7 to 10 crores in 1 day!

People gathered at Shantinagar Society, 21/09/2011

The plot (Shantinagar Society, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad) has become so popular after 3 Jain Stone Stutes were unearthed that the price has gone to 10 crores from 7 crores in hours. Final price may be much higher. The plot has turned into a gold mine.

For every Jain, the plot has turned into a holy place. Soon, we may see a Jain Temple being built. Every newspaper at Ahmedabad has covered this story today. Every one is surprised and confused about these statues. Many versions are coming up regarding the presence of statues at this location, but no concrete information is there. Some feel that these are 500 years old, while government body says that they are only 100 years old. We can only wait till the truth is unearthed. 

We will keep posting latest reports. Keep visiting! Thanks.

Tomorrow's Headline - 3 Historical Stone Statues Unearthed

Ahmedabad keeps surprising it's people and today Mother Earth gave a precious gift when labors were digging ground for construction work.

3 Jain Stone Statues which seems to be very old were found. Devotees have started gathering at the spot. Some were seen collecting "mitti". Puja has started. Government bodies will soon join to make sure that everything falls into place.

The plot is in Shantinagar Society at Osmanpura.

More details coming soon.

One video - http://youtu.be/KTNyN5ux1Cc

1000 years old!

How many of you know that on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, there is a temple which is more than 1000 years old?

The name of this historical temple is Shri Somnath Mahadev Mandir. Those who have visited this temple have experienced that all their wishes get fulfilled if they visit regularly. There is a Diya which is always burning and has been brought from Somnath.

The Sawan month just completed. During this period, every Somwar, thousands of devotees visit this temple throughout the day. People come here from very far to get blessings of Lord Shiva who is famous as the God of creation as well as destruction. It is located In Fatehpur at Gyaspur road on Narol-SG Highway, near Toll Tax. It's surrounding is very beautiful and full of greenery.

When my friend, Paresh Jajjar, asked the main pujari that is there any story of miracle which he want to share. The pujari told this temple has lot many stories which are full of miracle and show the presence of Lord Shiva and that's why number of devotees keep increasing everyday.

Jai Bhole Nath!

Music Buff!

Many of us grow having a wish to learn guitar. Strange but true, I have seen some of my friends learning guitar after completing their studies. They say "It's never late". This is their passion for learning guitar. 


I live in Vastrapur opposite Sunrise Mall. I know there are 4 music instrument shops in the same building. That always used to confuse me and raised many questions in my mind. Is there really such a big market for music instruments? Is learning music becoming more crazy? Are parents thinking of music as a career opportunity for their kid? Has there been more social acceptance of people who play music for their livelihood? 

Manikant Tomar in Red T-shirt with his band

So to find some answers, i visited one shop named V S Musicals in Sunrise Mall. I found that really things have changed for better. I had a hearty chat with the owner who is a young chap named Manikant Tomar. He is a fantastic Guitar player. He shared lot of insights about his music instrument business. 


It's their family business. They sell all types of music instruments and have their main branch at Dariyapur which is 15 years old. For 29 years, they were leading manufactures of brass instruments in India. Now, selling music instruments is their core business. They are the only whole-seller in Ahmedabd and have huge client base of more than 200 different music instrument shops spread all over North India. They also teach "how to play" various musical instruments. They have a small music band which plays for entertaining their audience. They don't play for money. Is't that's great?


You can visit the website - http://vsmusicals.com/index.html for more information about V S Musicals.

Bus Terminus of a new kind!

Ashish

When Ashish told me about a new Bus Terminus and suggested that i should write about it. At first, i was not convinced with the idea. In India, we seldom find anything to write good about public transport and that too a Bus Terminus. People in India use Bus when it is the only alternative to commute or to use a cheap transport system. As we all know, normally all Bus Terminus are dirty, crowded and full of ear-busting noise. So, how can this one be different. But, here i write as a proud Ahmedabadi and give full credit to the Government of Gujarat for building such a fantastic Bus Terminal. 

Waiting Commuters

I was amazed to see the bus terminus of Juna Wadaj which has become operational on 1st July, 2011. It's quite spacious and well laid out. It looks modern and has all necessary facilities for commuters. It has electronic display to give the latest information about arrival and departure of buses run by AMTS (Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service). You will find people have enough chairs to sit while they are waiting for the bus. Speakers are strategically placed to give clear and loud information. Ticket counter is computerized. It's a clean and windy place with attractive colors used to give it a lively ambience. Everything is well organized and properly maintained. I liked the place and hope that it will only get better and better.

For Knowledge - There are around 750 buses run by AMTS in Ahmedabad and fare charge is almost Re 1/km. There are 186 bus routes and 966 Bus Stops.

Idol Worship!

Mold of Idol of Lord Ganesh

There is one area in Ahmedabad which comes into limelight only during some religious festivals. It is the slum area of Gulbai Tekra which is known for selling idols of deities.


It exists since 17th century and comprises of 1300 huts and 90% population are idol makers. It's just like any another slum, densely populated, narrow lanes, unhygienic living and working conditions. But, slum dwellers here, become very important when they start selling idols of Gods and Goddesses. Though they are economically backward and their earnings are seasonal, they have not left their craft. They are skilled and give marvelous finish.

Working for such long periods in dirty living conditions is tough and they don’t even have adequate storage space. The poor workers for want of proper storage space have to keep the moulds out in the open during the year, often damaging them. They then have to make new moulds, wasting time and money.


Most of idols are made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) as buyers prefer them in comparison to clay. The reason is huge difference in price. A one-foot clay idol costs anything between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000, while the PoP idols of the same size will cost around Rs 300 only. The price depends upon the size of the idols and can cost up to Rs.12,000 for the bigger ones.

Gulbai Tekra is not only famous for its finely carved statues of the Hindu god, but attracts customers from states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as well. Hundreds of trucks carrying mould from here are dispatched to other states every year.

This year Ganesh Chaturthi fall on 1st September. But, while crossing Gulbai Tekra, you can see that work on making idols of Lord Ganesh has already started. 

An untold true story!

(“Goswami Haveli”-Pustimargiya temple of Shree Natwar Prabhu & Shree Syamlalji, is situated in Doshiwada ni Pole, Kalupur-the heart of Ahmedabad City. This is one of the main temple of pustimarg in Gujarat and as well as in India.)

GOSWAMI HAVELI

Although i am a brahmin from Bihar, my wife Payal Shah is a Pusthimargi. After marriage, we made it a habit to visit Goswami Haveli, every thursday morning. There is a  "Akhand Jyoti" which is a lamp burning continuously from more than 200 years.  We always used to take 108 circles which are called "pheras" of the lamp while saying "Shree Krishna Sharnam Mamah". 


Payal used to wear contact lenses. Once while wearing her contact lens,she lost her vision. She saw everything as scattered bright white pixels. It seemed we have lost everything. Our life took a "U" turn. Everything changed. We were completely lost. Doctors were unable to understand the reason. 


At that time,i thought that we have been so devoted to Lord krishna, so this thing cannot happen with me. Next morning when Payal woke up, i was waiting beside her to see her reaction. To everyone's surprise Payal's vision was back. These were the worst 36 hours of my life, but my beliefs changed forever.


Till this incident, i was unaware about the importance of 108 "pheras". But, now i know why thousands of people throng this Haveli on every Thursday.