Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap day!

"Leap" in time is when the calendar is adjusted to make up for extra seconds accumulated over the preceding three years, due to the rotation of the earth. A leap year has 366 days and it occurs every four years
But did you know….
  • In England and Wales, the date of the legal birthday for someone born on 29th February is 1st March
  • February 30th was a real date in Sweden, a Scandinavian country.
  • The town of Anthony in Texas, USA was known as ‘The Leap Year Capital of the World’.
  • In Scotland, it was considered unlucky to be born on a Leap Day.
  • Babies born on 29th February are known as Leaplings
  • In Greece it is considered unlucky to marry on a Leap Day.
  • Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar was said to be behind the origin of the Leap Year

Nursery poem-
Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November.
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone,
And that has twenty-eight days clear
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
-Unknown

Monday, February 27, 2012

Quiz of the day (33)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.
The first impression we have about grass is what we seen in our lawn. Can you guess what is the tallest and thickest type of grass?
a) buffalo grass
b) fake grass
c) bamboo
d) tall fescue
Quiz of the day (32) Answer: b) cartographer (in Greek- chartes is a sheet of papyrus (paper) and graphein is to write

Friday, February 24, 2012

Quiz of the day (32)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.
We all use maps in all occasions and in all places. What is a person who draws and designs map's called?
a) lithographer
b) cartographer
c) mythographer
d) geographer
Quiz of the day (31) Answer: b) Ravana (veena player)(source:http://kdpindia.com/Ravana-flag.html)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Phalguna maasam-the twelvth month of the Hindu lunar calendar (February 22-March22)

Last but not the least, Phalguna masam is the last month as per traditional Hindu Lunar calendar. The month in which full moon day coincides with Poorva/Uttara Phalguni nakshatra is denoted as Phalguna maasam. This is also good time of the year to perform auspicious functions like, housewarming, marriage, especially upanayanam etc. We find still cool but pleasant climate, change in the color of the leaves as they start withering. When the season ends we find new leaves start springing up that marks the beginning of spring season and the temperature slowly gets warmer. 
As I have read somewhere, the most prominent incidents of the most important Itihasas for Hindus, Ramayana and Maha Bharata occurred in the Phalguna month. The Ramayan War (war between the army of Vaanaras and Ravanas army) started on the day of Phalguna Bahula Padyami (first day after pournami). The most important incident in the Ramayana, Ravanasura Vadha, (demolition of demon Ravana), was occurred on Phalgun Amavasya. 
The real representative of Dharma in Mahabharata, Dharma Raju (Yudhistira), was born on Phalguna Bahula Astami.The body builder in Pandavas, Bhimasena, was born on Phalguna Shudda Trayodasi. On the same day, Duryodhana and Dushshasana were also born. 
The most important festival in this month is the festival of colors. Holi is celebrated on the full moon day (March 8th) of Phalguna maasam.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Mother-tongue Day!

February 21 every year is International Mother Tongue Day. The day was declared by UNESCO in 1999 to be celebrated globally.
Dictionary meaning of mother-tongue states:
1. The language first learned by a person; native language.
2. Mother language. A language from which another is evolved
rrclassroom.wordpress.com
Though I grew up outside of my native place, I was lucky to learn my mother tongue “Telugu”; read write and talk fluently. Thanks to my mother who insisted upon me to learn during my school breaks. Now, I with my family living in a foreign land motivated my children to acquire the fluency to converse freely.  Not that they mastered to read and write, they are comfortable to have a conversation without hesitation in their mother tongue i.e. telugu. Growing-up they picked up vocabulary to increase their conversation capability. Research has said that having learnt mother tongue help them to retain their culture; improves cognitive ability and has myriad benefits. It makes sense when I read that, if the language (mother tongue) disappears means culture is diminishing; if culture is lost means mankind vanishes. Don't you agree upon this? If you could not learn for some unforeseen reason respect your mother tongue which equals to respecting your mother land and in turn your own mother.
I would like to share a small story, that I used to tell my children when they were young. I believe this helped them learn the names of the vegetables in “Telugu-my mother tongue”.

అనగనగా ఉల్లిపాయంత ఊరిలో, ములక్కాడంత ముసలమ్మ వుంది. ఆమెకి వంకాయంత వజ్రము వుంది ఆ వంకాయంత వజ్రాన్ని బిరకాయంత బీరువాలో పెట్టి తాటికాయంత తాలంవేసింది. అది దొండకాయంత  దొంగ చూసి ఒకరోజు రాత్రి కరక్కాయంత కన్నము వేసి ఇంట్లోకి వచ్చి తాటికాయంత తాళం తీసి ఆ వంకాయంత వజ్రాన్ని దొండకాయంత దొంగపట్టుకు పోతుంటే పొట్లకాయంత పోలీసు చూసి బెండకాయంత బేడీలు తీసి దొండకయంత దొంగకు వేసి జామకాయంత జైలుల్లో పెట్టి ఆ వంకాయంత వజ్రాన్ని తెచ్చి ములక్కాడంత ముసలమ్మకి ఇచ్చాడు ఇది కథ. కథ కంచికి మనం ఇంటికి. 

“One should respect his motherland, his culture and his mother tongue because they are givers of happiness… ”
-Rig Veda quotes

Monday, February 20, 2012

Maha Sivarathri!

Mahasivarathri is one of the holiest nights of the year. It is the night dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. 
May the Lord shower his blessings on each one of us.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Quiz of the day (31)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer
If mythology is "your cup of tea", I am sure you would know the answer for this question. In Indian mythology, which king's flag had a veena motif on it? 
a) Bharata
b) Ravana
c) Arjuna
d) Dasaratha
Quiz of the day (30) Answer:b) 60 miles per hour (A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph)

Friday, February 3, 2012

Quiz of the day (30)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 
The function of coughing is to assist the removal of material from the airways. Coughing also prevents additional inhalation of material, or movement of inhaled material into the peripheral airways. Did you ever imagine at what speed does an average cough comes out of your mouth?
a) 15 miles per hour,
b) 60 miles per hour
c) 90 miles per hour
d) 130 miles per hour
Quiz of the day (29) Answer: b) Denmark (flag named, Dannebrog is adopted in 1219 AD)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

February flower

February birth-month flower is Violet in purple or sky blue.
Violet - Faithfulness, modesty, and affection
Meaning - ‘Vias” means wayside
Scientific name - Viola sororia
Common name – common woolly blue violet
Hidden message - I’ll always be true
State flower - Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and New Jersey

“Stars will blossom in the darkness, Violets bloom beneath the snow.”
Julia C.R. Dorr