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Showing posts from November 20, 2009


Khuddur Yatra – A 1940s Modern Interpretation of Ramayana by Abanindranath Tagore

Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951) was the chief artist of the Bengal school of painting and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian Painting. Also a note writer, Abanindranath Tagore had created a 272-page scrap book titled Khuddur Yatra (Journey of Khuddu) which is a post-modern interpretation of the epic Ramayana. The work originally done between 1934 and 1942 was never published and it was discovered recently by Priyabrata Deb, publisher of Pratikshan, who is bringing out the book. Satarupa Basu writes in Hindustan Times about the book and its discovery It is one of the versions of the Ramayana that Tagore wrote. It draws on a mode of storytelling that is splintered into multiple voices, tonalities and modes, to form a collage of doodles, diagrams, fashion drawings, natural history drawings, ornamental and abstract designs, emblems, insignia, labels, wrappers, advertisements, fragments of texts and captions cut from newspapers and periodicals. “I ch

Sharamkuthi at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple – Importance of Sharam Kutti

Sharamkuthi is one the last holy spots on the way to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . ‘Sharam’ means arrow. Legend has it that Lord Ayyappa and his followers after defeating the Marvapada (an army of thugs) discarded their weapons at Sharam Kutti. Today, first time visitors to the Sabarimala Shrine leave Sharakol, or arrows, they carry at Sharamkuthi. First time Ayyappa devotees to the temple who follow and participate in the Petta Thulal from Erumeli to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple also leave their Sharakol at Sharamkuthi. The Thrivabharanam Procession carrying the ornaments to be worn on Lord Ayyappa is given ceremonial welcome at Sharamkuthi.

Tripur Bhairav Jayanti

Tripur Bhairav Jayanti is observed on the Margashirsha Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi – the fourteenth lunar day during waxing phase of moon in the month of Margashirsha (November – December). Tripur Bhairav Jayanti 2024 date is December 14. Tripura or Tripur Bhairva is one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva and this is a highly powerful and ferocious form of Lord Shiva. As Tripur Bhairav, Lord Shiva is the consort of Tripura Bhairavi. Tripura Bhairavi is believed to a ferocious form of Goddess Shakti.

Shukravar Vrat Katha – The Story of Friday Fasting in Hinduism

Friday fasting in Hinduism is dedicated to Shukra, or Venus. Those people who believe in astrology and horoscope worship and pray to Shukra on the day for wealth and prosperity. Those observing Shukravar Vrat listen to a popular story associated with fasting. The story of Friday fast varies from region to region and this one of them. Once there was an old woman who used to observe Shukravar Vrat for the welfare of her family. She worshipped an idol of Shukra. On all Fridays, she used to wash the idol and perform a holy dip of it and used to offer the best food available in the house as ‘Prasad’ or Bhog. One day the old woman decided to go on a pilgrimage. She asked her daughter-in-law to continue the rituals and observe Friday fast. The daughter-in-law wanted to get rid of the mother-in-law and was not at all happy with her Friday rituals so she agreed to take care of the idol and perform the rituals. Soon the old lady left for pilgrimage. For few Fridays, the daughter-i