<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 12:36:19 +0000</lastBuildDate><category>Keys to Successful Winning Relationships</category><category>Love</category><category>Love stories</category><category>Advices</category><category>How</category><category>personal</category><category>Romantic story</category><category>Inspirational Love Story</category><category>Teens Love Story</category><category>buddhism</category><category>hindu</category><category>hinduism</category><category>webcam</category><title>Hong Van's Blog</title><description>Never Stop Learning.</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>68</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><language>en-us</language><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Never Stop Learning.</itunes:subtitle><itunes:owner><itunes:email>noreply@blogger.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-6233772394696388046</guid><pubDate>Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:16:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-07-03T09:18:16.399+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">buddhism</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">hinduism</category><title>Buddhism &amp; Hinduism</title><description>&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;         Buddhism, in its origin at least is     an offshoot of Hinduism."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;      (S.Rahdhakrishnan)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;              Guatam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism was born and brought up and  lived     and left this materialistic world as a Hindu. And this particular  evidence     is enough to explain that the concept of Hinduism predates to that  of     Buddhism. Hinduism, better known as the 'Sanatan Dharma' to the  Hindus, is     believed to be the oldest religion in the history of human  civilisation.     Practiced majorly in the secular India, the origin of Hinduism is  still a     mystery!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;              According to the historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to  5000 or     more years, whereas, the origin of Buddhism came into existence in a  much     later period, that is in &amp;amp; around 563 BC. After Lord Buddha  achieved     enlightenment, He preached whatever He learnt from His experiences  and His     teachings came to be known as Buddhism and were well received by the  people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;              It was during the later part of the Vedic Era, when Hinduism was on  the     verge of decline owing to the orthodoxy, superstitions and staunch     practices, prevailing in the religion, when Buddhism with lesser     complexities and rituals was accepted by the common people of India.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;             This was the time when Buddhism arose out of the atheistic strands  of     Hinduism. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;             It is a fact that Buddhism evolved and developed because of the  complex     nature evolving in Hinduism, but still despite some differences,  these two     sects have a lot of things in common. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;      &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;"&gt; Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Reincarnation &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;Buddhism believes in the process  of         reincarnation based on deeds of the present life.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Hinduism also believes that  everyone         is a part of an impersonal world and therefore, one's soul  reincarnates         into another body of any being, based on the deeds of the  present life.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;img style="font-family: arial;" src="http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/gifs/buddhist-enlightenment.jpg" alt="Buddha Statue" align="RIGHT" width="266" height="237" /&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt;     On Salvation &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;One has to work for salvation  oneself         and therefore, cannot blame others for the same. The salvation  depends         on the good deeds of a person.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;In Hinduism also, one attains         salvation as per one's own fate and deeds. There are four paths  or four         yogas to attain salvation : Karma Yoga - Way of good works,  Bhakti Yoga         - Way of love and faith, Jnana Yoga - Way of knowledge, and Raja  Yoga -         Way of salvation.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Enlightenment &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Buddhism and Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Both of them  believe that         there are many paths to attain enlightenment such as overcoming  through         your feelings and desires and controlling over the six conscious  senses.       &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Sufferings &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism and Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Both the schools  of         thought believe that excessive attachment to things and people  in the         physical world causes pain and suffering. Therefore, we must get         ourselves free from the illusions of 'Maya' or worldly desires. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; Yogic Practices &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Buddhism and Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Both of them gives  an         emphasis on the practice of meditation and other forms of yoga,  which         not only helps one to concentrate on the truth of life, but also         facilitates the path of enlightenment and liberation.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; Tantric Practices &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;Buddhism has a major sect,         'Tantrayana', which is mainly based upon the tantric practices.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Tantric practices are also  prevalent         in Hinduism, especially among the worshippers of the Goddess  Kali and         the god Shiva. Likewise Hinduism, the Mahayana Buddhism believes  that         the original teachings of the Buddha are from the Hindu  practices,         including prayers and the concept of God(even the Buddha as God  in all         His incarnations). Mahayana Buddhism also introduces the idea of         (temporary) heavens and hells.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;"&gt; Differences Between Hinduism And Buddhism &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On God &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;The original Buddhist doctrine  does         not entail any godly figures, though the later Buddhist sects  introduced         some Godly figures.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;The Hindus believe in 300,000  Gods.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;img style="font-family: arial;" src="http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/gifs/buddhist-rituals1.jpg" alt="Buddhist Rituals" align="RIGHT" width="266" height="237" /&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt;     On Rituals &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt; Buddhism do follow some rituals  but         only in the form of meditation, and bowing and different forms  of         worship while offering prayer in the Buddhist temples. Buddhist         practices also do not require any priests.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;The rituals, being followed by  the         Hindus are more complex and vary from birth to death of a  person.         Besides, priests do play important role in all the rituals.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Caste System &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;There are four major sub sects  in         Buddhism, but none of them follow the caste system.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;On the contrary, there are a  number         of castes and sub-castes in Hinduism, and the Hindus follow them         rigidly. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Asceticism &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;As the middle way, Buddhism  rejects         extreme asceticism as well as great wealth.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Most of the Hindus believe in  extreme         asceticism.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Vedas &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;The Buddhists do not believe in  the         Vedas. Rather they firmly believe in the teachings of the Lord  Buddha         and the Buddhist scriptures.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;Hinduism believes in the  supremacy of         four Vedas - Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;br /&gt;     &lt;b style="font-family: arial;" class="sh"&gt; On Stages of Life &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;     &lt;ul style="font-family: arial;" class="text-list"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b class="sh1"&gt; Buddhism : &lt;/b&gt;The Buddhists do not believe in  the         stages of life. People can join any of the stages any time  depending         upon their spiritual preparedness.&lt;br /&gt;        &lt;br /&gt;         &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;b class="sh1"&gt;Hinduism : &lt;/b&gt;The Hindus believe in the four  stages         of life, also known as the 'ashramas' - Brahamacharya Ashram or  Student         life, Grihastha Ashram or family life, Vanprastha Ashram or the  age at         which a person leaves all the worldly desire and home, and  Sanyasa         Ashram - when a person meditates and awaits for the ultimate  truth,         death.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2010/07/buddhism-hinduism.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>2</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-7171284981145165249</guid><pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:24:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-06-19T11:31:01.057+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">hindu</category><title>The Hindu Marriage, Past and Present</title><description>&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Read this link&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_marriage.asp"&gt;The Hindu Marriage, Past and Present&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hindu wedding&lt;/b&gt; is thought to be the bringing of two people who  are said to be compaitable.&lt;b&gt;Hindu wedding&lt;/b&gt; Ceremonies are  traditionally conducted at least partially in &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit"&gt;Sanskrit&lt;/a&gt;,  the language in which most holy &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu" title="Hindu"&gt;Hindu&lt;/a&gt;  ceremonies are conducted. The local language of the people involved is  also used since most Hindus cannot understand Sanskrit. They have many  rituals that have evolved since traditional times and differ in many  ways from the modern western &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding" title="Wedding"&gt;wedding&lt;/a&gt;  ceremony and also among the different regions, families, and &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste" title="Caste"&gt;castes&lt;/a&gt; such  as &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajput_wedding" title="Rajput  wedding"&gt;Rajput weddings&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyer_Wedding" title="Iyer Wedding"&gt;Iyer  weddings&lt;/a&gt;. The Hindus attach a lot of importance to &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage" title="Marriage"&gt;marriages&lt;/a&gt;  and the ceremonies are very colorful and extend for several days. &lt;p&gt;In India, where most Hindus live, the laws relating to marriage  differ by religion. By the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Marriage_Act" title="Hindu  Marriage Act"&gt;Hindu Marriage Act of 1955&lt;/a&gt; passed by the Union &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_India" title="Parliament of India"&gt;Parliament of India&lt;/a&gt;, for all legal  purposes, all Hindus of any caste, creed or sect, Sikh, Buddhists and  Jains are considered as Hindus for the purpose of the Act and can hence  intermarry. By the Special Marriage Act, 1954, a Hindu can marry a  non-Hindu employing any ceremony provided certain legal conditions are  fulfilled.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The pre-wedding ceremonies include &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engagement" title="Engagement"&gt;engagement&lt;/a&gt;  (involving &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vagdana&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Vagdana (page does not exist)"&gt;vagdana&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt; or  oral agreement and &lt;i&gt;lagna-patra&lt;/i&gt; written declaration), and arrival  of the groom's party at the bride's residence, often in the form of a  formal procession. The post-wedding ceremonies involve welcoming the  bride to her new home.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Just as Hinduism is hard to grasp and contrast against the newer,  book-defined, structured religions such as Christianity and Islam,  India's prevalent wedding traditions are also hard to categorize purely  on a religious basis.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Despite modern Hinduism being largely based on the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_%28Hinduism%29" title="Puja  (Hinduism)"&gt;puja&lt;/a&gt; form of the worship of &lt;i&gt;devas&lt;/i&gt; as enshrined in  the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purana" title="Purana" class="mw-redirect"&gt;Puranas&lt;/a&gt;, a Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is  essentially a &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic" title="Vedic" class="mw-redirect"&gt;Vedic&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajna" title="Yajna"&gt;yajna&lt;/a&gt; (a  fire-sacrifice), in which the Aryan deities are invoked in the  Indo-Aryan style. It has a deep origin in the ancient ceremony of  cementing the bonds of friendship/alliance (even among people of the  same sex or people of different species in mythological contexts),  although today, it only survives in the context of weddings. The primary  witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni" title="Agni"&gt;Agni&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;, and  by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is deemed complete unless in  the presence of the Sacred Fire, seven encirclements have been made  around it by the bride and the groom together.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The ancient system of Hindu/Vedic marriages did not differentiate  between male and female, as is done in modern times.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The basis for a fulfilling and happy life&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;blockquote&gt; &lt;p&gt;Te santu jard—istayah sampriyau royisnu sumansyamanau|&lt;br /&gt;Pasyema sharadah shatam jivema sharadah shatam shrunuyam shardah  shatam||&lt;br /&gt;“We should be able to live a graceful life that is full of mutual love  and warmth. Our sentiments should be auspicious.&lt;br /&gt;We should be able to see for a hundred years, live a healthy life of a  hundred years and listen the music of spring for a hundred years.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;p&gt;The sage of the above mentioned vedic — aca, has emphasized that the  basis of happy and fulfilling married life is the sense of unity,  intimacy and love between husband and wife. Thus, marriage is not for  self-indulgence, but rather should be considered a lifelong social and  spiritual responsibility. Married life is considered an opportunity for  two people to grow from life partners into soul mates.&lt;sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-0"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;1&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-1"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;2&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-2"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;3&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;table id="toc" class="toc"&gt; &lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt; &lt;td&gt; &lt;div id="toctitle"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Contents&lt;/h2&gt;  &lt;span class="toctoggle"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#" class="internal" id="togglelink"&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Main_rituals"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Main rituals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Prior_to_marriage"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Prior to marriage&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-3"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Engagement"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.1&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Engagement&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-4"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Barni_Bandhwana"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Barni Bandhwana&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Mamara"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Mamara&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Sangeet_Sandhya"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.4&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Sangeet Sandhya&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-7"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Tilak_Ceremony"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.5&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Tilak Ceremony&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-8"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Mehendi_Lagwana"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.1.6&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Mehendi Lagwana&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#During_marriage_festivities"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;During marriage  festivities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-10"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Barat_Nikasi"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.1&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Barat Nikasi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-11"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Var_Mala.2FJai_Mala"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Var Mala/Jai Mala&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-12"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Aarti"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Aarti&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-13"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Baasi-Jawari"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.4&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Baasi-Jawari&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-14"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Kanya_Daan"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.5&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Kanya Daan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-15"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Panigrahana_Hathlewa"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.6&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Panigrahana  Hathlewa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-16"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Gathabandhan"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.7&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Gathabandhan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-17"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Laja_Homa"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.8&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Laja Homa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-18"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Saptapadi"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.9&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Saptapadi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Vidaai"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.2.10&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Vidaai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#At_their_new_home"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;At their new home&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-21"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Darshan"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3.1&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Darshan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-22"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Dwar-Rokai"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3.2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Dwar-Rokai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-23"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Griha_Pravesh"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3.3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Griha Pravesh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-24"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Mooh_Dikhai"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3.4&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Mooh Dikhai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-25"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Pheri"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;1.3.5&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Pheri&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-26"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Modern_Hindu_weddings"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;Modern Hindu weddings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-27"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#In_popular_culture"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;In popular culture&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-28"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#See_also"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;4&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;See also&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#References"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;5&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;References&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#External_links"&gt;&lt;span class="tocnumber"&gt;6&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="toctext"&gt;External links&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/td&gt; &lt;/tr&gt; &lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt; &lt;script type="text/javascript"&gt; //&lt;![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }  //]]&gt; &lt;/script&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=1" title="Edit section: Main rituals"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Main_rituals"&gt;Main rituals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;All of the rituals vary based on family traditions. The names of the  rituals also vary depending on the area the ritual is performed like  south or north India. Especially the rituals are very different from  south India to north India.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=2" title="Edit section: Prior to marriage"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Prior_to_marriage"&gt;Prior to marriage&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conducted at the homes of the parents of the bride and the groom.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=3" title="Edit section: Engagement"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Engagement"&gt;Engagement&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;in front of the community members to marry their son and daughter,  sometimes using a document. Both families will also come to an agreement  about the date of the wedding. Both will talk about their families and  some details of the wedding or engagement. In Tamil it is called &lt;i&gt;neechiyum&lt;/i&gt;,  meaning the "confirmation" of both parties agreed without any  objection.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=4" title="Edit section: Barni Bandhwana"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Barni_Bandhwana"&gt;Barni Bandhwana&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;Approximately 15 days prior to the actual wedding, on an &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Auspicious_day&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Auspicious day (page does not exist)"&gt;auspicious day&lt;/a&gt;,  the pundit will perform a puja to &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha" title="Ganesha"&gt;Lord Ganesh&lt;/a&gt;  (the remover of obstacles). During this &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_%28Hinduism%29" title="Puja  (Hinduism)"&gt;puja&lt;/a&gt;, a piece of mauli (thread) is tied to the hands of  the groom, and his parents. This puja is done to humbly request that the  wedding happen without any problems, apart from the occasional trivial  mishaps.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=5" title="Edit section: Mamara"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Mamara"&gt;Mamara&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;mamara&lt;/i&gt; is an important ceremony, common to both the  bride's and the groom's families. This ceremony is performed by the  maternal uncle of the groom/bride, who, along with his wife and family,  arrives with much fanfare, and is received by the bride/groom's mother  with the traditional welcome.Mamara arrange by relative of mother's  family, mostly brother(s) of mom.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=6" title="Edit section: Sangeet Sandhya"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Sangeet_Sandhya"&gt;Sangeet Sandhya&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;The sangeet sandhya is an evening of musical entertainment. This  event takes place 2 or 3 days before a wedding in a Banquet Hall or if a  small affair, then at home. The bride's family puts on a show for the  groom and bride.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=7" title="Edit section: Tilak Ceremony"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Tilak_Ceremony"&gt;Tilak Ceremony&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead using  Kumkum, a red turmeric powder. The male members of the bride's family,  like her father, brother, uncles place a tilak on the forehead of the  groom.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=8" title="Edit section: Mehendi Lagwana"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Mehendi_Lagwana"&gt;Mehendi Lagwana&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;Another name for "Vivaah" is "haath pila karna" or simply translated,  making hands yellow. &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehndi" title="Mehndi"&gt;Mehendi&lt;/a&gt; (&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna" title="Henna"&gt;henna&lt;/a&gt;) is applied to the bride’s hands and feet. In  the right hand, a round spot is left open for Hathlewa.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=9" title="Edit section: During marriage festivities"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="During_marriage_festivities"&gt;During marriage  festivities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=10" title="Edit section: Barat Nikasi"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Barat_Nikasi"&gt;Barat Nikasi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;[[File:A wedding procession with the bridegroom on a horse, Pushkar,  The groom leaves for the wedding venue riding a decorated horse or  elephant. This is a very colorful and grand ceremony. The groom is  dressed in a &lt;i&gt;sherwani&lt;/i&gt; (long jacket) and &lt;i&gt;churidars&lt;/i&gt; (fitted  trousers). On his head he wears a &lt;i&gt;sehra&lt;/i&gt; (turban).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Before he departs, his relatives apply the ceremonial &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilak" title="Tilak" class="mw-redirect"&gt;tilak&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt; on his forehead and his sister feeds  the horse or elephant sweetened grain. The &lt;i&gt;baraat&lt;/i&gt; (consisting of  the groom seated on the horse or elephant, and relatives and friends of  the groom) is headed by the dancing of the congregated folks.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Upon arriving at the venue of the wedding, the groom is welcomed by a  welcome song called &lt;i&gt;talota&lt;/i&gt;. Then the groom knocks on the door  with his sword and enters.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=11" title="Edit section: Var Mala/Jai Mala"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Var_Mala.2FJai_Mala"&gt;Var Mala/Jai Mala&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;div class="thumb tright"&gt; &lt;div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Varmaala.jpg" class="image"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Varmaala.jpg/220px-Varmaala.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="220" height="293" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;div class="thumbcaption"&gt; &lt;div class="magnify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Varmaala.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"&gt;&lt;img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; A Hindu couple and a priest shortly after the &lt;i&gt;var mala&lt;/i&gt; ceremony&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;In most Hindu weddings, the groom is led to a small stage, known as &lt;i&gt;mandap&lt;/i&gt;,  where he is greeted by the bride's family. The maternal uncle, brother  or brides' best friends bring the bride to the stage. The bride and the  groom are handed the garlands while the priest is chanting the religious  hymns. Following this, the groom and bride exchange garlands, which are  the &lt;i&gt;var mala&lt;/i&gt; or &lt;i&gt;jai mala&lt;/i&gt;, signifying their acceptance of  each other as husband and wife. Then, the groom's mother-in-law measures  the groom's chest, and pokes and prods him to make sure he is tough  enough to defend her daughter. She then puts &lt;i&gt;kajal&lt;/i&gt; on the groom  to ward off evil spirits. Before the exchange of the &lt;i&gt;Var malas&lt;/i&gt;  the bride and groom stand opposite to each other separated by a long  piece of cloth known as &lt;i&gt;antarpat&lt;/i&gt;. The &lt;i&gt;mangalashtakas&lt;/i&gt; are  recited and then the antarpat is removed and the bride and groom garland  each other. This is the most auspicious and important ceremony and  takes place on a &lt;i&gt;muhurta&lt;/i&gt;(auspicious timing) decided by the vedic  calendar known as &lt;i&gt;Panchang&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=12" title="Edit section: Aarti"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Aarti"&gt;Aarti&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;baraatis&lt;/i&gt; (groom's party) are received by the bride's  family and at the entrance to the wedding venue. The bride's mother  welcomes the groom by performing the &lt;i&gt;aarti&lt;/i&gt; (traditional Indian  welcome ritual with a lamp or &lt;i&gt;diya&lt;/i&gt; placed on a platter or &lt;i&gt;thali&lt;/i&gt;)  to welcome her son-in-law and places a &lt;i&gt;tilak&lt;/i&gt; on his forehead&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=13" title="Edit section: Baasi-Jawari"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Baasi-Jawari"&gt;Baasi-Jawari&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;This event takes place the day of the wedding. The bride's sisters  hide the groom's shoes and ask for money if he (groom) wants them back  and be able to go home with the bride.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=14" title="Edit section: Kanya Daan"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Kanya_Daan"&gt;Kanya Daan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;div class="thumb tright"&gt; &lt;div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KanyaDaan.jpg" class="image"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/KanyaDaan.jpg/220px-KanyaDaan.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="220" height="146" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;div class="thumbcaption"&gt; &lt;div class="magnify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KanyaDaan.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"&gt;&lt;img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; The &lt;i&gt;kanya daan&lt;/i&gt; ritual&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kanya Daan&lt;/i&gt;, which means the giving away of one's daughter, has  been derived from the Sanskrit words &lt;i&gt;Kanya&lt;/i&gt; which means virgin  girl and &lt;i&gt;Daan&lt;/i&gt; which means donation. Kanya Daan is a very  significant ritual performed by the father of the bride in presence of a  large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding. The father  pours out libation of sacred water symbolizing the giving away of his  daughter to the bride groom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the  god of love, for pure love and blessings. The bride's sisters then steal  the groom's shoes and ask for money for their return. This is a sign of  the groom's loyalty.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;As a condition for offering his daughter for marriage, the father of  the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in  realizing the three ends:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma"&gt;dharma&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artha" title="Artha"&gt;artha&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;and &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama" title="Kama"&gt;kama&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not  fail the bride in realizing dharma, artha and kama.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ideally, the parents of the bride place the right hand of the bride  over the right hand of the groom and place their own left hands at the  bottom and the right hands (the two of them) on top, securing the Conch  with gold, betel nut, flowers and a little fruit (in it) placed in  bride's hand. It is at this point that the purpose of the Kanyadaan is  clearly stated per scripture and the names of the parents and  forefathers are stated from both sides. The wedding cannot legally  proceed without this Kanyadaan step in which parents of the bride agree  to the wedding.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom marry each other and the  priest only assists with the Mantra. He cannot declare them married as  no authority is vested in him to do so. Agni, gods and the invited  members of the family and friends are the witness. This ritual reveals  that Wife is the form (avatar) and source of Purushardhas like Dharma,  Artha, Kama and Moksha. This ritual also helps the bridegroom to think  that his wife is the most valuable gift given by God himself, and helps  the bride to think that her husband is a form of god himself. However  widows and divorced women are not eligible for Kanya Daan ritual.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=15" title="Edit section: Panigrahana Hathlewa"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Panigrahana_Hathlewa"&gt;Panigrahana Hathlewa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;After being led to the wedding mandup, the bride and groom have their  hands tied together. The priest does a puja to Lord Ganesh and then  puts a coin &amp;amp; &lt;i&gt;mehendi&lt;/i&gt; on the bride's right hand where the  round empty spot is (where no &lt;i&gt;mehendi&lt;/i&gt; was put) and ties his hand  with the brides. This puja is done schedule in advance based on an  auspicious time &amp;amp; date.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=16" title="Edit section: Gathabandhan"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Gathabandhan"&gt;Gathabandhan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;In this ritual priest tying a knot using the ends of the clothing  worn by the bride and groom. The priest ties the end of the groom's &lt;i&gt;dhoti&lt;/i&gt;  or &lt;i&gt;kurta&lt;/i&gt;, whichever he is wearing, with that of the bride's  saree; the knot signifies the sacred wedlock.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=17" title="Edit section: Laja Homa"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Laja_Homa"&gt;Laja Homa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;The ritual connotes the actual core wedding ceremony, for the very  meaning of the word &lt;i&gt;vivaah&lt;/i&gt; is "marriage".&lt;sup class="Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable  sources from November 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;"&gt;[&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"&gt;citation needed&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;]&lt;/sup&gt; The  groom and the bride then circle the holy fire seven times, making seven  promises to be fulfilled in the married life, after which they are  considered to be married to each other. This ritual is called &lt;i&gt;phere&lt;/i&gt;.  Traditionally, there were three &lt;i&gt;pheras&lt;/i&gt;. But now this has been  mixed with &lt;i&gt;saptapadi&lt;/i&gt; and now seven &lt;i&gt;pheras&lt;/i&gt; are done for  each &lt;i&gt;vachan&lt;/i&gt;. In the south, most of the non-brahmin communities  perform only three &lt;i&gt;pheras&lt;/i&gt;, holding hands.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=18" title="Edit section: Saptapadi"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Saptapadi"&gt;Saptapadi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"&gt;Main article: &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saptapadi" title="Saptapadi"&gt;Saptapadi&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div class="thumb tright"&gt; &lt;div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinduBrideIndia.jpg" class="image"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/HinduBrideIndia.jpg/220px-HinduBrideIndia.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="220" height="147" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;div class="thumbcaption"&gt; &lt;div class="magnify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinduBrideIndia.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"&gt;&lt;img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; A Hindu bride shortly after the saptapdi ceremony&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Saptapadi&lt;/i&gt; (Sanskrit for &lt;i&gt;seven steps/feet&lt;/i&gt;, c.f. &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" title="Latin"&gt;Latin&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognate" title="Cognate"&gt;cognates&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;i&gt;septum&lt;/i&gt;+&lt;i&gt;pedii&lt;/i&gt;) or the &lt;i&gt;saat pheras&lt;/i&gt; is perhaps the  most important component of Vedic Hindu weddings. The couple conduct  seven circuits of the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Fire" title="Holy Fire"&gt;Holy Fire&lt;/a&gt; (&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni" title="Agni"&gt;Agni&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;),  which is considered a witness to the vows they make each other.&lt;sup id="cite_ref-sinha2008_3-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-sinha2008-3"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;4&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;  In some regions, sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together  for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the bride's right hand in  his own right hand.&lt;sup id="cite_ref-sinha2008_3-1" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-sinha2008-3"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;4&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;  Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the bride or the  groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the  groom in the first circuit. In &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_India" title="North India"&gt;North  India&lt;/a&gt;, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final  one by the groom.&lt;sup id="cite_ref-goi1962_4-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-goi1962-4"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;5&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;  In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.&lt;sup id="cite_ref-sinha2008_3-2" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-sinha2008-3"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;4&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;  With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow to establish some  aspect of a happy relationship and household for each other.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To provide for food always.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To give you excellent health and energy.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;Todained in Vedas, during your life time.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To give you happiness in life.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To make your cows and good animals grow in strength and in  numbers.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To make all the seasons be beneficial to you.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;To make the homams (sacrifices to be done in Holy Fire) to be  performed by you in your life as ordained in Vedas, successful and free  from hindrances.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;A joint vow is usually made at the end of the seven steps, which  varies by region. A typical vow is:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;dl&gt;&lt;dd&gt;&lt;i&gt;After crossing seven steps with me thus, you should become my &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship" title="Friendship"&gt;friend&lt;/a&gt;.  I too have become your friend now. I will never discard this &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship" title="Friendship"&gt;friendship&lt;/a&gt;  and you should also not do that. Let us be together always. Let us  resolve to do things in life in the same manner and tread the same path.  Let us lead a life by liking and loving each other, having good hearts  and thoughts, and enjoying the food and our strong points together. Let  us have undivided opinions. We will perform the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vrithas&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Vrithas (page does not exist)"&gt;vrithas&lt;/a&gt; united.  Let us have same and joint desires. I will be &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sama" title="Sama"&gt;Sama&lt;/a&gt; (one of  the vedas); you will be Rig (another Veda). Let me be the Heaven; you be  the Earth. Let me be the &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shukla" title="Shukla"&gt;Shukla&lt;/a&gt; (Moon) and you be its wearer. Let me be the  mind and you its spokesman (Vak). With these qualities, you be my  follower. You the sweet tongued, come to me to get good children and  wealth.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/dd&gt;&lt;/dl&gt; &lt;p&gt;In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following  words after completing the seven steps:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;dl&gt;&lt;dd&gt;"&lt;i&gt;We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever.  Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot  live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are  word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night  be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the  earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May  the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May  the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the  earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is  stable, so may our unions be permanently settled.&lt;/i&gt;"&lt;sup id="cite_ref-warner2006_5-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-warner2006-5"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;6&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup id="cite_ref-sehgal1969_6-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-sehgal1969-6"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;7&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup id="cite_ref-munro1996_7-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-munro1996-7"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;8&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup id="cite_ref-macfarlane1999_8-0" class="reference"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#cite_note-macfarlane1999-8"&gt;&lt;span&gt;[&lt;/span&gt;9&lt;span&gt;]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/dd&gt;&lt;/dl&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=19" title="Edit section: Vidaai"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Vidaai"&gt;Vidaai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;div class="thumb tright"&gt; &lt;div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VidaiWedding.jpg" class="image"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/VidaiWedding.jpg/220px-VidaiWedding.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="220" height="330" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;div class="thumbcaption"&gt; &lt;div class="magnify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VidaiWedding.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"&gt;&lt;img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; A bride bids her family farewell at the end of the wedding ceremony.&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;Also called &lt;i&gt;rukhsati&lt;/i&gt; in North India. This is considered to be  the most emotional ritual, when the bride leaves her parents' home and  makes her way to her husband's. Family and friends, who also shower her  with blessings and gifts, give her a tearful farewell. The male members  of the bride's family bid farewell to the groom by applying the  traditional &lt;i&gt;tilak&lt;/i&gt; (vermilion) to his forehead and showering him  with gifts.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In earlier times the bride use to leave in a &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palanquin" title="Palanquin" class="mw-redirect"&gt;palanquin&lt;/a&gt;. These days the couple leaves in a bus&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=20" title="Edit section: At their new home"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="At_their_new_home"&gt;At their new home&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=21" title="Edit section: Darshan"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Darshan"&gt;Darshan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;After Vidaai, the couple first visits a temple, preferably that of  Lord Rama and Sita, to seek their blessing from where they move towards  the groom's house.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=22" title="Edit section: Dwar-Rokai"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Dwar-Rokai"&gt;Dwar-Rokai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;After leaving the groom's father-in-law's house, the couple come  home. They are stopped at the entrance of the house by either the  groom's sister or his father's sister. There, in an earthen vessel, the  sister/aunt uses a mixture of salt and water to ward off evil spirits  from the groom. After this, the pot is thrown on the ground and  destroyed. The couple then enter the house.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=23" title="Edit section: Griha Pravesh"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Griha_Pravesh"&gt;Griha Pravesh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;When the bride arrives at her new home, her mother-in-law welcomes  her with the traditional &lt;i&gt;Aarti&lt;/i&gt;. At the entrance, she puts her  right foot onto a tray of &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion" title="Vermilion"&gt;vermilion  powder&lt;/a&gt; mixed in water or milk, symbolizing the arrival of good  fortune and purity. With both her feet now covered in the red powder  paste, she kicks over a vessel filled with rice and coins to denote the  arrival of fertility and wealth in her marital home.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=24" title="Edit section: Mooh Dikhai"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Mooh_Dikhai"&gt;Mooh Dikhai&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;The family now indulges in a series of games and post-wedding  rituals, amid much laughter to make the new member feel comfortable. One  such ritual is the Mooh dikhai. Literally translated, Mooh Dikhai means  "show your face"; this ritual helps introduce the newlywed to members  of her husband's family. Each member of the groom's family comes in turn  to make an acquaintance with the new bride.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h4&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=25" title="Edit section: Pheri"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Pheri"&gt;Pheri&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt; &lt;p&gt;In some regions of North India, the couple returns (unaccompanied by  the groom's family) to the bride's parents' home the day after the  wedding, usually for an afternoon meal and evening tea. The groom is  introduced to the bride's side of the extended family and her friends.  In the period between the engagement and the wedding, it is usually  considered bad luck for the groom to visit the bride's house, so the &lt;i&gt;pheri&lt;/i&gt;  (literally, return or turning-around; distinct from &lt;i&gt;phere&lt;/i&gt;) marks  the beginning of the groom's social integration into the bride's side  of the family.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=26" title="Edit section: Modern Hindu weddings"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="Modern_Hindu_weddings"&gt;Modern Hindu weddings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;div class="thumb tright"&gt; &lt;div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinduMandap.jpg" class="image"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/HinduMandap.jpg/220px-HinduMandap.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="220" height="156" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;div class="thumbcaption"&gt; &lt;div class="magnify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinduMandap.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"&gt;&lt;img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt; A &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandap" title="Mandap" class="mw-redirect"&gt;mandap&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt; during a Hindu wedding ceremony&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;Modern Hindu weddings are often much shorter and do not involve all  of the rituals of the traditional ceremony, which sometimes go on for  five days. Instead certain ceremonies are picked by the families of the  bride and the groom depending on their family tradition, caste, &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C4%81ti" title="Jāti"&gt;jāti&lt;/a&gt; etc.  Hence the ceremonies vary among the various ethnic groups that practice  &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism"&gt;Hinduism&lt;/a&gt;.  The wedding is normally conducted under a &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_mandap" title="Wedding  mandap"&gt;wedding mandap&lt;/a&gt;, a canopy traditionally with four pillars,  and an important component of the ceremony is the sacred fire (Agni)  that is witness to the ceremony. Sometimes, the bride comes to her  husband's house in a &lt;i&gt;doli&lt;/i&gt; which is a &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palanquin" title="Palanquin" class="mw-redirect"&gt;palanquin&lt;/a&gt; traditionally made of wood and  decorated with jewels. Before the wedding party departs to the Hindu  temple, the priest will sometimes place a coconut under the tire. In the  old days a horse-drawn carriage was used to carry the bride and groom,  and the breaking of the coconut demonstrated the road-worthiness of the  horse-drawn carriage.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class="editsection"&gt;[&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_wedding&amp;amp;action=edit&amp;amp;section=27" title="Edit section: In popular culture"&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="mw-headline" id="In_popular_culture"&gt;In popular culture&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hindu weddings have been featured in many successful &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi_cinema" title="Hindi cinema" class="mw-redirect"&gt;Hindi films&lt;/a&gt; such as &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hum_Aapke_Hain_Kaun" title="Hum Aapke  Hain Kaun" class="mw-redirect"&gt;Hum Aapke Hain Kaun&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babul_%281950_film%29" title="Babul  (1950 film)"&gt;Babul&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivah" title="Vivah"&gt;Vivah&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description><enclosure length="0" type="" url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding"/><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2010/06/hindu-marriage-past-and-present.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Read this link The Hindu Marriage, Past and Present Hindu wedding is thought to be the bringing of two people who are said to be compaitable.Hindu wedding Ceremonies are traditionally conducted at least partially in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. The local language of the people involved is also used since most Hindus cannot understand Sanskrit. They have many rituals that have evolved since traditional times and differ in many ways from the modern western wedding ceremony and also among the different regions, families, and castes such as Rajput weddings and Iyer weddings. The Hindus attach a lot of importance to marriages and the ceremonies are very colorful and extend for several days. In India, where most Hindus live, the laws relating to marriage differ by religion. By the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 passed by the Union Parliament of India, for all legal purposes, all Hindus of any caste, creed or sect, Sikh, Buddhists and Jains are considered as Hindus for the purpose of the Act and can hence intermarry. By the Special Marriage Act, 1954, a Hindu can marry a non-Hindu employing any ceremony provided certain legal conditions are fulfilled. The pre-wedding ceremonies include engagement (involving vagdana or oral agreement and lagna-patra written declaration), and arrival of the groom's party at the bride's residence, often in the form of a formal procession. The post-wedding ceremonies involve welcoming the bride to her new home. Just as Hinduism is hard to grasp and contrast against the newer, book-defined, structured religions such as Christianity and Islam, India's prevalent wedding traditions are also hard to categorize purely on a religious basis. Despite modern Hinduism being largely based on the puja form of the worship of devas as enshrined in the Puranas, a Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna (a fire-sacrifice), in which the Aryan deities are invoked in the Indo-Aryan style. It has a deep origin in the ancient ceremony of cementing the bonds of friendship/alliance (even among people of the same sex or people of different species in mythological contexts), although today, it only survives in the context of weddings. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) Agni, and by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is deemed complete unless in the presence of the Sacred Fire, seven encirclements have been made around it by the bride and the groom together. The ancient system of Hindu/Vedic marriages did not differentiate between male and female, as is done in modern times. The basis for a fulfilling and happy life Te santu jard—istayah sampriyau royisnu sumansyamanau| Pasyema sharadah shatam jivema sharadah shatam shrunuyam shardah shatam|| “We should be able to live a graceful life that is full of mutual love and warmth. Our sentiments should be auspicious. We should be able to see for a hundred years, live a healthy life of a hundred years and listen the music of spring for a hundred years.” The sage of the above mentioned vedic — aca, has emphasized that the basis of happy and fulfilling married life is the sense of unity, intimacy and love between husband and wife. Thus, marriage is not for self-indulgence, but rather should be considered a lifelong social and spiritual responsibility. Married life is considered an opportunity for two people to grow from life partners into soul mates.[1][2][3] Contents [hide] 1 Main rituals 1.1 Prior to marriage 1.1.1 Engagement1.1.2 Barni Bandhwana1.1.3 Mamara1.1.4 Sangeet Sandhya1.1.5 Tilak Ceremony1.1.6 Mehendi Lagwana 1.2 During marriage festivities 1.2.1 Barat Nikasi1.2.2 Var Mala/Jai Mala1.2.3 Aarti1.2.4 Baasi-Jawari1.2.5 Kanya Daan1.2.6 Panigrahana Hathlewa1.2.7 Gathabandhan1.2.8 Laja Homa1.2.9 Saptapadi1.2.10 Vidaai 1.3 At their new home 1.3.1 Darshan1.3.2 Dwar-Rokai1.3.3 Griha Pravesh1.3.4 Mooh Dikhai1.3.5 Pheri 2 Modern Hindu weddings3 In popular culture4 See also5 References6 External links // [edit] Main rituals All of the rituals vary based on family traditions. The names of the rituals also vary depending on the area the ritual is performed like south or north India. Especially the rituals are very different from south India to north India. [edit] Prior to marriage Conducted at the homes of the parents of the bride and the groom. [edit] Engagement in front of the community members to marry their son and daughter, sometimes using a document. Both families will also come to an agreement about the date of the wedding. Both will talk about their families and some details of the wedding or engagement. In Tamil it is called neechiyum, meaning the "confirmation" of both parties agreed without any objection. [edit] Barni Bandhwana Approximately 15 days prior to the actual wedding, on an auspicious day, the pundit will perform a puja to Lord Ganesh (the remover of obstacles). During this puja, a piece of mauli (thread) is tied to the hands of the groom, and his parents. This puja is done to humbly request that the wedding happen without any problems, apart from the occasional trivial mishaps. [edit] Mamara The mamara is an important ceremony, common to both the bride's and the groom's families. This ceremony is performed by the maternal uncle of the groom/bride, who, along with his wife and family, arrives with much fanfare, and is received by the bride/groom's mother with the traditional welcome.Mamara arrange by relative of mother's family, mostly brother(s) of mom. [edit] Sangeet Sandhya The sangeet sandhya is an evening of musical entertainment. This event takes place 2 or 3 days before a wedding in a Banquet Hall or if a small affair, then at home. The bride's family puts on a show for the groom and bride. [edit] Tilak Ceremony Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead using Kumkum, a red turmeric powder. The male members of the bride's family, like her father, brother, uncles place a tilak on the forehead of the groom. [edit] Mehendi Lagwana Another name for "Vivaah" is "haath pila karna" or simply translated, making hands yellow. Mehendi (henna) is applied to the bride’s hands and feet. In the right hand, a round spot is left open for Hathlewa. [edit] During marriage festivities [edit] Barat Nikasi [[File:A wedding procession with the bridegroom on a horse, Pushkar, The groom leaves for the wedding venue riding a decorated horse or elephant. This is a very colorful and grand ceremony. The groom is dressed in a sherwani (long jacket) and churidars (fitted trousers). On his head he wears a sehra (turban). Before he departs, his relatives apply the ceremonial tilak on his forehead and his sister feeds the horse or elephant sweetened grain. The baraat (consisting of the groom seated on the horse or elephant, and relatives and friends of the groom) is headed by the dancing of the congregated folks. Upon arriving at the venue of the wedding, the groom is welcomed by a welcome song called talota. Then the groom knocks on the door with his sword and enters. [edit] Var Mala/Jai Mala A Hindu couple and a priest shortly after the var mala ceremony In most Hindu weddings, the groom is led to a small stage, known as mandap, where he is greeted by the bride's family. The maternal uncle, brother or brides' best friends bring the bride to the stage. The bride and the groom are handed the garlands while the priest is chanting the religious hymns. Following this, the groom and bride exchange garlands, which are the var mala or jai mala, signifying their acceptance of each other as husband and wife. Then, the groom's mother-in-law measures the groom's chest, and pokes and prods him to make sure he is tough enough to defend her daughter. She then puts kajal on the groom to ward off evil spirits. Before the exchange of the Var malas the bride and groom stand opposite to each other separated by a long piece of cloth known as antarpat. The mangalashtakas are recited and then the antarpat is removed and the bride and groom garland each other. This is the most auspicious and important ceremony and takes place on a muhurta(auspicious timing) decided by the vedic calendar known as Panchang. [edit] Aarti The baraatis (groom's party) are received by the bride's family and at the entrance to the wedding venue. The bride's mother welcomes the groom by performing the aarti (traditional Indian welcome ritual with a lamp or diya placed on a platter or thali) to welcome her son-in-law and places a tilak on his forehead [edit] Baasi-Jawari This event takes place the day of the wedding. The bride's sisters hide the groom's shoes and ask for money if he (groom) wants them back and be able to go home with the bride. [edit] Kanya Daan The kanya daan ritual Kanya Daan, which means the giving away of one's daughter, has been derived from the Sanskrit words Kanya which means virgin girl and Daan which means donation. Kanya Daan is a very significant ritual performed by the father of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding. The father pours out libation of sacred water symbolizing the giving away of his daughter to the bride groom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the god of love, for pure love and blessings. The bride's sisters then steal the groom's shoes and ask for money for their return. This is a sign of the groom's loyalty. As a condition for offering his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends: dharma,artha,and kama. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in realizing dharma, artha and kama. Ideally, the parents of the bride place the right hand of the bride over the right hand of the groom and place their own left hands at the bottom and the right hands (the two of them) on top, securing the Conch with gold, betel nut, flowers and a little fruit (in it) placed in bride's hand. It is at this point that the purpose of the Kanyadaan is clearly stated per scripture and the names of the parents and forefathers are stated from both sides. The wedding cannot legally proceed without this Kanyadaan step in which parents of the bride agree to the wedding. In a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom marry each other and the priest only assists with the Mantra. He cannot declare them married as no authority is vested in him to do so. Agni, gods and the invited members of the family and friends are the witness. This ritual reveals that Wife is the form (avatar) and source of Purushardhas like Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. This ritual also helps the bridegroom to think that his wife is the most valuable gift given by God himself, and helps the bride to think that her husband is a form of god himself. However widows and divorced women are not eligible for Kanya Daan ritual. [edit] Panigrahana Hathlewa After being led to the wedding mandup, the bride and groom have their hands tied together. The priest does a puja to Lord Ganesh and then puts a coin &amp;amp; mehendi on the bride's right hand where the round empty spot is (where no mehendi was put) and ties his hand with the brides. This puja is done schedule in advance based on an auspicious time &amp;amp; date. [edit] Gathabandhan In this ritual priest tying a knot using the ends of the clothing worn by the bride and groom. The priest ties the end of the groom's dhoti or kurta, whichever he is wearing, with that of the bride's saree; the knot signifies the sacred wedlock. [edit] Laja Homa The ritual connotes the actual core wedding ceremony, for the very meaning of the word vivaah is "marriage".[citation needed] The groom and the bride then circle the holy fire seven times, making seven promises to be fulfilled in the married life, after which they are considered to be married to each other. This ritual is called phere. Traditionally, there were three pheras. But now this has been mixed with saptapadi and now seven pheras are done for each vachan. In the south, most of the non-brahmin communities perform only three pheras, holding hands. [edit] Saptapadi Main article: Saptapadi A Hindu bride shortly after the saptapdi ceremony The Saptapadi (Sanskrit for seven steps/feet, c.f. Latin cognates septum+pedii) or the saat pheras is perhaps the most important component of Vedic Hindu weddings. The couple conduct seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a witness to the vows they make each other.[4] In some regions, sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the bride's right hand in his own right hand.[4] Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the bride or the groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the groom in the first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the groom.[5] In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.[4] With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow to establish some aspect of a happy relationship and household for each other. To provide for food always.To give you excellent health and energy.Todained in Vedas, during your life time.To give you happiness in life.To make your cows and good animals grow in strength and in numbers.To make all the seasons be beneficial to you.To make the homams (sacrifices to be done in Holy Fire) to be performed by you in your life as ordained in Vedas, successful and free from hindrances. A joint vow is usually made at the end of the seven steps, which varies by region. A typical vow is: After crossing seven steps with me thus, you should become my friend. I too have become your friend now. I will never discard this friendship and you should also not do that. Let us be together always. Let us resolve to do things in life in the same manner and tread the same path. Let us lead a life by liking and loving each other, having good hearts and thoughts, and enjoying the food and our strong points together. Let us have undivided opinions. We will perform the vrithas united. Let us have same and joint desires. I will be Sama (one of the vedas); you will be Rig (another Veda). Let me be the Heaven; you be the Earth. Let me be the Shukla (Moon) and you be its wearer. Let me be the mind and you its spokesman (Vak). With these qualities, you be my follower. You the sweet tongued, come to me to get good children and wealth. In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following words after completing the seven steps: "We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our unions be permanently settled."[6][7][8][9] [edit] Vidaai A bride bids her family farewell at the end of the wedding ceremony. Also called rukhsati in North India. This is considered to be the most emotional ritual, when the bride leaves her parents' home and makes her way to her husband's. Family and friends, who also shower her with blessings and gifts, give her a tearful farewell. The male members of the bride's family bid farewell to the groom by applying the traditional tilak (vermilion) to his forehead and showering him with gifts. In earlier times the bride use to leave in a palanquin. These days the couple leaves in a bus [edit] At their new home [edit] Darshan After Vidaai, the couple first visits a temple, preferably that of Lord Rama and Sita, to seek their blessing from where they move towards the groom's house. [edit] Dwar-Rokai After leaving the groom's father-in-law's house, the couple come home. They are stopped at the entrance of the house by either the groom's sister or his father's sister. There, in an earthen vessel, the sister/aunt uses a mixture of salt and water to ward off evil spirits from the groom. After this, the pot is thrown on the ground and destroyed. The couple then enter the house. [edit] Griha Pravesh When the bride arrives at her new home, her mother-in-law welcomes her with the traditional Aarti. At the entrance, she puts her right foot onto a tray of vermilion powder mixed in water or milk, symbolizing the arrival of good fortune and purity. With both her feet now covered in the red powder paste, she kicks over a vessel filled with rice and coins to denote the arrival of fertility and wealth in her marital home. [edit] Mooh Dikhai The family now indulges in a series of games and post-wedding rituals, amid much laughter to make the new member feel comfortable. One such ritual is the Mooh dikhai. Literally translated, Mooh Dikhai means "show your face"; this ritual helps introduce the newlywed to members of her husband's family. Each member of the groom's family comes in turn to make an acquaintance with the new bride. [edit] Pheri In some regions of North India, the couple returns (unaccompanied by the groom's family) to the bride's parents' home the day after the wedding, usually for an afternoon meal and evening tea. The groom is introduced to the bride's side of the extended family and her friends. In the period between the engagement and the wedding, it is usually considered bad luck for the groom to visit the bride's house, so the pheri (literally, return or turning-around; distinct from phere) marks the beginning of the groom's social integration into the bride's side of the family. [edit] Modern Hindu weddings A mandap during a Hindu wedding ceremony Modern Hindu weddings are often much shorter and do not involve all of the rituals of the traditional ceremony, which sometimes go on for five days. Instead certain ceremonies are picked by the families of the bride and the groom depending on their family tradition, caste, jāti etc. Hence the ceremonies vary among the various ethnic groups that practice Hinduism. The wedding is normally conducted under a wedding mandap, a canopy traditionally with four pillars, and an important component of the ceremony is the sacred fire (Agni) that is witness to the ceremony. Sometimes, the bride comes to her husband's house in a doli which is a palanquin traditionally made of wood and decorated with jewels. Before the wedding party departs to the Hindu temple, the priest will sometimes place a coconut under the tire. In the old days a horse-drawn carriage was used to carry the bride and groom, and the breaking of the coconut demonstrated the road-worthiness of the horse-drawn carriage. [edit] In popular culture Hindu weddings have been featured in many successful Hindi films such as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Babul, and Vivah.</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</itunes:author><itunes:summary>Read this link The Hindu Marriage, Past and Present Hindu wedding is thought to be the bringing of two people who are said to be compaitable.Hindu wedding Ceremonies are traditionally conducted at least partially in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. The local language of the people involved is also used since most Hindus cannot understand Sanskrit. They have many rituals that have evolved since traditional times and differ in many ways from the modern western wedding ceremony and also among the different regions, families, and castes such as Rajput weddings and Iyer weddings. The Hindus attach a lot of importance to marriages and the ceremonies are very colorful and extend for several days. In India, where most Hindus live, the laws relating to marriage differ by religion. By the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 passed by the Union Parliament of India, for all legal purposes, all Hindus of any caste, creed or sect, Sikh, Buddhists and Jains are considered as Hindus for the purpose of the Act and can hence intermarry. By the Special Marriage Act, 1954, a Hindu can marry a non-Hindu employing any ceremony provided certain legal conditions are fulfilled. The pre-wedding ceremonies include engagement (involving vagdana or oral agreement and lagna-patra written declaration), and arrival of the groom's party at the bride's residence, often in the form of a formal procession. The post-wedding ceremonies involve welcoming the bride to her new home. Just as Hinduism is hard to grasp and contrast against the newer, book-defined, structured religions such as Christianity and Islam, India's prevalent wedding traditions are also hard to categorize purely on a religious basis. Despite modern Hinduism being largely based on the puja form of the worship of devas as enshrined in the Puranas, a Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna (a fire-sacrifice), in which the Aryan deities are invoked in the Indo-Aryan style. It has a deep origin in the ancient ceremony of cementing the bonds of friendship/alliance (even among people of the same sex or people of different species in mythological contexts), although today, it only survives in the context of weddings. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) Agni, and by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is deemed complete unless in the presence of the Sacred Fire, seven encirclements have been made around it by the bride and the groom together. The ancient system of Hindu/Vedic marriages did not differentiate between male and female, as is done in modern times. The basis for a fulfilling and happy life Te santu jard—istayah sampriyau royisnu sumansyamanau| Pasyema sharadah shatam jivema sharadah shatam shrunuyam shardah shatam|| “We should be able to live a graceful life that is full of mutual love and warmth. Our sentiments should be auspicious. We should be able to see for a hundred years, live a healthy life of a hundred years and listen the music of spring for a hundred years.” The sage of the above mentioned vedic — aca, has emphasized that the basis of happy and fulfilling married life is the sense of unity, intimacy and love between husband and wife. Thus, marriage is not for self-indulgence, but rather should be considered a lifelong social and spiritual responsibility. Married life is considered an opportunity for two people to grow from life partners into soul mates.[1][2][3] Contents [hide] 1 Main rituals 1.1 Prior to marriage 1.1.1 Engagement1.1.2 Barni Bandhwana1.1.3 Mamara1.1.4 Sangeet Sandhya1.1.5 Tilak Ceremony1.1.6 Mehendi Lagwana 1.2 During marriage festivities 1.2.1 Barat Nikasi1.2.2 Var Mala/Jai Mala1.2.3 Aarti1.2.4 Baasi-Jawari1.2.5 Kanya Daan1.2.6 Panigrahana Hathlewa1.2.7 Gathabandhan1.2.8 Laja Homa1.2.9 Saptapadi1.2.10 Vidaai 1.3 At their new home 1.3.1 Darshan1.3.2 Dwar-Rokai1.3.3 Griha Pravesh1.3.4 Mooh Dikhai1.3.5 Pheri 2 Modern Hindu weddings3 In popular culture4 See also5 References6 External links // [edit] Main rituals All of the rituals vary based on family traditions. The names of the rituals also vary depending on the area the ritual is performed like south or north India. Especially the rituals are very different from south India to north India. [edit] Prior to marriage Conducted at the homes of the parents of the bride and the groom. [edit] Engagement in front of the community members to marry their son and daughter, sometimes using a document. Both families will also come to an agreement about the date of the wedding. Both will talk about their families and some details of the wedding or engagement. In Tamil it is called neechiyum, meaning the "confirmation" of both parties agreed without any objection. [edit] Barni Bandhwana Approximately 15 days prior to the actual wedding, on an auspicious day, the pundit will perform a puja to Lord Ganesh (the remover of obstacles). During this puja, a piece of mauli (thread) is tied to the hands of the groom, and his parents. This puja is done to humbly request that the wedding happen without any problems, apart from the occasional trivial mishaps. [edit] Mamara The mamara is an important ceremony, common to both the bride's and the groom's families. This ceremony is performed by the maternal uncle of the groom/bride, who, along with his wife and family, arrives with much fanfare, and is received by the bride/groom's mother with the traditional welcome.Mamara arrange by relative of mother's family, mostly brother(s) of mom. [edit] Sangeet Sandhya The sangeet sandhya is an evening of musical entertainment. This event takes place 2 or 3 days before a wedding in a Banquet Hall or if a small affair, then at home. The bride's family puts on a show for the groom and bride. [edit] Tilak Ceremony Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead using Kumkum, a red turmeric powder. The male members of the bride's family, like her father, brother, uncles place a tilak on the forehead of the groom. [edit] Mehendi Lagwana Another name for "Vivaah" is "haath pila karna" or simply translated, making hands yellow. Mehendi (henna) is applied to the bride’s hands and feet. In the right hand, a round spot is left open for Hathlewa. [edit] During marriage festivities [edit] Barat Nikasi [[File:A wedding procession with the bridegroom on a horse, Pushkar, The groom leaves for the wedding venue riding a decorated horse or elephant. This is a very colorful and grand ceremony. The groom is dressed in a sherwani (long jacket) and churidars (fitted trousers). On his head he wears a sehra (turban). Before he departs, his relatives apply the ceremonial tilak on his forehead and his sister feeds the horse or elephant sweetened grain. The baraat (consisting of the groom seated on the horse or elephant, and relatives and friends of the groom) is headed by the dancing of the congregated folks. Upon arriving at the venue of the wedding, the groom is welcomed by a welcome song called talota. Then the groom knocks on the door with his sword and enters. [edit] Var Mala/Jai Mala A Hindu couple and a priest shortly after the var mala ceremony In most Hindu weddings, the groom is led to a small stage, known as mandap, where he is greeted by the bride's family. The maternal uncle, brother or brides' best friends bring the bride to the stage. The bride and the groom are handed the garlands while the priest is chanting the religious hymns. Following this, the groom and bride exchange garlands, which are the var mala or jai mala, signifying their acceptance of each other as husband and wife. Then, the groom's mother-in-law measures the groom's chest, and pokes and prods him to make sure he is tough enough to defend her daughter. She then puts kajal on the groom to ward off evil spirits. Before the exchange of the Var malas the bride and groom stand opposite to each other separated by a long piece of cloth known as antarpat. The mangalashtakas are recited and then the antarpat is removed and the bride and groom garland each other. This is the most auspicious and important ceremony and takes place on a muhurta(auspicious timing) decided by the vedic calendar known as Panchang. [edit] Aarti The baraatis (groom's party) are received by the bride's family and at the entrance to the wedding venue. The bride's mother welcomes the groom by performing the aarti (traditional Indian welcome ritual with a lamp or diya placed on a platter or thali) to welcome her son-in-law and places a tilak on his forehead [edit] Baasi-Jawari This event takes place the day of the wedding. The bride's sisters hide the groom's shoes and ask for money if he (groom) wants them back and be able to go home with the bride. [edit] Kanya Daan The kanya daan ritual Kanya Daan, which means the giving away of one's daughter, has been derived from the Sanskrit words Kanya which means virgin girl and Daan which means donation. Kanya Daan is a very significant ritual performed by the father of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding. The father pours out libation of sacred water symbolizing the giving away of his daughter to the bride groom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the god of love, for pure love and blessings. The bride's sisters then steal the groom's shoes and ask for money for their return. This is a sign of the groom's loyalty. As a condition for offering his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends: dharma,artha,and kama. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in realizing dharma, artha and kama. Ideally, the parents of the bride place the right hand of the bride over the right hand of the groom and place their own left hands at the bottom and the right hands (the two of them) on top, securing the Conch with gold, betel nut, flowers and a little fruit (in it) placed in bride's hand. It is at this point that the purpose of the Kanyadaan is clearly stated per scripture and the names of the parents and forefathers are stated from both sides. The wedding cannot legally proceed without this Kanyadaan step in which parents of the bride agree to the wedding. In a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom marry each other and the priest only assists with the Mantra. He cannot declare them married as no authority is vested in him to do so. Agni, gods and the invited members of the family and friends are the witness. This ritual reveals that Wife is the form (avatar) and source of Purushardhas like Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. This ritual also helps the bridegroom to think that his wife is the most valuable gift given by God himself, and helps the bride to think that her husband is a form of god himself. However widows and divorced women are not eligible for Kanya Daan ritual. [edit] Panigrahana Hathlewa After being led to the wedding mandup, the bride and groom have their hands tied together. The priest does a puja to Lord Ganesh and then puts a coin &amp;amp; mehendi on the bride's right hand where the round empty spot is (where no mehendi was put) and ties his hand with the brides. This puja is done schedule in advance based on an auspicious time &amp;amp; date. [edit] Gathabandhan In this ritual priest tying a knot using the ends of the clothing worn by the bride and groom. The priest ties the end of the groom's dhoti or kurta, whichever he is wearing, with that of the bride's saree; the knot signifies the sacred wedlock. [edit] Laja Homa The ritual connotes the actual core wedding ceremony, for the very meaning of the word vivaah is "marriage".[citation needed] The groom and the bride then circle the holy fire seven times, making seven promises to be fulfilled in the married life, after which they are considered to be married to each other. This ritual is called phere. Traditionally, there were three pheras. But now this has been mixed with saptapadi and now seven pheras are done for each vachan. In the south, most of the non-brahmin communities perform only three pheras, holding hands. [edit] Saptapadi Main article: Saptapadi A Hindu bride shortly after the saptapdi ceremony The Saptapadi (Sanskrit for seven steps/feet, c.f. Latin cognates septum+pedii) or the saat pheras is perhaps the most important component of Vedic Hindu weddings. The couple conduct seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a witness to the vows they make each other.[4] In some regions, sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the bride's right hand in his own right hand.[4] Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the bride or the groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the groom in the first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the groom.[5] In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.[4] With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow to establish some aspect of a happy relationship and household for each other. To provide for food always.To give you excellent health and energy.Todained in Vedas, during your life time.To give you happiness in life.To make your cows and good animals grow in strength and in numbers.To make all the seasons be beneficial to you.To make the homams (sacrifices to be done in Holy Fire) to be performed by you in your life as ordained in Vedas, successful and free from hindrances. A joint vow is usually made at the end of the seven steps, which varies by region. A typical vow is: After crossing seven steps with me thus, you should become my friend. I too have become your friend now. I will never discard this friendship and you should also not do that. Let us be together always. Let us resolve to do things in life in the same manner and tread the same path. Let us lead a life by liking and loving each other, having good hearts and thoughts, and enjoying the food and our strong points together. Let us have undivided opinions. We will perform the vrithas united. Let us have same and joint desires. I will be Sama (one of the vedas); you will be Rig (another Veda). Let me be the Heaven; you be the Earth. Let me be the Shukla (Moon) and you be its wearer. Let me be the mind and you its spokesman (Vak). With these qualities, you be my follower. You the sweet tongued, come to me to get good children and wealth. In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following words after completing the seven steps: "We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our unions be permanently settled."[6][7][8][9] [edit] Vidaai A bride bids her family farewell at the end of the wedding ceremony. Also called rukhsati in North India. This is considered to be the most emotional ritual, when the bride leaves her parents' home and makes her way to her husband's. Family and friends, who also shower her with blessings and gifts, give her a tearful farewell. The male members of the bride's family bid farewell to the groom by applying the traditional tilak (vermilion) to his forehead and showering him with gifts. In earlier times the bride use to leave in a palanquin. These days the couple leaves in a bus [edit] At their new home [edit] Darshan After Vidaai, the couple first visits a temple, preferably that of Lord Rama and Sita, to seek their blessing from where they move towards the groom's house. [edit] Dwar-Rokai After leaving the groom's father-in-law's house, the couple come home. They are stopped at the entrance of the house by either the groom's sister or his father's sister. There, in an earthen vessel, the sister/aunt uses a mixture of salt and water to ward off evil spirits from the groom. After this, the pot is thrown on the ground and destroyed. The couple then enter the house. [edit] Griha Pravesh When the bride arrives at her new home, her mother-in-law welcomes her with the traditional Aarti. At the entrance, she puts her right foot onto a tray of vermilion powder mixed in water or milk, symbolizing the arrival of good fortune and purity. With both her feet now covered in the red powder paste, she kicks over a vessel filled with rice and coins to denote the arrival of fertility and wealth in her marital home. [edit] Mooh Dikhai The family now indulges in a series of games and post-wedding rituals, amid much laughter to make the new member feel comfortable. One such ritual is the Mooh dikhai. Literally translated, Mooh Dikhai means "show your face"; this ritual helps introduce the newlywed to members of her husband's family. Each member of the groom's family comes in turn to make an acquaintance with the new bride. [edit] Pheri In some regions of North India, the couple returns (unaccompanied by the groom's family) to the bride's parents' home the day after the wedding, usually for an afternoon meal and evening tea. The groom is introduced to the bride's side of the extended family and her friends. In the period between the engagement and the wedding, it is usually considered bad luck for the groom to visit the bride's house, so the pheri (literally, return or turning-around; distinct from phere) marks the beginning of the groom's social integration into the bride's side of the family. [edit] Modern Hindu weddings A mandap during a Hindu wedding ceremony Modern Hindu weddings are often much shorter and do not involve all of the rituals of the traditional ceremony, which sometimes go on for five days. Instead certain ceremonies are picked by the families of the bride and the groom depending on their family tradition, caste, jāti etc. Hence the ceremonies vary among the various ethnic groups that practice Hinduism. The wedding is normally conducted under a wedding mandap, a canopy traditionally with four pillars, and an important component of the ceremony is the sacred fire (Agni) that is witness to the ceremony. Sometimes, the bride comes to her husband's house in a doli which is a palanquin traditionally made of wood and decorated with jewels. Before the wedding party departs to the Hindu temple, the priest will sometimes place a coconut under the tire. In the old days a horse-drawn carriage was used to carry the bride and groom, and the breaking of the coconut demonstrated the road-worthiness of the horse-drawn carriage. [edit] In popular culture Hindu weddings have been featured in many successful Hindi films such as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Babul, and Vivah.</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>hindu</itunes:keywords></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-4937529064915237666</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:15:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-06-18T11:16:18.675+07:00</atom:updated><title>Female Libra Characteristics</title><description>&lt;h1&gt;Female Libra Characteristics&lt;/h1&gt;f you have just met that Libra girl in office and  can't seem to get her off your head, then lap up this article, as it  will gently steer you around a Libra woman's personality. Get to know  what lies hidden behind that jovial face and all the facets of a Libra  woman in this article on female Libra characteristics. &lt;div class="article"&gt; &lt;!-- Copyright 2000 Buzzle.com --&gt; &lt;div class="artImg"&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/337601-30518-13.jpg" alt="Female Libra Characteristics" class="ImgBorder" width="350" height="349" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt; "&lt;i&gt;We must be courageous but also reasonable. The world admires us for  walking a tightrope without falling off. It asks us to keep our balance.&lt;/i&gt;"  ~ Lech Walesa.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That statement right there is a classic example when a Libran, born on  29th September, 1943, publicly exemplified the need to attain and  maintain balance. One mention of the word &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/libra/"&gt;Libra&lt;/a&gt;, and the world  naturally deduces that you must be the epitome of balance and  equilibrium. At this point of time, I shall kindly ask you to hold your  horses. A Libran, especially a Libra woman emanates anything but  balance, when she is struggling to get her scales to stagnate on a  singular plane. It is nothing short of a pandemonium really and anybody  around her during these indecisive phases shall totally agree with me.  Trust me, I am a Libra girl! It takes a lot for us to attain that  balance, that we are so famous for. To us everyone's opinion is  important, and every little detail has to be carefully dissected,  analyzed and then a final verdict has to be announced. And it's not only  the ground-shattering things, even the most trivial issue of hanging  clothes the correct way after washing, can get the Libra wheel of logic  turning! Aggravating I know, but believe me once we have attained that  optimally accurate answer to our dilemmas, our smiles can make you  forget all the torture we put you through during the back and forth  grinding process! Welcome to the world of female Libra characteristics.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So from here onwards we study the different characteristics of Libra  woman one at a time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Female Libra Characteristics: Physical Appearance and Health&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"&lt;i&gt;These are the beautiful people, who, befitting their rank as gods  and goddesses of a powerful modern mythology, lead beautiful lives in  beautiful houses, attired in beautiful clothes and, ostensibly, thinking  only beautiful thoughts.&lt;/i&gt;" - Helen Lawrenson.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those lines came from a novelist, herself a Libran. True, a Libra woman  generally has soft pleasing features. There is nothing angular or jagged  about her appearance. Rather, a Libran girl is curvaceous, replete with  usually wavy or curly hair. Normally, Libra females have a tendency to  become a little chubby, given their affinity for champagne, chocolates  and cheese, but even the most shapely and toned beauties will display  those bumps at the right place. Take actress Catherine Zeta-Jones for  example or for that matter Carrie Fisher of Princess Leia fame.  Curvaceous all right! Even the signature V-shaped chin line has a soft,  rounded edge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next, the Librans generally have almond colored eyes. The most striking  thing about Libran eyes that their eyes are the first places that start  smiling even before it can be detected on the lips. See it for yourself  the next time, if you don't believe me. Librans are the ambassadors of  the most radiant, prefect smiles. They can literally light up a dark  room with that curve appearing on their lips. And they know that and  often use it to their advantage! In fact, their smiles can actually  change and uplift the features of a most ordinary looking Libra chick  and add new dimensions of charm and attractiveness to it. Libran laughs  are known to make an impression on people, who have had the pleasure of  envisioning it, at least once. I even overheard my quintessentially &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/virgo/"&gt;Virgo&lt;/a&gt; boyfriend once  telling his friend that her (my) smile makes me (him) weak in the knees.  Now, when a Virgo has complimented you, you know you have earned it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The most persistent of all &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/physical-traits-of-libra-zodiac-sign.html"&gt;physical  traits of Libra zodiac sign&lt;/a&gt; is the presence of dimples either on  the face or on the knee of a Libran woman and man. If its on the face,  then most often it's placed on the chin. And it's actually one of the  features that accentuates the cuteness of a Libran face.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By large, Libran women might sometimes be messy but never dirty. Sanity  and hygiene mean a lot to the female scale-bearer and owing to this  habit, these people are generally healthy, other than a few colds and  coughs here and there. Also, Librans make it a point to give their  bodies sufficient amount of rest whenever their systems have been  overworked. Usually after a session of tempestuous decision making! They  seem to have a mental siren that seems to go off as soon as the  physical and mental faculties have been optimally exploited. Its only  when they do not allow their systems to relax, do the problems start.  When sick, just a protracted slumber session can heal them. Soft music,  books and some warm hugs from their partners are the real miracle drugs  for these women.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With a strong immune system that can give any other &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/zodiac-signs/"&gt;zodiac sign&lt;/a&gt; a  run for their money, a Libran can really fall ill due to  over-indulgence, a quality that plagues the Librans. Actress Alicia  Silverstone actually pointed out one of the weaknesses of her sun sign  when she said, "&lt;i&gt;My favorite thing in the world is a box of fine  European chocolates which is, for sure, better than sex.&lt;/i&gt;" Librans  cave to their urges to binge on sweets and alcohol, especially when  depressed. These usually lead to violent bouts of indigestion, migraine,  blotchy skin, bladder and kidney perturbations and ulcers stemming from  greedy food consumption rather than worry. If mentally vexed for a  considerable period of time a Libran woman also becomes susceptible to  boils, itchy skin and other skin allergies. Since the breast area of the  Libran woman is a rather sensitive part of the body, it can be  afflicted with certain breast related problems, especially cancer. Very  rarely, but intestinal troubles and foot problems are noted among Libran  women.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All in all, the Libran girl is generally hail and hearty, given that  nothing is mentally gnawing at her. She has something spicy about her  appearance that makes her more attractive than beautiful, but you can't  just put a finger on what that magic component is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Female Libra Characteristics: Personality&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Female Libran: Individual&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Born under the ruling planet of Venus, between 23rd September to 23rd  October, a Libran woman is a very pleasant personality. She is known for  her charming and graceful ways among friends, relatives and even  distant social circles. They naturally exude such an easy, light and fun  aura about them that most often they are stereotyped as &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-12-2004-59210.asp"&gt;the  happy-go-lucky Libran&lt;/a&gt;. This is the reason why they make for some of  the finest party hostesses. They shower equal amounts of attention on  each of her invitees and usually are blessed with the gift of the gab.  They truly know how to win hearts and do everything in their power to  make their dos the talk of the town. She is a social butterfly whose  attempts at even harmless flirting can reap fantastic results. However,  this perfectionist streak in a Libran stems from the fact that Librans  cannot take criticism well. They brood for days after being criticized  and often hold it against people who fail to recognize their efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, because they are so charming and eloquent, Libran women are  sometimes taken for air-brains. Anybody who falls into this trap is  gravely mistaken. Librans, given their varied interests, are usually  very well-read and have logical things to say on myriad subjects. It's  just that they are not very crudely vocal about it. Their most firm  opinions are packaged in a satin-smooth tone which seldom offends her  listeners. Margaret Thatcher, again a Libran, once mirrored this  signature scale-bearer diplomacy with her statement, "&lt;i&gt;You don't tell  deliberate lies, but sometimes you have to be evasive.&lt;/i&gt;" A Libran is  euphemistic in her approach. She wraps the ugliest truth in a way that  its not blatant enough to hurt a soul but at the same time very just and  fair. In short, she's smooth and efficient.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A Libra lady is extremely fond of the fineries of life. She adores  luxury and and can't keep from buying that exorbitant Jimmy Choo heels  once it has caught her fancy. Believe me, they secretly dream about them  until they can finally possess their much coveted item of desire. She  is the quintessential 'roses and champagne' type. In fact Librans are  said to have the best collections of perfumes. They are very particular  about smelling good and have a penchant for &lt;i&gt;les parfums les  meilleures&lt;/i&gt;. In order to fund for these luxuries, most Libran women  work. On a negative note, they practice so much indiscretion when it  comes to splurging that a lot of bills are cleared with the help of  their partners or fathers. Don't judge us as we have our Achilles'  heels, too.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Libran women are extremely cultured and tend to develop a leaning  towards artistic and creative things in life. Usually they themselves  take up and cultivate a particular art form. They are connoisseurs of  paintings, dance forms, music and literature. In fact they are often  drawn to people who read. Author Katherine Mansfield, a Libran of  course, once mentioned that "&lt;i&gt;The pleasure of all reading is doubled  when one lives with another who shares the same books.&lt;/i&gt;". We love  books. Period. In fact my ideal date with a guy would book shopping and  then going for coffee at a cozy den. Sublime! In fact Libra women are  usually very attracted to good orators. The art of playing with words  should be your forté in order to quickly win over this October chick.  Even flowery verbiage is attractive to us Librans. Judge us as snobs if  you want but at least we have a stronger vocabulary!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, let's explore the scales part of this sign. Librans never ever  dismiss anybody's point of view and never impress their own opinions on  others. Whatever they say are most often a judgment created on the basis  of careful analysis and much rumination and very morality inclined.  Morals rank high in the thinking faculties of the Libran woman. While  expressing her views on something her reply will almost never be  monosyllabic. She will start off with a very vocal monologue, comprising  the pros and cons of something and after much weighing will she arrive  at a just, or at least the most fair conclusion. Once justice is  attained she will regain her charming composure again. But until then,  well let's say things are not that pretty. But once she's made up her  mind, it is practically impossible to deter a Libran from her stand. The  upside of this entire feature is that a Libran woman is not unfair and  never dismisses her partners argument without rational analysis. In fact  she doesn't shirk away from apologizing when her conclusion shows that  she was wrong. Even though this long drawn tug-of-war does get tedious  and irritating sometimes, Libran women have a brilliantly infectious  smile that can lighten up the tense situation in a jiffy once she is  back to her harmonious 'balanced' frame of mind again, with equilibrium  restored in the world again. In fact so conscious we are of justice and  honesty and morality that you shall never even find a Libran buying  pirated books or CDs. I at least wouldn't be caught dead in the  possession of one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/libra-personality-traits.html"&gt;Libran  personality traits&lt;/a&gt; may may ideally be described as a true blue  'mixture of opposites'. She is diplomatic and yet would never give up a  chance to have an argument. She will chatter away to glory for hours all  together, but when it comes to hearing you out, you will find another  patient listener with difficulty. She is a very competent worker but at  the same time hates to be ordered around. They hate moving at a glacial  speed but take the most time to take decisions. They are hell bent on  maintaining diplomacy but never refrain from voicing a just opinion even  if it involves taking sides. All in all, Libran women are the most  confusing people around who sometimes fail to understand their own  actions and digressions from their own rules.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Female Libran: Romantic Partner&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"&lt;i&gt;The story of a love is not important - what is important is that one  is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of  eternity.&lt;/i&gt;" ~ Helen Hayes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That came from another Libran horse's mouth! Libran's adore the concept  of love. They Idealize and worship it. A truly emotional love situation,  even that of a stranger's can deeply stir the female Libra soul. Thus,  men should be happy to have a Libran lover as these ladies do everything  to keep their love stories glitch-free. However, do not delude yourself  with the belief that they will let you dominate and humbly accept  everything you say. Gravely mistaken you shall be if you are naïve  enough to believe this. When it comes to romance, female Libra  characteristics, are manipulative but then again she does it all to win  you over and then protect you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have ever noticed the Chinese symbol of 'ying-yang' you shall  know that it implies the concept of duality. It also implicates that  every man has some effeminate qualities in him and every woman has some  manly traits in her. This stands bang on for Libra. It's the intellect  of a Libran woman where this concept can mostly be noted. You see,  Libran women are demure, petite and very charming. She will melt your  heart with her fantastic flirting skills. Her soft ways will make you  want to take her under your wing and protect her. It's only when the  romantic ship of your love story has set sail, when the stronger streak  of her personality surfaces. Even though she has never insult or  belittle you, you shall notice what a strong individual she really is.  Even though you realize that she is fully capable of standing on her  own, she will never make you feel that she doesn't need that reassuring  hand around her waist anymore. And she really believes that. She knows  about her strength but she feels that you add to her strength. She is  extremely faithful and doesn't even feel the urge to notice one more man  in her life, the day she finds her soul-mate. She'll never push her  opinions down your throat but will engage you in a very systematic  discussion to put forth her reasoning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Librans girls hate being single. They are never single for a prolonged  period of time. As a result, they insist on involving their partners in  everything they do. She is very very supportive of her partners  decisions, after elaborately analyzing them in her mind. However, even  if she finds a fault with the plan of action, she gently pushes him into  the correct path. So, gentle is her approach that you might not even  realize that it wasn't your own idea to allow the paradigm shift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A scale-bearer makes her husband her first priority. She will allow  nothing to encroach that space. She will love and pamper him. She'll  even read up on things that interests you and even learn a language if  your mother tongue is different. She might pay equal attention to all  the men in the party but understand that she has no real intentions for a  single one of them. It's just that her ruling planet makes her  naturally inclined towards becoming the heart of the party. A Libran  woman enjoys no other success in her life – social, academic and  professional if her romantic life is somehow disturbed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sexually a Libran is the child of the planet of passion. She has no  option but to be good in bed. She is a natural lover – gentle yet fiery.  A Libran woman, belonging to the cardinal category, has the sexual  appeal strong enough to hook any guy she really wishes to be be with.  Rita Hayworth once said that "&lt;i&gt;Every man I've ever known has fallen in  love with Gilda and wakened with me.&lt;/i&gt;" Such is the Libran's magnetic  appeal. Most importantly, a Libran enjoys a physical rendezvous most  when in love. Not that she doesn't relish it otherwise. After all the  Libran actress Carie Fisher admitted that, "&lt;i&gt;I'm fond of kissing. It's  part of my job. God sent me down to kiss a lot of people.&lt;/i&gt;" But she  optimally savors it when with a person she is actually in love with.  That's who she is. She might feel shy but always do her best to fulfill  all your naughty fantasies. Believe me, when a Libran makes love, her  sole intention is to satisfy her partner. But, by nature the female  scale-bearer is initially a little shy and goes further into her cocoon  if she doesn't get any responses from her partner. She needs that  assurance that her efforts are actually being noticed and appreciated.  So, you as man need to keep this factor in mind even though your girl is  an innate coquette and usually knows her moves. Just help her to shed  that inhibition and you shall then see how high the sparks fly!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Given her affinity for beauty, she will keep the house 'five-star hotel'  clean and exquisitely decorated with vintage crockery on the table and  classic paintings adorning the walls. But there is a rather distinctive  Libra characteristic that you should acquaint yourself with. One of the  major negative Libra woman characteristics include her swings from the  manic to the depressive states and vice versa. In her manic stage, a  Libran will not sit for a second. She'll scrub the bottom of the sink in  the middle of the night if required. She will not stop until there is  nothing else to sweep, iron, straighten or arrange. But this will be  invariably followed by the depressive stage when she will suddenly plonk  down on the bed and refuse to remove even a hair from her face. She  will do nothing really until her body completely rejuvenates and feels  fresh again. Things may pile up and cob webs may spring up around her  but she won't exercise a muscle until she regains her vitality. So, you  should be prepared as the man of the house as her moods dip to do the  chores yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Read more on &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/libra-man-in-love.html"&gt;Libra man  in love&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Female Libran: Mother&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Female Libra characteristics make these people extremely gentle mothers  whose issues are taken care of well. But in spite of the friendly &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/relationships/"&gt;relationship&lt;/a&gt; a  Libran mother tries to forge with her children, she can be rather firm  when they step over the line. She teaches her children to respect their  father above everybody else and loses her calm if they disobey him. A  Libran woman also allows the father to take responsibility of the  grooming of the kids. She never interferes or saves them when the dad is  a little strict with them. But yes, she does comfort and supports them  when she feels that their point of view has not been taken into  consideration. All in all, she loves her pampers her children but all in  due moderation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Female Libran: Professional&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most Libran women have a professional life both before and after they  tie the knot, mostly to fulfill their sybaritic needs. They are pretty  sincere workers but hate to be ordered about irrationally. They are  extremely fast learner's and grasp even alien concepts faster than most  other sun sign's. But even professionally they often succumb to their  manic-depressive phases. They will happily skip their lunch-breaks and  slog on Sundays when in the frenzied stage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The &lt;a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/characteristics-of-libra-zodiac-men-and-women.html"&gt;characteristics  of Libra zodiac&lt;/a&gt; push them towards creative and artistic  professions. A lot of painters, actors, authors are Librans. But they  also work excellently in teams, given their love for partnerships.  Because of their analytical nature, Librans are excellent risk analysts. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, whatever may be the profession, Libran women are even  "disorganized in the most organized way" as my friend once put it. They  have to have a suitable and comfortable zone to work in which they will  most definitely personalize. They need to have spacious and well  ventilated work stations, which could be psychological given that they  belong to the air element. Even at home most Librans sleep with the  windows wide open. Libran woman are also slightly eccentric so they tend  to display specific conditions to yield constructive results at time.  But, believe me they are workers who do not mind improvising and often  fishes out the most creative way to re-morph a clichéd idea for  presenting it for the 100th time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So there you have all the possible avatars of a Libran female. As  humans, Librans have their pitfalls, but they are committed and loyal,  like most women from other signs, working their magic in their unique  style, taking help from their specifically designed female Libra  characteristics. So go ahead and rise in her love as she gives you the  top spot in her heart. &lt;!--  From http://www.buzzle.com/articles/female-libra-characteristics.html  --&gt;  &lt;/div&gt; &lt;!-- google_ad_section_end --&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;By &lt;a class="cap" href="http://www.buzzle.com/authors.asp?author=38002"&gt;Ankana Dey  Choudhury&lt;/a&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2010/06/female-libra-characteristics.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-7951116162553533504</guid><pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:25:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-06-15T15:27:00.784+07:00</atom:updated><title>Dinh Dưỡng (Nutrie life)</title><description>&lt;div class="khung-title-noidung"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn"&gt;Dinh Dưỡng&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Những lý do đáng để bạn ăn trứng gà&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="khung-tren-noidungtin"&gt;&lt;div class="img-noidungtin"&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn/files/imagecache/img-chitiet/Nhunglydodangdebanantrungga.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-img-chitiet" /&gt;&lt;div class="noi-dung-anh"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;!--Session data--&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="mota-noidung"&gt;Trứng gà là nguồn cung  cấp nhiều axit amin cần thiết và có lợi cho cơ thể. Đặc biệt, trong  trứng gà chứa nhiều lysin, đây là một trong 8 axit amin đặc biệt cần  thiết với sức khoẻ.&lt;!--Session data--&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="tin-lien-quan-day"&gt;&lt;div class="tinlienquan"&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn/story/tri-thieu-mau-bang-trung-ga"&gt;Trị  thiếu máu bằng trứng gà &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn/story/mot-so-mon-bai-thuoc-co-trung-ga"&gt;Một  số món ăn - bài thuốc có trứng gà &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn/story/cach-dung-trung-ga-phong-chong-tang-huyet-ap"&gt;  Cách dùng trứng gà phòng chống tăng huyết áp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dinhduong.com.vn/story/3-thoi-iem-khong-nen-trung-ga"&gt; 3  thời điểm không nên ăn trứng gà&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Phân tích thành phần dinh dưỡng trứng gà cho  thấy, trong 100g trứng gà nấu chín chứa 1,12g cacbonhydrat, 10,6g chất  béo, 12,6g protein, 0,66mg vitamin B1, 0,5g vitamin B2, 50mg canxi,  1,2mg sắt, 172 mg phốt pho, 126mg kali, 1mg kẽm và 424mg cholesterol.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tỷ  lệ tương quan giữa thành phần dinh dưỡng của trứng gà rất cân đối. Lòng  đỏ trứng gà chứa 13,6% chất đạm, 28,9% chất béo và 1,6% chất khoáng.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chất  lecithin trong lòng đỏ trứng có đặc tính kết hợp với chất béo để thấm  qua thành ruột vào máu đi nuôi cơ thể, làm hạn chế lượng cholesterol  tăng trong huyết tương. Protein trong lòng đỏ trứng gà chứa các axit  amin toàn diện nhất.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thành phần của lòng trắng trứng gà phần lớn  là nước, chất đạm, chất béo và ít khoáng chất. Lòng trắng trứng chứa  nhiều methonine nhằm bổ sung cho lượng axit amin của trứng được cân  bằng.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thành phần dinh dưỡng của trứng gà đặc biệt như vậy nên  trứng gà có tác dụng đối với sức khoẻ như sau:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bảo vệ não,  tăng cường trí nhớ&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chất phốtpho và cholesterol trong  lòng đỏ trứng gà có tác dụng rất lớn đến hệ thần kinh trung ương và sự  phát triển của cơ thể. Sau khi phốtpho trong trứng được hấp thu, cơ thể  sẽ phóng ra chất kiềm có tác dụng tăng cường trí nhớ.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bảo  vệ gan&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Protein trong trứng gà có tác dụng khôi phục một  số thương tổn trong tổ chức gan. Chất béo, phốtpho trong lòng đỏ trứng  có tác dụng tái sinh tế bào gan, nâng cao lượng protein ở dạng huyết  tương, tăng cường sự trao đổi chất và khả năng miễn dịch cơ thể.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Đề  phòng ung thư&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Trong trứng gà có nhiều vitamin B2 có thể  phân giải và ôxy hóa phần nào các chất có nguy cơ gây ung thư trong cơ  thể người.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Làm chậm sự suy thoái của cơ thể&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Trứng  gà chứa gần đủ các chất dinh dưỡng quí, vì thế có tác dụng làm chậm sự  suy thoái của cơ thể. Một trong những kinh nghiệm của người cao tuổi  sống lâu ở Trung Quốc là mỗi ngày nên ăn một quả trứng gà.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rất  nhiều các loại thuốc dưỡng sinh lưu truyền trong dân gian của người  Trung Quốc cũng đều sử dụng trứng gà. Chẳng hạn, hà thủ ô hầm với trứng  gà, trứng gà nấu với óc lợn hay trứng gà nấu cháo...&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ngoài ra,  trứng gà chứa một độ ẩm lý tưởng để chăm sóc da. Bởi vậy, nhiều phụ nữ  thường sử dụng lòng trắng hay lòng đỏ trứng gà để dưỡng da mặt vào các  buổi tối.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2010/06/dinh-duong-nutrie-life.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-4564444534391513745</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:41:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-02-26T22:43:12.521+07:00</atom:updated><title>Offline with friend</title><description>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums3/ATYAAABdN65IhuS5SvnG5Br6N1lFAKuN-sNLaToO9j33VTogUVt4cvoqpKtlWZ_whIe7bKPs5sIE7MIp4IopQ3LiVy4SAJtU9VAjya3cqRQcAJcTQNufPL2yH-wl-w.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer; width: 800px; height: 600px;" src="http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums3/ATYAAABdN65IhuS5SvnG5Br6N1lFAKuN-sNLaToO9j33VTogUVt4cvoqpKtlWZ_whIe7bKPs5sIE7MIp4IopQ3LiVy4SAJtU9VAjya3cqRQcAJcTQNufPL2yH-wl-w.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums3/ATYAAADFTW_5iyNUvZMkOQ-OQRb2iCACA9MHBu2A1eW6IwNFcT5xKT2x5qNoFaE2BrXnVCmULAbb0YvgPDn3J90fAtTFAJtU9VChTme5OLxrMvRc-MX_oS21Fiy4WA.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer; width: 800px; height: 600px;" src="http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums3/ATYAAADFTW_5iyNUvZMkOQ-OQRb2iCACA9MHBu2A1eW6IwNFcT5xKT2x5qNoFaE2BrXnVCmULAbb0YvgPDn3J90fAtTFAJtU9VChTme5OLxrMvRc-MX_oS21Fiy4WA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2009/02/offline-with-friend.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-1826106768662241416</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:04:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-10-13T14:27:46.778+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">personal</category><title>Happy Birthday</title><description>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"&gt;HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONG VAN OCT 9TH&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBtg7YBrQCofW2y-U33OuUEr0z53rF5B65tFBv2N1e2kTqmef-TSWyT-uZAZ_7_nu2VjNRUs_2vMxzxDJOS188CucTHZZ29saaLqlqldgiDPV6mvMSm336i1yux9XohtbkuJdfzCZSgs/s1600-h/P1010568.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256532310665880802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcGo3kw9Y1bAg9-XvUXFUVe3uYOe3jJM1qSWnwwZvyzeWhMKkZ0gM971yoEe8sAlxyh03f42x99_lJefk8x0DBMY1qf03Bfr1VrV-GgEMi4780PstIN5oV-UtySPcLxOVzpgf9bz9b-g/s1600-h/P1010570.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256534111561965810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcGo3kw9Y1bAg9-XvUXFUVe3uYOe3jJM1qSWnwwZvyzeWhMKkZ0gM971yoEe8sAlxyh03f42x99_lJefk8x0DBMY1qf03Bfr1VrV-GgEMi4780PstIN5oV-UtySPcLxOVzpgf9bz9b-g/s400/P1010570.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj41yWUBVVmfpZ62i1qYb-dqaFUsdyKut7u38Kda4U3oZa1Yjc1r9M76vFWw66S-8Z0E6T2dRYpO6fPXOu-3hKE6M5olblc0mckBDoXkzU5kCm6NCS8Z-UwYyfNLlrCJi-aoTIGfXAIo/s1600-h/P1010574.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256534114670835010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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align="left"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-birthday.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" height="72" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBtg7YBrQCofW2y-U33OuUEr0z53rF5B65tFBv2N1e2kTqmef-TSWyT-uZAZ_7_nu2VjNRUs_2vMxzxDJOS188CucTHZZ29saaLqlqldgiDPV6mvMSm336i1yux9XohtbkuJdfzCZSgs/s72-c/P1010568.JPG" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-6776484460457881546</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:37:16.895+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Pig</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Contrary to its rather negative reputation in the West, the Pig of Chinese Astrology may be the most generous and honorable Sign of the Zodiac. Pigs are nice to a fault and possess impeccable manners and taste. They have so much of the perfectionist in them that others may be inclined to perceive them as snobs, but this is a misconception. Pigs are simply possessed of a truly luxurious nature, one that delights in finery and riches (in surroundings, food, lovemaking and otherwise). This Sign believes in the best qualities of mankind and certainly doesn't consider itself to be superior. Pigs also care a great deal about friends and family and work hard to keep everyone in their life happy. Helping others is a true pleasure for the Pig, who feels best when everyone else is smiling.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A Pig with no one around to appreciate its giving nature is a sad sight. Pigs are so magnanimous they can appear almost saintly; this can lead some less-than-well-intentioned souls to stomp all over this Sign, and the bad news is, the Pig will take the blows! Pigs make great companions in part because of their refusal to see the more negative or base qualities in a partner, but that rose-colored view can lead to this Sign's allowing itself to be taken advantage of. Contrary to their seemingly benign dispositions, however, Pigs can be quite venomous in response to being crossed by a lover, friend or business partner.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pigs are highly intelligent creatures, forever studying, playing and probing in their quest for greater knowledge. They can be misinterpreted as being lazy, however, due to their love of reveling in the good stuff; this Sign could happily spend hours on end making love, napping, taking a long bubble bath or dallying over an incredible spread of rich foods. Pigs tend to make wonderful life partners due to their hearts of gold and their love of family. Even so, Pigs can be rather exclusive, choosing to spend time with those who will appreciate them most and ignore the rest of the populace. Pigs would do well to realize that there's more to life than being needed. When they open up their world to a diverse group of people, they will truly bloom. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-pig.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-7626486137224038409</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:36:39.374+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Dog</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In the West, the Dog is man's best friend, but in Chinese Astrology this Sign is a little more unpredictable than that. Dogs are loyal, faithful and honest and always stick to their firm codes of ethics. However, this Sign has trouble trusting others. It's generally quite trustworthy itself -- except for the occasional little white lies the Dog tells in order to make things go more smoothly. The Dog makes a wonderful, discreet and loyal friend (despite any white lies) and is an excellent listener. This Sign tends to root for the underdog and its keen sense of right and wrong makes it duty-bound to the core. The Dog's mantra seems to be, Live right, look out for the little people and fight injustice whenever possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dogs can also be rather dogmatic, too. They don't go in for light social banter; instead, they go straight for home, expostulating on the topics that are most important to them. At these times the Dog's narrow-minded or stubborn side can become apparent; this Sign has trouble staying light and calm when an important issue is at stake. This Sign can also be very temperamental; mood swings characterize its emotional life and often the Dog needs to run off to be alone in order to recuperate. Part of the problem is the result of this Sign's load of irrational fears that turn into niggling anxieties that turn into hurt feelings and occasional grouchiness. This sensitive Sign needs to warm up to others over time and gradually learn to trust them. Without that trust as a foundation, Dogs can be judgmental and coarse.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Dog's discerning nature does make it an excellent business person, one who can turn that picky, guarded nature into a keen sense of the truth of another's motives. Where love is concerned, Dogs often have a tough time finding the right match. They can be so anxious and overwrought in the romance dance that they'll stress their partner to the max! In any forum, this Sign is happiest when able to be quite physically active; at home or at work, the Dog will always be constructing something new or cleaning something up in order to make things better. Dogs need to work on controlling their irrational worries and would also be well-served to relax their mile-high standards, which can sometimes wind up alienating the ones they love &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-dog.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-7099138698232792216</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:35:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:36:05.075+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Rooster</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Rooster is the strutting peacock of the Chinese Zodiac! These quick thinkers are practical and resourceful, preferring to stick to what is tried and true rather than taking messy, unnecessary risks. Roosters are keenly observant. It's hard to slip anything past a Rooster, since they seem to have eyes in the backs of their heads! This quality can lead others to think the Rooster is psychic, but that's not generally the case; instead, this Sign enjoys a keen attention to detail that makes it a whiz at anything requiring close analysis. Roosters make great lawyers, brain surgeons and accountants, to name a few of this Sign's possible occupations. Above all else, the Rooster is very straightforward and rewards others' honesty in kind.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Roosters aren't shifty or cagey and have no interest in hiding behind a facade. They are the proverbial open book, telling the truth and keeping their word. If you show your hand, the Rooster will respect you for it. This kind of trusting behavior can tempt tricksters to pull a fast one on the Rooster, but that would be a bad move! Remember, this Sign doesn't indulge in flights of fancy and keeps those eyes wide open at all times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Roosters tend to be perfectionists and expect to be in control, especially over their appearance. Primping and posing for the Rooster can go on forever! Being noticed and admired is an aphrodisiac for Roosters, and they can go a long time on a few kind words. Roosters also adore being out on the town, especially if they're in the company of adoring friends. The Rooster will also be the best-dressed one of the bunch -- style counts with this Sign, regardless of the cost.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Roosters also expect to be in control of their surroundings, including whoever happens to be in those surroundings. Roosters keep an impeccably neat house and expect their lovers, housemates and family members to maintain the same high standards of dress and conduct as they do. This can cause problems with other, more relaxed types who just want to be accepted as is. The Rooster needs the right partner, one who understands this Sign's basically conservative nature. With the right person, the Rooster can be the most loyal, trusting and supportive mate around, one who bends over backward to please its loved ones. Some Signs may just end up feeling hen-pecked, however.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Roosters need to learn to value their heart and soul as much as their good looks. Their excellent people skills and sharp minds are qualities that others will appreciate as much as a pretty face. This Sign would also do well to learn to adopt the philosophy of live and let live; perhaps an appeal to the Rooster's logic -- that it's inefficient to waste time nagging others -- will help this Sign learn to let others be whomever and however they are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-rooster.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-2839518323821600155</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:35:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:35:23.001+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Monkey</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The spunky Monkey is the original party animal! Charming and energetic, Monkeys crave fun, activity and stimulation. They truly know how to have a good time and can often be seen swinging from one group of friends to another, attracting a motley crew in the process. Always upbeat, they are considered minor celebrities in their circle thanks to their sparkling wit and that rapier-sharp mind. Perhaps surprisingly, Monkeys are also good listeners and tackle complicated situations with ease. This Sign's natural curiosity lends it the desire to become knowledgeable on a broad range of topics. Monkeys have a show-off side that loves nothing more than to dazzle their pals with all they know.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Monkey tends to be rather accident-prone due to a certain lack of very high morals. This Sign's first interest is pursuing its own pleasure; this is not a malicious interest, it's just the way the Monkey is. However, this kind of carefree self-involvement can lead to all kinds of scrapes. In love, the Monkey makes a fun, exciting lover -- but one that may have the potential to stray romantically. The good news is, the Monkey’s glib manner and witty repartee can often get this Sign out of a scrape. Perhaps not everyone will be won over by the Monkey -- but do you think the Monkey really cares? The Monkey's world, full of devil-may-care energy and revelry, isn't for everyone. Remember, though, it's not that this Sign is mean; it might just be a bit too curious for its own good. Monkeys often feel the need to try everything at least once, which can make for a merry-go-round of relationships.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Monkey's love of self-indulgence can also lead to other types of trouble. This Sign may have limited self-control concerning food, alcohol and other pleasurable activities. It's party time all the time for the Monkey, yet when it leads to a monster hangover or a shattered heart (generally someone else's, not theirs), this Sign might actually show a touch of remorse. They won't flat-out admit the error of their ways, but at least they'll pull back and try to tone things down -- for a while.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Monkeys must try to learn to think of others ahead of themselves, at least some of the time. This Sign's world will be more complete once it realizes the world doesn't revolve around it. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-monkey.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-404462247318548858</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:34:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:34:45.656+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Sheep</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Daydreaming all afternoon sounds heavenly to the Sheep. This creative, esoteric Sign needs plenty of time alone in which to feed its Muse. Sheep are generally most comfortable in their own minds (which other, more linear-thinking Signs may have trouble deciphering). This Sign makes a great craftsperson or artisan, or perhaps a teacher of New Age studies -- any occupation that allows its mind the full range of freedom. Sheep tend not to be very well-organized, precluding many more dry business endeavors. In fact, Sheep tend not to be very materialistic in general, finding plenty of riches in their own imagination. However, especially when in love, the Sheep can be quite a lavish gift-giver.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps it's that artistic temperament that so often causes Sheep to feel insecure, but the result is that these high-strung creatures need to feel loved and admired lest they start worrying incessantly. For this reason, Sheep tend to have a hard time with romance; anyone who couples up with a Sheep must know, this Sign has a sensitive streak a mile wide and can be subject to bouts of anxiety over seemingly inconsequential things. Sheep need plenty of love, support and open reassurance from their lovers. If a relationship is marked by conflict, the Sheep will often pull away -- either physically or simply by retreating into the safe haven of its imagination.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If the romance is going well, however, Sheep won't hesitate to tell their partner what they need -- and they can be quite insistent about it! This Sign will definitely return the favor, however; the Sheep has a luxurious side that delights in indulging a lover's every wish. Appearances are also important to the Sheep, which may explain why these folks can spend hours primping and posing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sheep would be well-served by learning to relax and let others run the show from time to time. Once they can be certain that their friends and lovers won't be gone when the Sheep returns from its daydreams, life will be a field of daisies. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-sheep.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-3981819154435785592</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:33:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:34:01.635+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Horse</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Thank goodness for open spaces, because the Horse needs plenty of room to roam! Energetic, good with money and very fond of travel, Horses are the nomads of the Chinese Zodiac, roaming from one place or project to the next. All of this Sign's incessant activity and searching may be to satisfy a deep-rooted desire to fit in. Paradoxically, Horses feel a simultaneous yearning for independence and freedom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Horses crave love and intimacy, which is a double-edged sword since it often leads them to feel trapped. Love connections tend to come easily to Horses, since they exude the kind of raw sex appeal that is a magnet to others. This Sign tends to come on very strong in the beginning of the relationship, having an almost innate sense of romance and seduction. Horses are seducers in general; check out any A-list party and you're bound to find the Horse in attendance. This Sign possesses a sharp wit and a scintillating presence; it really knows how to work a crowd. Surprisingly, Horses tend to feel a bit inferior to their peers, a misconception that causes them to drift from group to group out of an irrational fear of being exposed as a fraud.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;An impatient streak can lead Horses to be less than sensitive to others' needs. These colts would rather take a situation firmly in hand as opposed to waiting for others to weigh in or come to terms with it. The lone wolf inside the Horse can at times push others away, but this also makes this Sign stronger and is a key to its success. Horses are self-reliant and, though they might lose interest fast in a tedious, nine-to-five day job, are willing to do the work necessary to get ahead.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Horses tend not to look much at the big picture; instead they just follow their whims, which can result in a trail of prematurely ended relationships, jobs, projects and so on. This Sign really knows how to motivate others, though, and get a lot accomplished. Once they find some peace within themselves, they can curb their wandering tendencies and learn to appreciate what's in their own backyard. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-horse.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-1052515744552560350</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:33:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:33:28.544+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Snake</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Diplomatic and popular, the Snake has the sensual art of seduction down. This Sign is an interesting mix of gregariousness paired with introversion, intuitive reasoning paired with savvy business skills. Snakes are considered to be lucky with money and will generally have more than enough to live life to the fullest, regardless of how important it considers money to be; this may be due to the fact that Snakes tend to be rather tight with cash. They're not stingy, they're simply more mentally than physically active. Snakes tend to hang back a bit in order to analyze a situation before jumping into it. Their charming, seductive quality actually belies a rather retiring nature; this Sign is perfectly happy to spend the whole day curled up with a good book and, thus, can be mislabeled as being lazy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Snake is somewhat insecure deep down and tend to be a rather jealous, possessive lover, behavior that can end up alienating loved ones. Despite these less-than-stellar tendencies, however, the Snake often proves irresistible and is a generous, loving partner. Slightly dangerous and disarmingly smart, the Snake's philosophical and intuitive mind generally supersedes logic in favor of feelings and instinct. Snakes will rely on their own gut reactions and intuitions before turning to others for suggestions. This makes this Sign a great hand in any business venture, possessing the caution and smarts needed to get ahead.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snakes are hard workers (when they see good reason to be!) and are possessed of a keen intelligence. Snakes have incredible follow-through, once they get going, and they expect the same from others. Thus, their coworkers and employees had best stay on their toes, lest they anger the Snake and suffer its poisonous bite!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In general, of course, Snakes are generous and genteel, charming and appealing. Snakes must try to learn humility and to develop a stronger sense of self. Once Snakes realize that confidence comes from within, they will finally be comfortable in their own skin. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-snake.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-2288674915648451020</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:32:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:32:48.879+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Dragon</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Dragon is one of the most powerful and lucky Signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Its warm heart makes the Dragon's brash, fiery energy far more palatable. This is a giving, intelligent and tenacious Sign that knows exactly what it wants and is determined to get it. Dragons possess a certain natural, charming charisma that ensures they can always influence their peers and often find themselves the center of attention in social situations. This Sign is truly blessed, too; Dragons are considered to be very lucky in love! The Dragon's friends are always keen to hear what this firebrand has to say and when it comes to dispensing advice, the Dragon has the floor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Its ego can get in the Dragon's way, but even so, this larger-than-life creature has a knack for initiating projects and keeping the troops motivated. According to Dragons, it's their natural born right to lead the way -- because who else could do it so surely and so well? As lucky as they are, Dragons have a good chance of achieving considerable material wealth during their lifetimes, although it isn't mere money that's this Sign's main motivation. Power is what the Dragon wants and truly believes it deserves. Dragons are quite the opportunists, forever searching for ways in which to consolidate their considerable power. Contrary to all this strength and fire, a weakened Dragon is a sad sack, a creature that refuses to take defeat with even a modicum of grace.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The role of leader is the only one the Dragon wants, the better from which to give orders and be king of the hill. They make solid leaders, too, knowing instinctively what needs to be done to stay on top. Crossing the Dragon is never a good idea -- this beast can singe! A valuable life lesson for this clever creature would be to absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons from living their lives to the fullest. If Dragons can learn to balance their quest for success with an appreciation for the little things, their life will be more than worthwhile. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-dragon.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-2739712373393747202</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:31:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:32:01.402+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Rabbit</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Timid and attractive, the Rabbits of the Chinese Zodiac tend to act more like bunnies, whether they like it or not! This Sign is extremely popular and has a wide circle of family and friends. Its compassionate nature leads it to be very protective of those it holds dear, but where romance is concerned, the Rabbit's sentimentality can lead it to idealize relationships. The sweet, sensitive Rabbit often ends up giving more of itself to a partner than is realistic or healthy. The good news is, when this Sign goes off-balance, the Rabbit's core group of friends and its stable home life help bring it back to center.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Rabbit is a rather delicate Sign that needs a solid base in order to thrive. Lacking close, supportive friends and family, the Rabbit might just break down in tears at the first sign of conflict. Emotional upsets in this Sign's life can even lead to physical illnesses. Rabbits dislike arguments and other conflict and will try anything to avoid a fight; this results in something of a pushover nature. Rabbits can also lapse into pessimism and may seem stuck in life -- often to mask their insecure natures. Rabbits tend to move through life's lessons at their own, rather contemplative pace; it's a waste of time to become exasperated with this Sign's seeming disinterest in facing its problems and conquering them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With the right partner -- meaning someone whose high principles won't allow it to take advantage of this sensitive, giving Sign -- the Rabbit can make an incredibly loving and protective partner or family member. Rabbits love to entertain at home and always make sure their house is comfortable and tastefully-furnished. What Rabbits need most is a stronger sense of self-worth and the security that comes with it. Their discerning natures, coupled with some hard-won assertiveness, will help these happy creatures go far.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-rabbit.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-2055506054815108786</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:31:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:31:19.511+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Tiger</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Tigers may not be the king of the jungle, but these striped cats are no softies! Magnetic and self-possessed, Tigers are born leaders. They have an air of authority that prompts others to fall in line, which is exactly how they like it. Although they are magnetically charming and fun to be around, Tigers like to go it alone sometimes too. A Tiger's main interest is in following its ambitions -- and maintaining control.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tigers are courageous beyond compare and generally come out ahead in battle, be it in the boardroom or the bedroom. Seduction is one area where the Tiger is definitely king! Noble and warm-hearted, Tigers have a natural, raw appeal that's extremely attractive to other Signs. They're not just about attraction, though; ever on the side of right, Tigers will fight the good fight to the bitter end if the cause is worthy. Opponents are wise to fear this feline.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A bit of caution is a good thing around Tigers, since they can pounce without warning. They experience mood swings and often feel things more intensely than others, the latter quality being both good and bad. They can react poorly under stress and are prone to emotional outbursts. This Sign's bristling sensitivity can send friend and foe running for cover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A lesson that Tigers would be well-served to learn is moderation in all things. Once these cats can find their center and direct their considerable energies toward worthwhile endeavors (as opposed to racing through life), they will accomplish much. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-tiger.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-8674049347103230460</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:30:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:30:35.485+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac OX</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Ox of Chinese Astrology is no bull in a china shop. Steadfast and solid, this powerful Sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Oxen tend to be plodding and methodical; they approach projects in the step-by-step manner that serves them best, and they never lose sight of their goal. They are tireless workers who are detail-oriented and believe in doing things right the first time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The world may perceive Oxen as being far too serious or incapable of loosening up. This sturdy sort is less than social by nature and tends to become introverted in a crowd. To make things worse, they can't be bothered with what other people think and prefer to do what makes them feel best. Behind that calm facade, though, lives an Ox who can feel hurt, lonely and unable to connect with others. Friends and family are a great source of comfort to this beast, even if they don't always understand what makes the Ox tick. As a lover, friend, family member or housemate, the Ox makes a wonderfully strong, tender and affectionate companion who is protective and always reliable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Out in the world, though, Oxen tend to be stubborn, dogmatic, my-way-or-the-highway kind of people who have no concept of when to back down. Oxen don't care to be pushed, especially since they think they're the good guys of the Chinese Zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honorable. If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good lesson for mighty Oxen is to strive to overcome a judgmental nature that keeps them from getting close to others. If they can learn to value their own good qualities, they'll have more room in their hearts to invite others in. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-ox.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-1719906498970889527</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:27:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-30T09:29:04.145+07:00</atom:updated><title>Chinese Zodiac Rat</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;Though the Western rat is reviled as little more than a bottom-dwelling disease carrier, this animal is viewed much differently in the East. The Eastern rat is revered for its quick wits and its ability to accrue and hold on to items of value; rats are considered a symbol of good luck and wealth in both China and Japan. Clever and quick-witted, the Rat of the Chinese Zodiac is utterly disarming to boot. Possessed of excellent taste, this Sign flaunts its style at every turn. Its natural charm and sharp, funny demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone. The Rat likes to know who is on its side and will treat its most loyal friends with an extra measure of protection and generosity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Behind that sweet smile, though, Rats are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas. This Sign is motivated by its own interests, which often include money; greed can become a problem if the Rat isn't careful to keep its priorities straight. This Sign's natural powers of charm and persuasion can definitely come in handy! Although they are often hoarders, Rats can be very generous to those in their pack, namely friends and family members who have proven their loyalty. Others might perceive them as quick-tempered and sharp-tongued, but never boorish. Verbal jousting is a great pleasure for the Rat, a Sign that everyone around will quickly learn either to love or to hate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rats enjoy being on the outside looking in, as the outside affords a view into the inner workings of a system or situation. The Rat's keen mind always seeks out new knowledge, to be stored away for future use. This ever-curious Sign also welcomes challenges as a way to stay sharp. If boredom sets in the Rat is no fun at all, but that isn't likely; this Sign knows how to keep itself entertained.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A valuable lesson for Rats is to learn to consider others above themselves, at least sometimes. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats could find true happiness. &lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/chinese-zodiac-rat.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-6746399926047936438</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:23:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-11-26T11:28:53.990+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">personal</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">webcam</category><title>my photos</title><description>&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfkoTf-q134Neic4kWZhQF4ttdW9NVL3qwBoB34TEhF2gxjwKsg93emhKIu0z0yjc78qi7NdgE6M77y3iw4bOmOMnuJfXAFbxalFDhuiKZ6aETUGT69H8wyYAfGBmyspgzxo8iNvt-J4/s1600-h/van.bmp"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249949410983210194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfkoTf-q134Neic4kWZhQF4ttdW9NVL3qwBoB34TEhF2gxjwKsg93emhKIu0z0yjc78qi7NdgE6M77y3iw4bOmOMnuJfXAFbxalFDhuiKZ6aETUGT69H8wyYAfGBmyspgzxo8iNvt-J4/s400/van.bmp" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Before setting camera&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfwgGZ5ESW3xmWd0ZkRlRtTu_ddFqny1Zw_oIDx2hnyHlqC1df5hR82V1TZbjStDO_jtsI6mNErUlL8nltlo4HEO7gauIXMFB7bnAQn7vyx75tFawHeOl5aNbrQDhCbf2GrvgPSjWyTo/s1600-h/van3.bmp"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249960194215781458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfwgGZ5ESW3xmWd0ZkRlRtTu_ddFqny1Zw_oIDx2hnyHlqC1df5hR82V1TZbjStDO_jtsI6mNErUlL8nltlo4HEO7gauIXMFB7bnAQn7vyx75tFawHeOl5aNbrQDhCbf2GrvgPSjWyTo/s400/van3.bmp" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSQyyj0ULOpOdxzi4jZjECbk1setPlbIiOzWNLVW-HVbaNKCUk99lJYEFHsnW3J9JlfTefO26GZyOvu7Jw460UYKAL7It4luLqZk5ovd-XmtCIghAsrainhce92vcEcKQOo0FUgSJlfE/s1600-h/van1.bmp"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249949414684316322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSQyyj0ULOpOdxzi4jZjECbk1setPlbIiOzWNLVW-HVbaNKCUk99lJYEFHsnW3J9JlfTefO26GZyOvu7Jw460UYKAL7It4luLqZk5ovd-XmtCIghAsrainhce92vcEcKQOo0FUgSJlfE/s400/van1.bmp" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVXbcM5yYDcRssIzGk3RWiIZ_7kLwQnscfUrvA8oKbPfG-CIiBDpEWsIbCl8DIi9dMjms3ORdoiICk3sJW0APeknxp29yMu74CZYe8nkBOwbO9hUjFaRhxyYgy_2E65XoyuoE1ey_BkQ/s1600-h/van2.bmp"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249950448293163138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVXbcM5yYDcRssIzGk3RWiIZ_7kLwQnscfUrvA8oKbPfG-CIiBDpEWsIbCl8DIi9dMjms3ORdoiICk3sJW0APeknxp29yMu74CZYe8nkBOwbO9hUjFaRhxyYgy_2E65XoyuoE1ey_BkQ/s400/van2.bmp" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-photos.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" height="72" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfkoTf-q134Neic4kWZhQF4ttdW9NVL3qwBoB34TEhF2gxjwKsg93emhKIu0z0yjc78qi7NdgE6M77y3iw4bOmOMnuJfXAFbxalFDhuiKZ6aETUGT69H8wyYAfGBmyspgzxo8iNvt-J4/s72-c/van.bmp" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-3001024785374469947</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:04:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T18:12:53.626+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Inspirational Love Story</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><title>Inspirational Love Story, A Gift of Love</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It had been a year since Susan, 34, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. And all she had to cling to was her husband, Mark.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan, and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Soon, however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn't working. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But she was still so fragile, so angry - how would she react? Just as he predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I'm blind!", she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel like you're abandoning me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus-riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, And his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure do envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The driver responded, "It must feel good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and again asked, "What do you mean?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine-looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you as you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;object width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/1s9tRFHwP0" /&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="high" /&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent" /&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="&amp;autostart=true" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/1s9tRFHwP0" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;autostart=true" width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/inspirational-love-story-gift-of-love.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-8331587722175829014</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:45:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T17:46:28.106+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Romantic story</category><title>100 Days Game Love Story</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Message: Peter and Tina are sitting in the park doing nothing, but just gazing into the sky, while all their friends are having fun with their beloved half.&lt;br /&gt;Tina: I'm so bored. Just wish I have a boyfriend now to spend time with.&lt;br /&gt;Peter: I guess we're the only leftovers. We're the only person who isn't with a date now.&lt;br /&gt;(both sigh n silence for a while)&lt;br /&gt;Tina: I think I have a good idea. Lets play a game&lt;br /&gt;Peter: Eh? What game?&lt;br /&gt;Tina: Eem..It's quite simple. You be my boyfriend for 100 days and I'll be your girlfriend for 100 days. what do you think?&lt;br /&gt;Peter: Oookay..Anyway I don't have any plan for the next few months.&lt;br /&gt;Tina: You sound like you aren't looking forward to it at all. Cheer up. Today will be our first day and our first date. Where should we go?&lt;br /&gt;Peter: What about a movie? I heard that there is a really great movie in theater now.&lt;br /&gt;Tina: Seems like I don't have any better idea than this. Lets move. (went to watch their movies and sent each other home)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 2:&lt;br /&gt;Peter and Tina went to a concert together, and Peter bought Tina a keychain with a star.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 3:&lt;br /&gt;They went shopping together for a friend's birthday present. Share an ice-cream together and hugged each other for the first time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 7:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Peter drove Tina up onto a mountain and they watch the sunset together. When the night came and the moon glowed, they said sat on the grass gazing at the stars together. A meteor passed by. Tina mumbled something.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 25:&lt;br /&gt;Spend time at a themepark and got onto rollercoasters, and ate hotdogs and cotton candy. Peter and Tina got in the haunted house and Tina grabbed someone's hand instead of Peter's hand by accident. They laughed together for a while.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 67:&lt;br /&gt;They drove pass a circus and decided to get in to watch the show. The midget asked Tina to play a part as his assistant in the magic show. Went around to see other entertainments around after the show. Came to a fortune teller and she just said "Treasure every moment from now on" and a tear rolled down the fortune teller's cheek.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 84:&lt;br /&gt;Tina suggested that they go to the beach. The beach wasn't so crowded that day. They have their first kiss with each other just as the sun is setting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day 99:&lt;br /&gt;They decided to have a simple day and is deciding to have a walk around the city. They sits down onto a bench.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1:23 pm&lt;br /&gt;Tina: I'm thirsty. Lets rest for a while first.&lt;br /&gt;Peter: Wait here while I go buy some drinks. What would you like?&lt;br /&gt;Tina: Eem...Apple juice will be just fine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1:43 pm&lt;br /&gt;Tina waiting for about 20 minutes and Peter havent return. Then someone walked up to her.&lt;br /&gt;Stranger: Is your name Tina?&lt;br /&gt;Tina: Yes, and may I help you?&lt;br /&gt;Stranger: Just now down there on the street a drunk driver has crashed into a guy. I think its your friend.&lt;br /&gt;Tina ran over to the spot with the stranger and sees Peter lying on the floor with blood over his face and her apple juice still in his hands. The ambulance came and she went to the hospital with Peter. Tina sat outside the emergency room for five and a half hours. The doctor came out, and he sigh.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11:51 pm&lt;br /&gt;Doctor: I'm sorry, but we did the best we could. He is still breathing now but God would take him away from us very soon. We found this letter inside his pocket.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The doctor hands over the letter to Tina and she goes into the room to see Peter. He look weak but peaceful. Tina read the letter and then she burst into tears. Here is what the letter said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tina,&lt;br /&gt;Our 100 days is almost over. I had fun with you during all these days. Although you may be greedy sometimes and less thoughtful, but these all brought happiness into my life. I have realize that you are a really cute girl and blamed myself for never taken the time to knowing that. I have nothing much to ask for, but I just wish that we can extend the day. I want to be your boyfriend forever and wish that you can be beside me all the time. Tina, I love you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11:58&lt;br /&gt;Tina: (sobbing) Peter. Did you know what was the wish I made on the night there was a meteor. I asked God to let us last forever. We were suppose to last 100 days so Peter! You can't leave me! I LOVE YOU, but can you come back to&lt;br /&gt;me now? I love you Peter. I LOVE YOU.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the clock struck twelve, Peter's heart stopped beating. It was 100 days.&lt;br /&gt;NOTE*&lt;br /&gt;Tell the guy or girl that you love them before&lt;br /&gt;its too late. You never know whats going to&lt;br /&gt;happen tomorrow. You never know who will be&lt;br /&gt;leaving you and never return&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/100-days-game-love-story.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-4441622989528173747</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:21:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T17:34:34.254+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Romantic story</category><title>She was Not Beautiful</title><description>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;She was not beautiful. Nothing about her was extraordinary. Nothing about her made her stand out in a crowd. She grew up in a family of six and being the eldest, she learned responsibility at an early age.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As she grew stronger and brighter, she instilled a sort of light and cheer to whomever she met. She was not beautiful, but she made others feel better about themselves. She meets a rebel boy who thinks he is all man, befriending him, she teaches him. She teaches him how to read and a little boost, the 'man' needed to go to college, they become fast friends and she fell fast in love with her rugged handsome student.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The 'man' then finds himself in love with a girl. A girl who was so beautiful. Her hair was a hallow of light around her. Her eyes the bluest blue of the ocean. 'Like an angel' he tells his tutor 'like a beautiful angel.' The girl swallows a lump at her throat. She was not beautiful, she did not posses the heart of the one he loved, but she did not care. As long as he was happy, she would be happy, or so she tried to. She helped write the most beautiful letters to his angel. All the time visioning it was she herself receiving those very letters. And so the girl helped him choose the right clothes, say the right words, and buy the right gifts for his angel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;His angel brought him much joy and much pain to the girl who cried behind her smiles. But that never stopped her from giving more than she will ever receive. Then one day, the angel he loved left him for another man. A richer more successful man. The boy was stunned. He was so hurt, he did not speak for days. The girl went to him. He cried on her shoulder and she cried with him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He was hurt and she was too. Time went by and so wounds heal. The boy realizes something about his friend/tutor. Something he never realized before. How her laughter sounded heavenly and how her smiles brightened up the darkest days, or how simply beautiful she looked to him!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beautiful. This plain, simple girl was beautiful to him. And he began to fall. Fall so in love with this beautiful girl. On one day, he picked up all his courage to see her. He walked to her house, nervous, and fidgeting, Running his thoughts over and over his head.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He was going to tell her how beautiful she was to him. He was going to tell her how wonderfully in love he was with her. He knocked. No one was home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The next day, he found out that the beautiful girl he fell in love with had a brain tumor that put her into a coma. The doctors were grim and the family decided to let her go.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One final time he got to see her. He held her hand. He stroked her hair and he cried for this beautiful girl. He cried, but it was too late. The beautiful girl was buried and the heavens broke. Out a beautiful spring shower, a cry for their loss. She was the most beautiful girl in the world and she had taught the rebel boy-man to love and what it is to be loved.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She was the most beautiful girl in the world.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Look around. Aren't there a lot of plain faces? Take a good look. A real good look or you might just miss out that beautiful person. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;object height="1" width="1"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/pWBwXclF-t"&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="high"&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent"&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="&amp;amp;autostart=true"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/pWBwXclF-t" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;autostart=true" width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/she-was-not-beautiful.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-873517218193168621</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:18:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T17:37:44.100+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Romantic story</category><title>Three Words</title><description>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Girl: Do you really love me?&lt;br /&gt;Boy: Of course I do.&lt;br /&gt;Girl: I wanna hear you say it.&lt;br /&gt;Boy: I don’t have to.&lt;br /&gt;Girl: Why not?&lt;br /&gt;Boy: Because...&lt;br /&gt;Girl: I just want to hear you say it in words.&lt;br /&gt;Boy: I can’t...&lt;br /&gt;The girl started to cry softly and said:&lt;br /&gt;Then you don't love me...&lt;br /&gt;The two continued to walk in silence. They&lt;br /&gt;reached the girls home.&lt;br /&gt;Girl: Why?&lt;br /&gt;Boy: Do you really want to know?&lt;br /&gt;Girl: (hesitantly) Yes.&lt;br /&gt;He hugged her gently, kissed the tip of her nose&lt;br /&gt;and whispered in her ear,&lt;br /&gt;"Because three words are not enough..." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;object width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/FeEtv9h33M" /&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="high" /&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent" /&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="&amp;autostart=true" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/FeEtv9h33M" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;autostart=true" width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/three-words.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>1</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-4958412850334384231</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:17:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T17:41:08.206+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Teens Love Story</category><title>Follow Your Heart</title><description>Billy loved Katie with all his heart. But he never told a Single soul. Katie secretly loved him too. But she thought she would never have a chance with him. Billy asked his friends what they think of her and his friends thought she was gay. They didn't like her at all. So Billy just went along with them. They all made fun of her and made her feel really bad. Katie was so upset. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One day they followed her home from school making fun of her the whole way home. Once she got inside her house she dropped to the floor cringe. She had a crush on Billy since 3rd grade. She didn't know what to do. When Billy got home he felt real bad about what he had done. So he decided to go to Katie's house to tell her he was sorry and that he really loves her.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When he got there he knocked on the door no one answered.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The door was open so he walked in. He walked into the living room and found Katie lying dead on the floor. She had slit her wrists. Billy was so up set . He knew it was his fault she killed her self. And now he could never tell her how he really felt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The lesson of this story is: Don't wait to until the last minute to tell someone how you really feel. Because it just might be too late. And don't always go by what your friends say, follow your heart.&lt;object width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/nRGEsXd5Xe" /&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="high" /&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent" /&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="&amp;autostart=true" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/nRGEsXd5Xe" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;autostart=true" width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/follow-your-heart.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167823578574652021.post-8911047707988760652</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-25T17:42:43.732+07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love stories</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Romantic story</category><title>The Hate Letter</title><description>Read this "HATE letter". It is so funny and creative. This is a loveletter from a boy to a girl.... However, the girl's father does not like him and want them stop their relationship......and so..the boy wrote this letter to the girl..he knows that the girl's father will definitely read this letter..&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 "The great love that I have for you&lt;br /&gt;2 is gone, and I find my dislike for you&lt;br /&gt;3 grows every day. When I see you,&lt;br /&gt;4 I do not even like your face;&lt;br /&gt;5 the one thing that I want to do is to&lt;br /&gt;6 look at other girls. I never wanted to&lt;br /&gt;7 marry you. Our last conversation&lt;br /&gt;8 was very boring and has not&lt;br /&gt;9 made me look forward to seeing you again.&lt;br /&gt;10 You think only of yourself.&lt;br /&gt;11 If we were married, I know that I would find&lt;br /&gt;12 life very difficult, and I would have no&lt;br /&gt;13 pleasure in living with you. I have a heart&lt;br /&gt;14 to give, but it is not something that&lt;br /&gt;15 I want to give to you. No one is more&lt;br /&gt;16 foolish and selfish than you, and you are not&lt;br /&gt;17 able to care for me and help me.&lt;br /&gt;18 I sincerely want you to understand that&lt;br /&gt;19 I speak the truth. You will do me a favor&lt;br /&gt;20 if you think this is the end. Do not try&lt;br /&gt;21 to answer this. Your letters are full of&lt;br /&gt;22 things that do not interest me. You have no&lt;br /&gt;23 true love for me. Good-bye! Believe me,&lt;br /&gt;24 I do not care for you. Please do not think that&lt;br /&gt;25 I am still your boyfriend."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So bad!! However, before handing over the letter to the girl, the boy told the girl to "READ BETWEEN THE LINES", meaning-only to read 1.3.5.7.9.11.13.15.17.19.21.23.25. (Odd Numbers) So..Please try reading it again! It's so smart &amp;amp; sweet.... :)&lt;object width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/RjE_vkQ_8W" /&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="high" /&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent" /&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="&amp;autostart=true" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://nhaccuatui.com/m/RjE_vkQ_8W" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;autostart=true" width="1" height="1"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</description><link>http://vanpinkcloud.blogspot.com/2008/09/love-stories.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Hong Van)</author><thr:total>1</thr:total></item></channel></rss>