MYRIAD COLOURS OF LIFE

  O disha crafts museum also known as Kalabhoomi is a museum located in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. I was fortunate to visit this museum during my stay in Bhubaneswar and be a part of Ekamra Walks. The museum is the perfect exhibit of the beauty of Odisha starting from clothes worn by the people of the state to different handicrafts,ornaments, etc. The best thing I enjoyed during my visit to the museum is the Ganjapa cards which refer to the traditional playing cards from the state. The best part that captivates visitors is the intricate artworks made on these cards which are Pattachitra paintings. Ganjapa cards 

  G ently flows the Manas with the shimmering rays of the moonbeam touching every part of it. Takes me to another world where I dance among mermaids and sing with fairies. Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Assam. The park derives its name from the Manas river which is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra and flows through the heart of the National Park. It is home to numerous avifauna and different species of plants. When as part of our field visit we were instructed by our teachers to visit this national park my father was a bit hesitant at first. The reason being the cold wintry days of December but he finally agreed to my request as last. Packing my bags I prepared myself for my three day trip to this beautiful destination. We started our journey from North Lakhimpur College early in the morning at about 4 a.m.We had to travel all the way to this Wildlife Sanctuary located in the foothills of the Himalayas. We were a group of young enthusiasts zoologist

T he perfect place for bird watching Mangalajodi is a village in Odisha located on the northern banks of Chilika Lake. The perfect nesting ground for birds this place is best for bird lovers and all those people who find out some ways to escape from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. It is referred to as 'Birds Paradise'.Some of the birds seen in the marshy waters of Mangalajodi are Lesser Whistling Duck, White Throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, etc. These are just to name a few. This village comes under Tangi which is a town and block in Khordha district, Odisha. I was lucky to visit this beautiful place during one of my visits to Tangi. I first heard about Mangalajodi from one of my friends from Bengal. She visited Tangi on a certain occasion for her research work. She mentioned this bird paradise on her journey back to Bhubaneswar. I dreamt of visiting this spot and enjoyed regaling in her thoughts. That was one year back. And then when finally I got this opportunity to

 O ne of the largest in the country the Borra Caves or the Borra Guhalu is located in the Ananthagiri hills of the splendid Araku Valley. Like other incredible travel destinations in India, this is a must-visit for all those who plan a visit to Vishakhapatnam and has Araku in their bucket list. These limestone caves are believed to a million years old. There are several legends associated with these caves. I visited these caves when I was in Araku for two days. There is a temple inside the cave. The best part I feel is exploring the inside of the cave. It was a different kind of experience climbing all the stairs to pray in the temple located at a height. There was complete darkness when I reached the top of the temple except for the earthen lamp lit before the deity. As I climbed down I tried to be a bit careful. It took quite a long time to explore the inside of the cave. There were several other visitors we met with whom we clicked pictures. It was nice when we came out. The ambianc

  I n India, sacred tanks are associated with different legends. A beautiful water tank one of the largest in Bhubaneswar has a  story associated with it. The local tradition maintains that the water of this holy lake has been sanctified by all the holy rivers which ultimately took the shape of a huge water body...Bindu that's how the reference has been made. Local tradition also has reference to the association of the lake to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva and Parvati after their marriage came to the holy land of Varanasi. With the passage of time as the city got more and more populated, the Lord asked Devi Parvati to find another place that is peaceful. Parvati came to Ekamrashetra as the holy land of Kalinga was known back then. When Parvati found out the holy land the place was already ruled by two demons Kirti and Vasa. When the demons saw Parvati both of them fall in love with her. The Goddesses then asked both of them to help her have a tour of the be

  A heritage walk that takes you back in time through winding roads making you delve deep, giving the weary soul a sublime feel transcending your emotions is how I define Ekamra Walks. I was lucky to be a part of this heritage walk during my stay in Odisha. The heritage walk is organized during the weekends in the city of Bhubaneswar. If you are someone who is interested in Indian temple architecture, temple food, culture, classical dances, making new friends then join this heritage walk when you are on a visit to Bhubaneswar. The walk helps the visitors to explore the heritage sites of Odisha whether it be sitting to listen to a story on the banks of Bindusagar lake or visiting the Ananta Vasudeva temple. The walks make you part of the city . Follow the trails of the walk and walk around the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves and also be a part of the crafts museum Kalabhoomi. Old Town Bhubaneswar is also known as Ekamrashetra. It is best known as the site of Kalingan temple architecture.

The well-maintained lawn in my institute Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar is very close to my heart. The tamarind tree which had lost half of its branches in the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani that ravaged many parts of Odisha in the year 2019, has been my company ever since I joined the institute. Early in the morning, I would walk all the way to sit on the bench under the tamarind tree. Often do I see the suspicious eyes of the gardener following my trails. Little did he know how much I love flowers. Sometimes I enjoy the butterflies fluttering amidst the sunflowers. At other two Graphium Agamenon would dance in the breeze. Sometimes I get to hear the buzzing sound of the honey bees humming around. At other a little one would run all the way from Demonstration Multipurpose School to meet me. Ruskin Bond my favorite writer from the Hills writes                                                       'Loneliness can be imposed on us,                                

BALI YATRA B ali Yatra also known as  Boita Bandana which translates to a Voyage to Bali is a fair held in the city of Cuttack. The fair celebrates the rich maritime history of the eastern coastal state, Odisha. It is held on the banks of the Mahanadi river on the Gadagadia Ghata. The maritime history of Odisha has reference to mariners who sailed to faraway lands like Bali, Sumatra, etc for expansion of trade and culture. The fair is considered to be one of the largest in Asia. Bali Yatra is the celebration of the unique connection of Bali with India. The festive fervor begins in the early hours of the morning in the month of 'Kartika Purnima' which is considered to be very auspicious. People of Odisha sing...Aa ka ma boi, pan gua thoi.....People sail beautiful paper boats to mark the occasion which goes floating many miles away in the Mahanadi river. This ritual on the banks of the Mahanadi river is followed by a week-long celebration of cultural extravaganza and many events

"India's Best Kept Secret" Odisha is the land of fables and myths. This beautiful eastern coastal state of India has one of the oldest sun temples in India. Konark Sun Temple built in the 13th century is dedicated to Sun God Surya. The presiding deity is the Sun God Surya. The main door of the temple is closed. The place is very well maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Considered to be UNESCO World Heritage Site this 13th-century temple is located in Konark, Odisha. The word Konark is a combination of two Sanskrit words (Kona-corner or angle) and arka (the sun). The temple structure depicts the Kalinga or Orissa style of temple architecture which is regarded to be a subset of the nagara style of  Hindu temple architecture. The nagara style of Indian temple architecture is represented by a square ground plan, containing a sanctuary and an assembly hall referred to as mandapa. The temple is in the form of a huge chariot with twelve wheels which are intricately