It doesn't feel like it much as it's before the pointlessness of Halloween this year, but Happy Diwali.
It is usually celebrated on the darkest night of the year (this year the 26th of October), but I am not sure how it works as here, the clocks go back in a few days. But it's also got something to do with the moon too.
It's the start of the new year the next day. It represents victory of good over evil, it supposedly brings good luck to people and it pretty much is a damn good couple of days.
In my own words, I am going to try and write a couple of Diwali stories. I'm not a religious person at all but the stories are pretty fascinating. These are shortened versions.
The first one is the story of Lord Ram defeating the evil demon Ravan.
Ram was the son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kaushalya. The King also had 2 other wives. Queen Kaikeyi whose son was Bharata and Queen Sumitra who had twins -Lakshman and Shatrughn. As Ram was the eldest, he was the rightful heir to the throne of Kosala. When Ram married Sita (He won her hand by being the only one who could string the great bow of Shiva), the daughter of King Janak who was ruler of a kingdom called Videha, King Dasaratha decided as he was getting very old to let Ram take over the throne. However, Bharatas' mother Queen Kaikeyi was manipulated by an evil maid of hers named Manthara and told her that if Ram became the King, he would kill her son Bharat. Some time before, Queen Kaikeyi had saved King Dasarathas' life and in return, he had promised he would grant her 2 wishes, no matter what they were. So Kaikeyi requested that Ram be exiled into the forest for 14 years and that Bharata be made the king. King Dasaratha had no choice and couldn't go back on his word so exiled Ram to the forest. Sita and his younger brother Lakshman went with him. Bharata didn't want to be king as Ram was the rightful heir and tried to persuade Ram to come back from the forest but he had to honour his fathers' word. King Dasaratha passed away with grief.
Bharata didn't sit on the throne once. Instead, he put a pair of slippers which belonged to Ram on the throne until he returned-if he ever did.
Ram, Sita and Lakshman lived in the forest peacefully for years until one day when a female demon named Surpanakha saw Ram and fell in love with him. She wanted to marry him but he said he was already married so then she asked Lakshman, but he was already married too (to Sita's cousin named Urmila). Surpanakha threatened to eat Sita so Lakshman cut off her nose and ears. Surpanakha fled to her brother Ravan who was a demon with 10 heads and 20 arms. Ravan wanted revenge and went off to get Sita with the help of a demon called Marich. Marich went to the forest and turned himself into a golden deer which Sita saw and then she asked Ram if he could catch it for her so she could keep it as a pet. Ram went off in search of the deer and didn't return for ages so Lakshman went to look for him. He made a magic circle around Sita which would protect her from everything as long as she remained inside it.
A while later, Sita saw a Holy man begging for food. The man needed help and Sita stepped out of the circle and as soon as she did, the man showed his true form as Ravan and grabbed Sita and kidnapped her and took her back to his Kingdom-Lanka.
Upon return, the 2 brothers find Sita gone. The animals in the forest tell them she has been kidnapped and show them which way to go. On their journey to Lanka, they come across a Monkey God called Hanuman. Hanuman was disguised as a Brahmin and Ram said to Lakshman when meeting Hanuman that even an enemy with a drawn sword would have been moved. After introducing each other, they become friends. Hanuman who has the power to fly and to shape shift flies off in search of Sita. He eventually finds her in Lanka guarded by a lot of demons. He turns into a cat and tells her that Ram is coming to get her. He offers to fly her back to Ram, but Sita refuses saying that his honour is at stake. Hanuman then goes about starting to destroy Lanka and then lets himself be captured by Indrajit who has the power to turn invisible and is Ravans' son as Hanuman decides that it would be an opportunity to meet Ravan. He warns Ravan that Ram is coming to get him but would be willing to forgive him if he returns Sita safe and unhurt. Ravan wants Hanuman executed. Ravans' demon brother Vibhishana stops this and says it is against the rules to destroy the messenger. Ravan then decides to set Hanumans' tail on fire, at first when Ravans' demons try to set it on fire, Hanuman makes his tail go longer and longer and then allows it to be put on fire and then he escapes and starts to burn down Lanka with his tail. He then extinguishes his tail in the sea and goes back to Ram and tells him of Sitas' whereabouts. Ram and Lakshman march there with an army of bears and monkeys.
Vibhishana who had now been exiled from Lanka was advised by his mother named Kaikesi to join Ram which he did and this helped Ram and Lakshman kill hundreds of Ravans' demons including Kumbhakaran who was a demon who could swallow entire armies. He was killed by Ram and Indrajit was killed by Lakshman. Then Ravan decided he had to go into battle himself and destroyed most of the monkeys and bears and nearly killed Lakshman. The monkeys told Ram that Lakshman could still be saved with certain herbs from the Himalayas which they were nowhere near and Ram thought he was going to lose his brother. But Hanuman saved the day by flying over to the Himalayas. But when he got there, he had no idea which herbs were the right ones that were needed as there were so many different ones. So Hanuman picked up the whole mountain and flew back to Lanka with it! The monkeys all searched for the correct herbs and made a potion for Lakshman to inhale and it slowly revived him.
Ram and Ravan went into battle and it lasted 10 days. Every time Ram cut one of Ravans' heads or arms off, another would grow back in it's place. Eventually, Ram fired a special arrow given to him by the Gods and fired it through Ravans' heart. It was over.
By this time, the 14 years of exile was over and Ram, Sita and Lakshman returned to Kosala where they were celebrated by the entire kingdom as Hanuman got there first and told Bharata the good news and Ram was crowned as king and Sita, the queen.
People celebrate and worship Ram and Sita as Gods and celebrate it to this day. This is one of the stories of good triumphing over evil. Light over Darkness hence the candles, the divyas and the lamps used on Diwali.
If I am still around, there will be another story next year!
Oh and I was part of a play in my first primary school about this story. I played the part of one of Ravans' demons and was on stage for about 5 seconds. As much as I like you Mrs Inglesfield, I was not happy about this. Shame I had to move school before I reached your year. We could've had some interesting conversations I think.
Thursday 27 October 2011
Tuesday 25 October 2011
A dark day for Manchester United
Manchester United 1 - Manchester City 6.
I still am sticking by to every word on my last post. Still a long way of the season to go.
But this was the worst day for the club since I was born.
I still am sticking by to every word on my last post. Still a long way of the season to go.
But this was the worst day for the club since I was born.
Saturday 22 October 2011
United V City
The game is on 23rd October 2011. Tomorrow!
In the Red corner we have a team that is the most successful team in English football and one of the most successful teams in all of football. Winning countless trophies and in the past 25 years since their current manager Alex Ferguson took over, they have won I think 37 major trophies (I've lost count). They have created trophy winning squads after trophy winning squads with entertaining football and have so much history as a club.
From Sir Matt Busby and his "Busby Babes", to the the Munich air disaster to Sir Matt Busby creating a new team after the Munich air disaster which claimed 23 lives, the team was rebuilt with the likes of Denis law, Bobby Charlton and George Best eventually becoming the first English team to win the European cup.
Although I was probably a Manchester United fan since entering this accursed world, one of my first memories was when I was about 6 years old and it was New years' day and I was watching them play Liverpool who were dominating football in the 80s. This was some of the game. (The wonders of the Internet.) You will have to copy and paste. I remember screaming at the TV shouting for Manchester United after they went 1-0 down. The commentry from 3:45-4:07 is just classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbQNvJy2MI
A few years later, til now, they have been winning trophies left right and centre with amazing players that have graced the game. Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and my favourite all time player ever, Eric Cantona. These are the kind of players from my generation who were/are just amazing, loyal performers of the game.
In Blue corner, we have a team of pretenders. They have won one trophy (The FA cup-which is Utds' 3rd priority trophy) in 30 years and are now considering themselves as "the best football team in the world" just because they are currently the richest team in the world.
What else about them?? Nothing.
My dad being a City supporter himself sent me to bed one time after I was watching a European game and cheered when this goal went it. Sorry about the music, I didn't upload the video but the goalkeepers' moustache makes up for it. I had to watch the 2nd goal on the news the next day.
Copy and paste if clicking on it doesn't work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkuzTOsVNZk
I am writing this as people are now saying that the Manchester derby is the biggest in the world. I will get about 4 hours sleep if I am to watch it as I sure will. And just for good measure:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p5CLhXYFbY
Ironically Wayne Rooney was having a really bad game. It was almost as if he was saving all the talent he has just for that one moment. A few weeks before there were rumours that he was going to join city which is why as well as the goal, the celebration was also amazing. Although you can't see it, that part of the pitch was where the city fans were. He ran up to them and turned his back on them. Brilliant.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
In the Red corner we have a team that is the most successful team in English football and one of the most successful teams in all of football. Winning countless trophies and in the past 25 years since their current manager Alex Ferguson took over, they have won I think 37 major trophies (I've lost count). They have created trophy winning squads after trophy winning squads with entertaining football and have so much history as a club.
From Sir Matt Busby and his "Busby Babes", to the the Munich air disaster to Sir Matt Busby creating a new team after the Munich air disaster which claimed 23 lives, the team was rebuilt with the likes of Denis law, Bobby Charlton and George Best eventually becoming the first English team to win the European cup.
Although I was probably a Manchester United fan since entering this accursed world, one of my first memories was when I was about 6 years old and it was New years' day and I was watching them play Liverpool who were dominating football in the 80s. This was some of the game. (The wonders of the Internet.) You will have to copy and paste. I remember screaming at the TV shouting for Manchester United after they went 1-0 down. The commentry from 3:45-4:07 is just classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbQNvJy2MI
A few years later, til now, they have been winning trophies left right and centre with amazing players that have graced the game. Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and my favourite all time player ever, Eric Cantona. These are the kind of players from my generation who were/are just amazing, loyal performers of the game.
In Blue corner, we have a team of pretenders. They have won one trophy (The FA cup-which is Utds' 3rd priority trophy) in 30 years and are now considering themselves as "the best football team in the world" just because they are currently the richest team in the world.
What else about them?? Nothing.
My dad being a City supporter himself sent me to bed one time after I was watching a European game and cheered when this goal went it. Sorry about the music, I didn't upload the video but the goalkeepers' moustache makes up for it. I had to watch the 2nd goal on the news the next day.
Copy and paste if clicking on it doesn't work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkuzTOsVNZk
I am writing this as people are now saying that the Manchester derby is the biggest in the world. I will get about 4 hours sleep if I am to watch it as I sure will. And just for good measure:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p5CLhXYFbY
Ironically Wayne Rooney was having a really bad game. It was almost as if he was saving all the talent he has just for that one moment. A few weeks before there were rumours that he was going to join city which is why as well as the goal, the celebration was also amazing. Although you can't see it, that part of the pitch was where the city fans were. He ran up to them and turned his back on them. Brilliant.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
Saturday 15 October 2011
Naked celebrities-STUPID Naked celebrities
Recently, there has been a group of people apparently from America who are hacking into the mobile phones of celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Christina Aguilera. Why are they doing this? Not to listen to their phone conversations or read their text messages. No. They are hacking into their mobile cellular device thingies to see them naked. These celebrities have been taking naked pictures of themselves on their phones to either send to whoever, or to look at themselves. They are now distressed as this group of hackers are going to blackmail these celebrities for lots of money to get their photos back.
A few things spring to mind.
Firstly, who are these hackers? How are they doing this? If they can hack into celebrities' phones, could they hack into government files also and finally confirm to us all that the government are actually hiding aliens?? Could they hack into the presidents' phone just to tell him how lucky he is that he gets paid $400,000 and gets to work from home?? With free travel, board and security??
Also, these celebrities are pretty much walking around naked anyway, why all of a sudden be scared of some hackers? Unless they are sticking strange things up themselves like chair legs, cactus or toblerone bars, then there really shouldn't be a cause for concern. Who cares?
Last but not least. If these celebrities are that stupid enough to take photos of themselves naked, doing stuff and then get distressed about the whole situation, then I have to make a suggestion to them-if that's OK. I highly doubt that Miss Alba, Miss Aguilera (we are not on first name terms yet) or any of these other stupid bimbos will ever read this, but if they do, in future, to stop any of this happening and to anyone who hasn't had their phone hacked yet:-
DON'T BE STUPID ENOUGH TO TAKE NAKED PICTURES OF YOURSELVES YOU SILLY BIMBOS.
Fair enough-everyone deserves privacy and should be allowed to do what they want-but if you become famous, then stuff like this is restricted as you're ALWAYS going to have people monitoring you.
A few things spring to mind.
Firstly, who are these hackers? How are they doing this? If they can hack into celebrities' phones, could they hack into government files also and finally confirm to us all that the government are actually hiding aliens?? Could they hack into the presidents' phone just to tell him how lucky he is that he gets paid $400,000 and gets to work from home?? With free travel, board and security??
Also, these celebrities are pretty much walking around naked anyway, why all of a sudden be scared of some hackers? Unless they are sticking strange things up themselves like chair legs, cactus or toblerone bars, then there really shouldn't be a cause for concern. Who cares?
Last but not least. If these celebrities are that stupid enough to take photos of themselves naked, doing stuff and then get distressed about the whole situation, then I have to make a suggestion to them-if that's OK. I highly doubt that Miss Alba, Miss Aguilera (we are not on first name terms yet) or any of these other stupid bimbos will ever read this, but if they do, in future, to stop any of this happening and to anyone who hasn't had their phone hacked yet:-
DON'T BE STUPID ENOUGH TO TAKE NAKED PICTURES OF YOURSELVES YOU SILLY BIMBOS.
Fair enough-everyone deserves privacy and should be allowed to do what they want-but if you become famous, then stuff like this is restricted as you're ALWAYS going to have people monitoring you.
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