The epic Mahabharata probes deeply into the concept of dharma, discovering its various facets and how it applies to different situations in our lives. The epic serves as a practical guide to the philosophical and spiritual truths found in the Vedas. The Mahabharata is estimated to be over 5,200 years old It uses stories, characters, and events of Kurukhetra war between Kauravas and Pandavas to make these teachings more understandable and relevant to people’s lives. 

Veda Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata primarily to preserve and disseminate knowledge, particularly about dharma (righteous conduct) and the complexities of human life. He believed the epic would be beneficial for humanity, offering guidance on principled behaviour, and exploring the consequences of actions. He also wanted to illustrate the teachings of the Vedas in a more relatable and accessible narrative. Ved Vyasa wanted to showcase the complexities of human characters, the right and the wrong conduct, the consequences of actions, and the challenges of living a virtuous life, especially in times of conflict and adversity. As per the puranas, Vyasa was instructed by Lord Brahma to write the Mahabharata, because Vyasa had witnessed the war of Kauravas and Pandavas and Brahma knew that Vyasa would do justice writing the epic without any ambiguity so that  entire story  could be a teaching for the future generations. Brahma knew Vyasa would convey its meaning. 

The Mahabharata was composed in a cave called Vyas Gufa, located in the village of Mana, near Badrinath in the Himalayas. 

Ved Vyasa chose Ganesha to write the Mahabharata because he needed a scribe (write) who could keep up with his rapid narration and ensure the epic’s profound meaning was fully grasped. Ganesha, known for his sharp intellect and ability to understand complex concepts, was the perfect choice. Additionally, Ganesha’s role as the remover of obstacles and the God of new beginnings made him most fitting divine scribe for such a massive work. Lord Ganesha’s elephant head signifies wisdom and intelligence.

Ganesha laid a condition that Vyasa must recite the epic without pause. Vyasa, in turn, proposed his own condition; Ganesha must not write anything without first understanding the meaning of what he dictates. This agreement allowed the monumental task of recording the Mahabharata to begin, with Vyasa occasionally using complex verses to create pauses for rest and preparation, knowing Ganesha would need time to grasp their meaning before writing them down. During the flow of writing, as Vyasa dictated, Ganesha’s writing tool a quill broke, and Ganesha, rather than interrupting the flow, broke off his tusk to use as a pen. This act of sacrifice and commitment is why Ganesha is also known as Ekadanta, meaning “one-tusked”. 

Divine Collaboration: This collaboration between Vyasa and Ganesha highlights the divine nature of the Mahabharata and the involvement of both human and divine forces in its creation. This collaboration highlights the power of teamwork, the blending of intellect and devotion, and the dedication required to preserve wisdom and knowledge. The Mahabharata, as a result, became a testament to the power of collaboration between a wise sage and a divine scribe. 

The Mahabharata remains relevant even today due to its timeless exploration of human nature, ethics, and the complexities of life, offering insights applicable to personal, social, and political spheres. Its characters, though flawed, are relatable, and the epic’s narratives provide frameworks for understanding conflict resolution, leadership, and the consequences of actions. The epic covers the complexities of human nature, relationships, and the struggle between good and evil. It portrays humans as inherently flawed, capable of both great virtue and profound wickedness. It portrays characters who are neither purely good nor purely evil, highlighting the complexities of human morality. Characters like Arjuna struggle with internal conflicts, while others like Duryodhana exhibit both positive and negative traits. Karna, a tragic hero of the Mahabharata, struggled between loyalty and righteousness. Though noble and generous, he sided with Duryodhan for the sake of friendship and gratitude.

I am very fond of architecture. I travel far and wide in India to see architectural marvels. India is a rich country with diverse heritage encompassing ancient civilizations, vibrant cultures, diverse religions, and numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, making it a bounty of  heritage treasure of history and art.  Architecture talks about our culture, how we live, work, and interact, while also reflecting cultural identity and fostering a sense of place and belonging. 

One such beautiful temple is Sri. Vidyashankar temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The temple is famous for its exceptional architecture that combines the Hoysala and Dravidian styles of architecture. The temple has 12 pillars in total, each of which represents  the twelve zodiac signs separately:  Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Vidyasankara Temple is a prominent pilgrimage site for followers of Advaita Vedanta. The temple was founded in the 13th century by Vidyaranya, a sage and patron saint. Advait Vedanta is not dual – our soul and God is one, God is within.

The Vidyashankara Temple was built in the year 1338 A.D. It was built under the patronage of the Vijayanagara Empire, dedicated to Guru Vidyashankara, a prominent figure in the lineage of the Sharada Peetham. 

It is a unique monument built entirely of stone combining both Hoysala (Chalukya) and Dravidian architectural styles. The structure stands on a high plinth and commands a magnificent view from the hills and their slopes all round. It is a rectangle with apsidal (referring to shape of an apse) east-west ends. On the western side is the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. On the other three sides of the Garbhagriha are shrines to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara with their wives. In the eastern half of the structure is a mandapa (pavilion) with twelve pillars, huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting trusses on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order. The central ceiling is an exquisite piece of workmanship with lotus and pecking parrots. It is in true sense a wonder of craftmanship.  

Let’s understand this: the temple builders of that time had the genius idea of positioning these pillars in such a way that the sunlight falls on the corresponding zodiac sign pillar every month, casting a shadow on the corresponding sign following the lunar calendar.

Each Zodiac Pillar is decorated with intricate carvings that reflect the characteristics and symbols associated with its respective zodiac sign. You can check yours when you visit the temple complex. There you will find detailed depictions of animals, celestial figures, and several gods and goddesses. The general belief is that this genius design was incorporated to help the temple priest calculate and keep track of all important dates, events and festivals.

These pillars continue to be a source of wonder and inspiration for visitors to the temple. They portray India’s rich cultural and scientific heritage. India is a rich country. India’s status as “Vishwaguru” is its ability to enlighten the world with profound knowledge; Yoga, Ayurveda, Mathematics, and Philosophy which continues to influence global thought

Vidyaranya, also known as Mādhavācārya, was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 AD, and he was the elder brother of Bharati Tirtha, the 11th Jagadguru. He played a significant role in establishing the Vijayanagara Empire and is considered a saint and statesman. Vidyaranya later became the 12th acharya of the Sringeri peetham in 1375 CE. Shortly after the start of the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 CE, the rulers began building the Vidyashankara temple at the Sringeri peetham site. This temple was completed in 1338.

To the student of Hindu iconography which consists of several symbols of animals, flora, instruments, weapons, or even color, and devas, this temple is a authentic store house of sculpture. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to Divine consciousness.

Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is celebrated on a grand scale during kartika Shukla paksha (October, November). The festival spans for seven days from Tritiya to Navami. On the Saptami day His Holiness performs special Puja. Also, the Aradhana of Sri Vidya Shankara is performed on shasti, saptami and ashtami. This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India. One must visit Vidyashankara temple for its unique blend of architectural styles, spiritual substance, and serene surroundings, offering a rich experience for both devotees and those seeking to explore Indian culture and history. 

The word street simply meant a paved road. A street name is an identifying name given to a street/road. Topology of a city/village includes feature of road networks. Topology refers to properties, such as the connection of roads, but not only through their axes or reference lines, but also at the level of lanes. The street name usually forms part of the address of people living there. Buildings are given plot numbers along the street to further help identify them. Odonymy is the study of road names from a historical and linguistic point of view.

As per Wikipedia, in Medieval England, road names developed gradually, helping to identify a place such as a pond, a hilly place or river, the farm at the end of the road, or the inn in the corner of road. Other streets were named to locate where you might reach if you followed them. For example, London Road, Bath Road.

The most common road name in India is Mahatma Gandhi Road. Almost every town in India has a road named after Mahatma Gandhi, as a token of respect towards him. Agra has 2 roads named after Mahatma Gandhi – Mahatma Gandhi Road I and Mahatma Gandhi Road II. To name a street after a person is a universally accepted way of publicly honouring that person’s accomplishments and his contribution to society.  In India where every city has street named after Mahatma Gandhi Rad (MG Road) is a clear indication that this individual has played a big role in Indian history. Similarly Ambedkar Road, Laxmi Road, Swami Vivekanand Roads are common names in India. 

Street names help us figure out where we are, talk about where we have been, and establish whether we are heading in the right direction. This is of course true both literally and symbolically. n 2008, when Google Maps launched in India, turn-by-turn directions were unusable as some streets didn’t have names. They discovered that many communities in India rely on landmarks instead of street names for navigating. So, they adapted the product to use landmarks as a reference point for navigation.

Streets take their names from people, places, events Nepean Sea Road, Ramabai Road, Ramdas Nayak Road, Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link Road are some famous roads these roads are famous because they are strategically situated in the city. Napean Sea road has some of the expansive and the most expensive apartments in Mumbai. Ramdas Nayak road is basically an arterial road running through Mumbai that connects the intersection near Bandra Railway Station and S V Road. It is officially known as Ramdas Nayak Road but is called Hill Road because it goes over a hilly slope. This area of Bandra is famous for street shopping, eating and hanging out. The Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , popularly known as Bandra Worli Sea Link is the first sea bridge of India. The cable stayed sections of this bridge , the tall towers along which the cables take support. Pandita Ramabai Saraswati was an Indian social reformer who worked for liberation of women. She was accorded the titles of Pandita and Saraswati as a Sanskrit scholar after being examined by faculty of the University of Calcutta.

Roads get names because of geographically, historically, sociologically and politically. After India became independent in 1947, Congress party leaders set about building the nation. This involved a lot of coming up with new names and changing colonial ones. Their approach valued clarity over creativity. While there are over 100 cities and towns which have been renamed or respelled after Indian Independence in 1947, we look at a few of the famous ones. Bombay was renamed as Mumbai in 1996, similarly Poona was renamed as Pune.

Some streets are named after famous or distinguished individuals, sometimes people directly associated with the street, usually after their deaths. A street name is the initial building block for any address. Any new street name should be distinctly different to any other existing street name in the local area. Street names help us figure out where we are, talk about where we have been, and ascertain whether we’re heading in the right direction. This is of course true both literally and figuratively. While not as critical as regulatory signs, street name signs convey important information to emergency service providers where seconds count. Street name signs are valuable when people are trying to find an address to deliver a package or visit a friend.

Some street names reflect the collective commemorative decisions of municipalities and, as such, can be used as substitutes for their social and cultural characteristics, which is particularly useful given the scarcity of cultural data at the local level. When it comes to new and modern urban planning, developers are typically responsible for naming streets in the new neighbourhoods they build. They often choose street names based on certain traits they want people to associate with the neighbourhood. Sometimes, they name new streets after loved ones.

A well-designed public realm with good street characteristics can positively influence liveability and adaptability, and lead to safe community, interactive streets, healthy living, and better environmental conditions.

Some road names are hilarious. There is road named “Condom Street” in Kolkata. Although, its original name was Moti Sil Street. But due to number of Medical Stores selling “Family Planning” stuff, it’s now called Condom Street. Lover’s Lane (Mumbai) – a peculiar street name that evokes a romantic vibe, often hanging around by couples. Kuchh Bhi Road (Bhopal) – Translating to “Anything Road,” this name reflects a casual, laid-back attitude. Happy Street (Pune) – A cheerful name that suggests a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Bhookha Nanga Road (Indore) – Meaning “Hungry and Naked Road,” this name is quite unusual and reflects local humour.

The Sun symbolizes light, knowledge, power, and intelligibility; it is the star at the centre of the Solar System. The powerful star dispels darkness and to illuminate life on our planet. There are many hymns dedicated to the Sun and is worshiped by many religions. He is called  Surya Devata.

There are only 2 sun temples built in India; one is in Konark, Odisha and other in Modhera, Gujarat. Both temples have been built with fantastic architecture, which have lot of historical stories associated with it.

I will be discussing the Modhera Surya temple in my today’s blog. The shrine was built in the 11th century by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty in Modhera village, Gujrat. The opulent shrine is richly carved and made of sandstone. And, sandstone is sedimentary rock which often has distinctive layering or bedding. The temple comprises three separate yet aligned and integrated elements; Surya Kund, Sabha Mandap and Guda Mandap.  The temple is standing tall even after almost 23 centuries because it is built robustly and is maintained in good condition by the Government of Gujrat.

Seeing is believing; I went to see the temple on 29th December 2022. It is a visual delight and it raised my spirit. The magnificently carved pillars carrying Torana (gate tower) in alternate triangular and semi-circular designs are splendid. The temple has two Toranas. There are such 52 pillars denoting the 52 weeks of a solar year. The heavily carved pillars depict passages from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Lord Krishna’s life and also depict the 4 elements;  Fire, Earth, Air and Water signifying the unity of these with the sun.

An inscription on the back wall of the temple which is inverted has the date, “Vikram Samvat 1083.” This fact has helped historians estimate the time period during which the Modhera Sun Temple was built.

There is a large Kunda (pond) known as Suryakunda in front of the temple through a grand flight of steps for cleansings hands and feet prior to entering the temple. Small pyramidal stairways which are arranged in staggered rows, lead from one terrace to the other.  There are 108 miniature shrines carved in between steps. The water in the pond reflects in the green colour. The temple surrounding is spiritually silent. You can feel a strong retrospective quality in this temple. I sensed it.

During 1024–1025, Mohammed Ghazani invaded Bhima’s kingdom, and his 20,000 soldiers tried to destroy the shrine.

According to Hindu astrology, Sun God is the significator of the soul. That is why the Hindu people in India offer water to Sun. The Lord Surya Devta is the lord of all the planets. In astrology the Sun gives power, position, authority, glory, name, reputation, force and makes one a ruler or a kingly person. If the planet Sun is posited in a beneficial house in the natal chart, the natal is assumed to be powerful and enjoys longevity of life. Therefore, worshipping Lord Sun neutralizes the negative effect of all other planets in the chart.

Architecture is always deep-rooted with history, culture, and religion. It talks about traditions, regional beliefs, culture, lifestyle, philosophy, dynasty etc. The architecture bridges the gap between the history and present days. Since the beginning of life on earth, each civilization of different eras formed its unique style based on its religious beliefs, philosophies, and social needs.

The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat organises an annual three-day dance festival known as ‘Uttarardha Mahotsav’ at the temple during the third week of January, following the festival of Uttarayan. The objective is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere similar to that in which they were originally presented. The Modhera Sun Temple has huge dancing hall which was added to the original shrine in the 12th century along with the gateways and the porch of the temple.  

A World Heritage Site is a cultural or natural landmark that has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They are deemed worthy of preservation due to their universal value to humanity, in the present and for future generations. Modhera Sun Temple was added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2022.

University of Mumbai has given illustrious individuals to society such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Homi J. Bhabha, Dadabhai Naoroji, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Pherozshah Mehta, B.R.Ambedkar,  Bal Gangadhar Tilak  and many others. It is one of the oldest Universities established in 1857 in Fort area, South Mumbai, India which was earlier known as University of Bombay.  It was established in 1857 following the “Wood’s Education Dispatch”.  Sir Charles Wood, the President of the Board of Control of the British East India Company, sent a formal communication to Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-General of India, suggesting a large shift to English language use within India. The salient features of the Wood’s Despatch were

i) the constitution of Separate Department for the Administration of Education 
ii) Establishment of Universities in the Presidency Towns (Bombay was one of the presidencies)
iii) Maintenance of existing colleges, high schools and Increasing their Numbers.

The first departments of the University were the Faculty of Arts at Elphinstone College in 1835 and concurrently the Faculty of Medicine started at Grant Medical College famously known as J.J. Hospital in 1845. Both colleges existed before the university was founded. Both Elphinstone and Grant Medical College relented their degree-granting privileges to the University. The first degrees awarded in 1862 were Bachelor of Arts and Licentiate in Medicine. Medical schools such as Sindh Medical and Hyderabad Medical School were affiliated to this majestic University then.

It is worth noting that Cornelia Sorabji was a student of this University in 1888, who later studied law at Somerville College becoming Oxford’s first female law student and India’s first female advocate.

Till 1904, the university used to only conduct examinations, award affiliations to colleges, develop syllabuses, and provide guidelines for colleges developing curricula. Teaching departments, research disciplines, and post-graduate courses were introduced from 1904, and several additional departments were established. After India got independence in 1947, the functions and powers of the university were reorganized under The Bombay University Act of 1953. The name of the university was changed from University of Bombay to University of Mumbai in 1996.

Today, it’s jurisdiction extends over 7 districts: Mumbai City district, Mumbai Suburban district, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Thane. In 1949, student enrolment was 42,272 with 80 affiliated colleges. By 1975, these numbers had grown to 156,190 and 114 respectively. It further rose to 2.6 lakh in 2021-22.

This 165 years old University is truly regal and standing tall. It has nurtured the style originated in England – the Gothic Revival style building designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who incidentally never visited Bombay and worked from London. Imagine the mastery of this great architect who visualized a University building and got it built so aesthetically.

The University boasts of one of the most beautiful clock towers modelled after the Big Ben in London, this tower stands at a height of 85 mts with 5 storeys, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the tower got completed in 1878. The architecture is a fusion of Venetian and Gothic styles and the interiors are decorated with some of the finest stained glasses. Half the cost of the building was met by Premchand Raichand, a prosperous broker on the condition that the tower would be named after his mother Rajabai. After some recent suicide attempts that were made at this place, the tower now remains closed for public. However, the structure is as beautiful on the outside as it is from the inside.

The Convocation famously known as Cowasji Jehangir Convocation Hall named after the Parsi philanthropist Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney had funded the construction. It is part of the University complex recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built between 1869 and 1874, again designed by George William Scott. The library stands separate to the Convocation Hall. It has a corner staircase that towers with spiralling arcades. It’s part Venetian in style with sharply pointed spires and intricate stained-glass windows. The front of the library has stone columns supporting a porch. The brickwork is red, as with many of Scott’s buildings. In August, 1864, Premchand Raichand donated Rs.2 lakhs to the University towards the construction of university library. Raichand wanted the library to look fabulous  and he wanted the library to become a storehouse for variety of books for many generations to come.

One fact which is little-known about the University and that is George Scott’s original plans for the building was far too expensive. Two British architects, Walter Paris and George Twigg-Molesey were appointed to reduce them. Initially Scott was unaware of it. The two men team managed to keep much of Scott’s design intact, although the original plan was far outstanding and would now be considered Scott’s most magnificent university building.

Mumbai University is known for first of its kind educational practice. Currently the University has 56 Departments, 12 specialized Centres, 781 Affiliated Colleges, 2 main Campuses, 2 sub-Campuses, 2 Model Colleges, and the ‘School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ at Kalyan as the University’s own Engineering College.

I have been a Professor of Management Studies associated with few Management Institutions affiliated to University of Mumbai. I visit the Fort campus regularly.  The campus is well maintained and has a good academic vibrancy. I remember taking my D.Litt in Management Studies degree in 2008 convocation in Cowasji Jehangir Hall in presence of  the then Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court Justice Swatanter Kumar as Chief Guest, Dr. Vijay Khole – Vice Chancellor and Dr. Arun Sawant as Pro-Vice Chancellor .…I get goosebumps and feel nostalgic about this experience of my life.  I connect with the majestic University Fort Campus as some meetings in VC’s chamber, in discussion room attached to VC’s chamber, visit to affiliation office, CONCOL office, thesis section etc.  I feel connected to the Mumbai University over the past 24 years. This University has stood tall for the past 165 years, it has grown with some of the best students, teachers, administrators, Vice Chancellors, Chancellors.

A University campus is cluster of departments, lounges and buildings at heart, that creates unforgettable educational experiences for countless learners. The campus design symbolizes vision, mission and philosophies of the University.

In Oriya language, “Goti” means single and “Pua” means boy. Gotipua means male dancers dressed as females, dancing for female roles. I recently visited Odisha and had a chance to see the famous Gotipua dance. It requires lot of balancing skills. This dance symbolizes rich cultural heritage of Odisha. The Gotipuas are mostly young boys, from 6-14 years of age who dress as females and perform the dance with high degree of sophistication, just like any other female dancer. Even though the Gotipua dance is applicable to the Odissi style, it varies in its technique, costumes and presentation.

The dance is not easy to perform. It requires rigorous training and regular practice. It requires a lot of balancing of the body. The boys are trained from young age till adolescence.

There are two prevalent theories when it comes to the history of Gotipua: one theory states that the Devadasi system gradually declined with the advent of the Mughals. The priests of the Puri Jagannath temple selected boys from poor families to dance for the deity and carry forward the legacy. The other theory is related to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the famous Bhakti saint, who wanted dance troupes to dance during the Rath Yatra. However, the temple priests declined his request citing menstruating devadasis would make the ceremony impure, hence eventually young boys were chosen for this dance.

It’s sad that slowly Gotipua tradition is on extinct; boys no longer want to dress like women and dance. However, some ardent followers of the dance like Guru Budhnath Pradhan are trying to keep the dance style alive. I had a chance to talk to Shri. Budhanath Pradhan, he said that he and some other dancers are trying their best to revive the dance form. However, without the Government support they feel helpless. Budhanath Pradhan runs his gurukool (dance academy) with scarce financial aid… The costume and jewellery is so expensive. The boys need proper food and nutrients as they come from very poor families.

Gotipua repertoire involving all elements of the dance; this dance form is highly spiritual. The dance forms a gamut of styles which includes:

Mangalacharan: Invocation of the Lord Jagannath’s blessings. The piece simply involves showering the God/Goddess’s idol with flower, praying to the deity and welcoming all the audiences for the dance recital.

Abhinaya: This is the piece exclusively for expressing various emotions through dance. Typically, Lord Krishna’s mischief is the subject in abhinaya recital, though not necessary.

Pallavi: This is a piece to highlight the talents of the dancer in the technical aspect of dances. This is also a part were the accompanist can elaborate on singing and rhythm.

Dance drama: Odissi is mostly danced solo, but a dance drama gives opportunity for a group performance on any mythological account.

Moksha: The recital concludes with Moksha (liberation of the soul from worldly affairs, also known as spiritual liberation or oneness of the soul with God). This piece is usually very spiritual and the dancer connects with the God through intense dancing. The entire recital concludes with some shloka.

Gotipua carvings:  Long ago, the temples in Orissa had female dancers known as devdasis (or mahari), who were devoted to Jagannath, which gave rise to Mahiri dance. The temples such as Konark, Lingaraj and Jagannath Puri have beautifully carved sculptures of dancers in Orissa. The renowned master of Odissi dance such as Kelucharan Mohapatra was initially Gotipua dancer in his youth. He is the first person to receive the Padma Vibhushan from Odisha. Each year, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre organises the Gotipua Dance Festival in Bhubaneshwar.

The dance typically begins with a vandana prayer an invocation, with prayers of gratitude to Mother Earth, Jagannath and one’s guru and welcoming the audience. The dancers perform a three-step salutation: the first above their heads towards God, the second in front of their faces for the guru and the third in front of their chests for the audience. The Sarigama is a dance celebrating beauty, and highlighting the mastery of technique; it is portrayed by dancers and musicians carved into the outer walls of ancient temples.

The Abhinaya is the enactment of a song and interpretation of ancient poetry. This dance depicts Radha-Krishna oriented poems, such as the 12th-century Gita Govinda. The verses used for narration are extremely ornate in content and suggestion. Graceful, fluid, and sensual, the Abhinaya resembles a moving love poem with its facial expressions, eye movement and mudra gestures.

The costume and make-up: To facilitate the make-over into graceful feminine dancers, the boys do not cut their hair to make an elaborate hair-do in a knot. Garlands of flowers are woven into the hair. They apply make-up on their face with white and red powder mixed together. Kajal (black eyeliner) is applied around the eyes with a broad outline to give them an elongated look. The Bindi (red dot) is applied on the forehead with a pattern made from sandalwood around it. Traditional paintings adorn the face and are the identity of every dance school.

The dance costume has evolved over time. The traditional dress is a “Kanchula”, bright coloured blouse with shiny adornment. An apron-like and embroidered silk cloth is tied around the waist like a frill worn around the legs: it is called “nibibandha”. The Gotipua dancers have given up their traditional costume due to the influence of modernity. In some cases, they still adhere to the tradition; they use the pattasari made with one piece of tissue around four meters long, which is worn tightly by having equal lengths of material on both sides, and by tying a knot on the navel. Those traditional dresses are often replaced by a new designed cloth easier for dressing. The dancers wear specially designed jewellery made with beads, necklaces, bracelets, armbands and ear ornaments. The nose piercing jewellery has been replaced nowadays by a painted motive. They add ankle bells to accentuate the beats tapped out by the feet. Palms and soles are painted with a red liquid called “Alta”. In the Gotipua dance the costume, jewellery and bells are revered as sacred items.

Kudos to the Gurus who are keeping the dance form alive, seeing is believing. Please do watch this dance whenever you visit Odisha.

Legends often convey timeless and universal themes, which are relevant in portraying the human experience. Myths and legends give insights into the values and perspectives of long gone cultures. These stories give us an idea how our ancestors lived and what kind of societies they colonized. Myths and legends also show us what was different about human life when these stories originated; what has stayed with us and what is gone. The legends have value as literature too. Importantly, myths and legends allow us to understand how much we have progressed since then and in some cases they tell us how much we have retreated. Frankly speaking whenever I see the very old architecture, I feel people then were more progressive than today. The legendary Jagannath Puri temple which is almost 900 years old, but, still is standing majestically tall and has its interesting traditional story.

It seems the original image of Jagannath (Vishnu) at the end of Treta Yuga (as per the Hindu mythology Treta yug lasted 3,600 divine years and saw the sixth and seventh incarnations of Lord Vishnu as Prashurama and Rama) was in form of Indranil Mani. Vishnu is known as the preserver, Vishnu is one of three supreme Hindu deities, along with Brahma and Shiva. Vishnu’s role is to protect humans and to restore order to the world. His presence is found in every object and force in creation, and some Hindus recognize him as the divine being from which all things come. Jagannath is one of the names of Lord Vishnu.

Indranil Mani (Blue bead of Jewel) manifested (appeared on its own) near a Banyan tree near the seashore. It was so alluring that it could grant instant moksha (salvation), so the God Yama (God of death) wanted to hide it in the earth as his schedule of ending people’s life was getting disturbed by Indranil mani, he was successful in doing so. In Dvapara Yuga King Indradyumna of Malwa region wanted to find that mysterious Indranil mani, he became very restless; he tried his best to seek the Blue jewel. He became so restless and obsessed that he performed several harsh penances to obtain his goal. Vishnu then instructed him to go to the Puri seashore and find a floating log to make an image from its trunk.

As per Vishnu’s instructions, the King found the log of wood. He did a yajna (worship fire with devotion and offering) from which God Yajna Narsimha appeared and instructed that Vishnu should be made as fourfold (having four units) expansion, i.e. Paramatma as Vishnu, his Vyuha (head of troop for battle) as Samkarshana i.e Balarama, Yogamaya (energy of Lord Vishnu) as Subhadra, and his Vibhava (welth and prosperity) as Sudarsana chakra. Vishwakarma (the designer of all the flying chariots of the gods, and all their weapons and divine attributes, architect of Gods) appeared in the form of an artisan and prepared images of Jagannath, Balrama and Subhadra from the tree.

When the king Indradyumna found the floating log, radiant with light which was seen floating in the sea, Narada told the king to make three idols out of it and place them in a pavilion. Indradyumna got Visvakarma, the architect of Gods, to build a magnificent temple to house the idols. In fact, it seems Vishnu himself appeared in the guise of a carpenter to make the idols on condition that he was to be left undisturbed until he finished the work.

But just after two weeks, the Queen became very anxious. She felt that the carpenter to be dead as no sound came from the temple. Therefore, she requested the king to open the door. Thus, they went to see Vishwakarma at work at which the latter abandoned his work leaving the idols unfinished. The idols were without any hands. But a divine voice told Indradyumana to install them in the temple. It has also been widely believed that in spite of the idol being without most of the parts of body, but only beautiful and big eyes, it can watch over the world and be its lord. The conception of big spherical eyes comes from the outline that the eyes of Hindu deity are just like the Sun and Moon. The contour and circular shape depict the infiniteness. Lord Jagannath talks to his devotees through his big eyes.

The temple of Jagannath in Puri has these eight mysteries, they are:

1. The flag always flaps in a direction opposite to the direction in which the wind is blowing.
2. Look from any place in Puri, and you will always find the Sudarshan Charka (charka at the top of the temple) all the time facing you.
3. Normally during day-time, the wind blows from the sea to the land and in the evening, the opposite happens; but in Puri, the opposite happens. During daytime the winds flow from the land and in the night they blow from the sea.
4. Birds or planes do not fly above the temple.
5. The shadow of the main dome is unseen at any time of day.
6. The quantity of cooked food inside the temple remains same the entire year. And the same prasadam can feed whatever be the number of devotees – a few thousand people or 20 lakh people. It has never happened that the food is fallen short or has been wasted!
7. In the temple kitchen, seven pots are kept on top of each other and cooked on firewood. In this process, the contents of the top pot get cooked first, lastly, the bottommost one!
8. On entering from Singhadwara (Lion Gate), as one takes the first step inside the Temple, the sound of ocean cannot be heard, but, once you cross the same step outside the Temple, you can hear it.

Nabakalebara: The idol of Lord Jagannath is made of Wood. A unique custom is followed at Puri Jagannath temple. It is called the Nabakalebara process (Naba means new and Kalebara is body). The idols of the deities are replaced after 12 – 19 years as they are made of wood which decays with the time passed by.  Nabakalebara means leaving of the old deity and the sanctification of the new. As a person puts on new garments and gives up the old, the soul accepts new material bodies and gives up old. According to temple rituals, the deities are made from the neem, musk, sandalwood tree barks and some other combinations; they undergo a change before the Adhika Ashadha ends.  The change of wooden deities is done under a specific astrological combination in which their power is ritually transferred. Nabakalebara is about the transformation of the Puri temple and Odisha lords into a new body. The new wooden idols of Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra and Sudarshan are welcomed to the temple in celebration. The old idols are ritually buried in Koili Baikuntha in accordance with century-old Odia scriptures.

Pratapgad Fort

Forts have been important in the history of mankind. Great warrior kings spent their riches, and energy in building forts, be it the Romans, be it the Pathans, be it the Marathas, the warriors built forts. Conventionally forts were built to ensure a safe and secure human settlement, to keep the enemy far away and to ensure having an upper hand during war. Do you know that the oldest fort in the world is in India? Its name is Kangra Fort and there is Goddess Vajreshwari temple in the fort; you will get to visit it during road journey from Dharamshala to Jammu. India has a wide and large history, it is said there might be some more forts which are not yet discovered by anyone. As of now, India has approximately more than 1000 forts.

It’s worth to note that Shivaji Maharaj gave immense importance to forts and literally built 111 forts within 35 years! He built forts for three prime reasons: first is to establish the empire in the region, to sustain it and expand it. Second reason is once a fort was built in a region, it influenced the lives of the locals residing up to a radius of 50 km from the fort; every fort filled the posts of Killedar (the one with the keys of the fort), Chowkidars (guards), Metkaris (for maintaining intelligence vigil), etc. The locals were benefited by employment generation, markets grew and a sense of security prevailed. The third reasons is these helped in earning loyalty of that region towards Shivaji Maharaj, and the youth would join his army and help him conquer more and more states.

Shivaji Maharaj was a strategist, a visionary: once he established his empire, the revenue generation was important. Maintaining the forts was crucial; Maharaj and his army would raid on various cities like Surat and raise money. For example, in the raid on Surat, then it was a key Mughal power centre, and a wealthy port town which generated a million rupees in taxes. Shivaji Maharaj was successful in acquiring 100 crore Hun, where 1 Hun is equivalent to today’s Rs. 2,40,000! The geographical location of his forts had an additional advantage. They were built near the Ghat regions, next to routes of travelling importance, his administration used to collect Zakat (toll) for passing through the region. Can you imagine, those days revenue was also generated through import and export? Forts were built along the western and eastern coastlines, which helped to generate revenue from import and export of materials. Shivaji Maharaj was ahead of his times, he then knew the importance of securing the coastlines, even if the Europeans and their material try to enter from the Eastern coast or the Western coast, they would first have to go through the Maratha check posts.

Each fort was erected with a wide channel, it also included a fortifications or defensive barrier made of timber posts or stone. Those days’ forts were built extensively using stones, and gypsum was used for plastering construction. Lime plaster was reserved for places that need to be secured against water leakage in roofs, canals, and drains.

It is interesting to note that in medieval India, the practice of burying humans either dead or alive in the foundations of fort walls was carried on; this was to ensure stability of the fort. It was believed that the ghosts of those sacrificed would keep evil spirits away. During the building of the Sri Fort, which was built in Delhi by Alauddin Khalji is reported to have buried 8,000 skulls of Mughals killed by him into the foundation. During the building of Purandar Fort one its citadel gave way several times. The king of Berar then ordered his minister an Esaji Naik Chive to bury a first-born son and his wife into the foundation of the bastion. This was promptly done and after a further offering of gold and bricks. When the bastion was finished Esaji Naik was given possession of the fort and the father of the sacrificed boy was rewarded with two villages. All of this sounds so cruel and ghastly.

In that era people knew the importance of water and had devised a number of techniques to manage and conserve water resources. These efforts not only met the drinking water needs of the people, but also helped the survival of livestock and agriculture in areas where perennial rivers were absent and the population depended on rains and often faced water scarcity or droughts. If you observe the forts built or conquered by Shivaji Maharaj, each fort has many water tanks built within its structure.  The tanks are rock-cut cisterns that accumulate and store rainwater. These tanks were created when the rocks needed for the construction of the forts were extracted from the ground. At some locations, there are dressed stone walls around these tanks to increase the height and the storing capacity of the tanks.

Sinhagad Fort

Two of the forts of Shivaji Maharaj which are breathtakingly amazing are Pratapgad fort which is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Poladpur and 23 kilometres (14 mi) west of Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in the area. The fort stands 1,080 meters (3,540 ft) above sea level.  And the other is Sinhagad previously known as Kondhana is a hill fortress (citadel) located at around 35 km southwest of the city of Pune, Maharashtra state, India. Some of the information available at this fort suggests that the fort could have been built 2000 years ago. There is a temple in the fort of Kaundinyeshwar, it stands as proofs for the same.

Pratapgad is a very strong hill fort built by Shivaji in 1656-58 AD. The construction of the fort was delegated to Moropant Pingale, who later became Shivaji’s Peshwa, and Hiroji Indulkar, the architect.  A special feature of the fort is its double line of fortification and walls on all sides, their heights varying according to the nature of the ground.   The upper fort is built across the northern and western crest of the hill measuring about 180sq.metres.  The lower fort is built on the southern and the eastern terrace with walls and stronghold at corners. The fort has temple of Goddess Bhavani, the family deity of the Shivaji Maharaj, built by him. Pratapgad fort is famous for the assassination of Afzalkhan. When Afzalkhan called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to meet him at the bottom of the fort, he tried to kill Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by way of treachery. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj assassinated him in seconds by removing his intestines after cutting open his stomach.

Sinhagad was previously known as Kondhana, the fort had been the site of many battles, most notably the 1670 battle. Sinhagad is built on the edge of an isolated cliff of the Bhuleswar range in the Sahyadri Mountains, the fort is situated on a hill about 760 meters above ground and 1,312 meters above mean sea level. The Sinhagad literally in English known as the Lion’s Fort was strategically built to provide natural protection due to its very steep slopes. The walls and bastions were constructed only at key places. There are two gates to enter the fort, the Kalyan Darwaza and Pune Darwaza which are positioned at the south east and north-east ends respectively. The fort was also strategically located at the centre of a string of other Maratha occupied forts such as Raigad Fort, Purandar Fort and Torna Fort.

Though we are taught to inculcate certain habits like washing hands before meals, regular brushing of teeth, and bathing and wearing clean clothes from our young age, in most households, cleanliness of public places is not inculcated in the minds of children. Cleanliness needs to be imbibed in our characters, no wonder our public places and societies are kept filthily.

Gandhiji dwelt on cleanliness and good habits and pointed out its close relationship to good health. No one should spit or blow his nose on the streets. In some cases the sputum is so harmful that the germs infect others. In most developing and progressive countries spitting on the road, throwing trash on the roads, cleaning nose on the road is a criminal offence. Those who spit after chewing betel leaves and tobacco have no consideration for the feelings of others. Spittle, throwing mucus from the nose, etc, is such an ugly thing that we are least bothered about it. India is blessed with beautiful heritage tourist destinations, instead of keeping them clean and tidy and help flourishing tourism, they are neglected and kept dirty.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) or Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is a nation-wide campaign in India by the present Government from 2014 to 2019 that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of Indian cities, towns, and rural areas. The objectives of Swachh Bharat include eliminating open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets and establishing a systematic mechanism of monitoring toilet use. The mission is run by the Government of India; the mission aims to achieve an “open-defecation free” (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.

The mission aims at constructing 90 million toilets in rural India at a projected cost of 1.96 lakh crore (US$30 billion). The mission will also contribute to India reaching sustainable development growth (SDG), established by the UN in 2015. The campaign was officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is India’s largest cleanliness drive till date.

A clean place instantly looks attractive. Cleanliness raises an ordinary looking place to the extraordinary. Abroad the heritage sites are kept so clean, neat and tidy, they therefore look appealing to visit by foreigners. Imagine how Niagara Falls would look if there were plastic bags, bottles or other waste material all around? In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a vow in 2014 that he would clean up river Ganga by 2019 in five years tenure of his government. A detectably clean Ganga could boost Modi’s credibility as someone who can be trusted to deliver. But, the river is yet to be cleaned. It’s not an easy task, accepted, but in past four years hardly any work has been done on the cleaning it. Among the Hindus in India, the river Ganges is considered sacred and is personified as the Goddess Gaṅgā. She is worshiped by Hindus who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates liberation.

The aesthetics of a place raises when it is kept clean and neat. Cleanliness is a character trait, it cannot be forcefully taught. Keeping your environment clean goes a great way in keeping you and your family healthy. It provides enough inspiration to start making a few changes for a cleaner surrounding, cleaner city and cleaner nation. Garbage that is not attended to, garbage lying on the road or in uncovered bins serves as perfect breeding grounds for pathogens and germs. Why allow germs to form?  Why allow them to exist in the first place? Why can’t we close the Pandora box of waste? It will reduce the spread of all transmissible diseases.

Tourists prefer visiting destinations which are kept cleaner, where the possibility of acquiring diseases is minimal. It is a very sensible thought. Nobody would want to spend their vacation lying in bed. Hence keeping a place clean will easily lure more tourists and make tourism a booming industry. Like in the cities like Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh which are supposed to be the cleanest cities in India, the tourism is on boom. Statistics show that these cities attract a large number of travelers every year.

If citizens don’t feel the necessity of cleanliness, the Swach Bharat Movement will be hardly constructive. It is difficult and almost impossible to clean and set everything in a managed way in short time. Waste manage is a real big task. India must gear up technologically for the challenge of waste management.