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Post by darkme on Apr 22, 2007 11:27:12 GMT -6
sounds very awesome! thanx 4 the info nairobian! and hey we're talking India as a lesson in social studies and we're preparing somethings for the lesson, we're so excited and its like the most interesting lesson in the whole book!
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Post by darkme on Apr 24, 2007 11:50:07 GMT -6
hey we took the lesson, was on 2 periords and was very fun! our teacher didn't know that much about India and ended up giving us sum wrong info but nevertheless it was very very FUN!
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Post by AK on May 23, 2007 2:15:21 GMT -6
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Post by AK on Nov 8, 2007 9:44:48 GMT -6
It's been a loonnng time since I last posted in this thread. Anyway, here's wishing a very Happy Diwali to all my friends at YFCI!You'll ask what's Diwali, so here goes! Diwali (also known as "Deepavali") is one of the favorite, the best and the most eagerly awaited festivals of India. It is usually celebrated in the months of October or November. It is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe, as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify the uplighting of darkness and victory of good over the evil within. People regard the festival as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. In North India, Diwali also marks the beginning of the new year (as per the Hindu Calendar). Although, people of different faiths have different reasons for celebrating Diwali, it is now considered to be more of a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith. Reasons for celebrating Diwali (in different faiths)According to Hindu Mythology -1.) The Story of Lord Rama and Sita: Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil. 2.) The Story of King Bali and Vamana Avatar(the Dwarf): The other story concerns King Bali, who was a generous ruler. But he was also very ambitious. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check King Bali's power. Vishnu came to earth in the form of a Vamana(dwarf) dressed as priest. The dwarf approached King Bali and said "You are the ruler of the three worlds: the Earth, the world above the skies and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with three strides?" King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the King, who agreed to dwarf's request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu and his three strides covered the Earth, the Skies and the whole Universe! King Bali was send to the underworld. As part of Diwali celebrations, some Hindus remember King Bali. 3.) The Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna: Lord Vishnu in his 8th incarnation as Krishna destroyed the demon Narkasura, who was causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Narkasura was believed to be a demon of filth, covered in dirt. He used to kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him. Eventually, their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil. 4.) Lord Krishna and The Mountain: In the village of Gokula, many years ago, the people prayed to the God Indra. They believed that Indra sent the rains, which made their crops, grow. But Krishna came along and persuaded the people to worship the mountain Govardhan, because the mountain and the land around it were fertile. This did not please Indra. He sent thunder and torrential rain down on the village. The people cried to Krishna to help. Krishna saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day of Diwali is a reminder to Hindus of the importance of food and it is a time for being thankful to God for the bounty of nature. Diwali according to Sikh faith - In Sikh religion, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji from captivity of the city, Gwalior. To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the towns people lit the way to, Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple), in his honour. The Golden Temple (which I hope you remember from my previous posts) is decorated and illuminated beautifully on this day to mark the festival. Here's a sample photo - flickr.com/photos/mrsikhnet/284384634/ Diwali in Jain religion -Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. For on this occasion they celebrate the Nirvana (attainment of salvation, I think) of Lord Mahavira who established the Jain dharma as they follow it. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13th in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana (which I think means "enlightenment") on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42. - END OF PART 1 -PART 2 TO COME SOON! I gotta fo for now!
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Post by Zach on Nov 8, 2007 12:44:53 GMT -6
Cool. It sounds like a wonderful time to be in India, I wish someday I could visit it Thanks for all the info!
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Post by AK on Nov 9, 2007 2:23:02 GMT -6
You're welcome Zach! Yes it sure is one of the BEST times to be in India! Hope you're able to visit India sometime soon! Now here is PART 2 about how exactly Diwali is celebrated and why it is so enjoyable and eagerly awaited!! Without going into much detail or jargon, I'll tell you the main attractions of Diwali celebrations. Diwali is basically a Five-day festival and all these days are believed to very auspicious. Markets are abuzz with activity as people indulge in a major shopping spree in shops loaded with goods. The shops are cleaned, whitewashed, iluminated and goods are rearranged. Sweets are brought and distributed. Candles, earthen lamps, electrical lights and firecrackers are sold briskly. Shop-keepers perform prayers in their shops as well as at home. Shops are lighted with colourful bulbs and attract huge crowd. Here's a picture of a crowded & illuminated marketplace on the first day of Diwali celebrations - www.flickr.com/photos/sayantansarkar/286603923/Preparations for Diwali festival begin months in advance. Massive cleaning of houses, workplaces and community places is undertaken as it is a tradition. People buy and wear new clothes during Diwali. They exchange greeting cards, gifts, sweets, fruit baskets and boxes of chocolate or nuts with their family members, friends, neighbors and everyone else they know. During the 5-day festival, people also buy gold or silver jewelry, new utensils and gold or silver coins as a custom. Sisters pray for their brothers' well-being and brothers give gifts to their sisters. The main attraction is the illumination of houses, streets, community places and almost every corner you can think of! Magnificent lights from earthen lamps, candles and attractive electric bulbs & lamps illuminate the streets and houses of the country. As far as the eye can see, no doorstep, tree, riverbank and house is left without decoration for this festival!! You can get the perspective of illuminations in these pictures- www.flickr.com/photos/prototypeangel/279074747/in/set-72157594344378496/www.flickr.com/photos/matthewphotography/395418574/A main feature of Diwali decorations is the "Rangoli" (that is 'row of colors') which is a fancy design/motif made on the floor using powdered colours or traditional wet color and even flowers, leaves and fruits. It is usually drawn on the doorsteps (or entrance) of houses and even in shops and hotels. It is considered to be a sign of welcome, cheer and unity. Family members, usually women and children get together to create/draw the 'rangoli' on the doorsteps. In some neighborhoods, a large 'rangoli' is made at a central place by all neighbors. Earthen lamps are also lighted around the 'rangoli'. Here are a few interesting photos showing how people make 'rangoli' and how 'rangoli' looks like:www.flickr.com/photos/santu/110379168/www.flickr.com/photos/rahulsadagopan/458896409/www.flickr.com/photos/chiragkpatel/278780011/The ceremonial prayers and rites of worship for Diwali are observed during the dusk in which everyone prays for health, wealth, good luck, happiness and prosperity. After the prayers, people especially kids and teenagers go outside and burst firecrackers!! Sounds and sights of fireworks and crackers fill the atmosphere everywhere! Take a look at some pics (they're just a tip of the iceberg!!!)-www.flickr.com/photos/anindo/67006004/www.flickr.com/photos/divaswapnam/1896455807/flickr.com/photos/gurugo/289213773/flickr.com/photos/photoyogi/1926175280/After bursting of firecrackers and fireworks, we wash our hands and faces and have a big feast consisting of traditional rich food and sweets! We also have music and dance events, either have a family or neighbourhood karaoke and also play cards especially Rummy. Even gambling is a traditional custom in Diwali celebrations! There are special functions, fairs, concerts, TV and radio shows held to celebrate and commemorate Diwali everywhere. Take a look at some photos of food (generally vegetarian) and sweets of the Diwali feast (again it's just the tip of the iceberg!) - www.flickr.com/photos/one_good_soul/81378339/www.flickr.com/photos/chiragkpatel/61224686/This is what the sweet shops look like during Diwali days! Colorful and mouth-watering sweets arranged all over! www.flickr.com/photos/fodden/1616626/Finally, as Diwali is a festival to foster joy, cheer, goodness and unity, therefore, we also donate food, clothes, money and other useful things to the poor and people also visit orphanages or old-age homes to share happiness and gifts with the unfortunate and needy. So this is all about Diwali the Festival of Lights, that lights up our lives and illuminates our hearts with joy, brotherhood and love. It is a lengthy post for sure, but please do read it and check out all pics for they're worth it!!
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Post by darkme on Nov 9, 2007 2:45:01 GMT -6
I really wish you have had a wonderful time celebrating Diwali! It seems like a gr8 celebration... I remember I was told about it last year... Have a karma AA
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Post by Zach on Nov 9, 2007 12:53:40 GMT -6
Wow, that's wonderful Anu! Flickr is blocked here at school, but I'll check those pictures out later. Karma for your Anu
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Post by Zach on Nov 9, 2007 16:37:56 GMT -6
I looked at the pictures; wow Diwali must be a great sight to see! Especially those illuminations.. the food looks yummy too Thanks a bunch Anu for sharing all that information with us, Have another karma!
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Post by ViCtoria* on Nov 9, 2007 18:02:18 GMT -6
Those pictures were just... too amazing! Omg I'd love to go to India somewhere in the next few years to celebrate Diwali. I hope you had an amazing time, Anu! The pictures were amazing!! And the food looks so-SO yummy!
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Post by AK on Nov 10, 2007 6:42:53 GMT -6
Thanks Noor, Zach and Victoria! And thanks for the karmas, they make my Diwali gift!! I'm glad you guys liked the pictures and the info. Like I told you, they're just the tip of the iceberg! I really hope you guys are able to attend Diwali celebrations in India some day. I'm sure you'd love it! I sure had a great time yesterday, for it was Diwali PLUS my cousin sister's 2nd birthday yesterday!! So it was double fun and double celebrations for us! We decorated both my house and my uncle's house, with candles, earthen lamps, fresh flowers, buntings and streamers. We had loads of fun with my baby cousin sister and other cousins, bursting bombs, crackers and lighting spectacular fireworks! The celebrations extended late into the night and we went to bed at 3:00 AM yesterday!! It was such fun!! Whenever we burst those noisy bombs, my uncle's 9 year old son would hide behind my back and scream his lungs out! Though my aunt was somewhat afraid of the bombs and crackers, but somehow, we persuaded her to come outside and then blew up the bombs without even telling her! Me and my cousins were at our mischievous best yesterday! ;D And yeah! We all thought that my baby cousin would be afraid of crackers, but she surprised us all and actually clapped her hands in cheer whenever we or a neighbor burst a loud cracker! We celebrated Diwali as well as her birthday, and she was so sporty, she didn't even show a slightest sign of discomfort when we smeared her face with cream! She looked 'cho chweet' and adorable with all that cream smeared on her face and still laughing! We also took photos of the entire evening! The food, as always was great! My uncle, my maternal grandmother ( nani) and my mom prepared all the snacks and delicacies themselves. We were also allowed to have unlimited amounts of colas and fruit juices! After praying, bursting firecrackers and illuminating both houses, eating, cutting my cousin's birthday cake and all - we watched TV, played games, clicked some family pictures, played with my baby cousin... we enjoyed so much that no one wanted to end it all and go to bed! Even my baby cousin stayed awake and didn't let us say "Bye"! Whenever I told my parents that we should leave, she would start crying and would cling to me. It was the best day of the year till now, for me. It was after such a long time, that the family got together and everyone had sooo much fun! It's great to see the family enjoying together. I wish every day was Diwali!!
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Post by Zach on Nov 10, 2007 21:15:29 GMT -6
Haha, well thats wonderful Anu. We're glad you had a great time! Here's another Diwali gift from me
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Post by AK on Nov 12, 2007 6:15:16 GMT -6
Oh! Thank you so much once again Zach! Here's a karma in exchange from me! Best Wishes to everyone at YFCI!!
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Post by maria001 on Feb 8, 2011 11:21:49 GMT -6
Every thing as two sides, nothing is completely Bad and nothing is entirely Good and so is our country, it has its own good n bad points... We still have a long way to go..
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Post by namanglobal on Sept 30, 2012 2:44:19 GMT -6
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] This is d new status Quo of We d Indians!!!!!!!!!! Although all the things are nt too gr8..bt YES India is on d world map for Science,Innovations,Politics,Business,Culture n itz Youth!!! I thought dis day to b d perfect one to start the thread as to gv d world a brace ab8 a life of a youth in India,spl. in itz capital ie Delhi.. Our economy iz on a boom ringing hand in hand wid Inflation(guys it touched 2 yrs high at 6% ) but nt to worry coz our Indian Government, as usual WAKES AFTER D STORM n is perfect in amnaging Disaster after it hs occured, has stepped in to chek d rate of inflation. INDIA is shining BUT only in middle or upper middle class!!i guess i percieve it dat way..the people living in BPL still hv no clues of upliftment although hundreds of NGOz mushroomed in Delhi itself! I salute the might of our armed forces and all the people serving/served the nation coz they are our shields under which we indians play in peace! Life in Indian urbans is chngin rapidly..ppl are very tech freak n intellect.They knw HOw to gt things done thru others>>n if i rembr datz d defination of Management!<<The youth of today is WEll informed n Alert..Knw their Rights and also knw their way to speak it out.We hv seen radical judiciary changes like Jessica Lal , Matoo murder cases all kudos to the Young n livily Gen X of the country!
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Post by namanglobal on Sept 30, 2012 2:55:16 GMT -6
India, the second populate country,most stable democracy,the symbol of unity into diversity and specially having 20% of world youth. Indian is country of youth but you have not been given such importance in India.There was a great significant of Youth in fight for freedom but after getting independence their contribution seems negligible because of unwillingness to connect youth into the mainstream of society.Its call of time to give the better representation into hands of Indian Youth either in government or Industry. It is also unfortunate that around 90% youth belonging to rural India have no employment because of lack of infra structure and business environment. we should Indian youth across the globe to fight against this situation.Hope we can change the whole world
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Post by harisstavr on Oct 5, 2012 16:35:03 GMT -6
Interesting information namanglobal about your life in India. Would you like to describe to us a typical morning to you? Your educational system maybe?
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