makar sankranti 14 jan. @ jaipur

GOVIND DEVJI TEMPLE ON SANKRANTI

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY !!!!!!!!

CHRONOLOGY OF SANTA CLAUS

he following are based on documented evidence. It is obvious that the pagan deities and folklore go back beyond A.D.; and the custom of giftgiving was practiced by peoples of the Ancient World, thus this list is accurate but incomplete.

270-280AD Birth of St. Nicholas, who was to become the most accurate and actual ancestor of Santa Claus. He was ordained Bishop whilst still a very young man, and spent his life helping the poor and underpriviledged. He loved children and often went out at night disguised in a hooded cloak, to leave necessary gifts of money, clothing or food at the windows of unfortunate families.

c.343AD St. Nicholas died on the 6th December.

c.540AD There was an elaborate Basilica built over his tomb in DEMRE, and dedicated to the saint.

c.600AD The Saxons which invaded and settled Britain had the custom of giving human characteristics to the weather elements, welcoming the characters of King Frost, Lord Snow etc. to their homes in the hopes that the elements would look kindly on them. They would dress an actor in a pointed cap and cloak or cape, and drape him with Ivy, bringing him into their midst, and bidding him join their feast. He was to represent the Season, and would be treated with all respect, and drink toasts to him.

c.800AD The Vikings brought with them their beliefs in the Northern deities and Elementals, and their main god Odin, who in the guise of his December character came to earth dressed in a hooded cloak, to sit and listen to his people and see if they are contented or not. It was said that he carried a satchel full of bounty which he distributed to the needy or worthy. He was portrayed as a Sage with long white beard and hair.

I have seen no written proof of the fact, but it is probable that, like the Saxons, they dressed a man to represent Odin in his circuit of good works.

842AD First written life of St. Nicholas listing all his miracles, by Methodius, Bishop of Constantinople.

c.850AD The Clergy of Cologne Cathedral were commemorating the death of the saint by giving fruit and cookies to the boys of the cathedral school, on the 6th December.

987AD Nicholas became Patron Saint of Russia

By this time, his fame had spread far and wide, and he was adopted by many guilds and groups as their patron, including: Sailors; Children; Spinsters; Pawnbrokers. All bearing a direct reasoning to the stories told about Nicholas. As patron saint of sailors, his effigy was the figurehead of many ships, and thus his cult spread across the seas to Britain, (and later to the New World).

1087AD Italian Merchants steal the bones of St. Nicholas from his tomb in Demre, and take them to Bari, Italy. This was unofficially approved by the Church, which was anxious incase the shrine of the saint was desecrated in the many wars and attacks in the region. Also, by that time, the break between the Universal Church creating Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, was a contributing factor. The Roman Church felt that the bones of this most popular of saints should be in their safe keeping!

1119AD Life of St. Nicholas written by a Norman monk named Jean.

c.1120 Nuns in Belgium and France were giving gifts to the children of the poor, and those in their care, on the Saints Feast Day, 6th December.

1150AD Guace, a Norman French scribe to the royal household, wrote the life of Nicholas as Metric Poems for use as sermons

1200AD Hilarius, who studied under Peter Abelard, wrote the first 'musical'play about Nicholas .

1300AD Until this time Nicholas was portrayed with a short dark beard, like an Eastern Bishop. Belief in Odin, flying through the skies on his eight legged white horse, Sleipnir, with his long white beard flowing, was superimposed over the saints characteristics, and he developed a white beard. In Germanic countries he was further overlaid with the character of 'Winterman' who supposedly came down from the mountains with the snows, dressed in furs and skins, heralding winter. This character was also known in Scandinavia, where the Laps believed that he herded the reindeer down to lower pastures, and this was a sign that the winter snows were coming.

Laps homes had one opening, which was both door and smoke hole. They were dome shaped houses, usually covered with skins, and usually with top openings. A reason for the subsequent romantic story that Santa comes down the chimney.

1400AD Over 500 songs and hymns had been written in honour of Nicholas by this date.

1492AD Christopher Columbus arrived in Haiti on December 6th, naming the port St. Nicholas in thanks for the safe journey.

1500AD More than 700 churches in Britain alone, were dedicated to St. Nicholas by this date.

There is some small evidence to support the fact that in Europe, street parades were held led by a man dressed in Bishops robes and Mitred hat, riding a horse, on the feast of St. Nicholas, in the late middle ages.

In Britain, each parish would employ a man from outside the parish to dress in long hooded guise, and go to each home leaving a small gift and taking back any important news of the needy to the priests.

1626AD A fleet of ships, led by the 'GOEDE VROWE' (Goodwife), which had a figurehead of St. Nicholas, left Holland for the New World. They purchased some land from the Iroquois, for $24, named the village 'NEW AMSTERDAM' (Now New York), and erected a statue in thesquare to St. Nicholas. 1645AD A Broadsheet appeared on the streets of London, taunting the Government by a humorous political 'scandal' about the conviction and imprisonment of Christmas, and the Hue and Cry after his escape therefrom.

1647AD Christmas was banned in England, and the traditional mumming plays were visited by Father Christmas, who issued a taunting challenge to the government. "In comes I, Old Father Christmas, Be I welcome or be I not, I hope that Christmas will ne'er be forgot"

1678AD A book was published in LOndon entitled 'The Examination and Tryal of old Father Christmas' and his clearing by Jury.

From the 17th - 19th century it was the country mummers plays which kept Father Christmas alive in Britain. With the 'cleansing' of religious popery, it is interesting to note that the saintly bishop, represented by the Parish giftbringing visitor was replaced once more by the half pagan Impersonation of the Element or Season of Christmas.

1651AD The State of Massachusettes, settled by English Puritans, banned all observation of Christmas. 1664AD New Amsterdam was fought over and won by the British, who named it New York. They first banned St. Nicholas, and his statue fell. But later came to accept the pleasures of the festival of the saint, not associating it with Christmas, it being held on December 6th.

1773AD St. Nicholas first made the news in the New York Gazette which referred to him as otherwise known as St. A. Claus.

1809AD American writer, Washington Irving, described St. Nicholas in his 'History of New York', in a description of the figurehead on the ship Goede Vrowe, as being ..."equipped with a low brimmed hat, huge pair of Flemish hose and a pipe that reached to the end of the bowsprit....."

1810AD The New York Historical Society held the first official St. Nicholas celebration, and the occasion was commemorated with the production of the first portrait of St. Nicholas in the USA, and a full description of his characteristics.

1821AD A learned professor, student of European folklore, and poet, Reverend Clement Moore, gathered together all the elements of European lore, deities and folk-characters, added them to the descriptions of his fellow countrymen at the Historical Society and Washington Irving, and created a poem which was to become the gospel of Santa Claus for every writer and artist for a century to come. Called 'A visit from St. Nicholas ' or 'The night before Christmas' But he did this poem for his children, and when it was published by a friend, Moore did not allow his name to be associated with it until 1837.

There were subsequently many different publications, each illustrated according to the characteristics dictated by the poem, published from 1823 onwards, and while Thomas Nast has been attributed with being the first to illustrate Santa Claus, this assumption has long since been corrected by a vast number of earlier illustrations being found.

1863AD Thomas Nast did a political cartoon of Santa entitled 'Santa in Camp', for Harpers Weekly Journal. Dressed in Stars and Stripes Santa had joined the civil war on the side of General Grant in the North .Perhaps he could have also appeared (being Santa, and strictly neutral) dressed in rebel gray for the South, but if so it was a private drawing as the South did not have the publishing resources of the North.

1864-1886AD Thomas Nast continued to draw Santa Claus every year, and became known as THE Santa Claus artist of the mid-1900's. Meanwhile Britain was importing illustrations and cards depicting Santa Claus from Germany. He was called Father Christmas by the English, following the 17th. changes, and that name stuck. He was usually represented as a tall, almost aesthetic character, saintly and stern rather than the 'Jolly Elf' character being portrayed by the Americans.

1860's The English custom of a visit from Father Christmas was revived and established as the character visiting on Christmas Eve and leaving gifts for children in their stockings. Images, dolls and artwork from Germany helped to strengthen this custom. The Germanic images showed him as a saint, in bishops robes, as a winterman in furs, as a saintly old man, often seen in the company of the Holy Child, and as a giftbringer in robes of every colour from brown, white, green blue to golds, pinks and red. Even in this latter guise, his countenance was serious more often than jolly, though laughing Santas did appear. These were usually those which were influenced by the American imagery, and intended for export to the USA.

1870's SantaClaus began to put in appearances in Department stores in the USA and Canada.

1873 Louis Prang of Boston published the first American Christmas Card. His images showed Santa Claus much in the same tradition as the earlier American images, but with a softer, gentler look. More the saintly old gent than the jolly old elf.

1890's Father Christmas began to appear in English Stores.

1922AD Norman Rockwell created a perfect blend of saintly and jolly when he created Santa for the Saturday Evening Post.

1931AD Coca Cola began their major promotion using Santa to promote their drink. Their artist, Haddon Sundblom created Santa in his own image! It is the Coca-Cola Santa which springs to mind now as the traditional Santa.

1948AD Department Stores in Britain increased the thrill of their Santa Grotto with train rides, sleigh rides, trip to the moon and elaborate animated scenes.

c. mid-1950's English Father Christmas slowly gives way to American Santa Claus.

1980's European traditions of Giftbringers begin to give way to Santa Claus. Spains's Three Kings , Italy's Befana, and Sweden's Tomte in particular have all given way to Santa as the anticipated Giftbringer, sometimes even as an additional giftbringer.

This is beautiful! Try not to cry!!!

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'



The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'





Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'




Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.


T he mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'



Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.




It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:



'Dear Mom,


I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this le tter I think Gabriel is the name o f the angel who is going to drop this l etter off to you. God sa id for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.


Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?




Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.



(Let's see Satan stop this one.) Take 60 seconds and repost this, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit work in your life for doing what you know God loves 'When you're down to nothing, God is up to something.'

JAIPUR Then an Now !!!!

CHANDPOLE GATE

Tripolia gate in early 1900

Description: Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds, Jaipur, and the Principal Street; Date: c. 1875


Description: Jaipur, Principal Street, c. 1875; Source: Jaipur, India -Principal Street; Date: 1875; Author: Bourne & Shepherd

CHOTI CHAUPAR


"The valley of Amber" wooden carving c.1878


Amer fort

The Hollywood smile

Tips to Get the Perfect Hollywood Smile

Floss and avoid dark liquids, expert says

They say one of the first things you notice about a person is their smile. With this in mind, it’s not hard to understand why we’re all striving to achieve that pearly white, perfect, Hollywood smile, and would even be willing to pay several months’ worth of rent to get it. However, men with good teeth don’t have to spend a fortune to get the kind of smile that sweeps girls off their feet, Lana Rozenberg, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City, tells this issue of Men’s Health.

For starters, having excellent teeth is not all about the chompers looking good and being sparkly white, as you can imagine. As Rozenberg also points out, one of the mistakes men do most frequently is that they forget to floss, thinking that mouthwash or brushing after each meal should do the trick. Not quite so, the expert says for the publication, since most cavities in adults tend to appear in between the teeth: therefore the need to floss at least once a day.

“But you don’t have to do it after every meal; once a day, like at night after you brush your teeth before going to bed, is enough. You can use any kind of floss, but I like Crest Glide. It really does glide – it won’t get caught or rip. And it doesn’t have a sticky, waxy feel like some flosses do.” Rozenberg says. Mouthwash, contrary to popular belief, has another function than to fight against cavities, as it kills the bacteria in the mouth and thus eliminates the problem of bad breath. Still, using mouthwash is not enough, and brushing and flossing are still a must.

The one thing that defines the “Hollywood smile” best is the whiteness of the teeth. Most men choose to have their teeth done professionally, Rozenberg further explains, but that costs a lot, about $1,000. For those who cannot afford an office visit, there are other options available, such as over-the-counter bleaching products, all of which are both safe and efficient. The only thing men should pay plenty of attention to, however, is that they follow instructions accordingly, the expert points out.

The Hollywood smile - the perfect smile makeover

‘Hollywood smiles’ are achieved by using a combination of all or some of the following: tooth whitening, crowns, veneers, and orthodontics.

We all know what this is although it is difficult to define. Simply put, it is the amalgamation of the ‘perfect’ form, position, proportion, alignment, and colour of the teeth. Use of the word, ‘perfect’ must be qualified by observing that the term is emotive and very much modified by social preconditions and therefore does not really exist. Nevertheless, if one observes the teeth of movie stars then one does notice a similarity between each of their smiles. This ‘similarity’ is governed by the ratio of tooth length to width, by their relative position to one another and to the lips, and by their ‘white’ colouring and value of brightness.

It is arguable whether the ‘Hollywood Smile’ is a particularly North American aesthetic and many dental professionals believe that the ‘European Aesthetic’ is informed by a slight quirkiness which manifests as mild mis-alignment or slightly unruly ratios of tooth width to tooth height.

All theories and debates are irrelevant when it comes to constructing a smile for the individual. It is for this reason that we always produce a ‘trial smile’ which the patient will ‘wear’ for a period of time and which can be regularly modified. When both you (the patient) and we (your dental professionals) are mutually happy with the form and proportions of your smile then your ‘trial smile’ is converted into your permanent smile. In this way, your smile is perfect for you.

TOM CRUISE

DAKOTA FANNING














KIRSTEN DUNST
















ZAC EFRON












SERENA AND VENUS
WILLIAMS











PRINCE HARRY















DEMI MOORE















KATIE HOLMES





























Courtney appears to have also replaced her dull-colored smile with a set of porcelain veneers.

George Clooney's chompers are no laughing matter! The Oscar-winning actor's attempt to round out his superstar look fell flat after he flashed a a set of blindingly white chompers in May 2008. According to Jonathan Abenaim, D.M.D., a cosmetic dentist who hasn't treated the actor, George probably had work done because he grinds his teeth.

"When you grind your teeth, they get shorter," Dr. Abenaim told Star magazine. "To restore the original look, the dentist has to lengthen teeth with porcelain veneers or crowns." In addition to veneers, he thinks George had a "smile lift," a surgical procedure usually done with a laser that brings the gum up to expose more tooth.

Credits: Taylor/Getty, Venturelli/WireImage
Published: 07/27/2009 16:46:15

When you're a young star in the Hollywood spotlight, it's hard to do anything unnoticed. That's why Miley Cyrus' transformation from snaggletoothed tween to picture perfect starlet caught the attention of many fans. Now, Miley's top front teeth are less prominent and her bottom choppers appear to be straighter.

Credits: Granitz, Guastella/WireImage
Published: 07/27/2009 16:46:15

He's got one of the best smiles in Hollywood, but it took some work for Tom Cruise to acheive his signature grin. The actor decided to fix his smile in 2005 after taking one of his children to the orthodontist who had noticed that the star's teeth were out of alignment.

Soon enough, Tom was sporting see-through braces for the next year-and-a-half.

Before his makeover, Nicolas Cage's teeth were nothing to smile about! The actor appears to have replaced his croooked smile for the straight, white Hollywood grin he now bears in his blockbuster movies.

Credits: Galella/WireImage; Lovekin/Getty
Published: 07/27/2009 16:46:15

Gwen Stefani was another famous face who was brave enough to wear braces during the height of her career. The singer proudly showed off a mouth full of metal when she made the choice to correct her smile in 1999. Even the new wiring couldn't hold back the singer's fashion-forward style: Gwen often wore multi-colored bands on her braces.

Credits: Sota/Getty; Galella/WireImage; Walker/Getty
Published: 07/27/2009 16:46:15

Of course the first noticeable difference in Steve-O's smile is the drastic whitening process that took his yellow-stained teeth to pearly white. The funny guy's makeover reportedly shut down his dentist's office for a week.

Credits: Bedford/Getty; LaVeris/FilmMagic
Published: 07/27/2009 16:46:15

SOURCES:
http://www.oneharleystreet.co.uk/hollywoodsmile.htm
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tips-to-Get-the-Perfect-Hollywood-Smile-118195.shtml
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/photos/Image/DUNSTFANGS.jpg
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/galleries/ill_grills_celebrity_teeth_makeovers