Chinese New Year at a glance

Chinese New Year is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese community. This is a fifteen day event that ends with the well-known Lantern festival. Held as per the Chinese traditional astrological calendar, the year is marked by symbolic significance of a creature. Chinese New Year 2011 is here as the Xin-Mao Year or the ‘Year of Rabbits’. The festival is celebrated with its traditional color of red.

Chinese New Year festivity:
Chinese New Year celebrations bring out the cultural richness of the community. Special festive recipes, masked parades and traditional dance forms are a part of the New Year celebrations. During the festival, people take part in various religious activities too. They visit temples and monasteries and pay respect to the ancestors.

Dragon dances, lion dances and colorful Lantern Festival are the highlights of the festival. During this time of the year, people clean their house and surroundings to summon luck and success and keep away evil. They also participate in activities such as family get-togethers, exchange of gifts and partying with near and dear ones.

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Valentine's Day Presents

An occasion as special as the Valentine’s Day cannot be complete without interesting presents. Some pick up the usual gifts like, a bouquet of roses, a soft toy, assorted chocolates or a branded fragrance, while others prefer giving something different and unique on the occasion. With a range of options available for Valentine’s Day presents, all you have to do is pick the one you feel would bring a smile on your sweetheart’s face.

Special Valentine presents for the week:

Valentine’s Day presents need not be given just on the day. You can pamper your sweetheart even during the Valentine week. Have a special Valentine week with selected Valentine gifts. You can give a rose and celebrate the Rose Day on 7^th, Propose your darling on 8^th, give chocolates on 9^ththe Chocolate Day, gift a cute teddy bear on 10^th the Teddy Day, make an honest promise on 11^th or the Promise Day, gift the best kiss on 12^th the Kiss Day and give a warm hug to your beloved on 13^th the Hug Day. You can make every day a special day for your sweetheart even before the big day.

Unique Valentine Presents:

If you are planning to surprise your dear one with something unique this season, you can certainly do so. Unique Valentine presents like a chocolate bouquet, an aroma spa gift basket, personalized sweetheart pendants, handmade love pillows and a heart shaped Jacuzzi. See the gleam of joy in your beloved’s eyes with Valentine’s Day presents as unique as these.

Valentine’s Day presents may also include a romantic cruise tour, a beautiful beach holiday or just a special day for your sweetheart at home. With just a little effort you may end up giving the best gift to your loved one. This Valentine’s Day let the presents act as tokens of love than being just gifts given for the sake of it.

Celebrating Chinese New Year - The Year of Rabbit

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is here with a big bang. The festival commences from the 3^rd of February this year, 2011. Also known by the name of Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, this is one of the most important festive events for the Chinese community. The festival starts with several traditional activities like cleaning of home and surroundings, decorations with red color décor items and family gatherings. People visit temples and monasteries and pay respect to their god and ancestors before starting their year. The fifteen day long festive celebrations are worth being a part of.

Celebrating Chinese New Year:

Year 2011 is the ‘Year of Rabbits’ or Xin-Mao Year as per the Chinese astrological calendar. Chinese New Year has all the ingredients to be one of the most favorite festivals for the community. From traditional activities such as spectacular dragon dance performances, lion dances and lantern parades to grand feasts, the festival has it all. Territories and countries such as Malaysia, Mainland China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore and Philippines celebrate this fifteen day long festival with great enthusiasm.

Chinese New Year celebration is more about its traditional activities like, exchanging gifts, giving money to children on New Year day, feasts on New Year eve. Other events like firework shows, horse racing competitions, flower markets, fairs and New Year parades are the main attractions of this festival. Traditional recipes like Niangao, Jiaozi Dumplins, Fagao, Yusheng are savored during the fifteen day celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Welcoming the New Year:
People wait for the first ring of the bell that announces the Chinese New Year. They gather at the nearby squares, where a huge sized bell is hung. As the time approaches the bell is rung followed by firework shows and cheer from the people gathered there. Bai Nian or New Year greetings are exchanged after the clock strikes midnight.

Chinese New Year is a grand event that lasts till the Lantern Festival. It is one of the best festivals to be a part of.

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Indian Republic Day 2011

India celebrates Republic Day with great enthusiasm. The year 2011 is all set to witness the grand Republic Day celebrations in Delhi and other parts of India. The tri-color flag will be hosted and homage will be paid to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti in Delhi. Apart from the national capital, other parts of India also celebrate Republic Day with great fervor. Indian Republic Day 2011 is going to be a special event with special guests from Indonesia and other parts of the world.

The government of India invites special guests from other countries it wants to strengthen its relationship with. This year the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is invited to be the special guest of the Republic Day celebration in Delhi.

About Indian Republic Day:
India was declared to be a republic on the 26^th of January, 1950. The 1935 Government of India Act was replaced by the Constitution of India. Republic Day is one of the three national holidays of India. Every year on this day, the President arrives at the Rajpath along with his dignitaries and Chief Guest. The day begins with Prabhat-pheris, gun salutes, and flag hosting and playing of the National Anthem. Republic Day in India is celebrated in state capitals, where the Governor or the Chief Minister hoists the National Flag.

Indian Republic Day celebrations:

India is one of those countries, which celebrates Republic Day with great pomp and show. From military parades to colorful state-wide processions, celebrations in India have it all. The national day is more like a grand Indian festival. Delhi is the best place to come to if you want to catch the celebrations. Rajpath in Delhi looks like a well-adorned bride on this day.

Parades that take place on these grounds include people from the NCC, the Home Guards, the Defense Services, and the Civil Defense. Indian Republic Day 2011 will see the 62^nd Parade, which will start from Raisina Hill and finish at the Red Fort, crossing through the India Gate and Rajpath in Delhi. There are air-shows by the Indian Air Force, which is one of the highlights of the show. Costumed parades, cultural folk dances and other programs mark the Indian Republic Day celebrations. People get into the patriotic fervor and enjoy this day to the fullest. Awards like the Kirti Chakra, the National Bravery Award, and the Ashok Chakra are awarded to deserving candidates or their families on this day.

Cards for Republic Day

What better an occasion than Republic Day to spread the message of love, unity and integrity among one’s fellow people? Republic Day cards are the best means to greet each other and celebrate the country’s Republic Day. Often, on an occasion like a National Day, we don’t really think about giving cards to each other. Republic Day cards though, are the best ways to send your wishes to someone on a national occasion.

Importance of Republic Day Ecards:

Republic Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in various countries. Parades, colorful processions, flower shows, cultural programs and various other entertaining activities mark the celebrations of Republic Day. Countrymen love to be a part of the celebrations that take place at various locations. The day may begin with a lovely wish for the motherland which you can send through colorful Republic Day cards to all your near and dear ones. So, spread lovely messages for your mother country on its Republic Day.

Types of Republic Day ecards:

DGreetings has a wide variety of Republic Day cards to make your job easier. Messages, quotes, and at times songs that create a sense of patriotism and pride for the nation, are all part of our Republic Day cards. Some of the card types include Motivational Republic Day cards, Musical Republic Day cards and general Republic Day cards. There are cards that cater to specific people too. You can choose a business Republic Day card for your colleagues and business associates and a family Republic card for your dear family members.

Republic Day cards are the best means to rejoice and celebrate your country’s Republic Day. Such cards are specially loved by children, who take pride in greeting their friends and teachers during the occasion.

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Pongal: The Harvest Festival

India breathes with agriculture. As the main occupation of thousands, agriculture takes an upper hand and so does the festival associated with it. Pongal is one such festival, which is celebrated with great pomp and show in Southern part of India. This is also known as the festival of harvest as during this, farmers pray to Sun God and other Gods who they believe help them for the harvest.

About the festival:
The festival of Pongal goes on for four days. Bogi Pongal begins Pongal, which is the first day of the festival. On this day, farmers pay homage to the God of Earth and Sun God. Pongal is also the traditional food, which is savored on the festival days. Made up of rice and milk, the food is a major part of the festival celebration. Perum Pongal or Surya Pongal takes place on the second day of the Pongal celebration. On this day, people pray to the Sun God, and his associates, Samgnya and Chaya. Old things like clothes and other articles are got rid of on this day. People apply oil on them and wear new clothes on this day. The third day of the festival is called, Mattu Pongal. On this day, farmers worship their cattles. The creatures are cleaned and decorated. The food of Pongal is served to them too. Day four of the festival is Kaanum Pongal or Thiruvalluvar Day. The fourth day of the festival is celebrated by visiting family and friends and performing rituals and prayers.

Pongal celebration:
Pongal is mainly a South-Indian festival, which is celebrated world-wide. Mainly observed as the festival of harvest, there are various fairs and competitions held at various locations in India. In some of the villages, there are cattle-fairs. Several God’s and Goddesses are prayed on this day. Since, it is the festival of harvest; farmers are the ones who eagerly await this festival. They clean and decorate their homes, farm and cattles and cook traditional food. There are family functions, dance and other programs apart from the usual customary actions.

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Makarsankranti - Another Festival of Harvest

Celebrated throughout the nation as the harvest festival, Makarsankranti is one of the most renowned festivals of India. This is observed in almost all parts of India, though it is represented and observed in different manners. The date of this cultural festival however, is quite unique as it falls on 14th of January, every year. It is an auspicious Hindu festival, which takes place during the peak time of the winter season.

About the festival:

“Towards light and away from the darkness” is signified by this winter Hindu festival. It is believed that Sun-God enters into the Northern Hemisphere, giving way to more lengthy days and shorter span of darkness. Sun-God is the main deity of this festival. This Hindu God is related to wisdom, spiritual brightness and knowledge. Makarsankranti also has a moral significance that talks about one’s journey towards light, wisdom, intelligence and purity. Just like the Sun grows or rather the length of the day grows from the Makarsankranti day, the festival also motivates to ascend towards light or wisdom from darkness or ignorance.

Makarsankranti celebrations:

Makarsankranti is celebrated from Northern part of India to Southern part of India and from Eastern to Western India. On this day people from far and wide visit the famous Ganga Sagar to take a dip and free them from all sins. Ganga Sagar is the place where the Bay of Bengal meets the Ganga River. They also visit Prayag and pay their respect to the Sun-God on this day. Early morning before the sunrises, devotees gather at the river-side to catch the first glimpse of the rising sun. They take bath during this time and pray to the deity. Traditional delicacies like Til laddo, too are a part of the Makarsankranti celebrations. Throughout the nation various cattle fairs and other festival specific fairs are held on Makarsankranti.

The festival is called with different names in various regions of India. In Goa it is called, ‘haldi-kumkum’, ‘Bhogali Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Pedda Panduga’ in Andhra Pradesh,’ Uttarayan’ and ‘Vasi-Uttarayan’ in Gujarat and ‘Suggi’ in Karnataka. In Uttar Pradesh however, Makarsankrnti is a grand affair as more than 2 million people gather at Varanasi, Allahabad and Haridwar to observe the day.

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Celebration of Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday, 2011

Just like every year Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The three day celebration involves several activities. Men and women, read the holy Guru Grant Sahib from two days before the birthday. The scripture reading takes place without any interruption and is also called as Akhand Path. The holy process is carried out at the nearby Gurudwara.

Another main activity carried out as a part of the birthday celebration is the procession, which takes place a day before the birthday of the tenth Guru. The procession is led by the Panj Pyares of the Khalsa. The procession also carries dancers, musicians, and the martial art performers called the gatka team. On the main day however, hymns or Asa di Var’s are sung. There are prayer services, musical groups singing hymns and food services as a part of the whole day Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday celebration.

Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday 2011 falls on Wednesday and is a grand event. This day is also observed to remember the preaching of this great leader who fought for the rights of his people and gave away his life for the same.

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Chinese New Year Ecards at DGreetings

The Chinese New Year occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which this year falls on February 3rd. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit, a creature known for its creativity, compassion and friendly nature. And at DGreetings, we’ve got a little bit of the rabbit in us, as we’ve worked tirelessly to create wonderful cards that reflect the festive mood of this holiday season.

We’ve carefully paired heartfelt words with stunning graphics and lively music, so that you can wish your loved ones peace, luck, prosperity and more in the new year. Our cards come as both animated ecards and still images. They are absolutely free, and you can add a personal message to any one of them.

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New Year Quotes

Wish with quotes

New Year’s is here to embrace us with newer hopes and challenges. When the first rays of the sun touches us on a New Year day, its touches our soul, urging us to take our first step to a fresh beginning. New Year quotes express such feelings in a nutshell and are often used as mediums to convey special messages to special people in your life. The quotes find their way through the greeting cards, ecards and even in text messages. You need not be poetic when there are plenty of well- written New Year quotes, readily available to be delivered on the occasion.

New Year quotes can be smartly used to convey your message or wish your dear ones on the occasion. Quotes with humorous or inspirational contents are a big hit during the New Year. What better ways than to send a nice New Year quote and help start his/her New Year on a good note.

Attractive New Year quotes:

If all you want is to impress or simply greet your dear ones with interesting New Year quotes, you can take a look at some of these by well-known personalities.

• "New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions."-Mark Twain
• Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to."-Bill Vaughan
• “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey
• “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”-Bill Vaughan
• “New Year's Day is every man's birthday.” -Charles Lamb
• “It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets.”-William Thomas
• “The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows.”-George William Curtis

New Year quotes can be used in several ways to spread some warmth to your loved ones on the occasion.