We say farewell to fell Taucktorians...and head out to further explore on our own....
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT HINDU MYTHOLOGY?
The vast pantheon of Hindu gods, goddesses and their divine exploits is best explored through sculpture-and you know we have seen many. The temple design was established under the imperial Guptsas (4th-6th centuries AD). Indian temples are adorned by a profusion of sculptures that are not only decorative but also provide an interpretation of Hindu Mythology. The numerous manifestations of deities, such as Shiva, Vishnu and Devia are depicted in great detail....and a whole lotta nymphs and musicians complete the picture.
Today we see pictures of the Dieties everywhere....
We know more than 80% of the country is Hindu and various level of beliefs and practice are evident everywhere. Diety pictures are glued and displayed everywhere you look. So many "gods" it's hard to keep up with them. To my Christian eye it has been a bit overwhelming to get my head around this couple of thousands of years of religious belief- especially since there are so many ways to practice the Hindu religion. Is it like Christianity in that there are many flavors of "Christian"?? Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Born Again, Evangelical, Methodist etc? And yes we Orthodox have our beliefs represented in pictures called Icons as do my Catholic friends, via statues while other Christian religions think these practices are "wrong". How does "man" determine what is "right or wrong"?
To the western eye some of the mythology is quite intriguing....
Ganesh one of the all time favorites....many tourists buy these statues as a souvenir. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is the most auspicious and popular deity in India. Images of the endearing, potbellied god are found in every household, on temple doorways and shop entrances, on letterheads and wedding invitations. No task or enterprise is ever begun without invoking him, as he "is the Lord of New Beginnings." I am sure I have seen thousands and thousands of Ganesh statues for sale on the street.
Is it just a souvenir if you are a Christian or a Jew and not a practicing Hindu? Annie has purchased a few and has a few at her home and said she enjoys them as "artwork". Is a religious symbol just artwork? Can I display something in my home that is contrary to my religious belief? And how about a Buddha? Many non Buddhists throughout the world have a Buddha sculpture in their home more or less as a symbol of luck. If you are not a practicing Buddhist what does that mean? I have really enjoyed learning all about the Hindu religion and many of it's very loving and kind beliefs. I am working hard to not only understand but incorporate into my heart and belief system the concept of acceptance of others and their religious beliefs (a basic tenet of Hinduism by the way) without judgement and self-righteousness. Thank you new Hindu friends for opening my eyes and heart to one of my MANY significant weak spots.
CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE
And how about the traditional Indian dance?
Indian music and dance are simultaneously modes of worship and a joyous celebration of life. Based on ancient codified texts they originated as a form of worship in the temples and gradually acquired a more secular character.
I wonder how that relates to all of that Bollywood dancing Bocahita so loves...hey Annie are you up for a tour of Bollywood? You bet.
BOLLYWOODS MAGIC FORMULA
Hindi films from Bollywood ( Mumbai) are a fascinating mix of romance, violence, comedy and tragedy interspersed with song and dance. And my very dear pal "Pudge" gave me a few Bollywood DVD's to ready me up for the trip! Always with a moral message (at least a social message) and can you believe all of this started in 1899! More than 100 films are produced every year ($1.75 mi-$30 mil). Hello Hrithik Roahan- the Bollywood Hottie!
Indian audiences expect full value for their money, with a good entertainer generally referred to as paisa vasool, (literally, "money's worth"). Songs and dances, love triangles, comedy and dare-devil thrills are all mixed up in a three-hour-long extravaganza with an intermission. Such movies are called masala films, after the Hindi word for a spice mixture. Like masalas, these movies are a mixture of many things such as action, comedy, romance and so on. Most films have heroes who are able to fight off villains all by themselves.
FIRST STOP FILM STUDIO
Come on Bocahita let's check out the studio. Annie's oh so darling son, Shawn, is a child actor so her interest was keen to check behind the scenes of what the heck was Bollywood.
Our young tour guide is a law student and part time Bollywood tour giver. The term Bollywood was derived from putting the words together, Bombay and Hollywood/CA but really doesn't exist as a physical place. Rather their studio's are spread out all over MumbaiBollywood" describes the Hindi language films (and today more Hinglish) and had it's growth take off in the 1970's.
Throughout the day we saw makeshift Hindu alters set up on EVERY set.
Many of the sets were pretty beat up. Wondering how do they get that fake room and furniture to look so good on the film?
We watched a hospital TV series being filmed. We couldn't believed they let us peek around the set...one huge OSHA violation after another. Nothing glamorous happening around here....actually looking like a gigantic safety hazard for all!
The technical guys watching the filming while they correct on the fly...do your best not to trip around here Bocahita...
let's go check out another....
They do lot's of filming outdoors and on location. The film studios are rather primitive but hey everybody got to work.
More Hindu belief on the set...
We watch "Haven , another TV series, being filmed. Havan is a story about a devotee and the God. It is true that one unites with God only after one's life, but what if a devotee meets her God in her real life? Not only that, what if she is connected to him through a relationship? Havan tries to deal with such relationship and tries to explore relationships built around this premise. When it comes to belief and faith, logic hardly prevails. Havan has a lot of situations which can only be understood and accepted through faith and not logic. What if one day this very faith is challenged? Especially when this faith is in a human being who has been given the position of God in the hearts of his devotees. How will a devotee, whose life`s very base is this faith, react to such situation?
Our starlet was quite pretty as many of the film stars are absolutely gorgeous with their shiny black hair and big black eyes...no blond dye for these gals.
It was a hot and humid day...how do they keep that make up from melting off?
Our soap star-Narendra Jha- came over to chat it up with us- oh so good looking and very personable.
Next stop feature film on location....to an abandoned hotel-the Tulip Star. They use this hotel for a lot of filming- part of Slum Dog was filmed here as well.
The place is dilapidated and filthy....and they film here? One safety hazard after another...
Stuff laying around everywhere- is there a method to this disorganization and dirt? Even the dirt is dirty.
Extra's sitting around and others painting props...we couldn't take a picture of the scene we saw being filmed. Who owns this hotel? Our tour guide told us this hotel at one time was a high end hotel so how did it get in this dilapidated condition?
bringing new meaning to SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE. Hey, Ishon, where did they film Slum Dog? Yes Bocahita, this British film was set and filmed in India, telling the story of a young man from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai. This heartbreaking and exhilarating story depicts the urban poverty and street children of Mumbai. So while not on the Bollywood Tour repertoire Bocahita insisted that she see the real deal.
DHARAVI SLUMS OF MUMBAI
This slum is home to more than 1 million people- 300 sq feet of floor space for every 15 persons. It used to be the largest slum in India now 4 others have surpassed it.
Located smack in the heart of Mumbai on one square mile where families have lived from 3-4 generations.
Deprived of many public services as the people live there illegally...
How do they escape this?
Rents are as low as $4 a month.
Oddly, recycling is a common business in the slum....
The daily grind to keep going while keeping a smile on their faces...
Vision Mumbai? This area is slated for a future of glittering skyscrapers. Where will the people go? Migrate back to the villages? Yes the government of Mumbai has their work cut out for them to clean this place up...way over do.
THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN
My heart is filled with compassion, pity, sadness, affection and love for the children living here and for that matter all the street children of India. No matter how much we "know" this is their parent's "choice" surely these gentle souls do not deserve this life on the street?
Hope is keeping them going and alive.
Hope is needed.
The haunting eyes....as I end my visit to India there is much to absorb and reflect upon. A country of extremes.
Here or Calcutta or for that matter throughout much of India this problem exists. I have been thinking of how I can help Sister Nectaria in Calcutta. And surely I must come back-if she will have me- to help her in some small way. I am struck by a quote Presbyteria Candace Schefe sent this morning....
words ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM said, "When you are generous to another person, you are not bestowing a gift, but repaying a debt. Everything you possess materially comes from God, Who created all things and every spiritual and moral virtue you possess is through divine grace. When we help someone in need, we shall be saved from a temptation to take pride in our actions. On the contrary, we will regard our act as no more than a small token of appreciation for all that we have received- or more precisely the repayment of a tiny fraction of God's blessing's".
I invite you to join me to visit or in deed $: www.psoc.org
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT HINDU MYTHOLOGY?
The vast pantheon of Hindu gods, goddesses and their divine exploits is best explored through sculpture-and you know we have seen many. The temple design was established under the imperial Guptsas (4th-6th centuries AD). Indian temples are adorned by a profusion of sculptures that are not only decorative but also provide an interpretation of Hindu Mythology. The numerous manifestations of deities, such as Shiva, Vishnu and Devia are depicted in great detail....and a whole lotta nymphs and musicians complete the picture.Today we see pictures of the Dieties everywhere....
To the western eye some of the mythology is quite intriguing....
Is it just a souvenir if you are a Christian or a Jew and not a practicing Hindu? Annie has purchased a few and has a few at her home and said she enjoys them as "artwork". Is a religious symbol just artwork? Can I display something in my home that is contrary to my religious belief? And how about a Buddha? Many non Buddhists throughout the world have a Buddha sculpture in their home more or less as a symbol of luck. If you are not a practicing Buddhist what does that mean? I have really enjoyed learning all about the Hindu religion and many of it's very loving and kind beliefs. I am working hard to not only understand but incorporate into my heart and belief system the concept of acceptance of others and their religious beliefs (a basic tenet of Hinduism by the way) without judgement and self-righteousness. Thank you new Hindu friends for opening my eyes and heart to one of my MANY significant weak spots.CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE
And how about the traditional Indian dance?
Indian music and dance are simultaneously modes of worship and a joyous celebration of life. Based on ancient codified texts they originated as a form of worship in the temples and gradually acquired a more secular character.
I wonder how that relates to all of that Bollywood dancing Bocahita so loves...hey Annie are you up for a tour of Bollywood? You bet.
BOLLYWOODS MAGIC FORMULA
Hindi films from Bollywood ( Mumbai) are a fascinating mix of romance, violence, comedy and tragedy interspersed with song and dance. And my very dear pal "Pudge" gave me a few Bollywood DVD's to ready me up for the trip! Always with a moral message (at least a social message) and can you believe all of this started in 1899! More than 100 films are produced every year ($1.75 mi-$30 mil). Hello Hrithik Roahan- the Bollywood Hottie!
Bollywood films are mostly musicals, and are expected to contain catchy music in the form of song-and-dance numbers woven into the script. A film's success often depends on the quality of such musical numbers. Indeed, a film's music is often released before the movie itself and helps increase the audience.
Indian audiences expect full value for their money, with a good entertainer generally referred to as paisa vasool, (literally, "money's worth"). Songs and dances, love triangles, comedy and dare-devil thrills are all mixed up in a three-hour-long extravaganza with an intermission. Such movies are called masala films, after the Hindi word for a spice mixture. Like masalas, these movies are a mixture of many things such as action, comedy, romance and so on. Most films have heroes who are able to fight off villains all by themselves.Bollywood plots have tended to be melodramatic. They frequently employ formulaic ingredients such as star-crossed lovers and angry parents, love triangles, family ties, sacrifice, corrupt politicians, kidnappers, conniving villains, courtesans with hearts of gold, long-lost relatives and siblings separated by fate, dramatic reversals of fortune, and convenient coincidences. Source:Wiki
FIRST STOP FILM STUDIO
Havan, although a story of God and devotee, is not a religious show. Instead, it tries to understand the human side of the whole set up, the interrelationships, the conflicts within, the idea of faith and belief and the power of love. It deals with a gamut of human emotions that exist in our society, without getting judgmental about the society or a person in particular.
It was a hot and humid day...how do they keep that make up from melting off?
Our soap star-Narendra Jha- came over to chat it up with us- oh so good looking and very personable.
bringing new meaning to SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE. Hey, Ishon, where did they film Slum Dog? Yes Bocahita, this British film was set and filmed in India, telling the story of a young man from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai. This heartbreaking and exhilarating story depicts the urban poverty and street children of Mumbai. So while not on the Bollywood Tour repertoire Bocahita insisted that she see the real deal.
DHARAVI SLUMS OF MUMBAI
Located smack in the heart of Mumbai on one square mile where families have lived from 3-4 generations.
Deprived of many public services as the people live there illegally...
The daily grind to keep going while keeping a smile on their faces...
My heart is filled with compassion, pity, sadness, affection and love for the children living here and for that matter all the street children of India. No matter how much we "know" this is their parent's "choice" surely these gentle souls do not deserve this life on the street?
The haunting eyes....as I end my visit to India there is much to absorb and reflect upon. A country of extremes.
Here or Calcutta or for that matter throughout much of India this problem exists. I have been thinking of how I can help Sister Nectaria in Calcutta. And surely I must come back-if she will have me- to help her in some small way. I am struck by a quote Presbyteria Candace Schefe sent this morning....
words ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM said, "When you are generous to another person, you are not bestowing a gift, but repaying a debt. Everything you possess materially comes from God, Who created all things and every spiritual and moral virtue you possess is through divine grace. When we help someone in need, we shall be saved from a temptation to take pride in our actions. On the contrary, we will regard our act as no more than a small token of appreciation for all that we have received- or more precisely the repayment of a tiny fraction of God's blessing's".
I invite you to join me to visit or in deed $: www.psoc.org
