26082024-LSTC-01.qxd 8/25/2024 10:56 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE SPREADING JOY As Dream Girl 2 clocked one year in Hindi cinema, actor Ayushmann Khurrana shared that the film holds a special place in his heart because of the joy it spread amongst people. Life Chef Manoj Manoj Bajpayee recently cooked his signature dish Babuji mutton on the sets of his next project. The mutton curry with bajra roti had the crew singing praise for his culinary skills. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 26 AUGUST 2024 ISTOCK From observing a fast to visiting temples to reliving the fun celebrations of childhood, artistes reminisce their Janmashtami stories IN TRUE BIG JHANKI DECORATIONS In my childhood, we used to enjoy jhankis (tableau). About 10-15 of us would decorate jhankis by collecting money from the neighbourhood. I used to fast as well. I would be on fruits throughout the day, and at midnight we would open the fast. People would worship and offer money to God, which we, as kids, would then divide among ourselves. With time the tradition of making jhankis has diminished. This time, I have been invited to the ISKCON temple in Delhi as a chief guest as I am also a trustee there. I am so looking forward to it. Today, the significance of festivals is getting lost. — ROHIT CHOUDHARY KRISHNA STORIES Bal Gopal... The beautiful face, the innocent eyes, and a mouthful of stolen butter... The image is simply enchanting. It’s one of my most cherished memories. Growing up, we had neighbours from Uttar Pradesh, and the Panditji who visited their house would tell us childhood stories of Sri Krishna. I loved the festive atmosphere, the positivity, and the lights. I usually visit the ISKCON Temple and the Radha Krishna Temple on Veera Desai Road to revive the beautiful times. — GULFAM KHAN HUSSAIN FESTIVE SPIRITS PAST & PRESENT DAHI HANDI’S HUGE FUN The day is considered spiritually significant as Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated to honour his divine mission of eradicating evil and establishing dharma. As a child, and even today, we observe a fast until midnight, the time Krishna was born according to Hindu scriptures. We used to make a palna (cradle) for Nandlal (a loving name for baby Krishna) and prepare sweets or kheer for him. The next day, we celebrate Dahi Handi, a joyous occasion marking Krishna’s birth, by forming human pyramids or tall human towers to break the handi, symbolising the pot of butter. As a child, I remember that the day before Janmashtami, boys would dress up as Krishna, and girls would dress up as Radha and go to school. My 9-year-old niece does the same today. — RINKU GHOSH As a child, Janmashtami was a day of excitement and joy. I loved helping my family decorate the puja room with flowers, rangolis, and little idols of Lord Krishna. Dressing up as Radha or Krishna, and participating in the Dahi Handi event, where we formed human pyramids to break a pot filled with curd, were highlights of the day. As I have grown older, Janmashtami has become more intimate, often celebrated with close family or on my own. — SHERLEEN DUTT PRASAD & PAKKA KHANA The best celebration I have witnessed as a child remains so fresh in my mind, and I wish to recreate it all on Janmashtami. My family hails from Mathura, and it’s all about Krishna, our beloved Laddoo Gopal. We would stitch new clothes for him, decorate his jhoola (swing), and prepare all the delicacies with prasad of panjiri, as we say, pakka khana: poori, sabzi, raita, and kheer... sigh. At midnight, we would all sit together and perform pooja to celebrate the birth of our Laddoo Gopal, followed by a night filled with bhajans. This year, I will be with my family, so I will feel the same warmth and camaraderie, asking for his blessings as always. — HANSA SINGH CONNECT TO CULTURAL ROOTS As a child, Janmashtami was a day filled with joy and anticipation. I remember waking up early to help decorate the house with flowers, small idols of Lord Krishna, and tiny footprints symbolising Krishna’s walk into our home. The highlight was participating in the midnight celebrations, where we sang bhajans, performed aarti, and broke the Dahi Handi, which was always a fun and spirited event. Festivals today offer a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with our cultural roots. — AADESH CHAUDHARY DRESSING UP AS RADHA One of my most cherished childhood memories is the Janmashtami celebration. My mother would dress me as Radha for my school’s celebration in Indore. My father would take me to the famous Birla Temple. We would stay awake until midnight for the aarti and enjoy Stage is set special sweets like makhan mishri, lauki ki barfi and makhana kheer. — SHUBHANGI ATRE Singer Master Saleem and actor Harish Verma judge contestants of Super Star Ki Khoj FAITH GETS A TECH MAKEOVER I am from Rishikesh, where every festival is celebrated on a grand scale. I was born in a temple, and my grandfather was the head priest. Our temple had special displays, and during my childhood, I often played the role of Lord Krishna, while my siblings took on various other roles. We have very fond memories of those times. I believe that these days, many festivals are celebrated on Instagram, but I feel relieved that our devotion and faith haven’t diminished. — MANMOHAN TIWARI The tricity had its wannabe stars throng Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, on Sunday. With dreams in their eyes, and resolve to showcase talent, scores of youngsters gave their best shot. My Talent Hunt initiative by Lamlord Ventures Private Limited hosted the grand finale of Super Star Ki Khoj and Fashion Fiesta. This event marked the conclusion of an extensive talent search aimed at discovering and nurturing fresh talent across India. A total of 26 children participated in the finale, with 10 showcasing their singing skills and 16 participating in the fashion show. The finalists, selected after a rigorous month-long online audition process, performed in two major segments — a singing competition and a fashion show. The panel of judges included Master Saleem, Sara Gurpal and Harish Verma. Sharing Krishna’s birthday Being born on Janmashtami makes the day even more special for me. My birthday and the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth makes it a grand affair. Janmashtami was always a day filled with excitement and joy. We would set up a small cradle for baby Krishna . Even though our lives have become busier, I believe these festivals are still incredibly special. — SHIVANGI VERMA — TNS PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL K RISHNA JANMASHTAMI is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. We find out how artistes from film and television industries would be celebrating the festival today. Some also share their childhood memories about the sacred day. Master Saleem & Harish Verma Bollywood has long banked on folk music to capture listeners’ attention. Right from Pallo Latke to Genda Phool, folk fusion is enjoyed by composers & listeners alike Bollywood’s rich musical landscape has often drawn from the diverse cultural tapestry of India. It’s best presented as folk fusion that resonate with audiences across generations. So, we bring five standout instances where Bollywood music composers masterfully blended traditional folk elements with contemporary sounds. Diamond Ni by Sachin-Jigar Sachin-Jigar, the versatile duo known for their eclectic compositions, brought a fresh and vibrant folk fusion to Bollywood with Diamond Ni. The song, steeped in the sounds of Gujarati folk music, beautifully blends traditional instrumentation with modern beats, creating a track that is both culturally rooted and universally appealing. Arjan Vailly by Manan Bhardwaj Manan Bhardwaj, known for his soulful melodies, brought a unique folk fusion to Bollywood with Arjan Vailly. The song, which draws heavily from Punjabi folk traditions, is a stirring blend of rustic folk elements with contemporary arrangements. This high sonic song captures the essence of Punjab’s rich musical heritage while Differentstrokes for different folks appealing to modern sensibilities. Dholida by Sanjay Leela Bhansali Sanjay Leela Bhansali, a master of grand, operatic musical compositions, delivered a powerful folk fusion with Dholida from Gangubai Kathiawadi. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Garba rhythms of Gujarat, Dholida is a high-energy track that fuses traditional folk music with contemporary cinematic elements. Dhindhora Baje Re by Pritam Pritam, a composer known for his ability to fuse diverse musical styles, crafted an alluring folk fusion with Dhindhora Baje Re. The song, which features in a vibrant Bollywood dance number, incorporates traditional Indi- an percussion instruments like the dhol and nagada, blending them with modern orchestration to create a high-energy track. Pasoori Pasoori by Shae Gill & Ali Sethi Though not a Bollywood production, Pasoori by Shae Gill and Ali Sethi has gained immense popularity in India. The song, which is part of the popular Pakistani music series Coke Studio, is a stunning blend of classical South Asian music and contemporary sounds. It draws from traditional folk themes while incorporating electronic and modern musical elements, creating a cross-border hit that has resonated with the masses in Pakistan and India. It was also recreated for Satyaprem Ki Katha and sung by Arijit Singh. — Dharampal c m y b Dholida Dhindhora Baje Re Arjan Vailly
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
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