India successfully test fire under sea ballistic missile
New Delhi, Feb 26: India has successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile from an undersea location off its eastern coast, news reports said quoting defence officials.
The test firing was done from an underwater launcher positioned 50-metres under the surface of the sea off the coast of eastern Orissa state, IANS news agency quoted defence officials as saying.
The 8.5-metre-long missile, earlier named Sagarika, which means born in the sea, but now referred to as k-15, weighs about seven tons and carries a 500-kg payload. It is designed to carry bothconventional or nuclear warheads. The test firing of the underwater missile completes India's capability to fire nuclear weapons from land, air and the sea.
Powered by solid propellants, the k-15 has a booster that will propel it into the air from underwater and another booster to ignite it in the air and carry it over a distance of more than 700 kilometres, the hindu newspaper reported.
India joins the likes of Russia, the United States, France, Britian and China, the only countries which have missiles that can be launched from submarines.
India is currently in the process of developing a nuclear-powered submarine which is due for sea trials in 2009 and it is expected the K-15 would be integrated with this vessel, the Hindu said. The Chief Controller of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), S Prahlada, had said that only one test will ratify the missile system.
This video truelly depects the Indian culture its social value and after all "UNITY IN DIVERSITY".This is not just a video made to see it will let you thing what great india is , the music of the video is in itself marvellous.
Chhath Puja is an Indian thanksgiving festival dedicated to the Sun God. During the celebrations of Chhath Puja, people gather on the bank of the rivers to bathe in its sacred water, pray and make ritual offerings to the Sun God. Chhath Puja is a highly elaborate festival noted for its impressive display of colorful costumes, music, singing and extravagant rituals.
Chhath puja on river bank on the last day
Chhath Puja takes place, sometime during the months of October and November, immediately following the six-day festival of lights known as Diwali. Chhath Puja lasts for almost 3 days. There is also a "Chaiti Chhath" celebrated just after Holi.
Chhath Puja is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Utter Pradesh, Utteranchal and Jharkhand, now a days, you can see a celebration almost everwhere in India. The festival takes place, on the banks of the River Ganges, in people's homes and at the Sun Temple of Baragaon, two kilometers outside Nalanda, in Bihar.
On the day before the festival of Chhath Puja, it is customary for participants to gather on the riverbanks and cleanse themselves, briefly, in the water of the River Ganges.
After cleansing, a token amount of sacred water is retained for use as offerings during the festival of Chhath Puja.
Devotee praying to SUN on Chhath puja on river bank
Before Chhath Puja, people fast throughout the day and into the early evening.
The fast is followed by worship in the home. Festive fare consisting of freshly harvested rice, puris (a local bread type delicacy), and fruit such as bananas, coconuts and grapefruit are then served to the family.
On the second day of Chhath Puja a strict 24-hour fast is observed; not even water is consumed.
Cooking utensils are purified by the senior women of the household, as part of the ritual preparation of offerings for the main part of the celebration of Chhath Puja.
At sunset, worshippers proceed to the riverbank bearing their offerings in baskets held high to avoid the impure touch of human hands.
Devotee gathering on Chhath puja on river bank
The participants then pay homage to the Sun God, at the precise moment of the setting sun.
Further celebrations take place at nightfall under temporary canopies made from sugar cane stalks where offerings are laid out as a tribute to the god of fire.
Well before sunrise, when the sky is pitch black, worshippers return to the riverbank to pray to the rising sun; this ritual is considered the focal point of the ceremony of Chhath Puja.
Devotee gathering on Chhath puja on river bank
Following prayers and the purifying bathing ritual, the fast is ended with the offering, or prasad, to the Sun God.
Offerings are then shared with families, friends and fellow worshippers, accompanied by the chanting of the Rig Veda Gayatri Mantra to the Sun God।
The devotees break the fast. Prasad is distributed. According to belief if you beg for the Prasad all wishes will come true.
"सूर्य" Surya: The sun (the Sun God is worshipped during the festival of Chhath Puja).
"छठ " Chhath: In the context of Chhath Puja, Chhath refers to the number six and the importance of this date on the Indian festival calendar
"पूजा" Puja: Various interpretations exist of the word "puja," including worship with offerings, especially of flowers, and ritual anointment with sandalwood paste. Puja is the combination of the Sanskrit words for sin and birth.
"प्रसाद " Prasad: Ritual offerings.
"पूरी" puris: This deep-fried bread, made from wheat flour, is traditionally offered at the festival of Chhath Puja.
"ठेकुवा " Thekuwa: This is a wheat-based cake served during the festival of Chhath Puja.
Chhath puja song by Sharda sinha
Chhath puja this year at पटना
Bihar's most revered religious festival Chhath began on Wednesday (10th nov) with the "नहा-खाना" (naha-khana) part of the event as thousands of men, women, and children rushed to various ghats of the Ganges to take a dip in the cold water while offering prayers to the rising sun.
After the morning 'arghya', the families observing Chhath served the traditional dish of rice and lauki (लौकि), a member of the squash family, which incidentally, was selling for three times higher the normal price.
On thursday (11th nov) the devotees would be observing (खरना) 'Kharna' and fast all day only to break their fast in the evening by consuming (गूर का खीर) Rice mixed in milk and jaggery and on Friday (12th nov),the 'arghya' was offered in the evening called as संझ्याअरख "sanjhya arghya" and the final 'arghya' was offered at dusk called as (बोर्ह्याअरख) "borhya arghya" to mark the end of the festival.
10th Nov : नहा-खाना" (naha-khana)
11th Nov : खरना (Kharna)
12th Nov : संझ्याअरख(sanjhya arghya)
13th Nov: बोर्ह्याअरख (borhya arghya)
As always, the city administration had swept the roads with water sprinkled on them to make the journey from homes to the ghats comfortable for the Chhath observers. Folk songs related to Chhath were playing throughout the city adding to the atmosphere of the festival.
Devotee gathering on Chhath puja on river bank
Heavy crowd was seen at Patna's Collectorate Ghat, Digha Ghat, Kurji Ghat, Rajapur LCT Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, Patna College Ghat, and areas at the bank of the river.
India's first prime minister, "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru", was born on November 14. He liked children and was lovingly called by children as Chacha (Uncle) Nehru. After his death in May 27 ,1963 his birthday is observed as Children's Day in India. The more popular and famous of Nehru's pictures show him with children.
In all the photographs Nehru's joy at being with children is apparent. When he is not sharing pleasantries with them, the expression of intense concentration as he listens to them reveals his commitment and attitude to children.
Children to Nehru were little adults in the making.Nehru, to children, is never the Indian political leader and prime minister.
He is always Chacha Nehru - Nehru Uncle.
Children's Day is celebrated all over India, especially at the school level. There are also community activities with stress on children's involvement.
The story also goes that he started to wear a rose on his jacket after a child pinned one on it.The national children's centre, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, is also named after Jawaharlal Nehru. Children's Day is literally that. It is the day when children all over the country are pampered with goodies. From the schoolchild's point of view, the best thing perhaps is that it is a special day at school - they need not wear uniforms and are given sweets.
Children's Day is not just a day to let the future generation have its say. It is a day to remember a leader who, in his quiet but determined way, laid the foundation to convert a nascent nation into a world power.
Celebrations:
Most schools have cultural programmes for the day, with the students managing it all. All over the country, various cultural, social, and even corporate, institutions conduct competitions for children. Children's Day is a day for children to engage in fun and frolic. Schools celebrate this day by organising cultural programmes.Teachers of the school perform songs and dances for their students. Various competitions like quizzes, fancy dress competitions, elocutions are organised on this day. Children are also treated to a movie and lunch.Television networks have in the recent years started to air special programmes all day long for kids on November 14, making this day a special treat
BORN ON: 2nd November 1965. In New Delhi's Talwar Nursing Home, to parents Mir Taj Muhammad and Lateef Fatima, was born a young boy. For the family, that lived in Rajinder Nagar, a middle class locality in the national capital, it was time to rejoice and celebrate the newly born.
When he was just four years of age, Shah Rukh happened to throw a rock at a neighborhood boy because of which the latter's teeth broke. Late at night that day, the child's father came to the house in an inebriated state while wielding a knife. Shah Rukh's father coolly opened the door and when this man threatened to kill his son for what he had done, he crosschecked with Shah Rukh as to whether or not he had committed the act of mischief. When the child confessed, the dad asked him to go out and explain himself to the man who was not only drunk but also armed. Shah Rukh had to go outside and apologize for his deed.
Shah Rukh had won the Raman Subramanyam Award in Class X (1982-83) for character, all round performance in studies, sports and extra curricular activities and the Sword of Honour in Class XII (1984-85) for the Best all round performance, loyalty, obedience, integrity and sportsmanship.
The college where he studied was Delhi University's Hans Raj College, and Shah Rukh did his Economics Honours from the institution between 1985-88. When Hans Raj celebrated its Golden Jubilee, the college gave away 17 shields to its alumni who had excelled in their lives and professions and Shah Rukh was one of them.
After graduating from Hans Raj, he went on to join Jamia Milia Islamia's Mass Communications Research Centre to do his masters in filmmaking and journalism.
Shah Rukh had a solid theatre background and had worked with an institution like Barry John in New Delhi.
Shah Rukh was, in fact uncomfortably possessive about his lady love (Gauri), whom he lovingly calls Gaurima. So much so that he would pick up a quarrel with her even if she let her hair down…literally. Finally, Gauri lost her cool and without informing Shah Rukh, came down to Bombay. Shah Rukh followed her to the huge city and kept looking for her around the beaches because of his awareness that she was attracted to them in a big way. Later, a cab guy advised him to go to Aksa Beach and Gorai Beach. After searching frantically, he managed to track her down when she was standing in the water! Isn't that filmi?
One of the reasons why Shah Rukh bought Mannat, his palatial bungalow, was since he wanted to have an exclusive prayer room. Shah Rukh says that if he were broke, he will sell everything except Mannat
Both the children, Aryan (13th November 1997) and Suhana (23rd May 2000) have been taught to revere the co-existence of Ganpati and Allah in the Khan household. How wonderfully they are being brought up manifests itself in the story that when Shah Rukh was having a critical neck surgery, Aryan went to the temple and said an Islamic prayer so that his father could get well soon.
Shahrukh Khan is a Muslim but celebrates Diwali and Christmas along with Eid every year. He keeps a Lakshmi Pooja every year in his office and at home. He even has a Christmas tree at home. From all the festivals Shahrukh's kids love Christmas the most. Shahrukh Khan has the holy Quran Bismillah kept along with the idols of Indian Gods at his place. His kids pray to both the God's simultaneously.
Shahrukh Khan can be managed best only by his wife as she understands him the most. She is the only person who can command Shahrukh to do things. Infact Shahrukhs's daughter Suhana imitates Gauri Khan very well by saying in a strict voice, 'Shahrukh, eat your food.'
Shahrukh never asks anything for himself from God. It is always his family and his close people he asks for. But whenever he wants to ask for himself, he never goes to a temple but goes to his parent's grave. He believes that whatever he will ask there will be fulfilled and yes most of them have come true which makes Shahrukh's belief all the more strong.
Shahrukh requires a lot of his own space for himself and his near and dear ones understand that. Whenever Shahrukh is angry, he needs to be left alone or you will only make him angrier. Shahrukh loves watching movies in the darkness of his car. He loves watching movies alone and peacefully.
Shahrukh is a complete game freak. In fact he turns everyone around him into a gaming freak. The latest game that Shahrukh is playing is Smackdown versus Raw which is a wrestling game. Shahrukh can't wait to get his hands on the new Play Station 3 as he is not an XBOX fan.
Shahrukh studied at St. Columbus School and he believes that it is the best school in the whole world not because he studied in it, but because he feels they are very disciplined.
Shahrukh still remembers his first fan who is a lady. She was his fan even before he became a film star or a famous televison star. She remembers him since his theater days. She shouted Shahrukh's name on the middle of the road when she spotted him. Shahrukh still cannot forget that moment.
For Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Shah Rukh had taken a signing amount of Rs 5,000 and did the entire film for Rs. 25,000. Shah Rukh had signed a movie called Jadoo co-starring Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher & Navneet Nishan to be directed by Pavan Kaul. But Shah Rukh refused to kiss Navneet who was playing a vampish role. Shah Rukh had promised himself that he would never kiss any actress on-screen. And, he has stuck to this till today.
Calcutta has a unique Shah Rukh Khan club that was founded by a Khan admirer Arnab Roy on 13th December 1995 after the release of DDLJ. The club established its own SRK museum in January 2002 and its members were thrilled when Shah Rukh himself visited them on 7th August 20.
SRK SAYS ON...
On Marriage
It's nice to be married. You know you come back home from twenty thousand people who are screaming and shouting for you and than you come back to your wife… I think is a great leveler.
On Gauri
I was eighteen and she was fourteen when we met. What I liked about her was that I didn't find it as difficult as I thought talking to a girl.
On Parents
My Father was very sweet, soft spoken man. He was the youngest freedom fighter for India actually. My mother was the opposite. She was outgoing and had a very attractive personality. She said I was like Dilip Kumar.
At Home
There are some unsaid rules. I will not make a phone call once I'm in the house. So you'll always see me making a phone call from the bathroom….. I close the door and then talk
On Mumbai
I think it's the greatest city in the world. It's very important to my life and to me. I'll always be thankful that Mumbai has given me a family, and actually Mumbai has given me a life.
On Acting
For me, acting is very spiritual. It combines as sorts of soulful, religious and spiritual things that people do.
On time off
I don't get excited going out but all my friends make fun that I keep saying that but I shop the most. I keep buying gadgets and stuff and I call them my 'utterly useless shopping'.
On fans photographing
The only time I find people invasive is when I am eating. When I'm eating I don't like people looking at me.
On time
I think time passes by very, very fast. I don't ever have time to grow old. It's so fast. I have this feeling that I am running a few days late in life.
Public persona
There has to be now a public face very clearly. And that public face is always smiling. And I'm tired. And I'm sometimes in a bad mood. But I cannot pass that onto people.
