~*~ hseved ~*~: Life Lessons

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The Art of Decision-Making: A Witty Guide to Navigating Life

NOTICE: This blog post was written with help and inputs using ChatGPT

Image Credits: #Freepik

Introduction:

Ah, decision-making! The thrilling rollercoaster ride that is an inevitable part of life. From the moment we wake up to the moment we hit the pillow, we are faced with choices big and small. But fear not, dear reader, for I am here to guide you through the whimsical and often perplexing world of decision-making, armed with wit, charm, and a sprinkle of joviality. So buckle up and let's dive into the art of making decisions!

1. Embrace the Power of Procrastination:

Ah, procrastination, the timeless art of delaying decisions until the very last minute. While some may frown upon this approach, I say embrace it! After all, why rush into a decision when you can savor the delicious uncertainty of not knowing? Plus, the added pressure of a looming deadline might just make your decision-making process all the more thrilling!

2. Consult Your Crystal Ball:

When faced with a particularly perplexing decision, why not consult the mystical powers of a crystal ball? While I can't guarantee its accuracy, the mere act of gazing into a crystal ball can transport you to a whimsical realm where decisions are made based on a twist of fate. It's a witty and playful approach that adds an element of surprise to your decision-making adventures.

3. Flip a Coin... or Three:

In the game of decision-making, nothing beats the classic coin flip. But why settle for one flip when you can have three? Yes, my friend, the triple coin flip method is where it's at! Assign each option to a side of the coin and let fate decide your course. And if you're feeling particularly playful, throw in a dramatic catch in mid-air for extra flair.

4. Seek the Wisdom of the Universe... or Your Local Cat:

When faced with life's toughest decisions, why not turn to the universe for guidance? Seek out the mystical wisdom of the stars, or better yet, consult your furry companion. Cats, with their enigmatic personalities, have long been revered as decision-making experts. Simply observe their behavior and let their meows and purrs guide you on the path to enlightenment... or at least to a good belly rub.

5. Embrace the Art of "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe":

Remember that childhood rhyme? It's time to bring it back! Sometimes, decisions can feel overwhelming, leaving us paralyzed by choices. In those moments, a round of "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe" can be just the ticket. It's a playful and light-hearted way to give fate the reins and let go of the burden of decision-making.

Conclusion:

And there you have it, dear reader, a whimsical guide to decision-making that's sure to bring a smile to your face. Remember, life is full of choices, big and small, and making decisions can be both daunting and delightful. So why not infuse some humor and playfulness into the process? Embrace procrastination, consult your crystal ball, flip some coins, seek the wisdom of the universe, and play a round of "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe." Let your decisions be guided by wit and joviality, and may your life be filled with adventurous choices and delightful surprises!

Now, go forth, embrace the art of decision-making, and let your journey be filled with laughter and joy!

The Art of Decision-Making: A Witty Guide to Navigating Life

by Devesh Prabhu on 8:57:00 PM

NOTICE: This blog post was written with help and inputs using ChatGPT Image Credits: #Freepik Introduction: Ah, decision-making! The thrill...

It all started with the government trying to win the votes of the farmers and promised them subsidies and write-off on their loans from the banks. This led to huge amounts of money being written off as bad loans and the money accumulated to such enormous amounts that most government banks had their market share and shares go below their actual value due to the debt that they incurred.

When any company or even anybody that has more debt than they are generating income, for the next succeeding years it is always hard for them to balance their balance sheets. The thing is you’re trying to match the positives and the negatives of balance sheet. You can technically write this off, but on the actual books, you are in the red. Once you are in the red, it now becomes the race to equal it off or come back into the black or positive side of the balance sheet.

Suppose I have a book that is worth 10, but I’m giving it to you for 8. If my manufacturing or production cost is less than 8, then whatever I’m making will be gross profit and after forgoing my costs and other expenses it will be my net income/profit. Until the cost that I’m providing it to you does not go below my manufacturing or production cost, I will still make a profit but at a lower amount.

Subsidies and its Impact on Economy

by Devesh Prabhu on 9:08:00 PM

It all started with the government trying to win the votes of the farmers and promised them subsidies and write-off on their loans from th...

Impact of Fiscal Deficit, Current Account Deficit on Indian economy

The main thing is that both fiscal deficit and current account deficit are differences between income/revenue and expenditure.

Fiscal deficit is the difference between the government’s total expenditures and its revenues (excluding money from borrowings).

Current account deficit is the difference between the revenue earned by a country from its trade activities and its expenditure due to imports.

Now that we’ve got the definitions out of the way, in a sense both of them deal with either the positives of the negatives (in terms of income/expenditure) that the country has. In India’s case, both are in negatives or we have high deficit. Too bluntly (or technically) put it we are in the red on the balance sheet.

There are many things that have led to this. An open economy, imports, manufacturing practices, rules and regulations, easiness of setting up a business, subsidies/favors, taxes (corporate), inflation, salaries, infusion of foreign capital and the proper use, et cetera…

When you open up an economy to the outside world, this leads to something called as innovation and brings in various methods and ways to circumvent the rules and regulations (i.e., cheating/evasion). Any common that comes into power would like its name to be remembered forever for the good things it does, and along the way it tries to do things with a different approach.

Now, you must wonder why after more than 60+ (65) years after independence from British rule we have not been able to become truly independent from our archaic rules and regulations that the British had setup. We have now become a true software powerhouse and in the coming years become a truly independent manufacturing powerhouse, but with the current colonialist and dynasty type of ruling where the government that comes into power, they try to get their loved ones and relatives into prominent positions to help them later out.

This leads to the Indian economy again going down as the deficit keeps on building up and there is a negative balance which needs to attain zero or rise to the positive or plus side of the balance sheet. Unless there is a proper overhaul of the current archaic rules and regulations and a serious and it the various amendments and or repeal of these rules and regulations the Indian economy will still be in tatters down the line.

Any government that is going to be in power needs to look at the bottom-line of the economy, proper education and providence of food and shelter to the needy, better building up of its workforce, all-round development, and a boost to the roots of the economy.

The economy is struggling because of the deficit and it is being protected due to the reason that whatever income or surplus (if at all any) is being generated by the country goes into filling up the deficit that has been created over the past 60+ years. The situation now is that however much we are creating or producing is just not enough to fill that gap and the negativity or bad side effect is that we’re still creating more deficit year over year which still makes the deficit higher.

The government or we as the people have to look at ways to get things going in a way that the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese people have done. If you remember correctly, after the Hiroshima bombing Japan was devastated, but with hard work and determination they were able to turn themselves around and are now the world leaders in manufacturing of various products. The sheer volume of which they are able to maintain quality of their products at a lower rate and still beat out competitors is truly amazing.

Our country (India) needs an all-round look into how we do things on all aspects. There are many areas where we are lacking (if you ask me, I would say in everything). It is not just the simple things that we look to circumvent. Our dependence on technology has risen to such a point that we are now not able to live without it. When we buy things from a foreign country it essentially means that the money we earn is going to that country or it is flowing out of the country to simply put it.

Due to globalization and the three nations (Japanese, Korean, and Chinese) capacity to mass produce on an exceptionally high scale, our local manufacturers and producers are not able to keep up due to hindrances placed by our own elected leaders.

When we do not have inbuilt production or manufacturing, we depend on outside assistance for products. You have to understand that for manufacturing or production there is the need for raw materials and importing that is somewhat of a good thing. But our dependence should not be on importing the full finished product, but should be on importing only the raw materials and exporting the finished products.

When you have less income and your expenses are high that is when you get either fiscal deficit or a current account deficit and this leads to our economy going down irrespective of whatever steps we take to bring it back up.

Impact of Fiscal/Current Account deficit on Indian economy

by Devesh Prabhu on 8:21:00 PM

The main thing is that both fiscal deficit and current account deficit are differences between income/revenue and expenditure. Fisca...

[AVOID] HOW-To Avoid Credit Card Scams & Scammers

New Credit Card Scam!

The following was taken from a post on Facebook and edited for better understanding.

This information is worth reading. By understanding how VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard". Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.

The scam works like this:

The person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card that was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £249.99 from a Marketing company based in (name of any town or city)?"

When you say "No" the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £150 to £249, just under the £250 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.

After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back; if you do", and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £249.99 was charged to our card.

Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost to late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

[AVOID] HOW-To Avoid Credit Card Scams & Scammers

by Devesh Prabhu on 11:15:00 AM

New Credit Card Scam! The following was taken from a post on Facebook and edited for better understanding. This information is worth re...

1. Though you may not publicly own to this, at the age of 12-17 years, you were very proud of your first "Bell bottom" or your first first Apache jeans.

2. Phantom & Mandrake were your only true heroes. The brainy ones read "Competition Success Review".

3. Your "Camlin" geometry box & Natraj/Flora pencil was your prized possession.

4. The only "Holidays" you took were to go to your grandparents' or your cousins' houses.

5. Ice-cream meant only - either an orange stick, a vanilla stick – or a Choco Bar if you were better off than most.

6. You gave your neighbour’s phone number to others with a ‘c/o’ written against it because you had booked yours only 7 years ago and were still waiting for your number to come.

7. Your first family car (and the only one) was a Fiat or an Ambassador. This often had to be pushed by the entire family to get going.

8. The glass windows in the back seats used to get stuck at the two-thirds down level and used to irk the shit out of you! The window went down only if your puny arm could manage the tacky rotary handle to pull it down. Locking the door was easy. You just whacked the other tacky, non-rotary handle downwards.

9. Your mom had stitched the weirdest lace curtains for all the windows of the car. They were tied in the middle and if your dad was the comfort-oriented kinds, you had a magnificent small fan upfront.

10. Your parents were proud owners of HMT watches. You "earned" yours after SSC exams.

11. You have been to "Jumbo Circus"; have held your breath while the pretty young thing in the glittery skirt did acrobatics, quite enjoyed the elephants hitting football, the motorcyclist vrooming in the "Maut ka Gola" and it was politically okay to laugh your guts out at dwarfs hitting each others bottoms!

12. You have at least once heard "Hawa Mahal" on the radio.

13. If you had a TV, it was normal to expect the neighborhood to gather around to watch the Chitrahaar or the Sunday movie. If you didn't have a TV, you just went to a house that did. It mattered little if you knew the owners or not.

14. Sometimes the owners of these TVs got very creative and got a bi or even a tri-colored anti-glare screen which they attached with two side clips onto their Weston TVs. That confused the hell out of you!

15. Black & White TVs weren't so bad after all because cricket was played in whites.

16. You thought your Dad rocked because you got your own (the family's; not your own own!) color TV when the Asian Games started. Everyone else got the same idea as well and ever since, no one came over to your house and you didn't go to anyone else's.

17. You dreaded the death of any political leader because of the mourning they would announce on the TV. After all how much "Shashtriya Sangeet" can a kid take? Salma Sultana also didn't smile during the mourning.

18. You knew that "Indira Gandhi" was somebody really powerful and terribly important. And that's all you needed to know.

19. The only "Gadgets" in the house were the TV, the Fridge and possibly a mixer.

20. All the gadgets had to be duly covered with a crochet covers and sometimes even with ingenious, custom-fit plastic covers.

21. Movies meant Rajesh Khanna or Amitabh Bachchan. Before the start of the movie you always had to watch the obligatory "Newsreel".

22. You thought you were so rocking, because you knew almost all the songs of Abba and Boney M.

23. Your hormones went crazy when you heard "Disco Deewane" by Naziya Hassan & Zoheb Hassan.

24. School teachers, your parents and even your neighbors could whack you and it was all okay.

25. Photograph taking was a big thing. You were lucky if your family owned a camera. A reel of 36 exposures was valuable, hence it justified the half hour preparation & "setting" & the "posing" for each picture. Therefore, you have at least one family picture where everyone is holding their breath and standing at attention!

You were really happy then...... peace of mind, no pressure no stress.

Middle class India of the 70s

by Devesh Prabhu on 9:45:00 PM

1. Though you may not publicly own to this, at the age of 12-17 years, you were very proud of your first "Bell bottom" or your fir...

There was a rich old noble who lived in a great palace. There also lived nearby a poor man in a dilapidated hut, who subsisted on crumbs of food cast away by others. But he was ever cheerful, and never complained of his ill-luck.

Once it so happened that the poor man had nothing to eat for a long while. So he went to the rich noble for help. The old noble received him kindly and asked what for he had come. The poor man said that for days he had nothing to eat and that he would be happy if he was given some food. "Is that all!" said the noble."Come, sit down!" Then he called-out; "Boy! A very important guest has come to dine with me. Ask the chief to make ready the dinner at once, and bring some water to wash our hands."

The poor man was surprised. He had heard that the noble was a very kind man, but he did not expect such a ready welcome. He was all praise about his host. The noble at once interrupted him and said, "Don't mention it, my friend. Let us sit down for the feast." And the old noble began to rub his hands as if some water was poured on them and asked the poor man why he did not wash his hands.

The poor man found no boy or water but decided that he should do what he was told, and so he pretended to wash his hands likewise. "Now let us sit down to dinner," said the noble, and began to order various delicious dishes. But there was no trace of any food or even a single bearer.

Then the noble said to the poor man, "We have such wonderful feast before us. Enjoy yourself, my friend. You must finish all these fine dishes." And the noble pretended to eat from imaginary plates.

The poor man was faint with hunger, but kept his wits. He did not allow despair to overcome him. He also pretended to eat from the empty table. The noble now and then exclaimed, "What a delicious soup! The curry is wonderful, isn't it my friend?" The poor man replied, "Sure, sure!" "Then why not have some more," and the noble pretended to dish out some imaginary curry. Likewise, he pressed more and more imaginary dishes on the poor man and asked him if they tasted all right.

Though desperately hungry, the poor man thanked his host profusely and said that he had never eaten such a glorious feast in his life. He did not betray a sign of remorse. He kept on maintaining the face cheerfully without the least affectation, as though everything was real.

The noble was a generous person. He was a man of charitable disposition. He wanted to test whether the poor man would give way to despair. He had heard of his reputation that he never lost patience. He thought that such a contented, cheerful person as this poor man should not starve and suffer from poverty. But he had his doubts. So he himself wanted to test him. Now he found that, all that was said about him was true.

The noble then clapped his hands and a retinue of servants came in with all the delicious dishes he had been mentioning. An elaborate dinner was laid on the table. This time the poor man did not have to pretend. He now ate heartily with the noble.

After they had finished their meals, the noble said, "Friend, you are a man of infinite patience. You know well how to make best of everything and bear adversity cheerfully. You are the man I was looking for to manage one of my farms. You should live with me hereafter." Thereupon the poor man did not have to suffer any more from poverty.

This story has several lessons for the common man to learn. When the poor man went to the rich man, he did not ask for any charity so that he might dispense with begging for some days. This shows that he was not greedy. He lived in the present. He wanted some food and he asked for only that. Now, if he had asked for some money, he would have got it, and would have spent it in a few days, only to revert back to his former poverty. He did not ask any more than what he needed immediately, and this paved the way for his good luck in being employed in the rich man's farm.

When the poor man was harassed by his host with imaginary dishes, he did not lose his patience in spite of his extreme hunger. If he had done so, he would have been asked to get out and would have lost his dinner as well as his unforeseen appointment.

He did not either complain about his ill-luck or bewail his misfortune as an ordinary beggar would have done before a rich man.

Hence the moral is that one must be patient and make the best of everything. One should learn to bear adversity cheerfully, do one's best, pray to God, and trust in His grace. One should never complain about one's misfortune. One must learn how to master courage and build one's destiny through self-effort.

Patience is golden. Without patience life will be a total failure. One important point in this story is that when one goes to somebody for any favor, one should be prepared, to nod to his tune, if anything is to be expected from him.

Greed & the Grace of God cannot live together. Where there is greed, there good luck can hardly exist. One should learn to live in the present, & ask for nothing more than one's due.

With patience, cheerfulness, contentment and amiable disposition one should learn to make the best of the circumstances one is situated in.

[VIA: EMAIL]

The Patient Poor Man

by Devesh Prabhu on 9:40:00 AM

There was a rich old noble who lived in a great palace. There also lived nearby a poor man in a dilapidated hut, who subsisted on crumbs of...

I saw this post on another blog and was completely touched. It gets better as it proceeds.

First Important Lesson: Cleaning Lady

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?’ Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

‘Absolutely, ‘ said the professor. ‘In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello.’

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Second Important Lesson: Pickup in the Rain

One night, at11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960’s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance, and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console colour TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.

It read:
‘Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away… God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.’

Sincerely,
Mrs.Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson: Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

‘How much is an ice cream sundae?’ he asked. ‘Fifty cents,’ replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

‘Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?’ he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

‘Thirty-five cents,’ she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

‘I’ll have the plain ice cream,’ he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished theice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Fourth Important Lesson: The obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Fifth Important Lesson: Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes I’ll do it if it will save her.’ As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away?’

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

5 Important Lessons For Life

by Devesh Prabhu on 11:06:00 AM

I saw this post on another blog and was completely touched. It gets better as it proceeds. First Important Lesson: Cleaning Lady During ...

Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) is a major Indian and Nepalese festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the “Festival of Light” or “Celebration of Light” where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.

According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth in Hinduism) thanked and worshipped on this day and everyone prays for a good and prosperous year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent.

In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name, Deepawali / Deepavali, or simply shortened as Diwali. South India marks this day when Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In western India it is also in honor of the day King Bali went to rule the nether-world by the order of Vishnu. (There is another festival ‘Onam’ which is celebrated in Kerala around the month of August to mark this legend).

Diwali is celebrated on the first day of the lunar Kartika month, which comes in the month of October or November.

In Jainism it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on October 15, 527 BCE. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali for a different reason. On this day, the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment along with 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) whom he had arranged to be released as well. After his release he went to Darbar Sahib (golden temple) in the holy city of Amritsar. There, he was greeted by Sikhs and many other people. In happiness they lit candles and diyas to greet the Guru. In India, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.

The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness. Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence, as suggested by the Ramayana.

On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.
Hindus have several significant events associated with it:

Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya: Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. Since Lord Rama traveled from South India to his kingdom in North India, he passed through the south earlier. This is the reason why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in South India.

The Killing of Narakasura: Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdasi, two days before Diwali day, it commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna’s wife Satyabhama. This happened in the Dwapar Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna’s avatar. In another version, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna (Lord krishna provokes his wife Satyabhama to kill Narakasura by pretending to be injured by the demon. Narakasura can only be killed by his mother, Satyabhama) himself. Before Narakasura’s death, he requested a boon from his mother, Satyabhama (believed to be an Avatar of Bhudevi – Narakasura’ mother), that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light.

Austerities of Shakti: According to the Skanda Purana, the goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla paksha (eighth day of the waxing period of moon) to get half of the body of Lord Shiva. This vrata (austerity) is known as kedhara vrata. Deepavali is the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The ardent devotees observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21 threads on it and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is celebrated as kedhara gauri vrata.

Krishna defeating Indra: Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Lord Indra and questions his father Nanda about it. He debated with the villagers about what their ‘dharma’ truly was. They were farmers, they should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection of their cattle. He continued to say that all human beings should merely do their ‘karma’, to the best of their ability and not pray for natural phenomenon. The villagers were convinced by Krishna, and did not proceed with the special puja (prayer). Indra was then angered, and flooded the village. Krishna then lifted Mt Govardhan and held it up as protection to his people and cattle from the rain. Indra finally accepted defeat and recognized Krishna as supreme. This aspect of Krishna’s life is mostly glossed over - but it actually set up the basis of the ‘karma’ philosophy later detailed in the Bhagavat Gita.

Bali’s return to the nether world: In Bhavishyottara and Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year. However in Kerala this is the reason ‘Onam’ is celebrated. ‘Onam’ festival falls around the month of August-September.

[VIA: Wikipedia]

Diwali

by Devesh Prabhu on 10:34:00 AM

Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) is a major Indian and Nepalese festival, and a significant festival in Hinduis...

We all know that men are not quite as adept at fashion as women. In fact guys will pretty much wear anything, anytime, with anything. This creates the false impression that guys just "throw" any old thing on. This however is not the case. As this handy little guide points out, getting dressed is a highly complex and organized ritual for men.

MEN's Dress GuiDE

by Devesh Prabhu on 1:12:00 AM

We all know that men are not quite as adept at fashion as women. In fact guys will pretty much wear anything, anytime, with anything. This c...

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry her with these facts as well.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are; Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements.

One, who has lived & loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family ,name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning & cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, & yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to; & is learning just like you are as to what you want from her; & is clumsy & sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, & that includes boys & even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days & yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition & your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important, relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your support, your sensitivities & most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

Treating her with respect, caring about her well-being and happiness, showing her that she matters. It means being faithful to her, honest with her, being there for her. It means going the extra mile to show her that you're thinking about her.Treat the woman in your life with respect. It means putting her in high regard no matter who she is and where she came from, but not many guys understand this...

Please appreciate "HER"

Woman

by Devesh Prabhu on 9:24:00 PM

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry her with these facts as well. Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;...

"To make money we lose our health and then to restore our health we lose money. We live as if we are never going to die and we die as if we never lived."

Think For A Moment!

by Devesh Prabhu on 1:32:00 PM

"To make money we lose our health and then to restore our health we lose money. We live as if we are never going to die and we die as i...

A guy, sitting outside his home about to be evicted from his house, was contemplating how the future would be after he had divorced his wife, lost his children, & lost his job.

He notices a crate of beer bottles & walks up to it. He takes out an Empty bottle, smashing it into the concrete wall swearing, "You are the reason I don' t have a wife", second bottle, "You are the reason I don't have my Children", third bottle "You are the reason I lost my job".

He notices the fourth bottle is sealed & still full of beer. He takes the Bottle, puts it aside, & says "Stand aside my dear friend, I know you were Not involved...."

I know you were Not involved...

by Devesh Prabhu on 11:00:00 PM

A guy, sitting outside his home about to be evicted from his house, was contemplating how the future would be after he had divorced his wife...

It's ALWAYS the kids that suffer!
His Name is Zenkey!

Result of Love Marriage

by Devesh Prabhu on 12:51:00 PM

It's ALWAYS the kids that suffer! His Name is Zenkey !

Men Are Just Happier People - What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop & think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress, $5000.
Tux rental, $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A 5-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a 3-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Send this to women who can handle it, & to the men who will enjoy reading it.

Why Men are never Depressed

by Devesh Prabhu on 6:19:00 PM

Men Are Just Happier People - What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plan...

REQUEST TO CIRCULATE

We all carry our mobile phones with hundreds of names/numbers stored in its memory but yet nobody, other than ourselves, know which of these numbers belong to our near & dear ones?

In case we are involved in an accident or have a heart-attack the people attending us get hold of our mobile phone, but don't know which number to call to inform our family members.

Yes, there are many numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?

For this reason, we must have one or more telephone numbers stored under the name ICE (In case of Emergency) in our mobile phones.

Recently, the concept of "ICE" is catching quickly.

It is simple, an important method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by majority of the population, just store the number of a contact person or person who should be contacted at during emergency as "ICE" meaning (In Case of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call.

He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose.

Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign.

In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel & hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number stored as "ICE".

Please forward this. It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our mobile phones today! Please forward to all your nearest & dearest.

[VIA: Email: Madhu Bala]

ICE (In case of Emergency)

by Devesh Prabhu on 5:22:00 PM

REQUEST TO CIRCULATE We all carry our mobile phones with hundreds of names/numbers stored in its memory but yet nobody, other than ourselves...

Aadmi Ki Car se takra kar 1 kabutar behosh ho gaya. Aadmi use ghar le gaya, Pinjre me rakha.

Kabutar ko hosh ayaa aur bola "AAILA JAIL, Wo Car wala mar gaya kya??"