Indira Gandhi Canal, Rajasthan

Indira Gandhi Canal Rajasthan: Indira Gandhi Canal Project (इंदिरा गाँधी नहर परियोजना ) is one of the most gigantic projects in the world aiming to dedesertify and transform desert waste land into agriculturally productive area. The project objectives include drought proofing, providing drinking water, improvement of environment, afforestation, employment, rehabilitation, development and projection of animal wealth and increasing agricultural produce. The project construction commenced in the year 1958. Though the project is only partially complete it has shown remarkable success. Indira Gandhi Nahar Project was designed to utilise 9,367 Mm3/yr of the total 10,608 Mm3/yr allocated to Rajasthan from the surplus waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers. The construction of the project has been divided into two stages.

Indira Gandhi Canal consists of the Rajasthan feeder canal (with the first 167 km in Punjab and Haryana and the remaining 37 km in Rajasthan) and 445 km of the Rajasthan main canal which is entirely within Rajasthan.This canal enters into Haryana from Punjab near Lohgarh village of Haryana,then running in western part of district Sirsa it enters into Rajasthan near Kharakhera village of Rajasthan. The IGNP traverses seven districts of Rajasthan: Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Sriganganagar.

Khoda Ganesh Ji Temple, Kishangarh Rajasthan

Khoda Ganesh Ji Temple is Gajanan ji Temple located nearly 15 Km from Kishangarh in Ajmer District of Rajasthan Khoda Ganesh Ji Mandir is build by Kishangarh Royal family nearly 250 years ago. 

Khoda Ganesh Ji Mandir is considered Holy place in Ajmer region and most newly wedded couple pray there for health and wealth. People use to come here every Wednesday or Sunday to do prayer to lord Ganesha, while mostly people visits Khoda Ganesh Ji temple on Wednesday.

Eklingji Temple Udaipur, Rajasthan

Eklingji Temple Udaipur: 

Eklingji temple is located at a distance of about 22 km from Udaipur. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, a Hindu deity held in high regard by the kings of Mewar, the Eklingji Temple is believed to have been founded by Acharya Vishwaroop. The sprawling temple stretches over 2500 sq feet area and towers to a height of 65 feet. The temple has ramparts protecting it and is built of sandstone and marble, both indigenously available materials.

Begun in 971, the temple complex was built by the Guhila (later called Sesodia) dynasty of Mewar, in honor of their presiding deity Eklingji, a form of Lord Shiva. The beautifully sculpted temple complex includes 108 temples within its high walls. The main temple, which dates to the 15th century, was rebuilt from the ruins of an earlier destroyed temple. The walled complex is made of marble and granite and has an enormous double-storied, elaborately pillared hall or "mandap" under a vast pyramidal roof, with a four-faced image of Lord Shiva in black marble. Another temple in the complex is the Lakulish Temple; built in 971, it is the only temple of the Lakulish sect in the whole of India.

Chulia Waterfall, Chambal, Rajasthan

 

Chulia Waterfall:  Chulia fall or waterfall is one of main waterfall in Rajasthan on Chambal River. Chambal flows through the Kundal Plateau, and the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam is constructed at the lower end of this reach, about 1.6 km upstream of Chulia Falls. 

The chulia waterfall is 5 Km upstream of Chambal river near Bhainsrorgarh. The chulia is a series of huge potholes which have been excavated by chambal on small faults and joints in the kaimur sandstone, which forms the bed of the river near rawatbhata dam site.
Q. Chulia waterfall is situated on which river ?
A. Mahi
B. Banas
C. Chambal
D. Looni
Ans: C

Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, Chenab bridge

Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir is in news now days for future highest bridge of World. Chenab Bridge is an under-construction rail bridge, located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India. The 1,315m-long bridge is being built at a height of 359m. Once completed, it will be the tallest rail bridge in the world. The arch-shaped bridge across Chenab river-bed in Reasi district, which will be five times the height of Qutab Minar at 359 m above river bed, will connect Baramulla and Srinagar to Jammu via Udhampur-Katra-Qazigund covering the entire route in about seven hours.

The ambitious project, which fell victim to various issues such as its alignment, feasibility and also security concerns, is finally beginning to take shape with the construction of pillars on either side. The 1,315-m-long engineering marvel would boast of several unique features. The design would ensure that it withstands blast and seismic activities, while the signalling arrangements would ensure the train does not encounter high wind velocity at that height.

Bhakti movement, Bhakti movement in Rajasthan

 

Bhakti movement-Bhakti movement in Rajasthan: Bhakti movement in Medieval India is responsible for the many rites and rituals associated with the worship of God by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs of Indian subcontinent. Bhakti movement originated in ancient Tamil Nadu in 12th Century.  Nayanmars and Alvars played major role in Bhakti movement. It began to spread to the north during the late medieval ages when north India was under Islamic rule. The main period of Bhakti Movement in Rajasthan is early 16th Century to late 18th Century.  The Islamic rulers were pressing public to convert religion from Hindu to Islam. The Bhakti movement was counter to the prevalent caste ideology which was dividing Hinduism. So, the Bhakti movement has its own importance to save Hinduism. The movement was spontaneous and the mystics had their own versions of devotional expression which play a major role in Rajasthan.

 Main Characteristics of Bhakti Movement:One chief characteristic of the Bhakti movement can be mentioned as belief in one God. A devotee could worship God by love and devotion. The second characteristic of the Bhakti movement was that there was no need to worship idols or to perform elaborate rituals for seeking his grace. The third feature on which the Bhakti saints laid stress was the equality of all castes. There was no distinction of high or low as far as the devotion to God was concerned. The fourth feature was the emphasis, which these saints laid on Hindu-Muslim unity. According to these saints all men irrespective of their religion are equal in the eyes of God. The saints preached in the language of the common people like Rajasthani, Khadi and other local language. They did not use Sanskrit, which was the language of the cultured few. These saints laid stress on purity of heart and practice of virtues like truth, honesty, kindness, and charity. Some saints regarded God as formless or Nirguna while others consider him as having different forms or Saguna. Most of Bhakti Movement saint in Rajasthan are of Saguna Bhakta.

 Important Bhakti Saints of Rajasthan:

1. Dadu Dayal

2. Sundar das

3. Meera Bai

4. Bhakhan

5. Wajind

6. Raghavdas

7. Lal Das

8. Charan Das

9. Movaji

10. Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti

Bhapang Music Instrument, Rajasthani Music Instrument

Bhapang Music Instrument: Bhapang is a rare single stringed percussion instrument affectionately known as a 'talking drum' It originates from the Mewati community in the Alwar district. It is known as a Chongar in Maharashtra, Apang in Gujarat and Tumba in the Punjab. The Bhapang emits a unique sound due to the gut string passing through a skin parchment. It has a varying pitch which requires rapid hand movements and dexterity for the innumerable slides, oscillations and grace notes that are necessary in producing a haunting melody. It is often played to accompany Bhajans - spiritual, devotional songs - and poetry. Positioned under the armpit and plucked, it has a wonderful ability to convey emotion and depth despite its superficial simplicity.

When bhapang is played the musician grasps a wooden handle that is attached to a string. The same string is attached to the membrane. During performance the drum emits a oscillating tone that gives the instrument its particular voice. A membrane of animal skin is attached with tacks to hold the instrument together. A string is attached from handle to membrane. Five small metal bells are attached to the handle.