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Tuesday 28 February 2017

R K Narayan, Indian Writer

Considered to be one of the most versatile writers of Indian Literature in English, R K Narayan made India accessible to the readers in foreign countries. With a vast range of themes and subjects in his work, Narayan shows the way in which the people of India have been changing with time. He provides people with a window to peep into the sense and sensibilities of the Indian people (especially South Indian people). To know more read:



Historical Influences on Bengal Cuisine

Bengal food witnessed a key influence when Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh was exiled to Metiabruz. It is considered that he had brought with him hundreds of cooks and spice mixers who, on his death, dissolute into the population and started restaurants and food carts all over Bengal thereby spreading an Awadhi legacy. These cooks came with the knowledge of a very wide range of spices especially that of saffron and mace use of ghee as a method of cooking and special ways of marinating meats. Items such as biryani, korma and bhuna have been their contributions. Specialties include chap, rezala and the famous kathi rolls. To know more read: 


Labh Janjua, Indian Bhangra Singer

Labh Janjua was born in a conservative Jat family Ludhiana District of Punjab. From his childhood, he learnt kirtan from his grand father, from where he entered in the music world. He won several awards and accolades in his childhood for his passion in music. To know more read:


Mahari Devadasis, Dancers of Odisha


The Maharis are initiated into the order after a compulsory marriage with the 
God. In a simple ceremony a piece of new cloth is taken out from the idol and is tied around the neophytes head. After this ceremony, a Mahari devadasi begins her service as a dancer. The Maharis dance in the temple according to their terms. Whenever they have to dance they come to the temple after a purificatory bath. The Rajguru always presents himself during the dance as a representative of the king. Holding gold mounted cane as a symbol of authority, he stands near the dancer. The Mahari devadasi prior to her performance pays her obeisance to the deity and then bows to Rajguru. To know more read:


Pundras, Inhabitants of West Bengal

Pundras are the local inhabitants of West Bengal who mainly hail from Pundras. It was an eastern kingdom extended from West Bengal, Bangladesh and Purnia (Bihar). A Pundra king challenged Lord Krishna by imitating his attributes. He called himself Paundraka Vasudeva. Later Lord Krishna later killed him in a battle. The founders of five eastern kingdoms, which included Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Pundras and Suhmas shared a common ancestry. To know more read:



India at 2016 Summer Olympics

2016 Summer Olympics is scheduled to compete in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, from 5th to 21 August 2016. And there is a close participation of India in 2016 Rio Olympics. India's participation at the Olympics goes back to 1920. Indian athletes have appeared in every Summer Olympic Games since 1920. To know more read:






Yoga for Weight Management, Yoga

Yoga is a great way to lose weight if practiced regularly using the right form. Yoga has some of the most basic breathing practices at its base which aims at cleansing, balancing and rejuvenating our inner organs and their functions. Various breathing exercises and basic asanas help in increasing metabolic and heart rates. Once a person is healed from within, the focus then shifts towards the outer body. To know more read:



Transcendental meditation

Transcendental Meditation, commonly known as TM, is the most common and widely used form of meditation. This is a natural, effortless and simple meditative technique famed for its profound effectiveness. Transcendental Meditation allows one to experience the energy and creativity that is found almost everywhere. It also helps to settle the mind whilst turning it inward. During the practice of Transcendental Meditation the brain functions with significantly greater coherence. To know more read:


Lage Raho Munnabhai, Indian Movie

The Indian movie 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' is the second film of the popular Munnabhai series. Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi played the lead role where Sanjay Dutt sees the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. The film was generally well received by critics and at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival the film was declared a 'blockbuster',and was the recipient of a number of awards. It is the first Hindi film to be shown in the United Nations. The film has the ability to make anyone cry, love and, parallel to all the entertainment, it gives a message that sticks in the mind. To know more read:





Monasteries of Sikkim

Monasteries of Sikkim are popular place of worship for the Buddhist monks who reside in Sikkim. These monasteries mainly follow the Nyingma and Kagyu order of Buddhism. There are about 200 big and small monasteries which not only depict the cultural heritage and life style of Buddhists in Sikkim but also preach the ancient rituals of Buddhism. These are mainly established by the well known and most revered monks who lay the foundation of these monasteries. To know more read:


Monday 27 February 2017

Deities in Khajurao temple, Madhya Pradesh

The Khajuraho temples were dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, and the Yoginis. The Khajuraho artists have created some extraordinary images of these divinities, which express deep philosophical concepts. To know more read:


Moong Dal Payasam

Moong Dal Payasam is a lovely dessert that can be made not only during festive occasions but also on special occasions or for guests. One can also make Moong Dal Payasam as an offering to the deities. This is a very traditional Tamil Brahmin style of making Payasam. It is a one of many varieties of Payasams in South India, especially popular in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The use of moong dal in its preparation makes it even healthier and delectable. To know more read. To know more read:



Music in Modern Age

Music in Modern Age thrives to be the pillar of the ongoing fountain of musical endeavour in the civilization's journey towards the adoption of culture of India. Modern developments of music owe its origin rights to the modernity in lookouts, globalization and the sways of multiculturalism which have strengthened the pillars of popular music and folk music. To know more read:


History of Indian Dances

History of Indian Dances is quite inimitable as it unfurls the art form which existed in India. Indian dance has a rich historical tradition. Dance as an art form involves significant body movement with rhythm. It is presented as a social interaction or a spiritual performance. Dance constitutes social, cultural, aesthetic and artistic meaning. To know more read:


Buxa Fort, West Bengal

Buxa Fort is one of the earliest forts in Eastern India. The fort might have been first built either by the Tibetan Occupation Forces in the middle or in the second half of the seventh century or by Sangaldwip, the first ruler of Kamatapur Empire. To know more read:




Traditional Games

Traditional games have always been part of the Indian culture since centuries. If looked at these very closely, one would surely find many striking similarities in most of the famous games played all around the world. For eg: Cricket or Baseball can be called as an improvised version of the traditional 'Gilli Danda'. To know more read:



Asanas in Bending Position, Yoga Asanas

Yoga Asana render the body into various poses. Some of the yoga asana would render the whole body bending backward and forward. Such postures can be labelled as ‘back bend’ and ‘forward bend’ postures. The forward bends create length and space in the spine, counteracting compression, and their inward nature can promote introspection, while doing backbends one could experience a sense of freedom. To know more read:

                

Strotas, Channels of Body Circulation in Ayurveda

Strotas or Channels of body circulation consist of both gross channels like the intestinal tract, lymphatic system, arteries, veins and the genitor-urinary tracts and subtle channels like the capillaries. In Ayurveda the diagnosis of all diseases are based on which of the individual doshas are compromised and which channels are obstructed. A disease originating from one vitiated dosha is able to travel through the channels to the site of another dosha. Excess of dosha can create channel blockages thereby obstructing their normal flow. To know more read:


National Film Awards

This award was conceived by Government of India to honour the films from across the country on a national scale to support and also encourage the furthering of Indian art, craft and culture. Ever since 1973, the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals administers the event alongside other essential film events in India, every year. National Award is the highest award given for Films in the country. To know more read:


Buddhist Sculpture at Sarnath

Sarnath is one of the most beautiful sites in the world & sacred where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, which was the introduction of Buddhism. The Lion Capital on top of one of pillar, which is recognized as the National Emblem of India, is from Sarnath. Along with it, several other Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath that represents today the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. To know more read:
http://www.indianetzone.com/10/buddhist_sculpture_at_sarnath.htm


Saturday 25 February 2017

Charvaka Philosophy, Indian Philosophy

Charvakas believe not in the notion of stringent philosophy, but in liberal beliefs. Hence, they refute most of the already-established rules in the context of Indian philosophy. The prime importance is laid on the likes and dislikes of humans. As a result, Charvakas believe in the perceived knowledge of the present life, and not in rebirth and past life. According to them good deed is not much necessary to perform in one's lifetime, as is instructed by the crafty priests. The basic thought of the Charvakas is to obtain worldly pleasure by making merry, as there is no hell where one can be hurled. To know more read:


Male Chefs in India, Indian Chefs

India is well-established on the global culinary map. The Indian chefs, over years of work in the kitchen, have maintained this position by bringing their individual skills and combining classic dishes with global cuisines while maintaining the authentic flavours. Here are some of the best chefs that India has produced: 


Suchitra Mitra, Rabindra Sangeet Singer

Suchitra Mitra was born to the celebrated litterateur, Saurindra Mohan Mukherjee, who was a close companion of the Tagore family of Jorasanko. It was Pankaj Mullick, 'father of Rabindra Sangeet', recognized the talent of Suchitra Mitra. With his initiation she was inducted to the nuances of Rabindra Sangeet. To know more read:


Yamini Krishnamurthy, Indian Classical Dancer

Yamini Krishnamurthy was born on December 20, 1940, in a Telugu family in Madanapalli city in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Born on a full moon night, her grandfather named her Yamini ‘Poornatalika’, the term literally meaning "a full mark on the brow of night". She was brought up in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. Her mother tongue is Telugu. She hails from an eminent family that is more literally inclined than artistically. Her father,M. Krishnamurthy, was a Sanskrit scholar and grandfather was an expert in Urdu poetry. To know more read:


Vythiri, Hill Station of Kerala

Vythiri is popular among nature admirers for the wildlife sanctuary that provides shelter to a wide range of animals and birds. One can enjoy the sight of the dense undergrowth, thick foliage, mosses and lichens that cover the trunks of trees. Large numbers of pine, conifer and fir trees are also found here. The hill station is home to wild animals like Nilgiri langur, thrush and Malabar squirrel. Many colorful insects and birds can also be spotted here. The best time to visit the hill station is during the monsoon months of May to September. To know more read: 
http://www.indianetzone.com/57/vythiri.htm


Abhinav Singh Bindra, Indian Shooter

Abhinav Singh Bindra is an Indian shooter and is a World and Olympic champion in the 10 m Air Rifle event. He won the gold in the 10 m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Thus he became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games. It was also India's first gold medal since 1980, when the Men's Field Hockey Team won the gold. To know more read:


Mahayog Academy, Yoga Institutes in India

The Mahayog Academy has been founded in Uttarakhand to impart Yoga teachings directly from the Himalayan masters. This Yoga institute is a premier one in north India and aims to promote world peace and enliven spiritual consciousness. To know more read:


Use of Fish as Treatment

Fish is among the healthiest foods on the planet. It is loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and Vitamin D. Fish are low in fat, high in protein and an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids. There are numerous traditional medicines described as useful by the Sanskrit writers. To know more read:


Indian Movie Villains


Indian cinema since time immemorial has gifted great actors who have so very ideally crafted out the concept of villains. Be it the charisma of the 
Bollywood movie villains or the awe-inspiring performances of the South Indian movie villains, they have always attracted attention whilst offering the storyline a whole new dimension. The Indian Movie Villains have made the plots of silver screen even more interesting and crispy. The monotonous storyline is often changed by the straining dialogues and tricks played by these Indian movie villains. They are honoured for their credible and interesting acting on the Indian silver screen. To know more read:


Indian Tribal Crafts

Indian tribal crafts verily mirror the lives of their users, their food and its source, their observances to pacify indefinite forces, which incorporate their arts and crafts, music and dance. Majority of Indian tribes inhabited in far-off forests, and had kept distance from the nearby agricultural villages. The confrontations and combats that ensued in the following years, made the tribes recede to other hinterlands and resort to other professions, like fishing, hunting and cattle-grazing. To know more read:



Friday 24 February 2017

Silver Jewellery in India

Silver Jewellery was generally used by the poor classes. Western India is abundant in silver and keeps a good trade relation ship with Arabia, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East and East Africa. Each state of India has their distinct style of making metal jewelleries and sometimes the silver jewelleries are also preferred by the local people of the states. Some of the silver jewelleries art is figurative like the hero pendant of Rajasthan and the ‘makara’ which is the head endings on bangles. Most of the designs of Western India’s abstract and geometric designs are achieved through the building up of granulation and embossing. Filigree silver is a specialty of Kashmir, parts of West Bengal and Cuttack in Orissa. Filigree is known as ‘tarkashi’ in Cuttack. Necklaces of filigree are admired in Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and are considered as one of the most remarkable creations of the silver Jewellery art in India. To know more read:



Kulkuls, Indian Snacks

Kulkuls are bits of sweet dough shaped into small curls which look like butter curls or shells. Kulkuls are called as ‘Kidyo’ in Konkani language which means worm as they look like silkworms. There are slight variations in the recipe for Kulkuls depending on whether one likes it crunchy, crunchy and soft, with or without glaze, frosted, lightly dusted with sugar powder. To know more read:




Pt. Pannalal Ghosh, Indian Classical Instrumentalist

Pt. Pannalal Ghosh was a renowned Indian classical instrumentalist of the Indian ‘bansuri (flute) and musician. A disciple of Bengali multi-instrumentalist Allauddin Khan, Pannalal Ghosh is credited with popularising the flute as a concert instrument in Hindustani classical music. To know more read:


Forms of Manipuri Dance

The term Manipuri actually covers a number of dance forms from the region. Khubak Ishei is a type of Clapping song, which is generally performed by the female singers with a male drummer. This form was initiated during the reign of King Churachand Singha. They sing the song of Radhas pang of separation after Krishna left her. To know more read:


Ghatshila, Purbi Singhum District, Jharkhand

Ghatshila is a beautiful town on the bank of the Subarnarekha River in East Singhbum district of Jharkhand. Ghatshila was once the retreat for the people of Bengal in colonial times. But after independence of India in 1947, Ghatshila became the industrial town mostly due to the presence of Hindusthan Copper Limited. Now, it is a popular weekend destination from West Bengal and Tatanagar due to the presence of artificial lake called Burudih Lake and Narwa Forests. To know more read:
http://www.indianetzone.com/10/ghatshila.htm


Indian National Football Team


The span of time between 1951 and 1962 is considered to be as the golden era of Indian football. Under Syed Abdul Rahim India reached great heights in Indian football circuit. The team started its campaign in 1951 with a win in Asian Games which was hosted in India. Later that year India participated in the Olympics and lost to Yugoslavia with a margin of 10-1. India finished second in 1954 Asian games held in Manila, and finished fourth in 1956 Olympics. In 1962 Indian football team won the Asian Games where they defeated South Korea 2-1 in the final match. Two years later in 1964, Indian football reached great heights where the team won AFC Asian Cup and finished as runners up thanks to then manager Harry Wright. India won there first match against South Korea 2-0, and then lost 2-0 to the hosts Israel then won 3-1 against Hong Kong which gave India second in the tournament. To know more read:


Kleshas

Kleshas are the structural deficiencies in human psychology. According to the Yogic philosophy, there are five kleshas, namely, Avidya (Ignorance), Asmita (Ego), Raga (Attachment), Dvesha (Aversion) and Abhinivesha (Selfishness). In Buddhist philosophy, the term Klesha is typically translated as "defilement" or "poison." In early Buddhist texts the kleshas were generally referred to mental states, which temporarily cloud the mind and manifest in unskillful actions. Over time the kleshas became depicted as "Three Poisons" that included greed, hatred, and delusion. To know more read:



Use of Salt as Medicines

The first five in the above list generally pass by the name of ‘Pancha Lavana’ or the five salts, and are often used in combination. The other varieties are rarely used in medicine. 
Saindhava literally means produced in Sindhu, or the country along the 
Indus. The term is applied to rock salt which is regarded as the best of salts. Three varieties of rock salt are recognized, namely, white, red and crystalline. The pure white crystalline salt is preferred for medicinal use. For alimentary purposes also, rock salt is considered superior to the other varieties. It is regarded as digestive, appetizing, sweet and agreeable, and is much used in dyspepsia and other abdominal diseases. To know more read:




Theatre Personalities of Maharashtra

Marathi Drama is always considered supreme in India just after the Bengali Dramas. The theatre personalities of Maharashtra rose in the summit of popularity in Pune and Mumbai, with the foundation of dramas by Vishnupath Bhave, who used passionate and tragic themes. There were many experimental plays, written in such a way that they rationalised the old medieval performance. Thus, the theatre personalities of Maharashtra are still a dominant community of artists in Western India and have become imbued with national self-awareness. To know more read:


Styles in Photography, Indian photography

Photographic work can be divided into dozens of categories, many with lots of sub-categories. Photography is an all-encompassing term used for all types of image capture with distinct variations in the manner in various photographic genres requiring a different style and perspective. The techniques used by photographers differ, based on the subject, the situation and the end use of the image or scene. To know more read:


Thursday 23 February 2017

Stainless Steel Jewellery

Stainless steel jewellery is receiving immense popularity among the jewellery lovers all over India. Earlier, jewelleries made with gold or silver used to dominate the jewellery box of the women but now the scenario has changed a lot. The women of 21st century don't mind flaunting the ornaments that are made with low price metal like stainless steel. To know more read:


Religious Influence on Indian Food, Indian Cuisine

In India, food has become a marker of different religious and social identity. Every religion is present with varying taboos and preferences, such as Hindus do not consume beef, Muslims do not eat pork but consume beef and Jain population do not eat roots or subterranean vegetables. This eating habit further supports the fact that Indian cuisine has witnessed a heavy influence of religion. To know more read:


Pandit Tulsidas Borkar, Indian Musician

Pandit Tulsidas Vasant Borkar is a renowned Indian classical musician and one of the greatest exponents of the Harmonium, known for playing the instrument solo and his style of accompanying in Hindustani Raga Sangeet and allied forms. He is acclaimed as an outstanding performer, composer and Guru. He has been most recently conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour by the Government of India in 2016, for the art of classical music. To know more read:


Indian Langur

  The Indian Langur, scientifically known as Semnopithecus, is a genus of Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent. These primate...