April 2014

Darkness below the Lamp

Chandigarh is a planned city with beautiful vertical roads lined with flowering trees. The roads which cut across perpendicularly the road called madhya marg ( middle path) seem to be entering into the lap of Shivalik hills. There are numerous sight seeing places like Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Lake, University Campus etc that lend to the beauty of the city. When you enter the city from Punjab Side the hoarding above the border proclaims “Welcome to the city beautiful”. Plan of the city forbids the additional housing construction. As such, the city does not have any industries of significance. Only… Read More »Darkness below the Lamp

Fabled Tiledar Juttis of Punjab

Famous Punjabi Juttis (shod) are traditional footwear of Punjab. Tiledar juttis are finely embroidered with Zari and Gold threads. Both men and women wear these. These juttis are made in Patiala where the Mochi (cobbler) Jinngar community of Rajasthan, who have now been settled in Punjab for several generations make this footwear. Earlier they used to make horse saddles and reigns (ghore ka jinn) which were sent to places like Lahore.  The juttis were made in a wide area, from Udaipur to Hindumal Kot in Rajasthan.  The artisans who make these footwear in Jalalabad region of Fazilka migrated from Kasur… Read More »Fabled Tiledar Juttis of Punjab

Buddha Traveled Holy Haryana

Over two thousand years ago, Gautama Buddha is believed to have journeyed for years across the Indian sub-continent. Tracing his travels through Haryana, the state’s archaeology department has brought together hitherto unknown information, of the sites and places, which the Buddha touched with his presence. Buddha traveled the length to deliver his profound and enlightening discourses. He is believed to have delivered these at Thullak and Kamasdamma, identified by historians as Thanesar and Kaithal or Kamoda, situated almost 15 kilometres away from Thanesar on the road to Pehowa. Initially, Buddha’s association with Haryana was considered to be limited to these… Read More »Buddha Traveled Holy Haryana