Once upon a time proposals were simple and straightforward, romantic and enchanting. Acceptance rate was in the 90% region with the consequences of a belan or chapal if it turned out to be the 10% unaccepted proposals – rare par hota tha aik zamane mein.

Arrey yaar its the 21st century aur zamana badal gaya – gone are the days of a song and dance with a rose between the teeth. And I think the bunch of floweres, a box of chocolate and a sweet message have been out for a while now.

So how do aaj kal ke launde propose to a girl? Well, modern technology se yaar. The youngsters have taken “Video marketing” to the next level and are literary shouting from the top of the highest mountain.

Take this guy for example – watch and learn, OK? uhmmm, maybe NOT!

Did good na? Kaafi daring ya? Well scene to acha tha aur ladki se kaafi door tha so no chance of chapal let alone belan.

I know what you are thinking here! Ladki ne kya boli? What was the girls response? Arrey yaar ladkiyan bhi kam nahi hai – boy can they respond!

Why not take a look yourself and learn, yeap this time take notes guys and learn the natija of this naya tactics………

Uhmmm, what do you think of the post? As beautiful as this site? Lol just kidding, its as beautiful as you my readers so why not leave me a comment on your thoughts eh? Better still, do you have a comeback guys? OK lets see it

Ok, ok baba I better sign off nahi toh e-chapal hi khani padegi mujhe

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Now this is some serious balancing act – brings water to my eyes just watching it. Bindaas – only in India!

John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, and (Ali bhai) I mean Udhay Chopra eat your heart out – Here’s the new hero of Dhoom 3

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What are your thoughts on Deepika, her acting skills, her movies and Love Aaj Kal in particular? Please leave a comment below! LOL, OK You ladies can comment on gagan instead

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A bit of interesting Indian History!

Happy Belan Time (VelanTime)

Do you want to know the true story of the origin of “Valentines Day”? Get the real scoop below.

Not-withstanding, what nonsense you’ve been told by the media, the truth is that the Valentine Day was originated in India, and to top it, in **Gujarat**- a state of Mahatma Gandhi who preached love, peace and non-violence.

Read further for the facts that have been hidden from the pages of history so far. Here it is:

Well, it is well known what the people in Gujarat are like, especially the Patel men folk. It is a known fact that they (*Patels*) don’t treat the opposite sex (their *Patalanis*) with respect; some of the firebrand members of the opposite sex (wives) thought they deserved better.

One fine day, one brave *Patalani *(Patel lady – her name is unfortunately lost in oblivion), had enough of *”Atyachar”( Torture)* perpetrated on her, by her husband, and then she finally chose to rebel by beating up her husband with a *Velan* (aka Belan)… Yeah, the same Velan with which she made chapattis for him everyday; only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened like a chapatti, albeit an oblong one. This was a momentous occasion for all the Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like a wild fire, with several housewives beating up their, bad as well as good, husbands with Velan; and there was an outburst of moaning chapattis all over Anand and Ahmedabad.

The *Patel* men folk learnt their lesson and behaved a bit better with their *Patalani* partners. However, there was no putting down the burgeoning feminist spirit of the times, and the beatings continued incessantly. Eventually the Patel Men-folk started improving and the frequency of the beating was reduced to once a month -usually towards the middle of the month, so that they would remain “disciplined” .

Further improvement in the Patel men-folk reduced the need to more of an annual ritual, to ensure that the *Patlanis* can demonstrate the “Credible Threat”; least the men-folk forget and get back to their olden ways. And so each year that day (Middle of February, i.e.14th) the womenfolk, if only gingerly and lovingly, as a token gesture, beat up their husbands to commemorate that eventful day, which had contributed substantially to better their lot.

The men folk also submitted to this, in good humor, since they didn’t really get beaten up other days of the year. The entire ritual soon became a caring and loving affair, with wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands, their husbands cringing in mock fear and pain, and the guys having the supreme joy of submitting to the whims of the women they loved.

This custom continued for many years, even when the British occupied India. As Gujarat fell more and more under the influence of Western Culture and language, some of the more fashionable and educated women, sometimes wearing leather boots and clothes (this even created a fad for leather *Velans* for a short time, but it soon passed, as they could not use them to make chapattis) on that day appeared with a *Velan* in hand, and called out to their husbands *”Velan time”* before starting off.

The British noticed this, and they were quite amused and endeared by the peculiar ritual. They also saw it for what it really was, i.e. a manifestation of love, not of hate. The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words *”Belan time” (Velan Time)* Of course in their foreign mouths, it was bastardized to *”Velan tine”* and then to *”Velantine” .* And from that day onwards, 14th of February, since it was indeed that day that 400 years ago an irate *Gujarati Patalani* housewife nearly committed manslaughter, came to be known as Valentine’s Day. The custom of hitting with Velans died a natural death as more modern (and lethal) equipment was made available to Gujju Girls with the advent of time and technology, but 14th of Feb still stands as a symbol of undying and universal love.

* Reported By A Belan-wielding Patelani (Patel Lady)*

And we thought otherwise….*Jo to, kevu kare che….bahu loi piye che! Maar ene velan!*

*Careful with those velans!!!!!! !!!!*
Quotes:

God gives cloth, wood and fire even to a dead man, It is so sad that the living man keeps worrying…

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”-Buddha

A good way to change someones attitude is to change our own, because the same sun that melts butter, also hardens clay! – Life is as we think it, so think beautifully.

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Somethings need no explanations ….Just heard, sensed or felt.
But when you put words to action the you know you have a recipe for something great. This song is just awesome, words are heart rendering…couple that with the best sequences from one of the most romantic films and voila!

Watch, Listen and Enjoy – don’t forget to  leave your views in the comment box bellow

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This is a post by: “Sue Divine” Submited via yahoo groups (Masaledaar).

It is our natural inclination to judge people, since it happens without us even thinking about it. We take one look and summarize a whole person – overweight, pretty, stylish, sloppy. This habit comes from the mind’s need to categorize the world in order to be able to function without becoming overwhelmed.

When we judge, we are looking for pertinent information, trying to determine whether the person approaching is a threat, an ally, or someone we don’t need to worry about. This way of looking at people makes sense in a dangerous context, but in our daily lives it leads to an overly simplistic reading of the people we meet.

If you have ever judged someone dismissively, only to have them become a dear friend once you got to know them, you know the hazards of the judgment cycle firsthand. An experience like that may have led you to soften your natural tendency to believe your first impressions. We will always notice things about the people we meet, but as we become more conscious of the shortcomings of judgment, we won’t be satisfied with our surface observations.

We may notice that someone is driving an expensive car, but we will decide whether to befriend her based on getting to know her over time. We will not rule out a friendship with someone with messy hair, especially if he turns out to have a great sense of humor and a kind heart. Liking or disliking a person is a choice you will naturally make, but it will be after you have gotten to know them.

Next time you notice yourself judging somebody, try to send love, light, or blessings to the person you were judging. Then try to listen to them openly or look them in the eye and learn something about them. If this is not easy for you, remember not to judge yourself either. Trust that with practice, you will successfully disable your habitual patterns.

As you do, you will find a whole new dimension of perception opening up to you, allowing you to see beyond the surface and into the essence of the people you meet.

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How would you like to be part of Dostana Mehfil?

If you can write an article just about anything related to the subject matter of this site then I would like to invite you to join us and contribute to the site.

There’s two ways in which you can do this.

1. Write your article and send it to admin(at)dostanamehfil(dot)com (replace at with @ and dot with .) and after reviewing it I will publish it on the site. If you are a site/blog owner you may link (no more than 2 links) back to your site/blog.
2. Join Dostana Mehfil and request to become an author by sending an email to the above address. Once approved your profile will be updated and you will have the ability to login and write as many posts as you want, as long as they are with in the subject matter or relevant to the audience of this site.

What is in it for you?

You get the chance to showcase your writting skills to an ever growing audience of this site. If you have a site/blog already, you get the benefit of having a linkback giving you that all important SEO boost.

Top authors will have the oportunity to become part of the site and have administration capabilities in the near future. As an administrator you will have full unrestricted access to the site provided you remain within the terms of this offer.

The site is due to under go an overhaul and monetizations plans are in the pipeline. As a co-administrator you will have a say in how the site is run and structured as well have a share in the revenue of the site.

You get full credit for the article/post. Both your name and site/blog (if you have one) will be mentioned alongside the post.

Are you upto the task?

Check above for the option that best suits to start submiting articles/posts to this site. I would strongly encourage you to sign up and become a co-author to start with as this will make the submission that much more easier.

Rules:

There is one rule regarding this offer; Common Sense.

Be responsible with your writting and be sensible, stay on topic and only submit relevant articles.

I look forward to welcoming you on board and work with you to make this a great addition to our community Grab your pen and notepad and start writing.

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Vote For GiveIndia

The title says it all – but it is only true to the very few privileged and fortunate enough to afford it in our nation. The under-privileged either go without or have to make do with very little education and therefor stand little or no chance of making a better life for themselves let alone support their family.

That is the sad reality but its not the end of it – it is not a hopeless situation and its not an issue that we can stand idle and do nothing about. We can make a difference and we can bring about change – we can do so by uniting and extend our arms of support. This is where GiveIndia comes in.

First of all there is an event taking place right now where GiveIndia is looking to win a donation which will be used to educate 40,000 children in India. And to this end they need your support and votes – so without delay, please visit http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/338730 and cast your vote ASAP. Then visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/GiveIndiaorg/21169267101 and become a fan.

Here’s something to help you understand the purpose of it all and hope you will take a little time to show your support.

The Issue
Wide eyed, under nourished children standing dusty by the side of the road while cars and trucks zoom by them – will this be the story of India? Will the underprivileged be left behind, while the prosperous enjoy opportunities like never before? Will young voices asking for a better future be unheard? Not if you join hands with GIVE Foundation to make a change!

Children have the right to study and enjoy their childhood. However 50% of school age children in India are not in school today. It is estimated that there are anywhere between 10-20 mn children working as labourers in hazardous industries and being exploited when they should be learning and playing.

Education is the key to unlocking our children’s future, the key which will allow them to lead a dignified and financially independent adult life.

The Plan
GIVE Foundation will use the $1mn grant to for educational sponsorships costing $43 per child per year thus providing access to education to more than 20,000 children through our partner NGOs. All partner NGOs have undergone due diligence, and are highly transparent and credible organizations. They are located across India and provide access to education to underprivileged children, including the girl child, tribal children and children from remote rural areas.

However, so that your vote COUNTS and goes FURTHER we will take the balance of about $90,000 and run a matching campaign that raises an additional $1mn from individual donors. This balance will also help meet the operating costs of running this program, including costs of project monitoring, and tracking including regular quarterly updates.

Each $43 sponsorship will provide books, school bags and uniforms to the children as well as the education i.e. teachers salaries and other costs to ensure a quality education.

The Outcome
More than 20,000 children will be educated for a year with the grant support. In addition over 20,000 children will be educated for a year through matching donations raised from individuals, thus ensuring that in all, more than 40,000 children are educated.

The program aims to make the underprivileged children of India self-reliant and independent by providing them a mainstream education. It is a movement to strengthen the future of the nation, an attempt towards a better life.

Each child we help is one less child that has to work for a living; one less child that has to experience illiteracy; one less child that has no hope for the future.

We believe that there are enough people who want to see this happen, enough people to ensure that we get 40,000 votes that will in turn help to educate 40,000 children. One VOTE = one CHILD!

Thank you for your support. Please leave a comment in support of this post and GiveIndia! Don’t forget to retweet or add this to your facebook account if you have one – show your support by spreading the word

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Prem had just about recovered from a breakdown following the break up of his marriage. He was doing his best to rebuild his life after all around him had turned their back on him – not having anyone to talk to Prem had turned to the Internet and a chat room to make friends, have a chit chat, pass time and get away from the loneliness and boredom that had surrounded him.

As he was being himself, having some fun with lighthearted banters on chat – a name on the list caught his attention. Looking on the chat screen he noticed her chatting away and the first thing that hit is mind was “What a maghroor ladki” and thought to himself “Iski ghurur todna hai mujhe” – He set forth to break her gamand kinda attitude not knowing that this was the beginning of something that would change his life.

Her name was Riya – That’s the screen name she used! Her chatting style was full of attitude yet she was confident and matured compared to all the people on chat and the girls Prem had come to know. He called out to her and when she replied he set forth telling her what he thought of her attitude and asked why is she behaving in such a manner. The questioning and answers turned to a heated conversation and went on for a couple of days.

Then Riya made a comment to the nearest effect: “You are talking to me like I am your lover, like you love me”! Prem replied confidently with “Maybe I want to love you, maybe I love you and want you to love me!”. Riya lold (laughed out loud = lol) and they continued talking.

As days went by Riya had become comfortable talking to Prem and both got on well – They spent hours chatting only to each other on a friendly basis, and sometimes throughout the night to the small hours of the morning. They both realised that they were heading into a far more meaningful relationship that required to be dealt with offline.

In the weeks and months that followed Prem and Riya talked on the phone as often as they could and texted each other when they couldn’t. They retained their meetings online and continued talking in private for hours on end getting to know each other. Slowly the friendship was turning into love as they both developed feelings and affection for each other. Prem recalls all those wonderful moments and the love they shared very fondly.

Prem was the first to declared his love for Riya and it would take sometime yet for Riya to reciprocate and affirm her love for him. Riya had taken the steps to find out as much as she could about Prem, his family, his status and his location. Before affirming her love for Prem, she had taken a couple of her friends and they travelled to Prem’s hometown. She did not meet Prem personally – this was a trip to reassure herself and confirm that Prem is indeed who and what he claimed to be. After all this was a relationship started online and Riya wanted to be sure Prem was a genuine person.

Having confirmed all she wanted to confirm about Prem, Riya affirmed her love for him and they spent a few good months together communicating via phone, text and occasionally chat online building up their relationship. As their love grew stronger Prem knew that Riya was the woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life and proposed to her. Riya was happy and started to think about the proposal and how life would be with the man she loved dearly.

But being from a small and close family and given the fact that Prem was a divorcee with children, Riya had a lot to think about before approaching her family for their approval. Then came a time when Riya felt she was ready to do so and decided that she will talk to her family upon return from a trip the family had planed. They were to attend a wedding of her cousin back home and Riya was to meet her older sister who had moved away after she had got married.

Everything seemed perfect and both Riya and Prem were happy looking forward to a life together. The day of the trip they conversed on the phone for a little bit and then via text until Riya’s flight time. While she was away they continued with the communication and their love felt stronger than ever.

But everything was about to change – and change for the worst.

Riya met up with her sister after many years and sisters do, they got into one to ones to talk about anything and everything. As they talked Riya brought up the feelings she had for Prem and began telling her sister all about it. She sought her sisters support and help, but her dreams were about to be shattered.

In the conversation that followed, Riya learned why her sister had gone away and why she was estranged from the rest of the family. Riya’s sister had fallen in love and married her husband without the family’s approval and in return she was disowned hence why she had moved away. Talking further Riya discovered that should she go ahead and marry Prem she would be faced with the same outcome.

Riya loved her family very much and they had done a lot for her. This was now a huge dilemma for Riya – she was left with tough decision, should she choose the man she love or should she choose the family that has loved her, brought her up and the brothers who left nothing unturned to be there for her? A dilemma indeed!

After a few days discussing things with her sister Riya made the toughest decision of her life. Considering the unknown with Prem and all that her family had done for her Riya decided to forsake her love for Prem and chose her family. With tears in her eyes and sorrow in her heart she plucked up the courage and told Prem of her decision.

At first Prem would not accept and could not understand how Riya could do this to him. He spent days and nights trying his best to convince Riya to change her mind and give their love a chance. As much as Riya wanted to she knew she could not and this was indeed the end and Prem had no choice but to accept and respect Riya’s decision.

They continued to communicate for a good few years afterwards – it was difficult for both but it was also hard for them to let go as well. At this point Riya was distancing herself from Prem, slowly preparing herself for what fate had in store for her as she knew soon or later her family would find someone for her and she would eventually have to get married.

She chose to go back to her origina attitude self and started showing it to Prem. He knew that she loved him very much perhaps more than he loved her and he knew exactly why she was doing. In his understanding, Prem knew the reason of Riya’s attitude change – it was her way of breaking away. She wanted Prem to feel that she had changed and was bad so that it would be easy for him to let go and move on.

Prem did let go soon one day – after he had texted Riya who had replied in such a way which made Prem feel that he was no longer welcomed to text her, that he was now a nuisance and unwanted one. Prem bid Riya goodbye and promised never to bother her again and in return Riya texted back saying “Whatever” and that was the last the two of them communicated. Prem was left heartbroken not being able to talk to the woman he loved, that he will never get to wish her on religious celebrations or happy birthday again. But he also knew that this is what Riya wanted, to be given the space to transition herself into her new life, a life without the man she loved.

It has been almost 3 years now since they last communicated and Prem has no idea how Riya is, where she is and if she is now married or not. Weather she remembers him or not, weather she still loves him or not – But he knows this much, where ever Riya is, who ever Riya is with, Prem wishes her nothing but happiness. Prem has always loved Riya and will always love her, she holds a special place in his heart and he will always cherish her and the fond memories they created together.

I dedicate this short story to Riya and Prem – to all those who have loved and been loved back. Those who loved and weren’t loved back. Love is unconditional – love only knows how to love and nothing else. So love with all your heart and love like there is no tomorrow!

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click to get More prayers and wishes Comments & Graphics

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment,the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back,a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head witha smile on your faceand are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God’s healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all. You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

If you are feeling blessed, repay the blessings bestowed unto you and do something for others.

A blessing cannot be kept. If it stops with you, then the blessing will disappear. The blessing will only keep working if it is continuously passed around. If you are a recipient of a blessing, keep the blessing working by being the source of blessing to other people. Share the blessing with your close ones, your family and friends (Yehi Dosti, Isika naam zindagi hai)

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