Happy Onam to all dear friends.....

Happy Onam to all dear friends.....

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is also the Harvest Festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the fourth Onam Day. It is also a secular festival, celebrated by people of all religions and castes with the same zeal. The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.  Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala. Also, it is one of the very few festivals that is celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikkali, Pookkalam, Onattappau, Thumbi Thullal etc.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar. Coinciding with the harvest season, Onam marks a joyful completion of human efforts, with a prayerful optimism for the future. People of all religion, caste and community celebrate the festival with equal joy, underlining the secular fabric of our society.This unique festival brings out the rich cultural heritage of Kerala in it’s best form and spirit.

Story behind Onam

Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

Typical Onam Sadhya

Pookalam

More Scraps 

Read More

Ganesh Chathurthi wishes to all......

Currentaffairs4examz Team wishes all of you a very happy Ganesh Chathurthi

Read More

Happy Teacher’s Day 2013

Happy Teacher’s Day

September 5 is Teacher’s Day. This is a day to honour your teachers and thank them for all that they have done for you. It is also a day to remember one of the greatest teachers of India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

Teachers play an important role in moulding young minds and inspiring them to greater heights.

Teacher’s day is celebrated on September 5 in India. It commemorates the birthday of Professor S. Radhakrishnan, who was the second President of India. A scholar of philosophy and comparative literature, Dr. Radhakrishnan is a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, besides several international honours such as the Templeton prize and the Commonwealth Order of Merit.

Global festivity

Teacher’s day is celebrated around the world on different days. The first President of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stated, “the new generation will be created by teachers”. Ataturk was named the nation’s head teacher on November 24 which is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in Turkey.

September 11 is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in Argentina to honour its former President, intellectual and activist Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who opened schools and free public libraries.

Brazil declared October 15 as Teacher Appreciation Day in 1963. Emperor Pedro I introduced a law that created schools for the lower classes in the 19th century.

Australia celebrates this day on the last Friday of October.

UNESCO recognises October 5 as World Teacher’s Day to acknowledge teachers’ contribution to education and development.

A good school or college is known by the quality of its teachers. A number of distinguished people acknowledge the influence their teachers have had on them. These include scientist, Albert Einstein, philosopher Khalil Gibran, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, among others.

Novelist John Steinbeck, said, “I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.”

Students spend a major portion of their day at school. So, the people they spend time with in school has an impact on how they develop as human beings. Many teachers share their views and experiences with students which help them learn about life. Others set an example for students by the manner in which they conduct themselves.

Some students find a mentor in their teachers, while many others find a life-long friend in them.

“Teachers are often the people who inspire us the most. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan. She so believed in me, and for the first time, made me embrace the idea of learning. I learned to love learning because of Mrs. Duncan from Wharton Elementary School.”-Talk show host, Oprah Winfrey

Courtesy: thehindu.com

Read More

Happy Independence Day 2013!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Independence Day 2013!!!!!!!!!!

15 August 2013 nation celebrates its 67^th Independence Day…On this great eve let’s remember all those who had laid their lives so that our country is breathing this day…..Never forget their sacrifice…Jai Hind!!

Currentaffairs4examz team wishes all of you a very Happy Independence Day

Some great quotes on Independence

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge… At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom”. – Jawaharlal Nehru (Indian Declaration of Independence, on eve of Independence, August 15 1947).

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action– Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.” –

Rabindranath Tagore (Gitanjali)

"We end today a period of ill fortune and India discovers herself again. The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this opportunity and accept the challenge of the future?"

- Jawaharlal Nehru 

Read More

Eid Mubaarak wishes to all.....

Eid Mubaarak wishes to all.....

Eid ul-Fitr means the Celebration of Breaking the Fast and Recurring Happiness. Eid ul fitr is the traditional event of Muslims, which comes after Ramadan (the month of fasting). People celebrate this Eid with great pomp and show. They send greeting cards and gifts to their family friends and relatives.

Currentaffairs4examz team wishes all of you a very very happy Ramadan Mubarak......

Read More

Happy Buddha Purnima wishes to all our viewers!!!!!!

May 25- Buddha Purnima

Vesak (Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti) is a Buddhist festival that marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. It falls on the day of the full moon in May and it is a gazetted holiday in India. Government offices, Post Offices and Banks are closed in India on Vesak. Stores and other businesses and organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours.

President’s Buddha Purnima Greetings

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, in his message on the occasion of Buddha Purnima which is being observed tomorrow, has said: -

“On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my hearty greetings and good wishes to the citizens of the country.

Lord Buddha’s teachings of non-violence, love and compassion are of eternal significance. He taught us the path of Right Action so that mankind may overcome its suffering. We must strive to make these teachings part of our daily life and tread the path of nobility in thought, word and deed.

May this joyous festival of Buddha Purnima usher in peace and universal brotherhood across the world.” (Source: pib)

PM Greets the Nation on Buddha Purnima

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

In a message, the Prime Minister said that the teachings of Lord Buddha inspire us to follow the path of universal brotherhood, compassion and the service of the underprivileged and disadvantaged people.

May this festival spread the values of peace and brotherhood amongst us all, the Prime Minister added. (Source: pib)

Happy Buddha Purnima wishes to all our viewers!!!!!! 

Read More