सुब्बाराव जी से एक साक्षात्कार

We are reproducing the interview of Bhai ji by Mr David Ian Miller during his visit to USA.
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Q. You're teaching kids about Gandhi's core ideals -- truth, tolerance and self-help. What are you teaching them about religion?
Bhai ji - Gandhi said that if India was to live in peace we must recognize the value of every religion. India is a nation that has been home to all the religions in the world. Four religions were born there -- Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. And we have many Christians and Muslims, as well as members of other faiths.
More than 100 years ago, Swami Vivekananda said that we have to accept the idea that all religions are different paths leading to the same God. Gandhi accepted this proposition, and in his ashram people recite prayers from all religions. They start with a Buddhist hymn, follow it with a Hindu hymn and then comes Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity -- all religions, one after another. The whole congregation prays all of these prayers.
If we want a peaceful world in the future, the best thing is for everybody to accept -- not only tolerate, but accept -- all religions as true. And that is what we try to inculcate in the minds of the children who are here.
Q. That's a wonderful goal, but how can you expect people to overcome their religious differences? They're so deeply ingrained.
Bhai ji - There are two layers of religion: One is the basic fundamental [ideas], and the other one consists of superficial ritual exercises. If you go to the basis -- speaking truth, being honest, being compassionate, loving thy neighbor -- these are common to all religions. The differences are superficial; one may have a different hairstyle, and one may have some mark on the head. Unfortunately, it is for these superficial differences that people are fighting.
We are all small people, and we have made our gods small. The Christian thinks Christ belongs to him. The Hindus think Rama and Krishna belong only to them, and the Muslim thinks Allah belongs to Islam. And so on. But this isn't correct. Once, when Gandhi was asked, "What is your religion?" he said, "Well, I am a Hindu, I am a Muslim, I am a Christian, I am a Sikh -- I follow the basic principles of all religions."
Q. Do you find that some people have a hard time with this? I mean, if they grew up believing that their religion was the one true way ...
Bhai ji - Unfortunately, for their own reasons, people who think they must be loyal to their religion [also] think that means hating the other religion. Hatred is totally irreligious. No religion has a place for it. If you only take a positive look at every religion, every religion has such noble sentiments in it. Everyone has something to teach.
Q. I read a wonderful story about you: It said that you, armed only with a bag of candy, followed 550 bandits to a mountain cave and somehow convinced all of the bandits to put down their weapons and assist nearby villagers with community development work. Can you tell me more about this?
Bhai ji - Well, I don't know about the candy. My actual weapon was that I sang devotional songs -- songs where I repeated God's name -- and I would talk to them. And I was not alone. There was a group of about 15 or 20 people with me.

Q. So what happened? How did you get them to listen to you?Bhai ji - First, we approached their friends and sometimes their relations and wives, and we basically said, "There is a better way to live than this." You see, many of these bandits had looted a lot of money but they could not enjoy it. They were always on the run from the law. We told them: "What can you do with all this money? Millions of rupees, but you cannot have a good meal because when you are eating the police come. What is this life? Come back to the mainstream." Slowly they came around. The first installment [of bandits] was only 20 in 1960. Then in 1972 we had a bigger number -- 500. Ultimately, there was a total of 654.
Q. What happened to them after they surrendered?Bhai ji - They all went to prison. Now they are out living normal lives.
The understanding was that they should serve out their sentences, whatever they were, and that the government would be lenient with them because they had surrendered. Most of them came out with confessions. They said: "Yes, I have committed these sins. Please award me whatever punishment I deserve."
Q. So you just told them they can live a better life, and they were willing to give up their freedom?
Bhai ji - Well, freedom. You see, what happens in someone's life when he kills a policeman, when he kills his enemy, he has all kind of pride: "Oh, yes, I have achieved something." Then life becomes miserable. He can't come back to the society. He has to go into the jungles, running from place to place. It's a long train of regrets.
Q. I've heard that you still work with people and their families after they leave prison and have a very successful rehabilitation program. What makes your program different?
Bhai ji - We ask the government to give them some facility for their lives, some way to support their families. They were earning through the gun, and now they have surrendered those guns to the government. So, on the one hand, they give them land, and on the other they educate their children. I feel very happy when I meet the children of those bandits, who are now well placed in society. One of them, for instance, is a policeman. Another one works for the government.
Q. People have said that you have made a habit of achieving the apparently impossible. Do you have any advice for people who are also trying to achieve seemingly impossible goals?
Bhai ji - It may be difficult for a tiger to change its habits, but for a human being it is not so hard to do. I see how many human beings, in this land, are turning vegetarian. They were meat eaters, and now they will not even drink milk.
I like the statement, "Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." So a sinner need not be a sinner all his life. There is hope for correcting any wrongs in one's life and becoming a noble person.
Q. I know you are a devotee of Mahatma Ghandi. Did you actually meet him?
Bhai ji - I just saw him when I was a small child. That's all.
Q. What were the most important things that you learned from Gandhi?
Bhai ji - There are many things. I like the saying that you often see on T-shirts: "One man can make a change." And: "When you are on the right course, you are not in the minority." That's what he believed, and he kept persisting through adversity.
Gandhi came from nothing. He was not a bright student. And as a lawyer he failed in India. Such a man, to become what we call mahatma, it's a really significant change in a human being.
Q. Your teacher is Vinoba Bhave, who has been called Gandhi's spiritual successor. Can you tell me about Vinoba's work and teachings -- the ones that have had the most influence on your life?
His achievement was that he walked 50,000 miles across India. What he did on his walk was collect land from the landed people and redistribute it among the landless. It's interesting because he was a very inward, [with]drawn person. He would rarely go anywhere, but when he was traveling through one part of south India he came across a lot of fighting and ill will. He realized that the fighting was over land. At that time, the Communist Party of India was supporting this fighting. They wanted free distribution of land.
So while talking to some people, he said, "I hope that God will show me a new way of solving this problem." Right in that meeting a person just stood up and said, "Sir, I can donate you 100 acres of land. We can distribute it among the poor people." So he said, "God is sending me a message." That is how he started walking, and he did that for 12 years. It became a movement, the Land Gift Movement. It's still going on today.
Q. Did he ever take another pilgrimage?
One of my friends once asked him, "You walked 50,000 miles, and you distributed land. If you walk again, what will be your mission?" And he said: "H2O in science is water. And in spiritual life there is another formula: M2A." So the friend asked, "What is M2A?" And he responded: "'M' is for meditation, and 'A' is for action. My 50,000 miles were for action, and now I must do double the meditation. So that's what I'm doing."
Q. Do you still believe in the same fundamental things that you did as a child and young man, or have your beliefs changed?
Bhai ji - My home was such that they would not allow a non-Hindu into our house. This is the worst part of Hinduism, treating some people as untouchables, so that they were not supposed to come in. As I grew up, I thought: "I must expand. I must grow."
There is a beautiful saying from maybe 5,000 years ago: "People with small hearts have small homes with four walls. But people with large hearts have the whole world for their family." I think all human beings must cultivate large hearts and consider the whole world as their family.
Q. Have you yourself ever felt like you had to battle with your own prejudice and intolerance of other beliefs?
Bhai ji - Yes. Growing takes time. Luckily, I got into this line of thinking at a very early age. I was only nine or 10 years old when I came in contact with the very kind of thinking taught by Swami Vivekananda. And that thinking was that all religions come from the same source. Just as waters fall from the skies and take different names in the rivers, ultimately they all go into the same ocean. Ultimately, there is only one ocean, or one God. So there should be no fighting at all in the name of religion.
Q. But do you ever look at the world in its struggles over religion and feel frustrated or hopeless -- that people will never learn?
Bhai ji - We have to grow. We grow physically. We grow intellectually. We grow mentally. We must grow socially and spiritually, also. According to my definition, spiritual growth is peace within myself, peace with other people and peace with nature.
Q. And how do we grow in these ways? How do we make peace with ourselves and with others?Bhai ji - By clearing one's own mind so that all restrictions, all limitations have been broken. That's what I mean by expansion. Having a heart that can accept the whole world as our home.

MAJULI THE LARGEST RIVER ISLAND OF WORLD

MAJULI is a sweet name and sweet place to visit. Do you know every day so many foreign tourist use to visit Majuli. Majuli is a river island in Brahamputra river falls in Assam a north eastern Indian state. In 2016 Guinness World Record has declared Majuli as the largest river island in the world. Majuli is now a district of Assam state. It is also constituency of chief minister Mr. Srabanand Sonowal.

Cultural capital of the Assam

Majuli has been the cultural capital of the Assamese civilization since the 16th century. Majuli is formed by Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti joined by the river Subansiri in the north. Making you feel at peace with nature, Located 1100 km away from the mouth of the Brahmaputra, Majuli had an area of 1256 sq km in 1991 but due to soil erosion, it has now reduced to 875 sq km.

SATRAS OF MAJULI

Majuli is a good learning center for neo-Vaishnavite philosophy. There are 22 Vaishnava Satras in Majuli, the first of which was established in the 15th century by Sankaradeva, the father of Assamese culture. 

In 15th century the first Satra was founded in Majuli. Since then sixty five Satras have come up for the propagation of ethics and socio-cultural ideals. However, at present there are only twenty two Satras exists in Majuli. The others had to be shifted to safer places due to the devastation of flood and erosion.

Some of the satras worth visiting are Auni-ati, Kamalabari, Natun Kamalabari. Uttar Kamalabari.  Dakhinpat, Garamur, Samaguri satra etc.  

MASK MAKING IN SATRAS OF MAJULI

Mask making is one of the most famous traditional crafts still practiced in Majuli. It is mainly practiced by the Sattras.  Samaguri Satra is famous for mask making.  It is worldwide acclaimed in making exquisite masks. Satradhikar Hemchandra Goswami heads Samagauri satra. He is a great artist of maskmaking field, but not a product of in any art school. Goswami’s family has been making masks for over a century.  Traditionally, masks were used for religious dance and drama in satras. They were conceptualized as a tool by Shri Shankaradeva to make and depict the characters of Srimad Bhagwat to the devotees. Masks also helped to provide a physical form to the puranic characters.

HOME OF MIGRATORY BIRDS

it is home to many migratory birds. If you visit in winter you can see so many migratory birds. The Majuli with its fertile floodplains and highly productive wetlands forms the ideal habitat for birds. It not only supports the resident birds but also attracts a large number of migratory birds including some uncommon species. More than 250 species of birds have been recorded on island.If you want to see migratory birds here try to visit Majuli in the month of December and January.

PADDY is TRADITION

Majuli has a rich and diverse agricultural tradition. Here people grow as many as 100 varieties  of paddy. paddy being the chief crop of island. Assam is enriched with a number of indigenous rice varieties rich in high nutrient value. Majuli has a rich tradition of cultivating particular bao-dhaan rice paddy with nearly 1000 hectares of land under this cultivation. Farming in Majuli is traditionally organic as villagers never allow us to spray the chemicals in the paddy fields. 

Handmade Pottery Of Majuli

Majuli river-island has kept persevered the oldest craft on the earth- handmade pottery. The Kumhars of Salmora area in the upper region of Majuli have kept this ancient craft alive. The tradition of handmade pottery has been kept preserved only in three villages of Majuli – Barboka, Kamjan Elengi and Besamora of Salmora. The artisans’ families have also kept alive the ancient barter trade system.  Dr. Brojen Ch. Neog of Majuli college writes traditional Pottery has two methods– handmade and the potter’s wheel. Artisans of Salmora still practice handmade pottery. Despite various challenges this ancient craft is still considered as an important  income generating cottage industry of the river island. Over 600 families are dependent on this nature-friendly craft tradition. Majuli's ancient art of pottery is as old as used in ancient time at Mohanjodaro and Harappa it is not in practice anywhere in India or else where, methods suggest a historic origin of this activity.

Weaving on Looms

There are weaving looms where women can be seen weaving material for sarees and dhoties. You can see couple of people were weaving fabulous Assamese cloth with beautiful designs...you could buy pieces if you wanted to do so. Here you can see the making the meghla saree with handmade art. These sarees are supplied to different shops. 

Mishing tribe of Majuli use to work on looms and they make weave cotton jackets, towels, endi (shawls), thick loincloths and sometimes shirts for their men folk. Weaving is the exclusive preserve of the Mising women who start their training in this craft before they reach their teens. They also have a good knowledge of natural dyes

Where to stay –  In Majuli some Vaishnav satras also offers guest accommodation where devotees and visitors can stay. There are some hotel and government accommodation also found in island. But the best place to stay at Majuli is  La Maison De Ananda. You can spend here a lovely time. 

With Monjit at Majuli ( OCT 2016 ) 

It is a homestay, located at the edge of Garamur village ( contact – Monjit Risong Ph:+91-9957186356,9435205539 )  Monjit wiil be a good friend and guide for you at Majuli. You can also hire scooty and bike from him. 

La Maison De Ananda  means the house of happiness, promises to provide the best tourist accommodation on the island, which is not only an unspoilt paradise but also a treasure trove of Vaishnavite culture. A young French architect named Jim Chauvin  built his dream project ' a cane and bamboo tourist resort with the right mix of modernity and tradition ' on the river island of Majuli.  

The guest house is built in the traditional Mising style of stilt huts made primarily of bamboo. The stilt hut has been built in such a manner that they are permanent structures. It gives the local essence of the place.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

You can go Majuli around the year, but avoid going during rainy days. Some time ferry service closes in Brahmaputra river due to heavy rain in July and august. The best time to visit Majuli is during the Raas festival in November.

How to reach – Majuli can be reached from Jorhat town. Nearest railway station is Jorhat.  From Jorhat town you have to come Nimati Ghat by Tata magic. From Nimati Ghat take a ferry ride for Majuli, It takes around two hours. You can also reach Majuli by bus directly from Guwahati, capital of Assam state.

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BRANDING BIHARI FOOD LITTI CHOKHA

Mr Devendra kumar on his stall in IITF 2016 

Every state has some special dishes that have become his trademark. So what about Bihar, yes Litti Chokha is to identify Bihar.

But Litti is just has not been that kind of brand in like Dosa of Tamil Nadu or Khamman Dhokla of Gujrat. Over the past few years, the international trade fair held in November in Delhi you can find Litti in food courts. However, the fair became the finale of this dish. But a person associated with Bihar determined that they will sharpen the brand Litti Chokha. Devendra Kumar is one such name. He studied hotel management and catering from a reputed institution. After graduating from IISM Ranchi he worked 14 years  in country's reputed hotel chains. But in his mind Litti Chokha was running. Some years ago he launched brand Mr. Littiwala from East Delhi.

He started with the brand name Mr Littiwala in Laxmi Nagar, east Delhi. Gradually began to recognize the brand. Today, the brand beyond Laxmi Nagar area has reached Indirapuram and Kingajve camp. Today, his brand reached on Zomato and Brp food websites. But the journey is still going on. 

Just INR 20 for two Litti. Chokha made from Potato, onion with brinjal and  tomato. Try with mustard sauce. Litti is sunk in ghee. If you eat two Litti it is brunch, if you eat five it is your lunch. In Laxmi nagar  Littiwala Litti stall is not popular among people of Bihar but rather large number of people from other states have also started to taste.

Amazing Slow flame - The best thing of Litti is that it is baked over charcoal on low flame, so it is not contain all the losses like other oil recipes. It's fantastic for health and a digestible dish.

Should not make too much frills in Litti. Sattu is filled inside of Litti. Makuni made from sattu of gram increases its flavor. It is similar to the Bati of Rajasthan. But Bati has no filling like litti. Besides Delhi now you can find many litti stalls in Noida also.  
Bring it anywhere - Litti's biggest feature is that you can go with Litti in travel also like a fast food. you can simply eat it anytime. It is a great fast food. The big advantage is It is cholesterol free also. 

So next time try something different, try healthy, try Litti Chokha. 
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Visit website - http://www.mrlittiwala.com/

( LITTI CHOKHA, BIHAR, GOOD FOOD , MR. LITTIWALA - http://www.mrlittiwala.com/ ) 

SONPUR FAIR- BIG, BRIGHT AND VIBRANT

Fairs are integral part of Indian lifestyle from the ancient periods of history. Sonpur fair of north Bihar is one of the oldest fair of India. Now Sonpur fair is going on. (24 Nov 2015 to 24 Dec 2015). It is also the biggest cattle fair of Asia.  Fair starts every year from Kartik Poornima (full moon, according to Hindu calendar)  in the month of November.

Every year in month of November and December I miss the colors of Sonpur fair, because I am far away from that temple town called Harihar Kshetra. From 1987 to 2008 my family use to live very near to sonpur. We were living at SDO road, Hajipur. Our house was just half kilometers from mela ground. So we enjoy much during mela period.

On the day of Kartika Purnima people from different locations comes for holy bath in river Narayani and Ganga. Actually at Sonpur river Naryani (Gandak) meets to Ganga. Hindu epic Vishnu Purana tells about importance of this place. Here a fight for survival held between Gaj (Elephant) and Grah (Crocodile). Gaj called lord Vishnu to save his life and lord came to help him. The place of sangam of Gandak and ganga called Konhara Ghat. More than three lakh of people takes holy bath in river on the day of Kartika Purnima. One this day all banks of river looks filled with devotees. Sidhi Ghat, Janani Ghat, Hajuri Math, Kaushlya Ghat, Konhara Ghat every where you can see the huge gathering. Journalist and Historian Late Tej Pratap Chauhan says, Konhara ghat area of Hajipur was a great center of Hindu saints in Gupta period. There are so many Maths and ashram situated in Hajipur. Still we see here Hajuri Math, Ramchaura and Baithak of Mahaprbhu Vallabhachara, a great saint of 15^th century.

History of Sonpur fair starts from Mauryan period, 3^rd century BC. Mauryan kings bought elephants and horses from this fair. Historically fair was held on Hajipur are, on east banks of Gandak. We still see names like Nakhas, Hela bazaar, Magarhatta, Katra, Pandariba like names in old city area of Hajipur. Actually these are mela grounds. But during the period of mughal king Aurnganjeb mela sifted to west bank of Gnadak river in Sonpur.

In Sonpur there is a great Hindu temple, called Hariharnath temple. It is a temple of lord Vishnu and lord Shiva both the Gods. After taking holy bath in river people use to go for worship of Hariharnath.

Now come to the fair.  It is not only a cattle fair, but you can buy everything of your need from mela, wooden furniture, agriculture goods, spices, woolen clothes, shoes, garments, cosmetic products, religious books etc. Shopkeepers and sellers from all over India comes to Sonpur fair. The Sonpur Fair once used to attract traders from places as distant as Central Asia

Sonpur fair is also filled with entertainment, dance shows, theaters; cultural programs are attraction of fair. Nautanki show of fair is very famous. Now Bihar tourism and public relation department of state government use to organize cultural program daily. Famous folk singers use to entertain here. Are you asking about timing of fair?  Don’t worry. Entertainment never ends, fair is open 24*7.

No sell or purchase but donation -  Although Sonpur fair is famous as a cattle fair. You can find here elephant, horse, camel, ass, ox, cow, buffalo and also so many types of birds. On part of mela is known as Chidia bazaar. ( Market of birds). It is said that Hero of Indian freedom movement Veer Kunwar Singh also bought horses for his need from Sonpur mela. Now rules changed and government of India banned selling of elephants. But every year more than 40 elephants come to Sonpur fair. Noted journalist of Sonpur Mr. Surendra Manpuri tells, Now no sell or purchase of elephants done in fair, but it goes with process with donation. You can see here elephants bathing in river Gandak. Mahawat of elephant make colorful designs on back of elephant to attract people.

Urbanization of rural India has changed the picture of traditional fairs, Sonpur fair has also witnessed so many changes, but it is still one of the largest fair of India. The official duration of fair is 30 days.

How to reach – From state capital Patna sonpur is just 25 kilometers. You may book hotel in Patna and visit sonpur fair, or you can choose to live in Hajipur. From Hajipur (HJP) railway station fair is just four Km and from Sonpur railway station distance in two kilometers. Do come to enjoy colors of real India.

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Hotels @HAJIPUR
Hotel Vaishali, Cinema Road, Hajipur-844101 (Bihar) 

ROHTAS INDUSTRIES LOCO AT MUZAFFARPUR RAILWAY STATION

A man who born after 2000 in India has never seen a steam locomotive on railway tracks. Because all trains are now running with diesel or electric locomotive. But you can see some of old locomotives standing alone on some places revealing history of railway in India.

An old steam locomotive of Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR) now can be seen outside railway station of Muzaffarpur (Bihar).It is a good initiative of East Central Railway a zone of Indian Railway.

The loco RIL-06 is on display from 05 December 2015, as heritage property of East Central Railway of Indian Railways. General Manager Anant Kumar Mittal of ECR inaugurated this Loco for public display.  In its naming RIL stands for Rohtas Industries Limited. This loco was manufactured in 1908 by Vulcan Foundry Limited having 0-6-4 tank. It was originally purchased by East Indian Railway. EIR bought total 10 locomotives from Vulcan. 

This loco served East Indian Railway for a long time. But in 1967 DRLR purchased this old loco from EIR it for its operational needs. Since 1984 after closer of DRLR network this loco was laying in BG shed at Dehri on Sone. But Indian Railway purchased all scrap of DRLR from Rohtas Industries, between the year2005 to 2009. Among these scraps loco RIL 06 become property of ECR.

Actually it was BG locomotive. It was in use till 1984 for transport fo goods wagons of Rohtas Industries. The Vulcan Foundry Limited was a British locomotive builder company at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. Now it is a part of Merseyside. Now this locomotive is showing heritage of Indian railway to the people of north Bihar. You can’t see a running steam loco but you can see here standing with pride.

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( All Photo - Santosh Sarang, Muz) 

SARAS MELA - COLORS OF REAL INDIA

If you can’t move around India, must come to India international trade fair in Delhi. You can see here all states of India in on campus. Here you can visit pavilions of remote states of India like, Tripura, Meghalya, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Andman Nicobar etc.

But the best part of fair is handicraft items by artists of various states. You can go to handicraft pavilion or visit to SARAS MELA. Saras Mela organized by ministry of rural development ( Govt of India). Here more than 300 stalls offering specialities from different parts of the country.

You can get here Phulkari from Punjab. cotton apparels from Bengal, Silks from South India, 'Banjara work' accessories from Rajasthan and also designer footwear from Punjab, Pochampally cloths from Telangna and many more. Here sellers are artists so you can interact with them and enjoy handmade art of real India.

You can find here not only cloths but so many food materials also. Saras Mela offers a pan-Indian handicraft and handloom. The mela is a haven for silk lovers. art silk, Kanchipuram (Kanjivaram) and other variants of the fabric available here. You can find here leather handbags, clutches, beads necklaces, trinkets, bracelets etc. More than 20 states participate in SARAS Mela. It is a Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society. It is a window to the Indian culture and heritage.

You can enjoy cultural programmes here daily. You can see here folk dances of UP, HP, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttrakhand and Punjab.

Remember Saras mela is an initiative of the Union Rural Development Ministry. Ministry organizes Saras Mela every month around the year in so many parts of India to promote rural artists. Fairs like SARAS also provide rural entrepreneurs opportunity for direct sale, without involvement of middlemen. The consumers also get benefited by buying products at much lower cost.

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GOLGHAR – IT WAS A GODOWN FOR GRAINS

Gol means round so it is GOLGHAR, means round house. It was attraction of my childhood days and also now when I am growing old. Now my child also likes it. Not only people like me but so many persons always been fascinated by this piece of colonial architecture. Golghar built in architectural Style of Buddha Stupa.

It is on of the wonders of Bihar. It is  located to the west of the Gandhi Maidan in Patna. It was built by Captain John Garstin in 1786 to store grains for the British Army. It was served as a storehouse during the times of famines.  it has a storage capacity of nearly 140000 tonnes.  In this Golghar there are no pillars to support the building with a spiral staircase. There are two separate staircase for going up and coming down.

In 1770, a huge famine had killed millions of people and hence the British decided to make a building where they could simply store grains. On 20 jan 1784 construction work was started and it took two years to complete. Since 1999 it was used as stockyard.  Now it serves as a picnic spot.

I remember the year 1979, when I was a student of class third. It was great day for me when I reached on top of Golghar with my father. Again in 2013 It was great day for my son Anadi when he was on the top of Golgahr. You can see backdrop of Golghar in so many Bhojpuri films also. Patna, capital of Bihar has a identity with Golghar.

Some year ago cracks on the internal  walls of Golghar was found.  In 2010, Bihar state archaeological directorate, the custodian of Golghar, had asked the ASI's Patna circle to carry out restoration work on the outer and inner walls of the iconic structure. After this request archaeological survey of India started restoration work of the colossal granary.

Now you can enjoy laser light show in the campus of Golghar. You can see a short audio-visual clip depicting the history of Golghar completed the show package. It is a  half-an-hour show for visitors. It costs Rs 30 only. This is an innovative effort by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC).

Written on Stone of GOLGHAR

  In part of a general Plan

Ordered by the GOVERNOR GENERAL and Council

20th of January , 1784

For the perputual prevention of Famine

In thefe Provinces

THIS GRANARY

Was erected by CAPTAIN  JOHN GARSTINE Engineer

Completed on the 20th of July , 1786

Firft filled and publickly clofed by.

GOLGHAR  AT A GLANCE

1786 AD year of construction

146 stairs total.

29 meter total hight.

125 meter diameter.

3.6 Meter  thick wall 

1,40,000 tonnes storage

04 entrance gate at the base.

A View of Patna city from the top of GOLGHAR- Photo- VIDYUT

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THE OLDEST TEMPLE OF WORLD – MUNDESHWARI, KAIMUR, BIHAR

Do you know about the oldest temple of world? According to historical evidences The Mundeshwari Devi Temple in Kaimur district of Bihar is the oldest.

Temple is located on the Mundeshwari Hills in Kaimur district in the state of Bihar. It is an ancient temple dedicated to the worship of Shakti and Lord Shiva. It is the oldest Hindu temple in Bihar in India and World. It is also told as the 'oldest functional' temple of world. 

The inscription erected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the site indicates the dating of the temple to 108 AD. However, there are other researches for the dating stating the Saka era, prior to Gupta dynasty rule (320 AD) in India. According to the Administrator of the Bihar Religious Trust Board dating is 105 AD. The temple is a protected monument under ASI since 1915.

Octagonal Plan of Temple  

The Stone made Mundeshwari temple, built on an octagonal plan which is rare. It is the earliest specimen of the Nagar style of temple architecture in Bihar. There are doors or windows on four sides. You can Also see some small niches for the reception of statues in the remaining four walls of temple.  

The temple shikhara or tower has been destroyed. However, a roof has been built, during renovation work. . A substantial part of this stone structure has been damaged, and many stone fragments are seen strewn around the temple. However, under the jurisdiction of ASI, it has been the subject of archaeological study for quite some time.

The interior walls have niches and bold mouldings which are carved with vase and foliage designs. At the entrance of the temple, the door jambs are seen with carved images of Dwarapalas (Gatekeepers) Ganga, Yamuna and many other statue of  Devis.  The main deities in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are of the Devi Mundeshwari and Chaturmukh (four faced) Shiva linga. There are also two stone vessels of unusual design..The temple also has murtis of other popular gods such as Ganesha, Surya and Vishnu. Located on Kaimur plateau, there are many archaeological relics on the Mundeshwari Hill. 

Some of statues found from Mundeshwari temple area can be seen in Patna Museum. Daily thousands of visitors come to temple to pray the goddess Mundeshwari. But during navratra you can see huge crowd here.

HOW TO REACH – The Temple located on the Mundeshwari Hill at an elevation of 608 feet (185 m) is in Kaimur district of Bihar. It can be reached by road Sasaram  or Varanasi. The nearest railway station is is Bhabua Road ( Mohania ). From Mohania market the temple is 22 km by road. You can go Bhabua and stay here in any hotel and then plan to Mundeshwari temple. From Mughal Sarai Jn major rail head of Indian railway Bhabua Road railway station is just 54 km. You can get so many trains from Mughal sarai and also from Gaya jn. Distance from Bhabua, headquarter of Kaimur district to Mundeshwari Temple is around 12 km.

-      Vidyut Prakash Maurya

THE OLDEST SHIVA TEMPLE OF INDIA

The Lad Khan Temple is one of the oldest temple in India. It is the oldest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in India. It is one of the temple that have stood in Ahole temple complex Karnatka.  

The Lad Khan Temple was built in the 5th century by the kings of the Chalukya dynasty. It was built around 450 AD. The temple also has other idols like Ganesha, Vishnu, Surya and Mother Goddess. This is small but interesting structure with stone carvings. This is one of the nice temples in Pattadakal temple complex. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple and is considered the oldest temple of Aihole.

About naming LADKHAN

The temple is named after a Muslim prince who turned this temple into his residence. Some british researchers recorded in his gazette that it was lad khans house ( he was staying in this abandoned place) and since then it is called as Lad Khan temple.

Panchayat hall style

It was built in a panchayat hall style and is indicative of early experiments in temple building. The main shrine houses a Shiva Linga with a Nandi. The temple's sloping two-tiered roof, which imitates wooden construction, is furnished with stone "logs" that cover the joints between the roofing slabs.

The temple's design contains other unusual features. The porch fronts a square mandapam. In the center of the mandapam, a Nandi faces the small interior shrine, which abuts the rear wall of the mandapam. Instead of the usual tower, a rooftop shrine is positioned over the center of the mandapam. Visualizing how Deccan architecture evolved 1600 yrs ago and how got influence by architecture styles from other part of India is an amazing experience

HOW TO REACH - This temple is in Ahole, Baglkot district in Karnatka. A village best accessed by own vehicle as public transport is at best infrequent. Aihole is aprox 35 km from Badami and the road condition is good now. You can plan to visit Ahole from Badami. Badami has good hotels to stay.

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Have you seen Krishna Butter Ball

Yes it is a wonder of India. It is Krishna butter ball. This ball is 250 ton heavy. It is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline in the historical town of Mahabalipuram in Tamilnadu. It is a popular tourist attraction in the city. It seems that it may roll down on a big push, but no, not at all.

Krishna's Butterball is also known as Vaan Irai Kal and Krishna's Gigantic Butterball. The ball is approximately 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and weighs around 250 tons. It stands on an approximately 1.2-meter (4 ft) base on a slope, and is said to have been at the same place for 1200 years.

According to Hindu mythology, lord Krishna often stole butter from his mother's butter handi; this may have led to the namesake of the boulder. It is told that in 1969, a tour-guide is said to credit its present name, Krishna's Butterball, to Indira Gandhi who was on a tour of the city.

Krishna's Butter Ball has been sitting on a 45-degree slope in south India for over 1300 years. The 20ft rock appears to defy gravity.

Try to Relocate -  In 1908, then-governor of the city Arthur Havelock made an attempt to use seven elephants to move the boulder from its position due to safety concerns, but he not got success. It is said that Pallava king Narasimhavarman too made a failed attempt to move the boulder.

This is an easy walk up and a fun way to enjoy the marvels that make up the ancient architecture of this historic site. It is a remarkably balanced rock. You can go for a little walk around the area, which is pleasant. I do wonder how this rock doesn't move at all and could stand firmly. It is a great place to take creative photographs.

This really is a must to see for the visitors as it is belived to be the giant ball used by Lord Krishna to eat butter.

-         Vidyut P Maurya