The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland, Australia. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition, however it is usually shortened to Ekka.

History[link]

The first show, held between 22-26 August 1876 attracted 17,000 visitors.^[1] The show was a spin-off from the famous International Exhibitions being held in Britain and worldwide dating from the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851. During a time when the Ekka was still young, the main purpose of the agricultural show, as its name suggests, was to show off many agricultural and industrial exhibits. It was a chance for people to show off newly invented agricultural and industrial devices such as ultra modern plowing, sowing and harvesting artifacts. Cattle and other farm animals were also exhibited during the show, a practice that remains to this day, the animal nursery is still a place for children and adults alike to go and witness all the baby animals in all their glory. Since its opening, the show has only been cancelled twice, in 1919 throughout the time of the Spanish flu pandemic, during this time, the grounds were employed as temporary hospital wards for the sick, and in 1942, due to World War II.

Location[link]

The Ekka is held in Queensland's capital city, Brisbane, for ten days each August at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. The Ekka is organised by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), and is held at the RNA Showgrounds in the inner-city suburb of Bowen Hills approximately two kilometres north-east of Brisbane's city centre. The Ekka is Brisbane's most popular event of any sort, with well over 600,000 visitors attending the show in recent years.

Attractions[link]

Chocolate Wheel at the Ambulance stall, Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, 1938.

Attractions at the Ekka include fairground rides, a Side Show Alley, animal parades, woodchopping competitions, agricultural displays and equestrian events. Showbags, usually containing food items (such as confectionery) and novelty items are sold in the Showbag Pavilion. The content of the showbags are tested to ensure they comply with safety standards.^[2] Side Show Alley in particular has been an integral part of the Ekka, however back in the earlier years of the Ekka, side show alley was a place for people to witness actual sideshows, such as freaks of nature, people carrying out superhuman feats of strength and illusionists performing for delighted audiences.

Showbags are also an integral part of the Ekka experience. Today there are almost 500 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and enjoy samples of products. Showbags range from $1 (the Blinky Bill Bag), $2 (the famous Bertie Beetle Bag) and up $50, providing companies the opportunity to show off their merchandise to the public.

The Ekka, due to its large attendance, raises a large amount of revenue. Estimates of this number average around the $100 million mark, yet this amount may fluctuate with weather in Brisbane at the time (a particularly wet August may reduce attendance significantly).

Because of the cultural significance of the Ekka, the city of Brisbane holds a public holiday on the seventh show day which is known as "People's Day". People's Day is usually on the second Wednesday of August except when there are five Wednesdays in August, when it is held on the third Wednesday.^[3] School students are also involved in the entertainment of the Ekka, often schools organise excursions for students in their school band or choir where they perform and represent their school, one such including the Urban Upbeat Festival, which showcases school's musical ensembles^[4]. Other South East Queensland local government areas hold public holidays for the Ekka on the Monday or Tuesday (the 5th and 6th days).

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ekka
• Brisbane Show photograph album 1912 Digitised and held by State Library of Queensland.

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Ayesha Jhulka
Ayesha Jhulka in 2009
Born	Ayesha Jhulka (1975-07-28) July 28, 1975 (age 36) Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Occupation	Film actress
Years active	1983–present
Spouse	Sameer Vashi

Ayesha Jhulka (Hindi: आयेशा झुल्का, born 28 July 1975 in Srinagar,^[1]India) is an Indian film actress. During her career, she has worked with major stars like Mithun Chakraborty, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Govinda, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan etc.^[2]

Personal Life[link]

She is the daughter of Wing Commander Jhulka, an Indian Air Force Officer. She is married to construction tycoon Sameer Vashi.^[3]

Career[link]

She made her Hindi film acting debut as a child actor in 1983. Her first full fledged role, as one of the lead actress, was in 1990 in the film Meet Mere Mann Ke, and her next release was a Telugu film, Neti Siddhartha, opposite Nagarjuna Akkineni.

In 1991, She had a major hit release Kurbaan with Salman Khan. She was a new happening star in Bollywood at the time. 1993 was also good for her, as her films Dalaal and Rang were hits. Her other film with Mithun called Suraj did quite well with masses, her next release was Kohram. In 1993, she was part of two more average successes Waqt Hamara Hai and Meherbaan. She was praised for films Balma and Sangram, in which she played major roles along with Ajay Devgan and Karishma Kapoor. In 1992, her major success came through Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander with Aamir Khan and Khiladi with Akshay Kumar.

In 1994, Jai Kishan did quite well, but others were flops. She did a few second cameos in Akele Hum Akele Tum, which was her only release of 1995. Besides that Promos of her film Kisi Se Dil Laga Ke Dekho with Shahrukh Khan and Madhoo were on air in the same year. But that film could not see the light of the day. After the success of Masoom, She got two important films Vishwavidhata and Ghoonghat and a delayed film called Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya with Jackie Shroff and Kajol.

Regional films kept coming her way including Punjabi films like Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khas, which did well abroad. She got films with good roles like Samvedna, Amma, and Janani. She did a cameo in Kamal Hasan's Chachi 420, which did well and also received positive reviews. She played supporting but important roles in Run (2004), Socha Na Tha (2005) and Umrao Jaan (2006). Recently, She started play production and produced plays like Purush and Prakriti.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ayesha Jhulka

Vinod Khanna
Born	(1946-10-06) 6 October 1946 (age 65).[1] Peshawar, Pakistan
Occupation	Actor, Politician
Spouse	Geetanjali (1971–1985 divorced) Kavita (1990–present)
Children	3 sons and 1 daughter

Vinod Khanna (Hindi: विनोद खन्ना, Punjabi: ਵਿਨੋਦ ਖੰਨਾ born 6 October 1946) is an Indian actor, film producer and politician.

Early life[link]

Khanna was born in Peshawar to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan).^{[citation needed]} He has three sisters and one brother. Shortly after his birth, India was partitioned and the family left Peshawar and reached Mumbai (then Bombay).^{[citation needed]}

At Mumbai, he attended Queen Mary School, Bombay (Mumbai) until class II and then transferred to St. Xavier's High School, Fort. In 1957, the family again moved to Delhi where he attended Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Although the family moved back to Mumbai in 1960, he was sent to Barnes School in Deolali, near Nashik. It was during his time at the boarding school that he watched the epic Mughal-e-Azam and fell in love with motion pictures. He graduated with a commerce degree from Sydenham College.^[1]

Career[link]

Vinod Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain.^[2] He acted in multi-starrer films often playing supporting and negative roles in hit films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971).^[2] His big break was in the 1971 film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. His performance as an army officer facing death row in another Gulzar scripted and directed 1973 film Achanak was critically acclaimed. The songless film echoed the true life story of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra and Khanna portrayed Kawas Nanavati, the real life Navy officer.^[2]

He went on to star in many hits throughout the mid 1970s and early 1980s, including "Inkaar", "Aap Ki Khatir", "Aarop", Parvarish (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Khoon Pasina (1977), " Herapheri", Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), "((Zameer")), The Burning Train (1980) and Qurbani (1980). Having peaked in Bollywood, he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1979 for eight years. At this time, he was one of the most successful actors in the Bollywood, competing with Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna (Kudrat), (Aan Milo Sajna) & Jeetendra. He rejoined the industry, eight years later in mid 1980s. He continued to appear in many notable films from the mid 1980s to the 1990s such as Dayavan (1988), Chandni (1989), Kshatriya (1993), Eena Meena Deeka (1994) and Ekka Raja Rani (1994).^[2]

His pairing with Amitabh Bachchan was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

In 1997 he donned the role of producer to launch his middle son Akshaye Khanna in the film Himalay Putra; he also starred in the film. In 1999 he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the film industry for over three decades. He has since acted in fewer films playing character roles. His most recent films were Deewaanapan (2002), Risk (2007), Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010).

He also ventured into television playing the male lead role of "Kashi Nath" in the Smriti Irani-produced Hindi serial Mere Apne, which aired on the channel 9X.

Politics[link]

In 1997, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab in the next year's Lok Sabha poll. In 1999, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Later, he became union minister for culture and tourism in July 2002. Six months later, he was moved to the more important ministry of external affairs (MEA) as minister of state. In 2004 he won re-election from Gurdaspur. However, he lost out in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll.

Personal life[link]

Khanna married Geetanjali in 1971, and has two sons with her, Rahul Khanna and Akshaye Khanna; both are Hindi film actors. In 1975, Khanna became a disciple of Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh).^[1] In the early 1980s, he moved to Rajneeshpuram, Osho's commune in the United States, for four years, cleaning dishes and working as Osho's gardener.^[1] His absence from his family, who remained behind in India, caused friction between the couple, and the marriage ended in divorce.^[1]

In 1990, he married his second wife, Kavita.^[1] They have a son, Sakshi, and a daughter Shraddha.^[1]

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1975 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Haath Ki Safai
• 1977 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Hera Pheri
• 1978 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Shaque
• 1979 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Muqaddar Ka Sikander
• 1981 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Qurbani
• 1999 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2001 - Kalakar Awards Lifetime Achievement^{[citation needed]}
• 2005 – Stardust Awards - Role Model for the Year ^[3]
• 2007 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Vinod Khanna at the Internet Movie Database
• Parliamentary Biography