Day: August 12, 2021

5 top places to visit in Bhubaneshwar

Lingaraja Temple

The 54m-high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Shiva dates from 1090 to 1104 – though some parts are more than 1400 years old–and is surrounded by several smaller temples and shrines. The granite block within, representing Tribhubaneswar (Lord of Three Worlds), is bathed daily with water, milk and bhang (marijuana). The main gate, guarded by two mustachioed yellow lions, is a spectacle in itself as lines of pilgrims approach with offerings in hand. The temple is closed to non-Hindus.

Given the high compound wall, foreigners can view the temple’s interiors only from a viewing platform (this may also include Hindu foreigners). Face the main entrance, walk right, then follow the wall around to the left and find the viewing platform on your left, just before you reach Chitrakarini Temple. There is occasional aggressive hassling for ‘donations’ at the viewing platform. The money will not go to the temple, so stand your ground and do not pay.

Location: Lingaraj Road, Old Town Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Entry Fees: No entry fee

Nandankanan Zoological Park

Spread over 400 hectares in the Chandaka forest lies the impressive Nandankanan Zoological Park. Located on the banks of Kanjia Lake, this zoo is home to over 67 kinds of mammals, 81 species of birds and 18 varieties of reptiles. It was the first zoo in India to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and also houses a botanical garden. Visitors can see black panthers, white tigers, gharial crocodiles and many other animals, birds and reptiles in an attempt to maintain the natural balance of nature against the growing urbanisation of Bhubaneswar.

Price: Budget

Opening hours: 7.30am-5.30pm (April–September), 8am-5pm (October–March); Closed Monday.

Odisha State Museum

Wondering what to do in Bhubaneswar? Visit Odisha State Museum, which houses a treasure trove of artifacts emphasizing the magnificent history of the state and the families which ruled it for centuries. The museum, established in the year 1948, houses the best collection of erratic palm-leaf manuscripts, scroll paintings, folk musical instruments, and Bronze Age tools.

Location: Near Lewis Road, Kalpana Square, BJB Nagar Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Timings: 10 AM to 5.00 PM
Entry Fees: INR 10 for Indians and INR 50 for foreigners

Pathani Samanta Planetarium 

The Pathani Samanta Planetarium was recognized to create awareness of astrophysics, astronomy, and space science. Multiple shows, workshops, regular conferences about outer space are organized here. There is an extensive library with an impressive number of books from the field of astronomy, science and technology are there.

Location: Sachivalaya Marg Acharya Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Timings: 1.00 PM to 5:45 PM
Entry Fees: INR 30

Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are located six kilometres to the west of Bhubaneswar. These caves offer a brief look into the history of Jain religion and Kalinga Empire. The names of these caves were derived from the hills on which they are located. The caves have been numbered according to the Archaeological Survey of India, Hatigumpha, and Ganesha Gumpha are the most popular in the area. Cave 1 is decked out by sculptural wall painting with carved figures of athletes, women, elephants, and geese carrying flowers.

Location: Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Timings: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Entry Fees: INR 15 for Indians and INR 200 for foreigners

Rain Water Harvesting

It is a scientific fact that living things on earth exist only because of water and air. If rainwater is not stored, the earth will soon face a drought. Only if rainwater is stored will water be available from the ground whenever needed. Let’s see a little bit about rain water harvesting here.

Rainwater Harvesting?

We need drinking water. Drinking water is available only from rain water. But, rainwater is not always available. So man is storing rainwater and injecting it into the ground and using the groundwater for drinking purposes.

Rainwater Harvesting During the Monarchy  

The work of all the kings who ruled the earth was to cut the rivers and create ponds and lakes. They created ponds, puddles, and lakes in low-lying areas to prevent water from flowing into the sea during the rainy season, and rivers were connected to each other to protect them from extinction. They raised the quality of groundwater. They always made water available for agriculture.

If Rainwater is Not Stored

U.S. scientists are announcing that “Southern India could become a desert in twenty years” if rainwater were not absorbed from the ground as it is today.” Due to the monsoon in the last few years, Tamil Nadu has experienced a severe drought. Famine and starvation will be rampant without water for agriculture. Crops and livestock are prone to disaster when it does not rain. The trees wither and the onslaught of heat without air is very cruel. 

By saving rainwater

1. The quality and quantity of groundwater will increase.

2. The plant, the vine, the trees will sprout. 

3. Agriculture will prosper.

4. There will be no flooding or drought.

5. All kinds of businesses will grow. 

Modern Rainwater Harvesting System

There is no substitute for the fact that rainwater is very clean, tasty and healthy. But it gets dirty and polluted. So the unpolluted rainwater that falls on the roofs of buildings can be collected in a water tank through a pipe. Modern and simple rainwater harvesting is then done by simply pouring it through peat, sediment, baked bricks and filtering it into open outdoor wells or deep wells. In addition, the best way to collect rainwater is to dig, deepen and clean the lakes and ponds on behalf of the government, rather than trading them for residential areas.

We will all save rainwater by realizing that water is essential for living things to survive in the world. We will enrich life. We will act by realizing that the raindrop of the sky is the drop of life in the soil.

INDIA’S OBSESSION WITH LONG HAIR

INTRODUCTION

In India, long hair and femininity are synonymous with each other. The television and film industries are the trendsetters in our country. Their activities play a significant role in the trending fashion from clothes to hairstyles to everything. Unfortunately, these role models are still stuck up in the conventional long hair fashion. Sadly, they haven’t made many efforts to broaden this understanding of femininity. The fashion collections of famous designers usually feature women in long, demure hairstyles. This cements the obsession for long hair harder.

A LOOK AT THE STEREOTYPES

Society has a wide range of stereotypes associated with hair. These stereotypes are prevalent across the countries. Since ancient times goddesses are always portrayed with extra-long hair. Bengali culture has many references to feminine beauty ideals in literature, song, and poetry. Long hair has been hyped up so much as if it is a certification of femininity. Curly brides seldom wear their natural hair at their weddings. They are forced to adhere to a stereotypical beauty standard of long straight hair. The brides often have to adhere to the; mainstream bridal fashions that simply don’t factor in curls. All of this highlights a cultural obsession with long, straight, “proper” hair.

Society often tends to have a really narrow view of beauty. Fair skin, tall height, and long hair are often seen as the yardsticks of beauty. People usually link femininity to having long hair and beauty. Surprisingly women themselves are quick to judge other women based on hair stereotypes. A bizarre assumption in society is that you will not take your work seriously if your hair is fun. Another funny assumption is that you’re aggressive, butch, unfeminine if you have short hair. Besides curly or short hair, colored hair hurt society’s eyes even more. Coloring hair is often seen as the characteristic of an irresponsible or selfish girl. Surprisingly a girl still has to seek permission from her parents or her husband to color her hair. Colored hair is looked upon as highly unprofessional. Especially when women have short colored hair, they often fall victim to the judgmental behavior of society. Sadly this behavior often comes from their own family and friends. Other women themselves are the forerunners in this series of comments and judgments.

WHY DO THE STEREOTYPES GET STRONGER?

The television and film industry tends to stick to them and make them even more prevalent. Advertisements, movies, and daily soaps further cement these stereotypes. Short-haired women are cinematized as mouthy tomboys, athletes, or staunch careerists. They are never picturized as affectionate mothers or wives. Short or colored hair is stereotyped as a shrill, cold archetype devoid of softness and femininity. Long straight hair is shown as the typical main lead thing. Big banner movies and commercials usually feature the heroine with super long hair. They rarely feature curly-haired leads. 

In hair oil or shampoo advertisements, super long straight hair is always glorified. These advertisements mislead us that long straight hair is a beauty standard or that every girl wants them. Even songs celebrate long hair only. We can never think of a song that praises a woman’s short hair, but we can remember hundreds that do this for long hair. The obsession is deeply rooted in the country, especially in the visual profession. Visual professions like modeling or acting expect people to adhere to their usual beauty standards, long hair being one of them. 

Sadly workplaces aren’t hair-inclusive. Surprisingly many companies have a policy about the types of colors allowed on women’s hair. Straight long hair that is not frizzy or colored is considered professional. A majority of Indian corporations believe buzz cuts as unprofessional.

THE CURRENT SCENARIO

Women are trying to free themselves of these suffocating beauty standards. But sadly, due to this, they often face trolling and lose comments from society. From being compared to noodles or broom, their hair often becomes a subject of words. Some women have even decided to go bald. Although we very conveniently say that “bald is beautiful,” but we fail to believe that. If a woman goes bald, she is assumed to be diseased or mourning for someone’s death. Society must stop weaponizing hair to judge women. 

The scenario is undoubtedly changing. Women have become more accepting of themselves. They are making efforts to free themselves of the societal shackles associated with beauty and femininity. We have Indian actors like Kangana Ranaut and Tapsee Pannu, breaking stereotypes related to curly hair. Change is visible in animated children’s heroines as well. Earlier, we had Disney princesses with super long hair. But now we have famous characters like Merida and Moana with curly hair. Women must have the right to decide how they want to look. This decision is a matter of personal choice. It should not be a consequence of societal pressure or stereotypes. Beauty is indeed not derived from skin or hair. There is no benchmark for beauty as “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.”

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

 

Are you getting an adequate amount of sleep these days? If not, then what is the reason behind this. Have you ever given a thought to it? Recently I was asked this great although very common question. I was completely puzzled out. I went blank. How strange is this? Isn’t it? A simple and common question like this left me pondering over many things which I have never thought about or you can say I never considered it important to think about.

What keeps me awake at night?

To find the answer to this question I started making an endless list in my mind. What can be the reason which is not letting myself have peaceful sleep at night? Many thoughts started popping into my head. I even googled to check what are the things which can keep a student like me awake at night. I found many articles but one was clashing with the other. So, I ended up with this list.

·       Stress – Yes this could be one such reason which I might take to bed with me. Study looms large in people’s minds, and I am not Einstein to not get affected by it. Stress-related to studies, job, career, parent’s and society’s expectations all these thoughts suddenly started crashing into my head. And then I realized that this could be the potential reason.

·       Insomnia – This might be the problem that maybe I am a born insomniac. Tossing and turning on the bed, failing to fall asleep. This can also be a problem.

·       Racing Thoughts – One can have control over his/her feelings but one can’t control his thoughts. It is said that you can stop someone from coming after you but how can you stop someone from thinking about you. I am the kind of person who loves being lost in her imagination. You can call me a mess of chaos. Sometimes I keep trying to make them stop, but nothing works. It is very hard for me to control my thoughts.

·       Depression– Maybe I am suffering from depression. If you sometimes start crying without any reason, then what will you call it. What will you call it when you don’t even know the reason why you are crying? I seem to cry more often when I try sleeping. But even at other times of the day when I am not crying, I often feel sad about something. And the worst part is that I don’t know the reason, or maybe I know but just don’t want to accept it.

      I started thinking about what else could be the reason which is keeping me awake at night. Then it came to me, that I should think about that one time when I slept peacefully without any thought racing around in my mind. Suddenly something hit me strikingly from within. Everything went doomed. All of the list which I have made up in my mind disappeared and only thoughts started lingering in my mind. I started feeling chills without fever. Tears started shedding from my eyes and I felt the same pain that I have been trying to hide vigorously for the past many years.

      What happens to a dream deferred? For me, it just explodes. He was my dream. His picture radiated happiness for me. He is the one whom I cannot have. You might not believe in one true love, but I do. For me, he is the only one. Even after he left me alone, he will forever be the one. I often used to think about people who used to get move on quickly. Even my friends suggested me the same but I failed and I failed terribly. Call me a loser if you want but for me, you can fall in love many a time but with just that one person whom you consider your eternal love.

      His memory was a pounding headache or a stiff back which is the reason why I have sleepless nights. Not being able to sleep is perhaps a common occurrence after a breakup. I guess it has affected me badly. Mostly because my mind is so busy running through the events that happened in the past. Even sometimes when I manage to fall asleep, I wake up more frequently. This all is due to my restless mind and my broken heart. Maybe I haven’t accepted the truth yet. Maybe I’m still stuck in the past, in his thoughts, and his memories.

      Little does my mind know that remembering those vibrant memories will likely inflict more pain and aggravate my situation further. And needless to say, he has started living in my mind persistently, even more than he used to when we were together. I used to tell him, “My happiness lies in your happiness.” He is now happy even without me then why do I have to face sleepless nights? Why do his thoughts keep me awake at night? I’ll tell you why I had to.

      ·       They say you realize the value of something when it is lost. But I had always valued him. And maybe that’s why I lost my sleep. I valued him beyond everything and when I wasn’t reciprocated, I lost my sleep.

      ·       I lost my sleep because I couldn’t get over the thought that he can even be happier without me.

      ·       His smile used to radiate happiness in my life. Thinking about the thought that it’s reflecting upon someone else’s life has made me lose my sleep.

      ·       I have lost my sleep because somewhere in the corner of my heart I knew that he will come back to me, but that desire for us to be back together is still unfulfilled.

     You might consider me a lunatic but I guess I am happy this way, lost in my unfathomable thoughts, lost in the memory of that last tranquil night when I was in his arms lost in our world together. I am now used to of these sleepless nights where I am awake with his thoughts subconsciously protracting in my mind. While I am writing this, I can feel that same pain running through me. Memories are sneaking out of my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. Something which was endured within my heart for so long has suddenly busted out. I finally got the answer to my question. His memories are the one which makes me awake at night. Maybe I will have these sleepless nights forever.

Emily Dickinson – An intellectually Rebellious and the most memorable poet of all time.

About Emily Dickinson, her writing style, favorite works and Amazing facts about her. Dickinson Series- Apple TV

Emily DIckinson

Birth, inspirations, and how her works were saved.

Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley for one year. Dickinson’s poetry was influenced by the Metaphysical poets of seventeenth-century England. She also read Book of Revelation, admired the poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and John Keats. She was dissuaded from reading the verses of Walt Whitman (Due to his daring writeups). Yet Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson ending up being two of the most famous poets from the time period who revolutionized both the subject and style of American poetry. The first volume of her work was published posthumously in 1890 and the last in 1955. She died in Amherst in 1886. Dickinson’s family found forty volumes of nearly 1,800 poems (or “fascicles”).

Dickinson assembled these booklets by folding and sewing five or six sheets of stationery paper, what seem to be final versions of poems. The original order of the poems was not restored until 1981, when Ralph W. Franklin used the physical evidence of the paper itself to restore her intended order. He relied on smudge marks, needle punctures, and other clues to reassemble the packets.

The Manuscript Books of Emily Dickinson (Belknap Press, 1981) is the only volume that keeps the order intact.

Her Writing Style:

Her features were of verse forms suggesting hymns and ballads, with lines of three or four stresses. Her unusual off-rhymes have been seen as influenced by the 18th-century hymnist Isaac Watts. The intellectual content of her work amazed many and her writings were exceptionally and beautifully bold and original. Her verses has distinct quality by their epigrammatic compression, haunting personal voice, enigmatic brilliance, and lack of high polish.

Her major themes include nature, law, music, commerce, medicine, fashion, finding oneself, death and immortality, and love. She had a unique usage of Capitalization. She is best known for her use of slant rhyme.

Facts:

  • Unconventional approach to poetry, she interspersed her writing with many dashes of varying lengths and orientations (horizontal and vertical)
  • She could play piano.
  • She called herself a pagan.
  • She had an older brother named William Austin and a younger sister called Lavinia.
  • She wrote about the benefits of science over religion.
  • She lived with her family throughout her life. She shared her poems via letters to Susan, her alleged love interest. Who became her sister-in-law later.
  • She sent 250 poems.
  • Dickinson was a fan of the book ‘Jane Eyre’.
  • Her sister and Mabel Loomis Todd (An alleged mistress) published her works after Dickinson’s death.
  • Her second Tombstone reads “Called Back”, reference to an 1880 novel by Hugh Conway called “Called Back” that Dickinson enjoyed loved. This was the idea of Martha Dickinson Bianchi, her niece. The reason could be that she wrote a letter to her cousins before her death to her cousins which had only “Called Back” written.

Emily Dickinson’s well-known must-reads!!

  1. I’m Nobody! Who are you?
  2. Because I could not stop for Death
  3. Success is Counted sweetest
  4. Wild nights – Wild nights!
  5. I taste a liquor never brewed
  6. I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain
  7. Hope” is the thing with feather
  8. Tell all the truth but tell it slant
  9. My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun
  10. ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers

Emily Dickinson and Susan Gilbert

Ps… Dickinson is believed to have a lifelong love affair with her childhood friend Susan Gilbert, who agonizingly became her sister-in-law. Emily had written many letters to Susan till the end. The letters are believed to be indirect confession and expression of love. Austin’s mistress Mabel Loomis Todd -Editor and publisher- erased references to Susan from Emily’s letter, but the fact that the Mysterious “Master” poem – letters (Alleged love interest of Emily) were sent to Susan, doesn’t hide much. But, well historians will still call them “Best Friends”, right?

There’s a book called “Emily Dickinson’s Intimate Letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson”

Summary: For the first time, selections from Emily Dickinson’s thirty-six year correspondence to her neighbor and sister-in-law, Susan Huntington Dickinson, are compiled in a single volume. Open Me Carefully invites a dramatic new understanding of Emily Dickinson’s life and work, overcoming a century of censorship and misinterpretation.

MY FOREVER FAVOURITE FAVOURITE POTRAYAL OF EMILY DICKINSON.

Dickinson (2019) : SEASON 1 AND 2!!

An American comedy streaming television series about Emily Dickinson, created by Alena Smith and produced for Apple TV+.

Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson and Ella Hunt as Susan and many more !! Their acting is top-notch and the series will hold you till the end and leave you wanting for more.

It is a must-watch.

References:

https://poets.org/poet/emily-dickinson

England vs India 2nd test match preview

England and India will be locking horns on Thursday in 2nd test match of the series in an iconic venue of lords. Both teams are coming here after a disappointing draw in Nottingham, but the good news is that weather is expected to be clear during the next 5 days of the test match but you never know and cannot exactly predict the weather of England.it should be a fascinating test match between two quality teams.

Both , India and England are having some injury issues before going to the test match. Stuart Broad is already out from an injury and he is even ruled out for the entire test series against India. while in Indian team , shardul thakur may also miss the second test due to an injury.

First test match of the series was a very good test match although India dominated the major part of it. Jasprit Bumrah was back in the form with an impressive figures of 9 – 110 .For England , their captain joe root was a big positive , Root made runs in both innings including a wonderful hundred in second test match with the help of which England made a comeback in the test match, interesting ending of the test match was sure but rain came at the last day when India was needing 157 runs with 9 wickets in hand but unfortunately we were not able to get a result, thanks to rain. India were favourites to win that match.

Team news

England

England have some serious issues to solve before the start of test match . Stuart broad is already out because of injury, even James Anderson is set to miss second test match due to a tight quad. This will be a huge blow for the home side as they both are most experienced test bowlers of England team. Mark Wood is set to come back into the team. Moen Ali has been recalled for the second test match and it is very likely that he will play the second test as a lone spinner.

India

India has only one problem that Shardul Thakur is expected to miss the second test due to strain in hamstring. It will be interesting to see who will come in place of Thakur , it could be spinner R Ashwin if India wants to play 2 spinners but recent matches in lords, pitch is helping fast bowlers rather than spinners. And the second option is to play a fast bowler in Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav , but it will weaken batting in lower order. Except this , India is much balanced and confident than England. openers are making runs , bowlers are taking wickets though middle order is a problem , but we except them to perform better in lords.

Weather forecast and pitch condition :-

The first test match was affected due to rain but the weather in 2nd test match is good and whole 5 days of cricket is expected although there is little bit rain On Sunday. The lord ‘s pitch should be a very good pitch , offering a good contest between bat and ball. little bit of grass is expected to be there in pitch. last time India played in lords they were bundled out for just 107 in first Innings.it should be a mouth watering contest in lords . (source : cricbuzz)

Art and Mental Health

 In our daily life filled with stress and tension, art can be a great source of comfort to our minds. “Creative Therapy” has the power to heal the mind and has a positive impact on mental health. Any form of art, especially drawing, painting and sculpting is considered to be a therapeutic practice. Its benefits on mental well-being can be traced from the psychological theories by Adrian Hill, Edward Adamson, and Donald Winnicott.

“Art as Healing”

Artist Edward Adamson, also known as the father of art therapy in Britain, has written the book “Art as Healing”. It highlights his findings on the positive impact of art in healing the patients suffering from mental illnesses. He worked on his idea of “art therapy” in the psychiatric hospital in Netherne and with the patients in his studio in West London. He collected the artworks produced in these sessions, which is known as the Adamson Collection. 

 According to him, art is not simply a form of occupation or art therapy to distract or absorb, but a dynamic and unique aid to the patient’s recovery. He believes that mental illness is a breakdown of personality and art is one of the expressions of a human being’s personality. The patient can achieve harmony through the art forms. 

Art is a way of expressing ideas of a personality. There are three major benefits of using art as the healing process for those suffering from mental illness. Firstly, the patient feels relief when their ideas are expressed through art. Secondly, they can externalise and examine their ideas. Thirdly, the doctor gets a permanent record of the state of mind of the patient at that moment. The patient’s subconscious mind gets displayed through the painting.  


Art for mental well-being

Involving in any form of art brings peace and joy to the mind. It acts as the “food for our soul”. Another benefit of art is that it has the capability to calm our mind. It helps us to cope up with the day-to- day stress. It can be a fun as well as productive activity to do in leisure time or to take a break from work and a busy schedule. 

Participating in any form of art gives us a sense of purpose and achievement. It helps immensely to boost self esteem. Not only does art calm the mind, but it also helps us to grow it creatively. Art improves the skills of the brain like learning, focusing, memorising, problem solving, patience and concentration. While painting, the obstacles faced are tackled by finding creative solutions. It enhances the creative thinking skills of our brain. 

As a child, most of the people are involved in some form of art, be it drawing, painting, sculpture or anything else. But gradually as we grow old we tend to leave it behind, ignoring the numerous psychological benefits and mental positivity it offers. Art is a great exercise that can strengthen,  calm and heal our mind. 


Book Review – You can win

Winners don’t do different things; they do things differently.”

YOU CAN WIN - SHIV KHERA Reviews, Summary, Story, Price, Online, Fiction, Nonfiction

You Can Win, is authored by Shiv Khera and was released in 1998. Since then, it has become an international bestseller. This book has been translated into sixteen languages and sold more than two million copies around the world. This book has a title in Hindi Jeet Aapki. The writer is well known as a motivational speaker, educator, activist, business consultant, entrepreneur, etc.

Both you and I want to win. This is a fact, as well as everyone’s heartfelt wish. The new revised edition of the book, titled ‘You Can Win,’ emphasises of winning and focuses on what it takes to succeed. The book presents inspiring examples to follow, allowing one to create a triumphant, meaningful, and satisfying life. The book provides the appropriate orientation and adds ingredients for the suitable formulas needed for success in life. There are eleven chapters in this book.

The author provides the reader with a good attitude and sends the reader on the proper paths in life right from the start of the first chapter. In reality, the author aspires to have a positive outlook on life that will enable him or her to win and thrive. An optimistic outlook on life can aid in overcoming all obstacles in one’s path to achievement. He also suggests to the reader to achieve one’s goal in life, one must embark off on an effective action plan, too.

The author encourages the reader to develop confidence by practising positive thinking in their daily lives. A cheerful outlook on life has the same effect as medicine. It heals and motivates one to continue on with one’s life. The remaining chapters focus on adopting a good attitude toward life, regardless of what obstacles may arise or what walks of life one may belong to. Self-esteem must be developed. This can be beneficial in a variety of situations. This can assist one in dealing with life’s obstacles. Personal growth, according to the author, is a critical component of life achievement. As a result, a few chapters in this book reflect on and emphasise personality traits, interpersonal skills, positive thinking, habits, and choosing appropriate life objectives.

To make it more fascinating, the writer incorporates moral stories and anecdotes into his works and explains them to the best of his ability. The morals of novels do indeed convince the reader that nothing is truly impossible in life. The most important thing in life is to develop the proper mindset and formula for success.

The author also underlines the importance of being proactive in order to control, rather than be governed by, events in life. He encourages the reader to transform their weaknesses into strengths by cultivating positive outlooks on life, applying positive strokes to oneself and others, and developing positive habits and character. The author also instructs the reader on how to develop mutual respect and loyal relationships with each other.

STUNNING NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

Beyond India’s booming metropolis, wildlife enthusiasts can discover idyllic sanctuaries teeming with life. India’s national parks, numbering in the hundreds, cover around 15,600 square kilometers of protected land. Discover and appreciate all that nature has to offer by visiting these gorgeous wildlife National Parks. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas, adrenaline-pumping jeep safaris, and sightings of rare and ferocious creatures.

 Kaziranga National Park, Assam

On the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga National Park lies partly in Golaghat District and partly in Nagaon District of Assam. Established in 1905 as a forest preserve to save the greater one-horned rhinoceros from extinction, it is Assam’s oldest park, encompassing 430 square kilometers. It’s among the few untouched natural places in India’s north-eastern region. 

With its elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons, rugged reeds, marshes, shallow waters, and dense woods, Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s most popular wildlife tourist hotspots. Over 2200 Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros call it home, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the world’s total. Tigers can also be sighted here, camouflaged among the elephant grass and lush forest. There are also buffalo, rare swamp deer, and river dolphins to witness. In 1985, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is open all year, however, during monsoon season in July and August, it may close owing to flooding.

Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka

Nagarhole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is the enchanting 247 square-mile-long wild reserve located in Kodagu and Mysore district. It is one of the best places in the world to see leopards. It was designated as India’s thirty-seventh Tiger Reserve. UNESCO has designated it as a World Heritage Site. The park, ringed by the Western Ghats, is abode to aromatic sandalwood and teak trees, dense bamboo groves, and myriads of streams, including the Lakshmmantirtha River, Sarati Hole, Nagar Hole, BalleHalla, Kabini River, four perennial streams, 47 monsoonal rivulets, four small perennial lakes, 41 manmade tanks, several swamps, Taraka Dam, and the Kabini reservoir.

It houses ferocious predators like Bengal tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, and hyenas. Many herbivores like spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, Bosgaurus, wild boar, and elephant, dwell in the girded region. The Bonnet macaque, jungle cat, slender Loris, common langur, civet cat, leopard-cat, mongoose, common otter, giant flying squirrel, porcupine, jackal, mouse-deer, hare, and pangolin, can also be spotted. Around 250 bird species can be spotted in the Nagarhole area, including the blue-bearded bee-eater, scarlet minivet, and Malabar whistling thrush, as well as ospreys, herons, and ducks.

The marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, rock python, and plenty more species are the most abundant reptiles in the vicinity. Marine and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads, and tree frogs, as well as a plethora of insects, including some very vibrantly colored butterflies, dwell in this lush southern Indian forest. A jeep expedition is the finest way to see big cats, whereas a leisurely cruise across the Kabini River in a coracle (a small circular boat) provides splendid views of aquatic birds, crocodiles, and Indian elephants.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Andaman Islands

The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located 29 kilometers west of Port Blair and occupies an area of 281.5 sq. km. There are open seas, waterways, and 15 small and big islands in this vicinity. Rare corals and underwater aquatic life can be seen from glass-bottom boats. Tourists can also enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Guided excursions of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park are available through private ferry operators. As part of the guided tours, visitors are also allowed to spend two and a half hours on Jolly Buoy Island or Red Skin Island. It was founded to safeguard marine life, notably sea turtles and coral reefs.

Hemis National Park, Jammu & Kashmir

Hemis National Park, the largest national park in South Asia,  is situated in the eastern section of the Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The park is host to 17 mammal species and 73 bird species. Leopards, Asiatic ibex, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, and red fox are among the area’s endangered fauna. It also plays host to 200 leopards and is India’s sole Ladakhi Urial habitat. Small creatures such as the Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel, and Himalayan mouse hare call it home.

It’s an excellent spot for bird watchers. Brown Accentor, Robin Accentor, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Streaked Rosefinch, Tibetan Snowfinch, Chukar, Fork-tailed Swift, Red-billed Chough, Himalayan Snowcock, Fire-fronted Serin, golden eagle, Lammergeier vulture, and Himalayan griffon vulture can all be spotted here. The picturesque splendor of the national park is very well-known. It’s a visual feast, with lofty mountains and alpine juniper and subalpine dry birch forests. The Stok Kangri summit can be seen from the park. The park’s boundary is the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, which is a beautiful sight.

Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Satpura National Park, located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, is a magnificent wildlife park with a total area of 524 square kilometers. It is home to 52 mammal species, 31 reptile species, and 300 bird species, 14 of which are endangered.

For animal enthusiasts, it is a stunning jungle paradise. Leopards, tigers, chitals, nilgais, four-horned antelopes, bhedkis, rhesus monkeys, wild boars, deer, foxes, flying squirrels, and Indian joint squirrels are just a few of the wildlife that may be discovered here. Satpura Park’s biodiversity is impressive, with over 1300 species of flora, notably teak, sal, tendu, mahua, bel, bamboos, grasses, bushes, and other medicinal plants possessing therapeutic and medicinal effects. Besides, there are several bird species like the Malabar pried hornbills, crested hawk eagles, honey buzzards, paradise flycatchers, thrushes, pheasants, and peafowl. One can enjoy the Jungle Safari by Jeep, boat, or elephant.

Story – Attitude is everything

Moral Stories For Kids | Bedtime Stories | Stories for kids in english - YouTube

There was a man who made his living selling balloons at a fair. He had balloons of many colors, including red, yellow, blue and green. Whenever business was slow, he would release a helium-filled balloon into the air. When the children saw the balloon go up, they all wanted one. They would come up to him, buy a balloon and his sales would go up. All day, he continued to release a balloon whenever sales were slow. One day, the balloon man felt someone tugging at his jacket. He turned around and a little boy asked, “If you release a black balloon, will that also fly?” Moved by the boy’s concern, the man replied gently, “Son, it is not the color of the balloon, it is what’s inside that makes it go up.”

THE same principle applies to our lives: It’s what’s inside that counts and what’s inside of us that makes us go up is our attitude.

Many of you might have read/ heard this story before; Richard and the balloon man. But despite of the above conclusion, there’s more to the story. The story also focuses on colour discrimination. Everyone human being, right from their birth, are taught to consider fair, white people as beautiful whereas the dark ones are considered being ugly. Who categorized humans based on their appearance and not what they own inside them. No outer appearance decides the altitudes a person might reach, it’s the attitude they hold that paves their way towards success.

William James of Harvard University said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”

Indian museum

A VIRTUAL TOUR 

Let go on a virtual tour of the Indian museum which is situated in Kolkata. Due to pandemic, it is not possible to go there for a visit. The Indian museum was founded in 1814 at the Kolkata. Indian museum is the earliest and largest multipurpose museum not only in the Indian subcontinent but also in Asia-Pacific region of the world. With the foundation of the Indian museum in 1814, the museum movement started roiling in India and through the years from then got a new fillip and great momentum.

The history of the origin and the growth of the Indian Museum is one of the remarkable events towards the development of heritages and culture of India.

The museum has rare collection of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeleton, mummies and Mughal painting.

Lamp tradition in India 

Lamp tradition is an important part of Indian tradition. It is identified as the Deepam in southern and diya in north. The Indian museum consist different types of lamps which belongs to different region, culture, tradition and countries. The lamp could be made up of clay, metal, glass, brass, gold and other material. Their designs varies and each lamp had own signature size, pattern and shapes.

Bhudha early life stages, mediation and the last stage of his life

The museum is also consists the masterpieces of the Bhuddhist Art from different part of the Indian sub-continent. The exhibition traveled different countries such as japan, china, Singapore and New Delhi and had a great success. The objects showed in the exhibition are related to life of the Bhuddha early stage. The museum had stupas or pillars of the Bhuddha’s early life. The whole scenes depicted on the pillars by the carving methods. The pillars showed how was devi  Maya gives birth to Bhudha with the help of sala tree. The people around are craved. The sculpture is a fine specimen of the late Gandhara art and a superbly graphic representation of the legend. During the mediation different mudras are beautifully craved with the name and introduction.

The bhudha is seated in the attiude of the meditation. There is a prominent urnaon his forehead and a large nimbus behind. The person who made this masterpiece might be had very fine skills about hid art. It worked over each and every sense of art. 

In the last stage of his life Bhudha spend his time in u.p and it is last sculpture of the bhudh where he is surrounded by the five people. This masterpiece is known as the Mahaparinirvana. 

Virtual exhibition 

Saktirupena- It is an exposition on mother goddess in Indian art. This art showed the value of women in the Indian culture. I thought the exhibition showed the different form of the women somewhere they are fully covered and on other they are without clothes (yakishs). They also craved and draw goddess with lotus and killing asuras. The sculpture made up of metal (gold, silver), wooden, brass, and rocks. They are mainly craved over the materials. They have different types of coins with the expression on goddess which made up by the different king at their ruling times. Faces & Masks of Devi Durga, bhudhhist  goddess (Tara), figures of jamuna, Anupurana, gajalakshmi and many more godsess. 

Textile traditions in India: North Eastern Region

Here we learnt about the different group and their textile of the north eastern region.  Their motifs, methods of weaving, materials and design are related to the culture, belifes and the environment.  Wrapper, coat, moona bag, pani gamcha, headdress, kakat-Bandha, phalli, reshwa and others are the products which is the made up by them. The colors they mostly used their creation are black, white, red, yellow, green and blue.

Ananya 

It was celebration on the occasion of the women day. It is significant the role of women in various fields from the remote past. Coinage was the one of medium of propagating the ruling authority example kumaradevi coinage. The sync show that how the powerful women rules their dynasties and position or the love of her husband to her example – nurjahnan with jhangir. Painting is another field where women artist also owned their position such as mrs. Sunayani devi.  Their painting are always had relevance with the epic or religious book because they read that books and they might be not allowed to go outside so they paint what they known. The bronze busts are also included in this collection. The busts are related to different women who worked for the society at their regions or the ladies who belong to different places.

The virtual tour was quite interesting and learning bases. We learnt many of the things. It would be help us in developing our pedagogy skills. I wish to visit manually in the museum.

75th Independence day

 

75th Independence Day

By: Astha Raghav 

Independence Day, in India national holiday celebrated annually on August 15. On 15 August 1947, India was declared independent from British colonialism and become the largest democracy in the world. Independence Day reminds us of all the sacrifices that were made by our freedom fighters to make India free from British rule.

15th August is celebrated as a national festival with flag hoisting, parades and cultural events.

Schools, colleges, offices, society complexes, government and private organizations conduct functions and celebrate this day with great enthusiasm. On this day, the Prime Minister of India hoists the flag at the Red Fort and addresses the nation by a speech. Doordarshan broadcasts the entire event live on television. Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru performed the first flag hoisting ceremony on 15th August 1947.

Why Do We Celebrate Independence Day 

India achieved independence after years of struggle. India got complete freedom from the British and secured full autonomy on 15th August 1947. That’s why the day holds great significance in the heart of every Indian citizen living in India or abroad. India completed 73 years of freedom on 15h August 2020. This day also reminds us of the struggles of freedom fighters and lives sacrificed by them in achieving independence. The pain that our heroes have gone through reminds us that the freedom we enjoy today has been earned by shedding the blood of lakhs of people. It also awakens a feeling of patriotism inside every citizen of India. It makes the present generation closely understand the struggles of the people at that time and acquaints them with the freedom fighters of India.

We remember the day with the sacrifices of our brave Indian freedom fighters. When India got independent, our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Unfurled, our tricolor national flag at Red Fort and Lahori Gate in Delhi. From that day and onward, this day was celebrated as an independent day. The honour of the day’s solemn occasion, many programs dedicated at Red fort-like march past by our Indian soldiers, 21 gunshots are fired for the beginning of events and cultural activities by school students. Kite flying has also been done as the tradition of Independence Day celebration, with kites of various sizes, shapes, and colours filling in the sky. Later on, from the year 1974, all the chief ministers of respective States unfurled the National flag. 

Thank You! 

Ziggurats Versus Pyramids

Ziggurats and pyramids incredibly vary regarding reason or capacity. Pyramids were initially thought to be the last resting spots of the pharaohs yet later archaeological finds have revealed that they were worked with tight shafts reaching out from within to the external surface to lift the pharaoh’s spirit unto the sky. Ziggurats then again were said to have been worked to house the divine beings. In this way, they are simply the genuine residences of the divine beings themselves particularly in the perspective of the Sumerians and Babylonians. In such a manner, it’s anything but unexpected that lone the ministers were permitted to get inside the ziggurats.

Different elements of the ziggurat are the accompanying: a retreat region for the ministers in the event that there is an unexpected flood of water at the ground level, for the general security of the realm’s clerics, and it likewise serves to finish a detailed sanctuary complex with homes, stockpiling regions, and yards to give some examples.

As far as building area, ziggurats have generally assembled someplace inside the Old Mesopotamian locale (Sumer, Babylon and Assyria) comparing to advanced Iraq and part of Syria though pyramids were the frameworks underlying Antiquated Egypt and South American districts.

Ziggurats have an exceptional element of having steps, slopes or patios with their sides normally retreating while the pyramids frequently have an extended length of flights of stairs and smoother sides. Ziggurats are multi-celebrated structures which for the most part share a typical component of having seven levels or layers to speak to the 7 planets of the sky. These were additionally hypothesized to have sanctuaries at the top since there are no solid confirmations guaranteeing such until the present time. There are likewise no chambers inside these foundations and are regularly formed in a rectangular or square manner.

Pyramids have chambers inside and seem to have three-sided external surfaces (faces) that meet at one point at the top. Most pyramids have five faces with everything taken into account including its base in spite of the fact that there are four-confronted pyramids that have three-sided or non-quadrilateral bases.

Thus;

1. Pyramids are essentially burial chambers or graveyards while ziggurats are a greater amount of sanctuaries.

2. Ziggurats were underlying Old Mesopotamia while pyramids were implicit Old Egypt and Southern America.

3. Ziggurats have steps or patios on their sides and are multi-celebrated while pyramids simply have one extended length of the flight of stairs.

4. Ziggurats were said to have sanctuary tops while pyramids don’t have any yet a meeting point for its sides.

5. Ziggurats are chamber less while pyramids ordinarily have inward

Art History

The three paintings shown are Madame de Pompadour 1756 by François Boucher, Mona Lisa 1503 by Leonardo da Vinci and The Girl with the Pearl Earring 1665 by Johannes Vermeer. 

The first painting of Madame de Pompadour, was by Francois Boucher, it’s a Rococo painting and like other artists of this period the style is ornate and uses light colors along with asymmetrical designs to bring out the emphasis on Madame de Pompadour. Rococo artists and architects generally used a more jocular, florid, and graceful approach to Baroque works. In this painting, she is lying on a couch with a book in her hand, wearing a frivolous dress and an intricate up-do, and she is gazing off into the distance. All of the focus is on Madame de Pompadour, with her intricate dress and hairdo a distinctive contrast from the purple background. There is a lot of shadow in the dress which gives it a lot more depth, making it appear very realistic.

The painting Mona Lisa– a Baroque masterpiece by Da Vinci evokes an intense emotional response from viewers just as Seventeenth-century masters sought to engage viewers as participants in the work of art and often reached out to incorporate or activate the world beyond the frame into nature and meaning of the work itself. The painting presents a woman in half-body portrait, which has as a backdrop a distant landscape. The sense of overall harmony achieved in the painting—especially apparent in the sitter’s faint smile—reflects Leonardo’s idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature, making this painting an enduring record of Leonardo’s vision. 

The painting of the Girl with a Pearl Earring shows a young girl in a dark space, a setting that seems extremely quiet and intimate. The background of the painting sets the mood of the painting and draws the viewer’s attention primarily to the girl. She’s wearing the eponymic pear earrings along with a blue and pale-yellow head turban which provides a pleasant contrast to the viewer’s eye. Unlike many others of Vermeer’s works, she is not unaware of her viewer or caught in a moment of concentration over some chore. Instead, she is caught in a fleeting moment and turns her head over her shoulder, meeting the viewer’s gaze with her eyes wide and lips parted as if about to speak. The girl’s facial expression could be compared to that of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, wherein both the paintings’ subjects are captured in a way that the viewer is beheld by curiosity as to what both subjects were thinking of when the painting was made, as both have a serene, and subtle mysterious smile.  The three paintings however, are exquisite as they each portray three vastly different women, each of which are expressed and painted with individual styles, textures, contrast and depth- an indication of the artist’s expertise and the period in which the painting was made.

Le Grand Jihad- Sufism in Chechnya

What is the Zikr? 

Three concentric circles of men, swing and sway to the beat of the chant. They stomp in time with the cadence of the chants and grunt from their abdomen and throat, the sounds filling the room. Every so-often one voice rises over the rest and the chant rises as a chorus of voices reciting and singing variants of the names of Allah. The men then pause, face right and walk in a counterclockwise motion, slowly at first then increase speed. As they gain speed, they start to jump on their outer feet and draw closer into the circle. The concentric circles then combine and begin to look like a spiralling ball. 

The ball then stops and opens once again. The stomping resumes slowly at first and then louder. Most of the men are entranced and are gripped in their devotion. The air around them hums, the floor shakes and the men turn left and once again accelerate the other way. The ritual is called a Zikr, the transcendent Sufi dance of the Caucasus, a tradition held deep in the heart of Chechen Islam. 

The Origin of Zikr 

The Zikr, used by the Qadiri Sufi Islamic brotherhood, as a form of prayer grew into a symbol of national unity and identity for the Chechens starting with its introduction in the mid-nineteenth century and later throughout under Russian rule. The ritual of dance became a call for resistance in Chechnya under the Tsarist rule, the Soviet regime and the current Russian Federation. 

When Dzhokhar Dudayev became the President of Chechnya in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, throngs of Chechens danced the Zikr in the central square in Grozny, showing their support and encouragement for Dudayev and expressing their dedication to Chechen nationalism after a long tumultuous history.  

During the subsequent war with Russia in 1995-the Battle for Grozny, even after the Russians had invaded their city, a constant flow of people danced the Zikr in the Freedom square to express their discontentment of the Russian invasion. The Chechens’ dedication and ardor to performing the Zikr even now continues as an important part of both their religious and national identity. 

Present Day- The Zikr and its implications for the Chechen future 

Inside Chechnya, where past Russian efforts to try to contain and eliminate the beginnings of a second Chechen war since the Soviet Union collapsed, the customary forms of Chechen religious expression are gradually returning to public life. It’s a revival burdened with deep meaning, and with implications that are unclear for the future of Chechnya. 

Now that the form of religious expression is reclaiming a place in public life and the daily respects of Islam in the Chechen people, the resurgence is quite unusual seeing as the practice of Zikr is seen as an element of policy for Chechens who are pro-Russia.  The fact remains, however, that Chechnya’s Sufi brotherhoods had never truly been vanquished- not by bans, repression, or exile by either the czars during the Tsarist rule or Stalin during the Soviet Era, and not by the Kremlin of late under Russia.