ISRO ( Indian Space Research Organization )  has made it public that on 5th November 2013 the Mars satellite will be sent on its’ mission. The satellite will be launched by ISRO from Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota. The Mars orbiter satellite will be launched by PSLV-25 on the above mentioned date at about 14:26 hr.IST.This will cost around INR 450crores. The main purpose of this mission is to demonstrate to the World the Indian scientific know-how regarding launching of satellite on rotation path of Mars as well as to investigate the existence of life if any on the planet. During its’ voyage photographs of the planet would be taken and studies of its’ atmosphere would be made. The launching process has started. Due to bad weather prevailing in the Pacific Ocean, it could not be launched in October, 2013. Therefore the program has been rescheduled. The Mars satellite will move over this Ocean and two ships will be stationed there to keep constant watch on the satellite. Any failure to launch the satellite before 19th, November will further delay the program for two years.
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The 20yr. old Debashis Das has proved himself that Odisha is equal to all other states in the game of chess and the game of wit and intelligence. The young talent has become the first Grand Master of Odisha, having proved his skill in chess draughts movements. Many have started calling him the new king of 64 squares. There are only 34 grandmasters in our country including him.

Bibliography:

1. DOB                        :  June, 1993

2. Father                    :  Dilip Kumar Das

3. Mother                  :  Namita Das

4. Native village        :  Champeswar, Dist – Jagatsinghpur

5. Present address   :  Niali,Cuttack

6. National Chess

   Comp. under 9yr.  : 2002

7. International

   Chess Comp.          :  since 2005

8. Aim                         :  To cross 2650 rating and become Super GM

9. Instructor              :  R.B.Ramesh 
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The Indian Sitar Maestro late Ravi Shankar was posthumously awarded the best world music album prize – 2013 at the 55th Grammys. He was pitted against his own daughter Anoushka in the same category. Shankar’s album The Living Room Part 1 faced competition from Anoushka’s Traveler, Amadou & Mariam’s Folila, Daneil Ho’s On A Gentle Island Breeze and Hugh Masekela’s Jabulani.

Previously he received three Grammy Awards.

He died on December 11, 2012 at the age of 92.He remained an influential figure like The Beatles in the Western musics, He maintained a dual residence in India as well as the USA.

He was born Rabindra Shankar in a poor Bengali Brahmin family on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi. He was the youngest of four brothers. His father whom he met almost at the age of eight was a lawyer, philosopher, writer and a former minister to the Maharajah of Jhalawar.

In 1930, his family was shifted to Paris and he remained there for the next eight years. He came to limelight while doing jobs in his eldest brother’s troupe there. During traveling the world with his brother Uday, he did a great job by introducing young Europeans and Americans to Indian classical and folk dance. Between 1950s and 1960s he was the leading international ambassador of Indian music. He performed as a solo artist in the USSR ,  Europe , North America and Japan from 1954 to 1958. He achieved his greatest fame in the 1960s when he was acclaimed by the Western music lovers. He was the first Indian artist to be a household name in the West after his appearance at the Montercy and Woodstock festivals and the Concert for Bangladesh.

He developed a unique sitar sound, with powerful bass notes and a serene and spiritual touch in the alap movement of a raga. He incorporated so many aspects of South Indian music into North Indian system and developed the mathematical approach of it to rhythm. He composed his first new raga in 1945 and began the journey of recording career thereafter. Shankar continued to perform till 2000s, often with his daughter Anoushka. He wore an oxygen mark (As he was suffering from respiratory problems) and performed at the California State University at Long Beach in the US on November 4, 2012 with daughter Anoushka. That was his last public show.

His friend George Harrison produced two record albums,( Shankar Family & Friends)  and  (Festival of India)  both composed by Shankar. He also composed for ballets and films in India, Canada, Europe and the USA. He composed for the films “Charly”, “Gandhi” and “ Apu Trilogy”. He composed the new melody for Mohammed Iqbal’s patriotic poem Sare Jahan Se Achha.

He was appointed Director of Music at the Indian People’s Theatre Association and held the position at All India Radio (1949-1956). A Magsaysay award winner, Shankar was nominated to Rajya Sabha in 1986. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999. He was awarded the first Tagore Award for cultural harmony, 2012 for his contribution and achievements in the field of culture.

Pandit Ravi Shankar’s autobiography :  Raga Mala
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In different corners of the World different festivals are observed round the year. It brings about social unity and communal harmony and at the same time, it gives pleasure and amusement. Festivals are important part of society. Different festivals are celebrated by different regions and different religious groups. Each and every festival has its’ own significance. Like National festivals (such as Independence Day, the Republic day, Gandhi Jayanti, Children’s day, Teachers’ day etc.), Indians of different groups observe festivals of their own (such as: The Christians of India celebrate their Christmas, the Good Friday.Shikhs observe the birthday of Guru Nanak. Farmers of India observe the occasion of new harvest. The Muslims observe their festivals like Id-ul-Fittar, Id-ul-zuha, Ramzan, Moharrum etc.).

Among the festivals observed by Hindus, Durga puja, Dushera, Ramlila, Diwali, Holi, Rath Yatra, Saraswati puja, Ganesh puja, Shiv Ratri, Ram Navami, Janmastami are very famous.

The festival of Duga puja is celebrated mostly in Bengal and Odisha.Durga puja is celebrated as Dushera in the Northern and Western provinces of India in another style (like Garva). It is celebrated with great jubilation throughout the country. Schools, colleges, offices and other organizations remain closed during that period.

The mythological Backgrounds

First Story: The legend goes that Sri Ram Chandra supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Bishnu went to Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, imprisoned by Ravan, the most powerful warrior in the World. Despite his best efforts Ram failed to defeat Ravan. Ram was advised to appease Mother Durga and win her blessings to kill Ravan. Ram offered puja to Goddess Durga solemnly and with all sanctity with one hundred eight blue lotuses. Mother Durga was pleased with his puja and granted him, his wish that he would now be able to killing. On the day of Dushera, Ram killed Ravan and rescued Sita from her imprisonment.

The Hindus believe that the Divine Mother, who could bless Ram, may also bless them and take away their evils and misfortunes. So they worship her at the same time of the year and in the same manner as Ram did in the past.

The festival is observed for four days. It starts on the seventh day of bright fortnight of Aswin and continues up to tenth day which is called Dushera. Beautiful images of the deity are built with straw, clay and color. Those are adorned with fine clothes, ornaments and flowers and placed on the decorated altars. Then the ceremonial worship starts. The last puja is held on Dushera day and the images are carried in a great procession for their immersion in the river. This is called immersion ceremony and the whole festival ends here.

The Second Story: The story says that demon king Mahisasura was greenfly a wish by Brahmadev and became immortal. He and other demons terrorized people for no fault of theirs. He was invincible and not to be killed by any man, god or woman of ordinary birth. God and goddesses were at a loss to decide what to do. All of them went to Bishnu, the Almighty God and prayed to Him to find out a way of his death. According to His advice, all of them prayed together. Their prayer worked wonders. Out of the space was born Mother Durga with enormous vigor and uncommon beauty. On Her request the gods and goddesses gave their weapons to Her. She now became too powerful to be vanquished. On the tenth day of full moon of Awina, She killed the demon king and saved the earth as well as gods and goddesses from hi persecution. Since then people have been worshiping Mother Durga with a view to pleasing Her and winning Her blessings for fulfillment of their desires.

The festival comes off in the month of Aswina when the earth is clad with the loveliest autumnal beauty. The image of Durga is not worshiped alone. With Her are worshiped Lord Shiva,Her husband, two sons Ganesh and Kartikeya and her two daughters, Laxmi and Saraswati. The idol of Durga stands majestically on a pedestal. She stands in a great posture, with one of Her foot firmly planted on the chest of demon Mahisasura.

The celebration continues from sixth day to the tenth day of maxim moon. On the tenth day comes the Bijaya-Dasami when the idols are immersed in the river.

Really what X-mas is for the Christians and Idd for the Mohammedans, Dushera is for Hindus.
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