Tulsi Vivah

Tulsi Vivah

Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to the Hindugod Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna. This ceremony can be performed any time between Prabodhini Ekadashi - the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of theHindu month Kartik to the full moon of the month (Kartik Poornima) but usually it is performed on the eleventh or the twelfth lunar day. The day varies from region to region. The Tulsi wedding signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the Hindu wedding season.

Tulsi Vivah or Marriage: 

 This is perhaps the most sentimental but not the least important festival which falls on the 11th day of the bright half of Kartik.  This story from padma Puram revolves round Tulsi, the plant Ocimum Sanctum which in her former birth was Vrinda, the daughter of a giant named Nemi, and the faithful wife of demon Jalandhar. Being born in water Jalandhar claims sovereignty over the ocean and demands the 14 treasures churned out of the ocean in Vishnu's second incarnation.  He declares war and becomes a cause of danger to the gods. More so because of a boon that he would be free drom death till his wife Vrinda was chaste.  As a last resort to kill Jalandhar, Vishnu beguiles Vrinda by assuming her husband's form. Vrinda in her wrath cruses and turns Lord Vishnu into a Black stone (Salagram) for his deceit.  Vishnu too retaliates but in admiration of her impeachable chastity and piety, he transfers her into the sacred Tulsi plant and promises to marry her annually on this day of Kartik Poonam.

Performing Tusli Vivah Festival-A Tulsi Pooja

Tulsi Vivah, is observed at dusk in homes. The place is cleaned up and rangolis are drawn in front of Tulsi Vrindavan. Tulsi plant, being treated as the bride is smeared with turmeric and vermilion. Small bangles are hang on the tender branches. A small cloth is wound around the plant. A Shaligrama is placed next to the Tulsi as the symbol of Mahavishnu, the groom. A priest is summoned and all rites, involved in a formal wedding are conducted. 

In some places, a cloth is held in front of the plant, which acts like a screen, while mantras are chanted. At the end of the mantra recitation, the cloth is removed as a mark of culmination of the wedding.

The performance of this pooja bestows prosperity, a cordial relationship between partners and all other material boons. When done with proper understanding of its essence, it bestows self realisation, the end of all spiritual pursuits.

Eassy of Republic Day of India

THE REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA

India gained independence on 15 August 1947, after which the process of preparing a constitution was started. The Constitution was passed on 26 November 1949 in the Constituent Assembly. It was adopted on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, when the country became a republic in true sense. 26 January was selected, because it was this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence was passed.

In the life of every nation there are certain days which are considered as red-letter days. The Republic Day celebration held on 26th January every year in our country is one of those days. It is perhaps the most important day of our country. It marks the birth of our nation as a republic. Therefore this day is celebrated all over the country with great pomp and show.

From then on till the dawn of independence on Aug. 1947, the nation celebrated 26th Jan. as Independence Day. Later, when India wanted a day to mark its official birth 26th January, the independence day of the pre-independence days was chosen. On this day, 26th Jan. 1950 Indian constitution came into force and India was proclaimed to be a sovereign, democratic and a republic,

The ceremony begins in the morning of 26th January with the laying of a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyothi at the India Gate by the Prime Minister, as a mark of gratitude to the martyrs who have laid down their lives for the country. At exactly 8.00 a.m. the president reaches the Rajpath along with the Chief Guest. They are welcomed by the Prime Minister and the defence Minister.

On reaching the specially erected podium, the president unfurls the national flag. The Republic day parade begins soon after this. The march is led by heroes of war, the members of armed forces who have received gallantry awards followed by the young boys and girls who have won National Bravery Awards for that year.

Soldiers from different wings of the armed forces, units of paramilitary and police forces march to the tune of the military band. The President takes the salute. A colourful %-past by helicopters and aeroplanes makes the ceremony most spectacular. Folk dances by cultural troupes and various performances are put up by school children to keep the audience spellbound.

The tableaux of states depicting the cultural wonders of the states follow the school children. The procession lasts for several hours and finally ends up at Red Fort. Hundreds of people from far off places come to watch the charming show of military might and national glory.

In the evening, the Raisina Hill, where the Rashtrapathi Bhavan is situated is illuminated, presenting a glittering sight. The Republic Day celebrations last three days and come to an end on the evening of 28th January with the Beating of the Retreat ceremony. It is an impressive ceremony put up by our armed forces. Grand Republic day celebrations are also organised in various state capitals, district headquarters and at the Block and Panchayat levels which are attended by the general public.

Shivaji's Life

Shivaji was born of a Maratha family in 1627 A.D. His father was a chief of the kingdom of Bijapur. Though he was high up, he was not allowed to control any fort. In his early youth, Shivaji inspired the local peasant youths around Poona to follow him in his idealistic pursuits.

Shivaji drew strength from the guidance of his guru, Guru Ramdas who together with mata Jijabai in his young life, made him a national hero.

Shivaji's  father Shahaji Bhosale served alongside Malik Ambar, who defended the Deccan region (First to be done By any Maratha In The Deccan Region) against the Mughals.He always tried to free their Kingdom From The Sultanate Of Bijapur as well as wanted to throw out the mughal rule in India and Establish a Swaraj Empire). His mother Jijabai,a pious and far sighted lady was the daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed.She is regarded to be The master or the guru Of Shivaji's Bravery By their court poet,paramanand. During the period of Shivaji's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates – Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. Shahaji kept changing his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, Adil Shah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his ''jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him.He tried to establish independent kingdom twice.But he had to surrender before onslaught of mughals in 1636.By a treaty shahji was forced to leave maratha country and took up service with adilshah in deep south.The region around poona was devastated due to continous warfare, hence to restore peace and prosperity Jijabai remained behind .Shivaji being of minor age also stayed with her.For their upkeep shahji kept a trusted and experienced men with them .He was Dadaji Kondadev(a trusted master of state-craft), Dadaji also taught the art of swordsmanship to Shivaji, and especially the effective use of lance, the characteristic Maratha weapon. In a short time, Shivaji became a skilled swordsman, strategist and an accomplished horseman.

Shivaji with Jijamata

Shivaji was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious environment had a profound influence on Shivaji, and he carefully studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana andMahabharata. The morality and spiritual messages of the epics made a great impression on him. Throughout his life he was deeply interested in religious teachings, and sought the company of Hindu andSufi (an esoteric Muslim sect) saints throughout his life.^[15]

Shivaji drew his earliest trusted comrades and a large number of his soldiers from the Maval region, including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji kakade,Baji Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Tanaji Malusare. In the company of his Maval comrades, a young Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and acquiring first-hand knowledge of the land. By 1639, he commanded a hardy and loyal band of officers and soldiers.^[15]

At the age of 12, Shivaji was taken to Banglore where he was further formally trained alongwith elder brother Sambhaji and stepbrother Ekoji. At age of 14, he returned to Pune with a rajmudra (sovereign seal) and council of minister.

Eassy of Red Fort

Red Fort in Delhi

 

 

Lal Quila also called the Red Fort is one of the most important monuments of India. It stands on the bank of river Yamuna. The whole structure is made of Red stone. The fort was built by Shahjahan - the Mughal King who also built the famous Taj Mahal - in 1648. Shahjahan called it the Uru-Muhalla. Shahjahan shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi and Red Fort was the new capital. Lal Quila stands at the eastern side of Shahjahanabad and the very name of "Lal Quila" comes from the huge wall that encloses the whole structure. The wall is 2.5 km long and the height varies from 16 meters on the river side to 33 meters towards the city.One of the special attraction of the fort is the huge wall that encompasses the whole structure. The walls have two entrances, one at the delhi gate and the other at the Lahore gate. Lahore Gate is the main entrance point of the fort, leading to Chatta Chowk. It is a coveres bazaar street where merchnats sold their goods to the nobles of the court.

Red Fort today

The Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Old Delhi, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The fort is also the site from which the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on 15 August, the day India achieved independence from the British. It also happens to be the largest monument in Old Delhi.

At one point in time, more than 3,000 people lived within the premises of the Delhi Fort complex. But after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the fort was captured by Britain and the residential palaces destroyed. It was made the headquarters of the British Indian Army. Immediately after the mutiny,Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried at the Red Fort. It was also here in November 1945, that the most famous courts-martial of three officers of the Indian National Army were held. Even after India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Army continued its control over the fort. In December 2003, the Indian Army handed the fort over to the Indian tourist authorities.

Today, a sound and light show describing Mughal history is a tourist attraction in the evenings. The general condition of the major architectural features is mixed. None of the water features, which are extensive, contain water. Some of the buildings are in fairly good condition and have their decorative elements undisturbed. In others, the marble inlay flowers have been removed by looters and vandals. The tea house, though not in its historical state, is a functioning restaurant. The mosque and hamam are closed to the public, though one can catch peeks through the glass windows or marble lattice work. Walkways are left mostly in a crumbling state. Public toilets are available at the entrance and inside the park, but some are quite unsanitary.

The entrance through the Lahore Gate leads to a retail mall with jewellery and crafts stores. There is a museum of "blood paintings" depicting young Indian martyrs of the 20th century along with the story of their martyrdom. There is also an archaeological museum and an Indian war memorial museum.

The fort was the site of a December 2000 attack by terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba which killed two soldiers and one civilian in what was described in the media as an attempt to derail the India-Pakistan peace process in Kashmir

eassy of Delhi Nagar

                                                        भारतस्य  राजधानी 

 भारतस्य  राष्ट्रिया राजधानी देहली इति ख्याता अस्या: प्राचीनतम नाम इन्द्रप्रस्थं  इति आसीत्  देहली मधेय सर्वकारस्य केन्द्रस्य शासनस्य अनेके कार्यालया: तिष्ठन्ति तत्र  बहुभूमिकानि भवनानि  सत्यमेव दर्शनीयानि  एषु  भवनेषु लोकसभा -भवनम्, राज्यसभा -भवनम्, राष्ट्रपतिनिवासश्च  दर्शनीयानि  सन्ति  भारतस्य प्रधानमन्त्री अन्ये च केन्द्रीय -मन्त्रिण: अपि  अस्मिन् नगरे वसन्ति  देहली प्रदेशस्य अधुना पृथक् विधानसभा  अपि निर्वाचिता वर्तते 

देहली नगर मध्ये  दर्शनीय स्थानेषु सर्वोच  न्यायालय :, अद्भुतालय:, जन्तुंग्रहं , वयुयान -पत्तनं वर्तते अद्भुतालये संग्रालये वा जनानां प्रदर्शनार्थ विविधानां दर्शनीय वास्तूनां संग्रह : विद्यते 

देहली नगरे विश्वविद्यालय: जवाहर् लाल नेहरू -विद्यालय : केन्द्रीय संस्कृत - विद्यापीठ च सन्ति 

अधुना  संसारे  या प्रगति:  दृश्यते तस्या: यद् किञ्चित्  दिग्दर्शनं देहली नगरे एव  भवति