How to make your Blogger blog Search Engine friendly with Structured Data

Structured data helps search engines in understanding the content of your blog and in turn provides better indexing and ranking in search results.

Google has come up with live structured data testing tool to test whether your website or blog is having structured data. Upon testing I found few errors in my blog hosted on blogger that is showing structured data error concerned with image source (usually picasa for blogger blogs) that is image_url , postId and blogId as not recognized as part of the schema. But these errors can be rectified by editing blogger template and making your blogger blog compatible with Structured Data.

Errors showing up in Structured test data tool marked in red, image_url error has been rectified

In blogger, template can be edited by accessing it as follows: Template -> Edit HTML -> Edit Template.

1. Image_url error
It can be rectified by editing your template. In blogger usually images are uploaded in picasa and being used in blogs. Search for word ‘image_url’ using Ctrl + F in template HTML code if in case you are not able to find it then expand the template as sown, then you can search. Replace ‘image_url’ with ‘image’ and save the template. This rectifies ‘image_url’ error being appeared in structured data testing tool.

Expand Template and search for keywords

search for 'image_url'

'image_url' is replaced with 'image'

2. posteId error and blogId error:
It can be rectified by same way editing blogger template. Search for <meta expr:content='data:blog.blogId' itemprop='blogId'/> and <meta expr:content='data:post.id' itemprop='postId'/>. Those two lines will be together (don't confuse with and in between), select the lines and DELTE it. Save the template, this rectifies blogId and postId error and it will be not recognized as part of schema error. 

Then again test for possible structured data error using Google structured data testing tool, you can find that error are rectified.

Errors are rectified with indication in green color


How to Update Mobile Number in AADHAR Card Online and Offline

AADHAR card has been a first of its kind multi-modal biometric based identity card issued to citizens of India. Even though it has not been fully utilized, once implemented can help in many ways reducing corruption, identity card issues, authentication issues etc., Personal details like age, sex, address has been fed into system by a data entry operator and there are possibilities of human to err. UIDAI offers AADHAR self service update portal to handle the issues related to update and change of AADHAR information in case of any discrepancy.

Among all details usually mobile number being the common one changed frequently. To update mobile number or change mobile number or add mobile number, AADHAR self service portal offers following services:

1. If your mobile number is not yet registered
If your mobile number or any mobile number is not registered for your AADHAR card then you can do so directly using this link and entering your mobile AADHAR number and mobile number. You will be receiving One Time Password (OTP) on your number to add your mobile number.

2. To change your mobile number having your old number with you
If you have changed your mobile number recently and have old mobile number with you. You can update your mobile number as below using the AADHAR Self Service Update Portal


Enter your AADHAR number and captcha


a. Click link to generate OTP on your old mobile number by entering your AADHAR number and text shown

Enter the OTP received on your old number


b. Click continue and select mobile option as that you can update your mobile number in the next screen

Select Mobile number option to update your mobile number

Confirm your Mobile Number

Proceed for confirmation page

c. You need to select any of the BPO services to get your mobile number updated

Select any of the BPO services to update your Mobile Number

d. You will receive an Update Request Number (URN) and your number will be updated in a day or two.


Sometimes you may get update message on your mobile number and if not you can check using status link providing AADHAR and URN number.

Check update Status

Your Mobile number update status will be shown

3. To change your mobile number without having old number with you
Suppose if your mobile number is wrongly updated or you are no more able to access your old phone number then also you can update your mobile number by submitting this form along with an identity proof, address proof and DOB certificate as mentioned in Annexure -1. It is required so that someone cannot misuse your AADHAR card providing number change request form. You need to send the form to following address to update your mobile number.
            UIDAI                                                                                                    UIDAI
      Post Box No. 10,                                                                             Post Box No. 99,
    Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh                                                       Banjara Hills, Hyderabad,
        India – 480001                                                                                   India – 500034 



Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and Trekking

Sabarimala is the abode of Lord Ayyappa(sometimes spelled as Aiyappa also) located in midst of absolute greenery. Devotees all over the country visit sannidhanam wearing Ayyappa Maala – a vratam performed by devotees for a period of 41 days. Sabarimala temple attracts large number of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana compared to any other state. Peak season at Sabarimala will be from November to January till Makara Sankrathi or Makara Sankramana day. Temple management with kerala police arranges all the facilities in order to provide hassle free darshan for devotees during peak season and other arrangements like virtual Queue. Temple will be open every month for mandala pooja apart from the regular pooja of the months of November, December and January and will be closed till sacred days of next month. Devotees are less during Mandala pooja time and one can have easy darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

Lord Ayyappa sannidhanam

Sabarimala can be reached from various places and nearest being the Chenganur called gateway of Sabarimla which is connected by road and railways. During Mandala pooja and regular pooja time Kerala road Transport Corporation arranges special buses plying from Chenganur to Pampa (also pronounced as Pamba) and back. Pamba bridge which has to be crossed to reach sabarimala is at a distance of 93 kms from Chenganur. It takes three hours for public transport to reach Pamba from Chenganur and same time for returning. Considering the travel time required, plan the travel accordingly.

Chenganur Bus stand

Chenganur Railway station - has clean waiting hall both for AC and non-AC reserved passengers

on the way to pampa from Chenganur


On the way to Pampa from Chenganur

Pampa bus stand

From river pampa, Ayyappa sannidhanam (sannidhanam refers to temple) is at a distance of 6 kms to be covered by walking. Initial two and half kilometers is steep and after that the road is normal suitable for regular walk. As a custom large number of devotees walk to sabarimala bare foot even though there is no strict rule on it.


way to Pampa

Pampa bridge to reach Sannidhanam

Shopping complex at Pampa

pampa


Trek to Ayyappa sannidhanam started with the dip in holy river Pampa which was clean due to heavy rain fall when we visited. Crossing river Pampa we need to proceed for Sabarimala Ayyappa darshan. After having darshan of Lord Ganapathy, Anjaneya, Rama and Goddess Parvathy, we started to starting point of trek which is backside of these temples.

Ganesha Temple at pampa

Way to Sannidhanam

Govt. Cardiology Center for devotees

On trek path - some times slippery

Trek path

Trek path 

Initial trekking path is steep and has steps. One can enjoy the nature and trek slowly taking little breaks. Be careful as it is slippery at some places. Street vendors selling water, fruits and other required things are common in trek path. Health center is also being set up in between for the devotees requiring emergency medical help.

Dolly service for the aged from Pampa to Sabarimala

Sabaripeedam

Sabaripeetam

In between Sabari peetam is present on the way where Sabari met lord Ayyappa and the name Sabarimala is due to her to the hill. Nearing Ayyappa sannidhanam we can see many shops and in the trek route tractors carrying construction material is normally seen. But other vehicles are not allowed to Sannidhanam from Pampa.

Tractors carrying construction material


View from Sabarimala


Since, it was Mandala pooja time we could have good darshan of lord Ayyappa twice and could take rest in reserved rooms before starting back. Also, we visited nearby deities and Vavar thara – a small temple built for sufi saint and friend of Lord Ayyappa. It was enriching experience to be in middle of greenery and see devotees coming from different places to have darshan of lord Ayyappa with a hope to relieve them from all their difficulties.

Temple Entrance with 18 steps allowed only for devotees with Irumudi


Alternate path for devotees without Irumudi

Vavaruswamy - friend of Lord Ayyappa

place in front of temple main gate to relax 

Sabarimala

Heavy rain

serve good quality Coffee and Tea at Sabarimala

In return we took other path which is being used during peak time. The road is steep and requires careful stepping as railings are not present to hold and carefully descend. The roads are well-lit and can walk during night time also.

Alternate path to reach or come from Pampa

Petrol bunk at Pampa


Due to modernization, mobile networks with 3G connection and ATMs of many banks are available both in Sabarimala hill and Pampa also. A petrol pump or petrol bunk is present in Pampa for refueling if you are going by own vehicle. Accommodation can be booked online itself for accommodation at Sabarimala itself using their online reservation system (website link) which helps for a planned journey to God’s abode.

How to Pay MESCOM electricity bills online

Finally Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) has responded to the demand of public to introduce online payment and recently have set up the website and the payment gateway for the people to pay their electricity bills online using any of the paying options through BillDesk. MESCOM announcement says that the bill has to be paid three days in advance to the due date to avoid late payment charges.

One can pay the electricity bill quickly without registration too and also there is an option to register and pay the bills online. Users require the Account number provided in the electricity bill to pay the bill online or to register for creating account in MESCOM website. Advantage of registering for MESCOM account is one can get the detailed bill online in pdf format and can the detailed usage and billing even of previous months if paid online.

Presently MESCOM online payment is supported for the following RAPDRP Towns and will be extended to other towns. List of RAPDRP towns for which the online payment can be made are as follows: Bantwal, Bhadravathi, Chikmagalur, Kadur, Mangalore, Puttur, Sagar, Shikaripura, Shimoga, Tarikere and Udupi. To view the list of Towns for which online payment can be made can be visited here.

MESCOM bill can be paid from this link: MESCOM bill payment

Account number will be available as follows on bill using which MESCOM bill can be paid and the account can be created to login.

Account number to register online on BESCOM, image courtesy MESCOM website.

MESCOM bill. See the accountID in red rectangle ten digits

Account number of your account can be obtained from your electricity bill itself and no need to approach MESCOM office for obtaining the same. Confirm your details against your account details before payment.

provide your account id and Captcha image shown

Verify your details against your account id and make payment

Click on pay now to proceed to payment gateway of BillDesk

provide e-mail id to receive the payment details

Currently MESCOM is charging transaction charges as follows for the payment of electricity bill online. 

charges as above for paying MESCOM bill online

you can view the bill online if you create account with MESCOM portal online

Recently PayTM has introduced MESCOM bill payment online along with the other Electricity companies state wise on their portal. But consumer number or Account ID is mandatory for paying the bill by retrieving the consumer details.