How to do Lakshmi Pujan at home during Diwali (dhan teras) ?

Lakshmi Puja is an important ritual during Diwali or Deepavali. There were numerous queries on how to do Lakshmi Puja at home? There is no straightforward answer to this question as the ritual varies from region to region. But here is a simple guide to perform Lakshmi Puja during Diwali.

First and foremost step is to clean the house. Through the puja we are inviting Goddess Lakshmi to our house and she likes everything to be neat and clean. In some communities, even the broom is worshipped on the Lakshmi Puja day. This symbolically represents the need for cleanliness.

Three forms of Shakti – Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Durga –Lord Ganesh and Lord Kubera are worshipped on the day. No puja is performed without paying customary tributes to Lord Ganesha. Lord Kubera, represents wealth, and he is the treasurer of Gods. In homes, usually the locker or safe in which gold and cash is kept symbolically represents the seat of Kubera.



Important Items Needed For Lakshmi Puja
Kalash
Mango leaves
Idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi
Milk, curd, honey, ghee
Puffed rice
Usual puja Sweets
Coriander seeds
Cumin seeds
And other daily puja items

Lakshmi Puja Process
• First decide on a place to perform the puja.
• Spread a clean cloth and create a bed of rice.
• A Kalash (pot) is placed on the bed of rice.
• Fill about 75% of the Kalash with water.
• Put a betel nut, flower, a clean coin, and some rice in the Kalash.
• Now arrange mango leaves around the opening of the Kalash.
• Place a Thaali (a small plain plate) on the Kalash.
• On the Thaali, draw a lotus with turmeric powder and place the idol or small photograph of Goddess Lakshmi.
• Place some coins on the Thaali.
• On the right of Kalash, place the idol of Lord Ganesha.
• If you need, you can also place the idols of Saraswathi and your favorite deities.
Create a peaceful and calm atmosphere. The best way is to close the eyes and meditate on ‘om.’
• Take some water and sprinkle on all puja items to purify them.
• Do puja with haldi, kumkum and flowers on the Kalash.
• Light a lamp.
• Now take some flower and rice in the hands and close the eyes and meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. You are now invoking Goddess Lakshmi. If you know mantras, recite them. Otherwise just simply meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. Here is a simple Sanskrit mantra dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.

Namosthesthu Maha Maye,
Shree padee, sura poojithe,
Shanka, Chakra, Gadha hasthe,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

• Now sprinkle the flowers and rice on the idol of Goddess Lakshmi.
• Take out the idol of Goddess Lakshmi and place it on a Thaali. Clean the idol with water, then with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Then clean the idol again with water.
• Place the idol back on the Kalash.
• Now offer garlands made of marigolds or leaves of bel tree, sandalwood paste, kumkum and other daily puja items including lighting incense and agarbhatis.
• Now make offerings of coconut, fruits, sweets, betel nuts and betel leaves.
• Next make offerings of Batasha sweets, puffed rice, coriander and cumin seeds.
• Lastly, perform a silent Arati for Goddess Lakshmi. And meditate on Goddess Lakshmi.
• Take some of the ‘prasad’ (that will stay for long period of time) and place it at the place where ornaments and cash is usually kept.
Business people also worship the account books on this day along with Goddess Lakshmi.

This is only a guideline. You can show flexibility in the puja process. Some of the items needed might not be readily available. But you can keep the house and surrounding clean. Finally, if you can’t perform the puja, wherever you are simply mediate on Goddess Lakshmi.

Funny Hindi Shayari - Unknown Artist

चाहे मानसून लेट आया है

पर एहसास नया ये लाया है,

कानून में सुधार आया है

देश में अब बदलाव आया है|

लड़के को लड़की न खोजनी पड़ेगी

ना लड़की को लड़का,

कोई भी मिल जाये चलेगा

बस भिडे प्रेम का टांका |

शायद अब किसी घर में

मूंछों वाली भाभी आएँगी,

कन्यायें कन्या को भी अब

जीजू जीजू बुलाएंगी|

उन्मुक्त गगन के नीचे केवल

अब जोड़े ना रास रचाएंगे,

बदला बदला होगा मंजर

लड़के जब लड़का पटायेंगे|

पुलिस के पास भी अब शायद

छेड़छाड़ के केसेज बढ़ जायेंगे ,

महिला महिला को छेड़ेगी

पुरुष पुरुष से छेड़े जायेंगे |

हर सिक्के के पहलू दो होते

कुछ सुधार तो आयेंगे,

ये नए बदलाव देश को

जनसँख्या विस्फोट से बचायेंगे|

Special Bond - Bappi Lahiri & Kishore Kumar

Bappi Lahiri is a famous musician for his disco music in Bollywood. He introduced the disco music with an Indian flavor and also brought many young singers into Hindi cinema.

Bappi Lahiri was blessed by god to be born in a family dedicated to classical music. His father Aparesh Lahiri and mother Bansari Lahiri were quiet famous singers in Bengali. Thus he got the first lessons of music from his family itself, a blessing that connected him with music at a much tender age. He started playing tabla at the age of 3.




Bappi’s association with Kishore Kumar can be considered as that derived not only from the adoration. He would fondly call Kishore as Kishore Mama. Kishore and Bappi’s mother considered each other as brother and sister. Bappi, as a child, was a frequent visitor to Kishore’s house and Kishore would often say he is very cute.

By the time Bappi entered into the realm of Hindi music, Kishore Kumar had become popular in Bollywood and had established his own brand in the Indian music, not only in Hindi but also in other popular Indian languages.

Bappi got the first opportunity to compose music in Bengali as well as Hindi movie when he was just 19 years old. His debut in the Bollywood was ‘Nanha Shikari’ (1973). Kishore subsequently sang for Bappi for the first time for this very film. The movie ‘Zakhmee’(1975) gave him a break in which he doubled his performance as a playback singer and a music composer. He sang the song ‘Nothing is Impossible’ along with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar for this movie. Bappi credits that his singing career began (in Zakhmee), when Kishore encouraged him to sing.

Bappi and Kishore Kumar proved to be one of the friendliest combos in Bollywood music. Their association lasted till the death of Kishore Kumar in the year 1987. Bappi, like many other music directors, found Kishore Kumar a suitable singer for the unique tunes he composed. The popular hits of Bappi from the movie ‘Namak Halal’, ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Pag Ghunghroo’, ‘Aaj Rapat Jaayein’- were the contribution of the duo Bappi and KK. In 1984 another opportunity struck the duo in the form of the movie ‘Sharabi’ for which KK sang ‘Jahan Chaar Yaar’, ‘Manzilen Apni Jagah Hai’ and won a Filmfare award.

Bappi’s music was made for Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. KK’s adaptability to different music attracted Bappi towards him, like many other music directors. Many popular actors of the past and the present also insisted on Kishore Kumar for giving voice to their acting. Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand in the past and Amitabh Bachchan in the present were among the many actors whom the voice of Kishore Kumar was as genuine as theirs. Bappi himself states, that Kishore sang his last song under composition for the movie, Waqt ki awaaz.

The death of Kishore Kumar left Bappi with a deep hollow in his heart as well as his music career. He was so dependent on KK that it took some time for him to find a substitute for the lost legend. He thus introduced Alisha Chinoy and Vijay Benedict as the new pair for his duets.

The Bollywood had always been favorable to Bappi- Kishore Kumar duo. The only fact, their devotion towards the music, was sufficient to unite the souls of these two-generation maestros of music into one. The perfect creations produced by their harmonious association thus challenge all the questions concerning the co-existence of different generation artists.

Kishore Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar

Kishore Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar
79th Birth Anniversary of Kishore Kumar, on 4th August at Kishore Kumar's Bungalow.

Mahendra Kapoor, Kalyanjibhai, Lata Mangeshkar, Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar, Anandjibhai

A very very old time photo of bollywood legends
(from left to right) Mahendra Kapoor, Kalyanjibhai, Lata Mangeshkar, Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar, Anandjibhai

Cute Indian Kids : Cute boy teasing a Cutie Girl

Hey Reader, I am presenting one of my favourite picture here. I have posted this picture on my orkut profile too and have received lot of commnets....

Here the boy is trying to touch the tummy of girl (as she is traditionally dressed in Ghagra and Choli). Upon seeing the hand of boy girl is feeling that it will be tickeling so she is trying to be safe.........Too Cute it is.

Useful Tips : How to Find the IMEI Number on a Mobile Phone

How to Find the IMEI Number on a Mobile Phone




The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is on all GSM and UMTS mobile phones, commonly found in Europe, Asia, Africa and increasingly in America. Cingular & T-Mobile are the major US carriers but there are growing numbers of regional carriers who are switching to GSM like Centennial Wireless, Highland Cellular, Dobson Cellular to name a few. Mobile phone companies can use the number to identify valid subscribers and the type of equipment used. The carrier could thus use the number to remotely disable the phone in the event it is stolen or reported lost and customize data content to be compatible with the type of equipment used, among other things.

Steps

1. Ensure your phone is powered on.
2. Return to the "idle" screen, or your "desktop". If you were in the middle of a call, end it, and clear any numbers you pressed while making that call.
3. Press the following keys one by one: * # 0 6 #
4. As you press on the last #, a number will appear with the title, IMEI number, or similar.

Motorola iDen Units

1. With the handset on, press the following key sequence in rapid succession (without pause): # * [menu] [right arrow].
2. On units with SIM cards, scroll down until you see IMEI/SIM ID. Select Enter, and view your IMEI, SIM, and on some units, your MSN. The first fourteen digits are displayed; the fifteenth is always a 0.
3. On older units without SIM cards, continue to hit the [right arrow] key until you see IMEI [0] on the display. The first seven digits are displayed. Hit the menu key, then the "soft key" under next, and the next seven digits are displayed. The final, fifteenth, digit is most often a 0, however, this can be changed by altering the NAM.

Alternate Methods

1. Ensure the phone is powered off.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Look on the phone for a white sticker/label, which would be now exposed after removing the battery, for the IMEI. It would be 15 or 17 digits not including a few forward slashes included and without any letters. Only the first 15-digits are needed.
4. If the phone is not available or if the label is unreadable then have a look at the phone manufacturer's packaging for a white sticker/label. Near one bar code or another the IMEI would also be printed.

Tips

* If your mobile phone is stolen, call or go to the nearest service center of your mobile network, and give that IMEI number to staff and ask them to block that number for a period of time, so no one can use your mobile phone for any illegal purpose.
* Store your 15-Digit IMEI Number in a safe place, so you could find it if your phone is stolen.
* If you are South African, you are required by law to report the theft to your Service Provider (Mobile Network) and to the Police (either SAPS or your local Metro Police). It will be blacklisted across ALL networks so that it can't be used for criminal activities. If it is recovered, it is possible to de-blacklist it providing you have proof of ownership.

Warnings

* Do not ask the Service Center Staff to block your IMEI number permanently.
* The * # 0 6 # process does not work with the original iPhone, LG-WX3200 and LG-LX160 phones, or all Nextel (iDEN) handsets, or a RAZR V3m.
* Sometimes, fraudulent people change the IMEI Number of a handset, soon after the theft, and according to a recent report, most of the new numbers used by them are of already existing Cell Phones, so it is better to check whether your handset's number is not used somewhere else by visiting IMEI Number Analyzer. If it shows the Model of mobile, which you have, then it means that it is not used by someone else, but if it does not, then you should immediately contact Central Equipment Identity Register, and consult them regarding this problem...

Things You'll Need

* A mobile phone
* A service center of any mobile network, even if you don't belong to their service.

Useful Tips : How to Remove Melted Crayon From Fabric

How to Remove Melted Crayon From Fabric

Melted crayon can be safely removed from almost any fabric. This is splendid news for anyone who has despaired upon discovering that a stowaway crayon has made a complete journey through the dryer cycle. Few sights are more depressing than an entire dryer load of clothes stained with colored wax. But there is hope for hapless crayon launderers--this melted crayon removal technique has redeemed more than a few seemingly spoiled garments.

Steps
Step1
Place the stained item in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove the item from the freezer. Use a butter knife to scrape as much wax from the stain as possible.
Step2
Test the melted crayon to see if it is “washable” crayon or a regular wax crayon. Many crayons these days are not made from wax, but from a washable water soluble material. To see if the crayon is washable, try washing a portion of the crayon stain with a little laundry detergent and water. If the crayon dissolves easily, it's washable crayon. If the crayon is washable, skip Step 3.
Step3
Saturate the melted wax crayon stain with lubricant spray. Gently work the lubricant spray into the stain. Wait five minutes.
Step4
Spray the stain thoroughly with laundry pretreatment spray. Gently rub the spray into the stain. Wait five minutes.
Step5
Apply full strength laundry detergent to the stain. Gently rub the detergent into the stain. Wait 10 minutes.
Step6
Rinse the stain with cold water.
Step7
Check to see if the stain is completely gone. If it is not, blot excess moisture from the stained area and allow it to air dry. Repeat Steps 3 through 6.


Tips & Warnings

* After cleaning your laundry, be sure to clean melted crayon from your drier.
* Do not use warm or hot water during crayon stain removal. While hot water will help melt the wax, it may also cause the crayon pigment to set permanently.
* Do not use a hot iron to iron out the excess wax. Heat may cause the crayon pigment to set permanently.

Useful Tips : How to Remove Permanent Marker from the Skin

How to Remove Permanent Marker from the Skin

Permanent markers are a fun and creative way to decorate binders, shirts, etc. If you write on your hands, it does come off, but it can sometimes take a while. If you don't want to wait for your body art to wear off, you can get it off with some of these simple tips and steps!

Steps

1. Scrub your hands gently with table or coarse (Kosher) salt. Lather on soap(preferably with a bar soap), and water, then rinse.
2. Dry your hands completely before using them to eat.
3. Make sure that you do not come in contact with your eyes or mouth.
4. Hand sanitizer works really well to get it off. Just squirt a dab on the permanent marker spot and rub away gently with a tissue.
5. Use rubbing alcohol on cotton ball or cloth and rub it on the skin. The ink will come to the surface and you can wash it off.
6. Hairspray also does a pretty good job of removing permanent marker from skin. Just spray liberally on the area, rub it a little, and wash your hands with soap and water before the hairspray dries.
7. And also fingernail polish on cotton ball or paper towel.
8. Try sunscreen lotion. This is what swimmers use at meets!

Tips

* Many permanent markers use alcohol as a solvent in their inks. Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) works well to remove permanent ink from many surfaces, including skin. The bottles you buy at the grocery store or pharmacy will have a mix of anywhere from 50% to 95% isopropyl alcohol. The rest is distilled water. The higher percentage of alcohol, the better it will work as a solvent. Isopropyl alcohol also works well for removing adhesive residue as well.
* Go to your local grocery store and get nail polish remover. It doesn't matter what brand or kind. Put it on cotton (cotton balls and q-tips work best) and apply, rubbing gently. If this doesn't work the first couple times try again and again.

Warnings

* Don't scrub too hard; you may end up irritating your skin.

Things You'll Need

* Salt
* Soap
* Hand sanitizer
* Tissue/cloth
* Cotton swab
* Nail polish remover
* Rubbing alcohol

How to Remove Permanent Marker from Furniture

How to Remove Permanent Marker from Furniture




Toothpaste and a toothbrush or a soft rag is the answer. Or check the tips below,

for more ideas!

Steps
1. Use white paste, not the gel kind, and simply put a small amount directly onto

the wood furniture. With either a soft bristle toothbrush or a soft rag, start

making circular motions and rubbing the paste into the marker.
2. Be patient. You may have to do several applications before the marker is

completely removed.
3. When the paste has basically taken on the color of the marker, wipe clean and

then start with step 1 again.

Tips
* Try White board cleaner spray. It works great! Before you start, test the

paste on a part of the furniture that's not normally visible, to make sure that it

won't strip the paint.
* Try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, it works, even on bamboo items! Use furniture oil

if the sheen gets rubbed off.
1. For couches, use laundry detergant. Gently rub it on and it magicly

comes off!
* Try Goo Gone Spray Gel, simply place a dab on your finger and let set for a

few seconds. Then rub gently with a paper towel.
* A damp cloth dipped in baking soda rubbed gently on the "sharpie" marks

cleaned my wood dining table in a snap.

Useful Tips : How to Remove Permanent Marker from a Smooth Surface

All you need to remove most Sharpie-like marks from that dry erase board, refrigerator door, computer screen, or any other non-porous surface, is a few seconds and dry erase marker!

Method One

1. Get ahold of any normal dry erase marker.
2. Test the dry erase marker on an inconspicuous area of the surface you want cleaned to see if it wipes off cleanly (but only after 1 minute or so, so that the ink can dry).
3. Draw over the entire dried sharpie mark with the dry erase marker. Give it 5+ seconds for the marker to dry completely, otherwise it will smear.
4. Wipe both marks away with a lent free cloth or micro fiber. Never use paper towels.
5. If the mark has been dried on for several days, repeat steps 3 and 4 more than once and perhaps with more pressure to wipe it off.


Method Two

1. Take a normal pencil eraser.
2. Try erasing the surface to make sure that the eraser will not damage the surface.
3. Erase the permanent marker area.
4. (This may not get permanent marker completely off, and only works for really smooth surfaces. Walls, unpolished wood, printing paper, and such, will not work.)

Tips
*
o
+ - Always test each method in an inconspicuous place first if possible.

*
o
+ - Always start with the least invasive solvent/cleaner first. Some of the solvents/chemicals below will destroy certain surfaces. Others may even allow the ink to go deeper into the surface-making it more difficult to remove later. Anything that deals with dry powders, toothpaste, or abrasive cleaners may permanently scratch the surface. Some solvents listed will "melt" certain plastics.

* A useful alternative is Lysol(R) disinfectant spray. Spray a liberal amount on the marker, allow to set for a few seconds and wipe clean. Repeat if necessary to remove any remaining marks. Also try removing any excess marker with steel wool with the Lysol but remember not to rob too hard and scratched the surface.
* For unpainted wood, sprinkle some baking soda over the area and then wipe it off with a paper towel soaked in isopropyl alcohol.
* Try using sunscreen.
* Toothpaste with baking soda in it, just rub it over with an old toothbrush and then wipe the toothpaste off. Leaves you with a nice clean surface, smells nice too.
* Rub it in circles till the marker was gone then moved on to the next spot.
* Try using a rag with a touch of gasoline works wonderfully!
* White Board Cleaner Spray works.
* Use Carburator Cleaner, but be careful, this is toxic. You can buy it in any auto supply store, just spray it on the marked surface and it will wipe off clean. It will "eat" some surfaces.
* You could also try plain hand sanitizer such as germ-ex - not the creamy hand lotion types. Simply squirt it on, let it sit for a few seconds, and wipe it off.
* Another useful alternative is rubbing alcohol. Get a bottle of rubbing alcohol (~70% Isopropanol), apply it to a paper towel, tissue, etc. and wipe. May take a few tries, depending on how long the permanent marker has been there.
* One other thing that works is a simple eraser. Use a pencil eraser to rub off most of the marker and then use rubbing alcohol to scrub away the rest with a rag or paper towel.
* Nail Polish Remover (preferably with acetone) is another way to remove many permanent inks, but it might damage your surface so test a small spot.
* Another good one is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, although depending on how dark the stain is you might need to do another step after you use the eraser.
* 409 and other kitchen cleaners are good too, but only for certain surfaces(example: video game cartridge surfaces)
* Dow scrubbing bubbles also works, yet depending on the surface, it might damage the finish if left too long.
* Another sure fire method is to spray on bug repellant with a 20% deet or more concentration, dissolves easily, be sure to clean the surface with soap after.
* you know what really works? it even comes off linoleum, GOOF OFF. It works just like a charm.

* Acetone: you can buy nearly pure acetone in any hardware store where paint solvents are sold. Works WONDERS on permanent marker stains. Nail polish remover is usually diluted with water, so it doesn't work as well. WARNING: AS WITH MOST OF THESE, ALWAYS TEST THIS IN AN INCONSPICUOUS PLACE FIRST!

Hoppes Number 9 gun cleaning solvent is also a great solvent for such tasks. Can be found in any store that sells cleaning kits for guns. (Wal-mart, hardware stores, etc.) WARNING: AS WITH MOST OF THESE, ALWAYS TEST THIS IN AN INCONSPICUOUS PLACE FIRST!

Warnings
* Do not attempt on porous surfaces including unfinished or lightly finished wood, any fabric, unpolished stone, paper, plaster walls, leather, unfinished ceramics,rough paint, etc. etc.
* Do not leave the dry erase marker on the surface for an extended period of time, otherwise that might stain too!

Funny Sayings about being Unlucky

When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

T-Shirt Writeup : Always Look Brighter Side of Life

Always Look Brighter Side of Life

Funny Saying : Bright Life

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Funny Sayings by Unknowns

An consultant is someone who takes a subject you understand and makes it sound confusing.

Funny Saying by Mark Twain

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. - Mark Twain

Dhiren Gala at Lonavala - Bhushi Dam

This one is taken at Bhushi dam in November 2007 :: Have Got lot of comments for this picture

professional dress up

This one is with professional dressing

Best Sayings By George Bernard Shaw

"Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does."


-George Bernard Shaw

One of The Tallest Building Design

Best Saying by Lao Tzu

"Knowing others is wisdom, Knowing the self is enlightenment."


-Lao Tzu

Best Sayings by Desmont Tutu

"There is no situation that is not transfigurable,
there is no situation that has no hope."

Desmond Tutu