GREEN CHEMISTRY

IMAGINE a world in which – instead of toxic solvents and chemicals – industrial manufacturing used sugar, starch and sunlight as inputs. Imagine products that biodegrade into utterly benign substances. Imagine pure, clean water leaving factories and polluted sources brought back to life. What if industrial chemicals were bio-based and generated by farmers practicing sustainable agriculture? Imagine a workplace free of “hazmat” gear, factories without scrubbers, and a world where CO2 is used as a valuable industrial input rather than emitted as a green house gas. Green Chemists are making this vision a reality.
Biopesticides are a set of tools and applications that can help farmers transition away from highly toxic conventional chemical pesticides into an era of truly sustainable agriculture. Biopesticides of course are only a part of a larger solution; sustainable agriculture is a wide field. But helping farmers move from the current chemical dependency to sustainable agriculture and beyond requires tools for the transition and for a new era. Biopesticides can and will play a significant role in this process.

Like other Green Chemistry solutions, developing safe, effective biopesticide products requires holistic thinking and multi-disciplinary approaches which are a challenge for the biopesticide industry. Turning lab discoveries into profitable business products is also daunting. This mirrors what inventors face when implementing green chemistry solutions in other sectors. What follows is a summary of conclusions:
Transparency and dialogue are essential.
Broader questions of hazard are sometimes poorly understood.
Efficacy is key.
Multi-disciplinary teams are essential for moving from active ingredient to product.
Sometimes promising green chemistry discoveries sit neglected on the shelf.
Banning bad actor chemicals can be a powerful driver.
Biopesticides offer growers both opportunities – and challenges.
Conclusion

Serious questions remain about the safety of biopesticide products from both a human and ecosystem health standpoint. Current regulations do not go nearly far enough in evaluating systemic broader impacts of biopesticides. By definition, Green Chemistry is about continuous improvements aimed at reducing or eliminating hazard. Fully defining hazard is difficult. Even products hailed by Green Chemists and regulators alike as safer for human health may turn out to have unforeseen negative environmental health impacts. See for example, Spinosad, a green chemistry award winning biopesticide, which while significantly safer for humans than other pesticides but is toxic to bees.

We must encourage pest management solutions and regulations to continuously evolve. We must also ensure that multi-disciplinary teams, including Green Chemists, environmental health specialists and other scientists, approach these innovations holistically.

Biopesticides – Examples

Biopesticides offer powerful tools to create a new generation of sustainable agriculture products. They are the most likely source for alternatives to some of the most problematic chemical pesticides currently in use. Biopesticides also offer solutions to concerns such as pest resistance to traditional chemical pesticides, public concern about side effects of pesticides on the surrounding environment and ultimately, on human health.

The overriding challenge for the biopesticides industry is to live up to the promise that the field holds. There are unanswered questions and un-examined assumptions about them with which those involved must contend. Challenges to biopesticides stem from questions about their efficacy and safety, public and grower confusion about the spectrum of biopesticide products on the market, and current market conditions that paradoxically both hinder and favor the field’s growth.

These stories highlight some of the successes and challenges for expanding use of biopesticides.

The Challenge of Commercialization for Niche Products. A look at economic and regulatory challenges and opportunities impacting commercialization of biopesticides alternatives due to their niche market applications.

Mating Disruption as a Pest Managment Tool. This example demonstrates the complexity of both developing and using biopesticides

An Alternative to Methyl Bromide: “Pasteuria” for Nematode Control. A technological advance significantly decreased the cost of production, making the product economically viable.

Large-scale Production of Baculovirus Isolate. A look at the greater production complexity (and potential costs) of developing a biopesticide.

The Challenges of Product Formulation, Proprietary Ingredients and Community Dialogue: The Light Brown Apple Moth. Success for the field of biopesticides will require greater transparency in research, design, and application.

Niche Marketing as an Opportunity for Competitive Differentiation “Bioworks”. This case illustrates how biopesticide companies can position themselves for success within a shifting paradigm.

Codling Moth Control- Regulatory Changes Can Drive Innovation (and Lack of Regulation Can Stymie It). Shifting to more sustainable agricultural practices rarely is as simple as a one to one replacement of an existing pesticide.

HOW DOES INVERTER WORK?

Everyone uses some kind of electronic gadget while in their motor-home, SUV or car. You might listen to your MP3 player, check for directions on your global positioning system (GPS) or play a portable video game. These types of electronic devices can be recharged or powered by plugging them into the cigarette lighter (or power port) in your vehicle.

But what if you want to use something a little more elaborate while you're on the open road? Maybe you want to make toast, watch an LCD TV, or perhaps even write an article on your laptop computer. These devices plug into regular wall outlets, not cigarette lighters. Making sure your electronic gear gets the juice it needs while on the road isn't a simple matter of finding the right adapter. You need a power inverter.

­Power inverters convert direct current (DC), the power that comes from a car battery, into alternating current (AC), the kind of power supplied to your home and the power larger electronics need to function. What kind of power inverter is the right one for the job? How do you install one? And how exactly does an inverter change the current from one form to another? In this article, we'll explore all the positives and negatives of DC to AC power inverters.
Why Do I Need To Convert from DC to AC?


Most cars and motor homes derive their power from a 12-volt battery. In some cases, a heavy-duty 24-volt battery might be used. It's important to know your vehicle's voltage because the voltage rating of the inverter you select should match the voltage of the battery. In either case, the battery provides direct current. This means that the current flows continuously from the negative terminal of the battery, through the completed circuit and back to the positive terminal of the battery. The flow is in one direction only, hence the name direct current. The ability to provide direct current power is inherent to the nature of batteries.


Direct current is very useful, but batteries can generally only provide relatively low-voltage DC power. Many devices need more power to function properly than DC can provide. They're designed to run on the 120-volt AC power supplied to homes in the U.S. Alternating current or AC, constantly changes polarity, sending current one way through the circuit, then reversing and sending it the other way. It does this very quickly -- 60 times per second in most U.S. electrical systems. AC power works well at high voltages, and can be "stepped up" in voltage by a transformer more easily than direct current can.


An inverter increases the DC voltage, and then changes it to alternating current before sending it out to power a device. These devices were initially designed to do the opposite -- to convert alternating current into direct current. Since these converters could basically be run in reverse to accomplish the opposite effect, they were called inverters.

Making Direct Current Alternate


The earliest AC power inverters were electro-mechanical devices. Direct current would flow down one end of a circuit with an electromagnet. As soon as the current hit the magnet, the magnet would activate. This would pull a wire attached to a spring arm, forcing the wire to contact the circuit. This would change the flow of the current to the other side of the circuit, cutting power from the electromagnet. As soon as the magnet released, the spring would snap the wire back, allowing the current to flow on the other side of the circuit, once again activating the magnet. These old inverters were known for making a buzzing sound.

Modern inverters use oscillator circuits to accomplish the same process. They're made with transistors or semiconductors, so there's no longer the need for a spring arm flipping back and forth to alternate the current.

It's not quite as simple as that, however. Alternating current forms a sine wave. The output of an inverter is a very square wave, not like the smooth, round wave of a perfect sine. Some devices are inherently sensitive to the signal produced by an AC wave. Typically, these are devices that receive or broadcast some kind of signal, such as audio or video equipment, navigation devices or sensitive scientific equipment. You can see or hear the square waveform on a television as lines on the screen or a steady buzz or hum.

Cleaning up the sine wave requires a series of filters, inductors and capacitors. Inexpensive inverters have little or no filtering. The alternating current they produce has a very square wave, which is fine if you just want to make coffee or run something with a simple electric motor. If you need a smoother sine wave, you'll need an inverter with better filtering. Of course, better filtering also costs a little more. Inverters can get extremely expensive, even costing thousands of dollars, that is, if you're looking for an inverter with a smooth sine. The good news: Given a large enough budget, you can purchase an AC power inverter that produces virtually perfect AC sines. In fact, some high-end DC to AC inverters can make sine waves that are even smoother than the AC power supplied to your house.

Watts, Peaks and Surges

The first step in selecting an inverter is to match the inverter to the voltage of the battery you'll be using for power. In the majority of cases, you'll be using a 12-volt battery, so you would want to select a 12-volt inverter.

The next step is to determine which devices you plan to power with the inverter. Look for a label somewhere on each device that tells you the wattage it requires to operate. The wattage rating of your inverter must exceed the total wattage of all the devices you plan to run simultaneously. For instance, if you wanted to run a 600-watt blender and a 600-watt coffee maker at the same time, you'd need an inverter capable of a 1,200-watt output. However, if you knew you would never be making coffee and fruit smoothies at the exact same time, you'd only need a 600-watt inverter.

Unfortunately, things aren't quite that simple. Devices that have electric motors, as well as some televisions, draw a higher wattage than their normal operating wattage rating when they first start up. This is known as peak or surge, and this information should also be listed on the device's label. Most inverters also have a peak rating, so make sure the inverter's peak rating is higher than the peak wattage of the device you intend to power. Microwaves are a special case. As an example, you may know that your microwave is a 500-watt microwave. This is actually the cooking wattage. The power wattage might be twice that amount. Again, check the label on the device to make sure.

If you plan to run your inverter through the cigarette lighter in your car, it's a safe bet that you won't be using any high-wattage devices. In fact, if you try to pass more than about 400 watts through a cigarette lighter connection, it will fail -- and it might even start a fire in your vehicle.

The final specification to look for is the wave output of the inverter. If you'll be powering any of the equipment that is sensitive to square waves, look for an inverter with a "perfect sine" wave output. Be prepared for sticker shock -- a perfect sine inverter can cost almost 10 times as much as the same wattage inverter with a modified sine output. Modified sine means that the current is run through some filtering, so it isn't a square wave, but it isn't totally smooth either.


Inverter Installation

Inverters are very easy to install. Most of them are "plug and play" devices, especially smaller, low-wattage inverters. These inverters have a cable with a plug that fits into the cigarette lighter on your car or truck. They're meant to be portable, so there's no other mounting to be done.

­If you purchase an inverter that allows higher wattages, proper installation becomes a bit more critical. Below 400 watts, the cigarette lighter connection is still a possibility, but wattages above that require direct connection to the battery. The inverter's input cables have clips that can be attached to the terminals of the battery, similar to a set of jumper cables. If the installation is to be permanent, the cables can be bolted to the terminals. The inverter itself can be mounted anywhere, although it should be in a place with good air flow. Inverters generate a fair amount of heat, and they use cooling fans and heat dissipation fins to prevent overheating. Larger, heavier inverters have mounting holes in their chassis so they can be bolted to any surface. Obviously, with a permanent installation, you'll probably want to bolt your converter in place, but this isn't absolutely necessary. It's possible to simply place the inverter in a secure, stable position, clip the leads to the battery and plug in.

Just what does an inverter look like, anyway? Well, the smallest inverters can fit in your pocket, while higher-wattage models are roughly the size and weight of a large dictionary. As a general rule: The higher the wattage, the larger and heavier the inverter. At the top of the inverter wattage scale, some inverters can be more than two feet long and weigh over 30 pounds.

Modern inverters have some built in safety features that make them even easier to use. Some models sound an alarm when the battery's voltage gets too low. This is more of a convenience, but depending on what sort of equipment you're powering, it could also be a valuable safety feature. Inverters typically have automatic shut-off capabilities, too. If the unit detects a current overload or an overheating situation, it will shut down to lessen or prevent the chance of a fire. Inverters can also shut off in the event of a short circuit, such as a piece of metal falling into the chassis or the inverter getting wet. Short circuit shut-off is an effective way to prevent electrocution.

So how much is all of this going to cost, you ask? You can buy a modified sine inverter rated for continuous power of 200 watts for about $25 and the price of a 6,000-watt modified sine inverter can approach $1,000. Pure sine inverters cost much more -- these can be more than $200 for an inverter rated at just 300 watts.

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INDEPENDENCE DAY

What is the significance of 15th August in India

The republic of India gained its independence from the rule of the British on 15th August, 1947. Since then, this date of 15th August is celebrated as the Independence Day in India to commemorate its freedom from the 200 year old British government.

For India, 15th August is a day of her re-birth, a new start. At the midnight of 15th August, 1947, the British rulers handed the country back to its Indian leaders, ending a remarkable struggle that lasted years. It was 15th August, 1947, the historic date on which sovereign India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unfolded the tricolor flag of the nation on the glorious Red Fort. The day is significant in the history of India as bringing end to the British colonial rule in India.

How 15th August became significant in India

In the year 1946 the Labour government, the exchequer of Britain thought of ending their rule over India because of their exhaustion of capital post World War II. British Government announced, during the early 1947, that they intend to transfer power to the Indians by the month of June, 1948. This approaching independence could not decrease the Hindu-Muslim violence in Bengal and Punjab. This led to Louis Mountbatten, the then viceroy of India to propone the power hand-over date owing to the fact that the unprepared British army could not cope with the increased violence in the country. In the month of June in 1947, prominent Indian leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Abul Kalam Azad, Master Tara Singh and B. R. Ambedkar agreed for a partition of India along religious outline. The Sikh and Hindu areas were marked as India and Muslim area as Pakistan.

Millions of people belonging to the different religious groups tramped across that newly drawn border to find places to reside. This took away around 250,000 to 500,000 lives. Finally, at midnight of 15th August, 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed India's independence by reading out his famous speech known as "Tryst with destiny". During this speech, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again."

How 15th August is celebrated in India

Every year India's Independence Day is celebrated by all proud Indians. The day is observed as a national holiday for the country. Though, local governments conduct the ceremony of flag hoisting all over India, the venue of main celebration is the Red Fort in the capital city New Delhi in India. The celebration starts every year with the unfurling of the tri-coloured national flag by the Prime Minister of the nation followed by a televised speech. The speech generally reflects the present condition of the nation along with the achievements in the previous year and the future development plans. A tribute is even paid by the Prime Minister to freedom fighters of India by declaring the day as national holiday. Post the flag hoisting ceremony, patriotic programs by children from schools based in different states is one of the main attractions. Delhi's sky gets sprinkled with thousands kites coloured in the same tri-colour as that of the national flag.

Similar celebration is done in all the states of India where the flag is hoisted by the Governor of the states. Besides this, almost every school, colleges, universities, government organizations hoist the national flag on 15th August by their most senior official. Nowadays, many housing complexes, clubs, societies, group of friends even observe the flag hoisting ceremony within their premises with ease, joy and honesty. This just shows the togetherness of Indians, who never forget to pay a tribute to their ancestors who sacrificed their life for the betterment of the country.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

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Some Keyboard Shortcuts you may not know

HOW TO MAKE SYMBOLS WITH KEYBOARD
Alt + 0153..... ™... trademark symbol
Alt + 0169.... ©.... copyright symbol
Alt + 0174..... ®....registered ­ trademark symbol
Alt + 0176 ...°......degre­e symbol
Alt + 0177 ...±....plus-or ­-minus sign
Alt + 0182 ...¶.....paragraph mark
Alt + 0190 ...¾....fraction, three-fourths
Alt + 0215 ....×.....multiplication sign
Alt + 0162...¢....the ­ cent sign
Alt + 0161.....¡..... ­.upside down exclamation point
Alt + 0191.....¿..... ­upside down question mark
Alt + 1...........sm­iley face
Alt + 2 ......☻.....black smiley face
Alt + 15.....☼.....su­n
Alt + 12......♀.....female sign
Alt + 11.....♂......m­ale sign
Alt + 6.......♠.....s­pade
Alt + 5.......♣...... ­Club
Alt + 3............. ­Heart
Alt + 4.......♦...... ­Diamond
Alt + 13......♪.....eight note
Alt + 14......♫...... ­beamed eighth note
Alt + 8721.... ∑.... summation (auto sum)
Alt + 251.....√..... square root check mark
Alt + 8236.....∞..... ­infinity
Alt + 24.......↑..... ­up arrow
Alt + 25......↓...... ­down arrow
Alt + 26.....→.....right arrow
Alt + 27......←.....l­eft arrow
Alt + 18.....↕......up/down arrow
Alt + 29......↔...left right arrow
use these and amuse your friends.

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Life-Changing Science Discoveries

Try to imagine life without antibiotics. We wouldn’t live nearly as long as we do without them. Here’s a look at some discoveries that have changed the world. It’s impossible to rank their importance, so they’re listed in the order they were discovered.

The Copernicum System

In 1543, while on his deathbed, Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus published his theory that the Sun is a motionless body at the center of the solar system, with the planets revolving around it. Before the Copernicum system was introduced, astronomers believed the Earth was at the center of the universe.

Gravity

Isaac Newton, an English mathematician and physicist, is considered the greatest scientist of all time. Among his many discoveries, the most important is probably his law of universal gravitation. In 1664, Newton figured out that gravity is the force that draws objects toward each other. It explained why things fall down and why the planets orbit around the Sun.

Electricity

If electricity makes life easier for us, you can thank Michael Faraday. He made two big discoveries that changed our lives. In 1821, he discovered that when a wire carrying an electric current is placed next to a single magnetic pole, the wire will rotate. This led to the development of the electric motor. Ten years later, he became the first person to produce an electric current by moving a wire through a magnetic field. Faraday's experiment created the first generator, the forerunner of the huge generators that produce our electricity.

Evolution

When Charles Darwin, the British naturalist, came up with the theory of evolution in 1859, he changed our idea of how life on earth developed. Darwin argued that all organisms evolve, or change, very slowly over time. These changes are adaptations that allow a species to survive in its environment. These adaptations happen by chance. If a species doesn't adapt, it may become extinct. He called this process natural selection, but it is often called the survival of the fittest.

Louis Pasteur

Before French chemist Louis Pasteur began experimenting with bacteria in the 1860s, people did not know what caused disease. He not only discovered that disease came from microorganisms, but he also realized that bacteria could be killed by heat and disinfectant. This idea caused doctors to wash their hands and sterilize their instruments, which has saved millions of lives.

Theory of Relativity

Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which he published in 1905, explains the relationships between speed, time and distance. The complicated theory states that the speed of light always remains the same—186,000 miles/second (300,000 km/second) regardless of how fast someone or something is moving toward or away from it. This theory became the foundation for much of modern science.

The Big Bang Theory

Nobody knows exactly how the universe came into existence, but many scientists believe that it happened about 13.7 billion years ago with a massive explosion, called the Big Bang. In 1927, Georges Lemaître proposed the Big Bang theory of the universe. The theory says that all the matter in the universe was originally compressed into a tiny dot. In a fraction of a second, the dot expanded, and all the matter instantly filled what is now our universe. The event marked the beginning of time. Scientific observations seem to confirm the theory.

Penicillin

Antibiotics are powerful drugs that kill dangerous bacteria in our bodies that make us sick. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, which he grew in his lab using mold and fungi. Without antibiotics, infections like strep throat could be deadly.

DNA

On February 28, 1953, James Watson of the United States and Francis Crick of England made one of the greatest scientific discoveries in history. The two scientists found the double-helix structure of DNA. It’s made up of two strands that twist around each other and have an almost endless variety of chemical patterns that create instructions for the human body to follow. Our genes are made of DNA and determine how things like what color hair and eyes we’ll have. In 1962, they were awarded the Nobel Prize for this work. The discovery has helped doctors understand diseases and may someday prevent some illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

Periodic Table

The Periodic Table is based on the 1869 Periodic Law proposed by Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev. He had noticed that, when arranged by atomic weight, the chemical elements lined up to form groups with similar properties. He was able to use this to predict the existence of undiscovered elements and note errors in atomic weights. In 1913, Henry Moseley of England confirmed that the table could be made more accurate by arranging the elements by atomic number, which is the number of protons in an atom of the element.

X-Rays

Wilhelm Roentgen, a German physicist, discovered X-rays in 1895. X-rays go right through some substances, like flesh and wood, but are stopped by others, such as bones and lead. This allows them to be used to see broken bones or explosives inside suitcases, which makes them useful for doctors and security officers. For this discovery, Roentgen was awarded the first-ever Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

Quantum Theory

Danish physicist Niels Bohr is considered one of the most important figures in modern physics. He won a 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on the structure of an atom and for his work in the development of the quantum theory. Although he help develop the atomic bomb, he frequently promoted the use of atomic power for peaceful purposes.

Atomic Bomb

The legacy of the atomic bomb is mixed: it successfully put an end to World War II, but ushered in the nuclear arms race. Some of the greatest scientists of the time gathered in the early 1940s to figure out how to refine uranium and build an atomic bomb. Their work was called the Manhattan Project. In 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tens of thousands of civilians were instantly killed, and Japan surrendered. These remain the only two nuclear bombs ever used in battle. Several of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project later urged the government to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes only. Nevertheless, many countries continue to stockpile nuclear weapons. Some people say the massive devastation that could result from nuclear weapons actually prevents countries from using them.

HIV/AIDS

In 1983 and 1984, Luc Montagnier of France and Robert Gallo of the United States discovered the HIV virus and determined that it was the cause of AIDS. Scientists have since developed tests to determine if a person has HIV. People who test positive are urged to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. Drugs are available to keep HIV and AIDS under control. The hope is that further research will lead to the development of a cure.

Friendship Day

Friendship Day History

There is not much literature on Friendship Day history as we celebrate today.

However, there are numerous folk-tales and several instance in mythological legends that shows that friends and friendship have been valued since the beginning of civilized world. As an intrinsically social creature, men love to make friends to further this process of socialization.


History of Friendship Day in US

Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship.

The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The noble idea of honoring the beautiful relationship of friendship caught on with the people and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival.
Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India.
In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie - the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Bible

The Bible, the primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. Following verses from the bible aptly portray the importance of friends:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13-15

Besides, there are several tales from the Old Testament and the New Testament about the value of friendship and how true friendship is a treasure to unearth. A noticeable point is that, both the versions make a difference between the two broad meanings of friendship-one is a mere acquaintance, the other is a more affectionate relation

In the Old Testament,Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of the intimacy of his relations. God speaks to Moses face to face “as a man…unto his friend” (Ex 33:11). The romantic friendship of Ruth and Naomi, the devotion of the subordinate Hushai for David, or the mutual relation between David and Jonathan - the Old Testament is replete with these interesting tales of friends and friendship.

In the New Testament,the relationship between Jesus and his disciples clearly depicts how human friendship can constantly grow. From being teacher and disciple, to lord and servant their relationship finally grew to an unparalleled friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata
In the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’, Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship - affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing. Friendship is all about these and much more.
Friendship Day in India
Friendship Day has come to be celebrated in a big way in India.
The noble idea of honoring friends and friendship has really caught on with the youth in India and one can see the festival being enthusiastically celebrated by the youth especially, students.Day Dedicated to Friends
In tune with the spirit of the occasion, people dedicate Friendship Day festival to their best friends. Most choose to celebrate the entireday in the loving company of their dearest friends. Recollecting sweet memories of the time spent together and catching up with their lives over a cup of coffee is the idea of ideal Friendship Day celebration for many.
Friends separated by geographical distances, call their friends to express love and warmth for each other and to wish a "Happy Friendship Day". Sending SMS and Friendship Day cards is another popular way of greetings friends.

Friendship Day Celebrations in Schools and Colleges

Friendship Day celebrations are particularly marked in schools and colleges:

Exchange of Friendship Bands is the most most prominent feature of Friendship Day celebrations.

Indian Dance Forms- A Overview

History of Indian Dances
It is quite inimitable as it unfurls the art form which existed in India. Indian dance has a rich historical tradition.
Dance as an art form involves significant body movement with rhythm. It is presented as a social interaction or a spiritual performance. Dance constitutes social, cultural, aesthetic and artistic meaning. Elements of Indian classical dances have also been mentioned in the Natyasashtra. Lord Brahma created the Natyashastra in the beginning of Treta Yug. After he devised the Natyashastra Bharata Muni was the first man to present two stories through Natya. Lord Shiva expressed his view to incorporate Tandava in order to make the contribution of damsels really effective in a Natya. Brahma then incorporated Tandava in Natya.

Origin of Indian Dance

Brahma wrote a thesis on Natya Veda known as Natyashastra. It is detailed and covers all its aspects, such as stage-design, music, dance and makeup and implicitly every aspect of stagecraft. It also contains deliberations on the different kind of postures, the hand formations and their meanings, the kind of emotions and their classifications. Thus, all the forms of Indian classical dances owe faithfulness to Natyashastra which is often regarded as the fifth Veda.

Phases of Indian Dance
Since the primitive age there has been a rich and vital tradition of dance. The pre history and pro history of India proves this fact. For instance, the dancing girl of Mohenjodaro and the broken torso of the Harappan period suggest postures of a dance. Dance descriptions have beenu sed for Indra, Asvins, Marut,and Apsaras. The History of Indian dance can be divided into two parts the first being 2nd century B.C. to the 9th Century A.D. and the other from 10th or 11th Century to the 18th Century A.D. During the first period, Sanskrit exercised a firm hold on all arts in the country. Natyashastra was inclined to drama, dance and music. The sculptures of Sanchi, Nagarjunakonda, Mathura, Amravat iand Ellora caves do prove this fact. Minimum stylization was common during this period. There was development in the regional style during the second period.

From the Sanskrit literature it has been deduced that poets and dramatists were equally knowledgeable in the technical details of dance. All the plays of Kalidasa have elements of prose and different types of acting like that of gestures, costumes and decor. Harsha and Bhavabhuti follow Kalidasa though apparently the tradition of Natyashastra was deteriorating as the dance terminologies used are not accurate.
Temples built during the medieval age prove that the sculptors had considerable technical knowledge of dance. The Brihadesvara temple of Tanjore was built in the 11th Century. Karanas were first illustrated here. The temples of Rajarani, Vithal Deul and Paramesvara in Orissa were built between the 9th and the 11th century. The movements and positions described in the Natyashastra are depicted in the sculptures on the outer walls of these temples. The Khajuraho temples of the Chandela kings were also built during this time. There is the whole range of medieval sculpture extending from Rajputana and Saurashtra to Orissa and from Kashmir to Thiruvananthapuram also dating from the 13th to the 16th Century.
Dance Elements in Indian Literature

A body of critical and creative writing which supports the view that the art was widely practiced and adored has also been found. The monumental treatise on music
Sangita ratnakara had set the new tone in music practice. It has a chapter on the traditions of Dance and the way it was developed in different parts of India. The author follows the Natyashastra and points to the fact that the Natyashastra tradition was usually accepted, but there were changes and deviations. He had also introduced some new concepts like concept of style and movements. He also speaks of purely classical or the academic form under the label of suddha, and the regional variants under the label of desipaddhatis. The recognition of regional styles contributed further to the development of individual and classical styles of the various regions.