Nebulae

The word ‘nebulae’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘clouds’. Indeed ,a nebula is a cosmic cloud of gas and dust floating in space. More than one Nebula is called nebulae. Nebulae are the basic building blocks of universe. They contain the elements from which stars and solar systems are built. Stars inside these clouds of gas cause them to glow with beautiful reds, blues, and greens. These are the result of different elements within the nebula.

Most nebulae are composed of about 90% hydrogen, 10% helium, and 0.1% heavy elements such as carbon, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron. These clouds of matter are also quite large. In fact they are among the largest objects in the galaxy. Many of them are the dozens or even hundreds of light years across. Nebulae are divided into five major categories. These are emission nebulae, reflection nebulae, dark nebulae, planetary nebulae, and super nova remnants. Emission and reflection nebulae tend to be fuzzy in appearance and lack any noticeable shape or structure. They are also known as diffuse nebulae.

Dussehra

Dussehra (literally means the tenth day) is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much vigour in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana, the victory of good over evil.
The festivities commence on the first night in the month of Ashwin (September-October). The festivities last for ten days, of which nine nights are spent in worship, 'Navaratri'. The tenth day is devoted to the worship of goddess Durga, who occupies a special position in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. She is 'Shakti', the cosmic energy which rules over all beings.
Beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the ninth day, these are carried out in procession for immersion (visarjan) in a river or pond.ate Some legends also associate this day to the destruction of mighty demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. She further commands special reverence because of the belief that Lord Rama prayed to Goddess Durga before he commenced the war against Ravana in Lanka.
In Tamil Nadu, the first three days are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, the next three days to Saraswati, Goddess of learning and arts and the last three days to Shakti (Durga).
In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, families arrange dolls(Bommai Kolu) on artificially constructed steps and prepare an elaborate spread of lamps and flowers. Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. Scenes selected from various stories in the epics and puranas are displayed. Traditionally women and children, and now men too visit their friends and acquaintances during these 10 days. They sing songs, tell stories that the dolls might depict and eat a dish made out of chickpeas (choondal).
In southern India, Vijayadashami, which is celebrated on the day of Dussehra, is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay homage to their teachers. In Kerala, this day is celebrated as the day of beginning of education by writing the first letters by the kids.
Dussehra is the most important festival in Karnataka. The Dussehra of Mysore is quite famous where caparisoned elephants lead a colourful procession through the decorated streets of the city.
The festival is also celebrated with intense fervour and zest, in West Bengal, in the form of Durga Puja. In Punjab, Navaratri is taken as a period of fasting. In Gujarat, the evenings and nights are occasions for the fascinating Garba dance. The women dance around an earthen lamp while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands.
In northern India, the colourful Ramlila is performed wherein various incidents from Rama's life are enacted. The most popular themes are the destruction of Ravana and Bharat Milap, that is the reunion of Ram and his estranged brother Bharat, on the former's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life are taken out during the Dussehra festivals. On the tenth day (the Vijayadasmi day), colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnath are placed in vast open spaces. Rama, accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana, arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are filled with explosive material. It results in a mighty blast, which is welcomed with shouts of merriment and triumph from the spectators.

Diwali(Deepawali)

Deepawali or Diwali, is the Hindu festival which is celebrated in largest area of India. It is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the annihilation of spiritual darkness.
The word 'Deepawali' literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps). It is seen as an occasion for all members of a family to assemble together. Deewali is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November) in Saka Calendar.
This festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. The goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day. Lord Ganesha, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day.
Another view is that Deepawali is meant to celebrate the destruction of the arrogant demon (asur) king Maha Bali at the hands of Vishnu when the latter appeared in his Vamana (dwarf) avatar.
The occasion of Deepawali sees the spring-cleaning and white-washing of houses; decorative designs or rangolis are painted on floors and walls. New clothes are bought and family members and relatives gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and to light up their homes.
The previous day of Diwali is celebrated as Chhotti Diwali (small Diwali) in memory of Lord Krishna saving about 16000 Gopikas (cow-herd girls) who were enslaved by Narakasur, the demon. In some places, this festival is not celebrated separately, and it falls on the same day of Diwali.

Deep Diwali

This festival is celebrated to honour the Jain Teerthankaras (fold-makers), It also marks the final liberation of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Teertahankar, from the cycle of life (known as Kaivalya).
He died on this day at the age of 72, at Pawapuri in Bihar.
On this day, Mahavira is worshipped at midnight and early next morning. Sacred scriptures are recited and houses are grandly illuminated.
Girnar in Gujarat and Pawapuri are the important centres of this celebration.

Christmas

Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It falls on December 25 every year. During the days of Christmas, people decorate their houses with star -shaped lights. This is to symbolise the legendary star that showed the way for the magi (wise men) from the east who came to see child Jesus with precious gifts. Carol songs are sung by groups of people who move from house to house. This practice reminds one of the heavenly song sung by the angels on the night Jesus was born.
Jesus was born during the second census held in the reign of Augustus Caesar, the famous Roman Emperor. As per the royal decree, all male had to go to their ancestral home town with their family, to register their names. Thus, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem (now in Palestine), the royal town of King David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. There Jesus was born. The town was full of people who came from far and wide. Mary wrapped the new born baby in clothes and placed him in a manger (the trough for the cattle to feed from), because there was no room for them in the inn.
To symbolise Jesus' birth in humble circumstances, the Christians make small huts resembling the cattle-shed where child Jesus rested. Miniatures of the characters present during Jesus' birth are placed within this. Thus, you can see Child Jesus, his parents, the wise men, the angels and the shepherds with their sheep, the cattle around and the divine star. The Bible says that the poor shepherds were the first to come to share the joy of the child birth, with Joseph and Mary.
The Christians attend church services in the previous night and the morning of the Christmas day.
Christmas is a winter festival. The message of this festival is "peace to men on earth', as the heavenly angels sang. The Christians believe that it reminds us of God's love for the humans because He sent His Son to the earth to die for the human kind. Thus, it is day of celebrations as well as thanks giving.

Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha is widely celebrated, on the full moon night the month of Vaisakh (April/May) in the Saka Calendar.
All the four important incidents in the life of Lord Buddha occurred on the full moon nights of Vaisakh. The Buddha was born on the Full Moon day in the month of Vaisakh in 563 BC, in Lumbini, near Kapila Vastu (presently in Nepal). On another full moon day in the same month, he abandoned his family and all earthly pleasures and went in search of the Supreme Truth. Also, Lord Buddha attained enlightenment on a full moon night in Vaisakh at Bodh gaya in Bihar. He achieved nirvana on full moon night in the same month.
It is also believed that Yashodara, Gautam's wife, his charioteer Channa and even his horse Kantaka were born on full moon days in the same month.
On this day, Buddhists offer prayers in their temples. Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon (known as Dharmachakra pravartana) and Bodh Gaya are the main centres of celebration.

Baisakhi

Baisakhi is New Year's Day in Punjab. It falls on April 13, though once in 36 years it occurs on 14th April. It marks the foundation of the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, on this day in 1699. The Sikhs, therefore, celebrate this festival as a collective birthday.
Baisakhi is celebrated with music and dancing. Sikhs visit gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and listen to kirtans (religious songs) and discourses. After the prayer, kada prasad (sweetened semolina) is served to the congregation. The function ends with langar (the community lunch) served by volunteers.
Processions are taken out. Mock duels and bands playing religious tunes are part of the processions. These are followed by readings from Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs.
Baisakhi is the harvest festival of Punjab. It is seen as a festival of thanks giving and it marks the beginning of the next agricultural season by sowing.

Civil Service Examination 2010 Notification

Date of Notification :- 02 January 2010.

Last Date for receipt of Applications :- 01 Feb 2010(Monday).

Date of Commencement of Examination :- 23 May 2010(Sunday).

For more details.....

http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/notifications/csp2010/notcvl.htm#PageTop

International Boundary Lines

1.Durand Line - India and Afghanistan(Demarcation line drawn in 1896 by Sir Mortimer Durand).

2.Radcliffe Line - India and Pakistan (Drawn in 1947 by Sir Cyril Radcliffe,Chairman of the Boundary Commission for India and Pakistan).

3.McMohan Line - India and China (Drawn by Sir Henry McMohan.The 1120km frontier line is not recognized by China.In 1962 Chinese crossed this line and invaded India.)

4.49th Parallel - USA and Canada.

5.17th Parallel - North Vietnam and South Vietnam (This line defined the boundary between them before the union).

6.38th Parallel - North Korea and South Korea.

7.Oder Niesse Line - Germany and Poland(Drawn after the Second World War).

8.Hindenberg Line - Germany and Poland (The line to which the Germans retreated in 1917 during First World War)

9.Maginot Line - France and Germany.(A line of fortification constructed by France for protection from Germany's attack).

10.Siegfried Line - Germany and France.(A line of fortification drawn up by Germany).

11.Mannerthiem Line - Russia and Finland.

12.24th Parallel - India and Pakistan.(It is the latitude line which Pakistan claimed should be the demarcation line the Kutch dispute.India rejected the claim)

Important Days...

January 12 - National Youth Day.

January 15 - Army Day.

January 26 - Republic Day,International Customs Day.

January 30 - Matyrs' Day

February 28 - National Science Day.

March 8 - International Women's Day.

March 15 - World Disabled Day.

March 21 - World Forestry Day.

March 23 - World Meteorological Day.

April 5 - National Maritime Day.

April 7 - World Health Day.

April 18 - World Heritage Day.

April 22 - Earth Day.

May 1 - Worker's Day(International Labour Day).

May 3 - Press Freedom Day.

May(2nd Sunday) - Mother's Day.

May 8 - World Red Cross Day.

May 15 - International Day of the Family.

May 17 - World Telecommunication Day.

May 24 - Commonwealth Day.

May 31 - Anti-tobacco Day.

June 5 - World Environment Day.

June 27 - World Diabetes Day.

July 11 - World Population Day.

August 6 - Hiroshima Day.

August 9 - Quit India Day,Nagasaki Day.

August 15 - Independence Day.

August 29 - National Sports Day.

September 5 - Teacher's Day.

September 8 - World Literacy Day.

September 16 - World Ozone Day.

September 21 - Alzheimer's Day.

September 26 - Day of Deaf.

September 27 - World Tourism Day.

October 3 - World Habitat Day.

October 4 - World Animal Welfare Day.

October 8 - Indian Air Force Day.

October 9 - World Post Office Day.

October 10 - National Post Day.

October 13 - UN International Day for Natural
Disaster Reduction.

October 14 - World Standards Day.

October 15 - World White Cane Day.

October 16 - World Food Day.

October 24 - UN Day.

October 30 - World Thrift Day.

November 14 - Children's Day.

December 1 - World AIDS Day.

December 4 - Navy Day.

December 7 - Armed Forces Flag Day.

December 10 - Human Rights Day.

December 23 - Kisan Divas(Farmer's Day).

Persons(Sobriquets)

Abdul Gaffar Khan - Badshah Khan;Frontier Gandhi.

Adolf Hitler - Fuhrer.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Lokmanya.

Benito Mussolini - II Duce.

C F Andrews - Deenabandhu.

C N Annadurai - Anna.

C R Das - Deeshabandhu.

C Rajagopalachari - Rajaji.

Dadabhai Narorji - Grand Old Man of India.

Duke of Wellington - Iron Duke.

Dwight David - Ike.

Eisenhower Earl of Warwick - King Maker.

Erwin Rommel - Desert Fox.

Florence Nightingale - Lady with the Lamp.

Francisco Franco - El Cauclillo.

Geoffery Chaucer - Father of English Poetry.

Jawaharlal Nehru - Chacha,Panditji.

Jayaprakash Narayan - Loknayak.

Joan of Arc - Maid of Orleans.

Lal Bahadur Shastri - Man of Peace.

Lala Lajpat Rai - Punjab Kesari.

M K Gandhi - Bapu.

M S Gohlwalker - Guruji.

Madan Mohan Malaviya - Mahamana.

Napolean Bonaparte - Man of Destiny.

Otto Von Bismark - Man of Blood and Iron.

Queen Elizabeth - Maiden Queen.

Rabindranath Tagore - Gurudev.

Rajinder Singh - Sparrow.

Samuel Langhome Clemens - Mac Twain.

Sarojini Naidu - Nightingale of India.

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah - Lion of Kashmir

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - Bangabandhu.

Subhash Chandra Bose - Netaji.

T Prakasam - Andra Kesari.

Vallabhai Patel - Man of Iron,Strong Man of India.

Walter Scott - Wizard Of The North.

William Ewart Glandstone - Grand Old Man of Britain.

William Shakespeare - Brand of Avon.

Younger Pitt - Great Commoner.

Spiritual Leaders Of India

Gauthama Buddha(563BC-483BC)



The greatest son of India popularly know as Light of Asia.Siddhartha was born as a prince of Shakya at Lumbini,now in Nepal in 563BC.After leaving all worldly belongings,he meditated under the Bodhi tree and became enlightened at Buddhagaya in Bihar.Preached his first sermon at Saranath in UP.'Desire is the cause of sorrow'.'Understanding four Noble Truths leads a person to ultimate liberation'.Buddha breathed his last at Kushninagar in Uttar Pradesh.Buddhism spread South and Central Asia from Afghanistan to Japan 400 million people follow Buddhism.

Mahavira(540BC-468BC)


Vardhamana Mahavira is the founder of Jainism.He was born at Kundalagrama in Vaisali of Bihar.Attained enlightenment at Jrimbhigrama.Ahimsa is the core of Jainism.Self denial and penance are the means to purify human nature.Right faith,Right knowledge and Right conduct are known as the three jewels of Jainism.Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pavapuri in 468BC

Guru Nanak(1469-1539)


Founder of Sikhism.Born at Rai Bhoi di Talvandi near Lahore in a merchant family.Worked as a store keeper before getting spiritual insight.Spent a wandering life for 20 years as a saint.Then settled at Karatarpur in Punjab and became the first Guru of Sikhism.Both Hindu and Muslim ideologies influenced Sikhism.No external aid of idols or mosques needed to worship God.Guru Nanak died in 1539.

Swami Vivekananda(1863-1902)




Great Indian monk and social reformer.Born on January 12,1863 near Calcutta.His name was Narendranath Datta.Received English education and became the disciple of Sree Ramakrishna.Addressed World Religious Conference of 1893 at Chicago.Founded Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.Stood aganist social injustice and casteism of Hindu religion.

Dayananda Saraswathy(1824-1883)



Social reformer and religious leader.He was born at Morve in Gujarat.Founded Arya Samaj for the Hindu reformation in 1875.'Go back to Vedas'was his slogan.He succeeded in mobilising Hindu mainstream people against injustice prevailing in the region.His ideologies influenced Gandhiji a lot.Dayananda Saraswathi also participated in the first war of independence.

Sree Sankara(788-820)


Sree Sankara,popularly known as Sankaracharya was born at Kalady in Kerala.His interpretation of Vedas and Hindu spirituality based on 'Adwaida' gave a new orientation to the diminishing Hindu religion.Then he traveled all over India by foot and lit the lamp of awakening in society.He founded religious centers called mut at different parts of India.This great saint breathed his last at the age of 32.

The Constitution Of India

• The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of the world.
• Dr. B.R.Ambedkar is known as the Architect of India Constitution.He was the Chairman of the drafting committee of Indian Constitution.
• Dr.Rajendra Prasad was the chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
• Jawaharlal Nehru put forward the Preamble to Indian Constitution.
• The Constitution of India came into force on January 26,1950.
• The Constitution had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules and 22 parts.
• Articles 12 to 35 of the Indian Constitution in Part III comprise Fundamental Rights.Soul of the Constitution.
• Fundanmental Duties,described in Part IV A was inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976.This Constitutional Amendment during the period of Indria Gandhi as Prime Minister made notable changes in Indian Constitution including the Preamble.
• Articles 356 authorizes Central Government to dismiss State Government and impose President's rule there.
• Article 352 deals with the provision regarding proclamation of national emergency.
• Article 370 defines special States of Jammu & Kashmir.
  

DOLPHIN-National Aquarian Animal

The Centre has declared Ganga dolphin, a national aquarian animal, in order to save the rare freshwater species from becoming extinct.
"Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphins as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga in the country," Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told media persons.
He said the decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to streamline steps to rejuvenate the river Ganga.The meeting was attended by Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal, his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar and representatives of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh at the PM's residence. Union Minister Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia were also present. The proposal to this effect was made in the meeting by the Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar. It was pointed out by him that by declaring dolphins as a national aquatic animal, the government was not only ensuring the survival of the species which are endemic to river Ganga but also seeking cleansing of the river.
"Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolizes greater bio diversity in the river system," Jairam Ramesh told reporters. "We will soon work out details for the Project Dolphins and steps to be taken under it to protect the species," he added.
Facing grave threats due to excessive pollution in Ganga and poaching, there are less than 2,000 dolphins left in the country, prompting the International Conservation Union (IUCN), a forum of conservationists, NGOs and government agencies, to categorize it as an endangered species.
The Ganges River Dolphin is an endemic species of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems, extending from the foot of the Himalayas to the tidal zone in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
It has been included in the Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

Man Made Wonders of India

1.TajMahal


One of the seven wonders of the world.Built in 1648,TajMahal is known as Poetry of Marble.Emperor Shajahan of Mughal dynasty built it in memory of his wife and her tomb is at the center of the structure.Agra became world famous because of this love memorial on the bank of River Yamuna.TajMahal is designated as a World Heritage site.It is in Utter Pradesh.

2.Golden Temple

Most important pilgrim center of Sikhs.Guru Ramdas started construction in 1588 and it took 36 years to complete the temple.Marble walls and Golden roof make the temple a magnificent one.The temple was destroyed in the foreign invasion in 1760s and was rebuilt.Main shrine called Akal Takhat is at the center of a lake called Amrit Sarovar.Without any caste or creed discrimination.Golden Temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every day.It is in Amritsar of Punjab.

3.Indira Gandhi Canal


One of the biggest canals ever made by man,this canal irrigates dry areas of western Rajastan.650km long canal irrigates 6,77,000 htrs dry agricultural areas of Jaisalemer alone.Canal start from river Sutlej of Harike Barrage in Punjab and flows through Punjab,Haryana and Rajasthan.

4.Qutab Minar



One of the oldest towers built in India.73 meters high Minar is made up of sandstone and resisted natural calamities for the last 811 years.It was the first major architecture in Islamic style in India.Minar is a part of a Mosque here.It was built by Qutab-ub-din Aibak of Slave dynasty at Delhi as a victory monument.

5.Gomateswara Statue



One of the biggest statues carved out of a single stone.It was built in 9th century.The statue of Prince Bahubali is visible from a 20km distance.The statue is carved out of a granite block and the idol is in a meditative mood.The statue is located at the main Jain pilgrim center Sravanbelagola of Karnataka.

6.Kailashnath Temple.



Kailashnath Temple of Ellora is one of the excellent examples of the rich architectural style of ancient India.Temple is carved out of a single stone of 50m x 30m x 30m in size.There are 34 cave temples in Ellora and Kailasnath temple is the most attractive one.It is in Maharashtra.

7.Meenakshi Temple of Madurai




Considered as one of the wonders of the world.It is in TamilNadu.It was constructed in 1623-55 period.985 pillars in the temple is a wonder of architecture.Plinth area of this granite poetry is 850 feet long and 730 feet wide.

India-National Song

Vande Mataram,the National Song of India is composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.It is taken from the novel Anantha Math.It was published in 1882.With in a short while this song became the symbol of Indian dream of freedom and thousands of freedom fighters spell it while shedding their last drop of blood for the freedom of the country.It was first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1896.The National Song is sung at special functions.

India - National Bird

Peacock is the National Bird of India.There are three species of Peacocks in Phasianidae family.The blue peacock is called Indian Peacock and is our National Bird.The main attraction of the peacock is its tail with eye link markings.It is a common wold bird in the open forest of North India.As per Hindu mythology peacock is a holy bird.So the conservation of this most beautiful bird is not a task for us.Considering all these facts,Constituent Assembly of India approved the peacock is our National Bird.

India - National Emblem

The National Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Saranath Lion Capital of Ashoka,the great emperor of ancient India.He erected around 30 stone pillars at different parts of North India for the proclamation of Buddhist ideologies.Sarnath Pillar,constructed in 250 BC was the most magnificent one.Four lion heads looking in four directions form the emblem.Dharma Chakra of Buddha,a horse,a lion,an elephant and an ox are also carved on an abacus.First sermon of Buddha after enlightenment was at Saranath.His message to the world was non violence and ultimate victory of truth.Hence the selection of the lion head of Saranath our National Symbol is the message about our vision and cultural richness of the great country,India.

India - National Anthem.

Jana-Gana-Mana,the National Anthem of India ,is written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911.He wrote it to sing at the 28th annual meeting of Indian National Congress at Calcutta.Out of the five stanzas of the song we sing only the first stanza in 2 seconds.It was approved as the National Anthem by the Consituent Assembly of free India on 24th January 1950.Long before that it was a song of inspiration for millions of Indians who fought aganist the British rule.It was the song that echoed in the Parliament House at midnight on August 14,1947 when India became independent.

India-National Animal

Tiger(Bengal Tiger)is our National Animal.It is the heaviest and most magnificant animal of the cat family.India was very famous for Bengal tigers but these are highly endangered species now.Most populous tiger reserve of India is Sunderban of Bengal.The tiger is a solitary animal living in its own territory.Unlike other animals tigres are seen in differnt places like dense forest,mangrove forest,snow covered mountains and plain lands.We have introduced Project Tiger Programme for the conservation of Indian tigers.The charm and peculiarity of our National Animals is unparallelled.