Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i A TO Z INDIA

From the Editor’s Desk: 188th Birth Anniversary of Ramakrishna Paramahansa Ramakrishna (1836-1886 C.E.) was a famous Saint in the 19th century India. He was born on 18 February 1836 into a very poor but devoutly religious Brahmin family in the village of Kamarpukur, Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. He became a priest of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Kali. He is famously known as Ramakrishna Paramahansa among his devotees. His full name was Gadadhar Chattopadhyay. He was married to Sarada Devi who later became his spiritual counterpart. Swami Vivekananda was one of his famous disciples. In honor of his Guru, Swami Vivekananda founded Ramakrishna Math which works for the welfare of others and spread the spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement worldwide. Belur Math is the…

By Ayan Adak email: ayan1adak1@gmail.com Here, in the citadel of silent painWe can only read-Of tales of some of the suffering soulsA fraction of their immortal deed So many sons of the motherland deadIn these isles of a paradise seaDo we even know the price they paidThat today we call ourselves free The pilgrims who know flock one by oneTo Veer Savarakar’s lonely cell,While the hundred other Veers in the other cellsStare and cry and silent wail I look at the locks, the tetris bricks,Guilt at our youth, our uselessnessWhatever we do, will it be enoughTo face one martyr’s teary gaze? If only these ochred walls could speakCould we complete a single tale?Instead, we take photos and tag the world,‘Look, I have visited Cellular Jail!’ The least we can do…

Brihadeeshwara temple, Thanjavur. Not for nothing that they call it the Periya Kovil or the Big Temple! Built by Raj Raja Chozha more than 1000 years ago!! Degree coffee. Carnatic music. Bharatnatyam. Temples resounding with bells. Wooden bobblehead dolls on a perpetual dance. Tanjore paintings. Brass artefacts. And Puliodare (Tamarind rice). Yes, Thanjavur is home to all of these and more. It’s the crucible of Tamil culture: after all, more than a thousand years ago it was the capital of the Chola empire. It’s a small bustling city revolving around the railway station and bus stand. But it has three outstanding Cholaera temples built as far back as 1010 AD, known as The Great Living Chola Temples, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The largest is the Brihadeeswarar Temple or the…

Kadampuza Devi temple located in Malampuza district. Nearest Airport Kozhikode Airport. Nearest Railway Station Thirur and Kuttippuram. Best Time to Visit Karthikai day of the month Vrishchikam that is between November and December. Kadampuzha Devi Temple is a renowned temple and pilgrimage center in Malappuram District, Kerala. Mighty Goddess Durga is worshipped by number of devotees, in this temple. The Devi temple is administered by Malabar Devaswom Board, under the Government of Kerala. All the acts and works of the temple are supervised by the Variar family and non hereditary appointed trustees. Two rituals are mainly performed in Kadampuzha on daily basis, namely ‘Poomoodal’ and ‘Muttarukkal’. Poomodal is the ritual of embellishing the idol with fresh Chetthy flowers, while the second ritual is about breaking coconuts into two equal parts…

By Ayan Adak email: ayan1adak1@gmail.com Written after a visit to the Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andamans. “While most of us are delighted to see the paradise islands of Andaman when we fly into Port Blair – complete with cerulean seas, white sands: indeed, the best beaches in the county – a visit to the Cellular Jail, Kalapaani, comes as a morbid shock in Paradise. It was here, so far from the mainland (the islands are closer to Myanmar than India), that hundreds of freedom fighters were jailed, tortured, maimed and boxed inside an unthinkable life from which there was no redress. Many were driven to insanity, the rest tortured to death – only a thin sliver of inmates made it back to tell their tales. The atrocities were limited not…

Holi on Monday, March 25, 2024; Holika Dahan on Sunday, March 24, 2024 Holi is a religious festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world. Holi is considered as second biggest festival on Hindu calendar after Diwali. Holi is also known as festival of Colors. In most regions Holi festival is celebrated for two days. The first day is known as Jalanewali Holi - the day when Holi bonfire is done. This day is also known as Chhoti Holi and Holika Dahan. The second day is known as Rangwali Holi - the day when people play with colored powder and colored water. Rangwali Holi which is main Holi day is also known as Dhulandi or Dhulendi A TO Z INDIA ENGLISH & TAMIL MONTHLY MAGAZINE REG. WITH REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS…

If you hail from Tamil Nadu and were particularly young during the 1950s and 60s it’s impossible for you to forget the name Kothamangalam Subbu of the Tamil film industry. If you don't, let’s find out who this Padma Shri recipient was? Kothamangalam Subbu was a man of multiple talents which included being a scriptwriter a composer, lyricist, folklore at sport and a fine connoisseur of arts and literature. He was born on 10th November 1910 near Pattukkottai, Tamil Nadu. His education remains limited to standards 7 and 8, proof that education has little to do with creativity. He worked as an accountant. However, he found an invisible force pulling him towards the film industry. His friend, Kothamangalam Cheenu who was an actor recommended him to studios. By the 1930s,…

According to Hindu beliefs the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, fortune, luxury, power, prosperity, generosity and embodiment of beauty. She is also the consort of Lord Vishnu and is believed to give strength to the Lord himself. Goddess Lakshmi is believed to relieve all her devotees from all sorrows related to money. Padma, Padma Priya, Padmamaladhara devi, Kamala, Padmamukhi, Padmakshi, Jalaja, Madhavi, Padmahasta, Padmasundari, Kalyani, Vishnupriya, Ulkavahini and Vaishnavi are some of the names in which She is worshiped. She is also known as Jaganmaatha (“Mother of the Universe”). It is believed that the continuous chanting of mantra will bring gain and prosperity in life. The mantra that includes 9 names of Mahalakshmi: “Om Mahalakshmi NamahaeOm Gaja Lakshmi NamahaeOm Jaya Lakshmi NamahaeOm Thana Lakshmi NamahaeOm Santana Lakshmi…