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Autumn Festivals of West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh

The Making

Durga Puja (The Sarvajanin Puja at Bagbazar, Kolkata)

Durga Puja (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

The Season of Autumn brings with it, the festive season in Eastern India and Bangladesh. This is the season of several pujas, beginning with Ganesh Chaturthi, followed by Vishwakarma Puja and then the much-awaited Durga Puja, often called Durgotsav or Sharodotsav.

By the term “Sharodotsav” (Autumn Festivals)– we generally denote Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja. “Mahalaya” (meaning the abode of happiness) is the day to offer homage to the ancestors who have demised. It is an Amavasya or a No-Moon Day. This day marks the beginning of “Devi Paksh”. According to the folklore, on this day, Goddess Durga begins her journey to the earth, her paternal home from the home of her in-laws. The entire fortnight from Prathama (the first day after Mahalaya) to Lakshmi Puja is called the “Devi Paksh” (meaning “the fortnight of the Goddess”). Though the entire Puja is for ten days, but nowadays, except for the orthodox families, the other pujas arranged by Puja committees, housing societies and clubs are usually for the last five days. Shashti, Saptami, Ashthami, Nabami and Dashami. The last day is called Vijaya Dashami that means the Day of Victory of good over evil.

Nowadays “Sarvajanin” Pujas go for various themes and the Pandals are constructed in harmony with the theme. While on one hand a new touch of artistry is given to the idol of the goddess, on the other hand valuable messages for the betterment of human civilization and society are also conveyed through such thematic representations.

The time of departure of the Goddess with her children (Lord Ganesh, Lord Kaartik, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati) brings sorrow in the eyes of the devotees. The statues (Pratima) along with the garlands and the holy urn (Kalash) are immersed in a water body, usually the holy river Ganges or its tributaries (as all the rivers are also worshiped in Hinduism)

This is the season to remember your childhood days of fun, frolic, shopping, the special goodies prepared at home, eating out, pandal-hopping, “sindur-khela” (smearing vermilion on each other among married women) and “kolakuli” (mutual embrace among men). Sweets are exchanged as a token of good wishes, between families and friends. The young touch the feet of the elderly people asking their blessings.

It may happen that you are far away from your dear ones on such festive occasions. Call your parents, relatives and friends back home, share these moments of joy with them. Call India @1.08 cents per minute and Bangladesh at @2.6 cents per minute from US. Enjoy unbelievably LOW RATES only with AALAP Calling Cards at .www.call2roots.com

Courtesy: Call2Roots Team
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Celebrating Rakhi Purnima/Raksha Bandhan on the 13th of August 2011

This gallery contains 2 photos.

The 13th of August 2011 is Rakhi Purnima or Raksha Bandhan. The bond between a brother and a sister takes so many shades. They argue, they quarrel, they fight but they also pray for each other’s safety, success, and prosperity … Continue reading →

Online Transactions and Payment Gateways

We often buy products online and need to make payments using our credit cards. Certain things leave us pondering, and though we hardly need to know the exact process involved in an online transaction, but it is always good to know the outline and the meanings of the abbreviations.

What is a payment Gateway and how does it work?
We are accustomed with the terms like GoPay, SafePay, PayPal These are the most popular Payment Gateways. Now, the question arises that what these gateways actually do. The outline of the process is as below:

1. The customer provides the credit card and billing information. The credit card is encrypted and the information cannot be read or misused by a third party.
2. The payment Gateway validates the card and the account.
3. When the validation is successful and the credit card is detected as genuine the gateway sends a request to deduct the required amount from the account of the credit-card-holder.
4. On successful execution of this request the next step is to transfer this amount to the account held by the business organization /the company conducting this online business.
5. Each time a transaction is made a certain percentage of the profit realized by the company goes to the payment gateway as service fee.

Who can use such gateway services?
It becomes necessary that the company must have a considerably big volume of online transactions, or else this service fee might seem to be quite substantial and the profit margin of the business would be meager. If there is a huge volume of transaction then such organizations must go for gateway service. A company has to open a “Service Account” in order to enjoy their service. The company can also ask account summary as in case of any account from the gateway service provider.

What do the terms SSL, CVV and VPA mean?

SSL: Secure Socket Layer (Encryption)

CVV: Card Verification Value

VPA: Virtual Payer Authentication

What type of payment does Call2Roots accept?
Call2Roots uses Paypal Gateway and accepts payment via all types of Master Card and Visa cards. The website has bears the trusted COMODO Secure recognition. So, the account validation and transaction takes a few seconds. Hurry, buy online calling cards and enjoy bonus minutes and other discounts.

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This article is an attempt and may not be exhaustive.
Author: Call2Roots

Poila Boishakh and Baisakhi

POILA BOISHAKH – THE BENGALI NEW YEAR

The Bengali Calendar has twelve months and ‘Boishakh’ is the first month. The first day (Poila) of Boishakh is their new year. Hence in Bengali it is called ‘Pohela/Poila Boishakh’ or ‘Nabobarsho’ (‘nabo’ =‘new’ and ‘barsho’ = ‘year’). The Mughal emperor Akbar was the one who took the initiative to reform the calendar which introduced the Bangla calendar which is actually a merger of the lunar Hijri and Bangla solar calendars. The new calendar was formally introduced on March 1584. This calendar was called ‘Bangabdo’ (Banga+abdo)
Pohela (shortened to ‘Poila’) Boishakh coincides with either 14th or 15th of April every year according to the English Calendar. Traditionally, the Zamindars used to arrange bull fights, cock fights, wrestling and stick fight. With changing times the rituals have been modified. Celebrations begin in the previous month – Chaitra, the last month of the year. Various fairs (Chaitra Mela) are organized where singers perform Jatra Gaan, Kabi Gaan, Pala Gaan, Murshidi Gaan, Bhatiali Gaan and Gajir Gaan. These folk songs (‘Gaan’ means ‘song’) are now only remembered on such special occasions. Families prepare to decorate their homes and buy new clothes, hop the markets and malls for special festive discounts or enjoy buying handcrafted everyday-things and collectibles from the fairs. The last day of the month and year is called ‘Chaitra Sankranti’.


Homes are decorated with new furnishings and the floors look vibrant with white floral designs made using rice flour. The holy ‘kalash’ which is filled with holy water from the river Ganges, topped with a green coconut over mango leaves, is placed on either side of the main entrance to the shop establishments and homes to welcome wealth and happiness. The air becomes thick with the smell of incense and camphor as the devotees offer homage to the deities.


Now, on Poila Boishakh, the merchants, traders, shop-owners and businessmen still worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi and pray for peace and prosperity all year through. Book-keeping is an essential part of business. On this day a new account book (Haal Khata) is opened for the financial year ahead. The most interesting part of the celebration is the sharing of sweets and delicacies among relations and friends with greetings of the New Year.

SHUBHO NABOBARSHO

Call2Roots Greetings

BAISAKHI – THE PUNJABI NEW YEAR

Punjab is the land of lush green fields, mustard flowers and the colorful dances of Bhangra and Gidda. The Punjabi New Year or ‘Baisakhi’ falls in the middle of April. It is also celebrated as the birth of Guru Gobind Singh – the Tenth Sikh Guru and the foundation day of Khalsa Panth.


Some people pay a visit to the Golden Temple of Amritsar while others to a local Gurudwara. The day begins with Holy Bathing. People gather in Gurudwaras. The Guru Granth Sahib is tenderly bathed with milk and water. The book is then read out to the congregation of the Gurudwara. Verses are chanted from the Holy Book by the five saints (Panch Pyare) followed by the distribution of amrita (holy nectar), prepared in an iron vessel. The devotees sip the nectar five times and vow to work for Khalsa Panth (the path of fellowship). This is followed by a procession where chants and songs (Kirtans) are sung with the rhythm of drums (‘dhol’).

The farmers celebrate it as a harvest festival. Dressed in colorful traditional clothes men perform Bhangra and women perform Gidda. Men also participate in mock duels or sword fights. The community meal or ‘Langar’ is arranged. Vegetarian meal is served to the people by the volunteers. The day is celebrated with peace, and piousness.

BAISAKHI DI VADHAIYAN

This is an attempt by Call2Roots Team. It may not be exhaustive.

Holi – The History Behind

The Meaning of ‘Holi’

‘Holi’ means ‘burning’. The legend goes back to the Pre-Christian era. Hiranyakashipu, acquired great powers from his deity, by performing penance and meditation for several years. Considering himself invincible, he emerged into a tyrant and king of demons with his utmost objective being to occupy heaven – the abode of the Gods, and ordered the masses to worship him as their deity instead of God. His sister Holika was also immune to fire. His brother was killed by Lord Vishnu. He became desperate to vanquish the Gods to avenge his brother’s death. However Hiranyakashipu’s son, the young Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. In his frenzy he wished to kill Prahlad. He asked his sister Holika to sit on fire with Prahlad. Divinity was with the good soul and therefore Prahlad emerged unscathed but Holika was reduced to ashes. Hence we burn Holika on the eve of Holi.


The day after burning the Holika people put the ashes from the fire as Vibhuti on their forehead often mixed with Chandan paste (Sandalwood paste). It is believed that on the day Holika was burnt, Kaamdev (God of Love) in his foolish pride aimed his love arrow at Lord Shiv who was in deep meditation. Sensing his presence Lord Shiv opened his third eye and burnt Kaamdev to ashes. It was disclosed by Parvati that, she wanted to express her love and devotion to Shiv, but she was not able to do so because of his prolonged meditation and so she persuaded Kaamdev to help her. The anger of Shiv was thus pacified. Lord Shiv granted her the life of her husband Kaamdev on a condition that he could be sensed by Rati but he would not have any physical form.


Holi is also the festival of colors commemorating the immortal love of Lord Krishna and Radha, the frolic of Lord Krishna’s boyhood. Holi is also called Vasant Utsav or the festival of spring. It was at this time of year, Krishna used to play pranks by drenching the village girls, with water and colors. Though offended initially, the maids were so fond of this mischievous boy that soon their anger melted away. The Gopikas used to throw colors on Lord Krishna and Radha (or Radhika) as they sat on a swing enjoying the beauty if spring.

Lord Krishna, Radha and the Gopikas Celebrating Holi

In Bengal and some parts of East India, this festival is also known as ‘Dol Yatra’. ‘Dol’ means ‘Swing’ and ‘Yatra’ means ‘journey’. It is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the famous saint-poet and devotee of Lord Krishna. The full moon being associated with this spring festival, it also gets the name Dol Purnima (‘Purnima’ means ‘Full Moon’). Long ago, Holi was a special rite performed by married women and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped for bringing auspiciousness and peace in their families. In Further, the Hampi temple, bears a 16th century panel with illustrations depicting a royal couple on a grandly ornamented swing being showered with colors from wooden syringes (Pichkaaris) by jovial maids. In many parts of East India, Gopala (Lord Krishna was called ‘Balagopala’ in his childhood) is also worshiped with offerings of garlands, sweets (Laddoos) and dry color (Aabir / Gulaal).


Thus Holi is not only the most ancient but one of the most popular festivals, which is celebrated with zest in various regions of India. Wish you all a colorful and safe Holi.

Call2Roots wishes you all a colorful and safe Holi. Log on to www.call2roots.com to buy cheap online calling cards to call India(1.46 cents /min),Bangladesh (4.77 cents/min), Pakistan (6.04 cents/min) and many other destinations.


This is an attempt by Call2Roots Team and may not be exhaustive.

Christmas

Call2Roots wishes you a Merry Christmas


Christmas is the celebration of the Birth of Christ though Gospels do not confirm the 25th Day of December as the Day of His birth. In the ancient world, winter was a very cruel time, people hated it. The end of winter meant the end of all their woes and miseries. So the end of winter was celebrated in almost every part of the world. The Romans saturnalia (worship of Saturn – the Pagan god of seed-sowing). It was the time when even the slave-owners relieved their slaves and allowed them to enjoy themselves.


In Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, St. Lucia is believed to mark the beginning of the Christmas festivities and is also known as St. Lucy or ‘Little Yule’. On this day, the eldest daughter in each family wakes up early and dresses up as ‘Lussi’ or ‘Little Yule’ for that day. Attired in a long white gown with a red sash and a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles on top, she wakes up all the other members of the family. This was the first part of the celebration. Thus there are various festivities and rituals that led to what we know as Christmas now.


Even Santa Claus is derived from the name of Saint Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. Born in a rich family, he was brought up as a devout Christian. He was well-known as a gift giver. As known from various stories, he is also a protector of children. Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons. He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need. In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolates, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts.


In the seventeenth century, the Dutch presented Sinterklaas (meaning St. Nicholas) to the colonies. The children were excited to receive gifts from the Saint. They pronounced Sinterklaas as “Santy-Klaus” which gradually became Santa Claus.


Christmas is the time to share gifts and good wishes with the younger ones in the family and friend circle. Words in writing fall short of those heartfelt emotions from which your good wishes emanate. Thus it is always best to speak to your loved ones on such happy occasions and Christmas and New Year.



The best way to voice your wishes is by getting FREE minutes to talk to your dear ones. Call2roots will give you such an opportunity that you should not miss. There is a promotional code which you can receive by email. On entering this code you can get FREE minutes added to your Call2roots account. Give your best wishes to your dear ones in any part of the world from US on Christmas Eve and New Year.


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Courtesy :Call2Roots Team
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