Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

The year 2014 is just two days old, marking the beginning of yet another <keyword id="89477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gregorian-calendar">Gregorian calendar</keyword> year. But revellers who painted the town red and want more party time need not lose heart. Officially, the year has taken off on January 1, but the regional variants of the New Year’s Day still prevail in a country like India – home to a colourful mélange of cultures and traditions. So we are yet to experience a spate of <keyword id="471694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="New-Year-festivities">New Year festivities</keyword>, celebrated from <keyword id="6354495" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="kashmir">Kashmir</keyword> to Kanyakumari, from the <keyword id="53478" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="North-East">north-east</keyword> to the western coast. 
 Interestingly, both the Gregorian calendar (introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582) and the previous <keyword id="89476" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Julian-calendar">Julian calendar</keyword> (first implemented by Julius Caesar in 46 BC) kick off on the same day – January 1. The Romans originally dedicated the first day of the year to Janus, the god of gates, doors and beginnings, and January, the first month of the year, was named after him. Later on, most nations in Western Europe officially started the New Year from January 1. The UK was a late adopter, though, and observed New Year’s Day on <keyword id="47282" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="march">March</keyword> 25, popularly known as Lady Day since it celebrated Virgin Mary and the Feast of the Annunciation. This practice stayed in England up to 1752. 
 Closer home, we have many time-reckoning systems but the most significant among them is the <keyword id="1998432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sakabda">Sakabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1998433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saka-calendar">Saka calendar</keyword>. It was introduced in 78 AD, most probably by the Kushan ruler Kanishka, and was even used in other countries such as Kampuchea and Indonesia. Another one is the popular <keyword id="1998435" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangabda">Bangabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1282409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bengali-calendar">Bengali Calendar</keyword>, a <keyword id="1998436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Solar-calendar">solar calendar</keyword> started by Mughal emperor <keyword id="6363995" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akbar">Akbar</keyword> in 1584 AD. Then there is the <keyword id="1998437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hijri-New-Year">Hijri New Year</keyword>, also known as the <keyword id="1926173" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Islamic-new-year">Islamic New Year</keyword>, which started in 610 AD when <keyword id="6358086" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prophet-Muhammad">Prophet Muhammad</keyword> migrated from Mecca to <keyword id="89362" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Medina">Medina</keyword>. 
 With so many calendars around and so many regional New Year’s Days to celebrate, it’s time to soak in the traditional rituals once more, mostly observed during the months of <keyword id="368788" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitra">Chaitra</keyword> and <keyword id="1998439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Baishakh">Baishakh</keyword> (March-April). Here’s a quick look at the key events. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="4349969" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navreh">Navreh</keyword> – Kashmir: Let us start with Navreh, the New Year’s Day in the <keyword id="911185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lunar-calendar">lunar calendar</keyword> and observed on the <keyword id="1998440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shukla-Pratipada">Shukla Pratipada</keyword> (first day of the waxing moon) in the month of Chaitra (March-April). It is the <keyword id="1998441" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oldest-New-Year-celebration">oldest New Year celebration</keyword>, and finds mention in historical works such as Nilamat Purana, <keyword id="1998443" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kalhana">Kalhana</keyword>’s <keyword id="1998442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajtarangini">Rajtarangini</keyword> and Persian scholar <keyword id="1792427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Al-Biruni">Al-Biruni</keyword>’s writing. Each household prepares the ‘<keyword id="1998444" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-thali">holi thali</keyword>’ with great care, containing food, flower and other essentials, and it is viewed at the dawn of Navreh while family members pray for <keyword id="6383453" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wealth">wealth</keyword>, knowledge and <keyword id="23119" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="good-luck">good luck</keyword>. From this day, <keyword id="1998445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nav-Durga-Puja">Nav Durga Puja</keyword> or <keyword id="31525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navratra">Navratra</keyword> also begins in Kashmir and continues for 9 days. 
 
<keyword id="1296432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitti">Chaitti</keyword> – <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>: In this hill state, the New Year’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra according to the <keyword id="1998446" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikrami-calendar">Vikrami calendar</keyword> and festivals such as <keyword id="48284" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="navratri">Navratri</keyword> and <keyword id="1998448" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ralli-Puja">Ralli Puja</keyword> are held throughout the month in honour of Goddess Durga/Bhagwati. The month-long Ralli Puja ends in the marriage of Lord Shiva and the goddess as spinsters seek blessings of the divine duo for a spouse like Lord Shiva. 
 
<keyword id="42862" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ugadi">Ugadi</keyword> – <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword>: It is celebrated on the same day as Navreh, in the month of Chaitra, and marks the beginning of the South Indian lunar year. People of these southern states believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day. Houses are decorated with mango leaves and <keyword id="202308" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rangoli">rangoli</keyword> designs; Panchanga or the <keyword id="1998452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Religious-almanac">religious almanac</keyword> is recited and puja offerings are made for a prosperous New Year. Ugadi <keyword id="758269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pachadi">pachadi</keyword>, the traditional dish of six flavours made of <keyword id="6441002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="neem">neem</keyword>, <keyword id="137842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="jaggery">jaggery</keyword> &amp; banana, salt, green chilli/pepper, tamarind juice and unripe mango, is also relished on this occasion to acknowledge six different aspects of life. 
 
<keyword id="608876" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gudhi-Padva">Gudhi Padva</keyword> – <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="826" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goa">Goa</keyword>: Observed on the same day as Navreh and Ugadi (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), the New Year festivities in these states celebrate the bounty of Nature. Houses are decked up with rangoli and colourful gudhi – a bright-hued, embellished silk banner tied to a decorated <keyword id="1808323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bamboo-pole">bamboo pole</keyword> and an upside down brass/silver pot fitted on the top. A day after Gudhi Padva, <keyword id="127745" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheti-Chand">Cheti Chand</keyword> or the <keyword id="610532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sindhi-New-Year">Sindhi New Year</keyword> is observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of <keyword id="1998458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ishtadeva-Uderolal">Ishtadeva Uderolal</keyword> or <keyword id="987886" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jhulelal">Jhulelal</keyword>, the patron saint of the Sindhis. Lord Varuna, the water god, is also worshipped on this day, followed by <keyword id="6771793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="feasting">feasting</keyword> and <keyword id="240265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="devotional-music">devotional music</keyword>. 
 
Varuda Pirappu/Puthandu – <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>: Held in mid-April, the <keyword id="6407830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-New-Year">Tamil New Year</keyword>’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chithirai, which is the first month of the traditional <keyword id="525554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-calendar">Tamil calendar</keyword>. Just like Navreh, the day begins with <keyword id="1998464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Auspicious-sighting">auspicious sighting</keyword> or <keyword id="1009356" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="kanni">Kanni</keyword>, as people <keyword id="1873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Worship">worship</keyword> <keyword id="13726" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="rice">rice</keyword> &amp; farm products, <keyword id="119992" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="precious-metals">precious metals</keyword> and <keyword id="1246513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="new-clothes">new clothes</keyword>. Ritualistic patterns called kolams are drawn; traditional lamps or kuthu vilakkus are lighted and placed in the centre, and brass bowls known as niraikudums are filled with water to usher in <keyword id="73094" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="prosperity">prosperity</keyword> and <keyword id="800742" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fulfillment">fulfillment</keyword>. It is followed by the <keyword id="1998469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Almanac-worship">almanac worship</keyword> called <keyword id="1998471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Panchanga-Puja">Panchanga Puja</keyword>. And the festive meal features pachadi, fruits and payasam or dessert. 
 
<keyword id="345699" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishu">Vishu</keyword> – <keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>: Vishu is the <keyword id="1010370" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malayalam-New-Year">Malayalam New Year</keyword>’s Day, observed in Kerala on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam. As in other South Indian states, auspicious sighting and other rituals are observed as part of the celebration; <keyword id="51941" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="firecrackers">firecrackers</keyword> are burst and an elaborate <keyword id="1998461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festive-lunch">festive lunch</keyword> called <keyword id="1998473" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sadya">sadya</keyword> is served. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="1334751" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Poila-Baishakh">Poila Baishakh</keyword> – <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>: The Bengali New Year’s Day is celebrated in the month of Baishakh (mostly on <keyword id="6364510" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="april">April</keyword> 14). Also known as <keyword id="989326" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Naba-Barsha">Naba Barsha</keyword>, <keyword id="27928" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lord-Ganesha">Lord Ganesha</keyword> and <keyword id="462664" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Lakshmi">Goddess Lakshmi</keyword>, deities of wealth, are worshipped on this day while businesses open fresh ledgers known as <keyword id="1998474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Haal-Khata">Haal Khata</keyword>. Feasting, festivities and <keyword id="6409104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cultural-programmes">cultural programmes</keyword> are the main attractions here. <keyword id="1998475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maithili-New-Year">Maithili New Year</keyword> <keyword id="1998426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juri-Sheetal">Juri Sheetal</keyword> is also celebrated on this day. 
 
<keyword id="1998425" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maha-Vishuva-Sankranti">Maha Vishuva Sankranti</keyword> – <keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword>: In neighbouring Odisha, the New Year’s Day is also known as <keyword id="1998476" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana-Sankranit">Pana Sankranit</keyword> or <keyword id="1998424" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jala-Sankranti">Jala Sankranti</keyword> or <keyword id="1998427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mesha-Sankranti">Mesha Sankranti</keyword> that marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar. Traditionally held on the first day of Baishakh (mid-April), a sweet drink called <keyword id="1998477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana">Pana</keyword> is made using fruits, card, milk, water and sugar/jaggery and bestowed as <keyword id="1998478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Puja-offering">puja offering</keyword>. People also drink Pana and water is offered to all, even to birds and animals, for a month. Throughout this period, <keyword id="1998479" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Hingula">Goddess Hingula</keyword> is worshipped for driving the evil away. Devotees often keep fast and perform penances as part of the rituals. 
 
Rongali/Bohag Bihu – <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>: Held in the month of Baishakh (mid-April), this weeklong colourful and vibrant festival not only marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar, but also heralds the new agricultural season. As in all other states, pujas are offered to ensure a prosperous year ahead; <keyword id="974604" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="festive-food">festive food</keyword> such as pitha and laru is made and shared, and young people get together to choose their life partners. Fairs are held; games are played, and the traditional <keyword id="1998481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bihu-songs">Bihu songs</keyword> &amp; dances make it the perfect season for jollity and merriment. 
 
<keyword id="1998480" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheiraoba">Cheiraoba</keyword> – <keyword id="6359754" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manipur">Manipur</keyword>: Moving further north-east, one gets to celebrate the Manipuri New Year Sajibu Cheiraoba in the month of April. Puja offerings, delicious food and festivities mark this occasion as well. In addition, locals climb the nearest hill tops, thus aspiring to rise to great heights in real life. 
 
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi – <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword>: Traditionally a <keyword id="404010" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="harvest-festival">harvest festival</keyword>, the <keyword id="1011009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjabi-New-Year">Punjabi New Year</keyword>’s Day is held on April 13/14 (the first day of the second month of the year, according to the Nanakshahi Calendar). It is a significant day for the <keyword id="81001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sikh-community">Sikh community</keyword> as well since they celebrate the day in honor of the 10th guru, <keyword id="138545" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Guru-Gobind-Singh">Guru Gobind Singh</keyword>, who did away with the <keyword id="6434481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Caste-System">caste system</keyword>. Otherwise, fun, food and <keyword id="1998485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Country-dances">country dances</keyword> like <keyword id="6920" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhangra">Bhangra</keyword> and <keyword id="465865" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="giddha">Giddha</keyword>, keeping time with the beats of dhols and drums, mark this occasion. 
 
<keyword id="585610" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bestu-Varas">Bestu Varas</keyword> – <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>: In certain parts of northern and western India, Diwali heralds the New Year and Gujarat is one of them. Bestu Varas is held a day after the Festival of Lights, in the month of <keyword id="6376330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kartik">Kartik</keyword> (October-November) and houses are splendidly decked up with <keyword id="5823" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flowers">flowers</keyword>, rangoli and torans (door hangings). Pujas are offered; New Year <keyword id="54214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fireworks">fireworks</keyword> are everywhere and gifts are generously exchanged. And one must not forget the festive food either, especially the delectable and traditional snacks of Gujarat such as <keyword id="107294" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="farsan">farsan</keyword>. 
 
Images: Wikipedia

New Year Festivities
Not Over Yet; Here Is How India
Celebrates

Eid-al-Adha, also known as <keyword id="22053911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bakr-Id" source="keywords">Bakr-Id</keyword>, stands as the 'Feast of Sacrifice', representing one of the most significant festivals in the Islamic calendar. Its date is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the onset of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. Anticipated in 2024, the crescent moon is expected to appear on the evening of June 6th, heralding the commencement of Dhul Hijjah on June 7th. Consequently, Eid-ul-Adha 2024 is projected to be celebrated on June 16th across nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and others. Conversely, in South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the moon sighting is scheduled for June 7th, signifying the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha a day later on June 17th, 2024. Prophet Ibrahim was tasked with sacrificing the most cherished thing in his life. In unwavering obedience, Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. However, before he could carry out this act, Allah intervened and provided a goat for sacrifice instead. Thus, the tradition of sacrificing a male goat on this day endures. The sacrificial goat is then divided into three portions, to be shared among relatives and friends, the less fortunate, and the family. Bakr-Id is a day of celebration, commemorating this profound act of faith, marked by the joyous sharing of delicious meals with loved ones. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Happy Eid al-Adha Bakr-id 2024 wishes, messages and quotes" comment="subhead" text="Happy Eid al-Adha Bakr-id 2024 wishes, messages and quotes">Happy <keyword id="22053910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eid-al-Adha" source="keywords">Eid al-Adha</keyword> Bakr-id 2024 wishes, messages and quotes</cmsannotation> Here is a collection of Bakr-id or <keyword id="7962708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eid-al-adha-Wishes" source="Orion">Eid Al-Adha wishes</keyword>, greetings and quotes you can share with your loved ones and friends. <ul><li>Eid is all about sharing what we have and caring for those in need. May you have a wonderful Eid al-Adha this year!</li><li>May your sincere prayers be answered, and may you be blessed with Allah's choicest blessings. Eid al-Adha Mubarak to you and your loved ones.</li><li>Your prayers and sacrifices will never go unanswered. On this Eid al-Adha, embrace Allah’s divine blessings with all that you have. <keyword id="421285" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eid-Mubarak" source="Orion">Eid Mubarak</keyword>!</li><li>Wishing you a very Happy Eid al-Adha. Cherish every moment of this beautiful festival and may all your dreams come true soon.</li><li>May you continue to grow wiser every day! May this Eid bring happiness to you and your family. Eid al-Adha Mubarak!</li><li>Here's wishing you and your family, peace, harmony, happiness, good health and prosperity on the auspicious occasion of Eid. Eid al-Adha Mubarak to you and everyone at home.</li><li>Wishing you and your family a lovely Eid. May this year bring peace, prosperity, and tranquillity.</li><li>Wishing a joyous and blissful Eid to you! You and your family will be in my prayers and good thoughts. May Allah’s blessing never leave your side.</li><li>Wishing you a cheerful and spiritual Eid al-Adha Mubarak. My heartiest regards to you and your family!</li><li>This Eid, may Allah bless you with good health and happiness. Eid al-Adha Mubarak.</li><li>May Allah give you all the prosperity and success. May Allah bless you with wealth and happiness and give you a healthy life. Eid al-Adha Mubarak.</li><li>May your life be always filled with light, love, happiness and good health. Eid al-Adha Mubarak.</li><li>Here's wishing a blessed Eid that will inspire you with courage and strength to help you to win every challenge of life! Eid al-Adha Mubarak.</li><li>Eid al-Adha Mubarak to you and everyone in your family.</li><li>On this blessed occasion of Eid al-Adha, may your sacrifices be accepted, and your prayers answered. Eid Mubarak!</li><li>May the divine blessings of Allah bring you joy, peace, and prosperity on Eid al-Adha and always. Eid Mubarak!</li><li>Wishing you and your family a joyful Eid filled with love, laughter, and blessings.</li><li>May the spirit of sacrifice and devotion inspire you to be your best self. Eid Mubarak!</li><li>Sending warm wishes for a blessed Eid al-Adha filled with happiness and harmony.</li><li>May the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Adha fill your heart and home with joy and prosperity.</li><li>Eid Mubarak! May Allah's blessings be with you today and always.</li><li>Wishing you a Eid filled with moments of joy, warmth, and togetherness with your loved ones.</li><li>On this Eid al-Adha, may Allah shower his countless blessings upon you and your family. Eid Mubarak!</li><li>May the divine light of Allah illuminate your path and fill your life with peace and happiness. Eid Mubarak!</li><li>May Allah flood your life with happiness on this occasion, your heart with love, your soul with spirituality, and your mind with wisdom. Wishing you a very Happy Eid.</li><li>Feel the magic of Eid around you and know that the grace of God is always with you. You’ll always be surrounded by love and care. Happy Eid al-Adha!</li><li>This Eid-ul-Adha, I wish Allah’s blessings light up your life and that it is filled with happiness, peace, joy and success. Eid Mubarak!</li></ul>

Celebrating Eid Al-Adha 2024: wishes, messages and quotes

<ul><li><keyword id="31690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="karwa-chauth">Karwa Chauth</keyword> is observed year on year on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (fourth day of moon’s waning phase) in the month of Karthik (October – November)</li><li>On this day, women observe a day-long strict fast praying for the welfare of their husbands.</li><li>This year Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, just ten days before Diwali celebrations.</li></ul>The festival of Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on November 4. On this day, women keep a day-long fast for their husbands and pray for their well being, success, health, and happiness. They break their fast after the sighting of the moon. The other name of Karwa Chauth is Karak Chaturthi. <keyword id="10170862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="karwa-chauth-2020-date">Karwa Chauth 2020 date</keyword> and puja timing Year on year, Karwa Chauth falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (the fourth day of the moon's waning phase) in the month of Kartika (October – November). In 2020, Karwa Chauth will be observed on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. The fasting starts at dawn on Wednesday and concludes with the moon's sighting in the evening after offering puja (worshipping the moon god). The Karwa Chauth puja Muhurat or the most auspicious time to perform the Karwa Chauth puja is 05.34 pm and 06.52 pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. The moonrise timing on this day is 08.12 pm. Karwa Chauth vrat On the morning of Karwa Chauth, women wake up early and take a holy bath. They then have a sumptuous meal of Sargi, a dish topped with fruits, dry fruits, and sweets. This meal must be eaten before sunrise. After this, the woman fasts the entire day, breaking it only after sighting the moon. The woman also receives a platter of gifts from her mother’s home filled with clothes, ornaments, gifts, sweets, and a small pot (Karwa). The woman adorns herself with the finest clothes and starts the vrat (day-long fast) after worshipping the sun. In the evening, the Karwa Chauth puja is organized, and the fast is concluded with prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the husband. Karwa Chauth puja procedure <ul><li>Spread a red cloth and place the Karwa (earthen pot) received from your mother's house.</li><li>Decorate the Karwa. Decorate the picture of Ma Parvati (Anant Sowbhagyawati) and offer flowers and tilak. </li><li>Place another karwa with water for the sun god. </li><li>Offer the special dishes prepared for the puja and perform the puja during the Muhurat mentioned.</li><li>At the end of the puja, offer aarti to the goddess' picture and then to the Karwa. </li><li>Once the moon rises in the sky, look at the moon's reflection in the water of Karwa through a sieve. After seeing the moon, look at the face of your husband and touch his feet in reverence.</li></ul>Karwa Chauth is an important ritual observed in Hindu households. Karwa Chauth is very popular in North and Western India.

Karwa Chauth 2020:  Date, puja time, and everything you need to know

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>With the swift success of "Bird Box" and "You" last month, in terms of viewership and cultural impact, Netflix showed its originals could create the type of water cooler talk that live TV was famous for.</li><li>Netflix said "Bird Box" was watched by 80 million households in its first month, and "You" by 40 million.</li><li>"For part of your Netflix subscription, you are in the zeitgeist," Netflix's head of content, Ted Sarandos, said recently.</li><li>For the first time, I felt a tangible sense of FOMO before I'd watched these titles, and it wasn't because they were groundbreaking works of art, it was because of the power of Netflix's platform.</li></ul>Netflix started releasing its own "original" TV series in 2013, and since the start, it's been obvious that subscribers loved its delivery method: Full-season drops of on-demand bliss. Watching was convenient - stupidly so. But the question still lingered: In the age of scattered viewing, would Netflix ever replicate the water cooler talk that live TV perfected? Could the king of streamers make you feel culturally deficient if you didn't subscribe?There have been moments over the past few years when I thought Netflix was inching toward that, from its first splashy original "House of Cards" to the slow build of its cult hit "Stranger Things." But it was the runaway success of two originals last month, "You" and "Bird Box," that finally convinced me that Netflix had begun to define the next phase of water cooler conversation."You" and "Bird Box" had very different origins - one as an original movie and the other as a TV show picked up after being discarded by Lifetime - but both spread through the internet and social <keyword id="6354777" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Media">media</keyword> thanks to Netflix's massive reach (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-q4-earnings-analysis-subscribers-revenue-eps-2019-1">139 million paying subscribers and counting</a>). Engaging with the online cultural conversation feels like the 2019 equivalent of chatting at the water cooler at work, and I really felt I wouldn't understand an important chunk of the internet if I wasn't familiar with this one movie and one show. And it wasn't because they were groundbreaking pieces of art, it was because they were so easy to watch on Netflix that everybody - or what felt like everybody - did.The avalanche of "Bird Box" jokes and memes on social media was so overwhelming that people accused Netflix of using fake accounts to help spread them, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-box-netflix-memes-fake-theory-2018-12">though there was no proof</a>. And in the end, it didn't really matter. The phenomenon was real.Both "Bird Box" and "You" became a thing and made you feel a bit left out if you hadn't consumed them. And expect that to keep happening with Netflix originals in 2019, especially since the streamer has become the top entertainment platform for teens, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teens-watch-more-than-twice-as-much-netflix-as-cable-tv-2018-10">beating everything from cable TV to YouTube</a>.Netflix's head of content, Ted Sarandos, addressed this very feeling on the streamer's Q4 earnings call."For part of your Netflix subscription, you are in the zeitgeist," Sarandos said. "You're watching the programming that the rest of the world is loving at the same time."Sarandos also revealed that "Bird Box" was watched by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-bird-box-viewed-by-80-million-accounts-in-first-four-weeks-2019-1">80 million households in its first month</a> on the platform, and that "You" was watched by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/you-saw-big-spike-in-popularity-on-netflix-season-2-will-be-exclusive-2019-1">40 million in its first</a>.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><h2>'Kimberly like everyone in the world'</h2>"Bird Box" did not get off to a particularly auspicious start, leaving critics unimpressed when it became available to stream on December 21. The movie currently has a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bird_box/">63% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes</a>.But there was something intriguing about the movie, which follows Sandra Bullock as she tries to stay alive and avoid an evil that kills using sight - hence the blindfold.Master of horror Stephen King tweeted that he was "absolutely riveted" by the film and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-king-loves-bird-box-slams-critics-for-netflix-prejudice-2018-12">urged viewers to ignore the lukewarm reviews</a>, which he said might have been caused by "Netflix Prejudice."Whether or not they listened to King, viewers flocked to the film. On December 28, Netflix took the unusual step of releasing a view count, saying that over 45 million accounts had watched over 70% of the movie in its first week, a record for the service.By that time the memes were in full swing, and the movie's omnipresent blindfold had inspired the "Bird Box Challenge," which led at least <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/bird-box-challenge-blindfolded-teen-crashes-car-utah-2019-1">one person to crash a car</a> and may have prompted YouTube to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-updated-its-guidelines-to-ban-dangerous-pranks-and-challenges-2019-1?r=UK&amp;IR=T">ban dangerous pranks and challenges</a>.When Kim Kardashian tweeted on January 1 that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/02/entertainment/kim-kardashian-bird-box/index.html">she liked the movie and asked who had seen it</a>, she was relentlessly teased."Kimberly like everyone in the entire world," Chrissy Teigen tweeted in reply.Though "Bird Box" was clearly great fodder for memes, Netflix's ubiquity and ease of use allowed it to enter the cultural conversation like a tidal wave. And the ascension of "You," a Lifetime series that hit Netflix less than a week after "Bird Box," showed again how powerful the platform had become.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><h2>Sorry, Lifetime</h2>"You," a creepy series starring Penn Badgley as an obsessive New York City bookstore clerk, debuted to rave reviews when it aired on Lifetime in September.Writing <a href="http://time.com/5484980/most-overlooked-tv-shows-2018/">for Time Magazine</a>, Judy Berman called the show a "wicked satire of social media, self-proclaimed 'nice guys' and the twisted ideals of romantic fiction." It currently has a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/you/s01/">91% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes</a>.But even with the good critical buzz, "You" wasn't a hit on Lifetime. The show got a live viewership of 611,000 on Lifetime, and though the network had secured the option to renew it for a second before its release, it decided not to move forward. Netflix picked up the show, giving the green light to season two and branding the first season a "Netflix original."When the first season dropped on Netflix December 26, it quickly entered the internet hive mind. Though it didn't spread as intensely as "Bird Box," its success was equally notable because the show had already been out since September and had garnered such good reviews.Here you can see the relative search volumes on Google of "You Lifetime" and "You Netflix" over time:<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>On January 14, IMDb tweeted that "You" was <a href="https://twitter.com/IMDb/status/1084971085655793664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3Aimdb%7Ctwcon%5Etimelinechrome&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businesswire.com%2Fnews%2Fhome%2F20190110005552%2Fen%2FIMDb-Launches-Freedive-%25E2%2580%2593-Free-Streaming-Video">its top-trending show</a>.But it's not simply that "You" became more popular when it hit Netflix, something has been dubbed the "Netflix Effect" and has happened to shows like "Breaking Bad" and "Riverdale."The actors and characters also immediately became topics of internet chatter.Take supporting character Peach Salinger, played by "Pretty Little Liars" star Shay Mitchell, for instance.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>On January 7, <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/you-netflix-peach-salinger-appreciation.html">Vulture published a post titled</a>, "Now That You Is on Netflix, You Should All Worship Peach Salinger." Then on January 11, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/this-post-is-for-anyone-that-is-team-peach-salinge">BuzzFeed followed with,</a> "This Post Is For Anyone That Is Team Peach Salinger And Demands Justice For Her." And on January 14, <a href="https://www.tvguide.com/news/you-peach-salinger-queer-appreciation/">TV Guide raised the stakes by declaring</a>, "Every Character on YOU Is Trash, but I Would Still Die for Peach Salinger."Peach Salinger had officially become a thing. Before I started watching "You," I had even wondered myself why the heck they named a character Peach Salinger.But if you look back at when the show aired on Lifetime, there was no Peach Salinger internet buzz. Here is a chart of Google searches that illustrates that:<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Similar charts show the same trend for search interest in the names two main characters, Badgley's Joe Goldberg and Elizabeth Lail's Guinevere Beck.And like "Bird Box," the characters on "You" have inspired lots of quality memes.&#xa0;But it's not just the "You" characters. Penn Badgley is enjoying a renaissance in public awareness, with Google search interest surging and his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pennbadgley/?hl=en">Instagram hitting over 1.2 million followers</a>.Badgley has also participated in some of the fun internet shenanigans around the show that have popped up as it has gone viral on Netflix, including wading into the <a href="https://www.thisisinsider.com/penn-badgley-wants-fans-to-stop-falling-for-joe-2019-1">debate over people crushing on his serial-killer character</a>."The amount of people romanticizing @PennBadgley's character in YOU scares me," <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenglitz/status/1083084617647828994">Twitter user @darrenglitz wrote</a>."Ditto. It will be all the motivation I need for season 2," <a href="https://twitter.com/PennBadgley/status/1083085963813965825">Badgley replied</a>.Lifetime execs must be pulling their hair out watching a show they took a chance on becoming a cultural force for someone else - and Netflix of all places. It shows the sad reality of the cable TV business today.But Netflix is uniquely positioned to launch something into the zeitgeist, and not just compared to cable.Netflix says 40 million households watched "You" in the first month on the platform (defined by watching 70% of at least one episode). Sure, there are caveats, but that means more Netflix accounts watched "You" than the entire subscriber base of Hulu, which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hulu-gains-on-netflix-in-the-us-but-faces-challenge-2019-1">recently announced it had reached 25 million</a>.And at 80 million views and counting, over three times Hulu's entire subscriber base watched at least 70% of "Bird Box" on Netflix.It's hard to imagine any other platform getting that kind of instantaneous reach, and cultural impact, from scratch. Welcome to the worldwide water cooler.<div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drag-makeup-straight-man-first-time-rupaul-farrah-moan-2018-12">As a straight man, I tried drag makeup for the first time with RuPaul's Farrah Moan</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The whirlwind success of Netflix's 'You' and 'Bird Box' shows it's become a well-oiled FOMO machine

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_da_Vinci_-_presumed_self-portrait_-_WGA12798.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>A self-portrait by Leonardo.</div></div>Even a Renaissance man is occasionally on the job hunt.
Such was the case back in the 1480s, when a young Leonardo da Vinci was coming up in Florence.
Born the lowly son of a notary, da Vinci couldn't enter the "higher professions" of the city, like lawyer or statesman. Instead, his lot was that of a craftperson - a painter, to be exact. 
Under the tutelage of Verrochio, an established artist and goldsmith, da Vinci honed the powers of observation that would drive his illustrious career.
But Florence, he realized, was crowded with artists. If da Vinci was to make a name for himself, he'd have to try another town.
So he turned his sights toward Milan, then ruled by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_Sforza">Ludovico Sforza</a>, who hoped to make Milan a cultural capital on par with Florence and Venice. He also had a habit of getting into wars, as one did back in the day. 
Da Vinci applied to work for him, and knowing his potential patron's penchant for war, he wrote a cover letter positioning himself as a military engineer. As the best cover letters do, it <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-cover-letter-2014-4">tailored his career history to his employer's needs</a>. 
Here are a few of the inventions da Vinci proposed:
<ul>
<li>"Very light, strong and easily portable bridges with which to pursue and, on some occasions, flee the enemy"</li>
<li>"Covered vehicles, safe and unassailable, which will penetrate the enemy and their artillery"</li>
<li>"Where the use of cannon is impracticable, I will assemble catapults, mangonels, trebuckets and other instruments of wonderful efficiency not in general use." </li>
</ul>
Beyond weapons, da Vinci promised innovations, like tunneling beneath castle walls, redirecting the waters of moats, and methods for destroying fortresses. 
"In short," he humbly proclaims, "as the variety of circumstances dictate, I will make an infinite number of items for attack and defence."
Surprisingly, the legendary artist doesn't mention his ability as an architect, painter, or sculptor until the close of the letter, and, by today's standards, it's a bit long-winded. 
Regardless, the letter worked: Da Vinci worked for the duke for 16 years, completing some of his most memorable work, including "The Last Supper."
Care of blog-based archive <a href="http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/skills-of-da-vinci.html" target="_blank">Letters of Note</a>, here's the cover letter in full: 
<div class="post-body entry-content">

</div>

You Searched For "Auspicious sighting" and got 6 results

New Year Festivities Not Over Yet; Here Is How India Celebrates

Sanghamitra Mandal

Celebrating Eid Al-Adha 2024: wishes, messages and quotes

BI India Bureau

Karwa Chauth 2020: Date, puja time, and everything you need to know

BI India Bureau

The whirlwind success of Netflix's 'You' and 'Bird Box' shows it's become a well-oiled FOMO machine

Nathan McAlone

Here's The Incredible Cover Letter Leonardo Da Vinci Wrote In The 1480s

Drake Baer

How A 'Bunch Of Commies' Are Forcing the Fortune 500 To Stop Destroying Rainforests, Overfishing, And Burning Fossil Fuels

Aaron Gell

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides