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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Diwali Festival

The origin of Diwali festival is not known, but it has gathered a number of legends around it over the centuries. In the northern and the western regions of India, its origin is attributed to the return of Lord Ram to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana. The joyous people of Ayodhya, his capital, celebrated his arrival. In the eastern states, Diwali is associated with the story of Narakasura who had menaced his people with tyranny.

In the regions of Maharashtra and Mysore, Diwali is linked with the legendary king Bali who was immensely popular with his subjects for his generosity. However, king Bali had become arrogant and conceited, and provoked the wrath of godly people. His generosity was put to test by Lord Vishnu who appeared in the disguise of a dwarf, and asked him for a piece of land equal to three steps. When Bali granted his wish, Lord Vishnu took the form of a super giant person, and with his two steps covered Bali's entire kingdom. With his third step he pushed Bali to the underland. Since then, his people celebrated his arrival on this day, locally called Bali Padyami.

In the north, most communities observe the custom of lighting lamps. However, in the south, the custom of lighting baked earthen lamps is not so much part of this festival as it is of the Karthikai celebrations a fortnight later. The lights signify a welcome to prosperity in the form of Lakshmi, and the fireworks are supposed to scare away evil spirits.

In Punjab, the day following Diwali is known as tikka when sisters make a paste with saffron and rice and place an auspicious mark on their brother's foreheads as a symbolic gesture to ward off all harm.

Likewise, on the second day of the month of Kartik, the people of Maharashtra exchange gifts. In Maharashtra, it is the thirteenth day of Ashwin, the trayodasi, that is observed as a festival commemorating a young prince whom Yama, the God of Death, had claimed four days after his marriage. Filled, however, with compassion for the luckless youth, the legend goes, Yama promised that those who observed the day would be spared untimely death-and so the lamps that are lit to mark the festival are placed facing south, unlike on other festive days, because south is the direction mythologically assigned to Yama.

For the Bengalis, it is the time to worship Goddess Kali , yet another form of Durga, the divine embodiment of supreme energy. Kali is the Goddess who takes away darkness. She cuts down all impurities, consumes all iniquities, purifies Her devotees with the sincerity of her love.

Punjabi Academy

Punjabi Academy, Govt. of Delhi organized ‘Kahani Darbar’ at Bhai Vir Singh Sahit Sadan, near Gole market. The event was held to promote the Punjabi literature and poetry through short stories by Shri Bhola Singh Sanghera and Shri Bhagwant Rasoolpuri.

Shri Sanghera, an established Punjabi writer started the event with his story named ‘Sibo’, which talked about a scheduled class village girl. The event was followed by Shri Rasoolpuri, who has given contemporary fiction a new flavour and introduced his story named 'Jarh'(roots) which talked about the struggle of the down trodden Dalit people to liberate their self from the clutches of discrimination.

"Punjabi short story writing is quite a complex art and deserves much more appreciation and recognition today,” said Dr Rawail Singh, Secretary, Punjabi Academy. The two faces of Punjab narrated their stories and were highly appreciated.

“I loved the way Rasoolpuri has wrapped the fears of a discriminated individual in his perceptive writing,” said Dr.Narendra Mohan, a famous Hindi poet.

Wedding Venues

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people come together and tie up the knot of their life long relationship.

Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, groups, religions, countries, and classes. Most wedding ceremonies start with functions and they keep going on for that purpose wedding venues plays an important role.

On the day of the wedding, everyone wants everything to be perfect or probably close to perfect. And that includes the perfect planning and execution for the wedding. One of the most difficult decisions to be making is that you will have to pick the wedding venue for your big day. The venue for the wedding is very important because only it sets the mood of wedding. And the most important thing is that it will be very special for both bride and groom.

Many wedding couples choose to have separate wedding venues. Perhaps they want the main day ceremony to be done in a more sober atmosphere and then another wedding venue for their reception. Some want to cut down the budget and just decide both main ceremony and reception on one wedding venue. Again, wedding venue sets the mood and ambience for wedding and when picking always put some factors into thought.

The first is the wedding budget which has made by the investors of the wedding. There are many venues that can be chosen from and that be also available but the question is, can you afford them? As you are planning the wedding, you must learn to invest budget your money and set portions for each part of your wedding. The budget you will use for your venue will also depend on how many guests you are planning to invite. Of course, bigger the place, it will be more expensive.

The second thing is to think about the wedding date. If it is considering having two wedding venues, then have to assure that both venues will be available on the same date. When deciding for the date, it is best to pick a year ahead. You will have to encounter booking a venue that has already been booked for more than a year. That is why starting ahead of time is an advantage.

The third thing is to pick two or more than two venues that you can choose from. To compare their rates and see what will fit your budget best. Also, make sure you have a backup wedding venue.

Further, if you already have a list of venues in hand, visit them personally. This way you will be able to look at the place and see if it has the perfect size for your wedding. It will also be helpful to visualize where you will be placing certain aspects for your wedding like the stage, the buffet table, the sound system and other things.

Wedding day will come only once in your life and make sure that it is perfect for you, your family and guests. Make sure the wedding venue is comfortable and accessible for everyone. Don't be so anxious and tempted to go over your budget as you can find good wedding.

Royal Weddings in IndiaA

India is ironically known as the land of Maharaja’s and their rich and royal lifestyles since decades. Indian royal weddings and royal social celebrations over years are the most prestigious imperial for various celebrations and sacred ceremonies which people treasured as memories to last a life time.

Places like Rajasthan, Gujrat and some part of Punjab for example, are well-known to have a regal legacy of emperors and kings. Focusing on architectural structures are associated with royal Indian families. The forts and palaces of many royal families of India are now considered as the places of attraction for the common public and visitors.

Some of the royal places are also used for various commercial purposes like hotel business, private bookings and even royal weddings too. These places show the glamorous essence of Rajasthan, there are other royal families those are scattered all over the country. Some of them are The Scindia Royal Family, the Tripura Royal Family, the Royal Family of Gwalior and the Royal Family of Kochi are the relatively ones which worth

mentioning.

The Palaces are the magnificent venues for its unique decorations and preparations as they are the only places lived by the Maharajas to restore their original glory and charm. These palaces are the acceptable places for the best royal Indian whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or any other wedding and adds the royal taste to the auspicious occasion. To make the special moments of this an unforgettable celebration, personalized and innovative wedding services provided during the wedding functions till vidai of the bride.

Embarking the new journey together in style and leave all your worries behind. This experience, which will be unique and you will surely take your word for it. Marriages are made in heaven, so why not make the venue a living heaven on earth for an exotic lifetime affair. Imagining the bride on your wedding day, beautify like a princess against a gorgeous backdrop.

The sophisticatedly decorated palace will offers a grand welcome to you and your guests. The presence of elephants, camels, horse’s and vehicles including local Folk performers, dancers and musicians, Snake Charmers, Puppet Shows, kalbeliyas, dhol walas along with a smart wedding band which provide no less than a fairy tale wedding experience. In contrast a sophisticated and close party wedding with DJ and cocktail could also be a part of whole new royal event.

Marriage is the only moment in the history of a person, marking a new beginning for life which will mark his importance in someone’s life. Different people from different places celebrate this holy moment in extraordinary ways by selecting floral arrangements, creating atmosphere through music, preparing a celebratory meal and most importantly, choosing the perfect venue. The royal wedding discovers ceremonies and essential luxuries guaranteed to enhance the celebration.

Importance of Weddings

In the beginning of the ceremony, there the young, tanned, dark haired male sits freshly groomed in a poised Indian style position under the mandap also known as a canopy. The flickering yellows, reds, and oranges of the fire that burns before him reflects off his and the face of the priest sitting next to him. They sit and wait for the beauty to appear before them, one obviously more anxious than the other; however, a bright white draped fabric is held in front of him. The soft, bright, white fabric is used to blind the young male of what awaits behind the simple divider. Viewed by all except for the most important individual of the two to be forever joined, appears a beautiful carriage with red and white flowers hanging from the sides being carried not by horses but by four first cousins. A beautiful Indian wedding between two individuals coupled together in front of loved ones.

As they carry her from the carriage to her seat, the husband to be is waiting anxiously for his bride to be. Finally the moment is here, for the drape to be dropped and they both look at. This is called marriage; in Indian style.
Hindu marriages signify customs, rituals and elaborate celebrations and are full of fun and frolic. Indian weddings speak volumes of the rich culture, heritage and ethnicity of the country. Every region follows its own traditions customs and rituals for the wedding. Marriages are made in heaven! Indian marriages are many a times "arranged", although that is changing. Is has been said that two people marry not only themselves but two families get married to each other. Therefore you will see that some Indian parents still play a big role in finding a bride or a groom for their children. With westernization influencing the eastern cultures many age old practices are being forgotten. The " young and the restless" are following new traditions and paths to find their mates. Marriage is deemed essential for virtually everyone in India. For the individual, marriage is marking the transition to adulthood. Marriage alliances of course, result in the biological reproduction of families.
A wedding is an important religious ceremony in the Hindu religion and one of the most important of the sixteen Hindu sanskars or sacraments. It is not only establishing the bond between two people, but also the bond between two families. Hindu weddings are usually hosted by the bride's parents and take place at a common place, decided by both the bride and groom's family. Generally, the marriage ceremonies take place at an open space, under a decorated canopy called mandap.
The ceremonies practiced are essentially divided into three parts - pre wedding customs, wedding day ceremony and post wedding rituals. The rituals and customs performed in each of the three phases have a deep significance and meaning. The pre wedding celebrations mainly includes engagement, sangeet, mehendi, haldi and tilak. The wedding day ceremonies, it involves different traditional rituals. One of the most important rituals of Hindu wedding is the seven rounds or sapta padi taken together, around the sacred fire, by the bride and the groom, while the seven vows or promise are read by the priest or purohit. The bride and the bride groom take the vows before God, symbolized by fire and light. These seven promises taken together by the bride and groom build's the foundation of their relationship and marriage.
Thereafter, post wedding ceremonies are performed, which mostly include vidaai and reception. This is the most emotional moment of the wedding, when the bride takes leave from her parents and other family members and takes her first step towards her new life in her husband's house. On reaching the new home, there are a number of ceremonies that are performed, right from welcoming the new bride to playing games and making merry.

According to Hindu Shastra there are four stages of life, of which Grahastha Ashram or married life signifies the second stage. It begins, when a man and a woman come together and marry. In India, marriage is treated as an institution, which teaches the actual values of life.
A marriage symbolizes not just coming together of two individuals, but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love, oneness and spiritual growth. Traditionally, Hindu marriage is much more than just celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, companionship, dedication, and devotion from both the partners.

Weddings in India

India, a vast geographic area with the maximum diversity. The most believed and considered nation for its culture and tradition. Rituals and Customs are always been an immortal part of Indian weddings.

According to Hindu Shastra, humans have to undergo four different stages of life, of which Grahastha Ashram or Married life is the second one. It initiates when a man and a woman come together as whole and console and marry each other.

Every stage in life signifies its own charm and entreaty and married life is too charismatic and appealing. In India, a marriage was usually arranged by the parents of the bride and the groom and follows various steps. But, now as the generation X has changed the perspective and opinion of the people, marriages are arranged by the bride and groom as their love marriage.

Marriage is not only considered as a union of two souls, but of two families. In India, marriage is taken as the experience and the hold of responsibilities, which teaches humans the actual worth of life and being honest to your actual values of life.

Weddings in India costs a massive amount of not only money but man power too. To arrange all the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding functions. The wedding routine of the family includes shopping for bride and groom, families, relatives, etc. The pre-wedding includes engagement ceremony, mehndi, ladies sangeet and tilak rituals. Main day course of the wedding does mapping for the mandap and the varmala. The post-wedding streamlined for the vidaai and wedding reception.

Different religions have different customs and traditions and even have different names for the same ceremonies too. As Hindu wedding rituals are different from the Muslim once, they are two different religions. But, if we took the example of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, etc sharing almost the same geographical area and dialect still the wedding rituals differ.

The Punjabi, Marwari and Sindhi have the ease of royal weddings and reception nowadays. But marriages are done to show the sickness of anxiety and richness. People waste gigantic assets for the purpose of a marriage that can be simply done in the presence of some, close friends and relatives rather than hyping it as a public event.

Weddings of India cannot be compared and equalized with any of the country around the globe because it has the significance of rituals, norms of customs, essence of love, trust of purity, base of honesty, promise of loyalty.

Every stage in life signifies its own charm and entreaty and married life is too charismatic and appealing. In India, marriage is taken as the experience and the hold of responsibilities, which teaches humans the actual worth of life and being honest to your actual values of life.

Indian Wedding Traditions

Indian weddings are extravagant affairs, rich with tempted vibrant events and rituals. Indian wedding traditions consist of a number of wedding rituals that starts and roots to an extended period of time. Weddings in India are attended by the friends and relatives of the bride and groom, who attend the wedding with unbound fantasy and enthusiasm. The wedding rituals are observed in the ambience of chanting of mantras from the Holy Scriptures. Indian weddings are unique in their style have no alternate of its fantasy being felt.

Indian weddings are a perfect amalgamation of rituals and customs along with other fun filled and frothy moments. Wedding signs the beginning of a new relationship not just between two individuals but also between two families and thus, there are various moments in the wedding ceremonies that help to build new relationships.

Different castes and communities have their own tradition and culture. India with united and secular country possesses such diverse cultural background showcases variety of rituals and customs.

In many communities of Hindu Religion, there is a ritual in which the sisters-in-law hide the shoes of their jija or brother-in-law and return them only in exchange for money and gifts. It's a joyful and fun filled ritual.

In some communities, there are rituals where the hands of bride and groom are covered with a holy cloth to ward off ill barriers and evil eye during the pheras.

In Parsee marriage ceremonies, the sisters-in-law take gifts from their brother-in-law during the ritual of Haath Boravanu, the groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he pays money to them, Pag Dhovanu, where the groom is threatened with milk on his shoes and Chero Chorvanu is in which seven strands of thread tying the couple are removed on payment.

In Gujarati custom, the groom's mother-in-law tries to pull his nose on arrival of the Baraat, as a reminder of the fact that he is taking away their daughter and is now his responsibility. Aeki-Beki, when a tray of water is mixed with milk and vermillion. A ring with few coins are thrown into the mixture. The bride and groom have seven chances to fish out the ring. The winner is considered as the dominating personality and it is predicted that he or she will dominate the other.

In Punjabi custom the bride's wear a Chuda, a set of red and ivory bangles by her maternal uncle. This custom is considered good prediction for the bride as it will bring good luck to the bride in her new home. Punjabi brides wear Kaleeras. These are silver or gold plated jewellery tied to the Chudas. It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the Kaleere. One interesting ritual related with the Kaleere is the custom in which a bride shakes her Kaleere over the unmarried girls in her family. It is said that she is the next one to be married.

Another ritual which has significance in almost every community when the new bride comes to her new home and the groom's sisters block the entrance and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in.