Cadets, Scouts and Guides at 2011 Republic Day Parade Shivaji Park Mumbai

Mumbai Fire Brigade at 2011 Republic Day Parade Shivaji Park Mumbai

Fireman's kit ~ note the white axe attached to the waist belt at the back - it is used to break down doors/windows to go to the rescue

Firemen in full gear on fire engine with longer, extended ladder for high-rise rescues

Mumbai Police Force at 2011 Republic Day Parade Shivaji Park Mumbai

Constable Raut doing security duty on building terrace to ensure nobody gets any funny ideas to shoot at the parade

Mumbai Police Force marching past the dais

Exiting from the grounds after the parade

Rapid Intervention Vehicle used by the Mumbai Police

Armoured vehicle of the Mumbai Police 

The ladies on the force ~ Cheers!

Bike experts! (note the bluish neon glow lights on the helmets)

Bike used by the Mumbai Traffic Police to chase law-breakers

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