Whether you want to appease the Goddess or your forefathers or bless your home with prosperity and fertility, there is a solution for everything, in the form of interesting rituals, during the nine days of the Navratri season.

Called ghata in Gujarat or kalasha staphana in Tamil Nadu most devotees set up a copper pot, which signifies prosperity and contentment and worship it as the abode of the goddess.

"To bring prosperity home, we garland the pot, one for each of the nine days of Navratri. Besides, acharyas (priests) come home everyday and narrate the story of Lord Venkatesh and Goddess Padmavathi. On the 10th day, the tale culminates with their marriage. Throughout the night, the family members sing devotional hymns to invite goddess Durga to bring in prosperity and peace in to our homes," explains Pramod Tonapi, manager with Cyberage.

Bengalis have a whole new approach to appease the goddess. "Durga Puja is our major festival. On the eighth day or Mahashtami, we light 108 lamps and offer 108 lotuses, symbolising the 108 names of the goddess to invoke her blessings," says Joydeep Bhattacharya, project manager with Planman Consultancy.

In many parts of the country, Navaratri is the time to venerate and appease their ancestors. Mala Thapa, a homemaker says that the natives of Nepal offer obeisance to their Kuldevta (forefathers). "On the tenth day, we have a grand tika ritual, which is a good omen that signifies prosperity."

A note of caution — stay far away from anything that remotely resembles a needle if you want to avoid incurring the wrath of the Goddess. "According to scriptures, Devi did penance on the tip of a needle for nine days before she destroyed demon Mahishasura. So, we are supposed to avoid sewing for nine days," says Swati Vishwanathan, an SBI employee.

Swati also shares how one can get into the Goddess’ good books. "The bommala koluvu set up in South India is more than just a pretty collection of dolls. "The origin of the word kolu can be traced to Tamil golu or Telugu koluvai, which means a sovereign sitting in his royal durbar. The concept of arranging these Navratri dolls on the plank is to depict Goddess Mahishasura Mardini sitting in her darbar, prior to the slaying of the demon. Sitting at the kolovu with your family is a mark of respect to the Goddess."

All those praying for the blessing of fertility from Goddess Durga should make sundal (a dish of sprouts), says Sudha Raghavan, a homemaker. "The sprouts signifies new life that will grow into a plant — the ritual is a plea to the deity to bring a new life," he says.

Those seeking divine energy, should offer vermilion to the deity as the vermilion absorbs the divine energy from the deity and when we apply the same vermilion on our foreheads, we absorb the deity’s energy, adds Sudha.

Students stand to gain too if the Goddess of wisdom is appeased. If students pray on the seventh and eight day of Navratri, Saraswati, the Goddess of art and knowledge will bless the devotee with wisdom and a clarity of mind to make the right choice.

There’s a solution to keep evil at bay too. K.Rajshekhar, CEO of Media Minds, says, "We make garlands stringed with full lemons that will drive demons and all evil elements away from the home."

To appease the nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food grains during Navratri and then offer the young saplings to the goddess to ensure that no one ever goes hungry.

the concept of switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and installing a gas kit in your car instead of running on petrol has proved to be economical for motorists all over the country. However, enterprising Hyderabadis who dared to think beyond petrol are left high and dry, quite literally.

In 2008, about 4,000 vehicles in the city switched to CNG and are running on gas. But ironically, there are just about three fuel stations in the city that have CNG bunks. long queues outside CNG bunks in the city are a daily sight, and there seems to be no respite for motorists.

"I regret the day I decided to convert my car into CNG. Initially, I thought it’s a good idea and I can cut down my fuel bills by half. but now I am stuck as I hardly ever get fuel unless I am waiting at the gas station as soon as it opens. I end up waiting in queue for an hour every alternate day. On weekends it’s worse, as the queue gets longer. I don’t know why the government is not doing anything about this severe shortage of CNG bunks in the city," says, Navneet Goyal, Goyal Trading Company.

While the concept has been promoted as eco-friendly and easy on the pocket, the government did nothing to get the infrastructure in place, complain commuters. "The few bunks that have the option are equipped with just one tank. Often the tank runs dry midway, and then we end up waiting for it to be refilled," says Harish Patel, owner of a CNG vehicle.

Meanwhile, car mechanics are making merry. "It’s a vicious circle these days. First they come to us to convert their vehicles. They are back in no time to get it reconverted into diesel or petrol. Such quick changes are not recommended for any vehicle, but people have no option left," says, Mohammed Safi, Perfect Motors, SSV Car Gas Conversion.

converting the vehicle back to diesel is not a feasible option for everyone, as the whole process costs a bomb. "I converted my car into CNG just three months ago but after the horrible experience of being unable to find fuel, I had to convert it back to diesel. I am left with a huge hole in my pocket," says Saurabh lahoti, Director Shrinath Rotopack pvt ltd who has vowed to stay away from CNG cars in the future.

Prabhakar Reddy, President AP petroleum Dealers Association blames this confusion and chaos on the lack of coordination and cooperation between the authorities concerned.

"There is no clarity on the safety norms issued by government, which is one of the main reasons for the lack of CNG bunks in the city. The bunks that are already functioning have been around for while, but to open a new bunk we need large open areas, which is not easily available in the city. At present, the CNG pipeline runs only till Vijaywada and through a few areas in Hyderabad. Private players plan to set up more pipelines soon and then we may be able to cater to the rising demand."

While few dyed-in-the-wool smokers are fuming at what they perceive to be an intrusion into privacy, youngsters in the city are actually welcoming the recent ban on smoking in public places.

Often, young teens who pick up the habit while in high school want to quit once they are a little older, but just cannot. With this rule, someone who smoked about 10-12 cigarettes a day is forced to cut it down to just a couple, because now you can’t smoke on your way to work, or at office, or at traffic jams.

Riyaz Ali Khan, who has just finished his MBA, says he picked up the habit while he was in his Intermediate. "I used to smoke one pack a day then, and the ban gives me a good reason to quit. Smoking not only hurts you, it also hurts the people that you are with. The molecules hang around in the air a good hour after you have finished. The ban is going to be a good thing for everyone, because a single step often goes a long way. You need someone to follow, and if one person succeeds in kicking the habit, it becomes easier for his friends to do so too."

The first cigarette of one’s life is often nothing more than curiosity at the purported kick it offers. But one never knows when that occasional smoke with buddies turns into a habit they cannot shake off. This is where the health minister’s ban turns into a blessing, feel youngsters. And for those who are not into the habit, it is even better.

Gavin Joseph, a B.Com student at St Mary’s and part-time model, says, "I feel so comfortable with the ban on. I haven’t taken to the habit because I’m allergic to the smoke, but even being with smoker friends makes the smell stick to my shirt. With so many youngsters smoking, instead of chilling out, I can’t wait to get out of the hangout spots."

Now that certain places are ruled out as smoking zones, youngsters say they have to wait for their parents to fall asleep, or look for corners where there’s no one. Some quit when their mothers catch them, others try before such an extreme event happens.

But for most, the ban is actually working. Youngsters like Ershan Lakhani, a final year mass communication student, say that they have in a span of just a few days observed a change in the air.

"It’s a welcome change because at least there’s something that has been effective, unlike the traffic rules that just don't work."

But for some, apart from the ban, it is other motivations that work too, as Raunaq Kapoor, a 21-year-old student and businessman, points out.

"I smoke just one or two cigarettes a month. What makes me stop is my own self-dedication — the direction I want my life to take. Someone who craves a smoke will get one, no matter what. A ban is not too practical. Rehab clinics would be a much better idea. You can’t stop the evil. You just have to make the good better," avers Raunaq.

A beginning is always welcome, and the current ban provides just the right impetus agree youngsters in the city.

Places Where You Cannot Smoke

* Markets, shopping malls
* Schools, colleges, fun parks
* Offices, libraries, courts
* Auditoriums, cinema halls
* Hospitals, health institutions
* Railway stations, bus shelters
* Restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs
* Discotheques, coffee houses

I am annoyed by the comment made by Delhi CM Sheila Dixit, regarding the death of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan. Indian women are empowered and have the calibre to lead the nation and hold high posts on par with men. But the shocking statement by Sheila Dixit that ‘Women shouldn’t be adventurous...’ is highly offensive.

A woman in such a high position should not comment about women in such a derogatory tone, using the words she did. It was Soumya’s call of duty and her responsibility towards her work that made her stay in the office till 2-3 am. The question here should be — what kind of security does a woman have in the capital and in metropolitan cities?

At a time when the chief minister should have been focussing on the murder of the young girl and sympathising with the family, Sheila Dixit has made this degrading statement and brought shame to the whole society.

The likes of Sheila Dixit should come out of their protected, secure lifestyles and try to earn a living like common women. They would never know what it takes to face the challenges of life head on, every single day.

People complain that men don’t support women in a chauvinistic society, but in spite of being a woman of such high rank and position, Sheila Dixit’s irresponsible statement was a testimony to the saying that a woman is the worst enemy of another woman.

They’re smart, young and ready to take on the world. From a great college to a superb job, they have it all, but these youngsters have never dated till now. For some it’s about not finding the right mate and for others it’s totally a matter of ‘disinterest’. Take for instance 22 year old Simran S., an analyst with an MNC. Simran has never been in a relationship. She says, "I feel like a free bird that doesn’t have any obligations. I’ve never been interested in having a boyfriend." How do people react to this? "Some are shocked and they don’t even believe me. And sometimes, they ask me if I’m attracted to girls," she quips. "But no, I’ve never been embarrassed about the fact that I’ve never dated. It actually makes me feel proud." Would she ever date if she found the right guy? "Of course, why not?" replies Simran.

‘I’ve never found a girl to whom I’ve felt like proposing to," says 22-year-old CA article assistant Vignesh S. He adds that he’s not found the right companion till now. Of course, there are times when people pull his leg for having been single all his life. "My friends do tease me about it, but in a funny way. I don’t think it’s humiliating at all." But the fact is Vignesh has never made an effort to find a girl. "I guess I’m not serious about it. I look at everyone as just friends! And yes, my CA career is more important to me now than a relationship." Would he ever get into a relationship if he found the ‘right’ girl? "Of course, I would. I’ve never been attracted to anyone till now. Let’s see if it happens in the future." While some don’t mind getting into a relationship in the future, there are some who are simply not interested. "I’m single by choice. I’ve seen my friends get tortured in relationships and I definitely wouldn’t want to get into one," says 21-year-old student Karuna R. There were guys who have asked her out. "But I said no. I’m happy to be single." Has she also faced shocked reactions from people around her? "There are some who think I’m lying when I tell them that I’ve been single all my life." Ask her if she would date any guy later in life and she instantly says, "No, I wouldn’t. I will go in for an arranged marriage. I trust my parents’ decision more than mine."

For 23-year-old Meghana B., it’s a different story. "I’ve never had a boyfriend. But there was this guy who I got really close to, but he turned out to be something else. Since then, I don’t trust any guy. And besides, being single is the best way to live life — no worries, no tension. Arranged marriage Zindabad!" she says.

These singletons have surely proved that being ‘alone’ is not the same as being lonely’!

Cooliris Inc makes some useful plug-ins for Firefox and Internet Explorer that would redefine your browsing experience. Two of the popular plug-ins made by them are CoolPreviews and Cooliris.

CoolPreviews, which was earlier called as Cooliris Previews, is a web browser plugin for Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Flock that opens a preview of the underlying content of a web link when the mouse hovers over the link. For example, one could preview a list of news headlines before deciding which article to read in depth. One of the really convenient feature was being able to send a site-link to a friend without having to open either another tab or your email program. It also handles the pop-up menace quite well.

Cooliris, formerly known as PicLens, is a web browser plugin that provides interactive full-screen slideshows of online images. The plugin is available for Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. At present, the software is compatible with Google Images, Yahoo Images, Ask.com Images, deviantART, Flickr, Facebook, Live Image Search, Photobucket, SmugMug, Fotki, YouTube (for videos), and any web site that implements mediaRSS tags in their HTML pages. The software places a small icon in the corner of an image thumbnail when the mouse moves over it, which launches into a full-screen photo viewer when clicked. The full screen 3D wall works like a charm on Amazon too and gives a futuristic feeling to the whole browsing experience.

The Cooliris team is currently working on new features like, save images viewed in Cooliris and view images from our local hard drive in the Cooliris 3D Wall. They are also working on support for other browsers. If you are the person who spends a considerable amount of time on the internet Cooliris plug-ins would redefine your browsing experience. Give it a try!

Presino.com, a Bangalore based start-up, has launched a fantasy team manager game titled Desi ya Aussie for the upcoming four-test Border-Gavaskar trophy between Australia and India.

The game format is simple — users pick their own squads from the players of two teams and manage them throughout the tournament.

Their squads earn points based on the actual performance of the players they have picked. The results are tabulated and leaders are announced after each match-day.

In addition to being recognised as the guru of the sport, the website is also offering cash prizes worth Rs 2 lakhs. All games are free-to-play and there is no subscription fee charged. Presino has set up a gaming platform for sports fans to show their prowess at picking the best players and predicting outcomes.

Users can choose from three main game formats — fantasy team manager formats, the Deck or the Pixter. In each of these formats the users’ knowledge of the sport, the players and his instinct to predict is tested.

The Deck is a unique format. Users compete to increase their wealth in ‘Pi’s’, the website’s virtual currency, by correctly predicting outcomes from the ongoing cricket, football, and Formula1 events. The results are tabulated and winners are announced based on the number of pi’s that users accumulate.

During Navratri all the excitement happens at dandiya events. On Sunday evening Navjeen School grounds in Ramkote was a hot bed of action. The ambience was all charged up as the crowd swayed to the beats of dandiya. Dressed in traditional and colourful attire girls danced perfectly in sync with the music. But the guys were not to be left behind, they put up strong competition for the girls. Age didn’t seem to be a bar when it came to shaking a leg for the prizes. Older women along with kids matched steps on the dance floor.

A night full of fun

The night was throbbing with excitement as youngsters got into the party mood at Dublin. Girls dressed in trendy outfits turned many heads as they sauntered into the pub. Music, good food and unlimited fun were the highlights of the night. Spotted Avinash, Kalpana, Chandu, Praful, Sabrina, Niyati, Althea and DJ Marcell among others.

P3Ps have a date with art

Art connoisseurs had a ball at Taj Deccan, where a three day art camp came to an end on Sunday. P3Ps were seen admiring the works on display. Many were on the lookout for good buys to take home. Elegantly dressed ladies and suave men made the art camp a double visual treat. Spotted Savant, Suhanie, Uma Naidu, Renu, Parvati Reddy  and Srini Kopula  among others.