ORISSA– the Land of Gods and Goddesses. (Published in CFO connect, Dec 2009)

After hours orissa dec09

ORISSA– the Land of Gods and Goddesses

Orissa is the land of architectural distinction, and sculptural magnificence; it is where dream and reality fuse. Situated on the eastern border of peninsula India, it is gently washed by the gurgling waves of the Bay of Bengal. In ancient times, it was renowned for its sea ports facing the Bay, looking out at the distant islands of Bali, Java, and Indonesia.Back then, the region was known as Kalinga, in central-eastern India, comprising most of the modern state of Orissa (also referred to as Utkal in ancient texts), and some northern areas of its bordering state, Andhra Pradesh. Extending from the river Damodar / Ganga, to Godavarai, and from the Bay of Bengal to the Amarkantak range in the west, this land was very fertile. One of the ancient lores surrounding Kalinga, is the story of King Ashoka, who was aghast by all the bloodshed his invasion of Kalinga (in 261 BC) had caused, and he embraced Buddhism.Orissa is also home to a modern marvel, Hirakud Dam, which is one of the longest dams in the world.
Bhubaneswar – The Temple CityThe capital city Bhubaneswar boasts of the famous Lingaraja temple of Lord Shiva, the Mukteshwar temple, the twin cave groups of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, and Dhaulagiri.The Lingaraja temple is described as ‘the truest fusion of dream and reality’. Inscriptions from the period of Kalinga King Anangabhima III, can be found here. The temple is made of the darkest shade of red sandstone. It is 55 m high and elaborately carved.The Bindu Sarovar, which lies near the Lingaraj temple, proudly claims to own a drop (Bindu) of every holy river in it.The Mukteshwar temple dates back to the 10th century and is considered the gem of Oriya architecture.The Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves lie around 8 km from Bhubaneswar, and are carved chambers of the ancient Jain monasteries. The caves date back to the second century BC.At Dhaulagiri, the gruesome Kalinga War was fought, which proved to be the turning point for King Ashoka. The Dhauli Stupa, on top of Dhauli hill (on the banks of the river Daya) is a dazzling, white peace pagoda built by two Japanese Buddhist institutions in the 1970s. Dhauli’s importance as a Buddhist centre under King Ashoka can be seen in the many chaityas (Buddhist prayer halls), stupas, and pillars.Several edicts around Dhauli, spread the message of Buddhism.

Chilka Lake
Travellers seeking to visit Bhubaneswar must visit the Islands of Chilka Lake, and the temple towns of Konark and Puri. Chilka Lake is Asia’s largest salt water lagoon and is the breeding ground for various migratory birds including flamingoes. The lake is pear shaped and its brackish waters support a range of aquatic flora and fauna.

The remarkable islands surrounding the Chilka Lake require a dedi-cated one-day trip, but for this it is important to start early and reach the port by 7 am. Motorboats can be hired here to visit the many islands: The Nalabama Island and bird sanctuary at the centre of the lake; Bird Island; the abode of goddess Kali, Kalijai Island and; Satapada, where the endangered dolphins can be seen.

Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri
It takes approximately one-and-a-half hours to drive from Bhubaneswar to Puri, a pilgrim town, where the celebrated temple of Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) is situated. The temple is one of the four dhams (abodes of god in the four compass directions – Puri in the East, Ramesh-waram in the South, Dwarka in the West, and Badrinath in the North) which all good Hindus are meant to visit in their lifetime. The Jagannath Temple was built in the 12th century – it was begun by King Anant Varman Choraganga Dev, and completed by his grandson Ananga Bhima Dev of the Ganga Dynasty.

A famous maxim is that the patron cannot visit Puri, until the Lord him-self calls. But, the lord was kind to us, and we reached Puri at 9 pm, and witnessed the evening aarti, without having to muscle through the masses to catch a glimpse of the deity.

The temple is the starting point for the famous rath yatra, which takes place in July. All three deities (Jagannath – the other name for Krishna – his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra) are carried in their separate, heavily decorated chariots by a few thousand people to the Gundicha temple, which is two kilometers away. The Gundicha temple is their summer abode for a week, after which the grand procession winds its way back to Jagannath.

The beach at Puri is called the golden beach; its shimmering sands at sunrise or sunset, are bedazzling!

A marine drive to Konark One can reach Konark via the Puri-Konark Marine Drive, which is smooth and enriching, adjoined by deserted beaches and many rivers flowing into the sea. But before Konark, famous Pipli is a must-stop spot, to see its beautifully designed appliqué handicraft

Konark is renowned for ‘The Chariot of the Sun God driven by seven horses’ – the Sun Temple built in the 13th century by Narsimha Dev of the Ganga dynasty. A World Heritage Site, the temple is made from black granite, and is also called “The Black Pagoda”.

Konark derives its name from Konarka, the presiding deity of the Sun temple. Konarka itself is a combination of two words, kona, which means corner, and arka which means sun. The seven galloping horses represent the seven days of the week and the seven sages who govern the constellation, and pull the chariot carrying the sun across the sky. The three images of the Sun god are positioned such as to catch the sun’s rays at dawn, noon, and dusk. The two lions that guard the entrance are artistically sculpted.

The beach is now at a distance of a kilometer from the Sun temple, though it was built on the shore ages ago. This indicates that the sea has receded from its original shoreline. Konark was the bustling port of Kalinga, and had maritime trade relations with South East Asian countries.

A taste of Oriya culture
The Odissi dance is the prominent dance form in Orissa. This graceful and energetic classical dance used to be performed by devdasis, behind the closed doors of the temple to appease Lord Jagannath. The devdasis were chosen to serve the Lord with their dance and devotion.

Sweet cuisine: A journey to this state is not complete without enjoying its irresistible cuisine. The well known rice pudding or kheeri (kheer), originated in Puri, 2,000 years ago. Chena poda, another sweet dish is cooked by caramelising cottage cheese with sugar, and spiced with cardamom and other ingredients. It is cooked over a clay hearth. The delectable chena jheeli and malpua are the state’s other famous deserts. The kakera peetha (made of finely grained wheat and coconut, and sauteed with pepper, cardamom, sugar, and ghee) is a chief delicacy which is prepared during the festival season.

OdeThakur: In fact, many of the celebrated Bengali cuisines have originated in Orissa. During the Bengal renaissance, brahmin cooks from Orissa, especially from Puri, were routinely employed in rich Bengali households. Their expertise was their culinary skill and they were commonly referred to as Ode Thakur (Oriya brahmin-cooks).

Spicy foods: Oriya food caters to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian tastes. Fish forms an integral part of the food regime. At a fair that we were fortunate to attend in Bhubaneswar, we got a taste of their spicy life. Amid the sprawling sweet stalls, we could see ornately decorated chaat stalls that were flaunting red chillies. And when we decided to taste one of the more sought after chaat preparations, we realised that the word spicy is an understatement for Oriyas.

The people: The people of Bhubaneswar seem to have retained their simple and uncomplicated life, unaffected by the complexity of metros. Still, the state reflects a unique mélange of culture of the east, with West Bengal as its neighbour on one side, and that of the south, influenced by the adjacent state of Andhra Pradesh. Despite the various influences, the inimitable spirit of the people is apparent in Pipli’s unique and beautiful applique artwork; ornate silver filigree work from Cuttack; the patta chitras (palm leaf paintings); famous stone utensils of Nilgiris (Balasore); and other tribal-influenced paintings.

Summing up
Orissa is testimony to India’s rich architectural heritage, passed on to us over thousands of years. By kings who conquered and ruled, made history and ensured that they contributed something so unique, that future generations will always be proud of.

Shillong , the Scotland of the East, (Published in CFO connect , April 2010)

Shillong Scotland of the East

Shillong is the land of dark clouds, rumbling rain, a propelling breeze, and swaying pine trees. It is the capital city of the North-Eastern state of Meghalaya, which means ‘the abode of clouds,’ as derived from the Sanskrit words Megh (cloud) and Alaya (home). Shillong itself gets its name from Leishyllong, the god believed to be residing on the Shillong peak over-looking the city, as its protector.Shillong is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’ because of its striking similarity with the Scottish Highlands.
This was my first trip to a region in the North-East. We planned our trip to Shillong in March, and then wondered how different it will be in comparison to the hill stations near Delhi, which we have often visited. Arriving in Guwahati by flight from Delhi, we took a pre-paid taxi from the airport to our destination. It takes around three hours to reach Shillong. At the start of our journey, the weather was quite warm. The road was elevated and there were rice farms on both sides. The taxi gradually ascended up the slim road which was delightfully festooned at regular intervals with small wooden shops selling bananas, betel leaves, bamboo pickle (which is a delicacy), other fruits and some snacks. The features of the natives are distinctly unique, identifying them with the state of Meghalaya; and yet they blend just as easily with other Indians.

The cool weather was a signal to us that we had covered several miles and were at a much higher altitude; and even then it was bright and sunny. As we glided higher, banana and pine trees began to gradually replace the rice farms. The leaves of the pine were merrily swaying in the cool breeze and I thought it was odd that instead of tapering downwards towards gravity, the leaves were pointed upwards taking the shape of an inverted cone. When I enquired of the taxi driver whether this was a different species of the pine tree, he just smiled and said that once we reach Shillong we will find out for ourselves the reason. Unsure whether the driver himself knew the answer or was just deliberately trying to duck our question, we continued our journey in silence for a while.The expanse of greenery enveloping us diverted our attention to the world outside. About 45 minutes away from Shillong, we forced the taxi driver to stop at a mesmerising green lake called Bara Pani. Its scenic grandeur tempted us to jump out and click some photographs, but we were stopped by army men patrolling the area. This is a restricted area and therefore we could enjoy its natural beauty, but not capture it on camera.

In no time at all dark clouds had descended on the hotel and it seemed to be right outside our window. The temperature dipped and there was the loud sound of thunder and lightning followed by a deafening downpour

At Shillong
On reaching Shillong we checked in to a hotel at Polo (one of its markets). The city was dazzling in the sunlight and we felt quite warm. When we regretted aloud that we had brought a bag full of woollens with us for the trip, the man at the reception smiled and said that no one could predict the weather in Shillong.My decision to rest first and explore the city later was seconded by everyone. As it was quite warm, we discarded our woollens and ordered for cold drinks. Within 15 minutes the whole scene had changed. Dark clouds had suddenly descended on the hotel and it seemed to be right outside our window. The temperature dipped and there was the loud sound of thunder and lightning, followed by a deafening downpour. We were so completely taken aback by the force with which Shillong showed us that it is after all the capital city of Meghalaya. In no time we were shivering, and we hurriedly put on our woollens, and swapped our cold drinks for hot cups of tea. It was just 4 pm, and the power had gone off because of the heavy rainfall, drowning the hotel in mysterious darkness. We lit a candle and walked down towards the dining hall, where the other visitors had also come to view the rain by candlelight. We spent the rest of our evening listening to the thunder and rain.

At dawn
That day we went to bed early and as soon as my head hit the pillow I drifted off to sleep. The next thing I knew I had woken up and there was a strange diffused glow of light that was coming in from the window. I checked the time, it was 4 am, and dawn was breaking. I sat and watched the orange blue orb of the sun mount the sky, and the view was completely breathtaking.Post-breakfast, we decided to explore the city first, and its outskirts the day after.

Wandering about the city
We walked up to Ward’s Lake in the heart of the city which has a small garden and facility for boating. There is a botanical garden located near this park. A puny bridge in the centre of the garden over the lake adds to the charisma of the place. A local taxi took us to the golf course, the largest golf course in Asia, which is also known as ‘The Glen Eagle of the East’. Our next destination was the Lady Hydari Park. This is a small park that has swings and see-saws for the kids to play on and colourful flowering plants. It also has a mini zoo nearby which attracts children. It began to drizzle while we were walking around the Hydari Park, and we pulled out our umbrellas. But when we walked a little distance, a sudden gush of wind pushed at it so hard that the umbrella turned upwards forming an inverted cone. It then hit me why the leaves of the pine tree grow upwards here, because the breeze is so strong that it keeps pushing at them. After repeated attempts to straighten our umbrella, we finally gave up and put it away.

Shillong is the home of the Khasi tribe. The British influence is seen in the look and design of the houses, which no matter how small have a well maintained balcony with colourful flower pots and creepers blooming, and there is a fairytale feel about the whole place.Right at the top
By the afternoon the taxi took us to the Shillong peak which is at an altitude of 1965 m above sea level. It is the highest point in the state and at a distance of about 10 km from the city. As we surmounted the peak, visions of paradise on earth and angels amid the clouds suddenly came to me.

Exploring the market
The main market of Shillong is the Police Bazaar. One can buy traditional bamboo handicraft, woollen handmade shawls, traditional Naga clothes, and wooden craft work. The market place also has a restaurant which specialises in South Indian and North Indian food. Bamboo shoots and bamboo shoot pickle are very popular and a must buy for all tourists. Kwai which is fermented beetle nut taken with a beetle leaf and a dash of lime and occasionally ginger is a favourite of the natives.
About 60 km from Shillong is Cherrapunji, which is historically known as the land of the heaviest rainfall. It is a small place pulsating with an old world charm, and a popular destination for tourists. The view from the taxi is so enchanting, as we drive up the twisting and curving circled roads, bordered by the vast expanse of lawns which look like like green fields. The sight is so overwhelming far from the maddening crowds. Cherrapunji offers entertainment in every season; The monsoon calls to view the flooded plains of Bangladesh; the months between November to February, when there is no rain, one can go camping and on long treks, do rock climbing and explore the ancient caves and megaliths. One inimitable feature of this place is the living root bridges. The strong roots of the rubber tree form natural bridges over swift flowing rivers and rivulets that one can cross over.By the time evening fell we had returned to our hotel in Shillong, excited by the adventures of the day, which would continue the next day as we were going to visit the Smit Village where the traditional palace of the Khasi Queen and King is. The famous festival of Pomblang lewduh is held here in October and the Nongkrem dance in November, in front of the King’s palace. The dance is performed to appease the all-powerful Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich bumper harvest and to bring prosperity to the people. There are several dance groups that perform. It is said that the princess begins the dance which starts at around 11 am. The first half is performed by the girls and the second half by the boys, and the entire performance ends by 4 pm.

The visit to Smit Village was as spectacular and colourful as the rest of the adjoining areas. We wanted to stay and enjoy more but our journey to Shillong ended in no time.

When I began reading this epic, it completely changed my vision of fantasy writing. I got absolutely glued on with the characters and the plot. So strong was my attachment to the clashes of ice and fire that I went online and rapidly submitted books reviews of each of the series.

Now after almost four years of initiating reading ‘The song of ice and fire’, I will not touch the Dance with Dragons. The author, Mr. George R.R Martin refuses to finish the series and the memory of each character is fading from my mind.

It is so very exasperating practice of book authors. Why can they not finish the series in five to six years? You get the audience for your book and leave them hanging on to the suspense. I wish Mr. Martin focuses on finishing the book rather than rewriting the scripts of the existing novels for films and movies.

Just to give you an idea of this long saga. This series, ‘The song of ice and fire’, is supposed to have 7 sequels. The first book of the sequel- A Game of thrones was published in 1996. The fifth, Dance of Dragons has been published in 2011. 5 books have come out in fifteen years and there are two more remaining. Should we take another 6 years? What does this exactly means, for twenty one years we are supposed to remember the characters and the story line. Oops, this is too much to ask for.

Writing sequels is a trend with the authors. Amish Tripathi, the Indian best selling author, came out with his first book- The immortals of Meluha in February 2010. It is the first book in the Shiva Trilogy. The second book in the series, The Secret of the Nagas, was released on 12 August 2011. The third installment, titled The Oath of the Vayuputras, was released on 27 February 2013. The author has been keeping the readers glued on to the series. I am sure a percentage of Amish’s success is attributed to keeping the flow of releases of Immortals of Meluha frequent.

As an ardent fan of Mr. George R. R. Martin, I can only advise him to finish his sequels fast and don’t keep the readers hanging for years.

Sometimes when cupid doesn’t strike, you have to find the bow and the arrow, stand behind cupid, aim from above his shoulder and hit!!
At times love is arranged.

Destiny got Monica, koyal and Pikoo together to share the same hostel room while pursuing their studies at Pune. Monica is in the third year of law course while Koyal and Pikoo are in the second year of management.  The three shared the hostel room last year and despite the glaring difference in personalities, became a family, each rendering endless support to the new fangled camaraderie.

Monica is a Punjabi damsel endowed with captivating loveliness and sharp features with shining black straight hair stretching till the waist. She was raised in Trivandrum and represents the spot on mélange of the North and the South. Her truly feminine mollycoddling have won a series of boyfriends. The girl is genuinely large hearted, leaving Koyal and Pikoo confused on her criterion of selecting the man of her life for six to eight months.

The current state of affairs is that she has moved to the second boyfriend and the first is left absolutely vindictive, hell-bent on chasing her wherever and whenever possible. The second boyfriend has an exciting family history (that undoubtedly gave Monica the confidence to move on). His father and the grandfather were well reputed lawyers in the country, known to defend the top notch criminals. Needless to say, Monica had the Don backing! The second boyfriend however was quite a disappointment to the family lineage, appearing like a puppy in love, wagging his tail more often than not, but sometimes reminded the lot of a macho man by publicly demonstrating his foul temper. Pikoo and Koyal have recently been spending a great deal of time in consoling weeping Monica and quieting the macho man. The cause of brawl being the first boyfriend.

Pikoo is a charming lovable lass, flaunting the haircut in vogue, with an average height and a very kind heart. The first year of management had been very tough for her for simple psychological reasons as partying from the family, coming for a relatively tough course, a failed crush in the first semester itself, a pretty face that did not get the attention from the wanted but received more than necessary from the unwanted. Refusing her doting classmates had depressive consequences, leaving the inflict or and inflicted totally affected. The first year offered quite a few surprises for her, a bouquet of flowers from an unidentified admirer and two cards from known identified classmates on the Valentine day. But as (Harry Porter would say) he who shall not be named (once a hero in her life but now a villain causing heart- ache) did not even turn up at the Institute. The fun of Valentine day was lost in delusion.

Welcome. My name is Ilika Ranjan, author of Secrets of Zynpaguas series and Revolutionary Granny, Shaking Fury and Shh. I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog about my books. This project is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here.

I’ll be using this blog to interact with you about my books, expanding on some of the topics in it and blogging on some of the ideas related to my books. This is a great place for you to get to know me, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too. What did you think of my books? What questions do you have for me? How do you relate to my books?

I’ll be returning here frequently with new posts and responses to feedback from you. Until next time, tell me a little bit about yourself.