Que for 5 liters of Petrol

Que for 5 liters of Petrol!....Sounds a very worthless thing to pay attention to but if you view this video, you will be surprised. This is a daily scene when there are Economic blockades in Manipur and these economic blockades are quite frequent.

Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; Manipur also borders Myanmar to the east. It covers an area of 22,347 square kilometres (8,628 sq mi). The the primary ethnic group,Meiteis (Meeteis) (60% of the total population) resides in the valley area which is only 10% of the total land area. Their language, Meiteilon (Meeteilon), (also known as Manipuri), is also the lingua franca in the state. The Muslims (Meitei-Pangal) also live in the valley; The Kukis, Nagas, and other 33 smaller groups forming about 40% of the population occupy the remaining 90% of the total land area of Manipur State which are basically the hilly regions surrounding the valley. Means of transportation is by air , connecting the state capital with Delhi, Kolkata Guwahati and Agartala; And by road transport via National Highway NH-2 (Recently changed NH-39 to NH-2) links Manipur with the rest of the country through the railway stations at Dimapur in Nagaland at a distance of 215 km (134 mi) from Imphal. National Highway 37 (Recently changed NH-53 to NH-37) (India)connects Manipur with another railway station at Silchar in Assam, which is 269 km (167 mi) away from Imphal. The road network of Manipur, with a length of 7,170 km (4,460 mi) connects all the important towns and distant villages and the Imphal-Moreh road, that connects to Myanmar by NH-102. 

Now, when there happens to be an economic blockade called by any group of people on the national highways, it is the people of Manipur ourselves who suffer.  Shortage of essential commodities, scarcity of life saving drugs, price hikes are what people residing mostly in the valley area face during blockades. During the recently concluded 120 days of economic blockade called by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) and then by the United Naga Council(UNC) which concluded just before the arrival of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on December 3rd. How much the population suffered during the blockade, you might have an idea after watching this video. A gas cylinder refill went above Rs.2000/- and so did the price of all other essential commodities raised exorbitantly. Petrol price hiked above Rs.200/- per Liter and that too a Light Motor vehicle could avail only 5 liters while a Two wheeler, only 3 liters at one time. For it, all the vehicles has to line up in separate ques.... for LMVs, for Heavy Vehicles and for Bikes & other Two wheelers. This video clip is of such a Que of LMVs on one side and a part of Que of Two wheelers on the other side. The video-grapher Tuleshwar Irungbam could not cover the entire length as the Security forces hardly allow filming owing to Manipur being a disturbed state. I feel that you will find this video interesting. Do have a look....

*** Diana Raj Kumari ***

Bomb Blast this morning in Imphal

Photo Curtesy : Lanjingba  Khundongbam

A powerful bomb exploded          this morning in a crowded area in Imphal where the ongoing Sangai Tourism  Festival of Manipur is taking place at Hapta Kangjeibung or Hapta Pologround,  which is situated within the Palace Compound. An innocent cycle-rickshaw driver was given Rs.20 by some people to trans-port a bag from the Palace gate to the premises of the Sangai Festival. What this poor rickshaw-driver did not realize was that  he innocently have traded his life

Photo Curtesy: Lanjingba Khundongbam

for a mere sum of Rs.20, with which he might be thinking of buying snacks for his children or rice to cook for diner. He had ventured out on a day which is a bandh. Maybe he thought he might earn a few extra bucks to support his family when buses do not ply and other rickshaw drivers or auto rickshaw drivers do not dare to venture out during the bandh.                                 

Photo Curtesy: Lanjingba Khundongbam

Not realizing that there is a bomb in the bag, this guy proceeded towards the Hapta Pologround and just as he was about to reach the gate, the bomb exploded. This poor guy is no more.   

These pictures were taken soon after the blast  and has been shared on facebook by Lanjingba Khundongbam. It is indeed gruesome to look at but it does speak a lot about what harm evil minds can cause to innocent people living in this world. This guy ventured in the hope of earning a little even on a bandh day to feed his family and his family must have been waiting for his return... but unfortunally, he has not returned alive. The world must have shattered for the family. Isn't it time for the people of the land to sit up and do something about ending the evils in the minds of those who have no feelings for his fellow beings? This has been going on for decades and never seem to cease.  This can never change until each individual decides to change. No amount of pressure or force can change evil minds. I hope and pray that each individual in this world cultures the love of his brethren and stop this madness of making innocent people die with such thoughtless and evil acts.

                                                           *** Diana Raj Kumari ***

Diana Raj Kumari Photography: Teeth of the fish Chandarupa(Pengba Amubi)

Diana Raj Kumari Photography: Teeth of the fish Chandarupa(Pengba Amubi): These mean looking set of teeth belongs to the fish Chandarupa or Penga Amubi. In Myanmar, some people use it's set of teeth to t...

A surprise visitor - An Insect Beauty

Few days ago, Mom found a surprise visitor walking in all grace and elegance on our balcony. An absolute beauty it turned out to be!! It walked with grace on the floor and Mom carefully picked it up and placed it on a white chrysanthemum flower and then on a yellow flower. It was a bit uncomfortable on the chrysanthemum but quite comfortable on the yellow flower. Both me and Mom clicked some photos of our Gorgeous looking visitor. Here are some which Mom clicked......

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

Photo by Smt. Shantibala Devi

*** A thing of beauty, in whatsoever form it may be is an absolute pleasure to behold with our eyes. *** - Diana Raj Kumari

Hihu or Suhu - Ganges River Dolphin in the Brahmaputra River

Once in a while when I happen to go across the river Bramhaputra in a boat, my eyes scan the surface of the river for a sight of the playful Hihu/Susu, the Ganges River Dolphins jumping about. I always proved to be lucky as they timed to jump then in almost all my trips but they were just brief encounters. Recently on the day of Chhat Puja, where I sunk my feet in the muddy river bank and lost my slippers while trying to click pictures of the devotees and their prayer ceremonies in the wee hours of the morning that day, I was walking barefoot on a little higher ground and looked a little further on the surface of the river beyond the lines of the crowded bank. The sun had risen then and I saw the first dolphin jumping and coming. In the next few moments other dolphins too kept jumping and came closer towards the crowd. It was sheer delight to see all those dolphins playing about. According to the local people, they come specially because of the crowd as they love to be close to people. I was stupidly trying to click still pictures and missed out all those beautiful jumps and lateron recorded on video. That too, I deleted by mistake. Next day, I went again and chanced to record a few clips. All are fraction of a second jumps and in one, can be seen a bit clearly. I am sharing it here today. Hope you all like this video clip of the adorable Ganges River Dolphin.

Common Name: Ganges river dolphin, blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, Gangetic dolphin, hihu, side-swimming dolphin; Plataniste du Gange(Fr); Delfín del Ganges(Sp)

Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica

Habitat: Ganga and Brahmaputra river system

Location: South Asia

This Dolphin has a long thin snout, rounded belly, stocky body and large flippers are characteristics of the Ganges River dolphin. Although its eye lacks a lens (this species is also referred to as the "blind dolphin"), the dolphin still uses its eye to locate itself. The species has a slit similar to a blowhole on the top of the head, which acts as a nostril. The dolphin has the peculiarity of swimming on one side so that its flipper trails the muddy bottom. This behavior is understood to help it to find food. Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30-120 seconds. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the 'Susu' or the 'Hihu'.

The movements of the Ganges River dolphin follow seasonal patterns, although the details are not well known. However, it seems that animals travel upstream when water level rises, and from there enter smaller streams.

The color of the dolphin is grayish brown. The calves and young ones are dark in color but as the animal grows in size, the color lightens. 

Females are larger than males and attain a maximum size of almost 9 feet. Males are about 7 feet.

The Ganges River dolphin, or susu, inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.

 A recent survey conducted by WWF-India and its partners in the entire distribution range in the Ganga and Brahamaputra river system - around 3,700 miles - identified fewer than 2,000 individuals in India.

The presence of dolphin in a river system signals a healthy ecosystem. Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolizes greater biodiversity in the river system and helps keep the ecosystem in balance.

                                                                   

 *** Diana Raj Kumari ***

Two mischievous ducks at Maach Ghat.

Some months ago, I went to buy fish at Maachh Ghat at about 9.30 AM. It was almost closing time and the usual crowd of buyers and sellers had disbursed and so less of noise and it was great looking at the scenic beauty of the river. But what caught my attention were two mischievous ducks which were having a great time snatching fish from the trays where the fishes were kept. The sellers chased them away from near the trays. Missed out the snatching part but recorded them eating a few thrown to them. They had their fill and then finally went for a bath in the river. Great times these ducks were having and I had a great time too watching and recording their mischief. 

*** Each being in this world be it humans, animals or birds..... all have a life of their own, gifted to them by God! *** - Diana Raj Kumari

Ziro's Shivlingam, the largest Shivling in the world.

The largest Shivling in the world has been discovered not quite long ago by the people of Arunachal Pradesh in a town called Zero or Ziro also known as Apatani Plateau which is located at an altitude of 5754 ft. (1,780m) above sea level in Arunachal Pradesh of North East India. This high town is almost a level valley enveloped on all sides by pine clad low stooping hills. A small picturesque destination with the quietly flowing rivers of Subansiri, Nishi, Apatani, Dafla, and Miri along with the Pine and Bamboo groves, villages, a craft centre and Tarin Fish Farm makes this place an ideal place for trekking and hiking. Traditional indegenious methods of rice cultivation and the incorporation of fish farming in this place is also worth seeing. 

Now, the people of this land happen to find a HUGE Shivlingam about 25ft tall and is still growing bigger. The Archeological Survey of India(ASI) has made many visits there for observation and many devotees of Lord shiva have been visiting this place in the recent months to have a view and worship this awesome Shivlingam. It seems that there is still a confusion as to whether this massive Shivling is to be termed as a Shivlingam or an Image of Lord Shiva because there are also 2 more stones next to it, which are believed to be Devi Parvati and Lord Ganesha. 

This amazing place of worship is not yet declared as a pilgrim place and worshipers of this sacred place are hopping to have it recognized by ASI and other Hindu religious organisations as a place of pilgrimage. This, I hope and feel will be shortly in the near future. 

                                   

                                                         OM Namah Shivaya!*!

Photo by Sudip Acharjee

Photo by Sudip Acharjee

Photo by Sudip Acharjee

Photo by Sudip Acharjee

Photo by Sudip Acharjee

                                                   

            *** OM NAMAH SHIVAYE ***

  

          - Diana Raj Kumari -