Lakhs of devotees thronged to Puri for the return of Lord Jagannath. The return festival is held nine days after the annual Rath Yatra, which marks the journey of the three deities from the 12th century Jagannath temple in three splendidly decorated wooden chariots to Gundicha temple, about two kilometres away.
The deities return to their abode in the same splendidly decorated chariots, which thousands of devotees pull with the help of ropes during the Bahuda Yatra.
Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha organized ‘Emerging Voices’ concert at the Guyana International Conference Center (GICC), Liliendaal. This marked launch of Dharmic Sabha’s “Venture Against Child Abuse” campaign.
Guyenes President Bharat Jagdeo attended Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Concert. In his speech he addressed the problem of child abuse. He said that child abuse needs to tackled with an approach that is more localized than just following what other countries are doing. Details of his address here However not everyone agrees with President and have started raising questions. Here is one such review
Jodhpur celebrated the fortnight long unique ‘Deenga Gawar’ festival that culminated on Thursday in which married women in traditional attire take out a procession, beating up unmarried men with the belief this would herald their early marriage!
During the procession, the women sing folk and devotional songs. “We have been celebrating this festival, in our community, for about 65 years now. Earlier it was celebrated on a smaller scale, but now it is celebrated on a much larger scale. This is all because of the help we get from the members of our community.
Everyone participates in it. It is called Deenga Gawar , and all women participate in it,” said Kirpa Ram Soni, President of Organising Committee of Deenga Gawar Celebrations.
Most of the women in the procession carried nicely decorated sticks with which they tap the bachelors to mark the ‘beating’ so that these unmarried men would find their matches.
Ram Navami was celebrated today (ninth day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar) all over India joined by people from other religions as well. At many places Ram Navami was markedby Rath Yatra and other ceremonious processions.
In Ayodhaya Rama Navami was marked with exemplary spirit of communal harmony with Muslims making arrangements Hindu pilgrims. Ref: “Communal harmony marks Ram Navami in Ayodhya”
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF HINDU RITUAL: Michael Willis; Cambridge University Press, 4381/4, Ansari Road, New Delhi-110002. Rs. 795.
About the Book:
“The Archaeology of Hindu Ritual” provides a fresh analysis of the Hindu Rituals drawing conclusions and references from modern theoretical framework and in the age-old Hindu texts. Comprehensive annotations & references enhance the scholarly value of the book.
In this groundbreaking study, Michael Willis examines how the gods of early Hinduism came to be established in temples, how their cults were organized, and how the ruling elite supported their worship. Examining the emergence of these key historical developments in the fourth and fifth centuries, Willis combines Sanskrit textual evidence with archaeological data from inscriptions, sculptures, temples, and sacred sites. The centre-piece of this study is Udayagiri in central India, the only surviving imperial site of the Gupta dynasty. Through a judicious use of landscape archaeology and archaeo-astronomy, Willis reconstructs how Udayagiri was connected to the Festival of the Rainy Season and the Royal Consecration. Under Gupta patronage, these rituals were integrated into the cult of Vishnu, a deity regarded as the source of creation and of cosmic time. As special devotees of Vishnu, the Gupta kings used Udayagiri to advertise their unique devotional relationship with him. Through his meticulous study of the site, its sculptures and its inscriptions, Willis shows how the Guptas presented themselves as universal sovereigns and how they advanced new systems of religious patronage that shaped the world of medieval India.
Contents
1. The archaeology and politics of time at Udayagiri
2. The establishment of the gods
3. Ritual action and ritual actors.
About Dr. Michael Willis:
Dr Michael Willis has curatorial charge of the early south Asian and Himalayan collections from the late centuries BCE to the circa fourteenth century CE. He conducts research on these collections and makes them available through publication, display and study-access. His special interests include Sanskrit, Tibetan and the history of south Asian religions.
Reviews of “The Archaeology of Hindu Ritual”:
“Epigraphical study on Hindu rites” – T. SATYAMURTHY, The Hindu
Basalinga Shivacharya Swami Exhorts State Government to Protect Interests of Hindus:
“The Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP), was elected to power in the state with the expectation that they will protect Hindu religion and culture, and if they fail in this, the majority of Hindus in the state will teach them a lesson”, said Basalinga Shivacharya Swami of Brahnmata from Shirajanahalli in Hassan, on Sunday March 7.
He was speaking at the ‘Hindu Dharma Jagruthi Sabha’ organized by the Hindu Jana Jagruthi Samithi at Nehru Maidan in the city.
Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated across the country and the world, with great enthusiasm and fervour. Clouds of colour in the air, faces unrecognisable but for big smiles, frenzied dancing, and the sweetest of sweetmeats people (young or old, rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim) immersed themselves in the celebrations.
Each year, Nepalese youth in two villages in the south of the Himalayan country save up their choicest insults for a 10-day “cursing festival” that reaches its climax Sunday.
The youngsters in the neighbouring villages of Parsawa and Laxmipur hurl insults at each other, their neighbours, villagers and passers-by — and then laugh, reports AFP.
There is no festival more vibrant, colorful and exhilarating than Holi. Everyone wants to enjoy it – to dance in clouds of gulal and to get soaked in shower of colored water. Yet many of us suffer from skin problems, allergies, breakouts and irritations later on. The result is not just spoilt clothes and floors, but skin and hair damage too due to the presence of chemicals in the colors used.
Synthetic colors
Most Holi colours sold these days contain many harmful chemicals. In fact, most are dyes meant for industrial uses like dyeng textiles and are not meant to be applied on humans. These colours have in them heavy metals, acids and powdered glass. The black paste youngsters use has lead oxide, green contains copper sulphate, red is mercury sulphite and so on. All these are toxic and can result in anything from skin allergies to cancer, from eye irritation to blindness. And worse.
Even the bases in which these chemicals are mixed are highly toxic. Many dry powders use a base of asbestos talc, chalk powder or silica. Asbestos is a known as human carcinogen, which builds up in the body daily tissue, and even micro quantities can result in cancer. Silica may dry as well as chap the skin. The shine in the colours is due to the addition of powdered glass or mica.
Many water colors have an alkaline base capable of causing severe problems. If it enters the eyes, it can pose a great danger to one’s vision. Co lors in the form of paste have toxic compounds mixed in a base of engine oil or other inferior quality oil, capable of causing skin allergy, temporary blindness and much more.
Synthetic colors often contain lead oxide, engine oil, diesel, chromium, iodine and copper sulphate, which cause skin irritation and even blindness in case of extreme exposure.
Colors in the hair:
Hair can turn brittle and extremely dry if colour remains in it for a long time. This is due to the chemicals in the colours and the dust in the air. Though no damage is done to the roots or scalp, the hair begins to break. Oiling of the hair thoroughly before jumping into the playing arena can go a long way in taking care of this common problem.
If the color enters the eyes…
While throwing colors at each other, people do not realize that these colors might enter the eye, damage the ocular surface and cause temporary problems. There could also be complications that pose a great danger to the sight and could impair it.
There are well documented cases of eye injury due to synthetic colors. So one should keep in mind that, while playing Holi, sensitive areas like the eyes should be avoided. However, if color enters, one should immediately wash them with large amounts of water and, in case irritation persists, medical aid should be sought immediately.
If your skin is too sensitive:
Individuals with a history of eczema oratopic dermatitis are at a high risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis due to Holi colors and dyes. This will manifest in itching, a red rash and irritation in the area of contact. Such individuals should use a barrier cream (white soft, yellow soft, paraffin). While the application of very little colors would be an ideal solution to avoid any kind of allergy, the application of a body oil, like coconut oil, can also protect the skin. However, if the colors irritate the skin, they should be immediately washed away with running water.
To make Holi truly colorful: Use quality colors:
- Use water-soluble colors and stay away from “permanent” colours because they contain cheap dyes that cause reactions.
- Avoid metallic colors, like gold and silver.
- Most dry colors are safe, but avoid glittery ones. They contain silica particles that can abrade your skin.
- Feel the texture of the color before buying it. It should feel powdery, like talc and not grainy or gritty.
Make your own natural colors:
To make your own colors, all you need are a few plants. For green, take plants like henna and dry and powder them. Use separately or mix the powder with suitable flour to make a green color. Ultimately, you could use the paste of green leafy vegetables to turn others green. Turmeric mixed with gram flour gives a good color too. Marigold flowers can also be dried and ground and paste used instead of artificial colors. Red sandalwood powder can be used to color the cheeks crimson. Rose petals or gulal is also a good option and so is vermilion. Red hibiscus flowers soaked in water overnight, also give a red color.
Use palaash or tesu:
These flowers, available with any general merchant, can be boiled and soaked overnight to get a rich yellow color. In the Vedas, it is written, “If clothes soaked in this color are worn, then that color will have its effect on our bodies by entering through the pores of the skin, and will save us from contagious diseases.” It has miraculous medicinal effects on the body. The increased heat in the body may result in gloominess and an increase in anger. Palash prevents all such symptoms as it regulates the body temperature. This color destroys kapha, pitta, leprosy, heat and urinary disorders, vayu and blood impurities and increase blood circulation. It also increases willpower and mental and physical strength.
And now…
Get set and go:
- Wear clothes that cover most of your body.
- Liberally coat your entire body with oil, rubbing it into fingernails and body folds. Oiive oil is the best. Even coconut oil will do. This prevents permanent staining and forms a barrier to protect your skin from potential allergen.
- Oil your hair similarly. Color will wash away more easily and not leave your hair feeling like a bundle of rope later on.
- Use nail paint and transfer resistant lipsticks (any Colourstay range), which stays put on your fingers and lips, besides protecting your fingernails, nailfolds and delicate skin of your lips.
- Colors and sunlight combined may cause a “photo toxic” reaction, so sunscreens are a must. Use waterproof sunscreens because liquid colours can wash off ordinary sunscreens. Try Banana Boat SPF-30 or Spectabran SPF-28.
When the hulla of Holi is over…
- Cleaning the skin of all the colors after the fun and games are over is the most important aspect. Wash immediately as these chemicals can harm your skin on prolonged contact. So bathe and shampoo as soon as possible to minimise skin contact time. Use a glycerine-based soap.
- Stuck with gulal stains on your face and ink blobs on your nose? No problem! For color, or gulal on the skin, massage warm oil into your skin, (heavy oils like mustard are the best), and let the oil seep in for 15 minutes. Using a gentle soap and warm water, wash off the oil.
- For permanent color stains, use a cotton ball soaked in acetone (your nail polish remover) or kerosene and gently remove it.
- Do not rub the skin vigorously with soaps, etc., but instead, opt for a cleanser. Follow this up with loads of moisturizer, especially one that is meant for sensitive skin. Liberal use of cold cream or moisturizer is good for the skin. Apply moisturizer on damp skin immediately after the bath.
- Apply the pack of curd or mashed papaya for 20 minutes. Liberal use of cold cream or moisturizer is good for the skin.
- After removing the color, replenish and rejuvenate the skin by using a paste of soya bean flour or besan with milk. A mixture of sea salt, glycerin and a few drops of aroma oil has an anti-bacterial and anti fungal effect and can take care of the bad effects of chemical colors. Use warm water and moisturizing soap to scrub off the colors. Then, using a cream cleanser or baby oil, gently massage off the leftover color.
- Color on the hair should be rinsed off with a mild shampoo immediately. Conditioning is a must. Apply a hair pack of olive oil and honey after shampooing. If you have any rash or allergy, you can take a non-sedative, anti-allergic tablet like Ceterizine or consult a doctor immediately.
If you continue to have problems…
- If your skin feels irritated and is itching or burning, wash it properly again. Then mix one part of cortisone (Fluticasone) lotion with two parts of moisturizer or calamine lotion and apply.
- For a more severe reaction with eruptions, a tablet of Cetrizine (available at chemist shop) may be taken but its better to see a doctor immediately.
- For dull, dry hair, try this hair pack. Mix half a cup of olive oil, an egg white and 4 teaspoonfuls of honey. Coat your hair with this mixture for half an hour then wash off.
- A soothing face pack can be made with a mixture of pureed banana, 2 teaspoonfuls of honey and 2 teaspoonfuls of milk cream. This hydrates, softens and soothes the skin.
After Holi hulla, you are bound to get tanned, so try this natural recipe. Puree a tomato and apply it on your face for about 20 minutes. Fresh, crushed tomato pulp is supposed to remove immediate tanning.
Wish you a happy Holi with a healthy skin and great hair!
With still some days to go before the festival is celebrated all across the world, people in Pushkar (in Rajasthan) celebrated Holi in their own special way. They celebrated the festivals with flowers instead of the colors as is the general practice.
On Saturday (Feb.20), local residents here celebrated Holi with flowers instead of colours, as has been the general practice, while dancing to drumbeats and devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
Artistes from various parts of the country gathered in Pushkar to perform Raas Leela (dance recitals depicting Krishna’s flirtatious interludes with village maidens).
Troupes of singers who render folk songs particularly associated with Holi also flocked to the town to participate in the festivities.
On Saturday (Feb.20), local residents here celebrated Holi with flowers instead of colours, as has been the general practice, while dancing to drumbeats and devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
Artistes from various parts of the country gathered in Pushkar to perform Raas Leela (dance recitals depicting Krishna’s flirtatious interludes with village maidens).
Troupes of singers who render folk songs particularly associated with Holi also flocked to the town to participate in the festivities.
