Hola Mohalla

22 May 2015, 05:30 am
Hola Mohalla
An exhibition of black and white photographs
By Jagdev Singh from Delhi
 
Inauguration by Shri Sundeep Misra, author, sports writer and filmmaker on Thursday, 21 May 2015 at 18:30
 
Exhibition on view: 22nd to 28th May 2015, 11 am to 7 pm at the Art Gallery
IIC Annexe, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003
 
About the exhibition
 
Hola Mohalla celebrates the unconditional love and faith of people in their guru.
 
Hola Mohalla is a three day event, celebrated at the shrine of Keshgarh Sahib in the Sikh holy town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, every year in the month of March. Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. The word "Mohalla" implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. It was here in 1699 that the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, baptized five men and founded the Khalsa Panth, which is the modern day Sikh faith. Hola Mohalla originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji, who held the first such event and celebrations at Anandpur Sahib in February 1701.
 
Thereafter, people come in millions from all over the world to participate in the celebrations. On the way, several kilometres well before the main shrine of Keshgarh Sahib, you see road side tent shelters offering free food to visitors, loudly playing holy hymns and praises of the Supreme One. Day and night, hymns are read and sung from Guru Granth Sahib at scores of places. Free food (Langar) is served 24 hours day and night. The main attraction of the celebrations is the procession by Nihangs (a distinctive order among the Sikhs), tent pegging and bareback horse-riding and performance of 'Gatka' (Sikh martial art). One gets to see several Nihangs sporting massive turbans with Sikh symbols.
 
Hola Mohalla rejuvenates the centuries old tradition and zeal of sheer faith and belief that the tenth Guru plays amongst all the people present, much to the joy of millions. Undoubtedly, the undaunted spirit and fervor of the three day celebrations, captured in these frames is sure to leave you spellbound!
 
 
Jagdev Singh is a freelance photographer living in New Delhi, India. To him photography is a medium of creative expression. He loves to capture the moments and moods from people's daily life and especially concentrates on street and travel photography. His work untangles the complex appearance of life, revealing a fine sense for a moment to pause. His photos carry a refined essence of people and life at large. Several of his pictures feature on international fine art portal seenby.de and photocircle.net


MUSIC APPRECIATION PROMOTION

20 May 2015, 05:30 am
MUSIC APPRECIATION PROMOTION
Programme Type
Talks
Taal and Percussion in the Sattriya Tradition
The Sattras of Assam reveal a rich taal and percussion performance tradition, built around the Khol and the Cymbals. This illustrated lecture by Dr. Arshiya Sethi and Dr. Bhabanand Borbayan reveals the origins, and some of the patterns, and intricacies of Rhythm in the Sattriya culture
 
Dr. Arshiya Sethi, a well known writer on cultural issues, has studied Sattriya Culture for her doctoral dissertation. Bhabhanand Borbayan, a practicing monk from the Uttar Kamalabari Sattra,  Majuli, competed his Doctoral dissertation on “Tala Patterns of Sattriya Dance”, from Rabindra Bharati University

The Courtesan – An Enigma

20 May 2015, 05:30 am
The Courtesan – An Enigma
Programme Type
Cultural
Dance re-lived, stories re-told inspired by Pran Nevile's "Nautch Girls of India". Introduction by Pran Nevile followed by a concert featuring Manjari Chaturvedi performing Darbari Kathak - the dance of the Courtesan
 
Accompanied by Neesha Singh, who will narrate stories from the lives of well known courtesans
 

In Search Of Freedom – Journeys through India and South-East Asia

19 May 2015, 05:30 am
In Search Of Freedom – Journeys through India and South-East Asia
Programme Type
Discussions
Readings and discussion around Sagari Chhabra’s new book on  India's unknown and unacknowledged freedom fighters and the concept of freedom
 
Launch of book by Smt Momota Mehta, freedom fighter and Shri Kuldip Nayar, democratic rights’ activist and eminent journalist
 
Dr. Vibha Chauhan will be in conversation with the author followed by readings

Operation Meghrahat: A Leap from Despair to Hope (55 min; 2015)

18 May 2015, 05:30 am
Operation Meghrahat: A Leap from Despair to Hope (55 min; 2015)
Directed by Brig A. A. Mehmood, Brigadier Information System, HQ 15 Corps
A film produced by General Staff Information Branch of HQ 15 Corps located at Srinagar
 
The film deals with the September 2014 floods in Kashmir and the relief work done by the Army in conjunction with the Air Force, NDRF and Kashmiri youth in minimising the loss of precious human life
 
The screening will be followed by a discussion

Celebrating the Legendary Poets

15 May 2015, 05:30 am
Celebrating the Legendary Poets
Programme Type
Talks
Maithili Sharan Gupt: Focus on His Well Known poem Yashodhara
Keynote address by Dr. Sudheer Pratap Singh 
 
Speakers: Shri Upendra Kumar;Dr. Upendra Nath; and Anamika
 
Chair: Dr. Ganga Prasad Vimal 

Vocal Recital

15 May 2015, 05:30 am
Vocal Recital
Programme Type
Cultural
By Shatavisha Mukherjee from Kolkata, ITC Sangeet Research Academy, disciple Pt. A.T. Kanan and Pt.  Ulhas  Kashalkar

URBAN GOVERNANCE

15 May 2015, 05:30 am
URBAN GOVERNANCE
Programme Type
Talks

Urban Sanitation (Swachh Bharat)

Introductory Remarks: Shri Prabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary & President, IC Centre for Governance

 

Keynote Speakers: Shri Jalaj Srivastava, Chairperson, NDMC; and Shri K.S. Mehra, Former Municipal Commissioner

 

Chairman: Shri D.S. Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development

Rethinking Disability in India

14 May 2015, 05:30 am
Rethinking Disability in India
Programme Type
Discussions

A discussion around the new book by Anita Ghai (New Delhi: Routledge, 2015)

 

Main presentation by Dr. Anita Ghai, Dept. of Psychology, Jesus and Mary College

 

Chair: Smt Brinda Karat

 

Discussants: Dr. Tanmoy Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, Centre for Advanced Studies in Linguistics, University of Delhi; and Shri Harsh Mander, social worker and writer, Director of Centre for Equity Studies