August 2022

Festival

Ancient Ganesh Temple In Chhattisgarh

August 29, 2022 No Comments

Ancient Ganesh Temple On Chhattisgarh Blog Cover picture source by Google Image

Chhattisgarh in India is now one of the most trending destinations for all travel lovers. Chhattisgarh is a heavily forested state in central India known for its ancient temples and waterfalls. Dholkal Hill Ganesh Mandir (Temple) is now a trending destination for all travelers. This temple is one of the old ancient temples in India. The 1100-year-old this small, mysterious shrine is located atop a hill in the middle of a dense forest In the Dantewada district, about 350 km from Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The small hill shape resembles a dhol (Indian drum), and hence, it became popularly known as Dholkal. I didn’t know if this temple is man-made or if some mystery had happened. But this temple’s location and its scenic beauty attracted everyone. A great treat for all nature lovers. Chhattisgarh is now one of the most important names in India’s travel books.

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Chhattisgarh The Untouched Melody

Sliced off from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh is one of the newest states of India, but one of the oldest enclaves, thriving with ancient traditions and customs. Weekly Haats (markets), ancient temples, dense and deep jungles, frothing waterfalls, a well-defined spiritual circuit, and intriguing customs are some of the things that awaken travelers to a new but old era.

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The Myth Of The Ancient Temple

As per the mythology, folks believe, a battle occurred between Lord Ganesha and Sage Parashurama on Dholkal hill a long time back. This was a fierce battle in which Parashurama attacked Ganesha with his farsa (ax) and cut one tooth of Ganesha. That’s why Ganesha is known as “Ekdant“. The village nearest to the hill is named Faraspal (the name derived from Parshuram’s weapon). It is also said that, because Parshuram’s farsa fell here, the Bailadila mountain range became rich in iron ore.

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11th Century’s Open Air GaneshTemple

According to history, In memory of the battle between Parashurama and Ganesha, the kings of Chindak Nagvanshi dynasty set a stone idol of Lord Ganesha on the hilltop in the 11th century. The 2.5 to 3 ft idol has been carved in the shape of a Dholak (musical instrument) hence, the hill has been named Dholkal. The idol depicts Ganesha seated in his typical Lalit asana or playful and easygoing posture. It’s an open-air temple. The local villager worships the idol of Ganesha throughout the year, and a special fair has held at this site in the month of Magha, between January-February.

The Journey

The most interesting part about the ancient temple is its journey. Raipur to Jagdalpur is 300 km and Jagdalpur to Dantewada town is another 80 km. Both private cabs and public buses are easily available from Raipur to Jagdalpur and Dantewada. Dantewada town to Faraspal village is 18 km away and Faraspal to Dholkar hill another 5 km trekking in the dense jungle it would help you immensely to hire the service of a local guide to make your way through the dense conifer forests. So let’s celebrate the Ganesh festival.

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Most Popular Dance Form In Kerala

August 26, 2022 No Comments

Dance Form In Kerala Cover Pictures source By Google Image

Kerala has always been a popular destination for tourists and travelers. Yet, as you journey deeper into the state, it opens up. It offers a rich tapestry of art, music, and equally dance to those who seek it. And it is not wrong to say, Kerala is a sanctum of Art. The Indian cultural heritage and equally religious influence have been the main source of birth to many art forms in this land. Known as “God’s own country in India.

Kerala has around 50 forms of dance. Among these Theyyam, Puli kali, Nangiar Koothu, Koodiyattam, and Ottan Thullal are some of the prominent dance forms. Kerala is also famous all over the world for these two unique dance forms of Kathakali and Mohiniyattam.

Many of these art forms draw from stories of epics, ancient folklore, and even more tales from everyday life. And these include exquisite forms with mudras (Finger and palm movements) and also vivid expressions.

Also Read: Ancient Ganesh Temple In Chhattisgarh

Makeup Is An Important Art

Make-up is an integral part of several different Kerala dance forms, be it Kathakali, Theyyam, or Ottan Thullal, so much so that it’s taught as a separate discipline at the Kerala Kalamandalam. The make-up process is elaborate also, the colors, usually natural, are extracted from flowers, leaves, stones, and soot, and prepared with a coconut oil base. The predominant color of green is used to depict good, as well as white for spirituality, red for passion, and black for evil.

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Kathakali Dance

A classical art form, it has its origins almost 1,500 years ago in the southern state of Kerala. Kathakali is a perfect combination of dance, drama, music, and religious theme. Kathakali is one of the oldest styles of world theatre. In Malayalam (the local language of Kerala), Kathakali means Story-Play, “Katha-Story” and “Kali-Play”. Usually, men are performing this dance.

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Mohiniyattam

Mohiniattam dance from Kerala — Google Image

A famous and elegant classical dance form of Kerala called Mohiniyattam involves graceful movements. Mohiniyattam is a blend of Bharatanatyam and also Kathakali, as it uses the elements of these dances. This dance is very elegant as it has gentle and graceful movements even though along with mesmerizing eye movements. Only solo women perform this classical dance. As the name itself says, Mohini means a maiden’ and Yattam means ‘dance’.

Theyyam Dance

The most interesting fact about Kerala’s art form is that the majority of these have evolved from temple rituals involving the mythological stories of gods and goddesses. Theyyam, one of these types of rituals of North Kerala which said to have 400 variations. Mudras and the facial expressions of the performer enthrall the audience throughout the performance.

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Koodiyattam Dance

A traditional performing art form, Koodiyattam is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre and Koothu, a Tamil performing art dating from the Sangam era, the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Koodiyattam is a famous temple dance art form.

Ottan Thulla Dance

One of the other lesser-known dance forms of Kerala. Whilst in make-up, dress, and movements, it resembles Kathakali, borrowing from the famous dance that was once meant for the upper echelons of society. This ancient art form used to be presented to criticize the kings and leaders of society humorously. This solo performer wears green make-up and elaborates costumes and entertains the audience with hand movements, expressions, and also jumping to evoke laughter from the audience. Ottan thullal needs as well as attention to be preserved as a valuable art form of Kerala as it’s slowly losing its value and existence in the modern era

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Nangiar Koothu Dance

Nangiar Koothu or Nangiar koothu is an allied traditional art of Kutiyattam, an age-old Sanskrit drama tradition of India. This dance form, Sree Krishna Charitham, was presented by a female performer in the temples. Mudras and the facial expressions of the performer enthrall the audience throughout the performance.

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Puli Kali Dance

It is a recreational folk art from the state of Kerala. Performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam. The annual harvest festival, to entertain revelers, mainly in the Thrissur district of Kerala. Pulikali means “play of the tigers”, Pulikali performances revolve around the theme of tiger hunting. The performing artists sport bright body paintings of tigers and hunters in yellow, red, and black.

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My Relationship With Travelling & Sleep

August 24, 2022 No Comments

Sleep is a very little but wonderful word. Without good sleep, we cannot think well. I have heard from many people that they have insomnia and use sleeping pills to sleep. I don’t have insomnia, but sometimes I don’t sleep at night for various reasons or excitement. When I can’t sleep at night, my hand goes to the book still on the bed first. I haven’t found such a good sleeping pill to date. Honesty, I have a long habit of sleeping with a book. I love traveling. And my relationship with travel starts with my sleep.

Also Read: Ancient Ganesh Temple In Chhattisgarh

Connection With My Traveling & Sleep

It is a funny incident in my life. I was 14. A travel journal from the newspaper brought sleep to my eyes that night. Once I went to a marriage house, and after talking for a long time, everyone fell asleep slowly. But I couldn’t sleep at all. I was in great trouble as there was no book. I did not understand what to do! Suddenly, the food covers started flying around. ( In India, there is a trend of covering food containers with newspapers during wedding ceremonies or events). I collected and cleaned several paper pieces from there and kept them beside the bed with great joy. I started reading those writings with great happiness, and after a short while, I fell asleep. And that was the first travel journal I ever read.

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Collecting Newspaper Cutting

It is still my favorite thing to save the newspaper’s cutting special travel-related journals. We still have many old papers cut in our house. My mother often has to scold me for the paper load of the house. I didn’t know then what to do with those papers, but I liked to keep them. But one important thing, those papercutting journals are helpful in my travel life now. And they are still my companion for many nights. These are my sleeping pills. They paint new exciting places for me. They make me calm and happy as a bedtime story does. It gives me a dream about new places. You can try them. It has no side effects.

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My Good Sleep Always Helps My Traveling

Good sleep is essential for a kick-start day. When you dream about the places you read about, you keep thinking about those. Your desire becomes strong to visit those places. The desire lead you to plan. Planning keeps your brain occupied. The occupied brain becomes tired and goes off to bed. One day the plan reaches execution. And there you go to your dream place. So see, that’s what I was telling you. Sleep has an intense relation with travel.

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Reading Is My Sleeping Pills

Many people take sleeping pills, but once they get the taste of a reading habit, it is difficult to leave it. Sleep is a sweet thing. If you hug her with love, she will love you back. It gives you many dreams which you would love to fulfill. Like I got mine, traveling.

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Travel

Unique Story Of Baba Mandir – Sikkim

August 15, 2022 No Comments

Many interesting places in India have only developed from human beliefs and myths. Later people’s faith and respect turned that place into a unique one. Baba Mandir in Sikkim, India is such that kind of unique place. People believe that Baba Harbhajan Singh died while on duty. And his demise does not stop him from doing his duties. Until Harbhajan Singh’s retirement age, the Indian army sent his salary to his family every month. Every year his belongings are sent to his family in Punjab when Army officers are on holiday. His life story motivated us. Indian Government establishes a temple in his honor in Sikkim. This temple is called Baba Mandir.

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Sikkim

If you can’t find peace in any place, head to Sikkim. It’s the place where you will truly believe in the goodness of nature and humanity. The state of Sikkim, nestled in the North-Eastern part of India, isn’t exactly on the tourist radar. But it should be. The state has so much to offer to visitors. You will fall short of words to describe its natural beauty.

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Baba Harbhajan Singh -Hero of the Indian Army

Sikkim Baba Mandir — Baba Harbhajan Singh

The temple of Baba Harbhajan Singh of East Sikkim has been built through various mysteries and stories. This temple located at an altitude of 13,123 ft in conjunction with Nathula Pass and Jelepla Pass is just about 52 km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Baba Harbhajan Singh is revered as the “Hero of Nathula” by soldiers of the Indian army. He was born to a Sikh family on 30th August 1946 in Punjab, Harbhajan joined the Indian Army at the age of 20. He was posted at the border. On 4th October 1968, while escorting a mule column from his battalion headquarters at Tukla to Deng Chukla, he slipped and fell into a fast-flowing stream and got drowned. The army searched for his body for three days but didn’t find it. It is believed that one of his Sepoy friends was informed in his dream about the exact location of his body with his wish to be cremated there with full military honors. He was accorded the status of a saint(Baba) by the Indian Army. Later a memorial was built at the cremating spot which came to be known as Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir.

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Beliefs And Myth About Baba Mandir

• The people of Sikkim and Indian Army officers still believe that even after the death of Baba Harbhajan Singh, his soul is still working in the border areas.
• Any army official not maintaining clean and disciplined attire is punished with a slap by Baba himself. This shows how disciplined he was all his life.
• It is also believed that water kept at the Baba Harbhajan shrine becomes capable of curing ailing persons. Devotees, therefore, leave bottles of water in the name of ailing people and then give this blessed water to the sick.
• There is a belief in the army that Baba will warn them of an impending attack at least three days in advance.

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In Honor Of Baba Harbhajan Singh

• Every year on 11 September, a jeep departs with his personal belongings to the nearest railway station, New Jalpaiguri, from where it is then sent by train to the village of Kuka, in the Kapurthala district of Punjab. A small sum of money is contributed by soldiers posted in Nathula to be sent to his mother each month.
• The Army is on high alert when Baba is on leave.
• During flag meetings between the two nations at Nathu La, even the Chinese Army set a chair aside to honor him.

The End Story

Captain Harbhajan Singh retired from the army a few years back. Indian army hadn’t promoted him from Sepoy to captain. One important thing is that his family never received a salary every month from the Indian Army directly. But the soldiers there created a fund in his honor which raises money for his family. In 2005, he was scheduled to retire.

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Travel

Rwandan People Go To Bar But Not For Alcohol

August 10, 2022 No Comments

When people all over the world go to bars when they have little time, for their favorite booze or alcohol. But the Rwandan People of Africa do the same thing, they also go to the bar daily to drink milk. Rwanda is famous for its milk bar culture and tradition all around the country. Every bar in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, becomes crowded in the morning. Lots of motorcycles and cycles are parked in front of every bar. And inside the bar, people have a glass of milk of their choice. And it’s the daily morning ritual and tradition of those people. Whenever a customer enters the bar, the milk bar owner smiles and said Mwaramutse – good morning in Kinyarwanda (The Offical language in Rwanda).

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Milk Bar Helps Socialize People

From children to young to old, all kinds of people come to these milk bars.

Some are eating beans with bread here, some are sitting with doughnuts or cakes. The interesting thing is that everyone is drinking the same thing here and that milk. Almost the same scene in all the milk bars throughout the city in Rwanda.

These milk bars constantly help to socialize different people and different communities. They like to meet for breakfast or lunch, to socialize with people from different backgrounds. They all enjoy having a good time and cheering together but the most common thing is the glass of milk in everyone’s hands.

Kuruhimbi Milk Businesses

Kuruhimbi is one of the most famous milk bar franchises in Kigali. This bar doesn’t serve a drop of liquor or alcohol Instead, milk is on tap. With the popularity of the Kuruhimbi milk bar, many similar milk bars are made all over the country. At the same time, there is a growing demand for milk businesses and milk products across Rwanda.

The menu is simple. Poured from a vast metal drum in the corner of the shop, frothy cups of milk are served hot or cold, with snacks such as cake, bread, and boiled eggs. Ikivuguto, the thick fermented milk, is one of Kuruhimbi’s specialties.

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The Tradition Of Rwandan Wish

In Rwanda, you will say if you want to wish someone well you say ‘Gira Nika’ means may you have a cow or “amashyo” (have thousands of cows), and you’ll hear the response, “amashongore” (have thousands of female cows). When you want to express profound gratitude, you say, “nguhaye inka” which means I give you a cow.

The milk bar is unique to Rwanda. Cows are intrinsic to Rwandan culture and heritage. About 70 percent of the population in this country is engaged in the agriculture sector.

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Travel

Unique Story- Of 7 Indian Villages

August 8, 2022 No Comments

Many places around the world are famous over the globe for their unique story, culture, and tradition. India is a land of stories, so the variety of colorful cultures and traditions also surprise people all over the world. And all these stories and traditions are found mainly in Indian villages. The moral of the story is, that the village is the soul of India. The economic system of India depends maximum on the villages. Each village has different storytelling, which makes that village, unique in India.

The villages in India that I am referring to here have retained their unique traditions over the years.

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1: Mattur, Karnataka (The Sanskrit Village)

The Mattur is famous in India as Sanskrit Village. Karnataka’s, Mattur is a quaint village located 300 km from Bangalore. It’s a rare village in India because Sanskrit spoke a regional language considered Sanskrit as Dev Bhasha (The language of the gods in ancient India). And it is said that many regional languages are born from this Sanskrit language. At this modern time, Sanskrit is becoming a dead language in India. But about 5000 inhabitants of this Mattur village still speak Sanskrit for generations. The village inhabited by people from the Brahmin community for the past 600 years. The villagers know Kannada and Tamil, but they prefer the ancient Sanskrit language in their lives. Keeping a very old language alive is truly a unique story.

2: Shetphal, Maharashtra ( The Village Of Snakes)

The people of this village worship snakes. Shetphal is a remort village in Maharashtra located 200 km from Pune, in the Sholapur district. A unique tradition in this village is where the snakes, mainly Cobra, roam around freely. These poisonous snakes can see in every household in this village. There is a separate place for this snake in every villager’s house. The inhabitants of this village believe a strong story, that worshipping these snakes makes them happy and prosperous in life. So no one from the children to the elders of this village is afraid of these poisonous snakes. They respect this cobra snake. The short story is snakes have also merged with these people. And this snake never bites any resident of this village.

3: Barwaan Kala, Bihar ( The Village Of Bachelors)

The Village of Bachelor earned the title for this Barwaan Kala village in Bihar. The sad story is, that no one has been married in this village for the last 50 years. The reason is mainly the lack of infrastructure and amenities that no father wants to marry his daughter to anyone in this village. In 2017, the first marriage took place in this village after a decade. That became possible only when the groom, with the help of the villagers, built about a 6 km stretch of road, cutting through the hills and forest. But at this moment, the situation in this village has changed a lot. Indian Village is gradually becoming modern and along with it the perception of people is also changing. So people are now coming out of the old tradition and thinking in a new way.

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4: Shani Shingnagpur, Maharastthra ( TheStory Of Doorless Village)

The unique heritage of this village in Maharashtra creates a powerful story of this village.

Shani Nagpur is a small village in Maharashtra. People in this village live the same life as other villages in Maharashtra. But the unique story is that there is no door in the house of the residents of this village. Shani Shingnagpur is famous in India as a Doorless Village. Here villagers avoid their security because of their undying faith in Lord Shani, the god of Saturn, this God is considered the Guardian of the village. Needless to say that villagers are never feeling unsafe. Anyone can walk into your home or shop in this village, as there are no doors and no locks. Moral of the story no one will steal. If someone does, they will suffer from Sade-Sati, a period of seven years of bad luck as they believed.

5: Jambur, Gujarat ( The African Village In India)

Jambur is a tiny village near Gir, in the heart of Gujarat. It is 24 km south of Sasan Gir. This village is famous as an African village in India. The short story is, that the people who live here are of African descent, but they speak Gujarati and Hindi languages regularly. The locals also call this village Siddhi village. These People are known as Habshis too. They are the direct descendants of the Bantu tribe of the African Great Lake region. According to history, most of the Siddhi People were brought as slaves by the Portuguese from Southeast Africa to give the Nawab of Junagadh as Present. Now they maintain a free unique balance of Indian culture and African tradition in their simple life.

6: Hiware Bazar, Maharashtra (The Village Of Millionaires)

Hiware Bazar, a village of Maharastra, creates a unique story. This village is registered as one of the rich villages in India. There are no poor farmers in this Maharashtrian village. Out of 235 families, 60 families are millionaires. The credit for the success of this wealth goes to the Popatrao Baguji Power (village head), who has forever changed the socio-economic structure of the village. The moral of the story people of Hiware Bazar village believe in hard work. This is also a motivational story.

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7: Mawlynnong, Meghalaya ( The Story Of Cleanest Village In Asia)

Mawlynnong, 78 km from Shillong, is the cleanest village in Asia. Cleanliness is the lifestyle of this village. Mawlynnang is called God’s Garden. In 2003, Discover India named it The cleanest village in Asia. Also, this village shows a highly progressive scenario for women, ranging from a 100 percent literacy rate. They never use plastic bags and stay away from smoking. This is the real story of an Indian village.

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