Festivals of India - Ramnavami

 

Ram Navami also known as Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. The Rama Navami festival falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations.

The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) Sita Samahit Sthal (Sitamarhi) (Bihar), Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), thronged by thousands of devotees. Rathayatras, the chariot processions, also known as Shobha yatras of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, are taken out at several places, including Ayodhya where thousands of people take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu.

Nepal Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate this festival.

Image : Pradip Jain - Patna

New Stamp from India

Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai

Date of Issue : 14 April, 2013

India Post released a stamp of Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai on 14th April 2013.

Chaitya Bhoomi is a reverred place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists in India. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution was cremated here after his death on 6th December, 1956 in accordance with Buddhist traditions. Eventually, this place was later converted to Chaitya Bhoomi which is now a National Monument. The Chaitya Bhoomi Memorial Monument was inaugurated by Mrs. Meerabai Yashvantrao Ambedkar, who is the daughter-in-law of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, on December 5, 1971. A large number of people from all over the country visit Chaitya Bhoomi every year on December 6th to offer respects and pay homage to Dr Ambedkar. Carrying millions of blue waving flags they march to the Chaitya Bhoomi on this day.

: Indian Philatelists’ Forum , Mansoor B. – Mangalore

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Festivals of India - Holi

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Holi !!

Holi – The Festival of Colors

Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus as a festival of colours.It is primarily observed in India and Nepal. It is also observed by the minority Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan as well in countries with large Indian populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mauritius, and Fiji.

Holi is also known as Phagwah , Festival of Colours, or Doḷajātra  in Odisha, and as Dol Jatra  or Basantotsav ("spring festival")  in West Bengal and Assam. Holi is of particular significance in the Braj region, which includes locations traditionally connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan ,Nandagaon, and Barsana, which become tourist destinations during the season of Holi.As per the Hindu calendar, Holi is celebrated on the Phalgun Purnima which comes in February or March in the Gregorian Calendar.

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Special Cover on Mahashivaratri

 

Mahashivratri : 10 March 2013

Kumbh Mela Prayag 2013

A special cover was issued today at Allahabad on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. The covers are available with Mr Ambrish Kumar. He may be contacted at email : moni_kumar20@rediffmail.com

: Ambrish Kumar – Allahabad

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Festivals of India–Mahashivaratri

 

Greetings on Mahashivaratri  !!

Today is Mahashivaratri , a  popular festival of India and celebrated in Himachal Pradesh with great fervor. Greetings to all on this occasion. Here I share some beautiful stamps issued on Mahashivaratri,Lord Shiva and  Shiva temples.

      

Lingodbhava puja is performed during this time. In Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple is very famous for celebration of Shivratri.

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. . Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.It falls on a moonless February night, and Hindus offer special prayer to the mighty Lord of Moksha. Shivratri is the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nach or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh): The festival of Mahashivratri  is marked in a unique way in this town, popularly known as Chhoti Kashi, as it sees a congregation of over 200 deities from hundreds of village temples.

It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar. . A week-long International Mandi Shivratri Fair held at Mandi  Himachal Pradesh every year is one of the major tourist attractions in the state.On this day, in all Shiva temples, the most auspicious

 

News from our Readers…

Academic Recognition to Philately

Dear Stamp Lovers and Philatelic Scholars,

I would like to take your kind attention on following news-

The RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, India had issued notification for a Ph.D.* on a study of philately and postage stamp. The topic of the research work lies within subject of ‘LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE-LIS’ under Social Science faculty.

*This study attempts for the academic recognition of postage stamp as an information source. The associated hobby of stamp collecting-‘philately’ and related activities not only needs information but creates information products as well. Here through this study an attempt is made to understand postage stamps, the philately, origin, evolution and development with an approach for investigation to identify some LIS projections of philately along with prospective extension of bibliophilately to LIS philately. The work considers two case studies on bibliopilately and Indian philately. The work is based on wide survey and evaluation of philatelic organizations (national and international) and philatelic literature (print and digital mode)and the rephrased ‘Five Laws of Library’ for Postage Stamp.

The researcher may be contacted by email at < unawlakhe@ymail.com >; And / or by snail mail at [41, Gayatri Nagar, Ganeshpur, BHANDARA 441 904 M.S. India ]

: Anil Nawlakhe – Bhandara ( Maharashtra )

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New Special Cover on Basant Panchami ..

 

 

Basant Panchami : Kumbh Mela Prayag 2013

15 February 2013

A special cover was released at Allahabad  on Basant Panchami during Kumbh Mela, Prayag. All special covers released during Kumbh Mela are available with Mr Ambrish Kumar of Allahabad, email : moni_kumar20@rediffmail.com  Phone : 9305478831

: Ambrish Kumar, Allahabad

Basant Panchami

Today is Basant Panchami which is being celebrated by worship of Devi Saraswati. Jain Saraswati is also described in the Holy books and many ancient idols of Jain Saraswati are available at different places. Two stamps were also issued on Jain Saraswati in the year 1974.

: Sudhir Jain Satna (MP)

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Greetings on Republic Day ..

 

Today  we are celebrating our 64th Republic Day. Greetings to all Indians living in every corner of the world on this very special day !!

 

News from Gandhi World Foundation

 

Gandhi World Foundation is  conducting a Guinness Book World of Records event in Chennai on January 30th 2013 wherein more than 1000 Children resembling Mahatma Gandhi will assemble in Chennai Marina Beach at 9am and a new Guinness World record will be created by the assembly of such a large gathering of children resembling Gandhiji.

All the children will have their heads tonsured and will wear a Panchakacham (Veshti), Stick and glasses resembling Gandhiji. The Children will also carry placards highlighting some of the important messages of Gandhiji.

A similar kind of event was earlier held in Coimbatore in 2011 and in Kolkatta in 2012 and in Gujarat in 2012. The event held in Kolkatta was attended by around 475 Children and in Gujarat 890 Children had taken part in the event resembling Mahatma Gandhiji. However in all these events, the children's head was not tonsured and they used scalp (wig resembling tonsured head) but we at Gandhi World Foundation are doing this event with tonsuring of the heads of children with the full consent of their Parents. The tonsuring event is scheduled to be held in Gummidipoondi on Jan 29th at 3pm. 

All the children participating in the event are from schools in and around Gummudipoondi, Tiruvallur District.

Apart from Guinness Book of records, this event is also certified by Asia Book of records, Limca Book of records and India & Tamil Nadu book of records.

 

We cordially invite you to Join your hands with us in this Noble Cause which is going to be a world record

: ML Rajesh – Tiruvallur (Tamil Nadu )

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New stamp from India

 

Aaditya Vikram Birla

Date of Issue : 14 January 2013

India Post released a commemorative stamp on  renowned Indian  Industrialist Aditya Vikram Birla,  on 14th January 2013.

: Mansoor B. Mangalore : http://mbstamps.blogspot.in/

Club News

New Special Cover

Makar Sankranti – Kumbha Mela Prayag 2013

Date of release : 14 January 2013

 

: Ambrish Kumar and Sandeep Chaurasia from Allahabad

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INPEX 2013 - NATIONAL PHILATELIC EXHIBITION

 

INPEX 2013 : NATIONAL PHILATELIC EXHIBITION

21ST TO 25TH FEBRUARY, 2013AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE, MUMBAI

A National Philatelic Exhibition INPEX 2013 will be held at the World Trade Centre, (Expo Center), Cuffe Parade, Mumbai-400 005 from 21st February to 25th February, 2013.

The exhibition is being held by The Philatelic Society of India with the patronage of PHILATELIC CONGRESS OF INDIA, the apex body of Philately in India, and the active support of the Department of Post and other Philatelic Societies to celebrate the 115 years of the Society’s active existence.

The exhibition will provide an opportunity to philatelists residing in India to enter their outstanding philatelic collection in the Competitive Class.

The exhibition will consist of INVITEE AND COMPETITIVE classes. In the Invitee section collections of eminent individuals and national institutions will be exhibited. The Competitive section will also include a championship class and will be open only to those collections which have won at least a Gold Medal in a previous National or International World Philatelic Exhibition.

For details contact email  :  inpex2013@psi1897.com

Website :   http://www.psi1897.com/impex.html

All Communications, Registered letters or Remittances to be sent to:
Mrs. D. M. Pittie,
The Secretary, Inpex 2013,Philatelic Bureau,G.P.O., Mumbai-400 001.

Co-ordinators:

Dhirubhai Mehta,
President,Philatelic Society of India,
Mobile No.: 09892786222
Email: dhirubhai_phil@yahoo.com

Mrs. Damayanti M. Pittie,
Secretary,
Philatelic Society of India,
Mobile No.09930367660
Email: dm_pittie@mtnl.net.in   &   hsmlkal99@sify.com

Exhibitors desirous of participating in the exhibition should apply in the prescribed form in duplicate. The entry forms duly filled in and signed should reach the Secretary Inpex 2013, latest by 20th December, 2012. Introductory page and synopsis of the exhibit should be sent with each application. Such forms will be available from the Secretary, Inpex 2013, Philatelic Bureau, G.P.O., Mumbai-400 001, or on web site www.psi1897.com

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Festivals of India – Guru Parva

Greetings to all on Guru Parva  !!

Guru Nanak Prakash Gurpurab :: Guru Nanak Jayanti

The Sikh community celebrates Guru Nanak Jayanti ( Gurpurab) . The festival is a memorial of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday. He is known as the founder of Sikh religion. The festival is celebrated every year with great pomp and show across the globe.

In India especially in Punjab, people comes from different states to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday with religious fervour at Golden temple in Amritsar.

In 1969 the 500th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first guru of the Sikhs, was celebrated throughout the world. The Department of Posts issued a a special stamp depicting Nankana Sahib (earlier known as Talwandi), the birth place of the founder of Sikhism, which is now in Pakistan.

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Festivals of India – Chatth Puja

 

 

 

India is a colorful land of different festivals, cultures and religions  . Hinduism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. Chhath Parva or Chath Puja is an important festival of India which is especially celebrated by Hindus in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Nepal. Nepal Post issued a postage stamp on 31st December 2009 on Chhath Parva .

Chhath Puja :

The Chhath Puja, also known as Surya Shashti, is a Hindu festival in which a Puja (worship ritual) is performed to offer thanks to the Sun God, Surya, for supporting all the life on Earth. The Puja is performed with spirited enthusiasm and reverence, on Kartik Shukla Shashti i.e. 6th day of the month of Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar, typically in the month of October or November (as per the Gregorian calendar), exactly 6 days after another famous Hindu festival called Deepawali. Interestingly, Chhath Puja is the only festival in the world where devotees offer salutations to the setting and rising sun to celebrate the significance of the cycle of birth, which starts with death. Being an age old festival, passed on from the Vedic age and the era of Mahabharata, Chhath Puja comprises of ritualistic abstinence from food and other worldly pleasures and comforts.

The festival, spread over four days, starts with the worshipper taking a dip in the holy water of river Ganges or any water body at sunrise. Some of the holy water is brought home by the worshipper for preparation of offerings (Prasad). From this day onwards, the worshipper, to observe ritualistic purity, is segregated from the main household for four days and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The following morning, a fast is observed by the worshipper which ends a little after sunset. After eating, another fast that lasts 36 hours is observed by the worshipper. When the day of the ritual arrives, offerings (Prasad) are made to the setting sun and the rising sun, the following morning, and the fasting ends with distribution of the same offerings among the family, friends, and anyone who asks of it.
Apart from offering thanks and prayers to the Sun God for all the bounties of life, the worship is also believed to cure various diseases such as leprosy, and bestow long life, prosperity, and blessing to all the family and friends of the worshipper. It's not just the worshipper that partakes in the ritual; other members of the family contribute to it too. While women dedicate their time to prepare the offerings, children and other members too contribute by way of taking over the daily chores and cleaning the whole household. Though more ornately celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand, it is also celebrated in many other part of the country like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, and Northeast regions of India.

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Stamp Image : Pradip Jain - Patna

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New stamps from India….

 

The Scinde Horse

Date of Issue : 16 November 2012

India Post recently issued 5 New Postage stamps in the month of November.

Children’s Day

Date of Issue : 14 November 2012

T.S. Narayanswami

Date of Issue : 11 November 2012

Festival of Lights : India – Israel Joint Issue

Date of Issue : 5 November 2012

 

: Stamps of India ; Mansoor B.

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Greetings on Diwali !!

 

Festival of Lights – Deepawali and Hanukkah

 

A very Happy & Prosperous  Diwali to all !!

Greetings to all  Israelis  for Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights !!

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Festivities for all….

 

 

Greetings on Diwali  - The Festival of Lights

 

Hi

It is festive time in India…The big festival Diwali starts here today..Here are some beautiful stamps issued for festivities . The Correo Argentino has recently issued a  set of stamps dedicated to national Argentinean festivities. The stamps depict National Festival of Crafts (Columbus, Entre Rios), National Peanut Festival (Hernando, Cordoba), National Festival of Orange (Bella Vista, Corrientes), National Day of Bull-Calf and Day of Cattle Branding (Ayacucho, Buenos Aires). This is all for Today … A very Happy Diwali to all !!

Argentinean festivities

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New Stamps from India..

 

India – Israel Joint Issue

Date of Issue – 5 November 2012

Image : Courtesy – Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad -  http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.in/

India Post and Israel Post  released the joint issue of commemorative Postage stamps featuring  their two important Festivals of light -  Deepavali  and Hanukkah . India Post issued two stamps with a mixed sheetlet of 20 stamps.

Souvenir Leaf issued by Israel Post

20 Years of Diplomatic Relations between India and Israel

 

FDCs – Festival of Lights

 

Courtesy – Pradip Jain – Patna

Club News

From Baroda Philatelic Society

New Governing Council of Baroda Philatelic Society for 2012-13
President Sh. Prashant Pandya
Vice-President Sh. Suresh Thakkar
Secretary Sh. Timir Shah
Jt. Secretary Sh. Ashwin Shah
Treasurer Sh. Bhavin Marfatia
Ex. member Sh. R.U.Dave
Sh. Kaushik M.Choksy
Librarian Sh. Kalidas Kacchia
Int. Auditor Sh. Devesh Shah
Sh. Mihir Shah

: Timir Shah - Vadodara

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Festivals of India – Kullu Dussehra

 

 

 

Hi !

This is festive time in Kullu . We have a week long Dussehra festival here.. Dhalpur ground is glittering and dancing with local deities in the melody of Kullu…. The ground is surrounded by  lots of stalls of Kullu shawls, handicrafts and local Kullu cuisine Siddu, Jalebis and pakore and Momos…  !! People could be seen everywhere in festive mood ….We have a great time here so I am a bit late in writing my blog about Kullu Dussehra !!

The week-long Kullu Dussehra festival got off to a spectacular start with the traditional Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunathji at sprawling Dhalpur Maidan at Kullu. The Kullu Dussehra celebrations are different from celebrations in other parts of the country as no effigy of Ravana or Kumbhkarna is burnt and Ramlila is staged.The Kullu Dussehra dates back to 1637 AD when Raja Jagat Singh was the ruler of the valley.

 

 

The celebrations commence on 'Vijaya Dashmi' day and over 250 local deities of the valley assemble and camp at Dhalpur maidan for a week to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunathji, the presiding deity.

 

Kullu Dussehra is a mixture of history, culture and customs and the entire valley remains in festive mood with religious fervour for one week and the Raja of Kullu remains the star attraction during the festival.

 

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