Maha Shivaratri: Celebrating the Night of Shiva

Date of Celebration in 2024: March 8th (Friday)

Why We Celebrate: Maha Shivaratri, also known as the “Great Night of Shiva,” is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually to honor Lord Shiva, one of the supreme deities in Hinduism. It holds several significances:

  • Marriage of Shiva and Parvati: Many believe Maha Shivaratri marks the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati, symbolizing the union of the masculine and feminine energies.
  • Overcoming Darkness: The festival signifies the triumph of light over darkness, both literally (occurring on the darkest night of the lunisolar month) and metaphorically, representing the victory of good over evil and ignorance.
  • Seeking Blessings: Devotees observe Maha Shivaratri by offering prayers and seeking blessings for spiritual growth, liberation, and fulfillment.

Top Quotes:

  • “On this auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, may the blessings of Lord Shiva shower upon you and your loved ones. May you find peace, happiness, and prosperity in life.”
  • “May the observance of Maha Shivaratri ignite the inner light of wisdom within you and guide you on the path of righteousness and self-realization.”
  • “Om Namah Shivaya” (a sacred mantra chanted during Maha Shivaratri, meaning “I bow to the eternal Shiva”)

How to Celebrate:

  • Fasting: Devotees often observe a day-long fast, consuming only water or fruits.
  • Puja (Worship): Devotees offer prayers and perform puja (worship rituals) to Lord Shiva, typically involving offerings of bel leaves, milk, and flowers.
  • Jagran (Staying Awake): Many devotees stay awake throughout the night, chanting mantras, singing hymns, and meditating.
  • Temple Visits: Devotees visit Shiva temples to participate in rituals, seek blessings, and experience the festive atmosphere.

In … Read the rest

Dhanteras 2023: Seek Blessings Of Goddess Lakshmi On This Dhanteras     

The 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar is called Dhanteras. In Hindi, “Dhan” means wealth, and “teras” means thirteenth. So, this day is celebrated as the day of wealth, prosperity, and happiness. Also, it marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival that concludes on “Bhai Dooj”.

by Shalini Agrawal

Why We Celebrate Dhanteras?

Mythology relates Dhanteras to the churning of the cosmic ocean (Sagar Manthan) by Gods and Devils. All worldly things were emerging from Sagar Manthan and on this day, Goddess Lakshmi emerged to bless the world with wealth and prosperity. From that day, “Dhanteras” is celebrated to get the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.

Another story relates Dhanteras to the birth of Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda and health. Dhanvantari blesses devotees of health and well-being. People also worship Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, on Dhanteras. It is believed that celebrating Dhanteras brings wealth and prosperity.

How To Celebrate Dhanteras?

Dhanteras is celebrated by shopping for gold and silver ornaments and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera, and Lord Dhanvantari at their homes and offices. People buy new clothes, vehicles, properties, and other assets on this day and believe that buying goods will please Goddess Lakshmi and bring wealth and prosperity to their lives.

For Lakshmi Puja, people light earthen lamps in their homes, especially on their doors. It is to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi. Also, they offer sweets to the goddess and seek her blessings. Since it is the beginning of Diwali, the festival of light, people light their homes with decorative lights.

Auspicious Time Of Lakshmi Puja On Dhanteras In Read the rest

Internet Is Thrilled To See Shanaya Kapoor’s Belly Dancing Moves

Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor and jewelry designer Maheep Kapoor, who’s going to make her Bollywood debut with Ahhh! of Dharma Movies expected to release this July, shared a video of her belly dance class thanking Sanjana Muthreja, her dance instructor, for pushing her.

What was the dance video about?

Shanaya Kapoor is learning belly dancing from Sanjana Muthreja and she often shares her dance videos on Instagram to entertain her fans. The latest video has Shanaya Kapoor doing shimmy, undulations and other belly dance techniques on the tunes of Beautiful Liar by Beyonce and Shakira. She also said that floor work had always been a challenge to learn.

By releasing her dancing videos, Shanaya Kapoor wants to tell how serious she is about learning belly dancing and how thankful she is to her instructor Sanjana Muthreja.

Shanaya Kapoor’s acting career so far….

She started her career as an assistant director with the 2020 Netflix film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl in which she directed her cousin Janhvi Kapoor. She also made a few cameos in The Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives that was a hit on Netflix. But she received the maximum attention for her appearance in Le Bal in Paris in the year 2019.

Shanaya Kapoor is quite excited about her Bollywood debut. She broke the news of her first movie on Instagram and asked her fans to stay tuned up for her movie. She also said that she couldn’t wait for her fans to see the movie.

Source:- https://bit.ly/3wymywq

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Send Best Wishes Of Happy Maha Shivratri 2021

Maha Shivratri is celebrated across the globe according to Hindu traditions. Devotees fast observe a day-long fast and perform puja all night during Nishita Kaal to worship Lord Shiva, the god of destruction. Also, they give best wishes of Maha Shivratri through phone calls and social media messages and pictures.

Importance of Maha Shivratri

It is the biggest night of Lord Shiva worshipped as the marriage of Lord Shiva with Devi Parvati. Also, it is the day when the Linga from the deity first appeared. Today is the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi Tithi) of Krishna Paksha of Phalguna month according to Purnimant calendar but it is Magha according to Amavasyant calendar.

Devotees of Lord Shiva go to Shivalayas to offer all the things that Lord Shiva likes. They offer bel patra, dhatoora, bel fruit, and bhang to Mahadev. Also, they bath the deity with fresh water, gangajal, milk, dahi, and desi-ghee. Sandal wood powder is also applied to the deity for sweet fragrance.

Happy Maha Shivratri wishes and quotes

• Maha Shivratri is a day when you awaken your inner consciousness to discover the purpose of your being. Feel the presence of the Supreme Power inside and outside.

• Here’s extending my warm greetings to you on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri.

• Shiv Ji Ka Tyohaar Aaya Hai, Anginat Ullas Laya Hai, Har Manokamna Poori Ho Aapki, Bhole Baba Ka Ashish Chhaaya Hai

• Kabhi Na Ho Dukhon Ka Samna, Pag Pag Bholenath Ka Aashirwad Mile, Maha Shivratri Ki Aapko Dheron Shubh Kamnayein. Hara Hara Mahadev

• On the joyous day of Maha Shivratri, here’s praying that we all stay together and cherish every … Read the rest

Nearly ₹ 3,000 Crore And 170 Lives Washed Away In Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand glacier break on Sunday highlights its vulnerability to flash floods and landslides and calls for review of power projects in the ecologically sensitive mountains.

What was the disaster?

The hill state came under shock when a glacier broke into floods near Raini village above Rishiganga river endangering the life and liberty of people. Air Force carried reconnaissance flights and found rubble all over from the entrance of Nanda Devi glacier to Pipalkoti and Chamoli along Dhauliganga and Alaknanda. The disaster resulted in heavy loss to Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower plant and 170 people missing from the facility.

Where was Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower plant situated?

Located at the confluence of Dhauliganga and Rishiganga rivers, the dam faced maximum damage from the flood. The Air Force found that it was completely washed off in the disaster. It was a 520 MW hydro-electric project being constructed by state-run NTPC Limited at a cost of nearly ₹ 3,000 crore. NTPC also said that its Vishnugad project was damaged in the avalanche and that it was monitoring the situation. Picture from the reconnaissance flight also showed the two bridges situated at the entrance of Malari valley and near Tapovan washed away in the flood.

Is there any collateral damage assessment?

Construction work and hutments in the valley were damaged in the pictures. But the road connectivity from Joshimath and Tapovan was seen intact in the aerial survey. Soon after the tragedy, Air Force, Army and Navy were pressed into action to expedite the rescue work.

Source:- https://bit.ly/3cS0q8z

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10 Points Of The 9th Budget Of The Modi Government

The nineth budget of the Modi government is expected to be different in many ways. The economy is in recession, jobs are gone and the pandemic has hit the country the hardest. Every sector requires expenditure but the people are also looking for relief from taxes. So, would the budget expectations be fulfilled.

Here’re 10 important points of the Union Budget that the FM will present at 11 AM today

  1. Finance Minister Ms Sitharaman has promised that this budget is going to be unprecedented as the PM has already hinted towards extension of the measures announced in 4-5 mini budgets in 2020.
  2. Ms Sitharaman was seen carrying a tablet with the national symbol embossed on it instead of papers indicating that it is going to be a paperless budget. And it will be the first time in the history.
  3. The FM is expected to unveil plans to revive the economy to achieve 11% growth target on the face of a forecasted 7.7% contraction in the current financial year.
  4. The FM needs doing more to revive the economy that was already in the slow down mode before the pandemic and slipped into recession to its lowest in 11 years during the crisis. There could be 15% more spending on healthcare and infrastructure. Also, the taxpayers could get further relief in the budget.
  5. The healthcare budget could be doubled to raise the expenditure to 4% of the GDP to meet healthcare needs highlighted during the pandemic. Also, there could be 1% of income and corporate tax to fund the healthcare budget.
  6. Pandemic-hit sectors like real estate, aviation, tourism and automobile are expecting tax relief in the budget.
  7. The FM could suggest measures to drive the fiscal deficit
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What Are The Priorities Of Padma Awardee Sridhar Vembu?

Sridhar Vembu, who founded Zoho Corp, has been awarded the Padma Shri on the 72nd Republic Day. A graduate of IIT Madras and Princeton University, Sridhar Vembu recently moved back to his hometown Tenkasi village in Tamil Nadu in India. But he denied that he moved to India due to pandemic.

Zoho Corp

In 1996, Sridhar Vembu founded Advent Net Inc. along with his siblings and Tony Thomas. At that time, the company was headquartered in Pleasanton, California, US. But the company was morphed into Zoho Corp in 2009 and headquarter shifted to Chennai in India.

Today Zoho Corp is valued a $1 billion company and it boasts of having over 60 million users that include Levi’s, Amazon, Philips, Whirlpool, Ola, Xiaomi and Zomato according to an online publication, Friday Magazine.

Sridhar Vembu on Zoho Corp

Vembu said that he built Zoho at the right time. The segment was also right and conditions favourable. He further said that the company flourished by serving the underserved. And he said that entrepreneurs needed to be fearless.

Sridhar Vembu was speaking at an event organized by the Start India Initiative on 16th January. He said that entrepreneurs must be fearful of competing with big giants. But what could be worst than going back to a job. Other than software development, Sridhar Vembu is … Read the rest

What Celebrities Tweeted On 72nd Republic Day?

Today the country is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day. It was on this day in 1950 that the constitution of India came into force. Since then, 26th January is celebrated as Republic Day in the country. On this day, everyone including eminent personalities and celebrities extend their wishes to the country.

72nd-Republic-Day

PM Modi’s Republic Day plan

Before the Republic Day celebrations start, PM Modi would visit the National War Memorial near India Gate and lay wreath on the memorial to pay solemn tributes to the fallen heroes. Afterwards, the PM will move to the dais at the Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade. It will be a 90-minute parade that will showcase the military prowess of the country.

Parade under the shadow of pandemic

Due to pandemic, only 25,000 visitors are allowed at Rajpath. Earlier, lakhs of visitors used to sit at Rajpath to watch the parade. Also, the parade will be shorter this year and it will conclude at the national Stadium instead of marching towards the Red Fort.

Celebrities tweeted best wishes to the nation

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted some of his pictures with his best wishes. Sonu Sood also sent his best wishes for the 72nd Republic Day. He had become a national during nationwide lockdown for helping common men.

Source:- https://bit.ly/36b4WuH

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Ayodhya Mosque Construction Will Start On January 26

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) trust will start construction of the Ayodhya mosque at the prescribed five-acre plot on January 26. Also, it has planned a plantation drive and raising of the national flag to mark the beginning of the project.

Reason given for plantation drive

IICF said that it wanted to highlight the cause of climate change with plantation drive and give the message that climate change was the biggest threat to humanity. The upcoming mosque includes a green area that will have plants from all geographic regions and varieties from Amazon rainforest to bushfires in Australia to aware people about the challenge of climate change.

It will be a modern design

The IICF unveiled a futuristic design with beautiful mosque featuring a massive glass dome sitting in a picturesque garden. Also, a hospital building is seen just behind the mosque. But IICF also intends constructing an Indo-Islamic cultural research centre, library, museum, publication house and a community kitchen.

The nine trustees of the foundation recently held a meeting to discuss the design and clearances for foreign contribution from Income Tax Department. They also discussed issues related to the new design and decided to apply to the Ayodhya District Board to allow construction of library and other facilities.

Settlement of Ayodhya dispute

Supreme Court in its November 2020 verdict made it clear that the disputed site at Ayodhya belonged to Lord Ram but it also ordered a suitable place be allotted for construction of a mosque.

Source:- https://bit.ly/3izedC9

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Delhi Gets Repeated Quakes Starting April

Two earthquakes sent tremors across Delhi NCR in late evening on Friday. While the first quake was of a medium intensity, the second was a low intensity. The epicenter was of the quake was Rohtak in Haryana that is approximately 60 km from Delhi.

First quake

It occurred around 9:08 pm and it measured 4.5 magnitude on Richter scale. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) recorded that the quake happened at a depth of 5 km in the epicenter. Tremor of this quake were felt across the national capital and the adjoining areas including Noida.

Second quake

It occurred within a span of one hour of the first quake. But it was a low intensity quake. The second earthquake occurred at 10 pm and it was measured 2.9 on the Richter scale. The NCS said that it was a low intensive quake with the epicenter in Rohtak in Haryana.

Could Delhi withstand quakes?

Quakes of less than 5 magnitude could cause damage only in the areas where structures are weak or compromised. But quakes of more than magnitudes could cause large-scale damage. India is divided into different seismic zones with Zones IV … Read the rest