The 20cm by 15cm stone is on show at an exhibition of rare stones in Dalian, Liaoning province, reports Yunnan Daily.

Experts at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences say the thick, white hairs are actually sea plants.

Savita took her vows with a clay pot when her fiance Chaman Singh, an officer with the Indo Tibetan Border Police, reportedly got stranded on the border because of heavy snowfall, reports newspaper Deccan Herald.

Savita from Jaunsar Babar agreed to go through with the wedding to the clay pot.

It is reported a photograph of the groom was placed behind the pot.

Formula for a happy relationship

Dr Hans-Werner Bierhoff, from the social psychology department at the Ruhr University Bochum, claims that couples should ideally compliment their partners five times for each time they criticise them.

He said:"Then people feel good in their relationship. Goodwill increases your potential to be happy."

Professor Bierhoff and his colleague Elke Rohmann conducted tests on thousands of individuals and couples and used the results to write a book called "What makes love strong" that provides advice on how relationships can be made to last.

The book also addresses problems that relationships can face as circumstances change.

He said that unemployment, infidelity or "stressful experiences" like diseases, depression or child birth can upset the balance and lead to a break-up.

Owner Diana Duyser, 52, of Hollywood, Florida, said eBay earlier pulled the half-sandwich from its listings, telling her it does not allow items intended as a joke.

But the snack was back on eBay today along with a picture of a sandwich bearing what appears to be the image of a woman's face.

"I made this sandwich 10 years ago. When I took a bite out of it, I saw a face looking up at me; it was Virgin Mary starring (sic) back at me. I was in total shock; I would like to point out there is no mould or (disintegration)," the message said.

It says the sandwich, preserved in a plastic box, has brought "blessings" to its owner.

"I have won $US70,000 dollars (total) on different occasions at the casino nearby my house; I can show the recipts (sic) to the high bidder," the message said.

But Duyser was out of luck on the reported $28,470 bid she got for the sandwich before eBay disqualified the auction.

"The last time this was listed, there were over 80,000 viewers," the message said, adding that the auction elicited many e-mails, some of them "downright cruel."

The starting bid on the latest auction was $US3,000.

Residents of Dhami near Shimla divided themselves into two groups and pelted stones at each other

The group having the least number of wounded were declared winners reports Asian News International.

It is reported participants were extremely enthusiastic about the stone throwing ritual, which continued for more than an hour in spite of injuries sustained

Local administrators and police set up several makeshift medical camps to treat the bleeding victims.

Those severely wounded were taken to hospitals at Shimla for treatment

The 100-year-old event called Sati Pradha Mela marks the death of a local queen by Sati, an ancient Hindu custom whereby a woman immolates herself on the funeral pyre of her husband.