Your Ad Here

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Voice of India winner Ishmeet Died !

Voice of India winner Ishmeet drowns in Maldives








Celebrity singer Ishmeet Singh from Punjab, who shot to fame by winning the Voice of India (on Star TV) contest in November last year, drowned in a swimming pool on Tuesday at a resort in the Maldives where he had gone to take part in a concert.

Ishmeet's interview to rediff moments after winning VOI

Gurprinder Singh Sodhi, father of 20-year-old Ishmeet , said at their home in Ludhiana that the event management company, which took his son to the Maldives, informed him at around 2000 hours that the singer had died due to drowning in the swimming pool of the hotel where he was staying.

The second year Bachelor of Commerce student of MNC College, Mumbai, had gone to the pool for frolicking, but fell into its deep end leading to his drowning, agencies reported, quoting a hotel official.

Sodhi told media persons that they were surprised that their son had died due to drowning in the swimming pool.

"He had never swam before us and we are not aware whether he could swim or not," an inconsolable father said.

"Television channels announced his death at around 2100 hours, the time when were expecting to see Ishmeet perform for the first time in the Maldives," Sodhi said.

He said Ishmeet had left Ludhiana on Monday for Chandigarh from where he went to Mumbai on way to the Maldives.

A pall of gloom descended on the house of the singer in Ludhiana immediately after the news of his death reached.

Ishmeet's mother Amritpal Kaur was in a state of shock and so was his sister.

A large number of people gathered at the small house of Ishmeet in Shastri Nagar locality of the industrial town. All roads leading to his house from various adjoining localities, including Model Town and Pakhowal Road were choked with vehicles and people trying to reach the singer's house.

Ishmeet was doing a course in Architecture in Amritsar before he shifted to Mumbai last year after he won the Voice of India singing contest.

Sodhi said the event management company had informed the family that the body was expected to be brought to India on Wednesday. The cremation would be performed in Ludhiana.

Ishmeet's death plunged the music world into mourning and leading playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Abhijeet and Shaan expressed shock at the incident.

"I was very happy when he won the Voice of India contest. Such a fate to befall one at such a young age -- I have no words to express my feelings," said Lata.

She said Ishmeet had an original voice and did not imitate anyone.

Abhijeet, who was one of the jury members for Voice of India contest, said he was like a mentor for Ishmeet. Abhijeet said he recognised the talent in Ishmeet and other jury members used to accuse him of favouring him.

Shaan said he was shocked at learning the news of Ishmeet's death.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the country had lost a 'gem' and a 'void had been created in the music world that would be hard to fill'.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Number13: Hoodoo, myth or fact?

Number13:

Hoodoo, myth or fact?

What’s your lucky number? I will hold a bet with you. It can be anything but the 13. For whatever reasons, this fear for number 13 is deeply rooted in us from our younger days as an unlucky and evil number. In Russia this number is known as the devil’s dozen.

Have you ever thought about this weird belief? For instance, from where was it originated and why do people believe in the magic of this number! This phobia is medically known as Triskaidekaphobia (deriving from Greek tris=three, kai=and, deka=ten. The dictionary defines it as an irrational fear of the number 13.

But where did it begin? Is it possible that the folklore associated with the number 13 has become a demonized numeral precisely because it was sacred in pre-Christian times? Think about it. Number 13 was a number central to certain traditions because it reflected a pattern which could be seen to exist in man, nature, and the heavens.

For instance, there are 13 major joints in your body. There are 13 lunar cycles in a solar year, and the moon travels 13 degrees across the sky every day. Six circles placed around a seventh central circle is a model of geometric efficiency and perfection in the second dimension that has been known to mathematicians for ages. But this same configuration in three dimensions consists of 12 spheres arranged around one central sphere, making 13 in all. It’s all confusing, isn’t it?

Beginning

Let us begin from the very beginning. There is a biblical reference to number 13. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the Last Supper. Still to this day it is considered among many Christians that it’s very bad luck for thirteen people to sit down for dinner together. It is believed that one of the dinner guests will die within the year.


Brussels Airlines, has been forced to change its logo following complaints from superstitious passengers.

“How Did It Begin?” by R. Brash (Pocket Books, New York, 1966) mentions the Last Supper but also says: “There is a less superstitious and more rational explanation which says that statistical surveys showed insurance companies that of any group of 13 one person would die within less than 12 months.”

Donald Dossey, a renowned Australian folklore historian traces the fear of 13 to a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla, their heaven. In walked the uninvited 13th guest, the mischievous Loki. Once there, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

“Balder died and the whole Earth got dark. The whole Earth mourned. It was a bad, unlucky day,” says Dossey. Thomas Fernsler, a scientist in the Mathematics and Science in USA, says the number 13 suffers because of its position after 12. According to Fernsler, numerologists consider 12 a “complete” number.

There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, and 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, Fernsler said 13’s association with bad luck “has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.

The number becomes restless or squirmy.” Fernsler continues, It seems clear that, to the primitive mind of early man, number 13 was a mystery. He stopped at 12. So persistent are these old instincts that even today, we stop at 12x12 in our multiplication tables, though there is absolutely no reason whatever why we should do so.

We also find Charles A. Platt, the Mathematician, writing in 1925 saying that the reason 13 is considered unlucky is that a person can count from 1-12 with their 8 fingers, two thumbs and 2 feet, but not beyond that, so the number 13 is unknown, hence frightening and unlucky.

(Strangely, this idea discounts the use of toes or other body parts in counting.) Again, the symbolism of thirteen comes into mind when we learn of Osiris (the Egyptian god of life and death) who was murdered by his brother Typhon. Isis, Osiris’ wife and sister collected his body with intent to restore Osiris back to life.

However, Typhon stole Osiris’ body and cut it into fourteen pieces and scattered them about the earth. Isis continued her quest to revive her beloved, but when she reclaimed thirteenth body parts, the last one fell into the Nile and was eaten by a school of fish.

Coming down to more recent times, triskaidekaphobes quote the Apollo 13th ill-fated mission to the moon, as proof to bad effect of 13. The spacecraft Apollo 13, named “Aquarius exploded at 1:13 (1313 military time) on April 13, 1970.

The never-ending theories will go on and on. So, let’s skip to the next question.

Effects

What are the consequences of this superstition, socially and economically? This fear of 13 is strong in today’s world. According to Dossey, more than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor. Many airports skip the 13th gate. Many airlines skip a row 13, going straight from 12 to 14. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13. On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.

In France socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.

Some people won’t eat out on the 13th. Some don’t like to begin extended journeys on the 13th. In some forms of motor sport, for example Formula One, there is no number 13 car.

In many cultures, getting married on any day of the week that falls under number 13 is highly discouraged. Microsoft plans to skip Office 13 for being “an unlucky number,” going directly from Office 12 to Office 14. After 13 years of being the richest man in the world, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates lost this title, according to Forbes magazine’s 2008 list of the world’s billionaires.

A new Belgian carrier, Brussels Airlines, has been forced to change its logo following complaints from superstitious passengers. The 13 dots making up the stylized ‘b’ brought a flood of complaints about the “unlucky” design. The airline said it was taken aback by the strength of feeling and felt obliged to respond.

Princess Diana died when her car hit the thirteenth pillar of a tunnel in Paris, on August 31, 1997.

It’s an endless list.

Finally, let me ask you a straightforward question. Are you adamant about your fear of number 13? For example, would you consider living alone on floor marked 13 in unit 13? Ask any scientist.

He cannot offer you any solid proof, but will say it is simply a superstition phobia. Yet, for centuries, the scary combination of the number 13 has signified misfortune to many across this world. Although the West is famous for scientific technological wizardry and education, the number 13’s superstition still has a powerful hold on many aspects of everyday life.

It seems to be that even concern authorities and governments recognize the power of this number and willing to bend the rules. Perhaps numbers do have their strength. That may be the reason why even to this day, the superstition lives on.

So, before answering the question, give it a little more serious thought.

----- The Sunday Obserever

The X-Files , Now In Cinemas ...........

X Files Opens

Famous FBI double, Molder and Scully have been summoned to open another X file with the latest sci-fi 'X Files: I want to Believe' and the film is now being released at Liberty Cinema, Colombo.

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the stars of the TV series are called back to duty by the FBI in the latest direction of Chris Carter, famed for his award winning television serial and film on the title 'X Files'.

The second feature film based on Carter's TV series The X-Files, following the 1998 film, it was first anticipated in November 2001 to follow the conclusion of the ninth season of the TV series. However the production dragged till 2007 and it was finally released on July 23 at Hollywood.

Many of those involved in the film, including Carter, Duchovny and 20th Century Fox, have spoken of its story as one that would stand apart from the alien abduction. "We're looking at the movies as stand-alones. They're not necessarily going to have to deal with the mythology," Carter described the film.
When a group of women are abducted in the wintry hills of rural Virginia, the only clues to their disappearance are the grotesque human remains that begin to turn up in snow banks along the highway. With officials desperate for any lead, a disgraced priest's questionable visions send local police on a wild goose chase and straight to a bizarre secret medical experiment that may or may not be connected to the women's disappearance.

Its a case right out of The X-Files. But the FBI closed down its investigations into the paranormal years ago. And the best team for the job is ex-agents Fox Mulder and Dr. Dana Scully, who have no desire to revisit their dark past. Still, the truth of these horrific crimes is out there somewhere...and it will take Mulder and Scully to find it.

Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner, Mitch Pileggi, Callum Keith Rennie, Adam Godley, Xantha Radley, Sarah-Jane Redmond, Nicki Aycox and Fagin Woodcock. The film was shot in Vancouver and Pemberton, in British Columbia, Canada.

According to the co-scriptwriter Spotnitz, the script was written specifically for these locations and filming began in December 2007 in Vancouver and shooting finished on March 11, 2008.

In 1992 Carter began developing projects for Twentieth Century Fox Television, creating "The X Files" (1993), which was the winner of the Golden Globe for Best Drama in 1995 and 1997, Emmy-nominated three times for Best Drama, and winner of a Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. In 1996 he created the series "Millennium" (1996/I) and in 1999 "Harsh Realm" (1999). For his work on The X-Files, Carter has received three Golden Globe Awards (1994, 1996, 1997), a Writers Guild nomination, two Directors Guild nominations, and an Emmy Award nomination.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Dondra, Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Devala Festive Season Has Begun for the year 2008

Dondra (Devinuwara in Matara, Southern Region of Sri Lanka), Festival season has begun on 16th of August 2008. The season usually begins with a PERAHERA on “The Nikini Poya” Day (Full moon poyaday in August ). In the festive season, hundred thousands people gather to worship the God, named “Sri Vishnu”( Upulwan Devindu), has been predicted for one time a “Lord Buddha”, after thousand of coming years. Until then he has to fulfill some more “Pin” (Good minded things to do for the wellbeing of the people and entire life being) . Many people believe (Including Me) , God Vishnu alias “UpulWan Devindu”,has powerful ability to fulfill some people’s wish, and their dream to make come true in short period.




************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

One day in our house,(Last Year) about 15 people in the second floor, and about twenty , in the first floor. To organize a trip to Dondra (Devinuwara), I’ve asked who wants to come in a van , to worship the Lord Buddha, in Dondra, with God Upulwan Devindu. In the first floor all the people agreed without any comments to do that without get so long in the day after that day. In the Second floor, without one person, all others didn’t like to go there on that day. Then I gave them a lesson, saying a God can’t do every thing only we can do that like driving, but some unexpected events we can’t resist. Only God know. While the speech, a smell like we smell in Dondra, came to our room, every one felt that. Then I said “If this is God’s power wnen I going to change the topic, this coming smell must be stopped.” As I said , It has vanished with my topic changed. Nothing smelt.

After that I came downstairs and asked others did you feel some thing like that sort of smell. Everyone said NO. Then I realized, It was only for the 2nd floor, near this floor. This is one of my many experiences regarding the God Vishnu in a short period of time. In my early years I didn’t want to believe, Gods like Vishnu and I trusted myself These stories are false. After My A/L ( In Maths Subjects) in school times I’ve done many experiments regarding Gods and many Un-Seen subjects. ( I can’t write down every thing here). My experiences , you will be able to know in the future if you are with me in my blogs and the site , named “StarLankaOnline.Com”.



************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************




************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************





************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************
Again to the topic, now the festive season has begun and you’ll be able to worship the Lord Buddha, and God there. If you really want to get bless from the site, Don’t visit there getting Meat, Fish or Beer, Arrack or having drunk. The God really help you if you can do that. As long as you keep the things going on, your ill or sick health going to be vanished forever and the development of in your life will be done.

Here are some Photos in 2008 season.( In this time, Main, Basnayaka Nilame , The Highest Position of the programme, is Mahinda Wijesekara’s Son,)


************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************

************************************************************
All The Photos has been taken by me, Priyantha De Silva, Using my NOKIA, Camera Phone.
************************************************************

In their religious observances the Sri Lankan Buddhists have adopted from Indian tradition the use of the lunar calendar. The four phases of the moon are the pre-new-moon day, when the moon is totally invisible, the half-moon of the waxing fortnight, the full moon, and the half-moon of the waning fortnight. Owing to the moon's fullness of size as well as its effulgence, the full-moon day is treated as the most auspicious of the four phases. Hence the most important religious observances are held on full-moon days and the lesser ones in conjunction with the other phases. In the Buddhist calendar, the full moon, as the acme of the waxing process, is regarded as the culmination of the month and accordingly the period between two full moons is one lunar month.[10]

The religious observance days are called poya days. The Sinhala term poya is derived from the Pali and Sanskrit form uposatha (from upa + vas: to fast) primarily signifying "fast day." Fasting on this day was a pre-Buddhist practice among the religious sects of ancient India. While the monks use the monthly moonless day (called amavaka in Sinhala) and the full-moon day for their confessional ritual and communal recitation of the code of discipline (Patimokkha), the lay devotees observe the day by visiting temples for worship and also by taking upon themselves the observance of the Eight Precepts.

A practicing Buddhist observes the poya day by visiting a temple for the rituals of worship and, often, by undertaking the Eight Precepts. The Eight Precepts include the Five Precepts (see above, pp.5-6), with the third changed to abstinence from unchastity, and the following three additional rules: (6) to abstain from solid food after mid-day;

(7) to abstain from dancing, singing, music, and improper shows, and from ornamenting the body with garlands, scents, unguents, etc.;

(8) to abstain from the use of high and luxurious beds and seats. If one decides to observe the Eight Precepts, one would wake up early, bathe and clad oneself in clean white garments, and go to the nearest temple. The incumbent monk administers the precepts to the entire group assembled for the purpose. Thereafter they would spend the day according to a set timetable which would include sermons, pujas, periods of meditation, and Dhamma discussions. At meditation centers there will be more periods of meditation and fewer sermons and pujas.

The observance of the Eight Precepts is a ritualistic practice of moral discipline quite popular among the Sinhala Buddhists. While the Five Precepts serve as the moral base for ordinary people, the Eight Precepts point to a higher level of training aimed at advancement along the path of liberation. The popular practice is to observe them on full-moon days, and, among a few devout lay Buddhists, on the other phases of the moon as well.

The poya observance, which is as old as Buddhism itself, has been followed by the Sinhala Buddhists up to the present day, even after the Christian calendar came to be used for secular matters. Owing to its significance in the religious life of the local Buddhists, all the full-moon days have been declared public holidays by the government. Another noteworthy fact about this day is that every full-moon poya has assumed some ritualistic significance in one way or other.

The first and the foremost of the poya holy days is the full-moon day of Vesak (May), commemorating the birth, Enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha. The significance of Vesak is further heightened for the Sinhala Buddhists, as Sri Lankan tradition holds that it was on the Vesak Poya Day, in the eighth year after his Enlightenment, that the Buddha paid his third visit to Sri Lanka, journeying to Kelaniya on the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika (Mhv. i,72ff.). Consequently, Kelaniya has become a very popular place of worship and pilgrimage, the center of worship there being the celebrated dagaba, enshrining the gem-set throne offered to the Buddha by the Nagas (dragons). An annual procession is held there to commemorate the event.

Both in importance and in temporal sequence, the next significant poya is the full-moon of Poson (June), which is specially noteworthy to the Sri Lankan Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka's son, the arahant Mahinda, officially introduced Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century B.C. Accordingly, in addition to the normal ritualistic observances undertaken on a poya day, on Poson day devotees flock to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital city of the country, for it was there that arahant Mahinda converted the then ruler, King Devanampiya Tissa, and his court to Buddhism, thereby setting in motion a series of events that finally made Sri Lanka the home of Theravada Buddhism. Even today, on Poson Poya, Anuradhapura becomes the center of Buddhist activity. Mihintale, the spot where the momentous encounter between the Elder and the King took place, accordingly receives the reverential attention of the devotees. The two rituals of pilgrimage and the observance of the Eight Precepts are combined here. Processions commemorative of the event, referred to as Mihundu Peraheras, are held in various parts of the country.

The next poya is Esala (July), which commemorates several significant events in the history of Buddhism. The most prominent of these is the Buddha's preaching of his First Sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, to the five ascetics at the Deer Park, near Benares, thereby inaugurating his public ministry. The other noteworthy events connected with this day include the conception of the Bodhisatta in the womb of Queen Maya, his Great Renunciation, the performance of the Twin Miracle (yamaka-patihariya), and his preaching the Abhidhamma for the first time in the Tavatimsa heaven. An additional factor that enhances the value of this poya to Sri Lanka is the first local ordination of a Sri Lankan, when Prince Arittha, the nephew of the king, entered the Order at Anuradhapura, under arahant Mahinda, following the introduction of Buddhism. On this day there also took place the laying of the foundation for the celebrated dagaba, the Mahathupa or the Ruwanvelisaya and also its enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu. It is owing to the combination of all these events that the Sinhala Buddhists fittingly observe the day ceremonially by holding Esala festivals throughout the island, giving pride of place to the internationally famous Kandy Esala Perahera.


* * *
The term perahera, primarily meaning "procession," signifies a popular Buddhist ceremony replete with many rituals, commencing and culminating respectively with the kap-planting and the water-cutting ceremonies. These two ceremonies are respectively the introductory and the concluding rites of the annual Esala festivals, held in July and August in various parts of the island. They are essentially connected with the Buddhist deities, either to invite their blessings or to give thanks to them for favors received. During this period every year, such religious festivals are held in almost all the religious centers of Sri Lanka where there are abodes dedicated to various Buddhist deities. However, the festival par excellence of this category is the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is connected with the Temple of the Tooth and the abodes (devalayas) of the four Buddhist deities, Vishnu, Kataragama, Natha, and the Goddess Pattini. The main feature of all these festivals held during this period is the elaborate procession held on the lines of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Both the kap-planting and water-cutting ceremonies are performed by the lay officiating priests (kapuralas) of the devalaya concerned, who are traditionally the experts regarding the details of their performance. These details are generally regarded as secret and are not divulged to the profane public.

The preliminary rite of kap-planting consists of planting a shaft, usually fashioned from a felled young jak tree, which must have borne no fruit. When cut, this tree exudes a white sap which is regarded as a symbol of prosperity. Even felling the tree is done with several attendant rituals at an auspicious time: the trunk is divided into four, one for each of the devalayas, where it is carried with drums and attendance. On the day of the new moon, at an auspicious hour (nakata), the "kaps" thus prepared are set up in the ground in a special place decorated with leaves, flowers, and fruits. For five nights small processions are conducted within the devalaya precincts around the consecrated kaps. Sometimes benedictory stanzas are chanted by monks.

This rite of kap is a kind of vow that the Esala festival, consisting mainly of the perahera, will be held; it is also an invitation to the deities to be present during the festival, providing the necessary protection for its successful performance. In this sense it is this ritual that inaugurates the festival.

The water-cutting ceremony (diya-kapum-mangalyaya), which is the concluding ritual of the Esala festival, is performed in the early hours of the day following the final perahera. The officiating lay-priest (kapurala) proceeds on a caparisoned elephant to a selected place along a river bank. He would either go to a selected spot in the river by boat or wade through the water to a particular spot and after drawing a magic circle on the water with the sword he carries, he "cuts" the water and fills the vessel he carried there with water from that spot. Before doing so he empties the water that he took in this same manner the previous year. He then returns to the devalaya, and the vessel of water is kept there until the following year. The ritual is repeated annually in an identical manner. This is believed to be a rain-making ceremony of sympathetic magic, which type of ritual is quite common in agrarian societies the world over. The Buddhists seem to have adopted this to suit their purposes.


* * *
The annual Esala Perahera in Kandy, held in honor of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is the most colorful traditional procession in the country. It is the prototype of the other peraheras held elsewhere in the island in such places as Kataragama,[11] Aluthnuwara, Lankatilaka, Bellanwila, Devinuwara, etc. The Kandy Perahera is itself the latest expression of the annual festival in honor of the Tooth Relic that has been held with state patronage from the time the relic was brought to Sri Lanka from India in the 4th century A.C. Although periodically there have been intermittent breaks due to unsettled political conditions, the festival was never neglected intentionally. This had been so even during colonial times. Respected as the palladium of Sinhala royalty, the Relic had been accommodated in different parts of the country, depending on the change of the capital city. Ultimately it came to stay in Kandy, which was the last royal seat of the Sinhala people.

Esala Poya assumes prominence for yet another ritual of the Sri Lankan Buddhists. This is the annual rains retreat of the monks, Vassa, which commences on the day following the Esala full moon (discussed in Chap. 8). On the next poya day, Nikini (August), those monks who failed to commence the normal Vassa on the day following Esala Poya, are allowed to enter the "late Vassa."

The poya that follows Nikini is Binara (September), which assumes solemnity as marking the inauguration of the Order of Bhikkhunis (nuns) with the ordination of Queen Mahapajapati and her retinue. Next follows the Vap Poya (October), which concludes the final month of the three-month rains retreat. During the following month kathina robes are offered to the monks who have duly completed the Vassa. The high esteem in which this ritual is held by the Sinhala Buddhists may be gauged from the fact that the month is popularly referred to as the "month of robes" (see Chap. 8). The November full moon, called Il, signifies the terminal point for the kathina ritual. It is also the day for commemorating such events as the despatch of the first sixty disciples by the Buddha on missionary work, the prospective Buddha Metteyya being declared a sure Buddha-to-be by Gotama Buddha, and the passing away of the arahant Sariputta, the Buddha's foremost disciple.

The Unduwap Poya that follows in December is of great moment to Sri Lanka as commemorating two memorable events connected with the visit of Theri Sanghamitta, sister of arahant Mahinda, from India in the third century B.C. (Mhv.iv,18-19). The first of these events was the arrival at Anuradhapura of a sapling of the sacred Bodhi-tree at Buddhagaya, brought to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta. The planting of this tree is the origin of the Bodhi-puja in the country (see Chap. 4).

The other memorable event commemorated by this poya is the establishment of the Order of Nuns (bhikkhuni-sasana) in Sri Lanka by the Theri Sanghamitta when she ordained Queen Anula and her entourage of 500 women at Anuradhapura. Records indicate that the Bhikkhuni Sangha thus established flourished during the Anuradhapura period (third century B.C. to eleventh century A.C.), but disappeared after the decline of that kingdom. Historical records are silent as to the reasons for its extinction, but they do report how the Sinhala Bhikkhuni Sangha helped in the establishment of the Order of Nuns in China.[12] In the 5th century a group of Sinhala nuns headed by the Bhikkhuni Devasara went to China to confer higher ordination there and the Bhikkhuni Sangha thus established survives there to this day. The Sinhala Buddhists commemorate this poya day with peraheras, observance of the Eight Precepts, and meetings. The day is designated Sanghamitta Day. Nowadays the dasasil matas (ten-precept nuns) take an active part in initiating these commemorative functions.

Next follows the Durutu Poya (January) when the Sinhala Buddhists commemorate the first visit of the Buddha to the island. According to the Mahavamsa, nine months after his Enlightenment, the Buddha visited present Mahiyangana in the Badulla District, where stands the dagaba by that name enshrining the Buddha's hair relics and the collar bone (Mhv.i,197). The Buddhists remember the event by holding an annual perahera. This much-venerated dagaba is also of consequence as the first edifice of this type to be constructed here, originating the ritual of dagaba worship in Sri Lanka.

The poya that follows, Navam Poya (February), celebrates the Buddha's appointment of the two arahants, Sariputta and Moggallana, as his two chief disciples. It also marks the Buddha's decision to attain Parinibbana in three months' time. The Medin Poya in March is hallowed by the Buddha's first visit to his parental home after his Enlightenment, during which he ordained the princes Rahula, Nanda, and many others as monks. The month that follows is called Bak (pronounced like "buck"), which corresponds to April. In this month it is not the full-moon day but the new-moon day that invites attention as signalizing the Buddha's second visit to Sri Lanka, when he visited Nagadipa[13] on the day preceding the new-moon day (amavaka: Mhv.i,47) in the fifth year after his Enlightenment.

The above brief account of the twelve poya days demonstrates how the poya day has become intimately connected with the life of the Buddha and consequently with the principal events of early Buddhist history. The Sri Lankan Buddhists, quite accustomed as they are to commemorate such events with rituals and ceremonies in full measure, have maintained these traditions up to the present.

Extract from Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka
1995
A.G.S. Kariyawasam
Buddhist Publication Society

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Indian Idol'Season 4, Sonali to judge, Chang, Deepali to host

Sonali to judge, Chang, Deepali to host 'Indian Idol'Season 4, In 2008

Sonali to judge, Chang, Deepali to host 'Indian Idol'
Sony is back with the fourth season of its popular music-based reality show 'Indian Idol 4'. In an attempt to make it bigger and better the channel had roped in actress Sonali Bendre as a judge, who was recently seen as a judge for Mr. & Miss TV.
The channel has retained Anu Malik and Javed Akhtar from its earlier season and along with Sonali the channel has roped in singing star Kailash Kher to adjudicate.
Albert Almeida, Executive VP and Business Head, Sony said, “Sonali Bendre is the fourth judge on the show who would be joining Anu Malik, Javed Akhtar and Kailash Kher on the show.”
Talking about the probable hosts of the show, Albert said, “For time being we have zeroed down on the last season contestants Meiyang Chang and Deepali Kishore to host the auditions for the show. If our viewers respond positively to their hosting, we will think on retaining them as the official hosts of the show.”
*************************************************** Indian Idol 4 HostsNow here is all the important information about upcoming season of IndianIdol 4

There will be no Mini Mathur (and Hussian) to host this season of IndianIdol. Mini is expecting her second child and thus cannot host the show.

So, who is hosting the show? Well, auditions are being hosted by last year’s popular contestants Meiyang Chang and Deepali Kishore.

Buzz is… if the response is positive they may get to host the main show as well. Coming to judges, our very own entertianing Anu Malik is on board.

Indian Idol 4 Judges

No Alisha Chinai, her place is being given to Sonali Bendre. Other two judges include Javed Akhtar and Kailash Kher. Yup, there 4 judges to add to masala comments this reason.


Monday, August 18, 2008

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 2008

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor




Overview

Director:
Rob Cohen
Writers (WGA):
Alfred Gough (written by) &
Miles Millar (written by)
more
Release Date:
1 August 2008 (USA) more
Tagline:
A New Evil Awakens.
Plot:
In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O'Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago. | full synopsis
User Comments:
Now, I Really Missed Rachel Weisz In This One! more


Brendan Fraser ... Rick O'Connell

Jet Li ... Emperor Han
Maria Bello ... Evelyn O’Connell

John Hannah ... Jonathan Carnahan

Michelle Yeoh ... Zi Juan

Luke Ford ... Alex O'Connell

Isabella Leong ... Lin
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang ... General Yang (as Chau Sang Anthony Wong)

Russell Wong ... Ming Guo
Liam Cunningham ... Mad Dog Maguire
David Calder ... Roger Wilson

Jessey Meng ... Choi
Tian Liang ... Li Zhou

Albert Kwan ... Chu Wah
Jacky Wu ... Assassin #1 (as Wu Jing)
more

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Momie - La tombe de l'empereur dragon, La (Canada: French title)
Mumie - Das Grabmal des Drachenkaisers, Die (Germany)
The Mummy 3 (USA) (informal title)
Untitled Rick O'Connell Adventure (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for adventure action and violence.
Runtime:
112 min
Country:
Germany | Canada | USA
Language:
English | Mandarin
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Filming Locations:
Beijing, China more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 133% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Brendan Fraser, who plays Rick, was born in 1968, and Maria Bello who plays Evelyn, was born in 1967, while Luke Ford, who plays their son Alex, was born in 1981 and is only 13 years younger than Fraser and 14 years younger than Bello. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Just before the battle at the temple bridge, Rick has a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun loaded with a 50-round drum. When the battle begins, the Thompson has a 30-round stick clip. more
Quotes:
Rick O'Connell: I've put down more mummies in my time.
Alex O'Connell: [scoffs] *One* mummy.
Rick O'Connell: Same mummy. *Twice*!
more

More Information,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mummy:_Tomb_of_the_Dragon_Emperor

Star Lanka Online TV Channel on Justin TV

Watch live video from starlankaonline's channel on Justin.tv Watch Star Lanka Online TV From The Web.

Place Youe Own Ad Here

Facebook > Fans