Vesakha festival…

 

 

 

Today is Buddha Purnima also known as Vesakha or Vesak. Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti or Vesākha is the most sacred occasion for the Buddhists. As per Hindu Mythology Lord Buddha is believed to be the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. One among the most important festivals, Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaishaaka lunar month (that corresponds to the month of April-May).

This is a special day when Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautum Buddha. Initially Buddhism spread from India and gradually assimilated into many foreign cultures, therefore Buddha Purnima is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

In most of the Buddhist countries the cities, villages, roads, streets, temples and houses are brightly illuminated with colorful Lanterns, electric lights and beautiful decorations. In India, pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya to attend the Buddha Purnima celebrations. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colorful flags and flowers.

On this day devout Buddhist and followers wear only white clothes. They gather in their Viharas or temples before dawn for the ceremonial, honorable- hoisting of the Buddhist Flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the Holy Triple Gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sagha (his disciples). On this day, the Buddhists free birds and animals from cages, distribute fruit and clothes to poor and sick.

Offerings in form of incense, flowers, candles and fruits are made before Lord Buddha’s Statue. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as flowers- fruits will parish after a short while, the candles and incense sticks would burn out, so the life is subject to decay and destruction.Followers should reaffirm faith in the five principles called 'Panch Sheel'. These are- not to take life, not to steal, not to lie, not to imbibe liquor or other intoxicants and not to commit adultery.

In most of the Buddhist countries the villages, roads, streets, temples and houses are brightly illuminated with color Lanterns, electric lights and colorful decorations. In India, pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya to attend the Buddha Purnima celebrations. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colorful flags and flowers.

Read More…

Read : Vesak

Read More

Happy Easter !!

 

Date of Issue : 9 March 2012

Greetings on Easter

Polish Post issued a beautiful set of 3 stamps for Easter on 9 March 2012. The stamps feature symbols of Lamb, Egg and Bunny.

Easter is a Christian feast and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday, commemorating Maundy and the Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday.

The festival is referred to in English by a variety of different names including Easter Day, Easter Sunday,Resurrection Day and Resurrection Sunday.

Easter Customs around the world…

Many central and eastern European ethnic groups, including the Albanians, Armenians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, Croats, Czechs, Greeks, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Macedonians, Poles, Romanians, Russians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes, and Ukrainians decorate eggs for Easter.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, a tradition of spanking or whipping is carried out on Easter Monday. In the morning, men spank women with a special handmade whip called a pomlázka (in Czech) or korbáč (in Slovak), or, in eastern Moravia and Slovakia, throw cold water on them. The pomlázka / korbáč consists of eight, twelve or even twenty-four withies (willow rods), is usually from half a meter to two meters long and decorated with coloured ribbons at the end. The spanking is not painful or intended to cause suffering. A legend says that women should be spanked with a whip in order to keep their health and beauty during the whole next year.

An additional purpose can be for men to exhibit their attraction to women; unvisited women can even feel offended. Traditionally, the spanked woman gives a coloured egg and sometimes a small amount of money to the man as a sign of her thanks. In some regions, the women can get revenge in the afternoon or the following day when they can pour a bucket of cold water on any man. The habit slightly varies across Slovakia and the Czech Republic. A similar tradition existed in Poland (where it is called Dyngus Day), but it is now little more than an all-day water fight.

In Croatia and Slovenia, a basket of food is prepared and covered with a handmade cloth, and brought to the church to be blessed. A typical Easter basket includes bread, colored eggs, ham, horseradish, and a type of nut cake called "potica".

The butter lamb (Baranek wielkanocny) is a traditional addition to the Easter Meal for many Polish Catholics. Butter is shaped into a lamb either by hand or in a lamb-shaped mould.

In Hungary, Transylvania, Southern Slovakia, Kárpátalja, Northern Serbia - Vojvodina and other territories with Hungarian-speaking communities, the day following Easter is called Locsoló Hétfő, "Watering Monday". Water, perfume or perfumed water is often sprinkled in exchange for an Easter egg.

Read More….

Read More

Stamps from UAE…

 

 

40th National Day for UAE

Date of Issue : 2 December 2011

Camel Mazayina 

 

Date of Issue : 29 December 2011

 

Camel Mazayina :

The camel 'beauty contest  known locally as 'Camel Mazayen' is one of the activities of Al Dhafra Festival organised annually by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) at Zayed City in Al Gharbia (the Western Region). Camels are seen during the Mazayen al-Ibl competition, which seeks to find the most beautiful camel, in the desert region of Um Rgheiba.

 

Winter Plants in the UAE 

Date of Issue : 26 December 2011

 

: Pradip Jain – Patna - email : philapradip@gmail.com

Read More

New stamps on Christmas and New Year …

 

2012 - The Year of Dragon

Korea

Date of Issue: 1 December 2011 

The year of 2012 is the year of the dragon.

Dragon is the creature of legends, the dragon is described to have an immense body of a snake, the horns of a deer, the ear of a cow, scaly skin, and four legs.Since ancient times, the dragon has been associated to greatness, thus symbolizing royal authority or the throne. Almost everything associated with kings was preceded by the prefix of “yong” (dragon) such as Yongan (king’s face), Gollyongpo (king’s ceremonial attire), Yongsang (the low wooden bench on which the King sat), etc.
The dragon has been positioned as an auspicious symbol in daily life: a dream of forthcoming conception that involves a dragon led to the expectation of the baby growing up to be a great man; farmers worshipped the dragon as the god of water that governs the success of their harvest; fishermen worshipped the dragon as the Dragon King that governs the sea.

New Christmas stamps

Italy

  

Date of Issue: 19 November 2011

The Italian Post has issued two stamps dedicated to the Holy Christmas 2011.

The first stamp reproduces the painting "Madonna and Child with Pomegranate" The second stamp on the secular subject is a typical Christmas snowy landscape with reindeer standing on the night sky.

Paintings on Christmas Stamps

The Christmas 2011 stamps feature some of the most notable artistic representations of The Nativity by world famous artists.

Slovakia

 

Date of Issue: 13 December 2011

Gibraltar

Date of Issue: 7 December 2011

Belarus

Date of Issue: 11 November 2011

Christmas stamp with unique design

Uruguay

The stamp illustrates Uruguayan version of Maria, gaucho (shepherd) and baby Jesus in Christmas crib, creations by Uruguayan artisan Maria Martinez. The figures are entirely handmade: they are made of pumpkin seeds, leather, wool, seeds of the country and other raw material in their natural forms.

Read More

New Christmas Stamps from Jersey

 

 

Christmas Tree decorations

Date of Issue : 8 November 2011

On 8th November 2011, Jersey Post issued six stamps depicting Christmas Tree Decorations. The tradition of decorating trees at Christmas began centuries ago. Decorations which started with sweets, gingerbread, nuts and paper roses, were followed by tinsel and a huge variety of miniature dolls, instruments, glass beads, baubles and so on, remaining to this day an indispensable part of Christmas celebrations.

Views and Opinions

A comment from reader…. 

The article is about philately. It’s a nice one. But the author of this article is more of a business person rather than a professional philatelist. Budding philatelists, who cannot assess the exact value of a stamp get cheated by these people because they sell stamps at a very higher price in online portals like ebay. These guys are not at all professional and they tend to cheat newbies by playing cheap tricks. Beware !!!! In fact I am an enthusiastic philatelist, got cheated by these people badly. I lost around $ 70 because of a damaged item they've sent and refused returns. It was my first bitter experience till date.

This comment was given by anonymous on an article published in RSC Blog. The name of a noted stamp dealer mentioned in the comment has been removed.

Special Covers

Gujarat

Gujpex – 73

Kutch Embroidery

Arch – Kapadwanj

: Ashwani Dubey. Gorakhpur

 

Exhibits

Here I am sharing my Rainbow Collection that I put in 16 sheets to make a small one frame collection !! If any one wishes to exchange  philatelic items on Rainbow …..is most welcome !! –

 

 

 

Sheet No 5 - 8

Read More

Thai Traditional Festivals …

 

Date of Issue : 10 November 2011

Thai post will issue a set of four stamps on 10 November 2011 featuring traditional festivals of Thailand.

Reflection of Thai way of life

Design 1: Loy Krathong and Candle Festival (Sukhothai Province)

This festival has been held as far back as Sukhothai period. In the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng, it was known as "Jong Parien ceremony" or "Loi Phra Prateep". There was a mention in the Stone Inscription No.1 that this was largest festival in Sukhothai city, which led to a belief that this must be the same festival as Loi Krathong.

Design 2: The Festival of Illuminated Boat Procession (Nakhon Phanom Province)

The Festival of illuminated Boat Procession or locally known as Lai Rua Fai is an important festival held by the northeasterners to celebrate the end of Buddhist lent on the 15^th vexing moon night or the 1^st waning moon night of the 11^th lunar month of each year. "Rua Fai" is a boat made from banana trunks or bamboos of 5-6 wah tied together. Sweets and any items people want to donate are placed in the boat. The boat exterior is decorated with the flowers, incense sticks, candles, lamps and torches to be lighted before the boat is released into a canal or river. This is the origin of the name "Lai Rua Fai".

Design 3: Yi-Peng Festival (Chiang Mai Province)

This stamp depicts the 12^th Lunar Month Full Moon Festival of Lanna Thai (the northern region) which is known as Yi-Peng. On the day of Yi-Peng, people decorated Buddhist temples and their houses with banana trees, sugar cane, coconut fronds, Tung flowers, and Chor Prateep. Various style of paper lamps called Khom Yi-Peng are hoisted high as offerrings to the Lord Buddha. Small bowl lamps are lighted as offerings to the Three Gems of Buddhism while floating paper lamps are lighted and released into the sky as offerings to Phra Ketkaew Chulamanee in heaven.

Design 4: Loi Krathong Sai (Tak Province)

Tak Province organizes Loi Krathong Sai festival on the full moon of the 12^th lunar month of each year. Latex of Yang trees is mixed with wood chips, formed into small balls and placed at the bottom of halved coconut shells. On the nights of the festival the latex balls are lighted and floated in the Ping River at regular interval, forming long rows of flickering lights above the water. These coconut shells (krathong) will eventually flow out of the audiences' sight. It is believed that participants and spectators of this festival will be blessed with what they wished for during the festival.

Source : Siamstamp

From Our Readers….

Army Postal Service Covers – Part- 8

- P. Ramakrishnan

601	313 FIIELD REGIMENT	07/01/2010
602	314 FIELD REGIMENT	07/01/2010
603	CORPS OF ELECTICAL & MECHANICAL	08/01/2010
604	1 MEDIUM REGIMENT	15/01/2010
605	17 ENGINEER REGIMENT	31/01/2010
606	ARTY CENTRE NASIK	04/02/2010
607	126 INF BN (TA) J & K RIF	05/02/2010
608	23 MECH INFAN	06/02/2010
609	21 GRENAADIERS	11/02/2010
610	12 ASSAM RIF	11/02/2010
611	18 GUARDS	11/02/2010
612	19 J&K RIF	11/02/2010
613	21 PARA	11/02/2010
614	20 JAT	11/02/2010
615	18 GARH RIF	11/02/2010
616	13 SIKH REGT	11/02/2010
617	19 DOGRA	18/02/2010
618	142 AD REGT	20/02/2010
619	511 AD MSL REGT	20/02/2010
620	11 CORPS	03/03/2010
621	75 (I) BDE	05/03/2010
622	49 SQN	09/03/2010
623	107 HU	09/03/2010
624	5 MAHAR	23/03/2010
625	19 ARMED REGT	25/03/2010
626	323 AD REGT	27/03/2010
627	436 ADMSL REGT (SP)	27/03/2010
628	322 AD REGT	27/03/2010
629	15 ARMD REGT	03/04/2010
630	19 GUARD	03/04/2010
631	76 ARMD REGT	03/04/2010
632	147 LT AD REGT	03/04/2010
633	513 AD REGT	03/04/2010
634	3 ASSAM REGT	08/04/2010
635	16 ASSAM RIFLES	09/04/2010
636	117 ENGR REGIMENT	09/04/2010
637	2/8 GR	13/04/2010
638	BORDER ROAD ORGANISATION	07/05/2010
639	22 ASSAM RIFLES	15/05/2010
640	HQ CE BEACON	19/05/2010
641	ARMY CADET COLLEGE WING, INDIAN MILITARY ACADEMY	04/06/2010
642	100 ENGINEER OFFICERS DEGREE COURSE COLLEGE OF MILITARY ENGIN	23/06/2010
643	BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS 5	25/08/2010
644	1/11 GORKHA RIFLES	01/09/2010
645	MADRAS SAPPERS	30/09/2010
646	108 INF BN (TA) MAHAR	01/10/2010
647	107 INF BN (TA) 11 GORKHA	01/10/2010
648	117 INF BN (TA) THE GUARDS	01/10/2010
649	106 INF BN (TA) PARA	01/10/2010
650	14TH BN THE ASSAM REGIMENT	15/10/2010
651	31 ARMOURED DIVISION	19/10/2010
652	5TH BN THE GRENADIERS	23/10/2010
653	415 (I) ENGINEER SQUADRON	30/10/2010
654	115 INF BN (TA) MAHAR	01/11/2010
655	CORPS OF MILITARY POLICE	01/11/2010
656	RAJPUT REGIMENT	20/11/2010
657	JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIFLES	20/11/2010
658	ARMY ORDNACE CORPS	08/12/2010
659	ARMY SERVICE CORPS	08/12/2010
660	IMA ACADEMY	11/12/2010
661	9 BASE REPAIR DEPOT INDIAN AIR FORCE	08/01/2011
662	31 SQUADRON AIR FORCE	08/01/2011
663	6 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY	01/02/2011
664	ARMY DENTAL CORPS	12/02/2011
665	2 BN FIRST GORKHA RIFLES	19/02/2011
666	JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIFLES 5	25/02/2011
667	51 MEDIUM REGIMENT	01/03/2011
668	81 FIELD REGIMENT	01/03/2011
669	GORKHA RECRUITING DEPOT, KUNRAGHAT	03/03/2011
670	110 HELICOPTER UNIT	09/03/2011
671	44 SQUADRON AIR FORCE	09/03/2011
672	128 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	01/04/2011
673	127 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	02/04/2011
674	PROJECT DANTAK	23/04/2011
675	PROJECT DEEPAK	04/05/2011
676	28 ASSAM RIFLES	15/09/2011
	New and to be issued…
676	85 ARMOURED REGIMENT	30/09/2011
677	4/9 GORKHA RIFLES	14/10/2011
678	1 PARA	17/10/2011
679	4 PARA	22/10/2011
680	MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY	29/10/2011
681	GORKHA RIFLES 01	20/11/2011
682	ARMY AVIATION CORPS	26/11/2011
683	129 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	26/11/2011
684	04 GORKHA RIFLES	27/11/2011
685	PROJECT HIMANK	05/12/2011

This is the complete list of Army Postal Covers upto 2011, compiled by P. Ramkrishnan of Chennai. P. Ramkrishnan may be contacted at email : pramakrishnan1@royalenfield.com Postal address :  42 varalakshmi Nagar Extn, Kolathur, Chennai 99

Maxim Cards : Rashtrapati Bhawan

 

  

J E Boben of Trivandrum has designed maxim cards for Rashtrapati Bhawan stamos issued on 5 August 2011. Email : annakutty.03@gmail.com  Blog : http://www.philalover.blogspot.com/

 

Read More

New Stamps on Christmas

 

Date of Issue : 31 October 2011

Australia Post and Christmas Island  issued new stamps on 31st October 2011 for this year’s Christmas celebration.

This year's Christmas issue from Australia Post includes two stamps with a religious theme and three that focus on the more secular elements of Christmas.

The beautiful religious stamps show two episodes from the Biblical story. In the 55c stamp the Virgin Mary, dressed in her traditional deep blue robe, gazes tenderly at the newborn baby Jesus. In the $1.50 stamp, the three Kings or Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, are shown journeying from the east to Bethlehem in order to worship the Christ Child. They are dressed in rich robes as befits their royal station. The guiding star can be seen in the night sky.

Stamp and Coin Cover

The three secular stamps offer an alternative to those who celebrate the festive season but who would prefer not to focus on the religious aspect of Christmas. Many people identify Christmas with the Christmas tree and the excitement of opening elaborately wrapped presents early on Christmas morning. The decorative Christmas star is a reference to the bright star that the Wise Men followed from the east. 

 

 

Date of Issue : 31 October 2011

Festive designs appear on new Christmas Island stamps to celebrate  this year’s Christmas.  The stamp issue takes a light-hearted approach to Christmas, integrating symbols of Christmas with the island’s natural environment in a humorous graphic manner.

55c Pulling crackers.
In a classic Christmas Island setting and surrounded by a number of delighted birds and a green sea turtle, Father Christmas and a Red Crab pull a Christmas cracker. A lovely Ridley’s Orchid hangs among the Christmas lights while a Christmas Island Frigatebird, a Golden Bosunbird, an Abbott’s Booby and a Green Sea Turtle look on.

$1.50 Father Christmas arrives on Christmas Island.
Christmas Island is known for its snorkelling sites. Father Christmas has taken time out to do some snorkelling before arriving on the island to be met by a number of excited crabs, birds and fish, including an Eastern Reef Egret, a Red-footed Booby, a Moorish Idol and a Whitelined Cod.

 

: Australia Post

Read More

New Stamps on Christmas..

 

Christmas stamps from Royal Mail

 

Date of Issue : 8 November 2011

Forthcoming GB’s Christmas stamps show various nativity scenes including Baby Jesus and two cows (on the 68p value) and the three wise men (£1.65). The stamps will feature on a miniature sheet, while each value will also be available on self-adhesive sheets. The 1st and 2nd Class values will also be issued in booklets.

 

  Holiday stamps from USPS

 

Date of Issue : 13 October 2011

The U.S Postal Service released two 2011 Christmas stamps on Thursday. The traditional Madonna and child Christmas stamp features a painting by the 16th century artist Raphael. The modern holiday stamp features a set of four 1950s style Christmas tree ornaments.

 

Date of Issue : 14 October 2011

On Friday USPS issued  new stamps to commemorate the Jewish holiday Hanukkah and the African-American celebration Kwanzaa. The Kwanzaa stamp is illustrated with a family dressed in green, red and black. The Hanukkah stamp features the eight letters Hanukkah on colored fields, representing the eight candles, and the second letter “K’’ resembles the toy known as a dreidel.

A flower for Christmas from Aland

Date of Issue : 7 October 2011

“I frequently recur to nature”, says Helene Schmitz, the photographer behind this year’s Aland’s Christmas stamp depicting a hyacinth. She is universally recognized for her close-up pictures of flowers.

 

Christmas Carols stamps  from  Faroe Islands

Date of Issue : 28 September 2011

The Faroese Post has launched the second issue of Christmas carols stamps.

The motif of the 6.50 stamp is based on the modern Faroese Christmas classic, "Eg eri so spent til jola" – "I can't wait for Christmas to come." The music was written by Johannus a Rogvu Joensen and lyrics by Ella Smith Clementsen.

The song and the story is about the six-year old Margreta who has problems with controlling her longing and expectations for Christmas. In her restlessness she goes out for a walk and in Torshavn's old cafe, she meets a pixie-girl, who takes her out on adventures that only six year olds can experience.

The second song was written on Christmas Eve 1858 by the 26 year old Marie Wexelsen, waiting for the Christmas guests to arrive. As she sat there and looked out the window, she came to think of her childhood Christmas, and began in her mind to formulate a Christmas song. Her song "I rejoice every Christmas Eve" became one of the greatest Nordic Christmas classics.

Competition for Guernsey Post’s 2011 Christmas stamps

Guernsey Post announce Winter Wonderland Photographic Competition winner and runners up

Guernsey Post has announced the winner and the runners up of its Winter Wonderland Photographic Competition. The competition, which was open to everyone, required its entrants to capture their favorite local winter wonderland scene for a chance to have their image depicted on Guernsey Post’s 2011 Christmas stamps.

The winning shot came from Mr Nigel Byrom who wowed the judges with his stunning image of a snowy L’Ancresse Common. Mr Byrom’s photograph will now appear on Guernsey Post’s 2011 local letter Christmas stamp (36p).

The judges have also chosen six talented runners up; their photographs will be used on the remaining stamp values.*

Judges Alistair Mitchell, Creative director of design agency, The Potting Shed, and Internationally renowned photographer, Karl Taylor, were extremely impressed with the high quality of images submitted.

Dawn Gallienne, Head of Philatelic at Guernsey Post said:

“Thank you to everyone who entered, it was lovely to receive so many fantastic images and many congratulations to the final seven; I hope they enjoy seeing their images on Guernsey Post’s world renowned Christmas stamps!”

 

These stamps are subject to approval.

Read More