Olympic Festival in India

Congratulations !

Indian Wrestler Sushil Kumar gets a Bronze !

Hi Readers ! This is the Olympic time. Everyone seems to be in sporting mood watching Olympics on TV and some lucky ones watching these magnificent games at Beijing.One more bronze medal won by Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar at Beijing.Congratulations! Sushil ! Abhinav Bindra & Sushil Kumar made every Indian proud by their performance. Achievement of Akhil Kumar cannot be overlooked who defeated the World Champion in Boxing though he could not win a medal. But here I am adding colours to your mood by showing some beautiful photographs on the Olympic Festival, organized by our distinguished member Mr.Vijay Seth at New Delhi. A very exclusive cover sent by Mr. Suraj Jaitly from Ludhiana depicting Aldabra Giant Tortoise stamps, the hot favourite of Indian philatelists these days because of its unusual and very exclusive design.In our regular series some se-tenants from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh. This is all for today !....Have a Wonderful Time.!

Olympic Festival 2008 in India
Mr. Vijay Seth, Editor Stamps Today has organized an Olympic Festival from the 6th -24th August 2008 in New Delhi. It is in assocation with the embassy of the Poeple's Republic of China in India and Le Meridien Hotel.

Dr Karan Singh & Chinese Ambassador in India

This festival was inaugurated by the the Chinese Ambassador in India and Dr Karan Singh at La Belvedere, Hotel Le Meridien on the 20th Floor, on 6th August . He has also displayed 10 frames of Olympic Stamps, starting from the ancient to the 2008 Olympic Games, 70 photographs on China and lots of artifacts.

Stamps & Artifacts on display

Mr. Vijay Seth addressing

Mr. Seth has been organizing such shows since the 1998 World Cup Football, followed by World Cup Cricket and Olympic Games since then, this is his third display of stamps on the Olympics, the previous being in 2000 & 2004.He has also displayed stamps on Football 1998, 2002 and 2006 and cricket in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He is also celebrating the third anniversary issue of Stamps Today ST-19 and a book "Collection of India Stamps 2007, a 52 page colourful book, it is like an album of 2007, all stamps and M/sheets can be mounted in the book.

The wonders of 8.8.8
8th August 2008 was a memorable day in sports as well as for the philatelists all over the world. As the number 8 is very lucky for the chinese People, the Olympic Games were inaugurated on 8 August at 8hrs 8min 8sec at chinese local time. But for enthusiast philatelists it was a very special date.

I received a Speed Post letter from Mr. Suraj Jaitly, Editor ITS stamp News from Ludhiana with the stamps of Tortoise in a very innovative fashion giving a look of 8.8.8. with a beautiful cancellation of 8 Aug. 2008 on stamps and on the backside with the special date cancellation of Ludhiana Philatelic Bureaue. Thank you so much Mr. Jaitly for the letter and giving these stamps a new and exclusive look. I have published the 'Tortoise in Pyramid" in my last post sent by our distinguished member Mr. Shrikant Parikh. This is another novelty on Tortoise.

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme- Fairs & Festivals

Fairs of India

Date of Issue : 27 February 2007

Club News

Tortoise in Pyramid !

Hi ! I have some news to share with you in Today's Post sent by our distinguished members. Recently we celebrated Raksha Bandhan Festival . I don't know how many of you got Rakhis from your dear ones timely. I wish to inform you all here that Rakhis sent in Special Rakhi envelope reach faster by ordinary post than the ones sent by Speed Post or Registered Post . This is my personal experience. I have a special Rakhi envelope to show you here which reached me very fast from Lucknow just in five days sent by normal post whereas the others sent by Speed Post still have not reached here so far . So remember next time, to send your Rakhis in Special Rakhi envelopes issued by India Post. These envelopes are really very good in quality and could not be easily torn because these are manufactured by using special paper.This is all for today!..... Just enjoy the news from our members & some beautiful se-tenants & Tortoise in Pyramid !....from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh.....Till next Post ..... Have a Nice Time.....!

Niket Bubna writes from Indore......
I would like to share information about 'Project Arrow' of the Department of Posts, Govt. of India. This is a project aimed to revitalize the Indian post offices and make them ICT-enabled, especially a one stop shop for the needs of the rural masses. It has been launched by the Minister of Comm. & IT, and the MoS C&IT in their respective states, Tamil nadu (Ariyalur District) and Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior) on August 17, 2008. The consultant for the project is McKinsey & Co. The changes visible to us, I believe will be more physical and not in the work culture because the staff remains the same! I thought the change, when enforced would begin from the website (http://www.indiapost.gov.in/) but it is yet to be revamped.

To begin with, a new logo in red and yellow is now in place instead of the all-red logo resembling a pair of flying birds. Please see here the images of the two logos. The new logo too, I feel is a flying bird with an envelope in the silhouette.

The new logo has been designed by the reputed advertising firm O&M. As a personal view, I don't mind change as far as it is for good. The logo might draw comments in both ways and that is ought to happen, as opinions differ. As a philatelist I believe if a re-branding exercise is done, release of a postage stamp is the best way to reach the masses. A set of stamps could be released, depicting the evolution of the logos of the postal department since its inception. Enjoy the new logo and offer your views for the same.

Ajay Agrawal writes from Akola......
On the eve of 15th August, One Man Show of my collection "India's Freedom Struggle" was displayed at Kothari Convent, Akola. It was attended by nearly 1500 students, parents and teachers from 7 different schools as well as Distt. Education Officer and all the members of Akola Philatelic Association.

Ajay Agrawal, Distt. Education Officer & Members of Akola Philatelic Association

From Se-tenant album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme - Birds

Birth Centenary of Dr. Salim Ali (Ornithologist,Ecologist,Conservationist & Writer )

Date of Issue : 12 November 1996

Endangered Birds

Date of issue : 5 October 2006

Beijing Olympics 2008

Bird's Nest - National Sports Stadium, Beijing on Pentagonal stamp issued by China

Hi Readers ! From 8 to 24 August the eyes of the world are turned to the city of Beijing. In last three Indian festive days we have seen some marvellous records at Olympics 2008. Michel Phelps & Usain Bolt have really thrilled one and all by their performance. Of course the Indian Boxers did well by entring into Quarter Finals. Abhinav Bindra brought laurels to India. Just watch to get more good results by Indians in Boxing. In today's Post some magnificent stamps issued by Poland to commemorate Beijing 2008. In our regular series I have some beautiful Birds to show you from the se-tenant album of Shri Shikant Parikh. Please have a close look to these beautiful stamps and.... Have.... a Great Time.......!

Postage stamps and First Day Cover

The stamps issued to commemorate the olympic games present 4 out of the 28 olympic disciplines: swimming, volleyball, the pole vault and fencing.

The stamps are placed together in a block on the background of a traditional Chinese wood carving and the word "Beijing" written in its original form.

The design of the First Day Cover includes the same illustration, added with a photograph of the new Beijing stadium called the "Bird's Nest". Eight is considered a lucky number in China. It is no coincidence that the games started on 8 August 2008, at 8.08.08 pm local time.

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme- Birds

Endangered Water Birds of India

This se-tenant block of four was withdrawn shortly after issue, the stamps being printed with water soluble ink. See below the two varieties of this issue.

Date of Issue : 23 November 1994

Indian Festival - Raksha Bandhan

Hi Readers ! We have two festivals together this week . Independence Day & Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi). Raksha Bandhan is primarily a North Indian festival kindling the deepest emotions of love and affection amongst the siblings. Just like all Indian festivals, this is also celebrated with lots of verve. The sister ties the rakhi on the brother's wrist and both pray for each others' well being followed by a pledge from the brother to take care of his sister under all circumstances. The brother then usually gifts something to the sister to mark the occasion. Perhaps it is the only festival in the world that symbolises the love between a brother and sister. My greetings to all on this festival. In our regular series some beautiful se-tenants on birds from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh.....This is all for today .... Have a Great Time....& .. Enjoy the Beautiful Festival ....!

Rakhi.....It happens only in India.......

Special Envelopes on Rakhi issued by India Post


From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme - Birds

Migratory Birds issued during Indepex-Asiana 2000

Date of Issue : 24 May 2000

Happy Independence Day !

This is 61st Anniversary of our Independence Day!

Freedom is not only a Right but a Feeling!

Let's be proud to feel the Freedom!Let's say loud we are INDIANS!!!

Let all of us get to-gether & Let's Celebrate Our Freedom!

Our Greetings to all Indians on Independence Day all over the world wherever they are ! Today's Post is dedicated to this day which is very special for every Indian. Let's all celebrate this day with great joy, love and fraternity. For Today's Post some very rare special items. Enjoy the Post and have a very nice weekend.

Homage to Martyrs

ARMED FORCES LETTERS overprinted with "Silver Jubilee of Independence" "Dandi March" portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, with "Father of the Nation" inscription.They were printed on 15.08.1972 for issuance from 56 APO and 99 APO.It may be noted that all these Letters with GREETING messages and different insignas of Squadron , Air Force, Army are considered highly hunted items and particularly for GANDHI collectors, this is the most valued feather in their cap.

" We Salute the Father of the Nation "

From Se-tenant album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme- Freedom Struggle

1857 First War of Independence

Date of Issue : 9 August 2007

Centenary of Indian National Congress

Date of issue : 28 December 2005

Club News

Hi Readers ! I am back again with new information. I had a short break just to enjoy the monsoon weather here. I had a chance to visit the forest area. It is all green around with a variety of plants all over here. Different varieties of mushrooms, lichens and ferns can be seen here these days besides conifers and other trees. Sometimes it is drizzling and sometimes very heavy showers.The rains are all over here making the hills green and beautiful.One can see many small and big springs and waterfalls around, amidst the roaming clouds on the hills giving a picuturesque view of this beautiful place of Shimla. Sometimes it's all foggy with zero visibility but the weather is very pleasant making everything full of life around. In Today's Post a good news for the philatelists of Chandigarh. A philatelic exhibition is proposed to be held in Chandiharh in the month of October. Some new stamps from India . Today is the Independence Day of our neighbouring country Pakistan. Our greetings to all readers of Pakistan. . Tomorrow we will be celebrating our 62nd Independence Day. Some special se-tenants from the album of Shri Shrikant Parikh. Our thanks to Mr. Rakesh Walia of Chandigarh & Mr. Shrikant Parikh of Ahmedabad for their valuable contribution to Rainbow Stamp Club.This is all for the Day .... Just enjoy the Post & have a Great Time.......

Great Leaders of Pakistan

Greetings to all the Readers of Pakistan on their Independence Day

'One Frame Exhibit' exhibition in Chandigarh
'One Frame Exhibit' Exhibition will be held from 1st to 3rd October 2008 in the 3rd floor of GPO Chandigarh. A Special Cover will also be released on the occasion. It is also proposed to have stalls for the dealers during the exhibition.

Vijay Seth writes from New Delhi......

Olympic Festival

I have organised an Olympic Festivl from the 6th -24th August 2008.It is in assocation with the embassy of the Poeple's Republic of China in India and Le Meridien Hotel. This festival was inaugurated by the the Chinese Ambassador in India and Dr Karan Singh at La Belvedere, Hotel Le Meridien on the 20th Floor, on 6th August at 7.30 pm. I have displayed 10 frames of Olympic Stamps, starting from the Ancient to the 2008 Games.70 photographs on China and losts of artifacts.

New Issue from India

The long awaited issue on Indian Coast Guard has been finally issued by India Post on 12 August 2008. It was earlier issued mistakenly at some remote places. It includes four stamps and a beautiful Miniature Sheet. These stamps are not available at all Philatelic Bureaues of India. The duties of Coast Guard includes providing protection to fishermen and giving assistance to them at sea while in distress, preservation and protection of marine enviroment, safety and protection of offshore installations and artificial islands .

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme - Freedom Struggle

Freedom Fighters- Meera Behn & Mahadev Desai

Date of Issue : 9 August 1983

Swaraj is my Birth Right- Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Date of Issue : 16 August 1988

50 Years of Republic of India

Date of Issue: 27 January 1999

Social & Political Leaders

Date of Issue : 15 August 2000