Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Sufi music, poetry inspires this Kathak dancer

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's

Bareilly :

After touring Europe and America, US-based Indian dancer Aastha Dixit, who plans to take a distinct Sufi style of Kathak across the world, visited the dargah Khanqah-e-Niyaziya recently.

Her love for Sufism and admiration for the medieval Persian poet Amir Khusru brought the Kathak exponent to the dargah, which is looked after by descendants of the great Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer Sharif.

Dixit has her own ballet group in US, and she plans to perform and showcase her unique style of dance with the group.

Dixit learnt Kathak under Malti Shyam of the Lucknow gharana, a disciple Pandit Birju Maharaj. She has been practising and performing the art form for more than 15 years.

“Over the last five years, I have been drawn to the Sufi style of music, poetry and expression of Amir Khusru, whose shayari, raag and taal provided an instant bonding with the occult,” Dixit said in conversation with TOI here on Monday.

She said raag-based compositions sung in the Sufi style, along with thumris now hold a huge attraction for her. Amir Khusru’s style explores the feminine side and is rendered in all dialects including Braj Bhasha, which is why it appeals to the masses, she said.

It was her interest in Sufism that brought her to Khanqah-e-Niyaziya, she said. After visiting the Dargah and meeting the head of the Khanqah, the dancer said her interest and desire to learn more about Sufism has only deepened. “This visit has strengthened my bond with Sufism. During my performances, I rope in dancers who can present the Dervish (saint) aspect of this cult with ease,” she said.

The dancer plans to perform at Dargah Khanqah-e-Niyaziya some time in February next year, during the annual Urs. The Sajjadanasheen (leader) of the dargah, Shabbo Mian, said it would be a good way to bring art and spirituality together.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bareilly / by Mrigank Tiwari / September 23rd, 2014

With Vedic mantras at tip of tongue, woman priest shatters myth on sanskar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

A woman has come forward to break the myth that women cannot perform a funeral or other ‘sanskars’. Asha Rani Rai has been doing this from past 35 years. Chanting of Ved mantras, each mantra followed by ‘swaha’ has become an integral part of her life.

Rai said when she was young, she was curious to know why women are not allowed to perform `hawans’ and `sanskars’. “I read all the religious books including the four Vedas. None of the ‘Shastras’ say that women can’t perform funeral or sanskar. It is a taboo created by the society. “In a quest to debunk the myth, I started performing sanskars. It has been 35 years and I am doing this, but it hurts when the society still does not except women purohits,” she said.

Having the highest degree of ‘Dharmshastra’, Rai claims to be the only woman in the city, who performs the functions of a priest at religious ceremonies, including marriages.

“I perform sanskars. There are total 16 sanskars in Shastra. The first three sanskars are done before the birth of a child. In the present scenario no one does them. Sanskars like Naamkarma, Annaprashana, Vivaah and Antyeshti are most common. I regularly conduct these with a team of girls who voluntarily contribute in bringing the change in the society. The whole atmosphere filled with divine fragnance of ‘hawan samigri’ and chants give me immense peace of mind,” Rai, who is a member of Arya Samaj and a scholar of Sanskrit, said.

She said that it was not easy for her to take over as priest. “My journey of 35 years was not at all easy. People used to make fun of me. They used to tease, comment and mock at me. Once an acharya from Gorakhpur called me and asked me several questions to why I wear janeu. I clarified to him that nowhere in Vedas or Brahmin granths it is written that a woman cannot wear a janeu. Wearing janeu means that I am eligible to perform Sanskars and Yagyas. Just like a doctor wears white coat, a pure sole or rather a priest wears janeu,” she said.

Rai, who took the initiative of starting up a ‘vocational Sanskrit’ course at graduation level in Vidya Mandir years back, added saying that there is nothing wrong if women perform funeral ceremonies or take the chanting of mantras as profession.

“These Ved voices should be followed by humanity in which there is no hindrance in the development of the country. Once women start taking it up as profession, there will not be any need to look for suitable Purohit or a Brahmin to perform Yagyas and Havans,” she said.

Talking about ‘Shradh’ and ‘Tarpan’ she said that Shradh means to keep faith in elderly person of the house and Tarpan means taking care of father and mother while they are alive. She pointed out that once a person dies his soul immediately takes birth in some other body, therefore performing Shrad and Tarpas after death are not very relevant.

Sixteen sanskars are Grabhaadhan: Conception, Punsavana: Fetus protection, Simanta: Satisfying wishes of the pregnant Mother, Jaat-Karmaa: Child Birth, Naamkarma: Naming Child, Nishkramana: Taking the child outdoors, Annaprashana: Giving the child solid food, Mundan or Choula: Hair cutting, Karnavedh: Ear piercing, Yagyopaveet: Sacred thread, Vedarambh: Study of Vedas and Scriptures, Samaavartana: Completing education, Vivaah: Marriage, Sarvasanskaar: Preparing for Renouncing, Sanyas (Awasthadhyan): Renouncing, Antyeshti: Last rite, or funeral rites.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / September 23rd, 2014

Lone temple of Bhishma Pitamah exists in Allahabad’s Daraganj

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Allahabad :

Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, lies a rare temple devoted to legendary warrior of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah. This 50-year-old temple is visited by devotees from far-flung cities and small towns, with a wish for longer life and spreading brotherhood in the society. It is the only temple dedicated to Bhishma Pitamah in the country.

This rare temple, which is not known to many people, is located in Daraganj near a famous Nagvasuki temple. Built by J R Bhatt, a high court lawyer, the temple has a statue of the son of Ganga, Bhishma Pitamah, who is shown sleeping on the bed of arrows. The temple was completed in 1961. According to priest of the temple Shyam Dhar Tripathi, an old woman was staunch devotee of Ganga and used to daily come to take holy dip in the river. She requested Bhatt that she wished to see a temple dedicated to the son of Ganga. Thus came the idea of constructing this temple, which eventually came up on the side of famous Nagvasuki temple near the banks of Ganga.

The temple, which is dedicated to Pandit Veni Madav Ragunath Pathak, has a 12 feet long statue made of sandstone, showing Bhishma sleeping on the bed of arrows and waiting for leaving to the heavenly abode till Sun enters the northern hemisphere. “People come to this temple, especially during Pitra Paksha, to offer prayers to their ancestors, represent by none other then son of river Ganga Bhishma,” the priest said, whose family has been performing the duty of priest. All the devotees, who come to visit Nagvasuki and Beni Madhav temple also visits this temple and seek blessings for long life, he added.

“We come to this temple quite often. Many visitors of the country and abroad were surprised to know that a temple dedicated to Bhishma exists,” said Vibhu Gupta, a resident of Daraganj.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / September 19th, 2014

Hindi scholars from Israel honored

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, World Opinion

Gorakhpur:

Hindi scholars from Tel Aviv University, Israel, were honored at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University and Buddha PG College, Kushinagar for their love for Hindi language.

Dr Gendi Shlomper, a Hindi teacher, Tel Aviv University, was in the region along with six Russian students, Alexendra, Adi Ferore, Tal Goraski, Mataj Massika, Yakir Dahari and Ofir Mikhaji, to learn Hindi language and the culture of India.

While speaking at Buddha PG College, Kushinagar, Dr Shlomper said, “For the development of Hindi it is necessary to develop it as a technical language so that the language helps in employment.” “English is important as it is international language but Hindi shouldn’t be ignored. I’m happy that Hindi is now in much use at social media,” Dr Shlomper added. The scholars reached Kushinagar after visiting Delhi, Allahabad and Ayodhaya. They also sang Hindi movie songs at the pogramme.

GDA bulldozes unauthorized shops:

The Gorakhpur Development Authority removed many illegal structures under a drive against encroachment. Three shops at Rail Vihar Colony near Taramandal wer also removed under the drive as the shops were illegally constructed overlooking the GDA norms. It is to be mentioned here that the development authority has served notice to over 850 buildings owners across the district citing objections over violation of norms in the constructions. The erring building owners have filed a review plea before GDA.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / September 20th, 2014

Sarnath awaits World Heritage site status

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Varanasi :

The Buddhist marvel in Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermons, is yet to be declared World Heritage. Sarnath and Kushinagar in UP are the main Buddhist destinations, but unfortunately, none of them finds a place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, while the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya in neighbouring Bihar and Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi in MP are in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

However, the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath had been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage in 1998 in cultural category. In the tentative list, it was submitted that the monuments in Sarnath are divided into two groups- Chaukhandi Stupa under Group ‘A’ and all other monuments at the sites like Stupas, monasteries, and temples under Group ‘B’.

Chaukhandi Stupa is a lofty brick structure crowned with an octagonal tower. The octagonal tower is a Mughal monument built by Goverdhan, the son of Raja Todarmal in 1588 AD to commemorate the visit of Humayun to this place.

The second group, which contains remains of several stupas, monasteries and Ashoka column are built in brick and stone and datable from the 3rd century BC to 12th century AD, forms the major and important segment of the site. The Ashoka column, Dharamrajika stupa, Dhameka stupa, the remains of the temple and a series of monasteries and stupas are the most important remains of the site.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / September 20th, 2014

Needed in Aligarh, bookstores

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Uncategorized

Aligarh :

Reading The Fault in Our Stars, now that social media is abuzz with talks of the film adaptation of the book, maybe a tad difficult if you live in Aligarh. Despite the city being home to one of the country’s most prestigious educational institutions – Aligarh Muslim University – the absence of a good bookshops selling fiction, non-fiction or, for that matter, anything beyond prescribed reading material for students is quite a telling let-down.

“The city has somehow never really felt the need to have the kind of arrangement where you can go and buy fiction in a store that’s well-furnished with eclectic literary offerings,” says Shubhangini, a CAT aspirant. “Although there is not much of a choice when it comes to book shopping, it doesn’t mean people in Aligarh are not aware of the current scenario in the world of literature. Popular books can be procured through some of the stores by placing an order and paying a commission.”

There are nearly 100 bookshops functioning for decades in Aligarh, but they mostly cater to the madrassa-going students and sell Urdu literature. And almost all stores stock reading material that help in preparations for competitive examinations. This leaves the lover of fiction/non-fiction with little choice but to tap online sources or place an order at a bookshop, which may take anywhere between a week and 10 days (depending on availability) to deliver. The other option is to travel down to Delhi or the National Capital Region and go on a book shopping spree or, if one is a student, rely on AMU libraries to satiate the inner bibliophile.

Though education fairs are common in Aligarh, book fairs are few and far between. “It is a small city without much tourist inflow. So, there are not many stores that sell popular books. There are far more education fairs than book fairs here,” says Sandeep Choudhury, who recently organized an education fair in the city.

Students being on the look-out for better opportunities and job prospects have prompted even the oldest bookstore in the city – Malviya Pustakalaya – to stock books for competitive exams and recruitment tests. Malviya Pustakalaya, incidentally, has one of the most valuable collections of literature, religion, philosophy and Hindi novels.

“These were ordered, so we got them,” says Sanjeev Agarwal of Vimal Book Store, pointing to a stack of popular fiction and non-fiction reading material. It was only recently that 1 % of the shop’s stocks began comprising authors like Arundhati Roy and William Dalrymple. “Earlier, there used to be a store selling fiction but now it has shut down, probably because of dipping sales.”

However, what makes Aligarh unique to bookworms is its repository of Urdu literature. Home to a substantial number of madrassa and AMU students, the city’s stores have an enviable collection of fiction and non-fiction by Faiz, Firaq and Ghalib. “Urdu works are most popular as a lot of retired professors or students from madrassas or AMU reside here,” says Asad Faisal Farooqui, who frequents the Education BookHouse established in 1927.

“It is interesting to see modern English literature being translated into Urdu for them,” he says, adding, “Students have bought Urdu translations of books by Jaswant Singh, Irfan Habib and also religious texts, including translations of the Bhagvad Gita.”

However, the trend does not go beyond prescribed reading material or books talked about in popular media. As Ashok Kuckreja of Aligarh Law Books, says, “Students buy what their professors recommend, which may be pertinent to one’s course but may not help build a larger reading repertoire.”

The experienced bookseller rues never being asked for books by, say, legal humourist Marc Galanter or by the likes of AP Herbert. “Not even 1% of that genre is ordered here, I have tried so many times to bring to their notice the works of Edward Heward on Lord Denning, John Mortimer’s ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ and Krishna Swamy’s work on V R Krishna Iyer, but there is no interest,” Kuckreja says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Eram Agha, TNN / September 22nd, 2014

Tunday Kebabs in Rs 50 crore law suit over trade infringement

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

The world famous ‘Tunday Kebab’ of Lucknow has been caught in Rs 50 crore lawsuit over trade infringement.

Mohammad Muslim, who runs the ‘Lucknow Wale Tunday Kebabi’ chain of restaurants in Lucknow and beyond and is maternal grandson of the legendary one armed chef, late Haji Murad Ali ‘Tunday’, has sued the food chain’s current owner Mohammad Usman for trade infringement staking claim over the popular brand.

The Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ashok Kumar has asked Usman who runs restaurants in the name of ‘Tunday Kababi’ to come with his reply into the matter. The next hearing is on September 27.

Muslim has alleged that Usman has created the controversy over the inheritance of the chain of restaurants famous for melt-in-the-mouth Kebabs and other non-vegetarian delicacies. He said being the relative of the late Haji Murad Ali Tunday, he had every right to be part of the business.

TundayLUCKNOW22sept2014

“I am the real kin of Haji Murad Ali. We are running Lucknow Wale Tundey in Lucknow and outside for quite some time now,” Muslim said.

Contradicting Muslim’s claim, Usman said that the former was not directly related to Lucknow Wale Tunday. He said he came from Saudi Arabia and fraudulently used the brand name of Tunday Kebabs in Lucknow with his partner.

“He has no blood relation with use. I will fight it in court,” he added.

What started with a small shop in the old Lucknow city, Tunday is now a huge business empire with outlets in several parts of the city and outside.

source: http://www.news18.com / News18 / Home> English> News> Uttar Pradesh / by Gulam Jeelani / Monday – September 22nd, 2014

Academy to revive rare books

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Allahabad :

As part of its initiative to revive its lost glory, Hindustani Academy has started publishing rare out of print Hindi and Urdu literary books of the pre-Independence era. The first in the series is a book on legendry king Raja Bhoj.

Raja Bhoj’s ‘Coronation millennium year’ was celebrated in 2011 in Madhya Pradesh for one year. A book, ‘Raja Bhoj’ written by Ramagya Dwivedi ‘Sameer’ was published once in 1932. It was selected to be published.

The publication of two other rare books of the third decade of last century, ‘Awadh Kosh’ (1934) and ‘Prayag Pradeep’ (1937) have also started rolling and are expected to hit book shelves.

Prayag Pradeep was stated to be an exhaustive description of the socio-political history of Allahabad, documented by Shaligram Srivastava in 1937.

Sunil Jogi, chairman of the academy said the books would provide a good reading material for the readers as well as research scholars.

“The ‘Awadh Kosh’ published once in 1934 and written by Ramagya Dwivedi ‘Sameer’ is another book worth reading and incorporates the socio-geographic status of regions coming under the then Awadh, the districts of Faizabad, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Shravasti, Sultanpur, Unnao and Kanpur,” Jogi added.

It may be mentioned here that Hindustani Academy, established in January 1927, publishes, promotes books in Hindi and Urdu. Till 80s, the academy used to buzz with literary discussions with stalwarts like Mahadevi Verma, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Jagdish Gupta and others regularly participating in debate. The Academy also holds seminars, talks and lectures for the promotion of the two languages.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / September 18th, 2014

Museum makes rare objects, artifacts available in printed images

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence

Allahabad Museum has opened up its treasure trove of artifacts and rare objects for its visitors by making them available in printed images of the objects at Rs three to five. The decision was taken to attract the gen-next along with foreign and domestic tourists. At present, museum sells prototypes of the objects in its possession.

State governor, Ram Naik, also chairman of the museum, would start the scheme during a function at its auditorium on September 17. He would also release brochures and books related to the museum and its artifacts. Images of the rare objects available only with the museum are expected to help the students and researchers for history project work.

“The aim is not to increase the revenue of the museum but to arouse interest among youngsters about the museum objects. The images are available in glossy images and paintings in galleries so the price has been kept minimal,” said Rajesh Purohit. The museum would ensure that prototypes too remain within the low price range, he added.

Meanwhile, to make seminars, organised in the museum, more attractive, the museum officials have decided to put on display all the items related to the seminar in the galleries for visitors. As part of the initiative, in the upcoming seminar ‘Shiva in India’, the interiors of the museum would be decked up with various idols of Lord Shiva belonging to a different period.

“The move has been made to give a practical experience of the discussions in the seminar. The famous Lord Shiva idols and statues, belonging to different century, would be put on display in central hall for the seminar,” said Purohit.

The museum houses objects of historical and archaeological importance ranging from 100-years-old to 2000-years-old. Prominent among them are the terracotta objects excavated from nearby district of Kaushambi, Chandrasekhar Azad’s pistol and Nehru-Gandhi belongings among others.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / Vinod Khanal, TNN / September 13th, 2014

Haj pilgrims opt for Bareilly’s surma

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Bareilly :

Scores of Haj pilgrims across the world traveling to Mecca prefer to apply ‘Bareilly-wala surma’ (kohl manufactured in Bareilly) rather than the kohl prepared in other Asian and Arab countries.

A city-based manufacturer claimed that the demand for Bareilly’s surma increases by over 30% during Haj time as compared to other seasons.

The USP of Bareilly’s surma is that it is finely grinded and instantly provides cool comfort to the eyes, he says.

“While preparing surma, other manufacturers based in India and other countries use a grinder and other modern appliances for crushing the semi and precious stones. However, we still stick to our traditional method of using baton stone (sil batta) which helps us finely crush the metal or stone,” said M Haseen Hashmi (67), the manufacturer of Bareilly’s surma.

He claimed that it was his ancestors who made surma popular in the country after setting up their firm in 1794. Since then, generation after generation of Hashmi’s family has been producing surma. At present, hundreds of people in Bareilly work under him.

Even the baton stone used in the preparation of surma is unique. “The stone is black and it is available in Jaipur. The black stone crushes the metal into fine pieces but metal is unable to grind the black stone,” said Hashmi, as he recalled that it was the same black stone with which Shahjahan wanted to build a black Taj Mahal.

He added, “The main ingredient of Bareilly’s surma is the stone of Kohetoor mountain which is located in Egypt. From there, it is exported to India and we purchase it from traders.”

Shabbu Miyan, who is the manager of Khanquah-e-Niyaziya and younger brother of Sajjadanasheen, said, “It is mentioned in the holy Quran that applying surma extracted from the Kohetoor mountain is pious and good for eye-sight. Even Prophet Mohammed used to apply surma made from Kohetoor stone before going for prayers and sleeping.”

Though surma prepared in Bareilly is available in more than 80 varieties, a majority of Haj pilgrims from all over the world opt for surma gulab. “It is a general surma and can be applied by anyone,” said Hashmi. Apart from this, pilgrims prefer to apply ‘surma mamira 777’ and ‘sadi kajal’. ‘Surma mamira 777’ actually causes irritation in the eyes, but cleans all impurities, he claimed.

Sadi Kajal is for women and enhances the beauty of their eyes. The other popular variants help in curing diseases related to eye-sight like red spot in sclera (white area of eyes), eyes pain and also help in improving eye-sight, Hashmi claimed.

The manufacturer provides Bareilly’s surma to agents in Mumbai and Delhi who later export it to Arab countries. As pilgrims offer prayers at Mecca on Eid-ul-Adha or Bakri-Eid, the demand for the city-based surma soars by 30% three months before the festival.

Masqood Hasan, a timber businessman who will be leaving for Haj soon, said, “Applying surma is following Prophet Mohammed. As people across the country are attracted to Bareilly’s surma, I always get surma packed to gift it to my relatives and friends whom we meet during Haj.” Another Haj pilgrim, Shahida Mahmood (42) said, “Bareilly’s surma not only provides comfort but also protects the eyes from all diseases.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bareilly / by Priyangi Agarwal, TNN / September 08th, 2014