2011 Republic Day Parade Mumbai

The 2011 Republic Day Parade at the Shivaji Park grounds, Mumbai, Maharashtra attracted a really large crowd this year. It was a truly grand spectacle, with Navy & Army personnel, personnel of the Mumbai Police Force and Fire Brigade, scouts and guides, cadets and schoolchildren all putting up a splendid marchpast. Unfortunately, students from 2 visually challenged schools were not given permission to take part in the parade apparently because they had not been properly trained & lacked the perfect discipline & formation required for the march-past. The Maharashtra Governor, His Excellency Shri K. Sankaranarayanan gave the Republic Day speech.

Here are some photos of the 2011 Republic Day Parade in Shivaji Park, Mumbai
I have posted more photos separately, as per the personnel/regiment.

Overview - waiting for the Parade to begin

An interesting spectator (looks bored as nothing started yet!)

An intense lesson on the National Flag of India

Maharashtra Governor in Jeep going past the regiments

Spectators cheering as the Governor goes past

 

Maharashtra Governor giving 2011 Republic Day Speech

Here comes the band!

Drumming up the enthusiasm

Green Environment Float

Bapu's quote on the Float

What on earth is all the fuss about?!

Check out all the photos: 2011 Republic Day Parade Shivaji Park

Tribute to Anna: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Profile Biography

My mother has always been a big fan of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (as well as of Pandit Jasraj and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt) We have a number of their music audio cassettes (yes - there was a time when the humble rectangular audio cassette ruled the music world!). 

This article is a tribute to a music maestro who delighted my mother with his wonderful vocals. Thank you, Anna, for those delightful times.

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi came from a humble background, his father Gururaj Joshi teaching in a school in the town of Ron. After his mother passed away, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was brought up by his stepmother along with his siblings.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi had a keen ear and was facinated by music at a young age. On listening to one of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan's thumris, he decided to seek out a music mentor, a Guru who could teach him the art of music. With this determined goal in mind, he left home at the age of 11, travelling to Bijapur, Dharwad and Pune by turns. Eventually he gained entry into the reputed Madhava Music School, set up by Gwalior's Maharajas. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi got admission to this school thanks to sarod player Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan. He later continued his travels, roaming many cities and town in the northern States of the country.  His father was to eventually locate his wandering son and take him back home.

The eagerness to have a Guru did not diminish, and eventually Pandit Rambhau Kundgolkar, better known as Sawai Gandharva, agreed to mentor him. Thus began the traditional Guru-Shishya sessions, with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi residing in his home to learn the finer nuances of music while performing household chores as an obedient shishya (student).

Later, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi became a radio artist, performed live on air at age 19 and had his debut album released at age 22. A music star had been launched! 

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was no ordinary music star, though. He mesmerized audiences everywhere with his superb control of various rhythms as well as incredible voice control. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's devotional music albums have always been a huge hit commercially, with plenty of buyers for his bhajans, whether it is in Marathi, Kannada or Hindi.

Since 1953, the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Pune, Maharashtra, first organised by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi as an homage to his guru, Pt. Sawai Gandharva, has been a big attraction for music lovers from across the globe.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi leaves behind a beautiful music legacy, his most popular vocals being Piya milan ki aasJo bhaje hari ko sada - and who will ever forget those heart-stirring words Mile sur mera tumhara  in Panditji's voice!

That voice is now silenced forever. 

As per the news released today (Maharashtra News) Panditji passed away at the sprightly age of 88. 

We will miss you Anna.

Maharashtra Nature Park Mumbai

Right in the center of the bustling city of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is a lovely green oasis. Earlier known as the Mahim Nature Park, today it is officially called the Maharashtra Nature Park. Located in the Dharavi-Sion area, at one time it was just a dumping area for garbage, enclosed by vast areas of slums on one side and the polluted Mithi river on the other. You will be surprised to know that now it has plenty of trees and flora and fauna flourish here in abundance. What's more, it even has its own lake!


Maharashtra Nature Park Birds
Black kite
Laughing dove
Barn swallow
Purple sunbird
Bluethroat
Bee eater
Great egret

Maharashtra Nature Park Butterflies

Blue Tiger
Pioneer
Commander
Baronet
Blue Oakleaf
- and lots more!

Maharashtra Nature Park Animals
Squirrels
Mongoose
Bats

Other residents include insects, such as the garden lizard and the chameleon, and reptiles, such as snakes and cobras.

Maharashtra Nature Park Plants
Teak
Rosewood
Flame of the Forest
Golden apple tree
Kadamba
Oak
Lot of flowers!

Maharashtra Nature Park Facilities

• Audio-Visual hall
• Exhibition hall.
• Activity spaces for conducting various activities like nature games, drawing or painting competitions
• Open air Amphitheatre
• Library of more than 500 books on nature and Environment related topics.
• Nursery for growing and sale of plants.

Maharashtra Nature Park Sections

• Education Centre
• Nursery
• Wooded Area
• Medicinal Plants cultivation Section,
• Palms Section,
• Fruit Trees Section,
• Vegetables Section,
• Aquarium
• Bird Observation Point
• Vermicomposting demonstration Project

Maharashtra Nature Park Activities
(i) Nature Trail
(ii) Nature Games
(iii) Study of Medicinal Plants
(iv) Bird Watching
(v) Seminars/Workshops/Lectures
(vi) Drawing and Essay competitions.

The Park visitors are provided a guide cum interpretation facility on request (for which an advance intimation is necessary).

Maharasthra Nature Park Timings
Monday to Saturday between 0930 hrs. and 1800 hrs. (On Sundays and National Public Holidays too visits are possible, but with prior intimation.)

Maharashtra Nature Park Contact Information 
Dy. Director, MNPS, Maharashtra Nature Park Society,
Maharashtra Nature Park,
Near Dharavi Bus Depot,
Opp. P.M.G.P. Colony,
Dharavi,
Mumbai - 400 017.
Maharashtra
Ph: 407 7641/407 9939.
E-mail : mnps@bom7.vsnl.net.in

List of Sachin Tendulkar's First 50 Test Hundreds

Know more about Sachin Tendulkar: Why Sachin is the greatest!

Century	Year	Against	Runs Scored	No. of Balls	Boundaries	Sixes
1	1990	England	119 (not out)	189	17	0
2	1991-92	Australia	148 (not out)	215	14	0
3	1991-92	Australia	114	161	16	0
4	1992-93	South Africa	111	270	19	0
5	1992-93	England	165	296	24	1
6	1993-94	Sri Lanka	104 (not out)	163	11	1
7	1993-94	Sri Lanka	142	224	22	0
8	1994-95	West Indies	179	158	12	0
9	1996	England	122	176	19	1
10	1996	England	177	360	26	0
11	1996-97	South Africa	169	254	26	0
12	1997-98	Sri Lanka	143	247	20	0
13	1997-98	Sri Lanka	139	267	16	0
14	1997-98	Sri Lanka	148	244	20	3
15	1997-98	Australia	155 (not out)	191	14	4
16	1997-98	Australia	177	207	29	3
17	1998-99	New Zealand	113	151	13	2
18	1998-99	Pakistan	136	273	18	0
19	1998-99	Sri Lanka	124 (not out)	235	10	1
20	1999-2000	New Zealand	126 (not out)	248	14	0
21	1999-2000	New Zealand	217	343	29	0
22	1999-2000	Australia	116	191	9	1
23	2000-2001	Zimbabwe	122	233	19	0
24	2000-2001	Zimbabwe	201 (not out)	284	27	0
25	2000-2001	Australia	126	230	15	2
26	2001-2002	South Africa	155	184	23	1
27	2001-2002	England	103	197	12	1
28	2001-2002	Zimbabwe	176	316	23	0
29	2001-2002	West Indies	117	260	14	0
30	2002	England	193	330	19	3
31	2002-2003	West Indies	176	298	26	0
32	2003-2004	Australia	241 (not out)	436	33	0
33	2003-2004	Pakistan	194 (not out)	348	21	0
34	2004-2005	Bangladesh	248 (not out)	379	35	0
35	2005-2006	Sri Lanka	109	196	14	1
36	2006-2007	Bangladesh	101	169	9	0
37	2006-2007	Bangladesh	122 (not out)	226	8	1
38	2007-2008	Australia	154 (not out)	243	14	1
39	2007-2008	Australia	153	205	13	3
40	2007-2008	Australia	109	188	12	0
41	2008-2009	England	103 (not out)	196	9	0
42	2008-2009	New Zealand	160	260	26	0
43	2009-2010	Sri Lanka	100 (not out)	211	11	0
44	2009-2010	Bangladesh	105 (not out)	166	11	2
45	2009-2010	Bangladesh	143	182	13	1
46	2009-2010	South Africa	100	179	13	0
47	2009-2010	South Africa	106	206	12	0
48	2010-2011	Sri Lanka	203	347	23	1
49	2010-2011	Australia	214	363	22	2
50	2010-2011	South Africa	100 (not out)	197	12	1

How to make simple Til Ladoos Recipe for Makar Sankranti Festival

तिल्गुल  घ्या, गोड  गोड  बोला! 

You will hear this warm greeting when visiting a Maharashtrian home during the Festival of Makar Sankranti. It literally means "Eat tilgul, speak sweetly!" Tilgul is a sweet which is made up of sesame seeds (called til) and sweetened with jaggery. Small packets of tilgul are often exchanged between families during Makar Sankranti. Find out the reason why here

Tilgul packet

What is Makar Sankranti?
See on the link below for more details of Makar Sankranti Festival Significance and Features:
Makar Sankranti Festival of India

Simple and Easy Til Ladoo Recipe

Ingredients for making Til Ladoos: 2 cups til (sesame seeds); 1 cup peanuts; 2 or 21/2 cups jaggery (called gud).

Til (Sesame Seeds )

Peanuts

Step by Step Method to make Til Ladoos 

Step 1: On a low flame dry roast the sesame seeds (do not put oil). Dry roast means pushing around the til in the pan - don't step away from the gas even for a second, otherwise the seeds will be nicely burned not roasted! Once roasted, keep aside to cool down.

Step 2: Separately dry roast the peanuts and remove the skin after they have cooled down.

Step 3: Using a grater, grate the jaggery. 

Step 4: Put the roasted sesame seeds in a mixer and dry grind to a powder.

Step 5: Put the roasted peanuts in the mixer and also dry grind to a powder.

(It is always best to grind the sesame seeds and the peanuts separately as the peanuts are larger and may require more grinding time than the sesame seeds. If you grind the two together, it is possible that the peanuts will not become as powdery as desired).

Step 6: Now mix the 2 powders of the sesame seeds and peanuts along with the grated jaggery. Grind the combined mixture together in the mixer.
Step 7: Transfer to a bowl and make small balls from the mixture. You can also coat them with a few roasted sesame seeds while making. If you wish, you can slightly grease your palms with a little groundnut oil, but it is not necessary since when grinding the combined mixture it is likely to be a bit sticky with a little oil base to it. 

Voila! Your til ladoos are ready! Just remember to store them in an airtight steel container so that they remain fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Note: Most people generally boil the jaggery in water to make a syrup, then add a little ghee and then add the roasted sesame seeds and peanuts.

Let me know if you found this simple recipe for til ladoos useful!

Tradition Custom of Burning the Old Man Gloom on New Year Eve

What is the tradition of burning the "Old Man"?

This is an old tradition done on December 31st, on which day an effigy made from old clothes is made and set afire, thereby burning to ashes all the troubles and problems of the past 12 months and beginning a new year afresh without any worries or sorrows. People dance and sing in happiness, saying a glad farewell to the effigy known as "Old Man Gloom".
Read this interesting article on Santa Fe's Old Man effigy, known as "Zozobra": Goodbye Old Man Gloom!

Check out the photos of an old man prepared for the ritual burning on December 31st: 

An old man ready for burning, while another headless lies at his feet  one lies at his feet

 

 

 In the above photo, note the toy pistol lying near the feet of the headless effigy - looks like the worries of the old year are going to be shot away....Bang! Bang!....Poof!

A cardboard hold up the old man

In the above photo, note the lemon and chillies tied around the neck - in India, a lemon and chillies are tied and put at doorways of business establishments and new vehicles to ward off trouble and evil. So also, the above "old man" has a lemon and chillies tied around to get rid of its evil influences.