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Showing posts from October 14, 2009


Eco-friendly Firecrackers for Diwali

Eco-friendly Firecrackers might sound an oxymoron. But the firecracker industry is forced to create green firecrackers as more and more people are avoiding firecrackers after realizing that it creates noise and environmental pollution. But there are also complaints that the so called eco-friendly crackers are only for namesake and the only difference is in the green and colorful packaging. Times of India reports …the makers have now come up with eco-friendly crackers. Also a range of 'mild' crackers is available in market, the kind which can be lighted up without posing any risk to kids. "These crackers have been especially designed for the kids who are fascinated by the sound of explosion followed by light," said Gulsher Azad, owner Azad Crackers. However, the regular crackers — those that explode with a loud noise — include 'terminator', 'break dance', 'dance dance', 'fantastic 36', 'symphony' and others a

Swami Ayyappa Deeksha 2024 in Kartik month in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka – Wearing of Ayyappa Mala for Sabarimala Pilgrimage

Some Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka intending to make the pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala wear the Ayyappa Mala or Mudra on the first day of the Kartik month. The first day of the Kartik month in 2024 as per Telugu and Kannada calendars is November 2. Nowadays, wearing of the Mudra Mala on this day is only followed by few devotees. The Kartik month in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka falls a month earlier than in Tamil Nadu. Ayyappa devotees usually wear the Mudra Mala on the first day of the Karthigai Masam in Tamil Nadu or the first day of Vrischika Masam in Kerala – this usually falls in mid November usually on November 16 or November 17. There are also many devotees in South India , especially in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh that wear the Ayyappa Mudra Mala on the Dasara day. Such people observe vratham for more than three-months. Nowadays, most people opt for shorter Vratham days and most start the Vratham