Author Archives: memoriesandsuch

Festivals of India: Bhagoria

Posted on by
Reply
Source

The Bhagoria festival is a vibrant and colourful festival celebrated by the tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which was originally the Malwa region. The festival is held annually in the Hindu month of Phalguna, which corresponds to February or March in the Gregorian calendar. The Bhagoria festival is a celebration of the arrival of spring and marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time for the tribal communities to come together, dance, sing, and exchange gifts. The tribes who participate include the Bhil, Bhilala, and Pateliya.

The festival takes place in the Badwani, Dhar, Alirajpur, Khargone and Jhabua districts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It has agricultural significance and coincides with the end of harvesting crops. It is celebrated for seven days in March before the Holi Festival. Traditionally, celebrants travel to the festival grounds with their families on decorated bullock carts. There they purchase the things required to celebrate Holi, dance to traditional musical instruments, sing songs called Lokgeet, and enjoy meeting family and friends.

The Bhagoria festival is unique to the tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh and northeastern Maharashtra and is one of the largest tribal festivals in India. It is a celebration of the vibrant and diverse culture of these communities and attracts visitors from all over the world. The festival is celebrated in different parts of Madhya Pradesh, with the largest celebrations taking place in Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Dhar districts.

Source

One of the highlights of the Bhagoria festival is the ‘Bhagoriya Mela’ or fair. This fair is a gathering of tribal communities from all over the region and is a place for people to come together, socialise, and participate in various activities. The Bhagoriya Mela is a lively and colourful affair, with stalls selling food, drinks, and handmade goods. There is also a wide range of entertainment available, including music, dance, and theatre performances.

The Bhagoria festival is famous for its traditional dance and music. The tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh have a rich tradition of music and dance, and the Bhagoria festival provides a platform for these traditions to be showcased. The dances performed during the festival are an expression of joy and happiness and are performed by both men and women. The music played during the festival is characterized by its use of traditional instruments such as the dhol, nagara, and manjira.

Source

One of the most unique and interesting aspects of the Bhagoria festival is the ‘Haldi-Kumkum’ ritual. During this ritual, married women apply turmeric paste and vermilion powder to each other’s foreheads. The ritual symbolizes the bond between the women and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. The ‘Haldi-Kumkum’ ritual is an important part of the Bhagoria festival and is performed by women from all the tribal communities that participate in the festival.

The Bhagoria festival is also a time for love and courtship. During the festival, young men and women come together to meet and get to know each other. If two people are interested in each other, they can exchange gifts and formalize their relationship. This exchange of gifts is known as ‘Bhagoria Haat’. The Bhagoria Haat is an important part of the Bhagoria festival and is a time for the young people of the tribal communities to come together and celebrate their relationships.

Source

The Bhagoria festival is a celebration of the rich and diverse culture of the tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh. It is a time for people to come together, socialize, and celebrate the arrival of spring and the beginning of the harvest season. The Bhagoria festival is an important part of the cultural heritage of India and is a unique and vibrant celebration that attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Bhagoria festival is a celebration of life, love, and joy and a time for the tribal communities of Malwa to come together and celebrate their culture and traditions. The Bhagoria festival is a true expression of the rich and diverse culture of India and is a celebration that should not be missed.

2023 Week 10 Update

Posted on by
Reply

Hello again from Bangalore! We are still here in the south Indian city of Bengaluru where my parents have moved to a retirement community and the children are having a great time here. We are also doing a bit of sightseeing which I will share in due course.

Today’s quote is attributed to the Chinese philosopher, Confucius who lived between 551 and 479 BCE. He is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages and his teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this day. According to Confucius, we all have two lives with the second one starting when we realise we only have one life. This means that when we understand that we only live once, we can become free and start living. When we realise that the only thing holding us back is everyone’s expectations and measurements, that is when our one and true life starts.

The traffic in Bengaluru is horrendous, and as someone who has travelled to cities like Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta, I can safely say, Baengaluru can compete with them for the title of one of the worst traffic cities in Asia. And the best part is because the place where my parents live is so far from the city, going anywhere means sitting in the car for a minimum of an hour or more. But Bangalore has always been close to my heart and so I can forgive all the traffic. Being here has brought back so many memories of spending time with my paternal grandparents and going out with family and friends. Last week, at a coffee shop, I overheard some girls speaking and that typical Bengaluru accent brought such a smile to my face, BB and GG had to ask my why. It reminded me of being with friends in the city when we used to come here for our summer holidays and those uncomplicated days are always nostalgia inducing.

We are also back from a hectic trip to visit the Lord of the Seven Hills – Balaji in Tiruapati plus a couple of other temples and we were so tired from the hours of sitting in a car, that we took the day after we returned back to Bangalore as a day of rest.

Our trip is almost at an end and it’s been fun connecting with BB & GG and just being with them without the pressures of school and other distractions. The next update will be when we are back in Singapore.

In My Hands Today…

Posted on by
Reply

Stars Between the Sun and Moon: One Woman’s Life in North Korea and Escape to Freedom – Lucia Jang and Susan McClelland

Born in the 1970s, Lucia Jang grew up in a common, rural North Korean household—her parents worked hard, she bowed to a photo of Kim Il-Sung every night, and the family scraped by on rationed rice and a small garden. However, there is nothing common about Jang. She is a woman of great emotional depth, courage, and resilience.

Happy to serve her country, Jang worked in a factory as a young woman. There, a man she thought was courting her raped her. Forced to marry him when she found herself pregnant, she continued to be abused by him. She managed to convince her family to let her return home, only to have her in-laws and parents sell her son without her knowledge for 300 won and two bars of soap. They had not wanted another mouth to feed.

By now it was the beginning of the famine of the 1990s that resulted in more than one million deaths. Driven by starvation—her family’s as well as her own—Jang illegally crossed the river to better-off China to trade goods. She was caught and imprisoned twice, pregnant the second time. She knew that, to keep the child, she had to leave North Korea. In a dramatic escape, she was smuggled with her newborn to China, fled to Mongolia under gunfire, and finally found refuge in South Korea before eventually settling in Canada.

With so few accounts by North Korean women and those from its rural areas, Jang’s fascinating memoir helps us understand the lives of those many others who have no way to make their voices known.

Is Loyalty Overrated

Posted on by
Reply
Source

Over centuries, loyalty is a quality that has been highly regarded. It is defined as being faithful and devoted to someone or something and has long been considered a virtue. However, in recent years, the concept of loyalty has come under scrutiny, with some people questioning its value and suggesting that it is overrated. Loyalty is considered a desirable trait. To the beneficiary, a couple of serious errors will not end the relationship and to the bestower, it feels good to be able to count on someone who will have your back unquestionably.

Loyalty is better viewed as a phenomenon of other traits and virtues including trustworthiness, empathy for fellow humans, investing in a relationship in good times and bad, and variations of the golden rule. These are constitutive virtues of loyalty. At the same time, loyalty should not trump independent moral judgment.

Source

In a fast-paced world where everything is constantly changing, the idea of being loyal to one person or thing can seem outdated. Some argue that loyalty can limit personal growth and hold individuals back from pursuing new opportunities. For example, if a person is loyal to a company that is not providing opportunities for advancement, they may miss out on opportunities for growth and development elsewhere. Similarly, if a person is loyal to a relationship that is not fulfilling or healthy, they may miss out on opportunities for happiness and fulfilment in other relationships.

On the other hand, others believe that loyalty is essential for building strong relationships and creating a sense of stability in an uncertain world. For example, in a romantic relationship, loyalty can help to build trust and create a sense of security. Loyalty to a cause or belief can also help to create a sense of community and shared purpose. In both cases, loyalty provides a foundation for growth and development in a way that cannot be achieved through change or unpredictability alone.

The value of loyalty is subjective and depends on individual perspectives and experiences. For some, the benefits of loyalty are undeniable, while for others, the drawbacks are too great. One thing is certain, however: loyalty can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can provide a sense of stability and security, but on the other hand, it can also limit personal growth and prevent individuals from pursuing new opportunities.

Source

The value of loyalty is subjective and depends on individual perspectives and experiences. For some, the benefits of loyalty are undeniable, while for others, the drawbacks are too great. One thing is certain, however: loyalty can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can provide a sense of stability and security, but on the other hand, it can also limit personal growth and prevent individuals from pursuing new opportunities.

But loyalty is overrated.

Loyalty encourages complacency. Some people will behave well even if there’s no accountability. But we all know of that one person who will choose to play around the edges if they can get away with it, be it at work, school or at home. Sometimes a change in the situation or the level of attachment or investment will change a person’s loyalty.

One of the key factors that affect the value of loyalty is the context in which it occurs. Loyalty to a person or organization that is unethical or harmful can be damaging to both the individual and society as a whole. In such cases, loyalty can be a form of enabling and can perpetuate harmful behaviour. On the other hand, loyalty to a cause or belief that is just and moral can have a positive impact on both the individual and society.

Source

Another factor that affects the value of loyalty is the level of attachment or investment. For example, a person who has invested a significant amount of time and energy into a relationship or organization may feel a greater sense of loyalty than someone who has not. However, this attachment can also make it more difficult to let go of the relationship or organization if it becomes harmful or unfulfilling.

Loyalty has benefits but also under-discussed liabilities. The concept of loyalty is complex and multifaceted, and whether it is overrated or not depends on individual perspectives and experiences. Loyalty can provide a sense of stability and security, but it can also limit personal growth and prevent individuals from pursuing new opportunities. Ultimately, the value of loyalty is determined by the context in which it occurs and the level of attachment or investment. Whether or not loyalty is overrated, it is important for individuals to consider their perspectives and experiences, and to make informed decisions about when and how to be loyal.

In My Hands Today…

Posted on by
Reply

The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun – Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.