Ratha Jatra or the Chariot Festival is perhaps one of the grandest festivals on earth. Everything is on a scale befitting the great Lord. Full of spectacle, drama and colour, the festival is a typical Indian fair of huge proportions. It is also the living embodiment of the synthesis of the tribal, the folk, and the autochthonous with the classical, the elaborately formal and the sophisticated elements of the socio-cultural-religious ethos of the Indian civilization. History has it that when the British first observed the Rath Yatra in the 18th century, they were so amazed that they sent home shocking descriptions, which gave rise to the term 'juggernaut'.

Jatra literally means travel or journey. The Jatra for the ritual journey take two forms - one involving the short circumbulation around the temple and other involving a longer journey from the temple to some other destination. The Jatra is considered as an important part of festivities and ceremonies of each temple and is considered as a special and sacred occasion.

The festival begins with the Ratha Prathistha or invoking ceremony in the morning, but the chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the festival, which begins in the late afternoon when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhdra start rolling. Each of the chariots is covered in distinctly coloured cloth. Various symbols and signs help pilgrims distinguish between the three gods. Each of these carriages have different specifications: The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosa, has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high; the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhvaja has 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high; Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high.




Jagannatha's ratha is marked with a cakra and garuda, is yellow in color, with four white horses. Baladeva's cart is blue, with a palm tree insignia, and four black horses. Subhadra's cart is black, with lotus insignia. In succession Subhadra, Baladeva, and Jagannatha are moved to their carts using silk ropes.

The deities are brought out of the temple to the chariots by rhythmic movement in a royal procession to the accompaniment of the beat of the 'cymbals' and drums and chanting of prayers by devotees. After being situated on their carts they are decorated and worshipped. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees Midway on the journey, the carts stop, and the deities are bathed in cool water, and naivedyam or food and aratrika are offered. This spectacular chariot festival is celebrated for 8 days.

Each year these wooden chariots are constructed newly in accordance with religious specifications. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood and they are religiously replaced by new ones after every 12 years.

Of all the festivals, the Ratha Yatra of Jagannatha at Puri in Orissa is the most famous and is held at the famous Jagannath Temple. This takes place on the second day of the waxing phase of the moon of the Asadha (June-July) month. A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. Thousands of devotees flock to Puri during the occasion as they believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagnnath in his chariot gives salvation.




All buildings are colourfully decorated with flags, buntings and awnings of bright colours. Ladies in colourful saris crowd the balconies, doors and windows decked with flowers. Men and women rush to pull the chariots along this main street of Puri. This is an exciting time in Puri. Depending on the lunar cycle, this festival can last anywhere from 1 - 2 weeks.

Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to Gundicha Mandir, a temple 3 km away. After a week, on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Asadha, return journey or of the deities commences in the same manner from Gundicha temple to the main temple like Rath Yatra.

Some call it the city of joy. Some, the city of dreams. To some, it's all about festivity and living life king-size. If you want a city with a soul: come to Calcutta. Once you have, you'll love Calcutta forever. Wherever you go, a bit of Calcutta will go with you. Whatever your persuasion, come, explore the city that lives and be a part of the experience!

The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is one of the most venerated Shakti shrines in India, and is regarded as one of the Shakti Peethams associated with an aspect of the Hindu Goddess Sati and the legend of Shiva and Daksha Yagna. The temple is one of the 51 holy Shakti Peethas related to Sati. Legend has it that following the destruction of King Daksha's sacrifice and the Rudra Tandava of Shiva parts of Sati's body fell at several places throughout India, and these places are revered as shakti peethas. The reproductive organ of Sati - the Yoni is said to have fallen here.

Kamakhya, the Goddess/yoni, is known to be the yielder of all desires and exists in the main shrine as a large cleft in the bedrock, covered by water flowing upward from an underground natural spring, emanating from a fissure in a large rock that symbolizes a yoni, generally covered by a red silk cloth, flowers, and red sindur powder.

The Kamakhya temple located on a hill - Neelachala Parvat in the city of Guwahati in Assam is said to have been destroyed many times since medieval times and the exisisting structure was constructed by King Naranarayan of the Koch dynasty from Cooch Behar in the style of medieval temples. The earlier forms of the structure are unknown. The temple has a beehive like shikhara. Some of the sculptured panels seen here are of interest with images of dancing fixtures and Hindu gods and goddesses on the outside.

Worshiping here still includes sacrifices and devotees come every morning with goats to offer to Shakti. Devotees queue up at the entrance porch from where everyone moves slowly into the semi-dark sanctum sanctorum. Images of gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon are carved on the walls. The image of the Goddess along with other deities is kept on a throne. Devotees have to follow a narrow alley behind the throne to enter the sanctum sanctorum. Inside, a short flight of stairs leads to a small subterranean pool. Devotees stand by the water’s edge and offer their puja or worship. From here the symbolic organ that remains covered with a red cloth can be seen.

Every year, on the seventh day of hindu month of Ashaad, which generally is in June-July, it is said that the pool containing the uterus turns red for three days and the pool is covered with a white cloth which turns red after the three days. The red cloth is later cut into small pieces and distributed to devotees, which is considered to be sacred.

During this time the Ambubachi fair is held and every year lakhs of devotees visit the shrine during this time. The temple remains closed for these three days and on the fourth day its doors are again re-opened to pilgrims with much fanfare. After the fourth day when they break their fast, the holy men as well as devotees mingle freely and celebrate by smearing colours on each other. They mostly dress up in red which is considered sacred.

The accumulation of sadhus and pandas from all over the country and the locally available art and craft items for sale on the roadside makes it an interesting place to visit and witness the festivities involved. The pandits chanting mantras on behalf of the devotees and the pilgrims performing puja, make the fair an interesting affair.

The divine powers of the goddess captivates numerous devotees form the entire country as well as the world.

Monsoon - there's magic in the word. There's romance in it, there's life in it. The intoxicating smell of damp earth, sprouting leaves, washed streets, knee-deep water, crisp air and lots of fun, not to forget dark ominous clouds rolling across the sky. The monsoon has inspired many of our art and cultural forms. The monsoon brings with it a feeling of love, longing and romance. It sends pulses racing. The monsoon, of all the seasons, has been a source of inspiration to poets.

Rains are usually associated with feelings of sadness and despondence but in India it is usually associated with romance, rejuvenation of life and joy. Still nature shows off some of her beauty during the rains. Dark clouds hovering in the sky over a scenic beach with coconut palms swaying in the rainy breeze is the usual picture on a postcard or advertisement for a tourist destination.

And of course one of the unforgettable memories of childhood is of children playing in the puddles and rainwater running in ripples across the road and the sweet smell of the earth after the rains. Every dark cloud has a silver lining they say and this is so literally true the sun shining through the rim of the dark clouds looks beautiful as if the cloud has a silver lining and all the trees look so green and washed and the water glistening on the leaves looks like beads of pearls shining on the leaves. Rains are a part of life and a part of nature.

Rains and Indian classical music go hand in hand. Music has always been linked to the emotional context, and as such has a profound influence on the listener. Undoubtedly an intangible and wonderful gift from one human being to another, classical music is considered the language of the gods and has a sublime effect with the sound of the rains. In India classical music has an esoteric experience integral to human existence. Careful intonation has always been at the core of Indian classical music.

Classical Indian music is rich, with its historical, cultural, aesthetic, theoretical, and performing facets. Melody is the fountainhead of this kind of music and ragas are the fundamental organizing principle of Indian classical melody. Ragas meaning colour or passion, are supposed to evoke various moods in the listener. The monsoon ragas, belonging to the Malhar group, are mainly performed during the rains.

You are transported to an intense awareness of the richness of human genius in artistic endeavors, where the sensual pleasure in sound is capable of levitating one to a higher plane of existence, and joy is this journey with the artist riding high on waves and crashing into troughs of spells created by the sound spectrum-the moods of ragas. When you listen to Megh Malhar, you experience it… live it.

There is thunder, there is lightning, heavy rains and human emotions in response to all this. It is not just about a musical arrangement that was composed to honour the rainy season and its consequent impact on the ambience. It has a greater, rather simpler base, which is, in turn, directly linked to folk traditions. From there it was picked up for refinement and codification. That was how Malhar became so classical in appeal and has become so enchantical along with the sound of the rainfall.

Music and dances of welcome herald the coming of the rains. It is the moment of madness, when love seeks love and life knows no death, and the music of the monsoon, the dance of the rain overwhelm our hearts and the spread of our land and leave us trembling in the hazy highlands of desire and fulfillment, of hope and fear, of promise and neglect, that unrecognized moment that cannot distinguish between the first and the last breath!

It’s the season of summer, when the sweet scent of mangoes fills the air. When the first wooden crate appears in the market, each greenish yellow fruit neatly stacked amidst bundles of hay, it means only one thing. It is a love affair long before we knew what love was. They are golden, dripping with a heavenly juice, fleshy and aromatic.

Every shop is stacked with crates and crates of them, and people everywhere slice and slurp their way to mango ecstasy. Mangoes are the most consumed fresh fruit in the world! Our love for this fruit is evident in its prevalence in folklore and anecdotes. Cutting across space and time, the mango makes its presence felt with myriad names that tell juicy tales.

Known for its sweet smell, and even sweeter taste, mangoes are a perfect fruit for a romantic interlude. Its nostalgic reminiscing the good old days when kids tried to sneak in and steal the fruit and couples would romance each other under the trees.

Come summer and the beautiful mango tree is in fragrant bloom with promise of rich rewards of ripe succulent mangoes. The ‘koyal’ (cuckoo) whose summer abode is the mango tree, sings in her shrill voice everyday. The first thing which comes to everyone’s mind in this season is the mangoes, the king of fruits. Those ripe juicy mangoes in different shapes and sizes which make everyone’s mouth water.

A visit to an orchard is a magical sight for any kid. The charming flowers of mango trees are with delightful thick buds, and they are overly swilled by tipsy honeybees with slow breezes flurrying and tilting their delicate leaflets. Delightful are the branches of mango trees that are laden with bunches of coppery tender leaves, and with just flowered flowers, and with their heads a little bent down.

After some time trees and trees laden with the fruit in vibrant shades of green and yellow is a sight to behold. After a long wait (or so it seems) they would be served in all their golden glory, plump, juicy and begging to be eaten. As strong winds start blowing children would run from one mango tree to other collecting fresh mangoes that would keep falling all day. It is just like a mango shower.

Almost every child growing up remembers climbing mango trees or aiming a slingshot at a neighbour's tree laden with fruit; some even have battle scars to show, bruises received from tumbling down branches or being chased by an irate gardener. The tantalizing fruit turned even ethical kids into mango-thieves, furtively picking up the fallen fruit. There remain only a sorry few people who haven’t managed to try to climb a mango tree to steal some fruit, or take aim with stones to knock down some mangoes from a neighbor’s tree, only to hit the neighbor’s window instead, and then make a desperate run to escape the neighbour’s wrath.

People’s mango preferences depend on mood and moment. The first batch of juicy fruit is generally eaten sliced. By the second or third week everyone begins to hanker for a change, so in comes different forms of desserts. As time progresses this mangoes are then used to make breakfast or teatime treats. When the sweetness has gotten overwhelming for even a staunch mango lover, spicy relishes would be introduced in the meals.

And there have been few other fruits that have captivated the hearts, minds and tongues of the majority of the world’s population. It has a universal appeal and grows from ground level to an altitude of 5000 feet. This fruit of the Maharajas, Badshahs, Kings and Viceroys, has always been the fruit of the common man as well.

In India, Mangoes have been cultivated in India from time immemorial and are found in plenty during the summer season with over 100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. There must be as many types of mangoes in India as there are languages. Each region has its own unique breed of mango, and regional pride insists that their mango is better than their neighbors’ mango. The perfumed Alphonsos, the green Dasheharis, the parrot beaked Totapuris, the orange beauty Baiganpalli, the succulent Chausas and the golden skinned Langdas, gleaming in their jewel tones - red, yellow and dark green with their own distinct aromas.

The mango is no ordinary fruit; Mangoes happen to be native to the subcontinent, and over the millennia have woven themselves intricately in to life and culture. The Mango tree plays a sacred role in India. A string of mango-leaves are tied across doorways, as an auspicious symbol on auspicious and religious occasions, and are included into many of the associated rituals. This fruit is very much a part of our festivals and the songs we sing.

Jewelers design intricate ornaments (earrings or necklaces) with mango designs. The mango leaf or fruit is a common design found on mangalsutras that wives wear. The beautiful mango is the inspiration for the ageless Indian motif, the ambi that weaves its way into sarees and other textiles. Wedding feasts aren’t complete without mango chutney or pickle. The tree and its fruit are symbols of fertility and abundance, love and devotion and some believe that the Mango tree can even grant wishes.

Mangoes are a short lived fruit. Many Indians have found a better way to taste it throughout the year. Green unripe mangoes are pickled in many different ways, to be drawn out in other months, to be relished.

To bite into a mango and get that sweet, sticky juice squirting all over your chin and clothes is to drift back into blissful childhood, into days that seemed to have no beginning and no end. Life then was in the here and now, and there was great joy in being alive in the blazing sun, in close friendships, in whiling away hours doing absolutely, gloriously, nothing.

The mango still has such a magnetic hold on today’s generation. It is so much more than a mere fruit. It represents a rite of passage, a time of giddy childhood, of endless summer days and life stretched into infinity - an unending field of gold, an abundant orchard of luscious mangoes dangling from countless shady trees…

Here is the new era of Cricket in India and the world. On this journey, things are not going to be same anymore. As players from across nations unite in this new found bonhomie, international players once rivals all playing for the same team, boundaries are getting redefined now. Players once sharing the same dressing room will now fiercely stare at each other all in a drive to win for their home teams.

Curtains have already risen over the most extravagant cricket bonanza cricket buffs have been waiting with bated breaths for! Its cricketing buzz redefined. Cricket was said to be losing its sheen to Football in the country, especially in the urban areas but IPL promises to get back all those football crazy youth once again to cricket. It is BCCI’s magnum opus for everyone to watch over with friends. IPL has made a ‘crore’ look very tiny now!

IPL has commercialized cricket like never before: players were auctioned, corporate team bosses snubbed icons icons and big money rolled in. It is all about segregating the Cricket crazy nation that we are into clubs and creating entertainment in them. With the likes of Vijay Mallya, Mukesh Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan, Preety Zinta helming various clubs, the maestros of entertainment at IPL are unveiling their wares with mega entertainment bonanzas also nicknamed as the 'manoranjan ka baap'. A huge amount of money has been spent by them on bidding for players on their team. IPL has brought Cricket to every possible untrodden field and created several ways to flaunt your loyalties.

Initially 8 city based teams are sweating it out and are involved in neck to neck battles with the likes of Bangalore Royal Challengers, Chennai Super Kings, Chandigarh Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. IPL has thrown up another set of loyalties, even alternate, loyalties – the club as in professional football. For many the individual games appears to be as alluring as an Indo-Pak encounter.

Cricket and Bollywood have always been India’s premier mass entertainers. Now with Bollywood stars as owners millions of middle-aged moms and pre-pubescent teenage boys know who to cheer for, city loyalty be damned and Bollywood brand ambassadors available at a discount along with the cheerleaders shimmying heard, the marriage between glamour and cricket is all but complete.

IPL has also become the hub for popularisation of local content. Not just big names but players are coming from everywhere, from outbacks, small towns to state backwaters. These clutch of nerveless unknown talents are taking the IPL by storm as they outscore all the big names. They are to be seen, recognized and admired!

Everyone thought Twenty20 is just slam-bang. But it has shown that Twenty20 is not easier: it’s just a different ball game. It isn’t just improvisation and instinct but much more about planning and teamwork than one never thought.

The first edition of the IPL has also received its fair share of controversies with it now termed as the ‘Controversies ka baap’. From the already infamous costliest slap of the century termed as the slap gate, by Harbhajan Singh on his IPL rival S Sreesanth, which saw the formers exit from this edition of the game. Then the skimpily cheerleaders who shaked their hips and jived to the music during the games. They quickly became the darling of the crowds and cynosure of all eyes, but how can the moral police of the country stay behind which forced them to jive in long outfits for a short period.

The Bangalore team also nicknamed the ‘Test Team in T20 disguise’ never royally challenged any team which initially saw the sacking of its CEO Charu Sharma and a few more heads would have rolled in the form of Venkatesh Prasad, had not ‘The Wall’ in the form of Rahul Dravid had come in between the owner and the team. Martin Crowe added more fuel to fire by asserting the team was too old and slow and wholesale changes are expected in this team for the next season.

As teams went on exiting one after the other at later stages, gossip mills ran hayware with portraying conflicts between team owner’s coaches and the captains. Shahrukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly, John Buchanan, Preity Zinta, everyone was on the firing line. SRK even threatened to take on the ICC when he was banished from the dugout and the dressing room and SRK’s counterpart Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia was also not far behind with controversy after controversy running each other.

In all this how can players be left behind. They also wanted to share the limelight and be a part of this ‘Controversy ka baap’ with Shane Warne and Sourav Ganguly publicly slamming each other and teaching each lessons from the ‘Spirit of the Game’ textbooks. The ever so silent Sachin Tendulkar slamming the third umpire for losing a crucial match by one run. The IPL has seen it all…

Now with so much success of the first edition of the IPL other nations are trying to emulate the implementation of this format with the likes of Australia and Pakistan. England is also believed to be reviewing its County Cricket structure.

Cricket has hardly ever been a global game like football but with this red hot bonsai version, cricket finally has a chance. Beers, cheerleaders, Bollywood and thrills IPL is one glare example of big time marketing around the world. IPL has turned India into world cricket’s premier big bucks destination, the place where all top global professionals want to be.

All in all, there is unlimited entertainment on the cards - both on-field and off-field - for all of us. This version of cricket is generating a lot of appeal because of its fast entertainment providing way. No more waiting for days or hours to watch the outcome of the match. Like in popular sports like soccer or tennis, less boring moments can be expected by the spectators. The IPL has succeeded in providing a lot of cricketing entertainment to spectators.

Dance is a form of communication that brings out the innermost feelings and at the same time depicts the cultural aspects of a civilization. It is the form of vibration of our body and mind and a form of worship through which a dancer can reach an eternal bliss. Indian classical dances are dances of the mind and soul and are extremely traditional. They along with folk dances present a spectacular and gorgeous aspect of the magnificent and continuous Indian dance tradition.

Beauty is an essential attribute of the Divine. Absolute Beauty and the Divine are one and the same. The Divinity is indescribably beautiful, aesthetic, tender, sweet, subtle, charming and attractive. Therefore, in Indian Classical Dance, very much emphasis is put on the divine beauty of the dance-movements as well as the divine appearance of the dancer.

Dance which is created through rhythmic movements is very sensuous but the experience of ananda (bliss) it evokes is very spiritual. Rasa (mood or flavour) as the cause of ananda (bliss) is considered fundamental and the essence of beauty and harmony in Indian aesthetics. Since He, the Supreme Being is there in everything, the greater the expression of spirituality and divinity in a piece of art, the richer the expression of bliss.

Dance in India has undergone many changes throughout history. For centuries, dances were performed on a regular basis at temples before the deity as a devotional exercise. Indian classical dance was born and bred in the temples and then a few centuries later, reached the royal courts. It took even a few more centuries before it reached the public platforms. These dances have indeed come a very long way from ancient temples and.

The dance movements, rhythms and accompanying music all remain the same whoever the dancer might be. Indian classical dance is an art concealing art, totally impersonal, objective, traditional, deliberate and elaborate in technique and appeal. It breaks a new ground of perception and opens entirely a new vision of reality.

The theme of any kind of dance is love and devotion to god. The spectators can feel this when the dancer details dreams and ambitions through circular movements, delicate footsteps and subtle expressions. Slowly and tenderly the dancer moves her way through different emotions.

Indian classical dances remains as fresh and fascinating in its richness, traditional movements, aesthetic appeal and variety of performance. They are tender and erotic and are usually performed by female dancers and although based on a love theme is devotional. Dance is not only there for entertainment. The aim of dance is to experience liberation and growth of righteousness as man, through beauty and delight. It serves to attain a state of supreme bliss.

Lassi is a traditional South Asian beverage originating in the Punjab region of Northern India that is made by blending yogurt with water, salt, and spices until frothy. Yogurt sweetened with honey is used in rituals. Traditional lassi is sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin. Sometimes a little milk is used and is topped with a thin layer of malai, a clotted cream.

A tangy sweet-sour concoction and it is drunk year round, but is most popular during the torment of summer. Lassi beverages are often served chilled during periods of hot weather. A more recent evolution of lassi drinks is the sweet lassi. Flavored with sugar, rosewater, mango, strawberry or other fruits, sweet lassi drinks have become particularly popular in Indian cuisine restaurants throughout the world. These tasty drinks are also usually topped with chopped maraschino cherries, cashews, and fresh shredded coconut.

In a pitcher or blender, combine the yogurt, milk, water, mango pulp, sugar and cardamom. Whisk briskly until completely mixed. Serve in tall glasses that are filled with crushed or broken ice pieces. Sprinkle the ground pistachios and a little cardamom over the top. Serve chilled.

To make the mango pulp at home Select mangoes those are so ripe that the skins look a bit wrinkled. Squeeze the mango by rolling it gently but thoroughly between your hands. Cut off the tip where the fruit comes to a point. With firm and steady pressure squeeze the juice into a mixing bowl. Some juice can be extracted from the pit but do not allow any fiber.

Beat/churn the yogurt or buttermilk-and-yogurt mixture with the water, adding the sweetener till it becomes smooth (till it is frothy). Pour in tall glasses filled with crushed or broken pieces of ice. Add a few drops of optional rose water and stir before serving. Add a dollop of fresh yogurt on top. Serve chilled.

Combine the yogurt or yogurt-and-buttermilk with water in the blender, adding a bit of cumin powder and salt. Serve in tall glasses that are filled with crushed or broken ice pieces. Top it up with a dollop of yogurt. Serve chilled.


Lassi is an ancient drink that is quick and inexpensive. Indian summers are never complete without the regular dose of different lassis available here.





This post has been sent to WYF - Juices and Ice cream event hosted by easycrafts.

With winter neatly tucked up in the attic, it's time to come out of our cocoons and enjoy this season of spring. And what a month! When the earth, getting ready for summer, shrugs off the last remaining sluggishness of winter and sidles up to the sun, who, rather pleased by this attention, warms and coaxes everything to lustily, merrily sprout buds and flowers, which turn from withered brown to lush new green. At least the nature is bountiful. It is ready to give. In one form or the other the peoples of the world celebrate the spring between January and April, after which the summer sets in.

Spring is just prolonged winter or the herald of summer. Traditionally spring means the heady murmur of bees, the tiny mango blossoms and the call of the cuckoo. Spring, celebrated for its gentleness and sweetness is not done without its share of fire and flame. The flame of the forest or palash and the laburnum are as much a part of the lore of spring as the mangoes and the bees.
Every spring, the trees would be full of the riotous colours and so will the ground around them. The fallen petals would deck the brown ground so that it looked like a beautiful carpet has been spread all around the area. It is also time for spring harvest. The new crop refills the stores in every household and perhaps such abundance.

Spring is also the season of love. It fulfills the young heart’s desires. Sights and sounds of spring charm every heart, specially the heart of the young ones everywhere. In India the month of Phalgun marks the beginning of what they call spring. But we have a much better name for this season in India - Basant, a season so heady that we even have a couple of ragas dedicated to it!
In Spring, trees are with flowers and waters with lotuses, with the breezes smells of the fragrance of those flowers and even the daytimes are pleasant with those fragrant breezes, and everything is highly pleasing...This Spring season endows prosperity to the flowing waters and to moonshine, for their water or shine is pleasurable.

All-over adorned are those Ashoka trees with bunches of reddish follicles, and reddish flowers that resemble the hue of red corals, the ruddy flowers in springtime are sprung by the winds simile with the reddy flames that are just now set to flame, and everywhere the earth is overspread with such brakes of trees, and presently when their treetops bent under the weight of those red flowers.

Mango and margosa flowers bloom. A kind of emotive smell wafts in the air. A heady, rapturous, enchanting month, where mango blossoms burst forth like torches of lace, kissed here and there by tiny green baby mangoes. Delightful are the branches of mango trees that are laden with bunches of coppery tender leaves, and with just flowered flowers, swayed by the gentle breezes of this season, The charming flowers of mango trees are with delightful thickish buds, and they are overly swilled by shining tipsy honeybees, and slow breezes are flurrying and tilting their delicate leaflets.

The passionate cuckoo, on savouring the invigorative essence of just grown flowers of Mango trees, is gladdened and gnawing away those hearts, with its gnawingly melodious singing, thus they are singing inexplicably, and so also this honeybee, abiding in lotuses, and savouring their flowery nectar sequestered in the petals of lotuses, they are also droning hums murmuring as their drinking song. Various colourful birds come back on trees and gardens to enjoy the fruits of the season.

On the departure of mist-fall in springtime, the propitious breeze is breezing pleasantly to undulate the flowered branches of Mango trees, and to transmit the singings of the cuckoo in all directions, thereby to steal the hearts of humans, who can neither be blatant nor silent, of their longings...

In assam in the older times there was not this system of arranged marriages which is prevalent in most parts of India, although in some parts of assam it is still followed now.

During the month of march-april, when spring is in the air, trees filled with colourful flowers, everyones hearts art filled with joy and valour. The rongali bihu is celebrated during this month which symbolises a spirit of celebration. People’s hearts are filled with music and the minds feels like dancing.

Males play the dhol, an Indian kind of drum, pepa or the flute and other traditional instruments and females dance to this music.

When the boy and girl attains the age of marriage, the boy along with his friends play these instruments along the streets and try to attract the females. If any girl comes out of her house and dance to the tunes of any particular boy in her courtyard, it is believed that she is attracted to the boy. Then this boy comes to her courtyard and plays the dhol till they are out of energy.

Now the eldest member of the house comes out of the house and challenges the guy that if he can dare he can take his daughter out of his house. Then another day the guy comes to this girl’s house with his friends, playing all the instruments as before and the girl dances away to the boys house.

After this is over the guy once again goes to the girls house with a bottle of wine and presents it to the eldest male member. The guy is welcomed with betel and pan, which is a tradition here to welcome guests. Then the boy and the male member share this wine among themselves till it is over, and a bond of relationship is thus created in this way.

The marriage custom is still not over. It occurs only after the couple has its first baby and then all the rituals of social marriage with all the customs are done along with a grand feast among relatives and neighbours.

Calcutta Book Fair is a very queer phenomenon. In times of receding book culture, this fair has brought multitudes to the milieu of books, and smiles to the faces of writers and publishers. One is surprised at how popular this annual event has become. One needs no statistics that outside the serious student who customarily visits the book shops and the rare casual book reader who buys one or two, books hardly receive any patronage.

And yet come the annual mega-event, and the Maidan air is thick with dust and smell of books. One of the principal attractions of the fair is being able to physically leaf through the books, an experience we seem to be gradually losing. And the books that are ideal for leafing through are those lavishly photographed expensive picture books which you would never see anywhere else - from encyclopedias to numerous magazine et al.




Held generally in early spring, it is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fair - the book fair is primarily for the general public rather than whole-sale distributors. It is the world's largest non-trade book fair, Asia's largest book fair and the most attended book fair in the world. It is the world's third largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. Many Calcuttans consider the book fair an inherent part of Calcutta and instances of people visiting the fair every day during its duration is not uncommon.

Started on a small scale in 1976 by the Calcutta Publishers' and Booksellers' Guild, Footfall has steadily increased over the years, and is now well in excess of a million. The book fair was started to meet the growing public demand for books, but a relative lack of bookshops in Calcutta. Even though Calcutta now has several large bookshops, beside the book shop district of College Street, the tradition persists and Calcutta Book Fair is growing every year.

Such a fair is befitting in this metropolis, which glows with a rich cultural heritage. It has always been regarded with high esteem for its academic tradition and as a paradise for the connoisseurs of books. The annual book fair has intensified this obsession of Calcuttans and given birth to a 'book fair culture' in the entire state. The fair is multi-faceted and yields positive results. The visitors in the fair get the opportunity to learn and form a notion about the society, culture, economy and heritage of diverse nations and even different states of our own country, of whom, we are otherwise so ignorant and indifferent.





With more than 500 book stalls participating in the fair, single day sales ranges from a lakh to as much as twice a million. The fair also has a typical fairground experience with a book flavour - with the presence of picnickers, singer-songwriters, and candy floss vendors on the fair premises. The book fair has been celebrated in theatre, literature, songs and limericks in Calcutta. One of the salient features of the fair is the huge ocean of people who come from all corners of the city and even from outside. A million people poring over books in half a thousand stalls in an area of a few hectares, is a sight indeed. Come rain or shine, he/she will pay the annul pilgrimage to the Maidan at least once. Some to it many times. Some visit the fair everyday that it lasts.

From book signings and releases with first edition distributions which are held in conjunction with the fair, due to the high visibility of the fair to series of seminars and talks by literati and competitive events for school children like essay writing and trivia sessions, everything is there in the book fair. However what is unique at the book fair is the little stalls. They are the lifeblood of the event, totally bereft of commercialization, selling books no one could possibly sell in an economically viable way. Newspapers and Periodicals, intent to publicize their entire range and features, find a suitable opening in the book fair. In the center of the fairground is the 'Foreign Complex', which is actually a cluster of all the foreign participants. It definitely adds a new dimension to the book-fair.

The fair brings together many people. People selling books, little magazines handicraft wares, people doing small road skits, singing in a group and what not. And not to forget the “Little Magazines” printed versions of all sold at bargain basement prices.




A large number of people visit the fair grounds just for the experience- taking a look at books from all over India and the world, meeting acquaintances by chance, getting to ogle at celebrities who pay token visits, eating at the various stalls, and just hanging around with friends. Sometimes the magic of the bookfair lay in sitting down on the ground and just observing people.
It is the place to be on a mildly sunny spring afternoon, with your friends, with your parents or with your love. The Calcutta book fair, is more than just an event.

Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. This festival is universally observed by the Hindus. On this day devotees sing bhajans in honor of Shiva, recite Sanskrit shlokas (verses) from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some observe fasting throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Shiva and offer prayers in large crowds.

It’s a popular festival in North India. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water and specially prepared sacred food to Shiva and his divine consort Parvati, whilst the chanting of the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" continues. Offerings of Bel leaves and dhatura (a flower) are made to the Lingam as both these items are considered very sacred and it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them. Some devotees, especially the men, prepare an intoxicating drink called Thandai (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk), sing songs in praise of the Lord Shiva and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

Unlike other festivals which are celebrated by day, Shivratri is nocturnal, celebrating the mythic marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva has no human embodiment. His celestial form makes him a different entity. The lord Shiva signifies, he is a preserver of the world, the bestower of fertility and tranquility. Further, he is emblematic of the trebling of his potency and also symbolises the perversion of three vital urges for "possession, property and authority.

Lord Shiva (meaning “auspicious”), is considered the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life and is the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon. He is known by many names and is the most sought-after deity amongst the Hindus, who believe he has a magnanimous heart and grants all their wishes.

In temples, Shiva is usually found as a phallic symbol of the lingam, which represents the energies necessary for life on both levels. The image of Shiva is distinct: his hair is piled high on the top of his head with a crescent tucked into it and the river Ganges tumbling from his hairs. A coiled serpent is around his neck representing Kundalini, the spiritual energy within life. He holds a trident in his left hand in which is bound the 'damroo' (small leather drum). He sits on a tiger skin and on his right is a water pot and wears the 'Rudraksha' beads.

Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Parvati. Generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Winters are definitely one of the most favorable seasons to indulge in street foods and what better than the Panipuri, a popular Indian snack and such a lovely small eat that few can resist it. Known by various names, it is called panipuri in north India, fuchka in east India and golgappa in southern part of India. It is so tasty that very few pay attention to its origins. Panipuri is said to take care of stomach related disorders like acidity, indigestion etc. although the list of ingredients that are used to prepare it are quite spicy.

It is one of the favourite snacks for the members of fairer sex but the male counterparts are also not much left behind and are so much loved that some guys have invented their own variety. But all things said and done, a platter full of panipuri can give a serious competition to any maincourse!

For those who are coming across this word first time, panipuri is combination of puri, stuffing, chutney and masala water. Very tasty and sort of addictive too, panipuri lovers never forget the taste which they enjoy during childhood and search and compare the same taste elsewhere they go.

Ingredients for the Panipuri balls (puri):


125 gm refined wheat flour (maida)

125 g semolina (Sooji)

1 pinch baking powder

3 tablespoon Club soda

Salt according to taste


Ingredients for the filling:


3-4 potatoes, boiled and coarsely mashed

1/2 cup boiled chana or white peas or Moong sprouts

1/2 teaspoon black salt or rock salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly roasted Cumin (jeera) powder

1/2 teaspoon chilli/red pepper powder

1 teaspoonful of chopped coriander leaves

2 teaspoonfuls of coriander powder

Salt to taste


Ingredients for the Tamarind Water:


4 cups water

Deseeded 1/4 cup tamarind pulp (imli)

1/4 cups dates (khajur)

1/4 cup jaggery (gud)

1 teaspoonful of finely chopped coriander leaves

1 cup finely chopped mint leaves

2 teaspoon ginger paste

1 teaspoon rock/black salt

1 teaspoon chopped green chilli

1/4 teaspoon chilli powder

1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin (jeera) powder

1 teaspoon dry mango powder

A pinch of asafoetida (hing)

Salt to taste


Preparation:


1. Mix the baking powder with semolina, plain flour, soda water and salt. Knead well to make a semi-stiff dough. Cover it with clean wet cloth for about 10 minutes.

2. Divide the dough into equal sized balls, about 2 inches in diameter. Roll out each ball flat. Place each circle under damp cloth right after rolling.

3. Heat oil in a skillet (kadhai). Float the circular pieces on oil. Deep fry these circles, slightly pressing with a slotted spoon. When it puffs up and are golden brown and hardens to spherical shape, remove from oil in a strainer. Place on absorbent tissue to drain out excess oil.

4. Cool the bread spheres down to room temperature. Keep aside.

5. Peal off the potatoes and boil.

6. Smash the potatoes and mix all the above mentioned ingredients for the filling.

7. Wash the dates, tamarind and place them in a saucepan. Also add the jaggery, asafoetida, salt, 1 cup of water and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool and strain the mixture through a sieve to get tamarind water.

8. Grind the mint, coriander leaves, ginger & green chillies into a paste using a blender. Mix them with the tamarind water and all the other ingredients to make a thick suspension. Refrigerate for about 2 hours to ensure proper blending.


Serving:

Panipuri is to be eaten as soon as it is served. Now poke a small hole in the center of each puri and put the stuffing inside. Dip in the prepared water so that puri is filled with it. You have to put the entire puri into your mouth at once to savor the taste

Health wise Panipuri is very light. Taken in moderation it works as a good appetizer. Tamarind extract is digestive and cool in nature. It quenches the thirst, give feeling of satisfaction. Carefully made it is low on calories. Evenings are ever complete without this lovely snack.

The land of scenic beauty with its snow-capped mountains, hill stations, beaches, backwaters, resorts, luxury trains, wildlife, heritage sites, adventure sports, culture and heritage, forts and palaces, Ayurveda, Museums, historical monuments, desert and many other travel destinations make the Indian Subcontinent an Incredible India!

It is an extremely diverse country, with vast differences in geography, climate, culture, language and ethnicity across its expanse.

The timeless mystery and beauty of India has been waiting for you for 5000 years, always warm and inviting, a place of infinite variety - one that favors you with different facets of its fascination every time you visit India.

Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities.