Gokulashtami - 22 august 2008

Janmashtami or Gokulashtami.Every year Janmashtami day is celebrated as a day of Lord Krishna's birth. Child Krishna or Bal Krishna was born at midnight on Ashtami day under the star Rohini. Now Janmashtami is celebrated by Indians all over the world. South Indians also refer to Janmashtami as Gokulashtami. This year Janmashtami is falling on the 24th of Aug 2008. Typically on this day people spend time with their friends , relatives. Dahi Handa or forming a human pyramid to break a pot containing curd and are rewarded for their valour and teamwork. Lot of Janmashtami sweets, Janmashtami greeting cards, Janmashtami messages and are exchanged as a mark of this Janmashtami. This day is also giving opportunity to businesses - and there are so many different ways of expressing greetings to fellow HIndus - specially through internet and mobile media. Exchange of Janmashtami Gifts like flowers, cards and sweets) is a popular tradition of this occasion

Happy Raksha Bandhan! -August 16 -2008

Happy Raksha Bandhan! - August 16 -2008

The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her. The brother and sister traditionally feed each other sweets.

It is not necessary that the rakhi can be given only to a brother by birth; any male can be “adopted” as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person, whether they are cousins or a good friend. Indian history is replete with women asking for protection, through rakhi, from men who were neither their brothers, nor Hindus themselves. Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Mewar. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue

Happy Independence Day