रुबाई - Rubaai: January 2015

Gotipua Dance

Geometric formations during the dance

Odisha has a rich and diverse culture dating back to 3rd century. Land remained virtually isolated from the mainstream political turmoil for centuries was able to develop its own script, preserve temples for centuries and create various majestic dance forms.

Apart from well-known Odissi dance, Odisha has given numerous dance less known to the outside world. Most of the dance-form are developed from the rituals and practices carried out by over hundred tribes spread all over Odisha and neighboring states. The contents of which revolves around the god and goddesses worshiped by the people. Well known among them are Chaau Dance, Kanchi Abhijana, and Gotipua Dance.

Mudras by the dancer

The word Goti Pua literally means Single boy. This dance is performed by young boys who dress up as female. The acrobatic figures practiced to praise Lord Jagannath or Lord Krishna.

Boys do not cut their hair and wove flowers while hair-dressing, to look natural like a girl. The face make-up includes Kajal (traditional black liner), Bindi (red dot on forehead) and patterns made on face with sandalwood paste. Traditional dress is called as Kanchula consisting a bright colored blouse and waist-wrap called Nibibandha. Jewelry is made with beads (a common unit for making jewelry among the local tribes). The costume, jewelry and the bells all are considered to be sacred items.

Dancers enters the stage.
Accompanying musicians can be seen on the left

Musical accompaniment is provided with

Mardala (two heads drum, rhythm percussion instrument of Orissa)
Gini (small cymbals)
Harmonium
Violine
Bansuri or Baas (alto bamboo flute)
and one or two vocalists.

Pose by the dancer during the performance depicting
the trance during praising the lord

It is largely from the Gotipua dance that the present form of Odissi dance has been inspired. Most of the present-day Gurus of Odisssi Dance (like the famous Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra from Raghurajpur village) were Gotipua in their young days [2].

There is strong reason why young boys at the age of five or six starts learning Gotipua dance. The flexibility of body at early age enables body to perform the various acrobatic figures and movements called as Bandha meaning acrobatic in Oriya. The difficult and intricate postures refer to mythological scenes from the life of lord Krishna.

Mayurbandh (peacock posture: sacred bird of the Hindu mythology,
whose feathers were adorning the head of Krishna)

Raghurajpur, an historic village near Puri, is famous for Goti pua dance.

Prof Sunil Sarangi, Director (NIT Rourkela), facilitating the troupe head

References:

काही कथा : भाग ८

एका गावात भिकारी राहत असतो. आपण लग्न करावे, म्हणून तो विचार करतो. अनुरूप पत्नी शोधतो. लग्नासाठी पैसे लागणार त्यासाठी तो उत्तरेकडे पुरून ठेवलेल्या एका कवडीच्या शोधात निघतो.

एका ठिकाणी शोधमोहीम सुरू असताना तिथे राजाची स्वारी येते. राज्याचा पोशिंदा आल्यामुळे सगळे लोक स्वागत करत असतात, पण एवढ्या गर्दीत दोनजण राजाकडे न पाहता खाली वाकून काहीतरी शोधताना दिसतात. हे पाहून राजा आश्चर्यचकित होऊन प्रधानाकरवी भिकारी व त्याच्या भावी पत्नीला दरबारात बोलावून घेतो.

राजा त्या भिकाऱ्याला विचारतो, "सगळे लोक माझे स्वागत करत असताना तुम्ही दोघे तिकडे काय करत होतात?"

त्यावर भिकारी म्हणतो, "मला लग्न करायचे आहे. त्यासाठी मी कवडी शोधत होते. "

राजा विचारतो, " अरे मग त्याला कवडीची गरज काय ? त्याऐवजी मी तुला एक सोन्याचे नाणे देतो."

त्यावर भिकारी नकार देतो. एक एक म्हणत राजा १६ हजार सोन्याची नाणी देऊ करतो. पण भिकारी मान्य होत नाही. अखेरीस राजा म्हणतो की माझे अर्धे राज्य तुला देतो. हे ऐकून भिकाऱ्याची भावी पत्नी म्हणते, "हा राजा लहरी दिसतो. १६ हजार सोन्याची नाणी नाकारल्यानंतरही त्याने अर्धे राज्य देण्याचे जाहीर केले. कबूल करा."

तिचे म्हणणे ऐकून भिकारी होकार देतो. राजाही समाधान व्यक्त करतो. त्यानंतर राजा त्या भिकाऱ्याला म्हणतो, "की आता तू अर्ध्या राज्याचा मालक झाला आहेस. माझ्या बरोबरीने आहेस. चल आपण दोघे जेवण करू."

भिकारी म्हणतो, "ठिक आहे. माझी हरकत नाही. तुम्ही चला पुढे मी आलोच."

राजा पुन्हा आश्चर्याने म्हणतो, "आता तू कुठे निघालास ?"

भिकारी म्हणतो,"माझी कवडी उत्तरकडे पुरून ठेवली आहे. ती शोधून आणतो."

साधारण २५ वर्षांपूर्वीची गोष्ट आहे. कुठल्याशा मालिकेचं शूट सुरू होतं. त्यात मुख्य कलावंत होते लक्ष्मीकांत बेर्डे, अर्थातच लक्ष्या.

मालिकेत लक्ष्याचं शूट सुरू असलं की एंट्रीला अजून अवकाश असलेले कलाकार आराम करत असत.

एकदा लक्ष्याचा सीन सुरू असताना, टीममधल्या दोन कलाकारांनी मेकअप चढवला आणि एंट्रीला अवकाश असल्याने हे दोघेही थेट झोपी गेले. सीनमध्ये असलेल्या लक्ष्याला ही गोष्ट 'दिसली'. दिग्दर्शकाला थांबवून त्याने सरळ पुढे येत दोघांना जागं केलं.

म्हणाला, " तुम्हाला झोपायचं असेल तर चेहऱ्याला रंग चढवण्याआधी झोपा. एकदा हा रंग लागला की असं आडवं व्हायचं नाही. अन्यथा, रंगदेवता तुम्हाला झोपवेल."

Cosmos flower - Butterfly friend

The cosmos is becoming increasingly popular for its ease of growth, spectacular flowers and attractiveness to butterflies.

Depending on variety and conditions, yellow cosmos will grow anywhere from 1 to 7 ft in height.

Whatever the height, each plant will produce quantities of solitary, bowl-shaped yellow to orange flowers that are 2-3 in (in diameter.

Common name: Orange cosmos, Yellow cosmos

Botanical name: Cosmos sulphureus Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Photowalk : Mahalsa Temple (Mhardol, Goa)

Entrance, Samai and deepstambh

Some important info about the temple:

'Maha' means huge and 'Lasa' means light or energy

The Mardol temple complex also has smaller temples of Santeri and Laxmi Narayana.

Dont miss the afternoon arti. The temple has canteen which is run by the workers.After the morning and evening aarti the Prasad the holy meal is served here.

In 2011, the temple banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason. This rule is strictly observed

More more ref: Wiki

Quick visit to Ispat Neharu Park, Rourkela

Ispat Neharu Park is newly developed park in Rourkela. It is situated near Ambagan Market or Ambagan square on ring-road. Here is the candid photo walk of the park. All the photos shot with Moto E and are posted unprocessed. I was early for an appointment with OGH doctor. Instead of waiting at the hospital lounge, I decided to go to the park. As it was unplanned visit, couldn't carry my DSLR.
Check the closeups of roses taken in Jan 2016 here.

Entry costs just 2 rupees. Too small for such park with plenty of maintenance and amenities.

3D Theater. On the list to watch a show to see how good it is.

To my estimate, the park is spread over at least 50 acres or more. Lush green lawns, variety of flowering plants and other indigenous trees makes it less artificial.

Dust beans, plenty of them, here are creatively designed. For example this monkey statue holds the garbage basket.

Inauguration details

Park has a boating house. A 4- seat boat can be hired for half an hour paying extra 40 Rs.

Boat house has two paddle-boats.

At the centre of park is the fountain surrounded by a cool flower garden

I visited in early Decmber. New rose plants being planted around the fountain. Earlier this place was filled with "Rajanigandha" flowers.

Park is still under development, new roads, seating arrangements, plantation and many more things being carried out. Wish to visit it before this winter gets over to enjoy the rose blossom.

Location of the park: