Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas friends .Its Christmas yet again! The festivities all around –east or west, Christians or no Christians. One perhaps cannot imagine Christmas without Santa or the Christmas tree.  Here is an attempt to trace the custom of decorating Christmas tree. Hope it adds colour to the already festive mood.

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century, in which "devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes". Christmas trees are hung in St. George's Church, Sélestat since 1521 The Christmas tree has also been known as the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins.

Georgia

Georgians have their own traditional Christmas tree called Chichilaki, made from dried up hazelnut or walnut branches that are shaved to form a small coniferous tree. These pale-colored ornaments differ in height from 20 cm to 3 meters. Georgians believe that Chichilaki resembles the famous beard of St. Basil the Great, who is thought to visit people during Christmas similar to the Santa Claus tradition

 

Poland

There was an old pagan custom of suspending at the ceiling a branch of fir, spruce or pine called Podłaźniczka associated with Koliada. The branches were decorated with apples, nuts, cookies, colored paper, stars made of straw, ribbons and colored wafers. People believed in the tree magical powers linked with harvesting and success in the next year.In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, these traditions were almost completely replaced by the German custom of decorating the Christmas tree

 

Scandinavia

In Norse mythology, the oak was sacred to the thunder god, Thor. Thor's Oak was a sacred tree of the Germanic Chatti tribe. According to legend, the Christianisation of the heathen tribes by Saint Boniface was marked by the oak's being replaced by the fir,whose triangular shape symbolizes the Trinity as a "sacred" tree.

Estonia and Latvia

Customs of erecting decorated trees in wintertime can be traced to Christmas celebrations in Renaissance-era guilds in Northern Germany and Livonia. The first evidence of decorated trees associated with Christmas Day are trees in guildhalls decorated with sweets to be enjoyed by the apprentices and children. In Livonia (present-day Latvia and Estonia), in 1441, 1442, 1510 and 1514, the Brotherhood of Blackheads erected a tree for the holidays in their guild houses in Riga and Reval (now Tallinn). On the last night of the celebrations leading up to the holidays, the tree was taken to the Town Hall Square where the members of the brotherhood danced around it.

Canada

The tradition was introduced to Canada in the winter of 1781 by Brunswick soldiers stationed in the Province of Quebec to garrison the colony against American attack. General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel and his wife, the Baroness von Riedesel, held a Christmas party at Sorel, delighting their guests with a fir tree decorated with candles and fruits

Singapore-The shoppers paradise

There is always a dilemma how to describe Singapore-a “tourists paradise “or a “shopper’s paradise”. After visiting Singapore twice, I can say it’s both. I have already talked about what Singapore has to offer to its millions of tourists, here is now a glimpse of what it has to offer to the shopping crazy ones.

Orchard Road : This 5km stretch is Singapore's most famous shopping address. The Luis Vuittons and Armanis of this world are well-represented here. All the known brands can be seen here .You can find people from all the nook and corner of the world roaming around here.  It is a posh shopping street which is famous for its beautiful Christmas decorations and illuminations. I was lucky to have visited around Christmas time and could enjoy the festive mood here at the Orchard road.  

Sim Lim Square is where the locals go to satisfy their high-tech cravings. And its easy to see why - 6 levels of computer-related shops offering the best prices in Singapore. Well you need to test your bargaining skills here. I thought it was only at Chandani chowk or Karol Bagh in Delhi. Beware that some shopkeepers may be very rude if you enter into bargain and then don’t buy.

Mustafa Centre is located in the Little India district and is the  best place for shopping. Mustafa was founded by Indian businessman Mustaq Ahmad in 1971 .It may not be as fancy as some of Singapore’s other malls, but it has a great range of items, and good prices to match. There is also a large selection of Indian apparel and accessories available here, which is not surprising, considering its location. Offering even travel, hotel reservation and visa assistance services, Mustafa Centre is a shopping experience unlike any other that shouldn’t be missed.

Suntec city mall is the largest shopping mall of Singapore. It is also the famous for the fountain of wealth-the largest fountain in the world. Suntec city engages over 300 retail outlets, 50 pushcarts and 100 F&B establishments spreading across 4 floors. The mega mall is divided into 4 zones: the Galleria, offering high-end labels, the Tropics, emphasising on lifestyle merchandises and services, the Fountain Terrace, specialising in F&B, and the Entertainment Centre, comprising of a cinema, fitness gym, an arcade and many more.

With its close proximity to the Central Business District and top tourist spots, it’s no wonder this shopping, entertainment and dining centre is the perfect one-stop place to unwind – a must-visit for all tourists

Little India is Singapore’s foremost Indian enclave. Its charm lies in the fact that many of olden-day trades can still be found by its roadsides, alleys and back lanes. Fortune-tellers and their parrots, flower vendors selling garlands of jasmine, roasted nuts sellers on pushcarts and street-side newspaper vendors are just some of the interesting sights to be found.

Serangon road has spice selling shops and its inner lanes like Campbell Lane, Dunlop Street and Hindon Road have stalls selling Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics in a variety of textures. It was also interesting to find  a pan shop in Little India. For a glimpse of Hindu rituals, do stop by the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali.

There are also well-established restaurants like Komala Villas, Banana Leaf Apolo and Muthu’s Curry, where one can find spicy classic South Indian fare. Tekka Market is another option if one is craving for homely Indian food.

Sungei Road 'Thieves Market’: There was a time when the goods sold here were supposedly stolen from somewhere. Not really so any more. But the Sungei Road 'Thieves Market' is still a Singapore icon today. Stroll among the makeshift stalls and watch the locals bargain/banter with the stall-holders. But if you really want, look carefully among the junk and you may find something quite special

 

China Town is an ethnic neighborhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. There are plenty of small souvenirs shops selling Chinese art and feng shui products, T shirts and Chinese dresses. There are also plenty of spas and foot massage parlours. Of course there are plenty of Chinese eating joints and also Food Street. Evenings at Chinatown are crowded and colorful with lots of cultural events taking place.

There are also several prominent religious landmarks in the area and you might be surprised to see that there are also Hindu temples and mosques amongst them. Both the Sri Mariamman Temple and Jamae Mosque on South Bridge Road are among the oldest places of worship in Singapore, while a little further on down the road, you can also find the visually stunning Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which reputedly contains a tooth of the Buddha.

Singapore-The tourist’s paradise -I

Singapore is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. It holds special significance to me as it is the first distant foreign destination to be visited by me. I call it first distant destination because prior to Singapore I had visited Bhutan during my school days.

Its truly a symbol of development and orderliness. One of the most orderly, clean, disciplined and safe destinations I have visited so far. The city has plenty to offer to the tourists as well as to the visitors on business trips.

The city starts having its impact the moment one gets the glimpse of the skyscrapers before landing. The Changi airport, which is one of the finest airports in the world only adds to this initial impression and the officials at the immigration always bear a welcome look. The ambience of the airport and the body language of the Singaporeans  make one realise the importance of tourism in the Singapore’s economy.

As I said, the city has plenty to offer.  Sentosa is the most sought offer place in Singapore.The name Sentosa translates as "peace and tranquility" in Malay. The word has been (derived from “Santosha” in Sanskrit. Sentosa was once known as Pulau Belakang Mati which in Malay means the "Island of Death from Behind ".

The island has an area of close to 5 square kilometre and lies just half a kilometre away from the southern coast of the main island of Singapore. It is Singapore's fourth largest island covered with Rain Forest .The Island also has stretches of white sand beach. Sentosa can be reached from the Singapore mainland via a short causeway or Cable Car, which originates from Mount Faber and passes through Harbour Front en route to its final destination. One can also enter the island via walking over the Sentosa Boardwalk which is parallel to the causeway. We used the cable car, which is a thrilling experience with a breath taking view of the Singapore harbour.

Underwater World is a must see in Singapore. It is the largest oceanarium in Asia with more than 2,500 marine animals of 250 species from different regions of the world.

Palawan beach on Sentosa is the most sought after beach in Singapore. A suspension bridge links beach-goers to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia , which is also Asia's closest point to the Equator.  Palawan Beach has plenty of shops, bars, and eateries.

The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It is used as a mascot and national personification of Singapore. Its name combines "mer" meaning the sea and "lion”. The fish body represents Singapore's origin as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, which means "sea town" in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name — Singapura — meaning "lion city" .There are five officially recognised ,Merlion in Singapore of which the most famous is the original one in the Merlion park.

The Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. It is spread over 28 hectares of lush landscape and is home to an extensive collection of exotic species from around the world. The zoos can be explored on foot or by tram.

Jurong Bird Park is another tourist attraction on the slope of Jurang hill. It is now a world-famous bird zoo where there are specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world, including a large flock of flamingos. It is currently the world's largest bird park in terms of number of birds, and second largest both in number of bird species and land area after Germany's Weltvogel park Walsrode. There are 5,000 birds of 380 species in Jurong Bird Park. Of these, 29 are of threatened species. Penguin coast and Dinosaur descendents were particularly exciting. This was the first time I saw penguins live .Otherwise I have seen penguins only on Discovery channel or in pictures. The park has many bird shows. High Flyers Show showcases the world's largest number of performing birds in a single act. Besides highlighting the antics of talented birds like the mimicking cockatoos, this show is also a window for visitors to the natural behaviour of birds like pelicans, flamingos and hornbills.

The Fountain of Wealth is listed by the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 as the largest fountain in the world. It is located in one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls, Suntec City. During certain periods of the day, the fountain is turned off and visitors are invited to walk around a mini fountain at the centre of the fountain's base to collect coins for good luck. At night, the fountain is the setting for laser performances, as well as live song and laser message dedications between 8pm to 9pm daily.  It is situated in such a way the fountain is the hub of the shopping mall.

Bhubaneswar-the city of “Lord of Universe”

 

The city of Bhubaneswar and its vicinity is full of history and religious fervor. The city itself means the city of the “lord of universe”. There is lot to see in Bhubaneswar and its surroundings including holiest of temples, ancient caves, famous historical sites , wildlife sanctuaries, lakes and the beaches. All within 100 kilometers. I got an opportunity to visit Bhubaneswar and the traveler in me never leaves an opportunity to see the places as much as I can. It was a three day trip but I managed to see almost all the notable sites.

I started by trip with a visit to Konark, which is located at a distance of about 80 kilometers from Bhubaneswar. The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the Sun God. Shaped like a giant chariot, the temple is known for the exquisite stone carvings that cover the entire structure. The temple is a   World Heritage Site since 1984 and is one of the most visited sites in Orissa. Tourists from every nook and corner of the country and abroad can be seen throughout the year at Konark. The temple takes the form of a huge chariot for the Sun God Surya, with 12 pairs of stone-carved wheels and a team of seven galloping horses. Only two of these seven horses is now intact. The temple also symbolizes the passage of time, which is under the Sun God's control. The seven horses, which pull the sun temple eastwards towards the dawn, represent the days of the week. The 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year.

       The temple follows the traditional style of Kalinga architecture. It is carefully oriented towards the east so that the first rays of sunrise strikes the principal entrance. I was told that the  original temple had a main sanctum sanctorum, which was supposedly 229 feet  tall. But it has fallen off. The audience hall which is about 128 feet tall, still stands and is the principal structure in the surviving ruins. Among the structures, which have survived to the current day, are the dance hall and the dining hall.

Dhauli is the place near Bhubaneswar is the plains that bore witness to the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. It was here that Ashoka, full of remorse after the Kalinga War in 261 BC, renounced his blood-thirsty campaign and turned to Buddhism. Dhauli is of great historical importance as one of the famous Rock Edicts of emperor Ashoka is located here.

A shanti stupa also known as Peace Pagoda is built at the spot where kalinga war was fought. This Buddhist structure was built jointly in 1972 by the Japan Buddha Sangh and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangh. Situated on the opposite hill of Dhauli Giri, it was built through the Indo-Japanese collaboration and was constructed by the chief priest of Nipponzan Myohoji, who came to India in 1930 from Mt. Minobu, the original holy place of the Nichiren Sect.The stupa depicts Emperor Ashoka renouncing war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha at Dhauli Giri.

It was nice feeling to have witnessed this famous site , which I have been reading in my history books since my school days.

 Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri means has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves. The Hathigumpha cave ("Elephant Cave") has the famous Hathigumpha inscription, written by Raja Kharavela,  during the 2nd century BC. This inscription is the main source of information about King Kharvela. The inscription mainly mentions the various conquests of this king, starting with his fight against the Satavahana king Satakarni. The inscription also mentions that Kharavela forced the Indo-Greek  king Demetrius to retreat from Rajgir.

Chilika is located 81 kilometers from Bhubaneswar and is the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq. km. It is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter Chilika is flooded with thousands of indigenous and migratory birds of many varieties from far and near - even from the distant Siberia. Kalijai Island, Honeymoon Island, Breakfast Island, Birds Island, Nalabana (Island of Reeds), Parikud Island, etc. are some of the important and interesting spots inside the lake.

The Island of Kalijai is famous as a center of religious worship due to the temple of Goddess Kalijai where a big fair is held on the occasion of Makara Sankranti. The Island of Nalabana, 8 km in circumference occupies a unique place in the vast expanse of Chilika Lake as it happens to be the central point for the migratory birds. One can view the dolphins at Chilika mouth near Satpara.

The resort at Chilka , where I stayed for a day itself is a pleasant surroundings .The mornings especially is beautiful with a view of the vast lake and the chirpy sound of the migratory birds. But a day seemed too less .I would recommend atleast 3 days to enjoy the calmness of the place and to explore the Chilka lake , which itself has many things to offer right from dolphin sighteeing to migratory birds, visits to small islands and the historical temples.

Jagannath Puri located 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar  is the abode of Lord Jagannath (Krishna) or Purushotham, the Lord of the Universe. It is one the holiest places for the Hindus and considered as one of the four dhams or holiest places for Hindus on earth, the other three being temples at Rameshwaram, Dwaraka and Badri-Kedar. The Annual Rathayatra festival is the high point of all the Festivals celebrated in Puri and has been attracting lakhs of devotees and pilgrims since time immemorial. The temple was built in the 11th century atop its ruins by the progenitor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva.

Lingaraj Temple is dedicated to Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar. Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva. The temple is the most prominent landmark of the Bhubaneswar city. The Lingaraja temple is the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. The central tower of the temple is 180 ft tall. The temple represents the f the Kalinga Architecture . The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty. The temple is more than 1100 years old, dating back in its present form to the last decade of the eleventh century, though there is evidence that part of the temple was built during the sixth century as the temple has been mentioned in some of the seventh century Sanskrit texts.

 Puri Beach is another tourist attraction. The beach is the site of the annual Puri Beach Festival, and hosts sand art displays, including work by international award winning local sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik.Its on th ebay of bengal .