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Showing posts from February 5, 2007


The 12-year cycle of Kumbh might change to 11-year after 2093 AD

This interesting observation was made by astrologer Dr Girija Shanker Shastri, HoD Sanskrit, Ishwar Sharan Degree College during the seminar on 'Prayag evam Kumbh Mahatmya Parv' held at the camp of Allahabad Musuem at Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007. The date of Kumbh Mela is influenced by the position of Sun and planets of the solar system. Hindustan Times reports "Kumbh is based on the position of Sun and Jupiter. Jupiter completes its revolution of the entire zodiac in 12 years and its rotation period is 361 days 1 hour 20 minutes and 34 seconds in one sign of the zodiac.  Likewise, the period of Sun's rotation is 365 days 6 hours 9 minutes and 15 seconds. Thus there is a difference of 4 days 4 hours and 47 minutes and this difference calculates to one zodiac sign position after 86 years. This will lead to change in time gap between two Kumbh festivals to 11 years.  The holding of Kumbh on usual 12 year period will start again after

Chindu Yakshaganam an art form based on Puranas

Chindu Yakshaganam is a traditional dance-drama art form of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and is mainly found in Siddipet in Medak District in Telangana. Colorful makeup and folk music are the main attraction of this dance form. The performances are based on stories from Puranas and other Hindu scriptures. Like all traditional art forms, Chindu Yakshaganam is struggling to survive. A unique aspect of Chindu Yakshaganam is that women does not participate in it. Men adorn the role of women except the role of Yellamma. Earlier, only natural products like plant extracts were used as make-up. But things have changed and natural products have given way to make-up. Chindu Yakshaganam is performed by the Chindu Madiga community. Kota Shymala Kama Shastry in his Sri Andhra Vachaspathyamu (1940) gives the meaning of the word Chindu as ‘vibrant step.’ Another view in the same text is that word is derived from the word Sindu meaning ocean as the dancer’s moves resemble