Saturday, May 24, 2008

The Nashik International Film Festival 2008

State PWD Minister and Nashik District Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal will inaugurate First International Film Festival (NIFF) in Nashik on May 23. Mayor Vinayak Pande, MLA Baban Gholap, renowned cinematographer Debu Deodhar, National Film Archive of India Director Vijay Jadhav, chief co-coordinator Pune Festival Krushnakant Kundale and Film Division Chief Producer Kuldeep Sinha will be present on the occasion. The two-day festival has been organized by Metro Foundation of India and Dadasaheb Phalke Film & Television Institute - Nashik. A Short Film and Documentary competition will be held during the festival. The winner will be honored with the first Golden Camera Awards.
Overall 29 entries have been selected for the competition. These include two entries from abroad, nine from Nashik and 18 from rest of the country. The selection committee and juries include maker of Hanuman - the first animation film in India V G Samant, Costume Designer Mala De, Model Photographer Jagdish Mali, Director Sharbani Deodhar among others. The Golden Camera Awards trophy was unveiled on the occasion.

The Nashik International Film Festival 2008 Cinema is a Reflection of our Dreams!!! Some have in their eyes…Some find it there…Some grow with it…and some just live for it…
NIFF 08 Short Films and Documentaries competition has been organised, for the first ever time, at the birthplace of Shri. Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. It will commence in the presence of icons, celebrities & dignitaries of the film industry, film lovers as well as film critics, local, national and international media participation and the cinema loving people of Nashik and from around the world. NIFF 08 AimTo start a grand annual film activity in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, in his home town, Nashik.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008

Welcome to Nashik

Nashik or Nasik is a rapidly developing city in Maharashtra state of India. The city also known as the City of Grapes or the Wine Capital of India is located in the North-West of the state. It is just four hours drive from both Mumbai and Pune, the two major tourist destinations of Maharashtra. The proximity to both Mumbai and Pune and pleasant climate has brought horde of settlers from nearby towns and villages making it a realtor’s paradise.
Nashik's Picturesque Surroundings
The city is located on the banks of the holy River Godavari. The Deccan Peninsula on its Western edge marks a boundary for the city and the hills of Western ghats create a ring of protective hills around the city. The nine hills surrounding the city are Pathanpura, Jogwada, Pandav, Ganesh, Chitraganga, Durga, Dingerali, Konkani and Mahasarul. There are other peaks in the districts with names of Hindu Gods like Hanuman.There are many man made lakes in Nasik, notably Wagad, Chanakapur, Gangapur and Darna lakes. These have been created by making dams across the two rivers flowing across Nashik. The Ramkund lake of the city has a pious and mythological relevance; it is believed that Lord Rama and bathed in the lake during his fourteen year exile.
Nashik's Natural Wealth
The district of Nashik with its geographical location and two major rivers, the Godavari and Girna flowing through it has a verdant ecosystem. The forests of Nashik are famous for the flora and fauna. The forests are abounding with teak and sisal trees. Apart from the wood there are numerous shrubs and herbs found in the area. The jungles also have many wild animals; wolves, hyenas, fox and gazelles are in plenty. The jungle trails are a paradise for ornithologists who have sighted rare species here.
Nashik's Climate
Nashik has a mild climate with plenty of sunshine all through the year. In summers May is the hottest month with maximum temperature reaching 100 degree Fahrenheit. The dry summer day, the heat is oppressive and not suited for any outdoor activity. Winters are generally mild with minimum temperature of 50 degree Fahrenheit in December, though sometimes the temperatures have dropped down to freezing point. The monsoon generally brings ample rains and the months of July – August are the hot and humid. The months of September to March are the best to visit Nashik and nearby areas.
Nashik's Economy
The agriculture was the main stay of Nashik and the city was fondly known as the backyard of Mumbai, supplying vegetables to the metropolis. Onions, pomegranate and grapes are the famous produce of Nashik and exported to the Middle East. The other crops grown are millet, rice, wheat and sugarcane. The advent of ITES and BPO in India has now entered the smaller cities. There are many IT industries in Nashik and generating employment for thousands.The development is welcome but it is sad that the natural verdant forests have come under the axe of housing companies. Many new localities are being created to pander to the fancies of the growing upper middle class, who prefer holiday homes in natural surroundings. The effects of deforestation are already palpable; low and erratic rainfall, landslides, flash floods and rising temperatures. Hopefully the government will wake up sooner than later.

About Nashik City

Nasik is a city in India's Maharashtra state. Nashik is in the northwest of Maharashtra, 180 km from Mumbai (Bombay) and 220 km from Pune. Nashik is the administrative headquarters of Nashik District and Nashik Division. The "Wine Capital of India", or the "Grape City", as it is popularly known, is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of the Godavari River. The city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar more....

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Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The Sinhastha Kumbhamela


The Sinhastha Kumbhamela


By far the most spectacular of all the events, the Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that occurs once every 12 years, and is celebrated in four major pilgrim centres around the country. In Maharastra, the festival is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is generally acknowledged to be the most sacred of all the festivals.
The origin of the Kumbh Mela
In Kruta Yuga, Durwas Rishi saw Indra - the King of Gods - sitting on elephant Airawat. Durwas was pleased to see Indra and presented him a chain. However Indra did not accept the present . It fell down and was trodden by elephant Airawat. Durwas Rishi got upset due to this and cursed Indra. As an effect of the curse, all Gods lost their powers and had to often lose a battle against Danavas (Demons). So all Gods including Brahmadeva surrendered themselves to God Vishnu to get back their power. Vishnu suggested them to approach Danavas and persuade them to perform Samudra Manthana (churning of the sea). He said Samudra Manthana will bring out Amruta , which will bring back your power and you will not be efeated by Danavas. So Samudra Manthana was carried out.
One of the many precious things that arose from the depths of the troubled waters was a pot of nectar (Amrit Kumbh). Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress ( Mohini), seized the nectar from the demons. While fleeing from the evil ones, Lord Vishnu passed the nectar on to his winged mount, Garuda. The demons finally caught up with Garuda and in the ensuing struggle, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on Allahabad, Nashik, Hardwar and Ujjain. Since then, the Kumbh Mela has been held in all these places, every 12 years.
Another story is that once all the Teerthas went to Adinath Bhagwan Shankara . Following Bhagwan Shankara?s order they had been to Mrutyuloka (earth) to save sinners on earth. Teerthas absolved the sinners on the earth, but were themselves saturated with others? sins . They requested Bhagwan Shankara to free themselves from sins. Shankara asked them to go and live in solitude for one year at the bank of river Godavari. Shankara promised the Teerthas that he himself, with all other Gods will also stay with them . After taking bath in the sacred water of Godavari, they will be free from the sins.
Hence during the Kumbha Mela a dip in Godavari river has attained a great importance.
In Shiva Purana there is a story explaining the importance of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela. Gautama Rishi got salvation of his cow-killing sin from Lord Shankara after a long penance. Then the river Ganges descended down on the earth. After some time she wanted to go back to her home place. However the Rishis and Gods gathered there and requested her to stay back on the earth for the prosperity of the earth. She agreed to stay back only after taking a promise from Lord Shankara that all the Rishis present there and all Gods will stay with her. Then only she will stay back. Gods and Rishis promised her that during the period, when Jupiter and Sun will be in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi), they will all stay on the earth.
In later years , it is said , acknowledging importance of Kumbha Mela Lord Rama with his Guru Kashyap stayed and lived for one year in Trimbakeshwar. During this period he performed all the religious rites like yatra, shraddha etc near Kushavarta
Why every 12 years?
Amrut had to be saved from Danavas. So Gods had to hide it at different places - Swargalok, Mrutyulok and Patallok. Gods were on Mrutyulok (earth) for twelve days. Gods twelve days are equal to 12 years for Mrutyulok . Thus Gods were on earth for 12 years with Amrut. Hence every 12 years Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the four places, where a few drops of Amrut had fallen.
Where and when?
Kumbha Mela is a mammoth fair where saints and devotees gather. Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the aforesaid four places depending on the positions of planets and stars.
When Jupiter (Guru) and Sun are in zodiac signLeo(Simha Rashi) it is celebrated in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik.
When Sun is in zodiac sign Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haradwar
When Jupiter is in zodiac sign Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and Sun is in zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag
When Guru and Sun are in zodiac sign scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain. Recognizing the importance of the Sinhastha Kumbha Mela Shri Shankaracharya appealed the disciples of his Vaidik Dharma to assemble at the time of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela. Following his appeal, till now devotees, pilgrims, and people of various sects and religions gather together for Kumbha Mela.
Akhadas
There are different dwelling places for different sects. They are called ?Akhada?. The names of these Akhadas are - Shree Niranjani , Shree Junadatta (Bhairav),Shree Mahanirvani, Shree Atal, Shree Avahana, Shree Anand, Shree Pancha Agni, Shree Nathpanthi Gorakhnath, Shree Vaishnav Bairagi, Shree Udasini Panchayati Bada, Shree Udasini Naya, Shree Nirmal Panchayati etc. They have been established at different times and worship their own deity.
Leaders of the different sects have arrived at a consensus to follow a specific sequence for taking bath. E.g. In Haridwar Mela, Niranjani Gosawi will take bath first and then Nirwani Gosawi will bathe. In Trimbakeshwar, first Niranjani Gosawi will take bath and after they leave Kushawarta Teertha, Nirvani Gosawi will take bath . After them the old Udasee sadhu followed by new Udasee Sadhus will take bath.
The Nashik Kumbh Mela is a mammoth affair with over three and a half million people attending it. Thousands of Sadhus and holy men and millions of pilgrims immerse themselves in the holy Ramkund and Kushavarta reservoirs. The peak festival days are August 14 and 25 and September 8 and 20. During the Kumbha Mela, Nashik City and Trimbakeshwar are in a fantastic festive mood. The festive and religious mood makes people get away from their daily chores and experience the spiritual ecstacy.

Nashik Temples

The holy city of Nashik has River Godavari flowing through it. The Northern part of the city is also known by the name Panchvati as it is believed that Lord Rama with his wife Sita had rested on the banks of the Godavari. He then made his abode in the jungles near the river. There are a number of temples associated with Lord Rama here. Apart from that Trimbakeshwar, the one of the holiest places of pilgrimage for Hindus is just about 25 miles from Nashik. The region of Nashik has been associated with holiest of holy and around 60 miles exists the famous Shirdi, the Shrine of Saibaba.
Shrine of Saibaba at Shirdi
Sabka Malik Ek, the God of all is one, preached by the famous Saibaba of Shirdi is the guiding principle on which this shrine is equally revered by people from all the religions. The place is especially full on Thursdays as it is considered an auspicious day. The saint in loin cloth preached living a simple life of gratitude. It is believed that he had performed many miracles and even today his blessings come in the form of ash. The temple is a marvelous piece of architecture with gold carvings and marble paving.
Trimbakeshwar Temple
Just 40 kms from the Nashik Airport is the holiest of holy places for Hindus. The place of origin of River Godavari, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Hindus, the birth place of the god of wealth Lord Ganesha, and the juxtaposition of Sahyadri hills and Godavari river is considered the most pious place to appease the dead. The Hindus come here to perform Shraadha for their departed loved ones.
Panchvati
The name comes from the five banyan trees in the area and the place derived holy significance as it is believed that Lord Ram and Sita stayed here. The Sita Gumpha is the cave where she stayed and was later kidnapped by the devil King Ravana.
Ramakund
The place again is associated with Lord Rama as he had bathed in the pond. A bath in the pond is considered pious and devout Hindus desire their last remains to be immersed in Ramakund for salvation. The remains of the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi were also immersed here.
Kalaram Mandir
The word ‘Kala’ in Hindi means black. The temple is made of black stones and was constructed by the Peshwas more than 200 years back. The temple is one of the holy Hindu temples where the lower castes are also allowed entry.
Naroshankar Mandir
An exquisite piece of 18th century temple architecture, the beauty of the temple lies not in the sanctum sanctorum but the outer design and layout. The rows of statues and figurines on the outer walls depict the depth of Hinduism that it is not limited to humans but extends to all the life forms around you. It reinforces the concept that Hinduism is not a religion but a way to live The list of temples in and around Nashik does not end here. The Godavari Temple, Sundarnarayan Temple, Muktidham Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple and Pandu Lena Buddhist Cave Temples, all have their own legacy and deserve a deliberate visit.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Nashik History

Nashik has a singular importance in the history of Maharashtra and is the holy city of Hindus on the banks of the sacred river Godavari. The history of the city is related to many of the Hindu Gods. Rama the Lord of Justice roamed the forests of Nashik during the fourteen year exile from Ayodhaya. The name Nasik has originated from a Sanskrit word “nasika” which means nose. It is believed that the brother of Rama, Laxman had chopped off the nose of the devil woman Shurpnakha and that gave the name to the place.
The Mythological Period
It is believed that the city of Nashik had existed during the Stone Age too as seen from certain archeological finds in the area. The city was named “Tri-Kantak” on the three demons who were defeated by Lord Vishnu. It was also called Padma-Aasana when the Saint Brahmadeva meditated in the Yoga position Padmasana. The famous Hindu Saint Agatsya crossed the Vindhyas to establish his abode in the region near the river Godavari and then welcomed Rama during his exile
The Moguls and Peshwa Period
The Moguls were deeply impressed by the beauty of the city, especially the gardens and named it Gulshanabad. The Mogul Sultan Aurangzeb was sent fresh flowers from the Nashik gardens. The Peshwas after defeating the Moguls renamed the city Nashik. Peshwa Raghobadada constructed a fort for his queen Anandibai, the remains of the Fort can be seen even today. The Queen built the famous Navasha Ganapathi temple in the city.
British Period
The British were enamored by the verdant gardens of the city of Nashik. They established a cantonment and training center in Deolali in the Nashik District. The Nashik Golf Course made during the British period was one of the largest courses in Asia. Today Deolali has the Artillery Training Center and developed into a major cantonment. The British made it a district in 1869 and the railway route from Bombay, now Mumbai, to north-east passed through Nashik. The trade opened for the artisans, metal workers, knitters, weavers and farmers in a big way. The Nashik onions, grapes and wine made its way to the nooks and corners of the country. The British also gave the city its first library in 1840 and an Anglo-Indian School in 1861.
Nashik During the Indian Freedom Struggle
The people of Nashik were actively involved in the freedom struggle with famous personalities like Lokmanya Tilak and Veer Savarkar. The youth of Nashik joined the Abinav Bharat movement in hordes after the fiery speech of Tilak on August 26, 1906. The movement started gaining ground and overnight the city of Nashik and Anant Kanhere shot to fame with the murder of British District Collector on 21 Dec 1909. Many were caught and were sentenced to death by the British. Mahatama Gandhi also organized numerous forest movements or Satyagrehs against the British.The city of nine hills, numerous lakes and gardens today is a bustling metropolis famous for the Shirdi Saibaba a little distance from it. The peaceful city of yore has today transformed into an unplanned property development market. Is someone concerned?

Courtesy: Wikipedia
Nashik is also important mythologically, historically, socially and culturally. Known for the temples on the banks of the Godavari, it has historically been one of the holy sites of the Hindu religion. It is one of the four cities that hosts the massive Sinhastha Kumbh Mela once every twelve years.Legend dictates that the name "Nashik" is derived from the Hindu epic Ramayana. During the exile of Rama, Shoorpanakha the sister of the demon king Ravana tried to seduce Rama. Angered, Rama ordered Lakshmana to cut off Shoorpanakha's nose (nak). According to the Ramayana, Sita was abducted by Ravana from the area called Panchavati in the Western Ghats. It's a popular religious destination within the city limits, today. more...
Courtesy: Wikipedia

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Nashik's 1st IT Park, V Tech

Nashik – an emerging IT destination · Pune’s leading developer, Vascon Engineers launches Nashik’s 1st IT Park, ‘V-Tech’ After the metros and mini-metros, tier-II cities are fast emerging as the next IT destinations. One amongst them is Nashik, which is ideal because of its strategic location - well connected with the business capital of India, Mumbai (180 kms) and the cultural city of Pune (200 kms). Nashik, originally known as the city of pilgrimage has been prominent since the Ramayana Period. It is also called "Tomorrow's Metro", the fastest developing city of Maharashtra. There are around 2000 big and small industrial units which include MICO, L&T, Mahindra & Mahindra, to name a few. Nashik, also popularly referred to as the ‘wine city’ exports grapes, onions and cut flowers not only to the Gulf but also to some European Countries. Yet all this has not spoilt its serene and peaceful climate making it an ideal place to reside in. Vascon Engineers, a leading construction company of Pune is making a foray into Nashik, to now convert it into an IT destination, with the launch of Nashik’s first IT Park, the 7.5 lakh sqft. V-Tech, in association with Nashik’s Sanklecha Constructions. V-Tech will be a state-of-the-art IT Park located in the heart of the city, off Mumbai Naka. Modern elevation with structural glazing, a landscaped garden, ample car parking of one-level in the basement, 100% power backup, are just a few attractive features of V-Tech. “V-Tech IT Park will be a one-of-its-kind IT Park, and will literally change the face of Nashik”, beams R. Vasudevan, Chairman, Vascon Engineers. “Companies can set up call centers, disaster centers, back-office operations – in other words, BPOs. But it will be advantageous for hardcore IT companies, software companies, to come to Nashik, where cost of manpower and real estate are both less compared to other cities”. Moreover, infrastructure in Nashik, like roads, electricity are not congested. Vascon and Sanklecha will extend all their support to the IT companies coming to Nashik - whether they want to lease the premises or buy it outright. They can provide a cold shell, a bare warm shell or a completely furnished office, designed as per international standards and ready for plug ‘n’ play. Intelligent infrastructure utilities of telecommunication and broadband internet connectivity will be provided by major government and private service providers, like Reliance, Airtel, BSNL, etc. These major telecom players are already present in the city. Marisoft I, II, & III, and Marisoft Annexe, Weikfield at Nagar road in Pune stand testimony to Vascon’s expertise in construction of IT Parks. That’s not all - Almonte – a shopping mall & IT Park at Kharadi, and Matrix at Wakdewadi are the upcoming IT Parks of Vascon Engineers in Pune. “Human Resource of a reasonably good standard is available aplenty, in the city. Lot of talent is available and it should be tapped and utilized in the proper way. Over 2,000 professionals pass out of engineering and management colleges, who can be readily absorbed by the IT industry. Today, there is a brain drain – most of these people leave Nashik and go to other cities for jobs. But this trend will change after V-Tech’s launch”, says Vijay Sanklecha, Chairman, Sanklecha Constructions. Nashik is already on the national map as the wine city of India, where there are wineries like Sula Wines, Indage, Grower, etc. Pune to Nashik by road is just a 4 hours drive, while from Mumbai it is about 3 hours. With an aim to revolutionalise Nashik, Vascon and Sanklecha are embarking upon this ambitious venture to bring Nashik into the IT grid. Riding on the Information Technology wave, Nashik will slowly and steadily carve a niche for itself to become one of the favorite software destinations.