Do you Know ?

Feb/Mar

Holi : It marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated (in North India) by throwing coloured water and gulal (powder) at one another. On the night before Holi, bonfires are built to symbolise the destruction of the evil demon Holika.

Muharram : An Islamic festival commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam.

Shivaratri : This day of Hindu fasting is dedicated to Shiva, who danced the tandava (cosmic dance) on this day.

Kumbh Mela : It is the largest religious congregation on earth, attracts tens of millions of Hindu pilgrims, including masses of holy men, especially Nagas (naked sadhus) of militant Hindu monastic orders. A sea of tents is set up for the pilgrims during the mela. Nagas are the first to take the holy dip. The next Kumbh Mela is due in 2010.

According to Hindu creation myths, the gods and demons once fought a great battle for a kumbh (pitcher) containing the nectar of immortality. Vishnu got hold of the container and spirited it away, but in flight four drops, spilt on the earth - at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. Every three years, one of the four sites chosen by the holy drops takes its turn throwing the fantastical event known as (Maha) Kumbh mela.

Work for the welfare of animals , in India.

Snakes are revered all over India as it is related to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Nag Panchami festival is for worshipping snakes. Killing of snakes is a non bailable offence attracting 7 years in jail as per Wildlife protection act 1972.

During rainy season snakes may come out in open. Majority of snakes (95%) are non poisonous. Do not harm snakes. They too have the right to live on earth.

If you have any complaints or doubts about animal rights ask to Mrs Menaka Gandhi at www.peopleforanimalsindia.org for quick and responsible action.

National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi

If you have any complaints or doubts about Human Rights in India, visit
http://nhrc.nic.in

Monsoon time prone to infectious diseases and accidents

1. Drink boiled water always.
2. Avoid food from outside sources where unhygienic conditions suspected/exist.
3. Water borne diseases viz viral hepatitis (jaundice), typhoid, acute gastroenteritis (loose motion) are on the rise. Avoid outside contaminated food, cold drinks, ice creams and water.
4. Two/Four wheeler drivers to exercise extra caution to view potholed wet and slippery roads.
5. Wear helmet and raincoat.
6. Do not use mobiles while driving.
7. Stay away from telephone/electric poles during thunder/lightening.

Enjoy the magic season of monsoon. If you are coming to Maharashtra, visit Lonavla near Pune and Mahabaleshwar.

Glossary of Indian words

acharya - revered teacher
adivasi - tribal person
agarbathi - incense
Agni - major deity in the Vedas (fire)
ahimsa - discipline of nonviolence
air cooler - big, noisy water filled fan
Ananta - snake on which Vishnu reclined
Andhaka - 1000 headed demon, killed by Shiva
apsara - heavenly nymph
Arjuna - Mahabharata hero, third among the Pandavas
Aryan - Sanskrit for 'noble'; those who migrated from Persia and settled in northern India
ashram - spiritual community
ASI - Archaeological Survey Of India, an organisation involved in monument preservation
attar - essential oil used as a base for perfumes
auto rickshaw - noisy, three wheeled motor vehicle
avatar - incarnation of Vishnu
ayah - Children's nurse
Ayurveda - the ancient and complex science of Indian herbal medicine and healing
azad - free (Urdu)

baba - term of respect, religious master
bagh - garden
baksheesh - tip or bribe
Balarama - Brother of Lord Krishna
bandar - monkey
baniya - moneylender
Bhagavad Gita - a part of Mahabharata, Krishna's lessons to Arjuna
bhajan - devotional song
bhangra - rhythmic Punjabi dance
bindi - forehead mark worn by women
Brahma - Three headed Hindu god
Brahmin - Highest in Hindu caste (the four castes are Brahmin, Kshatriya, the Vaishya and Shudra), temple priest
Buddha - originator of Buddhism, regarded by Hindus as 9th incarnation of Vishnu
bugyal - high altitude meadow
burka - one piece of garment used by conservative Muslim women to cover themselves from head to toe
bustee - slum

cenotaph - a monument honouring a dead person whose body is somewhere else
chaam - ritual masked dance performed by some Buddhist monks in gompas to celebrate the victory of good over evil and of Buddhism over pre existing religions.
chaitya - Place of Buddhist worship with a hall divided into central nave and two side aisles by a line of columns, with a votive stupa at the end
chakra - disc like weapon of Vishnu
Chamunda - form of Durga; a real terror.
chappals - sandals
Char Dham - four pilgrimage destinations - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri
charas (hashish) - resin of the marijuana plant
chogyal - king
chorten - stupa (in Tibetan)
chowk - town square

dargah - tomb of Muslim saint
darshan - viewing of a deity
darwaza - gateway
Dasarath - father of Lord Rama (7th incarnation of Vishnu)
devadasi - female temple dancer
dhaba - basic restaurant
dharamsala - pilgrim's rest house
dhobi - washer man
dhol - large two sided Punjabi drum
dholi - man carried portable chairs
Digambara - naked Jain saints
dikpala - temple guardian
dowry - money and goods given by a brides parents to their son-in-law's family. Giving and taking of dowry is illegal but still exists
Draupadi - wife of the five Pandava princes
durbar - royal court
Durga - a beautiful, fierce woman (Shiva's wife) riding a tiger

Ganesh (Ganapati) - Elephant headed son of Shiva and Parvati, having rat as vehicle.
Ganga - sacred river representing Hindu Goddess.
ganga aarti - river worship ceremony
ganj - market
ganja - dried flowering tips of marijuana plant
gaon - village
garh - fort
Garuda - half man-bird vehicle of Vishnu
ghazal - Urdu song derived from poetry; sad love theme
gufa - cave
gurdwara - Sikh place of worship
Guru Granth sahib - Sikh holy book

haj - Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
Hanuman - Monkey god, follower of Rama
haveli - traditional ornately decorated Rajasthani residence
hookah - water pipe used for smoking ganja or strong tobacco
iftar - breaking of Ramdaan fast at sunset
imam - Muslim religious leader
Indra - God of rain, thunder, lightning and war
jali - carved marble lattice screen
jauhar - ritual mass suicide by immolation, traditionally performed by Rajput women at times of military defeat to avoid being dishonoured by their captors.
jawan - soldier
jhula - bridge
jihad - holy war

kabaddi - traditional game (similar to tag)
Kali - terrible black Hindu goddess dripping with blood and wearing a necklace of skulls
Kalki - 10 th incarnation of Vishnu expected to appear at the end of Kaliyug
Kama - Hindu god of love
kapali - sacred bowl made from a human skull
Krishna - Vishnu's 8th incarnation
Lakshmi - Vishnu's consort, goddess of wealth
lama - Tibetan Buddhist priest
lingam - phallic symbol, symbol of Shiva
Losar - Tibetan New year
lungi - loose coloured garment worn by men