India celebrates 62nd Republic Day

Dear friends & Readers

One of my friend Mr Srinivasa shared with us in our group this finer details for the benefit of all the youngsters. As Indian i to what to share this details with my friends and readers

The freedom and soverignity,

Today, India celebrates the 62nd Republic Day with joy and gaiety. While conveying the Greetings to all them , I thought of sharing some interesting facts about the significance of this day for the benefit of our young members which was shared by one of my friend Mr. Srinivasan

The Interesting facts about 'Indian Constitution'


British Rule
First Britisher entered India in 1579. Thereafter merchants started coming and ruled us. In 1765, the Authority got transferred to East India Company formally. Then British Parliament took over the administration. Indians started protesting the foreign rule even from the 18th century. Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 to formally fight the foreign rulers. After the entry of Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom movement became dynamic. Before Independence, India was governed by various Acts enacted by British Parliament. Government of India Act 1858, Government of India Act 1909, Government of India Act 1919 and finally the Govt. of India Act 1935 framed by British Parliament governed Indians. (These Acts became irrelevant after Independence and adoption of Indian Constitution)

Constituent Assembly formed
After the prolonged struggle and negotiations, as a fore-runner of Independence, a 'Constituent Assembly' was formed with the members representing different regions and religions. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9th December 1946. Many great leaders were part of this Assembly. On the first day 207 members participated.
On the first day, Acharya Kriplani, one of the respected leaders started the proceedings invoking the 'divine blessings' and proposing the name of Shri Sachchidananda Sinha (Bihar), the eldest member of the Assembly as 'Provisional Chairman' till the Chairman was elected.
Shri C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) was the first member to present the credentials and sign the register to become the member of the Constituent Assembly.
On the third day, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. The designation 'Chairman' was subsequently replaced as 'President of the Constituent Assembly'.
India got the freedom and Independence on 15th August 1947 and this Constituent Assembly took the Governance of India from British Parliament. Lord Mountbatten was requested by Constituent Assembly to continue as Governor General for some time. Shri C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) took over the Governor General on 21st June 1948 and he continued till 26th Jan 1950. Rajaji was the first Indian Governor General of India. After 26th Jan 1950, Governor General post was made as President of India. Dr Rajendra Prasad become the first President of India.

Framing Draft Constitution for India
After Indian Independence, Constituent Assembly wanted to frame the Constitution for India. They constituted a 'Committee to draft the constitution' on 29th August 1947 with the Chairmanship of Dr B R Ambedkar. Shri Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Shri N Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Shri K M Mushi, Shri Saiyid Mohd Saadulla, Shri B L Mitter and Shri D P Khaitan were included as other members of this Committee.

These eminent people drafted the Indian Constitution and presented to the Constituent Assembly on 4th November 1947.

Discussion in the Constituent Assembly
The Constituent Assembly discussed this Draft Constitution in 114 sittings, spread over 2 years 11 months and 17 days thoroughly. The final Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949. This day is also known as National Law Day.

Constitution document signed
On 24th January 1950, 284 members of the Constitutent Assembly signed the document and presented the official Constitution to the Nation. Two hand written copies of our Constitution (one in English and the other in Hindi), illuminated by artists and one print copy of English Version were signed by the Members.
After putting their signatures, all the members including Dr Rajendra Prasad (President of India Elect) and other Members sang Vandemataram and Jana Gana Mana in Chorus, symbolising a great achievement of Sovereign Independent Republic of India, after a struggle of nearly three centuries.
If you want to read the proceedings of the Constitutent Assembly verbatim, please click the link
http://164.100.47.132/lssnew/constituent/vol12p1.html
This constitution came into force from 26th Jan 1950. From that day, India has become a Sovereign Independent Republic.
When the new Constitution was signed by the members on 24th Jan 1950, it was drizzling outside the Parliament at Delhi. It was considered by them as a good omen.
This Constitutent Assembly was made as a 'Provisional Indian Parliament' from 26th Jan 1950. The first General Election was held in 1952 and the 1st Lok Sabha was constituted.

Indian Constitution - Some interesting facts
Indian Constitution, drafted by great visionaries, continues to be one of the best constitutions in the world. Many global legal experts have praised our constitution. Indian Constitution contains 22 parts, 395 articles, 12 schedules and 2 appendices. Over a period of 62 years, the Constitution has undergone 94 amendments.

As Mr Srinivasa shared with us in our group this finer details for the benefit of all the youngsters. As Indian i to what to share this details with my freinds and readears The freedom and soverignity, we enjoy has not come on a single day. Our elders have struggled and lost their life in the freedom movement spread over near 300 years. The great Visionary leaders have also provided us a wonderful Constitution. None of these leaders, who have signed the constitution are alive today.

It is the responsiblity of every Indian to salute our great leaders and freedom fighters on this day and live upto their Vision.

Thanks to Mr. Srinivasan

Happy Pongal & Season Greetings

Dear friends,

please click on the image to see boiling rice come out of the pot "The dish Pongal is made by boiling rice with milk"


Pongal – The Festival Celebrating Prosperity

India is a land whose primary occupation is agriculture. Changes in season thus play a very important role for Indian farmers. Their lifestyles and celebrations are thus exclusively linked to the seasonal landmarks in an year. There are many Indian festivals which are in tune with a farmers lifestyle and also with the seasonal variations in an year. Pongal, the harvest festival of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is one of them.

When is Pongal Celebrated?
This festival marks the beginning of the end of winter season and corresponds to the time when the sun is moving towards Uttarayanam (north) from Dakshinayanam (south). The period is referred to as Uttarayan Punyakalam and is considered auspicious. As per the Tamil calender, Pongal is celebrated four days from the last day of the month of Margazhi (December — January) to the third day of the month Thai (January — February). Thus, according to the Gregorian calender, Pongal is celebrated from 12 to 15 January of which Pongal day or the first day of Thai falls on 14 January.

Common Traditions and Customs
Some of the rituals which are a must on Pongal are cleaning the house and wearing new clothes. The young girls and women wear a lehanga and half sari respectively whereas the men are attired in lungi and angavastram on this occasion. During the Pongal season, people eat sugar canes and decorate the houses with kolam which is made using rice paste. Kolams are generally made of white colour but one may also come across kolams made up of different colours.

Another popular custom is exchanging gifts on Pongal. In villages, farm labourers get ‘Pongal Padi' or ‘Pongal Parisu’ as Pongal Gifts. This tradition has now moved on to other occupations as well, with employers giving gifts to their employees on the occasion of Pongal. This is an opportunity to present gifts to those among your family and friends as well. Some popular yet appropriate gift ideas on Pongal include Lord sun sculptures (on Surya Pongal), decoratives (on Bhogi Pongal), new kitchen vessels, wooden handicrafts and household goods.

The Festivities

Pongal is a festival that goes on for four days. The first day of festivities is known as the Bogi Pongal, wherein people worship the sun god and earth. The dish Pongal is made by boiling rice with milk. In fact the first paddy that is harvested is used to make Pongal. The second day is Surya Pongal or Perum Pongal. It is the most important day and people worship Surya, the Sun God and his consorts, Chaya and Samgnya. Old articles are thrown in the fire and people have an oil massage and wear new clothes on this day. On the third day of the festival, known as Mattu Pongal, the farm animals like cattles are worshipped. Cattles are bathed and dressed beautifully and served Pongal. The fourth day is Thiruvalluvar day or Kaanum Pongal. People visit family, friends and relatives, women of the house perform puja for the prosperity of their brothers. Many people leave cooked rice on banana leaves for birds on this day.

The Tamil Festival
On this occasion farmers pay their respects to the rain, sun and the farm animals, all of which are essentials in any harvest. Also, since paddy and other crops depend on the availability of good rain and Tamil Nadu does not have many perennial water sources, rain and sun gods are invoked during this auspicious occasion. Pongal is also known as "Tamizhar Thirunal" (meaning "the festival of Tamils"). "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" which means that "birth of the Thai month will pave way for new opportunities" is a common saying in reference to Pongal.

People are different.
Festivals are different.
But Celebration is One.

We all are One.
So I wish you all a Happy Pongal

Courtesy:http://www.pongalfestival.org/