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Friday, November 11, 2011

11.11.11.11.11.11



At 11 minutes past 11 on Friday the world clock will tick past a palindrome - 11:11 11.11.11.

While some will be thinking of Armistice Day and holding a minute of silence at 11 o'clock, others have decided to celebrate a rare numerical occurrence 11 minutes later – or even 12 hours and 11 minutes later for those not au fait with the 24-hour clock.

"Happy palindrome o'clock" was the phrase used by Guardian writer Tom Meltzer earlier this week, while Hadley Freeman pays her sartorial homage to The Day That Most Resembles Corduroy - and already signs across the globe demonstrate a creativity for finding the most baffling meaning in the date-anomaly.

Memorable weddings, planned births, elevenses parties, and clever campaigns are are all scheduled. McDonald's branches in Chicago are using the date as a marketing ploy offering half price fries for "Fryday", reports the Chicago Tribune. Speaking of marketing, can you guess when the horror film 11-11-11, set at on 11:11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, is planning its launch? Video game Skyrim will also be launching - and one blogger finds it particularly telling that his blog has been viewed 111,111 times.

On the link sharing site Reddit users are asking others if they're doing anything special - one user notes, "For those unfamiliar, in Korea 11/11 every year is Pepero day because the date looks like the cookie sticks." Reports claim that expectant mothers in South Korea are bombarding hospitals with requests for caesareans so their children receive 111111 as their identification number, which are given to all Korean residents.

Another user on this site points out the Germanic celebrations will no doubt be vamped up this year:

    In Germany the Karneval season (also known as the fifth season!) officially gets under way at 11.11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. I suspect that this year there will be an extra kölsch or two drunken to celebrate, as if the Karnevalisten need the excuse.

From births to marriages: Las Vegas is planning the world's largest wedding reception for thousands of couples expected to tie the knot in the city's wedding chapels and grab themselves an easy to remember anniversary date. According to the Las Vegas Sun, ordained ministers will also be on hand for 11.11pm should any couples have missed out. In China, the annual singles day (it is a lot of ones after all) has seen a rush of marriages with the Shanghai Morning Post said more than 3,000 wedding planned for the city.

Many will be celebrating their birthday on 11/11/11 - and reporters have done their best to find the most compulsive birthday story to go with the date (11-year-old twins in Washington seem to top the lot) Also happy birthday to our users thewhisperingeye, JDawgeleven11, sergioloddi, constablediefenbaker, MeikoG, gastroplod, and SJC1111.

But possibly the best use of the 11.11 on 11/11/11 has to be the campaign for the day to become Nigel Tufnel Day "in recognition of its maximum elevenness" in tribute to the Spinal Tap lead guitarist.

Of course, as traceyjb points out on another thread, if you have aibohphobia - an irrational fear of palindromes you'll probably be spending most of the day under the duvet.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Happy Onam...!




Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.

Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colorful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam. 



Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter..



Easter marks the end of Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of the Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday.






Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.

The egg is a pagan symbol of the rebirth of the Earth in celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.
The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans. These eggs are often hidden, allegedly by the Easter Bunny, for children to find on Easter morning. Otherwise, they are generally put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird's nest.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day





Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.





 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Happy Republic Day





As India celebrates her 62nd Republic Day today

Republic Day is the name of a public holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they first became republics. Some of these are former Commonwealth realms, in which the British monarch was head of state until the change of status.

Although India obtained its independence on August 15, 1947, the Constitution of India came into effect only on January 26, 1950. During the transition period from 1947 to 1950, King George VI was the head of state. Lord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari served as the Governors-General of India during this period. Following January 26, 1950, Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first president of India.

The Constitution of India was formally adopted by the Parliament, and India declared itself as a "Republic" on January 26, 1950, a date thereafter celebrated annually as Republic Day in India. The Constitution had been prepared by the Constituent Assembly which was set up upon India gaining its independence from the British in 1947. This, in fact, was a deliberate act: the 26th of January was initially India's "Independence Day", one of Mahatma Gandhi's many symbolic acts during India's Freedom Struggle against the British colonial rule, and the adoption of the Constitution on this date was felt able to strengthen its initial meaning, one calling for Indians of all ages to declare their freedom from the British Raj. It is one of three annual national holidays in India, the other two being the nation's Independence Day on August 15 (since 1947) and the birthday of Mohandas K Gandhi or Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. And so, after the disposal of the Empire of India; King George VI was the last and only "King" of the modern India.

To mark this occasion, a grand parade is held in New Delhi, the Capital of India, beginning from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort in the old quarter of the city. Different infantry, cavalry and mechanized regiments of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force march in formation, decked in all their finery and official decorations. The President of India, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute. The Chief Guest of the parade is a Head of State of another nation. The parade also includes many traditional dance troupes, to symbolize the cultural heritage of India. It traditionally ends with a colourful flypast by Air Force jets in a tiranga formation. Similar parades are held in the capitals of all the states of India, where the Governor of the respective state takes the salute.
Before the parade starts, the Prime Minister of India lays a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, commemorating all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, then arrives in his motorcade, escorted by his bodyguards. The President is accompanied by a notable foreign Head of State - who is the Chief Guest at the celebration. The President presides over the function. Soon afterward, a 21 gun salute is presented, the President unfurls the National Flag and the National Anthem is played. This marks the beginning of the parade. The Parade begins with winners of gallantry awards passing the President in open jeeps. Various divisions of the Armed Forces then salute the President of India. The parade also sees the Indian Military showcasing its latest acquisitions such as tanks, missiles, radars, etc.
The military contingent contains representatives of all three divisions of the Armed Forces (air, sea and land). There are also massive parades of Police contingents, Home guards , Civil Defense and the National Cadet Corps.

The military parade is followed by a colorful cultural parade. India's rich cultural heritage is paraded with tableaux from various states. Each state depicts its unique festivals, historical locations and art forms. The most cheered section of the parade is the children who have won National Bravery Awards. They ride past the dais on elephants. School-children from all over the country also participate in the parade. The parade also includes displays of skillful motor-cycle riding, usually by a division from one of the Armed Forces.
The most eagerly awaited part of the parade is the fly past, put on by the Indian Air Force. The parade concludes with a Fly Past, when fighter planes of the IAF roar past the dais, symbolically saluting the President.
However, the official conclusion of Republic Day festivities is much later - on the evening of January 29, i.e. three days after Republic Day. This ceremony is called Beating the Retreat.
HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY !