What to do when a NEFT Transfer fails?

February 6, 2016, 11:04 pm

≫ Next: What makes beliefs in Bhutaradhane and Nagaradhane so strong?

I think National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) is one of the most commonly services used in Internet Banking in India. Started more than 10 years ago in 2005, NEFT has become an integral part our daily lives. Quick and reliable, it has slowly replaced payments through cheques as the transfer gets done within two hours nowadays.

Though rare, a NEFT transfer may fail due to some technical glitch. It may happen at the time of heavy load of payments during the last day of the month or so. Here’s what you need to do, in case your NEFT transfer fails i.e remitter account is debited but the beneficiary account is not credited with the amount!

NEFT Reference Number : Make sure you take note of the reference number of NEFT transfer. This will be present in the NEFT acknowledgement receipt got after you do the NEFT transfer from your bank account. So, it is important that you save the receipt in your desktop/laptop/smartphone.
Contact Remitter Bank : Contact the remitter bank’s NEFT Customer Facilitation Centre (CFC). The contact numbers are present in the Reserve Bank of India’s website. Keep the NEFT reference number handy while enquiring about the transfer. They will be able to give you information like whether the amount has gone to the beneficiary bank or not and in what batch it was transferred to the destination bank.
Contact Destination Bank : If the amount has gone to the destination bank, then one needs to contact the destination bank’s NEFT Customer Facilitation Centre (CFC) with the NEFT reference number. Again, you will find contact numbers in RBI’s website for contacting them. These guys should be able to give approximate time frame by which amount may be credited to the beneficiary bank account.
Last Resort - Contact RBI : Even after contacting the destination bank, if the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, the NEFT Help Desk of RBI can be contacted through.

e-mail : nefthelpdeskncc@rbi.org.in
Post correspondence to

Reserve Bank of India,

National Clearing Centre,

First Floor, Mumbai Regional Office,

Fort Mumbai 400001

Note : RBI mandates that if the destination bank is not able to credit the amount to beneficiary bank account, they are required to return the transaction amount to the remitting branch within two hours of completion of the batch in which the transaction was processed. But this may not be always followed. Like in my case, it may happen that they don’t credit the amount back to the remitter account but they would credit the amount to the beneficiary account within a day or two!

For more information of NEFT please read the FAQs in NEFT by RBI.

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What makes beliefs in Bhutaradhane and Nagaradhane so strong?

February 13, 2016, 3:44 am

≫ Next: Ee Dane Mulu, Yeregavuye Kirikiri?

≪ Previous: What to do when a NEFT Transfer fails?

Steve Jobs of Apple had asked to give the book - Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda – as a last gift to all who attended his memorial service. I am half way through the book. But I am finding it difficult to complete it due to references to miracles in that book! What aspect of the book, Steve Jobs - one of the most respected men in modern technology, found inspiring – I am yet to find out.

No matter however modern we become, there are some aspects of our belief systems, which cannot be explained in the realms of logic. Belief in holy spirits is one of such kind. Recently premiered documentary series – Belief– in Discovery Channel is a testimony to such beliefs all around the world! Bhuta Kola, explained in one of my earlier posts, constitutes the belief system of people of coastal Karnataka for several centuries.

What are Bhutaradhane and Nagaradhane?– Bhutaradhane or Daivaradhane is a form of worship of holy spirits (called Bhuta or Daiva), followed by the people of coastal Karnataka in India. But it is not restricted to this region. Neighboring Kerala state too follows this tradition, where it is called Theyyam! Holy spirits could be of totemic (relating to forces of nature), divine or human origin. Perfomer or Patri invokes the holy spirits during the ritual which is known as Bhuta Kola. Nagas (serpent gods) are worshiped in a similar way and this form of worship is known as Nagaradhane. Akin to Bhuta Kola, ritual here is called Nagamandala, which depicts the union of male and female snakes. This is performed by two priests – Patri(male form) and Nagakannika(female form). Interestingly, even this ritual has an equivalent in Kerala, where it is called Sarpam Thullal. So, the worship of Daivas (Daivaraadhane) and Nagas (Nagaradhane) are an important aspect of not only coastal Karnataka but of Kerala state too.

Nagamandala - Image Courtesy - daijiworld.com

Democratic Tradition: Bhuta's are worshipped by people of almost all castes of Hindu religion in this region and in some places, they are also worshiped by Muslims. Both Hindus and Muslims offer prayers to Ali Bhuta at Padangala Bhagavathi Shrine in Pare village near Kumble in Kasargod district, Kerala. Performer of the Kola (called Patri) belongs to the Scheduled Caste/Tribe, who is revered by the worshipers. Thus, it is in contrast to the Dalit suppression elsewhere in India. It is another matter that though revered during the times of Kola, they are not cared rest of the times. Shivadhwaj Shetty, a Kannada actor, who hails from Kasaragod made a movie on this irony, named Gaggara (meaning anklet of Bhuta, worn by the performer during the performance), which went on to win the national accolades.

Non-Vedic Form of Worship : Vedic priests follow vegetarianism. But the offerings to Bhuta’s can be of animal origin. Some Bhutas are also offered alcohol during the worship. This is in contrast to Vedic traditions and represents an alternate form of worship in India. This local tradition connects the people with their own land. But the rituals are not entirely different. If you closely observe the Bhuta Kola, it would seem like a merger of Vedic and non-Vedic rituals.

Bond of Togetherness:Bhuta Kola is performed every year during the specified time. For a group of families, which hail from a common ancestry, this is the time when everyone gets together. People come together forgetting their differences and take part in the Daiva Seve(service to the holy spirits).

Famous Temples and Shrines of Daivas and Naga:Panolibail in Bantwal Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district is one of the most revered Daiva shrines. Kallurti or Satya Devate is the presiding deity here. Apart from the exclusive places of worship for Daivas, many temples of coastal Karnataka have dedicated Bhuta sthana’s(shrines for holy spirits) in their premises. Famous pilgrimage center, Dharmasthala has shrines dedicated to Dharma Daivas. Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple too has a shrine or gudi dedicated to the Daivas. Also, naga's (serpent god) are worshiped within the temple. This indicates that these forms of worship are an integral part of Hindu religion in the region.

The Belief : Though people from this region are well known for adopting modern technologies and a modern way of life, they are also deeply religious. People who left Mangalore for greener pastures, make sure they visit the Bhuta Sthanas in their native particularly during Bhuta Kola. So, what makes them come back to their place of origin? The answer lies in Ashtamangala Prashne.

Ashtamangala Prashne (Ashtamangala Prashnam in Malayalam) is a practice in Hindu astrology which is used to find the causes and remedial measures for the problems faced by the family members most probably because of not worshiping the Daivas. It deals with horary astrology, in which an astrologer attempts to answer a question by constructing a horoscope for the exact time at which the question was received and understood by the astrologer. Also, Ashtamangala Prashne involves eight auspicious items namely ghee lamps (brass lamps with a wick in clarified butter), mirror, gold, milk, yogurt, fruits, book, and white cloth. I have heard people returning to their place of origin(moola sthana) after finding the answers for their queries in Ashtamangala Prashne. People seemed to find solutions and peace of mind after attending the Prashne and performing the required riturals. A family from Sagara of Shivamogga district visits Baje village of Kasaragod to attend the pooja rituals of their family deity. Families who hitherto did not know their family deity could find it through Ashtamangala Prashne. They built a shrine at the moola sthana and conduct pooja’s/nema’s regularly.

Deva and Daiva (God and Holy Spirit) : It is said that Deva(God) forgives the mistakes committed by his devotees or people in general just like a mother forgives her children. In contrast, Daiva is believed to punish the wrong doers and set things right for the believers, that too very quickly. This belief is so strong that it is said that the people from Tulu Nadu believe in their Daiva's more than their Deva's. This widely accepted belief is believed to instill fear in the minds of people who are about to do bad acts.

Celebrity Worships : Celebrities who made it big outside of Mangalore in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad do visit their native place and take part in the Bhuta Kola. Following are the list of such events reported in media. These visits have also influenced the belief system of the people, which is already very strong.

Shilpa Shetty : Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty along with her actress sister Shamita Shetty visited her hometown at Mudalady near Niddodi(close to Kateel) to attend the Kola of family diety Jarandhaya.
Anushka Shetty : Famous Tollywood actress Anushka Shetty, visited Urvalu village of Puttur Taluk to attend Bhuta Kola.
Ravi Shastri : Cricketer Ravi Shastri has been visiting his native Karvalu village in Karkala for many years now. He makes sure to visit Nagabana.
Apart from this, Kukke Subramanya Temple near Mangalore has attracted high profile visitors. Naga(serpent god) is mainly worshipped here. Cricketers - Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Lakshman and N Srinivasan(former president of BCCI), business tycoon Vijay Mallya, Dharam Singh(former chief minister of Karnataka), Natwar Singh(former External affairs minister, Govt of India) – have all visited the Kukke Subramanya Temple. Recently Bollywood actor Ajay Devagan performed poojas at the Temple.

Over the years, I have seen many shrines of daivas which were in a state of neglect being renovated. In recent times, new shrines have been built and daivas are being worshiped with grandeur. Thus, centuries old form of worship continues to hold the attention of people from Tulu Nadu for years to come!

Fore more reading - Rituals of Bhuta Kola

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Ee Dane Mulu, Yeregavuye Kirikiri?

February 21, 2016, 2:28 am

≫ Next: How to change the name in BESCOM electricity bill?

≪ Previous: What makes beliefs in Bhutaradhane and Nagaradhane so strong?

Modest Tulu film industry is coming of age. Though the Tulu cinema has a history of 45 years with 60 films, close to 30 films got released in the last 5-6 years! Major boost to this boom was the success of the movie Oriyardori Asal in 2011, which was based on the popular Tulu comedy drama of the 90's of the same name. Previously any Tulu movie released in Mangalore region, used to be screened in Bangalore too, which has a sizeable Tulu population. Nowadays, a Tulu film is released only in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts and sometimes in the United Arab Emirates to cater the immigrant population - makers clearly noting the profitable markets!

Success of many Tulu films in the last few years has brought mannerisms and dialogues in the Tulu movies into popular culture. One popular dialogue which is doing rounds these days in Whatsapp and Facebook groups is Ee Dane Mulu? (Why are you here?) Yeregavuye Kirikiri? (Who would want that nuisance/trouble?)

Origin of Ee Dane Mulu, Yeregavuye Kirikiri : This dialogue is from the hit movie, Ekka Saka released in 2015. It is a conversation between two comedians - Naveen D Padil and Satish Bandale in the movie.

Naveen D Padil is a popular comedian in Tulu dramas, who rose to fame from comedy dramas - Aatada Ulayi Aata(as Banta Kori) and Oriyardori Asal(as Bhajane Master Basappanna). His popularity has continued with Tulu films off late.

Satish Bandale is a theatre artist too, who has acted in movies - Rang(2014) and Rickshaw Driver(2013). His lean frame is tailor made for a comedian. Though he evokes laughter by his mere presence onscreen, his facial expressions add essence to his craft! One more name which comes to my mind with similar traits is Bhojaraj Vamanjoor!

The Conversation : In the movie, Satish Bandale, as a hawker, tries to sell Ayurvedic medicines to Naveen D Padil, who is already worried. Padil chases Bandale away telling he does not need anything. In the subsequent scenes, Sathish appears in different roles as a seller of tender coconuts, a waiter in a coffee shop, a farmer, a timekeeper in school, an auto driver, a waiter in a bar and as a street food vendor - indicating his switch between different jobs. Every time, the conversion between the two would follow the below pattern.

Naveen : Ee Dane Mulu (Why are you here?)
Satish : Yaan Mule (I am here only!)
Naveen : Buka Avu (Then what about that?)
Satish : Avu Budiye (I left that)
Yeregavuye Kirikiri(Who would want that nuisance/trouble).
Undu Ragale Ijji (This is not a problem! [This job is very easy])

Then Satish would go on explaining how easy and good the job is! When Satish is shown as a street food vendor, he is shown with his dominating wife! In the last comedy scene involving the duo in the film, Satish is shown with his second wife! Now, Satish asks Naveen to ask her name. When Naveen asks her name, it is revealed that she is dumb! So, at the end to avoid all troubles Satish leaves his wife too - which makes the audience burst into ultimate laughter!

In Popular Culture : Smartphones of Tulu speaking people are now filled with messages from modified versions and memes of this dialogue from the movie Ekka Saka. Memes have involved politicians, movie stars and even cricketers!

When Indian cricket team lost the ODI series to Australia, a meme came up with Indian cricketers saying : 50 overs yeregavuye, T20 ragale ijji (who would want nuisance of 50 overs, T20 is not a problem!)
When the helmet rule was imposed in Karnataka for pillion riders too, a meme depicted a bus conductor asking a passenger Eer Dane Mulu. For which, the passenger replies - yeregavuye a helmetda kirikiri(who wants that trouble with helmets). undu ragale ijji (this is not a problem! [This job is very easy]), kullunu jeppunu(Just sit and sleep).
Recently, when Freedom251 smartphone was up for sale online, following joke was doing rounds. You can buy almost 365 phones for the cost of iPhone 6 plus! Each for a day of the year. Yeregavuye kirikiri, Undu ragale ijji... Call Malpuni... Dakkuni... (Who would want the trouble, This is not a problem[This job is very easy] Make a call and throw it off(Freedom251 smartphone))

Video of Ee Dane Mulu, Yeregavuye Kirikiri : You can watch the compiled scenes involving conversations between Naveen D Padil and Sathish Bandale below :

Reference: Bfirst.in - Yeer Dane Mulu

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How to change the name in BESCOM electricity bill?

February 27, 2016, 8:38 am

≫ Next: Visit to Triveni Sangam, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

≪ Previous: Ee Dane Mulu, Yeregavuye Kirikiri?

Ok, you have completed the registration of your newly bought house/apartment in Bengaluru. What next? Changing the names in BESCOM electricity bill and BWSSB water bill must be your priority, which once done, would immediately serve as a address proof to your new residence. Explained here is the detailed procedure to change the name in BESCOM electricity bill or transfer of BESCOM electricity connection.

Documents required for change of name in BESCOM electricity bill :

Application from present owner : You can get the application from BESCOM website(print first 2 pages).
NOC from previous owner : (NOC - No objection certficate, this is required for the transfer of deposits which would be in previous owner's name). You can get the NOC form from BESCOM website again.(Form IV - print page 8)
Photocopy of Sale Deed
Photocopy of Khata certificate
Photocopy of Tax Paid Receipt for the current financial year
Field Report From JE O & M (This has to be prepared and signed by Junior Engineer, process of which is explained below)
Indemnity Bond (for transfer of installation)
Power Supply Agreement
Blank File
Original Verified/Bank Letter

Following are the steps to follow for the change of name in BESCOM electricity bill :

Procure the required documents :

For Application from present owner(1st two pages) and NOC from previous owner(8th page) - print the documents from BESCOM website and fill in the details. In case of an apartment, get the NOC from the builder.
Get the photocopies of Sale deed, Khata certificate and Tax Paid Receipt for the current financial year
Indemnity Bond Transfer(for transfer of installation), Power Supply Agreement will not be available in BESCOM office. They will be available in Karnataka State Licensed Electrical Contractors Association office, which would generally be near to BESCOM office. These documents along with the blank file would be provided by their office. You need to pay around Rs.400 for these documents.
If you have taken home loan for the property, get the letter stating 'originals verified' from your bank.
You should also put the photocopy of the latest BESCOM bill.
Place all the documents in the blank file

Verify the documents in Soujanya Counter :

There will be a Soujanya counter in the BESCOM office set up for public enquiries. Here, the person attending would generally be soft spoken. Soujanya means courtesy in Kannada. Verify your documents with the person, who would also guide you on subsequent steps - meeting JE and submitting to the person in charge attending change of name requests.
Note : This verification is just to avoid obvious mistakes which would result in multiple trips to BESCOM office, wasting your time. Actual verification would be done by the official in charge of change of name requests.

Get Field Report from JE :

With the required documents approach the JE of your BESCOM subdivision, who will check the documents and prepare the field report. He would require details of the installed BESCOM meter in your house like Make, Serial Number, Capacity, Present Reading. You can note down these details before hand and provide to him, as most of the times, for change transfer, there would be no inspection. Otherwise, you can take a photo of the meter to identify the details of the meter. But if he insists on inspection, it would be done by the line man.
Verification by the BESCOM lineman : JE may ask BESCOM lineman to visit the premises and note the required details.
Once the details are recorded in the sheet(2nd page of application), JE would sign with his official seal. Attach this to the file already containing other documents.

Verification by BESCOM official :

Ask the person in Soujanya counter, which BESCOM official would handle the change of name request. He would check the documents and if found proper, would generate the service request for the application.
Once the service request id(SR) is generated, the BESCOM official would instruct you to pay the transfer fees, which would be around Rs.100

Pay the fees for change of name :

Pay the fees in the cash counter and get the receipt. Attach the receipt to the file.
Note : Payment of fees may take time if the queue is long. If BESCOM would allow the applicant to pay the fees for change of name online, it would reduce the waiting time.

Submit the documents :

Once you pay the fees for transfer, you are almost done. Submit the file to the BESCOM official who had generated service request id for your request and you are done!

Track your application in BESCOM website :

You can track your request status in BESCOM bill payment site. You need to create a user id for this.
Usually the official would say it would take 10 days to finish the transfer process. But it would be much faster and change of name would reflect in the next month billing cycle.

Important Notes :

You don't have to pay any bribe to change the name in your BESCOM bill.
It takes a bit of patience and diligence to get the thing done. So, don't give up. Don't approach any agent. JE and BESCOM official may not be in his seat all the time. So, you may have to wait and but do not loose patience!
If it is a Saturday, you should submit the documents to BESCOM official, handling change of name requests before 1 pm.
To give you an idea of what the agents would charge for change in name, here is my experience. I got contact details of a person on the net, who would do the process. He quoted Rs.4500. It is understandable that agents would be charging for their service. But Rs.4000 for the service with documents costing around Rs.500 with a day's effort is too much.
I could do the transfer with following expenses.

Purchase of Bond and Agreement : Rs. 400/-
Transfer fees : Rs.100/-
Time Spent : Around 5 hours
Fuel expenses : Negligible

So, I believe it is worth the effort saving Rs.4000/- which would be handy in paying BESCOM bills for the next four months!

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Visit to Triveni Sangam, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

March 5, 2016, 11:55 pm

≫ Next: Simple Aag Innondh Love Story Review

≪ Previous: How to change the name in BESCOM electricity bill?

Triveni Sangam is the place where three rivers confluence. It is considered as a very holy spot in Sanatana Dharma(Eternal Dharma) as a dip in the Triveni Sangam is believed to wash way all sins. Prayag(also known as Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh where three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati(invisible river as locals say woh dikhta nahi saab in Hindi) meet is such a pilgrimage center for devout Hindus.

My visit to Prayag was a short one but it was vibrant within that short duration. On my official visit to Allahabad, with my colleagues I jotted down a plan to visit Prayag. Prayag is the place, where one of the biggest congregations in the world happens during the Maha Kumbh Mela, which is held every 12 years.

Triveni Sangam, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Long bridge over River Ganga : First thing I noticed when I reached Prayag, is the long bridge over River Yamuna. That is the longest bridge(which is 1510 meters in length) I had ever seen in my life and I was amazed to see the width of the holy river. This sight for me was frightening too imagining the wrath of the natural forces when it unleashes. You will also feel so small in front of the gigantic nature.
Just thinking that this is the place where close to 3 crore people gather on a single day of Maha Kumbh Mela is enough to give you goose bumps! (Combined on all days of Maha Kumbh Mela, 12 crore people take a dip in the holy rivers). During that time, river basin would have dried up accommodating such a huge crowd for the ritual bath(Shahi Snan) at the Sangam.

New Yamuna Bridge in the background

Rituals at the Sangam : It is said that one has to offer a coconut, one for each river for the well being of the family members. Needless to say this was explained to us by the boatmen. One has to pray and offer the coconuts at the place, where the three rivers supposed to meet. For reaching that spot, one has to take a boat. Hiring a boat here can be tricky. Once the rowers find out that you are a visitor, rent can be hefty. As it was in the evening and we had to rush to our hotels, we negotiated with one of the boatmen and sailed to the Sangam! The boatmen told us to observe the difference in the water where the rivers meet but we could not make any difference! Few of us including me decided to do the rituals and offered the coconuts(which were with the boatmen) one for each river. As soon as we dropped the coconuts in the river, boatmen were quick to get it back and restore them to other set of pilgrims lest they could float away. I was startled by their behavior. But then I thought though for us, it was so sacred; it was a routine task for the boatmen!

Boat Rowers at Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Shankar Viman Mandapam : On our way back to the banks, we noticed a temple glowing in the dark, the Shankar Viman Mandapam, the three storied temple built in Dravidian architecture style. Then we noticed from distance the Ganga Aarti, the daily ritual worship of river Ganga on the banks, with the priests holding brass lamps and chanting Sanskrit shlokas.

Shankar Viman Mandapam and Ganga Aarti at Prayag

We left Prayag soon after, planning our next day visit to Varanasi Kashi Vishwanath Temple!

close up of Shankar Viman Mandapam, Prayag

Related Posts :

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Simple Aag Innondh Love Story Review

March 13, 2016, 11:53 am

≫ Next: Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu Movie Review

≪ Previous: Visit to Triveni Sangam, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Crisp dialogues, double entendre and parodies of popular ads/movie scenes continue to be the key ingredients in Suni's latest offering Simple Aag Innondh Love Story too! Praveen and Meghana Gaonkar's chemistry recreates the magic Rakshit Shetty and Shwetha Srivatsav did three years ago in Simple Aag Ondh Love Story. More importantly, the movie makes us laugh our heart out just like its prequel!

What's the film about : It is a road movie, where the lead characters fall in love through the journey! Never mind the story, because one should never look for it either Suni's Simple Love Story series or Yogaraj Bhat's recent films. Because they are for the Whatsapp generation - i.e You should be able to message the story in a single line. But for the dialogues, it is like a Whatsapp group conversation - pouring non-stop from everyone and if you miss one, you cannot follow the conversation!

Photo Courtesy : filmibeat.com

What's Cool and What's Not : Apart from the lead characters, the little boy who accompanies them, sets a laugh riot. Another aspect which make the funny bone tickle is the handling of emotional scenes comically! There are very few songs in the movie, something unlike for a Indian romantic comedy movie. Villain gang in the movie looks comical and could have been avoided as they are inconsequential.

Should you watch the movie : Definitely, as it is a light-hearted romantic comedy, which makes you feel good at the end!

Here's the trailer of the movie

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Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu Movie Review

March 20, 2016, 1:03 am

≫ Next: Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi

≪ Previous: Simple Aag Innondh Love Story Review

Tejaswi - When I started reading Poornachandra Tejaswi's works few years ago, first culture shock to me was the use of cuss words. I felt like blasphemy of the holy literary space! I was about to stop reading. But then I thought something greater must be in store because Tejaswi has a big fan following! To this day, I have not regretted my decision and I remain one of staunch fans of Kuvempu's son! In the movie, cuss words have been reduced drastically not because they have been used sparingly. The censor board has already heard them and muted them for general public. This certainly has impacted the rhythm of the movie! Ironically, you can hear worst(or best!!) of cuss words in your neighborhood in Bengaluru during fights involving owner and tenant or even during minor accidents on road!

What is it about? Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu is a novella by Tejaswi, which brilliantly depicts the life of people of Malnad region with high dose of humor! Rustic women of Kiragooru have to deal with a lot of issues due to drunkard husbands and village politics and sometimes, they quarrel among themselves! In spite of these problems, they are united. They continue to strive and manage the household. How these women get rid of their life's problems form the crux of the story. Caste politics in Kiragooru mimics the politics in Vidhana Soudha, where fortunes are made or broken solely because of caste equations. Tejaswi had written the story more than two decades ago. So, I also felt that the film adaption could have made few changes in the story to depict the latest scenario.

Novella to Film : Film is a visual narrative and story is a important aspect of it. But story is not the only part of the movie. If these thoughts come to your mind, don't surprised. Because, this movie has its bright moments in few scenes. But this cannot be said about the entire movie. Witty humor, which is one of the prominent techniques Tejaswi had employed in his works has been adapted only in a few scenes. At regular intervals, film gets boring and you think when would it end! Also, it fails to bring the intensity as to why women would revolt against the system. But then the humor gets the tempo going!

Picture Courtesy :www.filmibeat.com

Cinematography and Nativity : Depiction of village life of Kiragooru through Manohar Joshi's camera is good. As a typical Kannada film set in rural background will have tempers flying high between the warring families. But here it is different. People don't spit rage at every opportunity but they present a realistic scenario, where they avoid each other! Village women are rightly shown doing some or the other task along with their talk, making a real connect to the rural life. Also, how can one forget the simplicity of clothes worn. No golden chain or tiger claw hanging from the neck!

Actors and More Actors! : Though Shwetha Srivatsav is projected as the heroine in the movie, it is Sukruta Wagle, who comes out as the foremost rowdy woman(err... I did not like the translation in the film title!) of Kiragooru. Achyut Kumar delivers his usual best. Though there are many cameos by popular actors, two roles standout - those played by Yogi(aka loose Mada) and Ravishankar (of Silly Lally fame). Needless to say they make us laugh heartily!

Music : There are no songs in the movie. But the background music echoing 'Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu' in some scenes was not required.

Points to Ponder :

Repeated dialogues uttered by the Tehsildar when he leaves Kiragooru could have been avoided. During the quarrel among the women of Kiragooru in the first scene, they badmouth each other using same dialogues. This could have been avoided and made the scene shorter!
Length of the movie could have been reduced leaving out unnecessary scenes in the first half. Though I felt first half was slow, even second half was equally slow.
Quarrel scene involving of women of Kiragooru could have been portrayed more sensitively.
In one scene, where Kale Gowda's girlfriend speaks to him dubbing seemed out of synch.
In the end, women beat the men of the village left and right. Why do they do that? It is understandable when lead roles in the movie get the treatment since we are in the know of their wrong doing. Bad job by the script supervisor.

Whether you should watch the movie : You can watch the movie for realistic portrayal of village life and few scenes of witty homour. Otherwise, I believe it is better to read the book for your own imagination of Kiragooru!

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Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi

March 20, 2016, 3:33 am

≫ Next: Trip to serene Sarnath, A Buddhist Site

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'No leather items inside the temple including belt and wallet. Of course, no cameras and cell phones' - hotel staff had instructed us before visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi(also called Banaras or Benares). So, I don’t have any photos of the temple, clicked by me. Just outside the hotel we stayed, we enquired a taxi guy to drop us to the Kashi temple. But the rent he said would charge was too high – Rs.400 for a journey of 5 kms and the year was 2013. We walked ahead to catch an auto rickshaw. The driver agreed to take us to the temple and drop us back to the hotel for Rs.200.

Getting Inside The Temple :- I was expecting a spectacular entrance to one of the most visited Hindu temples in the world. But when the auto guy dropped us in front of a petty shop, I was totally taken aback. He instructed us to go through the narrow alley passing through the row of shops and told to get hold of any Pandit(priest), who will get the Darshan(glimpse of the sanctum of the temple) done quickly! We followed his instructions to reach the entrance, which looked like of a small shrine. We removed our footwear and kept inside a shop nearby. Shop keeper asked us whether we wanted prashad(or prasada/prasadam in south India) to offer and milk for abhishek(or abhishekam) to Lord Vishwanath. We were surprised as in most south Indian temples, devotees are offered prasadam from the temple after darshan. Also, if we pay for the seva, prasadam will be provided at the temple itself. But it was different here, explained the shop keeper. We bought the prashad and milk for abhishek. After the security check, we were let inside the temple.

The Darshan :- Four of us stood in a long queue for the Darshan! Standing in the queue, one could immediately observe the gold plated gopuram's of the temple. Sensing our unfamiliarity of the place, a pandit immediately approached us for getting the Darshan done quickly by charging around Rs.15 per head! We were surprised as there was no special entry queue for the Darshan and the price he was quoting was little. We were hesitant as we thought he would demand more money later. Looking at our faces, the guy said - bhay mat khao (don’t fear) and assured that he would not charge more. So, after contemplating for a while, we decided to go with him. He took us to the shrine, where people were standing in a queue to perform the abhishek(offering milk) to the shivling(or shivalingam). Pandit told us to join the queue midway. It was embarrassing thinking that we were cutting in line. But nobody was protesting. So, we made our move. An enclosure formed by metal grills surrounded the shivling of Kashi Vishwanath. People who had brought milk for abhishekam were pouring the milk over the shivling. A priest who stood within the enclosure was taking the packet of prashad from the devotees. He would then touch it to the shivaling and return it back. He would also clean the enclosure of the offered items simultaneously. Right after the darshan of shivaling, we offered our prayers to Mata Annapoorna, the mother goddess. Shrine of Mata Annapoorna is located just besides the sanctum of Lord Vishwanath.

Picture Courtesy : varanasi.nic.in

Holy Well : Then, we saw the holy well, which is considered holier than the Lingam which is worshipped inside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. But why? Because of the original Shivaling of the temple is inside the well. How is that possible? Pandit explained to us : Previously, Kashi Vishwanath temple was located on the site, where Gyanvapi Mosque stood now, which is next to the present temple. When Mughal ruler Aurangzeb destroyed the original temple, the priest of the temple then said to have put the Shivaling into the temple well. Aurangzeb built Gyanvapi Mosque on the site of destroyed temple. So, the well where the original Shivaling is said to have located is considered holier than the sanctum of the present temple. So, the pandit asked us to circumambulate the holy well.

Being a Brahmin :- Then the pandit took us to one priest, who after blessing demanded money and told us that donating to a Brahmin is a good karma and donor will earn Punya! We were dejected by the attitude of this priest, so we told him that one among us is a Brahmin to irk him! Then the priest got irritated and said in Hindi, are aap braahman hoke braahman ko daan nahi dete? (You being Brahmin, why don’t you donate to Brahmin?) We gave some nominal amount. Then, the pandit took us to one more priest who sat on a high rise, which was covered with a cloth under which one could see currency notes of thousand and five hundred rupees flowing out! Now, it was his turn to ask for money. But this priest was polite. So, we could get away with nominal amount again quickly without arguments. Also, we paid the pandit who took us inside the temple Rs.200, which was more than what he asked from us. More so, because he did not agitate us like other priests and said aap ke man me jitna aata hai utna deejiye(Give me how much ever you feel like giving). We were eager to get out after seeing the attitude of priests and them placing importance on one’s caste. I believe, willingness to donate money to anybody, should come from a person’s heart and one cannot force anybody to donate. Also, caste cannot be the reason for one’s greatness but the deeds!

Gyanvapi Mosque, Armed Guards and Kannada :- While exiting from the temple, one has to pass besides the Gyanvapi Mosque around which thick metal grills make the barricade. It is guarded by armed guards. We were talking in Kannada while on our way out. We were totally surprised when one of the guards asked in Kannada - Yaav Ooru? (from which place are you from). We replied and exchanged pleasantries.

With that we had ticked off visiting one of the holiest temples of Sanatana Dharma. Frankly speaking, I had a mixed experience visiting the place! But Varanasi had more positive things to offer in the coming hours!

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Trip to serene Sarnath, A Buddhist Site

March 28, 2016, 10:35 am

≫ Next: Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Simhapuri, Sarnath

≪ Previous: Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi

I believe not many are aware that Sarnath, the place where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon is very close to Varanasi. Neither we were aware of this, when we visited Varanasi in August 2013. We came to know that Sarnath is just 13 km away, when we were returning back to our hotel after visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the morning. Ganga Aarti, a must watch spectacle in Varanasi was later in the evening. So, we made a quick decision to visit Sarnath, with a resolve to come back before Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat at 6 pm!

Tranquility : We hired the same auto rickshaw to drop us to Sarnath. First impression of Sarnath was of a serene place, quite a contrast to chaotic Varanasi! Only thing which was preventing us from enjoying the tranquility of the place was the scorching heat! Giant statue of standing Buddha caught our attention immediately. It was the statue of Buddha at the Thai Temple in Sarnath.

Archaeological Museum(ASI Museum), Sarnath

Sarnath Museum : Sarnath Museum established in 1910 contains the Lion Capital of Ashoka, from which the National Emblem of India is derived. But to our disappointment it was closed as it was a government holiday. The historical building with green lawn around it, was a treat to watch.

Dhamek Stupa near the excavated site, Sarnath

Dhamek Stupa amidst excavated site in Sarnath

Dhamek Stupa (also called Dhamekh or Dhamekha Stupa) :- One of the prominent structures in Sarnath, Dhamek Stupa was originally called Dharma Chakra Stupa. It is believed to be the spot where Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. Diameter of the cylindrical tower is 28.5 meters at the base and it is 33.35 meters in height. Total height of the structure is 42.6 meters including the foundation. We could not go near the Stupa as it was barricaded. So, after having a look at the Stupa, we went to the Jain temple nearby. More details on that in the upcoming post.

Remnants of Ashokan, Pillar or Lion Capital of Ashoka, Sarnath

Remnants of Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath

History coming alive: Near the Dhamek Stupa is the ASI excavation site which is maintained well. One interesting thing to look out here is the fragment Ashokan Pillar, which was 15.25 meters high, made of Chunar sandstone. It was once surmounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which is now kept in the Sarnath Museum. In the ASI inscription at the site, it was mentioned that an edict of King Ashoka is present in the pillar. In the edict, the king warns the monks and nuns against creating schism in the sangha. While reading this, I was reminded of the Kannada novel, Chitadanta by K N Ganeshaiah, where he explains how King Ashoka had created a Naraka(hell) in his kingdom, where the wrong doers were put to severe punishment. You can also find remnants of Mulagandha Kuti, a huge temple, where Lord Buddha used to sit for meditation. According famed Chinese traveler, Hieun Tsang, the inscription their said its height was 61 meters. The temple which was constructed during the Gupta period, was raised on a square platform with each side measuring 18.29 meters. For me, knowing all these details at the very site where all it happened, was enthralling as the well-known historical figures were appearing right before me!

Buddha Statue, Ashoka Chakra inside Thai Temple(Wat Thai) premises, Sarnath

Buddha Statue, Ashoka Chakra inside Thai Temple premises, Sarnath

Wat Thai (Thai Temple) : Finally, we were at Thai Temple. Standing Buddha statue here is 80 feet tall. Interestingly, decision to build the statue was taken after the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan. Other than the Buddha statue, courtyard of Wat Thai has a beautiful garden. Also, one can find replica of Ashoka Pillar and Ashoka Chakra. While leaving, I noticed the doctrines of Dhamma Pada written on the compound wall – "Do Good and Be Good, Not to do any evil, To cultivate good, To purify one’s mind – This is the advice of the Buddhas."

Wat Thai (Thai Temple), Sarnath

Other Temples : One can notice that like Thailand, other Asian countries where Buddhism had a towering influence - Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka and Myanmar have established their temples/monasteries in Sarnath. It was a proud moment for me as an Indian. We could not visit all of them but you must if you have time for observing different architecture elements at one place!

80 feet tall Buddha Statue, Sarnath

Purchases: Statues of Buddha made of sandstone, mud were on display in most of the street shops. I bought the Buddha statue made of mud unaware that it could create issues during my check in at the airport! Ok, it so happened that I carried the statue in my cabin baggage thinking if I put it in my check in baggage, they would definitely break for obvious reasons. During the security check of cabin baggage, I was asked to stop after the security in-charge noticed the hard substance. I was asked for an explanation for which I replied it was a Buddha statue made of mud. He seemed satisfied with the explanation and I was let go. Other than souvenirs, one could also purchase Banarasi sarees here in Sarnath avoiding the crowded shops in Varanasi.

Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi

ASI excavated site at Sarnath, Varanasi

Statues of Buddha on sale, Sarnath

Replica of Ashoka Pillar, Sarnath

Courtyard of Thai Temple, Sarnath

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Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Simhapuri, Sarnath

April 2, 2016, 4:42 am

≫ Next: Ganga Snan - Taking A Dip In The River Ganga

≪ Previous: Trip to serene Sarnath, A Buddhist Site

Sri Digambar Jain Temple at Sarnath is of historical significance. It is at this place, which is also called Simhapuri, 11th Tirthankara of Jainism, Shreyansnath was born in the Ikshvaku dynasty. Yes, Lord Ram of Ramayana was also born in Ikshvaku dynasty.

Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Simhapuri, Sarnath

Till we reached Saranth, I was assuming it to be a Buddhist site. But after seeing the Jain Temple, I thought it must be a Jain pilgrimage center too. But the temple was constructed in the 19th century in 1824. Jain Temples are always abode of peace, symbolic of the non-violent religion. In fact, Thousand Pillar Jain temple in Moodabidri near Mangalore is one of my favorite places to unwind. Just sitting in the temple corridor relaxes the mind!

Statue of Shreyansnath, Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Sarnath

Walls of the Jain Temple in Saranth are filled with paintings of episodes from the life of Tirthankaras. Interestingly, doors of the temple are painted in gold. Ornate designs in the enclosure to the statue of Shreyansnath are beautiful. After spending few minutes in the temple, we proceeded towards the Dhamek Stupa, which is just behind the temple.

Inside Jain Temple, Sarnath

Paintings on the walls of Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Sarnath

Paintings on the walls of Jain Temple, Sarnath

Jain Temple nestled in the nature at Sarnath

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Ganga Snan - Taking A Dip In The River Ganga

April 3, 2016, 11:38 am

≫ Next: Ganga Aarti - A Visual Spectacle at Varanasi

≪ Previous: Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Simhapuri, Sarnath

Back in Varanasi : We came back to Varanasi after visiting Sarnath on that day. River Ganga (or Ganges) had flooded the ghats(shores), with some temples submerged in Dashashwamedh Ghat. Locals told us that no one would be allowed to take a dip in the holy river. We came to know the seriousness of what they said only when we arrived at the shore near the Dashashwamedh Ghat. Boats made the barricade for anyone venturing the act and there was more to it – the Jal Police! Jal Police or water police – I was hearing it for the first time in my life. Jal police from UP Government was keeping an eye on the adventurers. On the other hand, three among us were keen to take a dip. I was hesitant after reading about the polluted water in the river. You can also see the Clean Ganga posters all over Varanasi!

A Temple submerged by River Ganga, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi

Ganga Snan : After a while, we explained our situation - coming from far off Bengaluru, to the men in guard. We were allowed to cross the boats and it was told that we had to take a dip within the area encircled by the boats. This was exciting for the group - custom so ancient, ritual so holy was about to be performed. Many wait till the last stages of their life to perform the Kashi Yatra and take a dip in the River Ganga. But my decision had not changed. We crossed guarded area and were in one of the boats now. My friend Krishnan plunged first. But the men in the encircled boats would not allow us to get into the river. What? What the Jal police meant then? and how Ganga Snan(dip in River Ganga) would be performed? Men in the boat had a innovative idea! They would fill the buckets with water from river and pour on the person who wished to complete the ritual and all this would happen in the boat itself! So, in a way one could complete the Ganga Snan(bath in the Ganges) without taking the dip! Seeing my friends complete Ganga Snan, I made up my mind too forgetting about the polluted water. Spirituality taking over Logic! Though I did not like idea of pouring the water of the holy river instead of taking a dip in it, I did complete the ritual!

Jal police in Varanasi (wearing blue color T-shirts)

Why is river Ganga so sacred? Religious importance aside, there must be more to why the river Ganga is being considered so sacred. People believe that dip in the river would wash away all their sins. Definitely I wont buy that. How can one get away with bad karmas by taking a dip in the holy river. Even the Bhagavad Gita says one has to bear the fruits of action - whether good or bad! I got a convincing answer, when I read a book on Swami Vivekananda – The Monk As Man. He says that during colonial times, when British used to travel to India by ship, they used to carry fresh water from Thames, which used to get contaminated midway. But when they were travelling back, the fresh water taken from Ganga used to last long. That is because of the natural nutrients found in the river water originating from the Himalayas. This may be even true now when the water is procured from the foothills of the Himalayas. But I doubt the purity when it enters the Gangetic plains. This apart, you can find a vessel containing the water from River Ganga in some households. The stored sacred water is given to the person nearing his last minutes through the Tulsi/Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum or holy basil) leaf.

Maa Ganga Mandir, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi

Holy Water : People carry the water from the holy river while returning back from Varanasi. One friend of mine had come prepared for this – he had few empty bottles. I managed to get the water in one bottle – that is directly from the river. It contained mud because of the floods. Once I reached home, I distilled it and kept in a separate bottle. It may be surprising to you but Varanasi is probably the only airport in the world which allows passengers to carry water in cabin/hand luggage! Of course, when it is water from the holiest river in India – Ganga! Ganga water is sold at shops in Varanasi too. Water is packaged and put into a small Kalash(metal pot). I bought few of them to give to my relatives. It is amazing to see the reverence shown by the people to river Ganga. I experienced this soon after coming back from Varanasi. People would sprinkle the water from Ganga into the bathing water and would feel they had Ganga Snan! Some would sprinkle on themselves and be free of their worries! No modern medicine, consoling words would do the trick as the centuries old belief in the river Ganga!

A temple completely submerged in River Ganga, Dashashwamedh Ghat,Varanasi

A temple completely submerged in River Ganga, Varanasi

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Ganga Aarti - A Visual Spectacle at Varanasi

April 9, 2016, 6:18 am

≫ Next: New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

≪ Previous: Ganga Snan - Taking A Dip In The River Ganga

The Worship of Rivers : In Temples in India, Aarti is offered to the presiding deity. Aarti, a ritual rooted in Vedic culture is a pooja(worship) to the image/statue of the deities. But have you ever observed the worshiping of a river? In Karnataka, I have seen the river Kaveri being worshiped in Talakaveri. It is worshiped there in a small shrine. Thus, worshiping of natural forces is one of the central aspects of Sanatana Dharma.

Ganga, The Eternal River : Ganga, the 2,525 km long river is worshiped throughout its course, especially at important pilgrimage centers in northern part of India. I had witnessed Ganga Aarti for the first time couple of days ago in Prayag. Ganga Aarti, a visual spectacle, is not to be missed if you are travelling along the course of river Ganga. Waving of light emanating from the multi wick brass lamps with rhythmic ringing of bells and chants forms one of the spectacular shows on earth!

Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi

Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat :Ganga Aarti is performed at two sites in Dashshwamedh Ghat simultaneously. Soon after Ganga Snan, we were near one of the sites of performance. Usually Aarti is performed at the ghat near the steps leading to the river Ganga. As the river had flooded the shores, alternate arrangements were made.
One site was near the shore on a raised platform. Other was the veranda (without the roof) of somebody’s house. When we reached the first site, it was already crowded with people occupying the chairs in front of the stage of performance. We wanted to get a closer glimpse of the rituals. We could not have got it in this place. So, we had to go to the next place and we don’t know how.

Ganga Aarti in Varanasi

The Adventure! After a while, we could get hold of a person, who could transport us to the second site of Ganga Aarti performance. That of course, with a fee per head! We paid him the money(don’t remember how much), he made us enter through the back door! What? He took us to the rear of the house and asked us to climb the wall which would lead us to the roof of the house! Err… What are we doing…? We are getting an illegal entry into somebody’s house in the holy city of Varanasi! We were in a dilemma! But then we unanimously decided to take the plunge, more so, because we could see many people on the roof already! Also, we did not want this last opportunity to witness the Ganga Aarti up close! But before we could climb the wall and complete our adventure, the guy who brought us there disappeared in a flash.

A Performer holding brass lamp during Ganga Aarti in Varanasi

The Ganga Aarti : Much anticipated ritual began with the reciting of shlokas in Sanskrit.
Tvam-Eva Maataa Ca Pitaa Tvam-Eva (You Truly are my Mother And You Truly are my Father)
Tvam-Eva Bandhush-Ca Sakhaa Tvam-Eva(You Truly are my Relative And You Truly are my Friend)
Tvam-Eva Viidyaa Dravinnam Tvam-Eva (You Truly are my Knowledge and You Truly are my Wealth)
Tvam-Eva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva (You Truly are my All, My God of Gods).
This is one of the finest attributions of almighty. After this prayer, elaborately dressed performers of the Aarti blew the conch indicating the beginning of the actual ritual of Ganga Aarti. Initially, holding incense sticks in one hand and a bell in another, performers worshiped the river Ganga by circulating the lit incense sticks facing the river. After that, dhup aarti (aarti with a different kind of incense stick) was performed. Then came the much awaited aarti done using multi tiered and multi wicked brass lamps. The brass lamps, which were lit formed a pyramid of light points. You ought to be in Varanasi to experience this. People say one should watch it from the boat on the river. But with the floods, Jal police was in action and also, some exclusive boat owners were quoting exorbitant prices. Aarti continued then with the serpent shaped brass lamps. After a while, flowers were showered upon the holy river. Hand fans were then used to perform the Aarti. Then performers held Chaamara (hand-held fan made of fur like material) for worship. Along with the aarti, bhajans and chants were being sung in the background, creating a truly divine experience of the east! At the end of the performance, all people prayed in unison for the betterment of the humans on earth. It is an elated feeling being part of such a huge gathering praying for the well being of all human beings. To be part of such a great tradition, that is having such a broader outlook for the entire world, was a proud feeling for me. I could feel the vibrations of positive energy right there!

Serpent shaped brass lamp used in Ganga Aarti, Varanasi

Idol of Mother Ganga, Varanasi

Man with a stick! The owner of the house was roaming in the roof of the house during the entire Aarti. He was trying to find out who were the uninvited guests! I believe he would have collected money from the spectators, who came through the front door and he was unaware of the folks who entered through the backdoor, without paying him the entry fee! Scary part was that he had a stick in his hand! When the aarti got over, he was finally able to recognize us and he questioned – aap logon ko kisne andar choda?(Who let you guys in?). We were seeing each other’s faces at the next moment. Looking at our anxious faces, he asked us - was it that guy - giving description of the person’s appearance. We could identify the guy and he let us out! This time we were coming out from the house’s main gate! While going out, I observed the Idol of Maa Ganga(mother Ganga), which was also worshiped during the Ganga Aarti.

A Sadhu at Varanasi

The Sadhu : It was a mixed experience at the end of Ganga Aarti with the visual spectacle and some anxious moments on the roof! Anyway, one could imagine Varanasi typically filled with Sadhus smeared with vibhooti and wearing saffron robe. Though we could not notice the sadhus that frequently, we could get a glimpse of a sadhu right after Ganga Aarti on the streets of Varanasi. He stood still, while we were observing him. After a while, we got into a south Indian restaurant, finished our dinner and called it a day!

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References :
Greenmesg.org

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New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

April 17, 2016, 3:12 am

≫ Next: Qutub Minar and Iron Pillar of Delhi

≪ Previous: Ganga Aarti - A Visual Spectacle at Varanasi

Next day morning, we made a plan to visit Banaras Hindu University(BHU). It was exciting to visit BHU as we had read about it in history textbooks. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Dr. Annie Besant were behind the establishment of one of the top residential universities in India.

Entrance of Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalay. Varanasi

Banaras Hindu University is just around 8 km from the city of Varanasi. The university gate, which is reminiscent of the temple gates, welcomes the visitors. New Kashi Vishwanath Temple inside the campus of BHU is the main attraction here. While entering the temple you can read a notice in Hindi saying – Residents of Europe and America, who are not followers of Vedic religions as well as Indians who do not follow Vedic religions, if with respect good intentions want to enter the temple, they can enter the temple except for the sanctum sanctorum. People who are not in right frame of mind, can be prevented from entering the temple at any time(आर्य धर्म से भिन्न मत मानने वाले युरॊप अमेरिका आदि देशों के निवासी तथा वे विशिष्ठ प्रसिद्ध (ख्याति प्राप्त) भारतीय भी जो आर्य ध्रर्मी न हों यदि श्रद्धा और सदभावना के साथ दर्शन करना चाहें तो निज ग्रुह अर्थात (गर्भ गृह मूर्ति पूजा मण्डप) के अतिरिक्त मंदिर मे प्रवॆश कर सकतॆ हैं । संदिग्ध व्यक्तियॊं को किसी भी समय मंदिर प्रवॆश से रोका जा सकता है।)It is good to note the accommodative nature of the founders of the temple and allowing everyone to know the best aspects of Sanatana Dharma.

New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University(BHU), Varanasi

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was the brain behind the New Kashi Vishwanath Temple, who wanted to replicated the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. So, this temple’s design is inspired by the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, which had been destroyed and reconstructed several times. New Kashi Vishwanath Temple as you would have guessed looking at the picture of the temple, is built by Birlas. So, it also called a Birla Mandir too! Inside the temple, we found illustrations of the extracts from Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu scriptures on the marble walls, more often the theme being eternal law of Karma. This is captivating indeed! Magnificent temple’s construction took 25 years (1931-1966) and at 250 feet, the temple’s vimana(tower over the sanctum of temple) is the highest in the world!

Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Central Library, BHU

After visiting the New Kashi Vishwanath Temple, we roamed inside the campus of BHU. Different departments of the university are hosted in structures with domes/towers resembling that of temples. Lush green premises seemed to be one of the best places for concentration and studies.

Statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya at BHU

College of Agriculture, BHU

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Qutub Minar and Iron Pillar of Delhi

April 30, 2016, 10:49 am

≫ Next: Delhi Metro, Chandni Chowk and Birla Temple

≪ Previous: New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

While coming back from Varanasi to Bengaluru, we flew to Delhi and covered prominent landmarks of the national capital. The trip was jam packed as we had a day's time before we our departure to Bengaluru the next day.

Qutub Minar, Delhi

Qutub Minar : Our first stop was at Qutub Minar. 75.1 meter high monument was visible from a great distance. Even before we entered the Qutub complex, we had a glimpse of it from the bus we were travelling. It was dusk when we reached the place. Nicely paved path amidst green lawns, lead us to the UNESCO world heritage site.
The structure was majestic. Needless to say it marked the beginning of the Delhi sultanate. Sadly, one is not allowed to go inside the Minar like in Char Minar in Hyderabad. Entry was prohibited after a major stampede which killed 45 people in 1981 after a power failure.

Qutub Complex, Delhi

Qutub Complex : Interestingly, Qutub Minar was not the only attraction. We spotted several other monuments in the place, collectively called Qutub complex. One could find the ruins of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in the form of arches. I was surprised to find columns which resembled columns from Hindu temples with intricate carvings. Later I came to know after reading the ASI inscription that the mosque was built by structural elements taken from the destruction of 27 Hindu and Jain temples.

Pillars of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Qutub Complex, Delhi

Iron Pillar : Another major attraction here is the 7 meter high iron pillar, which is rust resistant. A monument of the Gupta period(i.e 1600 years old), it is an Indian engineering wonder. There is a popular notion if standing with one's back to the pillar and make one's hands meet behind it, it would bring good look. This notion is depicted in the movie Cheeni Kum, starring Amitabh Bachchan. Big B hopes that this act of meeting hands standing with one's back to the pillar would save the life of his little friend, who is suffering from cancer. Sad to see that this popular notion has also lead to discoloration of the lower part of the pillar with tourists trying the act.

Iron Pillar, Qutub Complex. Delhi

Wall of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Qutub Complex, Delhi

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Delhi Metro, Chandni Chowk and Birla Temple

May 1, 2016, 6:59 am

≫ Next: Jantar Mantar, Delhi

≪ Previous: Qutub Minar and Iron Pillar of Delhi

We wanted to experience the Delhi Metro while exploring the city. So, boarded the metro train from Kalkaji to Chandi Chowk, one of the busiest business places in the national capital. We strolled down the road to spot Gowri Shankar Temple. At the end of the road, we could see the Red Fort, for which the entry was closed for the day. It was already late in the evening and we had to jot down the plan to visit other tourist attraction before our flight to Bengaluru in the afternoon.

Kalkaji Metro Station. Delhi

We hired a taxi from there, who would drop us to the hotel and would drive us through Sri Lakshmi Narayan Temple(Birla Mandir) and India Gate.
We made sure that he would take us to other attractions in Delhi - Jantar Mantar, Akshar Dham Temple, India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, Raj Ghat and Red Fort before dropping us to the airport. That was a nice plan to cover lot of places in a short span of time! More on that in the upcoming posts!

Gowri Shankar Temple, Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Sri Lakshmi Narayan Temple(Birla Mandir), Delhi

On our way back to the hotel, I spotted a restaurant with names written in all four south Indian languages!

A South Indian restaurant with names displayed in all four south Indian languages in Delhi

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Jantar Mantar, Delhi

May 5, 2016, 10:24 am

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Next day, our first stop was at Jantar Mantar. Good thing about ASI monuments is that their entry is open from sunrise to sunset. So, one need not wait for some precise time for the monument to be open and make the trip plans accordingly!

Construction : The observatory was constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur following the order of Delhi's Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah in 1724. It was early in the morning when we entered the place and nobody else was there. So, we could stroll around the green lawns of Jantar Mantar and take photos at will! Built primarily to estimate the times and movements of sun, moon and other planets, Jantar Mantar at Delhi is not the only such observatory in India! But it was the first one to be built. You can also find the observatories in Jaipur, Varanasi and Ujjain built by Jai Singh himself! Interestingly, there is no telescope in these observatories built by the Maharaja!

Misra Yantra, Jantar Mantar, Delhi

Yantra's : There are 13 different yantras inside the Jantar Mantar complex. To elaborate on few, Misra Yantra was designed to determine shortest and longest days of the year. It was the only instrument not invented by the Maharaja Jai Singh.
Ram Yantra was constructed to measure the horizontal and vertical angles of celestial bodies such as sun and the moon. Jai Prakash Yantra was used to determine the azimuth, altitude, declination and right ascension of celestial objects. Samrat Yantra was to measure the declination and right ascensions of celestial bodies.

spokes of Ram Yantra, Jantar Mantar, Delhi

Shasthamsa Yantra : Of the 13 instruments available in Jantar Mantar, Shasthamsa Yantra (or sextant instrument) is unique to the observatories in Delhi and Jaipur. Shasthamsa Yantra is considered to be among Jai Singh's high precision instruments. Original radius of the arc of the instrument is about 8.25 meters. This instrument is used for the measurement of the declination, zenith, distance and diameter of the sun. This Yantra consists of a large graduated 60 degree arc built in the plane of a meridian within a dark chamber. High above the arc, a pinhole is left open near the top of the chamber. The sun passes through the meridian and shines on the arc through the pinhole, from where its declination can be read.

Samrat Yantra, Jantar Mantar, Delhi

Why the name Jantar Mantar? : Jantar is modified form of Sanskrit word Yantra meaning Instrument. Mantar is modified form of Sanskrit work Mantra meaning formula. So, in totality Jantar Mantar means measuring instrument.

Jai Prakash Yantra, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

After Jantar Mantar visit, we went to see India Gate, facing the Rashtrapathi Bhavan located on Rajpath in Delhi!

Jantar Mantar, Delhi

Ram Yantra, Jantar Mantar, Delhi

References :
ASI : Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar - Detailed Explaination
Video : Jantar Mantar - Discovery of India

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Beating the summer heat, the North-East way!

May 14, 2016, 12:52 am

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Planning : The mystic Himalayas have always intrigued me. Finally in the month of March 2016, I started planning for the coveted trip. I had tough time finalizing the itinerary. Northern Sikkim is a must visit, said my friend Sandeep. But I could find only few trip packages, which included it. After some deliberation, I finalized the package, exactly a month before the tour!

Escaping the heat: Bengaluru had already crossed 37 degree Celsius in the mid of April. I was going to beat that heat by going to one of the coldest places in India! But during the packing of warm clothes for the trip, I ensured that they were minimal, so that luggage stays light. Visiting various places within a week, carrying lighter baggage is always better. Following was my itinerary visiting Sikkim and Darjeeling

Itinerary :
Day 1 (21 April 2016) : Bengaluru to Bagdogra, Transfer to Gangtok
Day 2 : Changu Lake, Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
Day 3 : Journery to northern Sikkim, Lachung
Day 4 : Yumthung Valley, Zero Point and return back to Gangtok
Day 5: Gangtok Sightseeing, Transfer to Darjeeling
Day 6 : Darjeeling sightseeing
Day 7( 27 April 2016):Bagdogra to Bengaluru

At 8 am, on 21st April 2016, I boarded the cab, which would drop me to the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Since it was morning, I could reach the airport within an hour to catch the Indigo Airlines flight to Bagdogra, scheduled at 10:35. It feels good to reach the airport in short time, avoiding the city traffic on the way.

Arriving at Bagdogra, I met my travel representative, who briefed me about the proceedings that day. I boarded Toyota Innova to begin my journey to Sikkim. After a while, the driver stopped at a restaurant in Siliguri, where the lunch had been arranged by the travel agent! That was a surprise, as it was not mentioned in the package. I also met my co-travelers in the restaurant. After lunch, our travel agent briefed us about north eastern part of India – its weather, people and gave us some travel advice.

Journey to Gangtok : Then began the five hour journey to the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok. When I reached my hotel at Gangtok, first thing I got served was a hot cup of black tea. It was very refreshing in the chilling cold night at Gangtok.

Changu Lake, Sikkim

Changu Lake and Harbhajan Singh Mandir : It was my first day of sight-seeing in Sikkim. I never expected to find snow. But to my delight, I could see the indications of snow fall on my way to Changu lake. Driver suggested visiting the lake on our way back as we had to go to higher altitude to reach the Harbhajan Singh Mandir. Crossing the lake, negotiating the sharp curves, we stopped at a place, where we could see Changu lake clearly from above! For our amazement, this place was full of snow! I was seeing such a place for the first time in my life! We came out of our vehicle and played with the snow to our hearts content. After a while, we headed to Harbhajan Singh Mandir, built in memory of Harbhajan Singh, an Indian soldier. Its close proximity to Tibet-China border is what makes the visit thrilling. It is also a place, where one can purchase souvenir items of Sikkim.

Snow covered region just above Changu Lake

Tashi View Point, Kabi Long Stock and Seven Sisters Waterfalls : Next day, I along with three co-travelers, headed to Lachung located in northern Sikkim. On our way, we visited several tourist spots, which made the five hour journey interesting. Tashi View Point is just outside Gangtok town, where one can find the panoramic view of the hilly region. But I was interested in getting the view of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. But sadly, I did not find it. Moving ahead, we then stopped at Kabi Long Stock. It is a historically significant place, where Lepcha’s and Bhutia’s owed blood brotherhood, setting aside their differences. Stone statue erected based on this event is the attraction here. Then, we visited the famed Seven Sisters waterfalls. This waterfall is beautiful with its three tiers. One can also get the traditional Sikkim dresses here, to pose in front of the fall! Further on our way to Lachung, we witnessed the pristine beauty of the Himalayas with its mountains, streams, gorges and of course, narrow and dangerous roads! That was an experience in itself!

Golden Peaks at Lachung

Lachung, Yumthung Valley and Zero Point : In the evening, at about 6 we reached Lachung. After checking into the hotel room, I came to the balcony to witness something truly amazing. Three giant mountains, facing the whole Lachung town, making the town look so tiny! I was instantly, reminded of the Machu Picchu mountain of South America! I thought it would be wonderful, just sitting in the balcony, viewing the magnificent beauty of nature! But we had some other plans next morning. I woke up at 5 am next morning to witness one of the beautiful sights in the Himalayas. Sunrays were kissing the tip of snow capped mountains, which were invisible when reached the evening before. Mountain tips were now glowing in golden color – a fascinating sight indeed. At 6 am, we went to visit Yumthung valley. We stopped here to rent jackets, gumboots, gloves to tackle the extreme cold at much higher altitude (14540 feet) of Zero Point – where the civilian road ends. Commuting along the 26 km stretch to Zero Point was exciting too. Snow capped mountains, trees and houses greeted us! When we reached Zero Point, it was already filled with tourists and I could see the enthusiasm on their faces. I joined party too witnessing snow all around me and sun right on top! The place was landlocked by snow capped mountains. A stream ran through breaking the icy ground. I ran and jumped only to get tired quickly because of the low oxygen there! Then, I kept clicking my camera till I exhausted. How can one capture the entire beauty of nature? After spending an hour there, we were back to Yumthung valley. It was a calm and serene place, filling positive vibes in me. Though I wanted to be there in northern Sikkim for some more time, we had to return to Gangtok as per our plan. So, that day evening we reached Gangtok.

Me at Zero Point

Gangtok Sight-seeing : City sight-seeing does not excite me much. But I was curious to visit the Buddhist places of worship in Gangtok! But at first, we went to the flower show in the city. But it was way smaller than the ones, I had seen in Bengaluru. But orchids in the show, caught my attention. Our next stop was at Directorate of Handicraft and Handlooms center. Photography is not allowed here. I bought few things from the sales emporium. Then, we visited Dro-dul Chorten(a stupa). Moving the prayer wheels at the Stupa was like becoming one among the local Buddhists. Then, we visited Research Institute of Tibetology, learning the aspects of Tibetan culture. By noon, we were on our way to Darjeeling encountering steep and sharp curves. By evening 4 pm, we were at Darjeeling.

Japanese Peace Temple, Darjeeling

Darjeeling : One unique aspect of Darjeeling is that it provides panoramic view of the Himalayan range including Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, on a clear weather day from Tiger Hills. This got me excited during the plant of the trip itself! So, at 4 am next morning, we began our journey to Tiger Hills in a Mahindra Xylo. But it was disappointment for the huge crowd gathered, as it was misty that day and we could not get the glimpse of the mountain range! Then, we visited Japanese peace temple. It was a place of serenity. With my keen interest in Buddhism, it was a place of tranquility for me. Episodes from Buddha’s life depicted on the walls of peace pagoda were both beautiful and educating. Then, we were back to our hotel and had our breakfast before heading to Himalayan Zoological Park. First, we visited the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute inside the park, to witness the memorabilia of mountaineers. I was ecstatic to see a floor dedicated to Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Equipments used during the climb and flags planted at the summit were awe inspiring. Then at the zoological park, we spotted the red panda feeding on the bamboo. It is an endangered species. So, it was great to witness one of the rare animals on earth! After this visit, at 1 pm, we were at Darjeeling railway station to board the train which runs through the roads of the Darjeeling. We had some snacks – momos in particular just before our boarding time. It was awesome riding the heritage train which runs parallel to roads of Darjeeling. Then we reached Batasia loop at the high altitude which provides very good view of the town! Train briefly stopped here and I went on photo clicking spree! When the train reached Ghoom, we got down. Then, we roamed around the colonial city of Darjeeling. Chowrasta, the vehicle free part of the city was great of a stroll and some purchase. By evening, we were realizing that our awesome vacation was coming to an end.

Back to Bengaluru: Next day at 7 am, we headed to Bagdogra to catch the Indigo Airlines flight at 12 20. We reached our home in Bengaluru at 6 pm, ending an exciting trip.

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India Gate, Humayun's Tomb and Akshardham Temple, Delhi

May 15, 2016, 7:40 am

≫ Next: U-Turn - Simple and Thrilling!

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India Gate : After Jantar Mantar, we headed to India Gate located near Rajpath. The 42-meter high arch is built in memory of 70,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting for the British army in first world war. You can also see the names of the soldiers who lost their lives on the walls of India Gate. Amar Jawan Jyoti, located below the India Gate reminds us the spirit of Indian soldier. This was added after the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 with Pakistan. Visiting this war memorial is a proud moment of any patriotic Indian. This memorial is guarded by men from Indian Army 24 x 7.

India Gate, Delhi

Amar Jawan Jyothi, India Gate, Delhi

Humayun's Tomb : It is a monument, built in 1565 in memory of second Mughal emperor, Humayun. This is a fine example of Mughal architecture in India. Entry fee per person for the world heritage monument is Rs.10. Also, one needs to pay Rs.25 if one wants to shoot video. The monument emerging out of the dense trees on the way is a treat to watch.

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Akshardham Temple : Crossing the commonwealth village, we reached Akshardham Temple next. No photos are allowed inside the Akshardham temple. Also, one needs to deposit the belongings and a thorough screening is done before entering the magnificent temple. You can have a look at the pictures of the temple here. Built from intricately carved sandstone and marble, I felt it is a true modern adaptation of great Indian temple architecture. We see such delicate work otherwise only in ancient temples with royal patronage. But to see it in a temple, which got inaugurated in 2005 is marvelous. I got the feeling of being ISKCON Bengaluru with its organized way. Swaminarayan, the sage, who founded Swaminarayan sect is being worshipped here. In the main hall of the temple, one can find 11 feet high, gold plated statue of him. Though visitor is deprived of using his camera, there are photographers from the organization, who would take photograph with temple in the background and give a hard copy of it in a matter of ten minutes(at least they said so!). We thought it was nice opportunity and posed for a photograph. But we soon realized that we had to wait for long to get our photos! As with many modern temples, one has to go through the souvenir shops in Akshardham temple, while exiting. One needs to keep a day at their disposal for fully exploring the Akshardham temple premises. Also, note that Akshardham temple is closed on Mondays!

India Gate, Delhi

Indian Army soldier guarding India Gate, Delhi

Names of soldiers on the walls of India Gate

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U-Turn - Simple and Thrilling!

May 29, 2016, 9:18 am

≫ Next: Raj Ghat, Red Fort and Chor Bazaar!

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Prologue : I remember, Pawan Kumar, in his short film making workshops, emphasizes on how a creative person develops a personal disturbance into a story. Sometime back, Pawan had witnessed a giant fuel tanker falling off a flyover near Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru. Quite disturbed, he had shared the incident in his Facebook status. Now, if you see U-Turn, you can readily make the connection.

What is U-Turn about? U-Turn is a simple story revolving around a traffic violation, so commonly seen in Bengaluru. But you can change the setting to any metro in India and you will find the same story shaping pretty well, there too.

Picture Courtesy : Kannada Films

What I liked about U-Turn :

I am a huge fan of scripts, in which familiar places/landmarks, play an important role. For instance, I cannot stop talking about Manipal Center near M G Road, Bengaluru, whenever I pass by that landmark. It was here, Nishkarsha, a heist thriller Kannada movie of the 90s, was shot. In U-Turn, it is the double road flyover near Richmond Circle! This familiarity with the places makes a special connection with the audience.
Though Pawan keeps the mystery element till the end of the movie, he also gives some clues at times. In the very first scene, you can hear repeated utterances of Karma in background. You can find some more during the course of the movie.
It is an edge of the seat thriller and keeps the audience guessing till the last scene. Kendasampige was the last thriller I enjoyed in Kannada, which goes on similar lines. RangiTaranga came before that. It's raining thrillers in Kannada!
There are no regular songs in the movie - a bold and encouraging move. With a tight script like U-Turn, you can do away with the needless songs most of the times.
People who are keen on understanding the basics of movie making can easily find out how a very simple story can be developed into a full blown movie. Kudos to Pawan for that. If your expectations are high of the movie after watching Lucia, I would say lower them and enjoy this movie with a fresh mindset.
Real portrayal of police department - One could also observe how our law and order system works adhering to rules and regulations. It is not one of those movies, where a cop turns super villain and puts an innocent behind bars without proper investigation.

Whether you should watch the movie: I would say watch it for its engaging screenplay and simplicity of the script and of course, for the exciting twists in the story.

On the general theme of the movie: I read somewhere that developing countries lack the resources and manpower to enforce the regulations in civic administration – be it traffic regulation or tax collection. Though it is true to most extent, it is the basic civic sense, which is lacking in majority of population. If people mend their ways after watching U-Turn, I believe Pawan’s efforts have paid off!

Trailer of U-Turn - Kannada Film :

Update 14th June 2016 (Spoiler Alert) : Director Pawan Kumar has revealed what was the inspiration behind the unconventional movie - U Turn. Actor Sudeep had asked Pawan in Twitter, how did such a concept come to Pawan's mind. For which, Pawan replied saying "Once he was travelling via the flyover, it was raining. Street lights were switched off. He was driving his car, when he noticed few blocks of the road divider being removed to take the U-Turn. He was too scared at that time." Now, you can notice the simplicity of script, if you have already watched the movie. You can watch Pawan's answering Sudeep's question in the following video.

@KicchaSudeep 2nd question answered pic.twitter.com/heLZr2xbub
— Pawan Kumar (@actorinme) June 13, 2016

Related Links :

Participating in Pawan Kumar's Film Making Workshop
Lucia - Kannada Movie - directed by Pawan Kumar (revolving around fake enhancement drugs available in market)
Lifeu Ishtene - Kannada Movie - directed by Pawan Kumar

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Raj Ghat, Red Fort and Chor Bazaar!

May 30, 2016, 1:00 pm

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Raj Ghat : Back from Akshardham temple, we headed to memorial to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi - Raj Ghat. As it was a government holiday that day, we could not enter the memorial. So, we had to be content viewing it from outside. Following are the photos of the memorial.

Raj Ghat, Delhi

close up of Raj Ghat, Delhi

Red Fort : Our next visit was to Lal Qila or Red Fort, from where the prime minister of India unfurls the Indian national flag and delivers the Independence day speech every year. This historical structure was the residence of Mughal emperors. Typical of structures built of Mughals, this structure is majestic and of grandeur.

Me in front of Red Fort, Delhi

ramparts of Red Fort, Delhi

Chor Bazaar : Ironically near the royal Red Fort, you will also find the Chor Bazaar, literally meaning thieve market, famous for its cheap goods - electronics, books, clothes - anything, you name it. Cheap price also comes with no guarantee. You can just take a troll along the street to quench your curiosity.

side view of Red Fort, Delhi

Chor Bazaar, Delhi

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