Holi - The Festival of Colors !!!!!!

Significance of Holi:

In spite of being such a colourful and gay festival, there are various aspects of Holi which makes it so significant for our lives. Though they might not be so apparent but a closer look and a little thought will reveal the significance of Holi in more ways than meets the eyes. Ranging from socio-cultural, religious to biological there is every reason why we must heartily enjoy the festival and cherish the reasons for its celebrations. 

So when, its time for Holi, please don't hold yourself back and enjoy the festival to the hilt by participating with full enthusiasm in every small tradition related to the festival. 

Mythological Significance:

Holi gets us close to our religion and our mythology as it is essentially the celebration of various legends associated with the festival. Foremost is the legend of Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap. The legend says there once lived a devil and powerful king, Hiranyakshyap who considered himself a god and wanted everybody to worship him. To his great ire, his son, Prahlad began to worship, Lord Vishnu. To get rid of his son, Hiranyakshyap asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap, as she had a boon to enter fire unscathed. Legend has it that Prahlad was saved for his extreme devotion for the lord while Holika paid a price for her sinister desire. The tradition of burning Holika or the 'Holika dahan' comes mainly from this legend. 

Holi also celebrates the legend of Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight, Krishna took in applying colour on Radha and other gopis. This prank of Krishna later, became a trend and a part of the Holi festivities. Mythology also states that Holi is the celebration of death of Ogress Pootana who tried to kill infant, Krishna by feeding poisonous milk to it.

Another legend of Holi which is extremely popular in Southern India is that of Lord Shiva and Kaamadeva. According to the legend, people in south celebrate the sacrifice of Lord of Passion Kaamadeva who risked his life to revoke Lord Shiva from meditation and save the world.

Also, popular is the legend of Ogress Dhundhi who used to trouble children in the kingdom of Raghu and was ultimately chased away by the pranks of the children on the day of Holi. Showing their belief in the legend, children till date play pranks and hurl abuses at the time of Holika Dahan. 

Cultural Significance:

Celebration of the various legends associated with Holi reassure the people of the power of the truth as the moral of all these legends is the ultimate victory of good over evil. The legend of Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad also points to the fact that extreme devotion to god pays as god always takes his true devotee in his shelter. 

All these legends help the people to follow a good conduct in their lives and believe in the virtue of being truthful. This is extremely important in the modern day society when so many people resort to evil practices for small gains and torture one who is honest. Holi helps the people to believe in the virtue of being truthful and honest and also to fight away the evil.

Besides, holi is celebrated at a time of the year when the fields are in full bloom and people are expecting a good harvest. This gives a people a good reason to rejoice, make merry and submerge themselves in the spirit of Holi.

Social Significance:

Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colouful and joyous festival. 

Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and forget any feeling of hardship that may be present. Besides, on this day people do not differentiate between the rich and poor and everybody celebrate the festival together with a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood.

In the evening people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revatalising relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people.

CONGRATS FOR A SUPERB 200 .... A DOUBLE DHAMAKA !!!!

Sachin Tendulkar smashed a world-record 200 not out as India pounded South Africa by 153 runs in the second one-day international on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The veteran opener, the world's first batsman to hammer a double-century in one-day internationals, cracked 25 fours and three sixes in his rapid-fire 147-ball knock for his 46th three-figure score as India posted 3-401 in the day-night match.

The 36-year-old, who holds world marks for most runs and centuries in both Tests and one-day cricket, reached the milestone in the last over when he took a single off paceman Charl Langeveldt.

Tendulkar went for shots early in the innings, racing to his half-century off just 37 balls with nine fours. He took 53 more deliveries to reach his hundred. The master batsman went on the rampage after completing his hundred as he needed just 57 more balls to reach the double-century.

Tendulkar had begun with boundaries on either side of the wicket off Wayne Parnell and then played an array of cuts, pulls and drives.

Memorably, in the first over of the batting PowerPlay, and the 35th overall, Dale Steyn bowled a full, quick delivery outside off stump; Tendulkar simply walked across his stumps and flicked him through a narrow gap at midwicket. Steyn could only watch the ball speed away and shrug his shoulders.

Tendulkar has scored more runs than anyone in history in both one-day internationals and Test matches. He was briefly dropped by India in 2007 but has since regained his position as the subcontinent's most worshipped cricketer.

MAHA SHIVARATHRI (Great Night of Lord Shiva) !!!

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated throughout the country; it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the dark half of 'Margasirsa' (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati.

    On this festival people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandav'. In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam.

About The Lord Shiva - 

    The word meaning auspicious - is one of the Hindu Trinity, comprising of Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Shiva is known by many names like "Shankar", "Mahesh", "Bholenath", "Neelakanth", "Shambhu Kailasheshwar", "Umanath", "Nataraj" and others.

    For few people, Shiva is "Paramatman", "Brahman", the Absolute, but many more prefer to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as "Yoganath" meaning the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal. As such he is the "Adi Guru" or the Highest Guru of 'Sannyasins' who have renounced the world to attain the Absolute.

    He is the most sought-after deity amongst the Hindus and they pray to him as the god of immense large-heartedness who they believe grants all their wishes. Around him are weaved many interesting stories that reveal His magnanimous heart. Not only this, but these stories and legends also enrich the Indian culture and art.

    Time is invisible and formless. Therefore Mahakal Shiva, as per the Vedas, manifested himself as "LINGUM" to make mankind aware of the presence of Eternal Time. That day when Shiva manifested himself in the form of "Lingum" was the fourth day of the dark night in the month of 'Magha' i.e. February-March. Maha Shivratri continues to be celebrated forever and ever.

What is the future for ANDHRA PRADESH???

Andhra has three regions, Coastal, Rayalaseema, and Telangana. For the last few years, we are seeing Telangana issue every day in all the news paper. Those who want to have separate state do not understand the problems in the creation of the new state, and the problems after the formation of the state.

It is easy to maintain and develop smaller states when compared to bigger states. If the state is big, it is difficult to do developments in all the regions equally. This is the reason given by all the people who want to have smaller states.

However there are many disadvantages in this approach. It requires thousands of crores to create a new state. Once the new state is formed, many people would be effected by that. If a person has business in both the states, then they will have to pay tax in both the states. For example, If they have vehicles which travel in both the states, they will have to pay road tax in both the states. If any product is produced in one state, by the time it reaches to the consumer of the other state, the price increases. Sometimes, eventhough the consumer does not see the difference, but, dealers and wholesalers would be effected by this. All the educational institutes would be reserved for their state students. In each and every field, there will be significant change, and many people would be effected by that. Many times, they will not realize that, they are not getting good chance because of the partition.

Even without all these, if the government uses the present local governments efficiently at the town/Mandal level, we can improve a lot. But, Andhra government is not giving control to the local government. When N.T.Ramara

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was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he changed the local government elections to direct elections. By that, it was possible for the people to elect a good person as the Chairman. But, the present Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy changed it back to indirect elections, and now the people do not have any control in electing a good candidate as the Chairman. In most of the municipalities, the ruling party members can easily become the Chairman, because, Ruling party will have 3-5 extra votes. The ruling party nominates 3 members as ward members, and MLA and MP also have voting power. Because of that, even if the ruling party does not get majority votes out of 25-50 seats, still one of their members can become chairman.

If we fix all the problems in the local government, and transfer funds directly to the local government, then we don't need to split the states unnecessarily. Thousands of crores of money that is required for partitioning can be used for development of the state.

TRS, NTPP, Talli Telangana and many other parties are saying that, if people vote for them, they will get Telangana. Because, people do not know the rules, they say whatever they want. L.K.Advani says in My Country My Life that, for partitioning a state, the parent state has to approve the resolution in the assembly and has to send it to Parliament for approval. Once it is approved by Parliament also, the state will be partitioned. Unless, the resolution is passed in the assembly, center cannot do anything. TDP and Congress are not supporting Telangana, so the bill cannot be passed in the Assembly. Just by winning in all the constitutions in Telangana does not give majority. If TRS, NTPP, and Talli Telangana really want to form a new state, they should contest in Coastal and Rayalaseema regions also, and get the majority.

Till 1995, Hyderabad was not that much developed. In 1995, Chandrababubecame Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and after that, he developed so much in IT in Hyderabad. He started Hitech City, and invited many big companies to Hyderabad. He single handedly taken Hyderabad to a very good position. By 2001, Hyderabad was about to take-off in IT. At that time, then Deputy Speaker K.Chandra Sekhar Rao (KCR) started Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for partitioning Andhra Pradesh into Andhra and Telangana. I did not like it at all. Because, KCR started TRS after Chandrababu (from Rayalaseema region) developed Hyderabad (in Telangana region) single handedly from a normal city to must visit place for Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Bill Gates etc. If he had started TRS before developing Hyderabad, I would have appreciated. But, he started immediately after developing the state. So, I never like KCR and TRS. With the experience of KCR, the present Chief Minister Y.S.Raja Sekhar Reddy (YSR) is doing all the development activities in Kadapa (Rayalaseema region). Chandrababu developed Telangana, and if the partition happens, entire Andhra loses so much. YSR does not want to do the same mistake again. So, he is developing rayalaseema region.

KCR is criticizing almost everyone who opposes partitioning. He is unnecessarily conducting Bundhs, and Road blocking activities for each and every small thing. If this continues, then after the partition, Telangana and Andhra become like Karnataka and Tamilnadu which fight for every small thing. That is even more terrible than economic problems described above.

Let's hope that partition does not happen, and at the same time, the state would be developed by utilizing the local government to full extent.