" Religion is making its presence felt even in the mobile space around the world in the form of devotional ring tones, ring back tones, wall papers of Gods and Goddesses, picture messages, sms requests for prayers and even sms texts from major religious scriptures.
Jews in Israel send their prayers by SMS to rabbis, while the Vatican hands out Pope's "Thought of the Day" through SMS, and a desi mobile company in Mumbai has started a service through which people can send prayers by sms to a Lord Ganesha Temple.
Even the new age gurus are not far behind in using the mobile platform to spread their message. Deepak Chopra is offering his "The Seven Spiritual Laws" in the United States in the form of quotes, inspirational messages, images and tips for a healthy living.
It is not just the content and service providers that are catering to the religious tastes of the customers but also the mobile set manufacturers. In Gulf countries, some companies make phones that indicate the direction of Mecca for praying.
The phones even come with pre-recorded prayers. "The affinity for religious ring tones and ring back tones is growing in India. Traditionally this was on physical formats like cassettes and CDs but with mobile subscribers growing fast, the existing market base is also expanding,"
according to Mandar Thakur, general manager of Soundbuzz India - a company that is involved in the digital distribution of ring tones and ring back tones to various operators.
"For people who hear devotional music - the mobile phone has today become a direct way of carrying their beliefs and faiths with them," he says.
According to Thakur, "The devotional category is currently small in the range of 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of the total ring tones market, but it is the ring back tones category that is witnessing the most action."
The ring back tones total for about 10 per cent of the total sale of ring back tones by Soundbuzz and this introduced only 3 months back! "We expect the devotional ringback tones to grow to about 20 per cent by first quarter next year," Thakur says.
Although the trend towards religious quest on mobile phones was not started in India, all indications point to the fact that the Indian mobile user is fast lapping up this concept of taking God along with him wherever he goes.
While major mobile content providers are offering religious wallpapers and devotional ring tones, others are providing services like Gurbani and other prayers that subscribers can listen to by dialling to their service.
According to an Indiatimes sms official, the leading mobile content provider in India, there has been an exponential growth in the demand for religious wallpapers and ring tones. Devotional tones are especially popular.
'Gayatri Mantra' is the highest and hottest seller in both the ring tones and ring back tone category followed by 'Hanuman Chalisa'. Some of the other tones that are very popular are 'Jai Ganesh', 'Shiv Stuti' and 'Gurbani'.
The demand for religious wallpapers is next only to Bollywood and it is growing. Lord Ganesha being the most popular deity. Even religious television channels in India are not far behind in bringing the godly advise on the humble handset.
Some of them are providing SMS service by which viewers can ask their gurus for some advice on spiritual or personal aspect of their lives. These channels have an impressive line up of Godmen who will answer your queries. Just send an sms!
Religious chain messages in India are a rage too. Earlier, people used to send postcards with religious messages, asking recipients to forward them to other people for luck. Now SMS is fulfilling that need.
Vaishali Dar who is a great devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba tends to receive at least one SMS every fortnight from one of her many friends who asks to forward the same to other people ranging from 5 to 21, to bring her luck, and she does it religiously.
"You see, I know that Sai Baba or Lord Ganesha may not get angry or curse me if I do not forward the message, but I still do it because I see no harm and I don't mind spending a few rupees on it" she says.
While the mobile user in India is happy with what he is getting and craving for more, it is the mobile content and service providers that are praying all the way to the bank. "
click here for the original article
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
mars rocks
" American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Monday announced the naming of three rocks found on Mars after an ancient Indian seat of learning, a priceless Indian diamond and a south Indian festival. "
" Nalanda, Kohinoor and Pongal are the three names chosen for certain types of rocks on Mars, NASA officials on a tour to India said in Kolkata."
" Appearing on a private television channel, the team said the names had been approved by NASA after much research."
the day is not far when man will finally land on Mars, and stake his claim to the red planet. but have no doubts, the little green martians will defend their homeland with great tenacity, as they hide behind nalanda, and hurl kohinoor spears and pongal brickbats at us.
click here for the original article
" Nalanda, Kohinoor and Pongal are the three names chosen for certain types of rocks on Mars, NASA officials on a tour to India said in Kolkata."
" Appearing on a private television channel, the team said the names had been approved by NASA after much research."
the day is not far when man will finally land on Mars, and stake his claim to the red planet. but have no doubts, the little green martians will defend their homeland with great tenacity, as they hide behind nalanda, and hurl kohinoor spears and pongal brickbats at us.
click here for the original article
aki's wedding toast
Good evening, everyone. I'm Apurva Kumar - most of you know me as Apu. On behalf of the groom’s family, our parents Kamita and Vasantha Kumar, as well as the bride’s family, and her parents, Cheri and Ben Burnsed, we want to welcome each of you to the reception today. It is a true tribute to Aki and Rachel that you have traveled to Reno to celebrate this joyous occasion with us.
I am sure you will agree that this has turned out to be a fabulous event. Aki, I would like to extend my thanks to you for giving me the chance to fulfill one of my childhood dreams of becoming Mr. Frodo, the ring bearer. I would like to also thank you for finally admitting, after all these years, that I indeed am the best man!
When Aki first asked me to be the best man, I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were supposed to be. So I asked around, & was told that my main duties for today were:
1. To ensure that the groom arrives on time
2. To make sure he is sober, &
3. Make sure he is looking good
Well 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, after all I’m the best man, not a plastic surgeon!
I’m standing here tonight, pretty boastful I have to admit, of my brother, Aki, and his lovely bride, Rachel. I am here to sing their praises, and share with you some of my most endearing moments with them, and the many values that I've learnt from them.
Aki, I begin with you. And no, I do not intend to share "the" incident from stag night. On second thought, maybe I should. So here goes.... Tim, the oversee-er, Chris, the generous tipper, Alex, the silent Frenchman, and yours truly, the Best Man - 4 men with unscrupulous values, took the young bachelor out for his last night on the town. Relax guys (looking at tim, chris, alex), I am not about to violate our non-disclosure agreement. Lets just suffice it to say that we tempted Aki with a wide variety of delicious entrées, and sumptuous delights. Aki was totally impressed, but absolutely uninterested, and so not in the mood, for food. In fact, Aki was busy clicking away on his phone. So I snatched the phone away from him, only to find that he was sending the sweetest text message to Rachel - it read "i love you my hindi bunni". That night, while the rest of us foolhardy bachelors were indulging in sensory overload, Aki and Rachel were busy exchanging lovey-dovey messages.
Aki, you are our lighthouse, our beacon, our lone star, you are the solitary oak in a meadow of wavering reeds, you are the Shepard leading us hapless bachelors from the valley of darkness into the glory of marital salvation. And most importantly, you have taught me that it does not matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!
Rachel, you look stunning as always. I have not seen a more beautiful bride. I've had the honor of knowing you for many years. You are a terrific person. You are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, and caring. Your qualities read like a list of “who’s who?”.
Most of us know that Aki is short for Akarsha. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "man with a magnetic personality" - magnetic as in attractive, not bipolar. Most of us have come to realize over the years that Rachel is at the core of Aki's magnetism. She stood by him through his highs and lows, his victories and his struggles, and most importantly, she has endured the cacophony of his blues harmonica, and she has promised today to do so for the rest of their lives.
Aki and Rachel, I am filled with great pride and admiration as I watch you take on the role of husband and wife. Both of you are wonderful individuals, and together you make the perfect couple!
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the groom with a bride so fair, and the bride with a groom so rare!
To Rachel and Aki, the Bride and Groom!!
Cheers!
I am sure you will agree that this has turned out to be a fabulous event. Aki, I would like to extend my thanks to you for giving me the chance to fulfill one of my childhood dreams of becoming Mr. Frodo, the ring bearer. I would like to also thank you for finally admitting, after all these years, that I indeed am the best man!
When Aki first asked me to be the best man, I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were supposed to be. So I asked around, & was told that my main duties for today were:
1. To ensure that the groom arrives on time
2. To make sure he is sober, &
3. Make sure he is looking good
Well 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, after all I’m the best man, not a plastic surgeon!
I’m standing here tonight, pretty boastful I have to admit, of my brother, Aki, and his lovely bride, Rachel. I am here to sing their praises, and share with you some of my most endearing moments with them, and the many values that I've learnt from them.
Aki, I begin with you. And no, I do not intend to share "the" incident from stag night. On second thought, maybe I should. So here goes.... Tim, the oversee-er, Chris, the generous tipper, Alex, the silent Frenchman, and yours truly, the Best Man - 4 men with unscrupulous values, took the young bachelor out for his last night on the town. Relax guys (looking at tim, chris, alex), I am not about to violate our non-disclosure agreement. Lets just suffice it to say that we tempted Aki with a wide variety of delicious entrées, and sumptuous delights. Aki was totally impressed, but absolutely uninterested, and so not in the mood, for food. In fact, Aki was busy clicking away on his phone. So I snatched the phone away from him, only to find that he was sending the sweetest text message to Rachel - it read "i love you my hindi bunni". That night, while the rest of us foolhardy bachelors were indulging in sensory overload, Aki and Rachel were busy exchanging lovey-dovey messages.
Aki, you are our lighthouse, our beacon, our lone star, you are the solitary oak in a meadow of wavering reeds, you are the Shepard leading us hapless bachelors from the valley of darkness into the glory of marital salvation. And most importantly, you have taught me that it does not matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!
Rachel, you look stunning as always. I have not seen a more beautiful bride. I've had the honor of knowing you for many years. You are a terrific person. You are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, and caring. Your qualities read like a list of “who’s who?”.
Most of us know that Aki is short for Akarsha. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "man with a magnetic personality" - magnetic as in attractive, not bipolar. Most of us have come to realize over the years that Rachel is at the core of Aki's magnetism. She stood by him through his highs and lows, his victories and his struggles, and most importantly, she has endured the cacophony of his blues harmonica, and she has promised today to do so for the rest of their lives.
Aki and Rachel, I am filled with great pride and admiration as I watch you take on the role of husband and wife. Both of you are wonderful individuals, and together you make the perfect couple!
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the groom with a bride so fair, and the bride with a groom so rare!
To Rachel and Aki, the Bride and Groom!!
Cheers!
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