Lavani, Folk Dance of Maharashtra

 Lavani which is well known for its powerful rhythm is one of the most popular folk dance forms of India. It is a genre of music popular in the state of Maharashtra and is a combination of traditional song and dance, which is particularly performed to the beats of Dholak. This dance is also practiced in southern Madhya Pradesh. Lavani dance art form has contributed largely to the development of Marathi folk theatre. Lavani can also be defined as a romantic number sung by a woman who is waiting for her lover to accept her.

History of Lavani
The word Lavani did originate from the term Lavanya which means beauty. Quite ideally therefore beauty, splendour, magnificence coupled with the aura of sheer feminismlaces this classical folk dance form while offering it a colossal identity of its own. Although the exact date of the origin of Lavani is still vague, however it is said that in the long gone era this dance form did originate as a typical form of entertainment and also as a boost to the exhausted soldier. Maharashtra was once a battle torn state, and Lavani dance served as a mode of entertainment and morale booster for the tired soldiers during the 18th and 19th century. The dance reached peak popularity during the Peshwa rule, when it was granted royal patronage by the ruling elite. Marathi poets like Honaji Bala, Ramjoshi, Prabhakar, etc. took Lavani to new heights.

Performance of Lavani
Lavani is like a musical discussion and is therefore a harmonious blend of tune, timber, dance, song and tradition. The enchanting beats of the Dholak coupled with the zing of the colourful dance form, adds an articulate dimension to this particular folk music while making it jazzier. The tempo of Lavani is pretty fast and is often unified with the rhythmic feet of the colourful dancers. The themes of Lavani folk dance concentrate on myriad subject matters like society, religion, politics and romance. Some castes of Maharashtra like Mahar, Kolhati, Kumbhar, and Matang mainly perform Lavani.

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Qawwali, Traditional Indian Music

  

Originally performed at Sufi shrines throughout what is now India and Pakistan, it has also gained mainstream popularity. Qawwali music received international exposure through the work of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan of Pakistan, who was picked up by the Real World label and also collaborated with many non-Sufi musicians in crossover efforts.

Origin of Qawwali
Qawwali has its root back to 8th century Persia, however Amir Khusrau created the form of today in the late 13th century in India. He fused the Persian and South Asian musical traditions to create Qawwali. In Central Asia and Turkey, it is known as Sama and even in India and Pakistan, Mehfil-e-Sama is the formal term used for Qawwali. The Qawwali songs are mostly heard in Urdu and Punjabi, but they are also available in Persian, Brajbhasha and Siraiki. The fascination of Qawwali can be enjoyed in some regional languages also but the sound of it is quite different from the conventional counterpart. For example, Chhote Babu Qawwal sings in Bengali whose tune is much like Baul music than the Qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

In the Indian subcontinent four major Sufi Tariqas (orders) have formed a strong base, these are: Chistiya, Qadiriya, Suhrawardiyya and Naqshbandiya. Amongst these four, the Chistiya order has contributed the most to the patronisation and proliferation of qawwali in the subcontinent. As Sufism spread through this region imbibing its local flavours, languages, customs and cultural practices, qawwali too has undergone several changes. One can find Marathi, Dakhini and Bangla qawwali adding to the already existing repertoire of Indic qawwali performances.

Lyrics of Qawwali
The songs, which constitute the qawwali range, are mostly in Urdu and Punjabi, though there are several songs in Persian, Brajbhasha and Siraiki. The central themes of qawwali are love, devotion and longing (of man for the Divine).

Lyrics of Qawwalis are classified by their content into several categories, they are Hamd or praise of allah, Naat or praise of Muhammad, Manaqib or praise of either Imam Ali or one of the Sufi saints, Marsiya or lamentation for a dead person, Ghazal or love song, Kafi or Punjabi poems, Munajaat or conversation in the night or a form of prayer.

Features of Qawwali Songs
Songs in Qawwali are usually between 15 to 30 minutes long. However, the longest commercially released Qawwali runs slightly over 115 minutes. The qawwali maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has at least two songs that are more than 60 minutes long. Qawwalis tend to begin gently and build steadily to a very high energy level in order to induce hypnotic states both among the musicians and within the audience.

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Era of Talkies in India

  

Era of talkies in India led to the introduction of sound; films incorporating synchronized dialogue were acquainted and were known as "talking pictures," or "talkies." The film viewers were bestowed with a surprising gift, the silent era had ended, and films now had sound, so we could hear actors and actresses talking. In 1931 came the first Indian talkie: Alam Ara. It was a costume drama full of fantasy and with many melodious songs to intensify the audience's emotions and it was a stunning success. It was produced by Imperial Movie tone, Bombay. The film was released on 14th March 1931 at Majestic Cinema, Girgaon, Bombay. The film starred Prithviraj Kapoor (father of late Raj Kapoor), Zubeida, Master Vithal, Zillo and Wazir Mohammad Khan. The film had 7 songs and the music director was Firozeshah M. Mistri. The curiosity was irresistible. Crowds thronged to watch Alam Ara, India's first talking movie. The film had an interesting ensemble. The hard work paid off. Alam Ara not only became a runaway success, it also became the template of future.

The second talkie film released in India was Shirin Farhaad, on 30th May 1931. It was produced by Madan Theatres, Kolkata and directed by its owner Mr. J.J. Madan. It had 18 songs. Indra Sabha which was released in 1932 had as much as 69 songs in it! It was produced by Madan Theatre, Calcutta and directed by J.J. Madan. The film starred Master Nissar, Jahan Aara, Kazzam, Miss Silvasia and others. The first ever color film made in India was Kissan Kanhaiya produced by Imperial Film Co. This film was released in 1973. Moti B. Gidwani directed it, and its music was composed by Ram Gopal Pandey. The film had 10 songs, which were released by Gramophone Records.

In that year, 27 films were made in four languages - Hindi language, Bengali language, Tamil language and Telugu language. The introduction of sound generated ever-increasing emphasis on music and song. The phenomenal success of Alam Ara inspired many other directors to follow in its footsteps. Music and fantasy came to be seen as vital elements of the filmy experience. At times, the emphasis on music was overdone. However it is significant that music came to be regarded as a defining element in Indian cinema.

With the spreading popularity of this new medium of mass entertainment, film directors became more audacious and explored new areas. The 1930s saw the emergence of a fascination with social themes that affected day to day living. V. Shantaram, for example, in his film Amritmantha (1934), held up for scrutiny the theological absolutisms and ritualistic excesses that were gathering momentum at the time, while the landmark Devdas (1935) sought to explore the self-defeating nature of social conventionalist. The character of Devdas has been reincarnated many times in Indian cinema. Jeevana Nataka (1942), another significant film of this period, had as its theme the injurious effects of modernization - a love triangle in which Mohan, driven to alcoholism by his infatuation with the main actress, drives his wife to suicide.

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Aromatherapy Oils

  

Aromatherapy oils are the aromatic and volatile constituents found in plants. They are also known as ‘Essential Oils’ which are used to strengthen the self-healing processes by preventative methods and indirect stimulation of the immune system.

Effects of Aromatherapy Oils
Aromatherapy oils perform a wide range of benefits that include deep and penetrating therapeutic actions to the extreme subtlety of inimitable fragrance. These essential oils can be used to enhance health as well as the quality of life. In other words Aromatherapy oil is the inhalation and application of volatile essential oils from aromatic plants to restore or enhance health, beauty and well-being. Essential oils interact with the body in multiple ways and affect the individual in many ways. The absorption can be through the skin layer. The aromatherapy oil penetrates in the epithelial tissues; these include the skin, nasal passages, bronchioles, lungs and gastro-intestinal tract.

Properties of Aromatherapy Oils
Aromatherapy oils are delicate, volatile liquids that are used by distillation, expression and solvent extraction. The aromatherapy oils take in the essence of all the active properties of the plant and are considered to be the soothing agents. Chemically, essential oils are made up of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, terpenes, sesquiterpenes, ethers and esters.

Aromatherapy Oil Families and Characteristics
Aromatherapy Essential oils are the constituents that contain the essence of all the active properties of that plant. The families and characteristics of Aromatherapy Oils are determined by the plant family to which the oil belongs. The oil characteristics follow the common properties representative of their plant families.

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Tourism in Himachal Pradesh

  

Tourism in Himachal Pradesh deals with the pilgrimage tourism and the nature tourism. One can find the solace while he will come in the remote village of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh, nestling in the north western lap of the Himalaya, abounds in exotic valleys, glorious green hill-slopes, snowcapped mountains and gushing streams. In this mountain wonderland, the pace of life is measured and tranquil. In summer, the fragrance of fresh flowers pervades the enchanting hills and the coolness of the melting snow tempers the heat.

The monsoon brings a spectacle of lush greenery and cascading waterfalls. Autumn is marked by pleasant sunny days ending in gorgeous sunsets. Winter brings snow. The official language of this state is Hindi. Although the travelers will have no problems in communicating as both Hindi and English are widely understood and spoken. The history of Himachal Pradesh is like a fairy tale and each of the places of interest stand as the logo of the legendary past of Himachal Pradesh.

Pilgrimage Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
Around 6,000 temples are spread all over in this comparatively small state. A large majority of the people here are Hindus. Buddhism also has a lot of influence in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Amongst the various pilgrimage centres the most remarkable temple around Kullu valley is Bijli Mahadeva. The temple is built of large blocks of stone without the use of cement and its stupendous 65-ft (20-metre) flagstaff is reputed to attract lightning, which, according to the local legend, is an expression of divine blessing. Every time the flagstaff is struck by lightning, the Shiva linga (phallic symbol) inside the temple is shattered. It is put back together each time by the priest and covered with sattoo (a paste of roasted gram and wheat powder) and butter. The image is thus restored and stands intact till the next lightning strucks the flagstaff again.

Dhoongri Temple, Manali, dedicated to the goddess Hidimba, is believed to be over a thousand years old. The sacred Parshuram Tal (tank) is located near Renuka Lake which is shaped in the profile of a goddess. This place is famous for the legend associated with it. Dharamsala in the Kangra District is also a popular pilgrimage center. This is the place where Dalai Lama resides. In addition to this, the Vyas Gufa, Lakshmi Narayan, Radheshyam Temples and Shri Naina Devi Temple in the town of Bilaspur are well known pilgrimage centers. This sacred place provides an unparalleled view of the holy Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of a Sikh guru, on one side and Gobind Sagar on the other. Besides, Poanta Sahib is located on the Nahan-Dehradun Road. It is an important pilgrimage centre for the Sikhs. Its impressive gurudwara on the bank of the Yamuna River is thronged by thousands of pilgrims during Holi in March.

Nature Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is famed for its nature tourism. Surrounded by pretty hills it is perfect as a place where one can appreciate the different aspects of nature. From hot springs, apple orchards to snow capped peaks-the scenic beauty of this state is unprecedented. Narkanda, at a height of about 8,850 ft and 64 km from Shimla on the Hindustan-Tibet road, is famous for its apple orchards and its beautiful scenery, especially during summer. It is a convenient starting point for visits to many places in the heart of Himachal Pradesh: Bagi, Khandrala, Rampur and Kalpa on the Hindustan-Tibet Road.

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Indian Regional Football Tournaments

  

Indian Regional Football Tournaments include Durand Cup, IFA Shield, Subroto Cup, Santosh Trophy, Indian Super Cup and Federation Cup.

In India, cricket is the most popular game, but football still holds a special place among the sport loving people. India's richness of football heritage is evident from the fact that it hosts one of the oldest football tournaments in the world.

These football tourneys are played all through the seasons where aspiring footballers, from across the country take part to exhibit their class and skills in front of thousands of appreciative and football crazy people.

There are many football tournaments arranged at the regional levels that help to search for the budding talents of football. Sometimes the tournaments are arranged in the school level so that the possible footballer can be trained from the young age. These local tournaments often play a crucial role in a person career. Most of the leading Indian footballers today have come through from the local leagues.

Buladi State League
This tournament includes the best district teams. A total of 19 districts participate in this tournament. In the first phase they were arranged in six groups. The second stage is knock-out phase, which ultimately leads to the final. Supporters for all the teams come from various districts to support their teams and the play ground turns into a festival mode during the course of the tourney.

Buladi Tribal Football Championship
This is the tournament that includes eight districts, four from North Bengal and four from South Bengal. The players are mostly tribal boys. The drive for arranging this tournament is to spot out talented footballers from the tribal belt of the state and bringing them to mainstream football. Apart from this, the endeavour behind arranging this tournament is to create a supply chain of footballers to the higher level.

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Sanskrit Literature

  Sanskrit literature bears its first initiations with the Vedas and continues with the Sanskrit epics of Iron Age. The golden age of Classical Sanskrit literature dates back to late Antiquity (approximately the 3rd to 8th centuries A.D). Sanskrit literature traces its roots back to the Vedic Age. Alexander's conquest of India was a significant episode in Sanskrit literature, which was fundamental to lay stress on Sanskrit drama. Despite the influence, Sanskrit plays uphold their individualism and subjects of the plays ranged from tragedy to light comedy. Many Sanskrit dramatists are also known to have based their works pivoting around the plot of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Sanskrit was the language spoken by a cultured minority.

Sanskrit in Vedas and Upanishads
The four Vedas in Sanskrit literature - Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda, each with a principal Samhita and a number of circum-Vedic genres, also includes Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Vedanga. The basic period of Vedic literary activity falls between the 9th to 7th centuries, when the various shakhas had amassed, collected and memorized their particular corpus. The older Upanishads (Brihadaranyaka, Chandogya, Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana, Katha, Maitrayaniya) also belong to the Vedic period, but the larger part of the Muktika canon is attributed to post-Vedic times.

Sanskrit Sutra Literature
Sutra literature under Sanskrit literature was the upcoming genre that had indeed witnessed much advancement in ancient Indian literary forms. Late Iron Age scholarship (ca. 500 to 100 B.C.E.) had built up knowledge into the cardinal Sutra treatises. The Sanskrit Sutra treatises had included the Vedanga and the religious or philosophical Brahma Sutras, Yoga Sutras and Nyaya Sutras. In the Vedanga categories of grammar and phonetics, no author perhaps has had impressed greater influence than Panini with his Ashtadhyayi (ca. 5th century B.C.). Panini's grammar indeed had successfully mended the grammar of Classical Sanskrit literature. Panini's grammar includes the elements like recursion, metarules, transformation and others.

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Traditional Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh

  

The traditional cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is known for its spicy food all around the country. The inspiration behind such delicious variations of food lies in the opulent culture of the state, where exotic food is being prepared in the kitchen of the Nawabs since the year of its origin. The Andhra cuisine comprises of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The food of Andhra Pradesh is identified with that among the Mughals. Over the ages, along with the Mughal influence the cuisine of Andhra Pradesh has been well known as a fusion of original Andhra ingredients and Hyderabad cuisine. It is said that the royal Hyderabadi cuisine is prepared by meticulous nurturing of Mughlai flavours with the blend of spices. The end dish is rich in aroma and taste.

Features of Traditional Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh
The staple food of the people in Andhra Pradesh is rice. The traditional cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is known for its heavy use of spices and chillies and is served on a banana leaf. Its huge assortment of spicy pickles and chutneys are a rage all over the country. Curd is also a part of the meal in the region as it helps to neutralise the spicy nature of the food.

Various Traditional Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, food is served with rice. The rice, sambar and other lentil preparations, and steamed vegetables delicately flavoured with coconut, spices and fresh herbs are quite delectable. During the evenings, snack time is made of many preparations like onion pakodas, vadas or savoury lentil doughnuts dunked in steaming hot sambar; and steamed rice muffin like dumplings called idlis. Savouries such as murukku, which are roundels of rice flour paste deep-fried and appadams are also a part of the traditional cuisine of Andhra Pradesh. Desserts like payasam, which is basically a rice pudding made with milk and then there is the popular sheer khurma, a Hyderabadi delicacy with dry fruits and dates. 

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