Geeta Jayanti



Please mark your calendar. This Sunday 11th Dec 2011, join for Geeta Jayanti celebration. Organized by Samskrit Bharati. All are welcome. For the details, have a look to this pamphlet. So.... See you all there....










click here for complete Video Report for the event. 

Diwali


Since our school days, we used to write assay about Diwali. This Diwali, I come across a nice picture, that I am sharing with readers of this blog. A picture is worth 100 words. This is satellite image of India on Diwali night. 


Wishing you all, the light, wisdom, knowledge in your life forever on this occasion.

Can you read Kannada?



Are you able to read Kannada? Yes? No? 

Ok, if you cannot read it, then you read this article. So at the end of it, you will realize, YES to learn Kannada is so.... easy. :) If you know Kannada then also continue reading. You will be amazed by knowing interesting aspects about your own language. Look at Kannada from my perspective. Let’s start first with scripts. At the end, we will see few aspects of spoken Kannada and a popular Kannada movie

1 Kannada Script

Kannada script has so many curves. Tamil is more of vertical and horizontal straight lines like symbol ‘L’. Kannada is totally different. So people say they are JALEBIs. JALEBI is a sweet with a spiral shape, a shape of round round round round and full stop in the middle.


1.1  Omega

However, if you just carefully observe these JALEBIs, you will find one symbol is repeated again and again in almost all characters. Do you know what is that? Yes, correct it is ‘w’ (English lower case w) or Greek lower case Omega ω . Yes, Omega. This small Omega means angular velocity in physics.  Add something to it, either at right hand side, left hand side, above it or below it, and you will find almost all Kannada characters. For example, just add English digit 7,2 or 9 at left hand side. It is ‘BA’. ‘BA’ for Bangalore. Sorry I mean Benglooru. You will find this symbol everywhere in our Benglooru. Now just add a Greek upper case Delta below it. Δ Delta is triangle. Even a vertical line will do, instead of triangle. Yes, now it is ‘BHA’ from ‘BA’. Put something at right hand side, you will get ‘CHA’. Add vertical Omega to right hand side. Total two Omegas. It is DA. . Add Delta (vertical line) below it. So it become 'DHHA'.   Now remove the horizontal one, only one vertical omega. It is ‘TA’ (‘THA’). In north India, ‘TA’ is common for ‘TA’ (as in Kavita कविता ) and ‘TA’ (as in Rita रीता ). In South, people write ‘THA’ for the former one. Even instead of ‘Gujarati’ गुजराती , they write it as ‘Gujarathi’ गुजराथी. ‘Vinod’ is ‘Vinodh’ विनोध here. ‘Divya’ is here ‘Dhivya’!! धिव्या :)



Anyway, coming back to Omega. After adding, something in all directions, now let’s hang it. Like we hang clothes after washing them. You just hang it from middle. It is ‘PA’. Add Delta (or vertical line) below it. Now it is ‘PHA’ or ‘FA’. Hang the Omega from both side. It is ‘DA’ (‘DHA’). Again add Delta. Where ? At bottom yaar. :) It is ‘dHA’ (‘dHHA’). Now, Let’s hang Omega from right hand side.   It is ‘VA’. Add Delta? Nothing. :) Hang it from left hand side. Again nothing :) Ok so hanging business is over too. Now cover it from right hand side.   It is ‘E’ .  Now cover with Omega. Just observe them, it seems like the Omega looking at itself in the mirror located on top of it. They both Omegas are singing the famous Gazal of late Jagjit Singh.

"AAYANAA MUJA SE MERI PAHELI SI SURAT MAAGE
MERE APANE HONE KI NISAANI MAAGE."


It means even the mirror can not recognized me, It asking me for my old face and a proof that I am myself only. Understood? No. Yes Gazals are sometimes difficult to understand.
Coming back to this Kannada character. It is ‘AI’. So yes, thus few characters have two Omegas,e.g AI and DA. ಐ ಡ   Still, Kannadiga like Omega so much they are not satisfied with just two Omegas. So ‘TA’ and ‘NA’ have total three Omega. Two verticals and one horizontal. For ‘TA’ the horizontal Omega is at bottom. The vertical omea is looking itself in the mirror and "AAYANA MUJA SE MERI....." :) Rotate this symbol, 180 degree and it becomes ‘NA’.  

1.2  ‘U’ symbol ()

How about ‘MA’ ? ‘MA’ for me, Manish. Obviously, it contains…. Yes Omega (hung on right side). It is actually, ‘VU’. वु A symbol for vowel ‘u’, is added to ‘VA’. So it is ‘VU’. But no.  In Kannada script, ‘VU’ is ‘MA’. Then how to write ‘VU’? Because, 'MA' has stolen symbol for 'VU'. Simple. Tweak little bit. Instead of right bottom corner, add ‘U’ symbol at bottom, middle to ‘VA’. ವು Yes, now it is ‘VU’. वु  And this symbol for vowel ‘u’ is a real confusing. They add it to ‘YA’ , still ‘YA’ remains ‘YA’ only not ‘YU’ यु !!! Here is Kannada YA For ‘YU’
यु it is added twice. ಯು For ‘ZA’ or ‘JHA’ , by default, it is twice. ಝ  So how to write ‘ZHU’  झु ? Simple, a circle then keep on adding ‘u’ till you are satisfied. If you have added more ‘U’ symbol then, Kannadiga will do auto-correction while reading it. Simple. ಝು Try to write Zunzunwala in Kannada. What'e fun ! :) And yes, don't forget to add a delta (vertical line) below ZA/JHA .


Unlike Hindi, all Kannda vowels are three. Hindi we have two. like short 'U' and long 'OO'. Short 'I' and long 'EE'. Kannada has such vowels three. For third one they add '9' symbol . This symbol is added by that small kid of movie "Taare Zami Par". So it is vertically flipped. Once my friend did proof reading for my Kannada poem. He added vertically flipped '9' at many places. You too, after 'I' or 'U', if you feel and whenever you feel just add . Yes, now your Kannada script looks more like written by some Kannada literate person. :) So just Enjoy MAADI. And yes, Its width should be short. This same symbol you widen.  So it is 'la'. Now put circle below it. It is 'LA' ळ.

1.3  Greek and Hindi

Not only Omega and Delta, Kannada script has few more Greek characters. Like ‘Pai’ π  = 22/7 = 3.142. 
π It is ‘Ga’ ಗ  in Kannada.  Theta θ is ‘Th’  (‘Thha’) .
Not only Greek, Kannda script borrowed few symbols from Hindi also. Hindi ‘YA’ य  First the top vertical line, cap is removed. So now it is Gujarati 'YA'. Rotate it 90 degree, then it become Kannada ‘NA’. Whenever I came across this symbol, first I read it as rotated Hindi ‘YA’. Then I recall, Kannada ‘YA’ has circle (it is like a big tummy of a fat man) and it is actually ‘YU’. So this cannot be ‘YA’. Oh! Yes, it is ‘NA’. न. स  ‘SA’ is simple. No confusion. Just rotate Hindi ‘Sa’ 90 degree. That’s it !! :) Hindi SHA has one inclined 45 degree (it is -45 degree, let me be more specific :) ). So Kannada SHA also has this inclined line. For Hindi we add it to symbol 'PA' . For Kannada? Obiviously to Omega. Yes :) Look at it. . Hindi 'LA' is also directly copy pasted to Kannada. However here it is not 'LA' . In Kannada it is 'HA'. Anyway, Kannada 'LA' we just saw it, right? Add delta (vertical line) below HA. No sir. BEDAA. Everywhere this Delta logic is not applicable :)

1.4  Lucent Technologies

So now borrowing business from Greek and Hindi is also over. All kinds of operation on Omega is over. Adding Delta is over. Still first character of alphabet, that is ‘KA’ is pending. Right? ‘KA’ is for Kannada. And ‘KA’ is for….Yes, you all got it. Just for shake of Ekta Kapoor, all Kannadiga put sincere efforts to find suitable symbol for ‘KA’. Once they visited Lucent Technologies. Lucent is my ex-employer. They just gazed at the red circle.
Wow !! This circle is a nice symbol. Let’s hang it. A death punishment. So now it is ‘KA’. Gift it to Ekta Kappor. :) It is also English symbol I and O written vertically. In the universe, we find everything in pair. Isn’t it? Happy and Sad. Man and Woman. In our IT industry, Hardware and Software, Zero and One. So why death punishment to only one circle? (Lucent only? ) Let’s hang two such circles.(Alcatel and Lucent ) Now it is ‘HA’. 'HA' We have already visited as Hindi 'LA' . Let’s put on a horizontal cap (line) on circle. It is ‘RA’. Now put a line in the middle of circle. It is Greek Theta  θ means Kannada ‘THA’ (‘THHA’). ThaAlready covered. Let's extend this middle horizontal line on both side, add a hook to right hand side. This hook will prevent this line to come out from left hand side of the circle. :) This symbol is 'EE'

1.5  Practice MAADI

Now let’s read something. As you know, practices makes man perfect and women are born perfect. At least they believe so :) . So let’s read. ‘Benglooru’. No need to read individual character. You can remember it as single word’s single bitmap image. Where? Everywhere. At Railway station, airport, City-bus stop, etc. etc. So you can never forget how to write ‘BA’. Just Remember ‘Benglooru’. Add delta to 'BA' make it ‘BHA’. Ok, now other most popular symbol is ‘Shree’. Shree means wealth. Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth. In my parents’ time, kids were starting their study with this symbol. Hey, what is written behind auto-rickshaw? Without reading, say ‘Tande Tai Aashirwada’ (I mean ‘Thande Thai Ashirwadha’ ). 99 % of times, you are correct. It means blessings of parents. Even I found parent's blessing on Taxi too (a car with yellow number plate). Other vehicles? ‘Shree _________ Prasanna’. Now you know symbol for ‘Shree’. It is first word. Middle word, just read few characters and other assume it. The candidate Gods/Goddess for middle words are ‘Vinayaka’, ‘Manjunath’, 'Venkateshwar', 'Balaji' some xyz swami etc. Last one will be always ‘Prasanna’. OK now let’s read those yellow colors, low height address board. The number is already in English. So PARAVAH GILLA. Don't worry. After that, it can be either ‘main road’ or ‘cross road’. Why to read whole word? Just read first character. If it is ‘A’ then it is ‘Adda Rasthe’ means ‘Cross road’. If ‘MA’ then ‘Mukhya Rasthe’ means ‘main road’.

Have you noticed? For SAMYUKTA characters, Kannadigas write half character as full and full character as half. Say for example, ...let me think. HINDUSTAAN (HINDUSTHAAN). In Hindi, Gujarati SA is half so it is S and TAA (THAA) is full. Here different. It is HINDUSAATHN (HINDUSAATHN). AA will be added to S. So it is SAA. At the right bottom corner, small TA (THA) will be added.

1.6 Language Discrimination

Before I forget, we need to add vertically flipped L (upper case English L) to all symbol. Like Hindi, all have cap, here all have cap + one vertical feather on top, left corner. The last character of any English word is exceptional. It has symbol 6 at top left corner, instead of vertical line. So just by looking any word written in Kannada, you can easily say, weather it is native Kannada or English. Now turn comes for Telugu people. They first remove this vertical feather from the top. Then they approve all such symbols. How? They just add one tick mark above to all of them, saying yes, this is correct, yes this is also correct. So now, after adding tick mark, all Kannada characters becomes Telugu characters. So Congratulations. You started reading this article to learn Kannada script. But, you learn to read Telugu also. One + One free.  Just Enjoy MAADI.

So now you learnt so much right? What to read and how to read by identifying minimum characters, consuming less CPU cycles. Wait. First, how you will identify, it is written in Kannada? If it does not have curves. Then Tamil. Else, if it has curves and tick mark above character then Telugu. You can read Telugu as Kannada, just ignore this turban or feather. And over the above all, if you can read it very fast, then it is not Kannada, Tamil or Telugu. Either it is English or it is your mother tongue language :) .  Yes, nothing to laugh. It really happens with me :). Once , from the city bus window, I was struggling to decode all the boarding of shops, written in Kannada. Suddenly, I could able to read very fluently! Miracle ! Then I realize, it was written in Gujarati. :)

Once I had one more funny experience with Urdu language. I saw a name written in Urdu language at Airport road. I learnt Urdu with my own interest in my school days. It has total three alphabets. Character at the beginning of word has different symbol, same in the middle of word is different and at the end of word it is full like capital/upper case character. Still I can recall few characters. So coming back to Airport road. I tried to read that Urdu board. I read it from right to left. So first character was ALIF. Second, I could not decode. Third was NUN. So it is a four character name, start with A and one middle character is NA. What it can be? Confused. Then, after some time, I came across, same board. Oh! it was English only. I thought it is ALIF (first), it was I, last character. English is from left to right. So first is last and last is first. And the second (or third ?) character, that I thought NUN, it was U. It was written SUFI. :)
How nice it would be, if we have XML tags. All text should be enclosed with XML tag, to indicate its language. Like This is English. यह हिंदी है | And off course these XML tags must be in English :)

2        Spoken Kannada

Anyway, so do you agree, Kannada script is simple? So you can read it. Yes. But what does it mean, that you are reading? Good question. Let me share with you, my experience.

2.1  Basic rule

Before that, first rule, spoken Kannada is very slow or say lazy language. People fully pronounce each character. NIDHANAVAGI means slowly, peacefully. The last character ends with ‘Aa’, unless it is English. Like say, ‘Namaskar’ is in Hindi too. But in Kannada it is ‘Namaskara’. There is one recent musical Kannada movie hit is ‘Milan’ मिलन  They write it as ‘Milan’ in Kannada. But read it as  ‘Milana’ मिलना. Here people feel, if they do not end word with ‘aa’, then it is incomplete.  Then what to do if already word ends with ‘aa’? Does it become ‘aaaaaaaa……..’ ? No it is reverse way. It becomes ‘a’ only!! Say for example, my एक्स employer name is ‘Airvana
एरवाना It is written in Kannada as ‘Airvan’ एरवान , read as ‘Airvana’ एरवाना .  :)

2.2 Lessons from my mistakes

I tried to talk in Kannada. Once I told to driver that I was absent on first day. ‘Mungaru dine nanu Bandidilla’ (Mungaru dhine nany bandhidhilla). There is popular movie ‘Mungaru Male’ It means ‘The First Rain’ and Male means rain. So obviously, ‘Munagru’ means First. But no!! Mungaru is a type of rain. So by listening to my statement the driver was so confused. What does I mean by saying ‘rain day, I did not come’ !!! So in short, Mungaru word only comes with Male. One more such confusion happened. At the end of the day, evening time my colleague was living for the day to home, so told me ‘Bye’. I replied, in Kannada, with full enthusiasm. It is my Kannada. I told, ‘ok bye and Hogi Bartini’ (Hogi Barthini). My friend got confused. She corrected me that yes she is going and she will come back. While, I was not going or coming back, I was still in the office only. ‘Hogi Bartini’ means ‘I am going and I will be back’. I should tell her ‘Hogi Banni’ means ‘Go and come back’.

2.3  My creation

All the time, I do not confuse people with my Kannada. Once I made a correct and innovative statement. Happy Birthday is simple. ‘HuTTu Habbada Shubhashay gaLu’. How to wish ‘Belated Happy Birthday’? Simple, ‘HuTTu Habbada Aadmele Nidhanvagi Shubhashay Galu’. I wrote a nice SuPrabhatam in Kannada.

" Bangalore Road Nalli Beligge Traffic Kammi Ide, Sarva Junction Nalli Hasiru Singnal Ide...

  Uthishta Banglorian Bega Office Ge Drive Madi.

  Nidhaanavagi Ellaakade Traffic Jam Suruvagide., Uthishta Traffic Police, Bangaluroo Ge Mangalam Kuru...

  Sree Ellaru Banglaorians Ge Thava SUPRABHATAM."

It means

"At the morning, in the Bangalore , there is less traffic. All junctions have Green signal. So all Bangalorians wake up and drive towards office. Slowly, traffic jams start. Wake up traffic police and do welfare for Bangalore city. To all Bangalorians, Good Morning.!"

:)

This SuPrabhatam was broadcasted on Bangalore Radio City 91.9 FM at 'Bangalore Talkies' programme. Listen MAADI the edited conversation with R. J. Vasanthi. Presented the same at Hidi Kavi Samlen by 'Shabd Sahityik Sanstha' Wath MAADI

And yes, here is one more. "Din Huva Begin"  - My poem translated in Kannada
. Also read the orginal Gujarati version.

2.4  Simple tricks

So yes, with practices, you can speak better Kannada. You can attend weekend class at Hosmat Hospital. Contact Mr. Raghavan 9448878569 or Mr Natarajan 9845680958. You can organize Kannada class at your organization. Kannada Kali will provide all kind of help.

Still, if you feel difficult, then let me share few simple tricks. Learn Kannada in five minutes :) . It is very very simple. Just Listen. Whatever they says, you reply, ‘Hauda(Haudha)…?’. They may reply back ‘Haudu(Haudhu)’ and continue. If some serious topic, you become serious and say ‘HAUDA…?’ If other party laughs, you also laugh and say ‘Hauda…? :)) ’  ‘Hauda’ means ‘Aisa Kya?’ in Hindi, ‘Is it so?’ in English and ‘Eppadiyo’ in Tamil.( Eppadiyo is famous word. It comes in ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ movie songs also) How long, you can manage with just saying ‘Hauda…?’ They may ask you something. Again simple. Only one answer for all the questions. ‘Ondu Nimisha’. Whatever they ask, give same reply. It is correct. It means. ‘Just please wait for one minute’. After one minute they may repeat the quesiton. No problem, you also repeat the same answer. "Ondu Nimisha". got it ? :) What'e fun!


So Happy learning Kannada. It is nice and rich language. Kannada literature has won maximum JyanpiThh award so far. (We write Gyanpith). And all Kannadigas are so sweet, so emotional and they love Kannada so much that if they know, you are learning Kannada, they will support you. They become your nice friends. And feel very happy, even if you put effort to make even one statement in Kannada. Even once Sonu Nigam spoke that, local people VJ Rubi Bhatiya feel very happy, when he speak anything in Kannada. He is a playback singer for 'Mungaru Male'

So enjoy learning Kannada.  

3        Mungaru Male

Recently I watched a popular hit Kannada movie. "Mungaru Male". Enjoyed. It was copy of Hindi DDLJ. Except the end. Overall the movie was too good. Love Stories are simple to understand. No logic. Natural scene, waterfalls are too good, that you can enjoy only on the wide screen of cinema. The whole movie was with full fun by the Hero Ganesha (Pritam, Pritham).

Starting was so simple. Heor's mother was asking "AAMELE?" means next? The hero was describing, how he met her, how he fall in gutter. "AAMELE?". She took out him out of gutter. Wow!! Kannada movie is so simple to understand. Just one word "AAMELE?" The whole movie was not so simple.
In the whole movie, me and the father of heroine. ERADU ONDE. We both had same situation. He was using the hearing aids. The hero always removes it and says whatever he wants to say. The poor father cannot understand. I have limited Kannada vocabulary. So even I can hear, I cannot understand fully. He can not hear. I can not listen to. So we both were inferring from the facial expressions, tone, gestures etc, what others are talking.

The heroine's parents assigned responsibility for successful marriage of their daughter to hero Ganesha. And do you know, what? When the heroine slapped him twice, he was wrenching in rain, the heroine had an umbrella for her. Then she threw the umbrella and ran away. Instead of pick up it, the hero sat in VAJRAASAN.What was the need of doing such VAJRAASAN? at the time? in rain? when the free umbrella was lying down just next to him? ( If I could enter in the picture, I would have gone there, collected it and come back. :) )Her parents asked only for safe, successful marriage not asked for not take her umbrella, if she forget. But anyway, as I mentioned, love stories have no logic. Even to know her name, he put his 100% and catches her handkerchief. Fight with villain. Finally on the handkerchief, her name was written "Nandini" (Nandhini). In Bangalore, you just go to any street corner, you will find one milk selling outlet with this name: "Nandini". What was the need to catch that handkerchief, run behind it for such a common and popular name? Again the love stories have no logic. :)

The end fully disappointed me. The poor hero, twice took bath with gutter water, bitted by villain, his mother slapped him, the heroine slapped him. That too for twice. And after all these also, he could not marry her! So sad. :( At last, I was waiting, that he will get call on her mobile, he will return and marry her. But no. The end. "Priti Madhura, Tyaag Amar" ("Prithi Madhhura, Thyaag Amara"). (by the way, there was no mobile tower in that hilly area, where he was driving. No coverage. So if someone call him back then also, "This mobile is not reachable!" ) It was not DDLJ. And like almost all Hindi love story, there was no last moment running towards airport also. Like the movie 'Ashiqui' or 'Chalate Chalate' or many such movies.

My Kannada friend argued, how can you say the end is sad? Who knows in the movie Ganesha was not hero, but he who married with her was hero!! Lateral Thinking.

Disclaimer : All the thoughts and ideas presented in articles are author’s own. The sole purpose of writing this is just to have fun with learning. This is not written at all to hurt feelings of anyone, or to promote racism or any kind of discrimination based on language, caste, state or culture. Yet, if any reader feels hurt, then I am sorry for it. Please let me know any feedback, I will correct it.

King of the Festivals



Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe Diwali. 

Gujarat is famous for its delicious food items. Majority of us are vegetarian. Diwali is special festival. Next day to Diwali is new year for us. We offer various food dishes to the lord, in almost all temples. We decorate them in front of lord. It is called ANNAKUT.

If you are at Bangalore, then don't miss this opportunity to visit SwamiNarayn temple. Here is the Diwali greeting cum invitation card with schedule and venue details. If you are not in Bangalore, then you can visit any nearest SwamiNarayan or Vaishnav Hindu temple. You will be amazed by diversity in Gujarati vegetarian food items offered to God. 

All the best wishes on this festival to readers of "Express YourSelf !" Stay tune, I may post some photographs. 

Navratri


You will find something different at this blog "Express YourSelf !" This Navratri article is also unique. It describes cultural aspects of our India particularly Gujarat in terms of various songs lyrics that (GARABA/RASH) we sing during this festival. The Gujarati songs with English translation for the benefit of International Readers of this blog. 


Navratri: Nav means Nine and Raatri means night. These is a nine night festival, is celebrated differently in different parts of India by Hindus. 

Mythology Concept:


Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses. 
  • On the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga, Amba, in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. 
  • During the next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.
  • The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the daughter of brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence, the worship for nine nights.
During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga, observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.

On the tenth day of October Navratri, the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.


So let's all enjoy some famous/popular GARABA = song/folk songs that people sing during this dance. Look at these wordings. Its root in the Indian mythology, devotion, culture, new era etc.etc. 

Devotion

Here are pure devotional songs to pray the goddess. 
  • Let’s have Rangoli with Swastik symbol at door step. And let’s lit the lamps. Because today goddess mother Pavavali will arrive at my home.
સાથીયા પુરાવો દ્વારે, દીવડા પ્રગટાવો રાજ
આજ મારે આંગળે પધારશે માં પાવાવાળી.
  • You are black and caring, oh mother,wherever I see its you only, oh mother.  I recognized you in different form in different eras.
 તું તો કાળી ને કલ્યાણી રે માં
  • I bow down to goddess AdyaShakti, Bahuchara. 
આદ્યા શક્તિ તુજને નમું રે બહુચરા
  • O birds, fly towards Pavagadh, go and invite Mahakali goddess to play garba.
પંખીડા રે ઉડી જાજો પાવાગઢ રે... માં કાળી ને જઈને કહેજો, ગરબે ઘૂમે રે...



The lord Krishna


The lord Krishna impacted all aspects of Indian culture.

  • The Krishna - the prince - passes through my street and plays flute...
મારી શેરી એ થી કાન કુંવર આવતા રે લોલ, મુખે થી મોરલી વગાડતા રે લોલ...
  • We are milkmen close to king Kans, we don't donate to anyone else, yes yes dear dont donate to anyone. Oh Prince Kaan (Krishna), get off our way
અમે મૈયારા કંસ રાજા નાં વાલા કોઈ ને દઈએ દાન...
  • Wind is blowing and so clouds are gathered. Peacocks are singing at Gokul village. Please come to meet me my beloved beautiful lord Krishna...
વા વાયા ને વાદળ ઉમટ્યા... ગોકુળમાં ટહુક્યાં મોર, મળવા આવો સુન્દીરવર   સાવરિયા
  • My nose-ring (ornament) is taken away by Lord કરીશ
  • While playing RAAS, I lost my nose-ring (ornament). Oh son of Nand (lord Krishna), if you have found it, then please return it back to me. 
નાગર નંદજીના લાલ (૨), રાસ રમંતાં મારી નથડી ખોવાની, તને જડી હોય તો આલ.....
  • Without you Shyam am feeling lonely please come early to play RAASH
તારા વિના શ્યામ મને એકલડું લાગે, રાસ રમવાને વ્હેલો આવજે. 
  • Lord Krishna is going to dwarka and took the getup of a milkman, yes yes took the getup of a milkman.... 
કૃષ્ણ ભગવાન ચાલ્યા દ્વારકા અને લીધો, લીધો મણીયારા કેરો વેશ...
    • I am tired of writing letters to u but u don’t appreciate it Kanuda (lord Krishna)....
    હું તો કાગળિયાં લખી લખી થાકી, કાનુડા તારા મન માં નથી. 

    Village culture.

    Look at this village culture. Earlier, during this Navaratri festival only, the Indian rural women were getting chance to dance in public. So some of the GARABAAs nicely capture the day to day life of rural culture.
    • My golden pot and water is coming out of it.
    મારું સોના નો ઘડુલો રે..., હા પાણીડાં છલકે છે. 
    • I had been to a country fair, heart met on its own in the fair, heart lost and drowned in the flood of youth, in the fair, in the fair, in the fairrrrrrrrrr......... 
    હું નો ગઈ 'તી  મેળે, મન..., મળી ગયું એની મેળે મેળામાં....
    • On my pillar, peacock is sitting, where is he speaking from....... 
    મારે ટોડલે બેઠો રે મોર ક્યાં બોલે ?
    • Innocent nephews are going to lake and dancing to the beats of drums,
    • I had gone to pavagadh with 25 Cents...Pavagadhwari goddess appear in front of me or else give me my 25 cents back.
    પાવલી લઈને હું તો પાવાગઢ ગઈ ' તી,  પાવાગઢવાળી મને દર્શન દે...
    • I have planted Henna at the Madava state but its color has gone to Gujarat 
    મહેંદી મેં વાવી માળવે ને એનો રંગ ગયો, ગુજરાત રે....
    • Flute played in Pethalpur and my sleeping goldsmith woke-up young kingdom, round friend red, round friend

    પેથલપુરમાં  પાવો વાગ્યો, ને મારો સુતો સોનીડો જાગ્યો જવાન રાજ ઘમ્મર યાર લાલ ઘમ્મર યાર. 
    • Ant poor one is alone and getting married..lets go to Ms. Ant's wedding...
    કીડીબાઈ ની જાનમાં
    •  I want to go to the fair because its Rajudis fair
      મારે તો મેળે જાવું છે ને રાજુડી નો મેળો લાગ્યો.
      • Come to play "hu tu tu tu..." will u play hu tu tu tu? 
      હું તું તું તું તું તું ...જામી રમતની ઋતુ
        Urban area
        Now see, influence from urban area. 
        • There is lot of earnings in Mumbai but Mumbai's earnings is all spent in Mumbai only.
        મુંબઈ ની કમાણી મુંબઈ માં સમાણી 
        • There came a train from Mumbai...who all came in the train....
        • At Red Gate, (A place in Ahmedabad) I put up tents....
        મેં તો, લાલ દરવાજે, તંબુ તાણીયા રે લોલ.
        • I am Ahmedabad's rickshaw driver with registration plate 999, come I will show you round Ahmedabad.
        હું અમદાવાદ નો રીક્ષાવાળો, નવસો નવ્વાણું નંબરવાળો. અમદાવાદ બતાવું ચાલો.  
        This song describe all the famous sight seeing of city Ahmedabad. 

        • A leaf flies, foreigner red leaf. I am emotional about this leaf, foreigner red leaf 
          પાંદડું ઉડી ઉડી જાઇ રે પરદેશી લાલ  પાંદડું
          • Merry-go-round is making noise while running. Please pay cash today. Credit will tomorrow.   
          સ ર ર સ ર ર મારું ચકડોળ ચાલે....આજે રોકડા ને ઉધાર કાલે.
             "Please pay cash today and credit will tomorrow", means we completely discourage any credit. We Indians spends our own money rather than taking credit from bank. This self-esteem and attitude is also main reason for strong developing Indian economy. 
            Spicy Songs
            Now, enjoy few spicy songs. Some them are from Gujarati films (Dhollywood).
            • Oh come closer baby...it is full moon night tonight...come to dance on the shores of Jamunaji (repeat).......
            ઓહ ઓરી આવ રે છોરી. 
            • While coming and going give me a little look,though nothing else, atleast say how are you ?

            આવતા જતા જરા નઝર તો નાખતા જજો, બીજું તો કંઈ નહીં પરંતુ કેમ છો કહેતા જજો. 
            • If u come near I will tell you something very private matter. You are hot n spicy sweet and sour dish. Your hair are Sutarfeni of Khambhat, Your cheeks are Ghari of Surat, hey you are Rajkot's Penda, You are beautiful...
            ઓરી આવે તો તને વાત કહું ખાનગી, તું ગરમ મસાલેદાર, ખાટી મીઠી વાનગી. 


            This song also lists out all popular delicious dishes from different parts of Gujarat.
            • Hair scarf tying and it is flying away (repeat). I can't hold on, I can't tolerate, something is happening to my heart.

            ઓઢણી  ઓઢું ઓઢું ને ઉડી જાય (૨)
            નાં નાં રે રહેવાય, નાં નાં રે કહેવાય
            મારા હૈયા માં કંઈ કંઈ થાય....
            • O sweetheart, where were you playing Raas ? your eyes are red and seems you have not slept all night....
            ઓ રંગ રસિયા ક્યાં રમીઆવ્યા રાસ જો, આ આંખલડી રાતીરે ઉજાગરો ક્યાં રે કીધો? 

            Falguni Patahak (Dandiya queen) is very popular singer of Garabaa. She contributed with filmy and non-filmy albums. I have to spare one separate article just to cover translated Raas sung by her. This year, she is coming to Gokuldhaam Society in popular TV serial "Tarak Mehata Ka Ulataa Chasma".

            Rocking songs
             The Khelaiyaa play the Raas with extra zeal, energy on this songs.
            • Drummer oh Drummer Drummer, Drummer dont play drums slowly (repeat). Or else starry night will loose its color

            ઢોલીડા ઢોલ ધીમો ધીમો વગાડ માં  
            • Drummer beat the drum i want to take Heench, drummer beat the drum i want to take Heench, I want to take Heench and i want to play garba, o drummer. (Heench is a kind of dance)
            ઢોલીડા ઢોલ રે વગાડ મારે, હીંચ લેવી છે. 
              • Drums playing at Mahisagar, Let's see all people with different professions. What they are bringing to offer to divine mother.
              હે મારી મહીસાગર ની આરે ઢોલ વાગે સે.
              વાગે સે ઢોલ વાગે સે

              • Going to lake and dancing to the beats of drums
              ભલા ભાનેગળા સરોવર જાવું ત્યાં ઢોલે રમે  


              And yes, before I end this article, how can we forget this? The last but not the least.
              • Garbi is mine garbi re, Give us some change. Garbi mine garbi take separate bananas, bananas r not separate take a friend with it, friend asking, asking for Garbo, please put oil in the Garbaa. "Come on the last day"
              ગરબી મોરી ગરબી રે...

              During Navaratri festival, evening time, small girls in group, go door to door. They carry GARABO (a pot with lamp inside). Sing this song. And demand for oil in GARABO to keep lamp on. People always give default answer, "Come on the last day." At the last day, the small girls gets oil, money, chocolate etc from different people.   
              I could cover only few very popular Raas in this article. You are most welcome to add and modify. Waiting for your comments. At orkut, there was an interesting discussion on listing GARABAs. The content of this article is contributed by all enthusiastic people from my native place Mithapur, (Gujarat). Hiral has also contributed. Acknowledged to all.

              Stay tune to this blog Express YourSelf ! You will find one more such article. A compilation of content shared by people on a social networking website. 

              Sanskrit Dinotsav


              I post the "Sanskrit Day Celebration" pamphlet on this blog. In case, if you miss to attend it, then also "CHINTA MA ASTU" Don't worry.
              We had few songs, group songs, dramas, prize distribution and speeches by honorable guests. Everything in Sanskrit. Here is the video report


              A still from daram "Dev: Kutra Asti?"

              Click here for some more photos. 

              You will find some interesting articles in Sanskrit on this blog. Just stay tune to Express YourSelf !

              Sparks


              • “The Lokpal bill alone cannot eradicate corruption…” – Rahul Gandhi
              Rahul Gandhi suddenly got this knowledge after 11 days of Annaji’s fast…
              He speaks only after thinking. So called, Indian future Prime minister (!!), takes so much time in thinking….

              • “Anna should contest 2014 elections and then can pass any bill” – Mayawati
              Another interpretation is: The ruling party, who has won the election, can pass any irrational bill. 
              • What will happen to website I PAID A BRIBE , once Jan Lokpal bill is passed?

              • At one end, the government and members of parliament wants Anna to end the fast. How come they just skip one whole day without discussion on Lokpal bill !!

              • Let’s lock all the members of parliament in the parliament without providing any food, till they come out with strong Jan Lokpal bill. 
              I had great respect for Manmohan Singh’s initiative of economic reforms. I promoted “A View from Outside” book by P. Chidambaram at my blog. Today I regret for my great opinions about Congress. The same P. Chidambaram is now handling Home affairs. He is guiding Delhi Police against anti-corruption movement.

              How nice, if some of us civil society people, IT people, middle class people join the politics. Let’s consider useful aspect of, Mayawati’s statement, to implement. Let’s pass people friendly bill. We will speak spontaneously, without written notes. Most of us very little hope from our elected representative. Today Annaji is leading us. We are united under a Gandhian after so many decades. Even if this bill pass, in long run, corruption may take another form. In future, who will unite us to fight against any other injustice? Anyway we have woken up now. So let’s find a constructive long term solution.

              Somehow politicians have made entry barrier for us – the common men. We also enjoy such ideas in movies only. Someone has to come forward. What do you think? Express YourSelf !

              Anna Hazare


              Anna Hazare says bring back the Black Money.

              Do u know what will happen if 1,456 Lac Crores comes back.

              1. India Financially No.1
              2. Each district will get 60000 crores & each village will get 100 Crores
              3. No need to pay taxes for next 20 yrs.
              4. Petrol 25 Rs, Diesel 15 Rs, Milk 8 Rs.
              5. No need to pay electricity bill.
              6. Indian borders will become more stronger than the China Wall.
              7. 1500 Oxford like Universities can be opened.
              8. 28,000 kms Rubber road (like in Paris) can be made.
              9. 2,000 hospitals (with all facilities) all medicine Free.
              10. 95 crore people will have their own house.

              Support Anna Hazare by forwarding this message to atleast 10 Indians.
              Please take time to read it.

              10 things to know about Anna Hazare ‘n Jan Lok Pal Bill.. !

              1. Who is Anna Hazare?
              An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

              2. What’s so special about him?
              He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

              3. So what?
              This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.
              In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

              4. Ok,…?
              This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

              5. Really, what is he fighting for?
              He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

              6. How that can be possible?
              He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

              8. It’s an entirely new thing right..?
              In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit their theft (corruption).

              7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
              The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
              Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

              8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
              A LokPal will be appointed at the center. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

              9. Is he alone? Who else is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
              Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.
              Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

              10. Ok, got it. What can I do?
              At least we can spread the message. How?
              Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.

              Samskrit Day Celebration


              Welcome to Sanskrit day celebration. 

              Organised by Samskrita Bharati, Halsuru Division, Indiranagar, Bangalore

              On 27th August 2011 4:00 PM

              Venue:
              Parimal Sabhagan
              Raghvendra Swami Math
              1st stage
              9th cross
              B/h Arya Samaj
              Indiranagar, Bangalore.

              Landmark and direction: A2B Adyar Ananda Bhavan is near KFC signal. Opposite to A2B one small road leads to Raghvendra Math. 



              Click here for detail report about this event. 

              Nrityotsav 2011


              Last Saturday, I enjoyed dance festival. Nrityotsav 2011. It was wonderful. How can I enjoy alone. All the readers of this blog "Express YourSelf !" have privilege  to know more about the event. 
              Here are the details:

               
              Organized by
              Ninaad School Of Kathak Dance
              Venue: 
              Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha
              Purandara Bhavan
              B/h Indiranagar Club,
              8th Main Road
              HAL 2nd stage,
              Bangalore
              on 20th August 2011 5:30 PM

              Here is the list of all the performers.