Nasa: 50 years of space photography

It's half a century since Mariner 2 swept past Venus at a distance of 22,000 miles, and this year's stunning pictures from across the solar system show how much technology has advanced.

Venus begins its transit of the sun in June 2012. This rare astronomical event occurs when Venus passes directly between the sun and Earth will not happen again until 2117. Photograph: Nasa/Reuters

The Solar Dynamic Observatory's ultra-high definition view of Venus passing in front of the sun. Photograph: Nasa/AP

A field of crescent-shaped dunes in the northern polar region of Mars, which appear to be traversing a bumpy, boulder-strewn terrain. The image was captured by the HiRise camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in July 2012. Photograph: University of Arizona/JPL/Nasa

Sun spots are seen as the moon moves into full eclipse position in May 2012. Photograph: Nasa/Getty Images

A composite image of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East at night, assembled from data from the Suomi NPP satellite. The satellite detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as city lights, gas flares, auroras, wildfires and reflected moonlight. Photograph: Nasa/Reuters

A global composite image created from cloud-free night images from a new Nasa and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite. Photograph: Nasa/Rex Features

Britain, Ireland and part of western Europe on the night of 27 March 2012. Photograph: Nasa/Reuters

A dying star throws a cosmic tantrum in this combined image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The star's dusty outer layers are unraveling into space, glowing from the intense ultraviolet radiation being pumped out by the hot stellar core. This object, called the Helix nebula, lies 650 light years away in the constellation of Aquarius. Photograph: Nasa/AP

The base of Mount Sharp, the Curiosity rover's eventual destination on Mars. This image is a portion of a larger image taken by Curiosity's 100mm mast camera in August 2012. Scientists enhanced the colour in one version to show the Martian scene under the lighting conditions we have on Earth, which helps in analysing the terrain. Photograph: Nasa/EPA

A photo from the Nasa/ESA Hubble Space Telescope released in December 2012 shows NGC 6388, a middle-aged globular cluster in the Milky Way. While the cluster formed in the distant past - like all globular clusters, it is more than 10bn years old - a study of the distribution of bright blue stars within it shows that it has aged at a moderate speed, and its heaviest stars are in the process of migrating to the centre. Photograph: F Ferraro/AFP/Getty Images

A full-circle scene made up of 817 images taken by Nasa's Mars exploration rover Opportunity. It shows the terrain that surrounded the rover while it was stationary for four months of work during the most recent Martian winter. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images

This image released in August 2012 shows the Curiosity rover's wheels after it made its third drive on Mars. Photograph: Nasa/AP

A nearby planetary nebula called NGC 5189, a dying star that is expelling a large portion of its outer envelope. This material becomes heated by the radiation from the stellar remnant and radiates, producing glowing clouds of gas. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images

Cassini spacecraft cameras were turned toward Saturn and the sun so that the planet and rings are backlit. In addition to its visual splendour, the very-high-phase viewing geometry of the image lets scientists study ring and atmosphere phenomena. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images

This Spitzer Space Telescope infrared image obtained on 24 December 2012 shows Zeta Ophiuchi, a young, large and hot star around 370 light years away. It is about six times hotter, eight times wider, 20 times more massive and 80,000 brighter than our own sun. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images

This image shows the variations in the lunar gravity field as measured by the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) during the primary mapping mission from March to May 2012. Very precise microwave measurements between two spacecraft, named Ebb and Flow, were used to map gravity with high precision and high spatial resolution. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images

It's 50 years since the first interplanetary probe, and this year's stunning pictures from across the solar system show how far space technology has come !!

#image courtesy: NASA
#reference courtesy: guardian.co.uk

Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India

Saraswati 

(Being one of the chief Rigvedic Rivers, as per the Hindu scripts and texts, Saraswati River is also famously known as Ghaggar-Hakra River. The Saraswati River is mentioned between the east of Yamuna and west of Sutlej in the early Rigvedic 'Nadistuti' hymn. But later in the other Vedic scriptures it is said that the Saraswati River dried up in a desert.)

lived in the memories, legends and stories of people

from their far back behind..the Vedic perod,

(For 2000 years, between 6000 and 4000 B.C., the Saraswati flowed as a great river.)

by crossing the long corridors of time unknown..

through the ancestors of  
Aryan and Mohanjodaro-Harappan civilizations,

to the Gangetic plains;

and then 
Saraswati came to exist as myth..

not so far 
but near to the Yamuna and Ganges Sangam 
in Prayag, Allahabad,

and so the place to be recalled as  
Triveni Sangam !! 

An element of 'Dream Realism'

with

people at large

as the 

"memory-carriers"

http://throughpicture.blogspot.com/2013/01/vedic-rituals-flow-of-civilization.html
 http://sciencedoing.blogspot.com/2013/01/saraswati-lost-river-of-india.html


Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Sangam, meeting place, of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati, at Prayag where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially auspicious.
Kumbh Mela is to be observed from 14th January 2013 to 10th March 2013, for 54 days.

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,

Photograph: Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/EPA

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,

Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

thankfully shared from:guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013,

Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

  (This Magh Mela is called so, as it falls in the Magh period (Jan-Feb) of the Hindu calendar. It is believed that taking a dip at the sangam will free the devotees from sin or guilt. During this period a township will be arranged to accommodate several pilgrims on the banks of River Ganga. Millions of devotees from various parts of India participate in this auspicious mela.

  When Allahabad was annexed in 1193 by Muhammad of Ghor, the city became a part of the Delhi Sultanate. In 1526, the Mughal invasion of India began, after which the city became a part of their empire. Emperor Akbar founded Allahabad by the name of 'Illhabas' in 1575 AD, meaning the City of Allah, which has now become Allahabad.)

Allahabad is one of the most famous and old pilgrim centers in Uttar Pradesh, India. 

The name Allahabad is previously called as Prayaga. 

The mughal emperor Akbar visited Prayag in the year 1575. 

After that he renamed the place as Allahabad.

The place is famous for 'triveni sangam'. 

Triveni Sangam is the "confluence" of three rivers. 
Sangama is the Sanskrit word for confluence. 
Allahabad has two physical rivers Ganges, 
Yamuna, and the invisible or mythic Saraswati River. 
A bath here is said to wash away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.

Famous festival Kumbh mela and Ardhkumbh Mela is held here every twelve and six years. 

This is celebrated on the banks of the triveni sangam. 

The poorna kumbh is always celebrated in Allahabad.

 

Indian Republic Day: What does it mean to

Google Doodle of the day
Republic Day of India, 2013

 Away from the glitters of big cities, chose a village Saraitikra (which means village of the 'Sal' trees, i.e. Shorea robusta) to see how this day 26th January passes in their lives in terms of human impressions, images in the deep down psyche, irrespective of the age, sex, caste, color, profession  and economic strata.

picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

It varies so much as if it says something about 'Today', which is just passing away to the unfathomable memories pf the 'Past'.

Dhananjay Kumar,7 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
मिठाई खाने के लिए 
'A day to get dessert and goody'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Sona Rajwade, 20 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
कार्यक्रम  देखने के लिये
'To see various cultural programs'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Ratan Sai, 80 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
नाँच, गाना, भाषण, खेलकूद करने के लिये आते हैं
'To participate in dance, song, lectures and games'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Kashee Ram, ex-chief of village, 60 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
आज गणतंत्र दिवस है। आज के दिन भारत का अपना संविधान लागू हुवा था।
'Today is the Republic Day, India adopted it's own constitution, so came to share the day'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Sadharan Ram, member of Shaila dance troupe, 60 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
हमारा देश आजाद है। इसलिए ख़ुशी मनानें  आये हैं।
'Ours is the free nation, came here to enjoy this day'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Somar Sai, member of Shaila dance troupe, 55 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
गणतंत्र दिवस मनाने। भारत आजाद है।
'Celebrating Republic day, we are free nation....independent'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Dharm Sai, 70 years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
सरकार आजादी दिया है। किसान की आजादी को मनाने आये हैं। 
'Government has given us freedom, celebrating the freedom of  farmers'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Dhan Kuwar, 55years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
26 जनवरी मनाये बर।
'Celebrating 26th January'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Dhanpatiya, 90years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
 प्रोग्राम देखे बर आये हौ।
'Watching the programs of the day'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Dev Chand Rajwade, 35years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
उत्साह वर्धन के लिए, सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम और राष्ट्रीय त्यौहार मनाने के लिए।
'Encouraging, celebrating cultural and national festival'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Satish Kumar Sinha, High school teacher, 45years, Saraitikra, Ambikapur.
सरकारी संस्थाओं और ग्रामीणों, विद्यार्थियों, सभी के साथ मिलकर एक त्यौहार के रूप में सौहार्द्य पूर्वक मनाते हैं।
'Government institutions, villagers, students: all together celebrate this day as a national festival for amity'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Nitesh Pande, Middle school teacher, 35years, Rampur, Ambikapur.
 स्वतंत्रता एक शरीर है और गणतंत्र उसकी आत्मा है।
'Indepedence is a body and republic is the soul'.
picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

And children of the village school (Government High School, Saraitikra) have such luminous faces to tell the story of the day..

picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

The three colors of the National Flag was the writ of the day in the cultural programs presented by 9thers of the school.

picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

Such was the vibrant day, the 26th January 2013....

picture at: Government High School Saraitikra, Ambikapur

#Author extends thanks to Miss Padmawati Pandey and Mr. Dileep Kumar Gupta, the teaching staff members of the Government High School, Saraitikra for their kind assistance in above survey.