Sphoorthi Theatre

 Yellara Amma Yellamma Goddess Yellamma is renowned for her prodigious power in southern India. She also goes by the names Renuka, Jogamma, Holiyyamma, Ekvira, and Ellai Amman in the public eye. Her temples are situated in the Karnataka State districts of Soudathi in the Belgaum District, Chandraguthi in the Shimoga District, and Hulgi in the Bellary District. There are well-known temples devoted to Yellamma in nearby states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Shakthi Peethas include Mahur in Maharashtra and Soudatti in Karnataka. The Mahabharata, Harivamsa, and Bhagavata Purana all feature legends about Renuka. The Legend Story King Renu, Renuka's father, staged a Yagna. a fire ceremony carried out to preserve tranquility and health in his realm. The celestial Gods were pleased with his devotion and gave him a daughter from the yagna's fire as a gift. She was given the name Renuka because she was king Renu's daughter. When sh...

Shree Narayana Guru well known as Shree Narayana Guru Swami was a Hindu saint & a social reformer of India. Narayana Guru was born on August 20, 1856, in the village of Chempazhanthi near Thiruvananthapuram to Shri Madan Asan, a farmer, and Smt. Kutti Amma into an Ezhava family, a backward community in Kerala. Billavas of Karnataka, Irava in Tamil Nadu racially the same as of Ezhava community of Kerala.  He was fondly called Nanu. His father was also a teacher and learned scholar in Sanskrit, Astrology, and Ayurveda. As a child, he was exposed to narratives and stories from the Puranas and Itihaasas like- Ramayana and the Mahabharata- He was also initiated into the traditional formal education Ezhuthinirithal by Chempazhanthi Pillai, Sanskrit, Tamil, traditional subjects such as Siddharupam, Balaprobhodhanam, and Amarakosam and Ayurveda from his father and Uncle Sri Krishnan Vaidyan-an Ayurvedic Physician.    As a young boy, he would criticize his own people for...

History and Significance of Bandi Chhor Divas Bandi Chhor Divas, also known as "Day of Liberation," is a festival that is observed by Sikhs to celebrate the day that Shri Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, was freed from Gwalior Fort. He had been detained there in the Gwalior Fort by Emperor Jahangir for a number of months. The phrase "Bandi Chhor Divas" means "Prisoner Release." The term "Bandi" means "imprisoned," "Chhor" means "release," and "Divas" means "day." Together, these words indicate "Prisoner Release." Both Bandi Chhor Diwas and Deepawali are considered to be distinct celebrations by Sikhs, and the two holidays actually occur on different calendar days. Despite this, it is usual practice for popular calendars to have both of these holidays falling on the same day. Due to this, a lot of people have a tendency to conceive of both of these events as taking place on th...

The Indian greeting known as namaste is pronounced "namah-stee." "Namaste" is the traditional courteous greeting that is exchanged. It is also frequently used as a salutation to finish a meeting or other type of engagement. Sanskrit is the language that gave birth to the greeting known as "Namaste." Te, which means "to you," comes before Námas, which means "bow, obeisance, or reverential salutation." In other words, "greetings, salutations, or prostration to you." Greetings, salutations, and prostrations to you. The phrase "na ma" can alternatively be taken to mean "not mine," which is another possible interpretation of the word "namaha." It has the spiritual importance of minimizing or eliminating one's ego while one is in the company of another person. Therefore, it entails bending to others rather than oneself, and as a result, one must be receptive to the other who is being greeted. Namast...

In  Mariam Thimma Sagar-MTS Colony, Karwar Road Hubli, Karnataka, during Sravana maasa, Smt. Chhhaya Sunkad mami and other Marathi-speaking mamis (that's how we addressed all regardless of caste, creed, or religion) would wear beautiful Nauvari Maharashtrian sarees, nath-nose pins, jewelry, and chuda-hair tied in a bun. In addition to singing, they would execute what could be described as "kind acrobatics" by twirling, twisting waists, holding hands, and frog-leaping.  The Indian months of July and August, known as Shravana or Sravan Masa, are auspicious times. Married ladies, in particular, practice a ceremony known as Mangala Gouri Vrat. However, Maharashtra is unlike the other Indian states in its unique take on the Mangala Gouri vrataa. One of the best Vrats, or fasts, is the Shravan Mangala Gauri Vrat, also known as Mangala Gauri puja. Married and single women in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and a handful of other states and communities in Maharashtra observ...

Arudhra Darisanam, also known as Thiruvathirai, is a significant religious day for Hindus and is widely observed throughout the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India. In Tamil, the nakshtram, also known as the star, is called Thiruvathirai. This star is also referred to as Arudhra in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. According to one version of the legend, Lord Shiva created the universe some 132 trillion years ago by riding a "holy large wave." The term "sacred big wave" comes from the Tamil language. This is the day, according to the tales when Lord Shiva performed his delightful dance for his two faithful disciples, Vyagrapadha and Adi Sesha. This dance is said to have energized the entire planet. The five actions that are represented by Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment, and Release are all a part of the cosmic dance that Lord Shiva performs. There is another urban legend that tells of a Yogi by the name of "Karagavanam" who plot...

India, a land of rich culture, traditional ethos, and values is perceived as land the most dangerous country in the world for women has reignited the country's ongoing debate over women’s safety over high incidences of sexual violence, lack of access to justice in rape cases, child marriage, female feticide, and human trafficking. Where are we heading? what are we doing? Are we addressing the issues and generating awareness of respecting women?…. endless questions arise with bleak or no solution. Our folk arts and folklore did address issues relating to women, societal norms, and values. I wonder, why did the traditional puppeteers perform episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharat? Are the episodes from the epics act as a guiding force? Was it to reinforce the common masses about the essential ethics to be followed for a harmonious living? or as a community counseling of changing scenarios, the mindsets of the people? There must have been a good reason for adapting stories from ...