Dancing....my first love

I love to dance....Dancing gives me immense satisfaction of expressing my feeling to others or to the World...I feel like dancing whenever I feel happy...truly happy!!! Experts say...Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music,^[1] used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common. It not only involves flexibility and body movement, but also physics. If the proper physics is not taken into consideration, injuries may occur.

Origins and history of dance

Main article: History of dance

Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts such as stone tools, hunting implements or cave paintings. It is not possible to say when dance became part of human culture. Dance has certainly been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations. Archeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as the 9,000 year old Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka paintings in India and Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures from circa 3300 BC.

My favourite

Bharata Natyam or Bharatanatyam ( is a classical dance form originating in Tamil Nadu^{[1][2][3][4][5]}, India.

Natyam is usually accompanied by the classical music. It has its inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram.

Bharata Natyam comes from the words Bhava (Expression), Raga (Music), Tala (Rhythm) and Natya^[6][7] The Encyclopædia Britannica states that Bharata Natyam is Sanskrit for Bharata’s dancing. (Classic Indian Musical Theatre). Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by many dancers all over the world.

"Momo chittey niti nrittye
Ke jey nachey
Ta ta thai thai"
When one hears these verses, the first image that comes to mind is of a dancer, sophisticatedly clad in a non-gaudy yet colourful saree, accessorised with a batik fetti and locks embellished with radiant flowers. "Rabindrik dance is Bangalee's very own dance. All the other traditional and classical dance forms did not originate in Bengal. Tagore started using dance in his plays, as a medium to articulately express the intense human emotions,"

Kathak (Hindi: कथक, Urdu: کتھک) is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from northern India and areas which are now part of Pakistan. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers. These bards, performing in village squares and temple courtyards, mostly specialized in recounting mythological and moral tales from the scriptures, and embellished their recitals with hand gestures and facial expressions.The story of Kathak begins in ancient times with the performances of professional story-tellers called kathakas who recited or sang stories from epics and mythology with some elements of dance. The traditions of the kathakas were hereditary, and dances passed from generation to generation. There are literary references from the third and fourth centuries BC which refer to these kathakas. The two texts are in the archives of Kameshwar Library at Mithila.

Folk Dances in India

Bathakamma

A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.

Bihu

Bihu is a folk dance from Assam. It is a very brisk and aggressive dance performed by both boys and girls.

Bagurumba

This is a folk dance from Assam. It is performed by the Bodos and is known for its colourful attire.

Bhangra

This is a folk dance from the Northwest Indian state of Punjab. It is a lively, powerful dance. (see Bhangra: Music and Dance from the Punjab

Chah Baganar Jumur Nach

This is a Dance from Assam. It is a dance of the tea gardens.

Changu

The changu dance is a folk dance found in Odissa and Andhra Pradesh. It derives its name from the changu, which is a simple tambourine (daf) that is used to accompany this dance.

Daankara

The daankara is a stick dance, similar in some ways to the dandiaya raas of gujarat. However, the daankar is performed in Punjab.

Dandaria

A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.

Dasakathia

This is a folk theatre of Odissa. It is performed by a pair of performers who entertain the audience with dance, songs, and stories.

Dhamal

1) A folk dance of Punjab. 2) A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh

Gair

This is a dance of Rajasthan. It is performed by groups of dancers moving in and out with an almost military precision.

Garba

This is a folk dance from Gujarat. It is traditionally danced at marriages and during the time of Navaratri.

Gatka

A folk dance utilising swords, daggers, or sticks performed in the Punjab

Geendad

This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It is very similar to the Gair.

Ghoomar

This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It derives its name from its characteristic pirouettes.

Ghanta Patua

This is a folk dance of Odissa. Its name is derived from the large brass gongs known as ghanta. It is performed in the Hindu month of Chaitra. This dance is most notable because it is performed on stilts.

Giddha

This is a folk dance of Punjab, generally performed by women.

Gobbi

A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.

Jhoomar

This is a dance of the Mundas and Mahantas of Odissa.

Jhumar

A slow version of bhangra performed at weddings and other festive events.

Julli

A Folk dance performed in the Punjab that is done sitting down.

Kacchhi Ghodhi

This is a folk dance of Rajasthan that is performed with a dummy horse.

Kandhei

(see Sakhi Nata)

Kavadi

This is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It is played with a wooden pole upon which are tied two pots. The stick is then balanced upon the shoulder.

Karagam

This is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It is played with a pot balanced on the head.

Kela Keluni

This is a dance performed by the Kelas of Odissa.

Kikli

A women's folk dance of the Punjab

Kushan

This is a folk theatre of Bangladesh and West Bengal (see "Kushan Theatre Revival In Bangladesh")

Laathi Nauch

This is a folk dance of NE India and Bangladesh. This was originally based upon a system of martial arts that uses large sticks (laathi). However in some case it has evolved into a game (Lathi Khelna) or a dance (Laathi Nauch).

Luddi

A very characteristic form of Bhangra.

Mathuri

A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.

Raas

This is a folk dance from Gujarat. It is traditionally danced at marriages and during the time of Navaratri.

Saami

A Wemen's folk dance of the Punjab

Sakhi Nata

This is the puppet dance of Odissa.

Terahtali

This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It is performed by women while they are seated.

Therukoothu

This is a folk theatre from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Yaksha Gana

This is a folk theatre from the south Indian state of Karnatika.

Uday Shankar (8 December 1900 – 26 September 1977) (Bengali: উদয় শংকর), the pioneer of modern danceIndian dancer and choreographer, was most known for adapting Western theatrical techniques to traditional Indian classical dance, imbued with elements of Indian classical, folk, and tribal dance, thus laying the roots of modern Indian dance, which he later popularized in India, Europe, and the United States in 1920s and 1930s and effectively placed Indian dance on the world map ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}. in India, and a world renowned

Born in Almora in Uttar Pradesh, India, Shankar was the son of Amala and Uday Shankar, popular dancers, and also the nephew of renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar.^[1] Ananda did not learn sitar from his uncle but studied instead with Lalmani Misra at Banaras Hindu University.^[1]

Mamata Shankar born in 1955 to Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar, her brother was a renowned indo-western fusion musician Ananda Shankar.She received her training in dance and choreography at the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre', Calcutta under Amala Shankar.

Tanusree Shankar was born in Calcutta. Her husband, the late Ananda Shankar, was a world famous music composer who experimented with fusion music
Tanusree Shankar (born 16 March 1956) is one of the leading dancers and choreographers of contemporary dance in India and is based in Kolkata, India.


Madhuri Dixit (born Madhuri Shankar Dixit on 15 May 1967)^[1] is an Indian Bollywood actress. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses and accomplished dancers.[2

My Favourite Bengali Foods

As for the mango panna cotta, the semi-sourness of the fruit blends beautifully with the sweetness and creaminess of the panna cotta.










To a Bengali, Shukto needs no introduction!

And for others, who probably find a Bong's love affair with the bitter, a trifle eccentric or incomprehensible, Shukto is a mixed vegetable stew with a predominantly bitter - sweet flavour. A traditional Bengali lunch meal begins with Shukto. Why? Frankly, I'm not too sure of why only at lunch, but regarding the bitter beginning....but maybe it has something to do with the Ayurvedic Six tastes



After years of grumbling about the food and this Daal in particular, it recently dawned on me that Mung Daal has now become a major part of my diet and I just love it! It is one of those dishes which goes great with rice, chapattis, or all by itself as a hearty soup. Mung Daal is so quick and easy to make that I can have it very often and the best part…I don’t get tired of it!




Yummmy french fries which is inevitable with Mung Daal and white rice (unflavored), is made of potatoes and salt to taste.









Another delicious recipe with poppy seeds (or posto as known in Bengali). Well the most popular of the posto recipes is Aloo Posto (Potatoes cooked in poppy seeds paste). Here is the recipe of Aloo Jhinge Posto (Potatoes and Ridgegourd cooked in poppy seeds paste).








Kalai-er dal is a dal made of split (skin removed) white Urad dal. The special about this dal is the use of fennel seed unlike other dal has the usual cumin seed or panch phoron(mixture of five different seeds) as tempering. this dal has two versions, both are awesomely tasty. One is with roasted dal and another without roasting. As urad dal is little slimy or slippery in texture, if you roast the dal before making it, the slimy texture will go away. I love both versions....

Begun Bhaja (Bengali Eggplant Fry

Muri Ghonto is one of the common bengali dish cooked with fish head and basmati rice.












The Bengali fish fry is not really the everyday bengali fish fry. The everyday bengali fish fry is actually the maach bhaja, steak pieces of fish, smeared with salt and turmeric and fried golden in smoking mustard oil. The maach bhaja can be eaten on its own as a side with the dal.





Another combination of Luchi and Chholar Daal.
There are different ways of cooking this dal ... but
as it is usually made on festive occasions, there is
hardly any use of onion or garlic. Of course, you
can make it with spices/masalas too.





Bengali Chanar Dalna Recipe: Chanar Dalna is a delicious Bengali cuisine. It’s very testy and healthy for vegetarian people.











Another mind blowing combination in food I like,
Polao (flavored rice) and Maangsho (Meat curry).











Yummy Chicken Curry (Murgir Jhol)!




The reason Bengalis are hooked to Monsoon, as this is the only time when they get to see plenty of their favourite shiny silvery fish in the market. Yes am talking about Ilish or Hilsa, Benagal’s most favourite fish, which has a unique place in its culinary history and almost enjoys an iconic status.






TOPSE "( aka MANGO fish) in Bengal is a delicious sweet water fish. It is abunduntly availablein summer time when the mango is also available. The word TOPSE came from the Bengali word TAPAS which means SAGE.

Parshe Fish Curry, Sorsen diye parshe Maach

Tangra maacher jha is a typical Bengali recipe. ‘Tangra’ is a type of fish (see photo).







This one is another rich and yummy preparation of Rohu Fish Curry / Rui Maccher Kalia

Tel Koi, Climbing Fish Curry....




Daab Chingri (Prawn prepared in coconut)

LauChingri / Shrimp and Gourd Curry

Bengali Sweet Dishes:-

Rasogolla






The Kalakand is a Bengali sweet dish.






Chaler Payesh











Mishti Doi...







Malpui and Patishapta.........

Stress management

It is the amelioration of stress and especially chronic stress often for the purpose of improving everyday functioning.

Stress produces numerous symptoms which vary according to persons, situations, and severity. These can include physical health decline as well as depression.

Models of stress management

In order to develop an effective stress management programme it is first necessary to identify the factors that are central to a person controlling his/her stress, and to identify the intervention methods which effectively target these factors. Lazarus and Folkman's interpretation of stress focuses on the transaction between people and their external environment (known as the Transactional Model). The model conceptualizes stress as a result of how a stressor is appraised and how a person appraises his/her resources to cope with the stressor. The model breaks the stressor-stress link by proposing that if stressors are perceived as positive or challenging rather than a threat, and if the stressed person is confident that he/she possesses adequate rather than deficient coping strategies, stress may not necessarily follow the presence of a potential stressor. The model proposes that stress can be reduced by helping stressed people change their perceptions of stressors, providing them with strategies to help them cope and improving their confidence in their ability to do so.

Health realization/innate health model

The health realization/innate health model of stress is also founded on the idea that stress does not necessarily follow the presence of a potential stressor. Instead of focusing on the individual's appraisal of so-called stressors in relation to his or her own coping skills (as the transactional model does), the health realization model focuses on the nature of thought, stating that it is ultimately a person's thought processes that determine the response to potentially stressful external circumstances. In this model, stress results from appraising oneself and one's circumstances through a mental filter of insecurity and negativity, whereas a feeling of well-being results from approaching the world with a "quiet mind," "inner wisdom," and "common sense".^[4][5]

This model proposes that helping stressed individuals understand the nature of thought—especially providing them with the ability to recognize when they are in the grip of insecure thinking, disengage from it, and access natural positive feelings—will reduce their stress.

Techniques of stress management

There are several ways of coping with stress. Some techniques of time management may help a person to control stress. In the face of high demands, effective stress management involves learning to set limits and to refuse some demands that others make. The following techniques have been recently dubbed “Destressitizers” by The Journal of the Canadian Medical Association. A destressitizer is any process by which an individual can relieve stress. Techniques of stress management will vary according to the theoretical paradigm adhered to, but may include some of the following^[6]:

• Autogenic training
• Cognitive therapy
• Conflict resolution

• Exercise
• Getting a hobby
• Meditation
• Deep breathing
• Yoga Nidra
• Nootropics
• Relaxation techniques

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Artistic Expression
• Fractional relaxation
• 

• Progressive relaxation
• Spas
• Somatics training^[7]

• Stress balls
• Natural medicine
• Clinically validated alternative treatments^[8]
• Time management

• Listening to certain types of relaxing music,^[9] particularly:
  • New Age music
  • Classical music
  • Psychedelic music
  • Sleep Music ^[10]

First, recognize stress:

Stress symptoms include mental, social, and physical manifestations. These include exhaustion, loss of/increased appetite, headaches, crying, sleeplessness, and oversleeping. Escape through alcohol, drugs, or other compulsive behavior are often indications. Feelings of alarm, frustration, or apathy may accompany stress.

If you feel that stress is affecting your studies,
a first option is to seek help through your educational counseling center.

Stress Management is the ability to maintain control when situations, people, and events make excessive demands. What you can do to manage your stress?
What are some strategies?

Look around See if there really is something you can change or control in the situation	Set realistic goals for yourself Reduce the number of events going on in your life and you may reduce the circuit overload
Exercise in stress reduction through project management/prioritizing
Remove yourself from the stressful situation Give yourself a break if only for a few moments daily	Don't overwhelm yourself by fretting about your entire workload. Handle each task as it comes, or selectively deal with matters in some priority
Don't sweat the small stuff Try to prioritize a few truly important things and let the rest slide	Learn how to best relax yourself Meditation and breathing exercises have been proven to be very effective in controlling stress. Practice clearing your mind of disturbing thoughts.
Selectively change the way you react, but not too much at one time. Focus on one troublesome thing and manage your reactions to it/him/her	Change the way you see your situation; seek alternative viewpoints Stress is a reaction to events and problems, and you can lock yourself in to one way of viewing your situation. Seek an outside perspective of the situation, compare it with yours. and perhaps lessen your reaction to these conditions.
Avoid extreme reactions; Why hate when a little dislike will do? Why generate anxiety when you can be nervous? Why rage when anger will do the job? Why be depressed when you can just be sad?	Do something for others to help get your mind off your self
Get enough sleep Lack of rest just aggravates stress	Work off stress with physical activity, whether it's jogging, tennis, gardening
Avoid self-medication or escape Alcohol and drugs can mask stress. They don't help deal with the problems	Begin to manage the effects of stress This is a long range strategy of adapting to your situation, and the effects of stress in your life. Try to isolate and work with one "effect" at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself. for example, if you are not sleeping well, seek help on this one problem.
Try to "use" stress If you can't remedy, nor escape from, what is bothering you, flow with it and try to use it in a productive way
Try to be positive Give yourself messages as to how well you can cope rather than how horrible everything is going to be. "Stress can actually help memory, provided it is short-term and not too severe. Stress causes more glucose to be delivered to the brain, which makes more energy available to neurons. This, in turn, enhances memory formation and retrieval. On the other hand, if stress is prolonged, it can impede the glucose delivery and disrupt memory." All Stressed Up, St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, p. 8B, Monday, November 30, 1998
Most importantly: if stress is putting you in an unmanageable state or interfering with your schoolwork, social and/or work life, seek professional help at your school counseling center

Acts Linked to Organization

The promulgation of Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 envisaged an integrated need based social insurance scheme that would protect the interest of workers in contingencies such as sickness, maternity, temporary or permanent physical disablement, death due to employment injury resulting in loss of wages or earning capacity. the Act also guarantees reasonably good medical care to workers and their immediate dependants.

Following the promulgation of the ESI Act the Central Govt. set up the ESI Corporation to administer the Scheme. The Scheme, thereafter was first implemented at Kanpur and Delhi on 24^th February 1952. The Act further absolved the employers of their obligations under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923. The benefit provided to the employees under the Act are also in conformity with ILO conventions.

Provident Fund Act

The Supreme Court has stated in Andhra University v. R.P.F.C. 1985 (51) FLR 605
(SC) that in construing the provisions of the Employees Provident Funds and
Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952, it has to be borne in mind that it is a beneficent piece
of social welfare legislation aimed at promoting and securing the well-being of the
employees and the court will not adopt a narrow interpretation which will have the effect
of defeating the very object and purpose the Act. The preamble to the Act also states that
this is an Act to provide for the institution of:
(i) Provident Funds
(ii) Pension Fund and
(iii) Deposit Linked Insurance Fund
for employees in factories and other establishments. It is with this background that one must interpret the various provisions of the Act and the Scheme related to it.

Applicability
The Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952 applies to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir (Section 2). This Act applies (Section 3) to:
(i) every establishment which is a factory engaged in any industry specified in Schedule I
and in which 20 or more persons are employed, and
(ii) any establishment employing 20 or more persons or class of such establishments
which the Central Government may, by notification in the official gazette specify.
The Central Government through the Employees Provident Fund Scheme 1952 {Section
3 (b)} has specified the establishments covered by the Act.

Employee
An employee – sec. 2(f), means any employee who is employed for wages in any kind of
work, manual or otherwise, in or in connection with the work of an establishment, and who gets wages directly or indirectly from the employer and includes any person:
(i) employed by or through a contractor in or in connection with the work of an
establishment
(ii) engaged as an apprentice, not being an apprentice engaged under the Apprentices Act 1961, or under the standing orders of the establishment.
An apprentice means a person who according to the certified standing orders applicable to a factory or establishment is an apprentice or who is declared to be an apprentice by the authority specified by the appropriate government.

• “Excluded Employee” has been defined in para 2(f) to mean an employee:
(i) who having been a member of the fund, withdrew the full amount of his
accumulations on retirement or emigration or
(ii) whose pay at the time he is otherwise entitled to become a member of the fund
exceeds Rs. 6,500.00 p.m.
Employment
The concept of employment essentially involves three ingredients:
(1)Employer
(2) Employee and
(3) Contract of employment
The employment is the contract of service between the employer and the employee
where under the employees agrees to serve the employer subject to his control and
supervision. If there is no relation as employer and employee then it is not open to
anyone claim benefit under the statute. Even if a person is not wholly employed, if he is principally employed in connection with the functioning of the establishment he will be a person employed within the meaning of the Act.

Contributions

The contribution envisaged under sec 6 read with notification dated 9th April 1997 and para 29 of the EPF Scheme, specifies that the rate of contribution under the E.P.F. Act as 12%. The employer has to deposit 12% of the basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining allowance (if any), on his part and an equivalent amount on behalf of theemployee, which is to be recovered from the employee’ salary (para 32 of EPF Scheme).
• For this section ‘dearness allowance’ shall be deemed to include the cash value of any food concession allowed to the employee. The ‘retaining allowance’ means an allowance payable for the time being to an employee for retaining his services, when the establishment is not working.
• Basic Wage {sec 2(b)}means emoluments which are earned by an employee while on duty or on leave or on holidays with wages. It includes cash value of food concession,
dearness allowance and any presents made by the employer.
• Encashment of leave does not fall under dearness allowance or retaining allowance or basic wages and is not to be considered in computing the amount to be deposited under the EPF Act.

Employees Pension Scheme
1. The Employees Pension Scheme was introduced w.e.f. 16th November 1995.
2. Contributions:
(i) The contribution envisaged under sec 6 is 8.33% of the basic wages, dearness
allowance and retaining allowance (if any) from the employer’s contribution.
{Sec.6A (2)(a)}.
(ii) Ceiling: The contribution of 8.33% has a ceiling of Rs. 541.00 p.m. w.e.f. 1st June
2001. This implies that there is a ceiling on the salary, D.A., and retaining allowance
of Rs. 6,500.00 in computing the contribution towards the pension scheme. {Para 3(2) of the E.P. Scheme}.

(iii) Central Government Contribution: It shall contribute 1.16% of the pay of the
members of the Employees Pension Scheme to the Fund {Para 3(2) of the Employees
Pension Scheme}.

Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme:

This is a scheme to provide life insurance benefits t employees. The employer shall pay 0.5% of the salary comprising of basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining
allowance (if any), subject to a maximum salary of Rs. 6,500.00. In addition he has to
pay 0.01% as administrative charges. In the case of an exempted establishment the
inspection charge is 0.005%. The employee does not contribute to the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme.

Benefits to Employees

1. The employees are entitled to certain benefits by being members under the E.P.F. Act,
which can be seen to be the following:
(i) Income Tax deduction u/s 88 subject to certain conditions.
(ii) Full refund of P.F. with interest on retirement, resignation, retrenchment or death.
(iii) Partial withdrawal for the purposes of:
(a) Housing
(b) Marriage / Higher Education
(c) Temporary Unemployment
(d) Medical Treatment
(e) Natural Calamity
(f)Purchasing equipments for physically handicapped.
(iv) Partial withdrawal of 90% of the amounts standing to the credit of the member
before one year of retirement.
(v) Under EDLI, an amount equal to the average balance in PF of deceased member
subject to a maximum of Rs. 60,000.00.
(vi) Monthly pension under the Employees Pension Scheme 1995, on superannuation, retirement, permanent / total disablement, for widow / widower, for children, for orphan.
2. An important aspect is that there is a regular saving for the employee and a certain
social security.