DURGA PUJA 2006

DURGA PUJA is already upon us.It is believed that "Ma Durga" travels from 'Kailasa parbat' to her "baaper baari" (paternal house) along with her four children,her vahans & their own vahans as well.Her four children include GANESHA,LAKSMI,SARASWATI & KARTIK .The idol is famously seen stabbing on the chest of the devil MAHISHASURA with her "trishul".
Kolkata is famous all over the world for the DURGA PUJA.The days of panchami,shasthi,mahasaptami,mahaoshthomi,nabami are enjoyed thoroughly by Kolkattans,who are generally seen donning brand-new clothes ,pandal-hopping and involved in "Durga protima darshan"..... while dashami(dussehra) is more or less the end of the thrilling and exciting week.Later in the day as the time for idol-immersion approaches,glum and sad faces are seen.Just before the idol-immersion ,the rituals like "sindur khela" among brides are seen in all places..
All in all DURGA PUJA is by far the most enjoyable festival in the eastern part of India ,if not in the whole of India.

NEVER LOSE YOUR VALUE

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $500/- note in the room of 200, He asked, " Who would like this 500 note?" Hands Started going up. He said, " I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, " Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, " What if I do this?"
And he dropped it on the ground And started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, Now all crumpled and dirty. " Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
" My friends, you have all learned a very valuable Lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $ 500/-.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will Happen, You will never lose your value. You are special don't ever forget it!

Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams

ENGLAND'S EUROPEAN DREAMS

With a disppointing World Cup 2006 behind them,a new era has begun which has seen former Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren promoted to the ENGLAND manager post and Chelsea skipper John Terry being handed the captain's armband after David Bechkam stepped down.Beckham has been left out of the squad which will start its journey under McClaren towards their EUROPEAN ambitions,while MANCHESTER UNITED trio of Wayne Rooney,Gary Neville & Rio Ferdinand will not make an apperance in their first match against ANDORRA on 2nd September at Old Trafford.Rooney is suspended while Gary & Rio are injured.
So here's wishing the "Three Lions" the best as they look conquer EUROPE; something which they have not done in their glorious history.