Kinner Kailash

Kinner Kailash is a mountain in the Kinner district of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh.The Kinnerr Kailash has a hight of 6500 meters  and is considered as scared by both Hindu and Buddhist Kinneries.This mountain sometimes confused with  the mountain Kailash  in Tibet .The Kinner Kailash Range borders the district of Kinner in  the south  and is dominated Kinaur  Kailash (elevation 6349 m ) and Jorkanden peaks.As per legend ,this shrine existed since the time of Bhasmasur, the deadly Asur (deman) who received a boon from the deity Lord Shiva after great penance,which entailed  that any persons head touched by him will be turned into ashesh ( bhasma) .   Upon receiving this gift, he tried  to turn Lord Shiva into ashes,as he wished to posses Parbati,which would only be possible upon his death. Lord Shiva stayed hiding ,changing locations often and then finally came to Kinneur Kailash. He recided here for sometimes meditating Lord Vishnu eventually helped him to slay the Asur,appearing to him as a woman and getting him to place his hand upon his own head,thereby killing Bhasmasur.

                                                                                                                                                                                  

A Trip to Kashmir

On August 1984  the author with his partner and little daughter Sonali quit Suri,Birbhum  by a private luxury  reserved Bus  owned by a resident of Faijabad,near Saraju River. U.P. After  a few hours journey, a female member became ill. The Bus stopped at Durgapur .Some of us advice to drop her at her  residence there , as she was sister-in-law of D.S.P.Burdwan .But she did not agree to go back. Then it was decided to give her medical treatment by  co-passenger friend Dr.Tapan. Accordingly Dr. Tapan pushed her an injection and advice to wait  at least  for one hour.Passengers agreed gracefully. After half an hour  she became fully cured and urged to start the bus in the night after crossing Barakar  river bridge at Bihar check post point  an A.S.I. of Bihar police stopped the bus for checking. Though  papers generally needed was kept o.k. but police has multifarious law to hackle public, if they desire so the concerned officer did not allowed to check out and demanded a sum of 3000 rs.However, negotiation came down to 300 rs and we checked out. Prior ten Kilometers to Hazaribagh Jungle we took dinner in a road side Dhaba. About two k.ms away from entering the jungle  the Bus stopped for a  short break. In the meantime a few truck driver coming from jungle side cautioned us  not to proceed further as dekoiety is going on  in the jungle. Waited  some times ,tried and succeeded  to make a convoy of 5/6 trucks taking the bus in the middle. Truck drivers were so good they helped to cross the jungle. While crossing the jungle, horrified to see in the  light of running trucks that robbery done upon a mini bus and an ambassador. Saw 3/4  male and female foreign tourist, perhaps American ,the time was hippie age, standing outside the car. Their dresses were torned , It seemed that they were bitten by the Robbers. Advanced and reached at Benaras. Visited Banaras Hindu University , Biswanath Temple ,other temples, ghats etc.an incident deserved to be mention that the author, his partner and little daughter took a journey from daswasamedh ghat  to monikornika  ghat by a little boat against the tIde of   River Ganges. This adventure was risky and dangerous. Though nothing happened adverse. Kashi Biswanat Mondir is  a pious religious place to the Hindus. Further proceeded  towards Agra via Allahabad, Fathepur and Kanpur. In the noon Agra welcomed with its  high temperature, the heat was about to intolerable. After a bath at a temple premises, took lunch in  a Hotel and rested till heat of the sun became tolarable.VisitedFatepurSikri,Bulandwaraja,SalimChitisti’sdoom,HowaMahal,Aam darwar,Jodha bi mahal etc.etc. Returned to Agra in the Hotel. It was a  fool moon  night.The beauty of Taj Mahal in the fool moon could not be expressed in language. It is only to feel. Next, visited the series of Temples at Brindaban Mathura ( Prison of King Konghsa) and Gokul. It is told that the Lord Krishna passed his childhood there at the house of Nanda Raja.Radha Krishna Temples are specially pious for Hindus. It is told  Barsana, father house of SriRadha  is about 30 k.m. away from Brindaban . The Brindababians at first meeting utters ”Joy Radhe”,”RadeRadhe” at Mathura. Question is why not Lord  Krishna first? They say they got first Radha then Krishna. The team hosted at the house of Netai Ghosh. M.L.A. of Illambazar.Birbhum,W.B. free of cost. There is a Room namely  waiting room for Birbhum people.The glamour of non Bengali Temples was higher than many Bengaly Temples. On search it is known that Most Bengaly Temples was sponsored by East Bengalies.After partition of India it decreased a lot.Further advanced to Delhi. At delhi hosted at Birla Dharmasala..Visited Lalkella,Kutubminar,and other important places.One incident  may be mentioned. One day while our Bus was moving near Parliament House,the traffic signal was red.Out of curiacity looked  at out side the window and found that Smt.Indira Gandhi honoueable Prim Minister of India  passing by a hoodless car .She was reading something sitting on the car.After her departure proceeded to next destination Jambu.At Jambu stayed at Gita Bhavan.Nest evening arrived at  Srinagar.On the way crossed the Johar tunnel.

       At Srinagar the hotel Lion Star near Dal Lake, was our shelter for next five days.In the morning Mr. Noor a Sal Businessman,a resident of Chalkbazar and his brother a reporter of local news paper joind us and accompanid us till we left Sr nagar.

The 1^st programme   at Gulmarg

The highest Golf Ground in the World

View ofsnow-capped monutains, Gulmarg
Gulmarg in 2005

Gulmarg in August 1969

Pahal gaon

        

Gulmartg ("Meadow of Flowers") is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in Baramula district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is within the Himalayas and is within miles of the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

GAURIMARG, named after Devi Parvati,wife of Lord Mahadev/Shiv, finds mention in Shivpuraan. Gauri= Parvati: Marg= Meadow.So literally it means the meadow of Devi Parvati. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiv is still in place at centre of this beautiful meadow. GAURIMARG was a favourite resort of the Hindu Kings of Kashmir. The original name Gaurimarg was changed to Gulmarg by the Muslim King Yousuf Shah Chak. GAURIMARG, has been a resort for the kings like Yousuf Shah Chak and Jahangir who used to visit frequently. GULMARG, means, the place of roses. During the early part of the 20th century the famous Central Asian explorer Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862–1943), made his home here in a tent between his expeditions. It was a favorite summer holiday destination for the British stationed in India.

The surrounding areas were politically restive during a period of relative peace and quiet. The town is nestled within the imposing Himalayan peaks, and lies within miles of the Line of Control. It receives heavy snowfall during the winter season and is a popular ski resort.

With the abatement of militancy in the area, Gulmarg has quickly become one of the state's most visited destinations. The slopes of Afarwat Hills of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalaya Chain boast one of the longest and highest ski slopes in Asia. The total distance covered by ski lifts is five kilometres and the resort peaks at an altitude of 3,950 m (12,959 ft), accessed by an aerial gondola (telecabine). The skiing project was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on 25 December 2004. The entire hill is guarded by the army at all times. The army, which is seen everywhere in the cities of Kashmir, is not in the town or the actual hilltop. Frisking is only done midway on the access road at 3 places: Tangmarg, near an army camp on the road from Tangmarg, and 5 km before entering Gulmarg. Gulmarg does not have any permanent residents. All living in Gulmarg are hotel employees and guests.

 Next morning on the way to Pahel Gaon the Bus became punchured and  had to wait for sometimes.Found by the road side, an Akhrot Garden through which  a spring running ,and a group of Kashmiri men and women working in the garden.Discussed with them about the gardening and Paddy cultivation. Drink spring water.Proceeded to Pahel Gaon.

Pahalgaon is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district of the Indian state ofJammu & Kashmir. It is a popular tourist destination, and every year, many tourists visit Pahalgam.^[1]This world famous hill station is 45 km. from the District Headquarters at Anantnag and located on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 7200 .ft. from sea level.

Attended Son Marg  by horse back.I Taking in left  hand  little daughter Sonali  and in right hand the control of the horse .

          

on another horse back side by side partner Aparna  riding .The horse owners were noty enough. They giving city and the horses running fast to frighten .The  ride came to  an end through stoney way at the foot of the Hill.After crossing a wooden foot bridge treaking to the hill and reached at the state of Ice ice and ice.

 After returning from site seen and  taking lunch ,resting in the hotel Lion Star till evening ,was inevitable .It made body and mind fresh for further programme..In the  evening when others went out for shoping in Srinagar Market., three friends pick up hot  Fish Fry from foot path and come  to Dal Lake,,hired a Sikara and floated in the lake water.  Rounding throughout the lake one side to another and chewing hot fish fry , enjoying surrounding cinario brought awesome heavenly pleasure .As if heaven came down to  Earth . Hours after hours passed,none noticed. At about eleven  p.m. back to Hotel. This contuned for five nights.

Saptarshi Mondal (seven star cluster)

Saptarishi Mondal (seven star cluster) eminently appears in the north sky ,in the evening of Autumn season( Bengali Hemanta).Kalpurush is also found ,which will be discussed elsewhere latter on. The star cluster named in the names of seven rishis/sages from ancient times in India. The Sat path Bramana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) acknowledge the names of seven rishis (or Saptarishis) as:

•       Atria
•       Bharadvaja
•       Gautama
•       Jamadagni
•       Kashyapa
•       Vasista
•       Viswamitra

Names differs in different Veda, Samhita , Mahabharata and somewhere els.

The reason for differences is that there are seven Rishis who govern the functioning of the Cosmos in batches and all the Rishis have had the post of a ‘Saptarshi’at same point. These Rishis  had different names in different places. Saptarishis  are seven rishis and nobody else is given the title of the Saptarishis. Hence clearly they had different names but, many rishis were known as Maharishis (great sages).

Dwaraka, the ancient Indian city

                                     

Capital of historical Thailand Dwarabati is not the subject of this article. Subject is Dwaraka of Mahabharata which also called Dwarabati. Both name used in Sanskrit language .Its space time and characters existence was in reality .Till some evidence, somewhere ruins found. Somewhere reconstructions, somewhere archeological discovery found .With the existence of Dwaraka it is to be agreed that dwarakadhish existed.

       It is also to be agreed with the existence of dwaraka that the king politician, expert defense strategist, sociologist, kin chariot driver, fighter, lion hearted dwarakadhish, the great Jadav Krishna also existed in reality. Jadav Krishna is equally relevant till to-day. This chapter will be discussed later on. Now back to Dwaraka .Indian Federal structure putting Delhi in centre the position of states was recorded in Indian constitution in 1957 and subsequent times. This also found centering Dwaraka position of other states .That is, long ago prior to 1957 there was federal structure in ancient India. In the light of Dwaraka it is to see what other states were. Dwaraka was ruled by Jadaves .Anarta was a Capital/state in ancient India subsequently submerged in the sea. Due to aggression of Jarasandha the king of Magadha, Jadavas escaping from Surasen Mathura established their rule here.

                                    

       In Mahabharata age  the states/capitals  formed federal state under Dwaraka was as follows: 1.Cadi (Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh}2.Surasena(Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh which is also called as Brajadham) 3.Darsana(In the south of Cadiz)4.Karasa(East of  Darsana  )5.Kunti(East of  Abanti state)6.Abanti(  Ujjaini  district of Madhya Pradesh)7.Malab(West of Abanti)8.Gujrat(south of Rajasthan) 9. Hea/ Haihya (Normada vally Madhya Pradesh) 10.Sourastra (South Gujrat) 11.Dwaraka (sea coast of Gujrat}.  Rebaki wife of KrishnaBalaram was a daughter of Dwaraka.  Srimati Radha   was a daughter of Darsana 12.Vidarbha (North West Maharastra).Additional some other Island states were under Dwaraka Federal State.

       Civilization blossomed in the Ice age at the sea coastal areas. Prior to 8000 years B. C. Dwaraka City existed, due to a great Tsunami it was submerged in the sea. Dwaraka was one of the seven cities of the ancient India. This Dwaraka was the capital of king Krishna, here he lived. Dwaraka is mentioned in Mahabharata Haribansa Puran, Bhagvat Puran, Scondha Puran and Bisnu Puran.It is said that this Dwaraka City was located near the present Dwaraka City which submerged in the sea. This city was constructed by the great Engineer Viswakarma according to the order of Krishna. Land of the City was begged from Sea (in other wards land made available by filling the sea).Planning and construction made at Western sea coast of present Surat. It is a planned city located by the river side Gomoti. This city was known as Dwaramati, Dwarabati or Kusasthali. It had seven well organized sectors .Residential  and Commercial sectors had broad road ,plaza, many palaces  and  public places ,a public meeting hall was constructed naming  Sudham  Sabha .A  harbor also constructed .There was  seven lakh. Palaces made of gold, silver and other valuable stones. So many   beautiful flower gardens blossomed throughout the year.

       Sri Krishna started for Baikuntha leaving this earth after thirty six years of Mahabharata War. Three thousand one hundred thirty eight years B.C. and after the death of other Jadaves due to fight among themselves. To restore security for grandson of SriKrishna and Jadav women to take them to Hastinapur Arjun arrived at Dwaraka. After Arjun left Dwaraka it went under the sea. In Mahabharata Arjun Said “The sea rushed towards the city, tides in high speed entered through the roads, sea flooded the entire city. I saw beautiful houses one by one submerging .In reality within a few minutes all is over. The sea became calm and quiet like pond and there is no sign of the city, Dwaraka a name only.”

       The incident of submerging Dwaraka under the sea is also mentioned in the Vishnu Puran. The day Sri Krishna left earth was the starting of Kali Yug. Sea rose vigorously and Dwaraka city submerged under the sea.

Thanks!

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Around Bangalore: Part 2

A few days passed, we are becoming familiar with neighbors and other people. A south Indian family from top floor of the apartment came to meet us with a bowl of mango prickly we offered them sweets, the famous Berhampore Chanabara. They spend about half an hour with us and gossiped friendly a lot but unfortunately we could not intake head and tail of their language. They departed with a lot of promises to come again and again. The Land Lord, a Kennedy came with his family to introduce with us. A very good gentle family living in the 1st floor of the apartment with his two daughters, elder daughter a  student of 1st year B.B.A. and younger daughter a student of class IV  in English medium school.                                                                                                                                                                     

 The next door neighbor a noble lady from Bihar, living with her younger son a student of first year B.B.A. She offered bread chops and many eatables from time to time. Her recipes are delicious.

Hardworking Lady's House

Mango Prickly                                

Bread Chop                                 

The hardworking  lady inside the above house from Don Valley reside with her civil engineer husband with two kids,  a daughter of Class VII and a son of class IV in English medium School.
Days are passing in the world famous climate of Bangalore and its surroundings. In the meantime visited a few hills of the west ghat mountain range which has been mentioned in separate articles elsewhere .Also visited some place of interests of the silicon city, The Bangalore Palace, Tipu sultan’s summer palace, Kuban Park. Karnataka High Court, Museum, Neheru Planetarium, Lalbag.

Bangalore Palace

Cubbon Park

Lake ,Hebbel lake and other lakes, gardens, Bridged Road ,M. G.Road , Belor Road, Sanjoy Nagar, R.T.Nagar, K.R . Puram Old Madras Road  and  Ring roads. Further to mention  Dollars Colony, The Pables Bay and  Whispering Medows, multi storied buildings with Hali Pad in the Top.

Pebble Bay

The grocery shop owner Sasi a Kannad hard working young man is very simple with amiable manners, managing  the shop with the help of his partner. A lady managing the Nandini Milk shop  is efficient enough to do so. The Bakery man is very gentle. Above all  Kannad people are very  laborious and their honesty deserved to be mentioned specially.

The Beauty Parlor owner Manju Natha advised to cut hairs in short. He asked Ulla Ulla ? Reply was yes. He finished his job, and it is seen that the head is about to hair less. One day when the author  waiting for his M.R.I. report in Ramiya Hospital, it is seen that  a doctor after investigating  a patient asking him for some information’s but the patient remained silent.dr.Third again and again but failed. At last dr. called a Tamil Hospital staff and solved. The patient was a telaga. Sympathetic behavior of doctors entire the south Indian hospitals, especially in   C.M.C .Vellore and Colombia Asia Hospital in Bangalore are remarkable.    

Camp office of political parties outside the Election Booth of Parliament Election 2014 at Bangalore North Parliamentary election constituency

                           

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Around Bangalore : Part 1

                         

On 26 the March 2014 along with Aparna, partner of the author, quit Berhampore Rly. Station at 7 am by Dhana Dhannya express on AC chair car. Seat no. 43, 44 was allotted .Author’s nephew Debasis Boral (babu) of Laldeghi present to see off. Arrival Calcutta Rly. Station at about 2330 hours, after taking lunch at rly canteen run to Netaji Subhas Ch. Bose International Air Port by city cab to pic up flight for Bangalore. 

At AirPort obtained boarding pass from the spice jet counter on production of E Ticket and ID card .Done tagging of luggage’s and proceed to gate 20 .Frisking of person and checking of baggage is mandatory. The flight of the Spice jet Boarding Time scheduled at 1615 of the day. In Flight 529 allotted seat number 27 A, 27B for the journey, through escalator reach the lounge. A long four hours break in the Air Port lounge absorbed smoothly observing surroundings, gossiping, reading books and looking landing and treading of international flights on the runways and in the sky. The word boring was absent throughout the time. Before half an hour of departure the spice jet placed at tarmac. Passengers entered into it through stairs by side of the pilot cabin .At entrance smiling face air hostess welcomed all. After searching seats, putting the bag in the bin, seat by window side. A most pleasant relaxing atmosphere.   The spice Jet take off at the scheduled time. Bonding of seat belt is mandatory. By and by visibility of Kolkata with all its glory and brightness became invisible. After departure , the  air hostess ,demonstrated  through  silent- acting ,audio coming via speaker ,what to do in case of emergency, how to bond seat belt, use of oxygen mask in case of shortfall of oxygen inside, use of parasite  kept under the seat of each passenger to jump from a burning vassal etc. etc. Time to time announcements coming from pilot cabin in regard to flight information like seat belt bonding, weather, height, change of height, speed of air craft etc. The sky was cloudy, wind blowing in high speed lightning vigorously, the plain fall in an air pocket, it was jerking, and the jerking felt by the passengers. The pilot took more high altitude. After a  few minutes all became normal .At 1910 spice jet laundered at Bangalore International Airport .After collecting luggage’s from conveyor belt proceeded to  exit gate, there found Mr. Rain ,Orinda Dye a Bangalorian, an IBM loriat,Visva Bharati University and EIILM university scholar, loyal son of the author waiting. Started for the residence by city cab. Arrival at Bangalore chapter ended.

              Next day, during morning walk the first and foremost thing noticed, Rongoli. The author hosted in an apartment, its anexture, even the total locality covered by South Indian people.Rangoli drawn in front of almost all houses.Rongali also known as Kolam or Muggu, is an Indian folk art in which patterns are created in living rooms or courtyards. Colam is a form of painting  that is drawn by using  rice powder/chalk /chalk powder/white rock powder/ often use naturally/synthetically colored powders in Tamil Nadu , Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh Kerala and some parts of Goa, Maharashtra, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and a few other Asian countries. A Colam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. In south India it is widely practiced by female Hindu family members and colures are often added during holiday occasional events like Denali, on am, pongol and barolakshmi puja. Kolams are regionally known by different  names in India.Roongolee in Maharastra,Hase and  Roongoli in Kannda  in Karnataka ,Muggulu in Andhra,Golam in Kerala  mandana, in Rajasthan, chaookpurna in Chattisgarh ,Alpana in  West Bengal  Aripana  in Bihar,chowk  pujan  in Uttar Pradesh etc.More complex colams are drawn in front of their houses in special occations.

Rangoli in Andhra Pradesh is called as Muggu. A muggu being created at an entrance to a home. Like most part of the countries, every morning before sun rise, the women folk clean the entrance to a home and/or the courtyard with water, considered the universal purifier, and the muddy floor is swept well to prepare an even surface.

Cow dung is then mixed with water and this slurry is expertly spread on the requisite area and spread evenly    with a broom .This is done on a regular basis in rural areas and of festive occasion’s income urban areas where there is availability of sufficient cow dung and space to draw the muggu. This procedure is performed as it is believed that cow dung has antiseptic properties and hence provides a literal threshold of protection for a home. The muggu is then drawn on this prepared surface .The dark color of the cow dung slurry also provides a good contrast for the white powder of the muggu.

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Nilgiri Hills and it's Tribes

At Nandi Hills Nilgiri pigeons found in numbers. Nilgiri is brand name of so many products. The 1 st recorded word Nila applied to this region can be traced to 1117 AD in the report of a general of Vishnuvardhana King of Hoysalas . The Hoysala Empire was a prominent Southern Indian Knnadiga empire that ruled most of the modern-day state of Karnataka between the 10 th and 14 th Centuries.The King who in reference to his enemies, claimed to have frightened the To-das, driven the Kangas underground. Slaughtered the Pallavas, put to death the Malayalas , terrified King of Kala and then proceeded to offer the pick of Nila mountain (presumably Dodabetta) to Laksmi, Goddess of wealth. The original inhabitants of the Nilgiri Hills were the Toda, Badaga, Kota, Irula and Kurumbas.

Toda Family

The Toda language is a member of Dravidian family. Todas live in small hamlets called munds. The Toda Huts which are of an oval pent-shaped construction are usually 10 feet high, 18 feet long and 9 feet wide. They are built of bamboo fastened with rattan and are thatched .Each hut is enclosed within a wall of loose stones .The front and back of the hut are usually made of dressed stones (most granite). The hut has a tiny entrance at the front –about three feet wide, 3 feet tall. This unusually small entrance is a means of protection from the wild animals. The front portion is decorated with the Toda art forms, a kind of rock mural painting. Thicker bamboo canes arched to give the hut its basic pent shape. Thinner bamboo canes are tied close and parallel to each other over this frame. Dried grasses is stacked  over ,this is as thatch.

Todas and Kotas have shared genes which separate them from the other Nilgiri Hills Tribes. The Toda dresses consists of single piece of cloth, which is worn like the plaid of a Scottish high lender over a dhoti for men and skirt for women .The symbols from traditional costumes are very old Thracian-Danubian culture(dacian/ scytian/getic).

According to the Todas, the Goddess Teikirshy and her brother first created the sacred buffalo and then the first Toda man. The first Toda woman was created from the right rib of the first Toda man.