Vistar, Indian Classical Music

  

Vistar is regarded as the soul of Indian classical music. It is considered as having enormous importance in rendering music in all tradition of Indian music, especially Hindustani vocal music. The word 'Manadharma' meaning law of mind is a Sanskrit word that stands for the art of Vistar. Manadharma refers to the stage where musician raises himself to the level of imagination that remains quite distinct from logical thinking. He actually engages himself in a form of mental state that utilizes only the laws of aesthetics. It is at this level that the thinking and feeling both unites into one integrated process. This exclusive integrated process that is derived from the creation of music is what is known as the Manadharma.

The musician of Hindustani Music represents a raagaprimarily through the process of Vistar. The musicians are evaluated chiefly by their ability to improvise. The art of improvisation in music has been popular among many musical systems of the world that also includes those in the Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa and the gamelan music of Java and Bali. However the distinctive improvisatory style of Indian music or Vistar of Hindustani Music has been recognized and acknowledged by all as the most developed, most systematized and most sophisticated improvisatory style in the world.

Style of Vistar
The large amount of freedom that is given to the musician during the development of raaga makes it a distinctive pattern of in Hindustani Music. However at the same time strict rules are required to be followed to the last finite detail to maintain the purity of Raga during its presentation.

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Indian Regional Films

  

India is a land of diversity. There lies a huge blend of diverse cultures, regions and languages. This diversity has thus given rise to various regional Indian films apart from the largely known Hindi film industry or Bollywood. Regional Indian films are the keys to the Indian cinema. India is unique in its kaleidoscope of diverse languages and cultures. There are at least 15 languages and over 2000 dialects and films are produced in most of the official languages. In 1993, for example, 183 films were made in Hindi, 168 in Tamil and 148 in Telugu. The largest numbers of regional films are produced in these three languages. However, 78 films were made in Kannada, 71 in Malayalam, 57 in Bengali, 35 in Marathi and almost 10 in Assamese.

Although one can talk of regional films, there is an incessant crossover of talents - Bengali film directors direct Hindi or Oriya films; Tamil directors direct Telugu films. Actors and actresses from the South play leading roles in films made in the North. Furthermore, some of the well known figures in Indian cinema, particularly in the artistic tradition, come from the regional cinemas. The diverse regional cinemas in India strive to maintain their distinctive identities and provide an important dimension of the cultural wealth and diversity of India's regional films.

Marathi cinema has been graced by the presence of seasoned actors who have been instrumental in shaping the industry's identity. Artists like Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sachin Khedekar, and Nana Patekar have not only garnered praise for their acting prowess but have also played pivotal roles in the progression of Marathi cinema on the national stage. Marathi Actors

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Aromatherapy for Children

  

A good aroma can make anyone happy and children are no exception. Baby massage is quite traditional in the east, especially in India. Though it takes a little time for the mother to adjust to the idea of massaging a wriggling baby, but she would gradually start enjoying it when the baby would respond to the mother's touch. Massage is a wonderful way of strengthening the bond between the mother and the child. Aromatherapy can prove very beneficial to the new born babies through massages. Though massage is the most common form of giving aromatherapy treatment to the child, there are many ways of giving aromatherapy treatment as well.

However, one has to be careful enough to keep the amount of aromatherapy oil very low, so as not to effect the baby. The baby's body is very small in size and too much of aromatherapy oil can have a slightly toxic effect. When using aromatherapy oils on children, make sure that the quantity of aromatherapy oil in the carrier oil is reduced to half. You can add two drops of aromatherapy oil in 4-6 fl oz (100 to 150 ml) of a carrier oil or two or four drops of aromatherapy oil in a baby bath. The best carrier oil for children is sweet almond oil, as it has a softening, lubricating effect on the skin and is better than the mineral oil that most commercial baby products are based on. Use a blend of 4 fl oz (100 ml) of sweet almond oil added with two drops of any of the following: Chamomile, Rose, Lavender & Neroli. The steps for the massage are as follows:

Start with your baby laying against your legs on his/ her back so that the child can look up to you.

Stroke gently down the child's arms, and then legs. Repeat each movement five or six times.

Circle round the tummy, using the flat of your hand, in an anti-clockwise direction.

Stretch out the child's toes one by one then gently rub the soles of the feet, using your thumb.

Uncurl the child's fingers and then gently move each one clockwise, then anti clockwise.

Now, rub over the palms of his/her hands with your thumbs. Turn your baby over, to lie on his tummy against your legs.

Gently rub a little oil into his back, bottom, legs and feet using long, light strokes.

Stroke down his back, giving a little squeeze at the buttocks. Repeat five or six times.

Gently stroke round his/her shoulders, down the arms and off at his/her hands.

Gently stroke down his legs several times. Each time finish by giving his legs a little stretch by pulling at the ankles.

Finish by stroking gently down his back and legs in one movement. Repeat, getting lighter with each stroke, until your hand just glides over your baby without actually touching him.

Gently stroke the baby on to his back so that he can see you again.

Now gently stroke a little oil (the surplus on your hands should be enough) on to the child's face. Lightly stroke, up the forehead several times.

Gently squeeze and rub the child's ear lobes between your finger and thumb.

Finish off with a connecting stroke. With one hand cradling your baby's head, stroke gently down his body with the other and bring it to rest on top of his feet.

Hold this position (one hand on the head, the other on the feet) for a count of ten.

Gently release and lift off your hands.

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Beaches of Kerala

  

Beaches of Kerala are the perfect testaments of nature's bounty wrapped in tranquility and fascinating surroundings.

Alappuzha Beach, Alappuzha District
Alappuzha beach is located in the Alappuzha district adorned with marvellous natural beauty. Near the beach, a lighthouse stands which offers a panoramic view of the serene beach. The beach also hosts the ruins of Alappuzha Sea Bridge which is a memoir of the Alappuzha port, once an important port of Kerala. Alappuzha beach has also been a preferred destination for many film shoots.

Kovalam Beach, Thiruvananthapuram district
Set along the Arabian Sea, Kovalam beach is another natural magnificence of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram district. The beach is in fact a combination of three beaches namely Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach which are separated by rocky outcroppings. The beach is also renowned for hosting a number of Ayurvedic resorts. Kovalam beach allures tourists not only from India but also from different parts of the globe.

Marari Beach, Alappuzha district
Marari beach is no less amongst the gorgeous beaches of Kerala. Located in Alappuzha district, it is an ideal place to spend leisure time amidst a serene environment. The beach is very clean and is frequented by swimmers for being a safe one.

Chavakkad Beach, Thissur District
Chavakkad beach, situated in Thrissur district, is another addition to the beautiful beaches of Kerala. The beach hosts the confluence of a river and the sea and the meeting point is known as Azhimokam in Malayalam. The beach is quite unexplored by the local folks and thus exhibits an unspoilt beauty. Guruvayur Temple is located at a distance of 5 kilometres from the beach.

Muzhappilangad Beach, Kannur
Muzhappilangad beach, located between Kannur and Thalassery, is the largest drive-in beach of Asia. In the month of April, a beach festival is celebrated here which attracts tourists from far off regions. Black rocks border the beach. Dharmadam Island is located towards the south of the beach which can be reached by walking during low tides.

Snehatheeram Beach, Thrissur District
Snehatheeram beach lies in the Thrissur district. In the year 2010 the Department of Tourism (Kerala) selected it as the best beach tourism destination. The maintenance of the beach is administrated by the same department. A children's park is located near the beach. Snehatheeram beach invites a number of national as well as international tourists.

Payyambalam Beach, Kannaur District
Payyambalam beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Kerala, situated in Kannur district. The long beach has a pretty shoreline. The tranquillity of the beach has a distinct appeal on the tourists. The pollution free beach exhibits an untamed beauty away from the bustling city life.

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Indian Football Associations

  

Indian Football associations include the regional associations, district associations, the state associations and also the national associations. All the football associations in Indian states like West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Manipur, Assam, Maharashtra are funded by the various sponsorships from the multi national companies and the governmental accreditations.

The game of Football is counted among the most popular and widely played sports in this huge nation. Football is being run and managed by a large number of associations that can be classified in different ways. The numerous Football clubs of India can also be included among the Indian Football associations. In contemporary India, Indian Super League has much contribution in fostering new talents in the football world and it is a chance to play and show their talents with the best attitude to the world spectators.

Role of All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation (AIFF) is an organization which manages the game of association football in India. Established in 1937, the All India Football Federation is the national governing body for Football in India. The AIFF is working relentlessly for the development and improvement of Football in India. It is being highly assisted by the district and state Football associations. The AIFF is in charge of supervising all kinds of football related activities in India and the State Football associations administer football in their respective states. The district football associations help the state associations in organising different kinds of football related activities in their district, as well. The young and talented Football players in India are first noticed in the district level and then they go on to show their talent in the state level. While representing their states in various national level tournaments, the football players earn attention from the national selectors and get a chance to play for the national team.

District and State Football Associations in India
The district and state Football associations in India are the most important of all the Indian Football associations. They are playing probably the most vital role in upbringing new talents from the grass route level in India. It is mainly because of their contribution that India has produced such a large number of talented Football players so far. All the state associations are associated with the AIFF, as members. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) also administers the women’s Football in India. However, the Youth football is administered by the governmental Sports Authority of India (SAI).

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Indian Herbs

  

Indian herbs are considered to be helpful for achieving good health with the help of natural sources. The age old traditions associated with herbs are kept alive by the people of medicinal milieu, considering their effects on many diseases and the belief in herbal therapy has been creating in millions of people, since ancient times. Though the Indian herbs are used extensively in herbal therapy and other alternative treatments, they should be consumed in proper amount because over consumption of some herbs may lead to bad health or may have some kind of side effects. There are some agricultural institutes, which take initiatives to cultivate Indian herbs that can be the source of life giving medicines. Apart from this, there are yoga centers, where medicines are prepared like the Patanjali Yogpith of Haridwar.

History of Indian Herbs
Ancient history of Indian herbs depicts that the Rig Veda, the oldest document of human knowledge, carries evidence regarding the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases. The tradition of Ayurveda originated around 5000 years ago. Ayurveda, "the science of life", offers rich and comprehensive outlook to a healthy life. The basic concept of Ayurveda is to maintain a balance of body, mind and spirit, along with the usage of some herbs that are widely cultivated in India for medicinal usage. The ancient book of Charaka, which was written around 1000 BC, concentrates on medicine and depicts that in ancient times the practitioners used to treat diseases with the help of decoctions from different herbs.

Types of Indian Herbs
Indian herbs are used as medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, aromatic herbs and ornamental herbs. They even have spiritual usage in some cases. These herbs and their uses are given below.

Indian Medicinal Herbs
Most of the Indian herbs are used widely used due to their medicinal values. For medicinal or spiritual use, any part of a plant might be considered to be herb. These parts are leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant. Plants contain phytochemicals that affect body. Medicinal herbs have curative effects and are used to prepare herbal medicines. They are considered as having powerful effects on curing certain diseases. Some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's wort (Hypericum Perforatum) or of kava (Piper Methysticum) can be used to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning. Therefore, they should be used with caution. One herb-like substance called 'Shilajit' is used to lower blood glucose levels. Thus, the herb is especially important for those suffering from diabetes. Some Indian herbs that are famous for their curative effects are abrus precatorius, adhatoda vasica, aloe vera, ashwagandha, asparagus racemosus, basil, bhringaraj, cardamom, castor, ginger, guggul, lemongrass, safed musli, sandalwood, sarsaparilla, shankapushpi, solanum nigrum, tinospora cordifolia and vinca rosea.

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Curry, Indian Cuisine

  

Curry is an incorporation of complex combinations of spices or herbs, usually including fresh or dried hot chillies. The decisive identity of India with the world starts with the flavours of the ubiquitous curry. It has successfully arrested the fascination of the globe all through. It is one delicacy that is prepared with different variations by different chefs.

The origin of the word 'Curry' comes from the Tamil word 'Kari', which is a blend of spices and sauces, chiefly coconut. Curry may contain meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish, either alone or in combination with vegetables. Many are instead entirely vegetarian, especially among those who hold ethical or religious values against eating meat or seafood. However, it has spread all over the country with varieties sprouting up in every Indian province.

In original traditional cuisines, the precise selection of spices for each dish is a matter of regional cultural tradition and religious practice. Such dishes are called by specific names that refer to their ingredients, spicing, and cooking methods.

Traditionally, spices are used both whole and ground; cooked or raw; and they may be added at different times during the cooking process to produce different results. The main spices found in most curry powders are turmeric, coriander, and cumin; a wide range of additional spices may be included depending on the geographic region. Curries may be either ‘wet’ or ‘dry’. Wet curries contain significant amounts of sauce or gravy based on yoghurt, coconut milk, dal or stock. Dry curries are cooked with very little liquid which is allowed to evaporate, leaving the other ingredients coated with the spice mixture.

The evolvement of curry in India has now led to a fantastic amalgamation of international cuisines, with the term being just not restricted to Indianised versions. It is usual to distinguish broadly between regional styles of Indian cuisine, recognizing that within those categories are innumerable sub-styles and variations. The distinction is commonly made with reference to the staple starch: wheat in the form of unleavened breads in the north; rice in the east; rice and millet in the south.

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Yoga For Menstrual Disorders

  

One of the major health problems faced by women is the menstrual disorders. An irregular menstrual cycle may result from some abnormalities, physical disorders, emotional and hormonal disturbances. Improper development of reproductive organs, imbalance of hormones of endocrine glands, weak muscles of reproductive organs, weak constitution, pathological development and psychological disturbances like depression, fear, stress and mental tension are also the causes for menstrual disorders. Yogic treatments can be beneficial in treating such health problems.

Some of the common menstrual disorders are as follows:
1. Amenorrhea
This refers to the absence of menstruation. It may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, obesity or extreme weight loss, emotional disorders and others.

2. Menorrhagia
There is an excessive bleeding during menstrual cycles, in terms of more days as well as the amount of blood. Disturbances in pituitary, thyroid and ovary functions, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are the main causes.

3. Metrorrhagia
There is excessive flow of blood occurring between two menstrual periods. The main causes are poor functioning of ovaries, pituitary and thyroid glands, poor blood clotting function, some psychological factors, and lesions of the cervix.

4. Dysmenorrhea
Pain and discomfort is felt prior to the onset of or at the time of menstruation. The pain primarily occurs in the lower abdomen. There is also pain in the thighs and a general feeling of pressure. Causes of Dysmenorrhea are anatomical malformation like undeveloped womb, hormonal disturbances and mental factors. Sometimes, when the pain is severe, other complaints such as nausea, vomiting or headache interfere with the normal activities.

5. Pre-Menstrual Tension
Many women suffer from this complaint for a week or 10 days before the onset of menstruation. The symptoms are headache, tremors, irritability, heaviness in breasts and pelvic region.

The condition of Amenorrhea may not be having any particular symptom except obesity resulting from hormonal disorder. Women suffering from Menorrhagia and Metrorrhagia complain of pain and weakness and may be unable to carry routine work in case the bleeding is severe. Dysmenorrhea is associated with presence of pain in the lower back and hypogastrium.

Regular and proper practice of yoga asanas and Pranayama is beneficial for women who suffer from the menstrual disorders. However, it should be noted that, during menstruation yoga practices are not advisable for 3-5 days. Proper rest, medicines and relaxation are also necessary. Yoga helps by correcting and balancing the functioning of the endocrine system, toning up of the nervous system and it also relaxes the body and mind, thus, reducing the psychological problems.

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Paper Craft

  

Paper Craft is a fairly old tradition in India. In this, three dimensional items are crafted using paper as the primary artistic medium. Paper Craft is the summation of a variety of simple techniques, including cutting, gluing, stitching, moulding and layering, to create beautiful objects. In India, the paper industry is located mainly in Patna, Delhi, Rajgir, Awadh, Ahmedabad, Gaya and Shahzadpur (near Allahabad).

History of Paper Craft
Since paper is one of the easily perishable materials, the tradition of the paper craft had been left unrecorded. The earliest records available are in the form of a large number of beautiful manuscripts, 'the royal farmans', and account keeping by prosperous merchants in the Mughal period. The industry was however indigenous and small scale to cater the local needs. The people engaged in paper making could be found on the out skirts of provincial capitals or big towns. Their locality was known as the Kagazi Mohalla where 'kagaz' refers to paper and 'mohalla' refers to locality.

Different Paper Crafts
Paper Craft is an age old activity. Papers with their various varieties and wide range of colours offer a very colourful choice to the craftsmen. The combination of various kinds of papers in different forms and styles make Paper Craft one of the best crafts of India. The Paper Craft in India has widely been used in different types of decorations. The decorations may be in forms of flowers, kandeels, kites and effigies. General decorations in the religious and social functions are also comprised of mainly this art. Paper Craft includes a wide range of artefacts ranging from utilitarian to decorative items. Varying from simple to complex, a number of techniques are involved in their crafting. 'Khamp', a thin bamboo strip, is sometimes used to give skeletal support to the Paper Crafts. Depending on the size, the number of bamboo strips may change. An excellent example of this type of Paper Craft are Kites that are generally made by fixing a square paper on diagonal bamboo strip and a curved strip covering the upper part of the diagonal. 'Tazia' is another Paper Craft and is an important icon in Muharram ceremonies. Making of 'Tazia' involves construction of huge bamboo minarets covered with paper. The effigies and other fire works made during Dussehra festival are also beautiful manifestations of Paper Craft. These are meticulously filled with explosives to produce sparkle, sound and light. Apart from this, other objects of Paper Crafts involve masks, bowls, paper puppets, decorative birds, paper flowers and paper fans.

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