Happy Australia Day/India's Republic Day

I only found out India shares a celebration with us Ozzies today 26th January because of the cricket so...happy days to both countries!

Oh...and the Scot in me wants to say...Happy Burns'Day which was yesterday 25th!

A happy day to both countries indeed, amazing what you learn from the cricket haha.

I'm on my phone at the moment, sitting on a lovely beach here in Wollongong. Not better way to enjoy the day.

That's the ONLY thing I learned from the cricket haha!!! Flicking between that and the tennis...under the air con...too damn hot to venture too far today!

Honestly I'm not a cricket fan, I enjoy NRL though.

It's only 23C here at the moment, I got soaked walking in the rain and then the sun came out and I was steaming, don't ya just love the weather here?

Oh yay Indian and Australian! Happy day to both! And a special wish for my dearest Indian friend Aman!

----
Mellsi! beach ? I'm coming over :O

Sunshine flower, this is my lovely hometown! I'm on that exact beach you can see to the left:

http://www.tourismwollongong.com/media/images/1256/474.jpg

Only it's night and we're waiting for the fireworks.

You're welcome any time!

Oh my!! Seriously? That's so beautiful...fireworks too ? :') < happy tears :P, and oh ya I wish!

-Onedayy tho

and Enjoooyyy it :]

Happy Aussie Day!

Happy Independence Day, India!

Well now Larry I actually looked this up when they said Republic Day..26th Jan and found Independence day in India is in August (15th I think it said?) so now I'm confused....our members from India please tell us the difference?

Happy Australia Day for you all... Mel, Hellon, Liz.. :)

and Indian guys!:)

Meena..Nitin..just two I know off pat...hope you guys got a holiday like we here in Australia did?

Happy Australia Day and Happy Independence Day, India!

Happy Days to both countries. Meena, Nitin, Raj and Gaurav all have holidays today for the Independence Day in India.

Meena posted this today in the club and it explains the difference in the dates you mentioned Hellon.

Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950. Although India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947, it did not have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935, and the country was a Dominion, with George VI as head of state and Earl Mountbatten as Governor General. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as chairman. While India's
Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.

To mark the importance of the occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the President's Palace, along the Rajpath, past India Gate . Prior to its commencement, the Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, a memorial to unknown soldiers at the India Gate at one end of Rajpath, which is followed by two minutes silence in the memory of unknown soldiers. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defence of sovereignty of their country.

Lol I was just watching on TV how the Australian prime minister was trapped in a place and had to ride in the car barefoot because of natives outrage... what happened exactly?

Happy Australia day Hellon, Melpomene, Lioness and all Aussies.
Happy Republic day to all Indians and people of Indian origin.

And yes, Hellon. Aussies just beat the Indians in the latest cricket series/tests ended yesterday. They are too good on their soil (I personally think they make the pitches so bouncy that most great Indian batsmen are busy ducking their heads). When the Aussies come to India, the pitches are made for spinners, and the results are reversed. No wonder why we have this oddity all the time.
I love cricket. grew up playing it. Now I can only watch them on special channels on Dish network or the internet.
Re: Republic day, to complement Meena's.
Though India became independent on 15th Aug 1947, the colonial structure of the Govt. under the last Viceroy General Lord Mountbatten (who also became the first Governor general of free India), was still headed by King George VI, until the adoption of the Indian Constitution, on this day in 1950, when the Indian tri-color flag was unfurled by the Nationalists. The day is mostly celebrated today as a holiday with parades in the capital Delhi. But, it carries a deeper symbolism of true independence when B.R. Ambedkar's Indian constitution replaced the British constitution, and the British Governor General's were replaced by India's presidential system (unfortunately figureheads who are appointed by the Prime minister/cabinet, and are not elected).

My take: the British left India in 1947, but left the colonial bureaucracy behind, which is probably one of the most corrupt democracies anywhere, favors a few and unfavors the people. I only wish Gandhiji was not assassinated the year after Independence. For he was the only true leader (non-political) of India who could have brought a real change, and prevented a corrupt system to take roots in a country of over 1 billion, ruled by bureaucrats, 90% of whom are corrupt and without morals, a stark contrast to today's young people who grow up with greater idealism, and purpose of Life.
Best wishes to all Indians and Aussies on this day.

^Unfortunate incident with the Australian Prime-minister that I also watched on BBC Intl news and then read more on various news sites. I agree Abed, it seems embarassing seeing a video of her being virtually dragged to safety by her protectors. Perhaps, unnecessary. I wonder if she could have just stood her ground and stayed there at the awards ceremony, despite the noisy disruption by theindiginous (Aboriginal) people, and faced them rather than the police staging a hurried retreat which certainly looked unbecoming of a State head, in Int'l news. They did not seem to be armed either, but were just noisy in protesting the tradition of Australia day, history of which itself is interesting, very similar to Columbus day protests here in the US by native Indians.

In the process, learnt :
The tradition of 26 January as Australia day began early in the nineteenth century with Sydney almanacs referring to it as First Landing Day or Foundation Day. That was the day Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain and the first governor of New South Wales, arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788. Australia Day marks the arrival of the first fleet of British colonists in Sydney on January 26, 1788.
Many Aborigines call it Invasion Day as the land was settled without a treaty with the original owners.

History has its own twists, in every corner of the World. What is a celebration to many may be a tragedy to others. Cannot deny, the same issue exists in many parts of the World today. Only if they all knew that they were all children of Eve (who by scientific geneological studies supposedly lived in the African continent).

Thank you all for the wishes. Wishing you all Australian mates the same :)

No matter how bouncy pitches are made intentionally & no matter how i know revenge will be taken when Aussies visit India...i still do not approve of the way class of Dravid / V.V.S. Laxman / Sehwag / Tendulkar has failed India, this is just pathetic.

I appreciate Clarke & Pointing for leading and showing what Australians are known for.

I know I am a day late but I've been away swimming and relaxing!!!

Happy Australia Day and Indian Republic Day!!!

I hope that everyone has enjoyed their celebrations!!!

x

Aussie rules :D

I lost my lobster on Australia day .... is he here?

Hope everyone enjoyed the celebrations!

I just found a Finnair surprise for India's Republic Day, posted on you tube that went viral ( 2,862,353 views).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mEsnb3kUDAw
It was quite heartwarming, Finnair flight attendants dancing to the famous "Om shanti om" tune enroute to Delhi. It won many Indian hearts, though perhaps a marketing gimmick. Whatever, I want to fly Finair next time.

Here is the English translation of the song from the movie Om Shanti Om titled "Dekho Dekho Yeh Shaam Hain Badi Deewani" ( translation: "have a look .. this evening is very fun filled":

Dekho dekho hai shaam badi deewani
Look at this night; it's brimming with madness
Dheere dheere ban jaaye na koi kahani
Stories are created on such nights
Dilbar hai dilkash hai dildaar nazaren hain
Everything is so beautiful, so charming
Aaj zameen par uthre kitne sitaren hain
So many stars have descended on earth
Aklo hosh nami danam
No one has any wits left
Hum hain dil hain aur jaanam
Just us, our hearts and our lovers
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
There's complete madness in the air
Na koi rehsang na rehbar
There's no guide or leader
Yeh ilzaam lage kispar
No one can be accused of that
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
Just total madness in the air

All hot girls put your hands up and say
Om Shanti Om (Peace be with you)
All cool boys c'mon make some noise and say
Om Shanti Om

Shaam gazab ki hungama khez hai
The night is passionate, pulsing with excitement
Iska nasha hi gehra hai tez hai
Its intoxication is deep and strong
Zulf khuli hain resham resham
Silky tresses flowing
Saans ghuli hain madham madham
Slow breaths mingling
Yeh to ishare hain
These are the signs
Aklo hosh nami danam
No one has any wits left
Hum hain dil hain aur jaanam
Just us, our hearts and our lovers
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
There's complete madness in the air
Na koi rehsang na rehbar
There's no guide or leader
Yeh ilzaam lage kispar
No one can be accused of that
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
Just total madness in the air

All hot girls put your hands up and say
Om Shanti Om
All cool boys c'mon make some noise and say
Om Shanti Om

Kehne ko vaise toh saara sukoon hai
Actually there's a lot of peace to be found here
Phir bhi yeh dil hai ke isko junoon hai
But this heart has gone insane
Pal do pal ko khwab saja de
Fill each moment with your dreams
Isko usko sabko bata de
And tell everyone
Raaz jo saare hain
The secrets of life

Aklo hosh nami danam
No one has any wits left
Hum hain dil hain aur jaanam
Just us, our hearts and our lovers
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
There's complete madness in the air
Na koi rehsang na rehbar
There's no guide or leader
Yeh ilzaam lage kispar
No one can be accused of that
Bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai
Just total madness in the air

All hot girls put your hands up and say
Om Shanti Om
All cool boys c'mon make some noise and say
Om Shanti Om

This was Awesome, thanks for sharing.. :)