Shri Balasaheb Thackeray: The one and only Tiger

Shiv Sena pramukh Shri Balasaheb Thackeray passed away earlier today. The charismatic leader will no longer  grace the popular Dassehra rallies which are held by the party every year at the iconic Shivaji Park grounds.

As the flag flew at half-mast atop Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party's headquarters, millions of party workers and associates paid their last respects to the leader.

2012 Navy Queen pageant Mumbai registration form

Each year, as part of the Indian Navy Day celebrations in Mumbai the Navy organizes a Navy Ball. The events at the 2012 Navy Day Ball in Mumbai will include performances by celebrity guests and popular music bands, with well-know DJs and event hosts adding fun to the general atmosphere. 

The most popular feature at the Navy Ball is the Navy Queen Pageant with young ladies vying for the coveted title of Navy Queen.

2012 Indian Navy Day events Mumbai

The Indian Navy Day is an important landmark which falls on December 4th each year. It marks that day in the calendar of the Indian Navy's victorious operation, called Operation Trident, which was a courageous & daring attack on the Karachi harbour, Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. To commemorate that eventful day, the Indian Navy each year organizes events for the general public. In Mumbai this year these events will include the ever-popular Beating the Retreat, band performances by the Naval band, free medical camps and an open sea swimming competition. The Indian Navy warships at the Naval Dockyard will also be open to the public. There will also be a 2012 Navy Queen Pageant (more info here).

Diwali Chopdi Puja traditions and rituals

On the all-important day of Lakshmi Puja during the festival of Diwali, besides the puja done at home and offices of the Goddess of wealth, there is an important puja performed by those in the business world. These businessmen include those who operate shops or restaurants or factories or any other type of business. Even stock brokers and chartered accountants perform this puja. This puja is done of the accounts books of the financial year and is called Chopdi Pujan or Chopda Puja. At one time it was the businessmen of the Gujarati community who did this puja on a large scale, but today businessmen of many other communities too perform this puja.

2012 Diwali festival dates and Lakshmi puja times

The festival of Diwali is the most popular festival in India, celebrated across most communities. It incorporates a joyous fervour and happiness that is enjoyed by families and friends. In fact, in the contemporary world of time-clocked schedules, Diwali provides for one of those rare occasions  when families get together to shop, eat and spend maximum time with one another. More so because it is not just a one or two day festival but is spread over five days in a year.

While Goddess Lakshmi is considered to be the most important deity during the Diwali festival, actually people worship a trinity of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Lord Ganesha is worshipped to gain wisdom, Goddess Lakshmi to become rich and Goddess Saraswati to become learned. You are thereby removing folly, poverty and ignorance.

Visiting Vigneshwara Ganapati Temple at Ozhar

Most devotees setting out on the Ashtavinayak Yatra visit the Vigneshwara Ganapati Temple at Ozhar as a fifth halt, though it is generally said that it should be the seventh one (see route map here). Ozhar is located on the Pune-Nashik highway & is considered to be a very charming town.

It is located about 8kms from Narayangaon, on the banks of the river Kuk­di. Buses ply to Ozhar from Narayangaon and Junnar and it is accessible by road via the bridge over the Kukdi river. The road route is: Chakan – Rajgurunagar – Manchar – Narayangoan – Junnar.

2012 Mood Indigo Livewire All India rock band competition dates

Mood Indigo is one of the best organised and most popular festivals not just in Mumbai but in the country. Hosted by IIT-Bombay, it attracts hordes of entries for its various competitive events from educational institutions all over India, not to mention hundreds of happy spectators. One such event is Livewire, the rock band competition. This year, though, this specific event will not be confined just to a Mumbai venue. Eliminations will be held in 4 cities: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai & Bengaluru.