The Ardh Kumbh mela, considered to be the largest religious congregation in the world after Kumbh, begins in Allahabad today -the day is very significant for Hindus as its auspicious "Paush Poornima" as per the Hindu calendar,full moon night) and also the b'day of Lord Shiva.
It is said that this day is very auspicious for asking forgiveness from Lord ,donating to poors esp fruits and vegetables.On this day early morning before sunrise lakhs ofdevotees take bath at holy Sangam and then offer puja and abhishek to lord shiva.It is said any genuine wish,asked wth pure intentions, is granted by the lord on this day.
A mini-town has come up in Sangam area and the entire procedure to provide a magnificent look to the scenario is almost complete. This part of Tirthraj Prayag illuminates at night while giving the essence of a new town.The security is very tight with 20,000 police men admist the fear of terrorist attacks.
This will be followed by the first royal bathing (Shahi Snan) will take place on Makar Sankranti day (Jan 14-15), when Naga ascetics of Mahanirvana Akahara will lead the bathing procession followed by those of Niranjani and other Akharas.
According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a celestial war over a pitcher (called a kumbh) of divine nectar. Allahabad is one of the four towns where drops of nectar fell during the battle.

The war lasted 12 divine days and so a full Kumbh festival is held every 12 years, broken every six years by the Ardh (half) Kumbh, the festival taking place at the moment

Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal-shattered White House as the 38th and only unelected President in America's history, has died at the age of 93.Ford was an accidental President, Nixon's hand-picked successor, a man of much political experience who had never run on a national ticket. He was as open and straight-forward as Nixon was tightly controlled and conspiratorial.He was honest and straight forward ,something that the present presidency needs after the Bush term.
He took office minutes after Nixon flew off into exile and declared ''our long national nightmare is over.'' May hi ssoul rest in peace.He is deeply needed as USA needs to tide over nightmare sof sluggish economy ,Iraq,Iran and Afganistan.Sometimes simplicity is the best policy.

Ford revived the debate, Nixon , a month later by granting Nixon a pardon for all crimes he committed as President. That single act, it was widely believed, cost Ford election to a term of his own in 1976, but it won praise in later years as a courageous act that allowed the nation to move on.USA also needs to move on from the Iraq war crisis just like it moved from Vietnam war defeat during the term of Mr.Ford.this alone act signifies why USA needs a president like him ,somebody who is total anti -thesis to Bush just like Ford was to Nixon. In India if one needs a parllell then one can look to the leadership provided by Atal B.Vajpayee that was in total contrast to the dynastic ktchen politics of Congress.G Ford will be greatly missed.

kabul express -the first film shot in Afganistan in many years. the crew is a mix of bollywood,local Afgan actors ,a pakistani actor and the only female member is American.the film crew received death threats form Taliban,shot in between landmines ,admist bomb blasts and undre security cover.the unit genertaed frenzy among local population.the film has travelled across various film
festivals and is now due for release on 15th dec.2006. The director of the film Kabir Khan firstwent to Afganistan in 2001 to shoot a documentary and a photo exhibition.the film is largelyborne out of his true experiences.the film's lead actors are John Abharam and Arshad Warsi(both play the role of media journalist on an assignmnet in kabul).the last Indian film that was shot in Afganistan was KHUDA-GAWAH,starring Amitabh Bachhan and Sridevi in nineties.the film shooting resulted in a temprorary ceasefire (during the shoots) between the warring factions as all the millita memebrs were fans of Amitabh Bachhan and didnt mean any harm to him.
the film is a sign of return of normalcy in Afganistan.hope it does well at the box office. it should be in a must watch list .do wtach it to see the present day Afganistan on celluliod.

i have got some queries about Lord Brahma and his consort Sarsawati and their union.Brahma was
bron from nabhi (stomach) of Lord Vishnu and was given a lotus to create universe.There was chaos as everything existed in fluid.So he asked Devi /Ma/Paramshakti/Goddess Laksmi hw to bring order.He was told that Knowledge can retsore sanity ,order and peace .So was created Goddess Sraswati with blessings of Devi.she was not Brahma's daughter but was given powers by Brahma and was the first craetion that he empowered.Brahma discovered the melody of mantras in the cacophony of chaos. In his joy he named Saraswati, Vagdevi, goddess of speech and sound.The sound of mantras filled the universe with vital energy, or prana. Things began to take shape and the cosmos acquired a structure: the sky dotted with stars rose to form the heavens; the sea sank into the abyss below, the earth stood in between.Brahma thus became the creator of the world with Saraswati as his wisdom.Saraswati was the first being to come into Brahma’s world. Brahma began to look upon her with eyes of desire. She turned away saying, “All I offer must be used to elevate the spirit, not indulge the senses.”Brahma could not control his amorous thoughts and his infatuation for the lovely goddess grew. Saraswati moved away from Brahma and took many forms.
he goddess with multiple forms came to be known as Shatarupa. She personified material reality, alluring yet fleeting. Angered by his display of unbridled passion Saraswati cursed Brahma, “You have filled the world with longing that is the seed of unhappiness. You have fettered the soul in the flesh. You are not worthy of reverence. May there be hardly any temple or festival in your nameBrahma’s action motivated by desire confined consciousness and excited the ego. It disturbed the serenity of the cosmos and roused Shiva, the supreme ascetic from his meditation.
Shiva opened his eyes, sensed Saraswati’s discomfort and in a fit of rage turned into Bhairava, lord of terror. His eyes were red, his growl menacing. He lunged towards Brahma and with his sharp claws, wretched off Brahma’s fifth head.Saraswati relented and asked for forgiveness from lord shiva for Brahma.Shiva agreed.Saraswati nursed brahma back to health.Brahma, sobered by his encounter with the Lord of terror sought an escape from the maze of his own desire. Saraswati revealed to him the doctrine for his own liberation. Brahma sought to conduct a yagna, fire sacrifice, to cleanse himself and start anew. In order to conduct a yagna ritual the assistance of a wife is needed. Brahma chose Saraswati to be his wife and thus they were reconciled.

Taj Mahal ,in Agra,the white marble mausloem is in the race to be declared among the new age seven wonders of world.The pride of India needs no introduction for its fabled beauty and glorified design ,which incidentlly British thought to dismantle and sell its marble in pieces in England.But they couldnot find enough masons to dimantle it and alos their shipping arrangements proved inadequate to transport marble ,if dismantled.Thankgod for that.
now the lovers of art and those who love LOVE must support Taj Mahal as it needs votes in its favor to be named among sevenwonders.though its another story that Taj Mahal needs no certification to be a wonder as another Taj can never be created as its a momument of pure and chaste love that Mughal King Shah Jehan had for his beloved wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal.
Still those interested in voting can cast their votes online at www.new7wonders.com.voting ends on 06/07/07 and final seven will be declared on 07/07/07.