Thursday, April 2, 2015

Happy Good Friday

Good Friday, April 3rd, 2015, is a Christian holiday that observes the anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Christ was the Son of God who came to earth to die and take away people's sins. The Bible says that he arose from the dead three days later, on Easter Sunday, and ascended to heaven. This is pretty much the fundamental story of Christianity. Christians started observing Good Friday in the fourth century AD.


Matins of Holy and Great Friday
The Byzantine Christian observance of Holy and Great Friday, which is formally known as The Order of Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, begins on Thursday night with the Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels. Scattered throughout this Matins service are twelve readings from all four of the Gospels which recount the events of the Passion from the Last Supper through the Crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Some churches have a candelabrum with twelve candles on it, and after each Gospel reading one of the candles is extinguished.


Why do we call Good Friday “good,” when it is such a dark and bleak event commemorating a day of suffering and death for Jesus?

For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures.

On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith.



Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag or “Sorrowful In English, in fact, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.” Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.



In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are enslaved. Another way of saying this is that it is important to understand and distinguish between law and gospel in Scripture. We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is; then the gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.

In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations. Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood at the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Jesus. Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil was actually the deathblow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from bondage. 

The cross is where we see the convergence of great suffering and God’s forgiveness. Psalms 85:10 sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” The cross of Jesus is where that occurred, where God’s demands, his righteousness, coincided with his mercy. We receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

Reference: kidzworld.com,christianity.com ,Wikipedia


Friday, March 20, 2015

Ugadi Is Come's In Your Life With New Think's - Happy New Year



Sadhguru’s Ugadi Message


There is a certain significance to Ugadi being the New Year, and not the first of January, in terms of what is occurring in the planet and in the human physiology and mind on this day. Ugadi follows the lunisolar calendar, which has a direct connection with the way the human body is made. The Indian calendar is very significant not just culturally but scientifically because it connects you with the movements of the planet.






Chandramana Ugadi is the beginning of a new year as per the lunisolar calendar largely followed by the Indian people for many millennia. As in everything else that comes from the East, even the calendar is in terms of what it does to the human physiology and consciousness. The tilt of the globe renders the northern hemisphere to receive the highest amount of the Sun’s energy during the 21-day period that starts from Ugadi. Though it may be uncomfortable for humans in terms of the temperature soaring, this is the time when the earth’s batteries are charged. Ugadi is on the first day of the waxing moon after the first new moon post equinox, suggesting a new beginning.







In preparation for this hottest period of the year in tropical latitudes, it is a tradition that people start this segment of the year with elaborate application of cooling oils like castor. Unlike the modern calendars of the day, which ignore human experience in relation to the planetary movement, the lunisolar calendar (chandramana – souramana panchanga) takes into account the experience and impact that is happening to the human being and hence, the calendar being adjusted to latitudes.






Ugadi is not celebrated as the New Year just as part of a belief system or a convenience – there is a science behind it which enhances human wellbeing in many different ways. The profoundness of what this nation has been is being rubbished today simply because some other nations have moved ahead of us economically. We will also soon move ahead economically, but the profoundness that this culture carries cannot be created in a few years’ time; this is the outcome of thousands of years of work.






A simple thing you can do to start your new year is when you pick up your telephone, don’t just say “hello” or “hi” or something else. Say “Namaste” or “Namaskar” or “Namaskaram” or “Vanakkam”. There is a significance to uttering such words in your life – where what you say or do to God, you do to everyone around you. This is the best way to live.

"If something is sacred for you and something else is not, then you are missing the whole point. Make this New Year a possibility for you to recognize this divinity in every human being."

Reference : ishafoundation.org
Image : Google


Argiculture Blog
Love Blog
Events In The World
Tours and Travels


Thursday, March 5, 2015

Anywhere, Everywhere Celebrating The Holi Festival Around The World

HOLI HAI... Come holi and the streets will reverberate with the chants of Holi hai..

Holi knows no bars, Holi knows no boundaries too. Across the world wherever Indians or people of Indian origin are present Holi is celebrated with gusto and bonhomie. People play with colours, light a bonfire called Holika and celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Well, the essence of any festival is to take a break from the daily humdrum of life and make it interesting. The other major intention of celebrating festival is to bring people together and generate a feeling of brotherhood and spread harmony all around.

Nobody realizes the importance of celebrating festivals than the Indians settled abroad away from their country and cultural roots. At times they are more eager to celebrate festivals than their Indian counterparts. For celebrating festivals is what binds the people of Indian origin together and also to their roots.



Just as in India, people settled abroad meet their friends and exchange sweets and greetings. Of course, the revelry is no less when it comes to colours.

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras.Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.

Holi is particularly enjoyed by worshippers of the god Krishna. Its general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna’s play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds). In Vraja (modern Gokul), rituals of reversal culminate in a battle in which the women of the natal village of Radha, Krishna’s eternally devoted lover, pummel the men of Krishna’s village with staves; the men defend themselves with shields. In the Dolayatra (“Swing Festival”), images of the gods are placed on decorated platforms and are swung to the accompaniment of cycles of songs sung only in the spring season 


Colours will fill the atmosphere as people throw abeer and gulal in the air showing great joy and mirth in the arrival of this Spring Festival.

Holi marks the end of the winter gloom and rejoices in the bloom of the spring time. It is the best time and season to celebrate; Holi provides this opportunity and people take every advantage of it.

Days before Holi, the markets get flooded with the colours of every hues. This aptly sets the mood of the people till the actual day of Holi. It is such a colourful and joyous sight to watch huge piles of bright red, magenta, pink, green and blue every where on the streets. Buying those colours seems as you are bringing joys and colour to your home and into your life.

Children take special delight in the festival and demand every colour in loads. They have so many plans in their mind. They have to be the first to apply colour to Mama, Papa, siblings and a big bunch of friends in their colony. Nobody could miss being coloured by them and of course, they need colour for that.

These days it is easy to buy colours from the market but still some people do take up the task of making colours at home, usually from flowers of tesu and palash. These home made colours, have a special fragrance of love in them.


The other option is to buy gulal which comes in bright shades of pink, magenta, red, yellow and green.'Abeer' is made of small crystals or paper like chips of mica. This is mixed with the gulal for a rich shine. Mischievous ones, however, go for silver and gold paints on which no colour could be applied.

Whatever be the choice of colour, nobody remains in their original texture at the end of the play. And everybody takes delight looking at the other. Really, the other name of the festival is FUN.

And, it is not just children, but the young and the old alike who take delight in this joyous festival of colours. Seniors too, move in their tolis. Their enthusiasm is at times greater than that of their children as they forget the bars of age and follow their hearts. To youth, holi gives a chance to explore the heights of their enthusiasm as they climb the human pyramids to break the pot of buttermilk and to express their love to their beloved by applying colour.

For, Holi knows no bars, everybody feels it is their right to enjoy and enjoy they do. Songs, dance, drinks, food everything goes in excess when it is time for Holi. It can be said, "Life turns Colorful" when it is time for Holi. 

Ref:holifestival.org

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Celebrating Republic Day with Unbelievable Moments In India

The Republic Day is celebrated in India on 26 January every year. The day marks the sovereignty of the country, as on this day in 1950 the Constitution of India was adopted. The signature celebration of the event is the Republic Day Parade, which is held in the capital city, New Delhi.

This year, the US President Barack Obama will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. It will be Obama's second visit to India, making him the first US President to visit the country twice during his presidential tenure. It will also be the first time when India will receive an American President as a chief guest on 26 January. Obama's wife, Michelle Obama and some other senior officials from the US will also accompany him during this visit.

It is expected that 1.25 lakh people, i.e., about 25,000 more than the usual will witness the grand Republic Day parade this year. Also, it is likely that the number of tableaux which participate in the parade may increase to 25 from 20. The duration of the parade may also extend to the usual two hours.



Significance of Republic Day

The Republic Day is celebrated as the day when India became a democratic republic. It was on 26 January 1950 that the Constitution of India was brought into force as the governing document of India that replaced the Government of India Act 1935.

The day also has significance as the declaration of Indian independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930.

Republic Day Date and Timing

The Republic Day 2015 will be celebrated on 26 January. This day will be observed as a national holiday. All the public offices and schools will remain closed to celebrate the spirit of patriotism on this day.

Republic Day Celebrations

The entire nation comes alive with patriotic fervour on this day, but the principal celebration of the Republic Day takes place in the national capital, New Delhi from 9 a.m. and continues for about three hours. This historic occasion becomes a national festival with the involvement of people from all over the country. The day symbolises the unity of the nation as it brings together people from different castes, creed, religions and regions to celebrate the day with the pride of being an Indian. 

The celebration takes place at the Rajpath with great enthusiasm and pride, which can be experienced by any individual as the Republic Day Parade is a ticketed event. The tickets for the same can be bought a couple of weeks before the event.

Republic Day celebrations across the country

Apart from the grand celebrations in the capital, the Republic Day is also celebrated in different parts of the country at different levels, such as in cities, district headquarters, panchayats, schools and offices.

In Mumbai, people attend Republic Day Parade at Shivaj Park or Marine Drive.

In Bangalore, people celebrate Republic Day at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground, which holds a parade and cultural fair.

In Kolkata, people enjoy the Republic Day parade held along the Red Road.

In Chennai, Republic Day celebrations take place at Marina Beach and Kamaraj Salai.


Beating Retreat

The Republic Day celebration ends officially with the Beating Retreat ceremony, which is held on the 29 January every year. The Indian Air Force, the India Navy, and the Indian Army at the Raisina Hill, New Delhi become a part of this ceremony in front of the President of India.

Republic Day Parade

The grandeur of the Republic Day of India is visible in the grand parade that is held along Rajpath, beginning from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan and ending at India Gate.

The occasion witnesses the presence of the President, the Prime Minister and several other high-ranking officials of the country. The parade starts when the Prime Minister of India offers wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate, in memory of the martyrs of the Indian army.

The national flag is unfurled by the President of India, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. This is succeeded by the cheerful tune of the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute.

The different regiments of Navy, Army and Air Force display their might along the Rajpath, saluting the President. The Armed Forces staff perform motorcycle rides whereas the staff of the Indian Air Force perform flying parade in fighter planes. 

The rich and colourful culture of India is showcased in the parade of the Republic Day. Traditional as well as cultural performances are given by professionals belonging to different regions. School children in picturesque costumes also participate in the display of different aspects of the glorious history of the country on this big day.

The real heroes of the nation are honoured with the bravery awards and medals. National Awards are given to children for selfless sacrifice and bravery. 

A row of IAF jets marks the end of the grand celebration, leaving behind a trail of coloured smoke. It bids goodbye to the gathered audience by lavishing rose petals on them.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Chobi Mela, One of the Top International Photography Festival In The World




Chobi Mela, the largest photography biennale in Asia, will launch its eighth edition in the capital on January 23 and will run until February 5, 2015. The international festival is jointly organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.
 





The 8th installation of Chobi Mela, Asia’s first and largest photography festival, opens today in Dhaka, Bangladesh and runs until 5th February. This year’s programme, with the theme of “Intimacy,” features more than 30 photographers from 22 countries.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Unbelievable And Amazing Festival In India....Lohri!!

Amidst the freezing cold weather, with the temperature wobbling between 0-5 degrees Celsius and the dense fog outside, everything seems stagnant in the northern part of India. However, below the apparently frozen surface, you would be amazed to find a palpable wave of activity going on. People, especially in the northern Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh, are busy making preparations for Lohri — the long-awaited bonfire festival — when they can come out of their homes and celebrate the harvesting of the Rabi (winter) crops and give in to relaxing and enjoying the traditional folk songs and dances.


Significance
In Punjab, the breadbasket of India, wheat is the main winter crop, which is sown in October and harvested in March or April. In January, the fields come up with the promise of a golden harvest, and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops.

According to the Hindu calendar, Lohri falls in mid-January. The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun, thus ending the coldest month of the year, Paush, and announcing the start of the month of Magh and the auspicious period of Uttarayan. According to the Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna manifests himself in his full magnificence during this time. The Hindus 'nullify' their sins by bathing in the Ganges.

Customs & Legends 
In the morning on Lohri day, children go from door to door singing and demanding the Lohri 'loot' in the form of money and eatables like til (sesame) seeds, peanuts, jaggery, or sweets like gajak, rewri, etc. They sing in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi avatar of Robin Hood who robbed the rich to help the poor, and once helped a miserable village girl out of her misery by getting her married off like his own sister.

The Bonfire Ritual 
In the evening, with the setting of the sun, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses and people gather around the rising flames, circle around (parikrama) the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies into the fire, shouting "Aadar aye dilather jaye" (May honor come and poverty vanish!), and sing popular folk songs. This is a sort of prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance and prosperity. After the parikrama, people meet friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to god). The prasad comprises five main items: til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn. Winter savories are served around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-di-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-da-saag (cooked mustard herbs).

Song & Dance
Bhangra dance by men begins after the offering to the bonfire. Dancing continues till late night with new groups joining in amid the beat of drums. Traditionally, women do not join Bhangra. They hold a separate bonfire in their courtyard orbiting it with the graceful gidda dance.


The 'Maghi' Day
The day following Lohri is called 'Maghi', signifying the beginning of the month of Magh. According to Hindu beliefs, this is an auspicious day to take a holy dip in the river and give away charity. Sweet dishes (usually kheer) are prepared with sugar cane juice to mark the day.

Exhibition of Exhuberance 
Lohri is more than just a festival, especially for the people of Punjab. Punjabis are a fun-loving, sturdy, robust, energetic, enthusiastic and jovial race, and Lohri is symbolic of their love for celebrations and light-hearted flirtations and exhibition of exuberance.

A Celebration of Fertility
Lohri celebrates fertility and the joy of life, and in the event of the birth of a male child or a marriage in the family, it assumes a larger significance wherein the host family arranges for a feast and merry-making with the traditional bhangra dance along with rhythm instruments, like the dhol and the gidda. The first Lohri of a new bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely important.

Thanksgiving & Get-together!
Nowadays, Lohri brings in an opportunity for people in the community to take a break from their busy schedule and get together to share each other's company. In other parts of India, Lohri almost coincides with the festivals of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and Uttarayan all of which communicate the same message of oneness and celebrates the spirit of brotherhood, while thanking the Almighty for a bountiful life on earth.
Mastery
Reference: hinduism.about.com

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Celibrating Rahgiri Day In The Heart Of India, Bhopal




On 21st September 2014, Bhopal became the fifth city in India to implement the weekly open streets movement - Raahgiri Day. Organized by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), Traffic Police and Bhopal City Link Ltd. (BCLL) in collaboration with EMBARQ India, the event started at 6 am and witnessed an overwhelming first day turnout. Over ten thousand people from all over the city participated in this event at Boat Club Road.
Raahgiri Day is India's first sustained car-free day, launched first in Gurgaon – India’s “Millennium City” – on November 17, 2013 – with 10,000 people in the inaugural event. Over half a million people have now participated in car-free Sundays, including high-visibility events at Connaught Place in New Delhi.  


After the huge success of Raahgiri at the Upper Lake for eight weeks running, this Sunday, it was extended to Shahpura Lake. Bhopalites turned up in large numbers at both the venues that remained jam-packed.
Bhopal’s edition of Raahgiri Day saw special programmes including fitness dancing, exercises, rangolis, cycling, skating and gully sports like cricket, football, badminton, hockey and yoga, amongst others. The Commissioner of BMC, Ms. Tejaswi Naik was also seen actively participating in a game of hockey with a group of children. The traffic police and officials patrolling the stretch did so on cycles. For the first time at Raahgiri, cycle rentals were computerised and therefore, more organised.
Traffic Police officials gave important information about road safety, educating people about traffic signals, safe driving, and the importance of wearing helmets. Large banners that read “city for people, not for vehicles” were seen around the area. Environmental experts were also present and conveyed key messages to protect and preserve our environment for the future.



Bhopal is the 14th largest city in India and is known as the “City of Lakes” for its various natural as well as artificial lakes. In recent years, Bhopal has been witnessing a gradual increase in vehicle ownership. Civic bodies have been adopting different measures to retain the existing mode share of cycling and walking in the city, which is still pretty high in number. Raahgiri Day is an attempt towards this vision.
With more participation at Raahgiri, people want more space to be provided to them for the event.Sarika Chaturvedi, 35, director of a spa, who attended Raahgiri at the Upper Lake last week, this time visited the Shahpura Lake one. She complained that the Upper Lake was congested while Shahpura Lake was dirty. "People have been spitting and littering here. Maybe the venue was chosen at the last minute, but for next time, I expect the venue to be cleaner. The administration should also give more space to the activity. Cycling in such a congested space is not possible." A rain dance for raahgirs Dancing is an important part of Raahgiri, but the rain dance this time seemed to have given more spirit to the Raahgirs, who were seen grooving to Bollywood numbers. They seemed to dance with even more enthusiasm after the fire brigade sprayed water on them - twice! Kids got a separate section as well for pottery, cricket, football, and skating. Sangeeta,a homemaker, who was there with her kids, said, "My kids had a great time and I enjoyed zumba and playing tug-of-war."

Travel