FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Stories and Legends of Deepavali

     India, the land of rich cultural heritage, has one or the other festival every month. It is the spiritual and religious richness in India that each festival has significance related to lifestyle, seasons, history and legends of this great land. One such festival is the 'festival of lights: Deepawali'. 

     Like every other Hindu festival, stories and legends are associated with Diwali too. Here are some of them in brief:

Return of Shri Ram To Ayodhya: The most famous legend behind the celebrations of Diwali is about the prince of Ayodhya Nagri - Lord Shri Ram. While in exile, the king of Lanka, Ravana, kidnapped Ram's wife, Sita from the forest, where they were staying as per the instructions of King Dashratha, father of Lord Ram. In order to free Sita from Ravana's custody, Ram attacked Lanka with the aid of 'Vaanar Sena' in which, Ram defeated Ravan and released Sita. On the return of Lord Ram along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, from exile after 14 years,  people of Ayodhya decorated their homes as well as the city of Ayodhya by lighting tiny diyas all over. It was this day.

The Rebirth of Lakshmi: Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity, is the most prominent goddess associated with Diwali and thus her story is one that has particular significance to the festival. As the legend goes, through a display of arrogance,  Lord Indra once provoked Lakshmi to leave the divine world and enter the milky ocean. Without the guidance and blessings of Lakshmi, the world then turned into a dark place and the gods were desperate to bring her back. After churning the milky ocean (Samudra Manthan) for 1,000 years, Lakshmi was finally reborn, rising to the surface on a beautiful lotus flower and once again bringing to the world her blessings of good fortune. On Diwali, people light up the night to guide Lakshmi into their home and bring good fortune and prosperity for the year to come.

Lord Krishna Destroyed Demon Narakasur: Legend holds that Narakasura was blessed by Brahma with the power that he could only die at the hands of a woman, whom Narakasura believed would never happen. After victory over Lord Indra during a war, Narakasur snatched away the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi. Narakasur also imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of Gods and saints in his harem. With the support of Lord Krishna, Satyabhama defeated Narakasur, released all the women from his harem and restored the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi. While dying, Narakasura requested that no one mourn his death and instead celebrate with life and colour, as we see take place every year during the Diwali festival.

The Return of The Pandavas: The great Hindu epic 'Mahabharata' has another interesting story related to the 'Kartik Amavasya'. According to the story, the 'Pandavas', were sentenced to thirteen years exile after losing a game of dice, against 'the Kauravas'. Therefore, the Pandavas spent thirteen years in the forest and returned to their kingdom on the day of 'Kartik Amavasya' leading to celebrations.

Coronation of King Vikramaditya: Another legend about Diwali celebrations relates to one of the greatest Hindu King - Vikramaditya. It was the day when he was coronated and the people celebrated this event by lighting tiny earthen 'diyas'. His reign was also the beginning of Vikram Samvat, the Hindu calendar, and celebrated as Hindu New year every year on this day in some regions.

Kali Destroys the Demons: Kali, the goddess of destruction, is celebrated in West Bengal as the major deity associated with Diwali. According to Hindu mythology, Kali was born to liberate heaven and earth from the cruel oppression of the demons. However, after slaying all the demons, Kali lost control and continued her path of destruction until the intervention of Lord Shiva. Her day of repentance is celebrated on Diwali, paying tribute to the awesome power of Kali and her embodiment of the ultimate victory of good over evil.

Lord Mahavira attains Nirvana: While these previous legends come from Hindu mythology, Jains also have their own traditions that guide the celebration of Diwali. According to Jainism, Lord Mahavira, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, reached enlightenment at the time of Diwali in the 6th century BCE, around the time of the first historical records of the festival’s observation. 

Guru Hargobind's Release from Prison 'Bandi Chhor Divas': In Sikh tradition, this date commemorates the 17th-century release from prison of Guru Hargobind, a significant figure in the Sikh religion, who had been detained under the Mughal empire. It is also a time of year during which all Sikhs traditionally gather to receive guru blessings, and has officially been observed as a Sikh festival since the 16th-century.

The basic nature of the human spirit is celebration whatever may be the occasion. So let's celebrate Diwali, let's celebrate Life!

Happy Diwali!

DO YOU KNOW

 What is a bunk bed?

A bunk bed is a special type of bed designed for kids that has two beds stacked on top of each other. 

It looks like a tall frame with a ladder to climb up to the upper end. 

The top bed is like a cosy nest high above the ground, while the lower bed is closer to the floor. 

Bunk beds are super fun for kids because they can sleep on different levels, almost like having a little adventure every night. 

They are perfect for siblings who share a room or for sleepovers with friends. 

Bunk beds save space and create a playful and exciting sleeping area for young ones to enjoy.

THE FUN SPORT WITH SWORDS

 Fencing

Fencing is a cool sport where people wear special clothes and swords to play.

Fencers wear masks and jackets to stay safe while playing. 

There are three types of swords in fencing: foil, epee and sabre, each with its own rules.

It helps people practice balance, focus and quick thinking.

Fencers learn special moves like lunges and parries to score points.

The matches are like exciting duels, where fencers try to hit each other with the sword's tip.

Fencing is not just winning; it's about having fun and making friends.

It's a sport that teaches respect, discipline and good sportsmanship.

Fencing is a great way to stay active, learn new skills and enjoy the thrill of friendly competition.

AN ANCIENT TEMPLE VILLAGE OF KARNATAKA

Hampi

     Hampi is an ancient temple village in Karnataka. Located inside Vijayanagara city, it is also known by its traditional names --- Pampa Kshetra, Kishkindha Kshetra and Bhaskara Kshetra. The history of Hampi dates back to the first century, but concrete information exists from the 12^th  and 13^th centuries when the city was established. In about 200 years, Vijayanagara was ruled by four dynasties --- Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu.

     The Vijayanagara empire was established and founded by Bukka and Harihara, who were also known as the Sangama brothers. They made Hampi their capital city in the 14^th century. The rulers of all the four dynasties built many monuments and sculptures; of these only 500 monuments now survive. The rest, present as ruins, are spread over 4,100 hectares of land and include forts, sacred complexes, temples, shrines and pillared halls. Some of the ruins worth visiting are as follows.

     The Virupaksha temple, also known as the Pampvathi Temple, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The structure dates back to the 9^th century and is known for its inscriptions. The temple has three gopuras and a 160 ft-high tower at the main entrance.

     The stone chariot located inside the Vitthala temple premises is another known and well-visited monument. The chariot was built by the king Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16^th century. It is said that the chariot was inspired by the Konark Sun Temple chariot of Odisha. The chariot is a shrine for Lord Vishnu's vehicle, the Garuda. It is built based on the Dravidian style of architecture, where slabs of granite have been used to look like a solid structure. The base of the chariot depicts a mythical battle scene and has sculptures of horses and elephants.

     Another attraction is the king's balance or the Tulapurushandana. Situated close to the Stone chariot, this 5mt-tall structure forms an archway-like structure. It is carved from stone and locals believe that during an eclipse and Dussehra, the king would weigh himself against gold and precious stones and these jewels were then handed over to the priests of the temple. 

     The Achyutaraya temple is another classic temple structure that was built in 1534. This was the last structure to be built before the empire fell to the Sultans. This temple is also dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple courtyard is lined by intricately carved pillars and the temple houses an antarala, rangamantapa and garbhagriha.

Some more information:

* The rocks of Hampi are thousands of years old. It is believed that they were formed from years of erosion of giant monoliths that existed during the prehistoric ages.

* The Vitthala Temple is known for its 56 melodic columns or musical pillars, which are also known as SaReGaMa Pillars. These stone pillars create musical sounds when tapped delicately.

* A simple scientific fact was used to break the stones that the temples are constructed out of. Artists cut the gigantic stones by drilling a sequence of holes on the stones' surface. Dry wooden pieces were then pegged into the holes and drenched in water. As the wooden pegs absorbed the water, they expanded, causing the stones to split and break.

THE FIRST AND THE LAST FEMALE RULER OF DELHI

 Razia Sultan

     Razia was born to the slave dynasty, also known as the Mamluk Dynasty, which ruled over Delhi during the 13^th century century. Her father Iltutmish knew that all his sons were useless and ensured that his daughter was trained in arms and administration. He put her in charge of the kingdom whenever he was away on military campaigns. She fulfilled this duty to everyone's satisfaction and was designated as his successor.

     After his death, however, his nobles disregarded his wish and made Razia's half-brother Raknuddin Firuz, the king. As expected by Iltutmish, he proved to be a bad ruler. His mother Shah Turkan was very ambitious and started killing or punishing nobles to control them. She even tried to get Razia killed.

     Once when Raknuddin was away on a campaign, Razia instigated the public assembled for prayers against Shah Turkan, who had got one of Razia's brothers blinded and executed. She reminded them of her father's good reign and will and promised relief from the oppressive ruler. She also offered to give up the throne if she did not meet their expectations. A mob soon attacked the palace and Shah Turkan was detained. The nobles installed Razia on the throne. She thus becamethe first female Muslim ruler in South Asia.

     Razia gave up her traditional female attire and adopted a more gender neutral attire. She also dropped her veil and displayed her face in public. She rode an elephant through the streets of Delhi. She refused to be addressed as 'Sultana' because that meant 'wife of a Sultan' and insisted on being called 'Sultan'. She also issued coins in her name.

     She streamlined the administration of her state and established schools, academics and public libraries. She encouraged the study of literature, philosophy, the sciences and astronomy. She constructed roads to connect villages with cities. She was also the first ruler to abolish the hated Jaziya tax, which was imposed on Hindus.

     Razia had ascended the throne with the support of the general public, rather than that of the powerful Turkic nobles who dominated Delhi's court. Many of the nobles could not accept a female ruling over them. Razia tried to reduce the power of the Turkic nobles by promoting non-Turkics. This further angered them and they rose up against her in rebellion. Four powerful Turkic nobles marched on Delhi from different directions. Razia led her army out to the Yamuna bank to face the rebels. After some indecisive fighting, two of the rebels switched to Razia's side and the others were defeated.

     Razia made several changes to the administration and made new appointments. The nobles who had supported her rise had expected her to be a ruler in name while they held the real power, but Razia grew increasingly assertive. She also promoted Malik Yaqut, an Abyssinian slave, as a counter to Turkic nobles. Her close relationship with Yaqut ultimately became the cause of her downfall.

     While she was away to quell a rebellion in Lahore, a conspiracy was hatched to dethrone her. On her return from Lahore, Razia learnt that Altunia of Bathinda, her childhood friend, had rebelled. She led her army to Bathinda 10 days later, but rebels killed Yaqut and imprisoned Razia. Razia had ruled from the throne of Delhi for three years and six months.

     The nobles installed Razia's half brother Bahram on the throne. They distributed the important titles among themselves, ignoring Altunia, who was holding Razia prisoner. A few months later, Razia married the now disgruntled Altunia and they together decided to attempt to win back the throne. After assembling an army, they fought against Bahram but were defeated. They were forced to retreat to Kaithal, where they were deserted by their soldiers and were robbed and killed by Jat zamindars. Curiously, there is controversy about Razia's real grave and there are three probable ones --- in Kaithal, Delhi and Tonk.

     Razia ruled and fought in a man's world. The Turkic nobles wanted to keep the ruler of Delhi under their thumb and Razia's gender gave them a convenient excuse to oppose her. Nevertheless, in her brief reign, Razia made a mark thanks to her tolerance and efforts to improve the lives of her subjects. She was truly a 'People's Queen'.

Things we learn from Razia Sultan:

* Women are equally capable as men.

* Public welfare is the supreme duty of a ruler.

* Learning and pursuit of knowledge are very important for everyone.

PEACE, HARMONY AND BROTHERHOOD

 A beautiful message from pigeons

 

     In an ancient temple, a number of pigeons lived happily on the roof top.

     When the renovation of the temple began for the annual temple feast, the pigeons relocated themselves to a Church nearby. 

     The existing pigeons in the Church accommodated the new comers very well.

     Christmas was nearing and the Church was given a facelift. All the pigeons had to move out and look for another place.

     They were fortunate to find a place in a Mosque nearby. The pigeons in the Mosque welcomed them happily. Then, It was Ramadan time and the Mosque was to be repainted. All the pigeons now came back to the same ancient temple.

     One day the pigeons on top could see some communal clashes below in the market square.

     The baby pigeon asked the mother pigeon, "Who are these people?"

     The mother replied, "They are Human beings".

     The baby asked, "But why are they fighting with each other...?"

     The mother said, "These human beings going to temple are called 'Hindus' and the people going to Church are called 'Christians' and the people going to Mosque are called 'Muslims'."

     The Baby pigeon asked, "Why is it so? When we were in the Temple we were called Pigeons, when we were in the church we were called Pigeons and when we were in the Mosque, we were called Pigeons. Similarly they should be called just 'Human beings' wherever they go, isn’t it?"

     The mother Pigeon said, "You and me and our Pigeon friends have experienced God and that's why we are living here in a highly elevated place peacefully. These people are yet to experience God. Hence they are living below us and fighting and killing each other."

   Peace, harmony and brotherhood are the marks of humanity. They are the heart of every religion. They are the ultimate weapons against all powerful weapons. Oneness will only be actualized when we uproot the seed of discord, and sow the seed of harmony.

A TREASURE TROVE OF NUTRIENTS

 The Jackfruit

     One of the oldest tropical fruits is the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), which has a history of cultivation dating back 5,000 years. The fruit originated in south-western India, and later spread to other tropical regions of the world. The name is derived from Portuguese jaca, which in turn comes from the Malyalam name for the fruit, chakka. Today the world's leading jackfruit producers are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It is also grown in Thailand, the Philippines, parts of Africa (Tanzania, Mauritius etc.) and tropical America (Brazil, Hawaii). 

     The jackfruit tree is a familiar sight throughout India, especially in the southern, eastern and western states. The tree is much valued by subsistence farmers as a source of food, fodder, fuel, timber as well as medicinal and industrial products, and is the national tree of Bangladesh. The ripe fruit significantly contributes to the nutrition of low-income families as it is a good source of vitamins, minerals and calories.

     The tree is a handsome, stately evergreen that can reach a height of 80 feet. All its parts exude a milky white latex that is extremely sticky. The leaves are oblong or oval, 4 to 6 inches long, glossy and deep green in colour. The fruit, which is the world's largest tree-borne fruit, is up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. On an average, a mature fruit weighs about 20 kg. But only about 30% of the fruit is edible matter. The fruit is covered by a thick spiky skin that is dark green in colour and is difficult to cut into. The interior consists of large edible bulbs of yellow flesh, each enclosing a smooth, oval, light brown seed that is about an inch long. A single fruit contains 100 to 500 seeds. The flesh has a rich, musky flavour.

     The jackfruit is rich in potassium, vitamins A, C and B and minerals like calcium, zinc and phosphorus. It is also a good source of dietary fibre, which keeps constipation at bay and offers protection against colon cancer. Further, it contains simple sugars like fructose and sucrose, that provide instant energy and revitalise the body. 

     The jackfruit is a highly versatile fruit whose flesh can be eaten as it is, added to desserts such as ice creams or fruit salads or processed into a variety of mouth-watering delicacies including jams, jellies, beverages, sweets, biscuits, candy and chips. Asian and African cuisines make extensive use of the fruit in its ripe and raw forms. Unripe jackfruit is cooked and eaten as a vegetable and is an excellent substitute for meat in spicy curries and other savoury dishes. Jackfruit seeds which are rich in protein are boiled or roasted and eaten like nuts or added to other preparations.

     Various parts of the jackfruit tree have medicinal uses. The root extract is used to treat fever, diarrhoea, skin diseases and asthma. Application of the latex mixed with vinegar is said to cure abscesses, swellings and snake bites. 

     Jackfruit leaves have served many purposes over the years, from being used as spoons to eat gruel, plates to eat food in olden days,  to the present use as fodder for cattle. 

     Jack wood is used to make musical instruments such as the veena and mrudangam. Being termite proof and resistant to fungal decay, it is also used in house construction and for making furniture. A yellow dye is extracted from the wood and used to dye cotton.