Wonderful things around us - New Year wishes !

Bhopal blog wishes you happy 2011....and one of the way is by appreciating its natura !

Polluting the environment

One more picture on erosion of our green cover, factory emitting fumes on Bhopal - Guna highway !

On the edge at Bhopal !

Here are pictures from a water body in Kaliasoot area in Bhopal. It is painful to see this in Bhopal a city which was known for green cover.... The story on same issue was covered in today's Nav Dunia which reflects the issue ......

Manav Sangrahalaya masked !

Manav Sangrahalaya, Veethi Sankul galler is masked !!. Well that is gallery within the museum which is holding exhibition in gallery 2 & 8 of various masks of India and from across the world. Gallery 2 has collection of masks from collection of Dr Anoop Mehrotra and Gallery 8 has collection from Indira Gandhi Manav Sangrahalaya.  The exhibition presents a wide range and variety of masks used throughout the world. Masks of various forms and appearances are on display and also bring to attention that in India and across world masks are used for variety of purposes by different cultures around the world. Apart from the religious and ritualistic uses, masks were also used for communication and entertainment.

In most areas masks are made by specialists, majorily by men; in some cases dancers make their own masks. While carved and painted wood is today the most common material, masks are also made from leather, paper-machie, clay, cloth, cardboard, wire mesh, gourds, wax, etc.

The journey of mask from an item of ritualistic use to the contemporary world of entertainment makes us to feel that mask is a powerful cultural entity. The great film makers from many of the film industries around the world choose mask as one of the important subjects of their films and they are successful in attracting a large number of viewers. Even the Indian film makers have created successful stories of masks bearing divine powers. The purposes of masks are numerous, but the human need for them is perhaps universal. Have a look at some masks ....

100th post at the Blog - Sunrise at Bhopal today !

This is the 100th post on the blog and it happened I had sun rise picture of today which was great, hence thought post it on the blog as its century post !

MP team gears up for National Kayaking and Canoeing championship

MP team is gearing up for the upcoming National Canoeing and Kayaking championship which will be held at Bhopal in the second week of January (expectedly 11- 12 January).

It is expected that 32 teams from various states, army, police and home guards will participate in the same. About 80 members will participate from Madhya Pradesh. They along with other professionals and learners were seen practicing at Bhopal’s lower lake. Have a look ..at the pixs....

Protesting farmers block Bhopal roads

Tractors carrying hundreds of farmers from districts arrived last nite and were in capital city early morning blocking roads particularly around polytechnic square, new market, depot square, near raj bhavan, chetak bridge, and all roads leading to Shymala hills leading to traffic chaos in major parts of the city.

Though police diverted the traffic to other roads but jams and traffic chaos was witnessed in city. It is said that many trucks had lined up on hoshganbad road blocking the entry to Bhopal.

The farmers were seeking resolution of their demands which included more electricity, low prices for urea, implementation of scheme of payment of bills for pumps in instalments, control over sale of spurious fertilisers etc. At places they were seen cooking while tractors were lined up to block the city roads.  

Cheering for life and cricket

The match was organised by the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS Society (NPLHAS) supported by UNICEF and Madhya Pradesh State Aids Control Society. ''No doubt forums and seminars on December 1 are informative and spread awareness. But a cricket match was a brilliant idea,’’ State Minister for Health Mahendra Hardia said. "It sends an instant message to society that HIV positive persons can play a game of cricket with as much energy and enthusiasm as any other person. People generally have the wrong idea about HIV positive and people living with AIDS, cricket match is to defy that theory.

"I am playing this match so discrimination against those infected by the virus and help spread message that playing a game of cricket, sharing a meal or shaking hands with them don’t spread the virus,'' he added.

Speaking at the start of the match, Manohar Agnani Project Director Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Control Society that activities like this help in spreading right information within people and add to existing efforts of spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS. "On AIDS Day, we chose cricket seeing the popularity of the game. Our aim through this cricket match was to spread awareness in society, as well as strengthen the infected victims with renewed courage to fight HIV and live a regular life,'' president of NPLHAS Manoj Verma explained. The match ended in a tie as both the teams scored equal runs. Trophies were given for the best bowler, best batsmen and man of the match.

Event held by bitiya.in at Bhopal

Bhopal recently has formed a group of single daughter parents and is called bitiya.in. An event was held recently by the group at Bhopal. A glimpse..

Chrysanthemum exhibition opens in Bhopal !

Chrysanthemum exhibition opened up in Bhopal's park on link road number 1. The exhibition will be held for two days December 4th & 5th. Bhopal is known for its Rose and Bonsai exhibition, but exhibition of Chrysanthemum is being held here after gap of 15 years. Horticulture department along with other organisations like Arera Club, IIFM, ADHPG Bhopal, Prerna Praksh etc. are supporting this. This will help in disseminating information and help in inceasing cultivation of Chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemum is exhibitional and garden plant. It has many varieties, and varieties which are attracting people at the exhibition are quill, cascades, brushes & thistle, pompon in different colours - green, white, orange and irregular incurve. One can also see spider, and koreans. Chrysanthemum is an interesting plant which is not only exhibitional but some of its varieties have insecticidal and medicinal properties. Research is progress which talks of it helping in reducing indoor pollution.

Torch rally for raising concern on Bhopal Gas Tradegy

People who suffer raise concern on the suffering's due to Bhopal Gas Tradegy outside the old factory in presence of the idol of women and child made to mark the suffering.

It is extremely painful and sad inspite of all which is said and all 'promises made' a lot needs to be done as people still suffer after 26 years of the tradegy !

(Pic courtesy - A M Faruqui)

Bonsai show at Bhopal

Bonsai Club, Bhopal had organized 15^th Bonsai exhibition on November 13 and 14 at Bhopal. This also marked its 20^th foundation day. Apart from new varieties of Bonsai trees in their different moods, Saikei Landscape and Mini Forest , was displayed. Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) is an ancient oriental horticultural art form. The word Bonsai literally means (in Chinese & Japanese language) 'tree-in- a-pot'. Contrary to popular felt bonsai is not the art of stunting a tree's growth. Bonsai can be grown from seeds, cuttings or young trees. They are kept small by pruning branches and roots, repotting periodically, pinching off new growth and wiring the branches and trunk so that they grow into the desired shape.

Bhopal's Sunrise

Bhopal's sunrise, post diwali ! Nov 9, 2010 from Kaliasoot

Bhopal marks Diwali

Happy Diwali Bhopal

Houses lit with electric lights as seen from 'diya's light' in Aakriti Gardens, Nehru Nagar of Bhopal.

Fireworks in Bittan Market

Fireworks at Bittan Market Dusshera Maidan on Dusshera eve.

Effigies of Ravana at Bhopal

Effigies of Ravana errected at Bittan market and Kolar Road on eve of Dusshera. Media report says Kolar road one is probably the highest Ravana effigy of Bhopal.

Kashphool is here

Kash Phool is here. If you travel towards outskirts of Bhopal one can site, whiteness of kans grass spread over empty fields. Kans grass or Saccharum spontaneum, as called technically, is a perennial grass, which grows up to three meters in height, and has spreading rhizomatous roots. In picture kash phool growing in fields in Kaliasoot area of Bhopal.

Rising clouds

Sept 10, 2010 view from Aakriti Gardens, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal

Preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Festival is really a time for festivities. It is start to get Bhopal into festive season mood that spans till Diwali.
Ganpathi idols being prepared for sale on Hoshangabad Road for upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi.

Crops affected near Bhopal

Crops impacted by pests and other factors near Bhopal, but who listens ?

May be these pictures help bring issue to light !  

Birla Temple, Bhopal

Birla Temple at Bhopal decorated to mark Janmashtami, and is being visted by hundreds from and nearby Bhopal.

Clouds over Bhopal

Bhopal, Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010

Rakhi's being sold at Bhopal's market

Bhopal’s upper lake needs more rains !

Sravani Sarkar report in Hindustan Times raises right concern on static water level in upper lake - the water life line for Bhopal. As per the article water level had risen by 11.80 ft by this time last year. But like in the year 2008 this year water level in upper lake will see a low. On August 20, Upper lake stood at 1657.50 feet just 0.80 feet over the lowest level recorded at the end of summer this year (1656.70 feet), which is 9.30 feet below the 'full tank' level of 1666.80 feet.

The last time upper lake had achieved the full tank level was in month of August 2006. The reason is due to less rain in Bhopal and Sehore which includes catchments area for the upper lake. Bhopal is 32 per cent rain deficient while Sehore is 50 % rain deficient this time. We still have three week more to go, while Regional Metrological Centre remains positive, but lest wait what rains have ‘instore’ for us.

National Sailing Championship, Bhopal

Saturday - Day 3 of 420th Inland National Sailing Championship being held at Upper Lake in Bhopal.

Bhopal after rains

It is raining in Bhopal, though less but it does sometimes. As sun shines, after rains one can see many which are important part of the wetland !

Let save 'green bhopal'

I had clicked this one at Prempura Ghat few days back. Though it was wild flower but today when I went at the same place, this plant was missing, thanks to constructions happening there. One feels pained when one sees 'concrete' replacing 'trees' in Bhopal and am not sure where are we heading as world marks another environment day. May be call to all of us to help save 'green bhopal'.

Sunday Special : Pedal power

A group of cyclist wearing helmets and pedalling their way at kaliasoot in Bhopal. Bhopal now has groups of bicyclers clubs which are helping in promoting use of bicycles for transportation, recreation and something which keeps you fit !!. It also help spread the message of a healthy pollution-free environment.

Peacock at Kaliasoot

Bhopal had a nice weather today morning, relief from onging heat storkes. Clouds had cast its shadow, wind was blowing, and dash of little drizzle ! Sited peacock at kaliasoot and peahen over electric pole ! (They way green cover of Bhopal is eroding may be one day we will have building of concrete here, am not sure if we have peacocks by then !)