kismatkichabi ka raaz

So after i visited the link, it came up with the following! Does anyone have any idea whats all this about? :o

Kismatkichabi

Last week a strange thing happened. I was coming home and was walking past cineplanet when these 3 gals were giving out this picture "globe with a key" to everyone.

So it happened i got 1 and so did mom.

What so special you would wonder?

Apart from our penchant for creating rubbish everywhere we Mumbaikars dont care a damn what pamphlets we are given and simply throw them away, the moment we walk past those boys and gals who are assigned the job to distribute them.

Anyways, after trampling on innumerable globes i decided oh well i'll read them later.

So when i landed home i read the following:

"If you opened this actually hoping to correct your

Fortune, you really need this advice

If the person who gave you this feels

you are worried, apprehensive,

unhappy and disheartened;

then may be you are,

just take our advice!

How to be HAPPY, OPTIMISTIC and HOPEFUL

in Life?

The first thing is to REVISIT your dreams and aspirations

because somewhere in your heart, they are still alive.

Next step is to ACT to see your dreams turn to reality

Hence, SMS KISMAT to 5676799

or

Log onto http://www.kismatkichabi.com/

Have a nice life!

Lalbaugcha Raja Info

Some information on Lalbaugcha Raja that i gathered off the net.

The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was previously known as "Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal Lalbaug". The ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1934.

more info can be sought on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalbaug

Coming Soon: Mumbai Metro

It will be just another 30 months (read 2 and a half years :z) when we all can proudly proclaim we also have the metro like Delhi and Kolkatta. Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd has proclaimed its intentions.

Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems, i.e. smart cards will be used by passengers to use the rapid transport system.

What we will get is also display systems, announcement system, radio system, master clock and time synchronisation system with optic fibre-based backbone transmission network, system for transferring CCTV images from moving trains to the Operation and Control Centre and stations. Additionally there will be reduced vibration technology for the rails.

The metro will be along Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor.

Ganapati bappa morya pudhchya varshi lavkar ya!

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

Till the next year, ganapati bappa morya pudhchya varshi lavkar yaa!

Jai Ganesh Deva

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

The Sardar Nagar Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal organises the Sioncha Raja pandal every year.

This year was the golden jublee year!

Nice shot

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

I found a much cooler pic. on rediff.com.

kindly see it here:

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/13sd1.htm

Truck flower decoration

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

This year the decoration theme was flowers.

Beautifully and ornately decorated using ferns, and flowers the green theme was evident.

Needless to say it was a very simple idea and nicely executed.

Revellers and Dancers Inc

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

Chalaa gadyanno naachuya!

Gals and guys all celebrating ganesh visarjan. Infact they will go dancing in this fashion all the way to the beach!!! :P

Its a great sight to watch some original maharashtrian dancing steps...

Parade Musicians

Hats off

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

to these guys who play so long and

so hard. Dont these guys hands ache?!

Kaise yaar kaise do they manage? :o

With their orange getup these guys are one heck of a motivated lot.

Sioncha Raja Parade

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

Come rain or shine these merry folks are busy shaking a leg in the middle of the road.

And not just youngsters but older gentlemen and ladies also form circles and little groups to dance. Flag bearers motivate tired legs to keep dancing and the entire procession takes an eternity to move forward.

Not that anyone's complaining. Accompanying all this are the fireworks.

So sorry didnt take any pictures of those since i dont have an SD card, i used my limited memory to capture only 11 pictures. But i promise next year i will get more.

Visarjan Parade

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

"Sioncha Raja 2008" visarjan celebration with flags.

This is a yearly procession and is celebrated with much pomp and dancing.

Flag bearers wave the flags to the tune of drums and synchronised beats. And revellers around then dance in unison.

Infact the entire thing is so good, anyone would feel like joining them. Even laymen and passerby join the parade!

Ganapati Majha, Sioncha Raja

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

Crowds always flock to get prasad and for darshan. With so many people surrounding the truck, the truck slowly inches forward.

Sioncha Raja Decor

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

"Sion cha Raja" inside truck on visarjan day.

Its a ritual every year the "Sion cha raja" is paraded through all the sardar nagars in Sion Koliwada before its annual sendoff.

Here the ganesh is on the way to sardar nagar no. 1.
This year the truck was decorated by flowers.

Sioncha Raja

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

"Ganapati Majha, Sion cha Raja"

Sion cha Raja 2008

The premier ganapati of Sion. Organised by Sardar Nagar Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal.

King's Circle GSB Ganesh

I chanced to see our auxilium gals chattering away at the bus stop. Reminded me of my own days. But alas no bus in sight. When u don't need it 4 of the no. 64 route buses will travel totally empty one after the other; otherwise the much cursed and latelatif 172 came riding by and surprise pretty vacant! *poof @ that*

Abhi kya karu?!! Arre i chanced to see 2 "wad" trees. And isn't Wadala named after "wad" (banyan) trees cause it was here that they were mainly found. What days have come when you can find only 2 on Katrak Road.

Along came bus no. 411 & we hoped into it, planning to get down at King's Circle. When the bus stopped at the signal near the Irani hotel Cafe Coolar, my mom's like "hey we should get down now, we wont have to cross the road".

Phew this lady has no patience! down and walking fast we got past Sobti's clinic. By the time we got to the G.S.B. Mandal pandel, it was drizzling again. We proceeded to remove our chappels.

General darshan? start climbing mount abu jawans! and yeah that whole thing winds up like a snake around the entire length of the walk to the Lord's darshan. And the plates moved 'thud thud' giving you an uneasy feeling. *brrr*


see for yourself: Skywalking to Lord's Darshan!!! what a view!
People are performing "homas" below to the tune of "mantras".


here is Lord Ganesh. splendid!



And another close up!

Next Stop Wadala

Here we went inside the temple of Ram first. Today was a lucky day since the original murtis were being cleaned & performed abhishekam, i got to click this.



Shri Ram, Shri Laxman and Sitamata

(a lil dodgy but nevertheless worth it.)

The nav grahas n nag devas n ganeshas later we could see the G.S.B. ganapati.



As grand as ever and always the most serene. And never changing. The GSB Ganesh at Wadala Ram Temple.



Yeh Camera Mujhe Dede Thakur!!!

This pujari destroyed the shot by waving his hand in between... asking for my camera! :o "peechee dekh mamu, bhagwan peeche khadaa hai."

:( better luck next time.


After getting the prashad which i love so much. very very tasty n i can eat heaps; we went to the bus stop.

Lalbaugcha Raja

Lalbaugcha Raja

Today we visited the 'Lalbaugcha Raja'. Since we were already late, we took a taxi to Lalbaug. Well surprises of all surprises, the blue sky in Sion turned to Grey in Dadar T.T. and it started pouring cats & dogs!

No sooner than we reached Hindmata then the traffic started to slow down
abysmally. In a span of 45 minutes the water was upto kneeline. And kids were frolicking in it. yuck! It was only when we got to Parel T.T. when the waters started to recede.

Hey when we reached the site of Lalbaugcha Raja we saw these huge elephants. But since it was raining & we had to leave the taxi, we didn't bother looking.

Proceeded to the line. Since this was my first time, i saw these shops lining the route on both flanks. And needless to say they all sell the same kinda items! :o

I wonder how they do business otherwise. or may be its just my naivety.

There on the left side is an entrance to the Lalbaug machhi bazaar. What a cat gathering was there. Cats of all kinda colours had assembled & were mockingly looking at us with interspersed looks of dispair cum indifference "oh these humans, pathetic!"

Beautiful but very cattish i must say... but then no prizes for guessing.

Anyways as we were slowly proceeding my anticipation was growing and
growing.

Alas it only culminated in a deflation when we found out we cant even get like 5 feet near Ganesh cause it isn't allowed. Oh well so i took to my heels, for the treasured shot.

attempt 1 : crisscrossing between people i landed this

attempt 2: oh well

attempt 3: damn it, keep ur head off!

strategy 2

round about turn, through the ropes and hurrah straight ahead

attempt 4: ok this might work


attempt 5: yes!!!

attempt 6: wow, glorious!

attempt 7: nice one as well

thanx to mom's cajoling

attempt 8: closer

attempt 9: right on...

So after duly visiting the cats we landed outside.

So our chance this time to admire the decor. And yeah rains stopped. "hurry quick"

La Door Magnifique!!!


Appropriately titled "BIG BIG BIG"



Zarokaa!!!



Haathi Mere Sathi... *love*

Next stop Wadala.

IMS Vikrant Deck

vikrant2002_1019
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

Specifications of Vikrant

Displacement: 15,700 tons standard without load. 19,500 tons with full load.
Total length: 192 metres (630 ft) along with waterline. 213.3 metres (700 ft) under extreme circumstances.
Firing range: 12,000 nautical miles at 14 knots.
Beam: 24.4 meters (80 ft) along with waterline. 39 meters (128 ft) under extreme circumstances.
Draft: 7.3 meters (24 ft)
Propulsion: parsons geared steam turbines, 4 admiralty three-drum boilers, 2 shafts, 40,000 hp, 23 knots
Crew: 1075 usual, 1340 wartime
Armaments: 16*40 mm Bofors antiaircraft guns
Aircrafts: 6 Westland Sea King Mk42B
3 Westland Sea King Mk42C
Fixed Wing 6 BAe Sea Harriers FRS.51

Dockyard viewed from IMS Vikrant

vikrant2002_0918
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

IMS Vikrant

The ship was converted into the Indian Museum Ship (IMS) Vikrant. The Navy had refurbished IMS Vikrant and opened it to the visitors during Navy Week in December 2003. During the fortnight, over 100,000 people visited the museum ship.

It is India’s first maritime museum and Asia’s only. It is referred to as ‘Old Lady of the Indian Navy'. She is the only World War II-era British-built aircraft carrier to be preserved.

The museum highlights the enormous role played by the ship in India’s maritime history. Also showcased are the naval aviation operations via short films shown on the ship.

The general public can see the varied operations of the Indian navy within separate sections of the ship like diving, missiles, aircrafts, naval uniforms, Vikrants commanders. Various artifacts & exhibits include also the pieces of the Pak submarine that the Vikrant sank. On displays are also photographs of naval officers and navy operations and training.

IMS Vikrant hanger

vikrant2002_0717
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

INS Vikrant underwent 3 more modernizations. She served for 20 long years until the 1990’s.

On 31st January 1997 INS Vikrant was decommissioned and thus came to an end its long and distinguished service in the annals of Indian Navy. While in service the Vikrant provided air umbrella of 350 nautical miles.

Helicopter in hanger of IMS Vikrant

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

The INS Vikrant played a major role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. INS Vikrant’s airfleet of Seahawk fighter aircrafts sank many enemy ships, destroyed aircrafts and onshore targets.

The result was Pakistan sent its submarine Ghazi to the Bay of Bengal to sink the Vikrant while at Visakhapatnam harbor. However Ghazi herself sank in the process.

The INS Vikrant was the prime factor in the naval blockade of East Pakistan. Vikrant earned 2 Mahavir Chakras and 12 Vir Chakras for its efforts.

Viewing deck of IMS Vikrant

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

INS Vikrant first active operation was the liberation of Goa in 1961.

The ship also played a role in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Here is a great video from youtube by cybersurg

Aircrafts in IMS Vikrant

vikrant2002_0313
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

The ship was renamed as “Vikrant” meaning valiant.

The ship’s motto is "Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah" from the Rig Veda which means ‘I completely defeat those who dare to fight with me’.

INS Vikrant was India’s first light fleet aircraft carrier. Captain Pritam Singh was the first commanding officer of the carrier.

Hanger of IMS Vikrant

vikrant2002_0212
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

The ship was later sold off to India in January 1957 after long negotiations. It was Lord Louis Mountbatten who convinced Pundit Nehru to make the massive purchase. Remaining work of the massive vessel was undertaken at Harland and Wolff at Belfast. The designs were modified taking into account modern needs and the ship was refitted. The ship was customized to function as Fleet Commander’s flagship.

The ship was commissioned on 4th March 1961 by the then Indian high commissioner to Britain Vijayalakshmi Pundit. Inspite of this the ship wasn’t put into active duty till 3rd November of the same year. After being docked at Belfast, Northern Ireland, it finally began service in Ballard Pier, Bombay and was received by Pundit Nehru himself!

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

vikrant2002_011
Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

India’s museum ship IMS Vikrant

It wasn’t always the “big piece of junk lying rotting in the seas” as some people believe “not worth spending crores over upkeep when millions of countrymen still languish in poverty”.

This battleship was once the pride of the Indian navy and served not just under the Indian flag but also the British!

Known as the HMS (yeah yeah Her Majesty’s Ship) Hercules (R49) aircraft carrier for the British Royal Navy. It was to be one of 6 light aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.

Construction plans for the ship were proposed on 12th November 1943 by Vickers-Armstrong of Tyne, England in Belfast. Later on 22nd September 1945 the first phase of construction work began. Unfortunately due to World War II, the work was suspended and the ship’s plans were stuck in a limbo for a long time.

View of the Bay

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

This picture was taken from the gateway of India.

Looking onto the Arabian Sea. And the hundreds of boats bobbing up & down in blue waters of the ocean.

Ferry rides can be taken from the Gateway of India.

Gateway of India Motifs

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Originally uploaded by vk_i_maverick

One can clearly see the gorgeous play of light with the basalt stone.

Indo-Saracenic in architectural style with some elements from the Muslim architectural styles of 16th century Gujarat.