Tag: #culture

Durga Puja: Through The Eyes of A Bengali

Durga Puja is a festival of Hindu origin, which is celebrated predominantly in West Bengal, Tripura, Orissa and Assam, within India. Bangladesh also has their fair share of Pujas. It is annual in occurrence and is an integral part of Shaktism tradition, a branch of Hinduism. It is conducted in accordance to the Indian calendar, in the month of Ashwin (begins at sixth day of Ashwin shukla paksha tithi and ends on the tenth of the same) . Ashwin usually corresponds to September or October in the Gregorian calendar. This is a ten day long festival, and the last five days are of greater significance. Durga Puja also coincides with festivals like Navratri and Dussehra, which are of other traditional significance. 

Nostalgia

Mahalaya marks the start of the journey of homecoming or ‘Agomoni’ of Durga Maa to her natal home. On the day of Mahalaya, Bengalis wake up early in the morning and go to see skits or watch Mahalaya special programs on TV or listen to radios. These mediums, on Mahalaya, present acts or songs, which capture the essence of Puja. Infact, some songs can only be equated to the nostalgia of Durga Puja and nothing else. Or, they narrate the story that is associated with the origin of this tradition. This story can be traced back to the Devi Mahatmya, a text which is recited during the Durga Pujas. It is believed that this text was written back in 400-600 CE and was written in Sanskrit. The popular story that goes down from generation to generation says that, ‘There was a demon Mahishasur, whom the Gods or Devatas were unable to defeat. Finally, they sought the advice of the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They created and manifested a superpower, whose soul rose from the holy waters of Ganga, and who was crafted by all the Devas together. That manifestation was Devi Durga. She had ten arms, each hand holding a weapon, given to her by different Gods. Armed with all these weapons, she waged a fierce war against Mahishasur and finally killed him on Maha Dashami.’

Get, Set, Puja

The main Puja starts from Maha Shashti. The idols are placed in the selected place and elaborate rituals are done to religiously establish the idols and this marks the beginning of Durga Puja. Pujas can be arranged by a single family or by a community. The community Pujas are done in PAndals, constructed specifically for the Puja. Along with Devi Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartikeya are also worshipped, as according to Bengali culture, they are Devi Durga’s children. Hence she brings them with her, when she visits her paternal home. Maha Dashami marks the end of her visit and the start of the journey back to Kailash,her husband Lord Shiva’s abode. The idols,which are made of biodegradable substances, are submerged in the water bodies.

For Bengalis, Durga Puja is a very big deal. The preparation and shopping starts from months prior to  the actual festival. Pandals start springing up almost a month before the Puja. Nowadays, pandals and Pratimas (the idols) competitions are a rage. So, all the communities strive to make their ones more innovative and crowd attracting. During Puja, anyone might feel like the whole city has descended on the streets. In the big cities and metropolis, you would be lucky if you get to walk on your own feet. The crowd, usually, does a good job pushing you forward. Various pandals are used to address various social issues. Pendal hoping is a favourite activity of the bengalis during the puja and it can only be seconded by the joy of eating street side food. This is actually a notable difference from the rest of India which celebrates different festivals at the same time, as for most of the food consumed during Durga Puja is non-veg. Many people, infact, eat out on all the Puja days.

Also, youngsters really like to tally how many Pujas they have finished visiting with their friends 

Puja gives everyone just the right environment to flaunt their favourite looks and outfits. No one is too over the top during this festival. Infact, try going out in old clothes, you will surely meet a family resistance. People get materials for their social media posts for a long time with all the pictures taken during puja. Also, going out with friends is met with no resistance during Puja. Another aspect of pandal hopping is that many young ones aspire to find their one true love in these Puja crowds. And if you already have someone, then Puja literally gives a free pass to go out with them, without the usual dose of hide and seek from people. 

That is true for the night life. But during the day, Pandals are filled with people, mostly from the neighbouring areas, who come to take Pushpanjali (offering flowers to Gods). The chants and hymns read during the Pushpanjali gives the true experience of the puja. Saptami, Ashtami and Navami are spent more or less in the same fashion. Bengalis basically don’t sleep on the Navami night.

Dashami Day starts with people, especially students offering prayers and possession to be blessed by all the deities. After that, married women partake in ‘Shidurkhela’, an important ritual of Dashami. Arati and Dhunuchi dance accompanied by Dhak is performed before finally moving the idolout for bishorjon (submerging in water). The processions accompanying the idols to Bishorjon are a sight in itself. Bengalis enjoy these final moments and cherish them forever. And see Durga Maa off, with misty eyes and a promise, 

“Asche bochor abar hobe”

Translation: Next year, this will happen again.

Mutual understanding key to sustaining a marriage

The key to sustaining a marriage is mutual understanding, cooperation and adjustment. For a marriage to succeed, both the husband and wife must be committed to its success. It will not develop on its own accord, but through the concerted effort of the couple.As husband and wife, we should learn to compromise and share, make sacrifices for each other, and always show concern for each other’s needs. We should also hold on to noble values like patience and forbearance. If all these happen, then you could say marriage is like a heaven.

Many relationships have broken up and many marriages have been torn apart, not because they don’t love each other, but because they don’t understand each other.Understanding means being more aware, sensitive and intuitive with the people we love. But understanding isn’t knowledge alone. Knowledge doesn’t always lead to understanding and without understanding, you won’t be able to love someone indefinitely.Understanding is knowing and being able to relate — it’s being able to comprehend the logic behind someone’s actions. It’s more than “getting” someone though.

A marriage based on love and respect doesn’t just happen. Both spouses have to do their part.Talking with your spouse is one of the best ways to keep your marriage healthy and successful. Be honest about what you’re feeling, but be kind and respectful when you communicate. Part of good communication is being a good listener and taking the time to understand what it is your spouse wants and needs from you. Keep the lines of communication open by talking often, and not just about things like bills and the kids. Share your thoughts and feelings.Appreciate each other, your relationship, your family, and your lives together. Show gratitude when your partner cooks dinner, helps the kids with their homework, or does the grocery shopping. It may help to take a few minutes each evening to tell each other at least one thing you appreciated that day.With work and family responsibilities, it can be easy to lose the romance factor. Plan special dates, either to go out or just stay at home. If you have children, send them on a play date while you relax, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.Alone time is just as important as couple time. Everyone needs time to recharge, think, and enjoy personal interests. That time is often lost when you’re married, especially if you have kids. Go out with friends, take a class, or do volunteer work, whatever you find enriching. When you’re back together with your spouse, you’ll appreciate each other even more.Everyone makes mistakes. Your spouse may hurt your feelings or do something that upsets you, and that may make you angry, even furious. But it’s important to deal with your feelings, let them go, and move on. don’t keep bringing up the past.

Remember to remain committed to your spouse, your family, and the life that you have built together. Support each other emotionally and in everyday ways. You, your spouse, and your relationship may grow and change with time, but these ideas can help your marriage stay successful over the years.

The painful reality is love is just not enough. I work ever day at better understanding the people whom I love. The willingness to understand is very important. It is not always easy, but healthy love is strengthened by the willingness to understand. “Love without understanding will wilt like flowers without water”.

So,please live a happy marriage life ,understand your partner problems ,issues and worries .Because without doing this you don’t have a successful marriage .

THANK U

Kailasa Temple: A Golden Inscription on the Pages of Indian History

Rock cut architectures, especially from the bygone eras, are awe inspiring pieces of excellent craftsmanship and structural engineering. The sheer amount of details and size of some of the best examples of this art form can leave the people dumbstruck. It is unimaginable for many minds as to how such extravagant monuments and structures were carved with the tools that were available during their creation. These architectures are a reflection of how human beings can create even with limitations, which again, is a relative term with respect to time. 

India has a special relation with rock cut architecture, as for the country has the most variety and abundance of these structures across the world. Most of the rock cut structures in India are religious in nature. Amongst all, the Kailash Temple, which is a part of the Ellora cave series is considered to be the pinnacle of this category of architecture. So, what makes it special? Let’s see…

Introduction

Rock cut architecture mainly refers to carving out of structures from a solid natural rock. The large amount of surplus rock pieces that were produced during this process were presumably shifted somewhere else for other economic purposes. To prevent the rocks from falling over the workers, the interiors were carved starting from the roof and then working downwards.

Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastery- temple complexes, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated at a distance from 29 kilometres north-west of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India and features Buddhist, Jain and Hindu monuments, dating back to 600 CE. This complex was constructed over a large period of time, spanning from 600-1000 CE. They were built during the reign of Rashtrakuta dynasty (constructed the Hindu and Buddhist caves) and Yadava dynasty (added quite a number of Jain caves). Over 100 caves were excavated in this site from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills. Out of them, only 34 are open for the public. 12 Buddhist (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu (caves 13-29)and 5 Jain (caves 30-34) make up the public accessible attractions and also display the religious harmony that was the binding cultural fabric of ancient India. The legendary Kailasha temple is featured in cave 16, and holds the honour of being the largest monolithic rock excavation in the world.

Glory of the Bygone Era

Kailasa or Kailashanatha temple is the largest rock cut Hindu temple in the Ellora cave complex. It is a megalith (stone from which a structure or monument is created, alone or along with other stones) shaped like a chariot, carved from a rock cliff face, ranging across 2 kilometres along the sloping basalt cliff. Its construction is estimated to have started in between 756-773 CE and was completed around the 8th century CE. Though there is a lack of dedicatory inscription, but on the basis of two epigraphs (the Vadodara copper plate inscription of Karkaraja II, a ruler of Rashtrakuta branch of Gujarat and the Kadaba grant of Govinda Prabhutavarsha), it is considered that Krishna I, a Rashtrakuta ruler has commissioned the creation of Kailasa temple. Though there are some specks of uncertainty due to various irregularities in the timeline and other historical documents. This magnanimous structure is dedicated to Kailashanatha (Shiva), but there are various sculptures of deities from Vaishnavism and Shaktism, along with relief panels depicting the two major Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Due to the size, architecture and sculptures, it is considered to be one of the  most exceptional cave temples across the world.  One of the highlight worthy fact about the construction of this temple is that it has been excavated vertically, that is, the carving started from the top of the original rock and moved downwards, in contrast to the established method of carving from the front. The architecture defers from the earlier style attributed to the Deccan region. The southern influence is considered to be due to involvement of Chalukya and Pallava artisans. Based on a Marathi  legend, an architect named Kokasa is theorized to be the chief architect of Kailasa temple. It has some resemblance to the Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal and Kailasa Temple, Kanchi.

Exploring the Culture

The temple courtyard entrance has a low gopuram. The deities on the left side of the entrance belong to Shaivism and on the right side, deities of Vaishnavism are more prominent. This gateway leads to U shaped courtyard, which is edged by a three storey high columned arcade. The arcade and the complementary alcoves are decorated by sculptured panels and relief carvings of various deities. Some of the famous sculptures are ascetic Shiva, dancing Shiva and Shiva being warned by Parvati about Ravana.
The central shrine is dedicated to Shiva and has an image of Nandi (the sacred bull), and is situated within the courtyard. The temple encasing the lingam, also include a flat-roof mandapa, held up by 16 pillars and a Dravidian shikhara. Throughout the entire shrine, carvings of niches, windows, images of deities and mithunas are in abundance. As the tradition, Nandi sits on the porch in front of the primary temple. The Nandi mandapa and the main Shiva temple is situated on a height of 7 metres, and built in two storeys. The base of the temple is carved as such to project that the elephants are holding the temple aloft. The Nandi mandapa is connected to the main shrine via a rock bridge. The lower levels, upon which the temple is standing, depicts various mythological scenes and sculptures. Five detached shrines in the compound are also a notable feature, three of which are dedicated to Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

Website References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_Temple,_Ellora

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellora_Caves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture

The Apatani

Arunachal Pradesh is the land of lofty mountains, pristine landscape, and a large tribal population. Surrounded by blue rolling hills, tucked in foothills of Himalayas, and nestled in the lap of nature, is the tiny yet picturesque town of Zero. Zero Valley is the home to the Eastern Himalayan ethnic group, Apatani or Tanii as they call themselves. The Apatani people were unknown to the outside world until the 1900s. The valley is dotted by paddy fields and the tribe makes its living from farming and fishing. They reflect a beguiling co-existence between man and nature.
The Apatani tribe is non-nomadic which means, unlike other tribes, they don’t travel. Though, some sources say they migrated from Mongolia and Tibet regions.
The Apatani has no written historical record, but a very strong oral culture. It is through folklores and stories transmitted orally from generations, one gets to know about their rich past.

The Apatani also had some traditions which seem quite unusual to the modern world. One of them being the forceful abduction of girls and women by the men of their tribe in to wed them. Once the girl is picked by the man, the shaman, the religious priest, would check their compatibility in the chicken’s liver, thus declaring them married. They are also one of the very few tribes who practice their religion. Apatani follows the Dongi- Polo religion which is worshipping nature, the Sun, and the Moon. They have a totem in every house and sacrifice animals to seek spiritual blessings for their tribe and land. Their major festivals are Murung in January and Dree in July.

Besides their cultural heritage is distinct too. The Apatani women adorn themselves with big wooden nose plugs known as Yaping Hurlo and facial tattoos known as Tippie. At the time Apatani women’s first menstruation their face is tattooed and nose plugged. The ink of the tattoo is made up of pig fat and soot from the fireplace and the motif is hand-poked on the face using a thorny plant. The tattoo is a line extending from their forehead till the tip of the nose and five lines under the lower lip. Men also have a T shape tattoo on their chin.

The famous story behind the practice of nose plugs and the facial tattoo is fascinating. The Apatani tribe women were considered to be the most beautiful women in Arunachal Pradesh, and men from neighboring tribes would try to steal them. To protect them, the Apatani women were made to have the nose plugs and cover their faces in the tattoo. This was done to disfigure them so they look less appealing and over time it has embedded in their local culture. But this is just one of the stories one gets to hear about this practice. There are other stories for different reasons. But unfortunately, there is no written account to solve the mystery.

But this ‘Apatani art’, as the older Apatani women call it, is slowly dying. The newer generations are not into nose plugs and facial tattoos. They are now going out to the ‘Indian mainland’ to study and believe that this practice is a visual identification of their tribe, often making them prone to discrimination in their social lives. Also, the tradition was banned by the government in the 1970s and thus is no more in practice. The nose plug and tattoo are only visible on older Apatani women. But the last bearers of this tradition are proud of their identity.
Presently, only 60,000 Apatani people are living in the Zero Valley. Their tribe and its tradition are on the verge of extinction.

Hallyu is the new frontrunner of Soft Power

Hard Power or coercive power is often recognized as having shaped Global Politics for years. A smaller nation ought to fear a bigger nation that has an expansive army or greater economic prowess. On the other hand, soft power in politics refers to the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce. Soft Power is thus co-optive power. It primarily refers to shaping others’ preferences through appeal or through attraction.

Joseph S Nye Jr. was the scholar who coined the term soft power in the late 1980s. He defined it as the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it wants without force or coercion. In the context of International Relations, it emerged as one of the go-to-strategies for many. The US was among the earliest beneficiaries with the McDonaldization of the world. More recently, Asian countries have witnessed a remarkable boom in their economies thanks to the concept of soft power.

South Korea has been among the biggest beneficiaries of the same. Korean pop, or K-pop as it is more commonly known, has been at the heart of Korean soft power strategies. The Korean culture wave or ‘Hallyu’ has taken the world by storm. K-Dramas were initially meant for domestic audience but its audience soon spread to other parts of Asia and slowly captured the world. K-pop groups like EXO, BTS, Blackpink are now household names. BTS accounted for $4.65 billion (£3.5 billion) of South Korea’s GDP in 2019. EXO’s Baekhyun, who debuted as a soloist in 2019, released his second album in May 2020 and went on to become the first soloist in over 19 years to sell more than one million physical albums. In today’s digital day and age, selling over one million physical albums is a huge achievement.

The popularity of Korean music, K-Dramas and films has resulted in growth in other sectors such as food, tourism and has increased the demand for the Korean language as well. The international popularity of K-pop groups, actors and Hallyu in general, is a great example of the proliferation of Korean soft power. Soft power is at the heart of cultural diplomacy. Through deploying cultural diplomacy tools, nations and other international actors mobilize resources for forming positive opinions about their culture, people and society. The promotion of soft power through cultural diplomacy is a shared interest of both governmental and non-governmental actors as well as K-pop agencies.

K-pop groups play a big part in spreading positive associations with Korean culture worldwide, through the immediate impact of their performances on international music charts, merchandising and rise in tourism. The huge demand for K-pop merchandise in India is testimony to their growing popularity in the region. There are many sellers on Instagram and Twitter who devote their time and efforts to conducting group orders for fans in India in order to help them order albums and other merchandise from South Korea. All these cases illustrate how influential South Korean soft power strategy has been in expanding horizons for the Far East Asian nation.

Cultural Heritage Sites in India

India is a country which has a host of spectacular sites, ranging from glorious historical monuments to diverse natural heritage sites. UNESCO World Heritage Convention has recognised many sites across the world for their cultural heritage. India has the 6th largest number of world heritage sites with 38 such sites. Here are some sites among those, which one shouldn’t miss while exploring the country.

Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj Mahal is a funerary mosque, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal. Set against the Mughal Gardens, it is a pristine architectural monument made of white marble. It was built in 16 years by thousands of artisans under the Chief Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and is considered as a masterpiece.

Photo by Roney John on Pexels.com

Khajurao, Madhya Pradesh

The Khajurao is a group of monuments located in Madhya Pradesh and is attributed to the Chandela dynasty. It is known for its unique artistic architecture which has survived since the 10th century. Out of the 85 temples built originally, only 22 temples are there at present.

The PInk City, Jaipur

Jaipur is a fort city in Rajasthan, built according to grid plans of Vedic architecture. The urban planning of the city shows influence of ancient Hindu, modern Mughal and western cultures. Originally built as a commercial capital, the city is an intersection of commercial, artisanal and traditional center.

Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra

The Elephanta Caves is a group of sculpted caves on Elephanta island, located in Mumbai harbour. It is dated to 5th century and it consists of 5 Hindu caves and 2 Buddhist caves. The architecture is characterized by rock cut stone sculptures.

Sundarbans, West Bengal

The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forests in the world and is both a national park and a tiger reserve. It is situated in the Sundarbans Ganges river delta and is formed by the deposition of sediments from 3 rivers – the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. It consists of dense mangrove forests which is the home to the Bengal tiger, the salt water crocodile and various birds.

Fatehpur Sikri

Also known as the City of Victory, the Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Emperor Akbar. It includes a set of mosques, monuments and temples built in Mughal architectural style. It was built as a city which had several monuments, buildings, palaces, public spaces and courts. The site has monuments like – the Jama Masjid, the Buland Darwaza, the Panch Mahal, and the Tomb of Salim Chishti which are popular tourist attractions.

Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka

These are a group of monuments in the Hampi town in Karnataka. Located on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, it consists of Dravidian temples and palaces. It has been admired by travelers of the 14th and 16th century and is still a very important cultural and religious center for Hindus and Jains.

Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha

The Konark Sun temple is a renowned temple, located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal and built in the form of the chariot of Surya, the sun god. It is constructed with sandstone and decorated with beautiful stone carvings. It was constructed under the rule of King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

Inconic Festivals Around the World

Festivals happen all over the world and exploring them can be an extraordinary experience for anyone who enjoys culture and art. The following list includes some of the most colourful, amazing festivals which are celebrated in different places around the world.

THE YI PENG LANTERN FESTIVAL, THAILAND

The Yi Peng lantern festival is a very unique kind of festival celebrated in Northern Thailand during a full moon light. It was traditionally celebrated as a festival to mark the end of the monsoon season. It is a spectacular sight to see thousands of sky lanterns floating in the sky and beautiful flowers floating on the Ping river.

HOLI, INDIA

Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is mostly celebrated by Indians during Spring. During the festival people play with colours and engage in dance, music and festivities. It also represents the arrival of ‘Basanta’ or Spring. The traditional festival includes fun filled games and water gun fights.

WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL, JAPAN

This is one of the illumination festivals which one must attend. The incredible Winter Light festival takes place in a park in Kuwana City of Japan during November to March. Attracting thousands of tourists, the festival is one of Japan’s finest illuminations. The park also has a variety of restaurants.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND

Known as one of the happiest places on Earth, the Golden Retriever Festival is organized by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland. It is a mass gathering of Golden Retrievers along with dog lovers in the ancestral home of the breed in a Scottish Village. In 2018, the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the breed was done with the gathering of about 360 Retrievers.

ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA, USA

The biggest hot air balloon festival in the world, Albuquerque balloon fiesta is  a nine day long event held in New Mexico during early October. Guests have the rare opportunity of seeing the inflation and take off of around 600 colourful hot air balloons. It is the most photographed event in the world.

LA TOMATINA FESTIVAL, SPAIN

The La Tomatina Festival is held on the last wednesday of August on the streets of Bunol town in Spain. It is a fun event where participants from all around the world throw squashed tomatoes at each other. The week long festival is also famous for its parades, fireworks, music and dance. The tomatoes are provided to the participants before the start of the event. In order to maintain safety participants are encouraged to wear goggles and water trucks are placed across streets.

FLORIDA KEYS UNDERWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL, USA

The festival is usually celebrated to draw attention to the conservation of the coral reef. It is a wonderful festival for divers and music lovers. The festival takes place in a sand area near the coral reef. Hundreds of divers and underwater musicians play songs on the theme of Ocean. It is being celebrated every year for the last 25 years.

ICE AND SNOW SCULPTURE FESTIVAL, CHINA

The Harbin ice and snow festival takes place during the month of January in Harbin of Heilongjiang province of China. Attracting thousands of tourists it features an international competition of ice sculptures and illuminated snow block buildings. Multicoloured lights illuminate the ice and snow formations creating a spectacular sight at night. Artists who construct the ice sculptures use ice from the frozen Songhua river.

OKTOBERFEST, GERMANY

The largest funfair in the world, Oktoberfest takes place from the end of September to beginning of October in Munich City of Germany. The festival attracting around 6 million people around the world includes amusement rides and traditional food. 6 breweries around Munich serve around 7 million litres of beer every year.

Music Therapy:A Novel Therapy

Did you ever feel that therapy involves talk by a psychologist and nothing else could come under the domain of therapy?If your answer is yes,Then you are wrong!!Well times have changed my reader~

Therapies have come a long way to incorporate other clinically approved methods such as animal assisted therapy,food therapy,aroma therapy etc.Music Therapy is one clinically developed program by psychologists to assist speedy healing of their clients.In this blog,the readers would be introduced to the world of Music therapy.So lets get started!

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WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY?

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.It is is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music.

Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.This therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas especially emotional rehabilitation.

History

You all will be shocked to know that both world wars were the trigger that initiated the development of this therapy.During and after both World Wars, doctors and clinicians began to realize the powerful effects that music has on the healing process and requested that professional musicians be hired by the hospitals.This therapy first got officially recognized in the Michigan state university of the United States of America.Ultimately,The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) was formed which focuses on creating more awareness about this wonderful therapy.

BENEFITS

Music therapy can benefit many individuals. The diverse nature of music means it can be applied in the treatment of concerns both physical and psychological.Since music can evoke positive emotions and improve brain health,Music therapy is said to manage and alleviate symptoms of mental health concern such as Depression, Mood issues,Anxiety,Schizophrenia,Substance abuse,Autism,Personality issues,Insomnia,Dementia etc.

In addition,Music therapy can improve the social,cognitive,emotional and motor functioning.This therapy was also effective in controlling patient’s situation in Alzheimer’s,Cancer and Hypertension.

Music therapy is frequently administered to reduce stress levels and pain perception of females in labor.This novel therapy has also been linked with improvements in self-esteem, self-concept, verbal communication, prosocial behavior, socialization skills, group cohesion, and coping skills.

Limitations

Even the most beautiful things have flaws,and so has music therapy.One of the major drawback is that this therapy cannot be used as a stand-alone therapy.The music therapy is also known as music assisted therapy implying it’s sole purpose is to assist the main therapy applied by the clinician on the client to produce fast results and relief.

Also,the music therapy like all other therapies is individualized.This is not a major drawback but should be kept in mind before going in for this option.All individuals are unique and so is their taste in music.Thus the therapist has to do additional tests to see which type of music and musical instrument works better for the client.

ALWAYS REMEMBER,WHERE WORDS FAIL,MUSIC SPEAKS…..

Thus in short we need to know that music therapy is a wonderful form of therapy which strengthens an individual and increases his/her quality of life.Choose Music for a better Life!

Do give a like,if you all found this article to be Interesting!

Thankyou!

Stay Knowledgeable!

MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE PART II

The next ruler to be in power after Babur was his son Humayun ( 1530-1540). He does not lay much effect on architecture as he had to stay in conflicts with Rajputs, afghans, for a long time. He tries to build Dinpanah city in Delhi, started to build but remains incomplete due to fighting with Sher Shah Suri where he got defeated.

Sher Shah Suri comes in power on 1540-1555. Qila-e-Quhunah, a mosque in Delhi s built by him. Rohtlas fort in Pakistan is a popular UNESCO world heritage site constructed during his period. Sher Shah Suri Masjid in Patna is a famous afghan style monument built with no Minars.  Sadak-e-Azam is popularly known as the Grand Trunk road is completed by him. A unique feature about the roads are the rest houses called, SARAIS were built between the roads for leisure activities.

Akbar took a keen interest in the development of art and architecture during his reign using red sandstone and marble. He introduced the use of Tudor architecture (four-centered style). Some prominent construction works undertaken by him were:  Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Humayun’s tomb, Hiran Minar, etc.

Agra Fort – built by Akbar, required 2000 stone- cutters, 2000 cement and lime makers, and 8000 laborers. The Agra gate contains Jaimal and Patta paintings to mark their bravery in war. Multiple buildings inside it- Diwani-i-am, Diwani-i-khass, Moti Masjid, Harem.

Fatehpur Sikri- 1) Buland Darwaza: built by Akbar to commemorate hid victory in the Deccan of Gujarat region.

2) Panch Mahal- famous due to the presence of the char bagh painting of Babur, five stories and have Persian influence with the impact of Buddhist architecture.

3) Ibadat khana- Scholars of different religions were used to come and discuss various issues here.

4) Salim Cistils Tomb- made from white marble, known for its jali work.

5) Hiran Minar- made in the memory of an elephant.

During the Jahangir period, architecture took a set back. He focussed more on paintings and other forms of art. He built Akbar’s and his tomb. Some famous creations- Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir, Moti Masjid in Lahore, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah. The development of gold coins was also done.

Shah Jahan’s reign witnessed a huge amount of construction activities, especially in Delhi and Agra. Ceremonial halls of the public and the private audience were carefully planned. These halls were called Chihil Sutun. Major construction were- Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, complete shalimar bagh, city of Shahjahanabad, and Peacock Throne.

The development of architecture declines during Aurangzeb’s period as he shows no interest in monuments and forts. Biwi-ka-Maqbara was the only monument built by his son in the memory of his mother, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

ART AND CULTURE

AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVE ARCHITECTURE

Cave architecture had originated in prehistory or the stone age period leading to the development of paintings and sculptures.

Ajanta caves had their origin since the Satvahana dynasty during the pre-Mauryan period. It is located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state. It comprises of 29 caves and has a C shaped structure. It is the only example of the first century BCE and fifth century CE.

It has four chaitya caves and the rest are vihara caves ( chaitya – used for prayers and vihara – residential halls).

FEATURES:  Mural paintings drawn on walls as well as ceilings  of the cave

Figures are dedicated to Buddhism teachings and worship.

Sculptures are found in abundance.

Famous paintings: dying princess, flying Apsara (taken from Jataka stories), Padmapani, and Vajrapani. A technique used to paint is the Fresco style of texture images with limited natural colors, drawn on wet surfaces. Expand during Vakataka kings.

Famous sculptures: Mahaparinibbana of Buddha, cave number 26

Naga king and his consort, cave number 19

Vidarbha sculptural tradition, cave number 2.

Ellora caves are also located in Aurangabad district, 100 km away from Ajanta. It comprises 34 caves build during the Rashtrakuta period, early medieval times.

Cave no. 1-12 are Buddhist caves, 13-29 are Hindu caves and 30-34 are Jain caves. It shows the religious tolerance of kings.

FAMOUS CAVES

Cave number 10 is a Buddhist chaitya called the Vishwakarma or carpenter’s cave. Buddha is seated in Vyakhyana mudra and a Bodhi tree is carved in his back.

Cave 14 is themed as Raavan ki Khai.

Cave 15 is called the Dashavatar temple.

Cave 16 is a Kailash temple dedicated to Lord SHIVA, formed by Krishna king. It is called as finest Ellora architecture.

Cave 21 is famous for Rameshwar temple and 29 for Dhumar Lena.

Famous Jain caves are INDRA SABHA and JAGANNATH SABHA cave 32 and 33 respectively.

Cave no. 4 is called rang mahal, meaning the palace of colors, paintings to walls are still visible.

Ajanta and Ellora caves are regarded as UNESCO world heritage sites.

The caves will bring you closer to our culture in understanding the past.

“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.” –John F. Kennedy, former American President

The world’s first author

Authors, in todays world authors are considered as minor celebrities. Most of the best seller authors are usually in fame for a short period of time after which they are lost to obscurity. Yet there are some with writings of such epic proportions that they are still celebrated as influential authors by many. One such author was the world’s first author, and despite such a feat not much is known about her by the general populace. 4,300 years ago, in ancient Sumer, the most powerful person in the city of Ur was banished to wander the vast desert. Her name was Enheduanna, a high priestess and the world’s first author. And by the time of her exile, she had written forty-two hymns and three epic poems— and Sumer hadn’t heard the last of her. Who was this woman, and why was she exiled?

Enheduanna lived 1700 years before Sappho, 1500 years before Homer and about 500 years before the biblical patriarch Abraham. Born in Mesopotamia, her birthplace was one of the first cities and cultures to have emerged in the world. Her father was King Sargon the Great, history’s first empire builder who conquered the independent city states and was often seen as somewhat of a foreign invader by the Sumerian cities of the south. Thus, to bridge the gap between the cultures, Sargon appointed his only daughter, Enheduanna, as high priestess. Female royalty was traditionally given religious roles, and she was educated to read and write in both Sumerian and Akkadian and make mathematical calculations. The worlds first writing started in Sumer as a system of accounting, allowing merchants to communicate over long distances with traders abroad. This pictogram system of record keeping developed into a script about 300 years before Enheduanna’s birth. But until Enheduanna, this writing mostly took the form of record keeping and transcription, rather than original works attributable to individual writers. As high priestess, she oversaw hundreds of temple workers, interpreted their dreams and set about unifying the older Sumerian culture with the new Akkadian civilisation. To accomplish this feat, she wrote 42 religious hymns that combined both mythologies. Since each Mesopotamian city was thought to be ruled by a patron deity, her hymns were dedicated to the ruling of each major city. In her writing she humanized the once aloof gods- now they suffered, fought, loved and responded to human pleading. Enheduanna’s most valuable literary contribution is said to her poetry dedicated to Inanna, the goddess of war and desire. Her odes to Inanna, mark the first time an author used the pronoun “I” and the first-time writing was used to explore deep, private emotions. After the death of king Sargon, a power-hungry general took advantage to the power vacuum to stage a coup. As a powerful member of the ruling family, naturally Enheduanna was targeted, thus the general exiled her from Ur. Her nephew, the legendary Sumerian king Naram- Sin, ultimately crushed the rebellion and restored his aunt as the high priestess. She died after serving as high priestess for 40 years. After her death she was regarded as a minor deity and her poetry was copied, studied and performed throughout the empire. Her poems influenced the Hebrew Old Testament, the epics of Homer and Christian Hymns.

Today, Enheduanna’s legacy still exists on clay tablets that have stood the testaments of time. To end lets celebrate a quote of Enheduanna herself “With your strength, my lady teeth can crush flint”.

Why are numbers banned?

Bans, they are measures taken by the government to control whatever they feel is threatening to their rule or to the general populace. They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and authorities have often agreed. From outlawed religious tracts and revolutionary manifestos to censored and burned books, we know the potential power of words to overturn the social order. But as strange as it may seem, some numbers have also been considered dangerous enough to ban. Our distant ancestors long counted objects using simple tally marks. But as they developed agriculture and began living together in larger groups this was no longer enough. As numbers grew more complex, people began not just using them, but thinking about what they are and how they work.

By 600 B.C.E ancient Greece, the study of numbers was well developed. Pythagoras, one of the most famous mathematicians and his school of followers found numerical patterns in shapes, music and stars. For them math held the deepest secrets of the universe. But one Pythagorean named Hippasus discovered something disturbing. Some quantities like the diagonal of a square with sides of length one each couldn’t be expressed by any combination of whole numbers or fractions, no matter how small. These numbers which we call irrational numbers, were seen as a threat to the Pythagorean notion of a perfect universe. They imagined a reality that could be described with rational, numerical patterns. Historians write that Hippasus was exiled for publicizing his findings while legends of the Pythagorean era claim he was drowned by the god themselves as punishment for his blasphemous findings. While irrational numbers upset philosophers, later mathematical inventions would draw attention from political and religious authorities as well. In the middle ages, while Europe was still using roman numerals other cultures had developed positional systems that included a symbol for zero. When Arab merchants brought this system to Italy, its advantages for merchants and traders was clear. However, the authorities were wary as Hindu- Arabic numerals were quite easy to forge or alter, especially since they were less familiar to customers than to merchants. And since the concept of zero opened the path to negative numbers and the recording of debt at a time when money-lending was regarded with suspicion. In 13th century, Florence totally banned the usage of Hindu- Arabic numerals for record keeping. Even though they were immensely useful, controversies regarding zero and negative numbers continued for a long time. Negative numbers were dismissed as absurd and prominent mathematicians like Gerolamo Cardano avoided using zero despite the easier route it provided to solve cubic and quartic equations. Even today it is illegal to use various numbers for a plethora of reasons. Governments usually ban the usage f numbers which have symbolic meanings or connections to opposing political figures and parties. Some numbers are banned because of the sensitive information they carry. These days any image, file, video or executable program can be translated into a string of numbers. So, this means protected materials such as copyrights and state secrets can also be represented as numbers, so possessing or publishing these are considered a criminal offense.

Thus, in a world where calculations and algorithms, shape more and more of our lives, the mathematicians pen grows stronger each passing day.   

Zoo

The world is a huge place to see. It consists of so many living organisms that it is impossible to see each and every one of them. Especially for human beings, who are fascinated very much by animals. For the same reasons, zoos were created so that humans can interact better with animals. In other words, a zoo is a facility that has animals, birds, and reptiles of all kinds. They are confined to space where they are given food and medical facilities. The government has given strict guidelines to maintain a zoo. This is done keeping in mind the animal’s safety. In addition, zoos are made breeding grounds for animals to protect their species.

Benefits of Zoo

Zoos were made to bring wildlife closer to humans. It gave humans a better and up-close view of them. This allows various researchers and scientists to note the behavioral pattern of the animals. It helps them in their studies and discover new things. In addition, zoos are a great source of entertainment for kids. They love visiting zoos and interacting with animals. This helps them learn practical knowledge about the animal. It also gives them exposure to wildlife and widens their knowledge. Furthermore, zoos give us easy access to rare animals. Had it not been for zoos, we would have never been able to see what some animals looked like. We enjoy their behavior and it also creates awareness about the extinction of the rare species. Similarly, zoos are a safe breeding ground for animals. They ensure the animal breeds so they never go extinct. This helps in creating a good balance. Moreover, the zoos ensure the animals get all the nutrition in their bodies to lead a healthy life. This is beneficial as the animal may not get guaranteed meals in the forests.

Disadvantages of Zoo

While the zoo is a great place for entertainment, it is also very exploitive. It takes advantage of the poor animals to make a profit off them. The zoos keep animals in very bad conditions. It takes unethical methods just to create revenue.

Furthermore, zoos are very unfair to animals. They take the animals out of their natural habitats just for the sake of human entertainment. Why would the animals be put into cages as humans want them to? They are voiceless creatures who are being forced to live in poor conditions. Imagine putting humans into cages so animals could come to see them. It sounds inhumane the other way around but not when we do the same to animals.

Most importantly, zoos do not take proper care of exotic animals. They bring them over in their facility despite knowing that they cannot survive in that climate. Some zoos do not take enough precautionary measures to keep the animals safe. This has resulted in so many deaths of animals that it seems cruel.

In short, though zoos are very helpful to humans and animals to an extent. They must be monitored constantly to ensure the animals are safe. The unethical zoos must be shut down at once to prevent any further loss of animals.

Treadmills: a torture device?

Treadmill, a machine that can be seen in any gym one steps into regardless of the country one stays in. Treadmill has become an iconic exercise when it comes to the gym. The constant thud underneath your feet. The constrained space. The monotony of going nowhere fast. Feeling like hours have gone by as you slog on it, but in reality, mere minutes have passed by. Running on a treadmill can certainly feel like torture, but did you know it was originally used for that very purpose. Its true the now easy to access treadmill was once used to torture and get troublesome inmates into line.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

In the 1800’s, treadmills were created to punish English prisoners. It was at a time when the English prison system was abysmally bad. Execution and deportations were usually the punishment of choice and those who were locked away faced hours of solitude in tiny confined filthy cells. So social movements led by religious groups, philanthropists and celebrities like Charles Dickens sought to change these dire conditions that the inmates faced and tried to reform the prisoners and prison system. When the movement succeeded, entire prisons were remodelled and new forms of rehabilitations, such as the treadmill were introduced. Invented by an English engineer, Sir William Cubitt in 1818 the original version was vastly different than the commercial ones we know today. Prisoners stepped on 24 spokes pf a large paddle wheel. As the wheel turned, the prisoner was forced to keep stepping up in order to reduce the risk of falling down, similar to modern stepper machines. Meanwhile the rotation of the wheel made gears pump water, crush grain and power mills, which is where the name Treadmill originated. These devices were seen as a fantastic way to whip the prisoners into shape with the added benefit of powering the mills helped rebuild a British economy that was devastated by the Napoleonic wars. It was win-win situation for everyone except of course the prisoners. It is estimated, on an average that the prisoners spent around six hours or so a day on treadmills which can be an equivalent of 5000 to 14000 feet a day which is roughly climbing Mount Everest to its halfway point. They did so five days a week with little food to energize themselves with. Cubitt’s idea quickly spread across the British Empire and America. And within a decade of its creation over 50 English prisons boasted a treadmill and America also quickly surmounted to a similar amount. Unsurprisingly the exertion combined with the poor nutrition being provided saw any prisoners suffering from breakdowns and injuries but unfortunately prison guards did not seem to care. In 1894, New York prison guard James Hardie credited the device to have taming his most boisterous of inmates claiming that the monotonous steadiness, not its severity is what terrorized the inmates. The treadmills lasted in England until the late 19th century, when they were banned for being excessively cruel under the Prison Act of 1898.

Soon the torture device returned with a vengeance, this time targeting the unsuspecting public. In 1911, a treadmill patent was registered in the US and by 1952 was thrust into limelight with the model that we are so familiar with. As an easy and convenient way to improve aerobic fitness, it soon gained a lot of familiarity in the exercise business.            

Thus is the tale of the torture device that soon became a staple in every corner of gyms and exercise squares.

Interesting facts that will surely make you think twice.

In this universe, there are many interesting facts that will blow up our mind and make us think twice about them.As it is said change of subject is rest of mind ,Knowing about interesting facts help us in relieving stress and keep mind updated, as such in this crisis times let us be worry less and tension free and explore some of the interesting facts:

1.It can take a photon 40,000 years to travel from the core of the sun to surface, but only 8 minutes to travel the rest of the way to earth.

2.It would take 1.2 million mosquitoes,each sucking once to completely drain blood of average healthy human.

3.Dead people can get goose bumps (Scary).

4.Kumbh Mela gathering is visible from space.

The 2011 kumbh mela was the largest gathering in world with over 75 million piligrims. The gathering was so huge that it was visible from space.

5.Brain information travels up to an impressive 268 miles per hour speed and its capacity is virtually unlimited.

6.a woman jumped off from 86th floor but wind pushed her back. She survived(wow , wind power).

7.Believe it or not That most of the oxygen on earth doesn’t come from trees. It’s comes from plankton(animal) in the ocean.

8.There isn’t a single bridge across amazon river.

9.Trees can send secret warning signals to other trees about incoming insect attacks (weird but true).

10.400 million years ago ,the earth was covered with mushrooms, that were 8 meters tall !!! (just imagine)

Hope the facts were amazing and made readers amused.