Speaking Archaeologically™

Nanded is a heavenly town in state of Maharashtra, India. It is 650 kms east of Mumbai by road: approximately an 11 hour drive and 250km from Hyderabad, Telangana. Sachkhand Express is a special superfast train which starts from Amritsar, Punjab and reaches Nanded in 34 hours 10 minutes roughly. Nanded is connected to all major airports in India, like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Delhi to name a few. Medieval Miniature Painting showing Guru Gobind Singh, Himachal State Museum, Shimla Sri Hazur Sahib is the principle Sikh shrine, and a part of five Takhts (throne). It marks the site where Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (The last Sikh Guru) had his camp in 1708 and left for his heavenly abode (Parlok Gaman). It was here in first week of September in 1708, when Guru Ji baptized Bairagi Sadhu Madho Das to Sikhism and named him Banda Singh Bahadur (Gurudwara Banda Singh Ji marks this event). “The Eternal Father willed and I raised the Panth. All my Sikhs are hereby ordered to accep...

Being a volunteer at Speaking Archaeology always comes with its perks (and responsibilities, if I may add). So, be it a vacation with family, camping with friends or casual outings, each location is nothing short of a historical site. If you get down to it, you might be lucky enough to catch up on the his tory.   A trip to Jim Corbett sounds like a fun filled, adventurous outing. History is not something you e xpect to fin d there. Except that the area contains one of the most auspicious sites, so much so that it is a nationally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India . The site being discussed is the "Temp le Sacred to Sita "- Sitavani. Getting up for an early morning safari in the National Park, I had slight ide a about a temple we might visit. However, getting out from my daze I realised that the temple might have a historical relevance. And I was not disappointed here at all. T he temple turned out to be an archaeological site! H...

The view from Daandi The temple at Daandi is placed inside the dense forests of Kotkhai and Balsan tehsils of district Shimla . It can easily be reached by vehicle from Shimla and is approximately  60 k.m. from the main city. The forest belt of Daandi with adjoining villages of Kotkhai This temple has been constructed amidst the deep forests and can be reached by vehicle. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built in a ground. The main temple is made up of stone and cement as it was reconstructed in late 1970’s. Earlier it was made up of stone and wood. According to the locals the temple has its origin since early 1900’s. On festivals like Nag Panchami , Shivratri , Dusshera and beginning on the Monsoon season which according to Hindu religion is dedicated to Lord Shiva the temple is lit up with diyas and lights . The Daandi Temple of Lord Shiva About 50 meters from   Daandi  in the adjoining forest is a shrine built ...

Some pieces from Lyn's Private Collection A passion, how does it begin? My passion with Tunbridge Ware began when I was about 8 years old, and yes, that may be rather young to start appreciating craftsmanship, but then I had a very good mentor.  My Great Aunt Clara Shuell had a small collection of this lovely, intricate work and as I spent part of my summer holidays staying with her and my Uncle Jock at their home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, I grew to love it as much as she did. Lyn's Great Aunt Clara Shuell and Uncle Jock If I was good, and I was in those days, I was allowed to open my Aunt’s display cabinet and  take out her collection. Auntie would talk to me about how it was made and when she had bought the pieces.  She did tell me that one day her collection would be mine, but sadly that wasn’t to be, however, my own collection has been built on trying to find similar pieces so that I can connect back to this wonderful, kind lady. My favou...

“On a dark moonless night in autumn, I see a nation adhere to its ancient custom. to celebrate the deity of success and prosperity, by thanking their almighty.” - Sulaiman Sait Year in and year out, every year Diwali becomes the most anticipated festival in a country where people get together in order to celebrate the victory of light(brightness) over the dark. A festival where people of all cultures in this secular country get together and share happiness under a dark sky lit up with happiness and celebrations. Diwali is predominantly a Hindu festival but it also finds extreme importance in Sikhism. Historically, Sikhism struggled under the regime of Mughal rulers due to various reasons. On the day of Diwali, the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 other kings were released from the prison of Gwalior. After Jahangir found out that Guru Hargobind Ji was innocent and harmless, he ordered his release. 52 Rajas who were also imprisoned in the fort as hostages for opposing th...

Diyas or Earthen Lamps Diwali also called the Festival of Lights  is celebrated to honour Ramachandra, who is supposed to be the seventh avatar (incarnation of the Puranic God Vishnu). According to the Great Epic, Ramayana it is believed that on this day Lord Rama returned to his people after 14 years of exile during which he fought and won a battle against the demons and the demon king, Ravana. People lit their houses to celebrate his victory over evil (light over darkness).The Suryavanshi clan (Descendants of the Sun) of the Dogras celebrate Diwali as a reminder of the victory of their supposed ancestor Lord Rama. Diwali in Dogra culture is celebrated in almost the same manner as the rest of India. Great significance is given to Goddess Lakshmi ( The goddess of wealth and fortune) and Lord Ganesha, the Lord of auspicious beginnings and prosperity. Marigold garlands on the thresholds  The preparations for Diwali begins a week prior to the festival....

Volunteer Shaurya Negi in Traditional Himachali Attire Hailing from the mountains of the Devbhoomi, or Himachal Pradesh as the world popularly knows it, I have been lucky enough to be a part of different festivals celebrated in different ways.Among these festivals is Deepawali. Despite the world moving at a fast pace, Himachal Pradesh has not forgotten its varied traditions when it comes to celebrating Deepawali. Districts like Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Mandi have had the most magnificent rituals involved in celebrating Diwali. Looking at and growing up learning the different traditions,I've been able to gather the different colours and customs of celebrating Diwali in the upper areas of Shimla, the state capital and remarkably the most religiously significant city. Shimla popularly known for its tremendous history of Devi-Devtas has its own traditions especially found in upper areas like Kotkhai, Rohru, Jubbal, Balsan, Chopal, Theog and Kotgarh. Diwali is not only a festiv...