Allô Chatrath

 

  Rasmancha is a historical monument located at Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal, India. It was commissioned by Mallabhum king Hambir Malla Dev in 1600 CE. Its length and breadth are 24.5 meter and the height is 12.5 meter. The base or altar of the temple is made of laterite stone and upper part is made with bricks. The building stands on a high platform and is held together in an intricate pattern of thin bricks with indigenous mortar of lentils, spices, milk, rice husk, etc. Low-arched corridors run across its length and breadth, surrounding the dark pyramidal sanctum while the dark garbhagrigha is devoid of any ornamentation or deities (source: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/guide-bishnupur-bengals-terracotta-town-near-kolkata) Rasmancha was earlier a temple. The aim to build the temple was to celebrate Ras festival; during the festival, the idols of deities, were taken to this temple from all the nearby shrines. Till 1932, the temple used to exhibit all the loca...

I remember my first flight with Finnair almost 15 years back.  The lady crew in their summer sky blue uniforms looked very homely. Their uniforms were cut  almost like what was called a 'sack' dress in the sixties- decent and not intended to either expose parts of body or to to accentuate the curves. The make up was extremely discreet.  And now we come to today- or last week . Air India is reported to have issued a 40-page circular mandating its crew members to abide by the uniform and appearance guidelines stated by the company. The instructions include recommendations for proper attire, jewellery, nail care, and hairstyles. Air India has regulated the use of hair gel for the male crew but forbidden blonde streaks or colouring for the lady crew. What really gets my goat is the diktat to dye hair for greying and to shave off head fully for balding male crew members! Elmer Fudd lovingly called Fuddsy, was one of my favourite cartoon characters in my school days. ...

                                                          South Indian Cuisine.                            Photo source: Healthy Bites.

                          A wall painting in Bishnupur showing a holy man blessing his disciple. 

      A pre-Colombian statue in Mexico's Anthropological & Historical Museum in Mexico City. This is one of the most fabulous and authentic museums that I have visited. I emphasize the word authentic as what are at display here are mostly the artifacts and articles belonging to Mexico's rich past- quite unlike what one sees in the museums in the Western World, where a large number of items on display have been brought from poor countries for 'safe keeping' or by deceit or plain loot during colonization.             Another stunning piece in in Mexico's Anthropological & Historical Museum in Mexico City.  

One of my favourite meals (Chicken Korma & Khamiri Tandoori Roti) at one of my favourite restaurants in Delhi (Al- Jawahar, Jama Masjid).     Warning: Not for the weak hearted or those worrying all the time about their cholesterol levels. 

 

                            Statutory Warning:  Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health.    Champagne is a sparkling wine that originated in and is produced in the Champagne wine region of France.   It became associated with royalty in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The leading manufacturers made efforts to associate their Champagnes with nobility and royalty through clever advertising and packaging, which led to its popularity among the emerging middle class.  Pinot noir, Pinot meunier and Chardonnay grapes are used to produce almost all of Champagne,   Some of the snacks that are supposed to go well with Champagne are: carrot, cucumber and celery sticks, bread sticks with salty dip such as olive tapenade, potato chips, hard cheeses such as pecorino or cheddar with salty crackers, and of course expensive caviar. Nicolas Lancret: 'People of Rheim...

  A sketch of the Sun Temple by James Ferguson, 1837. The fragment of the sanctuary existing then is visible. Archeological Survey of India mentions that 'curiously enough, the first suggestion for the conservation of the Sun Temple at Konark came not from the conservationists but from the Marine Board way back in 1806. The move for repairs arose out of a purely utilitarian motive, as the temple, called the Black Pagoda by European mariners, served as a landmark on the shallow coast of Orissa'.                                      Warrior Pingala, with devotee, part of western Parsvadevta.                   ( Photos sourced from a printed book on Konark by Archeological Survey of India.) 

Last month I was blessed to see and photograph this in Atashgah Temple, State Historical & Architectural Reserve of Azerbaijan Republic situated at about 20 kms from its capital Baku. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose birthday falls today, is reported to have stayed there on his way to Mecca. More photos and a write up would follow soon on my blog. Guru Purab Di Wadhai Hove'

                                     Disclaimer: Photos sourced from the website of the Museum.