DAMANJODIONLINE

Happy Independence Day 2012

2012-08-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

India celebrates Independence Day on August 15 each year. India became an independent nation on August 15, 1947, so a gazetted holiday is held annually to remember this date.

India's Independence Day is celebrated nationwide on August 15.

What do people do?

Independence Day is a day when people in India pay homage to their leaders and those who fought for India's freedom in the past. The period leading up to Independence Day is a time when major government buildings are illuminated with strings of lights and the tricolor flutters from homes and other buildings. Broadcast, print and online media may have special contests, programs, and articles to promote the day. Movies about India's freedom fighters are also shown on television.
The president delivers the '"Address to the Nation" on the eve of Independence Day. India's prime minister unfurls India's flag and holds a speech at the Red Fort in Old Dehli. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs are held in the state capitals and often involve many schools and organizations.
Many people spend the day with family members or close friends. They may eat a picnic in a park or private garden, go to a film or eat lunch or dinner at home or in a restaurant. Other people go kite flying or sing or listen to patriotic songs.

Public life

Independence Day is a gazetted holiday in India on August 15 each year. National, state and local government offices, post offices and banks are closed on this day. Stores and other businesses and organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours.
Public transport is usually unaffected as many locals travel for celebrations but there may be heavy traffic and increased security in areas where there are celebrations. Independence Day flag raising ceremonies may cause some disruption to traffic, particularly in Dehli and capital cities in India's states.

Background

The struggle for India's Independence began in 1857 with the Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut. Later, in the 20th century, the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, launched a countrywide independence movement. Colonial powers were transferred to India on August 15, 1947.
The Constituent Assembly, to who power was to be transferred, met to celebrate India's independence at 11pm on August 14, 1947. India gained its liberty and became a free country at midnight between August 14 and August 15, 1947. It was then that the free India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech. People across India are reminded of the meaning of this event - that it marked the start of a new era of deliverance from the British colonialism that took place in India for more than 200 years.

Symbols

The sport of kite flying symbolizes Independence Day. The skies are dotted with countless kites flown from rooftops and fields to symbolize India's free spirit of India. Kites of various styles, sizes and shades, including the tricolor are available in the marketplaces. The Red Fort in Dehli is also an important Independence Day symbol in India as it is where Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru unveiled India's flag on August 15, 1947.
India's national flag is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is two to three. A navy-blue wheel in the center of the white band represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the white band's width and it has 24 spokes

HAPPY ODIYA NEW YEAR 2012

2012-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Mahavishuba Sankranti is observed as the Oriya New Year and is also known as Mesha Sankranthi and Pana Sankranti in the eastern state of Orissa in India. Mahavishuba Sankranti 2012 date is April 13. The day marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditional Oriya Solar Calendar. The summer season also commences from this period.

There are no major celebrations on the day. Temples conduct special pujas and rituals. The highlight of the day is the preparation of sweet drink called ‘Pana,’ which is made from fruits, milk, curd etc. Cultural programs are organized in some regions including literary meetings.

People visit various temples and offer prayers and special pujas. Mahavishuba Sankranti also marks the end of temple festivals in some regions of Orissa.

VASANT PANCHAMI 2012

2012-01-28T01:15:00.000-08:00

As 'Diwali' – the festival of light – is to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, and 'Navaratri' is to Durga, goddess of power and valor, Vasant Panchami is to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts. This festival is celebrated every year on the 5th day or ‘Panchami’ of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, which falls during January-February, (see calendar). ‘Vasant’ comes from the word ‘spring’ as this festival heralds the beginning of the spring season.

Birthday of Goddess Saraswati:

It is believed that on this day goddess Saraswati was born. Hindus celebrate Vasant Panchami with great fervor in temples, homes and even schools and colleges. Saraswati’s favorite color white assumes special significance on this day. Statues of the goddess are dressed in white clothes and are worshiped by devotees adorning white garments. Saraswati is offered sweets which are given away as ‘prasad’ to all people attending the ritual worship. There is also a custom of ancestor worship, known as ‘Pitri-Tarpan’ in many parts of India during Vasant Panchami.

The Foundation of Education:

The most significant aspect of Vasant Panchami is that it is also the most auspicious day to begin laying one’s foundations of education – of how to read and write. Pre-school children are given their first lesson in reading and writing on this day. All Hindu educational institutions conduct special prayer for Saraswati on this day. It is also a great day to inaugurate training institutes and new schools – a trend made famous by the renowned Indian educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946), who founded the Banaras Hindu University on Vasant Panchami day in 1916.

A Springtime Celebration:

During Vasant Panchami, the advent of spring is felt in the air as the season undergoes change. New leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope. Vasant Panchami also announces the arrival of another big springtime event in the Hindu calendar - Holi, the festival of colors.

Saraswati Mantra: Sanskrit Prayer:

Here is the text of the popular 'pranam mantra' or Sanskrit prayer, Saraswati devotees utter with utmost devotion on this day: Om Saraswati Mahabhagey, Vidye Kamala Lochaney |
Viswarupey Vishalakshmi, Vidyam Dehi Namohastutey ||
Jaya Jaya Devi, Charachara Sharey, Kuchayuga Shobhita, Mukta Haarey |
Vina Ranjita, Pustaka Hastey, Bhagavati Bharati Devi Namohastutey ||

Saraswati Vandana: Sanskrit Hymn:

The following hymn is also recited on Vasant Panchami: Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, Yaa shubhravastraavritha|
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, Yaa shwetha padmaasana||
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha|
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa||

English Translation:

"May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance."

Blood Donation camp participated by DAMANJODI DARE DEVILS

2012-01-23T01:32:00.000-08:00

Damanjodi on its peak of cold

2012-01-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

Damanjodi is really experiencing its peak of extreme cold as the mercury goes down to 1.2 degrees.Temperature in the interior areas of the district like hilly and forested pockets are facing freezing conditions during night, the sources said. The roads and market areas look deserted with people preferring to remain indoors.

HAL SUNABEDA ,KORAPUT DIVISION RESULTS PUBLISHED

2012-01-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

The written exam held at bhubaneswer on 8th jan 2012

CLICK HERE FOR WORKMEN CATEGORY

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MANABASA GURUBARA

2011-11-30T23:56:00.000-08:00

This is a unique HINDU festival observed, mostly in Orissa in India. "Manabasa" means: setting up an earthen/metallic vessel full with rice, and "Gurubar" means Thursday.
Hindu ladies will clean the entire house the previous night, put up beautiful motifs at the gate of the house and inside too. Goddess Lakshmi is supposed to visit that house, which is cleanest, irrespective of whether the owner is rich or poor. They get up at about 4am, take their bath and the Lakshmi worship is over by early morning. This will continue for 4 THURSDAYS (even if there may be 5). Nice, different tasty dishes will be prepared and distributed to neighbours.
What a nice 'tradition' to keep your 'house' and the 'heart' clean!!
Friends abroad and other states of India, any similar festival at your place?? Please share.
See the motif made last night made at my house entrance to welcome, MAA LAKSHMI. 'THE GODDESS WHO GIVES WEALTH'.

Mega blood donation camp at Svm damanjodi

2011-07-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Mega blood donation camp at Svm damanjodi held successfully by Rotary club Damanjodi in association with NSS (SVM) Damanjodi

Total 188 UNIT of blood collected on this occasion.

BOL BAM ON THE RAGE IN DAMANJODI

2011-07-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

As like last year grand success in bol bam kawri yatra in damanjodi ,this year also the devotees celebrated by walking in bare legs from MARICAMAL TO DAMANJODI(MATHALPUT) Lord siva temple this monday with a lot of devotion.

FRIENDSHIP DAY

2011-07-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

Friendship Day is celebrated all over the world on the first Sunday of August. Some people think that this tradition is very recent and an outcome of commercialization. However, it is not so and you will be surprised to know that this tradition of devoting one full day to friends started off long back in the year 1935 in U.S. With time, this trend gained popularity and is now celebrated no less than festival. It is a perfect occasion to show your friends that you care. After all, they are the one you bank upon in the moments of despair.

True friends are actually the rare treasures that very few people posses, so if you have one, make sure that you make your friend realize on this day that how special he / she is and how much important position they hold in your life. As they occupy a very special part in our life, their happiness cannot be compromised upon. So, in order to make them feel special, you can give a number of gifts like flowers, cards, bracelets, rings and wrist bands, as a token of your love on this special occasion called 'Friendship Day'. This would certainly bring a special smile on their face, enough to make your day!

If you want to surprise your friends, you can always throw a surprise party for them. Give them a call and tell them how much they mean to you. Cards made personally by you will be valued much more than the ones bought from a store. In our related sections, you will find information regarding various aspects of friendship and celebration of friendship day.

PRINCE DANCE GROUP IN DAMANJODI ON UTKAL DIVAS

2011-04-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

PRINCE DANCE GROUP IN DAMANJODI ON UTKAL DIVAS

Baba Ramdev in damanjodi on 9th march

2011-03-02T04:23:00.000-08:00

Famous Yoga Expert

and A well known Social

Activist

BABA RAMADEV

to attend a Free Yoga Sibir

at sec1 Ambedker Stadium,

Damanjodi

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY FEB 14

2011-02-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day in India

Valentine's Day celebration is a recent phenomenon in India but has caught the fancy of people to a great extent. Though some see it as a western import and hesitate to celebrate, there exist a large and growing number of those who love the feeling behind the beautiful and romantic festival. Especially to the Indian youth February 14 signifies love - a day when people express their affection for others. Just as several other countries, people in India too celebrate the Valentine's Day by exchanging cards and gifts.

Euphoria of Valentine's Day festival can be experienced weeks before the festival. Television, radio and print media start creating hype about the festival by covering all facets of it. Gift marketers and card companies launch a rigorous campaign to lure the youngsters. Card and gift shops are interestingly decorated with symbols of Valentine's Day including roses, cupid and heart shaped balloons. Shopping malls in metropolitan cities organize fun-filled competitions and distribute discount coupons to lure the consumers.

On February 14, the Valentine's Day restaurants, discos, Cineplex, pubs and pizza parlors see a particularly busy time as couples celebrate the day in togetherness. Many boys and girls even propose to their sweetheart on this romantic day. People also express love to their friends, teachers, siblings and parents. Popular Valentine's Day gifts exchanged in India include chocolates, fresh flowers, cards, soft toys and candies. These are also clubbed with several other gifts to pamper sweethearts.

The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them. Forever yours...your Valentine.
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No poems no fancy words I just want the world to know that I LOVE YOU my Princess with all my heart. Happy Valentines Day.
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My eyes are blind without your eyes to see, Like a rose without color. Always be there in my life sweetheart.
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U r unique
U r caring and
U r the Best.And I am d luckiest to have U in my life!
Happy Valentine's Day my sweet heart!
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Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart.
Happy Valentines Day my love.
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If I could die early I would ask God if I could be your guardian angel, so I could wrap my wings around you and embrace you whenever you feel alone.
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Let's share the world
A sea is for you, and waves are for me.
The sky is for you, and stars are for me.
The sun is for you, and light is for me.
Everything is for you, and you are for me.
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Sometimes we make love with our eyes.
Sometimes we make love with our hands.
Sometimes we make love with our bodies.
Always we make love with our hearts.
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Here is my heart, it is yours so take it,
Treat it gently, please do not break it.
Its full of love thats good and true,
So please keep it always close to u.
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Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart. As we are, Happy Valentines Day sweetheart.

Miss You SMS
Within you I lose myself...
Without you I find myself
Wanting to be lost again.
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If u wanna know how much I miss you,
Try to catch rain drops,
The ones u catch is how much u miss me,and the ones you miss is how much I miss
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Memories sometimes behave in a crazy way. They leave u alone, when u are in a crowd & when u are alone they stand along with u like a crowd.
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Your absence has gone through meLike thread through a needleEverything I do is stitched with its color.
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In School, They Taught Me That
1 hour = 60 Mints
1 Min = 60 Secs
But They Never Told Me That
1 Sec Without You = 100 Years:
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Life is so short, so fast the lone hours fly,
We ought to be together, you and I.
Miss you every hour and every moment of everyday sweetheart
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When the sky looks blue "I Miss u" when the dreams come true "I Miss u" when the flowers are covered with dew "I Miss u" when the day comes new "I Miss u"
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I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop missing you.
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I heard someone whisper your name, but when I turned to see who it was, I noticed it was alone, then realized it was my heart beat telling me “I MISS U”
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In the hope to meet
Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.
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Missing you gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time we saw each other, it's one day closer to the next time we will.

Love SMS
If you wake up 1 day and were asked to have a wish, what would it be? Mine would be that our love would last until you see an apple in an orange tree
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I finally got my past, present and future tenses correct today. I loved you. I love you. I will love you forever! :).
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Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you. This is for you, my soul mate who is the the love of my life.
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Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. Love you forever.
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What I need to live has been given to me by the earth. Why I need to live has been given to me by you. I love you.
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If Your asking if I Need U the answer is 4Ever
If Your asking if I'll Leave U the answer is Never
If Your asking what I value the Answer is U
if Your asking if I love U the answer is I do.
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I have fallen in love many times.... always with you. It happened again now my love.
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The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. As my love for you..
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If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden of love.

Propose SMS
If I reached for your hand , will u hold it ?
If I hold out my arms, will u hug me ?
If I go for your lips, will u kiss me ?
If I capture ur heart , will u love me ??
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The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowinghow blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.
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As days go by, my feelings get stronger,
To be in ur arms, I can't wait any longer.
Look into my eyes & u'll see that it's true,
Day & Night my thoughts r of U..
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What greater thing is there for two human souls that
to feel that they are joined...
to strengthen each other...
to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.
Let us make memories of a lifetime
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I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling place
And can return no more.
Be with me forever.
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All I wanted was sum1 2 care 4 me
All I wanted was sum1 who'd b there 4 me
All I ever wanted was sum1 who'd b true
All I ever wanted was sum1 like U...
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HAPPY KISS DAY FEB 13

2011-02-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

HAPPY KISS DAY FEB 13
13 February 2011 is known as Kiss Day for Valentine week which starts from Feb 7 and ends on lovely Valentine’s day. You must go and Kiss your loved ones and tell them how much you love to them. Kiss day is the true epitome of showing your endless love towards your friends, beloveds or even your relatives. We all are celebrating valentine’s week with full of joy. Kiss Day is 7th day of Valentine’s week and this is celebrated all over the world. Lovers Kiss to their loved ones what could be more beautiful feeling than a true Kiss.

This lovely February is most awaiting month of every year. People wait for this month desperately. This is known as month of Love. People celebrate many days of love like Rose day,promise day, Teddy Day, Hug Day ,Kiss day and Valentine day is the most beautiful day for them.

A Lovely way to express your Love, we call it the best way. An intense kiss filled with emotions gives secure feeling. On this Kiss unfold your love feelings and make it special for your love who need your feeding of expression of love and emotions.Happy Kiss Day!

Kiss Day Quotes, SMS and Scrapes
***————————***
If i could bring back memories i would bring the first day i kissed you i look you in the eyes and felt love.thanks god an angel came into my life!
***————————***
Proposing u was my desire having u is my jekpot loving u is my attitude pleasing u is my duty missing u is my habit kising u is my wish 2gether 4eva my filfilment .
***————————***
Life is nothing without LOVE, LUV is emotion & Kiss is practical, don’t get emotional yar just b practical so STOP luving and START Kissing.
***————————***
A hug for you means I need you. A kiss for you means I love you. A call for you means I’m missing you.
***————————***
TaLk 2 me wHen i’m boReD, kiSS me wHen i’m saD, hug me wHen i cRy, caRe 4 me wHen i diE, loVe me When i’m sTill Alive…
***————————***
A peach is a peach. a plum is a plum. a kiss is not a kiss unless its with tongues. so open ur mouth & close ur eyes & give ur tongue some exercise
***————————***
Gham me hasne walo ko kabhi rulaya nahi jata,
lehro se pani ko hataya nahi jata,
hone wale ho jate hain khudhi dil se apne,
kisi ko kehkar apna banaya nahi jata
***————————***
Love is heat
You are sweet
When two Lips are meet
Love is complete

HAPPY HUG DAY

2011-02-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

Go and Hug! Why?

12 February 2011 is known as Hug Day for Valentine week which starts from Feb 7 and end lovely Valentine’s day. You must go and hug your love ones and tell them how much you love to them. Hug day is the true epitome of showing your endless love towards your friends, beloveds or even your relatives. We all are celebrating valentine’s week with full of joy. Hug Day is 6th day of Valentine’s week and this is celebrated all over the world. Lovers Hug to their loved ones what could be more beautiful feeling than a true Hug.

This lovely February is most awaiting month of every year. People wait for this month desperately. This is known as month of Love. People celebrate many days of love like kiss day,promise day,Hug day and Valentine day is the most beautiful day for them.

Hug Day Quotes, SMS and Scrapes

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Hug Day is not how long u’ve been together; not how much u’ve given or receive; Not how many times u’ve helped each other
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What the heart gives away is never gone, but kept in the hearts of others, from dusk to dawn. Hug Day you from the core of my heart. Be my Valentine.
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If Roses were Black and violets were brown, my Hug Day for you would never be found but roses r red and violets are blue, all I want to say is I LUV U!
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When you Hug Day someone, it’s nothing. When someone Hug Days you, it’s somthing. When u luv someone & they luv you back, it’s everything.
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A kiss is just a kiss till u find the 1 u luv. A hug is just a hug till u find the 1 u’re always thinkin of. A dream is just a dream till it comes true. Luv was just a word till I heard it from u.
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I Hug Day you more today than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorow.
***————————***
U cant wrap love in a box,
But u can wrap a person in a hug.
A hug charms,warms
And makes everyone happy.
That must be why God gave us arms.
So here is a hug 4 u.
***————————***
You are so especial to me.
There is nothing better than
Having you as a friend
To share each day with !
Thank you for making my
Day brighter
HUGS
***————————***
Even though i’m away, in my heart
I’m right by your side.
And here’s a hug from me
To say, I love you lots
Sweetheart!
***————————***
Tonight I ask the stars above
How I’ll ever win your Hug Day
What do I do
What do I say
To turn your angel eyes my way?
***————————***
Its big
Its warm
Its here
It’s a big funny hug
With lots of love
From a heart that beats
Just for you!
***————————***
1 2,
I Love You,
3 4
Love Me More,
5 6
Give Me Kiss,
7 8
Don’t Be Late,
9 10
Hug Me Then

PROMISE DAY FEB 11

2011-02-10T05:31:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY 11 is being celebrated as the Promise Day on the fifth day of ongoing Velentine week. On Promise Day, guys and gals every where in world make promises for sweet relationships, always be honest to each other, promise for marriage, promise for standing for him or her in any situation, promise to live life with a heart full of love, etc.

Here are some of the SMS and messages to greet your partners on Promise Day:

This Promise Day 2010. I don’t promise you the moon,
I don’t promise you the star, but if you promise to remember me,
I promise to be always there. Thinking of you on this Promise Day.

With every beat of my heart…
I will love you more and more,
After years of togetherness…
This is my solemn vow for you, my love!
Happy Promise Day…

Speaking without egos, Loving without intentions,
Caring without expectations,
I promise you that you will be mine always

Its d Month of Kisses,Surprises,
Proposals n Dates, Chocolates n Gifts,
Hugs n LuvSongs
It’s feb..
Wishng u a Love filled
Valentine Month..!!

Do u know what r the meanings of VALENTINE
V:very
E:eminent
L:lovely
E:energetic
N:nice
T:tension free
I:inteligent
N:noble
E:everloving
Celebrate the occasion of Valentine week, wish all your friends, your partner and always keep your promises.

HAPPY TEDDY DAY

2011-02-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY 10 is Teddy day or Teddy Bear day during the ongoing Valentine week. Onteddy bear day boyfriends present their girl friends cute teddy bears. Every girl from all over the world love teddy bears and consider these as their best friends. Teddy day brings softness and cuteness in relationships. Guys if you want to impress your girl friend or sweet heart than must gifted her a cute teddy and send her love messages, scraps, SMS and greetings on teddy day.

Here are some teddy day messages, scraps, SMS and greetings:

A Cute Teddy Bear,

To My Cute Friend,

On A Cute Occasions,

Just To Say,

Happy Teddy Bear Day

It's Teddy Bear Day,

and i'm thinking

of someone cute & huggable

who is you.

Happy Teddy Bear Day

'Whenevr u c LOVE coming,WELCOME it,

open ur Arms,Embrace it & let it ENTER into U!

People will ask UR U in LOVE?

jst say-no,LOVE is in me!

Happy Teddy Bear day'

'I wish I were a cell in your blood,

so I would be sure I was

somewhere in your heart.

Happy Teddy Bear Day'

'You’re In My Thoughts And In My Heart

Wherever I May Go

On Teddy Bear Day I’d Like To Say

I Care More Than You Know'

NALCO JR OPERATIVE TRAINEE RESULTS OUT

2011-02-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

The list of selected candidates coming soon

Saraswati Puja /Vasant Panchami / Shree Panchami

2011-02-07T04:57:00.000-08:00

Hinduism is a way of life rather than a religion. The people practicing Hinduism have firm faith on Gods and Goddesses whom they worshipped on various occasions by performing Puja and rituals. Vasant Panchami is a festival that worships Goddess Saraswati as well as it signifies the beginning of Vasant Ritu (spring season).

Magh Sud 5 (5th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magh – falls usually in the month of January or February) is the day of Vasant Panchami and is also celebrated as Shree Panchami or Saraswati Puja in West Bengal and few other parts of Orissa.

On this day Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in various names and fames - the Goddess of Learning, the deity of Gayatri, the fountain of fine arts and science, and the symbol of supreme vedantic knowledge.

The image of Goddess Saraswati depicts her sitting on a vehicle that symbolizes her supreme power. The white swan of Saraswati symbolizes Satwa Guna (purity and discrimination), the lotus of Lakshmi the Rajas Guna and the tiger of Durga the Tamas Guna. Saraswati is shown possessing four hands and plays "Veena", an Indian string musical instrument.

Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm and Hindu temples and households are full of activity on this day. This is also a special day for school children as they observe it with great reverence.

Justin Bieber the New youth trend icon of Damanjodi

2011-01-30T00:34:00.000-08:00

DPS Damanjodi Annual Sports day celebrated with Joy

2011-01-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

HARI HARI DAS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

2011-01-27T19:52:00.000-08:00

A self-taught dancer, Harihar Dash is the boy you can’t take your eyes off in a jazzy new TV commercial. Open traces the unreal career graph of the engineer from Berhampur.

Harihar das in Damanjodi

Even if you mute AR Rahman’s funk, it is difficult to peel your eyes off the boy in the green shirt. Indeed, you marvel at the pretty young girl’s resolve as she turns away, sadly it has to be said, from that boy with the liquid moves in the new commercial for a telecom service. Such is the spell cast by 25-year-old Harihar Dash, an electronics and telecommunications engineer from the town of Berhampur in Orissa, who has never had a dance lesson in his life. This might well be the unreal life graph of many a reality show contestant in India, from unnoticed-gawky-talentedness to YouTube stardom, but almost none of these shooting stars has made it in the obvious, splashy, impossible-to-ignore way that Dash has.

It all started, as many of these crazy stories do, with a man called Michael Jackson. “Smooth Criminal, I love that song,” says Dash, in confident English that takes me by surprise. Berhampur or not, he could be the fuzzy-haired, capri-clad, indisputably cool boy who lives above my South Delhi apartment. “I started dancing to Smooth Criminal in front of my mirror after my matriculation exams. I love Michael, I like Black and White (sic) too, but Smooth Criminal is my favourite dance number,” he says. “I would dance by myself in front of the mirror. There were no dance schools in Orissa, there still aren’t any probably. And my parents would never pay for dance class.” Dash kept dancing, though, graduating from Michael Jackson to what he calls ‘popping and locking’. “I was crazy for popping and locking,” he says. What’s that, I ask. “They are hip-hop and street dancing moves,” he explains happily, as if I were a particularly attentive student. “I read up a lot on the internet and learnt that popping originated in the 1970s from a man called Sam Soloman who founded a band called the Electric Boogaloos.” In the absence of formal training, Google and YouTube became his gurus. “I saw some Japanese poppers on YouTube. They were awesome. This is a form of dance called animation popping. I watched and downloaded loads of videos, started practising, and realised that I could actually do this stuff.”

Dash’s parents, though, were not impressed. “They wanted me to be a doctor or engineer. I too thought dancing was only a hobby and I’ve always been a serious student. I sat for all the entrance tests, got through and enrolled for a BTech in electronics and telecom at the Biju Patnaik University of Technology,” he says. “I never bunked class,” he adds earnestly, “I worked hard on my studies. I was quite good, actually, and I enjoyed my course. At the time, I thought I would graduate and get a job like my parents expected me to. I danced at college functions. I represented my college at inter-college meets. And for three years in a row, I was university champ. There are more than 80 colleges in the university, so that got me thinking: maybe I could think of doing something with my dance. Some of my friends said I should try out for the reality shows.”

His parents wouldn’t hear of it, though. “They have never supported my dancing,” he says drily, “and they were dead against the idea. Finally, I cut a deal with them. I would try the reality shows for a year and if it didn’t work out, I would get a job. I had to convince them but they agreed.”

“First, I tried out for Dance Premier League on Sony TV. I made it to the east zone final. Next was Dance India Dance, where I was in the top 57. These shows were a good platform but I didn’t make it to the final stages where you really get personal attention from the choreographers and get noticed by the judges. My year was almost up and my parents were asking me to look for a job. Then came the audition call for India’s Got Talent,” he says dramatically.

This, clearly, was the big one. Log on to YouTube, and a search for Harihar Dash will throw up over 200 results. Most of these videos are from his performances on the reality show India’s Got Talent and have registered thousands of ‘views’. “I had been working on my moves when the call came, and by then I had added a crucial element to my dance: Bollywood tadka. I did my popping and locking to the song Mar Jawaan from Fashion, and one-and-a-half-months passed in a blur. I made it to the finals and stood fifth out of nine contestants.” “Before I entered India’s Got Talent, I had five friends on Facebook. Now, I have had to open another account because you can’t have more than 5,000 friends on Facebook. Once, I didn’t check my mail for five days and I had 977 friend requests pending,” he chuckles unselfconsciously.

It was the YouTube videos that got Dash noticed. Adrian Miller, chief creative officer of J Walter Thomson, New Delhi, who made the ad, says, “We knew we wanted a performer for the role, but we weren’t sure what type. We scoured YouTube looking for the right person and we found Dash dancing in India’s Got Talent.” Airtel’s CEO Sanjay Kapoor too noticed Dash on YouTube. “One day, I got a call from a girl from JWT in Delhi who said they wanted me to shoot for an Airtel ad. I had no idea what JWT was, so I looked it up on the internet. I saw their website and realised how big they were. I called back and said yes immediately,” he recounts. “The shot was scheduled for Prague. But I didn’t have a passport and I needed one in two weeks. It was the time of pujas, and all government officials were on leave except the Berhampur SP. I pleaded with him so much that he asked me whether I was a terrorist. But he gave in finally.”

As it happened, Dash actually danced to no music at all. Rahman’s tune was not ready, and bizarre as it sounds, Dash performed in the middle of the street to the music playing in his own head. He was instructed to do a mix of popping and ballet. And he did. “We shot for two days. The wake-up call was for 5:30 am and it was freezing. My costume was just a pair of jeans and a thin green jacket. But when I started dancing, I somehow forgot the cold. But after one day, I asked them to please play some music. Even slow music would do, but it is funny to dance like that, nah?”

Airtel confirms that Dash is the sole Indian to be featured in its rebranding campaign, besides the work of AR Rahman, that is. Dash himself realised this only after he came back and Airtel held a press conference to unveil its new ad splash. “It is big, no?” he asks.

Now, this boy who never attended a dance class in his life is holding a dance workshop, which has had so many people signing up that he’s having to plan another one to accommodate them. And for that, he’s acquired a personal assistant.

HARIHAR DAS IN DAMANJODI ALL VIDEOS COMING SOON EXCLUSIVELY ON DAMANJODIONLINE

2011-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

WATCH HARI HAR DAS LIVE IN DAMANJODI ON REPUBLIC DAY

2011-01-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

Watch India's got Talent Pride Mr HARI HAR DAS Live Performance at open air pendal sec-1, damanjodi from 7 30 onwords on the eve of Republic day

UPCOMING REPUBLIC DAY

2011-01-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

26th January 1950 is one of the most important days in Indian history as it was on this day the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state. In this day India became a totally republican unit. The country finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the numerous freedom fighters who, fought for and sacrificed their lives for the Independence of their country. So, the 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and has been recognized and celebrated as the Republic Day of India, ever since.

Today, the Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm all over the country and especially in the capital, New Delhi where the celebrations start with the Presidential to the nation. The beginning of the occasion is always a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defense of sovereignty of their country. Then, the President comes forward to award the medals of bravery to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also the civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations.

To mark the importance of this occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, from the Rajghat, along the Vijaypath. The different regiments of the army, the Navy and the Air force march past in all their finery and official decorations even the horses of the cavalry are attractively caparisoned to suit the occasion. The crème of N.C.C cadets, selected from all over the country consider it an honour to participate in this event, as do the school children from various schools in the capital. They spend many days preparing for the event and no expense is spared to see that every detail is taken care of, from their practice for the drills, the essential props and their uniforms.

The parade is followed by a pageant of spectacular displays from the different states of the country. These moving exhibits depict scenes of activities of people in those states and the music and songs of that particular state accompany each display. Each display brings out the diversity and richness of the culture of India and the whole show lends a festive air to the occasion. The parade and the ensuing pageantry is telecast by the National Television and is watched by millions of viewers in every corner of the country.

The patriotic fervor of the people on this day brings the whole country together even in her essential diversity. Every part of the country is represented in occasion, which makes the Republic Day the most popular of all the national holidays of India.