Nice Holiday!!

Hi there!! I had a nice , pleasant Gudipadwa holiday. It was as if we had gone on a long drive on the countryside viewing small villages , rocky mountains etc. We went to two places - Woods Resort and Karnala Bird Santuary on Panvel - Goa Highway. It was beautiful. Woods Resort is surrounded by the greens of nature and majestic mountains, where the whiff of air brings an unparalleled sense of freshness, where the tranquility is broken only by the harmonius chirp of a passing bird, where you are closest with the wonders of nature a perfect blend of nature's gifts and the comforts of the modern era, a holiday destination that rejuvenates your body, mind and soul.
Just a short drive outside Mumbai Karnala Bird Santuary is on the Mumbai-Pune Highway to Goa, is the densely forested Karnala Bird Sancturay, a pleasant surprise away from Mumbai's concrete jungle. Karnala is a tiny sanctuary, barely 4.8 sq km, home to over 150 resident bird species and about 37 types of avian migrants.Its a different story that we could hardly spot any birds. Basically you need to go with binoculars and start early in the mroning at around 4am!! I just realized there are so many places around Mumbai which are so beautiful and make good tourist spots like - Alibaug , Chiploon , Ganapatipule , Dapoli , Ratnagiri etc. I am waiting to go to Ganapatipule!! Its got beautiful beaches . Infact all the destinations have beautiful beaches to swim in!! You can view my snaps of Woods Resort here - Woods Snaps!!

Happy Gudipadwa to All!!

I know Gudipadwa is tomorrow but since I woulod not be in office I would not be able to post! So wishing all of you a very Happy Gudi Padwa !!

Gudi Padwa Information


The Maharashtrians celebrate Gudi Padwa on first day of the Chaitra month. Day welcome the New Year with this festival, which heralds the coming of Spring. There is great rejoicing on this day and apart from the usual rituals like drawing the rangoli, they have a custom of eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree on this day. They usually make a paste of neem leaves, ajwain, tamarind, gul and jaggery, this paste is supposed to purify the blood and strengthen the immune system.

The people of Maharashtra have the traditional gudis hanging out of their windows on this day. The Gudi is a pole with a brass or a silver vessal placed on the top. These poles are covered with silk and flowers like marigold. Mango leaves and coconuts are tied to it.The Gudi's hanging out of the windows symbolise nature's bounty.

For more information click here :

GUDIPADWA FESTIVAL

Continued.....I Miss All my Friends!!

Here is the second instalment of my friends photos. I will try and add few more later. I don't have scanned versions of most of them , especially the childhood friends. The albums are at my Mom's place. Except for Monica's photos since she keeps sending me her updated ones!!

This is my childhood friend Monica. I haven't seen her since 2002 when she left for US to do her MS. Presently she is doing her PHD. Brainy girl , right from kindergarten! Thats her hubby Jeffrey . They stay in Texas. Monca and me have grown up together and have shared wonderful days together!! Hoping to see her soon. Off late we are intouch through mails only and sometimes phone calls.


Hey who's that!! My hubby Rajeev surrounded by all my friends. I remember this photo was taken way back in 2002 , a year before our marriage. They all look so different now!! Obviously everyone has put on some weight!!


This photo was taken on New Year's Eve in 2002 , a year before we got married. This was clicked at Splash Mountains in Pune!!


That was clicked in 2003 , i guess. It was generally a small tea party we were having!!


And thats my newest friend on the block! Meenal , she works in the same office as me. We share all the office gossip and all that! She ahs recently got married to Qais. She is evry particular about the way she carries herself!

Life changes after marriage. I am sure all my married friends will agree. After marriage everything revolves round your hubby! Not that I am complaining because I am enjoying every bit of my married life! But this is also true that I miss all my frends so much because you get to be in touch only through mails , blogs and phone calls!! You really don't get to do all the girl stuff you did earlier - like slumber parties , parties , shopping , wearing eachothers clothes etc!! Most of them have settled abroad and very few are here in India. I miss all of them . I don't have scanned photos of most of them but I managed to gather few . So this post is dedicated to all my friends to whom I wanna say that even though I may not be spending so much of time with them I love them all and miss the times we shared together!!!


Thats my Friend Kalyani . She also stays in Pune and is a software proffesional. Kalyani is also married. She has been my friend right from college times when we used to bunk lectures and go for movies!!


This is Sushma , She stays in Pune . A very fun loving and jolly girl all the time laughing and having fun!! We had great times together and great bets ! Like daring to dip a biscuit into a tea cup and having it inside a 5 Star Hotel where everyone around is ooh soo sophisticated!! Hahaha!!And yes she is single ( Are you ready to mingle ??)


This is Leena with her Daughter Deeksha , isn't she cute.Leena currently stays in UK.


Leena again with her new hairsytle !!


Thats Kalpana . She also works in UK. Kalpana is also a trained dancer with Shaimak Davar.We all have had so many parties together ... and all that shopping before our quarterly office parties..My God!!


Thats Janhavi. She is also presently in the US. She has got a small cute son - Zayed.She is my very first college friend on my first day of college!! It is so memorable!!

This post is continued............

Sign my Guest Book!!

Hi Friends!! I have added a ' Guest Book ' in my blog just below the profile. Don't forget to add a mesage . It will mean so much to me!!

A Very Happy Birthday to Fabian!!

Hi Guys!! Thats my cousin Ishan , his wife Mari and their son Fabian. Isn't he cute? Well its his first birthday and lots and lots of hugs , kisses and wishes from Shweta Aunty and Rajeev Uncle!!

Neighbourhood Photos - Palm Beach Area

Hi !! Everyday me and Rajeev go for our 40 minute walk on Palm Beach Road ( where my apartment is ) . We go at 7am and are back by 7.40 approximately. Believe me , Palm Beach is at its best in the morning , no pollution , no traffic and lots of fellow walkers and joggers with you. And yes you also get health drinks are every corner! I was tempted to click some snaps of that area and post it ! Though I looked funny with a camera phone in my hand while walking1 There is also a lake near Palm Beach exactly next to my apartament. Its a beautiful scenario in the morning with fishermans fishing for their catch , joggers on the track and the soft breeze! Click here ' PALM BEACH SNAPS ' to view them!

Weekend Happenings!!
Didn't have a very eventful weekend due to the Riots happenings in New Mumbai. Everything here is almost closed down due to the curfew so we went towards Main Mumbai. Hey! I shopped , shopped and shopped at WESTSIDE - The VT Outlet at the Army & Navy Building. I got one trouser , 2 kurtis , 3 T-shirts and 1 formal shirt! Hubby darling loves shopping for me than for himself. He loves to choose closthes for me! It was fun. The merchandize this month at the VT outlet is amazing! Then we went for a long walk at Marine Drive for sometime. Finally we had dinner and came home. All in all a good weekend!! Above are some of the photos of Marine Drive for all my friends who are not from Mumbai..

14 steps to a healthy summer diet!

Here are some other useful lifestyle tips you can follow to beat the summer heat.
1. Water is the best option to quench thirst.
It is a key ingredient in keeping the body cool. With high humidity levels, sweat will not evaporate quickly. This prevents the body from releasing heat in an efficient manner. This is why it is necessary to hydrate and drink water, even when you are not thirsty. Increase water intake regardless of your activity levels.
2. Avoid caffenated or carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and those high in sugar.
All these drinks contain preservatives, colours and sugars. They are acidic in nature and act as diuretics. They cause loss of fluids through urine. Many soft drinks contain diluted phosphoric acid, which damages the inner linning of the digestive tract and, therefore, affects its functions. An excessive intake of soft drinks increases phosphorous levels in the blood. This separates calcium from the bones and moves it into the blood. This calcium displacement from the bones makes them porous and brittle. It also causes plaque on the teeth, kidney stones, arthritis and bone spur. Soft drinks also reduce mineral levels in the body to such an extent that enzymes are unable to function well, resulting in indigestion.
3.Do not drink very chilled liquids.
They do not really help cool you down in summers, though they make you cool for some time. Drinking really cold liquids when feeling hot may lead to a slight constriction of the blood vessels in the skin and decrease heat loss, which is not advisable when trying to cool down.
4.Limit all strenuous activity.
5.Eat light, nutritious and non-fatty meals.
6.Reduce intake of heaty vegetables and fruitsReduce intake of heaty vegetables and fruits, like spinach, radish, hot peppers, onions, garlic, beetroot, pineapple, grapefruit and ripe mangoes (if you cannot resist mangoes, soak them overnight in water).
7.Minimise the intake of dried fruits.
Increase the intake of fresh fruit.
8. Use sabza (tulsi seeds)
Use sabza (tulsi seeds) in your drinks -- this has very cooling effect on the body.
9.Include lots of fruits and vegetables Include lots of fruits and vegetables in the form of salads and fresh juices, preferably without sugar, in your diet.
10.Drink lemon juice, coconut water and thin buttermilkDrink lemon juice, coconut water and thin buttermilk, to replenish the fluids that are lost in sweat.
11.Avoid sugary foodsAvoid sugary foods, especially honey and molasses, and stick to natural sugars available from fruits and veggies.
12.Minimise the intake of hot, spicy foods and extremely salty foods. The body retains salt in the organic form found in fruits and veggies; the inorganic salt, meanwhile, is digested and needs to be thrown out of the body. And this is why you need to drink water!
13.Cut the intake of fried foods
Cut the intake of fried foods, like vadas, samosas, chips, bhajias, farsans, etc. Fat has a thermal effect.14. Maintain good hygiene levels.Since the sultry heat of summer increases with each degree rise in the mercury, by rooting ourselves to nature's provision of healthful food choices we can experience the bloom of our health and vitality.

A Cute Quiz for all of you

Who is your inner ROCKSTAR?? Find out for yourself !!! I am BRITNEY SPEARS!! HAHAHA!!

Enjoy the fun and pass it on!! Click Below :

Tickling Fun

HAPPY HOLI TO ALL MY FRIENDS!!

I know this post should have come on 15th March , but since that day is an official holiday , I have posted it today!! How about some information on Holi -
What is it all about
Why is it celebrated
How can you make colours at home
What is it called all over India

I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN BECAUSE INDIA IS SUCH A COULOURFUL COUNTRY WITH SO MANY FESTIVALS TO CELEBRATE , EACH IN ITS UNIQUE WAY!!

Holi Festival
“One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar."

Holi festival may be celebrated with various names and people of different states might be following different traditions. But, what makes Holi so unique and special is the spirit of it which remains the same throughout the country and even across the globe, wherever it is celebrated.
Preparations:
The entire country wears a festive look when it is time for Holi celebration. Market places get abuzz with activity as frenzied shoppers start making preparations for the festival. Heaps of various hues of gulal and abeer can be seen on the roadside, days before the festival. Pichkaris in innovative and modern design too come up every year to lure the children who wish to collect them as Holi memorabilia and of course, to drench everybody in the town. Womenfolk too start making early preparations for the holi festival as they cook loads of gujiya, mathri and papri for the family and also for the relatives. At some places specially in the north women also make papads and potato chips at this time. Season of Bloom Everybody gets delighted at the arrival of Holi as the season itself is so gay. Holi is also called the Spring Festival - as it marks the arrival of spring the season of hope and joy. The gloom of the winter disappear as Holi promises bright summer days ahead. Nature too, it seems rejoices at the arrival of Holi and wears its best clothes. Fields get filled with crops promising a good harvest to the farmers and flowers bloom colouring the surroundings and filling fragrance in the air.
Holika Dahan:
On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti or Small Holi people gather at important crossroads and light huge bonfires, the ceremony is called Holika Dahan. This tradition is also followed in Gujarat and Orissa. To render greatfulness to Agni, god of Fire, gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni with all humility. Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them from evil forces.
Play of Colors:Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colours. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colours of gulal and abeer fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colours on one another with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons at passers by. Women and senior citizen form groups called tolis and move in colonies - applying colours and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance on the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of the day.
Expression of Love:
Lovers too long to apply colours on their beloved. This has a popular legend behind it. It is said that the naughty and mischievous Lord Krishna started the trend of playing colours. He applied colour on her beloved Radha to make her one like him. The trend soon gained popularity amongst the masses. No wonder, there is no match to the Holi of Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana - the places associated with the birth and childhood of Radha and Krishna.
Ecstasy of Bhang:
There is also a tradition of consuming the very intoxicating bhang on this day to further enhance the spirit of Holi. Sober Evening After a fun filled and exciting day, the evenings are spent in sobriety when people meet friends and relatives and exchange sweets and festive greetings. It is said the spirit of Holi encourages the feeling of brotherhood in society and even the enemies turn friends on this day. People of all communities and even religions participate in this joyous and colorful festival and strengthen the secular fabric of the nation.

In some parts of India, especially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.

Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage to herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.
Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with the play of colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition. There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kaamadeva and those of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.

Holi Colors

Colors are the most joyous part of the Holi celebrations. They add life and vitality to the festival making it most vibrant of all. On the day of Holi euphoria fills the very air in India and clouds of colours can be seen everywhere. Energetic and joyful people move out in-groups and throw holi gulal and abeer on friends and dear ones. Singing and dancing on the beats of dholak add more joy to the festivities.

Play of Colors:
The tradition of playing colors on Holi is extremely popular amongst children. They eagerly wait for a prey with a bucket full of colour water, an ever ready water jet- popularly called a pichkari and loads of colour packets to give vent to their mischief nature. And nobody is supposed to mind the mischief of the kids or the elders, as the rule of the day is 'Bura na mano Holi hai'. (Please do not take any offence for it is Holi). The spirit of Holi knows no bound particularly in houses that witness the arrival of a new bride as everybody wishes to play Holi with her. At some places Holi parties are also organized where the color and water flows endlessly till everybody becomes absolutely drenched in colours of love and life.
Use of Natural Colors:In present times, a great change has been noticed in Holi celebrations. People are reviving the use of natural colors as against the harmful chemical colours. Days before the festival many people start preparing aromatic natural colours at home while many others buy these from shops The use of natual colours in Holi has made Holi celebrations much more enjoyable and gay.
Some Recipes for Natural Colours :Here're all the recipes that'll make your Holi naturally colorful! Learn how to get reds, greens, blues, saffrons, yellows and magentas from fruits, vegetables, flowers and cereals... all at home.


Red:Dry: Red Sandalwood Powder / Raktachandan / Lalchandan (Pterocarpus santalinus) has a beautiful red color, which is beneficial for the skin and is used for face packs, etc. This can be used instead of Red gulal. Dry red hibiscus flowers in the shade and powder it to make a lovely red color. To increase the bulk add any flour to it, in proportion to the vibrancy of the color you want to obtain. Sinduria (Annato) has a water chestnut shaped fruit, which contains lovely brick color red seeds. These yield both dry and wet colors. Wet: Put two teaspoons of Red Sandalwood powder in five litres of water and boil. Dilute with 20 litres of water. Peels of Red Pomegranate boiled in water give red. Mix a pinch of lime powder (the one that we eat with our paan / betel leaves) in half a cup of water and add 2 table spoon of haldi (turmeric) powder in it. Mix it thoroughly. Use only after diluting with 10 litres of water.Buras (Rhododentron arboreum) known as Burans in the Garhwal hills and Brand in the Kumaon hills gives a lovely red color when soaked in water overnight. The Palita Madar /Pangri/Indian Coral tree (Erythrina indica), found commonly in coastal regions, has large red flowers. Soak the flowers in water overnight. Boil wood of Madder Tree in water for a deep red. Red color can also be obtained from juice of tomatoes and carrots. This can be diluted with sufficient quantity of water to remove the stickiness.

Green:Dry: Use mehendi henna powder (not mixed with amla) separately or mix with equal quantity of any flour to attain a lovely green shade. Dry mehendi will not leave color on your face as it can be easily brushed off. Only mehendi mixed in water might leave a slight color on your face. Many people like smearing other person's hair with colors. How about doing it with mehendi powder and saving a trip to the parlor? Dry and finely powder the leaves of Gulmohur tree for a green. Crush the tender leaves of the Wheat plant to obtain a natural safe green Holi color. Wet: Mix two teaspoons of mehendi in one litre of water. Stir well. Green color can also be obtained by mixing a fine paste of leaves like spinach / palak, coriander / dhaniya, mint / pudina, etc. in water.

Magenta: Wet: Slice or grate one Beet root. Soak in 1 litre of water for a wonderful magenta. Leave overnight for a deeper shade. Dilute with water. Boil the peels of 10-15 onions in half litre of water for an orangish-pink color. Remove the peels before using to remove the smell.

Saffron: Wet: The Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma), known as Tesu, Palash or Dhak in Indian languages, is the source of the wonderful, traditional color for Holi. The flowers are soaked overnight in water and can also be boiled to obtain a fragrant yellowish orange colored water. Legends say Lord Krishna used to play Holi with Tesu flowers, which also have some medicinal properties. Boil flowers petals of Semul / Silk Cotton, a red variety of Bombax ceiba) in water. Both Tesu and Semul bloom during February March. Collect and dry the stalks of Harashringar / Parijatak (Nyctanthes arbontristis) flowers during the early winter season. Soak them in water to get a pleasant orange color. Mix a pinch of sandalwood powder in 1 litre of water for an instant, beautiful and fragrant saffron color. Soak a few stalks of Saffron/Kesar in 2 table spoons of water. Leave for few hours and grind to make a fine paste. Dilute with water for desired color strength. Though expensive, it is excellent for the skin.

Yellows:Dry: Mix two teaspoons of haldi / turmeric powder with double the quantity of besan (gram flour). Haldi and besan are extremely healthy for our skin, and are also used widely as a ubtan while taking bath. You can use the ordinary haldi or "kasturi" haldi which is very fragrant and has enhanced therapeutic effects. Besan can be substituted by wheat / rice / arrowroot flour or talcum powder. Flowers like Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Marigold / Gainda (Tagetus erecta), and Yellow Chrysanthemums yield different shades of yellow. Dry the petals of these floweres in shade and crush them to obtain a fine powder. Take appropriate quantity of the powder and mix it with besan or use separately. Dry the rind of the Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) and grind to obtain a yellow colored powder. Wet: Add one teaspoon of haldi to two litres of water and stir well. This can be boiled to increase the concentration of color and further diluted. Soak 50 marigold flowers in 2 litres of water. Boil and leave overnight.

Bright Blue :Dry: Jacaranda flowers can be dried in the shade and ground to obtain a beautiful blue powder. The flowers bloom in summers. The blue Hibiscus (found in Kerala) can be dried and powdered. Wet: Crush berries of the Indigo tree and add to water for desired color strength. In some Indigo species the leaves when boiled in water yield a rich blue.

Regional Names of Holi

Popularity of Holi can be gauged from the number of names Holi has in different states. Also of great interest is the story behind each of these names. As one moves across from one state to another, one can surely discover the myriad shades of human emotions behind the story that goes with each of these names of holi. These stories will make you feel proud of the rich cultural diversity of India. Besides, what is to be appreciated is the underlying strong bond of unity that binds this uniquely culturally diverse country. Even the Gods that are worshiped on Holi differ in different corners of the country. The way the festival is celebrated also differs but the spirit is same - the one of love and brotherhood. Inspite of their uniqueness in different states, the festival is considered to be the one which enhances the secular fabric of India.

Different names of Holi:·
Lathmaar Holi ·
Dulandi Holi ·
Rangpanchami ·
Basant Utsav ·
Dol Purnima ·
Hola Mohalla ·
Shimgo ·
Kaman Pandigai ·
Phagu Purnima

My Parent's have come to visit us!

My parents came to Mumbai on Tuesday to stay with us for few days . They have come after quite a long time! I am so happy!! Though I could not take leave from the office , me and Rajeev definately take them out everyday. Yesterday we went out for dinner , today we are going to the nearby mall. Tomorrow I have taken a day of from the office. I plan to go to one of our relative's place. Sometimes how I wish i could just quit and be a housewife so that I could do whatever I want to - cooking , cleaning , reading , watching tv , meeting my old friends in Pune , statying for a long long time with my parent's ....and so on and so on.....There is a saying - GOD could not personally meet everyone on this earth so he created a mother! Thats so true! A mother loves his children so selflessly and does everything for them.( I wonder how it feels, maybe I will understand when I become a mother myself ) . Whenever my Mom comes she will clean my cupboards , do everything that is pending on my worklist while I am in the office , stock my kitchen with whatever is required ....in anutshell makes life eazy for me! And I should not forget to mention that she cooks very yummy food , especially non-veg , so she also makes some tasty snacks for us when we come back from office!!

Pass this on to all Indians!!

INDIAN GOVERNMENT HAS A GRIEVANCE FORUM

To create a awareness please fwd to as many people u can
Can you imagine this happening in INDIA?

Government of India has a online Grievance forum at GRIEVANCE FORUM The government wants people to use this tool to highlight the problemsthey faced while dealing with Government officials or departments like Passport Office, Electricity board, BSNL/MTNL, Railways etc etc.I know many people will say that these things don't work in India, but this actually works as one of our colleague in CSC found. The guy I'm
talking about lives in Faridabad. Couple of months back, the Faridabad
Municipal corporation laid new roads in his area and the residents
were very happy about it. But 2 weeks later, BSNL dugged up the newly laid roads
to install new cables which annoyed all the residents including this guy.
But it was only this guy who used the above listed grievance forum to
highlight his concern. And to his surprise, BSNL and Municipal
corporation of Faridabad was served a show cause notice and the guy
received a copy of the notice in one week. Government has asked the MC
and BSNL about the goof up as its clear that both the government
departments were not in sync at all.

So use this grievance forum and educate others who don't know about
this facility. This way we can at least raise our concerns instead of just
talking about the 'System' in India.

HAPPY WOMENS DAY!!!

A VERY HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WONMEN'S DAY TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

International Women's Day is the universal day that connects all women
around the world and inspires them to achieve their full potential. IWD 2006
launches another year of working progressively for women's equality worldwide.
It is an important day around the world because the collective power of women
is witnessed by milions, and the brave achievements of women past, present
and future are respectfully honoured. International Women's Day 2006 will
be celebrated globally on Wednesday 8 March. Join the action !!

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

I just Sponsored a Needy Child!

World Vision is one organization which helps needy children across the world. The other day we got a mailer from them to sponsor a needy child for his education. What's more ! They send you the photo of your sponsored child and the day to day developments. You can also meet or write to your child! I have decided to sponsor a child and have just relpied to them instructing them to do so. Want to join me??? Click here to visit the site and get more details. And I urge you all to encourage your friends and family to do the same. After all we all need to give back the society whatever we can in whichever way we can.

Bugdet Talk - For Easy Understanding

National Saving Certificate
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :6 years
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 1 lakh
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Taxed at your respective tax slab
Tax impact at time of investment:Tax free if withdrawn on maturity i.e. after 6 years POST BUDGET Same
Public Provident Fund
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :15 years
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 70,000
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Tax free.
Tax impact at time of investment:Tax free if withdrawn after 6 years POST BUDGET Same
Employees Provident Fund
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :Till retirement
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 70,000
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Tax free.
Tax impact at time of investment:Tax free if withdrawn on retirement POST BUDGET Same
Bank Fixed Deposits
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :5 years
Tax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Taxed at your respective tax slab
Tax impact at time of investment:No tax on withdrawal of principal on maturity POST BUDGET Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 100,000 at the time of investment
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme
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Lock in :6 years
Tax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Taxed at your respective tax slab
Tax impact at time of investment:No tax on principal on maturity
POST BUDGET Same
Equity stocks
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Lock in :NILTax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Dividend tax free in hands of investors
Tax impact at time of investment:Short term capital gains tax @ 10%and Long term capital gains tax is nil
POST BUDGET Same
Equity Mutual Fund (other than ELSS)
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Lock in :NIL
Tax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Dividend tax free in hands of investors
Tax impact at time of investment:Short term capital gains tax @ 10% and Long term capital gains tax is nil
POST BUDGET Same
Close ended mutual funds
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Lock in :NILTax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Dividend taxed in hands of investor
Tax impact at time of investment:For equity refer equity mutual fundsand for debt refer, debt mutual funds
POST BUDGET Dividend tax free in hands of investor
ELSS
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :3 years
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 1 lakh. Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Dividend tax free in hands of investors
Tax impact at time of investment:Short term capital gains tax @ 10% and long term capital gains tax is nil
POST BUDGET Same
Debt fund/ balanced fund/ Monthly income plan
PRE BUDGET Lock in :NIL Tax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Dividend tax free in hands of investors
Tax impact at time of investment:Short term capital gains tax at your respective tax slab and long term capital gains tax is 20%
POST BUDGET Same
Pension policy
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :Minimum 5 years Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80CCC up to Rs 10,000
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Annuities are taxed at your respective tax slab Tax impact at time of investment:1/3rd withdrawal is tax free
POST BUDGET Deduction u/s 80CCC up to Rs 100,000
Traditional Life Insurance Policy
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :Minimum 2 years
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 1 lakh
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Bonus tax free
Tax impact at time of investment:Tax free if withdrawn after 2 yearsPOST BUDGET Same
ULIP
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :Minimum 2 years
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80C up to Rs 1 lakh
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :NA
Tax impact at time of investment:Tax free if withdrawn after 2 yearsPOST BUDGET Same
Mediclaim
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :Not applicable
Tax impact at time of investment:Deduction u/s 80D up to Rs 10,000
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Not applicable
Tax impact at time of investment:Claim is tax free
POST BUDGET Same
RBI saving bonds
PRE BUDGET
Lock in :6 yearsTax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :
Taxable Tax impact at time of investment:Taxable POST BUDGET Same
Senior citizens scheme
PRE BUDGET Lock in :5 yearsTax impact at time of investment:NIL
Tax impact on interest/ dividend: :Taxable
Tax impact at time of investment:Taxable POST BUDGET Same


What's Cheaper/Costlier/Same?

Technology
TVs same Set Top Boxes - 10.84% Up
Ipods same MP3 Player - 4.90% Down
Flat screen TVs same Laptops same
DVD Players Down Mobiles same
Digital Cameras same Computers - 8.13% Up

Household Appliances
Air Conditioners same Refrigerators same
Dish washing machine same Washing Machine same
Kitchen Glassware - 5.42% Down Microwave same
Kitchen Appliances same LPG Stoves <=Rs2000/unit - 5.3% Down

Food & Beverages
Fruits same Grains same
Poultry - 10.84% Down Edible oil - 6.32% Down
Biscuits - 5.30% Down Aerated Drinks(Mineral water) - 8.16% Down
Vegetables same Fish - 10.84% Down
Aerated Drinks(Soft Drinks) - 4.08% Down Pulses same Meat - 10.84% Down
Condensed Milk - 10.61% Down Beverages like tea and coffee Rs 1/Kg Down
Packaged Milk Products(Icecream) - 8.98% Down
Packed Foods - 5.80% Down

Fuel
LPG Down Kerosene Down
Petrol Down Diesel Down
Luxury Goods
Cigarettes Up Gold Jewelry same
Clothes and Fabrics Down Precious stones same
Cosmetics Down Leather Accessories same
Domestic ToiletriesDown Small Car - 8.16% Down

Miscellaneous
MedicinesDown Baby Care Products same
Writing Printing & Packaged Paper - 2.71% Down Software - 5.42% Up
Newspapers & Magazines same Man made fibre yarn - 5.42% Down
Books Down Real estate and property Up
Man made filament yarn - 5.42% Down Compact Florescent Lamps - 4.65% Down

Amazing candles in Nainital

Nainital apparently is very famous for its wax candles. A candle resembling any object , animal , fruit , vegetable etc can be made here!! I bought a whole lot of them. I also gifted few to my friends in the office. They have an awesome collection in almost all the shops in Nainital. I have placed them in the centre unit in my living room. I also the a frog candle and 3 small teddies for my office desk! The froggie lokks really cute and stares right in my eyes when I am working on my PC!! Check my froggie's photograph above!! Can you think of a name for him ?