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“Leaves in the Fall come tumbling down,
Scarlet and yellow, russet and brown,
Leaves in the garden are swept in a heap,
The trees are ready for sleep" Well! It’s the ninth month of the year already and it’s the time again for the autumn season to manifest its mellowness. At the same time we are recuperating from the rainy mess in our lives that the monsoon has left behind.
Autumn particularly is a season that has its own beautiful charm of golden amber shades. Whether it is the dried leaves or the flowers or the smoky yellowish blue sky — we cherish this season for its capacity of rendering everything — old and new into something lovable.
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Autumn |
We all associate autumn with dried maple or the Indian chinar leaves that fall from the branches and accumulate on the ground, all turned yellow, eternally asserting the cycle of life. This is truly a season when we all reminisce about past moments that we will cherish all our lives; the moments we spent with friends; the cosy moments with beloveds; the unforgettable moments spent with parents talking about and planning the future…although the Fall season has an age-old association with melancholy, it nonetheless never ceases to entice us with its archaic bliss.
This year, the month of September is actually a sacred month for the amount of festivals spanning all the days. So at least for a month, you will have to abstain from all the tamasik or non-vegetarian food.
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Ramadan |
The start of the month is with the festivities of Ramadan that is the 1st of September. Ramadan is actually celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic year, believed to be the month during which the Holy Qur’an was revealed. During this month, Muslims all over the world observe certain religious rituals like fasting and prayers. Muslims start their day with their pre-dawn meal, known as Suhoor, fasting throughout the day, and finally breaking their fast by having the Maghrib or the meal after sunset. The religion of Islam encourages all Muslims to read the Qur’an and pray at least five times a day. The celebration of Ramadan extends to not just religious rituals but also to fun and frolic. |
Markets and streets during this month are open till late night, decorated and overflowing with sweets and gifts that are bought and exchanged between people. The festivities of this culminate in the following month when the new moon is sighted — the day, which is observed as Eid ul-Fitr.
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On the 3rd is the very famously celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, this is the day that is celebrated as the birthday of the much venerated Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of success, prosperity and fortune. Celebrated from the fourth day of the waxing moon, the festival actually continues for 10 days. Before the festivities actually begin, beautiful idols of Ganesha are prepared. These idols are bought by many people and are worshipped throughout these 10 days with enthusiasm as it is said that bringing home the idol of Ganesha is very auspicious. On the 11th day of this festival, the idols are taken through the streets with much fanfare and celebration to be immersed in the waters of the river or the sea. This immersion symbolizes Ganesha’s taking away of all the impending misfortunes or suffering of the devotees with him. During the festivities, cultural activities are also organised.
The 5th of this month is Teachers Day. All through our student life, we have had at least one such teacher who had been our favourite one. And this day is celebrated in order to appreciate and thank all our teachers who enable us to become what we are in our lives today. Usually in schools, the senior students dress up like teachers and take classes of junior students, as an act of appreciation and acknowledgement. Apart from this, teachers are given flowers, gifts and other tokens of appreciation for their continuous support, understanding and encouragement.
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Lord Ganesha |
Onam is a very important festival of South India especially of Kerala. This is the annual harvest festival,also celebrated to mark the mythical King Mahabali’s homecoming. This festival also continues for about 10 days and this year it falls on the 12th of the month that is the month of Chingam, considered to be the first month of the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). The legend that is associated with this festival is the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu as Vaamana who appeared in the kingdom of Mahabali and sent him to the other world. However the king’s spirit returns for only one day back to his kingdom and it is to mark this that the day is celebrated. To welcome him, people indulge in various activities like preparing special and elaborate meals known as Onasadya, special dances like Thiruvathira kali or Kaikottikkali and decorating their houses. During these festivities snake-boat races with other cultural and religious events are organised. |
Snake Boat Race |
Navratras |
The 29th (tentative) of this month is the starting of Navratras. The Navratras continue for nine days. According to the Hindu pantheon, Goddess Durga has nine forms and is the personification of Shakti. Hence for nine consecutive days the Goddess is worshipped by observing certain age-old rituals like fasting, sowing barley seeds and Garba dance functions. In the eastern part of India, especially Bengal, the Navratras are celebrated as Durga Puja and huge idols of the Goddess are made and worshipped.
Usually in these nine days three main forms of Shakti are worshipped — Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati, each worshipped for three days. The Navratras culminate on the ninth day with Kanyapujan that is performed by worshipping nine young girls, all representing the forms of Goddess. These young girls are presented with new clothes and gifts as a mark of respect for the female divinity.
So enjoy the festivals!!! |
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| Must
be there |
| Although the month of September will keep you busy with festivals and celebrations, you can however consider the place we are going to tell you about for a trip in the near future. |
Palakkad
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Palakkad or Palghat in Kerala is the place to head for if you are looking for a combination of adventure, thrill, excitement, relaxation and spirituality — all in your impending holiday time.
Located 80 kms from Trichur and 50 kms from Coimbatore, Palakkad is described as the ‘Granary of Kerala’. It is situated on the border of the state of Kerala near the Palghat Gap, which is also the biggest mountain pass in the Western Ghats that separates Kerala from Tamil Nadu. The district has a rich historic background and is also home to vast paddy fields, mountains, rivers and lush green tropical forests, wildlife sanctuaries and the very sought-after Ayurvedic wellness and healing centres, for which Kerala is most popular.
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Palakkad has an array of places of tourist interest. From the famous Palakkad Fort which dates back to 1766, all made in granite, built by Hyder Ali of Mysore (the father of Tipu Sultan), that also houses a functioning jail at present, to the Punarjani Guha which is a natural tunnel that runs 150 mts in a rocky cliff, home to the presiding deity Sri Rama, the town has all the places that are of interest to any adventure seeker.
Apart from this, the town is situated near the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to various wild animals and migratory birds. This sanctuary also has Parambikulam Reservoir where boating and cruising facilities are provided. The sanctuary also has a special tree-house that has to be booked in advance although you can very easily find an accommodation in the Rest House of the State Forest Departments.
Another biosphere reserve that is located at a distance of 80 kms from the town is a national park known as the Silent Valley National Park. This park is a dense evergreen rain forest and is known for its silence. This silence is a popular trait of this place because of the absence of noisemaking insects in the forests known as cicadas.
Another enticing place that one can visit is a hill station known as Nelliyampathy, which is located at a height of 1572 mts above sea-level. This place is also referred to as the ‘Ooty of Kerala’ and is at a distance of 80 kms from Palakkad. One can experience a panoramic view of the whole valley from here. Seethakundu hill also offers a very beautiful view of the valley in all its resplendence. One of other important places of Palakkad is Attappady, which is the largest tribal settlement of tribes like Irulas, Mudugas etc. The Malleswaram peak which is venerated and worshipped as a giant Sivalingam by the tribe people is also located here.
Palakkad also has a Jain Temple which is an interesting place to visit. This temple is known for the actual remnants of the Jain religion and showcases images of the Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis. Also, Dhoni Falls, Dams and Reservoirs, and Malampuzha Garden with the passenger ropeway are some of the places that are worth a visit.
Palakkad is a place that can be reached very easily. The nearest airport is Coimbatore Airport that is located at about 52 kms or the Cochin International Airport that is at a distance of 120 kms from Palakkad. The place is also well connected by Southern Railways and also by roads. Accommodation is not an issue if you are planning to visit the place. From five-star hotels to guest houses or low-budget hotels, one can easily find places to stay. Also, here, one can experience Ayurvedic treatments, spas and all kinds of herbal relaxation treatments for which Kerala is famous.
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| The Indian
Focus |
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Well...we have brought you a lot of information about plants, herbs, spices and food in the past. To break the monotony we have decided to introduce a new section this month, which will inform and remind us about things that we all in the present times have forgotten.
NO we are not going to brag about the Indian Independence (although it is something of which we should keep reminding ourselves), but something more. Let us recollect what we have got from our past, our heritage and our culture. This time, lets dig into the aspects that although are not really of daily usage, but they are Indian, Ours and they tell us about our roots.
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So lets begin our new journey with some colours, impressions and exoticism — Indian Paintings. Painting is a genre that appeals to a very insular section of the present India. Although there are painters who have exceeded in this genre, the public taste still seems to be dominated by other modes of art and entertainment. So let us refresh our memories with the culture of painting that our land has had.
India has had a very rich past in terms of art and architecture. From the pre-historic times to the Bhimbetka paintings, or the cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, the genre has encompassed — time, place and techniques.
Around the 1st century BC, ‘Six Limbs’ of painting were formulated as guidelines on the art, which was later enlisted by Vatsyayana, the writer of Kamasutra. These were:
- The knowledge of appearances or Rupabheda
- Correct perception, measure and structure or Pramanam
- Action of feelings on forms or Bhava
- Artistic representation or Lavanya Yojanam
- Similitude or Sadriayam
- Artistic mannerisms (using brushes and colours) or VamikaBhanga
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Ajanta Painting
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And till today, Indian painting art still has these principles as a basis, although through the years modern art has come out vehemently in favour of the ‘abstract’. Art and aesthetics have always reflected the social and cultural realities of society. The character of Indian painting also has evolved with time across eras and centuries, right from that of the Madhubani paintings of the Ramayana, the Mysore and Tanjore paintings that involved elaborate stages of using semi-precious stones with gold and silver, to the Miniature paintings of the 16th and the 17th centuries and the Rajput paintings of 18th century. |
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The essentially indianised art form that predominantly depicted tales from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata or portrayed lives of gods and goddesses with a panorama of landscapes, was influenced particularly by Mughal Art. This art of painting accommodated and manifested an unparalled synthesis of Persian, Indian and the Islamic styles. Mughal art was essentially based on visual perceptions rather than imagination. The need to bring life into art form was a trait that is unique to the Mughal paintings. From depictions of wars, hunting expeditions and elaborate marriage ceremonies, to the exotic portraits of the Kings in their darbars, beautiful portraits of women to the unconstrained use of graphics designs of flowers and blossoming trees, every little detail was included with a profusion of colours in all shades.
The avant garde period was the period of nationalism of the 20th century, which the Bengal School of Art asserted through the paintings, depicting India and the femininity associated with it. However modern art brought realism, surrealism and abstraction, which artists like M.F. Hussain, Satish Gujral and Tyeb Mehta and many more have mastered. |
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We hope to bring many more aspects of our culture to you in the later issues.
Happy Reading!!!
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| From
one wise human to another: |
The meek shall inherit the earth, after we are done with it. |
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- Anonymous |
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Aum
Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
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