Tantra Kundalini

  

In human beings, Shakti, the female aspect is called "Kundalini". This is the vital energy that rests at the base of the spinal cord. The Yoga Upanishads describe Kundalini as lying "coiled" at the base of the spine, represented as either a goddess or sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened. The object of Tantric practice of Kundalini Yoga is to awaken the cosmic energy and make it ascend through the psychic centers, the charkas that lie along the axis of the spine as consciousness potentials. The female Shakti then again unites above the crown of the head with Shiva, the pure consciousness. This union aims at Kundalini Yoga. Thus duality turns into unity and fusion with the absolute takes place. By this union the Sadhaka or the worshipper attains liberation, which is considered as the highest experience: a union of human life with the Universe. Once Kundalini Shakti has ascended to above the crown of the head and merged with Shiva, it is made to reverse its course and return to rest at the base of the spine.

Concept of Kundalini
According to the Tantric philosophy, the entire universe is the manifestation of pure consciousness. In manifesting the universe, this pure consciousness seems to become divided into 2 aspects, each of which cannot exist without the other. Each requires the other in order to manifest its total nature. The aspects are Shiva and Shakti. Shiva, the masculine part retains a static quality and remains identified as long as the consciousness is not manifested. Shiva has the power to be but not the power to change the world. The other aspect of the power is Shakti, which is feminine, dynamic, energetic and creative. Shakti is the Great Mother of Universe, from which all the other creatures are born.

According to the Tantra, the human being is the miniature of the Universe. All that is found in the cosmos can be found within the individual and the principle that applies in case of universe also applies in the case of individual being.

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Tribal Dances of North East India

  

Tribal Dances of North East India display its rich culture and traditions. Most of the dances are either correlated to agriculture, Buddhism or the beginning of a New Year. These dances also present a magnificent occasion for the people belonging to different tribes to acquaintance. North East India is acknowledged for its interesting culture and miscellaneous dance forms. The states of north eastern part of India including Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have prosperous assortment in culture as well.

Different Tribal Dances of North East India
There are several tribal dance forms that reflect the rich heritage of northeast India. Following are the different Tribal Dances of North East India:

Laho Dance: The ‘Pnar’ tribe of Meghalaya takes part in ‘Laho’ dance with the colourful attire. Two men stand in both side of a woman and they link each other’s arms to present in particular steps. There is a comedian who can suddenly do entertaining performance with the dance to entertain the audience.

Chang Lo Dance: The ‘Chang’ tribe of Nagaland perform the ‘chang lo’ dance form. It is often called ‘sua lua’ and presented throughout the three days of ‘Poanglem’ festival. Male dancers put on a warrior costume of ‘naga’ tribe presenting war ways of earliest Nagaland. Female dancers wear stunning and colourful costume in contrast.

Nongkrem Dance: 'Nongkrem' is a significant dance of Meghalaya. The ‘Khasi’ tribe of Meghalaya celebrates the ripening of paddy for threshing by dances and songs.

Wangala Dance: Wangala dance of ‘Garo’ tribe is very much popular. ‘Garo’ tribe is the second largest tribe of Meghalaya. Wangala dance is the harvest dance by ‘Garo’ tribal people.

Dance of the Lotha Naga: The ‘Lotha Naga’ is one of the main tribes of Nagaland. They are renowned for their bright dances and folk songs.

Khiamniungan Dance: ‘Khiamniungan’ is one of the minor tribes found mostly in the Tuensang district of Nagaland. ‘Khiamniungan’ Dance is vibrant and colourful.

Jamhang Tsouthong Dance: The ‘Jamhang Tsouthong’ tribal dance is a dance of ‘Khiamniungan’ tribe of Nagaland. It is also one of the major tribal dances of north east India.

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Thumri, Indian Music

  

Thumri is the most important "light classical" genre of North Indian Classical music. It is performed in many contexts, from the sphere of dance, to the vocal concert stage, to performance on instruments. The reason behind calling Thumri light classical are many and varied. One of the prime reasons is that the melodies are not always composed in a Raaga and the may break the rules in singing those that are. It has also been suggested that simpler talas and less weighty raagas are used for thumri. Yet another likely reason is that alap-type improvisation is not cultivated in Thumri, and alap is the real test of good musicianship. In addition, Thumri is traditionally accompanied by a harmonium. As the artist sings, he pumps a bellows at the back of the harmonium and reproduces the vocal melody on the keyboard with the other hand. The fixed pitches that the harmonium is restricted to are considered a serious threat to traditional melodic flexibility. Whatever the reason, Thumri provides light, enjoyable music with which to end a vocal or instrumental concert.

Origins of Thumri
Thumri was cultivated primarily in Lucknow and Varanasi in the nineteenth century, and it is possible to pinpoint differences between the styles of Thumri from those two places. Other regional styles have developed as well, for example, that of Punjab. Nowadays, audiences prefer to hear female vocalists sing Thumri. A full performing ensemble includes harmonium, usually played by the vocalist, tambura, tabla, and probably a Sarangi.

Text of Thumri
The texts of Thumri are romantic. They refer perhaps to Lord Krishna and his amorous pranks, or to "the beloved," who may (or may not) be Krishna. Other texts are unequivocally romantic: they contain no allegorical suggestions. One of the main tenets concerning thumri is that the text is most important. Each word is pronounced clearly, and every bit of feeling the text might express is brought out musically. This is a major difference between Thumri and Khayal.

Structure of Thumri
A Thumri is a brief composition consisting of sthai and one or more antaras with improvisation. Usually, the "more antaras" are additional text, which is sung to approximately the same antara melody. Most Thumri, however, have only sthai and antara. The sthai phrase proper is used at cadences to close each singer's turn. After the several repetitions of the sthai in variant forms, the amount of improvisation on the sthai text increases gradually and the middle and upper registers are explored. In that respect, this performance is very similar to medium-speed khayal. The antara is sung when the upper register has already been introduced in the improvisation, and it is presented partially at first, as a Khayal antara is likely to be.

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Marathi Cinema

  

 Marathi cinema or Marathi Chitrapat denotes the films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India. Many film historians would designate Maharashtra as the birthplace of Indian cinema. The name of Dadasaheb Phalke is honoured as the father of Indian cinema. Early on, there were a number of Marathi film directors who showed talent and commitment to the growth of Indian film culture. V.Shantaram, Damle, Fatehlal, Master Vinayak and also P.L. Deshpande, G.D. Madgulkar, Raja Paranjpe and Sudhir Phadke are perhaps most significant. However, as an art form and industry, it has its share of problems: most films made in Marathi are cheap and commercial often modelled on Hindi films and they cater to the escapist desires of the majority of audience. In terms of experience, style and technique, there is little to recommend them.

However, despite this commercial film culture, a number of directors have recently sought to create a vibrant artistic cinema in Maharashtra, among them Jabhar Patel, Amol Palekar, Nachiket, Mahesh Manjrekar and Jayoo Patwardhan and Vijaya Mehta.

History of Marathi Cinema
Marathi Cinema is the earliest type of Indian cinema. In 1913, with the release of the first Indian film, Raja Harishchandra, Dadasaheb Phalke, renowned as the founder and pioneer of cinema in Pre-Independence India, imported the revolution of moving images to India. The film was created with full Marathi crew. In 1919 Baburao Painter established the Maharashtra Film Co. and Sairandhari in 1920. With the gradual development of the country, cinema in Maharashtra grew along with other places in India. Some of the most renowned films are discussed below-

Poona Par Hallo (1924)
Directed by Mama Warerkar, the film starred Miss Bhawani, Krishnarao Ketkar, Shankarrao Sahasrabuddhe, Vishnupant Pagnis, Miss Kaiser, and Sunderrao Nadkarni. The Maratha historical incident of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's attack on Pune and the ensuing battle with the Maratha hero Shivaji was portrayed in the movie. The film was often compared to Baburao Painter's Sinhagad, but the underlying message of independence was far stronger in this film. The director Warerkar was an important Marathi playwright as well, and this remains one of his best films.

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Shalya Tantra, Branch of Ayurveda

  

Shalya Tantra is the surgical method which was initiated by Ayurvedic sages in ancient India. Shalya Tantra is the root of modern surgery, a branch of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda considers a human body to be developed from five universal factors known as the ‘Panch Mahabhutas’. These are earth (prithvi), water (jal), fire (agni), air (vayu) and universal space (akash). These factors ultimately give rise to the ‘Tridosha’, that are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These Tridoshas maintain the body’s balance in case of a disproportion in one or more than one of these components, one’s health degenerates and become ill. To a certain extent, the medicinal way of treatment or Kayachikitsa can be applied with good results. But at times the disease goes beyond the control of Kayachikitsa and surgical intervention or Shalya Tantra becomes mandatory.

Etymology of Shalya Tantra
The word ‘Shalya Tantra’ literally signifies the elimination of irritating factors from the human body. ‘Shalya’ means cause, which produces pain, or factor, which stimulates irritation, and ‘Tantra’ means the technique by which this cause or factor is done away with.

Concept of Shalya Tantra by Sushruta
Sushruta was the earliest surgeon to develop cosmetic surgery. Shalya Tantra is discussed in detail in his renowned Ayurvedic text ‘Sushruta Samhita’. Here he gives an exhaustive description of the surgical processes involved in different conditions where surgery is required.

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Tourism In Goa

  A trip to Goa is a dream come true for tourist. Lying in the west coast of India, it possesses a perpetual charm. Also known as the 'pearl of the east', Goa is well known for its Gothic churches, temples, historical monuments, palm-fringed beaches, coconut orchards, ferry rides and vivacious folk music. Goa's matchlessness lies in the fact that while creating an elusive amalgamation of motley of cultures, it has maintained its innate essence. Goa is surely a land of dreams and romanticism, an eternal world of gentle, generous people and leisurely activity. It is in true sense a lush green paradise. With the promises of the shimmering beaches, azure waters and with the kiss of the sun and palms, Goa is a tourist destination throughout the year. This tiny state is situated on the west coast of India, between the borders of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is better identified to the world as the former Portuguese enclave on Indian soil.

Pilgrimage Tourism in Goa
Being a state of miscellaneous religious populations, Goa is home to many places of worship that draw tourists from all over the world. Churches, temples and other religious places have made Goa one of the most visited destinations of the world. Religious places in Goa have a soul, which plunges deep into its unique history and rich culture.

Churches: The Churches in Goa are a memento of its age old custom and even the bits and pieces of its celebrated past. With a significant population of Goans being Christians for many generations today, the Church is a significant factor in Goa's social, cultural and religious life. Inhabited mostly by Christians the Churches in Goa are not only an instance of architectural spectacle but even replicate the traditions of the simple Goan people. Se Cathedral of Goa is one of the largest in Asia. Religious pilgrims are enthralled to hear of the Cross of Miracles, which is placed in the cathedral. This cathedral in Goa is a must see religious center for the pilgrimage tourists. The church of St. Anne is another popular destination for the Christians who come from all over the world to offer their prayer here. The Basilica of Bom Jesus located in old Goa is of great religious significance. It is a World Heritage Monument in India. The church is renowned all over the world for the preserved mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. He was the member of Society of Jesus and came to India to spread Christianity with the Portuguese. Every year thousands of people visit the cathedral especially in the month of December.

Temples: Hindus also form a considerable part of the population in Goa. There are many temples which are of utmost religious importance. Sri Mangueshi temple at Ponda in Goa is the most well-known among temples. It is one of the most visited religious centers of the Hindus. Shri Mahalakshmi temple at Bandora is regarded as the dwelling place of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult. Its significance lies in the fact that it was the first Hindu temple to be built in this Indian state.

Mosques: Though there is very little Muslim population in Goa but there are many well-known places of worship for them. There are around 26 mosques which are scattered all over the state of Goa. The Jama Masjid and the Safa Shahouri Masjid are two of the most famous mosques in Goa. These mosques hold great religious significance for the Muslim pilgrims.

Nature Tourism in Goa
Goa is a nature lover's dream destination. Visitors holidaying in Goa will take pleasure in the large assortment of water falls, parks, and popular wildlife sanctuaries.

Waterfalls: Goa is a luxuriant natural bliss bounded on the one side by the foothills of the Sahyadri range and on the other side by the Arabian Sea. Goa is gifted with lakes, waterfalls and springs of matchless exquisiteness. They are situated far from the hustle and bustle, away from the coast, in the interiors. There are three major waterfalls of Goa which emerge from great heights and flow through the uneven terrains. These three rippling streams of silvery water draw innumerable tourists who desire idyllic solitude of secluded nature. The Arvalem waterfall of Goa looks stunning with the roaring cascade of water gushing down the rocky topography of the mountain behind it. The Dudhsagar Falls is one of the most interesting falls of India and the largest and highest fall of Goa. It is a lucrative tourist haunt. The Kesarval waterfall is another magnificent spectacle for the nature lovers. Lakes in Goa are also a must visited destination for the tourists.

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Table Tennis Associations in India

  

Table Tennis Associations in India helps to promote develop and enhance the prospect of Indian Table Tennis, a large number of National and State level associations have been established, so far in the country.

Table Tennis Associations in India organise various international Table Tennis tournaments, as well. The Table Tennis Federation of India is headed by President Mr. Ajay Singh Chautala (M.P.) and Secretary-General Mr. D R. Choudhary.

Andhra Pradesh Table Tennis Association
The Andhra Pradesh Table Tennis Association (APTTA) is considered as the pioneer State Associations in India producing National and International players.

Assam Table Tennis Association
The Assam Table Tennis Association (ATTA) is another state association in India that operates for the well being of Table Tennis in India. This is a registered federation and it mainly encourages the Table Tennis players from Assam.

Bihar Table Tennis Association
Bihar also has Table Tennis associations named as the Bihar Table Tennis Association (BTTA).

Chhattisgarh Table Tennis Association
In Chattisgarh, the association is named as the Chhattisgarh Table Tennis Association (CTTA)and it is responsible for giving a hike to the players, who want to pursue Table Tennis, as their career.

Delhi Table Tennis Association
The Capital City of India, Delhi has an association named the Delhi Table Tennis Association (DTTA).

Goa Table Tennis Association
The Goa Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is another state level association, working for the development of the game in the state.

Gujarat State Table Tennis Association
The Gujarat State Table Tennis Association (GSTTA) is one of the Table Tennis associations in India that is aimed at bringing up talented Table Tennis players from the state.

Haryana Table Tennis Association
The Haryana Table Tennis Association (HTTA) is working for promoting the game in the state.

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Botanical Gardens of India

  

In India there are many Botanical Gardens that includes many plants and trees. The Botanical Gardens preserve many indigenous plant species as well as many exotic examples of floral species. The Botanical gardens are places for research regarding plantation, cultivation and quality and quantity of fruits and flowers. It also organizes regular flower show. The Botanical Gardens enhances the greenery of a particular place and add much to the aesthetic value.

Agri Horticultural Society, Alipore, Kolkata : This Horticultural Society is famous for its winter flower show. It has a huge and rare collection of many plants including medicinal plants and ferns. The garden is famous for the collection of Cannas, It has also an attached nursery that provides research facility and offers various courses.

Indian Botanical Garden, Shivpur, Howrah, West Bengal : This garden consists of more than twelve thousand species of plants. The landmark of the garden is great old Banyan tree which is the largest in the world.

Lal Bagh, Bangalore, Karnataka:. Sultan Hyder Ali started it and his son Tipu Sultan completed it. He also added to its beauty by bringing various exotic plants. The garden follows the architecture of Mughal gardens. It has century old trees as well as many exotic plants. The garden is a beautiful one with the combination of old and modern artistic tastes.

Government Botanical Garden, Udagamandalam, Tamil Nadu : This garden is famous for its huge collection of roses, which is largest among India. The Government Botanical Garden has a vast collection of indigenous and exotic plants.

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