#Nabakalebara - English Translation of my #Odia poem ନବକଳେବର

This millennium’s first Nabakalebara Festival,

            Is coming up soon in my nation!

After nineteen years the four idols,

            Will undergo Transformation!

Superb art titled 'Niraakaara' by artist Jagdish Chandra Kanungo at recently held art exhibition related to Nabakalebara called 'Nilakandara' at Bhubaneswar

The Soul will be that old one,

            But the body will be brand new!

In the Lord’s Home, waves of spirituality,

            Will spread everywhere anew!

ନବକଳେବର (#Nabakalebara)

ଆସୁ ଅଛି ଏହି ଶହଶ୍ରାବ୍ଦର,

          ନବକଳେବର ପ୍ରଥମ  ।।

ଉଣିଶି ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଚତୁର୍ମୂର୍ତ୍ତୀ,

          ହେବେ ପୁଣି ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ  ।।

Superb art titled 'Daaru Brahma' by artist Pramod Kumar Mallick at recently held art exhibition related to Nabakalebara called 'Nilakandara' at Bhubaneswar

 

ନବ ଦେହ, ନବ ଯୌବନ,

          କିନ୍ତୁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ସେହି ପୁରାତନ  ॥

ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଖେଳିଯିବ,

          ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ଲଉଡ଼ି ନୂତନ ॥

What is Indian Culture?

A lot is opposed as being ‘against Indian culture’. What is Indian culture? #IndianCulture

Indian culture is a wonderful amalgamation of different food, clothing, festivals, religions, languages, dances, music, theatre, puppetry, art, architecture and I can go on and on! Culture refers to both the tangible and intangible aspects of our over five-thousand-year-old civilization. 

Tangible- Food, clothing, arts, crafts, architecture etc. are tangible aspects.

Intangible- Habits, mannerisms, dances, literature, music, theatre, oral traditions handed down since centuries etc. 

In fact, sense of appreciation for our tangible aspects of culture, is also its intangible aspect!

INDIA- A CULTURAL POT-POURRI!

India with 29 states and 7 UTs is a large country. Every state is considered a mini-India being a melting pot of people from different regions, religions, castes and so on. The majority group in one region mostly influences others’ cultural practices. Largely, this cultural pot-pourri has thrived successfully through continuous adaptation and suppleness. 

#Nabakalebara 2015 at #Puri #Odisha

Nabakalebara is among the most unique and rare festivals of the Lord in the world. In the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna has conveyed- "The body will get destroyed upon death. But just as we change into new clothes from old, so also the immortal soul will simply enter into new bodies but will never itself get destroyed".

Nabakalebara Logo from Odisha Tourism Website (Official Source)

Encompassing this deep-seated Hindu belief is the inimitable, one-of-its-kind festival in the entire world, called Nabakalebara. Naba means new and kalebara means body. Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Puri, Odisha who is considered as a Vishnu Avatar or a form of Lord Krishna.