The Brahmaputra River: The lifeline and cultural symbol of Northeast

-

 


Source: Sikkim Express Gangtok, 19/11/2024, pg.4.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mountains are water reservoirs for the planet

-
Image
  N Munal Meitei Mountains are one of the oldest nature’s pristine structures, stolid and regal they stand against the sky, of such a size that they can catch entire countryside’s in their shadow, and turn back the ravages of storms against their unflinching sides. They are the source of recreation and resource, with stones of green dressed slopes to enthusiasts, and to those brave enough to delve into their stony sides. Mountains are one of the most beautiful and interesting geological features that nature has to offer us. Mountains have served as playgrounds and places of worship for countless generations - a mainstay for so many people and cultures. International Mountain Day is observed on 11 December to celebrate the beauty of mountains and their values. Mountains are recognized as particularly sensitive physical environments where intense and rapid changes have taken place in the past and may increasingly in the future. Manipur being with 90% hills have the relevance to...
Read more

Palmyra leaf bags substitute plastic nursery bags to support sustainable mangrove restoration

-
Image
  by  M.T. Saju An experiment in Tamil Nadu notes the success of nursery bags made of palmyra over those made of plastic, for the nurturing and transplantation of mangrove seedlings during ecological restoration activities. Mangrove seedlings showed good growth like they did in plastic bags and higher durability against water inundation. They were also able to spread roots better in palmyra bags. Traditional crafts involving palmyra leaves constitute an important source of livelihood for locals in the district of Thanjavur. Sitting near her thatched hut, Achikkannu reaches for a set of dried palmyra ( Borassus flabellifer ) leaves kept on a fence, made of broken fishing nets. She cuts the leaves into equal parts. Despite her struggles with frequent bouts of flu, she can weave a nursery bag in 40 minutes with dried palmyra leaves. Like many women in Kollukkadu, a coastal village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, this 70-year-old depends on these leaves for a livelihood. ...
Read more

Epics for children: Birds of divine feather

-
Image
  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...
Read more