Where has Dhamail gone?

Earlier, I wrote few lines on the folk dance 'Dhamail', which was once very popular in Barak Valley of Assam. When I was a small kid, I enjoyed lots of dhamail performances at my village. On every other month, the ladies of the village used to gather and start performing dhamail. It was because they used to enjoy the dance form but now-a-days, the same ladies are rather seen gossiping abut the latest updates on soaps...well, this may be due to the development of villages...DTH penetrating the remote places of the country....By the way, I am not going to find out the reason here...

I just wanted to share the wonderful little moments where the whole family used to enjoy the performances of dhamail during 'Janmashtami', 'Marriages' and on many other occasions. As a child, I also performed with the elders and won gifts from relatives....I remember earning Rs 5 from the principal of my school when I was only 6 yrs. It was a favourite past time of the ladies after whole day's tiring work. Sometimes, they even need not any occasion to perform 'dhamail' as they used to enjoy matching the footsteps on the beautiful folk songs.

Earlier, Bengali marriages were incomplete without a 'dhamail' performance but these days, you need to hire the ladies of older generation to get a performance. Even then, you cannot expect to get that charm of 10 years back. People are not interested in folk song and dances like 'dhamail'. 'Munni Badnam Hui', 'Sheila Ki jawani' and 'Anarkali disco chali' has replaced 'dhamail' during marriage ceremonies...

Kites, flies with International stunts

Millions of hearts waited to see the “Kites” fly with Hrithik Roshan and Barabara Mori. At last, on 21st May it flew with all hopes and ambitions only to land in the not good story region. The film has good songs, eye catching locales, international level stunts, good actors like Kabir Bedi, Kangana Ranaut to support the lead actors. But still the nothing exceptional storyline made it a usual flick.

Lots have been said and rumored about the Mori-Roshan relation and their intimate scenes in the movie. But now, only movies storyline and acting will speak. Hrithik has again excelled with his extraordinary dancing steps but Kangana has probably got the first chance to show that she is also good dancer who can stand opposite this dancing hero. But, the actress did not get much to show her acting capability here.

One of the finest actors in India Kabir Bedi had only few minutes of screen presence. This veteran actor is probably taken only for his International brand value. Barbara, who has debuted in Bollywood with this film, has only grinned in the first half and her acting talent is discovered only in the second half of the movie.

It is a love story with a pinch of stunt and action. Stunts were no doubt excellent and done very aesthetically. All of them were exciting and mind-blowing.

Scenic beauty of Mexico countryside has been captured nicely by the cameraperson. Songs have the power to hit the score high around the year. But the movie fails with its conventional storyline with only exception to have a Spanish speaking leading lady. It reminds us the Kamal Hassan’s film “Ek Duje Ke Liye” with Rati playing opposite him, where both the lovers do not understand each other’s language.

“Kites” is a film mainly targeted to the International audience. Many of the Indian audience probably cannot well accept the way it is presented.

Worth of grandparents...

We are very busy in making our lives better, to become successful in life, to achieve something what we cannot even define properly...we are running blindly with time...sometime trying to even beat the time. But, at the end of this eve on 31st of December 2009, when I sit down to count what I have gained in this year...only one thing comes in my mind...I have lost my loving grandfather (dadu) this year on December 2009.

My grandfather Amarendra Nath Choudhury was born on 1st September 1933 and he was raised by his uncle Abhaya Charan Nath Choudhury till he became teenager as he had no child. Although they had lots of farming land and they were renowned in the village, he could not study after class VIII. He had to help his father in his farming work. So, leaving studies he became a farmer, who dreamt to catch an aeroplane by throwing plastic playing balls. As he grew up he ran a rice mill of his own and thus developed the habit of smoking while working in the mill. Tea and paan also accompanied, he enetered another world of responsibilities as he got married and became father of 5 children, my mother being the eldest.

Time passed, the joint family of my grandpa separated and he started his own agricultural work. Now, he is a happy man after finishing the task of marrying all his five children. I used to live with my grandparents till I was of 10 years old. So, I have some unforgettable sweet memories attached with them. Being their first grandchild and the only child in the whole family, I was pampered a lot. My all little wishes were fulfilled by them. In the morning I used to sit at one side of the table and my dadu on the other side with our respective books. I used to study repeatedly one page of my book till I get a yummy breakfast from my mashi. Dadu's books used to be either a Panjika or a book on Ayurveda...he was a huge fan of Ayurveda. His rest of life passed either studying on Ayurveda or preparing medicines of Ayurveda. He was an avid learner and loved to travel various new places. My mam was in defence so it was a boon for dadu. He travelled various places like Amritsar, Delhi, Mathura, Tejpur, Shillong, Kolkata, Haridwar, Brindavan etc. Luckily, he has travelled thrice to Haridwar. Each time, he travelled to a new place he used to buy a new book on Ayurveda. Not only this, he used to bring the plants, leaves, flowers and seeds used in Ayurveda at his home in village and prepare medicine with them. Once while in Mathura, he cured a lady suffering from TB through his medicines but did not take even a single rupee from him. He was so happy and proud to cure the lady that he used to qoute this example to my grandma whenever she neglected his medicines.

To be continued.....

Hansewswari temple and Pond beside the temple in Hoogly, West Bengal

First Polo Club of the World was set up in Silchar, Assam

Silchar, a small town of the northeastern state Assam, was the place where British formed the first Polo Club of the world. Silchar is also the headquarter of the Cachar district of Assam. The commemorative inscription for this feat still stand at the back side of the District Library, Silchar and the first competitive modern form of Polo was also played out in Silchar. In the 1850’s, British tea planters discovered the game in Manipur (Munipoor) on the Burmese border with India.

Bhuvan Pahar, pilgrim spot in Assam

Bhuvan Pahar is situated in the north-eastern state of Assam. This is famous for the Shiva temple situated at the top of this hill, where thousands of people from various parts of the state visit during Maha Shivratri and Dol Purnima to worship Lord Shiva. This hill is situated almost 50 km away from the town Silchar of Assam. This is a very significant pilgrimage place of Assam. One can reach the foot of the hills by bus or any private car. The nearest town is Silchar, from where bus services are offered during Shivratri and Dol Purnima. From Motinagar, a small place at the foot of the hill, one can either take small car or start walking upto Panichowki. From this place, the pilgrims can only walk and no vehicle can go beyond this place. Many Khasi families live at Panichowki and earn their livelihood by selling paan and supari . It takes almost 3 to 4 hours to climb the hill and to reach the place where the famous Shiva temple is situated. On the way, there lies a renowned Lakshmi cave temple. It is believed that only virtuous and devoted people can reach there. But many people do not take the risk and directly approach towards the Bhuvan Baba's temple at the top. It is an amazing experience to pass a whole night at the top oh this hill from where a far view of the Mizoram hills can be watched. It is also better to spend a night there as it becomes very tiresome to return on the same day. People usually climb the hill with sticks on their hand to support as it is very steep. The pilgrims sometime take some packed food with them and few prepare their food going there, which becomes more or less like a picnic. Some local vendors also set up their stalls during this season.