Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

July 25, 2020

Green Mountain in Munnar

It was a green mountain in Munnar. The place was called Echo Point and U could do pedal-boating there. The lake was green as well, and looked serene and secure amongst all the high mountains and clouds. Maybe the lake was reflecting the colour of the mountains. Maybe that's Love. U can see Ur reflection in the Loved One. Or maybe, the Loved One is just mirroring your qualities and gradually, U both become so alike that U become ONE......


Ok fine. I didn't set out to write about this. I set out to write something which awed me, as much as it pleased me, and covered me with a blanket of green. Now, whenever I want, I can see the trees of that mountain. Tall, coniferous, deodar-like trees, waving and dancing happily in the wind. They were one happy Brotherhood, rejoicing and celebrating Life. They were waving out to me and shouting out to me and showing off their dance and their extreme happiness. Some were not dancing- they were just staring at me. But the others were having a jolly time- like real roly-poly people, ready to bounce off from there any moment. Shouting and being playful to each other as well as to me. Inviting me right inside their party- their eternal party with the wind through them, the Sun playing Hide and seek with them and the water almost tranquil.

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*This was dated 2/9/2013. I was probably copying from one of my many notebooks where I keep writing stuff. So this was about my Munnar Trip with my Wipro office colleagues in 2008. I couldn't finish copying my entire writeup and the last line was "water almost tranquil at the". I don't know where is the rest of the writeup. For now, we have to suffice with this much, and think that this itself is complete.

Isn't every incomplete, complete in some way?

May 1, 2015

Results for #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest are here!!

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It's been exactly a month since Odisha's Foundation Day or #UtkalaDibasa. I know all you folks have been eagerly awaiting the results of  #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest!

Today, I feel privileged to bring you the winners of #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest hosted by me since April 1st 2015!  

April 12, 2015

#UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest NOW EXTENDED TILL 19 APRIL 2015!

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Hey friends!

On popular demand, I am extending the deadline for the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest to next Sunday- 19 April, 2015!


The following are the original prizes for #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest:

Grand Prize #1 - Couple 2N/3D Stay at Toshali Sands, Puri sponsored by Toshali Resorts

 

The Lap of Buddhism - Ratnagiri - Traveller's Paradise!

I am hereby redeeming a promise I had made to all my readers in one of my previous posts,i.e. to write in detail about each of the Buddhist places in the 'Diamond Triangle' of Odisha. So here goes the first exclusive write-up on the exquisitely beautiful Ratnagiri!

Being an esteemed part of 3rd International Buddhist Conference at Bhubaneswar has been a life-changing experience for me. The second day of Conference was a site-visit to the 'Diamond Triangle' of Odisha. Ratnagiri was the second destination in our Buddhist trail, after Lalitgiri.

Location: Ratnagiri is in Jajpur District, only about 100 km from Odisha's capital- the splendid Temple City of Bhubaneswar. You can reach at Biju Pattnaik International Airport or Bhubaneswar Railway Station, and head to Ratnagiri by extremely well-connected roads- can reach within 2 hours easily!

2nd Bus carrying Delegates of Buddhist Conference to Ratnagiri. Buses were parked about 1.5 km away from main site, as road is narrow for big buses. Later mini bus of OTDC took us to the exact site of Ratnagiri!

Literally meaning, 'Hill of Jewels' this site is lined with breathtakingly beautiful votive stupas and monasteries dating between 5th Century AD to 13th Century AD.

April 1, 2015

#UtkalaDibasaQuiz : Win 2N-3D Stay at Puri, Ratnagiri & lots more!

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The following #UtkalaDibasa Quiz commemorates #UtkalaDibasa 2015 - Odisha's Foundation Day. 

http://pictures.picasion.com/pic19/d6c004ef789d88f0c985ce8310fd072b.gif
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Check out the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz Rules and Terms and Conditions HERE.

A chance to WIN Travel-Stays worth Rs 11,000, Rs 8,000 and 10 other fabulous prizes!

March 31, 2015

Coming Up: #UtkalaDibasaQuiz! Win Grand Prizes!

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The #UtkalaDibasaQuiz Contest is a humble attempt to popularize the beautiful culture and heritage-rich eastern Indian state of Odisha amongst netizens. 

Odisha is also known as Utkala or the Land of Utkarsha Kala (exquisite arts).

Starting from Odisha's Foundation Day (Utkala Dibasa) of 1st April, 2015, the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz will be on till 19th April, 2015. 

Participants can win 2 Grand Prizes - 2 nights/3 days stay in the beautiful Toshali Resorts of Puri or Ratnagiri in Odisha worth about Rs 11,000 and Rs 8,000 respectively, sponsored by Toshali Resorts!

There are 10 Consolation prizes too - lovely Odisha Tourism Souvenir Items sponsored by Odisha Tourism!


Toshali Sands Resort, Puri, Odisha


March 5, 2015

Narendrapur Loka Nrutya Group from Badakusasthali, Ganjam, Odisha



I had attended the LokaNritya and LokaBadya Utsav [State-Level Folk Dancesand Music Festival] at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar recently from 25-26February, 2015. The folk dances and folk music performances from Odisha done there, were just outstanding. That there is so much talent brimming in our grassroot-level villages and towns, and more importantly they are working hard to preserve the heritage passed on by ancestors, filled me with optimism and hope for preservation of our vibrant cultural arts.

Indian culture is rich, diverse, glorious, brilliant and each state has its own distinct cultural flavours. The summation of all such brilliance, makes our India - #IncredibleIndia!

February 28, 2015

Saahi Jaata of Puri, Odisha

Saahi means locality. Jaata means Yatra or Festival. Saahi Jaata (ସାହି ଯାତ) is believed to have begun in 12th/13th century in Puri, Odisha. 'Durga Medha' (ଦୁର୍ଗା ମେଢ) was shown in the Lokanritya and Lokabadya Utsav [State Level Folk Dances and Music Festival] held on 25 Feb, 2015 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar. During Dussehra Festival, dance on this theme is generally done in Saahi Jaata- the Raam Lila of Odisha.

Watch how Goddess Durga charms all by dominating the stage! She dances wearing heavy mask and costume of many kgs, to the tune of beating drums, local trumpet, shouts and shower of flowers on-stage!




February 27, 2015

Lokanritya and Lokabadya Utsav, Bhubaneswar

Rajya-Stariya Lokanritya and Lokabadya Utsav [State Level Folk Dances and Music Festival] was held on 25 and 26 February, 2015 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar. After organising the recently concluded and most wonderful events like the Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav [Festival showcasing Dying Regional Arts] and the Sankirtan Mahotsav, kudos to Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Department of Culture, Govt. of Odisha for organising another brilliant festival showcasing Odisha's vibrant culture!


 

About Lokanritya and Lokabadya Utsav:

February 26, 2015

Sankirtan Mahotsav in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Sankirtan Mahotsav was recently held in Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar from 21-22 February 2015. 30 groups had been called- one representing each district of the eastern state of Odisha in India.


'Sankirtan' means singing devotional songs for Lord Krishna, in the company of good people. Mainly inspired by Vaishnavite Saint Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu since 16th Century AD, in Odisha, this rich tradition continues and Bhakti songs are sung in praise of Lord Jagannath - Lord of the Universe.

February 24, 2015

Dhunkel- Rare Musical Instrument from Western Odisha, India

'Dhunkel' musical instrument is also known as 'Dhanakoila'. It makes a continuous beating sound, with accompanying vocals praising the Lord. Things used for making of Dhunkel are Dhanu (Bow) and Kula (domestic utensil to winnow grain made of bamboo), covered over an earthern pot and a Dhunkel stick is used to beat it to produce a unique beating sound. This instrument is used in eastern, western, Southern Odisha. Watch this rare musical instrument being played:





Bhalubansi- rare musical instrument from Western Odisha, India

Bhalubansi, is an ancient wind instrument (Susira Badya) from Western Odisha. It was one among many rare and dying musical instruments played at recently concluded Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav [Festival showcasing Dying Regional Arts]. Not just Bhalubansi, but Brahmabeena and Dhunkel were also played as part of same performance.


About Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav:

February 23, 2015

Kendara Badya, rare musical instrument from Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha

Kendara Badya, is a rare stringed musical instrument from Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha. It was one among many rare and dying musical instruments played at recently concluded Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav [Festival showcasing Dying Regional Arts].


'Music Tree': Innovative concept having 32 rare instruments on it

About the Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav:

February 22, 2015

Suta Kandhei Nacha (String Puppet Dance) of Ganjam district, Odisha

Odisha has a rich tradition of puppetry. Various forms of puppetry such as Glove (Kandhei), Rod (Kathi Kandhei) , String (Suta Kandhei) and Shadow (Ravan Chhaya) puppetry are all found in different districts of Odisha.

Source: http://ccrtindia.gov.in/puppetforms.php


Now, as promised, I'm revealing the suspense I had talked about in my previous post- that photo was of a String Puppetry Show! Here goes another click from the same:



February 20, 2015

Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav [Festival of Dying Regional Arts], Bhubaneswar, Odisha


Luptapraya Loka Kala Utsav [Festival showcasing Dying Regional Arts] was organised by Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Department of Culture, Govt. of Odisha from 18-19 Feb 2015 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar.

A one-of-its-kind, innovative 'Music Tree', conceptualised by Mr. Rabi Ratan Sahu had been set up there. It had about 32 rare musical instruments, and looked stunningly beautiful!


Rabi Ratan Sahu is not just a talented choreographer and dancer, but an ace researcher on Odisha's folk musical instruments and dances, especially of western Odisha region.

February 17, 2015

Dhabaleswar Temple at Dhauligiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Happy Mahashivratri to all! Today is the festival of Shiva, one among the Trinity of Lords in Hindu religion. As per mythology, Shiva married Parvati today. So, it is considered most auspicious. People keep fast and pray all through the night invoking Lord Shiva.

In Hinduism there are 33 crore Gods and Goddesses, but the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (Shiva) are the chief among them, apart from Shakti or Goddess who is considered most powerful.

In one of the G+ messages I read today, this intriguing fact was refreshed in my mind: The Lords who drank Amrit or nectar became 'Dev' (Lord) while the one who drank poison became 'Devon ke Dev' (Lord of Lords) or 'Mahadev' (Great Lord) ,that is, Shiva.

February 16, 2015

3rd International Buddhist Conference, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Ever since I had seen the below tweet on @odisha_tourism handle, I had been very excited to be a part of 3rd International Buddhist Conference from 13-15 February 2015! 

Coming to know of the attractive itinerary, I was super-charged and decided that I would anyhow attend this promising event in the City of Temples, my beautiful city of Bhubaneswar.

February 9, 2015

#Nabakalebara 2015 at #Puri #Odisha

Nabakalebara is among the most unique and rare festivals of the Lord in the world. In the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna has conveyed- "The body will get destroyed upon death. But just as we change into new clothes from old, so also the immortal soul will simply enter into new bodies but will never itself get destroyed".

Nabakalebara Logo from Odisha Tourism Website (Official Source)

Encompassing this deep-seated Hindu belief is the inimitable, one-of-its-kind festival in the entire world, called Nabakalebara. Naba means new and kalebara means body. Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Puri, Odisha who is considered as a Vishnu Avatar or a form of Lord Krishna.

August 12, 2014

Ebola Virus

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Ebola virus is a deadly virus which has spread in West African countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria etc. killing almost 1000 people so far.


Effect on health:
It leads to nausea, body pain, headache, and may culminate in deadly haemorrhagic fever. As no known cure or vaccine exists for it, ebola virus has proved to be very deadly for irreversible effects on health.

Method of spread:
First it spreads from fruit bats to humans. Then, it spreads if a healthy person comes in contact with bodily fluids (blood, semen, urine etc.) of affected person. Also, evidence so far does not suggest that it is air-borne.

Why countries are worried about its spread:
a) Due to a globalised, inter-connected world, people travelling from West Africa to other countries via flights, ships etc. may pass on the virus if they have used the loos of the transport. This multiplies chances of spreading disease.

July 25, 2014

#WHATTHEBLACK :: The 5 Black Things I want

1. Black God- Lord Jagannath's Grace -
Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe is also called 'Kalia' - the Black One or 'Kala Thakura'- the Black God.

http://oriyaonline.com//content_images/Jagannath.JPG
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There is an Odia prayer- 'Kalia, mo dehe bolide to deha kala...'
Translated it means- 'Oh Jagannath, please smear the black of your body onto my body...'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEcKf4v7g5w

I badly need Lord Jagannath's grace! Black is supreme. Black is the embodiment of all knowledge. Black is the colour of the Lord of the Universe.
I have shared my post on the Black colour of Lord Jagannath HERE.

Maa Kali is also black. I pray for her blessings too...

2. Black Colored Handloom Dress-Material/Saree -
Odisha has amazing Sambalpuri & other handloom works. Black Chanderi Sarees from MP look elegant too.
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