Brett woos, strums and sings for Asha

Australian bowler Brett Lee may have declined a film with Amitabh Bachchan recently, but the 29-yearold second fastest bowler in the world is now singing a duet with music diva Asha Bhonsle.

In the love song where a foreign boy woos an Indian girl, Lee strums the guitar and belts the number in English and Hindi. “Other than cricket, my passion is music. So when music director Shamir Tandon told me I’d be singing with a legend in India, I was glad,” says Lee.

Whether love songs, funky pop or lusty cabaret numbers in every genre, Asha has matched her male counterparts with aplomb, but a cricketer?

“I have been an avid cricket fan, so naturally I know almost all of them. I knew Lee could sing and strum, so I wasn’t apprehensive. He’s goodlooking , intelligent and musical ,” she says.

Asha was evidently charmed by Lee. “Somebody teased him about singing a love song with a woman, so I insisted Lee should show a picture of mine to his wife. He smiled, saying his wife would have no problem as he has been very honest with her,” recalls Asha.

Lee insists Asha doesn’t look her age (74), “She certainly doesn’t look her age. She is so stylishly dressed, but more importantly, I was glad for an opportunity to sing with her.” Lee recorded the song in the gap of a week between the two matches in Chandigarh and Mohali before flying to Australia to be with his wife, who is due to deliver. “They know it’s a boy, so he was wondering if ‘Sachin’ Lee will be a good name, since Lee adores Sachin,” says Asha.

'Bhagam Bhag'

Priyadarshan, the king of comical entertainer, is all set for another bumpy comical ride with his new offering 'Bhagam Bhag'. The filmmaker has been in headlines in trade circuits for his successful comical flicks like 'Garam Masala', 'Maalamal Weekly' and 'Chup Chup Ke' this year. 'Bhagam Bhag' is a different style of comedy where Priyadarshan has chosen foreign locations as backdrop of for the first time. The film will bring Akshay Kumar and Govinda together for the first time in a film. Paresh Rawal, the comical thespian, leads the show and like all other Priyadarshan movies, plays the pivotal role.

The story of 'Bhagam Bhag' revolves around a drama troupe led by Paresh Rawal where Akshay Kumar and Govinda are renowned actors. Paresh gets the contract to perform 30 dramas in London and their visit brings new sets of fun, drama, action and humor to the story. Lara Dutta plays love interest of Akshay Kumar after her successful debut opposite him in 'Andaaz'. The film is slated to be released in December, and its promos have been flashing in theatres and on small screens. In a year where comedies have ruled the box office, this film might add one more interesting chapter.

Ash-Abhishek in Yashraj's next

The lovable and "talk of the town" Bollywood pair of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan will be noticed in Yashraj's next project. There are reports that both have signed a Yashraj film that is supposed to commence in coming months. The pair has already been in news for their forthcoming films like 'Dhoom 2', 'Umrao Jaaan', and 'Guru'. It will be first time when the pair will be making their presence together under the Yashraj banner.

Best Wishes on Happy Diwali

Diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals: it is celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera. It is colloquially known as the "festival of lights", for the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls. In urban areas, especially, candles are substituted for diyas; and among the nouveau riche, neon lights are made to substitute for candles. The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks. As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies many different things to people across the country. In north India, Diwali celebrates Rama's homecoming, that is his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival; similarly, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.

Boss Day (16 Oct)

It's Boss's Day. A Boss is always there with a word of encouragement if we do a good job or to admonish us if things don't go well. We often forget how much pressure the Boss has to go through and how he/ she tries to make life easier for us. On Boss's Day let your Boss/ CEO/ employer/ team leader know you value his/ her presence by these warm Boss's Day ecards

Amitabh Bachchan : The King of Cinema

Happy Birth Day (11 Oct.)

My favorite and world's greatest star Amitabh Bachchan is the prodigious son of the great Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Amitabh was born on 11th October, 1942 at Allahabad in India. He is married to Jaya Bhaduri, a talented actress herself . It was love at first sight for Amitabh as Jaya became his spouse and the famous Guddi girl transformed into Mrs. Bachchan.

One of their children Abhishek has recently followed the footsteps of his parents and entered the film industry. Only time will tell whether he will measure up to his father's success.

Amitabh, the six feet tall man from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh heralded the trend of the angry young man in country's film industry. Director K. A. Abbas launched him in the film 'Saat Hindustani' which went unnoticed. But luckily for him Prakash Mehra signed him for 'Zanjeer' which worked out extraordinarily well for the young star and he never looked back. Big B has worked almost with all successful directors right from Hrishikesh Mukherjee to Yash Chopra to Mehul Kumar.

The versatile actor fits into every mould of acting be it a comic role or a serious one. He has also done the playback in many of his films. He is a house-hold name in the country, the people simply adore him. When Amitabh met with a serious accident on the sets of 'Coolie' the entire nation united in prayers for his speedy recovery. The prayers turned into a blessing for the superhero, as he returned to the scene with double the impact.

The actor's stint at politics was albeit a mix of failures and disappointments but with his characteristic bright, Amitabh was quick to recoil and return to his rightful arena.
With an excellent career and great family life, Big B launched his company ABCL which is known as Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited which released many films like Mani Ratnam's 'Bombay' and Shekhar Kapoor's 'Bandit Queen' and commercial film's like Joy Augustine's 'Tere Mere Sapne' and Sachin's 'Naam Kya Hai' which was produced under the same banner. Amitabh also utilized his singing skills in his albums 'Eer Bhir Phatte' and 'Kabhi Kabhi'.

Britney Spears Reportedly Gives Birth to Son

Britney Spears is celebrating the birth of her second son today, according to reports. Despite reports the pop superstar and husband Kevin Federline were expecting a little girl, the National Enquirer claims the singer gave birth to a 6 lb. 11 ounce baby boy just before 2 a.m. on 7 Oct. morning at a Los Angeles hospital.
> Read more by downloading the Starware Celebrity Toolbar.*

Dengue Fever

Synonyms and related keywords: breakbone fever, ki denga pepo, mosquito-transmitted viral disease, febrile syndrome, bleeding diathesis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, DIC, dengue hemorrhagic fever, DHF, dengue shock syndrome, DSS, dengue viral infections, dengue fever.
Background: Dengue has been called the most important mosquito-transmitted viral disease in terms of morbidity and mortality. Dengue fever is a benign acute febrile syndrome occurring in tropical regions. In a small proportion of cases, the virus causes increased vascular permeability that leads to a bleeding diathesis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Secondary infection by a different dengue virus serotype has been confirmed as an important risk factor for the development of DHF. In 20-30% of DHF cases, the patient develops shock, known as the dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Worldwide, children younger than 15 years comprise 90% of DHF subjects; however, in the Americas, DHF occurs in both adults and children.
Dengue is a homonym for the African ki denga pepo, which appeared in English literature during an 1827-28 Caribbean outbreak. The first definite clinical report of dengue is attributed to Benjamin Rush in 1789, but the viral etiology and its mode of transmission via mosquitos were not established until the early 20th century.
Pathophysiology: Dengue viral infections frequently are not apparent. Classic dengue primarily occurs in nonimmune, nonindigenous adults and children. Symptoms begin after a 5- to 10-day incubation period. DHF/DSS usually occurs during a second dengue infection in persons with preexisting actively or passively (maternally) acquired immunity to a heterologous dengue virus serotype. Illness begins abruptly with a minor stage of 2-4 days' duration followed by rapid deterioration. Increased vascular permeability, bleeding, and possible DIC may be mediated by circulating dengue antigen-antibody complexes, activation of complement, and release of vasoactive amines. In the process of immune elimination of infected cells, proteases and lymphokines may be released and activate complement coagulation cascades and vascular permeability factors.
Race: Ethnicity is nonspecific, but the disease's distribution is geographically determined. Fewer cases have been reported in the black population than in other races.
Sex: No predilection is known; however, fewer cases of DHF/DSS have been reported in men than in women.
Age: All ages are susceptible. In endemic areas, a high prevalence of immunity in adults may limit outbreaks to children.

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Jai Maa Shera Wali

Vote For Taj (New 7 Wonders) 07.07.07

Hi Dilwale! Please Vote For A Symbol Of Love

Agra, once the capital of the Mughal Empire during the 16th and early 18th centuries, is one and a half hours by express train from New Delhi. Tourists from all over the world visit Agra not to see the ruins of the red sandstone fortress built by the Mughal emperors but to make a pilgrimage to Taj Mahal, India’s most famous architectural wonder, in a land where magnificent temples and edificies abound to remind visitors about the rich civilization of a country that is slowly but surely lifting itself into an industrialized society.
The postcard picture of Taj Mahal does not adequately convey the legend, the poetry and the romance that shroud what Rabindranath Tagore calls "a teardrop on the cheek of time". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreciate it.


Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child. The death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months.


When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. It was designed by the Iranian architect Ustad Isa and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a "symbol of eternal love".


The Taj rises on a high red sandstone base topped by a huge white marble terrace on which rests the famous dome flanked by four tapering minarets. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid cenotaph of the queen. So exquisite is the workmanship that the Taj has been described as "having been designed by giants and finished by jewellers". The only asymmetrical object in the Taj is the casket of the emperor which was built beside the queen’s as an afterthought. The emperor was deposed by his son and imprisoned in the Great Red Fort for eight years but was buried in the Taj. During his imprisonment, he had a view of the Taj.


As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument for enduring love, the Taj reveals its subtleties when one visits it without being in a hurry. The rectangular base of Taj is in itself symbolic of the different sides from which to view a beautiful woman. The main gate is like a veil to a woman’s face which should be lifted delicately, gently and without haste on the wedding night. In indian tradition the veil is lifted gently to reveal the beauty of the bride. As one stands inside the main gate of Taj, his eyes are directed to an arch which frames the Taj.


The dome is made of white marble, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colours that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj. The colours change at different hours of the day and during different seasons. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. These changes, they say, depict the different moods of woman.


Different people have different views of the Taj but it would be enough to say that the Taj has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. As an architectural masterpiece, nothing could be added or substracted from it.



Would you like to see Taj Mahal in New 7 Wonder?

Ganpati Bapa Morya

Onam Festival

ONAM FESTIVAL

Onam, the principal festival of Kerala, is celebrated against a setting of lush green vegetation. This picturesque harvest festival brings ten days of colour feasting, boat races, song and dance to the state.

According to legend, the state's most colourful festival, Onam celebrates the golden age of King Mahabali, the mythical ruler of Kerala. The festival is to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali, and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him well. The myth goes like this :

The Devas or Gods were worried over the wise and good rule of Mahabali, the Asura king, thinking that he might become too powerful. They sought the help of Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) to curb Mahabali's power. Vishnu, in the form of a dwarf called Vamana, approached him and had been offered a boon by the king. The Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king agreed to it. Soon the dwarf began to expand and with the first step, he covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, he straddled the nether world. Realising that the Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step. The Gods were glad, but since Mahabali was so attached to his kingdom and the subjects and was very much loved by the people, he was allowed to return once a year.

Onam (Thiruonam) is considered to be the day when King Mahabali comes from exile to visit his beloved people.

The festivity begin ten days before Thiruonam, by putting floral decorations (Pookkalam) on every home. At Trichur (Thrissur), caparisoned elephants take part in a spectacular procession. A magnificent display of fireworks marks the end of the festivities here. At Cheruthuruthy, appreciative crowds gather on the green, where the Kathakali dancers, resplendent in their brilliant costumes, re-enact the well-loved stories of the epic heroes and virtuous women. Pulikali, also known as Kaduvakali is a common sight during Onam season. Performers painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the beats of instruments like udukku and thakil.

The Vallamkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and graceful odee (boats). Oars dip and flash to the rhythm of drums and cymbals in each boat. The songs are generally typical in character and concern people well known in Malabar. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas: their number denotes the affluence of the family owning the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from the umbrellas.

In the evening girls perform the Kaikottikkali (Thiruvathirakkali ) in the open, dancing around the traditional brass lamp.

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