Volume-1 l Issue-1 l October 2020 Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter Samvaadshaalaa NewsLetter From the Editor’s Desk Prof (Dr) Shalini Verma ‘LIFOHOLIC’

Inaugural amaskaar Friends Issue It is an occasion of pride and honour Nfor us to come up with this INA- GUARAL issue of SAMVAADSHAALAA on the auspicious occasion of Shardiya NA- Publisher’s Note VARATRI 2020. The year 2020, as we have seen so far, is an BEFRIEND BOOKS FOR LIFE AND uncommon year – if more for not-so-good NEVER BE ALONE reasons, also for at least a few good ones.

Walter Winchell says: Talking of GOOD things this year, it is “A real friend is one who walks in when worth mentioning here that Humans have be- Development Officer Hemanth Kumar Yadav the rest of the world walks out.” come more HUMANE. helped around 800 villagers in Uttar Pradesh Books EMBRACE • When an Air Express flight carry- get employment under the Kalyani river res- you when you are ALONE ing 190 people from Dubai skidded off the toration project. runway of Kerala’s Kozhikode airport and • RuKart Technologies, a Thane-based agri- Books SOOTHE you when you SUFFER fell into a 35-feet valley, scores of HUMANS tech startup founded by Vikash Jha developed from the neighbouring areas braved the rains Books ILLUMINATE a low-cost innovative machine called the Sub- when you are in ALIENATED and the fear of COVID-19 to reach the site jee Cooler to help marginalised farmers get and helped in the evacuation of the passen- BOOKS33 access to cold storage facilities. gers in less than two hours. Several others is unique platform for writing enthusiasts. • When the ‘Baba ka Dhaba’ video went vi- lined up at nearby hospitals to donate blood. It is a HOME of the AUTHORS, ral on social media, we learnt about the misery By the AUTHORS & For the AUTHORS. • Phool Mia, a fruit vendor from North of an elderly couple who ran a small dhaba in Delhi, who was robbed of mangoes worth Rs. Delhi’s Malviya Nagar and were hit hard by 30,000 by a mob in May, received help in the the Covid-19 lockdown. Help poured in from Managing Director form of donations of over Rs. 8 lakhs from people across the country and companies like Dinesh Kumar Sinha across the country. Zomato stepped in to do their bit. Editor-in-Chief • When Ashok Singh, a shopkeeper in • The ‘lockdown’ of us humans ensured ‘un- Prof (Dr) Shalini Verma ‘LIFOHOLIC’ Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar reopened his shop locking’ for the Olive Ridley Turtles on the in August after four months of lockdown, the Odisha seashores. Advisory Board street outside his shop got flooded, forcing him Last but not the least, many of the ‘com- Daniel Rudolph, Global Creative, United States to shut down the shop immediately. His picture moners’ like me got blessed with grandeur of Rajendra Prasad Koirala, Director - HR, of breaking into tears went viral. By 6 August, ‘generational leap… Kathmandu, NEPAL several people came forward and extended him a helping handwith close to Rs. 2 lakhs. Yes, with Aadya’s birth, I got promoted Sanjay Gora, DGM, SAIL India from being MAA to GRANDMAA! Prof (Dr) Susmita Paul, Founder 11Chaa Street • District Magistrate Dr Adarsh Singh along with the deputy commissioner (MN- Dugga…Dugga!!! Reetesh Anand, Lead Consultant - Editorial REGA - Barabanki) ND Dwivedi and Block [email protected] Prof (Dr) Monica Khanna, Mentor Author – Parenting, Child Care & Children Literature  We help you PUBLISH your BOOKS  We help you PROMOTE your BOOKS Shamim Nida, Lead Consultant - Creatives  We help you POSITION, RE-POSITION  EXPAND your reach as an ‘AUTHOR’ Amit Anand, Lead Consultant - IT & Communications Contact Us: [email protected] l Call Us: +91-8376011031 l www.books33.com

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ith a firm belief in the 4. Relationship - Our World: failure-success’ stories inspire you, this philosophy of ‘Change is the If you are a person who invests in is the segment to quench your thirst ONLYW Constant’ and ‘Growing is relationships with family, friends and for the Struggle Anecdotes by eminent Living’, we at SAMVAADSHAALAA foes, this collection of short stories is personalities. have planned our monthly bilingual something that our team of promising 11. igys isV iwtk - Recipe of the Month: newsletter (in Hindi and English) with story writers brew JUST FOR YOU! This segment covers valuable book the following 15 features: 5. Baal-Sansaar – The Kids’ World: reviews on some titles on delicious 1. utj gekjh] ut+fj;k vkidk Our This segment caters to the ‘pink- cuisines that are worth reading. News,YourViews: Here, we shall elephant’ fantasy world of your kiddos. 12. R;kSgkj O;ogkj : To cater to your publish our Readers’ Message sent It covers valuable book reviewson anthropological interests, we have to us on a day-to-day basis. We shall sometitles on children literature that come up with this segment with also select 2 best messages of the are worth reading. month and felicitate the senders with a valuable book reviews on some titles 6. Bookaarth: The Book Planet: This SURPRISE GIFT. on Incredible Cultures & Celebrations is an exclusive episodic feature prepared vrqY; Hkjr from Around the World that are worth 2. Incredible Art & Craft of by our editorial team after extensive reading. India: In this segment we will celebrate research. Each episode of this series the world-class art and craft of India, would be based on the evolution of 13. Desh-Pardes: This segment is Indians and Indianness. book writing, BTS (behind the scenes) for wanderlusts. It covers valuable 3. Her Charisma, His Swag… and interesting facts in the making of book reviews on some titles on travel Her Swag, His Charisma: This is select featured books from different &tourism from across the world that something that you just cannot resist. genres. are worth reading. These are fascinating Picture Stories 7. Lekhan Yatra: This is an exclusive 14. Insta Gyan: Developed and with minimal text. As they rightly say, interview on the featured Author’s designed exclusively by our Fashion ‘n’ ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. Writing Journey. Fab team, this segment discusses the Here, we shall post2 pictures and based 8. Wellness ‘n’ Health: This segment style statements of the pics selected on these you (readers) would send covers brief book reviews on some titles from Instagram. us your creative stories. Our highly on Wellness & Mental-Physical health experienced Mentor Authors, with 15. Selfie Point: Pose…Write… that are worth reading. the help of our professionally qualified Post…WIN: If you are deeply in love editorial team, shall select the STORY 9. Exams ‘n’ Education: This segment with yourself, drop in on this segment. OF THE MONTH. The WINNER covers valuable book reviews on Take a theme-based selfie, write writer would be offered to publish his/ some titles on Test Prep and Higher captivating captions…post with the her FIRST book completely FREE Education (HE) that are worth reading given hash tags and post on your social with Books33. 10. Failure is Fine: If ‘failure-success- media handles to WIN Gift Hampers. 2 Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter Inaugural Edition Special

India is the land of festivals and festivities. After Holi, major festivals fall in the latter half of a calendar year. The celebrations that start with the monsoon festivals like Teej, Raksha Bandhan and Onam continue with Janamashtami, Vishwakarma Puja, Ganesha Chaturthi, Parkash Divas, Paryushan Parva, the 8-day festival of the Jains, are followed by Navaratri, Dussehra, Diwaliand Chhath.

‘Navaratri’ in Sanskrit means ‘nine Celebrations during this festival varatri is celebrated in September/ nights’. The festival is celebrated include setting up of puja pandals, October as per the Gregorian calen- during the Hindu calendar month chanting of scriptures, and cultural dar. The Devi Paksha commences af- of Ashvin, which usually falls in the events. Devotees of Maa Durga ob- ter the New Moon Day (Amavasya) Gregorian months of September and serve Navaratri fast four times a year. in the Ashwin month and concludes October. Out of the four – Magha with Navami, a day before the auspi-

This year, the festival will be held (winter), Chaitra (Spring), Ashadha cious day of Dussehra. from October 17 to 25, 2020. It is (Monsoon) and Sharad (Autumn) Navaratri is dedicated to the God- being celebrated a month after Ma- – the lastis considered the most im- dess Durga, who epitomises feminine haalayaa. portant. The Sharad or Shardiya Na-

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power or . The festivities begin Navaratri or Durga Puja is celebrat- with the Ghatasthapana or Kalash ed in different forms across the length Sthapana (setting up of the sacred and breadth of India. It is said that pot). Devotees keep a fast during the the dialect or languages spoken in nine days, spending the day reading India changes every 200 kilometres. the Devi Mahatmyaham and other So, it should not be surprising that holy mantras dedicated to the Moth- a festival like Dussehra has a variety er Goddess. of flavours across the nation. Being one of the most celebrated festivals Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana

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Image Source:https://www.jagran.com/punjab/amritsar-celebration-of-5th-navratri-in-various-temples-19637898.html Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter

Image Source:https://scroll.in/magazine/906762/in-gujarat-garba-is-as-much-a-part-of-christmas-celebrations-as-it-is-of-navratri in all parts of the country, Dussehra sam, where grand pandals are set day, the Goddess is bidden farewell witnesses joyous celebrations every- up in different themes every year to with a similar grandeur after Sindoor where. Popularly known as Dusseh- enshrine beautiful idols of Durga, Khela. ra, it takes different names across the Ganesha, Kartikeya, Saraswati and In Gujarat, devotees celebrate the country, such as Durga Pujo, Vijaya- Lakshmi. Priests perform rites as per Navaratri festival by observing fasts dashami, Dasara or Durgotsav. scriptural injunctions for a period of and performing the famous tradi- We know about the world famous four days starting from Shashthi, the tional Garbadance. The worship is Durga Pujo in West Bengal and As- sixth day. On Dashami, the tenth concluded by feeding young girls and

Image Source:https://www.jagran.com/punjab/amritsar-celebration-of-5th-navratri-in-various-temples-19637898.html 5 Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter

Image Source:https://www.candere.com/blog/navratri-in-india.html bidding them adieu with money or devotees invite young girls in the age the goddess in holy shrines and setting gifts. group of 5 to 10, and honour them up a temporary altar of the deity and

In the northern part of the country, with food, gifts, and money. reciting the scripture Durga Saptas- Punjab, during the nine holy nights, In the Hindi heartland, Uttar hati. On the final day of worship, little daily jagrans are held in temples. On Pradesh and Bihar, Durga Puja is cel- girls are fed as part of Kumari Pujaor the day of Ashtami and Navami, the ebrated by offering special worship to Kanya Pujaon the final day of worship.

Image Source:https://www.indianeagle.com/traveldiary/7-incredible-places-to-celebrate-dussehra-and-navratri/ 6 Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter

In Himanchal Pradesh, we have varatri at the Karni Mata temple in of Ravana being burnt is another at- Kullu Dussehra, which is celebrated Bikaner. The unique thing about this traction of this festival. To top it up, quite differently from the other cities: celebration is that people offer their there is a captivating procession from effigies of Ravana are not burnthere. prayers to rats, feed them and con- the royal palace to the ground that Rather, Goddess Hadimba is carried sider the remaining food as offering features decorated elephants, camels from her temple in Manali down to from God. and folk dancers.

Kullu and taken to the palace to have The rural festival of Kota Dussehra Most amazing is the way it is cel- her blessing from the royal family. is celebrated in Kota, Rajasthan. Ar- ebrated in . In the tribal In Rajasthan, we have celebrations tisans from different places come to areas of Bastar, the Navaratri festivi- like Karni Mata Festival during Na- sell their wares. The towering effigies ties last 75 days and wind up on the

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thirteenth day of the Shukla Paksha traditional tools. The brightly lit pro- festival is celebrated with much devo- (waxing moon) in the month of Ash- cession is held between Bastar and tion in various temples across the state win, with the ritual of Muria Durbar. . Scores of priests engage in by visiting the Ammavaaru temples The idols of Devi Maoli, the tribal supervising the event. This entire fest, or the temples of Goddesses which Goddess, and her sisters are brought called Bastar Dussehra, is 500 years are beautifully decorated with flow- to the Danteshwari Temple in Jag- old! ers. The main centres of attraction dalpur in heavy chariots made using In Andhra Pradesh, this auspicious are the Lord Venkateswara temple at

Image Source:https://www.indianeagle.com/traveldiary/7-incredible-places-to-celebrate-dussehra-and-navratri/ 8 Samvaadshaalaa newsLetter

Image Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/durga-puja-pandal-to-showcase-women-migrant-workers-in-place-of-goddess-6757447/

Tirumala and the temple of Kanaka Mysore Dussehra has been there In Tamil Nadu, people worship Durga Ammavaaru at Vijayawada. for 400 years. The region hosts this three Goddesses – Durga, Saras-

Another important aspect of festival as a celebration of the vic- wati and Lakshmi – during the last Dussehra in Andhra Pradesh is that tory of Goddess Chamundeshwari three days of Navaratri. There is a people set up ‘Bommala Koluvu’ at over demon Mahishasura. The 10- longstanding tradition of inviting their homes. This refers to a neat ar- day festival starts from the first day relatives home and presenting them rangement of dolls set up in a taste- of Navaratri and culminates on the with appropriate gifts. The ritual of ful manner. The festival is concluded tenth day when the royal procession Golu is the most interesting feature with the immersion of idols of God- follows a decorated elephant carrying of the Navaratri celebrations. Young dess Durga. the idol of the worshipped goddess. girls and women display dolls on a The lighting of the Mysore palace small wooden pavilion that have been In Karnataka, we have Mysore and involvement of the royal family passed down from one generation to Dasara or Nadahabba–the state-fes- are popular attractions during Dasara another. tival of the state of Karnataka. in Mysore.

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crore migrant workers returned to their home states on foot during March-June 2020. The source of this humungous number is the data pro- vided by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Even more scaring is the number of accidents – 81,385 – that occurred on the roads during the period with 29,415 fatalities! Again, the source of this data is a written re- ply by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways V K Sing- hin the Lok Sabha.

Apart from the idol of Durga, In Kerala, right from perform- sixth day until the ninth, the Pandals those of the other gods and god- ing Puja Veypu (offering books with grand idols of Goddess Durga desses, including Saraswati, Laxmi for worship), Puja Eduppu (tak- are open for visitors. and Ganesh and Kartik have also ing back books after worship) to the This year, the pandal, organised by been replaced with idols of migrant Vidyarambham (Initiation of writ- Barisha Club Durga Puja committee workers. The female goddesses have ing), this festival holds a lot of faith in Behala, Kolkata, features a mi- been replaced with the migrant and worship in the state. Ayudha grant worker mother as the goddess. worker mother’s daughters, carrying Puja is also conducted with a great One of the major attractions of Dur- a swan and owl, respectively, which fervour. Navaratri is celebrated here ga puja organised by this pandal, is are considered as the deities’ chosen as Navrathri Sangeetholsavam that the empathetic selection of its theme ‘vaahan’. The migrant worker moth- takes place in Trivandrum’s Navrath- – ‘relief’ – in the wake of the Covid er idol also carries a shirtless child in ri Mandapam. pandemic, which saw a major mi- her arms, in place of Kartik. Besides, Worth mentioning here is that in grant crisis in India earlier this year. there is a pot-bellied child with an Kolkata, the city of joy, one of the According to the Barisha Club elephant head, signifying Ganesha. grandest of all celebrations is done in Durga Puja committee, the GOD- There are no weapons nor the idol of honour of Goddess Durga during the DESS is the WOMAN who braved demon god Asura. Shardiya Navaratri. While the festival the scorching sun and hunger and And the migrant worker idols have of Durga Pujo is without a doubt cel- penury along with her childrenlook- been designed to show a small, more ebrated grandiosely across the world, ing for food, water and some relief for traditional image of the goddess the vigour with which it is celebrated her children. with 10 hands inside a halo looking in Kolkatais second to none. As reported in the national daily for relief. For the 10 days, starting from the The Indian Express, more than one Shubho Bijoya

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Image Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/durga-puja-pandal-to-showcase-women-migrant-workers-in-place-of-goddess-6757447/ 11