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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Festival of India: Navratri

Festival of India: Navratri

Updated on October 13, 2015
JYOTI KOTHARI profile image
A businessman, a philanthropist, and a freelance writer. I love to write about India and its festivals.

Grand start to Navratri festival in Ahmedabad

Grand start to Navratri dance festival in Ahmedabad in presence of Shri Narendra Modi, 7 October 2013
Grand start to Navratri dance festival in Ahmedabad in presence of Shri Narendra Modi, 7 October 2013 | Source

Navaratri (Navaratra): Significance of Festival


Navratri (Navaratri, Navratra) is one of the most auspicious festival for Hindus of India. The festival is also called Navaratra. India observes Navratri festivals twice in a year. Once in Chaitra and another in Ashwina. Nava means number nine in Sanskrit language and Ratri means nights. Hence the word Navaratri means nine nights.
(Navaratri is commonly spelled in English as Navratri)
Hindus of India and abroad worship Devi Durga, a ten-armed goddess, who destroyed evils and brought peace in the universe. (Devi Durga is depicted with eight arms in some places). She is worshiped in different names and manner during nine days of Chaitra i.e. New moon day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Navami the ninth day of lunar calendar. The same is repeated exactly after six lunar months according to Indian calendar.
This time it is in the Ashwina, i.e. Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami, the ninth lunar day. These nine days of Navratri are considered as one of the most auspicious time of the Hindu Calendar. Nine different forms of Devi Durga are worshiped over these nine days and nights.
Navaratra falls between September 19 and September 27 in year 2009.

Navratri Kolu special

Navarathri is the Indian festival. in that time they arrange the steps decorated by dolls
Navarathri is the Indian festival. in that time they arrange the steps decorated by dolls | Source

Significance of Navaratri


During Navratri, People invoke Shakti, the energy aspect of God in form of Durga, the universal Divine mother. The word Durga in Sanskrit language means remover of miseries in life. Hindus believe her as energy behind creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. Durga symbolizes eternal energy or force behind motions in the universe. Hinduism salutes the motherly affection of god in form of divine mother Durga, the Adya Shakti during Navratri.
Divine power Durga comes in three forms of energies, Maha Kali, Maha Laxmi and Maha Saraswati. Maha Kali is goddess of bravery, Maha Laxmi is goddess of wealth and Maha Saraswati is of wisdom and academics. Each form is allotted three days during the Navaratri (total of nine days). In typical cast system of traditional India, Brahmins (Academicians, wise and knowledgeable community) worship Mahasaraswati, Kshatriyas (Warriors) worship Mahakali and Vaishyas (Traders and Business communities) worship Mahalaxmi mainly. This is how India observes Navratri.
The earth moves round the sun and duration of days and nights are constantly changing round the year. Duration of a day and a night in India are almost equal during March-April and September-October. Navratri fall in these months. As the duration of days and nights are almost equal, the nature lives in equilibrium in these days. These are also moderate seasons. Neither scorching heat nor chill cold. These are perfectly suitable for worshiping balanced energy form of our eternity.
Chaitra Navaratri falls in beginning of summer end of winter. Similarly Ashwina Navaratri falls in beginning of winter and end of summer. Both seasons are crucial for our mental and physical health. Devotion and prayer keeps us mentally healthy whereas fast and other penance energize us to fight with diseases and keeps us healthy physically.

Mahishasur Mardini (Durga) Stotra

Navaratri: Pious days



Hindu community in India believe that Navaratri days are among the most auspicious days according to Vedic lunar calendar. It falls just after Shraddh Paksh or Pitri Paksh. Hindus perform their duties to ancestors in Shraddh Paksh and then start worshiping mother god. It comes at the end of rainy season and monsoon days. It is also beginning of autumn. Farmers in India become free in this particular time after long days of hard work. This is the time for rest and enjoy for them. We have to remember that maximum number of Indians are dependent on agriculture and farming.
Hindu communities perform auspicious activities during the days of Navaratri. They buy Gold, silver, Jewelry, Real estates/ land and building, new clothes and other products in these days. Engagement and ring ceremony, start living in a new house, Mundan sanskar are also common in these days. They also start new ventures in business such as opening a shop or starting an industry. Lots of economic and financial activities take place during these days. In fact, it boosts Indian economy.
It is not only a religious festival but also an economic festival. Shopkeepers prepare their shops especially for this festive season. Economic and festive activities starting from Navaratri continues up to Deepavali (Diwali) and Bhai Dooj. Vijaya Dasami or Dasahara also falls between these days.
Navaratri festivals in West Bengal
Festival of Navaratri is observed in different parts of India in varieties of way.Navaratri is observed in Bengal as Durga Puja. Durga is Mahishasurmardini in Bengal. It is the incarnation of Durga to destroy demon Mahishasura. Mahish means buffalo in Sanskrit and Asura means demon. Mahishasura is depicted in form of buffalo and ten armed Durga kills him with the help of her vehicle in the form of lion.Durga Puja starts on the sixth day of Navaratri that is called as Shashthi. People of Bengal worship Devi Durga during Maha Saptami (seventh day), Maha Ashtami (Eighth day) and Maha Navami (Ninth day), the final day of Navaratri.Typically, idols of Durga are made of clay in Bengal.These idols are taken into a procession after completion of Puja and drowned to river Ganges or some other sacred rivers. The act of drowning the idol is referred as Bhasan or Bisarjan in local language. It is done on Vijaya Dasami, tenth day of Ashwina Shukla Paksh in lunar calendar.Bengali celebrates Durga Puja with great enthusiasm. Kolkata is pioneer in arranging Durga Puja. Puja pandals are decorated with gorgeousness. Celebrities in Bengal are also called to Puja pandals.Bengali buy and wear new clothes and shoes customarily during Durga Puja. They also intend to buy gold and jewelry during these days. Shops are decorated and filled with new range of products. Government and private companies issues yearly bonus before Durga Puja. Schools, colleges and other educational institutes declare Puja vacation during these days. All these features encourage customers for window shopping. Both retailers and whole sellers get good business during these days.
Bengali also prepare different varieties of traditional Bengali sweets besides rasogolla and sandesh. They often gift sweets and other things to friends and relatives. They perform Kolakoli (Hugging) on Vijaya. It is customary for them to meet and greet each other.

Dandiya in Gujrat and Navpad Oli


Durga is famous in Gujrat as Amba or Ambe. Navaratri i.e.Navratra in Gujrat is celebrated with Garba dances. People of all ages assemble to perform dandiya nrutya. It is a traditional form of worshiping the goddess as well as enjoying the festival.
Dandiya and garba is performed with great enthusiasm. It is so popular that it is celebrated in huge pandels as events. Not only Gujratis but people from all sects, casts and communities participate in the same.
A sizable population of Gujrati people live in Mumbai (Bombay), the financial capital of India. Hence Dandiya and Garba dances are organized as events in Mumbai too. Even the film stars and other celebrities participate in these events. These occasions provide event managers an opportunity for their business.
Jain community of India also celebrates nine days as Navapad oli. These nine days are little different from Navaratri. Navapad Oli also comes twice in a year in Chaitra and Ashwina. It starts from Shukla Saptami (Seventh day of lunar calendar in bright fortnight) and ends on the Shukla Purnima (the full moon day). Jain community worship Navapad (Siddha Chakra) by performing Ayambil tapa (Penance), a special type of fast.
What do you think about this article? I am eager to hear from you. Your valuable suggestion will improve quality of the hub. Please feel free to comment on this hub. Your comments are valuable for me and other readers..
You may also bookmark it with stumble upon, facebook, digg or whatsoever social networking site you use to keep your book marks or mail it to your friends and family. I will appreciate your effort.

  • Jai Desai profile image
    Jai Desai 19 months ago from Bangalore
    Since we have Navratri 2016 is starting in next week, this article helps in a big way to know about Navratri celebration happens in Bharat. I would like to share some information on significance of Yagnas happens in Navratri during nine days and also what all Yagnas happens.
    Significance of Navratri Yagnas/Puja:
    Yagnas are an ancient science that works on purifying the environment, the individual, and the subtle level of consciousness. They are done to nullify negativity, and to create more positivity.
    The Divine is nothing but a form of energy. A pure and highly vibrant energy. Through the technique of a Yagna, this energy (which is highly pure and vibrant) is brought down from the subtle to the gross using the five elements, Mantras (chants) and Yantras (diagrams). When this pure energy touches the Earth element, it has a purifying effect on the physical atmosphere, the subtle atmosphere and on the people who participate in the Yagna.
    Yagnas can be performed during Navratri:
    1. Rudrabhishekam
    2. Sri Maha Ganapathy Homam,
    3. Sri Subramhanya and Navagraha Homam
    4. Sri Maha Rudra Homam
    5. Sri Maha Sudarsana Homam,
    6. Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam
    7. Shatha Chandi Homam
    8. Rishi Homam
    9. Vijayadashami Pooja
    Know the schedule of all the Yagnas happens at The Art of Living International center on http://www.artofliving.org/navratri/celebrations-a... Also you can watch it online.
    Status: Spam.
  • profile image
    sati 7 years ago
    so interesting n niceia uncle
    Status: Approved.
  • profile image
    Sourav Bhattacherjee 8 years ago
    The Katyayani Puja, one of the most sacred occasions of Hindu community, has over time become the biggest festival for the people of Magura in Bangladesh. It is celebrated with more pomp and grandeur than anywhere else in the subcontinent. Every year thousands of devotees, from different parts of Bangladesh, even from India, come here to attend the festival. On this occasion, grand pandals are set up at different places of the town to house life-sized or bigger idols of Devi Katyayani and Her four children which are worshipped for five days, from the sixth to tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Kartik. Earlier the pandals were just used to be grand structures but with time more and more innovations began to be made, adding extra-ordinary beauty to the entire festival.
    And again the time has come this year for which the people of Magura have been waiting eagerly. The day is not so far- 9th Kartik (24 October). The countdown has already begun…
    Status: Approved.
  • JYOTI KOTHARI profile image
    Author
    Jyoti Kothari 8 years ago from Jaipur
    Sunanda,
    Thanks for your comments.
    Jyoti Kothari
    Status: Visible.
  • profile image
    Sunanda 8 years ago
    Exhaustive description of Navratri. Especially about nine incarnations of Durga.
    Thanks for a good hub on Nnavratri festival of india.
    Thanks,
    Thumbs up.
    Sunanda
    Status: Approved.
  • profile image
    Ashok saha 8 years ago
    Jyoti,
    This Navratri hub has exhaustive details. I could know about nine incarnations of Devi Durga through this hub. First time I came to know that Durga puja in Bengal is a part of navaratri.
    Thanks for the series "Festival of India".
    Ashok Saha
    Status: Approved.
  • profile image
    Ashok saha 8 years ago
    Jyoti,
    This Navratri hub has exhaustive details. I could know about nine incarnations of Devi Durga through this hub. First time I came to know that Durga puja in Bengal is a part of navaratri.
    Thanks for the series "Festival of India".
    Ashok Saha
    Status: Approved.
  • profile image
    Amit Sahney 8 years ago
    Hi Jyoti,
    Awesome hub. Superb description. We were worshiping
    Navratri in our family since many years but never know why nine days.
    You have nicely described about nine incarnations of Durga. Noe it is clear why nine days.
    You have also mentioned about Navratri festivals in different parts of India such as Durga puja in Kolkata aand Garba in Gujrat.
    Thank you for a nice hub.
    Amit Sahney
    Status: Approved.
  • JYOTI KOTHARI profile image
    Author
    Jyoti Kothari 8 years ago from Jaipur
    Dear Readers,
    Third hub in Festivals of India series is published about Navaratri. Navaratri will be commencing just two days from today. Religious Hindus will worship Devi Durga and others enjoy Garba and Dandiya.
    Please feel free to tell your vies in comments section.
    Jyoti Kothari

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Group of ministers approved a bill dangerous for society


Group of ministers approved a bill dangerous for society. GoM of UPA led central government in India has approved a bill yesterday. It will probably become catalyst in breaking the society. The bill is about Hindu marriage act. GoM has shown green flag to a dangerous amendment.

The bill will make divorce easier. The bill has gender discrimination. It will become easier for women to get divorce whether husband is agreed or not. The same facility is not available for the husband. Moreover, the divorcee (Wife) will have right in husband's property. The new amendment suggests that the divorcee women will have right in her husband's inherited assets too.

This bill will encourage wives to take divorce. It will enhance greediness among women. Some may chose to marry wealthy people with malafied intention. This bill will provide a tool to women (who want to misuse it) to deceive or blackmail husbands.

Amendment in Hindu marriage act will inspire several women to take divorce. It will break several families. We know that joint families are now rare. We need to protect joint families like rare specimens. The US government is worried about breaking families and has taken several major steps to save families. On the other hand, our UPA government is taking steps to break families. It can ruin the structure of entire society and break peace and harmony of the families.

I urge people to raise their voice to compel government to rethink on this bill. We are not against women empowerment. It is better to empower women without breaking the family structure as families are the building blocks of the society.

Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is adviser, Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also ISO 9000 professional)

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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Where and in which companies can you find your dream job?



Where are the jobs? 
Are you searching for a dream job? Where are the top jobs? Which companies are providing your dream job?
Are you looking for a white collar job? Is it your dream job? Are you trying for a blue collar job or green collar job is your dream job?
Are you facing difficulties in finding and getting your fresh job or suffering from a job loss in America or in Europe?
There is no new employment in developed countries like America. Employees are afraid of job loss. Employers are in financial problem. Countries are in economic crisis.
There is an economic and financial crisis in America that has arisen through a sub-prime crisis. The economic crisis hit America at first and spread through Europe, Australia and Asia. UK and many of the European Union countries along with Japan are already in recession. Though not declared technically and officially US economy is also in recession. 
Is there any job? Are companies still providing your dream job? 
Banking and financial sectors are in tremendous crisis. Lehman brothers has gone. AIG is under bail out plan. City bank shares are plunging. American automobile industries are praying for a bail out plan. GM is in a critical position. Ford motors too is not an exception. Manufacturing and retail sectors are in problem. Most of the manufacturing and reality sector companies are cutting their production. Service sectors are also not doing well. Retail sector companies are going bankrupt. There are no fresh recruitment but huge job cuts. Corporations are giving pink slips to their employees. Unemployment data in US has reached to its highest level since 1994. The financial giant City Group has recently announced retrenchment of its 53000 employees! Where will all those employees go? Where will they find their bread?
More or less, similar scenario is seen in European Union countries, United Kingdom Canada and Japan. Most of the developed countries are facing similar problems. There are job cuts but no fresh recruitment.The scene is not much different in China, the Asian giant. The Government of China has already announced US $ 600 bail out package to revive its economy. Economy of china is not yet recovering. No fresh jobs coming in China.
Is there any hope in this global slow down of economy? Are there any fresh jobs available?
Yes, there is a hope in India. It is surprisingly good news that there are no job cuts or layoff notices in Indian corporate sectors despite global trends. On the contrary, Indian corporations are announcing fresh jobs and employment.

Top Jobs in Private Sector 
More or less, similar scenario is seen in European Union countries, United Kingdom Canada and Japan. Most of the developed countries are facing similar problems. There are job cuts but no fresh recruitment.The scene is not much different in China, the Asian giant. The Government of China has already announced US $ 600 bail out package to revive its economy. Economy of china is not yet recovering. No fresh jobs coming in China.
Is there any hope in this global slow down of economy? Are there any fresh jobs available?
Yes, there is a hope in India. It is surprisingly good news that there are no job cuts or layoff notices in Indian corporate sectors despite global trends. On the contrary, Indian corporations are announcing fresh jobs and employment.
***India is the dark horse in the economic world.***
Jobs in finance sector:
According to the Times of IndiaNov. 18, 2008 issue, Bank of Indiaplans to take in seventy five thousands employees in two years. O P Bhat, Chairman, State Bank ofIndia has announced fresh recruitment of twenty thousands in clerical jobs and five thousands in supervisory staff in this fiscal. A private insurance company MetLife will recruit thirty thousands agents and two thousands managers. Rajesh Relan, CEO, has informed that this will be done by March 2009.
Declared recruitment in banking and finance sectors are one hundred thirty two thousands, according to the Times of India. This includes both blue collar and white collar jobs.
IT sector:
TCS will hire thirty to thirty five thousands persons this year.Infosys will follow the trend with fresh hiring of twenty-five thousands this fiscal, says K. Gopalakrishnan, CEO.
Hiring by these two IT companies only will cross fifty thousands in this year. Most of these jobs are white collar jobs.
Consultancy companies:
There will be ten thousand fresh employments in Accenture by 2010 and three thousand five hundredemployees in Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu in the next three years. Some of them are blue collar and some are white collar jobs.
Business process outsourcing:
Aegis will continue hiring one thousand persons every month.
Manufacturing sector:
Larsen and Toubro CMD A M Naik also informed that they would createten thousand jobs in the next three years. Despite sluggishness in automobile industries, Maruti will have a fresh recruitment of one thousand people.
Abovementioned are in the private sectors that the Times of India have mentioned. Plenty of blue and white collar jobs are also available in various other companies in different sectors.
Government sector:
Indian Space research Instituterequires scientists. There is demand of experts in rural infrastructure development. Large number of people are required in legal sector and judiciaries. These are top ranking white collar jobs. Many other jobs are also available in Government sectors.
Many jobs are available in various other sectors under central and state Governments.
Defense sector:
Indian Army, Navy and Air force are also in need of people for both their commissioned and non-commissioned ranks. (These jobs are limited to Indian Nationals only). Basically Indian armed forces (Army, Navy and Air force) are struggling to recruit freshers for their commisioned posts.
India : The most desired destination.
This article shows glimpses of employment probabilities in India. It may be in the interest of Americans, Europeans, Japanese, canadians and other nationals to apply for an Indian job. Of course, they have to compete with the Indian talents. You have a better chance of employment if you are a technical hand; have done your Masters / Ph.D in computer applications, Banking and finance, international accounting, international law or biotechnology.
Indian technical and professional colleges require teachers and instructors. India also needs scientists, research assistants, financial analysts and petro-techies. Indian Government has signed nuclear treaty with France and US. It will construct nuclear power projects that will require particle physisists, nuclear scientists, engineers and technologists in near future. Indian Gems and Jewelry sector is doing much better than other countries. Though diamond industry in Surat is in trouble Jaipur is performing well in Color Stones.
It is indeed true that pay cheque in India in dollar terms are comparatively low. You have to think in Rupee (Indian currency) terms because that is the currency in that you will earn and spend. US dollar is almost eqivallent to fifty Indian rupees.
India has world class hospitals, health care centers and educational institutes. There are adequate facilities of air, rail and road transportation. But education, health care and transportation costs are also substantially less than other countries. General and Organic food are much cheaper in India. Therefore, if you have lost your job or looking for a fresh employment, India can be a desired destination.
You can atleast survive here.
Top Jobs in Government sector in Rajasthan
There are 100, 000 (Hundred thousands) vacancies pending inRajasthan. These are Government sector jobs under the purview of Rajasthan Government.
There are legal and political issues that do not allow the Government to complete the recruitment process. Government of Rajasthan and the Gurjar community have locked in an agreement. High Court of Rajasthan has issued some legal notices to Rajasthan Government. Ashok Gehlot, present Chief Minister of Rajasthan has declared to start the recruitment process. However, Kirodi Singh Baisla, leader of the Gurjar community has threatened the Government not to start recruitment process violating the agreement today on January 9, 2009.

People of Rajasthan wish that the political conflict would be resolved soon and the Government will start recruiting one lakh people. 
(I wrote this article in 2008-09, compare the scenario in the present)

Thanks, 
Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is adviser, Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also ISO 9000 professional)

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Indian Home remedies



Home remedies: Why?
There are ailments and remedies. There are many referred as home remedies. Home remedies are easy and cost you almost nothing.
Medical bills are going higher and higher. Large numbers of people can not afford their medical bills. It is more difficult to afford medical bills at the time ofeconomic slow down and recession. Large number of people have lost theirjobs or left with poor pay scale all over the world. Business persons are facing tremendous crisis and investors have been loosing money on their shares, stocks, bonds etc. Situation is worse in developed countries like America, the US,UK, European Union countries, Canada, Japan, Australia etc. China, Brazil andIndia are in comparatively better condition.
Home remedies are particularly very important nowadays. Indian people have been using various home remedies since ancient times. They are continuing to do so till date. Though most of the urban population in India are now switching towards modern medications rural population still believe in home remedies in most of the cases.
I will describe some of the home remedies used frequently in India. These can be useful for the people of America, the US and other countries in rest of the world.
text

Home remedies: Dysentery and acidity

Dysentery
Dysentery and acidity are common diseases. Large numbers of people all over the world suffer from these diseases. Dysentery is a common cause of child death in many countries. The world health organization (WHO) have a cause of concern with the disease dysentery. WHO supply ORS solution free of cost to many countries to prevent dysentery.
Sugar and salt solution is used as home remedy to prevent dysentery in India. It is easy to use medicine to prevent the disease. Just take a glass of drinking water and pour couple of sugar spoons and add some common salt (NaCl) to it and prepare a solution. It can save a life by supplying necessary salt and nutrient. It helps retaining water in the body.
Please remember that this solution is not a medicine for dysentery but it help retaining water in the body. Dysentery takes water away from the body which maycause death.
Combination of tea leaves and sugar is also used as home remedy in dysenteryand loose motion. It works as alternate medicine. One has to take a spoonful of tea leaves combining with two spoonful of sugar. Just intake it with simple drinking water. It will help to stop loose motion. This is a common home remedy in Indiawhich is taken as alternative medicine.
Perhaps above mentioned home remedies are not common in America, the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, the UK or in the European Union or other parts of the world. Purpose of writing this article in the hub mob weekly is to make them aware of these Indian home remedies to be used as alternate medicine.
Acidity
Acidity is among common ailments. It is a symptom of indigestion caused byovereating or similar. Combination of sugar and tea leaves also helps in acidity.
Drinking a cup of water mixed with a spoon of rose water (Commonly available in Indian homes) is also an excellent way to get rid of acidity. This alternate medicine is commonly used in India as home remedy for acidity.
One can also take a cup of tea added with rose water as an alternate medicinefor acidity.
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Alternative medicine: Burn and wound

Burn
It is a common practice in Indian homes especially in the Indian kitchens to treat simple burns with saline water. Common salt is easily available in any kitchen. It is also common to burn fingers while cooking. People use saline water while burn their fingers in the kitchen as home remedy. They use solution of water and salt and rub it on burn just like an ointment. It provides relief.
People also use tooth paste on burn as common home remedy. Glycerin in the tooth paste works wonderfully on burn.
Wound
Rural people and farmers used to rub calendula (Mary gold) leaves on their wound. It helps stop bleeding and also works as an antiseptic. Turmeric powder is also used as an herbal or home medicine in wounds. Turmeric powder is an excellent antiseptic.
It is difficult to apply an ointment if one has a cut in tongue, leaps or some inner parts in mouth. However, it is easy to put some sugar there. It helps stop bleeding.
Lime is a common ingredient of Indian food. Indians put lime mixed with water for few months to make it cool and make a paste of it. This paste also works wonderfully to stop bleeding by supplying calcium locally. It helps in blood clotting.
A combination of lime and turmeric powder is an excellent home remedy forpain. If one has has a hit on bone causing pain he or she can use this. Prepare a paste of lime mixing with turmeric powder and heat. Rub this hot paste over the area of pain. It absorbs pain fast.

Disclaimer

The author is not a medical professional nor have a professional degree in medical sciences. This article is written just to describe common practices in Indian homes. It is all about home remedies. 
Please consult your doctor before using these alternative therapies. The author is not and will not be responsible for any harm caused  by using these home remedies.

Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is adviser, Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also ISO 9000 professional)

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