A Hong Kong festival celebrating victory against evil ending by climbing a tower made of pastry buns and grabbing as many as possible? Well if that doesn't sound like fun, what does? Cheung Chau Bun Festival celebrates an ancient event when Cheung Chau’s residents disguised themselves as different deities to drive away evil spirits. On May 12, the SO-U.TV team was on the island to take in all the mayhem. Go to http://www.so-u.tv/playVideo.php?contestid=&id=620 to watch the highlights of the day.
Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is a mass pilgrimage centered on the ritual of riverside bathing, it is variously called the the Great Indian Bathing Festival, the Urn Festival, the Pitcher Festival and so forth. It occurs four times every twelve years rotating between Allahabad/Prayaga at the confluence of the rivers Ganga (Ganges), Jamuna (Yamuna) and the concealed Saraswati, Haridwar (Hara Dwar) on the river Ganga (Ganges), Ujjain on the river Kshipra (Shipra), and Nasik on the river Godavari (Gomati)
Bathing in these rivers during the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is considered an endeavour of great merit, cleansing both body and spirit. The Allahabad and Haridwar (Hara Dwar) festivals are routinely attended by five million or more pilgrims; the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. It may also be the oldest
Two traditions are in circulation regarding the origin and timing of the festival: one that stems from ancient texts known as the Puranas, and the other that connects it with astrological considerations. According to the Puranic epic, the gods and demons had churned the milky ocean at the beginning of time in order to gather various divine treasures including a jar containing a potion of immortality - Ambrosia. As the jar emerged from the ocean the gods and demons began a terrific battle for its possession. During the battle, which according to one legend the gods won by trickery, four drops of the precious potion fell to earth, when Jayantha (Jayanth) the son of the chief deity Indra carried the jar (Kumbha/kumbh) that held the ambrosia in the form of a giant bird - these places became the sites of the four Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals, according to another legend he ran away with the jar and hid them on twelve locations on earth where few drops of ambrosia fell, four of these places are known and identified as the four sites for the Kumbh (Kumbh) Mela, the other eight locations are being researched by our team
The astrological tradition (ascribed to a lost Puranic text and not traceable in extant editions) seems to stem from a very ancient festival called the Kumbha Parva, which occurred at Hardwar every twelfth year when Jupiter was in Aquarius (the Indian name being Kumbha/Kumbh) and the sun entered Aries
At some later time the term 'Kumbha (Kumbh)' was prefixed to the Melas held at Prayaga, Ujjain, and Nasik and these four sites became identified with the four mythical locations of the immortality potion - Ambrosia. In theory the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals are supposed to occur every three years, rotating between the four cities. In practice the four-city cycle may actually take eleven or thirteen years and this because of the difficulties and controversies in calculating the astrological conjunctions. Furthermore the interval between the Kumbha Mela at Nasik and that at Ujjain is not of three years; they are celebrated the same year or only a year apart. This deviation in practice is intriguing and cannot be fully explained by either astrological or mythological means.
kalpavasi.com
More than 24 million Americans currently have asthma. Every day, 11 people in the United States die from asthma and the disease accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits each year. For many people with asthma, their home may be part of the problem.
Any house or apartment can contain a variety of asthma “triggers,” which can include allergens and irritants – such as dust mites, mold, pet dander and strong fumes or odors – that can negatively affect someone with asthma.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49320-Merck-Asthma-Awareness/
Band on the Quay, Blasting with Oriana and following her through Southampton Water past Braemar to Calshot & the Solent past the IOW, Portsmouth & Palmerston Forts. Sea Princess is far ahead and visible as a white blob in the final shot - 10 May 2008
Pregnancy is an exciting time filled with hopeful anticipation, and most pregnancies are uneventful and result in healthy babies. Pregnancy, however, is not entirely without risk, leading some expectant parents to worry about birth defects and whether they’ll give birth to a healthy baby.
Many birth defects are minor and easily treated. But about one in every 33 babies is born with a major birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Major birth defects may have a serious impact on development, functional ability and overall health. Throughout January, which is Birth Defects Prevention Month, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights pregnancy risks and preventable birth defects. At BeSmartBeWell.com medical experts, and real-life expectant moms, like Sharon, share information to help lower the risk for birth defects.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/birthdefects/50829/
Ship to ship transfer of the pilot, Artemis to Loodsboot 1 [how to get a cricked neck], Elisabeth Russ & Christina [distant] pass by and a pan around all the numerous vessels visible making their way to the Dover Straits - 11 May 2008
May you enjoy the talking adventures of WOLF!
Wolf was an extraodrinary pomeranian that had the ability to speak in the human language. Wolf carried a Hospital Pass that allowed him to enter al the hospitals and to go into every ward to visit the children, the elderly and the staff. Many tens of thousands of people came to know and meet the Wolf during his life time. Your also invited to visit the Bear Cave System In any go bar, or in ANY search engine simply type in: pabear48
Svetlana Medvedeva, Princess Maxima Opens Keukenhof International Flower Exhibition.
Accompanied by HRH Princess Maxima der Nederlanden, Mrs Svetlana Medvedeva, spouse of the president of the Russian Federation, has officially opened the 61st edition of Keukenhof international flower exhibition in Lisse, The Netherlands. She was especially invited because this year's central theme is 'From Russia with love'. The opening ceremony was the baptizing of a newly bred tulip. Keukenhof 2010 is open for the public until May 16th.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/keukenhof/40797/
Sydney has been transformed tonight into a colourful canvas of light with the launch of the third annual Vivid Sydney festival – the largest celebration of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere, from the 27 May – 13 June 2011.
Over 40 light installations were illuminated to mark the start of the festival including the amazing lighting of the iconic Sydney Opera House sails created by French design team SUPERBIEN.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/50345-Vivid-Sydney-2011/
Fans of The CW Network’s hit series “America’s Next Top Model” can have their own model experience in New Zealand, following the show’s trip to the breathtaking island nation in last night’s episode. Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand have announced a special offer for fans who find the backdrop just as stunning as the models featured in three episodes, the first of which screened last night with two more airing May 5 and May 12 at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central on The CW.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/tourismnewzealand/43584/
Carson-Dellosa Publishing, LLC, in partnership with Guinness World Records, announced the grand-prize winner in its Guinness World Records® Classroom Challenge at a record-breaking event held Friday, May 20th in Owingsville, KY. As grand-prize winners under the direction of 4th Grade teacher Jessica Goldy, the students of Owingsville Elementary School created the world’s longest friendship bracelet. Students created a total of 3,799 links that were connected to make one bracelet measuring 810 feet. Friday morning, under the supervision of a Guinness World Records® adjudicator, the exciting event was held on the school’s football field.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/carsondellosa/50387/
