Kartal or Khartal : This is another instrument which is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. It is mostly played in Bengal during kirtans and folk music. It is used as an accompanying instrument when singing Tagore's songs. The design, shape and style of holding it are similar to that used in the Manjira.
It is made of two pieces of brass with a hole in the centre and both the pieces are tied with a cotton thread. The cotton thread is tied to the forefingers of both the hands to create a resonating sound or for making a dead sound. This is only possible by using the fingers of both the hands. The strike of both the hands by a performer thus creates a different type of sound, and can give a clear identity of the tala being played. One can hear a distinct syllable like a syllable produced by the Tabla, e.g. `thoon' or `dhin'.

Lord Ganesha is called Ekadanta, single tusked; Gajanana, elephant headed and Heramba, boastful. He is Lambakarna, long eared; Lambodara, with a big belly and Vigneshwara, remover of obstacles.

God Ganesha is a presence in all temples as the worship of all the gods must begin with an invocation to him. Kind and generous Ganesha is always invoked before any important work is undertaken, be it the starting of a business, the building of a house or the writing of a book or even undertaking a journey. He is the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati though some myths say that his brother Kartikeya is older. In the east, Lakshmi and Saraswati are believed to be his sisters.

Lord Ganesha Statues from India

Lord Ganesha	Ganesha	Ganesha Statue	Ganesha Statues
Religious Sculpture	Ganesh Sculpture	Hindu God Ganesha	Ganesh Statue
Ganesha Figurine	God Sculpture	Stone Sculpture	Ganesha Sculpture
Ganesh Statues	Ganpati Statue	Ganpati Statue	God Ganesh Statues
Ganesha Gifts	Ganesha Sculptures	God Ganesha	God Ganesh

The festival of Navaratri is celebrated in the north as Dussehra as this is also the time when Rama prayed to Goddess Durga before he invaded Lanka. Ravana was killed on Dussehra day which coincides with the Dashami of Durga Puja when Mahisha was also slain. These nine days of Navaratri are the time for the worship of the goddess in her many forms. This is when she received worship not just from people but also the gods and even Rama who was an avatar of Vishnu. Navaratri is the of the most auspicious periods of the year.

Godess Durga

Durga

Durga Devi

Durga Ma

Durga Shakti	Kali	Durga Kali	Durga Statue
Goddess Durga	Hindu God Durga	Lord Durga	Maa Durga
Hindu Goddess Durga	Durga Statues	Sri Durga	Buy Durga