-safe space that you can set up in relatives’ houses, motels, or other non-childproofed locations.

Choose hotels with kid-friendly amenities

When choosing a hotel, search for one with kid-friendly features such as a pool, playground, or Kids Club. This will assist to make everyone’s stay more pleasurable.

The majority of the establishments you’ll visit for the evening aren’t childproofed. That isn’t always an issue, but if you’re staying somewhere with easy access to chemicals or other potentially hazardous substances, it’s a good idea to have some locks on hand that you can quickly install. Kids might wake up at any time and you may not hear them open that one cupboard door! Corners, plugs, and other risks are almost everywhere – childproofing a hotel room simply takes a few minutes. If your room has windows, make sure they’re locked as well – especially if you’re above the first floor!

Maintain Simple Organizational Systems

Don’t let structure and regularity go simply because you’re on vacation. Routine is essential for newborns and for parents who need to keep the daily ship running smoothly. Feeding and sleeping patterns should be followed as much as possible during your trip. The daily check method is another organized approach that parents might use. Perform a daily supply check once a day. Know what you need, what you’re running low on, and where everything is. Spending 10 minutes on this means spending the next 23 hours and 50 minutes on pleasant activities!

Protect Valuables

When traveling with children, your mind will be in a million places at once. You’ll be worrying about if the diapers and wipes will last, if your kid will scream their head off mid-flight, where you put the backup pacifier, and a million other things that will divert your focus away from important details like where you kept the vehicle keys or other valuables. With all of the focus on the children, normal things like storing money and necessities slip by the wayside.

Pack Practical Baby Clothing Items

Resist the impulse to carry several newborn clothes for each day of your vacation. Yes, they’re all adorable and will look fantastic on your Instagram, but this is a baby, not Beyonce. Packing functional clothing items that are easy to wash, wrinkle, and may be interchanged with other apparel. Another great packing tip (for both babies and adults) is to roll clothing before packing. When compared to folded things, rolled clothing takes up less space in baggage and remains wrinkle-free. Don’t forget to include baby caps, swimsuits, sunscreen, and any other goods you may require depending on your destination.

Plan Ahead When You Can

Spontaneity can be tempting, but not when it comes to travel and infants. When traveling with little children, plan ahead of time as much as possible. Working ahead of time will save you a lot of worry and time once you go into holiday mode. Check in early for your trip, phone the hotel and ask them to store your baggage at the front desk if you will be arriving before check-in time, order an Uber before you leave the runway after landing; anything you can do ahead of time, do it!

While you may be nervous about traveling with a newborn, realize that you are capable of doing so. You and your child may now explore the world because you have the planning and organizing skills to help you get on the road or into the sky! As your child becomes used to the intricacies of travel, you may take regular vacations together and create lovely, lasting memories in the process. Make a plan, pack your belongings, and go have some fun!

Get Up and Move With These 4 Trendy Smartwatch Under 5000

Cscope Staff

August 8, 2022

When we are stuck with the dilemma of whether we would like to transition to a smartwatch, we often weigh the pros against the price. Early models of smartwatches, when they were just introduced to the masses, were priced higher than most analogue watches on the market. This has drastically changed since the models are now designed to be packed with features, fashionable and accessible to all. Therefore, you can easily invest in your smartwatch under 5000 today.

They have evolved from smart gadgets to a lifestyle essential in recent years. Apart from being able to pair to your smartphone, manage your phone calls, notifications and more, it can now look out for your health. One of the downsides of a modern, fast-paced, and stress-packed lifestyle is how it can detrimentally affect your health in the long run. They have built-in features that track your vitals and keep you in tune with your body. Therefore, if you want a smart companion that reminds you to get up and move and look out for yourself, the following options for a smartwatch under 5000 are the best place to start.

The Dual-Toned Wonder

When you are looking for a smartwatch under 5000, the Reflex 3.0 is one the best options on the market that money can buy. It is a budget option best suited for those debating making their first smartwatch purchase. This watch has an unconventional look, with its long-lined straight dial and futuristic edge. The watch comes with 10+ sports modes that you can choose from to suit your workout schedule or athletic activities. It has a Full-Touch colour display, which can help you scroll through several watch faces and your bodily vitals with the help of the BPM tracker, Sleep Tracker, Meditation alerts, Reminders and more.

Be Bold in Blue

This premium model has joined the ranks of the smartwatch under 5000, making it the perfect purchase for your fast-paced lifestyle. The Reflex Curv watch is named after its 2.5D Curved Display, which gives it a chic and luxurious finish. The seamless and stunning display makes for a great user interface that can make scrolling through the features even more fun. The watch is complete with an in-built Health Suite with a Sleep Tracker, SPO2 Tracker, a Body temperature monitor, a Heart Rate Monitor and more. It is designed to make your lifestyle more in tune with your body to balance work and fitness equally well. It also helps you take calls, texts, notifications, and reminders when you are away from your phone, making it a great smart companion.

Back in Black

The Reflex Smart is of the best options that you can go for when you are looking for a smartwatch under 5000. This watch comes with an Ultra VU display, giving it a futuristic and effortless edge over other watches. This smartwatch is great because it is designed to focus on your physical well-being with a Health Suite unmatched features and accuracy. It also comes with 11+ Sports Modes, making your workouts easier to keep track of. You will not have to worry about staying sedentary for too long, as the watch comes with a Pedometer which can help you track the amount of steps you walk in a day. The watch comes with several Watch Faces to choose from, where you can customise its look as per your liking or mood.

Retro Red

Another great option for a smartwatch under 5000, the Reflex Vox is the perfect companion to everything active and busy. The watch’s features are amply suited for every lifestyle, and the 1.69″ Display makes scrolling through these features even better. The 5ATM Water Resistance makes it extra durable, whereas the 10+ Sports Modes can help keep you active and updated regarding your fitness levels. The watch also has the quintessential Health Suite, which keeps track of your Heart Rate, SPO2 levels, Sleep and more. The smart virtual assistant, Alexa, is also enabled on this smartwatch to keep track of deadlines, reminders, and other notifications.

Buying a smartwatch under 5000 can be a great long-term investment you can make for the sake of your overall well-being in the foreseeable future. The prices of these smartwatches have become more and more affordable as the demand for these smart accessories keeps increasing. Hence you can invest in your smartwatch under 5000 and embark on a fitness-focused, stress-free life like never before.

Bamboo Rakhi-Making: Employment Generation Activity that Drives Eco-friendliness

Asit Bhagat

August 8, 2022

Characterizing the eternal bond between siblings, Raksha Bandhan is one festive occasion that Indian families celebrate joyously. In the weeks leading to the festival, you can find streets lined with rakhi stalls. Buyers are usually finical about designs and patterns, but not all are concerned about what a rakhi is made up of, who has made it, or how it has been made; most, importantly, if the rakhi is eco-friendly or not.

Somewhere in the hidden corner of the market, you can find eco-friendly rakhis. Mostly, these are made by NGOs. One such organisation is Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra (SBK), which has been working for the last twenty-seven years. It has been on the mission of empowering remote populations with employment opportunities and propagating environmentalism by promoting bamboo craft.

Capitalizing on the natural wealth of bamboo in remote pockets of Vidarbha, Sunil and Nirupama Deshpande started this ambitious project in 1995. Beginning the work in the Pandharkawada area of Yavatmal district, subsequently, the couple moved to Melghat – one of India’s remotest regions – located in the Satpura mountain range, in the Amravati district of Maharashtra. Since then, artisans of the organisation have been churning out beautiful, attractive, and delicately crafted rakhis along with other pieces of craft from bamboo.

Today, if you visit the craft centre of SBK in Lawada village in Melghat, you can find artisans from Lawada, Chitri, Dharni, Kotha and other nearby villages assiduously engaged in creating beautiful rakhis. Some are grating bamboo, a few plaiting the grated pieces, the most senior ones examining design perfections, while the rest are occupied in supportive functions. This is how intricate designs and patchworks for rakhis come into being.

Deshpande talks about how the activity was started. Initially, her husband mooted the idea, and a few interested people came to join the handicraft work. The skills transferred across households, from one family to another, as people began seeing the economic viability of the occupation.

The entire craft-making activities go for around six months – from March to August. “Some even earn to the tune of fifty to sixty thousand on an average during this period,” noted Deshpande while highlighting how Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra has succeeded in offering the local populace a good employment source.

The improving prospect of these artisans is also due to rising awareness amongst people towards eco-friendly products. “Our export of bamboo rakhis as well as other bamboo articles to foreign countries has increased. This year, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) exported our rakhis to around sixty countries, while we ourselves dispatched rakhis directly to the USA and Japan,” told Deshpande.

The artisans understand that a good rakhi is characterized by a good design. And so, before the operations commence for the new season, brainstorming sessions are conducted, where members put forward their design ideas. Filtering through these, finally, the best ones are chosen and a prototype is created. “This year, altogether, sixteen designs of rakhis have been conceptualized. Each rakhi mentions the name of the artisan who made it.”

When new members join the work, they are taken through training workshops. Also, to keep skills updated, refresher courses are carried out at regular intervals. The members of Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra also visit schools and conduct training workshops. Notably, there’s a huge demand for its rakhi-making kits from schools.

Despite the challenges of arranging funds for scaling up, SBK has been instrumental in successfully positioning these eco-friendly rakhis against unsustainable types in the market. “There’s a common misconception amongst people,” goes Deshpande, “that bamboo rakhis are costlier as compared to machine-made or Chinese rakhis. This is not true. Considering the efforts an artisan has to put in hand-making the articles, the price is always justified.” Her argument holds absolutely true if we compare bamboo rakhis with other types.

“Earlier quality has been an important concern for us, but with years of training, now we are making top-notch bamboo handicrafts.” Indeed, the export of these articles to international markets is enough to prove this fact.

Keeping up with the trend, the organisation has shifted from traditional marketing channels to modern channels. “This year, we launched our online store which will soon be operationalized,” informed Deshpande.

At present, people can buy bamboo rakhis made by Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra through WhatsApp. By adorning your sibling’s wrist with a bamboo rakhi, you can make the occasion more joyous and experience a sense of satisfaction that you have contributed to protecting nature. Finally, these are the rakhis that easily assimilate with nature when their lifecycle gets over.

You can place your order through WhatsApp on the mobile number +91 – 9545717614.

The Charm of Indian Ethnic Wear

Cscope Staff

August 7, 2022

When it comes to dressing for special occasions, there is a natural inclination towards ethnic outfits. Indian ethnic dresses are beautiful, graceful and feminine. In fact, they resemble works of art. The fall and feel of the fabric, embellishments, cuts, patterns and colors are all so well done. If the dress is properly worn, any lady can look stunning.

Festivals are incomplete without the perfect outfit that suits you best and that you will absolutely love. What makes these festivals more festive is the variety of clothing options. In addition, comfort plays a major role in your style.

Traditional and ethnic wear has always been popular during festive occasions like Navratri- a festival you will come across where you will see women wearing beautiful chaniya cholis. Diwali, Dussehra – Pathani suit and Salwar suits, Karwa Chauth mainly sarees and lehengas and Eid mostly shararas and palazzo suits.

Asians living abroad also prefer to dress up in traditional attire with a touch of innovative style during the festive season to enjoy the occasion in its truest spirit. Even people from western culture are now liking to wear and prefer trendy ethnic outfits. Today we have Indian Ethnic Wear Brands like Apella, Biba, Meena Bazaar, Kalki Fashion, The Indian Ethnic Co. who are redefining ethnic fashion and taking it to a global level.

Beauty of Ethnic Wear

Flash back to the 90s and remember the moment in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai when Rahul describes the sight of his friend Anjali with her daughter, the scene where Anjali is getting dressed for her engagement, her old look , her clothes transformed into mesmerising beautiful Indian ethnic wear. The way she wears her oxidised jewellery, bangles and maang tikka, how the beautiful dupatta flies and flaunts on her back.

Just imagine yourself in her place. It seems to be nothing short of a dream. Ah! So for a moment you might have experienced and feel like you were in another universe right . This is what we say is the magic and real beauty of Indian ethnic wear. That suddenly takes you to another world.

Undeniable Comfort

The perfect combination of colour, style, class and comfort is the way forward to wear your true elegance. Even in the quiet environment of your home, you can treat yourself to a pleasant appearance.

Indian ethnic wear is as comfortable and soothing as it is known to have elegance and glamour. Apart from special or festive occasions, this dress is very comfortable to wear at home while you can do your normal household chores. It will give you a graceful look, and also improve your appearance significantly. Even in the cosy surroundings of your home, these dresses will add unwavering charm.

Some Must Have Ethnic Wear 2022

1. Gorgeous Anarkalis

With the upcoming wedding season, Indian women can’t wait to drape themselves in trendy ethnic wear soon. Whenever you think of wearing stylish Indian ethnic wear for a wedding or a festive event, the first name that comes to our mind is an elegant Anarkali for women. If you want to look stylish and relaxed at the same time, anarkali salwar suits can be your best choice. This gorgeous outfit looks great on all body types with its sheer charm and elegant elegance. This is why ladies like to wear these clothes to enhance their style.

2. Shimmering Sharara Suits

Sharara suits are very popular among millennial women today, especially in Indian ethnic wear. They are a testament to elegance, culture and aesthetics, class and pure beauty when combined in an entire ensemble. You can buy plus size Sharara Suits online in several designs, patterns, colors, embellishments and styles. Style your dream shararas into your bridal wardrobe and claim maintenance and safe style.

3. Stunning Salwar-Kameez

Women in India are spoiled for choice when it comes to traditional Indian wear. From Sarees to Anarkalis and Kurtis to Cholis, there are a plethora of options to choose from. But the one outfit that tops every woman’s list is the evergreen salwar kameez. This versatile outfit is perfect for any weather, occasion and age group. If you mention salwar kameez to an Indian woman today, she will have her own opinion about it. With the evolving fashion, salwar kameez designs have also undergone several transformations. They can be paired with dupattas, scarves or chunnis.

4. Elegant Kurtis

Kurti is a versatile piece of clothing that can be tailored to suit any season or occasion. During the harsh Indian years, Cotton Kurtis are on everyone’s must-have and wear list due to their simple style and comfort level. There is no end to the variety when we talk about the patterns, embellishments and fabrics that are used in making a kurta. They are available in all kinds of styles, from short to long, from hand printed to extremely embellished and casual one with solid colors or prints. Kurti is the garment in a woman’s life that makes her fashionable and comfortable at the same time.

5. Stylish Long Dresses

From proms to your best friend’s wedding, long dresses have always saved the day with the elegance and poise they offer. Long dresses are easy to wear, easy to flaunt and definitely easy to play in !. Ethnic party dresses are even better because they have a desi touch. Ethnic dresses also come in rich materials like silk, satin and velvet. You can also add a dupatta of a minimalistic nature or a heavily elaborated dupatta as per your wish to enhance the dress.

6. Fabulous Lehenga Choli

Lehenga choli is one of the most amazing clothes that Indian women wear on various occasions. One of the best choices for festivals and Indian weddings, ladies love to twist themselves in flowing skirts and shimmering blouses. You can shop online for lehenga choli in many colors, designs, sizes and price tags.

Ethnic wear has a certain appeal. Ethnic wear, apart from providing a diverse range of alternatives, has aspects that elevate fashion to a whole new level. You can look amazing even in a plain suit. If you prefer Indian costumes, you can grab attention by wearing a beautifully designed lehenga. Ethnic wear embraces your soul and also makes you feel secure.

Add a Touch of Bling to Your Fashion with Dainty Rings for Women

Cscope Staff

August 3, 2022

You can spend bucks to get an expensive manicure done and apply the best nail shades, but it will still lack something to make your hands look prettier and elevate your look. My friends, nothing can ever make your hands look prettier as much as a ring does.

Rings for women are designed for everyone, irrespective of the fact that you are married or not. They come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common, i.e., they’re dainty. The rings for women have a delicate appearance to make any woman feel special. The rings for women are also versatile and can be worn with any outfit.

Dainty rings for women are all the rage these days. They help to add a bit of bling to any outfit. So, whether you are looking for a small ring to wear on your fingers or something a little more extravagant, there is one out there for you.

With dainty jewellery, there are endless possibilities for mixing, matching, and layering that you must try. Here are a few trips and tricks that you can follow to elevate your look with dainty rings for women:

Wear on Multiple Fingers

Styling a dainty ring is just fun. You can wear as many rings for women as you want to without creating the bulkiness of larger pieces. For this, you can style it on different fingers. You can layer a couple of rings for women on your index finger and then throw one on your middle and ring fingers. And voila, you are done. Isn’t it just an easy-peasy and super cute trick to elevate your look without any effort?

You just have to mix up the number of rings for women on each hand. Don’t worry about the imbalance, as a little imbalance can sometimes be an asset to your look. But remember, don’t accent all five fingers. If you leave at least of your finger unadorned, your stacked rings for women will look much more intentional and cohesive.

Vary the Ring Styles and Weights

Dainty-Rings-for-Women-01 — Image Source: Mia by Tanishq

With the dainty rings for women, you can mix up the style by wearing a couple of bands along with small signet rings for women. For the most fashionable look, you can wear a mix of dainty rings for women with bulky rings for women. Some of the typical styles that you can mix and match include:

Signet rings for women
Bands
Wedding Set
Heirloom Jewellery
Gemstone-set rings for women

While layering up the rings for women, you must consider how they will feel on your hands and what type of activities you’ll be doing after layering up. Say, if you type all day, you will have to space out the layering of your rings for women so that your jewellery doesn’t clink together, which will wear them down faster.

Play With Ring Placement

To create a visually intricate and balanced ring stack, you must play around with how you place your rings for women. With rings for women of different sizes and shapes, you can make a ring stack to look simply incredible. To create the best look, you must experiment with the different rings for women based on types, size, and looks for a few minutes and see which rings for women look good together. Some people like to wear all gold or all silver, but don’t limit yourself, try new things, and if it looks good, do it.

With the dainty rings for women, you can easily mix and match and add a touch of bling to your fashion in just no time.

Buy Dainty Rings for women From the Best

While choosing a ring for yourself, you must ensure that you only buy from the best. Go for reputed brands to protect yourself from scams.

MIA by Tanishq is the best jewellery brand that is an embodiment of trust, faith and reliance. You can pick the best design according to your preference. In addition, Tanishq offers a wide range of rings for women to spoil you with their options.

Head to Mia by Tanishq and satisfy all your needs at the best prices possible!

A Deep Dive into the Lal Par Saree from West Bengal

Rupsha Sen

July 29, 2022

Nothing is more lovely or appealing than a traditional Indian saree, no matter how modern or westernized our country grows. Indian attire has long been associated with elegance, modesty, and grace. And with good reason! We have dozens of distinct sarees and even more ways to drape them because to our country’s diverse culture. Durga Puja is approaching, and it is the most important occasion for Bengalis to dress up in their best attire. This pujo is associated with the lal par sada sari, which is a prominent attraction of the event and is worn by practically every Bengali woman.

What is the significance of red and white?

What is the significance of Lal Par saree — Image- Pinterest

Bengali women regard the colour combination of red and white to be particularly auspicious. White represents purity, while red represents her fertility. A married woman’s preferred outfit for devotional gatherings, religious rituals, and commemorative functions is a white or off-white saree with a red border and pallav. These sarees are frequently adorned with white conch shell bangles (known as “shakha”) and red coral bangles (known as “pola”), as well as crimson sindoor on the forehead, all of which are indicators of her marital status.

Red and white sarees come in a variety of colours and patterns:

Information on Lal Par saree from West Bengal — Image- Pinterest + Pinterest

Tant sarees: In this combination, the sarees typically have a white or off-white cotton foundation, a red border with gold zari work, an artistic pallav, and little red patterns sprinkled across the entire body.

Jamdani sarees have a sheer white cotton or silk-cotton basis with fine red motifs woven all over the body for a spectacular finish. Traditional themes range from simple polkas to more intricate paisley and floral designs.

Garad and Garad-Korial: The garad saree has a plain white silk foundation with a large crimson border and a striped pallav. Striped borders and little red motifs woven across the white foundation of the saree are common variations. Garad-korial sarees are more ornate, with intricate designs woven into the body and pallav in red or gold. Garad sarees are made of exceedingly fine silk with a papery feel.

Tussar: Tussar silk sarees have a golden gloss and a beige or off-white foundation. The pallav contains beautifully woven red designs, and the borders are crimson or red-gold. Traditional tussar silk sarees include patterns that are very similar to tant sarees.

Muslin sarees are finer and more exotic variations of jamdani sarees. The saree’s white foundation is exceedingly light and sheer, and it’s embellished with fine crimson weavings for a sumptuous look.

Korial-Banarasi: These are sumptuous silk sarees with a velvety white or off-white foundation with magnificent gold/silver decorations on the red border and pallav, which are typical of Banarasi silks.

Lal-Par-saree-info — Image Courtesy – Suta

Baluchari: Baluchari silk sarees in red and white are really beautiful to drape and look at. Red designs illustrating tales from epics and religious literature cover the borders and pallav in meticulous detail. The creamy white background enhances the beautiful borders, which are sometimes woven with subtle red designs. A splash of gold zari among the red weavings might add to its opulence.

Red-and-white sarees come in a variety of textures and price points. The most basic cotton sarees cost a few hundred rupees, while the most beautiful silks might cost several thousands. One might select an acceptable saree based on their budget, personal preferences, and the significance of the event for which they intend to wear it.

Leopard Pro Gaming Laptop for Game Heads

Cscope Staff

July 25, 2022

Modern computer equipment for various purposes can be identical in design and size but, at the same time, vary significantly in price. Sometimes, one quick glance is enough to understand how a gaming laptop differs from a regular one. Playing alone is fun. But it’s much more fun to get together with friends and face difficulties jointly.

A gaming laptop can enable the user to launch multiple resource-intensive programs at once and play contemporary competitions with realistic visuals without experiencing any lag. The external differences between a special laptop and a regular one immediately give out that you have a device with powerful “hardware” stuffing in front of you.

The difference between a gaming laptop and a regular one is immediately visible:

More weight is required because the device is equipped with powerful structural components, necessitating the use of a more efficient thermoregulation system.
Overall dimensions. Additional coolers, several memory sticks, a video card — all this must be somehow hidden in the case.
Futuristic design without reference to time.

Puzzles force players to think and find solutions to challenging situations, which stimulates the brain to work, think, and grow. Today, you can play online with the Game Karma platform or think about a powerful laptop to have real fun.

The Taiwanese manufacturer MSI has introduced a powerful competitor to all gaming laptops — the MSI GP62M 7REX model. The first thing that catches your eye is the bright design of the case, which hides powerful hardware. When you turn it on, you will appreciate the pleasant multi-colored keyboard, straight lines, and user-friendly interface. The laptop is fairly competitive when it comes to gaming PC. Expensive devices have extended acoustic systems, that is, an increased number of speakers and a subwoofer. This allows you to create the effect of complete immersion.

When choosing, the first thing a user pays attention to when purchasing a device for games is a processor. The laptop’s speed will be appreciated by both players and office workers, as well as graphics specialists. Although there are two slots available, and the volume can be greatly increased, the default RAM size is 8 GB. The manufacturer decided not to supply the device with a DVD drive, which is practically not used today. Instead, there is a slot in which you can plug an SSD drive. The gadget has a contemporary processor, which is capable of handling demanding jobs and the rendering process. Furthermore, the architecture, cache size, and the number of cores are critical. The video card is responsible for the smoothness of the picture, clarity, and elaboration of textures. A very important parameter is the amount of video memory.

Video features of the new model will please any user:

Installed discrete video chip.
The almost 16-inch display and FullHD extension provide a clear picture.
Processor handles complex video processing tasks.

You will also be pleased with the color reproduction of the screen: there is no need to connect a second monitor or complex color calibration.

The benefits of the Leopard Pro model are:

Portability: the laptop weighs a little more than 2 kg, it is convenient to carry while traveling, on tours, and business trips.
No overheating: the device copes with complex tasks, does not overheat, and does not turn off.
Functional interface: there are 4 USB outputs, including Type-C. There is also a built-in card reader, an HDMI port, and a Mini-Display.

You can always play online if you don’t have the money to get a dependable capable device just now. Just go to Game Karma, find the simulations you like, and immerse yourself in the exciting process. On the website, there are more than 300 categories, allowing everyone to find what they’re looking for.

Intrinsic Folk Dances of South India You Must Experience

Tasneem Sariya

July 25, 2022

Folk-Dances-of-South-India — Theyyam – Wikimedia

The practice of folk dances showcases the culture of a region, accentuates their legends and folklore, reiterates their history and also serves as performative gestures of offerings to the gods. The diversity of India boasts of an innumerable variety of dance forms. These have grown and have been nurtured for years giving prominence to the people. The sense of artistry, respect, and attachment to traditions are evident in the ardent performances.

The southern region of India is a trove of splendid and intrinsic folk forms of art. Today, we explore the brilliant assortment of talent, music, and color, and heritage that have been thriving in South India.

Mayilattam, Tamil Nadu

Folk Dances of South India- Mayilattam — Source- Wikimedia

The peacock dance of Tamil Nadu, Mayilattam, brings upon the platform performers who are dressed in costume. The attires are adorned with movable beaks and elegant plumes. They pay tribute to Lord Subrahmanya’s most sincere attendant, the peacock.

Mayilattam is an extremely difficult form of dance that imitates the graceful style of the bird. The dancers require unfaltering focus and exquisite skill to execute the gliding movements. Wearing a piece of wood attached to each of their feet makes the performance more difficult. This artistic dance is usually performed in the temples of Lord Subrahmanya or the Murugan temples.

Kummi, Tamil Nadu

In the region of Tamil Nadu, the Kummi dance is performed by women, who dance in circles and to the rhythm of their claps. This ancient folk dance does not need the accompaniment of a musical instrument. The performers sing their songs and move to their gracefully synchronized lively beats. Other than familial ceremonies and occasions, it is performed during religious festivals. Harvest festivals like Pongal and the nine-nights-long Navratri are some of the important events.

Garadi, Tamil Nadu

One of the main festivals held in Puducherry, the Garadi dance is performed in acrobatic style. Dancers are dressed as monkeys and produce similar movements and style. It originated from the great epic Ramayana, when the army of the monkeys in Sugreev performed this dance to celebrate their Lord’s victory and his safe return with his wife, Sita. The dancers wear ten iron rings called ‘Anjali’ on each leg and dance to the beat of the ‘Ramadolus’ drums. The intricate performances last for up to five or eight hours and often throughout the night.

Padayani, Kerala

Folk Dances of South India Padayani — Image – Wikimedia

Padayani is a folk dance that is regarded as a communal activity where the locals take part in the preparations. It is performed in the Bhadrakali temples, in places like Kottangal, Othara, and Kadammanitta, in south Kerala. This intensive performance is inspired by mythology. Commemorating the dance that was performed by Lord Shiva to appease a raging Goddess Durga, after she defeated the demon, Darika. The performers are required to take rigorous training to maintain their physical agility and strength.

Following a special diet routine that enhances the cleansing of the spirit and the physique is also a part of it. They wear spectacular masks and headgear, elaborately decorated with paintings done on the leaves of the areca nut palm. These terrific masks, called ‘Kollam’, are representations of spiritual energies and divine characters. These can be seen in the Ganapathi Kolam, the Yakshi Kolam, the Pakshi Kolam, the Pishachu Kolam, and the Bhairavi Kolam. The exciting songs of the Padayani performance enchant the atmosphere through instruments like the Chenda and the Kaimani.

Oyilattam, Tamil Nadu

Folk Dances of South India Oyilattam — Image – Wikimedia

Oyilattam is a folk dance that originated in the southern region of Tamil Nadu. It is performed during festivities and important occasions. Initially it was only performed by men. Oyilattam requires the performers to move to the rhythm and harmony of the percussion instrument Thavil. With colorful kerchiefs or flags held in their hands and bells tied around ankles, the dance is a bright spectacle of jingles and vibrancy that demands powerful and intricate leg movements. Performed with enthusiasm, the primary themes are molded from the ancient epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It divulges to the audience knowledge and wisdom that are passed onto the next generations.

Theyyam, Kerala

Theyyam-Folk-Art-Kerala-02 — Image – Dhruvaraj S via Flickr

Majestic artistry, detailed adorning and ritual folk dance of absolute splendor define the Theyyam performances popular in north Kerala, specially Kolathunadu. Through graceful mime and uplifting music, the dance brings to life the stories of ancient times that are special to the culture of the State. It is believed to be a way to appease and make peace with the gods who ensure good harvest and prosperity in return.

The performers of Theyyam belong to communities like Vannan, Malayan, Anjunnoottan, and Kopalar to name a few. The first part which is the introduction to the Theyyam performance is known as Vellattam or Thottam. The wonderful dance is accompanied by the ceremonious music of Chenda, Veekan Chenda, Ilathalam, and Kuzhal.

There are over four hundred sets of Theyyam performances, each with their unique music and style that shape their story. The most prominent among these are Raktha Chamundi, Theechamundi, Muchilottu Bhagavathi, Wayanadu Kulaven, and Gulikan. Every performer gives diligent attention to represent and depict the legends of heroes as well as honor the spirits of their ancestors. Their flamboyant costumes and gorgeous makeup are both daunting and sublime.

It encompasses the colors and tradition of Kerala. The ornamented headgears stun the audience into awe, and none can take their eyes off the splendid stage. The paraphernalia of the dance, comprising facial make-up, costumes, and ornaments, all depend on the nature of the Theyyam performance.

Theru Koothu, Tamil Nadu

Folk Dances of South India- Theru Koothu — Source – Flickr

The street theater of Theru Koothu, mainly performed in the villages of Tamil Nadu. It is inspired and derived from the Puranas, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana. The narrative and dialogues ary improvised and songs and music prevail through the performance. The play is led by a Sutradhara or director called ‘kattiakaram’.

It includes stock characters like that of the buffoon or ‘komali’ for entertainment. Most of the melodies are based on Carnatic Ragas. These are produced across an orchestra of instruments including drums, pipes, and cymbals. The costumes and makeup of the actors are ostentatious and extravagant. Vivid colors are used to paint the face of some of the characters. There are ornamental designs flourishing the headgear, jacket, and lower garments or skirts. The classical ‘lokadharmi’ mime is incorporated for the acting technique and the scenes often include enactment of gore and violence.

Suggester Read – The Beautiful Art Forms Of Tamil Nadu

Since recent years, there has been an increasing priority on monetizing such performances. Despite the restraints, the performing groups do not lack in spiritual devotion and showcase the rich heritage of their culture. These dancers and musicians are not just talented, but also take pride in their hard work to include minute details of significance in the performances.

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