Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Several hundred years ago most of India was conquered and ruled by the Mughals, who followed the religion of Islam. When the emperor Jahangir ruled over northern India, his son, Prince Khurram, married Arjumand Banu Baygam.

Prince Khurram called his wife Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “chosen one of the palace.” The two were almost always together, and together they had 14 children. Prince Khurram became emperor in 1628 and was called Emperor Shah Jahan. But three years later Mumtaz Mahal died while having a baby. Shah Jahan was heartbroken. He decided to build the most beautiful monument to his wife. He had the best architects design it in a perfect blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Beginning in about 1632, over 20,000 workers labored for 22 years to create what was to become one of the wonders of the world.

The great monument was called the Taj Mahal (a form of Mumtaz Mahal’s name). It was built in the city of Agra, India, the capital of Shah Jahan’s empire. Its several buildings sit in a large garden on the South bank of the Yamuna River. From the garden’s south gateway you can see the front of the white marble mausoleum. It contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The mausoleum stands on a high marble platform surrounded by four minarets, or towers. Many of its walls and pillars shimmer with inlaid gemstones, including lapis lazuli, jade, crystal, turquoise, and amethyst. And verses from the Koran (the Muslim holy book) appear on many parts of the Taj. Many visitors still come to the Taj Mahal. To help protect and care for it for many years to come, the Taj was made a World Heritage site in 1983.

http://www.englisharticles.info/2010/10/29/taj-mahal/

All-Girl Rodeos

All-Girl Rodeos

An exciting new kind of rodeo, the all-girl rodeo, began in Texas in 1942. These were originally designed to entertain American troops while enabling cowgirls to compete in roping and rough stock riding events as they had in the 19th century. They also provided women opportunities to produce and officiate rodeos, which they had rarely done in the past. Fay Kirkwood (1900–?) organized the first all-girl rodeo at the Fannin County Fair Grounds in Bonham, Texas, from 26 to 29 June. Huge crowds and enthusiastic community support characterized the event. Locals compared Kirkwood’s promotional efforts to those of nationally known producers and judged them superior. Kirkwood staged a second rodeo at Wichita Falls in July and August, while veteran cowgirl Vaughn Krieg (1904–1976) produced her own successful contest at Paris, Texas, in September. Both women intended to continue, with Krieg planning a nationwide tour, but World War II precluded this.

The contests resumed when two west Texas women, Thena Mae Farr (1927–1985) and Nancy Binford (1921–), produced their own all-girl rodeo at Amarillo, Texas, from September 23 to 26 September, 1947.Part of the annual Tri- State Fair, the rodeo enlisted 75 contestants from 25 states. Standing-room-only crowds set an arena attendance record, and reporters pronounced the producers ready for Madison Square Garden. Binford and Farr then incorporated Tri- State All-Girl Rodeo to produce additional contests. They maintained the practice of having all aspects of their rodeos handled by women, including the first female Professional rodeo clown, Dixie Reger Mosley (1939–). Binford and Farr’s effort also led to the formation of the WPRA in 1948. Over 20 all-girl rodeos took place in 1950 alone, as the contests spread from Colorado to Mississippi. Soon men began producing all-girl rodeos. Although their publicity efforts paled in comparison to the women’s, and they often employed males in a variety of capacities, they helped spread the sport.Regrettably,Binford and Farr left business at the end of the 1951. This was a major loss, as they alone produced contests for women organized exclusively by women with women’s special needs in mind. Events like theirs have been quite rare in women’s sport history and never again existed in professional rodeo. Subsequently these unique rodeos declined in popularity; often no more than three a year played to sparse crowds in remote arenas. Today the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association sponsors only a few all-women rodeos, including their National Finals, in which cowgirls can rope and ride rough stock like their foremothers.A promising aspect of Americana has almost vanished, and few remember the record crowds

and glorious publicity that characterized all-girl rodeos in their heyday.

http://www.englisharticles.info/2010/12/29/all-girl-rodeos/

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

It is difficult to stand in front of this spectacular African waterfall without feeling small. Victoria Falls is about twice as high as Niagara Falls in North America and about one and a half times as wide. It inspires awe and respect in all who see it.

Victoria Falls lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa along the course of the Zambezi River.

The falls span the entire breadth of the Zambezi River at one of its broadest points. There is a constant roaring sound as the river falls. A dense blanket of mist covers the entire area. The Kalolo-Lozi people who live in the area call this mist Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the Smoke That Thunders.”

The first European to set eyes on this wonder of nature was the British explorer David Livingstone. He named it after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

The waters of Victoria Falls drop down a deep gorge. All the water of the Zambezi River flows in through this gorge. At the end of the gorge is the Boiling Pot, a deep pool into which the waters churn and foam during floods. The river waters then emerge into an enormous zigzag channel that forms the beginning of the Batoka Gorge.

The Victoria Falls Bridge is used for all traffic between Zambia and Zimbabwe. When it opened in 1905, it was the highest bridge in the world. In 1989 Victoria Falls and its parklands were named a World Heritage site.

http://www.englisharticles.info/2010/11/03/victoria-falls/