Pink Twins

Pink Twins
Gangtok

Yellow Villa

Yellow Villa
Gangtok

Sparkling Rai Saag

Sparkling Rai Saag
Gangtok

Lovely Poppy Flowers

Lovely Poppy Flowers
Gangtok

A Different type of Seasonal Flower

A Different type of Seasonal Flower
Gangtok

Blue Flavour

Blue Flavour
Gangtok

Pink & White Combination

Pink & White Combination

Dark Pink Flavour

Dark Pink Flavour
Gangtok 6th March 16

Purple Charm

Purple Charm
CS Quarter Gangtok

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip
Conservatory Near Selep Tank

Charm of Red Tulips

Charm of Red Tulips
Conservatory near Selep Tank

Lord Buddha

Lord Buddha
1-D Terminal New Delhi

Attraction of Red Panda

Attraction of Red Panda
Saramsa Garden

Lord Ganesh made of oranges

Lord Ganesh made of oranges
Saramsa Garden

Charm of Seasonal Flower

Charm of Seasonal Flower
Gaurds Ground Gangtok

Unmatched beauty

Unmatched beauty
Sikkim Organic Festival

Green is always soothing

Green is always soothing
Sikkim Organic Festival 2016

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Somewhere in Gangtok

White Orchid

White Orchid
Manan Kendra

Purple Orchid

Purple Orchid
Manan Kendra, 31-10-2015

Gift of Nature

Gift of Nature
Near Cherry Building

Majestic View of Sea

Majestic View of Sea
Marina, Chennai, 19-10-15

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting
Hotel Nork Hill

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle
Nork Hill, 24-11-2015

Mirror Trick

Mirror Trick
Hotel Nork Hill, Gtok, 24-11-2015

Yes we have the power

Yes we have the power
Qtr at Devt Area, 25-11-2015

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA
Gangtok dt 20-11-2015

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK
NEW DELHI 22-10-15

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE
MRS MALI SMU 13-10-2015

SAROD RECITAL

SAROD RECITAL
SMU CONVOCATION 13-10-15

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE
ITM GANGTOK 14-10-15

RED BEAUTY

RED BEAUTY
GANGTOK

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
MAYFAIR GANGTOK

OM NAMAH SHIVAY

OM NAMAH SHIVAY
MAYFAIR GANGTOK 02-11-15

Smile and Joy

Smile and Joy
24th September Delhi

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed
Gangtok

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok on 7-10-15

Morning Glow

Morning Glow
Denzong Regency- Gangtok on 7-10-15

Pink Orchid

Pink Orchid
Pakyong Area

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
Bojeytar Pakyong 26 Feb 15

Tabla or Log Piece

Tabla or Log Piece
HMI Darjeeling Nov 2014

Hand can do anything

Hand can do anything
Birla Science Museum Kolkata

Legacy and Heritage

Legacy and Heritage
Indian Museum Kolkata

Queen Nephretus of Egypt

Queen Nephretus of Egypt
India Museum Kolkata 4th Mar 15

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece
Tashi Delek June 2014

Foot Print of Bason

Foot Print of Bason
Satpura Forest

Foot Print of Tiger

Foot Print of Tiger
Satpura Forest (MP) March 14

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Lovely Twins

Lovely Twins

Pink,Pink,Pink

Pink,Pink,Pink
Orchid,not only Spl ,It lasts longer Also

Clean Water has a Different Impact

Clean Water has a Different Impact
Rangeet at Jorethang ,24-11-14

What a Ravishing Beauty ?

What a Ravishing Beauty ?
Teesta near Kalijhora, 19-12-14

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty
K.JUNGA, 6:20 AM 18 -12-14

Another Dawn View -Different Angle

Another Dawn View -Different Angle
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

View at Dawn in Biting Cold

View at Dawn in Biting Cold
K.JUNGA 18-12

Dawn Scene-2

Dawn Scene-2
V Awas 18 -12-14

Dawn Scenario

Dawn Scenario
K.JUNGA

Morning Means End of Night

Morning Means End of Night
K. JUNGA,

View at Dawn

View at Dawn
K.JUNGA 2 ,18-12-14

Early Morning Freshness

Early Morning Freshness
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

What an eye opener early in the day?

What an eye opener early in the day?
View of 17-12-2014 from Terrace of V. Awas

Another view of full snow around Mt Kanchendzonga

Another view of full snow around  Mt Kanchendzonga
17-12-2014

Magnificent view after bone chilling night

Magnificent view after bone chilling night
17-12-2014

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night
Vidhayak Awas Gangtok

Amazing charm of Green Orchid

Amazing charm of Green Orchid
HMI Darjeeling

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
HMI DARJEELING (13-11-14)

Bell Flower in full bloom

Bell Flower in full bloom

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Dec 14 Circuit House

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires
Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom
November 14 Ganesh Tok Gangtok

What a view after getting up ?

What a view after getting up ?
B-1 Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga
11-11-2014 VIP COLONY

Red Rose

Red Rose
Gangtok

Cranes having Gala Time

Cranes having Gala Time
Tigaon, Faridabad (2nd Oct 14)

Yes I am from Faridabad

Yes I am from Faridabad
Tiny, Beautiful Bird at NTPC, Ballabgarh (29.9.14)

Water Vital for Life

Water Vital for Life
Awesome view of Teesta near Kalijhora

Yes I had a Bath

Yes I had a Bath
Gladiola at 6200 ft.

Soothing Morning View

Soothing Morning View
Mt. Khangchendzonga from C.House (April, 14)

Natural Yellow Fascinates

Natural Yellow Fascinates
Gangtok (April, 2014)

Flowery Bell ?

Flowery Bell ?
Circuit House (May 14)

Riot of Colour in Monsoon

Riot of Colour in Monsoon
Circuit House, Gangtok(May 14)

Blushing orange

Blushing orange
Circuit House Gangtok (May 14)

Magnificent Taj

Magnificent Taj
Sept 2013

I can lift Taj Mahal

I can lift Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal,Sept end 2013

Natural fan to beat the heat

Natural fan to beat the heat
India Gate (24.08.14)

Engineering Marvel

Engineering Marvel
Coronation Bridge (22.08.2014)

Cascading water, soothing to eyes

Cascading water, soothing to eyes
Scene near Teesta Baazar (22.8.14)

Teesta attracts at every bend

Teesta attracts at every bend
16.7.2014

Monkey jump

Monkey jump
Teesta River, Birik(22.8.14)

Onset of Night

Onset of Night
Qutub,Sept.13

Qutub,Dusk Scene

Qutub,Dusk Scene
Sept.13

Together we take a Plunge

Together we take a Plunge
Clean Calicut Beach, Feb-2013

Setting Sun, always soothing

Setting Sun, always soothing
Dusk at a Gaya village(15.5.13)

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle
Lake surrounding Purana Quila(20.10.13)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Makar Sankranti is a festival that is celebrated across the length and breadth of India with equal fervour, albeit in different styles and under different names. It is Makar Sankranti in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while it is called Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam and Lohri in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. This popular social festival marks the transition of the Sun from Capricorn to Aquarius during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The festival also symbolizes the beginning of warm weather and a decrease in biting cold conditions.
2. When I had the occasion to visit Banglore on the eve of the festival in 2007, I noticed that the whole cosmopolitan city was in a festive mood. The markets were full of seasonal flowers and items such as yellu-bella, sweet potato, ground nut, sweet-sour berry, sugarcane and sakkare achchu (sugar moulds) . But it was sugarcane stick that filled every commercial area. I learnt that the thin variety came from the nearby areas of Tamil Nadu, whereas the darker, thicker but juicy ones came from different parts of Karnataka.
3. It was an enjoyable and memorable experience to walk through the market place and interact with the people from different walks of life. Among the items present, yellu-bella- a mixture of sesame (til), dry coconut, groundnut and jaggery- fascinated me the most. The market place was also full of the usual mouth-watering delights, such as, holige, dosa, vada, payasam, chikki and nippatthu.
4. During the festival, the relatives, friends and well wishers visit each other to greet, exchange sweets and convey best wishes for peace and prosperity durimg the whole year. The houses are decked beautifully with garlands and exotic rangolis adorn the front side of homes.
5. Subsequent to experiencing the Sankranti of South India, I returned to the native Sikkim to look at the objects of beauty and utility in the Maghey Mela festivities at the planned township of Jorethang, a major business centre of South Sikkim. Such celebrations, usually confined to two or three days in the past, now stretch to four to six days in major townships located on the bank of gorgeous rivers.
6. Just as in South India, wherein people consume traditional sweets and worship the Sun God, in Sikkim too, the people in general take an early bath, preferably in river and share boiled sweet potato, bread of buckwheat, bread of dal and sweets made of sesame. Besides the sprawling mela complex of Jorethang, a large gathering in festive mood is also witnessed at places, such as, Saramsa, Singtam, Ranipool and Rimbi. The Maghey Mela is the largest and the most important festival of Sikkim as it showcases brilliantly the rich history and cultural heritage of the people of the serene Himalayan state.
7. All through the celebrations, a festive and joyous mood sweeps the whole state. People sing and partake in various activities all day long. The celebrations also provide the state government departments, a chance to exhibit their traditional and new products and get the much needed feedback from the local people, visitors and tourists. The NGOs, Self Help Groups and the talented artisans too get a chance to exhibit their cottage products and earn additional income during the period.
8. The Maghey Mela provides the right platform to display as well as sell items of food, craft, household tools and the utensils made by the various communities. But for such occasions, many traditional items of day to day use will be confined to the dustbins of history. During the festivities, more than ten to twelve communities of Sikkim, viz., Lepcha, Bhutia, Rai, Gurung, Limbu, Tamang, Bhujel, Mangar, Bahun, Chetri and Newar participate and showcase their culture and crafts. Not only such shows provide the visitors and the tourists with a good learning experience about the state’s history but they are also a great incentive for reviving the age old customs and traditions. The Mela, in addition, is the perfect place to relish and enjoy the ethnic delicacies and savouries.
9. Besides being exposed to the traditional and customary rituals of Sikkim, the people get a taste of adventure sports, such as, para gliding, rafting, trekking and hot air ballooning. Thus, new life and zest is added to the celebrations. The activities this time, also included football and volleyball matches, the half marathon and the immensely popular Miss Tendong competition.
10. The Maghey Mela has, indeed, metamorphosed from an ancient low profile ritual to a mega festival, effectively showcasing the life and times of the people of Sikkim. It is a burning example of preserving and sustaining the brilliant community efforts and spirits inculcated over the years.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Very good comparision of festival at
two places in India(one in north and
other in south).Photos of dogs are
praisable.