Nagarvasi Gramvasi Vanavasi - Hum Sab Bharatvasi OCTOBER 2018 BHADRAPADA-ASHWIN MASA
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VANAMITRA Nagarvasi Gramvasi Vanavasi - Hum Sab Bharatvasi OCTOBER 2018 BHADRAPADA-ASHWIN MASA FESTIVALS OF VANAVASI Had there not been commercial ships in weeks of festivities work better. This is how 1893, America might not have been the period starting from late September to introduced to Hinduism by Swami mid-November where we have major Vivekananda. Ideas had spread faster with festivals of Navaratri, Vijayadashmi and transportation revolution. Today we in Deepawali came to be called as the Festive midst of the communication revolution. In Season. The lingering images from the a hyper connected world, diffusion of advertisement blitz during this period is of cultures is a natural consequence and is shopping, crackers, lights and food. happening at an unprecedented rate. However, the reality, which many of us are Although this revolution has been not aware of, is that we are very diverse in overwhelmingly positive for us, a large our festivals yet connected by a common number of societies are worrying about loss thread. For Tribal villages of Bastar, of identity. Cultural homogenisation, an Deepawali does not mean fireworks and aspect of globalisation, refers to the erosion worshipping goddess Lakshmi. They of cultural diversity. It is expected to be a worship their crops, organise marriage, two way process. But the way it is playing perform ‘Lakshmi Jagar’ and other rituals out in real world, aided by communication for their cattle and crops which is technologies, is that Western culture and traditionally known as ‘Diyari’. Gond and values are having a disproportionate rate of Kolam tribes of Telangana are griped with adoption all over the world. Many cultures fervour of their dance festival – Gussadi. are facing a paradoxical dichotomy when it Tribal folks of Odisha worship their comes to the seemingly opposites of cultural ancestors in a way unique to their cultural diversity and globalisation. heritage. This interplay of cultural diversity and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is homogenisation is happening within one family, is a seemingly paradoxical belief national boundaries as well. Take the case that one of the oldest and most diverse of festivals of Bharat. A look at festival culture holds dearly. Vanamitra volunteers calendars across the states would reveal that use modern communication tools to surface we have one or many festivals every single stories from tribal Bharat. Be it day of the year. It appears as if the entire amalgamation of cultures or of nation is in a perennial state of celebration. technologies, Bharat perhaps has the However, for growth in consumerism, which answers the world is seeking. benefits corporations, a few concentrated Like a flowing river, what has gone never comes back. There is no deity powerful than Time!! - Maharshi Valmiki http://vanavasikalyana.org !1 VanaMitra - October 2018 VANAVASI OF KODAGU - KARNATAKA population. Most of the Vanavasi in Kodagu subsist on their traditional economic system of hunting and gathering minor forest produces besides attempting subsistence farming. However, a part of the Vanavasi life and culture in Kodagu has become more or less homogeneous to the rural life of Kodagu in general. The Vanavasi life and culture in Kodagu is best reflected in their fairs and festivals. Much of the fairs and festivals concern the worship of local deities. The harvest festival- Huthri is also an important name on the festival The tribals or the Vanavasi, are the oldest map of Kodagu. inhabitants of Bharat and for the record, 4.14% of the 6.7 crore Vanavasi population Bhagavati (Povvedi) and Ayyappa (or Shasta) of Bharat live in the Southern Region are the most commonly worshipped deities. scattered across the Western Ghats It is common for the people of two or three Mountain ranges covering the states of villages to get together in celebrating the Karnataka. Of these a sizeable 19 lakhs are festival of a village deity, which can last for residents of Karnataka. seven to twenty-one days. In Karnataka, the Kodagu District accounts for a heavy concentration of Vanavasi VANAYATRA TO TEETHIMATI SRI DEOKANT SINGH Vanayatra forms one of the core activities adjoining PU college, was also arranged. of Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram. We conduct Later, the group undertook a Haadi visit to Vanayatra on a regular basis where a nearby Tribal village followed by a good Nagarvasi visit a tribal village and spends interaction with tribal families. significant amount of time. This helps connect with each other. On day 2, the group left for Balele, around 15km from Teethimathi. Here also, the On 30-June-18, a group of 65 Nagarvasi visitors engaged the school children in fun employed with Thomson Reuters and 4 activities and painted the pillars and walls Vanavasi Kalyan volunteers undertook of the school. The local Vanavasi Kalyan vanyatra to Teethimathi. Karyakartas arranged for live demo of Archery sport. A few enthusiast visitors tried On day one, the group arrived at their hands on archery, whereas few other Teethimathi at 1pm. The visitors engaged groups engaged the school boys for a game the school children in various fun and of volleyball. The females of the group learning activities like drawing, painting etc. engaged with tribal girl students in singing/ The stationery items were also distributed to dancing tribal and Kannada songs. the children. A short career counselling session for the PUC students, in the http://vanavasikalyana.org !2 VanaMitra - October 2018 Vanayatra as Corporate Social Program (CSP) Sri Ramesh Bhat Thomson Reuters (TR) has been career counselling, motivated children to conducting Vanayatras under its attend school regularly, organised sports and Community Service Programme since cultural events, got involved in tree many years. It has helped the mission of plantation in the tribal areas and educated upliftment of tribal brethren in the remotest vanavasi about the ill effects of alcohol as of the remote forest areas. well as tobacco. This year 8 Community Service projects The TR's CSP program, has sponsored 40 have been conducted with 350 TR MANE PATA Kendras (Single Teacher volunteers participating in the events. The Schools) that would benefit 800 children visits have been primarily to Uttarkoppa, from the tuition centers. This will Kumta, Chipgere and surroundings, during encourage children to gain elementary which the volunteers connected with the knowledge and further encourages them to tribal population. The group facilitated be enrolled in schools. http://vanavasikalyana.org !3 VanaMitra - October 2018 VANAVASI KALYANA NEWS Medical Camp by Vanavasi Kalyana Smt Archana Bhat Arogya is one of the important activities of conducted by Dr. Vandana, a practicing Vanavasi Kalyana, which is conducted on a paediatrician and USA resident. She took regular basis with the help of Corporates time off from her vacation to serve the and ‘Doctors In Seva’ a voluntary group of needy and inspired Vanvasi Kalyan doctors inspired by Youth For Seva (YFS). Karyakartas. Leela Education Foundation and Microlabs Limited joined hands with Vanavasi Kalyana to organise a medical camp in Government school of Maralwaadi village in Kanakapura Talukon on 18th July. Vanamitras Sri Sathish, Sri Mahadevaiah and Smt Archana Bhat helped facilitate the camp. In the camp, 65 children were provided basic medicines. The camp was Summer Camp for Vanavasi Children Smt Archana Bhat Vanavasi Kalyan organised a personality related to Vedic Maths. The camp also development summer camp for high school promoted usage of swadeshi products and kids of Vanavasi Kalyana hostels. The 5 day showed ways of being a swadeshi in all camp was inaugurated by Sri Jnanesh aspects of life. (Principal of KVG engineering college, Sullia) on 8th April at Rashtrotthana school, Sullia, Dakshin Kannada district. The kids got chance to meet and interact many social dignitaries during their sessions. The kids learnt how a well-planned routine and good food habits can lead to a successful life. There were multiple sessions on soft skills like leadership, community living, and behavioural practices. Smt Bharati and her associates conducted session http://vanavasikalyana.org !4 VanaMitra - October 2018 VANAVASI KALYANA NEWS Tenting Painting Footballing and Medal Awarding Sri Gopal Keshri Iruliga Janjatis are inhabitants of The winners proudly displayed their medals surrounding forest areas of Ramnagar and kept the medals near the Puja Sthal. District. Vanamitra families from Bengaluru This event ignited the spirit of sports among often visit some of the villages like children. Iruligaradoddi, Jorghatte, Harohalli etc. on important festivals and national events with a purpose to celebrate the occasion along with Iruliga brethren. The visiting families spend time spend time with the villagers and get involved with children in painting, tenting, footballing and archery events. On 15th Aug this year, Independence day was celebrated at Iruligaradoddi school with much fun and gaiety. After unfurling of National flag. 20 different sporting events were conducted. Among hundreds of participating children, 60 won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. The children were excited to receive the medal coinciding with the upcoming Asiad games in Indonesia. Students' Day Out to Bengaluru Sri Gopal Keshri Students from Meghalaya currently Cleopatra and MD Sri Girish Garud. Mr studying in Chaitanya School, Murkwad, Cleopatra distributed sponsorship cheques Karnataka, came to Bengaluru for one day to those students to pursue their dream of city tour on 1st Sep. During their stay in educating themselves for a better citizen. Bengaluru, Matru Bhojan was hosted at Shri Girish applauded the Vanavasi Purva Skywood, HSR Layout by about 10 Kalyana for their efforts to reach the resident families. The students sang Khasi unreached and assured the continued Geet and also a Bhajan. The audience was support in the future. During the visit, Sri overwhelmed by the samskar, sanskriti and Gurunath Inamdar of Chaitanya School pratibha exhibited by these children. explained how his students are made from “zero-to-hero” as the selection criteria for The children also went for industry visit to admission is inclined towards preference to Interpump Hydraulics near Hosur.