the Waldo Canyon fire

 

 

 

 

  Colorado wild fires photos: The Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs

        

 

A three-day-old wildfire erupted with catastrophic fury Tuesday, ripping across the foothills neighborhoods of Colorado Springs, devouring an untold number of homes and sending tens of thousands fleeing to safety in what was shaping up as one of the biggest disasters in state history. “This is a firestorm of epic proportions,” said Colorado Springs Fire Chief Richard Brown. The Waldo Canyon fire in El Paso County — which had been growing in the forested hills on the city’s west side — blew into an inferno late in the afternoon, raging over a ridge toward densely populated neighborhoods. An apocalyptic plume of smoke covered Colorado’s second-largest city as thousands of people forced to evacuate clogged Interstate 25 at rush hour trying to get to their homes or to get out of the way. By nightfall, roughly 32,000 people left their homes, chased out by the flames.

1

The Waldo Canyon fire burns an entire neighborhood in near the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colo. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post, Helen H. Richardson) #

2

The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colo. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post) #

3

A neighborhood west of the intersections of Vindicator Drive, Centennial Blvd and Flying W Ranch Road burns near the foothills of Colorado Springs. The Waldo Canyon fire took a turn for the worse as the fire exploded and made a run northward taking homes and thousands of acres with today June 26th,2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

4

Firefighters get ready to head into neighborhoods which were caught by the Waldo Canyon Fire after it swept down into western portions of Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 leaving a trail of destruction, burning homes and buildings in its path. Heavily populated areas in the fire’s path have been affected. (AP Photo/Bryan Oller) #

5

People flee the Waldo Canyon Fire with little time to spare as the fire burns through neighborhoods west of Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. The blaze left a trail of destruction, burning homes and buildings in it’s path. Heavily populated areas in the fire’s path have been affected. (AP Photo/Bryan Oller) #

6

The skies are orange as flames from the Waldo Canyon Fire race through a neighborhood in west Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 leaving a trail of destruction, burning homes and buildings in its path. Heavily populated areas in the fire’s path have been affected. (AP Photo/Bryan Oller) #

7

The Waldo Canyon fire burns an entire neighborhood in near the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colo. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post, Helen H. Richardson) #

8

Fire from the Waldo Canyon wildfire burns as it moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Gaylon Wampler) #

9

The Waldo Canyon fire burns an entire neighborhood in near the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colo. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post, Helen H. Richardson) #

10

The Waldo Canyon fire burns homes near Colorado Springs, Colo. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post, Helen H. Richardson) #

11

Fire from the Waldo Canyon wildfire as it moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Gaylon Wampler) #

12

A plume of smoke is seen over Interstate 25 as the Waldo Canyon wildfire moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Gaylon Wampler) #

13

Flames from the Waldo Canyon Fire move quickly move through the western side Colorado Springs, Colo. causing several structures and homes to burn on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. The fire made a massive run late in the day leaving a trail of destruction, and burning homes and buildings in it’s path. Heavily populated areas in the fire’s path have been affected. (AP Photo/Bryan Oller) #

14

Homes are destroyed by the Waldo Canyon fire in the Mountain Shadows area of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. A stubborn and towering wildfire jumped firefighters’ perimeter lines in the hills overlooking Colorado Springs, forcing frantic mandatory evacuation notices for more than 9,000 residents. (AP Photo/The Gazette,Jerilee Bennett) #

15

The Waldo Canyon Fire, burns out of control, threatening homes Tuesday June, 26, 2012. (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post) #

16

A helicopter is dwarfed by the flames of the Waldo Canyon Fire as it races down into western portions of Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 leaving a trail of destruction and burning homes and buildings in it’s path. Heavily populated areas in the fire’s path have been affected. (AP Photo/Bryan Oller) #

17

The Waldo Canyon fire made a run into Colorado Springs Tuesday night, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

18

The Waldo Canyon fire made a run into Colorado Springs Tuesday night, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

19

The Waldo Canyon fire made a run into Colorado Springs Tuesday night, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

20

The Waldo Canyon fire made a run into Colorado Springs Tuesday night, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

21

The Waldo Canyon fire jumped into Colorado Springs Tuesday evening. Residents of the Lower Mountain Shadows subdivision evacuated the neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs Tuesday evening, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

22

The Waldo Canyon fire jumped into Colorado Springs Tuesday evening. Residents of the Lower Mountain Shadows subdivision evacuated the neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs Tuesday evening, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

23

Waldo Canyon Fire burns out of control, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

24

Waldo Canyon Fire burns out of control, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

25

Houses are engulfed by flames in northwest Colorado Springs neighborhoods after the Waldo Canyon Fire exploded Tuesday afternoon, June 26, 2012. Steve Nehf, The Denver Post #

26

An entire neighborhood burns near the foothills of Colorado Springs. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th,2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

27

An entire neighborhood burns near the foothills of Colorado Springs. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th,2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

28

An entire neighborhood burns near the foothills of Colorado Springs. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th,2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

29

An entire neighborhood burns near the foothills of Colorado Springs. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th,2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

30

Waldo Canyon Fire burns out of control, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

31

Waldo Canyon Fire burns out of control, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

32

Authorities blocked Garden of the Gods Road at North 30th Street Tuesday evening. Residents of the Lower Mountain Shadows subdivision evacuated the neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs Tuesday evening, June 26, 2012. Flames from the Waldo Canyon fire jumped into Colorado Springs forcing emergency evacuations of some neighborhoods. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

33

The Waldo Canyon fire explodes today June 26th, 2012. A traffic jam of cars fleeing the city heads east on both sides of Woodmen Road. The road is closed to westbound traffic. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th, 2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

34

Steve Rosburg covered his mouth with his shirt as he waited for friends on Centennial Boulevard. Traffic was streaming south on Centennial Boulevard on both sides of the median. Residents of the Lower Mountain Shadows subdivision evacuated the neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs Tuesday evening, June 26, 2012. Flames from the Waldo Canyon fire spread into town Tuesday evening. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

35

What looks like a firestorm, the Waldo Canyon fire exploded today June 26th, 2012. The fire raced over 2 miles northward onto the Air Force Academy land. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th, 2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post#

36

What looks like a firestorm, the Waldo Canyon fire exploded today June 26th, 2012. The fire raced over 2 miles northward onto the Air Force Academy land. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th, 2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post#

37

Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

38

Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

39

Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

40

Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

41

Tayor Salamon, 11, holds on to his dog as they pile in the back seat, Tuesday June 26, 2012, as his family rushes to leave their home in the path of Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

42

Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

43

Fire fighters are heading to West of Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs Police officers direct traffic and secure the corner of Garden of Gods Rd. and Centennial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post #

44

The Waldo Canyon fire invades the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT) #

45

The Waldo Canyon fire explodes today June 26th, 2012. A traffic jam of cars fleeing the city heading north on I-25 seems enveloped by the orange haze of smoke. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th, 2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

46

The Waldo Canyon fire explodes today June 26th, 2012. A traffic jam of cars fleeing the city heading north on I-25 seems enveloped by the orange haze of smoke. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to burn northwest of Manitou Springs, Colorado today June 26th, 2012. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post #

47

Residents in the path of the Waldo Canyon Fire rush to get out, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

48

The Waldo Canyon fire spread spot fires to the north as afternoon winds spread embers into the air Tuesday afternoon, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

49

A Colorado Springs Police Officer rushes to get residents out of their homes in the path of the Waldo Canyon Fire, Tuesday June 26, 2012, in Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

50

More evacuations were ordered as the Waldo Canyon fire spread to the north when afternoon winds spread embers into the air Tuesday afternoon, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

51

Waldo Canyon Fire continues to grow, Tuesday June 26, 2012, near Colorado Spring. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post #

52

A helicopter flew towards the flames as the Waldo Canyon fire spread to the north as afternoon winds spread embers into the air Tuesday afternoon, June 26, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post #

53

The Waldo Canyon wildfire continues to grow in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Teller County officials warned residents east of U.S. 24 and north of the El Paso/Teller County line to be prepared to leave. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Hyoung Chang) #

54

The Waldo Canyon wildfire continues to grow in Colorado Springs, Colo, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Teller County officials warned residents east of U.S. 24 and north of the El Paso/Teller County line to be prepared to leave. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, RJ Sangosti) #

55

A C-130 makes a drop on the Waldo Canyon wildfire northwest of Manitou Springs, Colo., Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and low humidity, sapping moisture from timber and grass, creating a devastating formula for volatile wildfires across the state and punishing conditions for firefighters. (The Denver Post, Helen H. Richardson) #

 

 

 

Thank You

Help with my Garden

Dear All,This i…

Dear All,

This is to inform you that, in our country medicines are  usually prescribed (by our great doctors) by brand name and not by the generics (ingredients). Hence we often end up paying more money for the same medicine.
 
Follow these few steps to know more and start saving on your medical bills. Refer to the attached screen shots.
 
1. Log on to www.medguideindia.com
 
2. Click on ‘Drugs’
 
3. Click on ‘Brand’
 
4. Type the brand name which you are using e. g., Metocard XL (50 mg). The site will also help you with drop down menu. Click on ‘Search’
 
5. Click on ‘Generics’. It will display the ingredients of the tablet.
 
6. Click on ‘matched brands’
 
7. Don’t be surprised to see that same drug is available at very low cost also. And that to by other reputed manufacturer. e. g., Metocard XL 50 is for Rs. 62.00 and the same drug by Cipla (Mepol) is available @ Rs. 7.00 only!
 
If you are convinced with the result, do forward this message to your near & dear ones.

~~~

BEAUTIFUL BED ROOMS

Be Safe Take care of your GPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

It appears that GPS too is vulnerable.

This is worth sharing with all our family and friends who are using GPS in their cars 

GPS was placed in its bracket in the windshield and left in the sun. The battery overheated and exploded!

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AND THE WINTER CAME

Gayatri Mantra & its Scientific Meaning

 Dear Sir,

Nothing to beat the wisdom of our ancient Indian sage
OM SHANTI 

Subhash…….. Pune

GAYATRI MANTRA & Its Scientific Meaning Gayatri mantra has been bestowed the greatest importance in Vedic dharma.This mantra has also been termed as Savitri and Ved-Mata, the mother of the Vedas. Om bhur bhuvah swah Tat savitur varenyam Bhargo devasya dheemahi Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat The literal meaning of the mantra is: O God! You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty, You are all Light.You are all Knowledge and Bliss. You are Destroyer of fear, You are Creator of this Universe, You are the Greatest of all.We bow and meditate upon Your light. You guide our intellect in the right direction. The mantra, however, has a great scientific importance too, which somehow got lost in the literary tradition. The modern astrophysics and astronomy tell us that our Galaxy called Milky Way or Akash-Ganga contains approximately 100,000 million of stars. Each star is like our sun having its own planet system. We know that the moon moves round the earth and the earth moves round the sun along with the moon. All planets round the sun. Each of the above bodies revolves round at its own axis as well. Our sun along with its family takes one round of the galactic center in 22.5 crore years. All galaxies including ours are moving away at a terrific velocity of 20,000 mile s per second. And now the alternative scientific meaning of the mantra step by step: (A). OM BHUR BHUVAH SWAH: Bhur the earth, bhuvah the planets (solar family), swah the Galaxy. We observe that when an ordinary fan with a speed of 900 RPM (rotations Per minute) moves, it makes noise. Then, one can imagine, what great noise would be created when the galaxies move with a speed of 20,000 miles per second. This is what this portion of the mantra explains that the sound produced due to the fast-moving earth, planets and galaxies is Om. The sound was heard during meditation by Rishi Vishvamitra, who mentioned it to other colleagues. All of them, then unanimously decided to call this sound Om the name of God, because this sound is available in all the three periods of time, hence it is set (permanent). Therefore, it was the first ever revolutionary idea to identify formless God with a specific title (form) called upadhi. Until that time, everybody recognized God as formless and nobody was prepared to accept this new idea. In the Gita also, it is said, “Omiti ekaksharam brahma”, meaning that the name of the Supreme is Om , which contains only one syllable (8/12). This sound Om heard during samadhi was called by all the seers nada-brahma a very great noise), but not a noise that is normally heard beyond a specific amplitude and limits of decibels suited to human hearing. Hence the rishis called this sound Udgith musical sound of the above, i.e., heaven. They also noticed that the infinite mass of galaxies moving with a velocity of 20,000 miles/second was generating a kinetic energy = 1/2 MV2 and this was balancing the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence they named it Pranavah, which means the body (vapu) or store house of energy (prana). (B). TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM: Tat that (God), savitur the sun (star), varenyam worthy of bowing or respect. Once the form of a person along with the name is known to us, we may locate the specific person.Hence the two titles (upadhi) provide the solid ground to identify the formless God, Vishvamitra suggested. He told us that we could know (realize) the unknowable formless God through the known factors, viz., sound Om and light of suns (stars). A mathematician can solve an equation x2+y2=4; if x=2; then y can be known and so on. An engineer can measure the width of a river even by standing at the riverbank just by drawing a triangle. So was the scientific method suggested by Vishvamitra in the mantra in the next portion as under:- (C). BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI: Bhargo the light, devasya of the deity, dheemahi we should meditate. The rishi instructs us to meditate upon the available form (light of suns) to discover the formless Creator (God). Also he wants us to do japa of the word Om (this is understood in the Mantra). This is how the sage wants us to proceed, but there is a great problem to realize it, as the human mind is so shaky and restless that without the grace of the Supreme (Brahma) it cannot be controlled. Hence Vishvamitra suggests the way to pray Him as under: (D). DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT: Dhiyo (intellect), yo (who), nah (we all), prachodayat (guide to right Direction). O God! Deploy our intellect on the right path. Full scientific interpretation of the Mantra: The earth (bhur), the planets (bhuvah), and the galaxies (swah) are moving at a very great velocity, the sound produced is Om , (the name of formless God.) That God (tat), who manifests Himself in the form of light of suns (savitur) is worthy of bowing/respect (varenyam). We all, therefore, should meditate (dheemahi) upon the light (bhargo) of that deity (devasya) and also do chanting of Om. May He (yo) guide in right direction (prachodayat) our(nah) intellect dhiyo. So we notice that the important points hinted in the mantra is:- The total kinetic energy generated by the movement of galaxies acts as an umbrella and balances the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence it was named as the Pranavah (body of energy). This is equal to 1/2 mv2 (Mass of galaxies x velocity.

– 

 

Do Not Panic Unnecesarily

This is true. Actually panic can kill and if you look critically at it, it has killed people many a time.

Panic attacks are caused by high anxiety which is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm…perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks.
 

Upon closer examination of the causes of panic attacks, it would appear that what we are afraid of are the sensations themselves–we are afraid of the body losing control. These unexpected physical symptoms create the fear or panic that something is terribly wrong. Why do you experience the physical symptoms of the fight/flight response if you are not frightened to begin with? There are many ways these symptoms can manifest themselves, not just through fear. For example, it may be that you have become generally stressed for some reason in your life, and this stress results in an increase in the production of adrenaline and other chemicals, which from time to time, would produce symptoms….and which you perceive as the causes of panic attacks. This increased adrenaline can be maintained chemically in the body, even after the stress has long gone. Another possibility is diet, which directly affects our level of stress. Unresolved emotions are often pointed to as possible trigger of panic attacks, but it is important to point out that eliminating panic attacks from your life does not necessarily mean analyzing your psyche and digging into your subconscious.   

source: unknown

Do Not Panic Unnecesarily

This is true. Actually panic can kill and if you look critically at it, it has killed people many a time.

Panic attacks are caused by high anxiety which is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm…perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks.
 

Upon closer examination of the causes of panic attacks, it would appear that what we are afraid of are the sensations themselves–we are afraid of the body losing control. These unexpected physical symptoms create the fear or panic that something is terribly wrong. Why do you experience the physical symptoms of the fight/flight response if you are not frightened to begin with? There are many ways these symptoms can manifest themselves, not just through fear. For example, it may be that you have become generally stressed for some reason in your life, and this stress results in an increase in the production of adrenaline and other chemicals, which from time to time, would produce symptoms….and which you perceive as the causes of panic attacks. This increased adrenaline can be maintained chemically in the body, even after the stress has long gone. Another possibility is diet, which directly affects our level of stress. Unresolved emotions are often pointed to as possible trigger of panic attacks, but it is important to point out that eliminating panic attacks from your life does not necessarily mean analyzing your psyche and digging into your subconscious.   

source: unknown

Amid gloom of failure of Power grid- Gujarat shows a ray of hope for India.

Power grid failure: Amid gloom, Gujarat sets an example

Rajiv Shah & Harit Mehta, TNN | Aug 1, 2012, 01.13AM IST

AHMEDABAD: A power surplus state with near 24-hour electricity supply not just in cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara but in all the 18,000 villages. Now, the Gujarat government plans to further sharply increase power generation from 13,500 MW now to 18,000 MW by the end of the current year.

The Narendra Modi government was able to ensure almost 24 hour electricity supply, especially in villages, by implementing the Jyoti Gram project. Even the Government of India has accepted this as a flagship scheme for the 12th Five-Year plan (2012-17) for supplying round-the-clock, high-quality, three-phase power to all villages.

Commissioned in 2006, Jyoti Gram provides for a separate electric feeder for domestic use and a limited agricultural supply of nearly eight hours a day, continuous and of constant voltage. A recently released Planning Commission document, "Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth : An Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan", says "the separation of agricultural feeders" in the country will enable villages to get "24 X 7 three-phased power for domestic uses, schools, hospitals and village industries".

As for the farm pumpsets, which require more power, they can obtain "eight hours or more of quality power on a pre-announced schedule." The document underlines, "The programme of feeder separation has to be carried through across the country. Gujarat has achieved very good results by combining feeder separation with an extensive watershed programme for groundwater recharge. Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradeshhave also moved forward in this direction. Feeder separation needs to be extended to all states, especially where groundwater is extensively used."

The Gujarat government spent Rs 1,200 crore to implement Jyoti Gram by separating 12,000 agricultural feeders from domestic feeders. It brought down transmission and distribution losses from 35 per cent five years ago to 15-19 per cent this year.

Already a power surplus state, Gujarat sold 5,105.43 million units (MUs) to other states last year earning a profit of Rs 1,888.53crore. Last year, the state had sold 5,105 million units to states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Maharashtra. This was approximately seven per cent of total power produced in the state — 68,710 MUs. According to minister of state for power, Saurabh Patel the government sold power at Rs 8.51 per unit to Rajasthan, at Rs 7.70 per unit to Maharashtra and 9.52 per unit to Delhi. By selling these surplus power, the government was giving Rs 3,000 crore as subsidy to farmers.

With new plants planned to come up, the situation would further improve. And, Gujarat is not just planning to have more imported coal and gas based power plants, but is also negotiating with the Government of India for a second ultra mega power plant (UMPP). There has been no looking back since 2004 when the state successfully unbundled the loss-making Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) into smaller power utilities. Smaller set-ups improved efficiency – cutting T&D losses and better plant load factor – helping the firms to make profits.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Power-grid-failure-Amid-gloom-Gujarat-sets-an-example/articleshow/15299794.cms?intenttarget=no

Raksha Bandhan- the bond of love and affection

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Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, (the bond of protection) or Rakhi, is a festival primarily observed in India, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is also called Rakhi Purnima in most of India.[1][2] It is also celebrated in some parts of Pakistan.[3] The festival is observed by Hindus, Sikhs and some Muslims. The central ceremony involves the tying of a rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother’s wrist. This symbolizes the sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.[7][9][10][11] It grew in popularity after Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of Chittor, sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun when she required his help.

The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread, which comes in many colors and designs, by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to him. The brother usually presents his sister with an envelope filled with money however, other presents such as saris and clothing can be given. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets. These sweets include anything from Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and Burfi. Since north Indian kinship practices give cousins a status similar to siblings, girls and women often tie the rakhi to their male cousins as well (referred to as “cousin-brothers” in regional parlance) in several communities.[12][13] Unrelated boys and men who are considered to be brothers (munh-bola bhai or adopted brothers) can be tied rakhis, provided they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the woman or girl.

Historical occurrences and mentions

Krishna and Draupadi

Another incident from the epic Mahabharat concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. She had once torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna’s wrist to staunch the bleeding from a battlefield wound. Krishna was touched by her action and declared her to be his sister, even though they were unrelated. He promised to repay the debt and then spent the next 25 years doing just that. Draupadi, in spite of being married to five great warriors and being a daughter of a powerful monarch, trusted and depended wholly on Krishna. Krishna repaid the debt of love during the “Cheer-Haran” (literally “clothing-removing”) of Draupadi, which occurred in the assembly of King Dhritarashtra when Yudhisthira lost her to the Kauravas in gambling. At that time, Krishna indefinitely extended her saree through divine intervention, so it could not be removed, to save her honor. This is how he honored his rakhi vow towards Draupadi.[15]

King Bali and Goddess Laxmi

According to a legend the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard his kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunth. Goddess Lakshmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised as a woman to seek refuge till her husband came back.

During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Lakshmi tied the sacred thread to the King. Upon being asked, she revealed who she was and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for his family and her purpose and requested the Lord to accompany her. He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife.

Thus devotion to the Lord. It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan.

Alexander the Great and King Puru

According to one legendary narrative, when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC, Roxana (or Roshanak, his wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. In accordance with tradition, Porus, a Katoch king, gave full respect to the rakhi. On the battlefield, when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.

Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun

A popular narrative that is centered around Rakhi is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal Emperor Humayun, which dates to 1535 CE. When Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of the king of Chittor, realised that she could not defend against the invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Touched, the Emperor immediately set off with his troops to defend Chittor.[18] Humayun arrived too late, and Bahadur Shah managed to sack the Rani’s fortress. Karnavati, along with a reported 13,000 other women in the fortress, carried out Jauhar on March 8, 1535, killing themselves to avoid dishonor while the men threw the gates open and rode out on a suicidal charge against Bahadur Shah’s troops.[19][20] When he reached Chittor, Humayun evicted Bahadur Shah from fort and restored the kingdom to Karnavati’s son, Vikramjit Singh.[19] Although contemporary commentators and memoirs do not mention the Rakhi episode and some historians have expressed skepticism about it, it is mentioned in one mid-seventeenth century Rajasthani account.