10 Oct

Joychandi Pahar – a Recollection

Joychandi Pahar – a Recollection

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“We are from Calcutta, you have got a beautiful place here”

“Ki je bolen babu, ki ache ekhane… khaowar jal parjyonto nai…” (what are you saying sir, nothing is here… not even water to drink…)

“Lok ashena ekhane ghurte?” (Don’t you get people visiting this place?)

“Ho, ashen bote. Majhe majhe chele puler dol ashe. Tabu lagiye thake oi okhane lake-er pare. Aar dori-dora niye pahar-e uthe. Pura jayga nogra kore diye jai” (Yes, indeed some group of youngsters come. Stay in tents near that lake. Do some rock climbing on the hill. And finally leave transforming the whole place as dustbins) certainly true, that is.

His petty house was behind his pettier shop. But his heart was bigger than anything. Since his shop was not ready to supply anything yet, he ordered something from his home – and we were served with a good meal. And more notably, we had to forcefully pay him.

“Babu-ra sokalbela khali pete aaichen, aapnader kach thika khaowar taka kemne lomu?” (Sir, you have come here so hungry in the morning, how can I take money from you for this food?) where have those people gone today?

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गणेशोत्सव का उत्साह और माँ गंगा का पावन स्नान … हरिद्वार।

गणेशोत्सव का उत्साह और माँ गंगा का पावन स्नान … हरिद्वार।

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अनायास ही मेरी नजर होटल की खिड़की से बाहर की तरफ गयी तो देखा की सभी लोग गंगा माता के मंदिर की तरफ बने घाट की सीढ़ियों पर पसर चुके थे, मतलब साफ़ है की माँ की आरती आरम्भ होने वाली है, हमने भी कमरा लॉक किये और सरपट दौड़े माता की आरती में शामिल होने को। ऑफ-सीजन होने के कारण किसी प्रकार की धक्का-मुक्की का सामना किये बगैर हमे मंदिर के पास ही आरती में शरीक होने का अवसर प्राप्त हुआ और जो दबंग पण्डे वगेरह अक्सर आपको आरती के समय दूर होने के लिए टोकते रहते थे आज वो स्वयं ही आरती की थाल हमारे हाथों में सौंप रहे थे माता की आरती उतारने को, हमें तो यकीं ही नहीं हो रहा था, खैर चलो छोडो। एक और महत्वपूर्ण बात यह थी की इस दरमियान ही मौसम भी करवट बदल चूका था और ग्रीष्म ऋतू अब शरद ऋतू का अहसास करवाने लगी थी, ऊपर से माँ गंगा की लहरों से उठती ठंडी हवाएं हमें बेबस किये जा रही थी वहीँ पर डेरा जमाये रखने को।

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Classic Nawalgarh : Transport Museum in Poddar’s haveli

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Such passenger-carts had generally flat open surfaces on top so as to accommodate many passengers. I can think of only one plausible reason for such open carts, which can be attributed to the basic structure of our rain-based agrarian economy. As the people were busy during the rainy season, it prevented the mass from travelling from one place to the other in that season. But, just for the sake of fun, let’s imagine the scene of a drawing room of any transporter of 18th-19th Century. Their discussions on selecting the best model of the passenger-carts might have revolved around the durability of their design, availability of open space for carrying more number of people with their respective luggage and the probable cost of travel.

The bigger challenge, however, is to guess the complex mechanism of pricing their so-called “tickets”. How to fix the charge or the cost of travel, when the eating habits and the quantity of edible food of the animal differed from one transporter to another!

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Chail- a virginal suburb of Himachal Pradesh

Chail- a virginal suburb of Himachal Pradesh

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The hills were dead silent with occasional laughter and cries of ancestors of the HOMO SAPIENS. These brave hearts have made tall and fragile pine and deodar trees their play grounds. They dare to walk on high tension electric wires and water pipes at a height good enough to claim your life, if you lose your balance. They generally reside in abandoned homes, towering trees and earn their living by robbing from homes and climbing tall trees eating seeds and fruits. They were the sole owners of these lands encroached by humans. Their voices might be a welcome to us and an agreement to live peacefully with them or they might be planning a revolution against us or maybe they have an attitude that they don’t care. Hills grow quieter as you glide down the day. Sky turns darker as sun takes your leave. You keep filling your lungs with the fresh air just to make sure that serene natural air reaches even to the last ruptured alveoli of your smoke and pollution damaged lungs. The mist is the best treat that you can give to your eyes next to actually snowing.

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सरधना– मैरी का चर्च, बेगम सुमरू और उनका राजप्रासाद

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गेट के निकट ही गाड़ी दीवार से सटाकर खड़ी कर हम अपना कैमरे का बैग और पानी की बोतल लिए एंट्री को तैयार थे, लेकिन गेट पर तैनात दो लोगों ने रोकते हुए साफ़ पूछा कि “क्या आप लोग कैथोलिक हैं?”, हम प्रश्न के लिए तैयार नहीं थे, फिर भी हमने दृढ़ता से उनके प्रश्न का नकारात्मक उत्तर देते हुए अपनी सम्बद्धता स्पष्ट की. पर उसने हमें साफ़ तौर से एंट्री देने से मना कर दिया. कारण: संडे के दिन १२ बजे तक का समय प्रार्थना के लिए निर्धारित है और उसमे केवल क्रिस्चियन ही जा सकते हैं. और भी तमाम लोग एंट्री की अपेक्षा में वहां मौजूद थे.

कुछ देर बाद फिर से प्रयास करने पर गेटमैन ने एंट्री दे दी हालाँकि अभी १२ बजने में लगभग २० मिनट शेष थे.

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A Day of Religious and Cultural Tour in Fort Kochi

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The show began! At the beginning, various movements of the body, face, hands, legs etc were demonstrated to give the audience an idea of how the things are expressed in Kathakali. It was an interesting initial part of the actual play. The main play followed shortly after this.
It was a play from the epic Mahabharata, named Kichakavadam, the killing of Kichaka. The evil character, Kichaka, an-anti hero, was in the make-up of face, half green and half red. He was the commander-in-chief of the Army of the kingdom Matsya ruled by King Virata. Kichaka was the brother-in-law of King Virata. During their one year hide out, Pancha Pandava (five Pandava princes) and their wife Draupadi took shelter in the palace of King Virata. While Draupadi was disguised as Dasi (female servant of the Queen) calling herself Sairandhri……….

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Nainital – The Last Leaf

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Sitting in a restaurant on the Mall Road, you feel happy. The early December air is nippy, fresh and clear. There are few tourists this time of the year. Sun rays reflect off the dark green water of the lake creating silvery ripples. Wisps of clouds float in the incredibly blue sky. Such blue skies are seen over Delhi for maybe two days a year. You have chosen to sit in the open sided area. The sun is soothing. You are almost in a trance. It seems life has receded leaving you in a glowing fuzzy ball of warmth. And then you see the tree.

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Classic Nawalgarh : Special Frescos

Classic Nawalgarh : Special Frescos

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In medieval period, the inhabitation in Shekhawati was in the form of walled cities having gates at different directions. The role of the ruling royalty was to give protection to the citizen living under their dominions. Similarly, the role of the business families was to trade and pay taxes to the royalty for the maintenance and protection of the cities. However, the administrative structure was changing fast.

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रणकपुर से कुम्भलगढ़ की डायनामिक यात्रा – Ranakpur to Kumbhalgarh, a dynamic journey

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स्टेशन के प्लेटफार्म नंबर दो पर मैं रणकपुर एक्सप्रेस का इंतज़ार कर रहा था जो समय से आधा घंट ही लेट थी (थैंक गॉड) | मेरे साथ कुल 10 सहयात्री रहे होंगे जिसमे से एक 4-5 स्टूडेंट्स का ग्रुप था | मैं अकेला बैठ सोच ही रहा था की किसी से कुछ वार्ता वगैरह शुरू की जाये तो समय पास हो पर सामने के जीआरपी रूम के खुले दरवाजे से एक पुलिस वाले द्वारा एक पतले दुबले युवक को पीटने की झलक मिली | अब किसी को ट्रेन की फ़िक्र नहीं रही और सभी लोग भिन्न भिन्न एंगल बनाकर दृश्य को देखने की कोशिश करने लगे |

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Demystifying Bhangarh

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Part I was about mysteries of Bhangarh Fort – based on prevalent notions (online and otherwise), which have endeared a relatively unknown Bhangarh to…

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Sundari Sekhawati

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The Aravallis cut across Jaipur and Sekhawati regions in North Rajasthan. The climatic conditions in the region are very harsh and extreme, ranging from sub-zero Celsius in winter to more than 50°C in summer. People of this region are known for their bravery and hard work and it is a fertile breeding ground for Jawans in Indian Army! Two districts of modern day Rajasthan, i.e. Jhunjhunu and Sikar can administratively be considered as the constituents of “Sekhawati” region. However the Churu district is equally important as the Sekhawati dialect is also spoken here and famous painted Havelis and Forts are omnipresent in all these three districts. The Haveli was to Banias, what the Fort was to Rajputs, an abode.

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Gadisar Lake

Jaisalmer – the city of sand, fort, ruins and a wonderful host

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Mr. Polu, fifteen years ago, was an auto driver who helped the tourists around the Jaisalmer town. His warm and helpful nature always made the tourists stay with him. During off-season, one French couple visited Jaisalmer and he chauffeured them. They asked him, what would be his plan for the future? His simple answer was that ‘I want to own and run a hotel’. That couple didn’t buy a property for him, but searched a guest house for him. Gave $2000 as a security deposit for that property and asked Mr.Polu to run that and asked him to carry on his friendly nature.

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