Ball Point painting by Shirish Deshpande of Belgaum on account of Holi.

In Belgaum from the past years the main attraction has been the Holi Milan program organized by MLA Abhay Patil on Subhash Chandra Bose Ground (Lele ground). Even this year Holi Milan program has been organized from 9 am.

Another unique celebration which is unique to Belgaum is the Lotangan infront of Ashwathama temple in Pangul Galli. There is an annual fest on the second day after Holi. All devotes do a “Lotangan” and water is thrown on the devotees from all the houses.

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In Pangul galli, a large number devotees performed “Lotangan puja” (“urulu seve”) at Ashwathama temple to pay their respects to the epic character of the ‘Mahabharata’ on the occasion. . The temple, that houses the idol of the cursed mythical warrior, and is located in a narrow Pangul galli off Ganpat galli in the heart of the city, is believed to be the second in India.

However, not many visit this shrine during rest of the year thanks to the curse attached to Ashwathama, who was believed to have killed the sons of the Pandavas. It is believed that seeing the idol brings bad luck.

Again Happy Holi and play a safe holi with natural colors.

The press release said that the government intend to promote diversity and the decision was taken in view of lakhs of Marathi people living in the border districts of north Karnataka.

Abhay Patil MLA south visited Shivaji Garden and garlanded the statue.

In Belgaum Shiv Jayanti is major event where it is celebrated over three days and a procession is taken out on the third day.

A Rath yatra was held today which began from Dharmaveer Sambhaji Chowk and will end at the grounds near the ISKON temple at Shukurwar peth. The grand ratha seating Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi will led the procession. There were many beautiful tableaus on the life of Lord Krishna. Large number of persons took part in the celebrations.

Various other programs including Bhajans, dramas and Maha prasad have been organised at the said grounds.

Sankranti is the only Indian Festival that adheres to the English calendar every year, coming on the 14th or 15th of January. Following the sun’s position and its entry into the Makar Rashi exactly on the same date every year, this day marks the beginning of the Uttarayan. Have you wondered why the sun is rarely seen to the exact East? Half the year it is tilted to the south and from now on up to Diwali it will be tilted North. That is why the year is divided into Dakshinayan and Uttarayan. The cold conditions have peaked right now and what better way to soothe shivering souls than devour the sweets that are made during this time. Til laddoos, barfis made with dried coconut, ghee, sesame seeds(til), poppy seeds ( khaskhas), jaggery, edible gum and dry fruits, the bajra roti- brinjal bhaji-dollops of white butter menu and an array of chutneys shimmer in a laden plate on the day before Sankranti, also called Bhogi in North Karnataka and Maharsahtra. The main day demands the preparation of Gul-polis, with kneaded jaggery, poppy and sesame seeds, eaten with hot milk and ghee.

Belgaum and its adjoining areas continue the Sankranti fervor right upto Rathasaptami. The tilgul that we find today are most of the times made of sugar with some lime for the white effect. Try eating a fistful and you are guaranteed to get mouth ulcers. But try the home-made varieties, the not so white but tasty tilgul is made by coating every seed of sesame/ cashew in sugar syrup early in the morning, in the biting cold which lends it its unique spikes. You can also gorge on the ground nut/ cashew nut varieties of Halwa available at this time as also the jaggery and sesame revadi, so reminiscent of school day indulgences years ago.

Women bring out their shimmering black chandrakalas or any black saree and even tiny tots are draped in black. The colour absorbs the maximum heat and hence the custom. It must be the only time when womenfolk, even the orthodox ones, wear black which is an otherwise shunned colour. Another beautiful custom that comes with Sankranti is the Haldi Kumkum function where womenfolk are invited to each other’s house and served sweets along with a gift! This gift, also called vaan, is a thoughtful one, ranging from combs, kerchieves, peelers, small bags of sugar, coffee pouches, soaps, bowls, bottles of kumkum, bindi packets to the more elaborate dry fruit boxes or even sarees. Care is taken that no two households have the same gift and each time, a novel item makes its entry. If you think deeply, you can imagine the happiness in the minds of the middle-class womenfolk in the bygone era, to look forward and receive small gifts which only she is entitled to. It may not mean monetary profit, but the joy is what matters. It also presented itself as an opportunity to visit neighbours and was a way of networking! Sankranti also calls for the special custom of Bor-nhan or bathing kids of age 1-5 in a mixture of diced sugarcane and carrots, chocolates, green pods of horse-gram (harbhara), tiny pea pods, currency coins, tilgul, puffed rice (churmure) and the like amidst women and kids who gush to collect the delicacies.

Such warm rituals and customs makes Sankranti all the more endearing. A festival is meant to serve multiple purposes. If it brightens the harried souls, brings people together amidst laughter and spreads warmth, it has served its purpose. And it reminds us that it’s never out of time and place to eat sweet, be sweet, talk sweet.

a Merry Christmas!

Wish you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

The Crib at St.Pauls School Photo courtesy: PBW

May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. Wish you lots of love, joy and happiness. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

A Coin and photo exhibition by Arun Kamule will be held at Maratha Mandir, which will be inaugurated in presence of Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. Pt Prasad Savkar will present a concert on November 5.A play ‘Kahani Goa Muktichi’ will be presented by Natyankur team of Belgaum at 8 pm.

A glimpse of the colorful procession taken out.
All Photos by Subhash Photos Belgaum.

But for a city like Belgaum it is the people away from home who come in to meet and spend time with their loved ones. But coming here is not easy. Trains are full even when we try to book 60 days in advance and the last resort the private bus operators and as usual they hike Fares to cash in. The same has happened this year again some private bus operators have hiked the bus fares. Some tickets are even priced at Rs.850 or even 1000 to Bangalore. Not all operators have hiked but a few have done it. The best way is to leave a special bus with special fare, so there is no comparison you can make as the operator say this is special bus. So people trying to come in you can face a hard time. Many prefer to drive from Mumbai and Bangalore instead of paying huge fares. Anyways welcome home!

The business district of the city has been kept busy for over a week now with people shopping for clothes, groceries, decorative lamps, gifts and of course clothes. This time not many new showrooms have opened up, to mention a couple in mind would be the Fabindia store on Congress Road and a few of the upper class brand stores on Civil Hospital road like Globla Desi, Wills Lifestyle.

Diwali Lanterns of different sizes and shapes are in the market and most of them are Chinese. The original or ancient octagonal lamp made of bamboo sticks is hardly seen and the cost of one ranges anywhere from Rs.150 to 450.

Making fort replicas is again a work the kids love to make and many make huge replicas of Fort during Diwali time.

Sweets and savories the integral part of Diwali has been terribly hit by a price hike and prices of sweets have increased.

What to do this Diwali some suggestions:

Try not to use those high decibel sound making crackers and it would be best to avoid crackers.

You could make some one’s life happier by donating to various destitute homes, orphanages, old age homes like Karunalaya, Shantivrudhshram, Mahaveshwari school of blind, Aadhar to mention a few. (see NGO list)

At the end have a safe and Happy Diwali! May your life be filled with colors and joy.

Belgaum city celebrated Dasara with great exuberance. Rush was seen for buying consumer electronics goods and two wheelers and cars as well.
The Belgaum Dasara also has some magnificent history behind it. It may not be grand as the Mysore Dasara but in its own style its different and one of its kind.

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Semolanghan will happen at the Vidyaniketan Grounds in the evening with Patil of Belgaum Ranjit Patil performing the puja. People from all lifestyles from young to old gather there for a yearly fair where the leaves of Aapti tree are looted on the pretext of it symbolizing Gold. Palkhi’s of the Gods come there like the Venkatramna temple, Maruti Temple, Jotiba temple and the Aapte tree leaves are looted and then exchanged with each other as gold. Then in camp area the Durga Devi procession began and young old all were seen taking part in the festivities.

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The Camp Dasara has a different look. K T Pujari and sons started this utsav in 1901. There are 5 Devi chariots that are taken out in a procession which also end at the same grounds above. Marriama Devi of K T Pujari & sons, Muthu Mariamma from Madras BHT area, Kunti devi from fish market, Mariama from old Telugu colony. These 5 are supposed to be sisters.

Ganpati Bappa Morya

https://picasaweb.google.com/116068327977879531707/GaneshDarshan2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

The month of Ramzan is the holy month when the Muslims fast through the day and break only at dusk, the main idea behind fasting is that by experiencing hunger, one develops compassion for the less fortunate.

The festivities include prayers five times a day, family dinners and feasts with family and friends at Iftar. The best hangouts for food now are the Khade Bazar area (Darbar Galli corner) where you can have the samosas, haleem, kababs and sweets. This place is open almost for the night and the entire area is abuzz with people.

The 30 days of fasting also are the time for heavy shopping. Bhendi Bazar, Khade Bazar are always full of people buying clothes, dry fruits etc. The other shops are also doing brisk business for Ramzan and all have some special collection for the season.

Huge rush is seen in the evenings after the Roza is over for shopping. Areas of Khade Bazar, Bhendi bazaar are lit till late night for shopping where one could get anything and everything from clothes to eatables.
Photos by Akhil