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This is a true story from long long ago.
Almost three hundred years ago, in a village called Khejadli, lived
Amrita.
Khejadli village is near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The village got its name
because of the many Khejadi trees that grew there.
The people of this village took great
care of the plants, trees and animals. Goats, deers, hares and peacocks roamed
fearlessly there. The people of the village remembered what their elders used
to tell them. They used to say, “Agar perh hain to hum hain. Plants and animals
can survive without us, but we can not survive without them.”
Amrita would get up early every morning
and greet her friends – the trees. She would choose a special tree for the day.
She would put her arms around the tree trunk and whisper to the tree, “Friend,
you are strong and beautiful. You care for us. Thank you tree. I love you very
much. Give your strength to me also.” Like Amrita, the other children also had
their special trees. They would play for hours in the shade of the trees.
Trees in Danger:
Time went by. Amrita was now grown up.
One day she went to greet her trees. She saw that there were some strangers in
her village. They had axes with them.
They said that the King had sent them to cut
trees for wood. The wood was needed for building the King’s palace.
Amrita was shocked. She went to the tree
that the men were about to cut. She put her arms around the tree and hugged it
tightly. The men shouted and threatened her, but Amrita did not let go of the
tree.
The King’s men had to follow his order.
They had to cut the tree. On seeing this, Amrita’s daughters and hundreds of villagers
–old and young – hugged the trees to protect them.
Many people including Amrita and her daughters
died to save the trees. When the King heard of this, he could not believe that
people gave up their lives for trees. He visited the village himself. There he
learned about villagers’ respect for trees and animals.
The Village is Protected…
The villagers’ strong feelings for trees
affected the King greatly. He ordered that from then on, no tree would be cut
and no animal harmed in that area.
Even today, almost three hundred years
later, the people of this area, called Bishnois, continue to protect plants and
animals. Even though in the middle of the desert, this area is green and
animals roam freely without fear.
The Khejadi tree is found mainly in
desert areas. It can grow without much water. Its bark is used for making medicines.
People cook and eat its fruits (beans).
Its wood is such that it will not be
affected by insects. Animals in this area eat the leaves of the Khejadi. And
children like you, play in its shade.
May your life be filled with happiness and may you be successful in whatever you do. Wish you a very Happy Holi.
Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring, love, and new life. Holi is festival of colours and fun. Though celebration of Holi festival has religious significance, this festival brings people together and helps them forget the bitterness in relationships and improve the bonds. Holi festival is not only celebrated by Hindus but also by the people of other religions. Holi is more a time for fun. It's a colourful festival, with dancing, singing and throwing of powder paint and coloured water. Holi is also known as the "festival of colours".
Holi is the time to develop understanding and love for each other. Here, is a platform for you all to renew your friendship and to express heartiest love by scribbling a beautiful Holi message for loved ones. Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'.
Holi is The Festival of Colors because there are colorful sights all around in this season. Beautiful flowers of different colors bloom all around. In the olden days, people were playing Holi is with flowers and natural colors. It is an ancient Hindu festival and has now gained popularity between non-Hindu groups of India and almost the whole world. Hence, Holi is known to be a celebration of spring, colors, and love.
Historical Significance of Holi
The origin of Holi is believed to be before the birth of Christ. Legend goes that Lord Vishnu had assassinated the younger brother of the demon lord, Hiranyakashipu. Apart from avenging his brother’s death, the demon king had the ulterior motive of ruling the heaven, the earth, and the underworld by defeating Vishnu. Powered by a boon granted to him, Hiranyakashipu thought he had become invincible. Holi is celebrated in the honor of the Hindu God Vishnu and his follower Prahlada.
King Hiranyakashipu ruled over demonic Asuras and he earned a blessing that gave him five powers. King Hiranyakashipu could neither be destroyed by a human nor an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither during the day nor during the night, neither by an arrow nor a sword and neither on land nor on water or air. Hiranyakashipu became invincible and arrogant and wanted people to worship only him. On his orders, his whole state started praying him, dismissing the gods. But Hiranyakashipu’s own son Prahlada defied him and worshipped Vishnu. This stirred him up and he gave his son cruel punishments. None of this affected Prahlada or made him change his decision. Devastated by his rebellion, his aunt Holika tricked him to sit with her on fire. Holika covered herself with a cloak which would protect her. However, the fire roared, and the cloak flew and covered Prahalad. The fire killed Holika. Lord Vishnu could bear this injustice anymore and then he appeared and took the form of Narasimha i.e. half human and half lion. He took Hiranyakashipu on his lap and killed the king with his lion claws at a doorstep during dusk. Hence, the Holika Dahan is a symbolic reminder of the victory of the good over evil, of Prahlada over his evil father. Even today, the story of Holika is re-enacted by actors on Holi. Bonfires across the country are lit up to celebrate the burning away of the evil spirits.
The celebration starts a night before Holi, where people get together for a bonfire to perform a ritual called Holika Dahan and pray that the fire destroys all their internal evil just how it destroyed Holika. The word ‘Holi’ comes from the word "Holika" who was the evil sister of the monstrous King. The triumph of good over evil is a tried and tested theme resurfacing in early scriptures time and again. Holi is one such festival with the prime theme of good beating away evil.
Story of Radha and Krishan: The legend of Radha and Krishna is closely linked with this tradition of colors on Holi. Young Krishna, who had a dark complexion was jealous of his beloved Radha's extremely fair skin. In a mischievous mood, he applied color on Radha's face.
Following this ancient legend, lovers till date long to color their beloved as an expression of love. Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition. The most popular stories of Holi origin relates to 'Holika Dahan' and Legend of Radha-Krishan.
Safe Holi: Celebrate Holi with eco-friendly and skin-friendly color and Avoid colors having mix harmful chemicals. Remember colors with mixed harmful chemicals appear brighter and mix faster with water. They are harsh enough to cause allergic reactions, if not taken care of properly. One must try and make natural colors from flowers like marigold and kitchen ingredients like sandalwood and turmeric. can apply a thick layer of coconut oil as it won’t just hydrate your body but will help colors wash away faster.
Keep drinking water, glucose, juices, anything that will help you re-energizing yourself. Wear shades, it will not only protect you from the sun, but it can also prevent the colors from going anywhere near your eyes and causing inflammation. Wear old clothes and cover your body as much as you can. It includes covering cover your arms, legs, and even your face. Respect everyone around you when it comes to playing with colors, or throwing water balloons.
Holi is the festival of colors. I wish with all my heart that it brings more colors to your life. Wishing you and your family a fabulous Holi. Happy Holi! 😊🎇🎆🎈🎉🎊🎋🎋🎊🎈🎈🎆🎇🎇😊
Golconda (sometimes spelled as Golkonda) Fort was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Golconda which flourished in the 14th to 16th century. It is situated 11 kilometers from Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Telangana.
The walls ranging from 17 to 34 feet broken by 87 semi-circular bastions in shape, some reaching 60 feet in height, and built on a granite hill that is 400 feet high and it remains one of India’s most magnificent fortress complexes.
Even before the kingdom of Golconda rose in prominence, the beginning of the fort was thought to be in 1143, when the Kakatiya Dynasty ruled the region.
According to legend, a shepherd boy found an idol in the area. When this was reported to the Kakatiyan king, he ordered a mud fort to be built around it. The fort eventually became known as Golla Konda, which in Tegulu meant Shepherd’s Hill.
In 1686, the Mughal prince Aurangzeb started to lay siege on the fort of Golconda, with the intent of claiming Hydebarad, the wealthy capital of the Qutub Shahi dynasty.
The fortress proved to be as impregnable as its reputation claimed. It wasn’t until the year after, in 1687, when Aurangzeb finally managed to breach the fort after a nine-month long siege. It was said that the fort only fell down because of a traitor who sabotaged the gate.
Today, even after almost 800 years, the fort still stands as one of Hyderabad’s greatest architectural wonders. One of it’s gratest engineering marvels is the fantastic acoustic effects: one handclap at a certain point below the entrance dome can be heard at the highest point of the pavilion almost a kilometer away. This was said to be used for warning the royals in case of an attack.
Reached Golconda At last we reached Golconda. We were glad that didi was with us. Didi studies history and we enjoy visiting different places with her.
Shailja: My goodness! This fort is so huge. Shreedhar: And see at what a height it is built! Kalyani: Just look! Have you ever seen such a huge gate? Shailja: It must be very heavy. I wonder how many people would be needed to open and close this gate. Kalyani : Look at these sharp ironSpokes. I wonder why they were made? Shailja: Look at these thick walls too. Shreedhar: I have never seen such thick walls. Kalyani: At some places, a part of the wall comes out in a round shape. I wonder why? Didi:These are called bastions (burj).
See these are even higher than the wall. The outer wall of this fort has 87 bastions. Thick walls, a huge gate and so many bastions! So many ways to ensure security
What did we find inside the fort? Shailja: I wonder how old this fort would be? Do you think the king built the fort so that he could live here? Kalyani : It was written outside that Qutubshahi Sultans ruled here one after another, from 1518-1687. Didi : Much before that, in 1200, this fort was made of mud and different rulers lived here.
Shailja: Oh look! This board has a map of the fort. Shreedhar: This map shows so many gardens, fields and factories. See, there are many palaces also inside the fort. Shailja: That means that not only the Sultan, but many other people like farmers and workers must also have been living here. Kalyani: It must have been a complete town. The Sultan’s Palace Shreedhar: These steps seem to go on and on. Shailja: Even in those days they used to have buildings with two floors! Kalyani: Now, the building is in ruins. But one can imagine that earlier there were many big halls and rooms here. Shreedhar: Look at this beautiful carving on the walls. It is so fine Kalyani : We also saw something like a fountain on one of the roofs. Didi : Yes, there were many big tanks and fountains here. They used to be full of water.
Wow, what engineering! Think, even today when engineers design houses, sometimes there is dampness in the walls. And here, so long ago, there were fountains on the terrace!
The building must have been made with such good understanding. If we think how the people lived five hundred years ago, so many questions come to our mind. For example, how was water lifted to such heights? Can you guess how?
Why these attacks? While we were all talking, Shreedhar called us to see a big gun (cannon). We ran up the steps.
Shailja: This must have been the Sultan's big gun. Didi : This was used by Aurangzeb. His full army came with their guns and cannons to attack but they could not even enter the fort. For eight months they camped outside the fort. Shailja: Why would the army come here all the way from Delhi?
Didi: In those days, emperors and kings, played such tricks. They tried to make smaller kingdoms a part of their own kingdom. This was done sometimes by friendship, sometimes by flattery, or even by marriage between families. And when nothing else worked, they also attacked them!
Kalyani: Why is it that Aurangzeb’s army could not get into the fort? He had so many soldiers and big guns.
Shailja: Didn’t you see these strong thick walls? In the map there is a long deep ditch (pit) along the wall. How could the army enter?
Shreedhar: If the army tried to come from a different side, then the soldiers in the bastions would have seen it from a distance. No wonder it was difficult to attack the fort!
Kalyani: Imagine! The army is coming on horses and elephants, with all their guns. Here, the Sultan's army stands fully prepared.
Shailja: Oh no! How many people and soldiers on both the sides must have been killed in all this fighting? Why do people attack and have wars?
Shreedhar: Guns and cannons are things of the past now. These days many countries have nuclear bombs. A single bomb can cause so much destruction!
When there was no telephone: Didi asked us to wait at the king's palace. She herself went to Fateh Darwaza. A while later we heard Didi’s voice, “Alert! I am Sultan Abul Hassan. I am very fond of music and Kuchipudi dance.” We all laughed. We were surprised how didi’s voice could be heard from so far. She later told us that if you stand at Fateh Darwaza whatever you speak can be heard at the king’s palace.
Arrangements for water: The picture shown here is made after seeing a very old painting of those times. Can you think why bullocks have been used here? Use your hand movement to show in which direction the drum attached to the rod moves when the bullocks move. In which direction would the ‘toothed wheel’ move?
Look, this pole shown under the ground joins with another wheel which has a number of pots on it. Now imagine, how would this garland of pots lift water from the well?
Do you now get some idea about how the tanks could have been filled by lifting water from the wells? Even today we can see clay pipes in the walls of the fort. These pipes would have been used to carry water to different places in the palace.
What a sad sight! Talking, whistling and listening to our own echo we were walking through this mehrab (arch).
Shreedhar: Oh! The breeze feels so cool in this tunnel. Shailja: It was written that soldiers stayed here. Shreedhar: See this board, but look what the wall is like! Shailja: Oh! Think how this wall has seen thousands of years go by. It has seen kings and queens, horses and elephants, war and peace... But we have spoilt it in just a few years. Kalyani: I don’t understand, what kind of fun do people get in writing their names all over the place like this?
Close your eyes and go back in time! Imagine that you are in those days when there was a busy town inside Golconda. Think about the questions given below and discuss in class. You could even put up a play.
What is the Sultan doing in the palace? What kind of clothes is he wearing? What dishes are being offered to him? But why does he seem so worried? And in what language is he talking?
Going to the museum: After seeing Golconda, the children also went to a museum in Hyderabad. Many old items are kept there. Many things were found when the place around Golconda was dug – like pots, jewellery, swords, etc.
Shailja: Oh! Why are these broken pieces of pots kept in the almirah? See that small plate made of bronze. That blue piece seems to be made of ceramic (clay).
Didi : It is through all these things that we come to know how people of those times lived, what they used and what things they made. If all these would not have been kept here, how would you know so much about those times?
Make your own museum: Rajni teaches in a Government school in Mallapuram district in Kerala. Together with the children of her class, she has collected many old things from all the houses. Like old walking sticks, locks, umbrellas, wooden slippers (khadaun), pots, etc.
They also saw what these things look like today. Rajni and the children put up an exhibition, which people from the neighbourhood came to see. You could also do this.
Happy Janmashtami! May Lord Krishna come to your house & take away all your maakhan and mishri along with all your worries & sorrow. Let there be love, happiness and laughter in your life with Lord Krishna's blessings. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Janmashtami!
Janmashtami festival mark the birth of Lord Krishna who is lovingly known as Kanha. He is considered as one of the most powerful human incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. Dahi Handi is one of the most festive event of the Janmashtami celebration. Let us have a look at the story behind the Janmashtami festival celebration and about Dahi Handi.
Janmashtami festival is widely celebrated across the country and the day marks the birth of Lord Krishna. Janmashtami is also known as Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami. It is celebrated every year on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha or dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada according to the Hindu calendar.
Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of Ruler Krishna. In Mathura, the city of Devil Ruler Kansa, Ruler Krishna was born within the jail of the Lord as the eighth child of Devaki on the eighth day of the dull fortnight of Bhadrapada month. It was midnight and Moon was rising along side Rohini Nakshatra when he was born. Consequently, Krishnashtami commemorates the birthday of Ruler Krishna each year. It is accepted that on this day, Sri Maha Vishnu, who is the preserver or sustainer of life, incarnated on Soil as Sri Krishna to battle disasters. Sri Krishna is considered as the eighth incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu.
Sri Krishna was born around 5,200 a long time prior in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, which is additionally alluded to as Dwapar Yuga..Devotees on this day watch quick and offer supplication to the divinity for great wellbeing and joy. The Puja custom takes put at midnight as Sri Krishna was born at midnight in a imprison where his mother and father were bolted by his uncle Kansa.
Old King Ugrasena of Mathura had two children, Prince Kamsa and Princess Devaki. While King Ugrasena was a good king, Prince Kamsa was a ruthless tyrant. Now Princess Devaki was to wed a nobleman named Vasudeva. Kamsa out of the love he bore for his sister decided to be the bride and groom’s charioteer for the day. While Kamsa drove the chariot bearing Devaki and Vasudeva out of the wedding hall, a voice from the heavens boomed informing Kamsa that Devaki’s eight child would be his slayer. Kamsa being the superstitious type would take no chances. He wanted to strike down Devaki that very moment. Vasudeva intervened, he begged Kamsa not to slay Devaki and show her some mercy. He further promised Kamsa that he would hand over any child born to them, if he would let Devaki live. Now Kamsa not wanting to have the blood of his sister on his hands agreed and instead placed them under house arrest.
Every time a child was born, the guards would inform Kamsa and he would take the child and kill it. Six of Devaki and Vasudev’s children met their death this way. It so happened that the seventh child was born at night, and Devaki and Vasudeva seeing the opportunity decided to try to save the child. The guards were asleep, so Vasudeva easily slid out of the palace undetected. He went to neighboring Gokul and left the child with his second wife Rohini and quickly returned to the palace (this child was named Balrama). In the morning he sent word to Kamsa that the child was still born.
Kamsa was pleased, he knew the next child was prophesized to be his slayer. Not wanting to take chances with the birth of the eight child, Kamsa had Vasudeva and Devaki thrown into the dungeon chained. The 8th child was born on the eight night of the month of Shravan. It was raining heavily and the skies thundered as if the Gods were trying to pay homage to the new born child. Then the miracle happened, Vasudeva’s chains fell off and the prison door opened by itself. Vasudeva found the guards to be asleep, so he decided that he would escape with the child and leave him at his friend Nanda’s place in Gokul.
Picking up the child, Vasudeva placed him in a basket. He then carried the basket on his head and made his way to Gokul. Now Gokul was on the opposite bank of the river Yamuna. Because of the thundering and the rain, the river Yamuna was in a state of turmoil. Vasudeva, wondering how he would cross the river prayed for a miracle. Then it happened!. The waters of the Yamuna parted and made way for him. Vasudeva then crossed the Yamuna and reached Gokul.
On reaching Nanda’s house in Gokul, Vasudeva realized that Nanda’s wife Yashoda had given birth to a baby girl. While Nanda and Yashoda were asleep, he placed his child in the cradle and took Nanda’s daughter instead. He presumed that since it was a baby girl, Kamsa would not kill her. He then made the journey back to Mathura and he took the baby girl with him. As soon as Vasudeva reached the dungeon, the dungeon doors closed behind him and the baby girl started to cry. Awakened by the cries, the guards rushed to tell Kamsa of the birth of the eight child. Hearing the news, Kamsa rushed to the dungeon and picked up the child and was about to dash it to the ground. Vasudeva begged Kamsa not to kill the child as it was only a girl and that a girl could do him no harm. The wicked Kamsa paid no heed and dashed the baby to the floor. As the baby was about to hit the floor, it suddenly flew up and told Kamsa that the one who was born to kill him still lives and is in Gokul. Then she disappeared.
The actual celebration of Krishna Janmashtami takes place during the midnight because it is believed that Lord Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule of his maternal uncle Kansa. In the whole of India, it is celebrated with devotional songs, people keep the fast whole day, several temples were decorated beautifully dedicated to the life journey of Krishna. Mainly, the Janmashtami celebration at Mathura and Vrindavan is very special as he had spent his life there. The image of Krishna at midnight is bathed in water and milk then he dressed in new clothes and worshipped. Sweets are first offered to God and then distributes as Prasada. Also, on this day people used to hang pots of butter and milk in the streets on the poles, men form pyramids to reach and break the pots. It is famous as Dahi Handi. This predicts Krishna's childhood days when he used to play with the cowherd's boys and stole curds hung out of reach by their mothers. So, he was also known as ‘Makhanchor’ the one who steals butter. People used to sing, dance in groups. So, now you may have come to know about the interesting story behind the Janmashtami festival and how is it celebrated.
Yes,
I can make snakes dance by playing the been. I have learnt this
art from my family members. We people are known as Kalbeliyas.
My
grandfather Roshannathji was famous amongst our people. He could easily catch
many poisonous snakes. He tells me many stories about his past. Come, listen to
his story in his own words–
Dadaji
remembers
From
the time of my grandfather and great grandfather, we have always been saperas
(snake-charmers).
Snake
charming is
the practice of a snake by
playing an instrument called pungi or bansuri.
A typical performance may also include
handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts, as
well as other street performance staples, like juggling and sleight of hand.
The
charm has nothing to do with the music and everything to do with the charmer
waving a pungi, a reed instrument carved out of a gourd, in the snake's
face.
Snakes
don't have external ears and can perceive little more than low-frequency
rumbles. But when they see something threatening, they rise up in a defensive
pose.
"The
movement of the snake is completely keyed in on the guy playing the toodley
thing," says Robert Drewes, chairman of the department of herpetology (the
study of amphibians and reptiles) at the California Academy of Sciences in San
Francisco. "He sways, the snake sways."
Snakes:
Snakes are
elongated, legless, carnivorous repitiles. Snakes can be distinguished
from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears.
There
are more than 3,000 species of snakes in the world and there is at least one
type of snake on every continent except Antarctica.
Size-
They are many different species, there
are snakes of many different sizes.
The
world’s smallest snake, according to National Geographic, is the thread snake,
which grows to only about 3.9 inches (10 centimeters) long. It looks much like
an earthworm.
The
largest snake, the reticulated python, can grow to a whopping 30 feet (9
meters). The largest snake fossil ever discovered is called the Titanoboa. This
creature lived 60 million years ago and would have been 50 feet (15 meters)
long.
Snake
eggs & baby snakes- It is a common misconception that snakes build nests
for their eggs.
Only
one species of snake, that is king cobra, will build a nest for its young ones .
Not all snakes lay eggs, but 70% of snakes lay eggs. These types of snakes are
called oviparous.
The
other 30 percent of snakes directly give birth to live young, much like
mammals. This is because some climates are too cold for eggs to develop and
hatch, so snakes living in colder climates do not lay eggs.
What
do snakes eat?
Snakes
are carnivores. This means that they only eat meat. Snakes are often seen as
pests, but they actually can help keep pests at bay by eating rodents.
Many
people think that all snakes kill their prey by biting it and injecting the
prey with poison. This isn't true. Cobras, vipers and other related species are
the only snakes that use venom to hunt.
Most
snakes simply swallow their prey whole. Large snakes, such as the python, will
strangle their prey to death and then swallow it whole.
Snakes
can eat other animals up to 75 to 100% bigger than their own size, according tonationa
geographic. They have been known to eat animals such as crocodiles and cows. To
fit the large prey into their mouth, the snake's jaw will unhinge.
Once
the animal is inside, the snake's body releases enzymes to break the food down into
useable energy. Snakes do not need to eat as often as other animals because
they have a very slow metabolism rate. King cobras, for example, can live for
months without food.
Sometimes,
though, eating a live animal can result in disaster. Snakes have been known to
explode after eating a living animal, though it is not known why.
Where
do snakes live?
Snakes
live in almost every corner of the world. They are found in forests, deserts,
swamps and grasslands. Many call underground burrows or the spaces under rocks
home. Some snakes, like the cottonmouth water moccasin of North America live in
water part of the time.
Though
they are found all over the world, snakes do not, however, like the cold. they
are cold blooded or ectothermic. This means that they don't have the means to
regulate their body temperature like warm blooded creatures. since their bodies
do not use energy to create heat to warm them. When it is cold, many
snakes hibernate in tunnels underground.
Snakes
have been an important part of our life. We used to move from village to
village carrying our snakes in bamboo baskets.Whenever
we stopped in a village, a crowd would gather around us. We would
then take out our snakes from our baskets.
Even
after the show, people would stay on. They knew that in our tinbox
there
were many types of medicines for them. We made these medicines from plants
collected from the forests.
I
had learnt all this from my grandfather. I felt nice that I could
help
people with my medicines even if doctors and hospitals were far off.
In
return, people would give us some money or food grains. In this way we could
manage our life.
Sometimes,
I was called to places where someone had been bitten by a snake. From the marks
of the bite I tried to find out which snake had bitten the person.
I
would then give a medicine for that. But I have not always been on time to
help. As you know, some snake bites can even cause death on the spot.
But
most of the snakes are not poisonous. Sometimes, when some farmers would come
running for help shouting “snake, snake”, I would catch that snake.
After
all, catching snakes was something I had been doing since my childhood. Oh,
those were the good days. We could help a lot of people in many ways. We also
entertained them. It was not like today
when
everyone watches TV for entertainment.
When
I grew older, my father taught me how to remove their poisonous teeth (fangs).
He also taught me how to close the tube of poison in the snake’s mouth.
What
can we do
Aryanath!
your father used to travel with me ever since he was a young child. He learnt
to play the been without being taught. These days it is diffcult. Now the
government has made a law that no one can catch wild animals and keep them.
Some
people kill the animals and sell their skins at high prices. So they made a law
against this. Now, with this law, how will we earn our livelihood? We people
have never killed snakes, and sold their skin.
People
say that we keep the snakes in bad conditions. If we wanted, we too could have
earned a lot of money by killing snakes. But we would never do that.Snakes
are our treasure, that we pass on from one generation to another. We even gift
snakes to our daughters when they get married.
In
our Kalbelia dance we also have movements similar to the dance of the snake.
Aryanath, you will have to make a different life for yourself. You have got
your father’s gift of playing the been. You and your cousins can form a been
party and entertain people.
But
do not waste this knowledge about snakes you have got from your
elders.
Share your knowledge about snakes with children who live in towns and cities.
Tell them, that they should not be scared of snakes. Help them to recognize
poisonous snakes.
Tell
them how snakes are friends of the farmers. They eat the rats in the fields,
otherwise rats would eat the crops. Now you tell our story. Also make a new
story of your life, to tell your grandchildren.
Musical
instruments used in been party Been, tumba, khanjiri and dhol. Except dhol all
the other three instruments are made from dried gourd (lauki)
Do
you know?
Of
the many kinds of snakes found in our country, only four types of snakes are
poisonous. They are: Cobra, Common Krait, Russel’s Viper (Duboiya), Saw-scaled
Viper (Afai).
A
snake has two hollow teeth (fangs). When it bites, the poison enters the
person's body through the fangs. There is a medicine for snake bites. The
medicine is made from the snake's poison and Cobra is available in all
government hospitals.
Khejadli village is near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The village got its name
because of the many Khejadi trees that grew there.
