JITIYA Festival

Jivitputrika (Sanskrit: जीवित्पुत्रिका) also known as Jitiya (Hindi: जिउतिया) is a festival in which Nirjala (without water) vrata throughout a day and night, is observed by mothers for wellness of their sons. A three day long festival is celebrated from seventh to ninth lunar day of Krishna-Paksha in Ashvin month. It is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Jivitputrika Vrat Story

It is believed that once an Eagle and a Siarin living in a jungle were friends with each other. Once both of them saw some females performing the fast and wished to observe it themselves too. Both of them observed the fast but Siarin became unconscious because of hunger and she ate food without telling anyone. On the other hand, the Eagle observed the fast with full dedication and completed it. As a result, all the kids born by Siarin used to dies after some days and eagle’s offsprings were blessed with long life.

Jimutavahana Story

According to this story Jimutavahana was the wise and a kind king of Gandharva’s. Jimutvanhan was not satisfy being a king and as a result he gave all the responsibilities of he kingdom to his brothers and went to the jungle to serve his father. He used to spend his time taking care of his father.One day while wandering in the jungle he finds an old woman mourning.He asked old woman the reason of weeping on which she told him that she belong to a family of snakes (Nagvanshaki) and has only one son. But as an oath every day one snake is offered to Pakshiraj Garuda as a feed and today is her son’s chance to become his food. After listening to her problem Jimutavahana consoles her and promises that he will get back her son alive and will protect him from Garuda.He decides to lay down himself on the bed of rocks being presented to the Garuda for the feed. Garuda comes and holds the Jimutvahana covered with red cloth with his fingers and climbs the rock.Garuda finds it surprising when the person he has trapped does not response. He asks the Jimutvahana his identity on which he describes the entire scene to the Garuda.Garuda gets pleased with the bravery and the benevolence of Jimutvahana and leave him and also promises not to take any sacrifice from the snakes. Due to the bravery and generosity of Jimutvahana the race of the snakes were saved and as a result since then the fasts for the son’s welfare and long life is observed.

Importance

This festival shows the great love and kind affection of mothers to their children;In which mother keeps strict fast even without water only memorizing of children.

When and where

A three day long festival is celebrated from seventh to ninth lunar day of Krishna-Paksha in Ashvin month that falls generally in September.The first day,the day before Jivitputrika is known as Nahai-khai.On that day Mothers take food only after having their bath.On Jivitputrika,Strict fast is observed. The third day,Fast neds with Paaran(taking first food of the day).A variety of food and a special festival delicacy Jhor-Bhat is prepared. The festival is celebrated mainly in the Mithilanchal regions of Nepal and Bihar,Jharkhand,Utterpradesh of India. However Also celebrated in the regions populated with Mithila and Bihari people across India and Nepal.

Source Wikipedia    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jivitputrika

BHARAT BANDH!!!!

“We live in India and are proud to be Indians,” all of us are used to of saying these words since our childhood. But, today I don’t feel so proud of being an Indian. Yesterday(20th sep 2012) there has been a bandh called by the opposition party in the name of hiked diesel prices, reduced number of gas cylinders, FDI in retail and so on. There has been a bandh few months back in May too. But still I am not able to understand this way of showing the protest. Is it the correct way to show our anger? I don’t want to discuss here which party is correct or which party is wrong. But these lonely roads in the city haunt me even in my dreams. 

 I am not someone who gets deeply affected by the bandh or any of the hiked diesel prices, reduced number of gas cylinders or FDI in retail. I am just a common young guy who travels in the bus when required, had to rush to hotel when I feels hungry and no matter whatever the retailer charges, I will pay the price. Then, why am I mourning(शोक)? I am mourning because I think about millions of young kids who woke up early this morning and rushed to their schools but had to return after seeing a big lock on their school gate. I think about that passenger among those thousands of passengers of the trains whose train was stopped by some protestor and he could not reach home on time where his mother was still ill and looking for him before she takes her last breath. I think about millions of laborers who could not go to work because of this bandh and will starve with hunger. I think about millions of shopkeepers who are forced to close their shops by some party.  I think about millions of those auto rickshaw drivers who would still be looking for passengers and so on. And, I feel so sorry because I can’t do anything for any of them. I am writing this article because once somebody told me that pen is mightier than sword(कलम तलवार से अधिक शक्तिशाली है) and I believe if at least one of you understands my reason to write this article, the goal is achieved.

 I don’t say that we should not protest against evils prevailing in the society, we should and we must.  But, I believe that bandh is not the correct way to do it. We can always opt for better ways. Maybe, we should try to protest in front of the Constitution. Maybe we should stop the vehicles of those politicians who are behind these steps and not the poor auto rickshaw-walas. Maybe we should not try to affect our daily meals but of those politicians who fill their belly to its maximum capacity before coming out for a bandh. I think then we would be able to show our protest in a better way and we all could call ourselves- “a proud Indian.”

The traditional Chhou Dance of Jharkhand

It is one of the tribal dances of Jharkhand. This is a dance form that is performed in the tribal areas of Jharkhand as well as some parts of Orissa and Bengal. The Chhou dance is performed in an open space or a ground field, generally at the night time. The dancing area is surrounded by the fire poles called the mashaals, for the sake of lighting in the dark. But in some of the advanced parts of the state, electrical lamps and light have started replacing the fire poles. The dancers have a bath and perform some puja before their performance. This is for maintaining the sacredness of the dance, because the characters in the dance are of those of various Gods. These dancers use colourful, big sized and decorative masks. Chhou dance is one of the tribal forms of the 'nritya natika' that means dance drama. Most of these Chhou dance performances are based on the stories of Ramayana and the Mahabharata. 

                The people of Jharkhand have their unique and specific types of dance and music styles. The most popular dances of Jharkhand include Jhumar, Paika, Chhou, Agni, Santhal, Nachni, Jamda, Ghatwari, Natwa, Choukara, Sohrai, and the Earth Dance, Lurisayro, and Matha. These dance forms are very graceful, rhythmic and attractive, and are heavily accompanied by the drum beats and the songs or music.

Costumes of Chhau Dance

                   Chhau DanceThe costumes of the Chhau performers are of various colours and designs. It mainly comprises of Pyjamas in deep green or yellow or red shade that is worn by the artistes playing the role of gods; whereas those playing the role of demons have on loose trousers of a deep black shade. Sometimes, stripes of contrasting colours are also used to make the costumes more attractive and different. The costumes for the upper part of the body are full of various designs. The costumes for the character of Goddess Kali are made up of cloth of unrelieved black, and to express the separate and distinct identity, the characters of animals and birds use suitable type of masks and costumes.

Performance of Chhau Dance

              Chhau dance is mostly performed in the open space or ground field during the night. The dancers take a bath and do Puja before performing this dance, in order to maintain the sacredness of dance as the characters in the dance are of gods. Generally, fire poles called Mashaal surround the dance arena, for the purpose of light. The masks generally used for Chhau are made up from the clay and paper. In the performance of the Chhau, some of the characteristics of primitive ritualistic dances are noted. This is also seen through its vigour, style and musical accompaniment mainly with the drum.

SAHIBGANJ(JHARKHAND)---- It can be made a tourist place

Sahibganj district is located in the north east of the state JHARKHAND. It is bounded by 

Bhagalpur and Godda district in the west, Maldah and Murshidabad district of 

West Bengal in the east, Ganga river and Katihar district in the north.

MANGALHAT: Situated 10 K.m west of Rajmahal, it is the site of an important monument Jama Masjid which was built during the reign of Emperor Akbar. 

Rajmahal is a city and a notified area in Sahibganj district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Rajmahal is the only sub-divisional town in Sahibganj district. It is one of the most historic place in Jharkhand. It includes many historical places such as Singidalan, Neel-Kothi, Jama-Masjid, Khaniyathan and China clay mines etc.RAJMAHALSituated on the right bank of the river Ganges, Rajmahal is a small but historically important town. It was the seat of Government during the Mughal period when Raja Man Singh, general of Emperor Akbar made Rajmahal the capital of Bengal in 1592. Even today relics of the old and prosperous Rajmahal are visible in this one time capital of Bengal. The town has following important monuments.i) Singhi Dalan.ii) Akbari Masjidiii) Tomb of Maina-Bibiiv) Tomb of Mira 

SHIVGADI: This Shiva temple is located in the Barhait block 8 K.M north of Barhait ,sahibganj district and is inside the cave. Water from the mountain drips continuously on the Shivling. Devotees gather here in large numbers on Mahashivratri and whole of Shravan month.

KANHAIYASTHAN: this beautiful and exotic temple located at sahibganj district,jharkhand.it is Situated on the bank of the river Ganges, is a village situated about 13 km. north-west of Rajmahal town and owes its name to the temple of Lord Krishna (Kanhaiya). It is believed that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu once stayed here on his way to Brindaban from Bengal and got the vision of Lord Krishna. Footstep of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is also preserved here.

Save Jharia from Underground Fire

                                                         

              The Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand is the biggest storehouse of coking coal in the India, consisting of 23 large underground and nine large open cast mines. The mining activities in these coalfields started in 1894 and had really intensified in 1925. The history of coal-mine fire in Jharia coalfield can be traced back to 1916 when the first fire was detected. At present, more than 80 mine fires are reported from Jharia region.                                               

A laborer chips away at a seam of coal  as she scavenges at an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.

 

A young laborer chips away at a seam of coal as he scavenges at an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand .. 

 

A laborer chips away at a seam of coal as he scavenges at an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand .. 

 

A coal scavenger carries a block of coal illegally taken from an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand ..  

 

Laborers carry baskets of coal illegally gathered from an open-cast mine  in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand..

 

Laborers carry large baskets of coal as they illegally scavenged from an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  .. 

 

Laborers carry baskets of coal illegally taken from an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  ..  

 

People carry baskets of coal scavenged illegally at an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand ..  

 

Youths fly a kite as coal fires from scavenged coal burn near an open-cast mine in the Jharia District of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand .  

 

A girl dances near plumes of smoke from fires of coal scavenged by her family in the New Colony village in Jharkand, India . 

 

Children stand near a Hindu temple in the New Colony village where a community of coal scavengers lives and works in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.   

 

A person stands next to small piles of coal burning after scavenging from an open-cast mine in the Jharia district of Jharkand, India  

 

Laborers stand next to small piles of coal burning after scavenging it from an open-cast mine in the Jharia district of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  

 

Stray dogs stand on the parched and burnt earth where underground coal fires are burning in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. ..

 

Smoke from an underground coal fire rises from the ground near an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari, where a community of coal scavengers live and work in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  

 

Men stand next to the glowing embers of an underground coal fire in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  . 

 

A man and child stay warm next to small piles of burning coal illegally scavenged near an open-cast mine in the Jharia district of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  

 

Young coal scavengers stand together next to a burning pile of coal in Jharia in Jharkand, India  

 

Coal scavengers warm themselves by a pile of burning coal near an open-cast mine in the village of Bokapahari in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand  where a community of coal scavengers live and work.

Finally, Bokaro 'China town' set to close down

 

Russians roaming the streets of Bokaro has long been a familiar sight here. Now, it’s the Chinese who are flocking in large numbers, prompting many to dub the steel city “Little China”.

In 1965, work started on the Bokaro Steel Plant with Russian collaboration. Now, thanks to the upcoming plant being put by Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) at Chandankyari block of Siyaljora, more than 800 Chinese engineers have been at work since early 2008.
Chinese workers, both men and women, who had come in large numbers for construction of the ESL plant and set up a small township at Siyaljoli are now leaving Bokaro. The story is similar to Russian workers who had arrived in the city for construction of the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), who finally left about two decades ago.
While the 2.51 million tone (MT) Electrosteel steel plant is based on Chinese technology the city's major 4.5 MT capacity BSL plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is running on Russian technology. There are some Russian families still residing in the town.

However, the residents will now miss watching Chinese men and women wandering in markets, restaurants, hotels, parks and other places. Besides, the SP office will no longer witness Chinese nationals forming long queues for visa verification. The local market is also losing out on the Chinese clientele who had become their major buyers in a short span of time.

Is reservation based on religion acceptable?

 

At the time of independence, in India people from certain religion and class were really backward and a immediate measure was required to strike equilibrium in this secular republic recently formed. Reservation was the answer to it. But it was a practice for a while which we are blindly following may be because of Vote Bank politics. this has emerged as one of the major disadvantage of democracy in recent times.
Quota in the name of religion will increase the tension between religious groups in our country. reservation is the worst ill of democratic system in which the majority takes advantage of everything by creating lies against the minority . today India's biggest problem is cast based reservation.
Reservations shouldn't be based on religion / Caste etc.. Everyone is equal in our democratic India.
In fact, there should be some reservations for EBC (Economically Backward Classes)
For all others, it should be as per their credentials.

The teacher who has become an icon

Anand Kumar's Super 30, a coaching institute in Patna which prepares 30 poor kids for the Indian Institute of Technology entrance exam free of cost, has achieved iconic stature because of its success rate.
       Like many Indians, Kumar had had his own youthful dreams of escaping from poverty by doing well in his studies. He had finished a BA Honours in M...aths and was accepted for a post graduate degree by Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
     The thought behind setting up Super 30 came to Kumar in 2001 when a poor student told him he could not afford the Rs 1,500 annual fee.
Anand Kumar then started the Super 30 institute to coach the poorest students and prepare them for the IIT-JEE. His only criteria was that they had to be bright and talented.
News about Super 30 spread through word of mouth primarily by the 300 students who were already taking coaching from Anand Kumar. For his Super 30 initiative, Kumar received more than 800 applications. The application fee was Rs 10.
      An entrance test was conducted and 100 students were short-listed. The economic background of these students was checked and the poorest among them were selected.
The students of Super 30 receive coaching for a whole year. They get free food cooked in Anand Kumar's home and are housed in rooms spread over the city.
     The students are taught four days a week from 4 pm to 8.30 pm. The rest of the time, they study or hold group discussions amongst themselves. Tests are conducted everyday.

    The other two teachers at the institute are Praveen Kumar and Amit Kumar. Super 30's first batch appeared for the IIT-JEE entrance test in 2003. 18 of the 30 cleared the exam. In 2004, 22 were successful; in 2005, 26; in 2006, 28; in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 -- all 30 and in 2012 27 out of the 30 students made it.

     Just then fate struck and his father Rajendra Prasad, a clerk in the postal department, passed away.
This is the best way to uplift the neglected people of society. Its better to teach how to fish than giving fishes to poor people. There is limit how many time you can give roti to them. But if they learn skills to earn money for roti it will be long lasting help for them. This will only make the healthy society. So dont give direct help but teach them skills which generate roti for them. I think Megha patekar, Mamta, Sonia, Arundhati roy (award winner) need to learn this matter for this teacher.
     Its really briliant work,which cab't be expressed in language.The real joy can be enjoyed by 2 persons.One is Teacher(as his student got through) and second one the student(who done it).God bless u Mr.Anand for making us and our country proud.

Discoveries Indians made before rest of the world

Indians are well known throughout the world for their numerous achievements and innovations. None can deny the fact that India has got some of the best potentials in this planet. We have been the pioneers in bringing some of the most exciting scientific inventions and discoveries well before rest of the world had any idea about those. Let’s review some of the most notable discoveries, Indians are credited with.

Wireless Communication / Radio

Indian Inventor: Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose

Western Inventor: Marconi

While the entire world talks about Marconi and credits him with the invention of wireless telecommunication, the technology emerged from our own backyard only.

Radio or Wireless Technology is the actual brainchild of none other than the Indian scientist and mathematician,

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose

. This remarkable breakthrough was achieved by Sir Bose on course of his extensive research carried out in the area of Microwaves. He went on to generate extremely short waves and also brought in some considerable modifications on Hertz’s detector of electronic waves. Sir J.C Bose also fashioned a flash of radiation, capable of generating waves of about half an inch. The receiver was pretty sensitive and it did respond to even the slightest of reactions.

Of course, it’s Marconi who provided newer and finer dimension to this entire technology. But the world witnessed the power of telecommunications via Sir J.C Bose, much before Marconi could come up with the re-defined stuff.

In-vitro Fertilization

                                                   

Indian Inventor: Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay

Western Inventor: Dr. Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe

In-vitro Fertilization

( IVF)

, the much talked about birth procedure of modern age, was an artifact of another Indian scientist

Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay

. Indian reproductive biologist, Dr. T.C Anand Kumar while turning over the pages of Dr. Subhash Mukherjee, got familiar with the efforts put in by the latter to script a new chapter in the history of Indian medical science. In fact, Dr. Kumar played a key role in throwing new lights to the whole concept of test tube baby. The efforts put in by Dr. Mukherjee resulted in the birth of India’s first test tube baby, Kanupriya Agarwal. Since she was born on the first day of Durga Puja, she was also named as ‘Durga’.

Kanupriya alias Durga is employed in a Multinational Company based in Delhi as a Marketing Executive. She also spoke out for the first time in public about her real identity dismissing all allegations of her ‘creator’s claim as bogus.

 Atom

Indian Inventor: Maharshi Kanad

Western Inventor: John Dalton

Way long before John Dalton propounded his theories and came in with the concept of Atom, Maharshi Kanad, who is considered as the First Nuclear Scientist of India made his mark.

Maharishi Kanad’s theories date way back to second century. In the book Darshan-Grantha, one can find a well written description of

Kanad’s concept of Atoms

. It was Kanad, who first opined that elements are formed mainly because of electrons arranged in a specific and synchronized manner.The world might recognize John Dalton as the father of atomic theory, but we definitely can’t take anything away from Maharishi Kanad.

Heliocentric Theory

                                                     

Indian Inventor: Aryabhatta

Western Inventor: Copernicus

Widely considered as the father of Indian Astronomy, Aryabhatta came up with the notion that planets move in an axis around the sun. This very

theory

later went on to become famous as Heliocentric Theory, with further details and explanations inked by Copernicus.

Aryabhatta’s

limited access to technology and infrastructure never proved to be a detrimental factor in his research. His numerous measurements and calculations based on earth were perfectly accurate for his time. In fact, he is the first ever astrologer in this world to discover that planets revolve in their own axis around the sun. Further, his studies also led to the discovery of how lunar and solar eclipse take place.

Value of Pi

Indian Inventor: Baudhayana

Western Inventor: Archimedes, William Jones, John Wrench

Most of us have solved numerous mathematical equations based on the famous mathematical value of Pi, better known as Pythagoras Theorem. However, the value of Pi was calculated by none other than the Indian mathematician Baudhayana, who belonged to the Yajurveda School.

In fact,

Baudhayana

is widely credited for being the first ever person to come up with the value of Pi, much before Pythagoras introduced the value.

Plastic Surgery

                                          

Indian Inventor: Sushruta

Western Inventor: Dr. Illouz, French Plastic Surgeon

What’s widely believed to be the offshoot of modern science and technology is actually an Indian invention. We are talking about Plastic Surgery that was actually formulated by an Indian surgeon

Sushruta.

Sushruta’s famous book ‘Sushruta Samhita’ which is considered as one of the oldest discourse, vividly deals with several methods of performing plastic surgery. In fact, Sushruta Samhita is looked upon as one of the most precious treasure in the history of Indian medical literature.

Aerial pictures of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center - Never Seen Before!

Newly released aerial photos of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack show the towers coming down from a dramatic new angle. The photos, taken from a police helicopter, were obtained by ABC News under a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In this photo, the upper floors of a World Trade Center tower burn after terrorists flew a pasenger jet into it.

Smoke billows from a World Trade Center tower after the attack, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

The first World Trade Center tower begins to implode. Both buildings collapsed within two hours of being struck, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others.

                                A world Trade Center Tower Implodes.

                          Smoke and ash engulf lower Manhattan as one of the towers collapses.

Another view of the destruction. New York state was home to about two-thirds of the trade center victims.

                                 Smoke billows from the grounds of World Trade Center.

Smoke and ash rise as a tower burns.

                                Downtown high-rise buildings are engulfed by smoke and ash.

                                   Another shot of smoke and ash engulfing lower Manhattan.

                                        A view of lower Manhattan after the implosion.

                    White ash covers the downtown area near the grounds of World Trade Center.

These Dramatic images were taken from a police helicopter — the only photographers allowed in the air space near the towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

INDIA's 1st Independence Day Celebration (some rare pics)

INDIA's 1st Independence Day Celebration