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<channel>
	<title>India Updates</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india</link>
	<description>Daily Indian News</description>
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		<title>ICAI Supporting Scammer PWC in Satyam SCAM</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/icai-supporting-scammer-pwc-in-satyam-scam/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/icai-supporting-scammer-pwc-in-satyam-scam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:16:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[India News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=579</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[hile i was a student at ICAI[Institute of Chartered Accountants of India] i was always told about the long rules and practises we need to follow in order to complete any job. Years passed and ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div id="attachment_578" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/satyam-scam.jpg" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/satyam-scam-150x150.jpg" alt="Satyam Scam" title="Satyam Scam" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-578" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Satyam Scam</p></div>While i was a student at ICAI[Institute of Chartered Accountants of India] i was always told about the long rules and practises we need to follow in order to complete any job. Years passed and recently we came to know about the big Satyam Scam by Raju which involved thousands of $ loss to the people. The companies owner was thrown in the jail and the ICAI filed a case against the Satyam&#8217;s auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Today there was another news that ICAI gave a clean chit to Pwc because it appealed that it had no connection with their franchise in bangalore.</p>
<p>Can someone explain me if a company offers franchise and if their franchise does something wrong, isnt the franchisor held for that? If not then whats the reason the franchise has got the rights to use the name of the franchisor and gain clients based on the brand name?</p>
<p>Its clear the ICAI has implemented a wrong step just to favor a large MNC firm which had made lakhs of people suffer for their own mistakes. A audiotors fim has the right and is also oblidged to give away the right numbers and perfect accounts when Public Money is involved which they didnt do. Iam seriously confused why reputed firms like ICAI also bend their rules and change everything when its comes for known companies.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Largest Online Website on Maps of India</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/largest-online-website-on-maps-of-india/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/largest-online-website-on-maps-of-india/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indian Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=574</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[MapsofIndia.com is found to be the largest online data bank of maps on India. It is existence ever since 1998. The site helps to provide business mapping solutions and the thematic map images of various ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>MapsofIndia.com is found to be the largest online data bank of maps on India. It is existence ever since 1998. The site helps to provide business mapping solutions and the thematic map images of various places in India. It contains the states, union territories, districts, and all the cities. MapsofIndia is an established brand that services businesses, institutions and individuals all over the globe.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_575" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 144px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MapsOfIndia.gif" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MapsOfIndia.gif" alt="Maps of India" title="Maps of India" width="134" height="126" class="size-full wp-image-575" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Maps of India</p></div>The <a href="http://www.mapsofindia.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="liexternal">MapsofIndia.com</a> can be traced right back to the year 1997. Once people realized that the Internet would be the next medium of mass communication and usage after the invention of television, few of the IT savvy entrepreneurs came out of IT and joining hands with non-IT companies, together they formed the Compare InfoBase Limited.</p>
<p>The objective of these people was to set up a factory that would develop Internet sites, on any subject given and at various price ranges, to suit the Indian market. Compare InfoBase was able to launch its first project, Indiaprofile.com, on the 15th of August 1998. The site was developed with the main aim of emerging as a wonderful default portal to obtain any information on India. It was started with various information regarding travel, infrastructure, economy, education, culture, and celebrations including maps of India. By October 1998, the entrepreneurs were clear that within Mapsofindia lay the idea whose time had come.</p>
<p>They found by analysis from the traffic report which showed that 50% of the traffic, which that came to Indiaprofile, were interested in the smallest section of the site, namely Mapsofindia. The Mapsofindia section then provided about 50 maps on India and its important states. It was then decided to immediately launch Mapsofindia.com with maps of all the states, important cities and thematic maps on India in general. This dream came to realization on 14th December 1998 as Mapsofindia.com which became fully operational with over 250 maps.</p>
<p><strong>Similar :</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/bing-3d-online-maps/" class="liinternal">Add Realistic 3D Capabilities to Maps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/microsoft-live-maps-india/" class="liinternal">Microsoft Live Search Maps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/free-world-india-maps/" class="liinternal">Get World Maps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/free-cities-3d-maps/" class="liinternal">Popular Cities 3D Maps</a></li>
</ul>
<p>This was achieved during the period when Yahoo was the king in search engines and submissions. India’s popularity on the net was limited, and maps on India was nowhere to be found. Yahoo&#8217;s directory for India did not have a sub-directory about its maps and there were hardly 2000 India specific sites that were listed on the Yahoo website. Yahoo was impressed with the website Mapsofindia because of the depth of information that it offered. So it joined hands with Mapsofindia to develop a directory structure within yahoo&#8217;s India sub-directory. This was named as Maps &amp; Views. Side by side Yahoo also developed a directory structure called States and Union Territories. Yahoo then accommodated Mapsofindia in each section of its new directory structure. Chandigarh, Pond cherry, Haryana &amp; the whole of the North East, were amongst the new directory structure created specifically to accommodate Mapsofindia.</p>
<p>There web site started to grow phenomenally. Maps of india was offered as a free site when it was first initiated and remains the same to this day. It started off with 250 maps and has now grown to over 6,000 pages of maps and content. Today it has promoted a host of travel websites being the India&#8217;s largest online map store of India.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Listen to latest Upcoming Bollywood Songs, oldies &amp; music albums Online</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/listen-to-latest-upcoming-bollywood-songs-oldies-music-albums-online/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/listen-to-latest-upcoming-bollywood-songs-oldies-music-albums-online/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:46:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indian Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=569</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Smashits provides you with the latest upcoming Bollywood Songs, oldies, and music albums. It also offers other scintillating stuff like Hindi Music videos, Wall Papers and Screensavers, Trailers, Celebrity News and Biographies, Jokes, Live Chat, ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Smashits provides you with the latest upcoming Bollywood Songs, oldies, and music albums. It also offers other scintillating stuff like Hindi Music videos, Wall Papers and Screensavers, Trailers, Celebrity News and Biographies, Jokes, Live Chat, Radio and FM.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.smashits.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="liexternal">Smashits</a> can be described as a blend of various sounds that unite to form a soothing effect, but the realm of music is very comprehensive. You can see that in a broader sense music is termed as a magic that flows through the veins and hits both the body and the soul. What makes the music a touching obsession are Pitch (Tune and Harmony), Rhythm (Beats and Pulse), Dynamics and the sonic traits incorporated with vocal echo. Varied Modes and Themes of Music bring about Romantic, Sad, Patriotic, Dance and Meditation, that has the power to bring immense change to the human mood within no time. Music and songs have always been found to be a perfect source of relaxation for all. </p>
<div id="attachment_570" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 417px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Smashits-Free-Music.gif" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Smashits-Free-Music.gif" alt="Smashits Free Music" title="Smashits Free Music" width="407" height="75" class="size-full wp-image-570" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Smashits Free Music</p></div>
<p>Indian music basically originates with traditional classical compositions but has slowly transformed into the modern day melodies. You can see that Hindi music is not just confined to India but is becoming famous all over the world, due to Technology and awareness. Indian Hindi Music has a history of more than 5000 years which is definitely above any other variety of harmony. This clearly proves that music follows no traditions, belief, or ethnic precincts. </p>
<p>You can see that hindi music consists of various diverse genres like Folk songs, Classical, Melody, Bollywood Songs, Bhangra, Ghazals, Dance numbers, remix, Instrumental, Marriage songs, Oldies, Patriotic songs, Karaoke, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Punjabi. People in India are found to be passionate for their music. Hindi music is definitely one of the greatest reasons behind the success of Bollywood. Movie songs are generally used to promote the films well before the movie is released. There have been many Hindi singers who have contributed towards taking Indian Music over the period of time to add to the glories like A.R Rehman, Lata Mangeshkar, Jagjit Singh, Asha Bhonsle, Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Sukhvinder Singh, Ghulam Ali, Kavita Krishanmurti, R.D. Burman, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Udit Narayan, Gurdass Mann. </p>
<p>Indian Music has been greatly benefited with the recent advancement in its online accessibility. These days there is absolutely no need to visit a Music shop to buy your favorite collections but can just switch on your computers and enjoy the best music at your desktop while relaxing at home. There are many websites that provide the latest Hindi movie songs along with the oldest of albums. But www.Smashits.com has been greatly appreciated by its listeners. Smashits is packed with the largest database of songs. It has been rendering unsurpassed services towards Indian music. Thus Smashits.com is an online source of Hindi music, Indian songs, Bollywood Movie soundtracks, desi videos, trailors and news. It offers Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam Songs and Videos Online. It also offers remix, Pop and more. Latest Hindi, Tamil and Telugu music and movies are best available on this web site.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Travel Search Engine Wego Review</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/travel-search-engine-wego-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/travel-search-engine-wego-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[India News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=487</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Wego is a travel search engine. Wego helps a great deal as a price comparison website. It helps you to find the best flight, accommodation at the hotels; travel packages all the details as ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" title="Travel Search Engine Wego Review" src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Travel-Search -Engine-Wego-Review-Logo.jpg" alt="Travel search engine Wego Review" width="158" height="70" /> Wego is a travel search engine. Wego helps a great deal as a price comparison website. It helps you to find the best flight, accommodation at the hotels; travel packages all the details as per your requirement. You need not go through each and every travel site. Wego provides all the details in a single website.</p>
<p>Wego travel search engine works as Meta search engine. They also work similar to vertical search engine or domain specific search engine. When you do a search for a flight, hotel etc. wego searches through dozens of travel sites all around the world. It would then present the results through a practical interface that would help you to choose from huge options provided after the collation of the results by wego. The integrated travel site consists of online travel agencies, consolidators, and hotel and airline web sites. Wego also displays the low cost airline tickets for you to choose from, something that is different from other websites which try sell the tickets for profit.</p>
<p>Wego is able to provide the results that you need just by making use of filters to help you to search for what you need. You could search and sort the results by price, by star rating of hotels, and even by the duration of the flights. For example you could search for flights between just 11:22 and 11:40. You could specifically mention by what you wish to fly. You could even specify that you need a 3 star hotel that will be cheap and fit your budget. Just by making use of the filters, wego is able to get you the results that will match your requirements very quickly.</p>
<p>Wego not only helps to search and provide the results, it will also help you to get connected directly to the travels for you to book and make the purchases immediately. There are absolutely no hidden charges. You will be paying for what you are seeing. You will find the exact same airfare, hotel room rates or package deals just for the same price as mentioned by the travel site.</p>
<p>Wego by itself is not a travel agent or a travel site that would sell tickets for flights or make booking for hotel stay. It is just a travel search engine that helps you to locate the travel agent who will suit your needs. Wego acts only as a guide to help you locate the travel site for all your travel needs. Wego only helps to improve the way you make your search for and make purchases of airline tickets, hotel room reservations and travel packages that are available on the net. They help in providing many travel options without any bias so that you get all the information available on the net which would help you to make your decision.</p>
<p>Wego provides value added online travel experience. It is able to deliver comprehensive access to the best deals available in travel through alliances with online travel agencies, and other hotel and airline companies.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Losar Festival</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/losar-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/losar-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:41:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Festivals Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=566</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Losar is a Tibetan word literally meaning New Year. “Lo” means year and “Sar” means New. It is a fifteen day festival celebrated in Tibet. In the first day of the celebration Changkol, a sort ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Losar is a Tibetan word literally meaning New Year. “Lo” means year and “Sar” means New. It is a fifteen day festival celebrated in Tibet. In the first day of the celebration Changkol, a sort of beverage is made. The festive occasion coincidentally falls nearly on the same day of the Chinese New Year. But both of them are culturally very different. In Bhutan although different regions have different New years still Losar is celebrated in Bhutan by many.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_567" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Losar-Festival.jpg" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Losar-Festival-150x150.jpg" alt="Losar Festival" title="Losar Festival" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-567" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Losar Festival</p></div><strong>Origin and History</strong><br />
The origin of Losar is not properly known but records say that it can be dated back before the advent of Buddhism in Tibet. In those times in winter a spiritual custom was held where people burned and offered huge numbers of Incense please spirits and the God. This custom later evolved as  an annual Buddhist festive occasion. It is said that this festival began when an old woman called Bhelma showed how to measure time by measuring phases of moon. The festival generally occurs during flowering of the apricot trees and is believed to have first celebrated as a traditional farmers festival.  Later when the principles of Astrology was introduced to Tibet, this festival came to be popularly known as Losar.</p>
<p>Losar, also popularly known as Bal Gyal Lo. Bal meaning Tibet, Gyal means king and Lo literally means year. This festival is known as Bal Gyal Lo because started after the first king came into throne.</p>
<p><strong>Celebration and tradition</strong><br />
Losar generally begins on the tibetian New year eve. The monasteries do a special puja for the protector’s deity and start the preparation for the beginning of the festival. A special kind of noodle prepared with nine different ingredients called ghutuk is a special custom of this festival. Also a tradition is that dough balls with items such as chilies, coal, salt, rice etc each reflecting a particular nature find in various persons, are hidden in them. Finally the New year eve is a to make it clean for the coming year. In the monasteries very fine decorations are put and offerings called Lamar Losar are made. The 2nd day is called King’s Losar  and it is officially reserved for mass  gathering.  From third onwards people greet each other and celebration of the festival begins.    </p>
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		<title>Lohri Festival</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/lohri-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/lohri-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:40:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Festivals Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=562</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lohri is a harvest festival. It is very popular specially in the Northern parts of the country. Lohri is celebrated with friends and family and even a bonfire is lit in the evening. It is ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lohri is a harvest festival. It is very popular specially in the Northern parts of the country. Lohri is celebrated with friends and family and even a bonfire is lit in the evening. It is an Indian way equivalent to thanks giving ceremony. During this festival children go from door to door singing folk songs in praise of Dolha Bhatti. He is a thief in the folklore  who helps the poor and fights for them resembling more of the Nottinghamshire Hero Robinhood. The children are offered sweets and candies. These collections are called popularly, Lohri . They are distributed in the evening and also some are given to the bonfire as a tribute to God Agni.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_563" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lohri-Festival.jpg" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lohri-Festival-150x150.jpg" alt="lohri Festival" title="lohri Festival" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-563" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">lohri Festival</p></div><strong>Origin</strong><br />
There are many beliefs of the origin of the festival.According to some the origin of the festival dates back to the story of Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who is believed to be lived in the reign of Emperor Akbar. He not only saved the poor but also rescued hindu girls being forcibly taken and sold in the middle east slave market. Thai is why during this festival folk songs mentioning the praises of him is sung.  Some believe that the name Lohri originated from Loi, the wife of Kabira. Some believe that the word originated from the word Loh meaning steel tawa on which chapattis are baked.</p>
<p><strong>Celebrations</strong><br />
Lohri is the climax of the winter as it is the last day of paush and the first day of Magha. As per the Gregorian calendar it falls around January 12 and 13th when sun starts changing its course. In this festival the sun and the fire are worshipped and is exclusively celebrated in Punjab. Lohri rituals are performed with singing special Lohri songs and enjoying traditional folk dances. A bonfire is built in the evening to worship the God of fire, lord Agni. </p>
<p>A special Prasad is distributed which comprises of til, gur, peanuts, gachchak and popcorn. The festival  is celebrated to thank the Sun God and seek his continuous protection. People wear colorful clothes and enjoy the traditional dancing styles as Bhangra and Gidda .For the dinner special traditional items like sarson ks saag and makki ki roti is served. This festival gives a good opportunity to interact with friends and family. </p>
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		<title>Khordad Sal Festival</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/khordad-sal-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/khordad-sal-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:12:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Festivals Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Khordad sal a festival exclusively of the parsi community who are the followers of the religion Zoroastrianism. It is a day to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of the religion, Zoroaster. The festival ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Khordad sal a festival exclusively of the parsi community who are the followers of the religion Zoroastrianism. It is a day to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of the religion, Zoroaster. The festival generally falls on the sixth of the Parsi month Farvardin, that is according to Gregorian Calender the festival falls on August or September. Zoroastrians all over the world celebrate the festival with great zeal and enthusiasm with parties and Gahambers.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_560" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Khordad-Sal-Festival.jpg" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Khordad-Sal-Festival-150x150.jpg" alt="Khordad Sal Festival" title="Khordad Sal Festival" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-560" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Khordad Sal Festival</p></div><strong>History</strong><br />
Though the actual date of the birth of the Prophet or Zoroaster is not known exactly it is believed by many that he may have lived in the early 628 and 551 BC. Some believe that he was born somewhere  in west Iran or near Tehran. It is said by many existing legends that when his mother was five months pregnant she had a dream one night that the world was going to be destroyed very soon. But then an Angel appeared in front of her and foretold that the unborn child in her womb would become a great Prophet in his life and will be powerful enough to reverse the coming destruction of the world. </p>
<p>When the child was actually born he had divine nature in him, since right at the tmoment of his birth, according to the legends, his face was actually shining. Due to this reason he was given the name of Zarathustra. According to one translation it means Golden (Zara) light (ushas) while in another translation it simply means Yellow (Zara) camel (ustra).</p>
<p><strong>Celebrations</strong><br />
It is celebrated with special prayers and Jashns which are held throughout the day. Khordad sal was used to be observed by the royal family and the upper classes of Iran as Navroz – I – Khas. It is signified as a special historic day as on this day many events occurred and hence is also celebrated as a special new year’s day. But nowadays this day is simply celebrated by all Parsis as the birthday of Prophet. Zoroastrians and Parsis visit fire temples and offer prayers and homage. It is a day of rejoicing as a special feast is prepared and homes are decorated with flowers and rangoli. Many devotees on this day review their lives and take strong resolutions foe the coming future.</p>
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		<title>Karwa Chauth Festival</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/karwa-chauth-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/karwa-chauth-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:04:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Festivals Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Karwa chauth is typically Hindu festival mainly for couples specially for married women. Married women known as Suhagans in India fast the whole day without foor or even water praying for the long life of ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Karwa chauth is typically Hindu festival mainly for couples specially for married women. Married women known as Suhagans in India fast the whole day without foor or even water praying for the long life of their husbands. This festival reflects the dedication and the attachment of Indian women towards their husband who are willing to suffer any pain for them and thus increasing love between couples.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_556" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 228px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Karwa-Chauth-Festival.JPG" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Karwa-Chauth-Festival.JPG" alt="Karwa Chauth Festival" title="Karwa Chauth Festival" width="218" height="203" class="size-full wp-image-556" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Karwa Chauth Festival</p></div><strong>Ritual</strong><br />
It is celebrated in the month of Kartik according to Hindu calendar on the chaturthi tithi after the fullmoon. Karwa literally means clay pot and chauth means fourth night after the full moon, because Karwa ias filled wuthspecial food and jewellery and offered to God thus the name Karwa chauth. This festival is mainly performed in most parts of northern India. Married women just after the sight of the moon  start their fast.  Then they wait for next nights moon to appear, when they break their fast through various fastbreaking rituals, without consuming foor or water. On seeing the moon the next night they look at it and offer prayers. Then looking at their husbands they receive their first bite of food and water from their Husbands hands. Then only the fast is broken.</p>
<p><strong>The History</strong><br />
According to Hindu mythology Karwa was a woman whose husband was caught by a crocodile. She tied the crocodile with cotton yarnand asked Yama, the god of death, to send the crocodile to Hell ,which Yama refused. Karwa then threatened to curse Him, fearing of which Yama sent the crocodile to Hell. Karwa ked a happy, blissful life with her husband. The fact that even the God of death was afrais of a devoted wife, shows the power of a pativraat wife.</p>
<p><strong>Karwa chauth day</strong><br />
The festival is widely celebrated by many Hindu married couples in various parts of the world. On this day for nearly 24 hours the wife doesnot consume food or even water. She decorates herself by painting her hands and feet with henna, dressed generally in Red Saris. This festival has the main belief that pati-vrat or devoted wives have the power to even fear God of death. This fast is done by the women folk so that their husbands enjoy longer life.</p>
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		<title>Smart Bargains Buy Branded Stuff at Discounts</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/smart-bargains-buy-branded-stuff-at-discounts/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/smart-bargains-buy-branded-stuff-at-discounts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[India News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=486</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Smartbargains.com offers your favorite brands at low affordable prices. You could go online and do shopping when ever you desire. Smartbargains.com is basically a division of retail convergence inc. a portfolio of e-commerce companies ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" title="Smart Bargains Buy Branded Stuff at Discounts" src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Smart-Bargains-Buy-Branded-Stuff-Logo.jpg" alt="Smart Bargains Buy Branded Stuff at Discounts" width="158" height="70" /> Smartbargains.com offers your favorite brands at low affordable prices. You could go online and do shopping when ever you desire. Smartbargains.com is basically a division of retail convergence inc. a portfolio of e-commerce companies that is based in Boston. This was started in 1999 a dedicated online, off-price shopping that would give a pleasant easy to use rewarding experience while you go online. Smartbargain professionals take care to search through the entire globe and bring out selected quality of branded goods in fashion, jewelry etc. They are specialized in giving the best selection for you.</p>
<p>They are committed in giving the best quality of goods through their website and through their state of art fulfillment center. They also have a team of professionals as their customer service executives who are responsive and always ready to help their customers. You can discover all this through their website and save on your favorite brands.</p>
<p>You can place your order by visiting www.smartbargains.com on to your shopping cart. You can follow the screens and place your order and check out with the help provided. You can be sure that your personal information is secure with their site.</p>
<p>When you sign up for smartbargains you will be promptly informed of all the exciting savings. The Bargain Alert email newsletter will be forwarded free to make sure that you never miss a bargain. In each issue that is produced you can find new bargains, new offers, and exclusive savings and also advise on expert recommendations. You can sign for this entire special feature through www.smartbargains.com/subscription.aspx</p>
<p>You also have access to smart shoppers club where once you join in as a member you can have an early access to the new bargains provided by smartbargain.com it comes with all types of shopping benefits. You could sign up for the same and enjoy the benefits for a full year. Its benefit includes a $7 savings off the usual $9.95 standard shipping rate. Exclusive bargains will be offered only to the club members. You can have first access within 48 hrs where the prices will be slashed and you will be the first to be informed of the same. It also offers a toll free number especially for the members so that the queries can be attended to giving special preference to these members.</p>
<p>Smartbargain also offers a reward card that be used as a one-time special offer. This could be purchased as an extra savings or as a special shipping rate or any other benefit provided by smartbargain.com. You could receive the reward card as a printed card from a promotion or by email from smartbargain.com it will describe the type of offer that is given to you along with a unique reward code which you can use during checkout. The reward code is a series of letters and numbers that will be found at the back of your reward card. Smartbargains.com also offers a choice of delivery services offered in terms of speed, though it would not give you the choice of your carrier.</p>
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		<title>Janmashtami Festival</title>
		<link>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/janmashtami-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/janmashtami-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:35:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Bhawani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Festivals Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/?p=551</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Janmastami, popularly known as Krishna Janmastami is celebrated as Lord Krishna’s Birthday ,believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself. Janmashtami is celebrated on the eight day ,that is Astami of Krishna Paksha in ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Janmastami, popularly known as Krishna Janmastami is celebrated as Lord Krishna’s Birthday ,believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself. Janmashtami is celebrated on the eight day ,that is Astami of Krishna Paksha in the Bhaadra month of Hindu calendar .The festival celebration ismost popular in Mathura and vrindavan, where enactments of Ras Lila is also performed.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_552" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Janmashtami-Festival.gif" ><img src="http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Janmashtami-Festival-150x150.gif" alt="Janmashtami Festival" title="Janmashtami Festival" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-552" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Janmashtami Festival</p></div><strong>Significance</strong><br />
According to rituals fast is kept the previous day. The idol of baby Krishna is bathed at midnight and put to a cradle. Then it is worshipped and special Aartis are song after which the fast is broken. In the morning of Janmashtami small feet impression is drawn outside the house with rice and flour paste to give the feeling that Baby Krishna has entered the house to bless the devotee. Ras Lilas are performed to recreate the youthful days of Krishna’s life. The festival is celebrated with huge enthusiasm in many parts of the country.</p>
<p><strong>Celebrations</strong><br />
            <strong>South India</strong><br />
         In south India the festival is celebrated as Sri Krishnajanamastami or Gokulastami. In Karnataka the Madhwas, Srinivasas and the Iyengars  make huge preparation of the festival. The Krishnas idol is placed on a Mantapa well decorated and snacks and sweets prepared exclusively for the festival are suspended along with fruits.  In the evening puja is performed. A kolam that is a rice flour painting on the flour, well known as Rangoli in most parts of India, is made  to decorate the front yard of the house. This is known as ezhakoolam. Footprints representing Krishna’s entry is also made.</p>
<p><strong>Maharashtra</strong><br />
In India the most biggest celebration of Janmastami is done in Maharashtra. There a custom that a Dahi Handi or a clay pot  filled with buttermilk is hung at great heights on roads or various communities. A human pyramid is made and the topmost person tries to break it. When the Dahi Handi is broken all the buttermilk is spilled all over the people recreating the breaking of pots by Lord Krishna in his childhood. A group of youths called Govindas travel at various local communities to break as many handis as possible . Many such Govindas compete with each other for the Handis and  huge reward are also given.</p>
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