Happy Independence Day

I wish all my brothers and sisters of India, A very Happy Independence Day!

On 15th August 1947 India got Independence. So we celebrate every year. Not only on this occasion but also through out we remember the struggle and sacrifices of our Freedom Fighters; known and unknown heroes. We all are remember them with great devotion and respect that today we are living in freedom. 

Here are some of our most popular patriotic songs, I am going to share them with you in my posts. 

1. Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara

This song was written by Shyamlal Gupta `Parshad’ and is one of the most popular patriotic songs.

Vijayi vishwa tiranga pyara, 
Jhanda ooncha rahen hamara;

Sada shakti sarsane vala, prem sudha barsane vala
Veeron ko harshane vala, matribhoomi ka tan-man sara;
Vijayi vishwa tiranga pyara,
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara!!

Aaoo pyare veeron aaoo, desh-dharma par bali bali jao
Ek saath sab milkar gaao, pyara Bharat desh hamara;
Vijayi vishwa tiranga pyara,
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara!!

Shaan na iski jaane paaye, chaahe jaan bale hi jaaye
Satya ki vijay kar dikhlaye, tab hove pran poorn hamaraVijayi vishwa tiranga pyara,
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara!!

***********************************************************
Vande Maataram

Vande Mataram is our National song. This song was written by Shri Bankim Chandra Chatopadhyaya also known as Bankim Chandra Chaterji a famous novelist and poet. The author in his novel "Anadamath" visualised Maa Durga as Bharata Mata and wrote this song as salutation to her mostly in Sanskrit with some Bengali words.

It was first sung by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at Indian National Congress of 1896. This song played an important role in the Indian Freedom Movement. The first two verses were official declared as national song in the year 1950 when India became a Republic. 

In the year 2002 when BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose top ten most famous songs of all time, out of the 7000 songs selected across the world Vande Maataram was second in top ten songs. 

The beauty of this song is that as a child when I used to hear my mother, grandmother and aunts singing this song, I always thought that this was a Telugu song. Telugu also contains many Sanskrit words.

This song is generally song in this fashion-a beautiful soft and peaceful melody, very gentle on the soul.

But I like the version sung by Lata Mangeshkar-Nightingale of India in the film AnadMath. I love the way it was filmed too. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it or see it.

I am giving the lyrics and its translation by Sri Aurobindo, Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, poet, yogi and guru.

Original Song

Vande maataram Vande maataram!!

Sujalam suphalam malayaja sheetalam
Shasyashyamalam maataram!!
Vande maataram!!

Shubhra jyotsna pulakitayaaminim
phulla kusumita drumadalashobhinim
suhaasinim sumadhurabhaashhinim
sukhadaam varadaam maataram
Vande Maataram!!

Sapta koti kantha kalakalaninaada
karale nisapta koti bhujaidhruta
karakarvale abalakeno maa eto bale
bahubaladhaarinim namaami tarinim
ripudalavarinim maataram, vande maataram
Vande Maataram!!

Tvam hi durga dashapraharanadhaarini
kamala kamaladala vihaarini
vaani vidyaadaayini, namaami tvam
namaami kamalam amalam atulam
sujalam suphalam maataram
shyamalam saralam susmitam bhooshhitam
dharinim bharanim maataram, vande maataram
Vande Maataram!!

Translation by Sri Aurobindo 

Mother, I bow to thee! 

Rich with thy hurrying streams, 
bright with orchard gleams, 
Cool with thy winds of delight, 
Dark fields waving Mother of might, 
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams, 
Over thy branches and lordly streams, 
Clad in thy blossoming trees, 
Mother, giver of ease 
Laughing low and sweet! 
Mother I kiss thy feet, 
Speaker sweet and low! 
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands 
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands 
And seventy million voices roar 
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore? 
With many strengths who art mighty and stored, 
To thee I call Mother and Lord! 
Though who saves, arise and save! 
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove 
Back from plain and Sea 
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law, 
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath 
Though art love divine, the awe 
In our hearts that conquers death. 
Thine the strength that nervs the arm, 
Thine the beauty, thine the charm. 
Every image made divine 
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen, 
With her hands that strike and her 
swords of sheen, 
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned, 
And the Muse a hundred-toned, 
Pure and perfect without peer, 
Mother lend thine ear, 
Rich with thy hurrying streams, 
Bright with thy orchard gleems, 
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair 
And thy glorious smile divine, 
Lovilest of all earthly lands, 
Showering wealth from well-stored hands! 
Mother, mother mine! 
Mother sweet, I bow to thee, 
Mother great and free!

Some more in my next posts.....Keep an eye...

Quilled Jewellery

Danglers

I have already told you in one of my previous posts that I am now concentrating on creating jewellery. This is my first attempt at quilled jewellery. I still need some patience and practise. 

Quilled Danglers

I did not use the Circle template board and so got the petals in different sizes. Well I am impatient when I am creating some new things.

I will keep you posted of my new creations. Keep an eye on my blog....

Quilled Rakhi

Today Sravana Poornima-(full moon day of month named Sravana) is celebrated as Raksha Bandhan in Northern India. Sisters tie Rakhi (silk or cotton thread) on the right wrist  of the brothers, seeking their protection and love life long . Sisters also pray for happiness and well being of their brothers.

The silk or cotton thread can be as simple as a thread. They can also be made of silver, gold and other precious gems depending on the budget and taste. These days one can see Rakhis of many designs. Many young girls and women make their own Rakhis and it is an art in it self.

Well I was very busy yesterday with Vara Lakshmi Pooja. Then I had to run around on various errands. At the end of the day, when I went shopping for Rakhis, I could not find one that interested me and they were also costly.


So today morning I made this. Well I had to manage with whatever material was available in my work basket. 

These are the materials I used. A piece of cord left over from one of my projects, two circular (not exactly) pieces of card stock, some quilling paper, a piece of satin ribbon and glue. 


First I made some tear drop shaped petals of yellow coloured strips. Then I made one tight coil from two strips of light brown shade to form the inner coil and one strip of dark brown shade on the out side. One green coloured strip was used for leaf.


First I stuck up the two circles. Then I stuck the center brown coil to it, followed by the petals by using glue on the base (card stock), on the sides of coil as well as the petals.


But then I felt that the base was not strong enough. Then I stuck the cord on the other side of card stock in circular shape.

Then I stuck the green satin ribbon (just enough to tie on the wrist). I placed this piece under a heavy book so that everything  properly sticks together.

 This is the Sunflower Quilled Rakhi. I tied it on my brother's wrist.

I could have done better, like decorating it further, but I din't have any time at all. May be I will explore this idea more and post my experiments.


Hope you like it.