Nag Panchami Festival of India

Indian Cobra is named as “Nag” in the local language and according to the Hindu Mythology this snake has particular influence in their day-to-day lives and in their religion. The Cobra is also named as Shesh Nag and the Hindus worship this Snake believing that Lord Vishnu was reclined on him. In the South of India, a colorful festival is arranged to spend tribute to the nobility of Sheesh Nag. This event is identified as “Nag Panchami” Festival of India which is celebrated in the month of Shravan. The Hindus believe that the earth rests on the head of the Shesh Nag (a Thousand-Hooded Cobra). In the course of Nag Panchami clay icons of cobras are worshiped at properties. Individuals supply sweets and milk to the snake deity and the Nag Panchami festival is celebrated with folk dances and songs, particularly in the countryside.

Girls worshipping the Cobras ( Nag Panchami )

Traditionally, on the eve of Nag Panchami married young women check out their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Specifically in the villages of India, a classic aspect of the celebration of Nag Panchami entails joyous swinging by young females on swings temporarily hung on tree branches. Typically the nearest Ant Hill (Snake’s Residence) is chosen for the Nag Panchami celebrations exactly where the females carry out Puja and pray to Snake God (Indian Cobra – Lord Subramanya’s Incarnation) for the welfare of their brothers and household.

A Hindu devotee delivers milk to a snake as component of a ritual on Naag Panchami ( Photo: Channi Anand )

The girls also bring back some portion of the offered Milk taken for puja and present it to absolutely everyone at home as Prasadam (Thirtham). Nag Panchami Festival of India tries to bring the Sisters (married or unmarried) and their Brothers together for family members welfare.

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Masterpiece of Indian Architectural Art: Gwalior Fort of India

One of the masterpieces of the ancient Indian architectural art is the Gwalior Fort of India, a effectively preserved historic complex of several monuments which is spread more than an area of three square km and surrounded by the concrete walls of sandstone. The fantastic Mughal Emperor Babar (1483–1531) described it as, “The pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind” which is situated on a hilltop which is 100 meters above from the plain and beholds the city of Gwalior. Gwalior is a historic city of Madhya Pardesh, India which offers a variety of grand and glorious buildings from which the most renowned is the Gwalior Fort. This fort is a prime example of indomitable castles of India which has remained under the handle of many monarchs of the instances.

Gwalior Fort of India, Image © Tomasz Zaborowicz

The history of the Gwalior Fort traces back to the fifth century AD and its architecture possess the landmarks of the Guptas, the Hunas, the Pratiharas, the Kachhwahas, the Tomars, the Pathans, the Mughals,  the Marathas and the English. The substantial monuments of the Gwalior fort incorporate Man Mandir, Teli-Ka-Mandir, Sas Bhau Temple, Badal Mahal, Alamgiri gate, Ganesa gate, Chaturbhuj gate, Rock-cut Jain collosi, Urwai gate and so on.

The hill on which the Gwalior fort is constructed is known as Gopachal. The surrounding wall which is constructed all along the edge of Gopachal is almost two miles in length and the width varies from a single km’s to 200 meters. The Man Singh Palace was constructed by Man Singh in the 15th century.  The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned and later murdered his brother Murad in the identical location.  It is called a ‘painted palace’ or ‘Chit Mandir’ the walls of which are painted in tremendous designs and colors. The Teli-ka-Mandir, or “Oilman’s Temple” was constructed in the 8th century, which is deemed as a single of the oldest monument of the fort, and it is an amalgamations of many ancient building patterns. The highest monument of the Gwalior fort is Garuda, which is a place devoted to the Pratihara Vishnu.  The twin Vaishnava temple identified as Sas Bahu that were built throughout the reign of the Kachchapghattas have a distinctive function. They had been raised a number of stories high solely with the assist of beams and pillars, and with no arches possessing been used for the purpose. An additional prominent element of the Gwalior Fort are its  water reservoirs which had been developed in the precincts of the fort  and could offer water supply to a 15,000 sturdy garrison, which was the estimated requirement of manpower to secure the fort.

The mighty Gwalior Fort has passed by means of several battles in the turbulent times and a lot of festive occasions in the peace time. But the good issue is that this Herculean acropolis is maintained with time to time restorations by the rulers.

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Adivasi: The Indigenous People of India

Adivasi is a term employed for the aboriginal people of India. The Adivasis are living in India for thousands of years and they consist of a substantial minority group in Indian population. In fact, the sub groups from this minority live in several states of India. Like several of the indigenous people of the world, the Adivasi men and women have also suffered from a lot of difficulties and the most prominent of these is their ecological destruction in the name of modernization. Geographically the Adivasi individuals reside in the remote hilly and forest regions where they largely rely upon the primitive agriculture where they are far from the modern day technology. Even though most of the Adivasi individuals have adopted Christianity and Hinduism, nonetheless they have a lot of other religions. They are recognized for their distinctive languages, cultures and customs. The Adivasi men and women have hardly ever observed in contacting with other cultures and individuals. The Indian government has further classified the Adivasi folks in the Scheduled Tribe Groups collectively with the Scheduled Castes groups. There are some amazing photographs of some indigenous Indian”Adivasi” individuals who belong to some noteworthy Scheduled Tribes

1- A lady from Kuki Tribe ( Nagaland )

A Sangtam woman ( Kuki Tribe ) Image: Linda De Volder

two- A lady from Apatani Tribe ( Arunachal Pradesh )

An Apatani Woman from Arunashal Pradesh,India ( Image: Miguel Angel )

three- A Gondi Man from Madhya Pradesh, India 

A Gondi Indian prepared to execute Kaksar Dance ( Image: Aath )

4- A Bhil Tribe Woman of India 

A beautiful Bhil Tribe lady of India ( Image : Sanzen )

five- An experienced archer from Khasi Tribe of India

An experienced Khasi archer of India ( Image: Anoop Negi )

six- Boys from Nagaland, India ( Naga Tribe )

Naga youth in a conventional tribal attaire at a cultural gathering. Image: E R

7- A Saharia Lady Dancer of India

A Saharia Woman dancing the classic Swang Dance ( Image: Ramesh Lalwani )

eight- A Bonda woman from Orissa, India

A woman from Bonda tribe, Orissa, India ( Image: Ingetje Tadros )

9- A Maldhari woman of Gujarat, India

A common Maldhari Lady of Gujarat, India ( Image: Abhishek Prabhu )

ten- Mizo men and women of Mizoram, India

Gorgeous Mizo men and women from Mizoram India, Image by Angela Coles

 

 

 

 

 

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