World Heritage day - April 18, 2024

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Epics for children: Birds of divine feather

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  By  Gaurav Yadav Of all the birds that are considered divine, the hamsa or hansa has the most exalted position as it is identified with Brahman—the Supreme Spirit. Of all the birds that are considered divine, the hamsa or hansa has the most exalted position as it is identified with Brahman—the Supreme Spirit. It has also been used as a representation of the individual soul; its pure white complexion denoting the pristine soul, before it is tarnished by worldly things. It is the vehicle of Brahma and Saraswati. The epics claim that hamsa eats pearls, and is able to separate milk from water. Saints are sometimes referred to as paramhamsa (supreme hamsa), implying that they have the ability to separate the good from the bad. The hamsa is also revered in Buddhism as a symbol of wisdom. There is a controversy over which bird is referred to as hamsa in the epics. Most scholars believe it to be a swan as it flies high, remains alone, is graceful and pure white-coloured, just l...
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Religious syncretism and 33 million deities

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 by  Nanditha Krishna Illustration: Amit Bandre The  Rigveda  enumerates 33 devas or ‘shining ones’, representing primarily the forces of nature. Of these, three were important: Agni or fire, Indra or rain, and Soma, a plant. The popular deities today are two Vedic gods—Vishnu combined with a non-Vedic Narayana, and Rudra combined with a non-Vedic Shiva—and the many forms of Shakti, the supreme goddess. Agni, Indra and Soma, along with 28 others, became ‘minor deities’. Later, more minor deities were added to the Hindu pantheon: ashtadikpalas (the eight guardians of directions), navagrahas (nine planets), vasus (eight attendant deities), adityas (12 forms of the sun), rudras (11 forms of Shiva), avataras (10 incarnations of Vishnu), along with river goddesses, lesser-known forms of the main deities, village gods and goddesses and demi-gods of Buddhism and Jainism. The original major deities of the Vedas became minor over time, while the minor...
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Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) – Valedictory Function of Bamboo Crafts Training

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  Source: https://www.andamansheekha.com/137565/ MARCH 5, 2025 bY   SANJIB KUMAR ROY Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 05: The CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), under the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building, and Livelihood Programme (EIACP-RP), successfully concluded the two-month Certificate Course on Micro-Entrepreneur – NTFP (Non-Timber Forest Produce) Plant Origin: Bamboo Crafts. Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, the program aimed at equipping trainees with sustainable livelihood skills in bamboo craftsmanship. The valedictory function was held at the Auditorium of TGCE, Sri Vijaypuram, graced by esteemed dignitaries, trainers, and trainees. The event commenced with a welcome song by GSDP trainees, setting the tone for the occasion. Dr. P. Sudhakar, Director & EIACP Coordinator, CPREEC, Chennai, delivered the Welcome Address, emphasizing the role of skill-based environmental education in fost...
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