Atithi Devo Bhava Depicting the True Culture of India

Atithi Devo Bhava is a verse from Sanskrit, which means that guest is equal to god or be the person for whom guest is equal to god. This verse was obtained from an ancient scripture and has become a code of conduct in the Hindu societies. This explains the procedure between the host and his guest. Recently Indian Tourism Department took up this verse as their tag line to promote tourism in India. Taittiriya Upanishad comprises four mantras, namely athithidevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava and matrudevo bhava. The literal meaning of this mantras is , be the one for whom guest is equivalent to god, be the one for whom teacher is equivalent to god, be the one for whom father is equal to god, be the one for whom mother is equal to god. 

 

Atithi Devo Bhava Making India a Multifaceted Destination

In Sanskrit, Tithi refers to calendrical date. During ancient period, the route of communication was very limited and hence it was difficult for guest to inform their exact date of arrival and therefore atithi literally refers to ‘without fixed calendar time’. By euphonic combination, the term Devah was pronounced and written as Devo, which means God. Bhava refers to ‘Is or be’ – be the person for whom guest is equivalent to god. Indian subcontinent attracts millions of travelers from all over the world every year.  In order to attract more and more tourist, the Indian Tourism Department came up with their campaign carrying this verse with the central theme in the name of ‘Incredible India’. 

Incredible India – Journey of Your Lifetime 

This campaign was aimed to improve the social awareness in order to treat tourist with greater sense of humanity and friendliness. The campaign was targeted towards the public by focusing on stakeholders of tourism industry. Through this campaign, they provide various types of training and also orientation programs to police, immigration officers, tourist guides, taxi drivers and other personnel who are in the position to communicate directly with tourists. The various stages of this campaign are the sensitization process, screening process, process of induction followed by certification and then feedback from key stakeholders in order to develop the desired tourist-friendly ambience over gradual period. The culture of India is well known all over the world for its affection and warmth. This is the actual reason why millions of tourists love to visit India. Indian cuisines attract food lovers from all parts of the world. Indians display great hospitality and affection towards their guests.

 

Costumes of Punjab – Epitome of culture and tradition

Punjab is one of the most colourful states of the country with its rich culture and tradition. One look at the traditional dresses of Punjab is enough to understand about the vibrant nature of the people of that state. Their folk music and dance have gained immense popularity and are a huge hit even in the foreign countries. Due to the huge number of natives from Punjab being settled abroad, Punjabi culture and tradition are greatly appreciated across the world.

As we walk around the streets of Punjab, the dazzling colours and attractive fabric of the costumes of Punjab do not fail to catch our eyes. These costumes are full of colour and represent the true flavour of the state. The Patiala salwar, which we all love to wear today, is one of the traditional dresses of Punjab. Women of the state wear this dress along with the Punjabi suit. Most of the Punjabi women also wear the Punjabi Ghagra. This Ghagra was mostly made from muslin and contained lots of embroidery work on them. We can find many elderly women in Punjab wearing the Ghagra every day. This is probably one of the oldest and richest costumes of Punjabi women. Women wore this dress over their salwar suits or Kurta during the olden days. The Ghagra has lost its flavour among the younger women today; however as per the Punjabi customs, it is mandatory to wear this dress during important festivals, marriages or funerals.

Another kind of dress that attracts our eyes when we go to Punjab is the Phulkari. This is a cloth that is dominated by excellent flower work and is used to cover the heads. This is one of the most worn costumes of Punjab, especially in the rural areas. The contrasting and bright colours of the Kurta, salwar and the Phulkari are pleasant sights to watch and merge well with the loud folk music and culture of the state of Punjab.

Our Indian culture has attractive costumes for the menfolk as well. Punjab is no exception to this rule. Punjabi Kurta and Tehmat are the traditional dresses of Punjab for the men folk. The Kurta is a long dress that runs till the knees. This is followed by a matching pyjama that is either worn in matching or contrasting colours. Sikhism is the most-followed religion in Punjab and the Sikh men are recognised by their turbans. Most of the Punjabi men do not cut their hair and tie it around in colourful turbans. The men wear turbans that match the colour of their shirts, ties or Kurtas. It would not be wrong to say that the brilliant and lively costumes of Punjab add more colour to the state.

Geography of Delhi – The perfect mix of innovation and tradition

Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the most culturally rich cities in the country. It has a peculiar geography that is not evident in the other places of India. The food plains of Yamuna and the Delhi Ridge are the most dominating features of the geography of Delhi. The fertility of the soil in and around the areas of Delhi is mainly due to the food plains found along the River Yamuna. This river assumes a lot of significance, due to the fact that this is the lone river in this area. The Delhi Ridge that stands at a height of 318m is one of the landmark areas and Delhi’s introduction to the other parts of India.

The Delhi Ridge forming an integral part of the geography of Delhi covers almost all the areas of Delhi, particularly the western, north-eastern and north-western areas of the city. It was during 1991 that Delhi, which was a Union Territory until then, got converted into the NCR (National Capital Territory of Delhi) as per the rules and regulations of the Constitution Act. According to the geographical map of Delhi, the NCR region is made up of 9 districts and the area of New Delhi was deemed to be the financial and commercial hub of the country. Some of the most thriving industries of New Delhi are manufacturing, travel & tourism, information technology, financial services etc.

According to the classification type available in the geographical map of Delhi, it is recognised as an area that is susceptible to earthquakes, however as luck would have it, no major disaster has been recorded till date here. While Old Delhi is brimming with an old-world charm that never ceases to surprises the traveller, New Delhi, on the other hand, is highly-sophisticated and structured. Built by the famous British architect, Edward Lutyens during 1912, New Delhi buzzes with some of the best architectural structures that are standing tall even today to tell the tales of the place’s culture. 

The place gets a new colour and life during national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day. Parades, speeches from political big-wigs, representation of culture of different states of India etc. mark these important days and gives a patriotic flavour that cannot be experienced in any other place in the country. On the whole, anybody who visits Delhi is sure to feel awestruck at the novel yet tradition geography of the place.

Indian Railway luggage rules and booking charges

There are many Indian Railway luggage rules for the passengers to follow and enjoy carrying it while travelling which are applicable as train luggage booking charges for some items. Let us discuss them:

General Rules- 

Luggage not legibly addressed fully in Hindi or English will be rejected for carrying and booking by train. Luggage not packed securely will be rejected so pack your luggage wisely. The luggage which you want to carry along must be presented before 30 minutes of the scheduled departure at the office. Children below 12 years of age and above 5 years are always at benefit at many places and same is applicable here as children are permitted half of the allowance that is free till 50kgs weight.

Rules regarding the luggage measurement-

Luggage of 1m*1m*0.7m in measurement and 100 kgs above weight will be applicable as bulky surcharge. Boxes, suitcase and trunks of 100cmx60cmx25cm dimensions are allowed to be carried along in the compartments.

Luggage allowed and not allowed-

Corrosive substance, acids, dead poultry, gas cylinders, dangerous, explosive and inflammable articles are not allowed to be carried as luggage. Oxygen cylinder and supporting stand along with patients are allowed in any class. Free allowance is granted to them. Merchandized products are not allowed for carriage and booking as luggage inside the compartments.

Train luggage booking charges-

Rs 30 is the minimum rate charged for luggage, however carrying excess luggage along with that is beyond any free allowance, then the charges applicable are 1.5 times of the rates mentioned under L-scale. Be cautious passengers as if you are caught at your destination or enroute carrying partially booked or not booked luggage with a weight more than granted as per free allowance then the excess luggage will be charged at the scale rate of luggage at 6 times, instead of scale-R’s 6 times. The minimum amount charged in the case of scale rate of luggage is Rs 50.

Rules for stolen luggage-

If your luggage on route gets stolen, then you can confidently contact the guards, GRP escort, coach attendant or train conductors. You just need to fill the FIR forms they will give you and your complaint will be forwarded and send for required action at the Police station.

Rules in case of damage of the luggage-
If in case your luggage value is not declared by you and the charge is not paid, then the railway liability to be paid is Rs 100/kg. But if you have mentioned the value and paid the charges, then you can claim for the amount of luggage damaged or lost at the office of luggage booking.

The Bewitching Beaches and Backwaters of Kerala

Beaches – Ideal places for unwinding

If you are looking to just unwind after a busy day, come to the beaches in Kerala. The calm and serene waters, the clean expanses of sand, the huge canopy of trees and the gentle bustling wind can take you to another world. There are many beaches here that may look like they are designed just for you. Far from the maddening buzz of the city lives, these remote beaches give you the privacy that you want. Some also offer adventure activities that you can indulge while you are here.

Tourism Revenue

The Kerala State earns a huge amount of money in terms of tourism revenue through these beaches. Most of Kerala’s beaches are hugely frequented by foreigners and to suit their needs, there are other luxurious facilities like spa, Ayurveda parlours and resorts clo

Backwaters – Kerala’s Introduction to the world

The backwaters of Kerala are a sight that you cannot see in any other part of the world. You can choose for exclusive backwater tours that your operator might offer, to enjoy all the backwaters of the state. Alleppey is the most preferred destination when it comes to backwaters. Kumarakom, Cochin, Thiruvallam, Kuttanad, Kozhikode and Kollam are some of the other places that have bewitching backwaters.

Houseboat Experience

As you cruise through the serene backwaters in your houseboats, all you would want is that moment to stay on forever in your lives. You will have to experience this to know what it actually means. The houseboats made of wood have all the luxuries of a five star hotel with the added benefit of being built on the backwaters. This is the best way you can enjoy these backwaters in Kerala. The relaxing atmosphere, the still and pleasant waters, the happy chirping of the birds in the vicinity, the green cover of the coconut and palm groves and the enticing climate will surely make it a magical experience for you.

Beaches

se to these beaches that contribute hugely to tourism revenue. If you love beaches, you must ensure that you visit the Kovalam, Thankassery, Varkala, Shangumugam, Kappad, Beypore, Cherai, Pallikere, Kappil and Dharmadam beaches to get a feel of what you can get when relaxation combines with natural beauty. It is good to plan your trip around the months of October to March so that you will also have the climate helping you to enjoy the beauty of these beaches.

One stop solution for critical focal points in India

India is a vast country and is divided into various cities, districts and villages. Have you ever wondered how it would be to know about all the details about public utilities in each and every city? Does this sound impossible? Well, you are mistaken. With the advent of technology anything is possible. All the various government services, tourist attractions, public utility divisions like transport and logistics and many more are available in a click on the internet today. All you have to do is to just click on the service you want and then choose your city to get the contact details.

Benefits

When you are planning for a trip, will you not want to know everything about the place that you want to visit? Information like the culture, climate, tourist attractions, best time to visit, how to reach certain places, ATMs, places to stay and other stuff might be of immense use to you. How about a portal where you can find everything in one shot? Sounds interesting, isn’t it? That’s what internet can do for you.

Features

Internet brings to one’s home all important details like banks, hospitals, railways, ATMs, public transport options, shopping centres, tourist attractions like monuments, temples, forts, wildlife reserves, zoos, parks, packing and moving agents, hotels and other details. But for the internet, viewers would have to spend considerable time and effort in consolidating these details.

Police Stations

Whenever you visit any place, it is important to know about the details of police stations there. In case of any emergency, you need the support of the police. Over the internet, you just have to click on the state you plan to visit and a host of details throw up. These details include the helpline numbers that you can reach out to 24/7, online tools if you want to file a case, tracking a case that you have already filed, critical emergency police numbers for specific  categories like women and kids, important designations of police in that particular state, their email id, contact numbers, organizational hierarchy followed there, list of police stations and help line numbers of the important cities in that state, objectives of the local state’s police department, employment opportunities and notifications regarding the same, districts that come under the purview of the state’s police department, any other special units if any, that come under the control of the police like anti-corruption, anti-terrorism, traffic, training directorate and other wings,  various ranks of officers in each and every state etc. All contact numbers that are furnished here are updated and are of great use to the public who try to reach out to them in case of emergencies or problems.

Festival means a break from office with lots of Chocolates, parties, family reunions & fun...

If you are an Indian, only then you would be able to understand what festivals means in India. It’s just not about family gathering and exchanging gifts, it’s more than that. I always find a blend of spirituality in the air during the festival season. Let me share my part of story or special connection with one of such Indian Festival. 

I was born on 2nd September 1991. No...No...You are taking it all wrong; I am not expecting any gifts from you on my next birthday. It just that I always feel proud whenever I tell people that I share my birthday with Lord Krishna, one of the Hindu deities.  No...No... Arrey  not again, by saying this I am not at all saying that I should be treated like God rather I am sharing the story of my special connection with Janmashtami- an Indian Festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.

So, I am back with the story of my Birthday, it was Janmashtami and it is another sheer coincidence that my house is just opposite to Lakshmi Narayan Mandir (popularly known as Birla Mandir in Delhi). Till today my mom narrates every single thing which happened on the day of my birth. How streets were badly jammed with devotees, while my father was trying to reach hospital as my mother was in labour pain...how devotees on the street were chanting out the name of lord Krishna so loudly that it was audible in the hospital’s room during my birth and that’s how I got my name Radhika, another name of Goddess Radha who also is Lord Krishna’s consort.

Festival in India

I often ask my friends which Indian Festival they like the most and every time I came across a new story about another Indian Festival. One of my good friend says that she likes Diwali (or Deepawali– the festival of lights) the most liked among all Indian Festival because of the bright and beautiful lights used in decoration especially during this festival. Another thing which she like about Diwali is ‘decorated markets’.

Another friend of mine who belongs to a south Indian family says that she likes Onam - Festival of crop harvesting in Kerala. She likes the special ‘rangoli’ known as ‘pookalam’ in Malayalam and is made using flowers only on this festival.

One of my school buddies likes Holi- The festival of colours. According to them, there is nothing beautiful than celebrating with colours.

Whatever the reason of their liking, the truth is all Indian Festival holds some special place in the heart of every Indian.