Mahesh Das walks his way to the Hall of fame (Akbar Birbal Story)

 

Once Emperor Akbar declared a ransome prize money for the one who can draw him exactly and present the portrait to him.  Many artists gave a try to their level best but Akbar was not satisfied with the work and denied all of them. 

During this period, Emperor Akbar was on his visit to a village in his mobile court. The artists from that village were showing the portraits they have drawn and was showing it to Akbar and he as usual was not satisfied with any work. 

Young  Mahesh Das  went to akbar with a covered portrait in his hand. He sought the permission to see the Emperor and opened the portrait. Akbar was astonished to see it. Mahesh Das has wrapped a mirror and showed it as a portrait. He asked “Jahanpanah, aren’t you looking exactly like how you are now?”. Akbar was very pleased with his wit and gave him the prize money along with his ring and told him to visit him at the palace.  BIrbal ‘s original name is Mahesh Das.

After some time, Mahesh Das  felt that time has come for him to meet Akbar. He started his journey towards the royal palace.  He reached the majestic gate guarded by soldiers. The One at the entrance stopped him and enquired about him. When Mahesh Das showed the ring gave by Akbar, the soldier immediately allowed entry but on a condition that Mahesh Das will give half of what he receive from the Akbar to him. 

Mahesh Das agreed and went inside. He reached the court, offered his salutations and showed the ring. Akbar recognized him seeing the ring gifted by him. Akbar pleased to see this wise man offered him a gift and asked him what he wanted for a gift and that will be granted to him.  Mahesh Das said “Oh King of Kings, I need 100 lashes from you as gift and half of it to be given to my friend”. Emperor was surprised to hear it and thought he might have gone crazy to ask for such a reward. Asked Mahesh “Oh gentleman, why do you ask for such a reward when you have not done anything wrong? Why do you include your friend also into it?”. Mahesh Das said “Jahanpanah! I promised your gate keeper to give half of what  I receive as per his demand. So give me 50 lashes and give the other 50 to your gatekeeper”. Hearing this the other guests and courtesans also confirmed to the emperor that the gate keeper is corrupt.

Emperor was pleased with the wit that Mahesh Das has very diplomatically brought the corruption to his attention . He thought Mahesh will be an asset if he is absorbed into his advisory board as a minister. He named him “Birbal” meaning brave heart and took him into his court as a minister. Soon Birbal became very close to Akbar with his wit, wisdom and humourous nature.

Butterfly Bookmark

 What's the butterflies doing here? ...hm....

Curious to read my diary?!!! mm......

aha!.... you know what they are upto?!!! they have become my "bookmarks".

Presenting two types of butterfly bookmark. One is 3rd butterfly pattern followed from the pattern provided by Cindi in her beautiful blog

and the other one (pink) my version.

Ch4, sl.st in 4th chain to form a ring. make 12 dcs into the ring.
Make 3 ch, [1 dc, 2 tr, 3 dtr, picot, 3dtr, 2 tr, 2 dc] into same space.
skip next 2 dc of the ring. SC in next dc.
7 tr, picot, 7 tr into 6th dc of the ring.
sc in next dc
7 tr, picot, 7 tr into 8th dc of the ring
skip next 2 dc
[2 dc, 2 tr, 3 dtr, picot, 3dtr, 2 tr, 2 dc] in next dc
sc in next dc of the ring. fasten off and sew the ends.

For Antenna :- Cut 2 meter yarn, wind it around the centre of the butterfly body leaving two ends of equal length hagning, using which  make 15 chains,  slst into 12th chain to form a ring. fasten off and sew the tail. repeat the same to the other piece of loose thread.

Tail for bookmark :-

attach yarn to the bottom centre of the butterfly. make required number of chain to suit your book. Make tassel and attach it to the end or crochet a big bead, fasten off.

sew the flat bottomed pearl into centre of each forewings.

warli painting - The feast

Warli is an art originated in Thane district of Maharashtra. It uses geometrical figures to bring out the day to day activities of the people of olden days.  Through this painting we come to know how active people were and what sort of life they lived, their culture etc.

Welcome you all to a wonderful feast! Luckily this painting got saved as the borders got damaged at frame work place when the new trainee made a wrong cut near the border. Happy that my painting is safe.

Residents of Vandalur Zoo

Welcome you to Arignar Anna Zoological Park, (அறிஞர் அண்ணா உயிரியல் பூங்கா) Vandalur, Chennai. This is also known as 'Vandalur Zoo' which is spread on aprrox. 600 hectares of land in the sub-urbs of chennai. As no vehicles are alllowed inside the park, you can either walk it up or hire the bicycles to meet the residents who are staying far away from each other wiith their privacy. There is a battery operated vehicle available which will take you tour around the park. Also Lion Safari (whcih was available when we visited) is available but there is a long wait to get the queue to see the asiatic lions. Everywhere in the park you can see the flora and fauna giving greenery to the park.

It houses various species of animals, birds & insects (nocturnal too) in separate enclosures. the wonderful sight you will have is at the Tiger's place. You can pack your lunch and cooly sit in the shade of the big tree near its enclosure and eagerly wait to watch the big beast to come out of its camouflage. Its a pity scene to see some stupid people trying to throw stones into the enclosure and hit the poor majestic beast and provoking it. It is separated by a big moat from the neighbouring enclosure of spotted dears - the prey of tigers roaming happily without any fear in front of the predator's eyes.

Let me introduce to some of them whom i have captured in my camera.

the black long tailed monkeys welcome you when you enter the park.

the Gaur or the Indian Bison is a very powerful animal which even a tiger will opt for a prey only when it is left with no other option for food. Only an experienced tiger can kill a bison. See the muscles it has developed without the help of a gym.

Indian Bison / Gaur

A small adolescent peacock trying to dance with its 'forming' tail spread.

Are you able to spot two tigers in this photo? two male tigers in separate encloures in open. It was a wonderful sight to see it.

Black Jaguar

dearies, sorry i have lost some of the photos :-(  hence could upload only a few here right now. Let me check whether i could retrieve the others.