Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time – Mark Adams
July 24, 1911, was a day for the history books. For on that rainy morning, the young Yale professor Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and encountered an ancient city in the clouds: the now famous citadel of Machu Picchu. Nearly a century later, news reports have recast the hero explorer as a villain who smuggled out priceless artifacts and stole credit for finding one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites.
Mark Adams has spent his career editing adventure and travel magazines, so his plan to investigate the allegations against Bingham by retracing the explorer’s perilous path to Machu Picchu isn’t completely far- fetched, even if it does require him to sleep in a tent for the first time. With a crusty, antisocial Australian survivalist and several Quechua-speaking, coca-chewing mule tenders as his guides, Adams takes readers through some of the most gorgeous and historic landscapes in Peru, from the ancient Inca capital of Cusco to the enigmatic ruins of Vitcos and Vilcabamba.
Along the way he finds a still-undiscovered country populated with brilliant and eccentric characters, as well as an answer to the question that has nagged scientists since Hiram Bingham’s time: Just what was Machu Picchu?
Today is the International Day of Families. Families are the basic unit of society and play a critical role in shaping individuals and communities. A Family is the smallest and the primary focus of human attachment, nurturance and socialisation. All the lessons of life are learnt from the family and these stay on the psyche for the entire life. Family, which comes from the Latin, familia, is a group of people related either by consanguinity or affinity. The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and society. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as members mature and learn to participate in the community.
United Nations declared in 1993 that 15 May would be the International Day of Families to raise awareness of the importance of families and to promote family-oriented policies and programs. The day is an opportunity to recognise the importance of families and to promote their well-being. It also aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by families and to encourage the adoption of policies and programs that support families.
The theme for the 2022 edition was Families and Urbanisation. Urbanisation is one of the most important megatrends shaping the world and the life and well-being of families worldwide. Sustainable urbanisation is related to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals and targets that depend on how well urbanisation is managed towards benefitting families and enhancing the well-being of all generations living in cities. The theme thus aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies.
The world is becoming increasingly urbanised. According to the United Nations, 55% of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas, and this number is expected to reach 68% by 2050. Urbanisation has many benefits, such as access to better healthcare, education, and job opportunities. However, it also presents challenges for families, such as higher living costs, limited space, and a lack of social support.
One of the biggest challenges facing families in urban areas is housing. In many cities, housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable, forcing families to live in small apartments or even on the streets. Another challenge facing families in urban areas is the lack of social support networks. In traditional, rural communities, families often have access to extended family members, neighbours, and community organizations that provide social and emotional support which may be unable in urban areas. Despite these challenges, families in urban areas also have unique opportunities for growth and development.
Preparations for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024 have been centring on megatrends and their impact on families. The focus on selected megatrends, including technological change, migration, urbanization, demographic and climate change, aims to facilitate the analysis of their impacts on family life and to recommend responsive family-oriented policies to harness the positive aspects of those trends and counteract their negative facets.
Namaskaras from Bengaluru! We arrived yesterday and I am here to drop my parents off after two months spent in Singapore. This will be a very short trip because I need to get back to Singapore soon as R, my helper is also going on a pilgrimage to Malaysia later in the week.
Today’s quote comes to us from American self-help author, best known for his book, Think and Grow Rich. According to Hill, any dream will not become a reality without taking any action. And when action is taken, it needs to be done in a structured and logical way so that the goal can be achieved. However, without setting timeframes or deadlines for these priorities, dreams run the risk of being ignored, and the dream remains just that.
Most of us have recovered, though my throat is still a bit scratchy. This flu swept through the household and there was not a single person who was spared.
That’s all from me this week. Stay safe people and stay blessed!
Jahangir : An Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal – Parvati Sharma
Jahangir was the fourth of the six Great Mughals – great grandson of Babur and grandfather of Aurangzeb – and the least known among them.
His father, Akbar, transformed the Mughal kingdom into an empire, and his reign is often considered an epoch in itself. Jahangir’s son Shahjahan built the tomb that Tagore famously described as a ‘teardrop on the cheek of time’, and was sometimes upheld as Akbar’s true heir.
Jahangir, on the other hand, has the reputation of a weak man, at best: an alcoholic with an eye for art and greed for pleasure, controlled by a powerful wife. But far from being a disinterested prince and insignificant ruler, Jahangir showed tremendous ambition and strength throughout his life.
When his succession was threatened, Jahangir set up a rebel court in the face of the mighty Akbar himself. While he made no conquests to match his father’s, Jahangir was the first Mughal to win the allegiance of the fearsome Ranas of Mewar. And, for all his reputed frivolity, Jahangir was the emperor who won his dynasty its glorious association with things of beauty and splendour – and who wrote one of the most perceptive and entertaining imperial memoirs of all time.
The man who is most often defined by his relationships is here presented holistically as a canny ruler and conscientious administrator, an astute observer of human society and a connoisseur with wide-ranging interests. In this marvellous work of popular history, Parvati Sharma tells a compelling story of one of the most fascinating and undervalued rulers of India.
The Cheykor Festival, also known as the Festival of Joy, or the Parikrama of Wisdom is a popular harvest festival celebrated by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. It is observed by the people of the Nyishi tribe, who are one of the major indigenous communities in the state. The festival is a time when people come together to offer their thanks and gratitude to the Gods for the bountiful harvest and good fortune that they have received.
The Festival is celebrated annually to welcome the spring for five days, with each day having a special significance and ritual associated with it. The festival is marked by feasting, dancing, singing, and the exchange of gifts and greetings among friends, relatives, and neighbours.
It is said that Gelong Doyan Tenzing, a monk introduced this festival in the Sherdukpen region. The main theme of the festival portrays the introduction of Chhey or holy ures of Buddhism. Unlike other festivals, the Cheykor festival which probably falls during June is unique to the Shergaon people. Besides carrying the holy Buddhist ures around the village, special prayers are offered to the Phu or deities at various places. The Cheykor celebration at Shergaon village combines the traditional Bon religion with the preaching of Buddhism. The reading of the Kaso or the ancient document and performing rituals at various Chhodam or resting places is an instance. The singing of the Lurjang is done for seeking courage & protection of the villagers from mountain deities. Three community clans, the Aju Lampu Blang, the Chhampu Blang and the Thuksna Blang play a vital role in traditional affairs and also have a traditional educational system where the young generation learns how to be responsible citizens. Active participation of the Abosus or the elders, the Blangpu jomjis or girls and the Makpenpus or boys add flavour to the festival.
The first day of the festival is known as ‘Chindang,’ and it is observed as a day of purification. On this day, people clean their houses, wear new clothes, and prepare special dishes to offer to the Gods. They also light bonfires to purify their surroundings and ward off evil spirits. The second day of the festival is known as ‘Gumkum Gumpa,’ and it is celebrated as a day of merrymaking. People gather in large numbers and participate in traditional dances and songs. They also prepare and share traditional dishes like ‘Apong,’ a local rice beer, and ‘Gyathu,’ a spicy meat dish. The third day of the festival is known as ‘Nyecheon Yullo,’ and it is celebrated as a day of offerings. On this day, people offer prayers and offerings to the Gods for a good harvest, good health, and prosperity. They also visit their relatives and friends to exchange gifts and greetings. The fourth day of the festival is known as ‘Rineng Yullo,’ and it is observed as a day of reconciliation. People come together to forgive each other and bury their differences. They also participate in traditional games and sports like archery, wrestling, and tug-of-war. The fifth and final day of the festival is known as ‘Takhe Takhe,’ and it is celebrated as a day of farewell. On this day, people bid goodbye to the festival and exchange gifts and greetings one last time. They also pray to the Gods to bless them with a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
The Cheykor Festival is not only a celebration of the harvest but also a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Nyishi tribe. The festival showcases the traditional costumes, dances, songs, and games of the tribe, and it is a time for the younger generation to learn and appreciate their cultural roots. It is a time for people to come together, forget their differences, and celebrate the joys of life. The festival is a testimony to the resilience and diversity of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and their rich cultural traditions.
Memories and Such 