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The hand-stitched tops, which were to be sold for around 20 pounds in the Christmas season, are now being withdrawn.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