Sunday, March 18, 2018

Chaitra Navratri - the beginning of the Hindu New Year




चैत्र नवरात्रि
18 मार्च - 25 मार्च 2018
आत्‍मशुद्ध‍ि और मुक्‍त‍ि का आधार
उपासना और पूजा करने से घर की नाकारात्मकता दूर होती है और वातावरण में साकारात्मक ऊर्जा का संचार होता है

नौ दिन - मां दुर्गा के नौ रूप की पूजा
नौ रूप - मां शैलपुत्री, ब्रह्मचारिणी, चन्द्रघंटा, कूष्माण्डा, स्कंदमाता, कात्यायनी, कालरात्रि, महागौरी और मां सिद्धिदात्री

चैत्र नवरात्रि का महत्‍व
चैत्र नवरात्रि में सूर्य का राशि परिवर्तन होता है।  सूर्य 12 राशियों का चक्र पूरा कर दोबारा मेष राशि में प्रवेश करते हैं और एक नये चक्र की शुरुआत करते हैं।
चैत्र नवरात्रि से हिन्दु नव वर्ष की शुरुआत होती है।

Chaitra Navratri symbolizes the beginning of the Hindu New Year
It falls in the month of chaitra and the beginning of the spring season
Nine forms of Goddess Durga - Shailputri, Brahmachaarini, Chandraghanta, Kushmaanda, Skandamaata, Katyaayani, Kaalraatri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri are worshipped.
Navratri - ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘Ratri’ means night in Sanskrit
= ‘Navratri’ is nine nights of worship and celebration.


Mahishasurmardini (Goddess Durga killing the buffalo-demon, Mahishasur-'Mahish' refers to a 'buffalo' and 'asura'-means demon). 20th century, West Bengal, colour on cotton cloth, 112 x 92 cm, collection: National Museum, New Delhi

According to the Hindu legends, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva evoked Goddess Durga to save the Devalok (heaven) and the living beings on earth from the tyranny of Mahishasur. The dominion of the Gods had been overpowered by the buffalo demon and hence they were worried about their survival. Using her prowess, the ten-armed goddess on lion slayed the demon, restoring peace in the heavens and on the earth. This pata (cloth) chitra (painting) delineates the victory of good over evil.


Another portrayal of Ma Durga in Mahishaasurmardini avtaar is seen in this beautiful sculpture which was returned to India by Germany



The 10th century Durga idol had gone missing from a temple in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s and surfaced at the Linden Museum, Stuttgart, in Germany.

The idol was handed over by visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi after their talks in New Delhi, three years after it was spotted in a museum in Stuttgart. Shri Modiji  thanked Merkel and the people of Germany for returning the idol, saying “The statue is from Jammu and Kashmir & is a symbol of victory of good over evil.”

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

"EAST MEET EAST; Art Exchanges between Japan and India" a talk at IIC on 1st Dec 2017

An event marking "2017 Year of Japan-India Friendly Exchanges"

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Le Corbusier - Icon of Modernism



Le Corbusier born today in 1887 was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of modern architecture.
Le Corbusier prepared the master plan for the city of Chandigarh in India, and contributed specific designs for several buildings there.
My art exhibition sponsored by Punjab University was held in one of the fascinating buildings designed by Le Corbusier. A gangway over a water body was the entrance to the galleries. The show closed everyday before sunset as the series of large halls were sans artificial lighting, illumination from the large skylights being sufficient. Indeed a great experience.




Assembly Building, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sunday, July 10, 2016

wimbledon 2016 great womens final!


Congratulations to Serena - 22 grand slam wins!
what a super match
As the commentator said somewhere through the first set "the only way Serena is going to lose is Serena herself"
save for very brief lapses like when early on in  the first set she had 3 breakpoints against Kerber's serve but she belted out unforced errors, Serena was unstoppable
but Kerber was pretty tenacious too, engaging Serena in some amazing rallies, much like the Federer-Nadal rallies!