Blogger B.L.

 Humans - Are We ? Independent India was born on August 15, 1947. On the death bed of thousands of  innocent citizens who were slaughtered mercilessly on both sides of the newly devised  border. Their only fault – their Gods were different. Gandhi’s chanting _ “Iswar Allah tere  nam” was rendered meaningless by the fanaties. The religions which preached brotherhood  gave rise to hostility and hatred towards each other. Never did the country witness such a  barbarism and cruelty between two ‘brothers’ – and the irony is that both killed each other in  the name of their respective Gods. ‘Allah-ho-Akbar’ and ‘Her-Her-Mahadev’ were the slogans  often heard when one group attacked the other. Humanity was at its lowest ebb – in fact there  was no humanity left – God who created humans had slept. Even the goats and buffalos  whose heads were severed by the two communities on special religious occasions, did not  suffer pangs of such cruelt...

 Haldio-ka-Rasta - Cultural Heritage of Jaipur Johari Bazaar in Jaipur is the identity of the Pink City. It epitomises the indigenous  culture, where tradition and heritage are both kept alive and surprisingly in tune with  modernity, without loosing their identities.  The heart of Johari Bazaar lies in it’s bylanes , the most distinctive of which is the  Haldio-ka-Rasta. I visit the place once in a year, near about the Makar Sankranti day on  January 14, a festival which religiously comes on this particular date, unlike other festivals,  dates of which vary every year according to the Hindu calendar. For me, this has become  an annual “pilgrimage” and I do not want to miss it ever.  Haldio-ka-Rasta is the most vibrant and traditional bazaar, I have ever seen, not even  in Benaras which is considered to be the most ancient city, mother of Hindu culture and  tradition in north India. The narrow lane is replete with a variety of shops...

 DESI UPRISING Gaurav Tower in Jaipur is a favourite shopping center, particularly for the youth. It is  a likable place with it’s ambiances, spaciousness and absolutely no parking hazard as is  common everywhere in Jaipur. The variety of goods and their display in the Shopper’s Stop is  exciting and provocating enough to shed some weight from our pockets. The Planet, the  music shop is very well stocked with choicest selections of Western and Indian music both  classical and pop. The completely foreign goods shop, only of its kind in Jaipur, with an array  of consumer goods, all imported, meets the taste and requirements of the imported goods  faddists. There is the Bata, the ubiquitous shoe shop. Some branded apparel shops and then  there is the inevitable Mac Donalds, the eating place. The vast open space in the enclave with  a sprinkling of fruit juice and coffee stalls and thereafter wide parking space with no parking  ticket, ...

 Arrows in my chest – I escaped Bhils, a tribe of courageous and self respecting people inhabit the Banswara region in  the southern Rajasthan. It was a backward area in the sixties until before the Mahi dam came  up, which transformed the landscape as also the economy of the region.  Those days Banswara had well preserved forests known for their ‘Sal’ (timber) and  ‘Mahua’ trees, both provided sustenance to the rural people, ‘Sal’ for the forest produce and  Mahua for the liquor they brewed, intoxication with which, kept them away from the turmoils  of the world. They were a happy lot, contended with their primitive style of living, ‘devi- devata’ as their Gods and ‘jadu-tona’ for relief from ailments. Agriculture was minimal,  depending upon scarce water from dug wells and mercy of the rain God. Small game hunting  with bows and arrows, an inevitable accompaniment of a male Bhil, provided them their main  stay for food. Scantily clothe...

 *Dal Baati Churma: Rajasthani Sanskrutik Virasat Ka Ek Mahatvapoorn Hissa* Dal Baati Churma ek prasiddh Rajasthani vyanjan hai, jo ki Rajasthan ki sanskritik virasat ka ek mahatvapoorn hissa hai. Is vyanjan mein teen mukhya ghatak hote hain: dal, baati, aur churma. Is blog mein, hum Dal Baati Churma ki visheshataon, iske ghatakon, aur iske banane ki vidhi ke bare mein jaankari prapt karenge. *Dal Baati Churma Ki Visheshataein* 1. *Sanskritik Virasat*: Dal Baati Churma Rajasthan ki sanskritik virasat ka ek mahatvapoorn hissa hai. 2. *Treen Ghatak*: Is vyanjan mein teen mukhya ghatak hote hain: dal, baati, aur churma. 3. *Swaad aur Poshtik*: Dal Baati Churma swaad aur poshtik bhara hota hai, jo ki swasthya ke liye faydemand hai. *Dal Ki Visheshataein* 1. *Toor Dal*: Dal Baati Churma mein toor dal ka upyog hota hai, jo ki protein aur fiber se bhara hota hai. 2. *Masale*: Dal mein masalon ka bahut upyog hota hai, jaise ki jeera, dhaniya, aur haldi. 3. *Swaad*: Dal ka swaad bahut hi sw...