MY OLYMPIC PHILATELY

After a 72 years break Lithuania will host the European Men’s Basketball Championship of 2011, which will be held from August 31 until September 18. The 24 strongest European men’s basketball teams will compete for medals and qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The most outstanding European basketball players will show their talent for the residents and guests of six Lithuanian cities.
The group matches of the tournament will be played in Alytus, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. Afterwards the strongest 12 teams of the Old Continent will gather in Vilnius and the champion and prize winners will be announced in the new Kaunas Arena, which is the largest arena in the Baltic countries

Artist E. Paukštytė.
Offset. Art paper. Stamp – 32,25x26 mm. Perf.14¼x14. Sheet of 9 stamps (3x3). The upper and lower margins of a sheet are with inscription.
Face value: 2,45 Lt.
Edition: 180 000.
Printed in "Österreichische Staatsdruckerei GmbH" printing-house in Austria (Vienna).

Happy Ganesh Festival

GANAPATI BAPPA MORAYA....................
MANGAL MURATI MORAYA..........................

लालबागचा राजा हे लालबागचा राजा सार्वजनिक गणेशोत्सव मंडळाच्या गणेश मुर्तीला लोकांकडून मिळालेले नाव आहे. मंडळाने गणेशोत्सव 2011 च्या तयारीला जून महिन्यातच सुरुवात केली आहे. भाविकांना लालबागचा राजाचे व्यवस्थित दर्शन व्हावे यासाठी मंडळ नेहमीच प्रयत्नशिल असते. गणेशोत्सव 2010 साठी सुमारे 2500 सहकारी सभासदांची नियुक्ती करण्यात आली आहे. यांच्या बरोबरच सुमारे 5000 स्वयंसेवक लालबागच्या राजाच्या भाविकांच्या मदतीसाठी तयार आहेत. आपाद्कालीन परिस्थितीचा सामना करण्यासाठी काही स्वयंसेवकांना विशेष प्रशिक्षण देण्यात आले आहे.
गणेशोत्सव 2011 साठी व्यवस्था
यावर्षी लालबागच्या राजाला नवस करण्यासाठी वा फेडण्यासाठी आलेल्या भाविकांची नवसाची रांग ग.द.आंबेकर मार्गावरील ओमशांती डेव्हलपर्सच्या आवारातून लागेल. या ठिकाणी पोहोचण्यासाठी भाविकांनी करीरोड - भारतमाता सिनेमा - साईबाबा पथ - ग.द.आंबेकर - अभ्युदय नगर या मार्गाचा वापर करावा. रेल्वे मार्गाने येणाऱयांनी मध्य रेल्वेचे करीरोड स्थानक वा पश्चिम रेल्वेचे लोअर परेल स्थानक अथवा हार्बर मार्गाचे कॉटनग्रीन स्थानक येथे उतरावे.
लालबागच्या राजाचे मुख दर्शन घेऊ इच्छिणाऱया भाविकांची `मुख दर्शन रांग' गणेशोत्सव 2010 सारखीच असेल. ही रांग दत्ताराम लाड मार्ग, काळाचौकी येथून चालू होऊन छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज क्रिडांगण (गरमखाडा) मार्गे श्रीं च्या आवारात येईल. मुख दर्शन घेऊन इच्छिणाऱया भाविकांनी मध्य रेल्वे मार्गाचे चिंचपोकळी स्थानक अथवा हार्बर रेल्वे मार्गाचे कॉटनग्रीन स्थानक येथे उतरावे.

For More information About Ganesh Festival and LalBaugcha Raja
Please Log On to :
http://www.lalbaugcharaja.in/

What is Ganesh Festival? :
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular and auspicious Hindu festivals. Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the symbol of wisdom and remover of obstacles. This festival is also known as Ganesh Utsav which means festival of Ganesh. Lord Ganesha is also referred to as Ganapati, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vighneshawar and Pillaiyar. This auspicious day falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). This festival is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world. This festival is widely celebrated in Maharashtra,West Bengal,Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andra Pradesh. This year this festival date falls on Saturday, the 1st of September, 2011. In 2010, Eid and Vinayaka Chaturthi was on the same day but this year it has fallen one day after Eid.

This festival lasts for 10 days starting with devotees bring home a Ganesha Idol and offer him prayers daily and ending on Anant Chaturdashi day. One can also see huge Ganesh Statues in every locality pandhals during the period which attracts huge crowds to see and worship this Elephant God. One of the best Ganesh Mandals in Maharashtra is the Lalbaughcha Raja in Mumbai which is one of the most popular among pandhal hoppers. However, these days more and more people are turning to eco friendly Ganesh Idols instead of Plaster of Paris to protect the environment. This Ganesha idols are kept for 10 days from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi and worshipped with rituals and mantras and then taken on the 11th day in a procession where devotees sing and dance before immersing Lord Ganesh idol to the water symbolizing the removal of all obstacles and misfortunes of his devotees and retuning to Mount Kailash to his parents. This ritual of immersing Lord Ganesh Statue is known as Ganesh Visarjan.