To mark this occasion, a grand parade is held near Rajpath in New Delhi, the capital of India, beginning from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort in the old quarter of the city. Different infantry, cavalry and mechanized regiments compose the Indian Army, the Indian Marines and the Indian Air Force's march in formation, who are decked in all their finery and official decorations.

The President of India, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, relishes the salute. The Chief Guest of the parade is the Head of State or Head of Government of another nation. The parade also includes many traditional dance troupes, to symbolize the cultural heritage of India. It traditionally ends with a colourful flypast by Indian Air Force jets in a tiranga formation. Similar parades are held in the capitals of all the states of India, where the governors of respective states take the salute. The official conclusion of Republic Day festivities is much later on 29 January, three days after the Republic Day, which is called 'Beating Retreat'.

Republic Day (India) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Republic Day Republic Day Soldiers of the Madras Regiment during the annual Republic Day Parade in 2004 Observed by India Type National Date 26 January Celebrations Parades, distribution of sweets in schools and cultural dances

In India, Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.

The date of 26 January was chosen to honour the declaration of independence of 1950. It is one of the three national holidays in India. While the main parade takes place in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the President of India (currently Pranab Mukherjee), the anniversary is also celebrated with varying degrees of formality in state capitals and other centres.

Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA) (NASDAQ: EA)is an American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers responsible for its games. Electronic Arts is the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue after Nintendo and Activision Blizzard.

ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS:

FOUNDED:

1982

OWNERSHIP:

Public (Nasdaq: EA)

GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS:

Redwood City, California

EMPLOYEES:

9,000 worldwide as of March 31, 2012

BACKGROUND:

Electronic Arts Inc. is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. EA develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and social networks.

TOP SELLERS:

• In fiscal 2012
• EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion. EA is recognized for critically acclaimed,
• high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™,
• Madden NFL
• FIFA Soccer
•  Need for Speed™
•  Battlefield™
• Mass Effect™

Source: EA, wikipedia

As of now, it is the third largest independent game publisher in Europe, and the third largest in the United States. The company's largest development studio is Ubisoft Montreal, which currently employs more than 1,700 people. Yves Guillemot, a founding brother, is the chairman and CEO. As for 2008–2009 fiscal year, Ubisoft's revenue was €1.058 billion, reaching the 1 billion euro milestone for the first time in its history. Ubisoft has created its own film division called Ubisoft Motion Pictures which will create shows and films based on its games

Yves Guillemot  CEO :

When my brothers and I created Ubisoft back in 1986, we started out with a simple motivation: work with passionate people and make fun games. Today, to continue surprising our millions of fans all over the world, we're always on the lookout for new ways to push back the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Beyond simple games, we strive to create immersive and engaging creative worlds that not only offer moments of pure fun, escapism and adventure, but also opportunities for learning and self-discovery. 

The video game industry is constantly evolving, and Ubisoft teams and I are eager to take up the next challenges in store so that you can have even more gaming pleasure. 

                                                                        Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO

Details & Facts:

• Activity:

Ubisoft is the third independent publisher of video games worldwide

• Founded:

1986

• Co-Founder & CEO:

Yves Guillemot

• Worldwide Headquarters:

Montreuil-sous-Bois, France

• Ubisoft Studios:

2nd largest in-house development staff in the world with 26 studios in 18 countries

• Staff:

More than 6,900 team members worldwide including 5,800 dedicated to production

• Sales FY 2011-12:

1.061 billion euros

• Share:

Listed on "Premier Marché" of Paris Stock Exchange

• Worldwide best selling franchises:

- Assassin's Creed®: 40 million 
- Just Dance™: 30 million 
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell®: 26 million 
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six®: 25 million 
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon®: 23 million 
- Petz®: 23 million 
- Rayman®: 21 million 
- Imagine™: 20 million 
- Prince of Persia®: 18 million 
- Driver®: 17 million 
- Rayman Raving Rabbids®: 13 million 
- The Settlers®: 9 million 
- Far Cry®: 8 million

- The Experience: 7 million 
- Anno™: 5 million 
- Your Shape: 3 million 

• Ranking:

- 3rd independent publisher in Europe 
- 3rd independent publisher in U.S. 

Sources: NPD, Chart Track, GFK - In value terms - Calendar 2011, ubisoft,wikipedia.

Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam shrine is one of the prominent Marian shrines in India. It is located at Tirunelveli district in the state Tamilnadu of India. In the recent years, it became popular in India because of vision and apparition of Our Lady. A strong oral tradition attests to Our Lady's apparition at Kallikulam. The tradition is built around the following few significant events:

On 1884, the villagers and Jesuits decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Our Lady. They were undecided about the size and location of the church. They prayed to Our Lady and requested her intercession to choose the location and size of the church. At that time, on a hot summer morning, they found a piece of land wet with morning dew. They wondered about that unusual thing, and believed that that was a miraculous intercession of Our Lady to mark the location of the church. On 1885 they built a magnificent church on that location and consecrated to Our Lady of Snows. 

On 29th March 1939, evening around 6.30 pm, Our Lady appeared on a hill near to the church. Six young people saw that apparition and informed that to parish priest and the village people. 

Since then, thousands of people of all faiths, from all over India, have visited Kallikulam and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Countless unbelievers and physically or mentally afflicted, have been converted and healed. Not only do multitudes of Catholic travel there throughout the year but many non-Christians visit as well. Hundreds of miraculous cures are reported every year. Our Lady of the Snows devotions down through the centuries have proved the place to be of divine origin. 

The shrine is a center of hospitality and spiritual growth, founded in Tamil tradition and culture. Here, Our Lady of the Snows, is popularly known as Panimatha. Panimatha is a Tamil word. In Tamil 'Pani' means 'Snow' and 'Matha' means 'Mother'.