The story of Hazrat Sufi Sarmad Shaheed who was beheaded by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

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By Murtaza Ali Khan

After ensuring a most terrible death for his elder brother Dara Shikoh, Emperor Aurangzeb's attention turned to the Persian mystic and poet Sarmad who was a friend and mentor of Shah Jahan's beloved son Dara. Even before his ascension to the throne, Aurangzeb detested Sarmad for he would roam around naked and often ridicule him with his mystical ways. Dara, whom Aurangzeb saw as an infidel, had great love for mystics and poets and was probably as secular as Akbar the Great himself. 

It is widely believed that had he succeeded the war of succession, the course of history of the Indian subcontinent would have been entirely different. Alas, it wasn't to be as Aurangzeb slowly but surely destroyed everything that the great Mughal legacy stood for! He not only killed his brothers and their sons but also imprisoned his father Shah Jahan as well as his own daughter Zeb-un-Nisa until their respective deaths, apart from exiling his own son Muhammad Akbar.

But probably none of these deeds haunted him more than his insidious act to get Sarmad beheaded. The sole act of killing the mystic robbed him of his inner peace and despite all his kingly comforts he was forced to live a cursed life. As per the legend, after being beheaded, Sarmad’s body took the severed head in its hands and started dancing, wandering across the city of Shahjahanabad, refusing to rest in peace. But just as it was about to enter the Jama Masjid, the saintly voice of Hare Bhare Shah pacified him as Sarmad's body finally laid to rest.

If you ever visit the Jama Masjid then make sure you also visit the the twin shrines of Sarmad Shaheed (aptly painted in red) and his spiritual guide Hare Bhare Shah (painted in green) sandwiched between the grand mosque and the tumultuous Meena Bazaar. And, befitting of the place, there are no restrictions on dress code or the entry of women.

P.S. Although, I have grown up listening to the story of Hazrat Sufi Sarmad Shaheed, today, I was reminded of it by a brilliant piece by Amit Ranjan in DailyO which can be read at the following link:

https://www.dailyo.in/arts/who-was-sarmad-naked-saint-aurangzeb-killed-dara-shikoh-sufis-same-sex-love-mughal-india/story/1/25142.html

Readers, please feel free to share your thoughts/queries by leaving your comments in the comment box. As always your feedback is highly appreciated! 

International Kite Festival 2018 - A Kite Flying Carnival in Gujarat

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By Deepak Dua

Gujarat means Garba Festival, Gujarat means Ran Utsav and Gujarat means International Kite Festival. Every year on January 14, kites fly all over the skies in Gujarat on the occasion Makar Sakranti, which is known as Uttaranya Parva. Viewing the International Kite Festival, organized on Uttarayan, is a wonderful and memorable experience in itself. The Gujarat government has been organizing it for the past 28 years and it is becoming more and bigger year by year.

This time, the festival that runs from 7th to 14th January, and features 290 participants from Gujarat, 96 participants from 18 from states and 149 from 44 countries out of India who have come to woo with their unique kites and maneuvers. Due to the International Kite Festival, Gujarat has not only increased the inflow of tourists but has also increased the employment and earning opportunities here. According to a study, the market of making kites and related items in Gujarat has been almost 600 crores and nearly 1.25 lakh people are earning about three hundred crores through it, it directly or indirectly.

Kites vary from a palm-sized kite to a large rounded kite of about 20 meters in diameter. Variety of shapes and colorful kites abound. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani himself tried his hand in kite flying and said that these kites actually surrender to Surya Narayana and climb into the sky. These kites are made from different materials and their doors are different too.

The kite festival also has a craft and catering market. Not just Ahmedabad, but now it is celebrated at places like Palanpur, Palanpur, Jam Nagar, Surat, Dwarka, Saputara, Rajkot, Vadodara, Pavagadh, Valsad, Gandhidham.

Readers, please feel free to share your thoughts/queries by leaving your comments in the comment box. As always your feedback is highly appreciated! 

(Deepak Dua is a film reviewer and a journalist, active in film journalism since 1993. Besides regularly writing for various newspapers, magazines, news portals etc. as well as his blog Cineyatra.com, Deepak is also associated with radio and TV.)

This article was first published in A Potpourri of Vestiges.

Umang Tewari of Big Fish Ventures Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with amazing Irish cocktails at The Vault Cafe

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March 8, New Delhi: The Vault Cafe by Umang Tewari of Big Fish Ventures is celebrating Jameson St. Patrick's Day with amazing Irish cocktails for all Delhi-iits from 8^th March - 16^th March.

Ellora Caves: A great communion of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut architecture

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Inside a Jain Cave in Ellora

Note: You can read my travelogue on the world famous Ajanta Caves here

Having already immersed myself in the spiritual and artistic wonders of the Ajanta Caves, I was all prepared for my next destination. Situated in the north-west of the city of Aurangabad and about 100 kilometres from Ajanta, Ellora is an UNESCO World Heritage Site that represents the epitome of rock-cut architecture in India. Ellora is one of the major tourist attractions in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India. The site has a total of 34 caves which are essentially structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. There are 12 Buddhist (caves 1–12), 17 Hindu (caves 13–29) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves. While the Buddhist and Brahmanical group of caves are built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Jain group of caves are built by the Yadavas. As per the estimates, the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century. The Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain caves, built in proximity, are a testament to the religious harmony and tolerance prevalent at the time.

Ajanta Caves: One of the finest specimens of the Indian rock-cut architecture

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Note: You can read my travelogue on the world famous Ellora Caves here

Travel has always fascinated mankind. It caters both to the senses as well as the intellect. There is no denying that theoretical knowledge is important. But, bookish knowledge can only take us so far in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the world. The following quotation, taken from the Holy Quran, underlines the importance of travel in understanding the world we live in: “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled.” India is a land of such incredible cultural diversity that traveling the entire length and breadth of it is no less remarkable feat than traveling across one whole continent. India’s rich diversity is beautifully summed up by the famous Hindi adage “Kos kos par badle paani, char kos par vani” which says that such is the multifariousness of our country that the taste of water changes after one mile while the language of people changes after four.

Live Lodgycal Drive: Demystifying the Renault Lodgy

In 1984, Renault unleashed the idea of an MPV by delivering the first car in the world that could comfortably accommodate as many as seven people. Three decades later, Renault presents us with the new Lodgy which promises to redefine the benchmark for this category. 

The Renault Lodgy promises a class defining performance with a powerful engine that’s available in two different configurations: 110 PS, which is matted with a first-in-segment 6-speed transmission with gear ratios perfectly matched to the engine’s output with fuel efficiency of 19.98 kmpl, and 85 PS, which is matted with a 5-speed gearbox and delivers a superior fuel efficiency of 21.04 kmpl. 

Renault Live Lodgycal Drive: An enchanting holiday in a Shangri-La-esque haven named Goa

Team Cartoosh

It’s not every day that one is presented with an opportunity to relax in a Shangri-La-esque haven like Goa, far away from the drudgeries of life.  Thanks to Blogadda, one such opportunity did come my way in the summer of 2014 but, alas, I couldn’t grab it owing to a personal exigency. So, I passed it over to my good friend and fellow blogger Shwetabh Mathur (@shwetabh2) who was kind enough to accept it.

A Rendezvous with Padma Shri Santosh Yadav

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A Rendezvous with the Legendary Indian Mountaineer Santosh Yadav

It's not every day that one gets to meet one's childhood idol. And, so, when such a rare opportunity presents itself, it becomes nigh impossible to keep one's anxiety in check. One such opportunity came by a few days back as my childhood dream of meeting the great Indian mountaineer Santosh Yadav was finally realized. I was first introduced to her through my school textbooks. I had dreamt of meeting her ever since. Time slowly passed by but the dream had endured. A part of me knew that sooner or later my dream would come true. And finally it did. As fate would have it, I finally got the opportunity to interact with her in person last week.

My Square: A New Food Experience at Select Citywalk

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The eating experience at Select Citywalk Mall, located in the Saket District Centre, Delhi, has gone up a few notches with the inauguration of a brand new food court named "My Square". 

Travel Tours: 48 Hours Sale

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Grab the most exciting offers, unbelievable holiday deals and great discounts at the “48 Hour Holiday Sale” by Travel Tours. Travel Tours is one of the biggest and most popular websites for booking all inclusive tour packages. It is a Bangalore based travel and tour company that has currently grown to 13 offices across 9 cities in course of time.

Memoirs: Once Upon a Time in South India

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With Mr. Jugu Abraham outside his house

India is a land of diversity and it is this diversity that makes our country one of a kind. India’s rich diversity is beautifully summed up by the famous Hindi adage “Kos kos par badle paani, char kos par vani” which says that such is the multifariousness of our country that the taste of water changes after one mile while the language of people changes after four. Going by the above maxim it’s only apt to say that there is an enormous cultural divide between the people of North India and South India. While the north is known for its resplendent, somewhat showy lifestyle the south is distinctly marked by its rather simplistic, almost rustic way of living.

Qutub Minar

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Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar, located in Delhi, is the tallest minaret in India with a height of 72.5 metres (237.8 ft). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutub Minar is made of red sandstone and marble. The minaret, originally an ancient Islamic Monument constructed during reign of the Slave Dynasty, is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Holy Qur'an. 

Old Fort

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Old Fort

Old Fort, also known as Purana Qila, is the oldest fort among all forts in Delhi. The foundation of the massive structure was laid by the Mughal Emperor Humayun and the word was carried forward by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri Dynasty, who displaced Humayun. Old Fort is believed to have been built at the site of the famed city of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas founded on the banks of holy river Yamuna during the Mahabharata period. The fort encompasses an ancient temple named after the the mother of the Pandavas, Kunti, who is believed to have once lived there.

Akshardham Temple

Akshardham Temple

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid

India Gate

India Gate

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar