Sapno Ka Shahar... Aamchi Mumbai

The Second Anniversary is on the way...

We salute our Soldiers Shri Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Amte, Unni Krishnan... The Hero of The Soil sacrifice their life for all of us when we went through a phase that was nothing but brutal. 26/11 was the worst terror attack that Mumbai ever witnessed. Terror has become a part of our life for almost two decades but we have taken everything in our stride and will do so. We cannot be bullied down by any terror and will get back to our business as usual as we are known. Mumbaikar never stop, never sleep...it’s the Spirit of Mumbai which will never die. We will never forget their sacrifice.

Mumbai…The largest metropolis of India, the city full of dreams that virtually never sleeps. Life here never appears boring, especially due to the presence of its everlasting chaos and action. That’s Mumbai! This brightest gem of the country addresses over 15 million Mumbaikars, including the affluent industrialists, stunning celebrities and distinguished artists.

The city buzzes with actions 24x7. Local trains...the life line of Mumbai are a famous pull. They ascertain that proficiency is still there in India! The Local trains do a great job indeed. I am a student and i travel from Vasai to Churchgate every day.

Mumbai is a friend, philosopher and a teacher. It teaches a lot about life. It teaches you how to survive. Probably no other city in India teaches you as that of Mumbai. You do not have to read books or talk to people to understand life. If you live in Mumbai your outlook would change and you would feel that you are with a good friend.

Mumbai is the live example of sayings like "Sky is the Limit" or "Nothing Is Impossible". Gems like Dhirubhai Ambani, Ratan Tata, Azeem Premji are live examples. People from various states and culture live happily without any barriers of caste, creed or language. You can call it the ‘Melting Pot’. The belief of "Mera Bharat Mahan" is felt only in Mumbai.

Mumbai is the second word for oppotunity. Some people who reached Mumbai without any money have become millionaires through a lot of hard work. I may say the city is a city of opportunities and prosperity. If you want to work you will always find some opportunity to earn your livelihood without depending on others.

Attractions in Mumbai (in and around)
Film City
Gateway of India
Mahalaxmi Racecourse
Versova Beach
Chowpatty Beach
Juhu Beach
Marine Drive
Hanging Gardens
Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Bombay Natural History Society
National Gallery of Modern Art
Nehru Planetarium
Prince of Wales Museum
Victoria & Albert Museum
Powai Lake
Tulsi Lake
Vihar Lake
Haji Ali
ISKCON Temple
Mumba Devi Temple
Essel World
Water Kingdom
Chor Bazaar
Crawford Market
Fashion Street

Other tourist's attractions near Mumbai City
Ajanta & Ellora Caves
Alibag
Aurangabad Caves
Elephanta Caves
Khandala
Kanheri Caves
Lonavala
Mahabaleshwar
Matheran
Panchgani
Pune
Shirdi

Hotels in Mumbai City
Le Meridien Mumbai
Grand Hyatt Mumbai
Taj Lands End Mumbai
Sun-N-Sand Mumbai
Leela Kempinski Mumbai
Hyatt Regency Mumbai
Taj Mahal Mumbai

Referred as the city of Bollywood, Mumbai pulls thousands of promising actors and artists from all over the country. Experience its dazzling nightlife in beaches, lounges, discotheques, pubs and bars. Gardens, museums, shopping malls, amusement parks, beaches and lakes define the charisma of this economic hub. Thus, without any delay, travel to the New York of India and experience its glimmer.

Festival Of Sacrifice In Islam

Eid-Ul-Adha also known as 'Festival of Sacrifice' or 'Sacrifice Feast' is mainly an event to give and to sacrifice. This festival is an occasion to remember Allah for all the prosperity granted on us. This feeling is confirmed by sharing your affluence with less fortunate ones. Just like Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr, Bakra Eid too is celebrated with grand fervor and eagerness. This holy occasion is observed from the 10th to the 12th day of the twelfth month of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. The festival memorializes the faith of Prophet Ibrahim in God, when he agreed to sacrifice his son upon the order by God. Popularly, Bakr-Id is marked by the slaughter of animals (Kurbani as they say) as sacrificial offerings, after which the meat is distributed among the needy and deprived. Id-ul-Zuha, or Id-ul-Adha, as it is called in Arabic, translates as 'the feast of sacrifice'.

There is a fascinating legend that states the importance of Bakri Eid. Once, Allah challenged Prophet Ibrahim, the friend of Allah and the father of Prophets. Ibrahim had to prove his faith in Allah. Allah asked him to sacrifice the dearest and nearest one in his life. Ibrahim decided to take up the challenge and decided to sacrifice his son Ismail. His love towards his son was as strong as his faith in Allah. Though his heart went numb, he put his son on the altar at the mount of Mina near Mecca. It was impossible to see his son dying in front of his eyes. He could not imagine slaying his own child but he could not deny the order of almighty. He closed his eyes and raised the sharp sword. Reciting Allah's name he divided the head from the body. He opened his eyes and could not believe on his senses. His son Ismail was standing healthy and hearty in front of his eyes. A dead ram with his head apart was lying in the pool of blood. Ibrahim emerged as a winner as he accepted god's challenge with complete faith.

Soon after completing breakfast, it is time for sacrifice of domestic animals. Only animals that have been regarded Halal or approved for sacrifice are slayed. Such domestic animals include goat, sheep, lamb, ram, camel, cow, buffalo, and others. While most people purchase them well in advance and take good care, others prefer purchasing the animal at the time of slaughtering. The slaughtering can be carried out from the morning of the 10th day to just after afternoon on the 12th day.

Muslims wear good clothes and exchange greetings with one another by hugging and wishing “Eid Mubarak”. The festival gives one an opportunity to meet near and dear ones and get closer. Special gatherings and parties are organized on this special season. Also, a number of getaways and picnics are exclusively prearranged during these three days. Muslims across the world indulge in spreading joy and happiness through celebrating this festival.

To conclude…

May this...
Eid bring Fun, Eid bring Happiness,
Eid bring God Endless Blessings,
Eid bring fresh love...
EID MUBARAK to You with all best wishes!

Outrank Your Online Competitors With These Simple and Easy SEO Tips & Techniques

It is true that amongst every technology and invention till now, internet is one of the most outstanding triumphs in the technology. Individuals are surfing internet for miscellaneous reasons. Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, is the art and science of making web pages attractive to the search engines. The better optimized the page is, the higher a ranking it will achieve in search engine result listings. This is especially critical because most people who use search engines only look at the first page or two of the search results, so for a page to get high traffic from a search engine, it has to be listed in those first two or three pages. In this process, the page content should be properly distributed with relevant keywords to be recognized by search engine robot in order to index the contents easily. Properly selected keywords make your site easily reachable for the target customers.
As the time is passing by, the vogue to attain high traffic volume in websites is getting faster and tougher. That is if you are passé on SEO Techniques like On Page SEO, Off Page SEO or Article Writing. In the event you lack as well considerably knowledge in promoting your site, then you must make a move now.

Cited below are a few SEO Techniques that can help you to improve your rankings:

• Keyword Research Analytics - Apprehending what keyword research involves and employing it persistently is the basis of all of the SEO marketing techniques. Think of a keyword as a problem statement or a question. Think of how your mind works when you type in an inquiry on Google. For example, if you want to know ‘where do I find a good SEO Consultant' you will enter your query and get Google or Yahoo! or Bing to do the work for you. That search generates the familiar results page. If you are a SEO professional or a Consultant, you would be delighted to have your business appear in the first entries on the page. You get discovered that way. Become a guru in keyword search and implementation and in time, you will be followed like a celebrity.

• Quality content - That goes without saying. Good, quality content which is fascinating to the audiences is requisite. Nothing can influence the search engine more, make no mistake. Make sure you write the contents for your audience and not for the search engines. And it is very important that you add fresh and new contents to your web pages repeatedly as it tells the search engine that your web site is very much alive and active. Consistency is very important.

• Not Using Analytics Software – If you are not measuring the effectiveness of your web site with a free of charge, powerful analytics software such as Google Analytics, then you aren’t going to be in a position to play with the big boys. As a way to grow, develop, and make critical amendments to your strategy you will certainly need to understand what has taken place, what exactly has been effective, and what hasn’t. You just can’t do this without an analytics program. There is no justification not to utilize one considering one of the very best programs out there, Google Analytics, is free of charge.

• Link building - Good content and consistent link building – the two most important factors of Search engine optimization. Gone are the days where any links were good enough to achieve good page ranks with the search engines. Now you should take extreme care on who are linking to you and from where? You must have come across the terms like “relevant web site/page” and “good neighborhood”. It means that you get more credit if you get back-linking from web sites which are based on the same theme as yours and preferably have high page rank.
  Now the big question… Who is going to link to you? Why should well reputable web sites with high page ranks, will consider linking to a new site like yours? Most of them will not, but if you have a decent site with quality content some may just agree. Other options like submitting to directories are one of them. Try writing some good articles on your web site theme and submit them to directories round the world. Most article directories will allow you to put a couple of links inside your article provided your article is good enough to be selected. Submitting to various directories get your web site indexed by the search engine much faster than otherwise.
  

• Approach - Your overall approach towards optimizing your web site will ultimately influence your site’s ranking in more than one ways. ‘Slow but steady’ should be the right approach. You can’t achieve anything here in the SEO world overnight. Patience is the key here. Don’t try to optimize your site for broad keywords like ‘web design’ or ‘Pizzas’ at the first instance- it will be sheer waste of time and energy. Rather chose what is known as ‘long tail technique’. And when you have got some results start working on those broader keywords. And you should have the same approach towards link-building as well. Be realistic. Don’t try to get too many links too fast. Search engine call it spamming and they ban spammers. Just keep everything plain and simple.

Although apart from these there are many other factors and techniques that determine your ranking! Its a long road but there is nothing better than seeing your site on the first page of the result page.

Good Luck!

Social Media - The Next Big Thing!

Social media is emerging and developing at a very fast pace. But SMM is a supplement and not a substitute. You cannot take it as a career opportunity but you can surely use it as a tool to boost your career. It is, in short, having an interaction. Have an interaction with your consumers because at the end of the day it’s all about benefiting your consumer and earning profit. It’s about having a dialogue rather than having a monologue. And what could be a better option than our Social Media. The most powerful tool at present. To put this in the shortest possible manner; it’s a three step process :

• Direction
• Objective
• Improving lifestyle of the consumers

Know your direction. Be sure where you want to go. Then be clear with your objective. Target your audience. Do not lose your focus. And then the most important step of all... to improve the lifestyle of your consumer. Always remember 'Consumer is GOD'. It’s all about His benefit. If your product or service is not good then this hits you bad very badly. So be very sure of your product and the service that you are rendering.

But remember don't try to be everything to everyone. You'll end up being nothing to no one. Choose your segment. Choose your people.

Segment --> Position --> Attack!

And as I have already mentioned earlier, Social Media is a supplement and not a substitute. Integrate it with other media vehicles. Conventional media is equally important. Maintain a balance. Be responsive. As i said earlier, have a dialogue instead of a monologue. Be consistence. Interact with your consumers. But in all this process do not lose sight of the product. Read your consumers regularly. Remember...the need of the consumer is your need.

Having said that, one of the questions that arise is why does one use Social Media?
Ask yourself. The answer lies within you. Why do 'You' use Social Media?

• To keep in touch with your loved ones.
• To make new friends and know people.
• Peer pressure - if your friends are using it then it becomes mandatory for us also to be a part of it.
• To get validation.
• Displaying. Humans have this tendency to 'show off'. They want others to know what they can do.
• Creativity - again human tendency to 'show off' their talent to the world.

These are some of the reasons I got, which led me to the other question : How should one do it? The answer to this question is clear. One can do this through :

• Blogs
• Tagging
• Wikis (Wikipedia)
• RSS
• Rating and Reviews
• Social networking Sites (Facebook, twitter, etc...)
• Forums and Message boards.

These are your tools. This is what Social Media is all about. Now all depends on how you use these tools for your benefit. Remember, it’s all about consumers. Earn the trust of your consumers and you will earn profit. It’s a give and take process. You give your consumers what they want and they will give you what you want!

Consumers trust consumers. 78% consumers trust peer recommendations. 14% trust advertisements. Humans have this tendency to share. They like sharing. So create sharable stuff. Remember, your brand is what your consumer says it is.

Social Media is very important in today's time and it will be the most powerful tool in the coming years. A famous person has said, "By the time there is a case study in your specific industry, it is going to be way too late for you to catch up."

It is a slow process but the results are very powerful. As they say, 'slow and steady wins the race'. It’s exactly the same. To be successful in this field, follow these simple steps:

• Choose your people. Choose your segment. Know your Consumers.
• Be very clear with your goal. What is your main purpose? Have a clear target in your mind.
• Then plan a strategy to influence your consumers.
• And then the most important of all is The process. As I mentioned earlier, the process is slow but the results are powerful.
• Be consistent. Commit. It’s not about shopping...it’s about conversation.

You have to learn to listen before you talk. It’s about creating 'show-able' content. Your users are also your content distributors. It’s not a campaign. It’s a process that will eventually evolve into a culture. It is a part of Integrated Marketing. It has to align with your other communication channels. Once you start, there is no going back. Be patient. Take baby steps. Be consistent.

It’s like lighting up a forest with a match stick. And as Baba Ranchoddas says “Pursue excellence, and success will follow, pants down.”

Ganpatti Bappa Morya... Mangal Murti Morya !

Ganesh Chaturthi being one of the most popular Hindu festivals is on the doorstep. It is the day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati was born. The day thus marks the auspicious birth of one of the most important Hindu God. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi in many other parts of the country. Lord Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi which is the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendar, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi which falls on the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapad in the Hindu calendar. Ganesha is considered as the supreme God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Though the festival is being celebrated since times immemorial, the present kind of celebrations of Ganesha Chaturthi came in fashion in 1893, Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer reshaped the annual Ganesh festival from a private family celebration into a community event. The day was conceived to be the National Festival in order to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins in the society. Talking about the lord let me share an experience I recently had in Mumbai Local...

A building gate…a small cute little school bus…a petite backpack… All now replaced. Now it is our very own clogged Local railway platform, to be precise a platform that greet all in and out bound Virar Local. When it is Virar Local it has certain specialties than other Local train. Greet it from the overhead bridge and have a view, one need to struggle with their eye balls to peep through the all dark and painted head to reach the surface of platform. That’s how crowded it is …
Being a mumbaikar if you haven’t travelled in Virar Local you have missed one of the most beautiful and horrible experience of local life. I got blessed with this opportunity once I finished School and stepped into college life. The very idea of studying in one of the best colleges of the city demands long commuting from home and I happily agreed to accept the torment of Virar Local. The 7:42 Church gate local is my darling, drops me on time to reach for the morning lecture…

Another most amusing thing of these locals is, in almost all trains you will find a Bhajan Mandli that makes the journey a bit saintly as singing and remembering almighty God early in the morning assures a good day ahead.

The other day, a bit delay in getting to the station cost me to not get my regular compartment with all the known faces to greet and exchange the goodness of morning and I was forced to get myself in a General compartment so as to not to miss my darling local.

I’m sharing the experience of this particular journey where I experienced both the sides of a coin. The good thing I found in the unknown compartment was, I was greeted with the Bhajan Mandli and it was really an amazing experience to listen to a group live which I had never experience before and it is quite soothing to one's ears and it just entrust an extra energy to cope with the metro’s daily drudgery.
The Bad experience… There were two old ladies traveling in the same compartment. It could be that even they were late and couldn't make it to their special ladies compartment and were forced to board the same compartment where I was.

It was a long hard journey especially in the heavy crowded condition but these old souls couldn’t find little respect or sympathy in all those young hearts over there to help them out with a bit comfortable journey.

The reason why I'm sharing this experience with you all is that we need to look to these old Souls as they are double our age and certainly deserve our attention. It is our duty to take there care of them as much as possible cause they took care of us when we needed them the most. And I will also include the little student too who travels with us almost every day.

We sing and pray to God to bless us with our Bhajans and Sholkas but ever did we think that God may come to us in this old and little soul to bless us with the all goodness of life which we are ignoring quietly.

Let's pledge for it today and now only…

When I was in school, my teacher taught me that “KAN KAN MEIN BHAGWAN HOTA HAI” (God is everywhere)

Let’s welcome everybody as Bhagwan… Never know when we find one.

Ganpati is almost ringing bell on our doorsteps so wish you all Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

Ganpati Bappa Morya
Mangal Murthi Morya!

Jai Maharashtra!

Udaipur - The City Of Lakes and Fountains!

The city of Dawn, even known as the Venice of India, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in by the thriving hills of the Aravalis. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes sprinkled with stalls, carry the flavor of heroic past, epitomizing velour and courtliness. Their reflection in the docile waters of the Lake Pichhola is an alluring sight.

Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years. The foundation of the city has a fascinating legend associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met holy man meditations on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. The recluse blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this complimentary located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana followed the advice of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.

Udaipur is famous for its appealing lakes, but the city has many more attractions that catch the attention of the tourists with their charm. Lake Palace of Udaipur has been accredited for being one of the most romantic places all across the globe. The massive forts of Udaipur, grab the interest of people with their sheer structure and architecture. The beautiful temples create a sense of aestheticism with their spiritual ecstasy. Udaipur also boasts of various palaces, gardens, monuments and colorful festivals that pull tourists to visit the city for once.

Udaipur tour covers many palaces one of which is the famous Lake palace, on the banks of Lake Pichola, and the experience here is irresistible. Udaipur actually turns the trip into an imperial extravaganza as it takes you back to the century old times, because of its well preserved forts and palaces. Many of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels in Udaipur. Dudh Talai a beautiful rock garden leaves you mesmerized with the sunset view in Lake Pichola.

Udaipur is undoubtedly a dream destination for a romantic holiday. Every year, thousands of tourists come from all over the globe to visit this beautiful city. So, if you are tired of your hectic schedules and daily routine, then plan a trip to the city of lakes to lighten up your worries and tensions. A tour to the charming city of Udaipur would certainly become an unforgettable part of your memories and you will cherish these memories throughout your life.