Makara Sankranthi is a festival also known as Pongal. Most parts of South India celebrate this festival.

This Makara Sankranthi is the major festival in South India. Particularly Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states celebrate it very special.

This festival Pongal is celebrated on the occasion of Sun god begins to enter into the northern hemisphere and Sun always signifies wisdom and spiritual light.

Makara Sankranthi means look towards the light and this is observed through the Sun god movement with the hemisphere.

People celebrate this festival with variety recipes and three days festival celebration is famous for many different recipes.

Families will gather for this festival and most people cannot afford missing this festival at their native places.

Along with south India, many other parts of India too celebrate this festival, but different names such as Lohri and many more.

In Bengal this festival is known as The Ganag Sagar Mela and Pithey Parban, in assam this is Bhogali Bihu, in Orissa Maka Mela, in tamil Nadu as Pongal and in Andhra Pradesh as Sankranthi.

Mirapakaya is the upcoming movie of bankable star Raviteja. Raviteja paired with Richa Gangopadhyaya and Deeksha Seth in this movie.

Click here for MIRAPAKAYA TRAILER.

Already audio has been a great success and people are eagerly waiting for this movie on the occasion of Pongal.

Mirapakaya Telugu movie is slated to release today along with another three new upcoming movies in entire Andhra Pradesh state.

Raviteja once again portraying a mass character and he is pretty famous at portraying such characters.

Movie is directed by Harish Shankar and produced by Ramesh Pappula under Yellow Flowers banner. Music composed by the Thaman.

So far movie promos are quite promising and resulted as crowd pullers. There are huge expectations over this movie from Tollywood.

Many reliable sources already confirmed that this Mirapakaya has captivating story line along with Raviteja's mass appeal.

The leading ladies of the movie Richa and Deeksha are looking promising and attractive. Already people are eager to watch this movie and waiting for today’s release.

Lohri is a festival celebrated every year 13th January and people will worship fire as apart of festival celebrations.

Lohri festival is famous and celebrated in most of the Northern part of India. In fact, this is the time the earth starts moving towards the sun creating auspicious period called as Uttarayan.

This Lohri festival is important for newly wed and new born babies. In fact, this Lohri festival signifies the fertility.

On the occasion of Lohri festival, people gather around to bonfire and throw til and puffed rice over it. This is a prayer to bonfire seeking prosperity.

This festival also signifies the golden harvest as by this time most of the Punjab region wheat crop reaches mid harvest and becomes quite spectacle.

In Punjab people consider this Lohri festival as an example of a way of life and people inspire much through these celebrations.

Attempts are being made by Straits Times to contact the Singaporeans or Singapore residents based in the flood hit Brisbane. Till now many replies have been received from the flood struck area.

A letter has been received from a Singaporean couple, studying in Queensland University. The couple has said that they are trapped in a unit apartment which is very close to the Brisbane River. The river according to sources is in a very crucial condition and is has already overflow its bank.

The couple has also said that, they are on the 5th level, but still are under threat of the flood. Strait Times had appealed the Singaporeans to stay in contact and if possible have requested them to send photographs of their surroundings hit by flood.

The people have also been appealed for any further information about family members in Brisbane who are held in the floods and are still in contact for further information.

An international Art fair, Art Stage Singapore, with an ambience of the Asia Pacific art, Art Stage Singapore has begun on Wednesday at the Marina Bay Sands. The fair features some 120 modern and contemporary art galleries from 26 countries.

Famous photo artist David LaChapelle is also said to visit the gallery. The Art Stage Singapore said that it aims to nail the position of Singapore in the leading names in the field of art.

According to sources the art gallery is supported by some of the Government agencies like National Arts Council, Economic Development Board, Singapore Tourism Board and the National Heritage Board. "The inaugural Art Stage Singapore marks a significant milestone in the development of Singapore as an international centre for contemporary art," Dr, Beh Swan Gin, managing director of Singapore Economic Development said.

The gallery is also said to be a good platform for the emerging artists from Asia Pacific as the artists will be projected in front of the international platform.

What if a college student pays tuition fees by posing naked? Shocked? A college student in China from the University of Renmin earns by posing naked for model portraits.

Su Zizi (name changed) supports herself for her study in college. The student also exhibited some of her nude portraits in an exhibition named 'Who Am I at the end of 2010' at the university. “I have to support myself during study. I can get 500 yuan ($75) for each set of naked pictures.” she said.

She also added that she was nervous initially but had found a safe way to avoid controversies and save herself and her family, by signing a contract. The contract will protect her images and those who illegally use it may have to face legal action.

Su agreed to the fact that her choice of profession may not be acceptable to all, but she also clarified that her job isn't illegal and is an art form. She also expressed her ambitions to become a photographer in future.

Mumbai, Jan 12th 2011- Actress-turned-jewelry designer Neelam Kothari is set to marry model-actor Samir Soni on 23rd January,2011.

Samir Soni said lately while he was out of Bigg Boss season 4 as "We will have a very quiet wedding ceremony with just our parents and siblings. We will have a wedding reception for our friends on Jan 26th".

Also added as "We're going crazy trying to draw up a list of invitees for the reception. We've so many people to call".

Neelam Kothari and Samir do not have any particular plans for honeymoon yet. Samir said in this context as "I've stayed away from Mumbai long enough because of Bigg Boss Season 4. So, no honeymoon for now".

Neelam Kothari said "Yes, I am very happy. We plan to start a family immediately. We want lots of kids".