Imaging Chilika #AToZChallenge

Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon in India and it is the largest brackish water lake. Covering an area of over 1100 square kilometres, Chilika Lake is a nature-lover's paradise.

Chilika has inspired many poets and writers.

"O Chilika! Your verdant waters are bedecked with swans,
You grant bliss to Kamala, the goddess of Utkala's wellness.
You adorn Utkala like a luminous jewel,
You are indeed the treasure-trove of enchanting beauty"
                                                                                          - Chilika by Radhanath Roy

A seminar and photography exhibition 'Imaging Chilika' was held at Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 

Chilika Lake related photographs were on display. The best ones had won prizes.

Technical sessions were conducted by esteemed guests and speakers.

Every year,  Chilika attracts thousands of of migratory birds.

 

What is unique about the Chilika Lake that birds keep flocking here? 

Chilika's size, Hydrology, Macrophyte density etc favors the large congregation of migratory birds.

Apart from the international avian tourists, national and international visitors visit Chilika and are awed by its features.

Chilika Lake should be on every travel-lover's list.

I'm participating in my second #atozchallenge. C for Chilika Lake.

My Theme is- "Odisha- The Soul of Incredible India".

Odisha is a state in the eastern part of India. Have you visited Odisha and India? 

I will be sharing some glimpses from Odisha. Do keep reading and discovering!

4th Kalinga International Buddhist Conclave #AToZChallenge

Odisha was previously called Kalinga. 

The Kalinga War was won by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. Odisha was the land that transformed the blood thirsty king to a benevolent human, who embraced Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka sent his children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra along with Buddhist missionaries as peace ambassadors to different nations like Sri Lanka etc. to propagate Buddhism.

Odisha played host to the 4th Kalinga International Buddhist Conclave held from April 10-12, 2017. 

The event was organized by Odisha Tourism, Govt. of Odisha. The Day-1 of the Conclave began at Udayagiri on April 10, 2017.

1st April - Odisha Day #UtkalaDibasa #AToZChallenge

The date April 1st is very special for the state of Odisha, the 'Soul of Incredible India'.
April 1st is celebrated as Odisha Day, Odisha Dibasa, Utkala Dibasa or Utkal Divas.

While d world is observing #aprilfoolsday 🌎,
proud to celebrate #UtkalaDibasa in #Odisha India 🇮🇳https://t.co/cAM8uxnwhx#BandeUtkalaJanani pic.twitter.com/8NftsBw9tG

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) April 1, 2017

'Utkala' was one of the earlier names of Odisha. 
'Utkala' finds a mention in 'Jana Gana Mana', the national anthem of India.
The word 'Utkala' means- 'Utkarsha Kala' i.e. 'The land of exquisite art and craft'.
The word 'Dibasa' means 'Day' in Odia language.
'Divas' or 'Diwas' means 'Day' in Hindi language.

Odisha state was formed as a separate province on 1st April, 1936. 
Odisha was the first state of India that was formed as a politically separate state under British rule on a linguistic basis. 
Thus, 1st April is celebrated as Odisha Day or Utkala Dibasa.

Selfie Crazy Selfitis World

Have you heard about the word 'Selfitis'?
'Selfitis' is the obsession of taking selfies on smartphones.
Social Media has a selfie overdose. Studies indicate that Selfitis may be a real disorder.

Article published in Business Standard

According to the study "An Exploratory Study of Selfitis and the Development of the Selfitis Behavior Scale" published in the International Journal of Mental Health And Addiction by Janarthanan Balakrishnan of the Thiagarajar School of Management in Madura, India, and Mark D. Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, UK, the following six factors determine the 'Selfitis Behavior Scale':

• Self-confidence
• Attention seeking
• Mood modification
• Environmental enhancement 
• Social competition
• Subjective Conformity

If you love clicking selfies, then these factors govern your behaviour too.

India ranks number one, with the distinction as the country with the maximum number of selfie-related accidents that occur throughout the world.

You must have watched videos or read news reports about selfie-related deaths...

Report in the TOI, Bhubaneswar edition

Last Engagement

The setting was perfect.
The girl's parents and the girl occupied the classy antique chairs on the left, while the boy and his parents sat on the right.

PHOTO PROMPT © Fatima Fakier Deria

They had finally settled to complete the engagement formalities.
The boy proposed and the girl accepted.
Their parents smiled.
No one could hear their laughter.
The cool breeze made the shady tree's leaves rustle.

Some kilometres away, some time ago, there had been a terrible road-accident.
The next day's newspaper reported that a boy and girl, along with their parents, had been killed on way to a resort for a private engagement...

We can never say when the ghosts are having a party... Do you believe that there is a lot that we cannot see?
100 Words Story for-
Friday Fictioneers and ABC Wednesday- L for Last, Laughter, Leaves, Left

World Water Day #CuttingPaani

'Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; 
Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.'

                                   -  Poem: 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Water is necessary for survival. We are privileged to be inhabitants of the blue planet, Earth.

There is no doubt that water is a precious resource. In fact, presence of water has made life possible on our planet.

However, the debilitating effect of human-beings has brought our planet to the brink of disaster. If we continue at the present alarming rate, we will be responsible for gifting ourselves a horrendous fate. Mindless misuse and pollution may make us lament like Coleridge's Ancient Mariner - "Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink."

When The Dead-end Began

She said she loved him more than anything or anyone in this world.

But, his wealthy family didn’t care.

They had fixed his wedding with her best-friend, an heiress.

It was more like a business deal.

Having no reason to live, she climbed up the highest peak near their city. 

PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg

A sign warned her of the dead-end.

A downward glance apprised her of what lay ahead.

I Owed You One

I Owed You One by Dr. Madhu Vajpayee is a gripping story of a young man, his family and friends.

Protagonist Dev Khanna is happy, secure, and well-settled with his pretty wife, Radhika, and his little son, Neel, at Australia. All is fine until the arrival of a letter to his Melbourne home. He is forced to revisit some painful memories of his life in New Delhi and Moradabad, India.

"Sometimes pain is the only thing that defines your existence, yet it's you who has the power to decide its imprint."

The letter spurs Dev into action mode that surprises even him and the people, who know him closely.
Though he had decided never to do so, yet he finds himself on a mission to 'return the favour'.

 

Who has sent the letter?

Does Dev succeed in repaying his debt?

Why does he owe the favour?

Whom does he owe the favour?

Why doesn't Dev heed to the requests of his family at Melbourne?

What costs does Dev have to pay on his journey to settle everything?

Are there really debts and credits in this world?

Interesting Inside

"And this is the impressive Innstone Palace. You can click photographs from outside as cameras are not allowed inside," the tour-guide said.

As the tourist group clicked pictures of the imposing well-maintained architecture nestled in a picturesque European valley, Sasha walked like a girl possessed.

"Won't you take us to the lake with the spherical rock sculptures?" she asked.

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Just A Red Rose

Some said he was enamoured by my beauty.

Some others felt he loved my youth that was blossoming.

Some others warned that he was fascinated by my sensual smell.

He spent a lot of time with me.

I was sure that I had his complete care and attention....

Then, she entered into his life.

I felt she was the thorn in our relationship.

PHOTO PROMPT © Marie Gail Stratford