I was in Bangalore ( now Bengaluru ) for a day for some personal work and had pleasure of traveling through newly opened Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli, which is 40 km from the city, begun its operations on 24th May 2008 after Govt. clearance. Initially I was booked on Indigo flight to Mumbai which was operating through the HAL airport (old airport) but I got SMS as well as call from the airline intimating me that I have to travel through the new airport.

All though I was not impressed with the time it takes to reach the airport from main city but on reaching the location I was taken by big surprise. The new BIAL Airport is of International standard housing wide range of facilities and services for national as well as international passengers. According to my self speculation, it is one of the finest airport we have in India so far. Bengaluru International Airport really leaps over its close rivals Mumbai and New Delhi airports namely.

I was stranded at the airport for hours as it was the first day of airport’s operation, the air traffic was in a pretty bad shape and many flights were delayed for hours. I can happily say that I feel very proud to travel on its first day of operation.

Please check out some low quality shots which I took with my Nokia 6300 phone before the battery died.

Fast Facts

Location
The airport is 40 kilometres from the center of Bangalore.

Opened
Officially opened: May 24, 2008
First day of operations: May 24, 2008

Operational
Operational 24 hours a day
365 days a year

Land area
Spread over an area of approximately 4000 acres

Employees
Over 4000 employees are currently employed at the airport, including BIAL and concessionaire employees and

Terminal
Single, fully air-conditioned, two-level building capable of accommodating 2733 international and domestic passengers at peak hour is spread over 71,000 square meters.

Passengers
The current airport infrastructure is designed to handle over 11 million passenger movements annually. Once the final master plan has been achieved, it can accommodate upto 50 million passenger movements annually.

IT Systems
RESA CUTE, BRS, UFIS,SAP Based Aviation billingPC and 2D barcode based Boarding Gate Systems

Car parks
Phase 1: approximately 2000 vehicles and 75 coaches

Check in counters
Cute enabled check in desks: 53
Self Check-in kiosks (CUSS): 18

Boarding gates/ aerobridges
Total boarding gates: 20
Aerobridges: 8 (one double arm aerobridge)
9 bus bays for arrival and departure

Security counters
Domestic: 8 Airport Security Units (APSU), 1 X-Ray per APSU
International: 5 APSU’s; 1 X-Ray per APSU
Five level security screening system for checked baggage

Immigration counters
Departure: 18 , Arrival: 18

Baggage Carousels
Total 7 carousels: 3 for domestic and 2 for international arrivals; in addition
2 carousels can be used for domestic or international
Length - 2 x 59 meters; 3 x 53 meters; 2 x 97 meters

Aircraft
1350 domestic flights and 245 international flights are processed every week on average

Runway
Runway orientation 09/27
Runway length 4000 m
Width 45 m
Width of runway plus light paved shoulders 60 m
CAT 1ILS on both ends of the runway

Aprons
The layout of the apron and terminal has been designed to reflect international standards. Initial phase includes 42 code C aircraft stands

Taxiways
Code E aircraft, two high speed exit taxiways
Bituminous structural pavement width of 25m (code F)
Width of taxiway plus unpaved shoulder width of 45 m

Boarding gates/ aerobridges
Total boarding gates: 20
Aerobridges:8 (One double arm aerobridge)
9 bus bays for arrival and departure

Cargo
A dedicated bay in the terminal apron is earmarked for freight aircraft. Cargo warehouses have the capacity to handle approximately 350’000 tons of cargo annually.

Air Rescue and Firefighting services
The airport provides CAT-9 level of protection as per ICAO standards to enable all the largest commercial aircrafts operated in the country currently.124 inclusive fire fighters and officers. Trained by trainers from Austria and Zurich airport fire chief.

Fire tenders 4
4 Airfield Crash Fire Tenders imported from Rosenbauer, Austria.

Airlines - International
Air Mauritius, Malaysia Airlines, Tiger Airways, Oman Air, Air France, British Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Dragon Air, Lufthansa, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Emirates, Indian, Quikjet, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Transmile

Airlines - Domestic
Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, Go Air, JetLite, Indigo, Spice Jet, Paramount Airways, Air Deccan, Blue Dart

Religious devotees around the world enjoy expressing their faith with customized cell phones, which may play religious ring tones; carry scriptures; or provide guidance, content filtering and other services specific to each religion. These phones are customized and marketed directly to religious communities in various parts of the world.

Which of the world’s most popular religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism (listed in order of size), has the world’s greatest cell phone?

While researching this article, I was unable to find a single Christian, Hindu or Sikh cell phone. I’m not saying they’re not out there somewhere, just that I’m “agnostic” on the point. I just don’t know.

That there is no Christian cell phone may surprise you. In fact, Christians lead the world in cell phone accessories and software, including cell phone stickers and cases, ring tones and Bible-related content specific to phones. So it’s easy for Christians to assemble their own faith-based cell phones from widely available “parts.” But, to the best of my knowledge, nobody is selling a prepackaged “Christian cell phone” designed to be marketed to Christians.

Also note that, although Apple Inc.’s iPhone is sometimes referred to as the “Jesus phone,” it’s not a Christian cell phone per se, and thus can’t be included in this little contest of mine.

That leaves us with the top three contenders: Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. So here they are, listed in reverse order: The top three religious cell phones.

No. 3: The Jewish cell phone

A few years ago, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi approached Abrasha Burstyn, the CEO of Mirs Communications Ltd., an Israeli subsidiary of Motorola Inc., with a proposed cell phone concept. The result is a phone that fulfills what the rabbi saw as a need to block objectionable content from the eyes and ears of other ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, which by some accounts represent about 7% of the Israeli population.

The phone is inaccurately referred to in the Israeli press as the “kosher phone.” A gadget can’t actually be kosher, but it does come with the approval of what is, essentially, a censorship board called the Rabbinical Committee for Communications.

While most religious cell phones start out as regular cell phones, and are augmented with additional religious “stuff,” the so-called kosher phone has less, not more. It has been stripped of functionality and simply makes and receives calls. It can’t send or receive text messages or access the Internet. There’s no camera. And more than 10,000 phone numbers for dating services and sex hotlines have been blocked.

Here’s the best part. The phone offers steeply discounted per-minute charges when calling another kosher phone. But it will cost you a whopping $2.44 a minute for calls placed on the Sabbath. To the best of my knowledge, Mirs is the only wireless carrier in the world that uses its pricing structure to punish deviation from one of the Ten Commandments.

The carrier has decided, interestingly, that there is demand for phones with a similar lack of functionality among non-Orthodox but conservative Israeli Jews and Muslims within Israel and beyond.

No. 2: The Muslim cell phone

If ever there was a religion that needed a special cell phone, it’s Islam. The reason is that good Muslims pray facing Mecca five times a day. If you live in a small Muslim village, you’ll be notified as to when to pray by the “call to prayer,” which is broadcast loudly from the local mosque. Once inside, the whole building is oriented toward Mecca, so it’s easy to get it all right.

But if you’re a Muslim in a big, foreign city, which way is Mecca? When are prayers? And where can I find a mosque? A good Muslim cell phone solves all that.

There are several Muslim cell phones available in various countries. The best I’ve found is made by a Singapore-based company called Ilkone Asia. Called the Ilkone I-800, the phone not only plays its own call to prayer at the appropriate times, but points toward Mecca and plays recorded prayers over the speakerphone.

The phone also comes with the full text of the Quran in both Arabic and English.

The Ilkone I-800 is available internationally, including in Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, North Africa, Singapore, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan and India, and it will reportedly become available soon in Europe and in the U.S.

No. 1: The Buddhist cell phone

The best religious cell phone in the world is made for Buddhists. This highly modified and rare Nokia N70 is currently available only in China. Like other religious cell phones, the Buddhist phone has Buddhist ring tones, software and other trappings. What sets this phone apart from the pack is the sheer beauty and detail of the customization.

The phone is reportedly gold-plated and contains a piece of jade called the “Buddha video button.” When you press it, you can watch a Buddhist video. Another embedded jade piece lies on the back in the middle of the speaker and is just for decoration. The back has an embossed image of the Buddha. It plays classic Buddhist music and 12 sutras. The battery, stylus — even the little door that provides access to the removable media card — are all adorned in Chinese Buddhist style.

If you’re religious, or even if you aren’t, enjoy your favorite cell phone while you can. Because even though each of these is small, pocket-size and mobile, you can’t take it with you.

Courtesy: Elgan

Yesterday I had privilege of meeting Tibetian leader Dalai Lama at Rajghat who had come there for “prayers for Tibet” by all top religious leaders of all faiths.

Yeah you read the above title correctly. Hear it yourself to believe it.

Recently I came across a lovely song Bhaja Govindam synced by Chandramukha Swami on his website and thought to share this song with you all.

So here is the song listen it and let me know what you think about it?

PS: I would like to request you to buy this original tape to support the artist for his work. 

Below are two articles which I read from India Tribune website and felt like putting it on my blog. Please read it and let me know if you think same what the writers felt…

Indian hospitality and Dalai Lama By Nand Kapoor — Chicago: Recently, the Dalai Lama has been in the news with US President George W. Bush greeting him for his contributions despite many obstructions in Washington. But the world has ignored what India did for the Dalai Lama, facing many difficulties from China. India opened its door to this globally famous religious leader when he fled his motherland, Tibet. When he was denied asylum by other nations. India offered the Dalai Lama a stay and freedom. “Did the Dalai Lama ever thank India for its gesture?” was the headline of a recent opinion, expressed in India Tribune, by Renu Gupta. A lot of kudos to her for bringing up the facts of how India is being used for many years by prominent people without really feeling grateful to it. I also congratulate Renu Gupta for bringing up this fact and love for the Motherland as India has always been used by everyone, including the East India Company which came as poor traders and by their cunningness ruled the country for hundreds of years. I want to tell Renu Gupta not to urge the Dalai Lama to thank India and its people for providing him and his followers the home and giving him the true freedom for working of his cause. But pray God that the Dalai Lama should search his soul and his inner sanctity to realize that Indians and India not only deserve thanks but also they should be worshipped for their kind act of providing all that is needed by the Dalai Lama and his followers. Hosting foreigner is not new to India. Whenever any saint comes for preaching or doing social work, India does not object. But these saints use the opportunity to help the poor masses and indulge in their conversion. In the same way, Indian leaders are also using the country’s masses as a vote-bank for their re-elections. So it is better to call India as a user’s friendly country. But, the ocean of India’s hospitality never dries up. India was and India is and will remain generous, kind, and a compassionate country for the needy. I, along with television icon Bill Kurtis, was part of a committee to welcome the Tibetans to Chicago. 

By Renu Gupta — West Chester, OH: Dalai Lama, head of the worldwide Buddha Dharma, is on tour to the US. He was received by President George W. Bush. He received the highest civilian award of the US Congress, the prestigious Congressional Gold Award. Dalai Lama has traveled worldwide and has gained support for his cause, the liberation of Tibet. How much of this will be achieved only time will tell. Dalai Lama has conducted retreats, meditation camps, seminars and given several lectures at different universities. Hollywood celebrities like Richard Gear are his followers. He is the author of New York Times bestseller books like Freedom in Exile, an autobiographical account and Art of Living. Dalai Lama received Noble Peace Prize for his efforts get “Freedom of Tibet” in 1989. China has been simply ignoring all of his efforts. I have read his books and searched the word India all along, and I did not get much of the success. The US media covers Dalai Lama’s trip very well. He has become a household name among the intellectuals of the US. I have not heard him mentioning India’s name or his appreciation towards India anytime. There was a movie, Kundun released in 1997 about Chinese oppression over Tibet. In the movie, Dalai Lama, as young monk, approaches each and every nation to get the shelter, even the nations, who have Buddhism as their official religion. No country came forward to confront China over the Tibet issue and to give shelter to Dalai Lama. Even the nations like Japan, Thailand or Vietnam where a large number of population follows Buddhism, and Dalai Lama is their Dharma guru. The only country that responded to his appeal was India. The movie ends with his entry to India in 1959. India, the birth place of Guatam Buddha and Buddha Dharma, has an ancient tradition of providing shelter to many including Bahai, Zoroastrians, Jews and Bouddha. All these faiths had danger in their own homeland and they came to India to survive. Dalai Lama’s entry into India is not a surprise to us. Whole city of Dharmsahala in Himachal Pradesh has been given to Him. India has provided home to hundreds of thousands of fleeing Tibetan refugees. India is already overcrowded and scares every inch of land. Dalai Lama enjoys special status and all the privileges in India. The shelter to Dalai Lama had cost India a war with China in 1961, which India lost. Several thousand of soldiers gave their lives and large piece of land in Laddakh and Arunanchal is still under the control China. There is constant danger from China. India was not prepared for the war as Nehru was singing the song of “Hindi-Chini are brothers.” Let’s examine the similar situation, when Shah of Iran left his country after his overthrow by Khomeini; no country, including the US gave him shelter. Even though America has been the closest friend of Shah. Shah of Iran spent last years of life in Panama after paying large sum of money. This question always haunts me — “When no nation had come forward to give shelter to Dalai Lama, and if it was not India, where would he have gone?” I urge Dalai Lama to thank India and its people for providing him and his followers the home and giving him true freedom for working of his cause. He should please remember India during his talks, writings and interviews.
 

Wish you all readers of my blog a very Happy Diwali and New year !

I guess most of you must have seen the promos and even heard or read the news on internet about this new movie "Bhool Bhulaiya" been in limelight because of picturisation of eight semi-naked women dancing to a song which names Hindu gods Ram and Krishna wearing clothes with Hindu God names written on it.

I am not against the idea of making movies on any religion or portraying Hindu culture or God in a movie song in a mannered way, but there is some kind of limit to everything. The maker of this Indian movie and the song have not only hurt the sentiments of the Hindus worldwide but also given a chance or rather an angle to the rest of the world to point fingers on long cherished Indian culture or tradition.

I know most of the people reading this article will not care about it, but as an Indian I would like to point out that we should not make such movies or songs which would give chance to the world to bad mouth or point finger at our Religion or culture. As we all know that now a days people see the world (here India) through the eyes of Cinema or the media, we should always refrain from making any thing which will set wrong image of India or Indian culture in the minds of people.

When ever I talk to western people here about India, all they can come up with is "Snake Charmer" or "people with turban (Sikhs)" or "elephant rides" and of course the Bollywood. Is this all we want the world to know about India…?

Wake up Indian Cinema industry. If we continue to play with the emotions or the sentiments of our own Religion and culture in the public, then what is the use of teaching or preaching Indian values to the whole world when you can't implement or abide by yourself.

Again it is sad to know that now a days our own Indian people particularly politicians don't think twice what they say and don't even imagine what impact it would make on the rest of the world. Yes, I am talking about the famous "Ram Setu" controversy where Tamilnadu state Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi questioned  existence of Lord Ram. His passionate and very irresponsible comments again were talk of the town. Did someone ask him existence of his own clan? To him it must have been another political stunt but in large it hurt sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide who believe that God exists.

Has Hindu religion become a child's play that any person can do whatever they want to do with it or no one cares about the sentiments of the Hindus? Can you do the same with other religion too and would they tolerate it?

Well I know that my writing all this here wont make a big difference in the thought of movie makers or the media, but still as a free man on this planet I have right to express my thoughts specially when it is to be put on my blog.

God bless Indian Cinema ! 

PS:While I was writing this article, I came across this article that there are some people who are actually who care about it and are protesting this song, don't know if they also have some political motive behind this but whatever done good in the sake of Religion is always appreciating.

Article from Times of India 

MUMBAI: A non-governmental organisation on Tuesday filed a civil suit seeking a stay on the release of the film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' alleging that the promotional cut of the film is defamatory and hurts the religious sentiments of Buddhists and Hindus.

The NGO, Eccha Foundation, has named Sharmila Tagore, the chairperson of the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as a respondent to the suit for failing to notice the allegedly defamatory sequence in the film. Producers Bhushan and Krishan Kumar, director Priyadarshan, actor Akshay Kumar and choreographer of the song ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Ram’ have also been named as respondents.

The NGO said that it had taken offence at the picturisation of the song in which "semi-naked women danced in a vulgar fashion before an idol of Gautam Buddha."

"The picturisation of the song includes eight semi-naked women dancing to a song which names Hindu gods Ram and Krishna. One of the women is shown obscenely standing on the lap of an idol as if to offer prayers which we found to be insulting to Buddha, Ram and Krishna," said Anand Kamble, the NGO’s chairperson.

"We have pleaded that the CBFC be directed to cancel the certification of the film and re-issue an appropriate one after deleting the song," said advocate Sushan Kunjuraman. The movie is set for release on October 12. The suit also asked the court for restriction of release, distribution and exhibition of the film and withdrawal of the current promotional cut from television channels and the internet. The matter will be heard in court on October 6.

New Delhi: " It is the duty of every citizen of India under Article 51-A of the Constitution of India, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, to follow dharma as propounded by the Bhagvad Gita".

This is not a chorus by any Saffron brigade, but the pronouncement of a judge of the Allahabad High Court .

Justice S N Srivastava made this observation on August 30, while hearing a case filed by Shyamal Ranjan Mukherji, a priest at the Gopal Thakur Mandir in Varanasi.

Says Allahabad High Court lawyer, Krishna Shukla, "The Bhagavad Gita was an inspiration to all who took part in the struggle for India's independence and the preachings in the holy book are for the common man, and not for any particular caste or creed."

The saffron brigade however insists that the judgement has nothing to do with the judge's religion.

Says member Vishwa Hindu Parishad, B P Singhal, "He has justice in his mind, not as a Hindu, but as a judge."

However if one looks back at the track record of S N Srivastava , there are other controversies as well

On April 5 this year, he had ruled that Muslims were not a minority group in Uttar Pradesh. The order was, however, stayed the very next day by a division bench of the High Court.

His ode to dharma came at the very end of his career, just five days before retirement.

Says columnist Saeed Naqvi, "The Bhagvad Gita is a part of India's culture but they are trying to make it a religious text."

In the words of the judge, if we can have a national bird, we might as well have a national holy book too. But then, are such sweeping statements appropriate for a custodian of the law, in a secular republic?

The two kids done a gr8 job with their terrific performance. This song was hugely popular amongh Shiv Bhakt Kawadiya's. This is a hindi raagini. Kids belong to Uttar pradesh and Haryana.