The problem of alarming increases in population affecting living standards and health

There was an alarming news in the newspaper today (12/07/2015) about the ever increasing population of India and the world. I subscribe to the Deccan Chronicle newspaper which is most popular in our Hyderabad city. It reported that our country’s population is presently 1270 millions which increased by 1.25% over previous year’s figures.

If this trend continues, it reported that by 2050, India’s population will be the largest population exceeding China’s figures.

I googled out about latest population figures and found these figures at this link:  http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/

According to their figures based on 2014 statistics, China ranks first with 1393.7 million, then India with 1267.4 million and third place is USA with only 322.58 millions.

The density figures show how congested India is with 386 people per square km. whereas in US it is only 34 people per square km.

So, it requires control over population and reproduction through suitable measures taken by people. Already people have started late marriages and birth control techniques. But it requires more control in all remotest corners of the country where awareness is not realised by people.

Increase in population and excessive consumption leads to drying up of resources too quickly thereby leaving no means of living for future generations. So it is quite necessary that people should take this problem very seriously and practice remedies to improve living standards and health of coming generations.

How to Celebrate Makar Sankranti Festival

Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of Hindus celebrated all over India. It marks the beginning of Uttarayana or traveling of Sun towards the north. Sun enters in Makar Rashi on this auspicious day. “Makar” means the zodiac sign Capricorn and “Sankranthi” means entrance. Uttarayana is considered a very auspicious period by Hindus. This first day of Uttarayana is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. This festival falls on 14th January of each year as it is based on the solar calendar.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated traditionally by taking dips in holy Ganges water or other rivers and offering prayers to Sun and Shiva or Vishnu.  It is considered that all sins get washed out by taking bath in holy rivers on this day and our soul directly reaches heaven after death. On this festive occasion, people wear new clothes, cook Khichdi or Pongal with new rice, green gram dal or black gram dal and some North Indians mix vegetables also in it. They offer it to God and then consume it. All temples will be overcrowded this day with devotees offering special pujas.

Pongal festival in Southern India
In Southern India, this festival is celebrated mainly for full four days as Bhogi, Thai Pongal or Sankranthi, Mattu Pongal or Kanuma and Mukkanuma or kanum Pongal.

Bhogi and Bhogipallu festival
The first day is celebrated as Bhogi. On this day people wake up early in the morning and take an oil bath. They lit a fire in front of their houses dropping all waste clothes and other waste materials into it. It is a kind of shredding old and beginning a new life. It makes the surroundings also neat and clean. Homes are washed neat and clean and door entrances are decorated by applying turmeric and kumkum at the bottom side of door frames. Rangolis (kolam or muggu) are drawn with colorful rice powder and lime mixed powders or chalk pieces or paints. Competitions also take place between neighbors in drawing the most beautiful attractive designs of rangoli. In the center and corners of it, they place big pumpkin flowers on cow dung balls and dance around it singing Sankranthi songs. The whole scene looks very beautiful. These decorations are done on all four days. Houses with children celebrate this day by showering mixture of Bhogi pallu or gooseberries(local berries), flowers, coins, rice, etc. on children’s head to protect them from evil eyes or sights.

Sankranthi (Big festival) or Thai Pongal
The second day is celebrated as Sankranthi big festival also known as Thai Pongal or Pongal. The Pongal dish is prepared on this day and offered to God. The temples are thronged by devotees. This is actually regarded as the harvest festival. Harvesting is over by this time and all homes are full of new grains. The Pongal is prepared with these new rice. The daughters and sons-in-law come home and get treated with love and affection and receive gifts from parents and brothers.

Mattu Pongal or Kanuma
The third day is celebrated as Kanuma or Mattu Pongal. Mattu Pongal is a kind of reverence to cattle. Cattle are of major help in agriculture. So as a thanksgiving, they are especially worshipped on this day by bathing them and decorating with love and respect. It is considered on Kanuma day by some traditions, especially in Andhra, that eating something prepared of black gram dal is a must on this day. Generally, people prepare vada (or ‘Garelu’ in Telugu) and eat them after offering to God. It is also thought by some that one who does not bathe on this day and does not eat vada will take birth as a crow in his next birth.

Mukkanuma or Kanum Pongal
The last day is Mukkanuma. On this day people enjoy picnics or eating special dishes in homes along with relatives or friends. A sambar-type preparation known as ‘kolambu’ in Tamil and ‘pulusu’ in Telugu languages is prepared which contains season’s fresh vegetables and a bit of jaggery also besides toor dal and tamarind. Due to this dish, this day is known as Mukkanuma. Mukka means a piece of vegetable in the Telugu language. Some say mukka is a bit of Vada which is bitten on this day that has been prepared the previous day and so the name Mukkanuma.

On the whole, Sankranthi is a festival of mainly four days for most Hindus celebrated to mark the completion of harvesting season and thereby thanksgiving to God and cattle. Sons-in-law have their prominence during this festivity.

Vaishnava Sampradayam: Dhanurmasam
But for Vaishnava sampradaya people. this festival of Sankranthi is for one full month. They celebrate this occasion as Dhanurmasa. Dhanurmasa is the period starting from Sun entering the constellation of Dhanur Rasi or Sagittarius and ending on the day Sun enters the constellation of Makar Rashi or Capricorn. This is the period from 16th December to 14th January normally.

During this one month, they wake up early mornings and after bathing, prepare Pongali which is the dish of rice and green gram dal. After cooking, it is flavored with Ghee, black pepper, jeera(cumin), cashew nuts, etc. by frying slightly in Ghee on a light flame and mixing in the Pongal. Puja is done to Vishnu Bhagwan by rendering Thiruppavai stanzas or ‘pasurams’.

Thiruppavai is the creation of Goda Devi also known as ‘Andal’, ‘Nachiyar’ or “Chudi Kodutha Nachiyar”. She is one of the 12 Alwars or saints of Vaishnava sampradayam who lived at the start of Kaliyuga. She is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi coming to earth to preach people how to attain happiness and supreme bliss through true worship and devotion. She worshipped Lord Vishnu in the shape of Ranganathaswamy and Sri Krishna. She used to offer flower garlands to God after testing them by wearing and looking into the mirror to ascertain that they are good. She rendered 30 pasurams or stanzas by reciting one on each day for thirty days during this dhanurmasam. In the end, she pleased Lord and married Him.

So, Vaishnava followers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, celebrate this Dhanurmasam very traditionally. Pongal is prepared by wearing sacred clothes(washed and dried separately without touching them) or silken clothes. The dish also is prepared without touching other things. Pooja is performed and this Pongal is offered to God with true love and devotion. Then it is taken as prasadam. There are some special days during this month on which days sweet Pongal is prepared (with rice, green gram dal, and jaggery) besides the hot Pongal including the last day of Sankranthi. In the sweet Pongal, kismis(raisin) and elaichi(cardamom) are added in place of the black pepper and cumin as the topper.

Many social events also take place on these days like kite flying, cockfights, bullock-cart races, and bullfights or Jallikattu.

 

People bet on these events and earn money even though such gamblings are prohibited at many places. Cultural programmes and music concerts are also held at temples and public places and people enjoy the season very much in a holiday mood.

Saree: Most popular Indian Women Attire

One of the most popular attire for Indian women is the saree which gives them beauty and dignity. It is the most popular choice of all age groups of women. It is the age old tradition of our Indian women to wear sarees at all important rituals and occasions of celebrations. Further,wearing a saree is a must for all
Indian brides at their marriage ceremony even in this modern age of changing fashions. Normally Silk Sarees with embroidery and craft work in red colours are worn on the wedding days by the brides.That is why we see a lot of demand for sarees of different designs and brands on all auspicious times and festive occasions.

What is a Saree?
Saree is a textile product of long stitchless continuous cloth of normally 5 to 7 metres length and of one metre width which is draped over the body by women especially in Indian Sub-continent. It is normally worn over a petticoat and along with a blouse.

How to wear a saree?
A saree is draped over the body in various styles according to customs, likes and fashions. A saree consists of two ends. One end which remains inside is normally plain without any designs and enormous borders. The other outer end which is left over to hang from the shoulder towards bottom is called the pallu or palla in Hindi and with various names in other languages. This pallu end is fabricated with enormous designs and craft work to enhance the beauty of the saree and the person wearing it. It can be sometimes simple also for daily wear purpose.

Now, hold the plain end of the saree which is to be kept inside to your right side of waist and tuck it into your petticoat after confirming that your petticoat is tight to your waist. Then complete a round by draping the sari around your waist from your front side to your back and bring it again to your front. Tuck the saree all around your waist into the petticoat so that the saree length from your waist to your feet levels with your petticoat and hangs a more lengthy towards your feet but does not hinder your steps while walking. After tucking well, make folds of the remaining saree of about your palm’s width with your fingers after leaving enough portion of it for hanging it as pallu after taking it around your back. The folded portion of saree is again tucked into your petticoat at the centre of your front side taking care that the folds are not made in a haphazard manner so that all folds are neatly folded and aligned straightly one behind other displaying your skill. You can pin the folds tight with a saree pin to your petticoat so that they do not loosen. Then the remaining portion of saree is again draped from your left side to your back and bringing it to the front from between your right waist and under arm portion to your left shoulder, you drop it down on your left shoulder to hang behind you. Here again, you drop the pallu in such a way that it looks beautiful and attracts people by folding it into three or four nice narrow lengthy folds. You may have to pin it with a saree pallu clip to hold the folds and keep the saree on your shoulder intact in-spite of your movements.

 

Some people in Northern India, hang the pallu portion of saree to their front side instead of dropping it on their back. They call this method of wearing as “seedha palla” and southern people method of wearing as “ulta palla” type. Some Keralites drape whole saree against their waist and wear long blouses or T-shirts. Different places of women have different method of wearing or draping the sari. Some orthodox women wear the pallu to cover their heads in front of men even now. Some consider it as giving respect to elders and God by covering their heads with the pallu.

There are many types and designs of sarees and blouses also. Blouses with long sleeves, short sleeves and sleeveless blouses, etc. Again there are normal traditional blouses of plain type without any designs and shapes and modern blouses of various designs and shapes which hold tight to your body. It depends upon your likes and comfortability. Sarees are also of plain types with simple borders and no designs. Some sarees are filled with gorgeous designs and craft work and cost in tens of thousands rupees. There are printed sarees with various printed designs, woven designer sarees and knitted craft work sarees, etc. You can choose among lots of qualities, designs and colours according to your budget from a meagre one hundred rupees cost to tens of thousands of rupees value depending upon your needs and budget.

If you like to witness the beauty and glamour of this Indian attire and know about more styles of wearing this marvellous costume, you may attend the Indian wedding ceremonies where you find a congregation of different styles of saree clad women with dazzling designs and colours.