WAKING UP AT BRAHMA MUHURTA

The morning rituals are best done between the hours of 6 am-10 am. During this time o the day, you have the most strength, fortitude, and steadiness. Brahma Muhurta is one and a half hours (96 minutes) before sunrise. The meaning of Brahma is knowledge, and muhurta means period. Brahma Muhurta is the time that is perfect for perceiving knowledge. Waking up at Brahma Muhurta is very beneficial for our lives because of the state of mind, high level of oxygen in the air, and serenity. This period also known as ‘Amrut Vela,’ which is Creative Hours. 

TAKING CARE OF TEETH AND TONGUE

As the rituals, tooth brushing (daatan) and tongue scraping are the most important of all. Tongue scraping brushes off the unwanted toxins from the tongue and eliminates bad breath. As for toothbrush you can use Nimba, Karanja, Khadira, Arka, Shisham, Yashtimadhu, Malati plants. The thickness of the twig to be used as a toothbrush should be approximately 22.6 cm (12 Angula length), and the tip of the twig should be chewed a little to make it like a toothbrush.

Oil pulling, known in Sanskrit as Kavala Graha, is the practice of twenty minutes of pulling or swishing oil through the teeth to encourage overall oral health and hygiene. Perform this every morning in order to strengthen gums, whiten teeth, remove plaque, restore enamel, extract toxins from the body, eliminate bad breath. To follow the movements of doshas throughout the day, complete the morning ritual before 10am.

TAMBA PAANI AND ITS BENEFITS

It is a healthy practice to have a glass of Tamba Paani, water kept in a copper vessel. Storing drinking water in a copper vessel helps improve the immune system, aid digestion, heal wounds sooner than before and even boost tan. It also fights anemia, reduces hypertension, cures arthritis and inflamed joints, prevents stroke and improves the health of the brain. 

Our body, as per Ayurveda, operates as a clock, and with the movement of the sun, its constitution changes. Life or Ayu is, according to Charaka, the samyog or mixture of the body, the senses, the mind, and the spirit. Ayurveda is the most sacred science in this world and the world beyond to gain benefits. It is an integral approach to life, combined with magnificent gifts from mother nature.

The post Ayurved Dincharya – The Journey of Self Healing Process appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

An Introduction

Yoga is a process of all-round personality development — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. On the other hand, Krida Yog is a subtle introduction to the playful side of yoga where children and adults practice asanas and other physical movements to develop the taste for yoga and to introduce the body to a new form of physical growth. It brings clarity in thought process, improves the motor sensors of the body and its physical capacity as well.

In general, games and sports give a free vent to pent-up emotions and thus, release accumulated stress. These help us control our excitements and culture our emotions. At the same time group games create a field of energy, helps in breaking the barriers of laziness and converts excessive active energy into Sattvic or peaceful energy.

Orphaned, slum children and the ones belonging to the weaker sections of society are often found to be in a chronic state of anxiety, depression and ill health that worsens as they move to adulthood. The complementary and alternative medicine to it is the practice of Krida Yog, which holds promise as a non-invasive, zero incurring cost, safe and non-pharmacological approach to child mental and physical well being. As the old saying goes ‘One can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.’ Krida Yog helps these children to counteract negative social and cultural influences and form a positive bond with people and nature.

Benefits Of These Practices

These yogic games cover not only the elements of all physical exercises involving bodybuilding, quick reflexes, stamina, strength, flexibility and dexterity but enhance mental faculties of both the sides of the brain, right and left like IQ memory, concentration and also creativity. More than that, Krida Yog develops the most needed spiritual quality in child i.e awareness, alertness or wakefulness.

In the modern era of busy schedules, many of us accumulate stress. Therefore, yogic games can help them a lot to relieve stress and provide them with all kinds of benefits. And the most interesting part is these yogic games do not need a big space or any other big material to start, it can be started at any place whether it is an office place, schools, community halls, parks, open grounds or some specific centres.

What more is required if one gets the feeling of fulfilment in a world full of stress?

Lokesh Chawre, an experienced yoga and fitness trainer, has been an essential part of this initiative. He conducts teacher training courses and has trained many school PT teachers, NGO workers, corporate people and children both in theoretical yogic aspect and its recreational bent. He says ‘the entertainment and discovery of creativity in these games spurs grasping and retention power in a child. It benefits their studies with better concentration and presence of mind.’

From school to tuition, sports to recreation, extra-curricular to homework, children’s schedules are as hectic as that of an adult. Their blossoming minds are hard at work, absorbing information in a myriad of fields. A parent may wonder how to fit into this sensory adventure that their child experiences and enjoys. Though Yoga may seem to suit an adult’s taste, the facts of its connection to children are fascinating. The physical exertions which they easily perform and enjoy help build their self-confidence and improves their body sensitivity and coordination. It also sharpens their memory.

Bhavyata Foundation’s Step Towards A Healthier Youth

Till now, Bhavyata Foundation has conducted Krida Yog sessions in 7 locations of Mumbai, one in Palghar and one in Ahmedabad. There have been many sessions in different schools across Mumbai but as of now, regular weekly sessions are being conducted in Navajivan Prathamik School, Thane and Marvali Municipal Gujarati School, Chembur.

Madhu Panchal, Principal of Marvali Municipal Gujarati School, says ‘the attendance of her students has increased exponentially. With the start of regular Krida Yog sessions and students are willing to come on Saturdays (half-day) to especially attend the sessions’. She describes that the students had a hidden desire for such opportunities. Because it makes them feel free of usual peer and family pressure.

History tells us that this sacred task of moulding these young spirits was tasked to a guru. Within the sacred shade of the gurukul, little minds were given this ancestral wisdom. We may still uphold this tradition with a twist of innovation. Today, parents and teachers are the perfect guides who could assimilate the role of a guru. And then use yoga to form an unbreakable bond with their young ones. Bhavyata Foundation organises Krida Yog batches for adults and children on weekends in localities like Thane, Tilaknagar, Bhandup, Ghatkopar west, South Mumbai and is open to connecting with people who want to conduct the same in their own locality.

What Does Karvi Bhatta Have To Say?

Karvi Bhatt, a trainee from public forums of Krida Yog held in Tilak Nagar, Mumbai described Krida Yog being interesting.  Amol Hule, a parent, said ‘He had forgotten to play because of work and family care’. He said involvement in Krida Yog gave him more energy and spiked the fun-element (‘Anand’). Karvi eagerly waits for the weekend to attend such sessions. He feels these sessions are empowering. Girish Muthiyan, who works with Bank of America has attended TTC under Lokesh Chawre and is spreading the same. He does this through inspirational talks and Krida Yog activities in different schools. He says ‘children mostly love the hurdle game and their response to each activity was amazing.’ 

We believe the revival of traditional games. And their relevance to fitness and wellness especially among children will fetch a healthy workforce to the nation.

Final Thoughts

Krida Yog is a program for tackling the causes and consequences of sedentary learning. In addition to weak emotional resilience, physical incapacities and health challenges in children from 6–15 years. Krida Yog is a well-researched and planned program. It combines the art of wellness, joy of recreation and the potential of learning. We have devised a time tested curriculum in recreational play and exercise programs involving yogic asanas, exercises, breathing techniques, recreational games and many value building conversations. It brings a mix of indoor and outdoor activities with the necessary physical build-up and energy infusion. Some games like table reach, medicine ball throw and statue game develop flexibility, strength and invoke a better presence of mind in a child.

Krida Yog Teacher Training Courses ( TTC) were conducted on numerous occasions including on International Yoga Day to forward the impact of wellness on overall wellbeing and physical development of children catering to 109 trainees.

We opine Krida Yog to be a part of the school curriculum for reduction of stress and academic anxiety. Moreover, yogic games of this kind facilitate the wellbeing of our youth thereby maintaining social harmony and peace within the community.

The post Krida Yog: Yog to Build a Better Tomorrow appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Part 2: What is the condition of workers and craftspersons in India?

Historically, most art and artisans have been dependent on kings and mercantile communities for patronage. After the coming of the British and other colonial private companies, the power and influence of India’s monarchs started lessening. The British also started pushing machine-made products manufactured in Britain. Hence, they would source raw material from India, make factory finished goods in Britain, and sell them in India’s market. As those industrial goods were cheaper than India’s handmade products, they started selling faster. India’s artisans became marginalized as a consequence and pushed into poverty. Because they were left without access to raw materials or a market to sell their goods to.

The situation did not improve much after independence as well. Artisans in India are still relegated to rural areas where they have little help from the government. Be it the Centre or State governments, which means that they don’t have the means to take up the traditional work full-time. This has led to a widespread erasure of India’s art and culture.

Artisan guilds also have begin to disintegrate. And many traditional art forms are lost as people move to different jobs. Over the past 30 years, the number of Indian artisans has decreased by 30%. And the vast majority of artisans operate in informal work settings.

The art and handicraft sector is the second largest employment generator after agriculture. According to the 2011 Census, there are over 68 lakh artisans in the country. Out of these 55 percent of them are women. Despite this, the country contributes to a meagre two percent to the global handicrafts industry. The National Informatics Centre attributed the dire state of the handicraft industry to the inaccessibility of funds, low penetration of technology, absence of market intelligence, and poor institutional framework of artisan groups.

The Glorious History Of Metal Artists

The metal manufacture in India has a glorious past. Archaeological evidence so far proves that the metallic culture in India is as old as the Indus Valley Civilization. The earliest non-ferrous metal used by men is copper, whose discovery and use brought about a revolutionary change in society. In Assam, one of the few states where Kansa is made, the metal culture is from the copper plate charter of Vanavalavarmandeva of the 9th century A.D. A bronze image of Lord Vishnu of the 11th century A.D. and the bronze image of Dashabhuja Mahishamardini Durga of the late Medieval Period. Additionally, the views put forth by the workers of brass metal production units indicate that irregular and insufficient supply of raw material is the main problem with production.

In “An Insight To The Bell-Metal Industry of Bankura, West Bengal, India,” a paper in the International Journal of Life Sciences, that the bell metal crafting involves a high production cost. The household economic profile of the bell and brass metalworkers revealed that most of them (45.83 %) belonged to the monthly income category of Rs. 3001–6000. Master artisans, constituting 12.5 % of the community were earning more than 9000 per month. Women are also a part of the carving activity. The data shows that the average monthly household income (Rs. 6062) and standard of living of the workers were miserable.

An Insightful Conversation

In preparation for this article, we had conversations with two sides of the industry, the producer and the consumer.

In our conversation with Lucky, a Kansa worker from Odisha. He recalls that the art had been in his family for generations. His father, who was also a Kansa worker, had passed on the knowledge of the craft to him. The craft breathes in a few districts around Odisha, like Kantilo, which is famous for Kansa work

He says that because of the decreasing demand for Kansaware, many people often leave this traditional work. And move on to different villages, towns, and cities in search of work that will pay more. Lucky seems to echo the sentiments of many craftspeople around India when he says that there seem to be no benefits in their line of work. Most people use steel, plastic, and ceramic now, pushing Kansa to the margins, leading to the impoverishment and livelihood erasure of entire communities. Lucky says that only old people are prone to using Kansa. One source of demand comes from ritualistic affairs. At Annaprasan (the first time a baby eats solid food) rituals, and other festivals.

During the conversation, he was if there are any benefits from the government that he and his family receives. He to that saying that their employment card (specifying that they’re artisans) does lead to some monetary help from the government, but even that has completely after the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Continuation

Since the inception of the craft, Kansa-makers lived in tight-knit societies where they, as a community, took care of one another. But as the demand reduced, children moved on from their traditional lifestyle, leaving the older members with not only an economic but a socio-cultural problem. Elements of collective living remain through their union, the Kansari Samaj, but their strength is also eroding slowly.

In the initial conversation with my grandmother, Mrs. Bula Mukherjee, she recalls that her mother’s, meaning my great-grandmother’s generation was actually the one who used Kansaware regularly. Her views are essentially congruent to Lucky’s, meaning, she says that Kansa has ritualistic importance. Kansa utensils were part of her bridal trousseau when she got married. And it was a part of my mother’s during her wedding as well. While talking to Mrs. Leena Mody, an entrepreneur, and a homemaker, we came to know that she has been using Kansaware daily for lunch and dinner and she does not have any difficulties in using or washing the utensils. The immense benefit of using them far outweighs the hardships, even if there were any. During the COVID-19 crisis, one important benefit of using Kansa is that it is antibacterial and anti-virus.

According to Lucky, health education programmes at schools speaking about the benefits of eating in Kansa utensils could be a good way to encourage people to buy Kansa. Another way of marketing is to reach out to food bloggers, cooking channels, and culinary competitions to use Kansa utensils in their shows. This will encourage viewers to explore and buy Kansa and thus stimulate demand.

The Central Issue And Aatma Nirbharta

The main problem plaguing the artisan industry is the lack of visibility. The more investment goes into the industry, the more focus can be put on marketing, on financial analysis, on the branding of handmade products as desirable. The corporate gifting industry in the country has been growing at a rapid pace over the past decade due to the rising income level and aspirations of people. If this space is to artisans with proper government policies and subsidies, it will give a great boost to the industry as a whole.

To the path of “self-reliance,” currently being as “Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat,” supporting artisans is extremely important. Indian artisans have also because of a cultural shift in the Indian ethos where traditional arts and handicrafts have been left in favour of high-end European or American products (most of which is eventually in China anyway). In a race to give children a Westernized education, and “modernizing” ourselves, we have become rootless, and our artisans have suffered the most because of this shift in values. The erasure of art means the erasure of an entire culture. Self-reliance, as a nation, will come from the acceptance and support of our traditional art.

The post Reviving A Forgotten Metal- 2: A series on the traditional Kansa metal appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Firstly, on the making of Kansa and its relationship with our health, according to both modern science and Ayurvedic principles. Secondly, on the conditions of Kansa workers, where they are, and their social and economic circumstances. Thirdly, we will discuss how the current discourse on sustainability. And the environment is in close relationship with the revival of Kansa. Also how we can rebrand it to suit the needs of the current consumer base, including younger people.

Part 1 What is Kansa and How Is It Made?

Kansa is a name of Indian bell-metal or bronze, which, in the state of Assam, it is known as Kanh. Kanchu in Kannada, it is used for cooking and eating utensils. Sarthebari in Barpeta district of Assam holds a unique place in the production of kanh utensils. In Assam, utensils of Kanh have many religious uses. The most unique utensils, bata and banbati, to give offerings and puja. Or to show respect to honored guests and dignitaries. Kansa is an alloy which is a 4:1 proportion of copper and tin, typically 78% copper and 22% tin. It is over three thousand years old, in use since the Golden Age of Ayurveda: the Samhita Kala, a testament to our heritage and our roots.

To make Kansa, copper and tin are heated together for 400 -700 degree Celsius to form bronze. The metal, now molten, is then made into sheets. Utensils are polished manually with traditional substances such as sand and tamarind juice. Kansa is a malleable metal in itself, and hence, the prepared alloy can acquire different kinds of finishes — matt or glossy, depending on the consumer’s aesthetic preferences.

Kansa and Our Health

Ayurveda Prakasha is one of the important ancient texts on ancient Indian Alchemy by Shrimad Madhava Upadhyaya in circa 16th-17th century AD, which provides ample statements about the health benefits of Kansa. In the Sanskrit alchemical work “ Rasaratna Samucchaya,” there is significant information about the healing properties on Kansa.

Kansaware plates, glasses, and cutlery used to be a staple in households across India, and if one is thinking of discarding plasticware because of its health and environmental aspects, Kansa is the best metal to which you should make the switch, because of its sustainable nature and health properties.

Metals like copper and brass react with sour and salty food to form chemical compounds which are harmful to our body. However, Kansa metal does not react, which is why it is safe to cook and eat in. In the 5th century, Ayurvedic scientist Charaka says that eating and cooking in Kansa utensils. Balance the body’s pH level. In Sanskrit, the phrase “ Kansyam Buddhivardhakam, “ refers to the belief that Kansa sharpens our intellect and calms our minds. Not only that, but it is also a metal which boosts energy as well.

Water Stored In Kansa

Water stored in Kansa pots does not go stale. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, water which is stored in Kansa for eight hours has the ability to correct and balance all three “doshas” present in our body. The tridosha theory says that our body contains “ Vata,” “ Pitta” and “ Kapha.” Each dosha, if unbalanced, can lead to specific ailments and health problems. For example, deranged “Vata” can lead to pain, causing gout or rheumatism; unbalanced “Pitta” can lead to digestion problems, and unbalanced “Kapha” can lead to flu and lung diseases.

Drinking and eating from copper vessels fulfils the requirement of important copper trace metals for the optimal functioning of thyroid glands. Copper also reduces inflammation and improves haemoglobin, since it has vital medicinal and healing properties, which the food or water kept in it acquires. It is the key component in the production of melanin helping in restoring healthy skin, and also reduces the wrinkling of the skin. Additionally, it helps in breaking down and eliminating fat, aiding in weight loss for people who want to lose weight. Copper, and therefore Kansa, also helps in cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of anaemia by regulating blood pressure.

Coming Up

Kansa is not only a metal which reflects our history, but it is also extremely beneficial for our health and wellness. A switch to Kansa is essentially a lifestyle change. For a healthier, calmer, and more joyful life, eating in Kansa can prove to be a catalyst. Call it Ayurveda, or science, or even the Placebo Effect if you are a sceptic, a switch to the bell-metal will have welcome effects on your life which you will not end up regretting in the future.

For the next article of this series, we will take a look at the people who create this beautiful metal, if they are getting their due, or if they are struggling. This article series’ aims is to create awareness amongst the public. That is because Kansa is not only metal, it is rather an experience, a culture, and a way of life.

The post Reviving A Forgotten Metal-1: A Series on the traditional Kansa metal appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Part 3: Is Kansa A Sustainable Alternative?

Most households around India and even the world seem to be enamoured by plastic and other newer materials like ceramic. Currently, traditional metals like Kansa are being used less and less, despite their health and aesthetic superiority. This, apart from cultural disadvantages, has harsh environmental consequences as well.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, from the inception of plastic in 1950, annual global plastic production has increased dramatically from 2 million tonnes to 380 million tonnes a year in 2015. Scientists and researchers have already put it out there as a warning. India, on the other hand, is responsible for generating 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Out of which 40 per cent remains uncollected, as per the recently published study by Un-Plastic Collective (UPC). It is a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). And WWF-India to help eliminate plastic pollution in nature and move towards a circular economy.

However, plastic is not the only contender here that we have to deal with. Even ceramic contributes to a large amount of non-biodegradable waste that is hard to recycle. Ceramic, unlike Kansa, is prone to breaking frequently.

The Havoc Wreaked

According to a 2014 report, the production of the global ceramic market stood at 13 billion square meters in terms of volume. Everyone has been talking about segregating plastics and other materials at the source and otherwise. But there is no account on how users can dispose of their broken ceramic wares. With the Pollution Control Board getting stricter with every passing year, this inert waste was increasingly causing a menace. Even though it takes millions of years for plastic to decompose, it does decompose (not to forget bio-plastics). While ceramic remains for an even longer time or perhaps forever. That is what archaeology has shown us.

Ceramic can also stain, and have other problems that take away from its capacity from being for a long time. Kansa, on the other hand, can be on from generation to generation. Cleaning it with a citric substance can make its shine last for a very long time. Thus, the longevity of Kansa makes it an extremely sustainable metal.

Aestheticism And Eco-Properties

The aesthetic properties of Kansa, which is a form of bronze, can incorporate it into a modern household with ease. Bronze is an aesthetically pleasing material that actually grows more radiant over the years due to the properties of its chemical makeup. Developing an incrustation, titled a “patina” through oxidation and years of use, this change is typically of high ornamental value. Bronze from copper alloys has bactericidal properties that can eliminate the issue of bacteria growth almost completely, with critical studies in the U.S. and Britain revealing that bacteria on copper alloy surfaces like Kansa are 99.9% after two hours at the latest. This proves that Kansa is a very “clean” metal, preventing the growth of bacteria on its surface and therefore preventing contamination by bacteria as well as building immunity.

Apart from being environmentally sustainable, Kansa is also to be of valuable property because of its prestige value, durability, quality, and above all its resale value even after breakage. Till recently, next to gold and silver ornaments, bell and brass metal articles are valuable household wealth. So when a person is investing in Kansa, they are not only bringing new tableware into their homes. But rather a source of wealth that they can reap in the future.

Kansaware is important in rituals as well as in the celebration of different festivals. Apart from these utilitarian and socio-religious bell metal items, are also with Kansa because of its sonorous qualities. From temple bells to cymbals, the beautiful sounds that Kansa produces is not by any other metal.

Kansa As A Home Décor

Modern, urban households have also accepted the sheer beauty of the traditional metal that enhances the aesthetics of their homes, through interior decorations items like small statues, kanh (bell used in office, educational institutions), photo frame, the frame of looking glass, tiffin box, badges, and decorative items like a banana tree, bunch of nuts, pen stands, flower vases, animal and bird figures are also some other interesting products of the industry. Some ornaments like bangle (a bracelet or anklet), chain (an ornament a series of links in a line), earrings (an ornament for the ear, kanbala) and pendants (an ornament longing on the neck, latkan) are also by the industry.

Once the glory of our households, they are now hidden under our apathy and desire to incorporate the shallow standards of “modernity” into our families. In this series, I have to bring attention to a metal that is “forgotten.”

Kansa, unlike a lot of other metals that might seem “convenient,” offers Ayurvedic health benefits that are unparalleled. From facilitating digestion to sharpening our intellects, from protecting us from bacteria to balancing our doshas, Kansa is a metal which, if used regularly, makes our health and our lives much better.

The Struggle And The Steps Towards Sustainability

Kansa artisans, or Kansaris, are struggling in the face of government apathy and decreasing consumer demand. With the disappearance of guilds and children moving away for better livelihoods. They are at the risk of losing their community heritage altogether. So, when you buy Kansa, you not only buy a product but rather. You support a community that is striving to keep a tradition alive. You are making a community self-reliant, being a catalyst towards an Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

And last but not the least, Kansa is a big step towards environmental sustainability. Along with a significant resale value, Kansa also has an advantage in which it can be by generation after generation, unlike plastic or ceramic.

As Peter Drucker said, “the best way to predict a future is to create it.” By buying Kansa, you are creating a future that is self-reliant, sustainable, and healthy.

The post Reviving A Forgotten Metal- 3: A series on the traditional Kansa metal appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

The Art Of Simplicity

Simplicity is not sacrificing; it’s a lifestyle. It helps people change for the better and make lives- both theirs and others- happier and healthier. Simplicity is making do with enough; it teaches us the power of less. Simplicity, when brought into relationships, does wonders to it as it removes all the unwanted elements and goes back and focuses on things that matter most.

If we go by the dictionary, simplicity means, the quality or state of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded. When there is simplicity, there is no goodness or greatness, no hierarchy- everyone is treated equally. Simplicity is connecting to the flora and fauna as nature is the best demonstration of simplicity.

Simplicity Day shouldn’t just be another day on our calendars, it should be a virtue to live by every day. Keep your phone aside, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up with your friends and family around. Go take a walk in the woods and experience the serenity and calmness of nature. These little actions can bring us joy and help relax our minds and connect to the people around us.

Indian And Simplicity

Simplicity has been inculcated in the Indian lifestyle for ages. In ancient times, people used to live with the most basic necessities which would help them in daily survival. A simple lifestyle is considered to be the optimum lifestyle for the human race in the Vedas. One should always stay away from luxury and learn to live with simplicity.

One such kind of lifestyle is a minimalist one. It is about living with the only things that one requires. Minimalists are free from the desire to buy and accumulate more. Instead, they find happiness in relationships and experiences.

Robert Brault said, “ Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things “. Simplicity helps us grow.

So, go out, take a stroll with your friends and family. Sit and have snacks with your parents, and live the life you should be.

Happy Simplicity Day!

The post In Simplicity, I follow: Food for Thought, This Simplicity Day appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Has there ever been a time in your life when choices were easy to make. And paths in life were comfortable to tread? Was there smooth sailing in relationships with friends, loved ones or even in professional circles? If we listen to what the dictionary says, Thread the Needle means, ‘To find harmony or strike a balance between conflicting forces, interests, etc. Normally used to indicate the difficulty of doing so; also, sarcastically, for a failed attempt’. Thread the Needle Day originated from the idea of endeavouring to explore one’s route through a limited gap. Narrowed choices and confusing alternatives, for example, that on the top of a needle.

For many, there may have no phase in life, which represents a chessboard with black and white squares. Life is always grey in shades. Everyone faced dilemmas, where sound and timely decisions had to be taken.

A precious lesson can come to rescue in these times of duality, from none other than the humble thread and needle. No one even considers heeding to such an inspiration. While threading a needle, one ought to pass it through very close extremities without getting blocked.

The Needles, Threads And Life Lessons

The little needle offers many a reason for living life of decisive, incisive discrimination for an excellent outcome.

Firstly, life needs to be like a thread, which needs adaptation to the changing circumstances. The thread needs orientation in a position to pass through the eye without hindrance. Our conscience is the moral compass, and life’s temptations are like the eye of the needle. I remember an anecdote from the experience of the son of Louis XVI. The King was overthrown in a military coup. The son was abducted and emotionally tormented by confining to debasing surroundings of distrust, foul language and lewd distractions. Post-six months of torture, his adversaries expected him to give up the claim to the throne. They were aghast when they got a firm and confident reply from the boy, “I am prince, born to be a king, no matter whatsoever.”

Secondly, many a time, decisions have to be made, keeping in the larger picture and overall welfare. Threading through the eye of the needle requires that utmost concentration without delving into the result of the effort. Actions in life taken with full awareness of the present without consideration of outcomes. Or worries of the past are deemed to give focus and self-confidence.

Lastly, what counts in life and threading a needle is steadiness. Whether it’s in hand or in mind, it’s the balance that counts. When you ride a bicycle, how do you steady it? Simple, keep cycling. If you stop, you lose balance and have to alight. In the era of 5000 years ago, this dilemma caught up with a talented and courageous warrior in a decisive battle. He lost his balance of mind, and his bow eventually slipped from his hands. Arjun got enlightened by his Divine Companion and Guide, Sri Krishna.

The Literal Meaning

If we go by the literal meaning, Thread the Needle means using the thread to sew, stitch or create beautiful patterns on cloth with designs. Sewing has been one of the oldest traditions of India. As the clothing evolved in India, the use of sewing grew in various ways. Thread and Needles have been the most important and most essential tool for people involved in the industry. Embroidery is a rich legacy, and heritage offered to Indian culture.

The artisans embed lively expression through exquisite patterns and motifs on the fabric that often whisper tales of love and affection. This day belongs to our innumerable artisans, who with their imaginative minds, steady hands, deft skills and patient applications, bring out aesthetic wonders of creativity. Celebrating this day would mean to honour the traditions, culture and resilience of generations of artisan guilds who have kept the art alive in their hearts and expressed with their skilled hands.

Coming Together For Artisans

Considering the various interpretations of the phrase, Thread the Needle Day, the day is celebrated all across the world in multiple ways. Some take up sewing lessons while others resort to meditation and practise of yog postures. Many people take their sewing machines out and make something using it for their loved ones. But the ideal approach to celebrate Thread the Needle Day is by taking a gander at your life and checking whether you’re managing a circumstance. It occurs excessively frequently that we need to manage them, and much more regularly than the primary way out is to pick one side or the other. Thread The Needle Day helps you to remember the third, increasingly fragile way.

To celebrate the occasion, Bhavyata Foundation in association with Le’Mark School of Art brings you an online workshop on Embroidery Traditions on July 25.

Let’s join in and learn more about our ancient wisdom and tradition to celebrate Thread the Needle Day!

The post Thread the Needle Day – Honoring the Embroidery tradition appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Stitching: An Art Of Patience

Every single tiny stitch of a piece of embroidery craft is, most of the time, the creation of a woman’s fingers, twinged by the needle’s demands, her bowed head curving her torso into a C. They work day and night, incorporating their screams and silence, sweat and pain, into beautiful and extraordinary designs. The word “embroidery” has larger than life connotations to it. There is no option of undoing or redoing. Though nowadays there are methods like free-motion machine embroidery and computerised machine embroidery. It is still a process that demands an investment of patience and sense of beauty. Before computers were affordable, most machine embroideries were completed by punching designs on paper tape that then ran through an embroidery machine. One error could ruin an entire plan, forcing the creator to start over.

Kantha is a popular form of embroidery often practised by rural women. Kantha stitch makes simple quilts, commonly known as nakshi Kantha. Depending on the use of the finished product, they were known as Lepkantha or Sujni Kantha. The embroidered cloth has many applications including shawls, covers for mirrors, boxes, and pillows. In some cases, the entire fabric is covered with running stitches. Along with employing beautiful motifs of flowers, animals, birds and geometrical shapes, as well as themes from everyday activities. The stitching on the cloth gives it a slightly wrinkled, wavy effect. It has a different class of its own, and with improvements in technology. It is generating an aura, brighter and subtler.

The Banjara Embroidery

There is another exquisite form of embroidery, that is the Banjara embroidery of which Karnataki Banjara crafts and Lambani crafts are the most vivid and popular. The spirit of roaming from places to places reflected a sense of liberty in the Banjaras or the nomadic tribes. It was this sense of continuity and freedom that was reflects through the Banjara embroidery designs. The traditional craft has been hand down from generation to generation, and Banjara communities strive to preserve the artwork that they have inherited from their forefathers.

Despite their gradual absorption into the mainstream of life, the Banjaras continue to keep in touch with their age-old customs, traditions and beliefs. Their artistic creation ranges from bags, belts, purses to apparels and many more utility objects that meet the changing tastes of present-day connoisseurs. There are 14 types of stitches in Banjara embroidery. They are Kilan, Vele, Bakkya, Maki, Suryakanti Maki, Kans, Tera Dora, Kaudi, Relo, Gadri, Bhuriya, Pote, Jollya, Nakra. Apart from these, there are other Various types of Indian embroidery crafts such as Kashida from Kashmir, Phulkari from Punjab, Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh, Kasuti embroidery from Karnataka and so forth.

Final Thoughts

The history of embroidery has in itself a glimpse of “the private inner world” of women, as a chronicler of the Korean tradition puts it. Because it has always tended to flourish in female and feminine spaces, that is the home; it is a kind of secret. To embroider is to embellish, to furnish a piece of cloth with a pint of fantasia and thus be momentarily free. Thus embroidery becomes an oxymoron in itself, letting the caged concepts of the beauty of mind and fingers free as well as stitching them fixed, channeling them through a mind-forged path. In this Threading the Needle Day (Sui Dhaaga), let us celebrate the eternal beauty engraved in those artworks and the toil imprinted upon them.

The post Sui Dhaaga of India – Saluting the Embroiderers appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Parents: The First Teacher

Parents take various roles, firstly a teacher from whom we learn. Small kids tend to emulate what their parents do, talk like them, walk like them, and do things correctly in their style. Parents do everything for us, and they are the ones who are always there for us no matter what happens. They are the first ones to cheer for us when we win a match or the ones who console us when we lose it. Parents are our best friends who always support us and show us the right path. They love us unconditionally and demand nothing in return but our happiness and well-being. In India, parents are consider worshippable superiors. So to honour them and show our gratitude towards them, a special day has been for them. On this day, we can do various things to accept them and make them happy such as –

• Prepare a for them before they get up in the morning.

•  A thoughtful gift always wins a heart

• Surprise them with a visit.

Most important of all, thank them for all the sacrifices they have done for you, growing you up and make sure you let them know that you’re always there for them and love them like the way you do. Show them the love they’ve always deserved all the days round the year so that you don’t need a specific day to honour them. Bhavyata Foundation wishes Happy Parents’ Day to all the parents out there!

The post Why they are our world!- Celebrating Parents Day appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.

Marking its significance, International Chess Day is celebrated on 20th July every year. On this day, the International Chess Federation was established in 1924. In addition, celebrating this day was proposed by UNESCO and has been celebrated after 1966. Let’s have ‘Chess Pe Charcha on International Chess Day’.

A Brief Histroy Of Chess

Chess is one of the oldest games that originated in India in the fifth century. Chess, originally was not the same as we see or play in current times. There has been a whole evolution in this game. Originally it was known as ‘Chaturanga’, which means ‘having four limbs or parts’. In the period when Arabs took over Persia, the popularity of chess grew amongst them. The Arabs further took the game to southern Europe and it spread across Europe and the same charisma of chess persists to date.

Chess is an ancient game. Evidence shows that this game was an integral part of ancient India. The game, or battle, Chaturanga appears in the Mahabharata, an ancient epic poem of the Kurukshetra war. This war took only eighteen days and was between two cousin families over who was the rightful ruler of the kingdom of Bharata. The two families, the five sons of Pandu and the one hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra, fought with cunning and treachery, the morality of which bothered a key character, Yudhishthira. Above all, the Bhagavad Gita includes the spiritual explanation of why sometimes violence, treachery and war is necessary. What a game of great game chess is, where the violence and treachery are within the limits of board.

Benefits Of Playing Chess

It is not like cricket, soccer and other games that require physical movement and strength are good for health but indoor games such as chess are equally important for everyone. We as a whole realize that playing chess hones our brains and assists with expanding our IQ however did you realize it additionally forestalls Alzheimer’s as in football, the whole body is working and moving, comparably while playing chess, mind likewise capacities and it diminishes the danger of dementia. It helps in improving recollections as well as assists with improving the critical thinking aptitudes.

This day is celebrated all across the globe in almost all cities. Every city has chess clubs. And members of this club gather and organize tournaments amongst themselves. It is one of the biggest festivals for all professional chess players.

India has given 65 Grandmasters, 10 Women Grandmasters, and 123 international chess masters to date who never fail to make the nation and themselves proud each time. In addition, these chess masters share their journey of success on various social media platforms or via interviews. They make sure that the spirit and enthusiasm of chess amongst the youth never dies.

We all should start celebrating the day and if we already do, then make our friends and family join in and enjoy with our loved ones. Let’s make the transition from ‘Chai pe Charcha’ to ‘Chess pe Charcha’.

#Chess #Strategy #Board Game Design #Rural #International Chess Day

The post Chess Pe Charcha on International Chess Day appeared first on Bhavyata Foundation.