dear scribblingpad,
In a country where even the cabinet minister of Science & Technology is sworn into office at an 'auspicious time' there is little we gain from arguing about launch schedules. In a country where two subsects of devotess move suopreme couirt on whether the temple elephant should sport a vertical or horizontal forehead embellishment, much is lacking in enlightenment. In a country where surgeons lay down their scalpels and lancets and shut down Operation Theaters on one given day of the year for 'ayudha pooja' - much needs to be cleansed bsides instruments and minds. 
While it is absolutely correct that launch timings are based on metereological and atmospheric conditions, I am pretty certain that no launch does take place when its timing overlaps 'rahu kala'. A local professional institute, towed a cow all the way up the sixth floor of a building, through an elevator, to bless the gana homa being performed for divine protection to the future occupants.
At Manipal, the town noted for its stamp on scientific and technological output, after a series of mysterious fires broke out in some buildings, the management performed a 'bhoota kola' and oracle ceremony to revoke perceived divine wrath. 
Cut off the tail and ears of a calf to cure syphillis....swallow live fish to combat asthma...the list is endless sir...
regards, ixedoc

dear KGBhat,
thank you for the comments: yes, though I have pretty strong postures and attitudes biased towards logic and rationality - I have learnt to mentally accommodate and give space to those who believe otherwise or disagree with me.
regards, ixedoc

dear sunkan,
thankyou for your warm words.....I am indebted to all here for allowing me to share my thoughts and for enabling me to broaden my horizons through feedbacks on the blogs or comments
regards, ixedoc

A launch schedule can never be fixed on basis of auspicious times because the launch schedule can be aborted at the last moment due to some technological glitches, weather conditions, etc. so you never the idle moment maybe at the very inauspicious moment. ISRO relies on its technology rather than panchanga.

I have made a post on the similar topic

http://indiaregion.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/dont-eclipse-human-intelligence-and-scientific-temper.htm

hi prof.,
thanx for the rationally right attitude.your stance neither belittles sentiments nor betrays science.you can save us from so called rationalists whose sole aim is to hurt feelings of innocent believers.
a little superstition does not harm science,like it is rightly said"what it costs to touchwood?"

thanku doc for reproducing the article here for me, the enlightening teacher in you is always so helpful may god bless u with more energy to spread great thoughts and achievements..sunkan

dear scribblingpad,
you are welcome...exchange of ideas enriches  and broadens the mind
regards, ixedoc

hi ixecdoc,
some day we should talk more on this. It is perplexing. I have seen their contempt for allopathy. They say they are treating the patients by effluxing the poisons that they'd consumed through  allopathy treatment. I feel  quite muddled now.

dear scribblingpad,

thanks for the feedback - science is an exacting subject - there is nothing subjective about it. The practitioners of herbal / native medicine have claims which cannot be substantiated - most of the claims are based on testimonioals or ceryificates of many who 'feel' cured by the therapy. Vigorous testing of cause and effect, is never attempted in alterantive systems of medicine. No two preparations have similar constituents or potential. 

Each 'doctor' has his own regime and recipe. Science requires sucess at repeatability through independednt and diverse research. 

While I accept there si much tyo learn from local healing methods, the lacuna is much of what is claimed hasnt be proven. In  odern medicine, while doctors may differ on issues and diagnostics, there is little varuation in the effect or therapeutic property of the drug prescribed. The drugs are standardised and have known efect in particular dosages. 

I do interact with many alternate system doctors, and have a healthy respect for healing arts, including the 'placebo' effect, which I fear is cause for the much touted properties of untested preparations dispensed by native medicine practitioners

regards, ixedoc

U should talk to doctors who practice herbal science and medicines. They say unless u eat a  particular kind of food u cannot  get the full effect of their medicine. There  is a  lot of truth in pancha boothas and how it mixes to form the various humours.. They will be able to share a great deal with u because they have studied it as part of science. Their influfence on the common man is too strong to remove.  Before blindly writing off age old customs, you should analyse it from the point of view of those who practice ita s part of science. Our siddah doc wakes up at 3.30 am to prepare  Ashagandharishtam because he feels only that time is suited. If the time elapses he says he would not be able to make effective medicines. Moreover, he prescribes a diet to be followed. If we don't follow it ,he says they don't work. U must meet men and women who are deeply rooted in what is called "naattu vaidyam".