Monday, May 2, 2011

Om Shanti Om


"Om Shanti Om" is one of the Vedic Mantras. It has religious and philosophical meaning. Om is the symbol of the Hindu. It is believed to be a sound of the whole cosmic manifestation. Shanti is "Peace". 'Om Shanti' means peace for all human kind, peace for all living and non living beings, peace for the universe, peace for each and every thing in this whole cosmic manifestation. Hindus not only pray for their group or for themselves, they pray for every one and every thing and that is what Vedas teach us to do. This is our final production for World Tour: INDIA 2011.  Om Shanti Om.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Final Transformation: INDIA

April 28, 2011

Namaste
Today the whole school celebrated the wonderful and beautiful diversity of the select countries of World Tour 2011.  It was a overwhelming sensory success!  I would like to thank my beautiful children for all their hard work in transforming our classroom into Incredible India.  I would also like to thank Mrs. Asha Shetty and Mrs. Sweta Anoop for their brilliant guidance, beautiful fabrics, and marvelous foods.  It was a wonderful time for everyone.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Religions of India

HINDUISM - about 82%
ISLAM - about 12%
CHRISTIANITY - about 2.5%
SIKHISM - about 2%
BUDDHISM - about 0.7%
JAINISM - about 0.5%
ZOROASTRIANISM - about 0.01%
JUDAISM - about 0.0005%
http://adaniel.tripod.com/religions.htm

Hindu Gods

It is believed that there are 330 million gods in the Hindu Dharma. There are as many Hindu gods as there are devotees to suit the feelings, moods and social background of the devotee. However, it is not really the sign of ignorance. The ultimate reality is one, the almighty. The omnipresent God is a universal fact and having different names show the branches of the same tree. You will find each and every branch cropping up from the same tree. Similarly God is one, there can be different forms or physical appearances but the ultimate reality is one.

In Hindu religion, there are many gods. Here we will discuss some of the popular Hindu gods.

Hindu God BrahmaBrahma, the Creator
Brahma is considered as the first god of the Hindu Trinity, the other being Vishnu and Shiva. Lord Brahma is recognized as the creator of the Universe. Brahma is regarded as the Supreme Being, the god of gods. Lord Brahma is the originator and the generator of the mankind.

Bhairav
Lord Bhairav is considered to be the incarnation (Avatar) of Lord Shiva. In the contemporary times, Bhairav has been worshipped by millions of people to get the powerful blessings from the god. Bhairav is a fierce form of Shiva.

Load GaneshaGanesha
Lord Ganesha is the god of beginnings, knowledge, wisdom, intellect and eradicator of obstacles. Lord Ganesha is the child of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. He is the elder brother of lord Kartikay (Skanda/ Murugana). Ganesha is the most extensively worshipped god in Hindu way of life.

Lord HanumanaLord Hanuman
Hanuman is considered to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva. Shri Hanuman, a great disciple of Sri Rama, is the symbol of devotion and dedication. Lord Hanumana is the provider of courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion.

Lord RamaLord Rama
Lord Rama is known as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rama, the perfect avatar of the Supreme Protector Vishnu, has always been popular among the Hindu deities. Rama is the symbol of courtesy and virtue, a man of values and morals.

Lord KrishnaLord Krishna
Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and worshipped deities of the Hindu religion. Krishna is considered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, the divine. Shri Krishna is the very embodiment of love and divine ecstasy that destroys all pain and offense.

Lord ShivaShiva, the Destroyer
Lord Shiva or Siva is considered as the destroyer of the world. Shiva is one of the most popular gods of the Hindu religion. Lord Siva forms the part of the Trimurti (Trinity), the other being Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the preserver respectively.

Hindu God SuryaSurya
The Sun God As per the Hindu Religion, Surya symbolizes the Sun God. Surya is considered as the only visible form of God that can be seen every day. God Surya is regarded as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu by Shaivites and Vaishnavas.

Lord VishnuVishnu, the Preserver
Lord Vishnu is considered as the chief god in Hindu religion and Indian mythology. Vishnu, the preserver, forms the part of the trinity while the other two being Brahma and Shiva, respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe.
http://www.iloveindia.com/spirituality/gods/vishnu/index.html

Hindu Goddesses

As per the Hindu religion, the Supreme Being contains both masculine and feminine traits. The female part is as important as the male part. One has to consider the feminine aspect of the divine, in order to know the ultimate truth. It is believed that all goddesses of the Hindu pantheon are special forms of the divine mother- Shakti. To recognize the feminine aspect, it is necessary to restore wholeness, completeness and universality.

There are many goddesses and local deities in the Hindu mythology. Here we will discuss some of the popular Hindu goddesses (forms of Shakti).

Hindu Goddess DurgaGoddess Durga (Mother)
Durga symbolizes the power of the Supreme Being that maintains moral order and righteousness in the universe. Worship of the goddess Shakti is very popular among the Hindu people. Durga stands for the unified symbol of all divine forces (Shaktis).

Goddess LaxmiGoddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the auspicious goddess of wealth and fortune, whether it is material or spiritual. The word ''Lakshmi'' has been derived from the Sanskrit word Lakshay, meaning "aim" or ''goal''. Goddess Lakshmi suggests the aim of life, which includes all worldly and spiritual success.

Hindu Goddess SaraswatiGoddess Saraswati
Saraswati Devi is the Goddess of arts, music, knowledge, and wisdom. Saraswati is considered as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe in the Hindu Religion.

Hindu Goddess KaliGoddess Kali
Kali is one of the many forms of Shakti. Maha Kaali is the fiercest of all goddesses of Hinduism. The word Kali has its roots in the Sanskrit word "Kaal" which means time. And nothing escapes from time. Goddess Kali is sometimes referred as the goddess of death.

Hindu Goddess ParvatiGoddess Parvati
Parvati is a well known goddess in the Hindu mythology. Goddess Parvati is the divine consort of Lord Shiva, the trinity god. Parvati is also considered as a representation of Shakti or Durga, but the gentle aspect of that goddess not the fierce one.

Hindu Goddess GangaGanga
The River Goddess Ganga / Ganges is considered as the most sacred river of the Hindu Mythology. River Ganges is very much popular in India and is worshipped as a goddess. Ganga is the most revered river in the world.

RadhaRadha
Goddess Radha is a well-known personality in Hindu Mythology. She is also known as Srimati Radharani in the northern part of India. Radha is usually depicted with her paramour Krishna.

Hindu Goddess SitaSita
Sita is the consort of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Sita is the one of the most popular goddesses of Indian History. Devi Sita is regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu.

http://www.iloveindia.com/spirituality/goddesses/index.html

Monday, April 25, 2011

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa
Born: August 26, 1910
Died: September 5, 1997
Achievements: Started Missionaries of Charity in 1950; received Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979; received Bharat Ratna in 1980.

Mother Teresa was one of the great servants of humanity. She was an Albanian Catholic nun who came to India and founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. Later on Mother Teresa attained Indian citizenship. Her selfless work among the poverty-stricken people of Kolkata (Calcutta) is an inspiration for people all over the world and she was honored with Nobel Prize for her work.

Mother Teresa's original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born on August 27, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. Her father was a successful merchant and she was youngest of the three siblings. At the age of 12, she decided that she wanted to be a missionary and spread the love of Christ. At the age of 18 she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India.

After a few months of training at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin Mother Teresa came to India. On May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948, Mother Teresa taught geography and catechism at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta. However, the prevailing poverty in Calcutta had a deep impact on Mother Teresa's mind and in 1948, she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta.

After a short course with the Medical Mission Sisters in Patna, she returned to Calcutta and found temporary lodging with the Little Sisters of the Poor. She started an open-air school for homeless children. Soon she was joined by voluntary helpers, and she received financial support from church organizations and the municipal authorities. On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Vatican to start her own order. Vatican originally labeled the order as the Diocesan Congregation of the Calcutta Diocese, and it later came to known as the "Missionaries of Charity". The primary task of the Missionaries of Charity was to take care of those persons who nobody was prepared to look after.

The Missionaries of Charity, which began as a small Order with 12 members in Calcutta, today has more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospices, charity centres worldwide, and caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless and victims of floods, epidemics and famine in Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Poland, and Australia. In 1965, by granting a Decree of Praise, Pope Paul VI granted Mother Teresa permission to expand her order to other countries. The order's first house outside India was in Venezuela. Presently, the "Missionaries of Charity" has presence in more than 100 countries.

Mother Teresa's work has been recognised and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions. These include the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), Nehru Prize for Promotion of International Peace & Understanding (1972), Balzan Prize (1978), Nobel Peace Prize (1979) and Bharat Ratna (1980).

On March 13, 1997, Mother Teresa stepped down from the head of Missionaries of Charity and died on September 5, 1997, just 9 days after her 87th birthday. Following Mother Teresa's death, the Holy See began the process of beatification, the second step towards possible canonization, or sainthood. This process requires the documentation of a miracle performed from the intercession of Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized as a miracle the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor. Mother Teresa was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003 with the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. A second miracle is required for her to proceed to canonization.

http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/mother-teresa/index.html

Mother Teresa Quotes

  • Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

  • Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.

  • Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

  • Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

  • Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

  • We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

  • We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.
  • National Anthem of India

    National anthem can be described as a patriotic musical composition of a country, which reminds and praises the history, traditions and struggles of its people. At the same time, it has to be recognized as the official national song, either by the nation's government or by convention through use by the people. The national anthem of India is 'Jana-gana-mana', composed originally in Bengali, by Rabindranath Tagore. It was adopted as the national anthem of India, in its Hindi version, by the Constituent Assembly, on 24th January 1950.Rabindranath Tagore
    'Jana-gana-mana' was first sung on 27th December 1911, long before Indian gained independence, at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. The complete song consists of five stanzas. As for the playing time of the full version of the national anthem, it will take up approximately 52 seconds. A short version, consisting of first and last lines of the stanza (playing time approximately 20 seconds), is also played on certain occasions.

    National Anthem In Hindi

    Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
    Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
    Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
    Dravida-Utkala-Banga
    Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
    Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
    Tava shubha name jage,
    Tava shubha asisa mage,
    Gahe tava jaya gatha,
    Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
    Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
    Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
    Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!

    Translation In English

    Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
    Dispenser of India's destiny.
    The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha,
    Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal;
    It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
    Mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganga
    And is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
    They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
    The salvation of all people is in thy hand,
    Thou dispenser of India's destiny.
    Victory, victory, victory to thee.

    The Story Behind Translation
    Jana Gana Mana was translated, from Sanskrit to English, by Rabindranath Tagore and the music on this English Translation was set in Madanapalle, a small town in Andhra Pradesh. As to the story behind this translation, in 1918 Tagore was invited, by controversial Irish poet James H. Cousins, to spend a few days at the Besant Theosophical College (BTC). James was serving as the principal of the college, at that time.

    On February 28, while attending a gathering of students at BTC, Rabindranath sang the Jana Gana Mana in Bengali. Suddenly, he thought of translating the song in English. A few days later, in Madanapalle, Tagore wrote down the English translation of the song. Cousins' wife, Margaret, who was an expert in Western music, set down the music for this English version. The framed original English translation is still displayed in the library of Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle.

    http://www.iloveindia.com/national-symbols/national-anthem.html

    National Animal: Tiger

    Tiger is scientifically known as Panthera tigris. It is a member of the Felidae family and the largest of the four ‘big cats’ of the Panthera genus. On an average, a tiger is about 13 feet in length and 150 kilograms in weight. The pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlay near-white to reddish-orange fur is the distinct recognition of a tiger. By nature, the tiger is a keen predator and carnivore. The Panthera tigris is a native of the eastern and southern Asia. Known as Lord of Jungles due to its grace, agility, power and endurance, Tiger is also the national animal of India.

    Choice of Tiger as National Animal
    Tiger was chosen as the National animal of India due to its grace, strength, agility and enormous power. As the tiger is also considered as the king of Jungle, it was an obvious choice for the National Animal category. Since time immemorial, the tiger has been considered as a Royal Animal. Often, The Tiger as the National Animal of India symbolizes the power, strength, elegance, alertness, intelligence and endurance of the nation.

    Declining Population of Tiger
    There is a steep fall in the population of tigers in the world. Due to illegal smuggling of Tiger Skin and other body parts, there are very few tigers left in the world today. According to the World Census of Tigers, there are only 5000 -7000 tigers in the world today. Out of which, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar claim to have a population of 3000 to 4500 and India alone claims to have a population of 2500 to 3750. In India, out of the eight known races of the Panthera Tigris species, the Royal Bengal Tiger, is found throughout the country except in the north-western region.

    Project Tiger in India
    Due to the extreme threat of extinction of the tiger species from the country, the Indian Government launched Project Tiger in 1973. Project tiger was focused to preserve the remaining tiger population in the country and increase the breeding of the species so that new population could be added to the existing one. Under this Project, 23 tiger reserves were established throughout the country, covering an area of 33,406 sq. km for providing safe and comfortable shelter to the tigers in the natural environment. By 1993, there was much improvement in the tiger population in the country. However despite the increase in population, the population of tigers in the country is still not satisfactory compared to the effort and money put in the project. This is due to the illegal poaching of the tigers and negligence of authorities towards the alarming situation of the tiger population in the country.
    Indian National Animal - Tiger

    http://www.iloveindia.com/national-symbols/national-animal.html

    Mahatma Ghandi

    Mahatma GandhiBorn: October 2, 1869
    Martyrdom: January 30, 1948.
    Achievements: Known as Father of Nation; played a key role in winning freedom for India; introduced the concept of Ahimsa and Satyagraha.

    Mahatma Gandhi popularly known as Father of Nation played a stellar role in India's freedom struggle. Born in a Bania family in Kathiawar, Gujarat, his real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi). The title Mahatma came to be associated with his name much later. Before Gandhiji's arrival on the Indian political scene, freedom struggle was limited only to the intelligentsia. Mahatma Gandhi's main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".

    Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India, which was then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar. Gandhiji was born in middle class family of Vaishya caste. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai, was a very religious lady and left a deep impression on Gandhiji's mind. Gandhiji was a mediocre student and was excessively shy and timid.

    Gandhiji was truthful in his conduct right from the childhood. There is a very famous incident in this regard. A British school inspector once came to Gandhiji's school and set a spelling test. Gandhiji spelled all the words correctly except kettle. The class teacher noticed the mistake and gestured Gandhiji to copy the correct spelling from the boy sitting next to him. Gandhiji refused to take the hint and was later scolded for his "stupidity".

    Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. He was in high school at that time. Later on in his life, Gandhiji denounced the custom of child marriage and termed it as cruel. After matriculating from the high school, Gandhiji joined the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. After the death of Gandhiji's father in 1885, a family suggested that if Gandhiji hoped to take his father's place in the state service he had better become a barrister which he could do in England in three years. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his mother was objected to the idea of going abroad. To win his mother's approval Gandhiji took a solemn vow not to touch wine, women and meat and remained true to it throughout his stay in England.

    Gandhiji sailed for England on September 4, 1888. Initially he had difficulty in adjusting to English customs and weather but soon he overcame it. Gandhiji completed his Law degree in 1891 and returned to India. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji returned to Rajkot but here also he could not make much headway. At this time Gandhiji received an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. to proceed to South Africa on their behalf to instruct their counsel in a lawsuit. Gandhiji jumped at the idea and sailed for South Africa in April 1893.

    It was in South Africa that Gandhiji's transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma took place. Gandhiji landed at Durban and soon he realized the oppressive atmosphere of racial snobbishness against Indians who were settled in South Africa in large numbers. After about a week's stay in Durban Gandhiji left for Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, in connection with a lawsuit. When the train reached Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. a white passenger who boarded the train objected to the presence of a "coloured" man in the compartment and Gandhji was ordered by a railway official to shift to a third class. When he refused to do so, a constable pushed him out and his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. It was winter and bitterly cold. This incident changed Gandhiji's life forever. He decided to fight for the rights of Indians. Gandhiji organised the Indian community in South Africa and asked them to forget all distinctions of religion and caste. He suggested the formation of an association to look after the Indian settlers and offered his free time and services.

    During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed most of his political ideas. Gandhiji decided to dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He realized that absolute continence or brahmacharya was indispensable for the purpose as one could not live both after the flesh and the spirit. In 1906, Gandhiji took a vow of absolute continence. In the course of his struggle in South Africa, Gandhiji, developed the concepts of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (holding fast to truth or firmness in a righteous cause). Gandhiji's struggle bore fruit and in 1914 in an agreement between Gandhiji and South African Government, the main Indian demands were conceded.

    Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and on the advice of his political guru Gopal Krishna Gokhale, spent the first year touring throughout the country to know the real India. After an year of wandering, Gandhiji settled down on the bank of the river Sabarmati, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where he founded an ashram called Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was in Champaran, in Bihar, where he went in 1917 at the request of a poor peasants to inquire into the grievances of the much exploited peasants of that district, who were compelled by British indigo planters to grow indigo on 15 percent of their land and part with the whole crop for rent. Gandhiji's Satyagraha forced British government to set up a inquiry into the condition of tenant farmers. The report of the committee of which Gandhi was a member went in favour of the tenant farmers. The success of his first experiment in satyagraha in India greatly enhanced Gandhiji's reputation in the country.

    In 1921, Gandhji gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. Gandhiji's call roused the sleeping nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the first time. Non-cooperation movement severely jolted the British government. But the movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign and undertook a fast for five days to atone for a crime committed by others in a state of mob hysteria.

    Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment but was released in 1924 on medical grounds. For the next five years Gandhi seemingly retired from active agitational politics and devoted himself to the propagation of what he regarded as the basic national needs, namely, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, equality of women, popularization of hand-spinning and the reconstruction of village economy.

    On March 12, 1930 Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March to break the law which had deprived the poor man of his right to make his own salt. On April 6, 1930 Gandhiji broke the Salt law at the sea beach at Dandi. This simple act was immediately followed by a nation-wide defiance of the law. This movement galvanized the whole nation and came to be known as "Civil Disobedience Movement". Within a few weeks about a hundred thousand men and women were in jail, throwing mighty machinery of the British Government out of gear. This forced the then Viceroy Lord Irwin to call Gandhiji for talks. On March 5, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed. Soon after signing the pact Gandhiji went to England to attend the First Round Table Conference. Soon after his return from England Gandhiji was arrested without trial.

    After the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Gandhiji again became active in the political arena. British Government wanted India's help in the war and Congress in return wanted a clear-cut promise of independence from British government. But British government dithered in its response and on August 8, 1942 Gandhiji gave the call for Quit India Movement. Soon the British Government arrested Gandhiji and other top leaders of Congress. Disorders broke out immediately all over India and many violent demonstrations took place. While Gandhiji was in jail his wife Kasturbai passed away. Gandhiji too had a severe attack of Malaria. In view of his deteriorating health he was released from the jail in May 1944.

    Second World War ended in 1945 and Britain emerged victorious. In the general elections held in Britain in 1945, Labour Party came to power, and Atlee became the Prime Minister. He promised an early realization of self Government in India. A Cabinet Mission arrived from England to discuss with Indian leaders the future shape of a free and united India, but failed to bring the Congress and Muslims together. India attained independence but Jinnah's intransigence resulted in the partition of the country. Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in the country in the aftermath of partition. Tales of atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan provoked Hindus in India and they targeted Muslims. Gandhiji worked ceaselessly to promote unity between Hindus and Muslims. This angered some Hindu fundamentalists and on January 30, 1948 Gandhiji was shot dead by one such fundamentalist Nathu Ram Godse while he was going for his evening prayers. The last words on the lips of Gandhiji were Hey Ram.

    Languages of India

    India, a potpourri of different cultures, religions, and beliefs, is home to not just one or two languages but to an uncountable number of different lingual families. Languages belonging to the two major language families - Indo Aryan and Dravidian - are spoken by more than 90% of the people of India. Know about the languages of India with India Language Map.

    According to Ethnologue, India is considered to be the home to 398 languages out of which 11 have been reported extinct. But still there is not a single Indian language which is spoken across its length and breadth. Hindi is spoken by the majority of North Indians but it's not a popular means of communication in southern part of India. Similarly south Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam - are not understood by the people of northern India. For the convenience of people, the Constitution of India has recognized 22 languages as official languages of India. These are known as Scheduled Languages and constitute the Major languages of India. India Language Map provides detailed information about these languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution. The List of Indian languages includes:

    • Sanskrit
    • Hindi
    • English
    • Gujarati - Language of Gujarat and Union Territories of Dadar and Nagar Haveli.
    • Punjabi - The official language of Punjab.
    • Bengali- The state language of West Bengal
    • Assamese - Official language of Assam.
    • Kashmiri - The language of Kashmir .
    • Urdu
    • Oriya - The state language of state of Orissa.
    • Marathi - Language of Maharashtra.
    • Kannada - The official language of Karnataka.
    • Tamil - The state language of Tamil Nadu.
    • Telugu - It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh.
    • Malayalam - It is the official language of Kerala.
    • Sindhi
    • Konkani - The state language of Goa.
    • Manipuri - The official language of Manipur.


    Besides these, there are Indian languages which are spoken by large masses but have still not acquired the status of Scheduled Languages of India. These languages spoken by regional people are known as regional languages of India. This includes Rajasthani, Bihari, Haryanavi, Bhili, Gondi, Tulu among others.

    Some Indian languages are not widely spoken; they are given the status of minority languages. Mahl and Portuguese languages come under this category.
    http://www.mapsofindia.com/culture/indian-languages.html

     

    Hindi Language


    [Hindi Alphabet]




    Of the nine official languages of India, Hindi is certainly the most commonly spoken language in the North.  There are said to be over 300 distinct languages and over 1,000 different dialects in this land.  In most tourist and business areas, some level of English is normally spoken; often not enough to carry on a satisfying conversation, but enough to communicate bare necessities.  If you want to spend an extended time in North India, Hindi is the language to learn.
    The Hindi language is extremely expressive and is a very rich language.  Learning such a language is a rewarding and fascinating experience that will open countless doors to understanding this diverse land and its culture.
    When you talk to a Hindi speaker, they will tell you that the Hindi language is a simple language; they don't speak truth!  But be encouraged, there are more difficult languages for the English speaking toungue to master.  For example, some of the East Asian languages are tonal (where the meaning changes when the same sound is pronounced with a high, low, raising, falling or other tone).
    On the other hand, Hindi does offer its share of challenges.  There are a number of letters or sounds that occur in Hindi that do not occur in the English language, so a bit of work is required to speak and hear some of these sounds.  Probably the most notable to the western ear and tounge are the 'r', 't' and 'd' sounds.  There are three different sounds that sound like 'r', four 't's and four 'd's.  At first all sound much too similar.  With practice they can be differentiated and mastered. See "A Sound Start in Hindi"
    Perhaps the best thing in pronouncing and learning the Hindi language is that the alphabet is entirely phonetic (each character has a unique pronounciation), and the alphabet is very logically organized for pronunciation (See "Devangari Alphabet" page).  Once the alphabet has been learned, one can fairly quickly and accurately read and pronounce Hindi.





    Hindi grammar is another story.  It might be best described by an American as inside-out from English.  As in English, the subject (what you are talking about) normally comes first, after this will be any clauses that modify the sentance, prepositions come after the word they modify (and are then called post-positions), and finally at the end of the sentance is the verb.  For example, in English you might say, "the boy plays the drum in the room." In Hindi you would say, "lirka kamera may tabla bajata hey" (boy room in drum plays).
    This isn't too difficult in itself, but when you begin creating longer sentances it gets a bit more difficult to translate.  What is even more complicated for the English speaker is that all nouns are assigned a gender: masculine or feminine (often seemingly arbitrarily), and the various parts of the sentance must be modified to agree with the gender of the nouns that are used.  As such, the verbs are modified to agree with the subject (or in many cases the object) of the sentance, and then modified to reflect the particular voice, mood or tense.  Any verb might be presented in dozens of different forms.
    Don't be discouraged, it really isn't that bad...after all, it is only a matter of practice and work.  Working with a good language school or tutor, the average person can handle rudimentary Hindi in a few short months.  To speak fluently is a matter of years.
    http://www.varanasi.org/hindi.html

    Saturday, April 23, 2011

    Namaste

    The moment you step into India, in all probability, the first word you will get to hear will be Namaste! Namaste, also said as Namaskar by the natives, is a traditional Indian style of greeting or parting phrase as well as a gesture. Derived from the Sanskrit language, the literal definition/meaning of the word Namaste is "I bow to you". If you want to dig deeper to know what does Namaste mean, you can it break up into two Sanskrit words - Namas (meaning - to bow) and Te (meaning - to you). Thus, its real connotation is 'I bow to you out of respect'.

    Namaste happens to be both a formal and an informal form of greeting in India and you can say this to anyone irrespective of age. Normally when you say Namaskar to anybody, you press both your palms together with all the fingers pointing upwards in front of your chest. At the same time, you also bow your head slightly, looking at the person you are saying Namaste to. Even if you simply perform the Namaste gesture with your hands without actually saying the word, it will mean the same thing.

    Though saying Namaste to others in daily lives is a part of the Indian protocol, yet many believe it also has religious / spiritual connotation. According to this school of thought, when you greet Namaste, you actually seek to recognize a common divinity within the other person. Interestingly, Namaste can be said in different ways, depending crucially on the person you are saying it to. For instance, when you greet your friend or peer, the traditional style Namaste will suffice.

    On the other hand, when it's a person greeting Namaste to another person of a higher status, this gesture will get intensified. To indicate genuine and deep respect for the other person, you place the hands in front of the forehead. Whereas, you have to pay reverence to God or a holy person then, this feeling can be transmitted through the Namaste gesture by holding / placing the pressed hands above the head. Some natives prostrate on the ground in this posture to show their deep respect and love to God.

    The symbolism of the two palms touching each other is of great significance. It is the joining together of two extremities - the feet of the Divine, with the head of the devotee. Yet another theory associates the Namaste greeting with a particular mudra or posture in yoga. However, Namaste being a polite gesture of love and respect can be said to anybody. But traditionally, it's a Hindu gesture and people of this community greet each other this way only.
    http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-traditions/namaste.html

    Dhoti Kurta

    Dhoti kurta is the most traditional of all dresses worn by the men in India. If you ever see photographs of Indians, before, during and soon-after the independence era, you will find most of them wearing either the dhoti kurta or kurta pajama. Earlier dhoti kurta used to be a casual daily wear of the Indian men. But with the modernization of our society, it steadily got relegated to just formal clothing. However, there are still people, especially in the rural belts, who wear the dhoti-kurta on a regular basis.Dhoti Kurta

    Dhoti is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth about five yards long, wrapped about the waist and legs and knotted at the waist. It is known by different names in different languages, like Mundu in Malayalam, Dhuti in Bangla, Veshti in Tamil, Pancha in Telugu, Dhotar in Marathi and Panche in Kannada. In North India, dhoti is worn in combination with a kurta top, which a long loose fitting shirt. The traditional wear of dhoti kurta is called Dhuti Panjabi in east India. This dress is different from a lungi, as in the latter, the cloth is stitched to form a circle.

    Dhoti kurta may have lost its popularity in the modern day India, but it is still worn with a lot of dignity by the many prominent senior citizens, politicians, musicians, dancers and others. Worn on all important government and family occasions, the dhoti kurta is also allowed to be donned in post upscale clubs, which normally stipulate very stern dress code for guests. The one prominent Indian citizen who gets all credit for popularizing this attire beyond the Indian borders is Mahatma Gandhi.

    How to Wear/ Tie a Dhoti
    There are various styles of wearing the Indian dhoti. For instance, Bengali men usually make pleats in their dhoti. In South India, the dhoti wearers add the angavastram to their attire, which is an extra piece of unstitched cloth kept on the shoulders. For convenience purpose, many South Indian men fold their dhoti in half and tuck it at the waist so that it reaches only till the knees. In certain communities of Rajasthan, wearing the dhoti-kurta is mandatory.

    How to wear a Sari

    The Indian women have been wearing the sari or saree for centuries now and it looks as dignified as it looks seductive. This is because most of them wear it almost on a daily basis and have, thus, mastered the art of wearing sari. This is important because just as a nicely worn saree can make you look very elegant, a clumsily worn one can destroy the whole appearance. So read the information given below to learn how to wear a sari.
    How to Wear a Sari
    There are few important things you need to keep in mind here. For instance, there are many types of sari available in the market. So select one keeping in mind the occasion you require it for. For formal purposes, always pinup the saree as it is more manageable this way and also looks smart. This is the style in which all Indian airhostesses drape their sari. For parties and casual occasions, just pin the tip of the sari to the blouse and hold the rest of it in the crook of the arm.

    Also ensure that you have a matching blouse and petticoat to wear with the sari you have selected. The blouse should be well stitched and of a close fit, whereas the petticoat should not be very flared. The best feature of a saree is that if draped properly, it will look good on women of all height, shape and size. All over India, you will find women wearing the sari in different styles. Read the tips below to learn how to drape / tie a sari nicely.

    Step One -
    The length of the petticoat to be worn underneath the sari should be from the waist down to your ankle. It should have a drawstring so that it can be fastened around the waist. The blouse that you will wear with the saree should be close-fitted and its length should end just below the bust. It can be with or without sleeves. There are various types of blouse necklines you can choose from prior getting it stitched.

    Step Two-
    After wearing the petticoat and blouse, take one end of the sari and neatly tuck into the petticoat around the waist from right to left. Make sure that the lower end of the saree is touching the floor slightly. Resume from the place where the sari tucking has just ended and now start making pleats in the sari from there. About five to six pleats in the sari, each of them with a width of five inches should be enough.

    Step Three -
    Make sure that the pleats you have made is neat and of equal length. Hold them all together so that they fall straight and even. Then tuck the pleats into the petticoat slightly left to the navel. Also make sure that the pleats are turned in the left direction. Pleating the sari is the most difficult aspect for those learning how to drape the sari. But once you master the method of sari wearing, you will hardly require more than few minutes to make pleats.

    Step Four -
    The portion of the sari left after the pleating is called the Pallav. Now gather the pallav and place it over the left shoulder. The upper border of the sari should slant across the bust from under the right arm to over the left shoulder. The pallav should be about 90 cms in length and should touch your finger-tips as it falls evenly behind you. You can prevent it from slipping off by fixing it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin.

    http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-clothing/wearing-sari.html

    Bangles

    Indian Names: Chudi, KanganBangles

    Known as a universal fashion accessory, Bangles are worn by women of any age group irrespective of race, caste, religion, etc. Bangles are considered to be traditional jewelry in India and are known as "Chudi". Typically, a bangle is worn in the arms and it adorns the area between the elbow and the wrist. Bangles are made of many different materials. Gold and silver are the most popular choices for making this jewelry. Other popular choices for making a bangle are glass, ceramic, lac, oxidized metal, plastic, wood, ivory, etc.

    Since ancient times, bangles have been an integral part of the Indian jewellery set. Bangles go with every occasion and sometimes, it is inauspicious to attend a cultural event with bare hands. Bangles can be worn in groups, different colors or even singly. A thick bangle that is worn as a single piece is known as a "Kangan". Usually, a Kangan is made in gold or silver while thin bangles are made out of glass. The glass bangles can be worn in groups and in different colors that can be matched with your attire. A Kangan looks ethnic as well as elegant when worn with just about any dress.

    The bangle has evolved from a mere adorning piece of ornament to an important social symbol since ancient times. During the Pre-Vedic period, the bangle was merely used for adorning oneself. With the arrival of Vedas and other holy scriptures, the bangle was raised to the level of an important symbol of marriage and wedlock. A newly wed woman and a bride to be never leave their hands bare and wear either red glass bangles or a pair of gold bangles.

    With fashion and style taking the center stage these days, the trend of wearing bangles has gone through a sea change. Though the tradition of wearing bangles still remains as strong as oak, the contemporary times have changed the very look of a bangle. These days we get bangles made of wood, platinum, shell, beads, etc. with decorative motifs like leaves, flowers, stars, etc. Some bangles have little chains dangling from them and some designs given them a very royal look. With plenty of designs, colors and styles to choose from, what could you possibly leave!
    http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-jewelry/types-of-jewelry/bangles.html

    Friday, April 22, 2011

    Bollywood

    History of Bollywood

    Alam Arya
    Bollywood is the name given to India’s film making industry much as Americans associate Hollywood with film production. What most people don’t realize, however, is that Bollywood has a long and rich history that goes almost as far back as that of Hollywood.

    The first films every produced in India’s Bollywood were soundless short films. The Lumiere Brothers created them in 1896 at the Watson Hotel. It wasn’t until May of 1913 when the first movie filmed by an Indian was released for viewing in Bombay. This film was called, “Raja Harishchandra”. Because of technological limitations, it took a bit longer for ‘talkies’, or movies with sound, to reach India.

    The first talkie was released for viewing in India in March of 1931 and was named, “Alam Ara”. The films produced in the 1930s in Bollywood were used to raise awareness to what filmmakers saw as the social ills of the day. By this time, the industry was booming. Several well-known filmmakers and producers from all over India were producing films with dialogue in most of India’s diverse language groups. The first color film, “Kisan Kanya”, was released during this time.

    World War II and Indian independence from Britain did nothing to slow down India’s film industry. The industry in India was fast becoming known as India’s obsession. Post independence Indian cinema gained a wide recognition. The creation of the Film and Television Institute of India, FTII, a national cinema awards show, and India’s first International Film Festival rocketed Bollywood to the world stage.

    Kisan Kanya
    Indian filmmakers widely expanded movie genres from the 1960s through the 1990s to include action films, thrillers, musicals, and love stories. Currently, many new Indian directors are gaining world prominence with movies such as “Dil Chahta Hai” and “Bheja Fry”.



    The Masala Film – Bollywood As We Know It Today

    Manmohan Desai, one of the more successful Bollywood directors of the 1970s who is considered by many to be the father of the Masala film, defended his approach thusly: “I want people to forget their misery. I want to take them into a dream world where there is no poverty, where there are no beggars, where fate is kind and god is busy looking after his flock.” The hodgepodge of action, romance, comedy and of course musical numbers is a model that still dominates the Bollywood industry, and though greater attention is now paid to plot, character development, and dramatic tension, it is, in most cases, sheer star power that accounts for a film’s success.
    With the recent success of films like Slumdog Millionaire and the injection of foreign capital into the Indian film industry, Bollywood is perhaps entering a new chapter in its history, one in which the eyes of the world are now paying closer attention. But the question remains – will a Bollywood film ever find crossover success with mainstream American audiences?

    Ayurveda


    Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India. Although suppressed during years of foreign occupation, Ayurveda has been enjoying a major resurgence in both its native land and throughout the world. Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine both have their roots in Ayurveda. Early Greek medicine also embraced many concepts originally described in the classical ayurvedic medical texts dating back thousands of years.
    More than a mere system of treating illness, Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, Ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.
    Recognizing that human beings are part of nature, Ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure. Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three forces that shapes our nature. If Vata is dominant in our system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. If Pitta predominates in our nature, we tend to be intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented and we have a strong appetite for life. When Kapha prevails, we tend to be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. Although each of us has all three forces, most people have one or two elements that predominate.
    For each element, there is a balanced and imbalance expression. When Vata is balanced, a person is lively and creative, but when there is too much movement in the system, a person tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, and difficulty focusing. When Pitta is functioning in a balanced manner, a person is warm, friendly, disciplined, a good leader, and a good speaker. When Pitta is out of balance, a person tends to be compulsive and irritable and may suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition. When Kapha is balanced, a person is sweet, supportive, and stable but when Kapha is out of balance, a person may experience sluggishness, weight gain, and sinus congestion.
    An important goal of Ayurveda is to identify a person’s ideal state of balance, determine where they are out of balance, and offer interventions using diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, music, and meditation to reestablish balance.http://www.chopra.com/ayurveda

    Elephants

    The Symbolism of Elephants in Indian Culture
        The elephant has enjoyed the charismatic status in South Asia from the earliest times, and its representations in stone and painting are ubiquitous. The Indus Valley seals depict the elephant in graceful aspects standing over a manger, creating the impression that it was already a domesticated animal and of artistic and possibly religious importance. The Vedic poets were impressed by the massive strength of the elephant, as when they sang of Indra, filled with Soma, smashing the cities of his enemies "as a wild elephant rushes on this way and that, mad with heat" (Rg Veda 1.64.7). Huge and gray, that elephant also resembled the dark clouds of refreshing and violent rain that fed and replenished the parched land. Another name for Airavata, Indra's elephant steed was Abhranu or Abhramatanga, "the one who knits or binds the clouds".
       The association of elephants with rain and water finds expression in the myth of the anointing of the goddess Laksmi or Gajalaksmi, wife of Vishnu and giver of well-being, at the time of the churning of the ocean of milk. As Laksmi rose out of the ocean seated on a lotus, Ganga and the other sacred rivers stood there performing ambulations. And the elephants of the quarters of the sky took up their pure waters in golden vessels and poured them over the goddess, the queen of the universe.
        The connection of elephants with water and rain is further emphasized in the mythology of Indra, who rides the elephant Airavata when he defeats Vrta. This mighty elephant reaches down his trunk into the watery underworld, sucks up its water, and then sprays it into the clouds, which Indra then causes to rain forth cool water, thereby linking the waters of the sky with those of the underworld. Although there appears to be no direct association in the classical texts between Laksmi and Ganesa, the connection has not been lost in contemporary Hinduism as indicated by a popular lithograph that depicts Ganesa and Laksmi out of the same lotus. They are linked by the common figure of the elephant, but they share another important feature. Both are bringers of well-being, deities to who Hindus turn to, seeking the fulfillment of their wishes and goals.
      http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring99/Karmegam/symbol.html

    Mango

    The mango is the national fruit. It has been cultivated in India since time immemorial. There are over 100 varieties of mangos in India, in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes. Common in the tropical part of the world, mangos are savored for their sweet juice and bright colors.

    People in India eat mangos ripe, or prepare them green as pickles or chutneys. They are rich in vitamin A, C, and D.