Roots and Reflections - Exploring Ideas, Experiences and Wisdom

                                      (Image courtesy: Internet)                                                         Culture, craft,  roots heritage and religion does not die as these re-merge after a long or short gap.The same is true of the conventional and traditional matting which had been lost in oblivion but has re-emerged on the horizon of Kashmir and it is a matter of satisfaction that old things re-surface and Vagu is one among them. The revival of Kashmir’s Vagu, the traditional handwoven reed mat, is much more than the return of a household item.It represents the revival of an indigenous craft ,a sustainable lifestyle  and a cultural tradition  that had almost disappeared  under the pressure of modern synthetic products o...

                (Waterfall in Achabal Garden) (Vivek Koul, blogger at Achabal Gardens) Persian Influences in the Mughal Garden of Achabal The thing to do in Achabal is to retreat to the Mughal Garden, dip your feet in the cool spring around whose waters the garden is laid out, and roll some Persian words on your tongue. Nashiman: the platforms to sit on in the water’s company. Jadwal or juyee: the canals that carry water from the main spring. Persian is called for because the art of gardening among many other customs and cultures was brought to Kashmir by the Shah Miri Sultanate, many members of which were immigrants from Persia. The pattern of the garden that you see around you  terraces and fountains and trees set around a central water channel - is that of the Persian pleasure gardens. Later, Mughal royalty refined this art and took it to greater heights. Mughals themselves were of Turko-Mongol origins but Humayun had spent the years of hi...

                                                                           It is very unfortunate,ironic and disturbing that people in Jammu and Kashmir have been spending lavishly and extravaganza in marriages is a social,cultural and economic malady through which J&K is passing from the last few decades and it points towards the sad state of affairs in marriages in this region which had been famous for simplicity and penny -fisted and they were spending on the marriages of their sons and doctors wisely and judiciously and never did make a show of the marriages.But from some years the situation is significantly different as people are seen spending lavishly without thinking about those people in the society who eat from hand to mouth and so they are forced to imitate the affluent members of the ...

                                    With the phenomenal increase in two wheelers as well as the four wheelers in India, the parking quarrels are not only taking place but are increasing day by day. It is very unfortunate that people engage into quarrels over parking of their vehicles and two wheelers. It is very disturbing that people driving vehicles are becoming impatient and every driver of the vehicle wants to out- number the others and they drive with great speed which is a cause of many accidents and fatalities. People driving four wheelers and especially two wheelers are becoming restive and impatient while driving their vehicle and it is very unfortunate. Moreover, there are quarrels over the parking of vehicles even for very short durations of the time. Parking quarrels in India are a common and escalating problem, often leading to disputes, conflicts, and even violence due to inadequate p...

                                                                         Introduction :          Maa Sharika is the most revered deity of the Kashmiri Pandits. She is worshipped as the eternal protector of Kashmir, the embodiment of divine wisdom (Shakti) and the presiding goddess of the Kashmir valley. Devotion to Maa Sharika forms one of the oldest and most enduring spiritual traditions of Kashmir. The patron goddess of the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community is Maa Sharika Devi, one of the most revered manifestations of the Divine Mother. She is regarded as the spiritual guardian [Kuladevi] of the Kashmiri Pandits and has been worshipped in Kashmir for centuries. Her, principal shrine is situated on the sacred Hari Parbat hill in Srinagar. Maa Sharika is believed to be an incarnatio...

                                           Women Empowerment: Reality or Farce? Women empowerment has remained as the talk of the town for decades and has been a much talked, debated and discussed issue of far-reaching importance. Our prime minister is the ardent believer and advocate of women empowerment and for empowering women, he got reserved 33 % seats in parliament for the fairer sex and it will be implemented on the ground in near future and the state legislatures will also reserve 33 % seats for women. It is praise worthy that in our Panchayat’s 33% seats are already reserved for the women and this is not an ordinary thing but is a matter of extra-ordinary importance. One question crops the mind is that all including the central, state, UT governments and Panchayat as well as Urban local bodies talk of women empowerment but the pertinent question arises if the women empo...

                                                                      A Lighter Bag, A Brighter Mind                                 Kothari Education Commission has long ago said,’’ the destiny of a nation is shaped in her classrooms’’. It is the apt observation of this education commission. Further all of us are conversant with the dictum that a sound mind rests in a sound body and by education is meant all round development of body, mind and spirit. So, it is obvious that educators, parents and society should pay top priority to children’s physical well-being. But alas! We have burdened the small school -going children with the excessive book loads and other reading material as if these are not small children but they look liv...

                                                   The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most inspiring manifestations of faith in the world for devotees, this is not merely a journey through rugged mountains but a sacred quest for spiritual awakening ,inner peace, and divine blessings. The pilgrimage itself is a test of both body and spirit. Pilgrims walk over steep mountain trails, cross glaciers and streams, endure freezing temperatures and adapt to thin air and low oxygen levels. Every step requires patience, discipline, and dertermination. yet the chants of "Har Har Mahadev’’ and "Bum Bum Bhole" echoing  through the valleys create an atmosphere of devotion that strengthens pilgrims and fosters a sense of unity. The annual Amarnath Ji Yatra is far more than a religious pilgrimage. It is a timeless testament to the extraordinary power of faith, resilience,...

                                                                                Those gathered at Chisoti village for having breakfast on way to Machil Mata Yatra were taken unawares and the nature’s fury that in this case was cloud burst and consequent flash floods and landslides washed away everything, which came in its way. There was much loss of human lives and properties. At least 65 people mostly yatries were killed and hundreds injured and as many as 33 people are still missing. Chisoti tragedy was in fact unprecedented and there were no fore warnings which would have saved precious human lives and also averted destruction of the properties. The make shift shops were damaged and destroyed beyond repair and there is stoic silence all around in the tragedy hit areas and the centr...

                                                                                  Jammu’s summer is often described as one of the most challenging seasons for residents. Located, in the subtropical belt of northern India, Jammu experiences extremely high temperatures, dry winds, water shortage, power disruptions and various health concerns. The season typically extends from April to June with May and June being the hottest months.          Jammu has the distinction of being city of temples and Jammu is also known for sizzling and scorching heat and the people of Jammu, neigh almost Jammu division suffer due to hot climate and heatwaves especially in summer months. The people of Jammu thus plan tours to cool places like Patnitop, Sudhmahadev, Dalhousie, Shimla a...