AIPAN- Kumaoni Folk Art

Aipan is the technique of floor painting using rice paste solution to etch out different geometrical and art patterns on the background of ‘geru’(red oxide). Instead of brush fingers are used to make these fascinating forms. These age old traditions are considered essential on every auspicious occasion. It is solely confined to women folk and usually mother passes it to daughter. Thus this art passed down from generation to generation. For the Kumaonis, each deity in the Hindu pantheon has a special symbol and every occasion demands an aipan of a different kind.

SCIENCE OF SOUND

Before understanding mantras and their relevance, we must understand the nature of sound and its effects.

How does the sound affect us? Try this…

Close your eyes and position yourself in the midst of main market place. Imagine screeching cars, blaring horns, shouting hawkers and screaming sound system relaying advertisement--- your pulse quickens and heart beat races.

Now gently change the scene-

Imagine the sound of gently flowing stream, chirping birds or distant bells of temple- At once the calm and serene feeling takes over.

This is the magic of sound of sound.

Sound is the vehicle for emotions- sing with joy, shout in anger, cry in sorrow or groan in pain. Intensified emotions usually demand stronger sound.

Some movements of sound always go on inside us. Like the rhythm of music, it determines the rhythm of our consciousness.

Mantras are sonic vehicles that encapsulate mystical energy and direct it towards specific aim.

NANDA RAJ JAT

In Himalayas, the nature, the people and the festivals are so interwoven that they exhibit a mystical aura and divine feel.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat or Nanda Devi Royal Procession which is held once every twelve years can be christened as the Kumbh of the mountains.

Nanda Devi, the incarnation of Goddess Parvati is considered as the beloved daughter by the devotees who gather at Nauti village near Karnaprayag to perform the ceremonial rites of escorting the goddess with her dowry to her in-laws place i.e. to Shiva’s abode.

In an arduous 280 km. trek stretching about ten days, hundreds of devotees make their way past the Bedni bugyal and Roopkund to the plains of Shila Samundra. Then they pass over to Kwari Pass to the final destination of Homkund lake, which is flanked by Trishul peak on one side and Kamet on the other.

The colourful and beautifully decorated doli of the Goddess along with a four-horned ram moves majestically with the procession. After worship, people bid emotional farewell and return.

Next Raj Jat Yatra will be in 2012.

NEED FOR EXPLORING NEW AREAS OF TOURISM

Tourism is claimed as the prime industry in Uttarakhand and lot is being talked about at every forum. Till date major revenue earners are the religious shrines which came into existence centuries ago or famous hill stations and retreats created or developed in the colonial era.

Today in the name of tourism, the policy makers are coming up with ideas that only creates pressure on existing destinations which in no way contribute in the growth of this sector. This is really a short cut! When people around the world are looking for new locations and want to experiment something unique, and above all ready to pay for that, why are we sitting back?

In Uttarakhand, Tehri Dam is the latest mega addition having a large reservoir, perhaps more than thirty kms long. It meanders through village after village, its surroundings, topography and the beauty is worth watching. Its emerald green- blue water and Ganga effect makes it a premium. If ferrying, house boats or luxury cruise liners type facilities and water sports are introduced in it, embankments of reservoir are beautified with forestation, parks and retreats, I am sure that it will make a mark on the world tourist map. Because all around the globe water bodies are the biggest attraction be it Kerala, Venice, Bali or Mauritius.

Once the government expresses its intention, the business giants from across the country will flock to grab the opportunity. If such a thing ever happens, it will enhance the state revenue, generate local employment and add one of its kinds, attraction to Uttarakhand.

Hope the voice would reach the authorities!

THINK POSITIVE

We need to focus on something positive- however slight, about a person. This diffuses the tension between the individuals. Though, it may take effort and time to communicate.

We must continue to stick to our admiration of just one aspect of the other person.

Eventually or immediately the other person will also stop reacting to us. Try this for yourself- IT ALWAYS WORKS.

If you are waiting at a place, watch your mind and you will find how it moves from individual to individual, all strangers; always forming opinion. It is the nature of mind to act in this fashion. So don’t be wary.

While doing this try to locate something nice in a person instead of negative facets. By doing this we would have done ourselves a great service!

Even this can be a form of meditation.

How can thinking well about someone we dislike be of any service to us?

Hate fosters a sense of duality. Ultimately this sense of duality means a sense of US against THEM feeling which is the root of all the sufferings.

The highest Yoga is the one of equipoise and equipoise never exists in the midst of duality.

NATURAL MEDITATION

Nature is a great teacher for any student of the Self Realization. Sages and Yogis explained that the secret of enlightenment is ‘Simply to BE’, to live in harmony with our true nature.

This is the lesson that Mother Nature incessantly trying to teach us. Unlike us, the elements of nature do not have ego. They go about whatever their Dharma is without making up a whole drama about it – the bird sings, the wind blows, the sun rises and the leaf leaves the tree, JUST LIKE THAT.

An elephant is probably not walking around wondering how it should be or wishing that its body were a different shape. The waterfall does not have to choose to be beautiful- IT JUST IS.

Whereas the problem of human being is to look different or to look better, comparison is one other problem. These are the root cause of his misery. Beautiful or ugly is perhaps the problem of human being not the bird, sun, wind, leaf or the elephant.

DEVA (ANGEL) AND ASUR (DEMON) CONCEPT

Ravana, Kansa, Chanda and Munda are the names of some demons who are said to have created havoc among mankind, brought miseries to the holy souls and performed all kinds of nasty acts to disturb the peace and harmony. It is also said that when their atrocities became intolerable, the Devi Shakti (angelic force) manifested itself in the form of Ram, Krishna, Durga or Chamunda and killed these evil forces and restored peace and happiness among the people.
This drama is continuously being enacted in the cosmos by one name or the other and we all are affected by it directly or indirectly. Since time immemorial mankind carried a strong desire to secure itself, hence it worshipped the protective forces (God) and did all kind of rituals and prayers to ward of the damaging forces ie. Devil. Every religion till date holds this concept.
On the subtle plain we ourselves are the battleground of these forces. Our karma decide which force is going to dominate us, hence we have to be careful and watchful. Anger, greed, violence and lust are some of the asuri (devil) forces whereas justice, peace, love, courage and compassion are some of the devi (forces). The percentage of these positive and negative traits within the society reflects its state of affairs. Any civilised and democratic society having the rule of law is therefore a Devloka and the opposites are Asurloka.