My Village Korlahia

"Korlahia is a village situated in the State of Bihar India, at 20 km from the nearest township Muzaffarpur on NH 77, being the first village of Sitamarhi district, an abode of Videha, King Janaka and the birth place of Goddess Sita.

It has a small population of about 1000 inhabitants knit into a traditional self-sustaining society. It is said that a widow and two of her brothers ventured to rehabilitate this village. The history of Korlahia is full of selflessness and sacrifice which may be placed on the website when complete.

Presently, Korlahia has a 500 line capacity Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) telephone exchange opened on April 14, 1999 and a mobile station which is identified from distance by presence of the transmission tower.

It has a middle school and a small market. The East Central Railway has a plan to open a Railway station on Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi section by the year 2008.

The population consists of farmers, teachers, doctors, nurse, milkmen, cooks, traders and a large number of officers and men of Armed forces serving/retired as well as Indian Air Force pilots and other professionals.

The farming community has Litchi and Mangoes orchards of about 2500 trees which is likely to touch the figure of 3000 by the year 2010. Some farmers have taken to Banana plantation too.

Korlahia has an organized Milk Collection Centre supplying about 500 litres of milk per day to SUDHA Milk Co-operative and sweet shops of Muzaffarpur.

On June 28, 2006 a Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) was opened by with private initiative, connecting a computer on internet, a dream of His Excellency Dr. APJ Abulkalam, the President of India under the scheme of PURA (provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) and accomplishment of Mission 2007 of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.

A Health Centre is likely to be inaugurated shortly with the help of native doctors.

Images of Korlahia

The House of Shri Saket Bihari Singh & his brothers

Gyan Kendra being raised

Young mango tree

Inside the 'Gyan Kendra'

Exterior of the 'Gyan Kendra'

The 'Nandini' of Shri Saket Bihari Singh

The associates of 'Nandini'

Shashwat with parents after Upnayan

Brothers Shri Saket Bihari Singh & Shri Rajesh Kumar

A view at the backyard of Late Shri Badri Babu

Raju's Pomgranates

Raju's greenary

The grove near 'Gyan Kendra'

Computer inside the 'Gyan Kendra'

The exchange dome

Yajnopavita: Hindu Symbols - Significance Of The Sacred Thread Yajnopavita

Significance of the Sacred Thread

Yajnopavita or the sacred thread is worn by the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and the Vaisyas. Wearing the sacred thread is a very holy and sacred ceremony amongst the Hindus. Brahmin boys between the ages of five and eight are invested with the sacred thread on a very auspicious day. By this ceremony, they become fit for the repetition of Gayatri. A Brahmin becomes a true Brahmin only after this ceremony.

It is said: - Janmana Jayate Sudrah Karmana Jayate Dvijah - By birth one is a Sudra; by Karma (i.e., the investiture with the sacred thread) he becomes a Dvija or Brahmin. - Upanayana or thread ceremony is the second birth; hence, the Brahmins are called Dvijas (Dvija means born twice).

The sacred thread or Yajnopavita consists of three threads. It denotes that one should be a Brahmachari in thought, word and deed. Each thread represents a Veda, viz., the Rik, Yajus and Sama. It represents also Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. The knot in the middle represents the formless Brahman, the Supreme Principle. The three threads represent also Sattva, Rajas and Tamas of the Trigunatmika Maya, and the knot represents the Isvara who controls Maya. Those who worship God at the three Sandhyas and repeat the Gayatri holding the Brahma knot of the sacred thread, derive immense strength and power. In days of yore, a Brahmana meditating upon the Gayatri holding the Brahma knot, had the power to bless and curse others. The educated intelligentsia of the present day are quite ignorant of the power of the sacred thread and the performance of Sandhya. That is the reason why they have ignored it. The sacred thread is a great power for the Brahmin who leads a regulated life devoted to the worship of God. Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, too, acquire power, fame and wealth by the power of the sacred thread.

A householder wears, at the time of marriage, an additional sacred thread. A Brahmachari has only one. The additional thread at the time of marriage is intended for the well-being of the partner. The sacred thread should be on the body always. The custom of washing it after removing it from the body or sending it to the washerman, is a wrong procedure. Some people are ashamed to wear the thread when they go to the office and they leave it at home. How ignorant they are!

Yajnopavita, the Choti, caste-mark, etc., are the external symbols to show that one is a Hindu. Purity, self-restraint, non-violence, patience, love for ones fellow-beings - these are the internal marks of a Hindu.

Pictures of Upnayan