Three Musketeers

The journalist was eagerly interviewing the billionaire, who lived a frugal life.

There was a huge glass showcase where he had displayed trophies of all shapes and sizes.

The journalist could not understand why an old tea-kettle, a spoon, and an iron occupied space there.

PHOTO PROMPT - Valerie J. Barrett

"Don't these three stand out from the rest of the showcase?" he wondered aloud.

You Are A Part Of Me

I'm in my own world doing my own thing,
When something crosses my head that's exciting!
A word, image, gesture, smell...reminds me of you.
You are a part of me, and you haven't any clue!

My thoughts race to the moments we have shared,
The unspoken words & the secrets we have bared...
Something triggers and I see those moments replay,
You may have gone far; a part of you'll always stay.

That Familiar Place

Sanya often wondered what lay beyond the bright blue door in her grandfather's home's backyard.

He never answered her queries.

Sanya decided to investigate. 

When she found a fancy looking key and key-chain, she acted as though it was her genie in a lamp.

Castaway

When he came to his senses, he could feel the harsh rays of the sun.

Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying on a soft bed of sand on a golden beach of a tiny island.

He remembered his boat getting capsized in a terrible cyclone the previous night.

He was alive!

PHOTO PROMPT - Susan Eames

Just Keep Swimming

“Ready! Get, set, go!”

The moment Sita uttered these words, the little ones jumped into their respective tracks in the pool.

PHOTO PROMPT - Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Having adopted these orphans, Sita provided them shelter and food.

They had to fulfil her long-cherished dream.

They had to earn medals for their country.

Sita put in a lot of effort to train them.

Unique Budhi Thakurani Jatra of Odisha

Budhi Thakurani Jatra (Old Goddess folk theater) marks a big celebration with the homecoming of the Goddess to her adopted father's place in the silk city, Berhampur (Brahmapur) of Ganjam District in southern Odisha.

Thakurani is the presiding deity of the Berhampur town. She is a form of Goddess Durga. 

Berhampur's Thakurani Mandir (Goddess Temple) is very auspicious. 

As the story goes, when Thakurani was a young girl, she was adopted by a local man named Deshibehera, belonging to the Dera community, a barber class. Once in two years, the presiding goddess, Thakurani visits her father's home.

Her father invites Her and an auspicious time of visit is decided. Thakurani's friends and neighbours are happy to see Her and visit Her. The kids are made to dress up in different attires- sort of fancy-dress viz. - Lord Krishna, Tiger, Hanuman, Radha, Monk etc. They do so to fulfill the maansika (wish) of their elders.

Devotees enthusiastically accompany Thakurani and take her around in a grand procession, moving around from house to house. There is a grand ceremonial procession. Many cultural activities are planned for kids.

Thakurani stays in Her father's home and makes everyone happy including herself. Then, She returns to Her temple.

Visitors throng from far and wide for Her darshan.

Anyone, irrespective of caste, creed, colour etc. can honour and worship Thakurani. 
Villages fix a wooden pillar/pole called the Shubha Khunti (auspicious pole) on an auspicious date.

After that, Thakurani comes to Her father's home on an auspicious time. After she stays for some days, it is time for her to leave till she comes again after two years.

I visited the Thakurani Jatra this year. Proud of our culture and unique celebration.

U for-Unique
I am blogging related to Odisha, India for the #AtoZChallenge this year.
Do check out my other #A2Z posts here. 

Padma Shri Agricultural Scientist - Kamala Pujari

Kamala Pujari is a strong tribal woman from Koraput district. This activist and scientist has done a great service to society by preserving hundreds of local varieties of paddy and promoting organic farming. This year, she was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award "Padma Shri".

Rice And Odisha Connection

The name 'Orissa' is derived from 'Rice'.

Rice is a cereal grain that is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). 

The previous name of Odisha was Orissa. It was named so owing to its rich rice varieties.

The term 'Orua' prevalent in Orissa since early times seems to be the same as the Greek 'Oruza' meaning rice, and the Oxford Dictionary states the 'Oroza' is a loan word in Greek from some oriental source. The 'Oretes' (Greek) or the 'Or'/'Odra' (Sanskrit) people may, therefore, mean either the Rice-eating; or the 'Rice growing' people.

Quiz - Odisha Geographical Indications #OdishaGI

Here are five quiz questions to test your knowledge about the Geographical Indications of Odisha.
How many answers do you know?

1. You can see colourful lampshades and bags in this image. Identify this applique work of Odisha.

Ans1- Click here for the Answer


2. The bark of which tree is used to prepare the natural dyes that are used for this handloom fabric?

Ans2- Click here for the Answer

Padma Shri Chaiwala - D Prakash Rao

Shri Devarapalli Prakash Rao has recently won the Padma Shri for Social Work. A social worker from Odisha, he has been working tirelessly in the field of affordable education and health.

D.Prakash Rao is a simple and humble man. He is a change agent of Odisha. I first met him at an award function and then at many events of an NGO named 'Yes We Can'. 

This tea-seller barely manages to make his ends meet.

He always says, "I am a poor chaiwala" (tea-seller).