AMAZING INDIA: 10/01/2011

Friday, 14 October 2011

Tansen

Considered as the greatest musician in India, Tansen (1506 - 1589) is instrumental in the creation of the classical music that dominates the north of India. He was considered as one of the Navaratnas (Nine Gems) in the court of Emperor Akbar. Tansen was born in a Hindu family in a place called Gwalior located in Madhya Pradesh. His father was a famous poet by the name of Mukund Mishra. Tansen was named Tannu Mishra when he was born. To know more about the fascinating life history of this great musician, go through this biography of Mian Tansen.

He received the prefix "Mian" from Emperor Akbar. As a young boy, Tansen learnt music from his Guru, Shri Haridas Swamy. He was considered to be a legendary teacher of that time. It is said that Tansen has no equal apart from his teacher. Such was his passion for music that he is said to have performed

M.S Subbulakshmi is a name that is synonymous with the world of Carnatic music. This flawless singer whose voice had a divine power is the first singer in India to be presented with the Bharat Ratna, the highest award given to any civilian. Born on 16th September, 1916 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, this singer had a family that had a musical background. Her full name was Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi and she was fondly known as M.S or M.S.S. Her mother tongue was Kannada. Read the life history of M S Subbalakshmi in this short biography.

One of the most famous classical musicians in India was undoubtedly Pandit Kumar Gandharva. His real name was Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkali. Pandit Kumar Gandharva was born on 8th April, 1924 in a place called Dharwad located in Karnataka. The most unique thing about him was that he refused to be tied down by any kind of Gharana and believed in being innovation and trying out his own new styles. The life history of Pandit Kumar Gandharva is truly fascinating. Read this short biography of Pt. Kumara Gandharv.

When he was still very young, Kumar Gandharva was inflicted with the deadly disease Tuberculosis. As a

One of the most prominent and legendary Hindustani vocalist living today is of course Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. He can very easily be called a living legend and someone who has not just earned true fans but has also won over critics. Born on 4th February, 1922 in Karnataka, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is the descendant of Kirana stream of Hindustani classical music. He is famous for the "Khayal", a form of Hindustani classical. Bhimsen Joshi was interested in music since a very young age and at the age of 11 he left home in search of a Guru. Read the fascinating life history of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi in this short biography.

He found the apt teacher for him very close to his house. Under the tutelage of Savai Gandharva he learnt

One of the most famous names associated with Classical Carnatic Music is that of Dr. Balamuralikrishna. This legendary musician and Padmabhushan awardee is an able composer, singer, poet and instrumentalist who can sing perfectly in three octaves. He was born on 6th October, 1930 in a place called Sankaraguptam located in Andhra Pradesh. He was named Murali Krishnan by his father. The prefix Bala was given by a Hari Katha performer Musunuri Satyanarayana and thereafter he came to be known as Balamuralikrishna. Read the interesting life history of Dr. M Balamurali Krishnan in this short biography.

One name that truly epitomizes the 20th century Hindustani classical music tradition is that of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Often touted as the Tansen of 20th Century, this music maestro has blended the best of classical music and created a unique style of his own. His style of music had an effervescent melodic quality with a sense of enthusiasm. He had one of the most flexible voices, which could easily master the flow of words and deliver the real essence of the song. This great musician has contributed immensely in his short career span. Read his life history in this short biography of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

Udit Narayan is one of the most popular singers of the Hindi film industry. This multi talented playback singer has sung in numerous films and in many different languages. This great singer was born in a small village named Bharadah in Nepal. His initial years were full of struggles and he started off his career with a brief stint with the Nepal Radio. He used to sing Maithili, Nepali and Bhojpuri songs during the 1970's. By the end of the 70's he moved to Bombay to pursue music under scholarship. He received training in Indian classical music for six years in Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. Check out his life history with this short biography on Udit Narayanan.

Sonu Nigam is one of the most popular singers of Bollywood. He is a teen idol who has inspired thousands of young singers across the country. This talented singer was born in Faridabad district of Haryana on July 30th, 1973. He did his schooling from J.D. Tytler School in Delhi. Thereafter he moved to Bombay to pursue his dream of making a career in music. Given here is a short biography of Sonu Nigam.

Sonu Nigam's father Agam Kumar is a renowned singer who performed on many stage shows in his prime. Sonu Nigam used to accompany his father to his shows and once gave a moving performance at the tender age of three. He sang the superhit song of Mohammed Rafi "Kya Hua Tera Wada" of the movie "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi". It was appreciated by all and Sonu Nigam tasted fame. He was encouraged to hone his singing though many claimed he was just a Rafi clone.

One of the greatest playback singers of India, Mohammed Rafi is considered no less than a genius when it comes to varied styles of music. Born on December 24th, 1924, this great soul had the perfect blend of melody, emotions and energy, which reflected greatly in his songs. Be it the classically inclined songs of Baiju Bawara or the foot tapping songs of Kashmir Ki Kali, Muhammad Rafi gave each song the treatment it deserved. His contribution to the Hindi film industry has been fabulous and perhaps no singer till date has managed to capture the hearts of fans the way Mohamed Rafi has. We capture the fascinating life history of Rafi in this short biography of Mohd. Rafi.

Mukesh was nicknamed as The Man with the Golden Voice and his songs are true examples of his inimitable voice. Mukesh was born as Zoraver Chand Mathur in Delhi on July 22nd, 1923. His name is mentioned with the names of great legends like Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. Mukesh left studies after the 10th standard and got a job with Delhi Department of Public Works. He experimented with voice recordings and at the same time, honed his singing ability. A short biography covering the life history of Mukesh has been given below.

Manna Dey is undoubtedly one of the best singers that India has. This versatile singer has sung numerous songs and shared the limelight with some legends like Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mehmood, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, etc. His father's name was Purna Chandra Dey and his mother was Mahamaya Dey. Since childhood, Manna De showed a penchant towards music and was encouraged and inspired by his uncle Krishna Chandra Dey, who was a renowned music teacher. The life history of Manna Day is indeed inspiring and as versatile as his singing career. Check out this short biography of Manna De.

Lata Mangeshkar is one of the best singers of the Hindi film industry. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in the world. It is estimated that she has more than 30,000 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in 20 different languages from 1948 to 1987. Now, it must way over 40,000! Lata Mangeshkar was born on 28th September, 1929 in a place called Indore. Her father Dinanath Mangeshkar was a renowned classical singer himself. Lata was introduced to music at a very young age. The life history of Lata Mangeshkar is truly fascinating. Read this short biography of Lata Mungeshkar.

Kumar Sanu is one of the most popular playback singers of Bollywood. He holds the Guinness Book world record for recording the maximum number of songs in a day, which are 28. He was born on 23rd September, 1957 and was named Kedernath Bhattacharjee. His father, Pashupati Bhattacharjee was a renowned classical singer and composer who noticed his son's talent at a very young age. When he was still very young, his father trained him to sing classical music and play the tabla. Given here is a small biography which captures the life history of Kumar Sanu.

Kumar Sanu graduated in commerce from Calcutta University and then started giving public performances at small shows and restaurants in Calcutta itself. His style of singing was greatly influenced by the

The very name K.L Saigal conjures up an image of a superstar who ruled the screens long before people heard of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Not many are aware of the achievements of this great persona and his contributions to the Hindi film industry. K L Sehgal was undoubtedly India's first superstar whose charisma and magic is still alive and continues to inspire budding talents. Born in Jammu on April 11th, 1904 as Kundan Lal Saigal, he inspired legends like Kishore Kumar and Mukesh to copy his style to make their mark in the industry before developing their own signature tones. His songs are evergreen and are hummed even today. To know more about the life history of K L Saigal, read this biography given below.

Born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly on 4th August, 1929, this great singer known as Kishore Kumar, affectionately called Kishore Da, was one of those very few singers who took risks and experimented with different styles of music. Considered to be a legend in Hindi film world, this multi talented persona has excelled as a playback singer, actor, composer, lyrics writer, director, producer and script writer. The songs of Kishore Kumar have an extraordinary blend of romance, emotions, naughtiness and melancholy. We attempt to present the life history of Kishor Kumar in this short biography.

Jagjit Singh is one of the most famous Ghazal singers of the modern times. In an era where the current generation is headed towards rock and hip hop music, it is refreshing to see them cherish Jagjit Singh ghazals as well. Born in Ganganagar located in Rajasthan on 8th February, 1941, the name Jagjit means the one who triumphs over the world. His father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman was a Government official and his mother Sardarni Bachchan Kaur had a religious family background. He has four sisters and two brothers and is fondly addressed as "Jeet" by his family. Check out this biography of Jagjit Singh, which captures his intriguing life history.

Begum Akhtar was born on 7th October, 1914 in Faizabad town of Uttar Pradesh. Her name was Akhtaribai Faizabadi though she was much popular as Begum Akhtar. Her family belonged to the upper class of the society and was not even inclined towards music. She showed interest in music at a very young age and was sent to train under the great sarangi player, Ustad Imdad Khan. Later, she learnt classical music from great exponents of this field like Mohammad Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan and Ustad Jhande Khan Saheb. Read the life history of Begum Akhtar in this short biography.

At the tender age of fifteen she gave her first public performance. People were moved by her voice and she gained instant recognition. Her ghazals even impressed the famous poetess of India, Sarojini Naidu and was appreciated at a concert that was organized for helping victims of Bihar earthquake. Her first recording was done by the Megaphone Record Company and they released many gramophone records with her melodious Ghazals, thumris, dadras, etc. In 1930's, Begum Akhtar also acted in a few Hindi films which include Ameena (1934), Mumtaz Begum (1934), Jawaani Ka Nasha (1935), Naseeb Ka Chakkar (1935). In all these films, she sang all her songs herself.

Begum Akhtar moved back to Lucknow after a while where the renowned director Mehboob Khan approached her for a film titled "Roti". The music was composed by the famous Anil Biswas. The movie was released in the year 1942 in which Begum Akhtar had sung six Ghazals. Unfortunately, four of the Ghazals were deleted due to some tension between the producer and the director. The film was appreciated by one and all and the music took the industry by storm.

Begum Akhtar married barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi in the year 1945. Due to family restrictions, Begum Akhtar could not sing for almost five years. She fell ill and her only medicine was music. In the year 1949, she returned to record at the Lucknow Radio station and sang three Ghazals and a dadra. She felt so satisfied and happy that she wept with joy. She then continued to give public performances and sing in concerts till she passed away.

Begum Akhtar was persuaded by Madan Mohan, a famous music director to sing in two movies "Daana Paani" (1953) and "Ehsaan" (1954). The songs "Aye Ishq Mujhe Aur to Kuch Yaad" and "Hamein Dil Mein Basa Bhi Lo" were absolutely melodious and were liked by one and all. Her last movie stint was that of a classical singer in Satyajit Ray's film "Jalsa Ghar". Begum Akhtar was a refined Ghazal singer and was called as Mallika-e-Ghazal or the Queen of Ghazals. Her style of singing is inimitable and few can match upto her style. Most compositions were self composed and based on Ragas.

Begum Akhtar performed last in a concert in Ahmedabad. That day she felt that her voice was not upto the mark and raised her pitch. This put much stress on her and her health deteriorated. The situation became critical and she had to be rushed to the hospital. She breathed her last on 30th October 1974, leaving many fans disappointed and heart broken.

Asha Bhosle

With versatility as her middle name, the famous Asha Bhosle still sings the way she used to during her prime. Though she is over 70 years of age, she still continues to give stiff competition to singers who are half her age. This talented singer can sing a ghazal and a peppy cabaret number with amazing levels of energy and style. Be it the romantic "Oh Mere Sona Re" or the sensuous "Aaiye Meherban" or the peppy "Kambakth Ishq", Asha Bhonsle can add life to any song. Her life history is no less than a roller coaster ride. Check out the biography of Asha Bhonsle as given here.

Popularly known as Tabla Maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain is the son of the renowned tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha. He was born on 9th March, 1951 and showed much interest in tabla since a very young age. This child prodigy started touring by the time he was twelve and started to perform at concerts and gain much recognition and fame. He went to in St. Michael's High School in Mahim and did his graduation from St. Xavier's Mumbai. In his twenties, he started to tour the United States frequently and performed in not less than 150 concerts per year. Read the fascinating life history of the famous musical genius in this biography of Zakhir Hussein.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is a very famous classical musician who has acquired international fame by playing the classical instrument, Santoor. The Santoor is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer often made of walnut wood and has 72 strings, which are struck with two delicate carved wooden mallets. The santoor is essentially a folk instrument that originated in the Kashmir Valley, which was given the status of a classical instrument due to the persistent efforts of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Reaching at this level in life was not easy for him and it is because of the determination of Shivkumar Sharma that the Santoor is a popular classical instrument. Know his life history in this short biography of Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Pandit Ravi Shankar is a living legend who is a genius Sitar player. Born on 7th April, 1920 in Banaras, his family was a Bengali Brahmin family who named him Ravindra Shankar. Shyam Shankar, his father, was a barrister. He had an elder brother Uday Shankar who was a famous Indian classical dancer. In his younger years, Ravi played Sitar the dance troupe of Uday Shankar, especially with Anna Pavlova. In 1938, he studied under his guru, Allaudin Khan. The dedication and determination shows in the fact that Ravi Shankar's career span extends over six decades and has been recorded in the Guinness World Record as the longest international career. An account of his fascinating life history is given here as the biography of Pt. Ravi Shankar.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was undoubtedly a gem that India is proud of. This Shehnai maestro of India was a Bharat Ratna awardee and also has been awarded all the top four civilian awards namely Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan along with the Bharat Ratna. Born on 21st March, 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, he was the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan. His family had a musical background and his ancestors were musicians in the court of the princely states of Bhojpur. Read about the life history of this blessed soul in this short biography of Bismillah Khan.

Bismillah Khan was named Qamaruddin to sound like his elder brother's name Shamsuddin. However,

Shayari

Shayari or rhyming poetry basically comprises of a couplet known as Sher. This is the way that this unique and beautiful form of poetry derives the name Sher O Shayari. Most of the forms of Shayari are found in the Urdu language. However, one may find Shero Shayari in Hindi, Punjabi, etc. It is the most outstanding fields of poetry that is dominant even today. Sher o Shayari is an inseparable part of the culture of India.

Sher o Shayari has been prevalent since a long time in our country. Though the exact time of its origin is not known, it was much prevalent during the time Emperors ruled the land. The poetry is usually very emotional in nature and the right kind of couplet can set the right atmosphere for a poetic evening. There are many such connoisseurs of Shero Shayari who collect different kinds of couplets and Sher to add to their rich collection.

Folk Music of India

India is a land of cultural diversities. Every region in India has its own form of folk music. This rich tradition of folk music is very much alive in not just rural India, but also in some metros. Though one may say that music has acquired a totally different definition with the arrival of pop culture and new age cinema, there are many who would beg to differ. The realm of traditional folk music in India is very large and it is basically a countryside representation of the urban Indian society. Many people tend to mix up Indian folk music with tribal music. There is a huge difference between thee two genres of music. Read on to know about folk music of India.

Folk music is very different from classical music as well. To begin with, it is not taught in the same way as classical music is taught. Classical music usually requires a student devoting their entire life perfecting the

Ghazals

Ghazal is a common and popular form of music in Indian and Pakistan. Strictly speaking, it is not a musical form at all but a poetic recitation. However, today it is commonly conceived of as an Urdu song whose prime importance is given to the lyrics. Ghazal traces its roots in classical Arabic poetry. Ghazal grew from the Persian qasida (a verse form that had come to Iran from Arabia around the 10th century A.D).The qasida was usually a eulogy composed in praise of the emperors or their noblemen. Many a times the Qasida often had 100 couplets or more.

With the coming of the Muslims, Ghazal got introduced in the 12th century. Thus Ghazal was imported into India from the 12th to the 18th centuries. Slowly and gradually Ghazal acquired local color and form. The most notable contributor to Ghazal music in India was the famous poet Amir Khusro. Soon Ghazal came to enjoy widespread popularity among Indian Muslims and rulers for many centuries.

Indian Fusion Music

Fusion is not a very old trend in Indian music. Fusion trend is said to have begun with Ali Akbar Khan's 1955 performance in the United States. Indian fusion music came into being with rock and roll fusions with Indian music in the 1960s and 1970s. But it was limited to Europe and Europe and North America. For some time the stage of Indian fusion music was taken by Pt Ravi Shankar, the Sitar maestro.

Pt Ravi Shankar began fusing jazz with Indian traditions along with Bud Shank, a jazz musician. Soon the trend was imitated by many popular European and American music exponents. In the year 1965, George Harrison played the song, "Norwegian wood" on the Sitar. Another famous Jazz expert, Miles Davis recorded and performed with the likes of Khalil Bal Krishna, Bihari Sharma, and Badal Roy. Some other prominent Western artists like the Grateful Dead, Incredible String Band, the Rolling Stones, the Move and Traffic soon integrated Indian influences and instruments and developed the trend of fusion.

Indian Film Music

One of the most popular Indian music forms is the Filmi music. Hindi film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, along with Indian regional film industries, produces thousands of films a year, most of which are musicals and feature elaborate song and dance numbers. It is interesting to note that some of the movies become successful because of their music only. Movie soundtracks are released as tapes and CDs much before the movie is released. Earlier, radio was the main media of Film music but with the coming of satellite TV and FM radio the scenario has completely changed.

It is because of the huge popularity of the Indian film music that a large number of talented music directors, singers, composers and lyricists are attracted to the Indian Film industry. India is a land of great musical heritage. It is mainly because of the same reason that almost all our means of entertainment are inspired by music. The Indian film music has given a number of great music talents over the years. Some of the notable are Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, K L Sehgal, Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, R D Burman, S D Burman, A R Rehman, Khaiyyam and many others.

Carnatic Music

Carnatic music or Carnatic sangeet is the south Indian classical music. Carnatic music has a rich history and tradition and is one of the gems of world music. Carnatic Sangeet has developed in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. These states are known for their strong presentation of Dravidian culture. Purandardas (1480-1564) is considered to be the father of Carnatic music. To him goes the credit of codification of the method of Carnatic music. He is also credited with creation of several thousand songs. Another great name associated with Carnatic music is that of Venkat Mukhi Swami. He is regarded as the grand theorist of Carnatic music. He also developed "Melankara", the system for classifying south Indian ragas.

Sitar
Sitar is of the most popular music instruments of North India. The Sitar has a long neck with twenty metal frets and six to seven main cords. Below the frets of Sitar are thirteen sympathetic strings which are tuned to the notes of the Raga. A gourd, which acts as a resonator for the strings is at the lower end of the neck of the Sitar. The frets are moved up and down to adjust the notes. Some famous Sitar players are Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pt. Ravishankar, Ustad Imrat Khan, Ustad Abdul Halim Zaffar Khan, Ustad Rais Khan and Pt Debu Chowdhury.

Indian Music Glossary

Achal - Achal Swaras are the fixed swaras of the seven musical notes. Sa and Pa are the achal swaras of the Indian classical music.
Arohi - The term Arohi, also known as Arohana and Aroh, is used to define the ascending melody in music.
Avirbhav - Avirbhav is that technique of presenting the raga, in which the raga is noticeably expanded and exhibited
Abhoga - The last stage of a musical composition, especially in the Drupad music.
Alaap - Alaap is the free flow of the Raga, in which there are no words and no fixed rhythm. It is the purest from of melody.
Andolan - Andolan refers to a slow alternation between the notes and shrutis that are next to each other.
Ang - The term 'Ang' refers to the root to which a particular raga belongs. For example, Tantrakari Ang (instrumental style of music)

Hindustani Music

Hindustani classical music is an Indian classical music tradition. It originated in North India around 13th and 14th centuries. In contrast to Carnatic music, the other main Indian classical music tradition from South India, the Hindustani classical music was not only influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions and Vedic philosophy but also by the Persian elements. Hindustani classical music is the most popular stream of Indian music.

Hindustani music is based on the raga system. The Raga is a melodic scale, comprising of notes from the basic seven- Sa, Re, Ga, Ma Pa, Dha and Ni. On the basis of notes included in it, each raga attains a different character. The form of the raga is also determined by the particular pattern of ascent and descent of the notes, which may not be strictly linear.

Kurta

Kurta is a term used to refer to a long loose shirt, the length of which falls below or may be just above the knees of the wearer. In the olden times, it was primarily worn by men, but today, it has become a unisex dress that both men and women can wear. Depending on one's personal preference, kurta can be teamed with churidar as well as loose fit salwar. In the contemporary times, youngsters don kurta along with a funky pair of jeans. To know more about Indian kurta, read on.

Kurta is a very flexible dress that can be worn on formal as well as informal occasions. You can even wear them at work. Most Indian men prefer wearing kurta pajama during the night. Well, it is due to its extreme comfort that it has become a popular choice amongst the other

Dhoti

Dhoti kurta is the traditional Indian clothing of men. Unlike other dresses, it is an unstitched piece of cloth usually 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. The knot is tied at the waist. Dhoti is known by different names at different places such as Laacha in Punjabi, dhuti in Bangla, veshti in Tamil, panche in Kannada, mundu or veshti in Malayalam, dhotar in Marathi, and pancha in Telugu etc. In Northern parts of India, dhoti is worn along with Kurta and together the attire is called "Dhoti Kurta".

In South India, men wear it with an "angavastram", which is also an unstitched piece of cloth that is draped over the shoulders. Sometimes, it is worn along with a shirt known as "chokka". In certain parts of the country, men wear Lungi, which is a similar piece of unstitched cloth, which is draped in the same manner as Dhoti. It is mostly worn on the informal occasions. However, Dhoti is concerned to be a formal ethnic dress in India. More often, men prefer wearing dhoti on the traditional family occasions. Even in the posh colonies, men wear their traditional dress dhoti.

In India, one can spot many men wearing turban. Well, turban is tied not for the sake of fashion, but because it has a lot of significance in the lives of Indians. The hair turban is a headdress that basically consists of a long piece of unstitched cloth, which is wrapped around the head. The hair turban used in India is usually 5 meters in length. Each time, the wrapping is unfolded and tied all over again.

The turban more commonly known as pagri was initially tied to keep the head cool. It was actually a way to escape from the blazing heat or to put succinctly a means to beat the scorching heat of sun. To cope with the hot climatic conditions of desert, this long piece of cloth was soaked in water overnight and then tied in the morning. The different layers of turban kept wet throughout the day and thus provided a great relief.

Sherwani is a long coat resembling achkan in styling. It is buttoned upto the collar and lengthwise it is usually below the knee. It adds to the charm and grace of men, especially the taller ones. Indian men spend lavishly on buying the sherwani suit for the special occasion of their wedding. This traditional clothing for Indian men is witnessing mushrooming growth in its demand. In India, men don Sherwani over the Kurta and Churidar pajama. As a part of fashion, Sherwani is sometimes teamed with Kurta and salwar. To know more about traditional sherwanis in India, read on.

The origin of sherwani can be traced back in Central Asia during the times when it was the dress code of the Turkish and Persian nobles in the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. In the late eighteenth century,

Sari is one of the most wonderful dresses worn by Indian women. Infact, when one thinks of a typical Indian woman, the first thing that strikes the mind is a woman clad in sari, who is wearing the solah shringar including bindi, chudi, kajal and many more. Apart from highlighting the characteristic image of an Indian woman, the Indian dress saree also adds grace to a woman's personality. To know as to how as wear a Sari, read on.

Well, Saree is an unstitched piece of clothing usually four to nine metres long depending on the style in which you want to drape it. Though, there can be numerous ways of draping a Sari, but the most common style resorted to by the women in India involves wrapping Sari around the waist, with its one end draped over the shoulder (pallu), thereby covering the chest. Sari is

Salwar kameez is the traditional Indian clothing for women. Due to its high popularity in the region of Punjab, shalwar kameez is commonly referred to as Punjabi suit. The fashion of Shalwar Kameez in India is not new. Since the past many few centuries, women have been wearing this wonderful attire that is absolutely decent to wear and also lends a graceful look to its wearer. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, men and women both attire Salwar kameez. Infact, it were the pathans of Kabul, who can be attributed the credit for introducing this dress in South Asia.

Salwar, also pronounced shalwar, refers to the loose fit pajama that is quite wide at the top and in comparison pretty narrow at the bottom. The term Kameez on the other hand is used to refer to the long

The cuisine of Rajasthan is primarily vegetarian and offers a fabulous variety of mouthwatering dishes. The spice content is quite high in comparison to other Indian cuisines, but the food is absolutely scrumptious. Rajasthanis use ghee for cooking most of the dishes. Rajasthani food is well known for its spicy curries and delicious sweets.

There is an enormous variety of sweets in Rajasthan, which are relished and savored by all. In Rajasthan, the sweet dishes are had before the meal, with the main course and after the meal unlike other desserts. Therefore, sweet dish is never called dessert in Rajasthan. When a guest arrives in the house of a Rajasthani, he/she is served food in a proper manner. Self service concept is considered rude and thus it does not form part of the etiquettes

The cuisine of Punjab has an enormous variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non vegetarian dishes. The spice content ranges from minimal to pleasant to high. Punjabi food is usually relished by people of all communities. In Punjab, home cooking differs from the restaurant cooking style. At the restaurants, the chefs make a liberal use of desi ghee, butter and cream to make the food lip smacking and finger licking. On the other hand, at home, people prefer using sunflower oil or some other refined oil for cooking, with the basic idea of making the food low in fat content.

Wheat is the staple food of Punjabis; however, they do enjoy eating rice on festivities and other special occasions. When it comes to food, each region in Punjab has an entirely different preference like people in Amritsar are particularly fond of stuffed paranthas and milk products. The philosophy of life for most of

The cuisine of South India is known for its light, low calorie appetizing dishes. The traditional food of South India is mainly rice based. The cuisine is famous for its wonderful mixing of rice and lentils to prepare yummy lip smacking dosas, vadas, idlis and uttapams. South Indian dishes are not just delicious, but also very easily digestible. The best part is that South Indians do not use much of oil for cooking their meals.

Sambhar is like a must in the main course. It is usually a companion to most of the food items then be it idli, vada or dosa. Most of the South Indian dishes consist of sambhar, rasam, vegetable curry and pachadi (yogurt). When it comes to rice preparations, South Indians are real experts. Their lemon rice is savored and appreciated by almost all the people. Other preparations of rice include coconut rice, carrot rice and fried rice made by using coconut, curry leaves, urad dal, tamarind, peanuts, chilies, and fenugreek seeds.

Mughlai cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines, whose origin can be traced back to the times of Mughal Empire. Mughlai cuisine consists of the dishes that were prepared in the kitchens of the royal Mughal Emperors. Indian cuisine is predominantly influenced by the cooking style practiced during the Mughal era. Mughlai food is quite spicy and has a very unique aroma. On eating Mughlai food, one can get a feel of the ground spices. The spices used in the preparation of Mughlai food are easily accessible.

Mughlai food is especially preferred in Northern parts of the country. Some of the Mughlai dishes have Muslim names such as biryani, pulao, kebabs, kofta. This is suggestive of the strong influence of Muslim

Kashmiri food that we have today in the restaurants has evolved over the years. Highly influenced by the traditional food of the Kashmiri pundits, it has now taken some of the features of the cooking style adopted in Central Asia, Persia and Afghanistan. Kashmiri food makes an extensive use of turmeric and yoghurt. Superb preparation and fabulous aromatic flavor of the Kashmiri food is so alluring that even those who are not feeling hungry end up yearning for more.

In the making of Kashmiri dishes, garlic and onion are not used much as in the case of other Indian cuisines. Absolutely rich in taste and exotic in flavor, Kashmiri cuisine has

Bengali cuisine is appreciated for its fabulous use of panchphoron, a term used to refer to the five essential spices, namely mustard, fenugreek seed, cumin seed, aniseed, and black cumin seed. The specialty of Bengali food lies in the perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavors. For Bengalis, food is one of the most essential aspects of their day to day lives. Ladies spend lot of time in the kitchen cooking delicious feast for the family.

The staple food of people in Bengal is rice and fish. A typical Bengali needs to have fish in every meal; otherwise there is a feeling that the meal is incomplete. There is an ample

Location:	Mysore, Karnataka
Built In:	1537
Built By:	A Feudal lord called Kempe Gowda
How to Reach:	Karnataka is easily reachable from any major city in India as it is well connected by flights, trains and roads.

One of the prime attractions in Mysore, Karnataka is the famous Srirangapatnam fort. Built in the year 1537 by a feudal lord, this magnificent fort is considered to be the second toughest fort of India. The Srirangapatna Fort has four main entrances known by the names of Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore and Water and Elephant gates. The fort has a double wall defense system, which is what makes it impenetrable. The legendary Tipu Sultan's residence was inside this fort. Hence, it is also known as Tipu Sultan Fort.

Tipu Sultan was known as the Mysore Tiger since he fought the British forces here with true courage and

Location:	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Built In:	12th- 16th Century
Built By:	Different Qutub Shahi Rulers
How to Reach:	Hyderabad can be reached easily via air, rail and road from any major metro city of India.

A majestic fortress on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Golconda Fort is one of the grandest forts of India. Built around 12th and 16th Century by various Qutub Shahi rulers, this fort has a rich history that is almost 400 years old. It is definitely a place worth visiting in case you are traveling to the south of India. One can see the elegance and grandeur of the Nawabi culture on visiting the famous Golkunda Fort of Andhra Pradesh. A tour around the fort would leave you absolutely mesmerized and you would be completely bowled over by the sheer magnitude of the fort.

In a state of total ruin, the Tughlaqabad fort was once a symbolic of the might of the Tughlaq dynasty. The Tughlaqabad fort was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. The fort is spread over an extensive area and a piece of architectural marvel. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq built the Tughlaqabad fort as part of Tughlaqabad, the third city of Delhi. This was the period of political unrest and there was continuous danger of Mongol attack from the North western borders of the Empire. To save the Empire and his subjects from the marauding Mongols, Ghiyas-ud-din built the Tughlaqabad fort.

Even though the fort is in a state of ruins, it bears testimony to past glory and might of the Delhi Sultanate. The massive ramparts, battlements and the mammoth stonework of Tughlaqabad fort speak highly of the

The Purana Quila or the old fort was constructed by Humayun and Sher Shah. The old fort complex covers an area of about a mile. The walls of Purana Quila have three gates (the Humayun Darwaza, Talaqi Darwaza and Bara Darwaza) and are surrounded by a moat, which was fed by river Yamuna. The double-storied gates of the Purana Quila are quite massive and are built with red sandstone. The walls of the old fort are said to be built by Humayun while the buildings in the old fort are attributed to Sher Shar, the Sur ruler. Of all the surviving buildings in the old fort complex, the Sher Mandal and the Quila-i-kunha Mosque are notable.

The Sher Mandal was built by Humayun. It is a two storied octagonal tower, used by Humayun as his

The Amber fort is set in a picturesque location a little away from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state. The Amber Fort presents a fascinating blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Raja Man Singh built the Amber fort in the sixteenth century (the construction of the Amber Fort was started in 1592). The Amber Fort is built in red sandstone and white marble. The palace complex of the Amber fort has very attractive apartments. This complex was built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two centuries.

The front courtyard of the fort complex is adorned with the splendid, pillared hall of the Diwan-i-Am, and the two-tiered painted gateway, Ganesh Pol. The palace of mirrors (the Sheesh Mahal) is also of special

The majestic Agra fort was built by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1565-75. The Agra fort contains numerous impressive structures like the Jahangir Mahal, Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khass, Diwan-i-Am, Machchhi Bhawan and Moti Masjid. The Agra fort is enclosed by a double battlemented massive wall of red sandstone. This wall is about 2 km in perimeter and is interrupted by graceful curves and lofty bastions. Many of the buildings inside the Taj Mahal were pulled down by Shah Jahan, who erected some new ones. The Agra fort has four gates, of which the Delhi Gate is the most impressive.

Lohagarh Fort

Lohagarh fort or the Iron fort was built in the early 18th century by the Jat ruler, Maharaja Suraj Mal. The Lohagarh fort is a living testimony to the chivalry and bravery of the Jat rulers of Bharatpur. Due to its impregnable defenses the fort came to be known by name of Lohagarh. The Lohagarh fort was surrounded and protected by deep moats. Though Lohagarh fort lacks the flamboyance of other forts of the region but its strength and magnificence is matchless.

Some fascinating monuments in the fort are Kishori Mahal, Mahal

Located in Bikaner, the Junagarh fort is one of the most impressive fort complexes in India. Junagarh fort was built by Raja Rai Singh in 1588 AD. Junagarh fort is one of those few forts that are not built on a hilltop. The fort complex consists of palaces, courtyards, pavilions and balconies. The walls palaces etc. are ornamented with carved stones, marbles, paintings and inlaid semi-precious stones. Each palace in the Junagarh fort complex was built by a different ruler over the centuries.

One of the most impressive structures in the Junagarh fort complex is the Anup Mahal. Its elaborately

One of the oldest and massive forts of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer fort is located in the remote Thar Desert. In the medieval times, the location of Jaisalmer on the trade route made it a prosperous town. Jaisalmer came to be celebrated for the chivalry and bravery of its rulers and also for the aesthetic sense represented by its palaces and Havelis. The rulers and merchants of Jaisalmer engaged craftsmen to work on the sandstone mansions, buildings and palaces, filling up the front with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. The Jaisalmer fort is two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall of 30 feet height. The fort has 99 bastions.

The magnificent Jaigarh fort is located near Jaipur. Jaigarh fort or the fort of victory was constructed by Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1726. The Fort stands in the middle of thorn and scrub hills, which impart it a stout look. The Jaigarh fort gives an amazing view of the city below. The purpose of building the Jaigarh fort was to strengthen the defense of Amber. It is the main reason why the Jaigarh fort is quite plain and simple. The fort is surrounded by a moat and all other arrangements seen in big citadels. Jaigarh Fort was also used as the treasury of the royal family of Jaipur.

The Gwalior fort spreads out over an area of 3 square km, surrounded by concrete walls of sandstone. The Gwalior fort encloses three temples, six palaces and numerous water tanks. At a point of time Gwalior fort was regarded as North and Central India's most invincible fortress. The fort was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century. The fort of Gwalior has seen many ups and downs of history. In the course of almost five hundred years, the Gwalior fort went from one ruler to another.

From the Tomars it passed to the Mughals, Marathas and the British. The Gwalior fort finally went to the Scindias from the British. The Teli-ka-Mandir is the most famous of all the temples of the Gwalior fort.

The Red fort (Lal Qila) at Delhi was built by Shah Jahan on the banks of river Yamuna. The Red fort at Delhi is one of the massive forts in India and is a witness to the heyday of the Mughal Empire. Shah Jahan built the Red fort as the citadel of Shahjahanabad, his new capital at Delhi. The Lal Quila or the Red fort rises above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the city of Shahjahanabad. Red fort's walls extend from two kilometers and differ in height from 18 meters on the river side to 33 meters on the city side.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan started the construction of the Red fort in 1638 and it was completed by

Quartz Stone

The quartz gemstone is probably one of the most popular and versatile gemstones that are available. Quartz is a rock crystal and has been in use since ancient times. Despite the most sought varieties of quartz like citrine, amethyst, rose quartz, agates, ametrine, chrysoprase, onyx and rutilated quartz, there are many other varieties available too. These gems are affordable and stand apart from expensive gemstones like jade and diamonds.

Quartz Gemstone
Quartz is said to be the second most common mineral found on the Earth’s crust after feldspar. Quartz is made up of silicon oxygen tetrahedra. The word quartz is derived from the German word ‘quarz’ which means ‘cross-vein ore’. In ancient times in the Middle East and Europe, quartz was used in jewelry. Quartz was not only used for jewelry, but was a major element to be used in scientific experiments.

Pearl

Pearls are exquisite to behold and have been used in jewelry for hundreds of years. Unlike other gems, the pearl is organic matter obtained from the living creatures of the sea like the mollusks and oysters. The pearl is actually formed as the mollusks or the oyster coats itself with layers of nacre to protect itself from unwanted materials that could damage them. The process is very delicate and it takes years for a pearl to be formed. Even a small disturbance or damage at any point of time, can change the whole shape and luster of the pearl. A pearl with no foreign matter inside is considered the finest pearl and is very rare.

Pearl Gemstone
There are a number of folklores about pearls. It was believed that pearls were first born when a drop of rain fell from the heavens and became the heart of the oyster. Pearls were also considered the teardrops of moon and they were believed to form when the angels passed through the clouds in the heaven. Today, pearls are considered as symbols of purity and are stitched in bridal gowns or added in bridal jewelry.

Opal Stone

The Opal is considered a symbol of clarity, optimism and confidence. Any jewelry designed with opal gemstone adds beauty to the ornament. There are numerous myths enveloped with this enchanting gemstone. According to the ancient dream of the Australian aborigines, the creator came down to the Earth on a rainbow to convey the message of peace to all the humans. As soon he stepped on the ground, the stones turned alive and started gleaming in all the colors of the rainbow. Hence the very moment the hypnotizing Opals were born.

Opal Jewelry Handicraft
The name Opal was probably derived from Sanskrit word ‘upala’, meaning ‘valuable stone’. It can also be derived from the Greek term ‘opallios’, meaning ‘color change’. The first Opal blocks were discovered on an Australian cattle station called Tarravilla in 1849. It is the most important classical supplier of fine opals worldwide. Almost 95 per cent of Opal stones are supplied from Australian mines. The remaining 5 per cent is mined from the countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and also in the states of Idaho and Nevada in the

Obsidian Stone

“Apache tears”, the other name given to obsidian is a natural volcanic glass which is formed by swift cooling of the glutinous lava inside the earth. This is made of rich silica without a trace of water. The making process of obsidian is the same as that of granite. However, it cools down so quickly that there is exactly no time to crystallize. Their luster looks amazingly glassy. They are jet-black in color, yet as hematite is present, the color varies from red to brown, green, gray, sometimes with snowflakes and at times very clear. It is said to be most challenging crystal and is very hard to identify the properties. At times the presence of the gas bubbles brings a golden or rainbow sheen to the stone which makes it really attractive.

Moonstone

The moonstone is named for its resemblance to the color of the moon. It owes its name to the soft milky white stone with a bluish or yellowish tint. It is also known as ‘Stone of Emotional Balance’ and represents the moon goddess. It is an excellent gemstone used in meditation to understand oneself. It is believed that the stone transmits lunar energy and helps soothe and balance human emotions. This is a considered a good gemstone for young women or teenagers. This gemstone is worn to unblock those feelings in a person who is afraid to acknowledge or experience consciously how they on a personal and internal level. Moonstone jewels make highly prized gifts for lovers as they arouse tender passions. These gemstones are considered protective stone for travelers, swimmers and sailors.

Moonstone Jewelry Handicrafts
Besides the romanticism of the night, it is believed that the stone is coupled with peace and tranquility. Hence from ancient times, the moonstone is associated with love, dreams and magic. It is considered as a

Moissanite Stone

Moissanite, the exact replica of diamond, is a distinctive mineral discovered by the Noble prize winner Dr. Henri Moissan in the year 1893. He found it as tiny bits of silicon carbide, inside a meteorite in canyon Diablo, Arizona. The stone was named after him. In the year 1959, moissanite was found with an inclusion of kimberlite in a diamond mine in Yakutia, Siberia and Wyoming- Western United States. It is said that the diamond is the hardest among all the minerals found on earth and moissanite is said to be the second hardest mineral.

Moissanite Gemstone
Now-a-days, synthetic moissanite is also made in labs. Nevertheless, synthetic moissanites aren’t considered true by the gemologists. Many jewelers find it very hard to identify a colorless diamond and colorless moissanite, and many worry of fraudulent sales. This stone is considered a rival to the diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, due to its brilliance and luster. However, lab instruments exist by which a good jeweler can detect synthetic moissanite from the original one.

Lapis Lazuli Stone

Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious gemstone which appears as though it might have come straight out of the ‘Arabian Nights’: ‘A deep blue background with golden insertions of pyrites which shimmer like little stars’. Lapis Lazuli is a semiprecious stone valued for its deep blue color, and one can often spot golden pyrite inclusions. Lapis Lazuli has a stretched history and has been considered precious by people around the planet for centuries. The Assyrians, Babylonians and the Egyptians originally used this ornamental gemstone. The Romans acknowledged Lapis to be an aphrodisiac gem. The Pharaohs of Egypt admired and used Lapis for making sculptures, jewelry and funerary death masks. It was considered a mystical stone with an excellent ability to attract anybody. Lapis are either cut as beads for necklaces and looks especially attractive when set with diamonds or pearls.

Kunzite Stone

Kunzite, the beautiful icy pink colored gemstone and was discovered in the year 1902 by the gemologist George Frederick Kunz in a place called Pala in California. It was named ‘kunzite’ after the discoverer. It is available in countries like Brazil, Canada, Afghanistan, USA, Mexico, Western Australia, Pakistan and Sweden. The specialty of kunzite is that it loses its color when exposed to sun or any other strong light and turns green in some time, but retains back its original hue as sun sets in and so the name ‘evening stone’. Kunzite is usually confused with rubies or morganites, rose quartz, topaz, tourmaline, etc.

Kunzite Gemstones
Kunzite is an inexpensive stone and complements any pastel colors and also looks amazingly stunning with black or navy blue. Kunzite is unusually used as a small sized stone in rings, necklaces or other jewelry. It is often used as a large stone in pendants and as a single large stone in rings.

Garnet Stone

Garnets belong to the semi-precious stone category. The name is derived from the Latin word “granatus” which was a reference to the fruit ‘pomegranate’ which has seeds similar to the shape, size and color of garnet crystals. Archeologists have discovered garnet jewelry dating back to 3100 B.C. Ancient cultures like the Sumerians and Egyptians have been said to have used the stone in making exquisite jewelry. This stone was considered lucky by warriors during medieval times. People also held the garnets as symbols of unrestricted love, relationships, happiness, romance and devotion, so hence used it in marriages as a primary jewelry gem stone.

Emerald Stone

Emerald is a much admired fantastic green stone. It is the green variety of the mineral beryl and one of the most well prized gems. All over history emerald has been one of the most preferred and popular gems. Due to its dazzling beauty, emerald jewelry such as earrings, finger rings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets are highly cherished. Emerald is associated with Venus, the Roman Goddess of love, and is believed to confer the wearer with faithfulness and pure love. These gemstones are often called healing stones for relationships, for the heart, and for health. Some traditions say that the emerald will help one to become more understanding in relationships and thus makes it a helpful addition to wedding rings. It is the birthstone for May and the Zodiac stone for those born under the Cancer sign.

Mystical Emerald Jewelry
Emeralds are widely used in jewelry such as engagement rings, anniversary rings and wedding rings; also in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants etc.

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