Yama Dwitiya Or Bhaiyya Dooj and the Relationship Between Yama and Yamuna

According to Puranas

Our Puranas narrate how Yama and Yamuna remained brother and sister. The mythological relationship established in the Puranas is that of Yama, considered the God of Death, or the God of or ruling something that is sure to happen and can never be denied at a certain point in life, and Yamuna, considered a river or a water body that is the cause of life and is also required to sustain life in any area. 

Physically, Yama Dwitiya may be seen as the celebration of the existence of a relation between separate-gender siblings, but that is only a physical interpretation of Yama Dwitiya. Philosophically, it indicates celebrating a balance between life and death, a balance between creating or sustaining life and death or the end of life.

Deepaawalee is a five-day festival and on the last or the fifth day Yama Dwitiya Or Bhaiyya Dooj is celebrated. On this day, girls worship god asking for their brother’s long life and establishing a relationship between opposite gender siblings having their role models as Yama and Yamuna. But that is just a physical interpretation our Hindu sacred texts are indicative in meanings and quite philosophical having deeper and multi-level or multi- -aspect meanings.    

Yama and Yamuna contrast each other as just two opposite ends. The message is how such opposing ends can be balanced properly in someone’s life. This balance is what one has to achieve. And everyone should work towards attaining this balance in practice.   

The Puranas describe what rituals need to be performed and how these have to be performed. As a key ritual sisters worship god doing aarati and offer sweets after making the mark of Vishnu or Shiva on the forehead of the brother. This way females tend to care for their brothers.

In numerous stories or historical descriptions in the Puranas, Yam had protected his sister, Yamuna, likewise, brothers take a vow or expressly commit or really protect their sisters in times of crisis thereby creating and improving a family bond conveying that the brother is always there for investing family love and doing his part of duty in the brother and sister relationship.

Just like a mother nurtures her child as per our Puranas Yamuna nurtures life and all living forms and bathing of such living forms in the River Yamuna is suggested to be a big help in attaining spiritual cleanliness by cleaning not only the sins but also all ailments and by considering this phenomenon we learn to see and treat River Yamuna just like a mother nurturing her children.

Yama and Yamuna are projected as spiritual characters and children are taught to follow their relationship as brothers and sisters thereby strengthening family member’s bonds through giving spiritual teachings.

Such teaching also has expressed morals which the children are expected to abide by in creating and enhancing their relationships as brothers and sisters. Such morals relate to life, death and also the cyclicity of both life and death in one’s life, in one’s particular yoni birth. As an essence, this means teaching children and elders to accept the good like life and the bad like death in life with great ease and grace.  

The local culture, customary beliefs and practices and folklore are blended to highlight the relationship between Yama and Yamuna as the model one.

Celebrating Yama Dwitiya as a festival ensures that children learn rights and values and are dutybound just like Yama and Yamuna are shown, exhibited or expressed in mythology.

According to Vedas

Vedas stress upon giving respect to natural elements for the functions they do. Likewise, Yamuna being a River is considered important for giving us and sustaining life on Earth where whereas Yam is considered important for acceptance of death as a natural happening of life.

For these reasons only Yamuna is considered important in various Hindu rituals, and it is considered sacred, purifier and blessing spiritual being especially on the occasion of Yama Dwitiya.

The opposing spiritual characters, Yamuna and Yama indicate that philosophically there is a need to bring harmony in one’s life as regards life and death or creation and destruction.

Vedic rituals stress worshipping spiritual characters like Yamuna and Yama thereby symbolically indicating and explaining the relationship between the Divine (Yamuna or Creation) and the Natural Elements (Yama or Death or Destruction).

Through Vedic texts an understanding of mutually protective relationships is developed between spiritual characters Yamuna and Yama, children and adults are often expected to build and sustain relationships as Yamuna and Yama did, fostering feelings for others and saving the other at the time of his or her crisis thereby creating and sustaining a safety bond.

Veda details Vedic rituals based on which our modern-day followed Yama Dwitiya celebration-related rituals might have developed to blend mythology into our modern everyday life.

Vedic philosophy is deeply executed through celebrating Yama Dwitiya as while making efforts to create more luxury and comfort one is told to face and remain prepared to face the materialistically (loss of wealth or money or loss of life) low time also in the same way as he or she faced the luxurious or comfortable days.

Vedic texts have given rituals to invocate many rivers and also Yamuna. In these Vedic texts, Yamuna is invocated and worshipped to have better health and longevity of life.

Veda's philosophy that everything in this world or universe is impermanent is portrayed by the spiritual character Yama and the eternal cyclicity or birth and death in this universe is portrayed by Yamuna.

Above all celebrating Yama Dwitiya is a way to celebrate family and community bonding though from a religious and spiritual perspective.

According to Upanishads

Upanishad’s philosophies of life and death are explained using Yamuna and Yama as metaphors for grasping the cyclicity of existence.

Upanishad’s explanation that every human is interconnected is expressed through Yamuna symbolizing the flow of life and Yam symbolizing the soul’s journey.

In Upanishads, the focus is on worshipping Yama and Yamuna in a spiritual way, full of devotion, focusing on life and its relationships.

Various meditative practices as per various Upanishads are based upon a feeling of duty and protection for each other thereby fostering familial bonds.

Through focusing on Yama and Yamuna Upanishads are actually giving moral or ethical teachings to siblings for each other.

As per the Upanishads both Yama & Yamuna symbolize spiritual rejuvenation, similar are the beliefs on purity & enlightenment that one has based on the knowledge of the Upanishads.

In Upanishads life is symbolized by Yamuna and death is symbolized by Yama, the duality of the two explains that matter is mortal but the soul is immortal & eternal.

Upanishads promote community and celebrating Yama Dwitiya helps improve social ties and spiritual growth.

 Devotion acts on Yama Dwitiya in line with Upanishad texts help one in knowing thyself and in understanding relations in a much better way.

Just like the relation of Yama and Yamuna needs harmony and balance, according to Upanishads one needs cosmic harmony and maintaining balance in life in terms of opposing things.

According to Ashtakshara

As per Ashtakshara one must express his or her devotion to various deities and respect them, including Yam and Yamuna on Yama Dwitiya.

For care of one’s family and to be rightly dutiful successfully one chants Mantras asking or requesting Yam and Yamuna to protect. Such Mantras are taken from our sacred texts.

Ashtakshara describes certain rituals and offerings to be made to river deities including Yamuna for enhancing harmony with a community and helping in one’s spiritual growth.

Yamuna and water symbolize purity and divinity, it is more so on Yama Dwitiya.

Ashtakshara describes certain rituals to be practised by siblings on Yama Dwitiya to honour each other.

It teaches that life is interconnected, so one who faces death (Yama) takes birth (Yamuna) and one who takes birth (Yamuna) faces death (Yama) someday.

By celebrating Yama Dwitiya we teach siblings to relate to each other lovingly and respectfully thereby paving the way for spiritual awakening.

Ashtakshara stresses the need for familial relationships within morally and ethically right practices.

By celebrating Yama Dwitiya one shares joy, and love in life and together with each other celebrates life itself.

Ashtakshara explains that by understanding one’s duty and being dutiful only one can be liberated.

As per Panchakam

Panchakam stresses fivefold worship and promoting devotion towards Yama and Yamuna, particularly on Yama Dwitiya.

It describes certain rituals to be followed intended to develop affection like Yama had for Yamuna by giving fruits and flowers thereby expressing gratitude and love towards siblings.

It sees bathing in Yamuna on Yama Dwitiya Day as a purifying, spiritually cleansing act.

It stresses the spiritual bond between siblings, just like the spiritual divine bond between Yama and Yamuna.

It sees community participation in rituals on Yama Dwitiya as a great help in improving social ties.

It echoes the bond of Yama and Yamuna promoting familial ties ethically or morally.

                              YAMUNA DEVI IDOL AT VISHRAM GHAT, MATHURA

It describes prayers made to Yama to seek protection and safety.

It describes certain rituals for cleansing with water bodies, especially on Yama Dwitiya.

It says that when one gets to see such rituals only then can someone understand the dualities of life and then only can one grow spiritually.

It celebrates the feelings of love and care that bonded Yama and Yamuna.

As per Stotram

These express great devotion towards Yama and Yamuna, requesting them to bless the devotees, especially on Yama Dwitiya.

The stotram often praises the divinity of Yama and Yamuna and celebrates their sibling bonding.

Stotram prays to be protected and well off and often says like Yama and Yamuna are caring for each other we siblings shall also be caring enough for each other.

 Stotram highlights the importance of constructing rituals, especially on Yama Dwitiya. These promote devotion from devotees and their community initiatives.

Stotram largely describes life and death concepts philosophically, with life or continuity being symbolized by Yamuna and death or end being symbolized by Yama.

Recitation of Stotram is considered a way of inviting and uniting with the divine energies including Yama and Yamuna.

Strotram morally teaches one to stress familial bonds and duties towards one’s own family, to some extent celebration of Yama Dwitiya is the same thing but from a sibling’s perspective.

Community Recital of Stotram on Yama Dwitiya unites people and makes them committed and devoted to their families and communities.

Stotram requests Yamuna to come and purify us spiritually, this highlights the role of Yamuna in one’s spiritual upliftment.

Stotrams often celebrate love and emotion whether it bonds humans or Yama and Yamuna to each other.

As per Commentaries

Commentaries highlight the important role Yama and Yamuna play as siblings.

These describe various ritual practices related to Yama and Yamuna or Yam Dwitiya impliedly or expressly highlighting their spiritual significance.

These describe moral-giving incidents, events or stories involving Yama and Yamuna.

Through focusing on spiritual characters like Yama and Yamuna difficult philosophical teachings are dealt with quite easily and gracefully.

These relate conventional beliefs to contemporary practices, often exploring their relevance in today’s times with the relation of Yama and Yamuna or Yama Dwitiya.

 Commentaries discuss in much detail the divine characteristics of Yama and Yamuna, creating and maintaining Yama and Yamuna as sibling’s role models thereby developing deeper feelings, devotion and commitments among siblings.

These highlight the role that community involvement plays in various rituals thereby helping in creating and enhancing social harmony.

Commentaries suggest the way one should take for spiritual upliftment and ask such people to reflect on familial ties and duties to create strong bonds like Yama and Yamuna had in various mythological tales.

These focus on rituals to know if some practitioner is serious about ceremonies on Yama Dwitiya and for his or her spiritual growth.

These say that any celebration including Yama Dwitiya cannot be complete without sharing love, protection and duties.

Earlier Practices and Beliefs Regarding Yama Dwitiya

On Yama Dwitiya, families worshipped God and initiated many rituals at home and temples, prayed for their brother’s well-being and offered sweets.

On Yama Dwitiya familial or communal lunch or dinner were arranged that ensured familial and communal unity.

People visited the Yamuna River to offer various rituals and requests to be purified and blessed.

Sisters dressed in a festive way exhibiting how much they loved and were devoted to their brothers.

To acknowledge familial ties & to request to be blessed, people offered various rituals.

On Yama Dwitiya, various sacred verses and mantras related to Yama and Yamuna were chanted.

Some people kept fast on Yama Dwitiya, honouring Yama, requesting to ensure good health and prosperity of their brothers.

Sisters gave gifts out of love and care to their brothers.

On Yama Dwitiya, various legends related to Yama and Yamuna were told, enriching the festival and thereby keeping up the cultural heritage.

As people were spiritually dedicated, they took care to maintain purity & cleanliness in the course of rituals and also at home.

Contemporary Practices and Beliefs Regarding Yama Dwitiya

Modern-day celebrations have fewer offers & rituals and primarily focus on devotion at a personal level.

Today, people share their photos, videos and experiences on Yama Dwitiya Day on various social media websites.

 Nowadays, rituals are limited to eco-friendly ones largely, where plastic & other non-biodegradable materials are used the least.

Today celebrations and festivities involve diverse communities and familial involvement.

People often realize the health benefits that they realize by having a nutrient-rich diet and conducting outdoor activities in groups.

Certain temples and religious or spiritual organizations often educated youngsters about Yama Dwitiya.

Today interfaith celebrations where other communities also join you in your celebrations out of love and protection is becoming quite common.

People today participate in online meets at home or within familial connections and in other social groups from a far-off place to celebrate Yama Dwitiya.

Today celebrations of Yama Dwitiya also include charitable works & community service.

Certain people also focus on meditation and try to explore themselves in their spiritual journey.

Earlier Practices Regarding Bathing in Yamuna on Yama Dwitiya

In earlier times it was a must to bathe in Yamuna at least on the day of Yama Dwitiya for one’s spiritual purity.

People bathe early morning in Yamuna to get rid of their sins & unfortunate circumstances.

While bathing in Yamuna people earlier acknowledged the sacred and life-giving qualities of Yamuna and also made offerings to Yamuna.

 Out of familial & community bonding often families bathed together in Yamuna.

Some people visited pilgrimage sites in Mathura and bathed in Yamuna within Mathura on the day of Yama Dwitiya.

Paying due respect to the sacred festival, people and devotees wore traditional dresses.

Certain people used to take a vow or Sankalpa when they bathed in Yamuna.

While bathing in Yamuna people sang hymns or chanted the mantras related to Yama and Yamuna thereby improving the spiritual atmosphere.

 While bathing in Yamuna people often retold stories and incidents related to Yama and Yamuna.

Contemporary Practices Regarding Bathing in Yamuna on Yama Dwitiya

Today, people stress cleanliness and engage in eco-friendly practices when they take a bath.

Even today community gather at Yamuna with a sense of togetherness.

People take photos the moment they bathe in Yamuna and share these on their social media or networking websites.

Today bathing in Yamuna is often followed by doing yoga or meditation on the bank of the river itself.

Certain people from quite distant places join in festivities online showcasing the importance Yama and Yamuna still have in today’s times and amongst today’s youth.

Environmental awareness causes people to protect Yamuna during festivities.

Today bathing is more related to wellness, this is how today’s youth perceive it. So today more people bathe in Yamuna from a wellness point of view.

Often on the banks of river Yamuna, certain cultural programmes are conducted to entertain the people participating in the festival.

Today various groups are engaged in cleaning rivers like Yamuna whereby spiritual practices couple up with one’s responsibility towards the environment.

Even today people reason out the conventional importance of their practices thereby improving their spiritual journey.

Concluding Remark

On of my friends was searching for suitable gifts for Bhaiyya Dooj then I realized that even I had to buy a Bhaiyya Dooj Gift. Such great are the preparations ongoing many days in advance for Yama Dwitya or Bhaiyya Dooj, so much is the importance of Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiyya Dooj.

Yamuna Aarati, Vishram Ghat, Mathura

FIND OUT IF THE RESIDENCE IN WHICH YOU ARE RESIDING IN, IS ON A LANDSLIDE PRONE AREA

 From time to time several committees are set up by government organizations or other organizations and they after their thorough study, research and analysis, the create a report on the subject which here would be to know if a certain residential place or any particular place in a particular area is in a landslide prone area.

You can go through such reports to find out if your place is in a landslide prone area. Such reports also at times warn and advise about implementing recommended solution and taking certain remedial or preventive measures as the case may be.

However, a common man may not be aware about from where he or she or it may access such committee reports and what should this common look into and where should these look into these committee reports to find the information these people seek or search.   

It would be better if you attempt to find your answers through all the following ten ways that we describe one by one, each following paragraph detailing about one particular way to find about required information if your place or residence is a landslide prone area.

Such reports study the topography of a place, give their responses regarding the topography of the particular place, also including detailed maps of the particular area and various other information that indicates towards the degree of the steepness of slopes. Such reports often have warned that the residences or places near a steeper sloped area is more probable and vulnerable to face a landslide, having been identified as a landslide prone area.   

Often such reports also after careful study and analysis detail out about the quality of soil in a particular area. They consider if soil of an area is loose or clay rich, how often it is actually waterlogged and the duration of such waterlogging. After great examinations regarding these they detail out a report on the quality of soil composition. Such reports do warn that particular places due to their loose or clay rich soil coupled with their waterlogging make this particular place highly prone to landslides in future.   

These reports also mention about the number and kinds of landslides that have actually happened in a particular place or in any of its nearby places in recent and distant past. Analysis of such previously happened landslides helps them forecast about futuristic happening of varying degree of dangerous landslides in the particular area.   

People or teams writing such reports also make efforts to find out if there had been poor water drainage systems in a particular area and the duration for which such drainage problems have remained either temporarily or permanently. They also try to find out if existent poor drainage system in an area is causing or has already caused a higher degree of water saturation in soil of that particular area. Analyst then estimate if such higher degree water saturation in soil of a particular area can actually cause a landslide and of what degree landslide it can cause in future.  

After a great amount of time consuming prolonged hard work, the analysts look for various possible indications of ground movement in a particular area. At some place they might have found certain visible cracks as a sign of the ground movement, at other places they might have found a tilted tree and yet at another place they might have found a sinking foundation and at various places they might find several such indications altogether, though as differing degrees of alarming signals. There might be many more such indications the analysts might look for. Considering these alarming signals as a highly probable or vulnerable sign for the ground instability prompts the analysts to mention and give a detailed information regarding these in their report along with suitable remedial measures, preventive actions and also related warnings and forecasts for near future times.   

For a comprehensive study such analysts also try to evaluate if the vegetation in a particular area is losing and also study about the rate of such loss. If they come to a finding that the vegetation cover is rapidly getting cleared or if the vegetation cover has actually already been cleared essentially at a rapid rate or at any other rate over the recent previous years or if the particular area has only sparse vegetation cover then it follows that as there are lesser or no herbs, shrubs and trees in that area, so there will be comparative less or no in depth reaching roots that could have anchored the soil. This will certainly make such a particular place highly prone to landslides. So, the analysing team details about it in their report.    

Committee report writers try to first find out if due to earth movement or seismic activities in a particular area the possibility of landslides is high or that landslides in such areas are more common, when an area of residence or any other place is actually nearing any such geological fault lines. Based on these findings then they write a committee report including suitable warnings and recommendations.    

Analysts often also analyse available meteorological data and information relating to a particular place for all times --- present times, recent past and distant past. On basis of such information and data they try to find out if a place has actually faced higher rainfall as compared to earlier times and how much more it really is than earlier times. They do so because more rainfall means more of the soil than before would be eroded through soil erosion and also there would be more of soil saturation, study of changed rainfall patterns, together these will pave way for making the particular place more vulnerable to face more landslides in numbers and these may become more dangerous with time. Based on such analysis analysts include relevant information and recommendations to be shared in their report.   

Report writers also consider degree of infrastructural development in a particular area that could destabilize the land of that area and make it more vulnerable to the happenings of more in numbers and of a higher degree than ever before devastating landslides in that particular area. Residential or Official Constructions, Road or Bridge Constructions, Mining Activities, Dumping of Waste and Debris on river beds might cause and also increase the number and the kinds of devastating landslides in a particular area.  

From time to time based on several surveys, researches, studies, findings and reports the Government bodies have labelled certain areas as a landslide prone area, conveying that such mentioned particular areas are highly landslide prone. One needs to check out from such reports if their residential place or any other place they wish to know about is not the one of those which are listed as a designated hazard zone which is highly landslide prone. 

At your personal level do make a trial to access and go through such reports to look for the key indicators for a place to be landslide prone. This is one of the initial steps one needs to take up to ensure the timely safety of life and property.  

Share this article with others residing in probable landslide prone areas in India.

STEPWISE CREATION OF GREEN AREA PATCHES, DRY CANALS DIGGING, NEARBY WETLANDS AND THEIR LINKAGES

Unfolding here is a stepwise process that needs to be taken up by a particular team in an area to create various green patches, various series of dry canals complex networks, various numbers of wetlands nearby green patches and linking these with each other. Each paragraph in an orderly and continuous way leads up to the process ahead.

First of all, one needs to survey a particular land and analyse to arrive at a conclusion whether or not for any of the right reasons it is really possible, feasible and practical to create green patch areas, dig up dry canals, a number of wetlands and connect these in a particular area. To do this, one needs to assess a local land for its topography, understand the quality of available soil types, assess the water table depth that exists there, select low lying flood prone areas to which water might move towards within that land piece, select promising fertile locations where greenery can flourish or could be turned into green patch areas in that land piece, analyse changing rainfall patterns, changing rainfall intensity, analyse flood patterns, assess low lying routes which can be dug to create dry canals through which water can automatically & naturally reach the green area patches at times of flood, or also shall reach various wetlands, assess and analyse effect of chosen ways of undertaking this activity on the various biological beings, local wildlife, ecosystems and available community resources.   

Second comes the decision at where multiple green patch areas or dry canals or wetlands will exist within available low lying but flood prone areas, this in turn calls for doing a bit of brainstorming coupled with a series of strategical planning. It follows deciding a good flood resistant and drought tolerant mix of various herbs, shrubs and trees that need to be planted, grown and maintained in such green patch areas to ensure that greenery survives in such patched areas during both --- dry and wet seasons. Also needs to be decided at this stage itself is that how much land and exactly which land piece with its location considerations needs to be left open as an open grassland and also as an open wetland to be able to serve as a water absorption zone. This way at this stage we finish designing a green area layout.   

Third follows the construction of a complex network of dry canals based on previous studies. While doing this the potential canal depths and widths must be rightly decided upon so that it can transport sufficient the flood water at the time of floods and in dry seasons such canals should only at a minimum use land. Within the dug canal various rock and permeable pieces should be dispersed so that such things can slow down the speed of the flowing water and the ground can absorb more of such flowing water through the canals. This way we are using a natural drainage technique.      

Fourth follows the construction of several small water bodies or wetlands near such green area patches. During heavy rains or flood seasons the excess water will accumulate in these wetlands and gradually water from these wetlands will be released into the connected dry canals. In dry season, canals will harvest rain water and irrigate these green patches. However before actually constructing a wetland one needs to decide as to what kind of a wetland might be suitable to be built in a particular area. For this one needs to decide whether one or more or a hybrid of all of the groundwater fed or rain water fed or river water fed wetlands will need to be created in a particular area. And also, if one or more of the marshes, swamps, bogs or constructed wetlands need to be constructed in a particularly chosen area. Also needs to be decided if different zones like deep water areas, shallow zones or vegetable buffers need to be created in wetlands to support the wildlife species and promote water retention capabilities.   

Fifth follows using harvested rain water from dug canals network or ponds or wetlands created near the green area patches to irrigate the green area patches using drip irrigation systems or other sustainable irrigation systems. To reduce water wastage greywater recycling systems should be used for irrigation.   

Sixth plant several plants on the ground especially in the grounds of the dug canals network, so that the soil does not erode away and soil erosion can be prevented and the soil fertility remain intact. In flood times, set up various sediments or silt traps in dug canals in order to prevent this system from clogging.    

Seventh follows encouraging the local community members to participate in creating and maintaining gardens in certain chosen areas of the green patched areas, canals and wetlands. For this they will have to plant, water the plants, take regular care of plants grown and maintain these in such garden areas. But this can only be done if the local community people are educated and made aware, in the same regards.     

For better results, one should collaborate with various experts like hydrologists, environmentalists, architects and civil engineers to design sustainable systems that have scheduled maintenance for green patches, dry canals, wetlands so that they function in short as well as in long run. To beautify gardens, one should use flood and drought adaptable local plant species that support local biodiversity.       

To succeed one should take the precautions by installing filtering systems that prevent entry of water pollutants with the water flowing into the green patches as it could damage the ecosystem, by designing the overflow channels divert excess water safely thereby preventing waterlogging in the green patches, by regularly monitoring plant and tree health prevent their dying especially in dry seasons when water level are low, by avoiding concrete but using natural material lining at the borders of the canal ensure better water absorption and heat accumulation minimization, especially during the dry seasons, by ensuring the design does not threaten existence of local wildlife or local birds, insects and small animals who make their habitat within the green patches.

To sum up, during flood seasons, water through canals reach the green patches and the nearby wetlands thereby saving life and during non-flood seasons, sustainable irrigation, greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting systems will irrigate and maintain health of the green patches and the canals act as natural drainage systems or corridors.   

Creating and managing several green area patches, dry canals and wetlands bodies nearby shall help mitigate the floods risks and at the same time help us improve and maintain an improved natural environment forever.

Share the creating of green area patches information and the dry canals digging or creation of canals information given in this article with others. Also, share this piece of wetland information with others so that they can benefit by creating wetlands ecosystems or the wetlands or wetland area or wetland environment near their residence.

  

STORM GATES CREATION AND INSTALLATION TO KEEP WATER AWAY FROM LAND AREAS TO SAVE LIVES & PROPERTY

 Through this article we will detail out the steps to be undertaken to develop a plan to create storm gates that remain closed when it rains heavily to keep water from various water bodies away. Can such storm gates be really created to keep water from various water bodies including sea or oceans away and avoid it from reaching your land areas during heavy rains or flood times. Although, storm gates also termed as Flood gates seem important as regards the flood prevention, more so in coastal areas and also in various flood prone areas. But can this really save lives and property in a particular area during heavy rains or cyclones or storms or similar natural calamities?    

For developing the flood gate plan, we need to consider following stepwise process. Each paragraph details out a particular stage in an orderly manner as regards the steps in developing a flood gates plan. 

First of all, by selecting areas that are at risk of facing floods, which probably might be near a certain water body like a lake or river or sea or ocean, analysing the nearness of a land piece to such water bodies, the topography of that particular area, and the historical flood patterns shall help in identification of the vulnerable areas. One also needs to collect relevant data and information on rainfall patterns, tide levels, storm surge heights and river flow levels as this ensures and helps in assessing the severity and frequency of potential floods in the particular area and in this way the Hydrological and Meteorological data and information collected helps in assessment of future flood dangers. To study the flood dynamics in a particular area one also needs to analyse how various nearby water bodies in that area interact with each other and with the land area during heavy rainfall or cyclones or storms or similar water related natural calamities in that particular region. In this way at the first place, in this process, the site assessment and the flood risk analysis need to be done.

Second, one needs to decide upon what kind of storm gates one needs to create and install and where in a particular area these gates have to be installed. To block water inflow in coastal areas during storms we can have the Tidal Surge Barriers installed, just like the Thames Barrier in the United Kingdom and also like the similar ones installed in Netherlands. To automatically close storm gates when water level rises in nearby water bodies and automatically open the flood gates when water recedes, we can have the Flap Gates or the Self-Regulating Gates created and installed. To lift the storm gates manually or automatically in order to block water inflow during flood times, we can have the Vertical Lift Gates created and installed. To block or release water at times with the help of various pumps we can use the Rotate Drum Gates that rotate to block or release the water as the case may be. One needs to be careful that whatever types of storm gates have been chosen to be created and installed should really be able to stop or release large volumes of water at times of various water related natural calamities. The effectiveness of such gates can only be noticed if they are installed at a place which have been identified as an important location from where water inflows into land areas which are nearing one or more of the water bodies. In this way we need to place the particularly chosen storm gate quite strategically to really benefit from its proper use.

Third, we need to decide upon using which corrosion resistant, high pressure resistant and sea water exposure resistant materials one would design and engineer the making and installation of the chosen type of the storm gates for a particularly chosen location. One can consider using stainless steel or other composite materials in its making. Efforts should be made in a direction to see to it that chosen storm gates design enable the flood gates to adapt to the changing extreme weather condition, like these should remain effectively working at times of regular and normal rains and also at times of storms or cyclones or any other water related natural calamities. Also, to make these work out in a friendly manner we need to design these in such a manner that these can be operated manually as well as automatically at times of changing needs. Caution needs to be taken that these storm gates are designed in a way that water does not accumulate behind these gates. For this purpose, one can use and include various sorts of pumps or other sorts of drainage systems. This is how at this stage one can focus on ensuring good gate strength and raw materials used in its designing and engineering, to make these storm gates quite flexible and good enough to drain water from areas behind or nearby such gates thereby ensuring long life of such gates by applying good water drainage systems while creating and implementing such storm gates. 

Fourth, one can focus not just on creating and installing storm gates but can rather think or decide upon developing a more comprehensive flood defensive system by also having levees, dikes, seawalls, various natural barriers like wetlands or dunes along with water pumping stations to avoid inflow of excess water into land areas from various water bodies.    

Fifth, efforts should be made to have these storm gates programmed in such a way that these close instantly as water inflow reaches a particularly danger mark and for this we need to connect these programmed storm gates with an automated weather and tide monitoring system which will caution these storm gates and guide their actions. Also, these storm gates should be programmed in a way that in times of emergency when it would be difficult to open or close these gates their opening and closing can be done as a remote operation from a distant place. Above all, these chosen early warning and automated response systems should also timely warn as an early warning the common residents and businessmen in flood or similar water related natural calamity affected area to minimize loss to life and property, if such loss can’t be avoided. However, we should be hopeful that if things are worked out in a right manner then we can stop any such losses. 

Sixth, along with local bodies like local emergency services, municipalities or municipal corporations, environmental agencies, various charity organizations and local communities we need to chalk out an emergency action plan for flood and similar water related natural calamity like times, wherein we need to plan out how the common men should respond to the calamity? What evacuation routes the common men can follow to ensure saving his life and property? Where can he take shelter at the time of such a crisis? What all actions need to be taken in response to the happening calamity and fixing responsibility, power and liability for the same amongst people and parties managing such a crisis.  

Seventh, we have to evaluate how the water related natural calamity might or flood or storm might adversely affect the local wildlife, water flow and the coastal ecosystems, fish migrations and wetlands. Once these adversities are evaluated, we need to find possible solutions to mitigate such risks quite strategically, for example, we may create a route for fishes to swim through certain routes when these storm gates remain opened to save life.  

Eighth, we must chalk out how much funds we may need in both short and long term for the maintenance, improvement and operation of these storm gates and related comprehensive created and installed systems. Then we need to raise funds for the same and ensure that the personnel at job are trained well enough that they can operate and maintain storm gates with extended comprehensive installed systems running properly. Above all, we need to ensure that this system is regularly inspected, maintained, kept corrosion free and timely repaired mechanically.

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Converting A Vulgar Art Form Into A Spiritual One

 The history of Bharatanatyam, and other Indian classical dance forms, reflects a journey of transformation from being part of religious rituals, often performed by devadasis, to becoming a celebrated and refined art form practiced by people from all walks of life. The devadasi system, in which women were dedicated to temple service, had a significant cultural and spiritual role, but over time, it became associated with social stigma and exploitation. The efforts to reform and elevate Bharatanatyam, along with other dance forms, have been crucial in making them accessible and dignified expressions of Indian culture.

A dance form often has certain cultural roots. Spiritual, Mythological and devotional subject matter may be communicated through a particular dance form. We need to study the culture associated with a particular dance form, spiritual message addressed through a particular dance form and, the historical forms through which a dance form might have evolved.

Bharatanatyam is deeply rooted in Indian culture, several mythological and devotional tales or episodes are enacted through the Bharatanatyam dance form. Bharatanatyam had also seen a bad time when it was performed by Devadasis and these Devadasis were exploited and because of this practice not many took up the Bharatanatyam dance form then, but overtime several social reformers and artistes refined it and also the treatment given to Bharatanatyam dancers got refined, and it reached the glorious mark in the history of mankind that it seems to be celebrating today, so much so, that today many of the common people by choice perform Bharatanatyam and today this choice of their also gives them respect in the society.

When we arrive at a decision that a certain art form is actually vulgar or too much vulgar, we need to actually its aesthetic sense in play, its cultural rootedness in depth, its cultural and spiritual potential. If we consciously bring in certain wanted changes in the expression, beauty and emotion of this otherwise vulgar art form, then we can get this art form refined enough that has inbuilt in it the grace, refinement and the cultural depth.

While we may retain the cultural integrity of the art form but we will have to remove certain features of this art form that are actually vulgar. We would need to change the costumes, expressions and movements accordingly withholding due amounts of dignity and artistry to keep vulgarity away from the art for being refined.

We should not limit the dance form to express physical sensualisation, sexy emotions or gestures or postures, sensualisation promotion but it should be changed in a way that it can express devotion or bhakti, higher humane ideals like love, divinity and grace. It is so because we must learn to see an art form or a dance form as a divine form helping us liberate by expressing certain things and grow spiritually.

Just changing a dance form for the better is not sufficient. We need government bodies, various charity organizations, social reformers and arts promoting and teaching centres to act collectively to give this new changed art form acceptance at large. Through various ways to publicize public interest messages need to be spread saying that a certain art form or dance form also has a certain social, spiritual, cultural feature added to it having made it more socially, culturally and spiritually acceptable in our society.  

Artistes should be encouraged to innovate by editing certain features of their art form or dance form in a way that adds to it certain modern day acceptable approaches or ways thereby attracting the modern-day youth to master it at the same time not letting its cultural and spiritual elements fade away, thereby changing it dynamically to the ever-changing environmental settings in which artistes perform. This will help artistes command respect and not demand it.

A campaign must be launched and successfully managed to see to it that dancers and artistes of any rank or style get respect and dignity. Artistes should not be considered just as entertainers by the society. Especially situation of women artistes can be more vulnerable. Women artistes or artistes should not be seen as a means of enjoyment but should be seen as valuable assets of the society. For this to happen we need to teach ever art form including the changed ones for the better to our youths so that they can at the least learn to relate to an art form. Such youths must also be given opportunities to practice and put up their show of the particular art form so as to keep up the artistic tradition of this particular art form.

Such are the steps that need to be taken or the approach that needs to be had to transform a particular art from or a vulgar art form into a better one for everyone’s benefit.

Bharatanatyam’s revival in the early 20th century was largely due to the efforts of pioneers who sought to reclaim it from the stigma attached to the devadasi system and restore its spiritual and cultural value.

Annie Besant, a British Theosophist reformer believed in the transforming power of dance. She saw Indian dance forms as mere means to expression of divine love and harmony. This influenced Rukmini Devi Arundale and her disciple Shri Sarada who transformed the then Bharatanatyam dance form into what it is seen today. While Rukmini Devi Arundale removed sensuality elements of the Devadasi era, made changes in costumes, choreography and enhanced its spiritual depth making Bharatanatyam rise to classical art form level, Shri Sarada refined its spiritual aspects further seeing it as a way to unite our soul with the divine and professed that Bharatanatyam be seen as a spiritual discipline through the dance --- the Natyayoga.

While Swami Vivekananda saw Bharatanatyam as a way to reach divinity or higher consciousness, Mahatma Gandhi saw Indian art as an important expression of India’s soul. Gandhiji believed in the cultural and spiritual significance of Indian art and was open minded enough who professed to bring in changes to reform only those parts that degrade the essence of Indian art including Devadasi Tradition & exploitation related to it and these changes be brought in a way that traditional arts remain preserved.

Some other dances like Odissi, Kathak and Mohiniyattam also had similar history of restoration to glory.

Such is the manner in which an otherwise vulgar art form can be refined.

Glimpses of Chhattisgarh --- Part 5

Gangrel Dam, Dhamtari

We travelled by taxi for 7 hours and reached Gangrel Dam at 3 PM.  

Gangrel Dam, also called the Ravishankar Dam is built along the breadth of the river Mahanadi within the Dhamtari District and is quite a well-known spot amongst visitors for its serene scenic views and pretty engaging and mind-blowing water games that it offers.

Hydroelectric Power Plant Information

The Gangrel Hydel Power Project was developed here to produce 10 MV power capacity. It supplies power for certain nearby areas. This dam stores 15,000 cusecs of water. It is not only the biggest dam but also the longest dam within the state of Chhattisgarh.

Reservoir, Boating & Water Sports

The reservoir offers a lot of unique and common water sports. Somewhere in the middle of the reservoir is a stationed boat where you can be dropped by other boats and you have some refreshments stationed in the boat in the middle of the reservoir.

This place, with its picturesque island, enriched flora and fauna becomes a must-visit place in monsoon season and in winter when along with greenery you can also enjoy the cold air.

Various water sports are arranged for though at a very high price. The list of water sports includes Jet skiing, Water surfing, Water skiing, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Parasailing, and Kite surfing, paddle boating, speed boating, kayaking which have been recently started.

Resort Facility

On the bank of this reservoir, the Chhattisgarh State Tourism Board has their property as a Resort Facility where tourists can book to stay. From this resort, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the sunrise.

How You Can Reach Here

This reservoir is about 15 KM from Dhamtari and about 75 to 90 KM from Raipur. You can reach here by air from Raipur Airport where prepaid taxis are easily available for Gangrel Dam. Or else you can take any regular bus services from Raipur or can also reach here using Raipur – Dhamtari narrow gauge railways.

 

Attractions Near Mahanadi (View 1)

Attractions Near; Boating On Mahanadi (View 1)

Attractions Near; Boating On Mahanadi (View 2)

Attractions Near; Jet Skiing On Mahanadi (View 1)

Attractions Near; Jet Skiing On Mahanadi (View 2)

Attractions Near; Kayaking On Mahanadi (View 1)

Attractions Near; Kayaking On Mahanadi (View 2)

 

Attractions Near; Boats Anchored On Mahanadi (View 1)

My Experience    

We were mesmerized watching such a vast river – Mahanadi. It was really a very great moment. To add to the thrill of the vastness of the river were many water sports available that really kept children and sports interested people excited and engaged. The rest of their family members were engaged watching them remain active through various water sports.   

Timings

At 6 PM it had to close and we were to leave the place. On the way, we had dinner outside.  We reached back Hotel around 9 PM. We had to pack everything as it was our last night in Chhattisgarh for this trip. After packing things we slept to wake up at 7 AM the next morning.   

    Gangrel Dam & Mahanadi

Bastar Palace

After getting fresh we went to a restaurant to have breakfast and then left for the next tourist spot. In some hours we reached Bastar Palace.

Rulers of Bastar

The Palace got its name from the name of the district. This palace was built by the Kakatiya Dynasty Kings when they shifted their capital from Barsur to Jagdalpur in prehistoric times. Bastar Palace, also known as Jagdalpur Palace had remained the most important administrative headquarters ever since the prehistoric times and the Kings who ruled, took care of the entire Bastar district from this palace. This palace has witnessed drastic changes in times, from the times of the Chalukyas to the times of Kakatiyas to the times of the British and also times beyond it.

Architecture of Palace

Despite several blows of the time the Palace stays unmatched and still, this makes it even more special to be explored and seen. This opulent, enchanting palace has been known for its splendour. 

A traditional cum colonial façade welcomes visitors. The palace is made up of White and Yellow Stone with great carving and Jali Work or the Lattice Screens Work done on it. The outside walls have light blue contrast work that makes it quite incomparable.

Walls and ceilings are decorated with various engaging drawings, impressive figurines and etchings. Many ornaments, weapons and clothes attract one’s attention. All Artefacts, Paintings, Artworks, Relics, Carvings and Singhaasana have been preserved within the Palace’s premises and the main visitor’s chamber of the palace is functional as a Museum.  These things together reflect and give us hints as to the history, culture and quality of everyday life in earlier times. Every room, wall, and corridor of this palace hides several of the real-life histories, and mysteries to unfold or explore which people interested in history come here to rejuvenate with the Culture and Heritage of Bastar. Every part of the Palace holds back certain unheard mysterious tales that historians world over are searching to narrate fascinating historical tales.

Passing various tall pillars, and finely decorated arches we reach the elegant royal halls. Perfectly symmetrical and well-designed towers and domes, with a central dome rising higher so as to provide a surrounding landscape view, make it all the more memorable architectural marvel showcasing the architectural skills of the time it was built. 

In sunlight the fort glitters, this is one speciality of its architecture. The Government of India had built a monument within the boundaries of this palace which has beautiful garden in the front of it. This palace is surrounded by gardens which visitors find is quite interesting. 

This palace is well connected with other parts of the state, hence, it is easy to reach. Complex outlines on dividers, upper parts of the palace rooms, carvings on pillars, walls and elsewhere in the palace make this palace special, inspiring and awesome. The Royal family still resides here.  

Nearby Tourist Places

Chitrakote Waterfall, Kotumsar Cave, Teerathgarh Waterfalls all are near the Bastar Palace.

Weather of Bastar

As Bastar experiences an extreme climate, summers with 37 Degrees Celsius would make you uncomfortable to go for a journey, it would be better that you visit Bastar in the winter season when the temperature ranges from 12 to 28 Degrees Celsius and when the precipitation is low.

How You Can Reach Here

Bastar Palace, being well connected by road with all key parts of the State can be reached by private transport like car or taxi or public transport like bus by road. Jagdalpur Station being about 17 KM away is the nearest railway station and Visakhapatnam Airport is the nearest Airport.

Festivals

The palace is specially decorated and gets lit up on every Dussehra.

Attractions Near Me; Bastar Palace (View 1)

Unlike the rest of India’s cause and way of celebrating Dussehra, tribal people and other people of Bastar celebrate Dussehra by worshipping Danteshwari Devi. During Dussehra worship ceremonies of Danteshwari Devi, including her rath yatra are arranged for and conducted. 

Royal Family, Bastar & Dussehra

In the 15th century for the first time the then King Purushaottam Deo arranged and celebrated Dussehra with such practices. Having Zamindar and other post personnel in administration as witnesses the control of the kingdom is transferred to the Diwan. In the ten-day festival, the royal family of Bastar considers the ancient arms of Danteshwari Devi as divine worship. The first day of Dussehra starts on the day of Kunwar Amavasya. On this first day of the festival transfer of control takes place. Before transferring power to Diwan, a girl considered to have spiritual powers stands in a warlike state holding a wooden sword. On Pratipada day, the second day of the festival arati and salami take place. On the ninth day Danteshwari Devi comes to the entrance of the city and the King of Bastar welcomes her. On the tenth day, the King organizes a darbar where people come forward and present their requests, and everyone performs an arati ceremony praying Dantreshwari Devi.

Timings

The Bastar Palace opens at 8 AM and closes at 6 PM. We spent one hour in the palace portion open for visitors. Much of the part of the palace is not open to visitors and is used for residential purposes.

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur

Then we moved to our last tourist destination – Bastar Art Gallery. For generations, the tribal communities have been protecting and promoting the Bastar Tribal art. Working with conventional tools they have made it famous in the world but still they don’t have the facility to use modern machinery. Their woodwork is used to make things exhibiting Bastar culture, statutes of gods and goddesses, various creatures, festivals and do decorations. Their bamboo art is used to make bamboo sheets, baskets, chairs, tables, mats living rooms and home furnishings. Their soil art is used to make pots, decorative utensils, statues of goddesses, vases and household furnishings. Their metal arts use copper and tin mixed with the metal to make idols of worship, tribal culture idols, statues of goddesses and home furnishings. have been fabulous to date.   

About Bastar Art Forms

The showpieces or items made by the Dhokra technique use cow dung, red soil, paddy husk and most important of all beeswax.

The Bell Metal Handicrafts and Dhokra handicrafts are today world famous but the process by which Chhattisgarh artisans make these is very painstaking.

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 1)

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 2)

 

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 3)

 

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 4)

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 5)

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 6)

Bastar Art Gallery, Jagdalpur (View 7)

A Model Tribal Arts Village (View 1)

A Model Tribal Arts Village (View 2)

A Model Tribal Arts Village (View 3)

My Experience                                                                                                                                            

After some minutes we reached the destined art gallery in Jagdalpur. It was the abode of such art forms that really expressed the emotions, feelings and everyday engagements of the Bastar tribal people. In a way, this gallery is keeping the traditional tribal art alive and is also working hard with all modern techniques to revive certain of its unknown spheres.

How You Can Reach Here   

Bastar Art Gallery is well connected by road with all key parts of the state and can be reached by private transport like car or taxi or public transport like bus by road.

Jagdalpur Station is the nearest railway station and Visakhapatnam Airport is the nearest Airport.  

Concluding Remark  

I felt that Bastar Tourism or Bastar Chhattisgarh Tourism is just incomparable. The way I enjoyed these places makes me wonder about my state if I could visit all CG Tourist Places. CG is the standard abbreviation for Chhattisgarh. I did not have till date sufficient time to visit all of the tourist places in Raipur Chhattisgarh itself, nature is so inspiring.

Gangrel Dam CG Tourism or Chhattisgarh Tourism Gangrel Dam was a nice sports-friendly spot with too much activity ongoing yet an extremely peaceful place. The hydroelectric power plant information was very enriching. Thanks to the CG Tourism, Bastar Tourism or Bastar Chhattisgarh Tourism for places to visit in Jagdalpur or Chhattisgarh were very nice.