Raksha-bandhan (for tots and trees)

August 10, 2014 Brown Pundits Archive No Comments filed under Archived Authors

….credit for Taru
Bandhan festival goes to Mahadev Mahato from Dudhmatia village……Mahato has helped restore 25,000 acres of
forestland…..“for natives of Jharkhand, forest is a part of life…why not include trees as part of our family and rituals”….
…

…
Of the many traditions that cut across communities in India, Raksha-bandhan or Rakhi is probably the most popular and one with the longest historical record (unfortunately that does not protect such traditions in Pakistan…for example). There is the story of (Rajput Queen) Karnavati sending a rakhi to (Mughal Emperor) Humayun seeking protection against Bahadur Shah (Muslim ruler of Gujarat). The rakhi legends extend even further back to Alexander the Great (see below).

….

….
As part of an unique movement for conservation in the eastern, tribal
dominated state of Jharkhand, even the trees get a rakhi (see below).
If it works, it has our blessings.
…..

….
Are girls (especially didi-s or elder sisters, even little girls of those sisters) born to be matriarchs? It may be a stereotype, but it certainly holds true in our extended family. Many a time we restore
our oppressed spirits by mumbling “hitler” sotto voce, but if the lady
is perceptive, she will come back with a ki bolle? (what did you say?).

…..

….
Regardless, sisters are very precious and getting a band from a
sister is a privilege. Sad to say, these traditions are dying out, however, we
did update the practice so that in our home brothers tie a band on the
sisters as well. Wishing all the brothers and sisters out there all the best. Everyone have lots of fun and stay safe.
….

…

The Taru Bandhan ritual being
practised in the tribal heartland of Jharkhand has helped restore and conserve
hundreds of acres of forestland in the state

…

The tribal heartland of Jharkhand in
eastern India has evolved a unique tradition of forest conservation — tying
rakhis to trees. Rakhi is an Indian festival for siblings where the sister ties
an auspicious thread of love on her brother’s wrist, amidst great revelry and
feasting. The latter, in turn, promises her protection throughout his life.

….

Jharkhand’s indigenous people
harbour such strong feelings towards the forests and trees that villagers tie
the same auspicious rakhi thread around the trunks of trees. The ritual, called
Taru Bandhan or Vriksh Raksha Bandhan, is aimed at preserving trees from the axe
and the saw. In return, the forest offers people a sustainable way of life.

….

Hundreds of villages in Jharkhand
practise this unique ritual on the eve of the state’s foundation day fortnight,
starting November 15. And, thanks to the villagers’ enthusiasm, the
celebrations continue right up to the New Year.

….

In the tradition of the Rakhi
festival, this ritual too starts on an elaborate note as the women of the
village, dressed in their colourful best, gather in the forest. A bedi
(altar) is erected on an elevated patch of land, at the forest entrance. It is
decked with flowers and embellished with motifs created out of coloured rice
paste and other grains. It is here that the Van Devi (Goddess of the Forest) is
invoked with offerings of fruit, incense sticks and holy threads that are later
wound around the trees.

…

“For them (the villagers) the event
is also an occasion to celebrate and rejoice,” says Amarnath Bhagat, Ranger,
Hazaribagh. Amidst the sounding of the nagara, dhol and mandar
(tribal musical instruments), vermillion is applied on the trunk of the tree. A
garland of hibiscus or marigold is suspended from the tree and an aarti
(ceremony done with incense sticks and earthen lamps)performed in much the same
way as that which takes place during the Rakhi festival.

…

The festival is incomplete without
children who take part in large numbers, not only for the continuance of the
tradition but also to spread awareness. They enact small plays at the venue,
and design posters and banners that are displayed at the site.

….

The ritual is most commonly
practised on a sal or sakhua tree (Shorea robusta) or the mahua (Madhuca
latifolia), karaunj (Pongamia pinnata), kathal (Hallocarpus
indicus), neem (Azadiracta indica), etc. “Sal is regarded as
the ‘king of the forest’. It greatly promotes conservation and proliferation of
various types of plant species, thereby improving biodiversity and conservation
of nature,” says Kanhai Mahato from Tuktuko village, Bagodar block in Giridih.
“Our village forest management and protection committee has restored 800 acres
of forestland,” he adds with pride.

….

The villagers choose a patch in the
forest where the rakhis will be tied to trees. “Once a tree is ‘ritualised’ we
do not pluck even a leaf from it,” says Anju Devi from Mangro village,
Vishugarh block, Hazaribagh.

….

The credit for initiating the Taru
Bandhan festival, nearly a decade ago, goes to a local villager by the name of
Mahadev Mahato from Dudhmatia village in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. A
schoolteacher by profession, Mahato has helped restore nearly 25,000 acres of
forestland. “For the natives of Jharkhand, the forest is an inseparable part of
their life; why not include trees as part of our family and rituals,” he asks.

…

Mahato expresses satisfaction that his passion has not only spread to his
fellow villagers but also to the forest department that has acknowledged his
efforts. Palamau, Dhanbad, Chatra, Koderma and Hazaribagh are some of the
districts that have taken the initiative in propagating this unique “green
tradition”.

….

Chief Conservator of Forests B R
Rallan, from Hazaribagh where the practice is most common, says: “The concept
is basically the brainchild of Mahato, which we are carrying forward in other
districts too.” It has proved very effective in bringing about villagers’
participation in forest conservation, which forms the basis of joint forestry
management.

…..

Raksha Bandhan means “Knot of Protection,” and the festival ceremonies include the sister tying a rakhi
bracelet around her brother’s wrist, which symbolizes the sister’s love
and the brother’s lifelong duty to protect his sibling. The festival is
often simply referred to as “Rakhi” after the name of this ceremonial
bracelet.

…
Saturday, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, issued a greeting
for tomorrow’s celebration, focusing on women: “May the festival be an
occasion for re-dedication to the well being of women, particularly the
girl child.”

…
Raksha Bandhan is an ancient celebration and its history is inter-woven with various stories and myths.
One story tells the tale of Mughal emperor Humayun and widowed queen
Rani Karnavati of Chittor. In the 16th century AD, Sultan Bahadur Shah
of Gujarat rode with a conquering army into Chittor, prompting Rani
Karnavati to sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun in a request for help.
…
Touched by her plea, the Mughal emperor rode to her defense but was too
late, as the princess and all the other women of the fortress had
committed suicide and the fortress had been captured. Humayun defeated
and expelled Sultan Bahadur and placed Rani’s son on the throne, and the
rakhi subsequently became a symbol of brotherly protection.

…
Another legend even involves the West, invoking the figure of Alexander the Great. When Alexander invaded India in the 4th
century BC, the story holds that his wife Roxana sent a rakhi to King
Porus of Paurava. Roxana implored the king not to harm Alexander in
battle, and Porus respected her request, staying a killing blow to
Alexander on the battlefield while wearing the rakhi. Historically, the
Greeks won the battle and Porus continued to rule Paurava in service to
Alexander.

….
During the festival,
participants wear fine Indian clothing and prepare many traditional
Indian foods and snacks. During the rakhi ritual, the sister will first
tie the bracelet around her brother’s wrist, then bless him and pray
over him. She will then feed him, usually with some sweets that have
been prepared. The two will then hug and exchange gifts, thus ending the
ritual. The brother will keep the rakhi and wear it for the rest of the
day as a reminder of his duty to protect his sister.

….
Not only Hindus, but Sikhs, Jains, and even some Indian Muslims
celebrate Raksha Bandhan as well. In recent decades, Raksha Bandhan has
spread to other parts of South Asia, developing different regional and
cultural variants and practices. For many, it has extended beyond the
traditional brother-sister relationship and is used to celebrate the
love of ones cousins or even very close friends.
….
The festival takes
place in the Hindu calendar month of Shraavana, and falls on August 10
this year.

….

Link (1): http://hindus-prepare-raksha-bandhan-annual-celebration-brother-sister-love

Link (2): http://infochangeindia.org/environment/stories-of-change/a-rakhi-for-trees.html
….

regards

Monsoon mood mellowing in Mumbai

August 10, 2014 Brown Pundits Archive No Comments filed under Archived Authors

….Amarinder Singh said, “We are facing failure of monsoon. I wonder if it’s god’s will….I wonder if it’s El Nino or El
Modi effect…….There has been some sin. God does not like that. We all
remember what happened in Gujarat in 2002” …..
…..
A bit of music, philosophy and policy riddles to take a bit of your time away from all the cheers and gaiety spread across India and the diaspora today.

A monsoon (bollywood) tune pictured on the iconic Marine Drive in Mumbai (movie: Manzil, song: Rim Jhim Ghire Sawan, Year: 1979, music: RD Burman, voice: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, lyrics: Yogesh, actors: Amitabh Bachhan, Mousumi Chatterjee).
…..

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For people who prefer the instrumental version, here is a nice one by Mubasher Hasan Syed
…..

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Incidentally Yogesh was a brilliant lyricist (see Wiki profile below) and composed for some of our best loved songs (Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye and Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli from Anand, also the songs of Rajnigandha and Baton Baton Mein).
…….
Rains in Mumbai is also the best time to pursue (non-academic grade) philosophy. We
pause to contemplate on the twin concepts of instant karma (revenge
pulao served hot) and instant moksha (sweet kheer for absolution).

It was in June of this year that the newly elected MP from Amritsar, Captain (Sardar) Amarinder Singh Sahib [son of late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and Maharani Mohinder Kaur of
Patiala] declared that the penalty for electing sinners will be a failed
monsoon. Voting the wrong way will cost millions of farmers their livelihood and in many cases their lives.

In order to avert the worst drought in a decade there came a deluge of rain-invoking pujas in
Varanasi (Sankat Mochan deity – one who removes all stress and grief –
Shiva), Kathmandu (Pashu-Pati-Nath deity – one who takes care of all
living beings – Shiva) and elsewhere. The rain-Gods were apparently mollified and Mumbai recorded one of the wettest July-s ever, in the past 50 years.
……

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall figures
since 1959, Santacruz received 1547.5 mm rainfall in the month of July,
breaking the previous highest total rainfall measured in the month of
July, at 1455.5 mm (Santacruz, 1965). Similarly,
Colaba this year, recorded a total July rainfall of 1401.7 mm, the second highest total rainfall in July (1441.3 mm in 1974).
……..

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Now that the monsoon has recovered in large measure does it follow that the stains from 2002 have been washed away by the rains in 2014….no, we do not think so. We respectfully suggest that Sardarji should re-think his claims of divine retribution and focus like a laser on getting justice for the victims of 2002, 1984,….there are too many of them to count.

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It is the (strange but true) case that peninsular India depends significantly on hydro-electric power. If rainfall is lacking there will be a four-way competition for water (residential, industrial, agricultural and for power generation). Things are now thankfully better, however drought persists in Telengana and Andhra Pradesh (is this due to the sin incurred by Partition?). But here is hoping that rain gods keep smiling and the bounty of water is available to all…..for the sinners and for the pure.
………
That brings us to the main question at hand. Even after so many decades following independence, India is sunk without a good monsoon. Why is this? Because of corruption on a gigantic scale, agriculture and religion are probably the two areas where the money is maximum (and so is the corruption).

Dialing down the dependence on monsoon may be difficult but is a must for a nation that demands a high seat at the United Nations (another incomprehensible problem: India grows sufficient food but loses 30% due to inadequate storage).
……………

The sudden sharp increase in Southwest Monsoon
rainfall for the week ending August 6th 2014 has come as a blessing for
the farmers who have been reeling under the threat of a looming drought.
The Indian Meteorological Department data released on Friday evening
shows that the rainfall for the week ending August 6, 2014 was a
substantial 19% higher than the normal rains during the period.

This is a
substantial gain as the rainfall for the previous week ending 30th
July, 2014 was 9% lower than the normal for the period.

…
Consequently the overall shortage in cumulative rainfall for the
country as a whole since the start of the south west monsoon has dipped
from 23% on July 30, 2014 to a more manageable 18% by August 4, 2014.
Overall it is certainly safe to say that though the rainfall in the
current South West Monsoon is still short of the levels received in 2013
it is still better than the rains in 2012.

….
However the gains from the revival of the monsoon are mixed as the
trends vary substantially across the states. Though the overall trends
have turned positive with the number of meteorological subdivisions that
have registered a cumulative excess or normal rainfall in the current
monsoons suddenly shooting up from 15 to 20 over the last one week and
the number of subdivisions with deficient or scantly rainfall has
slumped from 21 to 16.

….
Though rains have been in excess in only one sub division, namely
Orissa where the total rainfall since June 1st has been 25% of the
normal, a lot of other regions have also gained substantially. Important
sub divisions which has now received normal rainfall in the current
season and which can contribute substantially to agriculture output
include East and West Madhya Pradesh, East and West Rajasthan,
Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and
Gangetic West Bengal.

….
The top agriculture regions where rainfall continues to be in deficit
include Punjab (-59%), Haryana (-54), Himachal Pradesh (-36%), Western
UP (-43%), Eastern UP (-43%) and Bihar (-28%). While the extensive
irrigation facilities in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP may help make up
for some deficiency in rainfall it will still continue to impact
agriculture output.

….
The prospects of agriculture in peninsular India are more mixed.
While Madhya Maharashtra and Vidharbha have had normal rainfall the
scenario in Marathwada is precarious with the rainfall being 57% below
normal. This would also have implication for the state elections later
in the year. The scenario is similar in Karnataka with the Coastal and
South Interior Karnataka receiving normal rainfall while North Interior
Karnataka registered a deficit of 24%.

….
The worst affected in the region was Andhra Pradesh and Telengana
where all the three sub divisions registered deficit rainfall ranging
from 27% to 48%. However, both Tamil Nadu and Kerala continued to have
normal rainfall.

….
The improvement in rainfall bodes well as the water levels in the
important reservoirs have also risen. Most recent estimates show that
the current storage levels in the reservoirs is about 82% of the last
year level and 116% of the average storage levels during the last
decade.

This is certainly a substantial improvement from the scenario
that prevailed in early July and will help limit the anticipated decline
in agriculture output during the year. With the IMD having projected a
better rainfall in August as compared to July there is certainly reasons
for more optimism.

…..

[ref. Wiki] Yogesh was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

…
He moved in search of work, his cousin was a screenplay director. His first work was with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and wrote Kahin Door Jab Din Dal Jaaye. He wrote songs like Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli and Rimjhim gire Saawan, Kai baar yunhi dekha hai from Rajnigandha and Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha from Baaton Baaton Mein.

..
Yogesh also worked in television serials as a writer.

…
Lyric writer Yogesh Gaur was a man in great demand among the slice-of-life filmmakers like Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
The story goes that Mukherjee heard the lyrics of two songs Yogesh had
written for producer LB Lachman’s film, and wanted them for Anand.

…
Lachmanji was adamant about keeping the songs, but Rajesh Khanna,
Amitabh Bachchan and Mukherjee pleaded with him. Bachchan, who was a
young man then, would say to me, Please get us these two songs somehow.
Finally, Lachmanji relented and gave them one of the songs, says Yogesh.

…
The song, Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye, shot the lyricist to
overnight popularity. Mukherjee was so happy he got Yogesh to pen
another song for him, Zindagi kaisi yeh paheli for Anand too. Soon, the
fan mail was pouring in.

…
Funnily, people also sent me flowers for Maine tere liye, which was written by Gulzar,
says the man, popularly known as ‘shaayar’ by actresses of that time.
The nickname happened because the heroines, when they reported on the
sets, would insist he recite some of his shaayari. “Producers thought
the heroines were getting distracted by my poetry, especially when I
waxed eloquent about their beauty,” he laughs.

….
Known as the ‘sensible film lyricist’, Yogesh worked primarily with Chatterjee and Mukherjee, rather than ‘masala’ filmmakers. My
problem was similar to that faced by the filmmakers themselves. My work
was appreciated, but was restricted to ‘art’ films. But they were more
real than arty, he says.

…
Working with Basu Chatterjee was not the easiest, says Yogesh.

Basuda
was a master of his craft, but brainstorming sessions with him weren’t
all that fun. While discussing a song for Rajnigandha, he would say, in
true Bengali style: ‘Uske baad, Vidya wahan se aata hai.’ I had to stop
him and ask if he meant heroine Vidya Sinha’s character or hero Amol
Palekar’s. He got angry and said he was referring to Vidya. I didn’t
bother explaining to him that he had actually mixed up the gender while
speaking in Hindi, Yogesh says.

But the collaboration was a fruitful
one. Yogesh wrote some of his best songs for Chatterjee, like Kai baar
yunhi dekha hai from Rajnigandha and Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha from
Baaton Baaton Mein.
…..

Link (1): http://strong-monsoon-recovery-rains-hopes-on-food-front

Link (2): http://Poor-monsoon-Gods-punishment-for-Gujarat-riots-Amarinder-Singh

……

regards