Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Mumbai ... My home town
Mumbai ...my home town .. Its bludgeoning city .. City that never sleeps .. always on run.. India's financial capital, glamour city etc. etc are its different adjective .But I feel the most differentiating factor of Mumbai form any other city in the world is its Sprit of Life.. its Resilience .. where life just moves on... its desire to live and overecome all odds ...
Tell me any city in the world which has faced such a torrid time and still put it all it behind in a wake to sore to new hights .. be its 1993 riots, series of bomb blast on 12th march 1993, floods in 2005, or blasts in 7/11 2006 ... Mumbai and its mumbaikar put it all behind and came along with a lot of determination and tenacity
I remember the 26th july 2005 episode .. almost at the same time katrina broke into city of New Orleans in United States and i was closly tracking the stories. I believe Mumbai recoverd much more faster than New Orlens even though there is huge differnce in size of the cities and its population. For all these credit goes to mumbaikar !!!
Mumbai - Its history
Mumbai is consists of seven island namely Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion. This group of islands, which have since been joined together by a series of reclamations
Mumbai history goes down to as back as the Stone age. Artefacts found near Kandivali in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BC, when it was known as Heptanesia (Ptolemy) (Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven Islands).
In the 3rd century BC, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Asoka. Kanheri Guphas in Borivali goes in the period of 2nd century.
During its first few centuries, control over Mumbai was disputed between the Indo-Scythian Western Satraps and the Satavahanas. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later governed the islands until 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the oldest edifices of the archipelago the Elephanta Caves ( Gharapuri) and the Walkeshwar temple complex date from this era.
Mordern Sources identify a 13th century Raja Bhimdev who had his capital in Mahikawati-- present-day Mahim, and Prabhadevi..In 1343 the island of Salsette ( Marathi Name "Sashti - conglomarate of Sixty Six villagages ), and eventually the whole archipelago, passed to the Sultan of Gujarat. The mosque in Mahim dates from this period.
In 1534 the Portuguese, who already possessed many important trading centers on the western coast, such as Panjim, Daman, and Diu, took Bombay by force of arms from the Mohammedans. This led to the establishment of numerous churches which were constructed in areas where the majority of people were Roman Catholics. However, only one church with Portuguese-style facade still remains; it is the St. Andrew's church at Bandra. The Portuguese also fortified their possession by building forts at Sion, Mahim, Bandra, and Bassien which, although in disrepair, can still be seen. They named their new possession as "Bom Baia" which in Portuguese means "Good Bay".
The Portuguese established a fort in Bassein, present day Vasai. The fort was fronted by a harbour. With this as the main base, they built other smaller forts in many of the islands. In the 18th century the fort was attacked by the Maratha army under Chimaji Appa, and fell in 1739 after a three year long campaign.
The islands were given to the English King Charles II in dowry on his marriage to Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza in 1662. Britisher anglaised the pourtugese name to "Bombay" e Kolis used to call the islands "Mumba" after Mumbadevi, the Hindu deity to whom a temple is dedicated at Babulnath near Chowpatty's sandy beaches. In the year 1668 the islands were acquired by the English East India Company on lease from the crown for an annual sum of 10 pounds in gold; so little did the British value these islands at that time. The Company, which was operating from Surat, was in search for another deeper water port so that larger vessels could dock, and found the islands of Bombay suitable for development. The shifting of the East India Company's headquarters to Bombay in 1687 led to the eclipse of Surat as a principal trading center.
Fort and its gate :
The 18th century, in the twenty years starting from 1746 the Fort was improved. Many batteries and bastions were added. The depredations of the British, perhaps more than the black basalt walls, gave rise to the name Kala Killa for the fort.
The fort walls had three main gates. One was the Apollo Gate, near the present day location of the St. Andrew's Church. The most well-known was Church Gate, named after St. Thomas', standing almost exactly on the spot that the Flora Fountain now occupies.The third was the Bazaar Gate, right opposite the present dome of the General Post Office, which lends its name to the area even now, long after the gate itself has disappeared.
In 1769 Fort George was built on the site of the Dongri Fort. In the next year the Mazagaon docks were built.
Tell me any city in the world which has faced such a torrid time and still put it all it behind in a wake to sore to new hights .. be its 1993 riots, series of bomb blast on 12th march 1993, floods in 2005, or blasts in 7/11 2006 ... Mumbai and its mumbaikar put it all behind and came along with a lot of determination and tenacity
I remember the 26th july 2005 episode .. almost at the same time katrina broke into city of New Orleans in United States and i was closly tracking the stories. I believe Mumbai recoverd much more faster than New Orlens even though there is huge differnce in size of the cities and its population. For all these credit goes to mumbaikar !!!
Mumbai - Its history
Mumbai is consists of seven island namely Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion. This group of islands, which have since been joined together by a series of reclamations
Mumbai history goes down to as back as the Stone age. Artefacts found near Kandivali in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BC, when it was known as Heptanesia (Ptolemy) (Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven Islands).
In the 3rd century BC, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Asoka. Kanheri Guphas in Borivali goes in the period of 2nd century.
During its first few centuries, control over Mumbai was disputed between the Indo-Scythian Western Satraps and the Satavahanas. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later governed the islands until 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the oldest edifices of the archipelago the Elephanta Caves ( Gharapuri) and the Walkeshwar temple complex date from this era.
Mordern Sources identify a 13th century Raja Bhimdev who had his capital in Mahikawati-- present-day Mahim, and Prabhadevi..In 1343 the island of Salsette ( Marathi Name "Sashti - conglomarate of Sixty Six villagages ), and eventually the whole archipelago, passed to the Sultan of Gujarat. The mosque in Mahim dates from this period.
In 1534 the Portuguese, who already possessed many important trading centers on the western coast, such as Panjim, Daman, and Diu, took Bombay by force of arms from the Mohammedans. This led to the establishment of numerous churches which were constructed in areas where the majority of people were Roman Catholics. However, only one church with Portuguese-style facade still remains; it is the St. Andrew's church at Bandra. The Portuguese also fortified their possession by building forts at Sion, Mahim, Bandra, and Bassien which, although in disrepair, can still be seen. They named their new possession as "Bom Baia" which in Portuguese means "Good Bay".
The Portuguese established a fort in Bassein, present day Vasai. The fort was fronted by a harbour. With this as the main base, they built other smaller forts in many of the islands. In the 18th century the fort was attacked by the Maratha army under Chimaji Appa, and fell in 1739 after a three year long campaign.
The islands were given to the English King Charles II in dowry on his marriage to Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza in 1662. Britisher anglaised the pourtugese name to "Bombay" e Kolis used to call the islands "Mumba" after Mumbadevi, the Hindu deity to whom a temple is dedicated at Babulnath near Chowpatty's sandy beaches. In the year 1668 the islands were acquired by the English East India Company on lease from the crown for an annual sum of 10 pounds in gold; so little did the British value these islands at that time. The Company, which was operating from Surat, was in search for another deeper water port so that larger vessels could dock, and found the islands of Bombay suitable for development. The shifting of the East India Company's headquarters to Bombay in 1687 led to the eclipse of Surat as a principal trading center.
Fort and its gate :
The 18th century, in the twenty years starting from 1746 the Fort was improved. Many batteries and bastions were added. The depredations of the British, perhaps more than the black basalt walls, gave rise to the name Kala Killa for the fort.
The fort walls had three main gates. One was the Apollo Gate, near the present day location of the St. Andrew's Church. The most well-known was Church Gate, named after St. Thomas', standing almost exactly on the spot that the Flora Fountain now occupies.The third was the Bazaar Gate, right opposite the present dome of the General Post Office, which lends its name to the area even now, long after the gate itself has disappeared.
In 1769 Fort George was built on the site of the Dongri Fort. In the next year the Mazagaon docks were built.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Gudhi Padwa ( New Year )
Hi Tomorrow 6th April is a Gudhi Padwa ... Its a start of new year for all Hindus
Some of the facts of the day
The gudi, Brahma’s flag (Brahmadhvaj) is hoisted in every house as a symbolic representation of Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the gudi (flag).
A bright green or yellow cloth adorned with brocade (zari) is tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gathi (a type of sweet), neem leaves, a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied. This is then hoisted by placing a silver or copper pot placed in the inverted position over it. Beautiful designs with special powder of soft, white stone (rangolis) are drawn on the floor in front of it. Everyone eagerly waits to usher in the new year. Then uttering meaning, ‘I offer obeisance to the flag of Lord Brahma’ one should ritualistically worship the gudi with a resolve. Since Lord Brahma created the universe on this day, this flag is called ‘the flag of Brahma’ (Brahmadhvaj) in the scriptures. Some also refer to it as ‘the flag of Indra’ (Indradhvaj).
The Gudi is raised next to the main entrance of the house. The spot selected should be on the right side (when sighted from the house) of the entrance. The right side symbolizes active state of the soul.
Some maharastrians starts day with a bath with fragnant "Utane" and then a workship to a god, followd by raising gudi and gudhi puja. There is also a tradition of having 'arka' of neem leaves before eating any thing on the day.
Some of the facts of the day
The gudi, Brahma’s flag (Brahmadhvaj) is hoisted in every house as a symbolic representation of Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the gudi (flag).
A bright green or yellow cloth adorned with brocade (zari) is tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gathi (a type of sweet), neem leaves, a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied. This is then hoisted by placing a silver or copper pot placed in the inverted position over it. Beautiful designs with special powder of soft, white stone (rangolis) are drawn on the floor in front of it. Everyone eagerly waits to usher in the new year. Then uttering meaning, ‘I offer obeisance to the flag of Lord Brahma’ one should ritualistically worship the gudi with a resolve. Since Lord Brahma created the universe on this day, this flag is called ‘the flag of Brahma’ (Brahmadhvaj) in the scriptures. Some also refer to it as ‘the flag of Indra’ (Indradhvaj).
The Gudi is raised next to the main entrance of the house. The spot selected should be on the right side (when sighted from the house) of the entrance. The right side symbolizes active state of the soul.
Some maharastrians starts day with a bath with fragnant "Utane" and then a workship to a god, followd by raising gudi and gudhi puja. There is also a tradition of having 'arka' of neem leaves before eating any thing on the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)