#a journey through india

[ghumnahai]

Adventures in the Land of Temples: A Journey through Rajasthan

Adventures in the Land of Temples: A Journey through Rajasthan is a captivating travelogue that unveils the mesmerizing tapestry of Rajasthan's rich history, vibrant culture, and magnificent architecture. Prepare to be transported to a land of majestic forts, opulent palaces, and a kaleidoscope of colors and traditions.

The journey begins in the heart of Rajasthan, as the author immerses themselves in the chaotic yet alluring ambiance of its capital, Jaipur. With its iconic pink-hued buildings, bustling markets, and regal palaces, Jaipur sets the stage for the adventure that lies ahead.

As the travelogue unfolds, readers are whisked away to explore the legendary forts that crown the Aravalli hills, such as the imposing Amer Fort, perched majestically above the city, and the impregnable Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, offering panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape.

The author delves into the vibrant culture of Rajasthan, introducing readers to the age-old traditions, music, and dance forms that have been passed down through generations. Witnessing the captivating performances of Kathak dancers and the soul-stirring melodies of Rajasthani folk music, readers are immersed in the rhythm and vitality of the region's artistic heritage.

From the romantic city of Udaipur, with its serene lakes and exquisite palaces, to the golden city of Jaisalmer, where ancient havelis (mansions) rise from the desert sands, readers are transported to the bygone era of Rajput royalty. The author's encounters with locals and their stories of valor and romance add a personal touch, providing deeper insights into the lives of the people who call this magnificent land home.

Along the journey, readers are invited to savor the tantalizing flavors of Rajasthani cuisine, from delectable dal baati churma to mouthwatering gatte ki sabzi. The author's culinary adventures take them to bustling street food markets and hidden gems, where they discover the diverse and delectable flavors that Rajasthan has to offer.

Adventures in the Land of Temples: A Journey through Rajasthan is a vivid and immersive narrative that paints a vivid picture of the state's grandeur, capturing the essence of its architectural marvels, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a culture lover, or simply a curious traveler, this travelogue will transport you to a world of enchantment and leave you yearning to experience the wonders of Rajasthan firsthand.

[emma8596smith]

Taj Mahal : A Journey Through India

Taj Mahal is one of the most iconic and recognizable monuments in the world, located in the northern Indian city of Agra.

[ghumindiaghum]

Varanasi, or Banaras as it is fondly called, is not just a spiritual destination but also a food lover’s paradise. The city’s vibrant streets are a treasure trove of culinary delights, each dish telling a story of tradition, culture, and rich flavors. What to Eat in Varanasi: A Culinary Journey Through the Holy City see more at: https://shorturl.at/Q7vTg

[lionheartlr]

Discovering Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La

Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan, known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” is a country that beckons travelers with its pristine landscapes, vibrant culture, and profound spirituality. As one of the world’s last remaining Buddhist kingdoms, Bhutan offers a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern sensibilities. In this travel guide, we’ll explore Bhutan’s history, political…

[voxvacation]

Particular youth memories remain engraved in our minds permanently. For most of us, the Top 10 Most Beautiful Railway that we used to take with our loved ones before flying became the standard. In those golden days, traveling by train meant purchasing our favorite comics and snacks, sipping tea, playing card games, and enjoying the changing landscapes outside. More Visit: https://hallbook.com.br/blogs/219844/Top-10-Most-Beautiful-Railway-Journeys-To-Add-In-Your

[its-poojagupta-shree]

Happy International Women's Day! Today, we commemorate the achievements, progress, and resilience of women around the world. International Women's Day serves as a call to action and a reminder of the continuous fight for gender equality in addition to being a day of celebration. In this blog, we will delve into the history of Women's Day, the importance of empowering women, and the strides made towards a more equitable world.

[dwuerch-blog]

The Week of Love

A morning online search led me to info I never knew. Apparently, Valentine’s Week in India officially began February 7th when couples start celebrating the month of love with romantic gifts, heartwarming surprises, and spending quality time with each other. “Bring on the love” is what I say! What not have a week of expressions of love? Not a bad idea — seven days dedicated to the celebration of…

[goldenchariotirctc]

The Golden Chariot: Explore the Luxury Train Journey Through Southern India's Cultural Gems

The Golden Chariot offers five different packages to explore the diverse culture, history, and landscapes of India. These packages are named:

Pride of South 

·         Southern Splendor 

·         Glimpses of Karnataka 

·         Jewels of South 

·         Heritage of Karnataka 

Each of these India tour packages by the luxury train Golden Chariot is designed to showcase the unique characteristics of different regions of India.

The Southern Splendor package is a 7-day journey that covers the best of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The train starts from Bangalore and takes its passengers to Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, and Kochi. The package includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient temples, and the backwaters of Kerala. 

Passengers can also indulge in local cuisine, witness cultural performances, and enjoy luxury amenities onboard the train.

The Glimpses of Karnataka package is a 4-day journey that covers the best of Karnataka. It starts from Bangalore and takes its passengers to Bandipur National Park, Mysore, and Hampi destinations. The package includes visits to ancient temples, wildlife safaris, and cultural performances. The train offers luxurious amenities and delicious cuisine onboard, making the journey comfortable and memorable. 

The Jewels of South package is a 7-day journey that covers the best of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The train starts from Bangalore and takes its passengers to Mysore, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, and Kochi. The package includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient temples, and the backwaters of Kerala. Passengers can also indulge in local cuisine, witness cultural performances, and enjoy luxury amenities onboard the train.

The Heritage of Karnataka package is a 6-day journey that covers the best of Karnataka. It starts from Bangalore and takes its passengers to Hampi, Badami, and Goa destinations. The package includes visits to ancient temples, stunning landscapes, and relaxing on the beaches of Goa. The train offers luxurious amenities and delicious cuisine onboard, making the journey comfortable and memorable.

The IRCTC Golden Chariot packages offer onboard spa services, lounge areas, a bar, and delicious cuisine restaurants. The train also provides guided tours to the destinations covered in each package, giving passengers an insight into the history and culture of the region. The train's cabins are spacious, comfortable, and elegantly designed, providing passengers with a luxurious experience.

This luxury train in India and the fare for each package varies depending on the duration and destinations covered. The fare includes accommodation, meals, sightseeing, cultural performances, and guided tours. Passengers can also avail of optional services like spa treatments, laundry, and drinks at an additional cost.

The all-India tour packages by luxury train Golden Chariot by IRCTC offer an unforgettable journey of discovering the beauty and diversity of India. Book your exclusive trip at Golden Chariot Train

Source : - Explore the Luxury Train Journey

[apnaran]

Hampi Exploring the Ancient City: A Journey Through Time

Nestled in the heart of Karnataka, India, Hampi is a city steeped in history and culture. Once the capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular destination for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of India. With its stunning architecture, beautiful landscapes, and fascinating history, Hampi is a must-visit…

[suchananewsblog]

Art Dubai and geopolitical positioning

This year’s edition of Art Dubai, West Asia’s most significant art fair (which ended on March 5), was its strongest yet, with 130 galleries from 40 countries participating. Now in its 16th edition, the fair positions itself as a window into the world of the Global South — an oft contentious term for countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania — whose visual artistic practices would be…

[mashkaroom]

Translation thoughts on the greatest poem of our time, “His wife has filled his house with chintz. To keep it real I fuck him on the floor”

It’s actually quite tricky to translate. Because it’s so short, each word and grammatical construction is carrying a lot of weight. It also, as people have noted, plays with registers. “Chintz” is a word with its own set of associations. Chintz is a type of fabric with its origins in India. The disparaging connotation is from chintz’s eventual commonality. Chintz was actually banned from England and France because the local textile mills couldn’t compete.

Keep it real” is tremendously difficult to translate -- it’s a bit difficult to even define. It means to be authentic and genuine, but it also has connotations of staying true to one’s roots. Like many English slang words, it comes first from AAVE. From this article on the phrase:

“[K]eeping it real meant performing an individual’s experience of being Black in the United States. As such, it became a form of resistance. Insisting on a different reality, one that wasn’t recognized by the dominant culture, empowered Black people to ‘forge a parallel system of meaning,’ according to cultural critic Mich Nyawalo...The phrase’s roots in racialized resistance, however, were erased when it was adopted by the mostly-White film world of the 1970s and ’80s....Keeping it real in this context indicated a performance done so well that audiences could forget it was a performance.This version of keeping it real wasn’t about testifying to personal experience; it was about inventing it.”

One has to imagine that jjbang8 did not have the origins of these phrases in mind when composing the poem, but even if by coincidence, the etymological and cultural journeys of these two central lexemes perfectly reflect the themes of the poem. The two words have themselves traveled away from the authenticity they once represented, and, in a new context, have taken on new meanings -- the hero of our poem, the unnamed “him”, is, presumably, in quite a similar situation.

Setting aside the question of register, of the phonology, prosody, and meter of the original, of the information that is transmitted through bits of grammar that don’t necessarily exist in other languages -- a gifted translator might be able to account for all of these -- how do you translate the journey of the words themselves?

In my translations, I decided to go for the most evocative words, even if they don’t evoke the exact same things as in the original. The strength of these two lines is that they imply that there’s more than just what you see, whether that’s the details of the story -- what’s happening in the marriage? how do the narrator and the husband know each other? -- or the cultural background of the very words themselves. I wanted to try and replicate this effect.

Yiddish first:

זייַן ווייַב האָט אָנגעפֿילט זייַן הויז מיט הבלים

צו בלייַבן וויטיש, איך שטוף אים אופֿן דיל. zayn vayb hot ongefilt zayn hoyz mit havolim.

tsu blaybn vitish, ikh shtup im afn dil

This translation is pretty direct. There is a word for chintz in Yiddish -- tsits -- but, as far as I can tell, it refers only to the fabric; it doesn’t have the same derogatory connotation as in English. I chose, instead, havolim, a loshn-koydesh word that means “vanity, nothingness, nonsense, trifles”. In Hebrew, it can also mean breath or vapor. I chose this over the other competitors because it, too, is a word with a journey and with a secondary meaning. Rather than imagining the bright prints of chintz, we might imagine a more olfactory implication -- his wife has filled his house with perfumes or cleaning fluids. It can carry the implication that something is being masked as well as the associations with vanity and gaudiness.

Vitish -- Okay, this is a good one. Keep in mind, of course, that I’ve never heard or seen it used before today, so my understanding of its nuances is very limited, but I’ll explain to you exactly how I am sourcing its meaning. The Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (CYED) gives this as “gone astray (esp. woman); slang correct, honest”. I used the Yiddish Book Center’s optical character recognition software, which allows you to search for strings in their corpus, to confirm that both usages are, in fact, attested. It’s a pretty rare word in text, though, as the CYED implies, it might have been more common in spoken speech. It appears in a glossary in “Bay unds yuden” (Among Us Jews) as a thieves cant word, where it’s definted as נאַריש, שרעקעוודיק, אונבעהאלפ. אויך נישט גנביש. אין דער דייַטשער גאַונער-שפראַך --  witsch -- נאַריש, or “foolish, terrible, clumsy/pathetic. not of the thieves world. in the German thieves cant witsch means foolish”. A vitishe nekeyve (vitishe woman) is either a slacker or a prostitute. I can’t prove this for sure, but my sense is that it might come from the same root as vitz, joke (it’s used a couple of times in the corpus to mention laughing at a vitish remark -- which makes it seem kind of similar to witty). I assume the German thieve’s cant that’s being referred to is Rotwelsch, which has its own fascinating history and, in fact, incorporates a lot of Yiddish. In fact, for this reason, some of the first Yiddish linguists were actually criminologists! What an excellent set of associations, no? It has the slangy sense of straightforward of honest; it has a sense of sexual non-normativity (we might use it to read into the relationship between the narrator and the husband) -- and a feminized one at that; it was used by an underground subculture, and, again, the meaning there was quite different -- like the “real” in “keeping it real” it was used to indicate whether or not someone was “in” on the life (tho “real” is used to mean that the person is in, while “vitish” is used to mean they’re not). It’s variety of meanings are more ambiguous than “keep it real”, which can pretty much only be read positively, and it also brings in a tinge of criminality. Though it doesn’t have the same exact connotations as “keep it real”, I think it’s about as ideal of a fit as we’ll get because it’s equally evocative of more below the surface. I also chose “tsu blaybn vitish”, which is “to stay vitish”, as opposed to something like “to make it vitish” to keep the slight ambiguity of time that “keep it real” has -- keeping it real does< I think, imply that there is a pre-existing “real” to which one can adhere, so I wanted to imply the same.

The rest is straight-forward. “Shtup” is one of a few words the Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary (CEYD) gives for “fuck”, and I think it has a nice sound.

Ok, now Russian

женой твой дом наполнен финтифлюшками

чтоб не блудить с пути, ебемся на полу

zhenoy tvoy dom napolnin fintiflyushkami.

shtob ne bludit’ s puti’, yebyomsya na polu

In order to preserve, more or less, the iambic meter, I made a few more changes here -- since Russian, unlike Yiddish, is not a Germanic language, it’s harder to keep the same structure + word order while also maintaining the rhythm. I would translate this back to English as:

“Your house is filled with trifles by your wife. To not stray off the path, we’re fucking on the floor”

So a few notes before we get into the choice of words for “chintz” and “keep it real”. To preserve the iamb, I changed “his” to “your”. This changes the lines from a narration of events to some outside party to a conversation between the two men at the center. Russian also has both formal and informal you (formal you is also the plural form, as is the case in a number of other languages). I went with informal you because I wanted to preserve the fact that his wife has filled his house not their house, as someone pointed out in the original chain (though I don’t think that differentiation is nearly as striking in the 2nd person) and because it’s unlikely you’d be on formal you with someone you’re fucking (unless it’s, like, a kink thing). I honestly didn’t even consider making it formal, but that would actually raise a lot of interesting implications about the relationship between the speaker and the husband, as well as with what that means about the “realness” of the situation. Is, in fact, the narrator only creating a mirage of a more real, more meaningful encounter, while the actual truth -- that there is a woman the husband has made promises to that he’s betraying -- is obscured? that this intimacy is just a facade? Is there perhaps some sort of power differential that the narrator wishes to point out? Or perhaps is the way that the narrator is keeping it real by pointing out the distance between the two of them? there is no pretense of intimacy, the narrator is calling this what it is -- an encounter without deeper significance?

Much to think about, but I actually think the two men do have history --  i think the narrator remembers the house back when it was actually only “his house” and was as yet unfilled with chintz. We also don’t know what they were calling each other prior to this moment. This could be the first time they switched to the informal you. 

Ok moving on, I originally translated it as “твой дом наполнен финтифлюшками жены”. Honestly, this sounds more elegant than what I have now, but I ultimately though removing the wife from either a subject or agent position (grammatically, I mean) was too big a betrayal of the original. The original judges the wife. She took an active role in filling the house. If she were made passive, that read is certainly a possible one -- perhaps even the dominant one -- but it could also read more like “we are doing this in a space filled with reminders of his wife and the life they share” -- the action of filling is no longer what’s being focused on. Why do I say the current translation is inelegant? I feel you stumble over it a little, because it’s almost a garden path sentence. This is also an assset though. “Zhenoy tvoy dom napolnen” is a fully grammatical sentence on its own, and it means “Your house is filled by your wife” -- as in English, the primary read is that the wife is what the house is full of. If the sentence makes you stumble, perhaps that’s even good -- we focus, for good reason, on the relationship between the two men, but in a translation, the wife is able to draw more attention to herself.

Ok, chintz: I chose the word “финтифлюшки” (fintiflyushki), meaning trifle/bobble/tchotchke, because it, allegedly, comes from the german phrase finten und flausen, meaning illusions and vanity/nonsense. Once again, I like that the word has a journey, specifically a cross-linguistic one.

Keep it real: this one, frankly, fails to capture the impact of the original, in my opinion, but allow me to explain the reasoning. “Stray off the path” implies, again, that there is some sort of path that both the narrator and the husband were on before the wife and the chintz -- and one they intend to continue taking, one that this act is a maintenance of. It brings in a little irony, since the husband very much is straying from the path of his marriage. “Bludit’“ can also mean to be unfaithful in a marriage (as, in fact, can “stray”). The proto-slavic word it comes from can mean to delude or debauch -- they want to do the latter but not the former.

As for register -- “shtob” is a bit informal. I would write the full version (shto by) in an email, for example. The word for fuck, yebyomsa, is from one of the “mat” words, the extra special top tier of russian swears, definitely not to be said in polite company (and, if you are a man of a certain generation or background, not in front of women; it’s not that the use of mat automatically invokes a male-only environment, but if we’re already thinking that deeply about it. But while we’re on the topic, i will say that in my circles in the US, women use mat much more actively than men (at least in front of me, who was, up until recently, a woman and also a child).)

Ok i think that’s all the comments i have!

[schoolhater]

About her heritage:

Harris’s family illustrates how caste, class, and global mobility are linked through access to state jobs, upper-class education, social networks, and opportunities for immigration. Harris’s grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, one of her “favorite people in the world,” was an imperial officer—a position which made possible his daughter’s immigration to the US. [...] Kamala Harris is the product of a “triply selected” Indian diaspora, as described by Chakravorty, Kapur, and Singh in The Other One Percent. This group of migrants is first selected through the caste hierarchy in India that determines access to land ownership and higher education. Next, they are selected by an examination and education-financing system that limits the number of people eligible for immigration to the States. Lastly, they are selected by a capitalist immigration system selectively admitting those who match the country’s needs.

About her policies:

As District Attorney (DA) of San Francisco, Harris increased DA drug arrests by 25% within just three weeks of her appointment. She went on to introduce California’s inhumane “three strikes” law, in which a second felony resulted in a harsher sentence and a third felony led to an automatic 25 years to life imprisonment. She also created the egregious anti-truancy program to threaten parents with legal prosecution and appealed a judge’s decision to make the death penalty unconstitutional in California. [...] While serving as California’s “top cop,” Harris allowed law enforcement agencies to use secret surveillance technology to monitor protests and BIPOC activists. [...] For years, Sikh activists have been pushing Harris to apologize for dismissing a lawsuit filed by a Sikh man who had been denied a job as a state corrections officer for refusing to shave his facial hair, a pillar of his faith. [...] Harris seeks to return to a liberal internationalist world order when American hegemony ran unchecked, “security” was the utmost priority, and “repressive and corrupt dictators” were not allowed to stay in office. She has joined a Presidential campaign that employs an Islamaphobic Hindutva sympathizer. Unsurprisingly, Harris has stayed largely silent on the rise of Hindutva forces both in India and the US.

[bodhrancomedy]

The Bard Who Returned to Fairyland in Search of a Name by Bodhrán M.

It was the ferryman who met the bard first, a beardless lad in a ragged cloak, broadbrimmed hat, and carrying nothing save an iron knife and one small pack across his shoulders. He watched with mild interest as the bard picked his way down the grassy knoll and onto the black-wood of the small dock, coming to a halt directly before the little boat.

Neither of them moved for a long while. Somewhere in the distance, an eagle screamed. 

Finally, the bard spoke.

“I wish to cross the river,” he said.

The ferryman leant on his oar and regarded him with rheumy eyes, pushing a lank hunk of wire-grey hair from his face. “Is that so?” he replied. “Do you have payment, my boy?”

“Yes, I do.” The bard withdrew a coin purse from beneath the green cloak.

“Coin won’t do, boy. Not what I dabble in.”

“I know,” the bard said quietly. He had an odd voice, the ferryman noted, with no hint of fear or trepidation or awe. “I bring seashells from the coasts of Ireland,” he continued, “filled with the songs of the selkies. I bring spices from the borders of India and China with many healing powers beyond that which we can understand, and a trollish crystal gifted by the giantess-queen of Iceland. I deal as little in money as you do.”

The ferryman was impressed, even if he didn’t show it. He dug a filthy black pipe from a salt-encrusted pocket and stuck it between his teeth. He waited, but the bard made no move to light it for him. Finally, he took a tinderbox from another pouch (this one being an oilskin gifted many years ago by a Swedish princess) and struck a spark.

“So,” the ferryman said, his words curled about the billowing black smoke, “you know what is across this river?”

“I know.”

“And yet you wish to cross it.”

The bard shrugged, almost as if to say that the statement was obvious enough that it did not need to be said. “Have I brought enough to pay for passage?” he asked.

“Of course,” the ferryman said as he stepped aside to allow the man to board.

But the bard did not. Instead, he gripped the brim of his hat and pulled it further down over his eyes. His voice was as steady as before, but lower and intertwined with steel. “Both ways?”

The ferryman’s eyes narrowed.

The bard stood there, waiting for an answer, one small hand on his knife.

Hemming and hawing, the ferryman felt a sting of disappointment and suspicion in his gut. He had ferried more hopefuls across this river than he had ferried back and there was almost nothing which he liked more than the faces of those who had returned to his boat having not taken the first precaution. They had thought ahead enough – many of these wanderers and seekers of mysteries and gold – to have gotten his word not to throw them into the cold water or have their treasures taken before they reached human land again, but they had not thought about payment for the return journey.

But seashells and spices were twice the payment for a crossing – and he had never owned a troll-crystal before. He’d heard that they could outshine the sunrises even in the frozen northern plains, that they were rainbow stars from deep within the ground. It would be something to treasure in the dark.

It was through gritted teeth, therefore, which he gave his answer. “Yes,” the ferryman said.

The hat bobbed as the bard nodded. “And I will reach each shore in the same condition as I board your boat, sir? Each way.”

“Yes,” the ferryman agreed sullenly. Then he thought and tried to not brighten in anticipation.

The bard either did not notice or did not care, but he stepped aboard with the ease of one used to the pitch and swell of river boats. He sat in the prow, half-turned so he could look across the water and still see the ferryman.

Clever, that.

Carefully, the ferryman untied the mooring rope and then pushed off the knoll with his oar. He began to pull through the water with broad, powerful strokes and so it was a matter of minutes before they reached halfway.

It was then that the ferryman felt safe in speaking again. Too soon and sometimes the young fools would see the error of their ways and pitch themselves into the water. Once you reached halfway, you were falling into enchantments rather simple cold. It did make him laugh, sometimes, to see them flail and splash their way back to safety. He liked to wave at the ones who lived, standing sopping wet and humiliated on the dock, and sing mocking laments at those who did not.

But he did not think that this young man would do so. Still, he waited.

“You off to fairyland, boy?” he asked cheerfully, “Here to see for yourselves the wonders your bardic forefathers taught you? To see if they’re as real as they say?”

The bard tilted his head and the ferryman saw a flash of white teeth from beneath the hat brim, bared in a savage grin.

“No, sir,” the bard said, “I am not merely going to fairyland, sir ferryman. I am going back.”

“Well, that’s a thing!” the ferryman exclaimed. He rubbed his chin with his free hand and added, “Not many people wish to test their luck twice.”

The bard shrugged again.

“And why have you returned?”

The hat tilted back and suddenly the ferryman saw the bard’s face clearly for the first time. It was even younger-looking than he’d expected, suntanned and heavily freckled, but harsh and set in furious determination. “That is my business and my business alone, sir ferryman,” the bard replied in cold tones. “For I know what you are as we have met before, and you told me in the mistaken belief that we would never cross paths again. And I know that changelings would do what they can to gain favour in the eyes of fairyland’s mistress. I would not give up my slightest advantage to satisfy your curiosity.”

Knocked back a little by the intensity of this speech and suddenly slightly afraid of why he would not remember this young man, the ferryman opened and shut his mouth a few times and said nothing in reply. He rowed on in silence, feeling sweat prickling on his brow. Either this passenger was a grand sorcerer of some great power, or he was an overconfident boy with a head full of stories. But he could not place a finger on either option without some unease. Neither felt right.

“It was curiosity, nothing more,” the ferryman mumbled. “I meant no harm in asking.”

“But you did mean harm in knowing,” the bard replied lightly. “And you could make harm in telling. I am no child, sir ferryman, and I understand how this all works.”