Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Late 90's work, shot on film. Religious graffiti around Fells Point, MD. Only on abandoned or boarded up buildings.

"Repent turn from sin"

 

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

saves

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Para los romei o el sencillo visitador que anda a lo largo del Tiber, surcado lentamente por los barcos cargados de mercancías, encontrarse de repente con la poderosa silueta en forma de barco de la isla Tiberina es una experiencia fuera de costumbre sin duda; no es lo mismo para los romanos, quienes conoces este lugar desde hace tiempo y le aman y temen al mismo tiempo, porque está destinado a acoger y cuidar a los enfermos desde hace un tiempo inmemorable.

 

La Isla de Roma se ha llamado de muchas maneras desde la antigüedad. Originariamente se llamaba "Insula Tiberis", en la Edad Media tuvo la denominación de "Insula inter duos pontes", porque está conectada con las dos orillas del Tiber a través de los igualmente antiguos puentes Fabricio y Cestio.

En Roma todos están convencidos que la origen de la isla sea legendaria por lo menos como fue la fundación del Urbe; en efecto Tito Livio cuenta que en el verano en el que fue echado Tarquinio el Superbo el pueblo lanzó su cosecha en el Tiber, así que en el punto donde se había depositado el trigo se acumularon los detritos que el río arrastraba hasta formar la isla. Desde entonces es uno de los lugares más sugestivos y misteriosos de Roma, con todos los cultos paganos y luego cristianos que si siguieron y de los que quedan las huellas arqueológicas, como el templo de Júpiter Jurario sobre el que ha sido construida en el siglo IX la iglesia de tres naves de "San Juan Calibita", con el bonito campanario destinado a ser abatido. La historia del Santo eremita del siglo V al que está dedicada es muy conmovedora: el joven romano se retiró a vida solitaria y ascética y después de unos años volvió cerca de la casa del padre, encontrando refugio en un tugurio, palabra que se deriva del griego "Kalybe", haciéndose conocer por su madre solamente a la hora de morir.

 

Entre los cultos más encantadores que se recuerdan conectados con la isla, está aquello famoso de Esculapio, del que deriva el nombre de "Insula Aesculapii": en 293 a.C. Roma había sido investida por una terrible pestes, así que después de dos años de sufrimientos se consultaron lo Libros Sibilinos: para encontrar un remedio a la epidemia una delegación romana tenía que ir a Epidauro en Grecia donde el famoso santuario de Asclepio que tenía en el templo la serpiente viva que le había sido consagrada, símbolo de la facultad curandera conectada con su origen ctonia, pero también con las virtudes positivas de su veneno. Se cuenta que la serpiente fue transportada a Roma navegando el mar y luego el Tiber, hasta que, llegados cerca de la isla, la serpiente se escapó y se arenó, indicando así el lugar donde tenía que surgir el santuario para el culto de Esculapio; en aquel momento la pestes terminó e inmediatamente se decidió construir el templo para la nueva divinidad griega.

 

El santuario se convirtió en seguida también en una especie de hospital donde, después de la purificación del cuerpo, por la noche en el enfermo tenía lugar la "incubatio", o sea un sueño profético que a menudo conllevaba una curación milagrosa.

Con el cristianismo, Esculapio fue sustituido por los santos taumaturgos de la nueva religión y donde hacía tiempo surgían las columnas del templo, nació en el siglo XI la iglesia de "S. Bartolomé de la Isla"; los enfermos que se dirigen a la isla, se quedan rezando por la noche en la iglesia, como hacían en sus tiempos los adeptos de Esculapio en el templo, quizá esperando en un milagro de otra naturaleza, pero igualmente eficaz.

 

La iglesia de S. Bartolomé ha sido edificada por el emperador Onorio III, para recordar el mártir Adalberto y sigue visible la fachada decorada con mosaico y al interior la originaria bóveda de cruz, los capiteles con el águila imperial y el hermoso suelo cosmatesco que, compartiendo la misma suerte de los mosaicos medievales, no sobrevivirà a las inundaciones del Tiber; sucesivamente la iglesia ha sido dedicada al apóstol Bartolomé, aquí especialmente venerado por sus poderes de exorcista. Entonces desde la antigüedad en la isla se acogen los enfermos y esta tradición continua a través de los siglos: en la Edad Media con una asistencia sanitaria efectuada por las órdenes de los monjes que intentaban aliviar las penas de los enfermos proporcionando más hospitalidad y compasión que verdaderas intervenciones terapéuticas; ahora en 1500 con un verdadero lugar de curación, donde al lado de los monjes trabajan también médicos y laicos. Entre la ruina y las epidemias sembradas por el Sacco di Roma de 1527, cuyos efectos siguen siendo visibles, aparece un hombre nuevo que ha conocido las penas de la prisión y de la enfermedad; anda por las calles pidiendo limosna y exhortando a los hombres con la frase "hagan bien hermanos, por el amor de Dios" (Fate bene fratelli), todo lleno del deseo de llevar consuelo y alivio a las penas de los enfermos: se trata del español San Juan de Dios fundador de la congregación de los "Hermanos Hospitalarios", luego llamada "Fatebenefratelli" que se ocupará con amoroso cuidado de los pacientes ingresados en la Isla de Esculapio.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Andy Warhol. Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, UK.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

will i confess to you,

will i repent?

will i beg for forgiveness,

for what i've willingly done?

 

how can i unburden my soul?

i'll give my sins to someone else,

let them carry my weight.

let them taste my pain.

  

me being an idiot with ghostbones' "wall of confusion" and Trish's "Bottom of Palm Tree Texture".

©David Rothwell Photography All Rights Reserved. Please do not use any of my images/digital data without my written permission. 2014

 

Please also REFRAIN FROM POSTING YOUR OWN IMAGES within my Photostream. I consider this rude and unwelcome. Posting an image of your own within my stream will not encourage me to visit / award, but will in fact have the complete opposite affect. Persistent offenders will simply be blocked.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

De repente mis pupilas fueron dilatas y mi corazón seguirá chillando como motor cuando escucho el delicado paso de tú caminar. Son tan avivantes como el color rojo pasión de mis labios que aclaman a gritos un pequeño roce con los tuyos.

Eagle on saw blade painted in acrylics. I love America, the USA, my country but I am grieved to see the laws in the land that no longer honor God. Pray for America!

 

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. "

Canon FL 55mm f1.2

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Repent in Haste; US currency, canvas, maple;

 

An image of the infamous Pepper Spray Cop made from dollar bill collage.

  

For more images of money art visit my portfolio.

 

- money art from currency artist Chad Person

 

- y de repente me entran estas ganas, brillantes, claras y perceptibles - le decía, mientras observávamos la luz del sol esconderse entre las fachadas - estas ganas de hacer cosas preciosas con los demás, de enloquecer y vivir aventuras sencillas, como si cualquier vulgaridad de la vida fuera maravillosa... ¿sabes? -suspiro. me mira. una larga pausa - así es como debería estar ideado el ser humano... cómo ignoto, como si cada vez que notaramos el frío en la nariz, o cada vez que besáramos a alguien, cada vez que el chocolate se nos fundiera en la lengua pudiésemos ver el mundo lleno de colores, como un ligero síndrome de Stendhal viviendo en cada segundo de nuestra corta eternidad.

Cidade mágica, aparece, desaparece

Ignácio de Loyola Brandão

 

Viagens de infância. Depois de Jundiaí vinha Botujuru, estação de nome esquisito, e, enfim, o túnel, aguardado com ansiedade. Na Estrada de Ferro Santos-Jundiaí não havia o perigo das fagulhas, a locomotiva era elétrica, de modo que muitos passageiros punham a cabeça para fora, sentindo o vento. Meu irmão e eu não podíamos abrir a janela para olhar a chegada do túnel, minha mãe tinha pavor de que um trem vindo na direção contrária nos decapitasse. Ficava aquela espera. De repente, o trem mergulhava na montanha e as luzes do vagão eram acesas. Parecia um longo trajeto, curtíamos a escuridão de fora, sendo dia. O túnel era um milagre, sensação inesquecível. E se o trem desaparecesse dentro da montanha? De quando em quando, lâmpadas amarelas penduradas nas paredes úmidas transmitiam sensações fantasmagóricas. Almas penadas, dizia Luiz, meu irmão. Outro dia, conversando com Ayrton Camargo, da CPTM, tive uma decepção. O túnel tem 590 metros e um trem a 90 por hora leva apenas 30 segundos para atravessá-lo. Mesmo naquele tempo, imaginando que corresse a 50 por hora, seria um minuto. Por que para nós o tempo esticava, desaparecia no túnel?

Sentado junto à janela, posição que cedo apenas para meus netos, pensava nessas coisas quando o Expresso Turístico deixou a Estação da Luz rumo a Paranapiacaba, na sexta-feira passada. Lembrando que vindo de Araraquara baldeávamos em Jundiaí e entrávamos no trem que desceria a serra apoiado no sistema de cremalheiras. Meu pai ferroviário explicava que eram máquinas gigantescas que seguravam a composição na descida e puxavam na subida. Era moderno e grandioso aquilo. Passávamos pela Luz e seguíamos. Paranapiacaba era diferente de tudo. Parece a Inglaterra, dizia meu pai, mostrando o formato da estação, das casas, os pontilhões, os postes de ferro rendilhado, a torre do relógio apelidada Big Ben e a neblina que cobria tudo e me conduzia aos filmes de mistério.

Agora, de repente, infância e juventude foram revividas num trem curto, uma locomotiva diesel e dois vagões de passageiros de primeira classe. Conheço estes vagões, pensei. Devo mesmo ter viajado neles, foram da antiga EFA, era o trem prateado. Recuperados, farão a cada 15 dias a subida da serra. A janela é uma televisão em HD. Saindo da Luz, imagens familiares do Tamanduateí, da zona cerealista, prédios abandonados, matagal, na Mooca a velha cervejaria Antarctica abandonada vai se desmanchando, mais à frente, parte do império das indústrias Matarazzo em ruínas. Pensar que o conde foi um dos homens mais ricos do mundo. A modernidade e as cores se espelham na nova Estação de Tamanduateí, sensação espacial, design audacioso. Esta pequena viagem atravessa trechos da história e do urbanismo de uma São Paulo que vai indo e uma nova que está chegando.

Música clássica, agradável no interior do vagão. Entre a Luz e o alto da serra são 48 quilômetros e 14 estações. Então, a neblina começou a surgir, tímida, cresceu e quando chegamos a Paranapiacaba havia coberto tudo, mal se viam a plataforma, as ruas da vila. Sensação de mistério. Queria ver logo a cidade que ganhou vida em 1977 no filme Doramundo, de João Batista de Andrade, baseado no romance de Geraldo Galvão Ferraz, com Antonio Fagundes, Irene Ravache, Celso Frateschi. Wladimir Herzog, apaixonado por cinema, colaborou no roteiro. Recomendo a leitura do livro e uma olhada no filme, antes da viagem. A história da ferrovia brasileira está ligada à EFSJ (antiga São Paulo Railway), ela escoava todo o café do Estado, levando ao porto. Cruzamos com imensas composições da MRS que levam carga para Santos, intermináveis, com 70 ou 80 vagões. Criança, eu adorava ficar na beira da linha contando vagões. Quando chegava a 20, exultava, nunca tinha visto um trem tão comprido. Imaginem agora! Um acordo com a MRS permitiu a criação deste trem. Hoje são três os Expressos Turísticos. O que vai a Jundiaí, o de Paranapiacaba e o de Mogi das Cruzes. Outros virão. Assim, os trens voltam a circular em pequenos trechos, o suficiente para formar uma mentalidade, fazer tomar gosto, recuperar trajetos desaparecidos, cada vez mais longos. Estes trens nos levam a uma reflexão, porque, enquanto nostálgicos para nós, no resto do mundo são avanço, revolução. Pela nostalgia, aqui, a denúncia: por que paramos no passado, destruímos um patrimônio centenário? E o grito: iniciemos a retomada.

Ao chegar a Paranapiacaba busquei a torre do relógio, que na verdade lembra mais o relógio da Estação da Luz. Aqui, a chamada Vila Inglesa foi das mais importantes da história ferroviária do Brasil. As plantas das casas vieram da Inglaterra. Passei pela igreja anglicana, construída em pinho-de-riga, num tempo em que a lei brasileira obrigava as igrejas não católicas a parecerem casas "normais", sem torre, sem vitrais. Pequenos bares, passeios a pé, uma pousada simpática com boa comida, o turismo pode fazer a cidade renascer.

Acompanhei o pessoal da CPTM até a casa de dona Francisca Cavalcanti de Araújo, senhora de 78 anos, que lutou para que o trem voltasse à cidade, "para termos vida novamente. Não quero morrer sem ver o trem apitar na estação". Extrovertida, sorridente, dona de uma pequena loja de artesanato, no dia em que o primeiro trem chegou ela estava indisposta, não fez a viagem. O recanto dela é imperdível. Olhando objetos, numa parede dei com um poema emoldurado que ela escreveu sobre sua Paranapiacaba.

Aqui é a vila mágica/ A vila aparece/ E desaparece/ Tem horas que você vê o morro/ Tem dias que você não vê nada/ Parece o grande caldeirão/ Que você põe para esquentar/ E a fumaça vem para a vila apagar/ Tem bruxa no pedaço/ Com sua vara de condão/ E põe fogo no chão/ A fumaça aparece/ E a vila desaparece/ Como passe de mágica/ O morro a sumir/ E a fumaça a perseguir/ O dia não passa/ Nem as horas/ Só fica a fumaça/ Na cidade mágica.

  

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Sign in Ghana warning of the second coming

A veces de repente siento que ya nadie me entiende, que todo se vuelve en mi contra, todo me agobia, pago con la gente que mas quiero lo que noto sin motivo entonces ni siquiera siento lo que digo, camino triste y caviz bajo serio, no necesito nada, déjame estar solo enserio, cuando estoy a solas pienso en quitarme de en medio, me juro a mi mismo sonreír pero no hay remedio, a veces no consigo deshacerme de esta culpa, trato de seguir luchando pero a veces paso, es tan duro despertar y ver que nada cambia, que en todo lo que hagas tan solo es un fracaso, a veces miro todo en cuanto tengo y no me basta, me da miedo seguir avanzando,creciendo, & sufriendo cada día por el amor y la pasta, que se que nada es para siempre y que todo se gasta,intento mejorar como persona cada día, hablo conmigo siempre y digo "reacciona" me propongo demasiadas metas en mi vida pero, nada cambia todo sigue igual nada funciona, me pregunto absurdamente cosas que no entiendo, cual es mi lugar a donde voy que estoy haciendo siguen pasando los años y voy comprendiendo que lo único que se larga & no vuelve nunca es el tiempo.

 

A Solas - Shé

 

La habia subido antes, pero la borre porque no tenia visitas ni comentarios :C

Belgique, Belgie, Belgica, Belgium, Verviers-Paleis, Cristo Crucificado,1912-1927, El Cristo abandonado de Verviers-Palais, LE CRUCIFIX, RUE DE LA CITÉ,

  

This bastard people!

—decía entre dientes el coronel Hamilton, abriéndose paso entre la muchedumbre. — ¿Por qué dices eso, Jack? Llegados a la altura del Augusteo nos metíamos de repente, cada día, por la Via Santa Brígida, donde la multitud era menos espesa, y nos deteníamos un instante para tomar aliento. —

This bastard people

—repetía Jack, componiéndose el uniforme arrugado por los apretujones de la muchedumbre. —No digas eso, Jack,

don't say that.

—

Why not? This bastard, dirty people.

— ¡Oh, Jack! También yo soy un bastardo, también yo soy un puerco italiano. Pero me siento orgulloso de ser un cerdo italiano. No es culpa nuestra no haber nacido en América. Estoy seguro de que seríamos un

bastard dirty people

aunque hubiésemos nacido en América.

Don't you think so,

Jack? —

Don't worry,

Malaparte — me decía Jack —; no te lo tomes a mal.

Life is wonderful.

—Sí, la vida es una cosa magnífica, Jack, ya lo sé. Pero no digas eso,

don't say that.

—Perdóname —decía Jack, dándome golpecitos en la espalda—, no quería ofenderte. Es una manera de hablar. Me gusta el pueblo italiano.

I like this bastard, dirty wonderful people.

—Lo sé, Jack; sé que quieres a este pueblo infeliz, pobre y maravilloso. Ningún pueblo sobre la Tierra ha sufrido tanto como el pueblo napolitano. Sufre el hambre y la esclavitud desde hace veinte siglos, y no sequeja. No maldice a nadie, no odia a nadie; ni aun su miseria. Cristo era napolitano. —No digas tonterías —decía Jack. —No es una tontería. Cristo era napolitano. —¿Qué tienes hoy, Malaparte? —decía Jack, mirándome con sus bondadosos ojos. —Nada. ¿Qué quieres que tenga? —Estás de un humor negro —decía Jack. —¿Por qué quieres que esté de mal humor? —

 

know you,

Malaparte. Hoy estás de un humor negro. —Estoy disgustado por lo de Cassino, Jack. —¡Al diablo Montecassino;

The hell with Cassino!

—Estoy disgustado, verdaderamente disgustado por lo que le pasa a Montecassino. —

The hell with you

— decía Jack. —Es verdaderamente un pecado lo que estáis haciendo en Cassino. —

Shut up,

Malaparte. —Perdón, no quería ofenderte, Jack. Me gustan los americanos.

I like the pure, the clean, the wonderful American people.

—Lo sé, Malaparte. Sé que quieres a los americanos.

But, take it easy, Malaparte. Life is wonderful.

 

—¡Al diablo Montecassino, Jack! —

Oh, yes!

¡Al diablo Nápoles, Malaparte,

the hell with Naples!

Un extraño olor flotaba en el aire. No era el olor que, hacia el crepúsculo, baja por las callejuelas de Toledo, Piazza delle Carrette, de Santa Teresella degli Spagnoli, No era el olor de las freidurías, de las hospederías, de los urinarios, anidados en los fétidos y oscuros callejones del barrio, que desde la Via Toledo trepan hacia San Martino. No era ese hedor amarillo, opaco, viscoso, hecho de mil efluvios, de mil turbias exhalaciones, de

mille délicates puanteurs,

como decía Jack, que las flores marchitas, amontonadas a los pies de la Virgen en los tabernáculos de las esquinas de los callejones trascendían a ciertas horas del día por toda la ciudad. No era el olor del

sirocco,

que sabe a queso de oveja y pescado podrido. No era ni siquiera olor de carne cocida que, hacia el caer de la tarde, se difunde por Nápoles saliendo de los burdeles, ese olor en el cual Jean Paul Sartre, caminando un día por Via Toledo,

sombre comme una aisselle, pleine d'une ombre chandevaguement obscene,

husmeaba

la parenté inmonde de l'amour et de la nourriture.

No, no era ese olor de carne cocida, que se esparcía por Nápoles durante el crepúsculo, cuando la

chair des femmes à l’air bouillie sous lacrasse.

Era un olor de una pureza y de ingravidez extraordinarias; un olor ligero, leve, transparente, un olor de mar polvoriento, de noche salada, el olor de una antigua floresta de árboles de papel.Una turbamulta de mujeres despeinadas y rostros compuestos, seguidas de multitudes de soldados negros de manos pálidas, subían y bajaban por Via Toledo, hendiendo el gentío con agudos gritos de «¡Eh, Joe! ¡Eh,Joe!» A la entrada de los callejones había una larga hilera de mujeres, cada una de pie detrás del respaldo de una silla; eran las peinadoras públicas, las

capere.

Sobre las sillas, con la cabeza apoyada sobre el respaldo y los ojos cerrados, o reclinada sobre el pecho, estaban sentados atletas negros de cabeza pequeña y zapatos amarillos y relucientes como los pies de las estatuas doradas de los ángeles de la iglesia de Santa Chiara. Las

capere,

aullando, llamandose unas a otras con extraños gritos guturales, o cantando o peleando hasta enloquecerse con las comadres asomadas a las ventanas y balcones como al palco de un teatro, hundían sus peines en el lanudo cabello de los negros, tirando del pelo con ambas manos, escupiendo entre los dientes del peine para hacerlo más escurridizo, vertiéndose ríos de brillantina en la palma de la mano, restregando y alisando como masajistas las selváticas cabelleras de los pacientes.Bandadas de chiquillos andrajosos, arrodillados delante de sus cajas de madera incrustadas de trozos de madreperla y de conchas marinas, de fragmentos de espejo, golpeaban con el dorso de sus cepillos la superficie de la caja gritando: «¡Limpio, limpio!

shoe shine! shoe shine!

»

,

mientras con sus manos ávidas agarraban al vuelo por el borde de los pantalones a los soldados negros que pasaban contoneándose. Grupos de soldados marroquíes estaban agazapados a lo largo de los muros, envueltos en sus oscuras capas, el rostro picado por la viruela, los ojos amarillos reluciendo en el fondo de sus órbitas rodeadas de arrugas, aspirando con las narices encendidas el olor graso y vagabundo en el aire polvoriento.Mujeres lívidas, deshechas, con los labios pintados, los rostros desencajados y cubiertos de afeites,horribles y lamentables, estaban paradas en las esquinas de los callejones ofreciendo a los pasantes su miserable mercancía; chiquillas y muchachos de ocho, de diez años, que los soldados marroquíes, hindúes,argelinos, malgaches, palpaban levantándoles las faldas o metiendo las manos por entre los botones de los calzones. Las mujeres gritaban:

«Two dollars the boys, three dollars the girls!

» —¿Te gustaría, di la verdad, una chiquilla de tres dólares? — le pregunté a Jack.

—Shut up,

Malaparte. —No es cara una chiquilla por tres dólares; cuesta mucho más un kilo de carne de cordero. Estoy seguro deque en Londres o en Nueva York una chiquilla cuesta más que aquí, ¿no es verdad, Jack?

—Tu me dégoutes

— decía Jack. —Tres dólares son apenas trescientas liras. ¿Cuánto puede pesar una chiquilla de ocho o diez años?¿Veinte kilos? Piensa que un kilo de cordero, en el mercado negro, cuesta quinientas liras; es decir, cinco dólares y cincuenta centavos. —

Shut up

—gritaba Jack. Desde hacía algunos días los precios de las chiquillas y los muchachos estaban en baja y continuaban bajando. Mientras el precio del azúcar, del aceite, de la harina, de la carne y del pan subían y continuaban

 

aumentando, el precio de la carne humana bajaba de día en día. Una muchacha de veinte o veinticinco años que una semana antes costaba hasta diez dólares, ahora apenas valía cuatro, huesos comprendidos. La razón de tal baja de la carne humana en el mercado de Nápoles era quizá debida a que acudían a la ciudad las mujeres de toda la Italia meridional. Durante las últimas semanas, los mayoristas habían lanzado al mercado una fuerte partida de mujeres sicilianas. No todo era carne fresca, pero los especuladores sabían que los soldados negros tienen gustos refinados y prefieren la carne no demasiado fresca. Sin embargo, la carne siciliana no tenía mucha demanda y por fin los negros acabaron rechazándola; a los negros no les gustaban las mujeres blancas demasiado negras. De la Calabria, de las Apulias, de la Basilicata, del Molise llegan todos los días a Nápoles en carretas tiradas por pobres borriquillos, en autocares aliados, y la mayor parte a pie, chiquillas fuertes y robustas, casi todas ellas campesinas, atraídas por el espejuelo del oro. Y así el precio de la carne humana en el mercado napolitano iba descendiendo precipitadamente, y se temía que esto pudiese traer consecuencias graves para toda la economía de la ciudad. No se había visto jamás una cosa semejante en Nápoles. Era una vergüenza de la cual la mayor parte del buen pueblo napolitano se sonrojaba. Pero, ¿por qué las autoridades aliadas, que eran los dueños de Nápoles, no se sonrojaban? Como compensación, la carne de negro subía de precio y este hecho contribuía, por fortuna, a restablecer un cierto equilibrio en el mercado. —¿Cuánto cuesta hoy la carne de negro? — le preguntaba a Jack. —Shut up

—me contestaba. —¿Es verdad que la carne de un americano negro cuesta más que la de un americano blanco? —

Tu m'agaces

— me respondía Jack. No tenía ciertamente intención de ofenderlo, ni de burlarme de él, ni aún de faltar al respeto al ejército americano,

the most lovely, the most kind, the most respetable Army of the world.

¿Qué me importaba a mí que la carne de un americano negro costase, o no, más que la de un americano blanco? Yo quiero a los americanos cualquiera que sea el color de su piel y lo he demostrado cien veces durante la guerra. Blancos o negros, tienen el alma clara, mucho más clara que la nuestra. Quiero a los americanos porque son buenos cristianos,sinceramente cristianos. Porque creen que Cristo está siempre de parte de los que tienen razón. Porque creen que es una culpa no tener razón, que es inmoral no tenerla. Porque creen que sólo ellos son honrados y que todos los pueblos de Europa son, más o menos, deshonestos. Porque creen que un pueblo vencido es un pueblo culpable, que la derrota es una condena moral, un acto de justicia divina. Quiero a los americanos por estas razones y por muchas otras que no digo. Su sentido de humanidad, su generosidad, la honradez y pura simplicidad de sus ideas, durante aquel terrible otoño de 1943, tan lleno de humillaciones y de luchas para mi pueblo, me hicieron concebir la ilusión de que los hombres odian el mal, me hicieron creer en la esperanza de una Humanidad mejor y en la certeza de que tan sólo la bondad (la bondad y la inocencia de aquellos magníficos muchachos del otro lado del Atlántico, desembarcados en Europa para castigar a los malvados y premiar a los buenos) hubiera podido rescatar de sus pecados a los pueblos y a los individuos.

 

- fragmento -

- La Piel

- Curzio Malaparte -

- ITALIA

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

Alexis Díaz Pijmienta, antes de subir al escenario del Congreso Mundial del Aceite e Oliva, en la Diputación de Sevilla.

YouTube:  Keith Olbermann on Proposition 8

 

“We shall have to repent in this generation, not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

  

MSNBC, Monday, November 10, 2008

 

Keith Olbermann's Proposition 8 Special Comment:  It's "About The Human Heart"

 

Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.

 

Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.

 

And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics.

 

This is about the... human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.

 

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not... understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want -- a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

 

Only now you are saying to them -- no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights -- even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

 

I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage.

 

If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal... in 1967. 1967.

 

The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry...black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.

 

You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are... gay.

 

And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing -- centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children... All because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage. How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?

 

What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.

 

It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.

 

And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?

 

With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness -- this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness -- share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

 

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of...love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate. You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know...It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow **person...

 

Just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.

 

This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.

 

But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:

 

"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge.

 

"It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all:

 

"So I be written in the Book of Love;

 

"I do not care about that Book above.

 

"Erase my name, or write it as you will,

 

"So I be written in the Book of Love."

 

Good night, and good luck.

 

  

Capitulo 37'

3/?

    

{narra Liam}

        

Y de repente yo soy el cretino y un idiota ¿Cierto? ¿Y ella que? ¿Cree que puede hacer conmigo lo que le de su gana? Primero me besa y... Lo peor de todo el maldito caso es que no eran besos vacíos; si yo no hubiera sentido que ella ponía un poco de amor de su parte no la hubiera besado de nuevo ¿Y ahora me salía con que no quería que la volviera a besar? No se que mierda paso, en verdad no lo entiendo, todo fue muy rápido y al final no supe ni que fue todo lo que pasó; dije e hice cosas muy estupidas y después mejor salí de ahí antes de que metiera la pata aun mas profundamente.

Estaba mas furioso que nunca por cosas que no me habían pasado desde hace tiempo, por sentimientos que hasta hace poco estaban escondidos, por razones obvias, y necesitaba golpear algo con urgencia o gritar por lo menos.

No podía soportar tanto sin explotar de coraje y todo por culpa de esa... De esa chica bonita que de repente entro a mi vida y se volvió muy importante, quizás demasiado mas de lo que debía. Y ¡Demonios! Estaba tan tranquila, como si le importara un cuerno lo que paso ¿Es que no siente nada por mi? ¿Ni siquiera un poquito de... No se, amor? Y yo no puedo ser mas imbécil, en verdad, ella me estaba rechazando y justo en ese momento, después de muchos que pasamos perfectos para la situación y que por imbecil no dije nada, ahora en el peor momento se me ocurrió decirle lo que siento, pero solo se me ocurrió y gracias a dios no lo dije, seria demasiada la humillación y luego ¡Aggh! Demonios, ella esta sintiendo cosas por Kevin, ni siquiera podía ser otro idiota al que le pudiera romper la cara con mucho gusto.

¿Que jodidos tiene el que no tenga yo? ¡Yo eh pasado muchas cosas con ella! ¡Le ayude con la jodida lista mas extraña que la mierda! ¿A caso no la trato bien? ¿No le doy cariño? ¡Al idiota de Kevin apenas lo conoce, por dios! La eh besado varias veces ¿No pudo empezar a sentir algo por mi?

Patee una botella de vidrio que estaba tirada por la banqueta, voló por la calle y se estrello con un estrepitoso sonido en el suelo. Me senté en una banca de por ahí, me había alejado un poco del departamento, solo quería estar alejado de ella, de su cara que me desconcentraba

Y por mas que quise no pude enojarme con ____, en realidad me era imposible; pase mis manos por mi cabello mientras suspire, y de repente era dolor lo que sentía, de repente me sentí patéticamente perdido por no tenerla como quisiera, por que mis celos eran sin sentido y yo no tenia ningún derecho de ponerme así, como ella había dicho, no era mía. Y siendo honestos jamas lo seria ¿Para que engañarme a mi mismo? Esa mas que obvio que no pasaría nada mas entre nosotros.

Ella no tenia la culpa por no sentir nada por mi, tampoco la podía culpar por sus sentimientos. ____ me quiere y confía en mi como su mejor amigo, solo eso, y no la podía abandonar ni dejarla sola por una rabieta.

No podía estar mas jodida mi vida.

De tantas chicas que conozco, lindas, simpáticas y totalmente alcanzables ¿Por que diablos me tuve que enamorar de _____? No era como si no fuera linda, ella era preciosa, la mujer mas preciosa que yo hubiera visto; no era solo simpática, ella era la alegría, simpatía y ternura andando, nadie que la conocía lo podía negar, era imposible no contagiarte con su risa rara o que no te saliera una sonrisa al contemplar la suya, pero no era alcanzable, todo lo contrario, era la única mujer completamente inalcanzable, no sentía nada por mi y... Tampoco le quedaba mucho tiempo, como para poder cambiar sus sentimientos.

Hay veces que lo olvido, solamente bloqueo mis pensamientos para no tener que asimilar la cruel verdad, para no crear mas lío en mi mente y tratar de pasar el tiempo que me quedaba con ella como si nada pasara, como si nada fuera a pasar nunca, y como si nosotros fuésemos a estar juntos siempre.

Y me sentía un maricón cursi pensando en esas cosas.

Hoy el día empezó tan perfectamente estupendo, todo estaba saliendo a las mil maravillas. Cuando estábamos acostados en la cama fue genial, en verdad no hubiera podido estar con otra persona de esa manera, me hubiera aburrido y cansado de estar en hablando de cualquier cosa, pero fue especial, hubo momentos en que ni siquiera decíamos nada, pero ella me miraba a los ojos y yo sentía como si me estuviera diciendo mil cosas.

Después la pude besar de nuevo y me deje llevar, demasiado, si con solo recordar las caricias me pongo duro de nuevo, cuando por fin la tuve así fue tan irreal que hice todo mal, en lugar de hacerlo todo calmado, enseñarle que podía ser especial y lindo, me puse como toro excitado y me apresure mucho, la espante y la toque de mas, ella estaba asustada y era obvio que nunca había hecho algo así en su vida. A lo mejor hasta le deje un trauma.

Y cuando se fue, aunque ella dijo que no estaba enojada y que todo estaba bien, yo aun seguía pateando mi propio trasero mentalmente, y entonces llamo Trisha, yo aun estaba caliente y le dije que fuera a mi casa, bueno, en ese momento no pensé mucho en como ____ se iba a sentir si sabia que había ido.

El caso es que fue muy idiota dejar que Trisha fuera mientras ella vivía conmigo, pero no me arrepentía.

¿Por que iba a hacerlo? ____ no se notaba muy dolida cuando estaba besando a Mi mejor amigo.

¿Y Kevin que demonios pensaba? No era muy de "amigos" lo que había hecho, y lo sabia, se estaba muriendo cuando los descubrí, porque nunca antes habíamos tenido un problema por chicas, nunca antes nos gusto la misma y menos nos peleamos por alguna.

Pero tenia que llegar ____ a poner todo de cabeza, como si fuera la única mujer del mundo.

Aun así, sentía como si ambos nos hubiésemos engañado, yo con Trisha y ella con Kevin.

    

Al final pase casi una hora sentado como ****o en la banca pensando en cosas estúpidas que terminaron por hacerme sentir mal, muy mal, casi triste, hasta que decidí volver, no sabia que decir, no sabia como pedirle perdón a ___, aparte de llamarla zorra, tratarla mal, casi violarla, le dije que no me importaba, cuando en verdad en este momento es lo mas importante para mi.

Me levante y camine de nuevo con paso lento al departamento, pensando en como le iba a pedir disculpas por mis idioteces.

Saque la llave de mi pantalón al momento que salía del ascensor y tome aire, dándome ánimos para ir a disculparme, cosa que nunca me gusto hacer, porque no se me daba

Entre con cautela, esperando que ella estuviera… ni siquiera se como debería de estar, si como si nada hubiera pasado o... enojada; de todos modos le tenia que pedir perdón.

____ estaba tumbada en el sillón con su pijama puesta, su pijama de verdad, el pantalón y la camisa, ni siquiera se había puesto mis boxers como las noches anteriores, y no estaba acostada en la cama, las cuales eran malas señales.

Cerré la puerta y suspire, por lo menos tendría mas tiempo para planear bien lo que diría.

Camine a la cocina y mis entrañas se retorcieron de dolor cuando vi en la mesa un plato con comida; ella lo dijo antes de salir, estaba haciendo la cena y yo salí diciendo que no me importaba, pero si lo hacia y mucho; no era la cena, era el significado, era todo lo que implicaba.

Mi mama siempre cocinaba para mi, para ella y para mi papa, ponía tres platos en la mesa y lo esperábamos un rato, comíamos cuando estábamos seguros que no llegaría y su plato se quedaba ahí para cuando el llegaba de ver a alguna de sus amantes.

Cuando yo iba a dormir con alguno de mis amigos, o con mis tíos –lo cual era muy seguido- ella se quedaba ahí y seguía cocinando para el. Comía sola, pensando en todo lo que le lastimaba estar con un hombre así. Y yo lo sabia aunque ella me dijera lo contrario.

_____ comió sola, ella cocino para mi y yo solo me fui. Era un tanto tonto ponerse a pensar en eso, pero era algo que no podía simplemente ignorar.

Yo siempre quise ser un hombre atento y no se, bueno al menos, no como mi padre, no quería ser ni un poco parecido a el. Pero conforme voy creciendo, cada vez hago mas tonterias que me están llevando a la misma forma de vida que el.

 

Por una cosa o por otra resulta que los limones me han llamado la atención ultimamente... Os pongo en situación…

 

Voy conduciendo, y de repente empieza a sonar Dame estrellas o Limones de Family...

Primer indicio. No le presté mayor atención. Un limón, sí, pero como podría ser una manzana, un muffin, una flor... o ves a saber, cualquier cosa... pero el limón, cabezón, sin que me diese cuenta se hizo un hueco en mi subconsciente.

 

Pasan un par de días y en una conversación casual me piden si puedo dejar un libro.

- Si claro, lo busco y te lo traigo.

Busco y rebusco. Total, que buscando lo encentro y me fijo en su compañero de estantería, un libro que devoré en su día, pero ¿por qué es esto un indicio? El título podría servir "Si et menges una llimona sense fer ganyotes..." (Si te comes un limón sin hacer muecas). He de reconocer que rescaté de su cautiverio a los dos y por cosas del consciente subconsciente empecé a releer (bueno a re-devorar) al no buscado. Las páginas se sucedían y volvía a pasearme por los 20 cuentos del libro. Recuerdo porqué lo devore, cuesta dejar el libro en la mesilla de noche. Y antes de ayer (o anteayer, nunca se como se escribe) me desperté a una hora intempestiva, minutos después de dar vueltas y vueltas vi claro y no me podía volver a dormir así que pensé en manzanilla.

- Me hago una manzanilla y así seguro que al rato me quedo frito.

Sin darme cuenta estaba en la cocina con el libro entre mis manos y una taza vacía. Y llegas al final del libro y entonces este te acaba de desmontar. Lees:

"He sentit a la ràdio que si menges una llimona sense fer ganyotes, s’acomplirà tot el que desitgis, però en fa por provar-ho, fer ganyotes i que cap desig no es faci mai més realitat." (He escuchado en la radio que si te comes un limón sin hacer muecas, todo lo que desees se cumplirá, pero me da miedo probarlo, hacer muecas y que ningún deseo se haga nunca realidad).

 

Dos indicios, dos…

 

Y ayer, de repente sin esperarlo leía una entrevista a Ana María Matute en el país y me encuentro esto

 

[P] En cambio, usted estaría en su salsa, en ese ambiente vikingo, tan relacionado con los normandos, que tanto le gusta...

[R] "Eso me ha gustado siempre mucho. Desde niña. Mucho. Mucho. Siempre me he sentido muy atraída por todo lo nórdico. Yo soy muy nórdica. Prefiero el invierno al verano. La nieve me encanta. Y sin embargo, tengo un temperamento muy mediterráneo. Son cosas muy raras. Goethe decía que él era un abeto enamorado de un limonero. Porque tenía pasión por los países mediterráneos. Yo soy un limonero enamorado de un abeto..." [ + ]

 

Tres indicios... tres…

 

Entonces me paro a pensar y creo que he descubierto algo.

Se suele decir que tres indicios hacen una prueba, no me hace falta más para saber que he descubierto la ácida poética limonera...

 

Más vale tarde que nunca...

 

"Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized, each of you, in the nae of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." -- Acts 2:38

 

Photo: Pavel Losevsky. Moscow, Russian Federation.

Design: Logan Weiler III

 

Download free Bible verse wallpaper desktop pics.

  

“¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

Gritó un tipo a toda voz mientras acababa de sazonar el caldo.

La cosa se ponía caliente y comenzábamos a mirarnos de una manera extraña, cuando de repente, uno de los perros, el más flaco, se echó a correr con una rapidez que me dejo boquiabierta. Pronto lo vimos salir por la puerta delantera, como un rey pero al trote (un rey apurado) y se disipó en el paisaje lúgubre que fuera nos esperaba. Nadie lo detuvo.

   

- Si seguimos así nos va a quedar puro sebo– protestó uno de los jefes del comando segundo.

   

- Disculpe que le diga, señor– comenzó a decir un soldadillo del mismo– pero el perro que se acaba de ir es el único que nos sirve.

   

- ¿Qué? ¿Por qué?... Vos no sabés nada pibe…

   

Un silencio estremecedor ocupó toda la sala y solo se oía el caldeo constante y algún que otro “guarf” de los perros más caprichosos. Yo quedé atónita luego de la confesión de este muchacho, pues, no se veía nada estúpido. Era un tipo sencillo, de estatura media y con un cuerpo bastante bien formado. Morocho, triste, resignado –pensé– a este tipo no le alcanza…

“¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

Volvió a escucharse pero esta vez con más entusiasmo. Unos gordos parecían mofarse del sufrimiento de los canes, puesto que éstos gemían atrozmente cuando eran lanzados al caldo madre. No eran tipos de alto rango ni distinguidos, no tenían nada que perder y hasta agregaría que eran incurablemente estúpidos. A los gordos parecía no importarles en lo más mínimo la agonía de los tristes perros que, simultáneamente y por orden establecido, eran lanzados al caldo.

   

¿Por qué ese perro?­–me pregunté–si ese perro era escuálido. ¿Qué tendrá? Quizás si este tipo…pero, aunque fuera el más gordo… Quizás si este tipo…

   

Uno a uno los perros morían de manera sincrónica y absurda, se fundían en el caldo uniformemente y casi nadie hubiera percibido que alguna vez existieron, que alguna vez ladraron y corretearon como buenos amigos del hombre. Pero a nadie parecía importarle, de hecho, como bien he dicho antes, los gordos continuaban riéndose, pero ahora me daban asco. Torcían la cara, se tomaban la barriga para detener la súbita carcajada, se codeaban de manera cómplice. Creo que jamás van a entender lo de los perros–me dije– a esta gente le falta…

   

“¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

Caminé hacia el ala derecha de la sala en búsqueda de algo de soledad, comenzaba a impacientarme y, en ese mismo instante, me sentí mísera, vacía, repulsiva, desdichada e infeliz. Ya no me molestaba el ir y venir de los perros, no, a eso ya me había acostumbrado y justamente esto fue el detonante…

   

Alejandro se acercó a mí con algo de timidez y respeto. Comenzó a examinarme, lo juro, me miraba fijo pero con algo de temor. ¿Y ahora?–pensé– si este tipo se entera que yo ya sé ya no será un secreto… Estará todo perdido, todo.

   

El silencio no se rompía y creo que mi rostro se veía pálido, realmente muy pálido: caí desmayada.

   

Desperté asustada, y más me aterré, al ver que ahora ya no estaba en la sala.

Me encontraba en una cama vieja, muy vieja (en realidad solo era un colchón con algunos resortes crispados por el uso). Todo parecía muy sucio, olía a barro y nafta con algo de pólvora, las telarañas prendían del techo y de los objetos como redes estelares. El cuarto estaba casi a oscuras, solo un candelabro con media vela encendida reflejaba algo de luminosidad. Me sentí repugnante, asquerosa, rodeada de tierra, bichos, arañas y vaya a saber usted cuántas cosas más.

   

Me incorporé casi sin problemas, debo reconocer que desperté más lúcida, parecía no haberme afectado el desmayo y me parecía muy lejano el momento de los perros, la sala, Alejandro…

   

“¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

Aquella frase me perturbaba la cabeza, no podía dejar de pensarla, resistirme a ella. No reconocía nada, todo era tan viejo… Me levanté de prisa y tomé el candelabro, busqué hasta el hartazgo, yendo y viniendo, abriendo cajones (olvidé decirlo, pero el lugar estaba repleto de muebles antiguos, éstos estaban cubiertos de polvo) y desordenando (aunque allí no había ningún tipo de orden) todo. Nada encontraba, nada parecía relacionarse con “¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

- Tírenle más perros…

   

Entró Alejandro, suelto y fresco, alegre pero admirablemente irónico. ¡Ahí está! –me dije– lo de los perros es un código, algo extraño, y este tipo… ¡Alejandro!

Repentinamente todo volvió a mi memoria, la sala, los perros, los gordos bufones, Alejandro y ¡el asunto con el escuálido perro!

   

Ahora todo había cambiado para mí, ya nada sería lo mismo, ya no volvería jamás a dormir tranquila ni a consumar mis anhelos. Aquellos recuerdos desataron en mi mente una profunda tristeza, me sentí horrible, creo que en ese momento quise matarme. El Proyecto de Ejecutación “Al Caldo” de Perros había entrado en mi vida ya hace años, cuando recién me graduaba en medicina. Yo tenía 25 años y todavía experimentaba aquella etapa en la cual uno debe comportarse de manera sumisa, aceptando el sueldo “que corresponde” para empezar “bien de abajo”. Entonces el señor Winni y su señora Fred, recién llegados de los EE UU y conociendo mi llamativo promedio, acudieron a mí para invitarme a este nuevo proyecto. Yo no entendía nada, me parecía tentadora la oferta puesto que daban buena paga y el lugar en donde yo estaba anteriormente ejerciendo era una mugre, un desorden, en el cual yo me sentía incomoda, además: me pagaban mal. A los pocos días de arribo ya estábamos cerrando contrato y a la semana siguiente ya tenía colgado en mi delantal un cartelito que decía “Dra. Barbera” y ejercía plácidamente un puesto que no tenía bien claro: Yo debía atender a todos los soldados, “por si hay algún inconveniente con los perros, usted sabe”.

 

Alejandro me tomó por la cintura tratando de consolarme, había ya comenzado a llorar y, sin poder detener aquella angustia, quedé paralizada frente al cuerpo de Alejandro.

   

- Debemos volver, vos sabés muy bien que es necesario, es necesario buscar aquel perro.

   

Sin decir más nada Alejandro salió fuera, yo me quedé 4 o 6 minutos en silencio y fui a su encuentro. Caminamos sin decir palabra alguna, apurados, él parecía tener una actitud firme y sus ojos saltones brillaban de emoción, una triste y suculenta emoción. El calor golpeaba nuestras frentes y el sol comenzaba a ponerse, a desnudar su cuerpo y traspasar el horizonte perdiéndose tímido y temeroso, a pesar de lo cotidiano del acto. Llegamos…

   

“¡Tírenle más perros!”

   

Lo de los perros era extraño, generalmente tenían entre 18 y 50 años de edad, eran bonitos y sosos, aunque algunos tenían cierto estilo. Yo no simpatizaba con muchos, trataba de ignorarlos, conocía sus destinos, conocía el caldo, sabía que era el fin. Alguien debía de detenerlos–me decía para convencerme de que hacía lo correcto­– estos perros tienen que estar acá, y todavía nadie los ha entretenido nunca, aunque deben morir.

 

“Aquí me veo yo tan triste, tan solo. Aquí me veo yo estancado, mi querida amiga. Aquí me veo, le decía, yo tan triste, tan solo.”

 

“¡No sabría qué decirte porque todo es tan efímero, gorda!... ¿Me entendés?... Es como esperar… Ay bueno, ¿Me entendés no?...ese impacto, ¿entendés?”

 

“Mi esperanza se desnuda cada noche, lo juro. Calmo al silencio

¿ME LEÉS?

Ya dejé de temerle a esas muecas escondidas que siquiera existen. Yo estoy acá porque sí, y el después me molesta tanto que lo pienso, aunque siempre con el anterior al lado, el otro. ¿Me seguís entendiendo?... Ahora yo no sé si esta es mi noche y tiro lágrimas a chorros hacia un recuerdo que aún no he vivido. Me embronca porque en cualquier momento me voy al Caldo, y quizá ahí mismo resida el deseo.”

 

“Yo lo único que quería era que algo quedara, pero ha visto usted que no he podido ni guardar un ala de mosquito. Nada, absolutamente nada, y eso que busqué por todas partes, algo como para llevarme, como para que me haga de compañía. Pedí, pedí, pedí, ¿y qué?... no me dejaron llevarme nada, bueno, todavía no me fui, pero ya es como si ni estuviera.”

 

“Lo que yo quiero decir es que es como la risa de las sirenas: conmovedora y profunda. Me refiero a las sirenas.”

 

“Yo estoy acá porque no podía hacer pasarla bien a la gente que no me quería, porque yo sentía el odio.”

 

“Nosotros vinimos a revolear las cachas, no servimos para otra cosa, mi señor. Nos sirven pescado al mediodía con algo de pan, a veces nos dan vino, y con eso nos conformamos. Nuestra alma baila en el caño y nos ponemos tristes cuando nos baja el nivel de aspiraciones. Hay pocas cosas contundentes, de lo que yo le hablo es de una constante, casi como especie. ¿Me comprende?.. “

 

La jauría de perros aullaba detrás del telón colorado, aquellos perros parecían percibir su destino, estallaban una y otra vez, una y otra vez.

   

El perro escualido se fue y pudo escapar de aquel importante proyecto. Deberían buscarlo: Ejecutarlo. Nada más por agregar.

 

Y de repente llegó una sorpresa inesperada llamada Atélier. Llegaba llena de gente impresionante, talentosa y gran calidez que empezaron a ocupar mis horas, mías días... y mis noches!! Sé que ahí seguiremos... pero no puedo evitar estar un poquito triste. Os habéis convertido en "mi clase", mis profesores, mis compañeros, mis amig@s... Jackie: Mil gracias de corazón, puedes dormir y sentirte Realizada por años y años :-)

 

Yo termino el Atélier como lo empecé: con prisas! Empecé que estaba fuera por trabajo y luego me costó engancharme, y termino que me voy otra vez unos días a trabajar fuera y no he podido hacer el retrato que yo quería ni dedicarle el tiempo. Regresaré el domingo con el corazón un poco encogido, aunque intentaré arañar algunos minutos en algún internet.

 

Un abrazo cálido para tod@s. Ahí seguimos :-)

 

Gracias por compartir. Ahí os dejo un pequeño mosaico que he aprendido a hacer gracias a vosotros como muestra de mis humildes pruebas.

   

.

Hace unos días iba corriendo junto al río. Helaba. Brillaba un sol luminoso y el agua se encontraba cubierta por una gruesa capa de hielo y nieve. Sólo se veían a algunas personas patinando sobre hielo. Pasé junto al pequeño café. En el cruce junto al río unos barquitos cubiertos por lonas de colores descansaban sobre el agua helada. En la orilla, unos juncos cubiertos de estrellitas blancas lo separaban del camino. Formaban líneas geométricas y parecían salidos de un grabado japonés. Seguí mi camino.

 

De repente, sobre el hielo del río, vi sentada en una silla a una anciana, disfrutando de los rayos de sol. El cuerpo inclinado, los ojos cerrados. Demoré el paso para no interrumpir ese momento. Al principio me arrepentí de no llevar la cámara y no poder plasmar ese instante. Pero luego me di cuenta que eso era justamente lo que le confería otra dimensión a nuestro encuentro fortuito.

 

Al cabo de dos días pasé de nuevo en bicicleta por la misma ruta. La capa de hielo del río seguía brillando bajo el sol. Junto al pequeño embarcadero, sobre el agua congelada, ahora se distinguían tres sillas vacías. Una era la de la anciana. Bajé de la bicicleta, y ahora sí usé la cámara. Dos momentos diferentes, unos segundos. Dos días. Parecía que el tiempo se hubiera detenido y abierto la puerta hacia otra dimensión. Al fondo, las diminutas siluetas oscuras de unos patinadores se deslizaban por el río helado. Miré hacia la lejanía. Los edificios de la gran ciudad parecían cajitas de lego. Sus habitantes se encontraban en el trabajo, era un lunes cualquiera.

 

Me monté de nuevo en la bicicleta. Y sonreí.

.

.

   

De repente te da por romper a llorar, por decir que jamás me pudiste olvidar. Pero se te pasó que al marcharte de aquí, yo quedé igual que tú libre para elegir ♪