To celebrate Deepavali in a healthy manner, purchase eco-friendly crackers. Bursting eco-friendly crackers prevents the environment from pollution. It reduces the sound pollution as well as air pollution.

In India, we use some types of traditional crackers. Nowadays, people have started purchasing crackers which are made by using modern and more advanced technologies.

Here are some details about the most frequently used types of crackers in India :

• One Sound Crackers
• Chorsa Garlands
• Chorsa Electric Crackers
• Giant Electric Crackers
• Flower Pots
• Chakkars
• Twinkling Stars
• Fancy Rockets
• Serpent Eggs
• Atom Bombs
• Deluxe Crackers
• Fancy Rockets
• Color Fancy Novelties
• Paper Caps
• Pencils

Not only families, friends and well-wishers but, office accessories have also made a great impact on Diwali festival sales and purchases. They occupied a good share in direct as well as online market of Diwali gifts. As all of us know that Diwali is the most prosperous festival for offices, companies, factories, shops and for all other types of organizations, managements are very enthusiastic in purchasing new accessories for their offices and for their staff.

Special Office Accessories For Diwali 2008 :

Pen Stands :
Pen stands are the most common accessories in any type of office. In Institutes, shops, publishing companies and each and every organization, pen stand is the essential accessory. You can order and buy special pen stands for Diwali through online shops. You can see a lot of varieties such as Ganesha pen stand, colorfully designed pen stand, pen stand with a modern painting and etc, in online shopping websites.

Wall Hangings :
Wall hangings are one of the most general goods in an office. You can select your favorite type and get that with in few hours. Through online shopping, the shopping is done in a very sophisticated way. Branded accessories within affordable prices.

Key Holder :
Key holder is the common thing in reception hall of an office. Not only buying for youself, you can send gifts for your office associates of other countries through online shopping. Modern art, God images and paintings, and colorful designs make every key holder a versatile accessory.

Clocks :
Various types, shapes and designs of clocks make your office rooms more perfect. Diwali seasonal sales offer great discounts and concessions for online shoppers.

Portfolio Bags :
Portfolio bags are all in one containers for a professional employee of an organization. Nowadays, every company is presenting portfolio bags to their employees.

Select Your Favorite Item and Make Your Professional Life More Sophisticated

When is Bhai Dhooj ?
Bhai Dhooj is celebrated twice in a year – one after Holi and another after Diwali. Bhai Dooj after Diwali is celebrated on the second day (Dwitiya / Vidiya) after the full moon in Aswayuja (Ashwin) month. In 2008, Bhai Dhooj falls on 30th October, Thursday.

Bhai Dooj Puja – Important Ritual of Bhai Dooj :
Bhai Dooj puja is the most important ritual and custom during Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj puja is a common tradition or ritual for unmarried as well as married women. Application of Teeka or Tilak (Vermilion Dot) is the popular and most significant event on the day of Bhai Duj. Sister applies a Teeka or Tilak on brother’s forehead.

On Bhai Dooj, sister pray to the God for the happy and prosperous life of her brother.

How To Perform Bhai Dooj Pooja ?
To perform Bhai Dooj Puja, you need to make sure that you have Bhai Dooj Thali or not. Bhai Dooj Thali contains cocnut, batashas, sweets, fruits, seven types of paans, roli and rice. Sister prepares some special recipes for her brother. She lights the Bhai Dooj Puja lamp and performs a small pooja. After that, she applies tilak or tika on her brother’s forehead and gives him mithai (sweet), recipes and coconut.

In some regions, sister is given gifts by her brother. The range of the gifts depends on brother’s economic status as well as his love and affection towards his sister.

Bhai Dooj Puja – A ritual to unite brothers and Sisters:
Bhai Dhooj puja makes brothers and sisters reunite. As the festival is celebrated by married women also, sister visits the brother’s house and strengthens their affectionate bonds. Bhai Dooj exhibits the genuine family culture of India

Store Crackers Safely:
Keep the crackers in a closed box, out of reach of children and animals. Keep them away from all the sources of heat.

Wear Cotton Clothes:
Don’t wear loose clothes which can catch fire easily. Long dresses are also unsafe. Wearing cotton clothes prevents you from fire.

Light one at a time:
Light one cracker at a time. Lighting more than one cracker at a time may confuse you and there is a possibility for an unfortunate incident.

Keep Children Away:
When you light the crackers, keep the children away. Make sure that when children light the crackers, even one adult is there with them.

List of Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s:

• Purchase fireworks from an authorized or licensed fireworks agency or shop
• Store the fireworks in a closed container
• Keep the fireworks away from the sources of heat and also keep them away from toddlers
• Organize a community to handle the fireworks rather than individual handling of crackers
• Use a long candle or ‘Phooljhari’ to ignite fireworks
• Maintain the distance between your body and the crackers
• Always keep a bucket of water. In case of any injury, water can serve you better

What To Do – In case of Injury (Injury Management):

• In case of any burn or cut, splash tap water on the burn until the burning sensation reduces
• In case of finger or toe burns, try to separate them with dry and sterile dressings and take the victim to the hospital
• See weather the victim is taking breath properly or not. If not, open the airway of victim. If necessary , start rescue breathing
• Cover the area of the burn with a moist and sterile bandage. Don’t use blanket or towel to cover the burn
• Take the victim to hospital as soon as possible for proper medication.

Don’ts:

• Don’t light crackers while holding them
• Don’t ignite crackers in a crowdy, congested and narrow places
• Don’t ignite the crackers inside the house
• Don’t allow the children to ignite the crackers without an elder accompanying with them
• Don’t keep the crackers in a tin or in a bottle for an extra sound effect
• Don’t examine un-burst crackers. Leave them and ignite a new one

A Happy and Safe Diwali

9 Smart Tips for a Better Diwali
Listed below are some nine tips to make your diwali safe and enjoyable:

• Wear Cotton Clothes: Always wear cotton clothes and make sure that everyone in the family does so. That’s the most sensible thing to do when you are playing with fire.
• Stock water: We all should be careful as Diwali in some ways means playing with fire. Therefore, if a fire mishap takes place you should be able to stop it very quickly. You can only do it when you have stocked water or sand.
• Educate Children: Give proper instructions and information to your children about the potential hazards of using firecrackers without parental supervision. Even after educating them they might be out of control, so, always check what they are up to.
• Disposal of Used Fire-crackers: Always make it a point to dispose off used fireworks properly. Best, you put sand or water on them right after use.
• No Noise Pollution: This is primarily for all those people who have patients or old people at homes or in their neighbourhood. Please refrain from buying fire crackers which create noise pollution.
• First-Aid: In case, a small accident occurs like burns, etc use an antiseptic cream immediately after putting the affected part under water for sometime.
• Buy High Quality Firecrackers: When you are buying fire crackers it is best to go for a reputed brand which uses good materials. This lessens the risk of a fire out break to a great extent.
• No Playing with Fire in Closed Place: Always use crackers outside your house. An open space ensures that at a time of emergency the fire will not spread.
• Pets: If you have pets at home, tie them up inside your home and do not let them come near fire.

With the help of the above tips, your diwali is definitely going to be a happy, prosperous and safe one!!

What to Pick-Up for diwali?
Here are some tips which you would definitely find useful:

• Conventionally shoppers hunt for new clothes for family and relatives. But in their over enthusiasm buy the wrong kind of fabric which is not suitable for the occasion. Try to pick something made of cotton which is smart and chic enough to suit you. Cotton clothes are pretty safe to wear as you have to stay comfortable with fireworks and lamps all around.
• Shopkeepers always wait for Diwali as it works like a catalyst for their profit in business. However, now shoppers have gone online and do not hesitate to buy unconventional gifts like electronic equipments such as Mp3 players, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc. for their dear ones. Even if you do not have the time for shopping, you needn’t worry a bit. Instead go online and find interesting and lovable gifts for your loved ones.
• If you have those not-happy-with-anything friends who just never gets pleased with any gift you gift them with; pick-up gift hampers for them and let them choose their own gifts.
• With only your relatives and friends in mind do not forget yourself. Besides the new clothes remember to buy the lamps and ‘diyas’ (i.e. the small clay lamps) to decorate your house on the auspicious day. If you want to make your own ‘diyas’ then buy the raw materials like clay, paint-brushes and colors.
• Buy loads of sweets which you have to distribute to your neighbors and also serve your guests. With so many health conscious people around try keeping some healthy snacks at hand.
• Firecrackers have become traditionally part of the Diwali celebration though it can be avoided if you hate the noise they create and not to mention the poisonous gases. But that does not mean you cannot buy yourself firecrackers. Only thing to ensure is that your kids and loved ones don’t get hurt with them.

This forms a pretty good checklist for all you people who plan to shop-until-you-drop this Diwali. Happy Diwali!!

For every Hindu it is the festival of lights where they decorate their homes with ‘diyas’ and enjoy playing with fire crackers at night with family and friends. But in spite of the way how it is celebrated in the same manner in all parts of India, each community believes in different legends behind the purpose of this festival.

People in Northern India celebrate “diwali” to commemorate the home-coming of Lord Rama after fourteen years of exile. However, in South India diwali is celebrated to honor Lord Krishna’s killing of the demon, Narakasura.

There is another different legend attached to Lord Krishna. Govardhan Pooja which is performed one day after Diwali is celebrated to pay a tribute to Lord Krishna who had conquered lord Indra (the Hindu god of rain) by giving shelter to an entire village from thunder and lightning under a mountain which he had picked on his little finger.

Laxmi (the Hindu Goddess of wealth) Pooja is also celebrated by some during diwali after the last day of the harvest. The Pooja is done to please the Hindu goddess so that she stays for the whole year inside the home and brings peace and prosperity.

Whatever the reasons, diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world.

To make Diwali an unforgettable event, you can offer your favorite sweets, cakes, candles, candle holders, dolls, bouquets, books, musical instruments, sports goods, ipods, mobiles and crackers as Diwali gifts to the special and loved ones. You can also gift your favorite mouth watering and delicious traditional Indian sweets or other recipes.

Special Diwali 2008 Gifts For Your Loved Ones:

Cakes:
Although, cakes are temporary things to remember, gifting cakes is a simple, extremely traditional habit in presenting gifts. Various types of cakes available in the market make us buy and gift them to loved ones.

Candles and Candle Holders:
Candles and candle holders are most used things for Diwali, a festival of diyas and candles. They can be a very good choice of gifts for presenting to some one special. A burning diya represents prosperity. Wishing your near and dear with a diya indicates happiness and success for them.

Various types of candles are available to us in recent times such as handicrafts- artificial, clay and eco-friendly ones. Candles and candle holders in a pack would be a great gift rather than candles alone.

Ipods:
You know that ipods are ruling the youth. If you gift a ipod to your loved one, that would be a lot for her/him. Ipod would be a great choice to gift your special one on Diwali - 2008.

Mobiles:
To chat with your special person, mobile is one of the convenient modes of communication. Hence, gift your loved one with a mobile phone which can be a memorable gift in her/his lifetime.

Sweets and Traditional Recipes:
Gifting mouth watering and delicious sweets strengthens the bond of love and affection between you and your loved one. As Diwali is mainly celebrated with sweets and traditional recipes, everyone will expect at least a sweet pack from their loved ones.

Crackers:
Crackers are the important things in Diwali celebrations. No one celebrates Diwali without crackers. Crackers are all time favorite gifts for Diwali. You can gift them anyone like friends, relatives and neighbors. Eco-friendly crackers are more appropriate to present as a gift.

Gifts for Newly Married Ones:
Traditionally, on Diwali newlyweds come to their in-laws. In particular, newlyweds go to the bride’s family to receive gifts. Usually, the bride’s family present the newlyweds with gifts such as sweets, clothes, jewelry, vehicles and even with land.

Gift and receive gifts, and Celebrate Diwali in a sparkling way.

When is Dhanteras in 2008?

In 2008, Dhanateras falls on 26th October, Sunday.

Preparations for Dhanateras:

Houses, shops and other business premises are cleaned and decorated to celebrate Dhanteras in an hygienic environment. Women make the entrances colorful with Rangoli designs and flower garlands. Dhanteras is celebrated to pay respect to the Goddess Laxmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lamps are kept throughout the nights to welcome the Goddess. Small footprints of the Goddess are also marked with rice flour or vermilion powder all over the houses.

Traditions of Dhanateras:

• Hindus believe that on Dhanteras, purchasing of any metal or shopping for some valuable things is a sign of good luck. Hence they prefer to shop on Dhanteras.
• Lakshmi-puja is performed on the occasion of Dhanteras. Hindus worship the Goddess of wealth, Goddess Laxmi to bless them with wealth and prosperity.
• Devotees sing devotional songs (Bhajans) praising the Goddess. They also dance and perform plays depicting the history and significance of Dhanteras.

Celebrations on Dhanateras:

Dhanteras is celebrated in an enthusiastic atmosphere. Small clay diyas are lighted and kept burning all through the night to throw away the shadows of evil spirits. Devotees offer ‘Naivedya’ of traditional sweets to please the Goddess. In Maharashtra, as ‘Naivedya’, devotees offer a lightly pound coriander seeds with jaggery to the Goddess.

In Indian villages, farmers adorn and worship cattle on the day of Dhanateras. Due to their predominant source of income is farming, which is done with the help of cattle, farmers worship cattle. In South India, Hindus believe that cows are the incarnation of the Goddess, they adorn and worship them on Dhanteras.

Here are the ingredients and the method preparation of Rasgulla:

Ingredients:

For Rasgullas:

• Recipe chenna : 1
• Plain flour (Maida) : 1 tea spoon

For Sugar Syrup:

• Sugar : 5 cups
• Milk : 1 cup

Other ingredients:

• Maida (plain flour) : 2 tea spoons

Method of Preparation:

Rasgullas:

• Divide the chenna into several equal portions and roll each portion into a ball, carefully see whether any cracks are there on the surface
• Dust the plate lightly with the plain flour and keep the rolled chenna balls on it

Sugar Syrup:

• Mix the sugar and milk with 3 cups of water in a pan and stir continuously till the sugar completely dissolves
• Once the syrup starts to boil, the impurities of the sugar will begin to float on the surface and form a grey layer
• Heat over a medium flame which allows the grey layer to float. Avoid stirring at this moment
  After few minutes, drizzle a cup of water from the sides of the pan. It brings down the temperature of the sugar syrup and will not allow it to boil more
• Continue the process as it is for 10 minutes and then remove the grey layer with the help of a spoon
• Make the syrup boil again and drizzle a cup of water from the sides of the pan and remove the all the impurities from the syrup
• Increase the flame and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep the sugar syrup aside

Mixing the Rasgulla with Sugar Syrup:

• Make a flour solution (mix 2 teaspoons of the plain flour with 1 cup of water) and keep aside
• Boil the sugar syrup vigorously over a high flame
• When the syrup boils, sprinkle half the flour solution in it and add the chenna balls. Don’t touch the balls at this moment
• A foaming layer is formed on the surface of the syrup
• Once the foaming layer disappears, sprinkle the remaining flour solution
• Continuously sprinkle a cup of water on the surface of the syrup. Ensure that the syrup makes a foam while cooking rasgullas
• Cook for 15 minutes. Continuously sprinkling water allows the foam to form
• Now, check whether the rasgullas are cooked or not. It is cooked, if the rasgulla springs back and retains its shape when pressed
• If the rasgulla sinks to the bottom, it is cooked
• Remove the pan from fire
• Put the rasgullas in another bowl along with 2 ladles of sugar syrup and 1 cup of water
• Cool the rasgullas for 4 hours, then serve the mouth watering sweet