Watch this video, and hear the wise words......

A 12-yr old boy called Logan made a call to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. He was very upset when the calf died because of the bad milk and he says he spoke to God to ask him why he took the calf away. Logan knows that God has done the SAME thing for us, that He gave his Son to die for a purpose.

Hear his wise words. Click below to listen to it.

Click Here

“Kotak Worldkids International Film Festival” in Mumbai from November 30,

Adlabs, at Wadala will screen and host Mumbai's first-of-its kind children's film festival targeted at 8-18 year olds. World Kids Foundation will be promoting the festival while P9-Cinema Activation will be marketing the event.

Some of the multi-award winning films which will be showcased during the festival are Red like the Sky( Italy) Hayat-(Iran,) Heda Hoda- (India,) Magnifico –( Phillipines,) An Inconvenient Truth – (USA,) Charkh- (Iran,) Summer with the Ghosts- (Canada) Pinky & Million Pug – (Germany,) Halo – (India,) Malli – (India,) Bonkers –( Holland) and Benji – (USA )

Explaining the reason behind initiating such a move, Festival Director Manju Singh said, "Our endeavor is to engage the children of India with positive media images and inspire them into thinking and learning while having a good time entertainment with a Purpose is the Foundations mantra."

'The Kotak WKIFF aims to introduce the present generation to different cultures and languages to establish the universality of human values and experiences.'
The organizers also aim to provide a platform to young and talented directors to reach a wider audience at the festival, said Vijay Kalantri, chairman of the WKIFF advisory board.

The festival director also said at the function that WKIFF will become an annual event and would travel across the country with establishing itself as an international film festival of repute.

'Worldkids will also create the 'Worldkids Clubs' with children members, who can avail exciting offers to watch films produced, distributed by Worldkids or showcased at WKIFF,' Singh added.

The weeklong 'Kotak Worldkids International Film Festival' (WKIFF) will be held in association with private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank, Godrej Interio, BPL Mobile, AIAI, Ryan International School, Adlabs, P9 Integrated and with the support of Maharashtra government's department of culture, Children's Film Society of India (CFSI) and Times Foundation.

Source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/

Kindness is rewarding (a story)

Raju loved to play tricks on people. He would sometimes ring the door bell and hide behind the stairs to see the irritation on the person’s face. His friend Vinod was a kind boy and he always guided Raju to be a good boy and not trouble anybody.

One day, Raju and Vinod were passing by a river. They saw a man swimming in the water. the man’s shoes and clothes were placed by the shore.

There was mischievous smile on Raju’s face as he looked at Vinod.

“Why are you smiling?” asked Vinod

“Let us have some fun” said Raju, “let us hide his shoes, stand behind this tree and see his expression.”

“Oh Raju” said Vinod “We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. I have a better idea, let us put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how this affects him."

Raju loved his friend very much and he always listened to him. They put coins in each shoe and they stood behind the tree to watch the man and see his expressions.

The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes . . .

While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. There was astonishment and wonder in his expressions.

He gazed upon the coin, turned it around and looked at it again and again.

He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

He was so happy that he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and started praying to God, thanking Him for the money that would help him buy bread and milk for his family.

Raju and Vinod stood there deeply affected, and their eyes filled with tears.

"Now," said Vinod as he wiped off his tears, “Are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

Raju replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before: "It's more blessed to give than to receive."

”If you want happiness for a lifetime – We must help someone . . .”

And Raju never again played tricks on people but always helped the poor.

Image source: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/

The Mouse and the Mouse-trap (a story)

One clear sunny day, Mouse was whistling away as he happily jogged down the stony, cobbled way. He wiped off his mouth with his tiny, tiny hands and brushed his ragged whiskers as he entered the farmer’s house. He could hear the sounds of laughter coming from the inner room. He stood outside the room and peeped through the crack in the wall. He could see the farmer and his wife open a brown package.

“Hmmn! I wonder what food it contains.” Said Mr mousie as he saw them unpack the package. He was devastated to discover that it was a dreaded mouse trap.

He ran outside the house, frightened and upset. He was panting heavily as he reached the green farmyard.

“There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” he proclaimed the warning as he turned toward the chicken.


The chicken clucked and scratched and raised her furry head, “I am sorry for you Mr Mousie, Which is a danger for you. It can not ever harm me, I don’t really care.”

Mouse was perspiring and ran towards the pig 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”


The pig grunted softly as he turned to his side “Sorry Mr Mousie, There is nothing I can do, but fear not my friend, I shall pray for you.”

The mouse took out his kerchief and wiped off his tears, then turned towards the cow and told her his fears. 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'


The cow moo-ed loudly then sneered at him “Oh Mr Mousie, is that really true? I am truly, truly sorry, I will forever miss you.”

Not a friend did he find in all the farmland, dejected, with his head down, he scurried up to his den. He had to face the farmer’s mousetrap, alone and scared; he knew he could never escape that wretched mousetrap.

That very dark night, a sound was heard, throughout the house, loud clack was heard. -- Like the sound of a mousetrap that was trapping its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught, in a mousetrap. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail was trapped.

The snake was confused and too much in pain, he snapped up towards the light and bit the farmer’s wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever

A fever he could treat with a hot, fresh chicken soup. So the framer took his hatchet and chopped off the chicken.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came, round the clock they waited at her house to make her well. To feed his guest at lunch time, he prepared a lunch for all, he went to his farmland and butchered a pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; and next day she died. At the funeral cow was slaughtered to feed the crowd.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall; he was filled with great sadness and wept behind the wall.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you,

Remember ----

When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We all are involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort, to bring a smile to a friend and to encourage one another.

Remember. . . . . .

One of the best things to hold on, in to in this wide world, it is best to hold on, a hand of a friend. ! ! !

Happy Children’s day to all the kids on this day, 14th November

This is the day of enjoyment for all children. Children's Day is a day for children to engage in fun and frolic. Schools celebrate this day by organizing cultural programs. Teachers of the school perform songs and dances for their students. Various competitions like quizzes, fancy dress competitions, and elocutions are organized on this day. Children are also treated to a movie and lunch. Television networks have in the recent years started to air special programs all day long for kids on November 14, making this day a special treat.

This date marks the birth anniversary of independent India’s first Prime Minister – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The reason why his birthday has been chosen for the celebration of children is because of his love and passion for children. Pandit Nehru is also regarded as the country’s special child to have been the first Prime Minister, after her long struggle for independence.

Children's day was first celebrated worldwide in October, 1953, under the sponsorship of International Union for Child Welfare, Geneva. The idea of Universal Children's Day was mooted by late Shri V.K. Krishna Menon and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954.

Doctors perform operation on Laxmi, who has eight limbs....

In a small village in Bihar’s Araria District in India lives a small girl who is two years old. Her name is Laxmi. She is a case of an Ischiopagus Tetrapus conjoined twin joined at the pelvis, thus having eight limbs.

When Laxmi was born with eight limbs, villagers thought that she was incarnation of Goddess Laxmi but they soon realized that she was not normal and that it would become a great problem for Laxmi when she grows up.

Doctors decided to operate on her to remove the extra limbs and headless conjoined parastic twin. Laxmi’s family could not afford the expensive operation that would cost more than 25 lakhs but Dr Sharan Patil, a doctor from Bangalore, agreed to operate on her free of cost.

The operation is expected to take a maximum of 48 hours and the doctors have prepared themselves for the ordeal.

Child labor charges stop GAP in India

A UK newspaper report on Sunday said that children as young as 10 years old were working for a GAP sub-contractor in Delhi’s Shahpur Jat area and complained of working long hours, being unpaid and being subjected to threats and beatings.

A 10-year-old boy who was filmed making clothes told the British paper that he had been sold by his family to the factory owner. The boy was said to have been working for four months without pay and would not be allowed to leave the job until the fee his family received was recovered.

In response to the findings, GAP released a statement saying it was “unacceptable’’ for children to produce its clothing.

“It is clear that one of our vendors violated this agreement, and a full investigation is under way...After learning of this situation, we immediately took steps to stop this work order and to prevent the product from ever being sold in our stores. We are also convening a meeting of our suppliers where we will reinforce our prohibition on child labor,’’

The hand-stitched tops, which were to be sold for around 20 pounds in the Christmas season, are now being withdrawn.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/
Image: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/

World is round

World is huge but still is round
Your smile can never meet a frown
Post-tiring day, its worth, you will see
Your love and care, always come around.

So pick your neck above the sand
And breathe the fragrance of love abound
Share your wealth of word and song
Let ego, hatred, filth be drowned

Walk with pride through streets of fame
Uplift souls that are weak or lame
Expect not a grain of thanks
Just do your bit and move along

Fruits of smile one day will reap
The flowers will bloom in your happy mind
World is huge but still you will see
Your compassion sure will come around.

Mumbai is once again dressed in lights to welcome Goddess Durga.

Dasara, also called "Navaratri", is among the most important festivals celebrated in India.

Navratri is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava - Nine and Ratri - nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti (metaphor for goddess Durga ) i.e. female divinity are worshipped.

also, dolls depicting god and people are arranged in elevating stairs

The Festival of Dasara is celebrated on the occasion of Navaratri. Celebrations are unique ranging from worshipping goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) to exhibiting colorful toys on the day of 'bombe habba' in Kannada.

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.

First three daysThe goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.

Second three daysThe Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth.

Final three daysThe final set of three days is spent in worshipping as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

On the tenth day of Navratri in October - the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil

The festival commemorates the victory of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and avatara of Vishnu, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka who had abducted Rama's wife, Sita Devi. The festival is celebrated with much gusto.

Crackers are burnt, and huge melas or fetes are organised. The Ramlila - an abriged dramatization of the Ramayana - is enacted with much public fervour all over northern India during the period of the festivities. The burning of the effigies of Ravana on Vijayadashami, signifying the victory of good over evil, brings the festivities to a colourful close.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/
Image: http://static.flickr.com/

Inspiration Story On Gandhiji.

On 2nd October, whole country will remember Gandhiji and his message of peace and non-violence.
In South Africa, Gandhiji set up an ashram at Phoenix, where he started a school for children. Gandhiji had his own ideas about how children should be taught. He disliked the examination system. In his school he wanted to teach the boys true knowledge—knowledge that would improve both their minds and their hearts. Gandhiji had his own way of judging students. All the students in the class were asked the same question. But often Gandhiji praised the boy with low marks and scolded the one who had high marks. This puzzled the children. When questioned on this unusual practice, Gandhiji one day explained, "I am not trying to show that Shyam is cleverer than Ram. So I don't give marks on that basis. I want to see how far each boy has progressed, how much he has learnt. If a clever student competes with a stupid one and begins to think no end of him self, he is likely to grow dull. Sure of his own cleverness, he'll stop working. The boy who does his best and works hard will always do well and so I praise him." Gandhiji kept a close watch on the boys who did well. Were they still working hard? What would they learn if their high marks filled them with conceit? Gandhiji continually stressed this to his students. If a boy who was not very clever worked hard and did well, Gandhiji was full of praise for him.

Source: http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/

Apple Turnovers

Ingredients:

1 packet of Cream cheese, softened
¾ Cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, separated
3 Tablespoons cold water, divided
2 Cup flour
7 Cup thinly sliced peeled apples (about 6)
¾ Cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
2. Separate egg yolk from egg white.
3. Chill the egg white to use later.
4. Beat egg yolk and 2 Tablespoons cold water into cream cheese mixture.
5. Gradually beat in flour until well blended.
6. Shape mixture into a ball and chill 1 hour.
7. This will be the turnover dough.
8. In another saucepan, toss apples with sugar and cinnamon.
9. Bring to a boil.
10. Reduce heat.
11. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until apples are tender.
12. Roll pastry dough to 1/8 in. thickness; cut circles with a biscuit cutter.
13. Top each circle with a tablespoon or more of apple mixture.
14. Fold pastry over filling and press together with a fork.
15. In small bowl, whisk egg white and 1 tablespoon water.
16. Brush over pastry and sprinkle with sugar.
17. Place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
18. Serve with ice cream, if desired.

Source: http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/

The Life Cycle of a Frog

By Rehana Ali



We were a class of inquisitive eight year olds. One day our science teacher walked into the classroom carrying a large glass bowl furnished with a sandy bottom, a scattering of little rocks that rose above the level of the water and leafy water weeds growing out of the sand. And nestling among the leaves were masses of jelly balls so transparent that we could see the little black dot inside each one of them.


‘Frogs eggs’ said out teacher and we were most impressed.

‘We’ll place this bowl right here on the window sill’ she continued, ‘where it can get warm in the sunshine and we’ll watch and wait for the eggs to hatch.’

‘Miss, why do the eggs have such a bad smell?’

‘To put off any fishes who try to eat them. That’s because the mother frog can’t stay around to take care of them herself.’ We thought of our doting mothers and thanked our luck that we were not born into a frog family.

My desk was just next to the window and I was given the important duty of opening the window every morning to let in the sun and closing it at the end of the day. For the next few days I spent more time peering at the spawns than at my lessons. At any moment I expected little baby frogs to burst out of the jelly eggs.


One morning, about week later , to our utter shock we found little black fish like creatures swimming crazily around the bowl, many of them nibbling ravenously at the water weeds.

‘Frog babies’ announced our teacher.

We felt cheated. Of course we didn’t believe her! Frog babies indeed! So where were the little humped creatures with bulging eyes and mottled green skin?

‘They’re called tadpoles and soon you’ll see them change miraculously into little frogs. It’s called metamorphosis.’ she consoled us.

The bowl had become the centre of attraction and the little creatures grew under the watchful eyes of forty excited little girls.

‘How sweet’ we’d chorus. Strange words to describe frog larvae but apt. Our teacher proved to be right after all. To our amazement the tadpoles grew legs, first two, then four, then their eyes appeared atop little bulges on their heads.

Then one day we were thrilled to see tiny frogs perched on the rocks looking up at us curiously.

‘They have tails. But big frogs don’t have tails, Miss.’

‘They’ll eat their tails slowly’ she told us and this time we believed her and sure enough the tails slowly became shorter and shorter till they disappeared completely.

‘They must be eating their tails at night’ said my friend but I was none the wiser.


One morning our teacher told us that we would have to set the little frogs free as we had finished studying their life cycle. We followed her solemnly into the school garden where she gently tilted the bowl and we watched the little creatures leap out and hop away into the grass to begin their independent lives.

Yogurt in a cup

You will need
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup of butter, melted
6 Tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 teaspoons cold water
Large container of Yogurt, any flavor

Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In bowl add flour and powdered sugar.
Mix together.
Add butter and stir until mixture is crumbly.
Slowly stir in cold water and mix thoroughly.
Grease muffin tins and spread dough in each of the muffin cups.
Press dough up along sides of each cup.
Bake until golden brown about 10 minutes.
Allow to cool, fill with yogurt and serve.
Makes about 6.

Source: http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/

Ganesh Chaturthi

This Saturday, starts the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. On the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the great festival of Ganesh or Ganpati is celebrated as Ganesha Chaturthi. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesha or Ganpati is one of the most popular deities in Hindu religion.

On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes sometimes even up to twenty feet.

People buy them and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idol are taken out ceremoniously, carried in a procession through the streets of the town and immersed into the river, sea or well. The sea front at Mumbai, packed with people, is a spectacular sight.

A cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra especially at Pune and Mumbai. Classical dance, music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and film festival are the main features of this festival.

Source: http://www.festivalsofindia.in/

Dristi

Dristi is a pretty girl
a six-year-young beauty

She draws and paints
the pots and fishes
and many beautiful scenes

she proudly shows her
different art works
as I look at her lovingly.
I am glad to see her
smile coyly,
as she sits to paint once more
she made one more picture
more beautiful
and this one is just for me.

Young Scientist at Work!

This is the report sent by 11-year-old, Rusheel Chulani, who lives at Hiranandani apartments in Powai., Mumbai.

This is what he writes:
A popular scientific competition was organized by ‘Aakar Private Limited’. Ten thousand students from three hundred different schools of Mumbai, Pune and Panchgandi took part in these competitions. The competition were organized in three levels

Level one took place in their school premises on 16th April 2007, and it was called ‘brain-gym’. Thirty objective questions, with four varied choices were offered. The contestant was expected to choose the right answer by shading the correct choice. Two thousand students were short-listed from this group and were promoted to level two.

Level two, called ‘Techno Maze’, and was organized at IIT, Powai Campus, on 2nd June 2007. At this level, there were puzzles for each team. Each team consisted of three groups viz. A, B, and C. Each group was further divided into sub-groups, which were made according to their standard of understanding. Each sub-group had to solve the puzzles in the limited time to secure the maximum points. Two hundred students were short-listed from this group and promoted to the third level.

Level three, called ‘Junk create’, and was organized at IIT Powai, on 3rd June 2007. This was the final round in which the students had to make a battery-operated machine that was automatic and mobile.

There were four winners in this event and each of them won a scholarship prize of Rs115000. Kamlesh won the first prize for making a battery operated robot. He shared the prize with his companion-contestant.

Moma! Please!

I slurp up the milk, didn’t you hear me burp?
Another diaper, oh no, was there sales again?

Why do you always smile at your reflected self?
Is that the new dress, one more addition?

Must you decorate my pram with funny, showy bells?
I am very embarrassed by your kitty party friends

Is that your new hairstyle?
Are you going partying again tonight?

Please! Your nail polish smells so yuck!
I don’t feel too bright

Just leave the door ajar,
And finish off your chores
Whew! Can somebody put OFF the AC
Need some fresh air outside

In India 5th September is celebrated as Teachers' day.

5th September is the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.

When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5th September, his "birthday". In reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, "instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers' day". The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan's love for the teaching profession.

From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers' Day in India.

Image source: www.irib.ir/Occasions/Moalem/teacher%20day.en.jpg

On September 3 and 4th, Mumbai will be celebrating a festival of Dahi Handi.

Dahi Handi festival is a popular ceremony, celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and glee. Dahi Handi is an enactment of Lord Krishna's efforts to steal butter from Matka (earthen pot) suspended from the ceiling.

Dahi Handi is celebrated with fervor, especially in the twin cities of Mathura - Vrindavan, Dwarka and Mumbai. Young men in Mumbai yell 'Ala re ala, Govinda ala' during the ceremony.

Bal Gopal was very mischievous and found great pleasure in playing pranks on Gopis. He would steal their milk, butter, break their earthen pots to get butter. One day Lord Krishna, broke all the earthen pots of a Gopi in order to get butter. On being caught red handed, the Gopi went to mother Yashoda to inform her of her son's mischievous deeds. She was shocked to see the Lord standing next to his mother; Feeling embarrassed she left the place. But there was little butter smeared on Krishna’s mouth. And his mother wanted to punish him for stealing the butter and lying. But she could not prove that he was guilty.


Dahi Handi generally takes place on the second day of Janmashtami. An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits, ghee is hung around 20-30 feet high in the air with the help of a rope. Silver coins are hung along with the rope, which are later distributed as prize to the winners. Enthusiastic young men, form a human pyramid by standing one on top of the other, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men in order to prevent them from breaking the pot. Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. Devotees believe that the broken pieces of earthen pot will keep away mice and negative powers from their homes.

Source: Hindustan Times.

The Water Bearer and The Two Pots.

Once upon a time there was a water bearer in China. He had two large pots; He hung each on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.



One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral:
Each of us has our own unique flaws.

We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape"

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life.

Just imagine! You will be able to climb the wall, right up to your balcony, without falling.

Have you wondered how insects and lizard can walk up the walls?

If you look closely, you will notice that insects, spiders and geckos all have tiny hairs on their feet that set up weak attractions called van der Waals forces between molecules that are very close together.

This microscopic Velcro can cling to smooth surfaces yet is easy to detach.
Based on this idea Italian scientists have calculated how sufficient stickiness could be generated in the same way to support a human being's body weight. They believe microscopic hollow structures called carbon nano tubes could theoretically be used to make the idea work.

They are planning to make a "Spiderman suit" that allows the wearer to scale vertical walls just like the fictional superhero.

Prof Nicola Pugno, from the Polytechnic of Turin, said: "It may not be long before we are seeing people climbing up the Empire State Building with nothing but sticky shoes and gloves to support them."
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Rakhi Day is Righteous Day

by
A.P.J.Abdul Kalam

This full moon day our hearts are in brim
Feeling of faith and serenity in mind.
We light the lamps and our hears glow
Radiance of happiness and peace are in flow.
Harmonious homes are like streams of joy
Flowing and flourishing the landscape en route.
Nobility in heart and character in deed
Righteous homes alone make a beautiful State.
Sisters will tie the thread on the brothers
Abiding them to do only what is right and clean.
Put the Kumkum and blessed rice on the head
Where will dwell right thoughts and noble action.

Why do we read Geeta, even if we can't understand a Sanskrit word???

a Story by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson.Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavat Geeta. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavat Geeta just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavat Geeta do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavat Geeta. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives."

"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."

White, pretty pearl necklace

Tina went to market with her mother, one day
She saw a white, pretty pearl necklace

The cost was less, but she was poor
Could not really afford that pearl necklace

She saved each dime, in her own piggy bank
And finally bought white pearl necklace

Feeling too proud, she played with her friends
Always wearing her pretty, pearl necklace

Her dad, one day asked, if she loved him much
Would she give him, her pretty, pearl necklace?

She said, he could take her prettiest, lovely doll
But, she could not ever part her pearl necklace.

Days, then months, each time dad asked
Always same answer, no, not my pearl necklace.

But one fine day, when dad asked once more
She gave him her precious pearl necklace

He took her old one, in his pocket there was new
He exchanged it with a genuine pearl necklace

He had waited too long, for his daughter to know
In his pocket he had carried, real pearl necklace.

Happy New Year to all our Parsi friends!

Jamshed-e-Navroz is a time for Parsis to reiterate their identity in India's melting pot of religions. For many Parsis, this festival also ushers in the new year.


Navroz is a day of celebration. Apart from new clothes, all Parsis wear their gold or silver jewelry and caps. Auspicious symbols like fish, birds, butterflies and stars, are patterned on doorways with metallic moulds. Guests are welcomed with a sprinkling of rose-water and rice.

The most traditional drink for Navroz is falooda, which is prepared with milk and flavoured with rose water.

The traditional lunch consists of sev and sweet yogurt, followed by pulao. The meal would end with ravo. A copy of the Gathas, a lit lamp, an afrigan, a bowl of water containing live fish, a shallow earthenware plate with sprouted wheat or beans for prosperity, flowers for colour, a silver coin for wealth, painted eggs for productivity, and sweets and rosewater in bowls for sweetness and happiness, are kept on a table. Apart from these, the table also has seven foods beginning with 'sh' and 's'. These are meant to symbolise creation.

Source: http://festivals.iloveindia.com/

Performing Monkeys in India

Raju Sujan from China wants to share his story with his friends, he writes:

If you go to any tourist spot in India, you are likely to see monkeys perform trick. They are trained to perform tricks that are sometimes very amusing.

Recently, on my route to Agra from Delhi, we stopped at the toll station and saw this monkey perform some tricks.
He climbed on a bamboo pole and danced while the man sang a Bollywood song.


then his master told him to say hello to me and he bend down double, touching his head to the ground.

He snatched the bamboo rod from his master and started to walk like an old man

He danced, jumped, climbed the bonnet of my car and tried to peep into my car. when I tried to shoo him away, he was making funny faces at me..I enjoyed watching the show.

Ha! ha! ha! What fun we had watching his show!

Do you wish to make Paper Finger Puppets?

Your fingers are the legs (or trunk) of these simple paper puppets. You can make the entire cast of a nursery rhyme or fairy tale in just a few minutes, and then put on your own show.


You will need

Stiff paper, like thick construction paper or even thicker paper
A pair of Scissors
Markers or crayons to make some good designs
If you like, you can also have a printer, googly eyes, glue, cotton balls

It is really very easy to make

Using stiff paper, either print out a puppet template or draw your own.

Then you must cut out the finger puppet and the finger hole(s).

Now decorate the puppet with crayons or markers.

And you can glue on googly eyes and cotton-ball or yarn hair to make them look friendly.

So are you having a puppet show and having some fun?.

Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

15th August, an Independence Day of India, was celebrated everywhere in India.

There was flag hoisting ceremony in my building too. Children and parents gathered in the building compound at six in the morning. Everybody had a small flag in their hands. Everybody was dressed in Indian clothes, women in salvar kameez or sari and men in kurta pajama. Women wore clothes of bright colors like orange and green and some wore white dresses too.

As the flag swayed with the breeze, everybody sang patriotic songs like ‘Uncha rahe triranga hamara” and then they all sang National Anthem.

After the flag hoisting ceremony, there was a small party where they served Idlis and tea,

National Anthem of India

The Jana Gana Mana was composed by Shri Rabindranath Tagore and first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress on December 27th, 1911. It was adopted as the National Anthem of India on 24th January, 1950 by the Constituent Assembly. The first stanza( out of five stanzas) of the song forms the National Anthem.

visit for video at
http://www.touchninspire.com/inspire/iday.html

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF INDIA
" Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha
Dravida Utkala Banga

Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga
Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga
Tubh Shubha Name Jage
Tubh Shubha Ashisha Mange
Gahe Tubh Jaya Gata

Jan Gan Mangaldayak Jay He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Jaye He ! Jaye He ! Jaye He !
Jaye,Jaye,Jaye,Jaye He "

Translation of The national anthem- Jana Gana Mana In English

Thou are the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny.

The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujurat and Maratha. Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal.

It Echoes in the hills of Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.

They pray for your blessing and sing thy praise. The salvation of all people is thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.

Everybody chants "Jai Hind"

SRI AUROBINDO message to Indians on Independence day of India, on 14th August 1947

Sri Aurobindo had been requested by the All India Radio, Trichinopoly, to give a message for India's independence. This is the message which was broadcast from the All India Radio on the 14th of August 1947. It is of special relevance and importance in this 60th year of India's independence.

Excepts from his speech
August 15th, 1947 is the birthday of free India. It marks for her the end of an old era, the beginning of a new age. But we can also make it by our life and acts as a free nation an important date in a new age opening for the whole world, for the political, social, cultural and spiritual future of humanity.

Unity must and will be achieved, for it is necessary for the greatness of India's future.

The unification is therefore to the interests of all, and only human imbecility and stupid selfishness can prevent it; but these cannot stand for ever against the necessity of Nature and the Divine Will. But an outward basis is not enough; there must grow up an international spirit and outlook, international forms and institutions must appear, perhaps such developments, as dual or multilateral citizenship, willed interchange or voluntary fusion of cultures.

India has her part to play and has begun to play it with an energy and ability which already indicate the measure of her possibilities and the place she can take in the council of the nations.

If this evolution is to take place, since it must proceed through a the initiative can come from India and, although the scope must be universal, the central movement mgrowth of the spirit and the inner consciousness,ay be hers.

Such is the content which I put into this date of India's liberation; whether or how far this hope will be justified depends upon the new and free India.


He said that nothing is dearer than Her service

There are times in a nation's history when Providence places before it one work, one aim, to which everything else, however high and noble in itself, has to be sacrificed. Such a time has now arrived for our Motherland when nothing is dearer than her service, when everything else is to be directed to that end. If you will study, study for her sake; train yourselves body and mind and soul for her sake. You will go abroad to foreign lands that you may bring back knowledge with which you may do service to her. Work that she may prosper. Suffer that she may rejoice. All is contained in that one single advice.
Source:
http://www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in/

Do you want to make an orange frosts?

You will need

2 cups of milk
1 cup of water
1 cup of ice cubes
3 table spoons of sugar
1 cup of frozen orange juice concentrate.

Wash your hand before you begin and wear an apron to look like a chef. Now combine all the ingredients and mix it in the blender till the ice is all squash up and you see lots of froth.

Hey, are you having with your breakfast?

Blue Umbrella

Blue umbrella
Blue umbrella

It is a new movie
I just watched its trailer

Story of a girl and tea seller
Both of them love blue umbrella.

Stealing umbrella
There is one traitor

Greedy people
Could never prosper

Magic umbrella
Blue umbrella

It is a new movie
I just watched its trailer.

Dolphins are friendly mammals

“Hello mama, how are you?” said the Dolphin trapped in a strange tank
“Baby, where are you my dear, I am looking for you everywhere.”



Here's a conversation worth talking about: A mother dolphin chats with her baby…over the telephone! The special call was made in an aquarium in Hawaii, where the mother and her two-year-old calf swam in separate tanks connected by a special underwater audio link. The two dolphins began squawking and chirping to each other—distinctive dolphin chatter.

Cracking the Code"It seemed clear that they knew who they were talking with," says Don White, whose Project Delphis ran the experiment. "Information was passing back and forth pretty quickly." But what were they saying? That's what scientists are trying to find out by studying wild and captive dolphins all over the world to decipher their secret language. They haven't completely cracked the but they're listening…and learning

Chatty MammalsIn many ways, you are just like the more than 30 species of dolphins that swim in the world's oceans and rivers. Dolphins are mammals, like you are, and must swim to the surface to breathe air. Just as you might, they team up in pods, or groups, to accomplish tasks. And they're smart.

They also talk to each other. Starting from birth, dolphins squawk, whistle, click, and squeak. "Sometimes one dolphin will vocalize and then another will seem to answer," says Sara Waller, who studies bottlenose dolphins off the California coast. "And sometimes members of a pod vocalize in different patterns at the same time, much like many people chattering at a party." And just as you gesture and change facial expressions as you talk, dolphins communicate nonverbally through body postures, jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caresses.

Thinking DolphinScientists think dolphins "talk" about everything from basic facts like their age to their emotional state. "I speculate that they say things like 'there are some good fish over here,' or 'watch out for that shark because he's hunting,'" says Denise Herzing, who studies dolphins in the Bahamas.

When the going gets tough, for instance, some dolphins call for backup. After being bullied by a duo of bottlenose dolphins, one spotted dolphin returned to the scene the next day with a few pals to chase and harass one of the bully bottlenose dolphins. "It's as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help, then led them in search of this guy," says Herzing, who watched the scuffle.

Language LessonsKathleen Dudzinski, director of the Dolphin Communication Project, has listened to dolphins for more than 17 years, using high-tech gear to record and analyze every nuance of their language. But she says she's far from speaking "dolphin" yet. Part of the reason is the elusiveness of the animals. Dolphins are fast swimmers who can stay underwater for up to ten minutes between breaths. "It's like studying an iceberg because they spend most of their lives underwater," Dudzinski says.

Deciphering "dolphin speak" is also tricky because their language is so dependent on what they're doing, whether they're playing, fighting, or going after tasty fish. It's no different for humans. Think about when you raise a hand to say hello. Under other circumstances, the same gesture can mean good-bye, stop, or that something costs five bucks. It's the same for dolphins. During fights, for example, dolphins clap their jaws to say "back off!" But they jaw clap while playing, too, as if to show who's king of the underwater playground.

"I have not found one particular dolphin behavior that means the same thing every time you see it," says Dudzinski. "If you like mysteries and detective work, then this is the job for you." And who knows—maybe someday you'll get a phone call from a dolphin.

Source:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Honey, honey

Honey, honey
Hmmn! Yummy, yummy
It tastes so sweet,
Oh, so good.
I feel fine
With just one spoon
Oh mummy, mummy
Give me some more
With my food.

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by honey bees, and derived from the nectar of flowers

It is significantly sweeter than table sugar and has attractive chemical properties for baking. It has a distinctive flavor which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners.

Properly stored, honey is the one food that does not spoil - 3,000-year-old honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs was tasted and considered edible.

Honey is hygroscopic: it can absorb and hold moisture so that any moulds and bacteria that touch it quickly lose their own moisture and die.

It's why cakes made with honey stay moist longer than ones made with sugar.

Story behind Rakhi festival

Many, many years ago, in 1535 AD, in the city of Chittor, in Rajasthan, there lived Maharani Karnawati. She was the queen of the Rajput Kingdom. At that time, Rajputs were facing the invasion from the Mughals.

Maharani Karnawati realized that Mughals were very powerful and her state would never survive if there was a war. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to protect her kingdom. She decided to sent a rakhi to Humayun as a token of love from a sister.

Rakhi festival was an established festival by then and a spiritual symbol associated with the protection of a sister. Humayun was aware of this Hindu tradition.

Normally he wouldn't have pardoned anyone, but her gesture of love touched him. He immediately stopped his troops and asked them to return. He also swore that may what happen he will protect his new sister under any circumstances.

Their story touches the heart of zillions and is an emblem of pure brother sister love.

Have you made rakheee for your brother?

In this month of August, we have many festivals on our Hindu calendar and one most important festival is raksha bandhan, on this day, sister ties rakhee to her brother.

Hope you will make one rakhee for your brother this year.

Materials needed:
 Strands of silk threads-2/3
 A pair of scissors
 Cotton thread to tie knots
 Beads, sitaras, golden threads and sponge to decorate
 Glue
 A toothbrush with hard bristles.

Method:
Take 20-24 inches long silk thread strands in a bunch. If you want to make multi coloured rakhis take silk threads of different colours.

Tie a tight knot with a cotton thread on the one-fourth part of the silken thread bunch. The one-fourth part will be made into a rakhi while the three-fourth will be the string to tie around the wrist.

Now make sure the heads of the silk threads of the one-fourth part of the bunch do not remain in loops, in case they are, cut them with a pair of scissors.

Once they are independent of loops, with a toothbrush rub hard on these threads and brush them with strong strokes by holding tight on the knot. With repeated strokes the silk threads turns fluffy and soft.
To make the string, divide the three-fourth part of the silk thread in two equal parts and plait them separately. At the end tie a knot and brush the end again.


Once this is done decorate it with beads or sitaras. Stick them with glue. You can purchase sponge of a suitable colour, cut it into a star shape, decorate it with beads or sitaras. Golden threads can be entwined used for decoration. And then stick it with glue.
Source: http://www.theholidayspot.com/rakhi/