Jagannath puri rath yatra 2010

Jagannath puri rath yatra start today 13 July 2010, one of the most popular festival in a puri state Orissa in India

Rath Yatra started in Puri today at 4:00 AM with Mangala Aarti and the Rath Yatra starts at 3:30 PM and then it leaves to Gundicha temple The Ratha Yatra in Puri actually takes place during the full moon of the following month, Asadha (June/July) in a spectacular riot of colur and noise.



The festival observes a huge procession of decorated idols of Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra ready to outside the gate of jagannath Temple on the day of the Rath festival they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have the fortune of seeing them.

1 dead, 3 hurt during Rath Yatra in Puri

Tragedy struck the Rath Yatra in Puri on Tuesday when a woman was killed and three were injured in a stampede during pulling of the chariots of the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra.

The stampede occurred when the wooden chariots carrying the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine were moving past the royal palace and the woman, identified as 65-year-old Bijaylaxmi Mohanty of Markandeshwarsahi area here, and three others fell down, police sources said.

After their fall near the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, the four came under the surging crowd of devotees and were later pulled out by volunteers who took them to a hospital here, they said.

"The woman was declared brought dead by doctors while three others are undergoing treatment. Their condition is stable," Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Puri, Narahari Maharana said.

Earlier, after a series of rituals, the deities were taken off the Ratna Sinhasana, the bejewelled throne, and out of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The deities were taken down 22 steps known as 'baisi pahacha' through Lion's gate in an elaborate ritual called 'Pahandi' to the beating of gongs as devotees and sevayats jostled to have a closer look and to touch them.

At first Sudarshana, the celestial wheel of Krishna-Vishnu, was taken out and placed in the chariot of Subhadra. It was followed by Balabhadra, Subhadra and finally Jagannatha.

Jagannath was ensconced in the largest of the chariots, 45-feet high 'Nandighosh' which has 16 huge wooden wheels.

It was followed by the chariot of Balabhadra, the 14-wheeled 44-feet-high 'Taladhwaja' and lastly that of Subhadra known as 'Darpadalan' with 12 wheels and standing 43 feet high. Security personnel cordoned off each chariot.

The Gajapati King of Puri Divya Singha Deb arrived from his palace on a silver-plated palanquin for the 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual.

He offered prayers to the deity and then swept the platforms with a golden broom and sprinkled flowers and fragrant water.

Among the VIPs who turned out to watch the Rathayatra were Governor M C Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Devotees poured into the seaside town since early morning to watch the ceremonial pulling of the chariots on the 'Bada Danda', as the Grand Avenue is known, with security personnel deployed in strength keeping a watchful eye.

Stars celebrate X’mas holidays

With shooting schedules called off due to the TRS tension, filmstars are looking forward to making the most of their first Christmas holiday in years. We asked movie stars what their plans for X’mas are...

Sanjana, actor
It’s going to be a ‘wine and dine’ day for me. Christmas and New Year are two festivals I like to celebrate. However, every year I’m usually abroad filming at this time of the year. Thankfully, I’ll be home this year. I’m going to chill out with family and close friends today.

Rana D., actor
Christmas Eve is actually special to me as my dad’s birthday falls on December 24 and the entire family celebrates his birthday together. But with the lull in the industry and no shooting schedules in place, I will be spending time with my family even on Christmas this year.

Sharvanand, actor
Since I won’t be working this festive season, I’m going to stay at home with my family and spend time with them. I also have plans of calling my friends over to my place and chill out with them.

Bindu Madhavi, actor
It’s sad that work had to be cancelled because of the unrest in the city, but I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas, as I’ve not managed to do this in a really long time. I’m going over to my friend’s place to catch up with my buddies and have a good time decorating the X’mas tree and binging on Christmas goodies.

Christmas, Festivals, Indian Festivals,

High on X’mas cheer

Just when Christmas was around the corner, the Andhra-Telangana tussle took a turn for the worse, sending all the Christmas shopping and party plans into a tizzy. But ask Hyderabadi Christians and they will unanimously agree that nothing can douse the spirit of the festival of joy and giving. From working their way around the prevailing tension to coming up with impromptu indoor plans, Hyderabadis are doing all it takes to have a merry Christmas.
Nathan Akshith, an engineer, whose last moment Christmas shopping plans went for a toss with the declaration of the 48-hour bandh, says, “Plans to go shopping and head out to the midnight mass had to be cancelled. But as far as festivities are concerned, nothing has changed. Leave alone this tussle, even a world war cannot dampen the Christmas spirit. The decorations are up, the goodies are made and we are going to have family and friends over for Christmas. There may be a bit of rescheduling, but nothing will be stalled.”
City youngsters who’ve returned home for the holidays say they won’t let the prevailing tension play spoilsport. “I’ve come from Coimbatore to celebrate Christmas with my family and I’m not going to let this unrest affect our yearly rituals. After all, Christmas comes only once a year,” says Emmanuel Kavoori, an engineering student, who spends Christmas visiting his relatives after the mass.
Michell Liu, a career cousellor, couldn’t agree more, “I never had elaborate plans for this Christmas, but the one plan that I had was to attend the midnight mass at St Johns Cathedral and I did not let the bandh scare or the unrest stop me. We did have to give up the midnight buffet, post the mass, but Christmas this year will be a family affair.”
There are others who prefer to look at the brighter side of things. Daniel Jaykumar, an engineer, says the bandh declaration has come as a boon.
“Every Christmas, we head out for a big family dinner to a restaurant. While we may not be able to do that this year, we have decided to have all my cousins over at my place for dinner. Elaborate plans are being made and an extensive menu is being decided upon. The only thing that was affected was our shopping plans. That said, it’s a great time to bond with family”

X’mas carols get a ‘rock’ing makeover

Christmas is around the corner. Even as many youngsters, Christian and non-Christian alike in Chennai, have joined carol groups to spread the message of love and joy, city choir groups have switched to belting out hybrid versions of the good ole carols. Christian devotional songs, the mainstay of Christmas, are now incorporating elements of different genres of popular music including rock n’ roll, blues, pop, Arabian, jazz, contemporary and what have you. Explaining the reason, James David, conductor, Emmanuel Methodist Church choir says, “Today, youngsters are exposed to different categories of music and it makes sense to introduce elements of music they enjoy and relate to. In order to make devotional songs more appealing to the younger generation, we decided to give it a modern-day makeover. So, we have songs like the very Oriental We Three Kings, to which we have given an Arabian twist. And, the regular melodious songs like December Child have been revamped with the riffs and beats of a rock song.”
Young musicians say that it’s not just the form of music, but even musicians specialising in different genres are now joining the revelries leading up to X’mas, irrespective of their religious inclinations. Saroop Oommen of the Unwind Center acoustic guitarist and vocalist with Kontagious remarks, “Non-Christian rock musicians across the city are now jamming together at various carol singing sessions and it’s great to have this kind of camaraderie. The best part of the festival is that it brings together people of various faiths.”
So what do people have to say about this? Points out Angeline Ruth Ranjitham, Methodist Youth Fellowship member, “I think it’s heartening to see youngsters taking to carols with these new styles of music. However, I personally like to sing carols in the old school way. There’s something about the charm of the original songs that the new styles cannot duplicate.”

Christ-mus’ mean giving

In the old days, it was the Scrooges that played spoilsport around Christmas (remember his famous “Bah Humbug!”) but now it seems we are in danger of the exact opposite thing — spending too much! Netizens dub the holiday season “Cashmas” when it becomes a celebration of materialism rather than love and sharing. Who’s got the prettiest tree? Who’s giving the best gifts? Who’s hosting the biggest bash?
Well, it’s good to be generous and gifts are the order of the day, but let’s not forget the real reason why Christmas is celebrated. As advertising professional Sheenu Mathew says, “People have a tendency to take Christ out of Christmas and make it Xmas. Businesses take full advantage of the holiday season and a lot of people look at it as the party season, but for me, Christmas is the time to be with family and friends.” Sheenu, an employee at O&M, adds, “At our office, Christmas is huge. Not just for the Christians either. We are playing Secret Santa and it’s a great way to bring people closer. We’re not giving lavish gifts but trying to make someone’s day with a small gesture.”
Vocalist Deep Dub has decided to give Cashmas a miss. The youngster, who comes from a Christian family, explains, “Everywhere I look, I see people trying to cash in on the festive season. Malls, hotels, restaurants and clubs are all coming up with special attractions to boost their sales. I myself got several offers to perform at theme parties but I’m going to sit this one out. This time around, I’ve decided to just chill at home and spend time with the family.”
In fact, even some non-Christians have had enough of Cashmas. RJ and producer Archana Addoni, a Tamil Brahmin, tells us, “I don’t understand why people feel the urge to splurge around Christmas time. Personally, I take it as an opportunity to go to church and do some introspection. Actually, it’s the one day of the year that I go to church — I don’t care if it’s a Protestant church or a Catholic church or whatever.”
Of course, it’s no sin to spend money, but there’s a lot of good you could do while you’re at it, points out Pearl Shinny, an MBA student. “For many of us, this is the one big celebration of the year and we want to pull out all the stops. While we’re celebrating, if we could bring the festive cheer into someone else’s life, then that’s the point of Christmas for me,” says Pearl, who along with her family, distributes new clothes among leprosy patients for Christmas.
“The true spirit of the season should not be forgotten amidst all this celebration,” she adds. Merry Christmas!


Christmas , Festivals,

Christmas just got dearer this year

The political turmoil in the state has not just thrown life out of gear, but has also made Christmas a penny-pinching affair this year. with prices of everything from sugar to milk shooting up, X’Mas in Hyderabad has just gotten dearer. And even for those who are willing to splurge, there’s bad news. The city now faces a huge shortage of eggs, butter and cream, sending eateries and bakeries into panic mode.

Bosco Malapatti, director of Ofen, admits he has a tough time juggling the increasing orders from customers with the diminishing supplies from wholesalers. “Orders are increasing due to the holiday season,” he says. “However, there are no eggs or cream available anywhere. Initially, egg prices increased from Rs 1.50 to Rs 3. But now, even though we are willing to pay a higher amount, there aren’t enough eggs available. We had to procure butter from Mumbai due to the shortage in Hyderabad. Cream is not available either.”

Mamta Pallam Raju, partner, Sweet Nirvana, faces the arduous task of scouring the city for dairy supplies as she is unable to get them from her usual suppliers. “Dairy products like milk, butter and cream are not available with our regular suppliers anymore,” she says. “So we were forced to look for alternatives and stock up as much as we can. We also end up buying them at double the prices from supermarkets.”

Chef Sateesh Krishnan of Fusion 9 faces similar problems. “There is a shortage of vegetables, pulses and meat in the market,” he says. “Since we acquire commodities through a contract, supply has not been a problem. But the prices have tripled. However, we cannot increase the prices in our menu. we have been getting several orders for parties, we are still trying to figure out how to deal with it.”

Vijay Ramnani, partner, Karachi Bakery, also admits that he is shelling out three times more to rustle up their Christmas specials.

“From sugar and butter to eggs, I’m paying extra for everything. This amounts to a big loss as we haven’t increased the prices of our products,” he adds.

Wholesale prices
Then Now
Butter Rs 150 Rs 180
per Kg
Eggs Rs 1.50 Rs 3.00
each
Flour Rs 7 Rs 18

No Bhai Dooj for Priya, Sanjay Dutt

She is 43 now and Priya Dutt can’t recall a single year when she celebrated bhai dooj at home! Pleasantly surprising indeed in a family which has, among other things, also been in the news for the sibling bond. Ask Dutt why this preference for rakhi and not bhai dooj and she says, “I really can’t fathom any reason for this preference. I don’t even remember my friends celebrating it either. Raksha bandhan has always been very special in our family. My mom and dad used to explain to us the significance of the festival. Initially, when my brother was in a boarding school, we would post rakhis to him. Our parents would give Sanju money so that he’d buy gifts for us. When he started working, my sister and I would wait for the money he’d gift us after we tied the thread. Honestly speaking, we secretly preferred getting money so that we could buy what we liked instead of he getting stuff for us.”

Soon the conversation veers towards how his bond with his brother has matured with time even though it has weathered many a storm. “We live in the same building and our bond is very strong. I believe the strongest relationship that exists in our lives are those with parents and siblings. These bonds are meant to last for ever and nothing or no one can ever come in between,” she says.

Of course, the ups and downs are only natural. “Life, otherwise, would become boring and monotonous. Being siblings doesn’t mean we share the same personalities. One has to grow to respect one’s sibling for who he is and also be there for him. Brotherhood also means respecting differences. We might not agree with each other’s choices but that doesn’t mean we start hating each other,” Dutt adds.

But what about moments when it gets very difficult to agree to disagree, since living that ideal life is not always possible? “It’s difficult only if one expects. Dad has always taught us that we must learn to do things without expectations,” she says before insisting on the importance of the pursuit of happiness. As she puts it, “As a sister, my happiness comes from knowing that he is happy living the life he wants to. I am not here to be happy by imposing my set of beliefs on him.”

Finally, does it seem too late to start indulging in the bhai dooj ritual now? “Yes, I think I’m way past the time when I could begin celebrating it. But, I will surely find out the reason when I meet him on Sunday evening and ask if he knows why we’ve never celebrated this festival,” she signs off.

life style, Festivals,

Diwali with a difference

Austerity is the buzzword this Diwali. Whether style or celebration, it’s all about keeping it simple this season, say prominent city denizens who will ditch all ostentation for quieter, more intimate family affairs and religious services. And there are those who have diverted their original opulent Diwali budgets into charitable causes.

Filmmaker D. Sureshbabu says Diwali this year is a complete ‘family affair’ for them with just a puja at the studio, sweets and a family get together. “For our family, Diwali is an opportunity to get together, eat, perform puja and celebrate. We confine it to religious festivities and avoid pomp and show. This time, there will be fewer celebrations everywhere as the general public mood is not too jubilant.” He says there is a lack of an ‘upbeat mood’ this time, “There is a 50 per cent drop in the Diwali get-togethers in the city and many are confining their celebrations to their family. The untimely death of YSR, heavy floods clubbed with poor business has certainly impacted the celebrations, thereby forcing us to focus on the finer aspects of life, which is what festivals are all about,” he says.

The graceful restraint of classic tradition is making a comeback and fashion trends, sans the bling and frippery, seem to mirror this. “This Diwali fashion trends have changed. Most people who came to my boutique asked for simple and clean cuts. Even zardosi and sequin work, which were so popular till even a few months ago, are suddenly passe. Everyone wants sober yet chic clothes which spell elegance and subtlety,” says Vinita Pasari, designer and store owner.

Actor Sneha Ullal agrees. “My Diwali parties every year are quite wild. But this time, I prefer spending a quiet evening with my family.”

Actor Archana too echoes the same sentiment. “In all the glitz and noise we make about celebrations, we usually tend to forget the real meaning of festivals — family time, pujas and recollection. These will be the key factors in my Diwali celebrations this year.”

Making sure to keep it low key, business communities in the city will also include flood victims in their celebrations. There will be half the usual number of ‘Diwali milans’ in the city this year. Instead, the focus is on “giving back”, says Narendar Surana, Chairman, FICCI, AP chapter. “This time, Diwali is being celebrated with a sense of responsibility.”

Kiron, CMD of Suchir India, known for his grand celebrations, agrees. He has invited all his relatives home a day in advance so that he can celebrate the festival with the displaced people in Kurnool. “Except for a Lakshmi puja, there won’t be any grand celebrations. This time, we are also avoiding cracker shows,” adds Kiron.

diwali festival, Festivals, Indian Festivals,

Obama seeks light and knowledge from Diwali

In an expansive gesture to Indians worldwide as much as to showcase his – and America’s -- multi-cultural affections, US President Barack Obama on Wednesday lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House to ''symbolize victory of light over darkness.''

Although it was the Bush White House that began celebrating Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, in 2003, Obama became the first President to personally grace the ceremony -- a brief affair that began with a rather incongruous performance by the well-regarded Hindi a-capella group Penn Masala, and ended with a Sanskrit invocation by a priest from the local Siva-Vishnu temple.

''This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting Diyas, or lamps, which symbolize the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance,'' Obama said on the occasion, adding, ''And while this is a time of rejoicing, it's also a time for reflection, when we remember those who are less fortunate and renew our commitment to reach out to those in need.''

The Diwali ceremony shared the platform with another event where Obama signed an executive order re-establishing the President’s advisory committee and White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. By hosting both events together, the U.S President, who is clearly comfortable being a composite of American, Asia-Pacific, and African cultures, brought together an unusual coalition in the White House East Room of Asian-Americans, Indian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders. All three groups have much in common as successful minorities but seldom work together.

The half-hour East Room celebration was attended by a mixed crowd of hyphenated Asians, Americans, and Indians. India’s Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Ambassador Meera Shankar dropped by, and several Indian-Americans in administrative positions in Washington attended.

The White House kept it light and simple. A box of Indian mithai (sweets) was placed on some 150 chairs that filled the East Room but there was no food fest or song and dance.

After his remarks, much of which was devoted to the Asian-American initiative, there was a single lamp that Obama lit from a candle. The Siva-Vishnu temple priest, dressed in ceremonial togs with an enormous three-forked tilak on his forehead, kept his invocation short -- chanting ''Asatoma Sadgamaya'' (Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the Upanishads.

Obama, having lit the White House diya (a word he handled with aplomb) and wished everyone a ''Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,'' listened intently as the priest ended with ''Om Shanti Shanti.'' He returned the priest’s Namaste and then shook his hands before striding out to attend to the business of war.

''Thank you Mr President for being the first president to come to the Diwali ceremony,'' a gadabout journalist called out to Obama. ''Yes, how about that,’’ the President shot back.

The President spent much of the morning with his ''war council'' (formally, the national security team) in the White House Situation room assessing US strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Colours of Navratri

Powerful, feminine, graceful, maternal, wise, life-giving and indomitable —the many forms of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during Navratri are essentially a celebration of womanhood in all its glory. And young Hyderabadi women who look forward to this veneration of all things feminine every year, talk about how Dasara holds a special significance in their lives.
Pallavi Dharamsey, a banker, says, “Only a woman is capable of having so many facets to her nature. Apart from being a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, it is also a tribute to the various forms of the goddess. We usually celebrate the festival by playing garba and dandiya. Not only is that a way to invoke the Goddess, but it is also great fun.”
Anju Rajan, a young scientific researcher, couldn’t agree more. “In South India, three days each are dedicated to Durga (shakti), Lakshmi (prosperity) and Saraswati (knowledge). These are the most important elements in a person’s life, and these nine days are dedicated specifically to invoke these three elements in one’s life,” she says.
For the Bengali community, for whom this five-day festival takes root in the worship of nature and womanhood, it is all about celebrating the shakti incarnation of the Goddess, signifying the final triumph of good over evil. Suhita Banerjee, a business management student, says, “It is one festival that brings the whole community together to celebrate the essence of womanhood. I personally love the ritual of sindur khela that takes place on dashami (tenth day). The ritual is essentially for married women, who celebrate their marital life by sharing their happiness with the Goddess. Women play with sindoor (vermillion) after offering it to Goddess Durga. This is done just before the immersion.”
The Goddess in her myriad forms is worshipped by women in the South with much fervour. The Bathukamma festival celebrated as part of Dasara in AP is an all-woman affair too. Vyshnavi Pamidighantam, a law student, says, “When Saraswati is worshipped, we wear everything in white. On another day, the theme is blue or green, depending on the form of the Goddess we are worshipping on that day.”

Festivals, Navratri, , Indian Festivals, 

Durga – the all powerful Goddess

DURGA, the consort of the well-known God Shiv, is perhaps the most important Goddess of Hindus. She is a multi-dimensional Goddess. She is worshipped by millions all over India and a sizable number of them give her importance more than God Shiv himself.

She was the first born in the house of Daksha, one of the progenitors of mankind and was named as Satee. She was married to Shiv but sacrificed her life by self-immolation on a pyre. The story says that Daksha instituted a massive sacrifice and in the ceremonies apportioned no share to Shiv. Satee, his daughter had come to this ceremony against the wishes of the later’s father in law. Satee could not bear this insult and entered the sacrificial fire. Hearing the news Shiv flew in a rage and reached there with his blazing trident.

He pierced the sacrificial altar with great violence. He ran up to the gods sitting there and knocked out all things at the spot. So many powerful demi-gods in attendance to Shiv attacked the place together with their lord. The mountains tottered, the earthshook, the winds roared and the depths of the sea were disturbed. The catastrophe is thus described in puranas: Indra is knocked down and trampled on, Yama has his staff broken, Saraswati and Matris have their noses wounded, Bhag has his eyes pulled out, pushan has his teeth caked down his throat, Chandra (the moon) is pummeled, Agni’s hands are broken, Bhrigu’s beard is crushed, Prajapatis are beaten and the gods are running helter – skelter. In the end Vishnu intervened and propitiated the Wrath of Shiv. Daksha acknowledged Shiv’s supremacy and apportioned a due share to this God.

In her second appearance Durga came to the world as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya. As she was satee, the daughter of Daksha married to Shiv in her previous birth, in the second life too she wanted to be the consort of Shiv. But after the sacrifice of his first wife Shiv and lost all interest in marriage.

Parvati now realized that there was only one way of attracting his attention and winning his affection. She undertook ascetic rites and recited praying hymns for one thousand years to please God Shiv. Only then Shiv was convinced that Parvati was worthy of being accepted as a wife. The wedding of Shiv and Parvati is described in a very colourful manner in Puranic literature and so many songs have been composed how the marriage procession of Shiv is composed of beggars, mendicants and wanderers.

As mentioned above Goddess Durga has a variety of forms with different attributes. In her milder form she is Parvati (the mountain girl), Uma (the light) Gauri (the yellow complexioned beauty) Himavati (daughter of Himalaya) Jaganmata (Mother of the World) and Bhavani (the goddess of the universe) in her terrible form she is Durga (the terrible form she is Durga (the inaccessible) Kali or Shyama (he black complexioned) Chandika or chandi (the fearful one) and Bhairavi of Devi or Maha Devi (the great Goddess).

How Parvati the consort of Shiv came to have the name of Durga is an interesting narration. On one occasion the sage Agastya asked Kartikeya why Parvati, his mother was called Durga. Kartikeya replied that some time back there was a demon, named Durga, the son of Ruru. He with his austerities placed Brahma very powerful. He conquered the three worlds and even dethroned Indra, the king of gods. Every one was afraid of him. He abolished all religious ceremonies so the Brahmans were terrified and stopped reading Vedas.

All the Gods assembled and prayed to God Shiv to protect them from the tyranny of this demon. Shiv took pity on them and asked Parvati to go and destroy the evil demon. She calmed the Gods and accepted the mission. There was long drawn out and fierce battle. As soon as the giant came near with his evil followers Parvati assumed 1000 arms and also brought out a number of weapons out of her body. She repelled every attack and in the end of the demon assumed the shape of a fearful buffalo and with his horns cast trees, rocks and mountains on the Goddess, who cut everything into pieces.

The Goddess Parvati pierced him with her trident and subdued him. The Gods with his deliverance praised the Goddess and honoured Parvati with the name of Durga.

Your Navratri style guide

Image courtesy: Reuters

It's that time of the year again, nine fun-filled nights of dance, tradition and sheer fun. Let the decorated pooja thalis come out with cool dandiya sticks and let the celebration begin!

But wait a minute...! Before you step out; let's figure out what you'll be wearing this Navratri.

Wearwithall

Your choice of clothes will decide whether you'll be one of those women sporting excessive mirror work and gaudy tassels that hurt the eye, or that girl who turns heads… Of course by dressing down but by dressing right!

Colour code

The key is keeping it subtle yet classy. Since navratri is essentially a festival of colour and lights, keep your outfits vibrant and stunning. Avoid greys and blacks and any shade associated with darkness.

It's all about standing out in a crowd. Don't be a 'navratri stereo-type'! Mix and match a number of shades and hues, but get your combinations right. Reds and blues with shades of greens, or pinks and purples with hues of yellow; will look just great.

Comfort quotient

Now let's not forget that we won't be in our comfort zones during the nine nights, since it's bound to get hot, clammy and ewww… sweaty. The only way we can get ourselves to look and feel good is by picking out the right fabric.

You are sure to feel more confident and "enthu" if you choose cotton garments over the sticky, persperation triggers - nylons or chiffons! Just because the material isn't dressy, doesn't mean the outfit isn't. Intricate embroideries with magnificent stone-work cholis will just add the required drama to your outfit.

Shoe and tell

Shoes must also be picked thoughtfully. If your one of those who wants to burn the dance-floor the whole night, then forget about pencil or high heels; you don’t want to come home with sore feet, now do you? Comfy platform sandals or smaller heels matching or contrasting to your outfit is what you need.

Strings attached
Accessories is probably the soul of your navratri dress! Plain silver ones or even the coppery kind – necklaces, anklets and rings - will add that touch of ethnic chic to your look.

So dress, check. Accessories, check. Shoes, double check! What's missing? The right make up of course! Yes, one thing that can ruin your expensive dress and oh-so-pretty shoes is disastrous make-up. Remember you will be sweating a lot, so picking a water-proof foundation and kohl would definitely make more sense. Don't overdo it and end up looking like a trashy Bollywood starlet.

Now that you have everything in place, team it up with funky hair style and you're good to go! But don't forget, it's the way you carry your outfit that will give you that edge. Keep it traditional, yet contemporary, and just have a blast!

Have a great Navratri everyone!

Navratri 2009 at Sanjay Dutt's House - Photo Gallery

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Don't miss: Lip-smacking Eid treats

(A food stall on Mohammed Ali Road during Ramadan)

The month-long Ramadan fast is coming to a close and while this means great celebration and rejoicing for the Muslims, it's also a great time for everyone else. We are talking about the scrumptious food, of course!

And if you've never sampled Muslim cuisine before, then it's about time you did. We let you in on some of the best places around the country to dig into mouth-watering food this Eid:

In Mumbai

Take a walk down Mumbai's renowned Mohammad Ali Road - an artery that connects south Bombay to the north - which by the way is buzzing till the wee hours of the morning - and you are guaranteed to find yourself in grub heaven!

The delectable biryani, paya, freshly barbequed chicken, khichda and even roadside Chinese, that you'll find in the gullies and by lanes of this bustling area are bound to leave you drooling. But if dining at the bustling Mohammad Ali Road is not your cup of tea, just head to Bade Miyan at Colaba, the street-side restaurant famous for north Indian tandoori, or Café Noorani situated at Haji Ali.

And for those of you with a sweet tooth, take your pick from the spread of mouth-watering sweets at Sulemane Usman Mithawala famous for firni, aflatoon and malpua.

(Jama Masjid all lit up during Ramadan)

In Delhi

Don't worry if you're not a Mumbaikar. It's not like all the fun is happening only here. Our capital city Delhi is as much fun with shops and restaurants staying open till 4 am in the morning and stalls selling kebabs, tikkas, pineapple chaats and fruit slices. It's a feast!

Even during Ramadan, outside the Jama Masjid right after Namaz, you will see swarms of people gathered in this brightly-lit area just to savour the delicacies, after the day-long fast. While you are in the area, you must sample the famous roast chicken from Al Shahi Chicken corner and the irresistible samosas and paneer ki jalebi from the popular Kalan Sweets.

Karim's, near Jama Masjid, serves by far the best Mughlai dishes. No trip to old Delhi during Eid will be complete without having had biryani at this restaurant that is as old as the place it's situated in!

In Hyderabad

Moving down south, there's Hyderabad with its speciality biryani, paya, pather ka ghosht, khoorma and nihari. Haleem, a type of meat stew, is another very famous dish. It is the mainstay during the Holy month of Ramadan.

If you happen to be in Old city, Hyderabad then Madina hotel and Nayab hotel are excellent restaurants to visit. The yummy desserts like the double ka meetha (bread pudding), khubani ka meetha (apricot pudding) and kheer will leave you wanting more.

So go ahead and pamper your taste buds because this opportunity isn't going to last forever!

If you know of any other places where one can sample delectable Muslim treats this Eid, leave us a comment and let us know.

idiva

Id ka ‘chand’ and shayeri

A sort of tempo builds up as Id draws near. But quite often the heavens throw up a pleasant surprise. When everyone is craning his neck out, the moon plays hide-and-seek, giving anxious moments to the "rozadars." The poet mirrors the confusion quite eloquently.

Aap ko Id ki khushiyan ho mubarak laikin

Aap ne chand nahin, aayna dekha hoga

To be in love is to be in a state of perpetual anaesthesia. The lover finds himself on the horns of a dilemma when he sees the moon and glances at his beloved.

Dekhoon hilale Id, ke dekhoon tera jamal

Woh aasman ka chand hai, tu hai zameen ka chand

It may be just a bright object in the sky, but for the lovelorn poet the crescent has a deeper connotation.

Just like the moon, his heartthrob is regal, unattainable, a vestal virgin, a Mona Lisa - out of reach of mere mortals.
Powerful imagery

Unalloyed Mills & Boons stuff. Yes, Urdu poetry is full of "ishq" on the sly. Of stolen moments - bitter, sweet and poignant. Rose and nightingale, moth and candle, saqi-o-jaam.

The imagery is powerful.

If star-crossed Romeos think of their moon-faced Juliets every time they look skywards, why not the man in the street. Urdu poetry comes to the rescue of all those passionate souls who can’t express their love.
Best couplets

It has produced some of the best couplets revolving around the symbol of love, the moon. A large number of verses speak of the lover’s wish to steal a glance of his beloved on the pretext of seeing the "Id ka chand".

As the sun set on Sunday, all eyes were focussed on the evening sky to spot the moon which heralds the Id-ul-Fitr. But the Majnoo fears there will be pell-mell if his Laila also climbs atop the roof to watch the moon.

Mahe nau dekhne tum chath pe na jana hargiz

Shahar mein Id ki tareeqh badal jayegi

Another shayer goes poetical thus:

Chand idhar aur tum udhar nikley

Aagaya humko itebare Idd

source:hindu