Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
GovindGhat - Trekking base to valley of Flowers
The greenest Garhwal Himalayas that I have ever seen... The road conditions are far better than our expectations (seem better now than they were last year in June). With no route map to guide us we discovered that the best help was available from truck drivers.
Rishikesh to Govind Ghat by car: all in a day
We had slept the night (at 1.30 a.m.) in the Gurudwara at Rishikesh. From 5.30 a.m. this morning we've been on the road by car. With just a stop at Nandprayag for a dip in the river, we are in at Govindghat in a single day.
Govind Ghat in August
Rishikesh to Govind Ghat by car: all in a day
We had slept the night (at 1.30 a.m.) in the Gurudwara at Rishikesh. From 5.30 a.m. this morning we've been on the road by car. With just a stop at Nandprayag for a dip in the river, we are in at Govindghat in a single day.
Govind Ghat in August
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Saavan song - Shyam kunjan me jhoolana jhulaay gayo ri
'Shyam kunjan me jhoolana jhulaay gayo ri...'
Jhoolan song for Radha Krishna
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Vande Mataram sung by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
Vande Mataram
Sujalaam, suphalaam, malayaja sheetalaam
Shasya shyamala maataram
Vande Maataram
Indian National Anthem: Lyrics, meaning and video
Lata Mangeshkar sings:
Jana Mana Gana Adhinayak Jai Hey
Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhata
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha
Draavid Utkal Banga
Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga
Ucchal Jaladi Taranaga
Tav Shub Naame Jaage
Tav Shubh Ashish Maange
Gaahe Tav Jai Gaatha
Jan Gan Mangal Daayak Jai Hey
Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhata
Jai Hey
Jai Hey
Jai Hey
Jai, Jai, Jai, Jai Hey!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Lakhwinder Wadali sings Haiyo Rabba
Folk music from Punjab. This song is part of prenuptial celebrations at a Punjabi wedding.
Lakhwinder Wadali sings Pani lain de bahane aaja
lyrics
paani lain de bahane aa ja
mitara da khu vagada
ude jab jab zulfe teri kawaariya da dil machale
tujhe chand ke bahane dekhu
tu kothe ute aaja goriye
pani lain de bahane aaja
mitara da khuh vagda jind meriye
ye chikne gore chehre
kaise na nazar phisale chan mereya
Lakhwinder Wadali sings - Shaama pai gaiya - Punjabi folk song
Lyrics
Mai takdiya rah ve, tu chheti chheti aa ve,
mainu tere vekhne da chah,
shyamla chheti ghar aa jaa,
shaama pai gaiya ve...
ve boote ne kaaiye de
mai rah vekha maihiye de
kyu tur gaye ne ghara nu mala
sanwala tu aese vele aa shyama pai gaiya
jiniya tan mere te lagiye ae
tere lage te tu jaane ve
nange pinde ve maare chamka ve mahiya
ve mere ronde nain ve nimane
gulam farid dil othe dil deiye jithe agla qadar vi jaane
mai takdiya rah ve, tu chheti chheti aa ve,
mainu tere vekhne da chah,
shyamla chheti ghar aa jaa,
shaama pai gaiya ve...
Lakhwinder Wadali sings Hai ni tere nakhare te jaan kadi jaande ne
Lyrics
Chori chori takdi ae
Aakada vi rakhdi ae
Sona mukh chunni de palle de naal dhakdi ae
Eho kam jaan to pyaare lagi jaande ne
Hai ni tere nakhare te jaan kadi jaande ne
Ghat matkaya kar patle je lakh nu
Rakh samajha ke ni tu tunehaari akh nu
Nazara de dil de
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ali Abbas sings - mora piya mose bole na
Ab bhi ho jaye kaharwa
Man mora ghabraye
Aiso gaye paredes piya tum
Chaen hume na aaye
Mera piya mose bloe na
Mai lakh jatan kar haari
Mora piya mose bole na
Mora saiya mose bole na
Pyaar tumhe kitna karte hai
Tum ye samajh nahi paoge
Jab hum na honge o piyarwa
Bolo kya tab aaoge
Mora saiya mose bole na
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Hijab in India
The traditional purdah for Muslim women has got a trendy twist from designers.
Girls will be girls. And get all dolled up in pretty clothes, jewellery and the works! And well, the mandatory hijab or purdah just becomes another article of clothing to experiment with different kinds of embroidery and embellishments.
Even as fashion designers, online stores and local boutiques spot the niche market for designer hijab, burqa, chador, niqab, abaya or jilaba, girls have never had it so good.
Mumbai-based fashion designer Nisha Sagar designs hand embroidered head scarves or hijabs and full length lose jilabas for an elite Muslim clientele.
"Young girls are experimenting with colours, cuts and embellishments in these garments," she says.
Rooted in the traditional purdah system, the hijab dress code is a choice that some women make, while it becomes a mandatory stipulation for others.
But interesting requests for "Chadors, head scarves and burqas in chikan and zardozi embroidery" handled by Joshina Saluja from her city-based boutique speak of the feminine desire for pretty clothes.
Another local entrepreneur exporting hand embroidered fabric to Muslim and European countries, Shalini Zafar, acknowledges the special burqas that are "made to order in rust, cream, grey, embellished with crystals, sequins, elegant zardozi and other embroidery" for her clients.
According to hubby Zafar Haq, "The hijab in the Middle East countries is as trendy as it can get. Body-hugging cuts, buttoned halfway down, and front open, with the skirt or jeans peering through the open slits; bright colours, leather appliques, sequins, embroidery, you name it and it's there!"
Lucknowite Nancy Fare, now teaching in Muscat adds, "The designs are getting functional and working women enjoy the difference.
"Fashion designers may have just identified the new market, but traditional embellishment favourites such as "Multani mirror work, Sindhi Ajrak block prints in navy blue, maroon and cream and of course, chikan, zari and zardozi" have always been there, informs Lucknowite Sehar Hasan.
Even as she chooses her sari pallu or dupatta to cover her head when required for religious ceremonies, Sehar, a school teacher, doesn't feel the compulsion to wear a hijab herself.
Even as Muslim women are increasingly looking at careers, the hijab, if still on their priority list, is definitely in step with their aspirations. And apna Lucknow is quite in sync with the times.
Girls will be girls. And get all dolled up in pretty clothes, jewellery and the works! And well, the mandatory hijab or purdah just becomes another article of clothing to experiment with different kinds of embroidery and embellishments.
Even as fashion designers, online stores and local boutiques spot the niche market for designer hijab, burqa, chador, niqab, abaya or jilaba, girls have never had it so good.
Mumbai-based fashion designer Nisha Sagar designs hand embroidered head scarves or hijabs and full length lose jilabas for an elite Muslim clientele.
"Young girls are experimenting with colours, cuts and embellishments in these garments," she says.
Rooted in the traditional purdah system, the hijab dress code is a choice that some women make, while it becomes a mandatory stipulation for others.
But interesting requests for "Chadors, head scarves and burqas in chikan and zardozi embroidery" handled by Joshina Saluja from her city-based boutique speak of the feminine desire for pretty clothes.
Another local entrepreneur exporting hand embroidered fabric to Muslim and European countries, Shalini Zafar, acknowledges the special burqas that are "made to order in rust, cream, grey, embellished with crystals, sequins, elegant zardozi and other embroidery" for her clients.
According to hubby Zafar Haq, "The hijab in the Middle East countries is as trendy as it can get. Body-hugging cuts, buttoned halfway down, and front open, with the skirt or jeans peering through the open slits; bright colours, leather appliques, sequins, embroidery, you name it and it's there!"
Lucknowite Nancy Fare, now teaching in Muscat adds, "The designs are getting functional and working women enjoy the difference.
"Fashion designers may have just identified the new market, but traditional embellishment favourites such as "Multani mirror work, Sindhi Ajrak block prints in navy blue, maroon and cream and of course, chikan, zari and zardozi" have always been there, informs Lucknowite Sehar Hasan.
Even as she chooses her sari pallu or dupatta to cover her head when required for religious ceremonies, Sehar, a school teacher, doesn't feel the compulsion to wear a hijab herself.
Even as Muslim women are increasingly looking at careers, the hijab, if still on their priority list, is definitely in step with their aspirations. And apna Lucknow is quite in sync with the times.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wisdom quotes by Chankya for daily life
Wisdom quotes from Chanakya, who was Prime Minister in the empire of Magadh, India. An ace politician and strategist. (350 BC-275BC)
"A PERSON SHOULD NOT BE TOO HONEST.
STRAIGHT TREES ARE CUT FIRST
AND HONEST PEOPLE ARE VICTIMISED FIRST."
"EVEN IF A SNAKE IS NOT POISONOUS,
IT SHOULD PRETEND TO BE VENOMOUS."
"THE BIGGEST GURU-MANTRA IS: NEVER SHARE YOUR SECRETS WITH
ANYBODY. ! IT WILL DESTROY YOU."
"THERE IS SOME SELF-INTEREST BEHIND EVERY FRIENDSHIP.
THERE IS NO FRIENDSHIP WITHOUT SELF-INTERESTS.
THIS IS A BITTER TRUTH."
"BEFORE YOU START SOME WORK, ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF THREE
QUESTIONS - WHY AM I DOING IT, WHAT THE RESULTS MIGHT BE AND
WILL I BE SUCCESSFUL.
ONLY WHEN YOU THINK DEEPLY AND FIND SATISFACTORY ANSWERS TO
THESE QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD."
"AS SOON AS THE FEAR APPROACHES NEAR, ATTACK AND DESTROY
IT."
"ONCE YOU START A WORKING ON SOMETHING,
DON'T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE AND
DON'T ABANDON IT.
PEOPLE WHO WORK SINCERELY ARE THE HAPPIEST."
"THE FRAGRANCE OF FLOWERS SPREADS
ONLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND.
BUT THE GOODNESS OF A PERSON SPREADS IN ALL DIRECTION."
"A MAN IS GREAT BY DEEDS, NOT BY BIRTH."
"TREAT YOUR KID LIKE A DARLING FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SCOLD THEM.
BY THE TIME THEY TURN SIXTEEN, TREAT THEM LIKE A FRIEND.
YOUR GROWN UP CHILDREN ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS."
"BOOKS ARE AS USEFUL TO A STUPID PERSON
AS A MIRROR IS USEFUL TO A BLIND PERSON."
"EDUCATION IS THE BEST FRIEND.
AN EDUCATED PERSON IS RESPECTED EVERYWHERE.
EDUCATION BEATS THE BEAUTY AND THE YOUTH."
"A PERSON SHOULD NOT BE TOO HONEST.
STRAIGHT TREES ARE CUT FIRST
AND HONEST PEOPLE ARE VICTIMISED FIRST."
"EVEN IF A SNAKE IS NOT POISONOUS,
IT SHOULD PRETEND TO BE VENOMOUS."
"THE BIGGEST GURU-MANTRA IS: NEVER SHARE YOUR SECRETS WITH
ANYBODY. ! IT WILL DESTROY YOU."
"THERE IS SOME SELF-INTEREST BEHIND EVERY FRIENDSHIP.
THERE IS NO FRIENDSHIP WITHOUT SELF-INTERESTS.
THIS IS A BITTER TRUTH."
"BEFORE YOU START SOME WORK, ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF THREE
QUESTIONS - WHY AM I DOING IT, WHAT THE RESULTS MIGHT BE AND
WILL I BE SUCCESSFUL.
ONLY WHEN YOU THINK DEEPLY AND FIND SATISFACTORY ANSWERS TO
THESE QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD."
"AS SOON AS THE FEAR APPROACHES NEAR, ATTACK AND DESTROY
IT."
"ONCE YOU START A WORKING ON SOMETHING,
DON'T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE AND
DON'T ABANDON IT.
PEOPLE WHO WORK SINCERELY ARE THE HAPPIEST."
"THE FRAGRANCE OF FLOWERS SPREADS
ONLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND.
BUT THE GOODNESS OF A PERSON SPREADS IN ALL DIRECTION."
"A MAN IS GREAT BY DEEDS, NOT BY BIRTH."
"TREAT YOUR KID LIKE A DARLING FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SCOLD THEM.
BY THE TIME THEY TURN SIXTEEN, TREAT THEM LIKE A FRIEND.
YOUR GROWN UP CHILDREN ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS."
"BOOKS ARE AS USEFUL TO A STUPID PERSON
AS A MIRROR IS USEFUL TO A BLIND PERSON."
"EDUCATION IS THE BEST FRIEND.
AN EDUCATED PERSON IS RESPECTED EVERYWHERE.
EDUCATION BEATS THE BEAUTY AND THE YOUTH."
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