Expressions Of my Experiences

Colorful streets of India....

2010-06-11T13:41:00.000+05:30

India has always been exalted and remembered fondly as the country of colors. Color is the most important element of India. From bright colorful clothes to beautiful and creative paintings, pottery and handicrafts. From mouth watering Indian cuisines to the seasons and festivals, it all reflects the distinctive and rich culture and colorful spirit of the people of India. In India, the color red represents something quite different: Purity. That’s contrary to Western cultures where the color white is used to symbolize purity.

Red also stands for purity and is the preferred color for a bride's garment. Indian brides traditionally wear red gowns and once married their foreheads are adorned with a red dot or tikka, the symbol of commitment. Because the wedding represents the beginning of a union of two individuals, the color red also symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Red is dynamic and constantly breathing fire in the eyes of the beholder. It incites fear and is the color associated with one of the most revered goddesses in Hindu mythology - Durga. Her fiery image is enhanced by her red tongue and almost red eyes.

The color green represents the harvest or a new beginning and, as in America, green is symbolic of nature. In India green is also the color used to honor Islam.

White is the absence of color, and is the only color widows are allowed to wear. It is the acceptable color at funerals and ceremonies that mark death in the family. It reflects the basic quality of the color itself, in principle; white, as a color, repels all light and colors and therefore, when a widow wears white, she disconnects herself from the pleasures and luxuries of active and normal participation in society and life around her.

Turmeric, for instance, while being used for cooking in both the north and the south, is also used in ceremonies offering prayers and marriages. Yellow symbolizes sanctity and is an essential herbal ingredient applied on the body and face by women in the sub continent

Black in India has connotations with lack of desirability, evil, negativity, and inertia. It represents anger and darkness and is associated with the absence of energy, barrenness, and death. Black is used as a representation of evil and is often used to ward off evil.

The colors of India have mesmerized rulers, outsiders, and visitors - perhaps more so because of the stories and legends that bind its people, its culture, and its beliefs. The "rani" pink of mystical Rajasthan, the pastel hues of southern India, the joyous, bright hues of the northern frontier, and the balmy bright colors of the east offer a kaleidoscopic insight into an almost perfect blend of history and modernism.

The color blue, for instance, is associated with Lord Krishna, perhaps one of the most favored gods in India. And, as is obvious for any agricultural economy.

In India, a festivals of colors if celebrated named as Holi(http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/07/holi-festival-of-spring-scientific.html). Also Rangloi (http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/06/rangoli-beautiful-collage-of-colors.html) a collage of colors is made on festivals to decorate the houses.

Some tips for becoming a ' Smart Household Manager'

2010-06-02T15:16:00.001+05:30

Women have multiple roles to play in life, specially when a woman gets married and she also has a career. As and when you move ahead in life your roles and responsibility in career as well as family keeps on increasing. This is the time when a woman needs to become a 'Smart household Manager '.Also mums who are at home are busy in managing the lives of everyone at home; that no easy task. From my personal experience I would like to share few tips to become a Smart household manager. Some of my suggestion would hold true in Indian context only.

• The biggest mistake that stay-at-home moms make is not creating a schedule for the home. This means a schedule of activities for the kids that are home with you as well as a schedule for when you're going to get things done. Having no structure makes you put everything off until the last minute which creates stress. So sit down and make an actual schedule of what activities are going to happen when in your home on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. (Daily means knowing when everyone eats lunch, has nap time, play outside. Weekly is the days that you do laundry, run errands, attend play groups. Monthly is paying bills, planning holidays, etc.)

• Give responsibility to everyone else in the house. Just because you're the stay at home mom doesn't mean that you need to do it all yourself. Your kids should have chores because it helps build a sense of responsibility and the skills that they'll need to be adults. Do give some responsibilities to your spouse also.

• Try and save time from some of the activities in the house and take help from maids. Mainly on those work which are monotonous i.e. cleaning the house, dishes etc. You can use this saved time with your kids or in your personal grooming.

• If you are working then don't not hesitate to invest some amount of your salary in employing maids. Always remember that you by investing a small amount of money in getting HELP you can ensure a smooth and a stress free working of your house.

• In kitchen try and avoid investing time in chopping vegetables or making dough, cleaning kitchen table take HELP in this work and invest this time in making delicious and variety food for your family.

• Plan the menu of the week on weekends so that you can arrange , buy all groceries accordingly. That will save your time in last minute rush and give you a peace when your are at your work place

• Ironing clothes, daily cleaning, laundry are such activities that can be outsourced to a maid. But remember to be a Smart Manger and keep your eyes and ears open.

• If you have a bigger family, then you should take help in making chapattis or roti. This work once explained to the maid can be taken care. Only it requires your timely supervision.

• Do not try to be a perfectionist in your daily household work.

• Last but not the least, remember every woman has a right to look beautiful so don't not forget to devote some time in your personal care.

To effectively manage your home, you just need some basic organizational skills and the willingness to give yourself the credit you deserve. Take your role as home manager seriously and it'll run more smoothly, letting you enjoy it more. And everything will still get done!

Groundnut Chutney

2010-02-07T09:21:00.004+05:30

An easy to prepare dish which will add taste to your meals, snacks.I have posted some more chutney recipes like mint mango chutney,tomato chutney in my older posts.

Category Side dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Groundnut chutney
Served Hot parthas, snacks & a side dish with main course
Cooking Time 5-6 Min

Ingredients

• ½ Cup Roasted groundnuts
• 2-3 Garlic pieces
• 4-5 green chili
• 175 -200 gms Coriander with tender stems
• Salt to taste
• ½ Tbsp Red chili powder

Method

Wash Coriander in fresh water. Blend all ingredients together and make sure you do not blend very fine. Coarse groundnuts will give a very good taste.

Smart tips

You can make chutney once in three days & store it air tight container in your refrigerator.

Bagh Print –Originates from Heart Of India Madhya Pradesh.

2010-02-05T10:27:00.003+05:30

Bagh, which lends its name to the Bagh prints is a small tribal town in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The khatri community, who comprise the 'chhipas' or printers came here about 400 years ago from Larkana is Sind which is famous for its Ajrak prints. These are created by a community of printers called 'Chheepa' derived from the Hindi word "chhapna" meaning printing. A wide range of products are now available made from Bagh printed fabric - be it ladies suits, saris, dress material, dupatta, bed-covers, pillow covers etc. one can find all. Bagh prints have unique hand block printing, printed using vegetable dyes.

Traditionally, fabric used was cotton, but now saw tassar, crepe, and silk are being used with excellent results. Bagh layouts are dramatic with use of black and red alternately on a white background. Production process is painstaking and manual.
dyers of Bagh have perfected the ancient technique of hand block printing with vegetable dyes unique to this place. Bagh prints are today exported in large quantities. The designs are exclusive to Bagh & so are the vegetable dyes. These dyes are superior to chemical dyes in every respect. They leave no harmful effects. They are biodegradable & eco-friendly. And, they improve with each wash in shine & color.

Bagh Print in cotton fabric is one my all time favorite.

Top 5 Cheating husbands of Bollywood

2010-01-26T14:57:00.004+05:30

Aamir Khan –One of the finest actor of Bollywood, who believes in the philosophy of ‘One film at a time ‘ proposed Reena when he just turned 21 years of age and she accepted. The fact that Reena hailed from a Hindu family while Aamir was a devout Islamic caused enough concern for the family who objected to their marriage. So, they eloped, got married and returned to their homes. The secret remained for five months until one fine day Reena had to disclose the news to her family. It was in the year 1986 that the duo got married in public and began living together. After sixteen year of married life and after having two kids Aamir divorced Reena in 2002.Aamir fell in love with Assistant director of film ‘Lagan’ and and re-married in 2005.Between 2002 and 2005, the shocking claim that British writer Jessica Hines had produced a love child called Jaan Harry Hines with Aamir in 2003.

Boney Kapoor –Boney Kapoor first wife Mona extended shelter to Sridvei in the time of need ,
she never knew that her hospitality will be thanked by sridevi by taking her husband away. Boney kapoor and Sridevi’s affair bloomed right under the nose of Mona and later Sridevi became pregnant when the affair of Boney Kapoor and Sridevi was revealed. Later the couple tied knot

Dharmendra –Dream girl Hemalini fell in love with the He-Man of Bollywood. When Hemalini and Dharmendra ‘s affair started,
that time Dharmendra was the father of four children.Dharemdra converted to Islam to marry the dream girl,as under Hindu law it’s not permissible to have two wives.He wanted to keep his first wife Prakash Kaur so he took this step of conversion to Islam.

Kamal Hassan-If you marry a man who cheats on his wife, you'll be married to a man who cheats on his wife. That's the lesson Sarika must have learnt from her life. Kamal cheated on Vani Ganpathy, his first wife, with Sarika and after a painful divorce Sarika got married to Kamal thinking hers would be a happily-ever-after story. Little did she know years later Kamal would cheat on her with someone else. His extra-marital affair with actress Simran Bagga resulted in Sarika filing for a divorce.

Saif Ali Khan- Saif married Amrita Singh , separated from her after thirteen years of married life and two kids. His Italian girlfriend Rosa, who was the main cause for his walking out on wife Amrita in the first place. Later, Saif and Rosa had a breakof and now a days Saif Ali Khan is dating a Bollywood actress Kareen Kapoor.Kareen Kapoor is the granddaughter of Late Raj Kapoor.

SabuDana Kichdi

2010-01-20T07:41:00.001+05:30

A delicious breakfast and good dish for Upvas (Fast)

Category Snack
Region All of India, more popular in western India
Also Called Sabu Dana Kichdi (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name
Served with Curd
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20min

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Sabudana (Preferably big ones)
• 1 Boiled and peeled potato
• 1Tbsp Jeera (Cumin seeds)
• ½ cup roasted crushed groundnuts (coarse)
• 3-4 green chili
• 1/2 tsp Red chili
• Finely chopped Coriander
• 1 tbsp Lime Juice
• 1 Tbsp Oil
• Salt to taste or Sendhava salt if preparing for fast

Method

Wash sabudana in water, drain the water and let it soak for 3-4 hours. Chop the boiled potatoes in cubes. Heat the oil in a pan and add cumin seeds along with green chili. Let them splutter. Now add chopped potatoes and let it turn golden brown. Now add crushed groundnuts along with salt and red chili powder and stir well. Next, add Sabudana and make sure there should be NO water in it. Cook for 5-7 min Once cooked add lime juice and coriander leaves. Serve hot with curd.

Smart tips:

After adding Sabudana DO NOT cover the lid of the pan otherwise it might turn sticky.

Naga Sadhus –The Holy Men Of India

2010-01-16T06:25:00.004+05:30

Maha Kumbh Mela of Haridwar 2010 would again witness the Naga Sadhus coming for a holy dip in Ganges, And, Naga Sadhus have always drawn attention of Western media, so through this post I would like to throw some light on these holy men of India.

Naga sadhus are a large and a prominent Shaiva sect, who have existed since the prehistoric past. The Naga sect is subdivided into Akharas, i.e. 'regiments', like an army. Their displays of weaponry -- sticks, spears, swords and especially the trident -- have a mostly symbolic function. Among the Nagas are many sadhus who walk about naked. High up in the icy Himalayas, but naked all the same, Bhola Giri Nagababa blows the serpentine horn, called nagphani, or 'cobra-hood’, producing one piercing note. This instrument is related to the cobra (naga), the intimate companion of Lord Shiva, always coiled around his neck.

In their nakedness they do not emanate sexuality. On the contrary, they control, inhibit the sexual 'vibrations', retaining its energy so it can be mystically transformed into psychic and spiritual power. The identification feature of Naga Sadhus include being naked with long hairs knotted with different metals and body smeared with ashes. Not only this, one can see Naga Sadhus could be seen wearing beads of Rudraksha, believe to posses positive healing power according to Hindu mythology. Not just a few but you can witness Naga sadhus wearing thousand of Rudraksha beads and is believed that wearing Eleven thousand Rudrakhsa beads will help them attain the form of Lord Shankara or Lord Shiva.

While you visit the akharas of Naga Sadhus, one can have a glance of these sadhus smoking “CHILUM” (Marijuana). The consumption of bhang is also considered to be a part of the rituals performed by Naga Sadhus. The sadhus hold the view that doing so will lead them to eternity or nirvana. Naga Sadhus belongs to different Akharas (which means camps) and each akharash have their own set of Naga Babas who are living this world in most unconventional way and follow their own set of religion and spiritual activities without caring about this world.

Kumbh Mela marks the gathering of hundreds of Naga Sadhus, who live in relative isolation in mountains, caves and communes in the Himalayas and other regions of India. Western media covering Kumbh mela has always misunderstood the Nagas Sadhu and have often called them Naked Hindu saints or naked holy men, but Nagas Sadhus don’t care what they are called. They are just representatives of Lord Shiva.

Kumbh Mela – Largest Religious gathering in the world

2010-01-15T07:17:00.003+05:30

Kumbh mela the world’s most massive act of faith. Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. The significance of the Kumbha Mela and the important role that it plays in the spirituality of India, it is helpful to know something about the background of the sacred Ganges River. The devout believe that simply by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from their past sins (karma), and thus one becomes eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. According to astrological calculations, the Kumbha Mela is held every twelve years and begins on Makar Sankranti, the day when the sun and moon enter Capricorn and Jupiter enters Aries. The astrological configuration on Makar Sankranti is called " Kumbha snana-yoga" and is considered to be especially auspicious, as it is said that the passage from Earth to the higher planets is open at that time, thus allowing the soul to easily attain the celestial world. For such reasons it is understandable why the Kumbha Mela has become so popular among all classes of transcendentalists in India.

Maha Kumbh helds after every twelve years, which is once in life time event, if some how your have missed maha kumbh than other option of similar significance is Ardh Kumbh which held after every 6 years. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela at Prayag, attended by millions of people, making it the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world. Kumbh Mela is held at the below locations.
• Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
• Haridwar (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
• Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river, and
• Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.

The observance of Kumbha Mela is based upon the following story: thousands of years ago, perhaps in the Vedic period, gods and demons made a temporary agreement to work together in obtaining amrita (the nectar of immortality) from the Milky Ocean, and to share this equally. However, when the Kumbha (pot) containing the amrita appeared, the demons ran away with the pot and were chased by the gods. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the possession of this pot of amrita. It is said that during the battle, drops of amrita fell on to four places : Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Thus, Kumbha mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell.

Besides the Ganges, there are also two other sacred rivers located at Allahabad, the Yamuna and the Saraswati . The Yamuna, like the Ganges has its earthly origin in the Himalayas. The Saraswati, however, is a mystical river which has no physical form. It is believed that the Saraswati exists only on the ethereal or spiritual plane and is not visible to the human eye. This holy river is mentioned many times in India's sacred texts such as the Mahabharata and is said to be present at Allahabad where it joins the Yamuna and the Ganges.

2010 is the year for Mahakumbh Mela at Haridwar in 2010 from 14th January – 28th April. Haridwar is one of the four holy sites for Kumbh Mela and among the seven sacred cities of India. It is a city with enormous religious significance and a key pilgrimage town for the Hindus. So, this time let your heart soak in all the spirituality to the holy land of Haridwar in Kumbh Mela of 2010.As per media , Thousands of naked and semi-clad Naga Sadhusor Indian Holy Men are using the Kumbh mela festival, the world's largest spiritual gathering, to campaign against global warming.

Rudraksha Beads – A Gift of God To Mankind

2010-01-14T08:36:00.003+05:30

The rudraksha evergreen tree mainly found in Nepal, area of Gangetic plains in foothills of Himalayas to the south east Asia ,Indonesia,Guniea to Australia,Gaum and Hawaii. The seed of the Rudraksha tree (Elaeocarpus granitrus) holds a very special place in Hinduism, and is credited to possess mystical and divine properties. The Tears of Lord Siva that are Rudraksha, are the original Vedic Beads of Power worn by the Yogis of India and the Himalayas for thousands of years to maintain health and to gain self empowerment and fearless life on their path to Enlightenment and Liberation. The term Rudraksh basically refers to the tears of Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva meditated for several years for the wellbeing of all creatures. But, when he opened his eyes to see around, he saw people in pain. Lord Shiva could not see the sufferings and miseries of people and started shedding hot drops of tears. Mother Nature transformed the tears and gave birth to the Rudraksh trees. The other names for Lord Shiva are Rudra and the Lord of tears. Rudra is a term used to refer one who relieves others from sufferings and pain. For thousands of years, they have adorned the bodies of sages and saints leading a fearless life in far-flung frontiers seeking enlightenment and liberation.

As per Hindu scriptures the devotees of Lord Shiva are usually given Rudraksha for peace. A person tends to become pure after wearing the Rudraksha beads. People are of the belief that, a person who offers food to the wearer of Rudraksha reaches Rudraloka i.e. the Loka or kingdom of Lord Rudra.It is believed that the wearer of Rudraksha invites the Goddess of wealth. By wearing Rudraska one can overcome untimely death and paves a way to harmony in life and controls stress level. It helps in awakening the Kundilini or vital energies & propels the cosmic forces in one's favor. Rudrakshas stimulate the mind, increase the intellect, improve the power of speech & oration. They also helps in acquiring the power of Intuition. People of high blood have been found benefitted from Rudraksha seeds. Rudraskha is also worn to please the nine planets and it has great astrological importance.
Rudraksha beads are classified on the basis of the number of “mukhis” – the clefts and furrows – they have on the surface. Each bead has a different effect on you, depending on the number of mukhis it has. These are vital from the astrological viewpoint, since it is believed that Rudrakshas of different mukhis please different planets.
The scriptures speak of 1 to 38 mukhis, but Rudrakshas of 1 to 14 mukhis are commonly found.
Acquiring an authentic Rudraksha is a challenge in itself. A real Rudraksha bead will never float on water. Even if you boil a real Rudraksha in water for 6 hours, there would no effect on the bead. A fake will easily disintegrate. A good Rudraksha bead will not be broken at any end. A ‘healthy’ bead should have well defined and natural corns and contours.

Mehndi – An Indian Bride is incomplete without Mehndi !

2010-01-08T08:27:00.002+05:30

Mehndi is an ancient traditional form of hand and feet decoration. It creates a deep crimson color that shines on the skin. Mehndi is closely connected to the tradition and culture of India. Mehndi is the application of Heena for the decoration of hand and feet mainly in south east Asia. It's safe and painless since it does not require the skin to be pierced. It's completely natural and non-toxic. Mehndi is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. It was believed that applying Mehndi to the hands and feet would keep off evil. Mehndi is particularly important during ceremonial occasions like weddings. A special day is allotted in a traditional Indian marriage for the application of henna on the bride, as well as family members and friends. Mehndi is one of the sixteen adornments bestowed on a bride during Solah Shringar.

The henna plant is common in India and is used in rural areas as a hedge. Rural women may pick fresh mehndi leaves and prepare them for the application. However it is also sold in powder form. The plant is prepared and made into a paste. Lemon juice is added to the paste to intensify its red color. Various shades of Henna are procured by mixing its paste with the leaves and fruit of other plants, such as indigo, tea, coffee, cloves and lemon. The finished paste is placed into a cone. During the process of laying out the design, the cone does not touch the skin, but rather, the henna is laid out onto the skin like a thread. The flow of the henna must be controlled in order to produce an even line. The thickness of this line determines the amount of die from the henna that penetrates the skin. After the henna design is laid out on the skin, a mixture of lemon and sugar is dabbed over the design to set it. The longer the design is left undisturbed, the deeper the color will be. Later the henna is removed by rubbing the hands together, revealing a reddish color where the henna touched the skin.

Now Mehndi is becoming popular in west also. Many Hollywood celebrities have been seen with decoration of Mehndi on their hands and feet.

Myths & Facts About Hinduism

2009-12-21T10:32:00.003+05:30

1) Myth -Hindu’s Worship many Gods
Fact - It is a misconception amongst non-Hindus that Hindus worship millions of Gods. The truth is that according to Hinduism nothing but that one and only one ‘God’ (called Brahm by Hindus) exists. There can be millions and billions of manifestations of that God and during ‘His’ cosmic dance that ‘one self’ observes ‘His’ infinite manifestations. In simple words Hindus consider everything ‘living’ and ‘non-living’ as manifestation of ‘God’ and are therefore free to worship ‘God’ in any form. A Hindu can thus worship God in any of ‘His’ infinite manifestations (Sakara Brahm) or can worship a formless God (Nirakar Brahm).

2) Myth – All Hindus are vegetarian
Fact -Hindus teach vegetarianism as a way to live with a minimum of hurt to other beings. But in today's world not all Hindus are vegetarians. The rationale behind a vegetarian diet is to promote a physically, mentally and spiritually healthy lifestyle. However, there are no rigid rules concerning vegetarianism.
Vegetarians are more numerous in the South of India than in the North. This is because of the North's cooler climactic conditions and past Islamic influence. Priests and religious leaders are definitely vegetarian, so as to maintain a high level of purity and spiritual consciousness to fulfill their responsibilities, and to awaken the refined areas of their nature

3) Myth – Hindus are Idol Worshippers
Fact -Hindus do not worship a stone or metal "idol" as God. We worship God through the image. We invoke the presence of God from the higher, unseen worlds, into the image so that we can commune with Him and receive His blessings.
The stone or metal deity images in Hindu temples and shrines are not mere symbols of the Gods. They are the form through which their love, power and blessings flood forth into this world.
We may liken this mystery to our ability to communicate with others through the telephone. We do not talk to the telephone; rather we use it as a means of communication with another person.
Without the telephone, we could not converse across long distances; and without the sanctified icon in the temple, we cannot easily commune with the Deity. Divinity can also be invoked and felt in a sacred fire, or in a tree, or in the enlightened person of a satguru. In our temples, God is invoked in the sanctum by highly trained priests. Through the practice of yoga, or meditation, we invoke God inside ourself. Yoga means to yoke oneself to God within. The image or icon of worship is a focus for our prayers and devotions.

4) Myth –Hindus Practice Caste System
Fact -The present day caste system is one of the evils that had crept into Hindu society. It is more of a social problem then a religious. Caste system has no place in Hindu philosophy because as mentioned before this philosophy believes that nothing but that Brahm (God) exists. Everything including human being is manifestation of Brahm (God). And God can never have a lower or higher caste.
But since caste system is a reality of Indian society let us just examine how it came into existence:
Rig Veda recognizes that every human being has different capability. Some people are better in academics, other are good warriors, some are better in commerce and economics and still others are good craftsmen or manual workers. Any modern day scientist will testify that every individual has a different genetic makeup. This does not prevent a person born to athletic parents from becoming a doctor or a scientist. So according to Rig Veda people should recognize their capabilities and chose a profession according to that. An academician (Brahmin) is in no way superior to an artesian or manual laborer (Sudra). They are just different in their working capability. Caste was meant to be a guideline for people to choose their profession and was not meant to be a stigma attached to a person due to his birth. The present day caste system came into practice much later.
Just two examples should be sufficient to show that caste was not an evil stigma in ancient Hindu society as it is today in modern India –
1) Lord Krishna who is considered an incarnation of God by Hindus, was born in Yadu Vansha (considered a ‘backward caste’ now days). During his life Krishna was revered by all including so called ‘superior Brahmins and Kshatriyas’. He is worshipped in modern day India by all the castes.
2) Ramayana considered to be amongst the holiest of all holy books in Hindu religion was written by – Sage Valmiki. Valmiki was born in what is now day known as schedule caste family (lower caste). Ramayana occupies a place of prime importance in every Hindu family and all Hindus revere Sage Valmiki.
Needless to say that modern day leaders of Independent India have increased the divisions in Hindu society for their own political gains.

5) Myth – To become a Hindu, you have to be born as a Hindu.
Fact -Hinduism is a way of life, there is no formal conversion process. Anyone can become a Hindu, because to be a Hindu one has to just follow the Hindu way of life.

6) Myth – Hindu Women are suppressed
Fact -The role of women in Hinduism is often misunderstood. In Vedic times women and men were equal as far as education and religion was concerned. In ancient India, women occupied a very important position, in fact in some ways, a superior position to men. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are feminine -”Shakti” means “power” and “strength.” All male power comes from the feminine.

7) Myth –Hinduism has lot many Rituals and superstition
Fact -Hinduism runs on value education and some rituals. These rituals are added from time to time and changeable. But these rituals convey a lot of meaning when deeply thought and understood. They are not compulsory for Hinduism; some follow, some don’t.

Lastly to summarize, How Hinduism differs from other religions
• It is not based upon one particular founder.
• It is not based upon one particular book.
• It is not controlled by a central institution or authority such as a church or an association.
• It is not averse to examine and assimilate fundamentally diverse thoughts and beliefs into its system.
• It accepts other religions as various paths to salvation and does not favor organized attempts to convert people.
• It has been evolving continuously, through internal reforms and as a reaction to the threats and challenges.
• Hinduism is a way of life, more than a religion
• An attitude of understanding and tolerance is taught within the religion, where all religious teachings are not to be looked down upon and that no one way of worship should be considered better than another.

Why Hindu’s Burn the Dead Body ?

2009-12-15T08:33:00.002+05:30

The last journey of a Hindu is known as the ‘Antyesti’ or Hindu Funeral rite, also known as ‘Antim Sansakar’. Antyeṣṭi rites are the final sacraments (saṃskāras) in a series that ideally begins at the moment of conception and is performed at each important stage of a man’s life. Upon death Hindu’s are not buried they are cremated as per the procedure detailed in scriptures.

The reason why Hindu’s cremate is based on the belief that Jiva’ or body is made up of five elements of nature, which needs to be returned to the source upon its death. Of them water, earth and fire belong to the body and come from this world, whereas the fifth element is the ether (fine matter) belongs to the domain of the subtle body and comes from the higher worlds. By cremating the body, the elements are rightfully returned to their respective spheres, while the subtle body along with the soul returns to the world beyond for the continuation of its afterlife. Hindus also belief that when the soul departs from the world there are some pollutants which remains in the body. Irrespective he is far or near all the family members are polluted by the very process of death and remain for sometime till the soul completes its journey to the other world and till the family members are purified through rituals.Hindu's also believe the house where the corpse is kept and others who visit the house also get polluted and they also needs to be purified with bath and Ganga Jal (water of river ganges).Members of the deceased do not celebrate functions ad festivals as mark of respect.

Cremation is however not the whole method of the disposal of the body,Childern below certain age are buried upon death. The body of the renouncer (sanyasi) is usually placed in the river, since its is customary for a sanyasi to undergo the symbolic act of cremation before taking up the life of renunciation. So a second cremation is not prescribed.

Dharma – A Six letter Complicated Word In Hinduism To Make Life Simpler

2009-12-11T15:19:00.004+05:30

India is the home and abode of religions. It occupies the proud first place in religious devotion and godliness. It is famous for its Yogis and saints. The word Dharma comes from India, from Hindu philosophy. Hinduism describes Dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save himself from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one's life. The purpose of Dharma is not only to attain a union of the soul with the supreme reality, it also suggests a code of conduct that is intended to secure both worldly joys and supreme happiness. Regulation of daily life is supreme Dharma. It is the basis of Tapas or austerity. It leads to wealth, beauty, longevity and continuity of lineage. Evil conduct and immorality will lead to ill-fame, sorrow, disease and premature death. Dharma has its root in morality the controller of Dharma is God Himself.

In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life according to dharma, what is right. Mathematically we can say Good Dharma =Good Karma. For explanation on Karma please read my earlier post (The Law Of Karma –A Unique Contribution of India to the Worldhttp://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/11/law-of-karma-unique-contribution-of.html) Through the practice of Dharma alone can you ever hope to achieve the crowning glory of all human endeavours, viz., Moksha (liberation) which is the best and the highest of all desirable things. For Hindus, correct performance of dharma has a favourable effect on their karma (fate), thus coming closer to the final goal of liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.

Dharma can be classified under two heads:
Samanya or the general, universal Dharma
Visesha or the specific, personal Dharma.
1.Contentment, 2.forgiveness, 3.self-restraint, 4.non-stealing, 5.purity, 6.control of senses, 7.discrimination between right and wrong, as also between the real and the unreal, 8. spiritual knowledge, 9.truthfulness and 10.absence of anger come under the general or universal Dharma.
The rules of the castes and orders of life are specific Dharmas. These are the tenfold characteristics of Dharma according to Manu (In Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind.)
Dharma assumes various kinds: Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law), Samanya Dharma (general duty), Visesha Dharma (special duty), Varnashrama Dharma (duties of caste and Order), Svadharma (one’s own duty), Yuga Dharma (duty of the age or period in history), Kula Dharma ((duty of family), Manava Dharma (duty of man), Purusha Dharma (duty of male), Stri Dharma (duty of female), Raja Dharma (duty of king), Praja Dharma (duty of subjects), Pravritti Dharma (duty in worldly life) and Nivritti Dharma (duty in spiritual life).

If,you have read Mahabharata, the Pandavas represent Dharma in life and the Kauravas represent Adharma.The four Asharams of life also have prescribed Dharma in all stages,details please read my earlier post The Four Ashrams Of Life –A Rational and a Scientific Approach of Life(http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/09/fours-ashrams-of-life-rational-and.html)

Other religions, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam all lay stress on the concept of Dharma in their own ways. Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Kant, Swedenborg and Spinoza are all striking examples in the interesting history of Western philosophy for the high pedestal on which they have placed morality, duty and righteousness, and adored them all as the only means to the attainment of the goal of life.

Influential Bahu (Daughter In Laws) and Betis (Daughters) of India

2009-12-08T10:07:00.011+05:30

India is a society where the male is greatly revere. Women in Indian society are considered to be kitchen bee who is suppose to cook food do household chores. On the other hand the same Indian society women are believed to be the incarnation of Shakti.Historicial evidences illustrate that women power ruled the society and they even destroyed mighty rulers and powerful kingdoms.In Hindi language daughter is known as 'Beti' and daughter-in-law is known as 'Bahu'. Here in this post I would like show my gratitude to the most influential Bahu’s and Betis which hold offices in the domain of politics or government, others wield it the boardroom.

Sonia Gandhi (Bahu) – An influential lady of the Indian politics, named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in the year 2004 and was ranked 6th in 2007.
She was also named among the Time 100 most influential people in the world for the years 2007 and 2008.She is the daughter in law of former prime minister Indra Gandhi and widow of former Prime Minister, of India Rajiv Gandhi.She was born in small a village of Italy. Sonia Gandhi was not, however, fond of the public life politics brought with it. Sonia Gandhi had a close relationship with her mother- in –law and she was a kind of personal assistant to the prime minister and traveled with her as she conducted the country's business. After the death of Rajiv’s brother Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv became the political successor of his mother Indra Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi wholeheartedly adopted her husband's homeland. She learned to speak some Hindi and cook Indian food, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1983. Once her husband entered politics, Sonia Gandhi began wearing traditional saris and stepped up her role as a traditional Indian wife. In 1991 her husband was killed by suicide bomber in an election campaign Sonia always hated politics and never wanted her husband to enter politics. Within days of her husband's death, Sonia Gandhi was asked to take his place as leader of the Congress Party. She refused. But year later in 1997 Sonia announced her intentions of campaigning for Congress party and in a very short time she became the political star of the country. Opposition leaders continued to chide Sonia Gandhi for her foreign - born status. Sonia Gandhi was such an anomaly that people flocked to see the Italian woman wearing an Indian sari who spoke Hindi with a foreign accent. In 2004, Hundreds of millions of voters had chosen her, however, despite her birth status. She refused to Prime minster post in spite of congress victory. Though she turned down the post of prime minister, Sonia Gandhi remained president of the Congress Party. An Italian born Bahu (Daughter-in-law) of Indra Gandhi has definitely made a mark in Indian politics.

Ekta Kapoor (Beti) –Daughter Of famous actor Jeetandra and Shobha Kapoor is well know personality in Indian teleivison.Ekta is the creative director of Balaji telefilms.Her first TV show Hum Paanch was a hit on television but the turning point in her career was a TV show ‘Kyunki Saas Bhee Khabee Bahu thi ‘ and from then there has been no looking back in her career.She is also known as the Queen of Television industry. She has undoubtedly influenced the Indian television industry.

Indra Gandhi (Beti )- India ‘s first and to date only female prime minster ,daughter of Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru. The dynamic personality of Indra Gandhi has left imprints on the minds of every Indian. It was the Indra era in India when India saw 1971 War with Pakistan,nuclear weapon program was started,Green revolution and emergency was imposed in India in her era.
Indra Gandhi completed her education in University of Oxford and in this stay at Europe and UK Indra met a young parsi man Feroz Gandhi.After returning to India Feroz and Indra got married.In 1942 Indra Gandhi played an active role in Quit India movement.In 1965 she was appointed as the fifth Prime Minster of India.It was in 1977 when Indra Gandhi lost the election but again in 1980 she led congress to victory and once again became the prime minster of India.She continued to hold this position till her assassination in 1984.
This daughter of India will be remembered till centuries.

Sania Miraz (Beti)- This young, gorgeous, beautiful daughter of India has brought India pride in field of sports. This young tennis player born in 1986,and was awarded Padma Shri in 2006,India fourth highest honor, for her achievements in Tennis.
Sania is the daughter of sports journalist Imran Mirza and mother Nasima.
She has been brought up in religious Muslim Family.She made her debut in 2003 in India Fed Cup Team and from then there has been no looking back in her Tennis career.

Priyanka Vadra(Beti) – The graceful Priyanka is the daughter of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.She is the grand-daughter of Nehru- Gandhi family. Her ambiguous role in politics has been remarkable. She has been campaigning for Congress party but have been saying that she has little interest in politics. She is good organizer and is the chief political advisor of her mother Sonia Gandhi, who is the Congress President.
Priyanka is married to Robert Vadra whom she met at Ottavio Quattrocchi's house.Priyanka and Robert Vadra are blessed with two children.Priyanka’s appearance in political campaigns has brought a new era for Congress Party in India.She pulls the crowd with grace and with her highly organized attitude.
People of India love this beti of India very much.

Ashiwarya Rai (Beti) – Born in 1973,this beauty of India has brought fame and glory to India in the area of Beauty and brain.She won the Miss World tittle in 1994,later she moved to acting career.And her acting career has also reached to heights of glory in India as well as abroad. Ashiwarya has been a very popular famous face of Indian cinema globally.She is married to Abhishekh Bachchan the son of Superstar Amitabh Bachachan.She is balancing her family and career so well that in coming year she would become one of the most influential Bahu.

Sushimta Sen (Beti) – Sushmita the first Indian woman to be crowned Miss Universe in 1994.Born in Hindu Bengali family,she is the daughter of Shubeer Sen former Indian Air Force Wing Commander and
mother Subhra Sen.After winning the beauty crown of Miss Universe,Sushimta made her appearance in Bollywoood thorugh film Dastak.Apart from film and fashion industry Sushmita has been a Indian Ambassador in the world.She has devoted herself to many social causes.

The list of Influentail Bahu's and Betis of India is not so small,would write about some more my coming posts.

The Indian Attire of Men…

2009-11-20T16:24:00.004+05:30

Till now I have been writing lot about Indian women attire. In India not only women but also men have different attires. Although, now a days mostly men wear western outfits ie.trouser or jeans and shirt. But these are not a part of Indian culture. The Indian men's traditional attire consists of the kurta and pajama, dhoti, lungi and other dresses. Worn on both formal and informal occasions, kurta and pajama are quite popular dress of Indian men. A sherwani is generally wear for special occasions. Usually the lungi is worn in many parts of India like south india, but depending on the social practices of the region it may be restricted to indoor-wear.

Kurta Pajama -Kurta is a loose collarless shirt worn by both men and women. Generally, it’s worn with pajamas, a shalwar, or churidars. This ensemble also includes a bandi (short jacket or waistcoat) and a dupatta.

Lungi –The custom of wearing lungis varies by state. Lungi is generally woven from cotton and is available in many designs, patterns and colors. ,the most commonly worn are those with checks or the ones in a single dark hue. In southern state Kerala Lungi is worn as a casual dress.

Lungi in plain white hue is called a Mundu. For ceremonial occasions like weddings, Mundus often bear golden embroidery, known as kasavu.In Karnataka colored lungi is called mundas whereas plain white cloth smilar to lungi is called a panche generally used for formal ceremonies.In the state of Tamil Naidu lungi’s are worn in similar way as Kerala and they are called Kaili or Saaram.In the eastern state of West Bengal and Bhiar Lungi are primiraily home wear of men of all classes of the society.In northern state of Punjab lungis are worn both by men and women.
Not only India,lungis are worn in Bangladesh,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Indonesia,Malaysia,Singapore,the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Pensuila. Mostly lungis are popular in heat and humidity prone areas.

Dhoti- Dhotis are traditional Indian wear that is quite popular among rural men. Dhotis flaunt one’s eminent status and love for Indian culture. Great men like Mahatma Gandhi used to wear dhoti. Even today Indian men wear dhoti as ethnic attire It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 7 yards long, wrapped around the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist. The Dhotī or Doti in Hindi, called Dhotiyu in Gujarati, Suriya in Assamese, Vaytti or Veshti in Tamil, Dhuti in Bangla, Dhoti or Kachche Panche in Kannada, Dhotar, Angostar, Aad-neschey or Pudve in Konkani, mundu in Malayalam, Dhotar in Marathi, Laacha in Punjabi and Pancha in Telugu.Dhoti is generally worn with Kurta's.

Sherwani -The word Sherwani immediately crops up the picture of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as it used to be his favorite attire. Sherwani is a long coat resembling achkan in styling. It is buttoned upto the collar and lengthwise it is usually below the knee. It is supposed to be worn over a kurta and a churidar, or khara pajama or a salwar and at times, even a dhoti. A part of men's clothing in India, the traditional Sherwani happens to be an ultimate wedding and party attire. The origin of sherwani can be traced back in Central Asia during the times when it was the dress code of the Turkish and Persian nobles in the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. In the late eighteenth century, almost every man wore sherwani, as this attire did not restrict itself only to the nobles, but became the traditional dress of common man. Sherwani is the national dress of men in Pakistan.

Achkan –The Achkan is a full sleeved tunic with a high round neck ,length which falls 3-5 cms above the knee.It has a full front opening in the center and is fastened with buttons and button holes.It is on the smilar pattern of Sherwani.The Sherwani differs from Achkan in length and flares.

Angarakha : It is worn in the upper part of the body. It comes in different colors and also in different cuts. Two main types are long angarakha reaching below knees and the other is frock style and is waist length.This Rajasthani costume is also popular in some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as well.

The Law Of Karma – A Unique Contribution of India to the World

2009-11-09T08:46:00.002+05:30

The law of cause and effect forms an integral part of Hindu philosophy. This law is termed as 'karma', which means to 'act. As in my earlier post on Hinduism I have been writing that all concepts, philosophies, festivals of Hindu religion are based on my scientific and social theory, the same is the Law of Karma.

The theory of karma harps on the Newtonian principle that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. Every time we think or do something, we create a cause, which in time will bear its corresponding effects. This cause and effect generates the concept of samsara (or the world) and birth and reincarnation. Karma doest not only mean physical action. Mental actions also constitute Karma. Karma could bring fruition immediately or at a later stage. "Good karma" and "bad karma," which are stored reactions that gradually unfolds to determine our unique destiny. The karma incurred by a person through his actions determines the course of his life upon earth and his progression into the higher world. Hindu philosophy, which believes in life after death, holds the doctrine that if the karma of an individual is good enough, the next birth will be rewarding, and if not, the person may actually devolve and degenerate into a lower life form.

Things do not happen in this universe by accident or chance in a disorderly manner. They happen in regular succession. They follow one another in a regular order. There is a certain definite connection between what is being done now by you, and what will happen in the future. Past – Present – Future all are connected. Everything in this universe is connected. Even if we do something unimportant, it important that it gets done as everything is connected. Each step leads to a next step so neither the first step or the last steps are of greater significance. As both the steps were needed to accomplish the task.

There are three kinds of Karma’s. Prarabdha (so much of past actions as has given rise to the present birth), Sanchita (the balance of past actions that will give rise to future births - the storehouse of accumulated actions), Agami or Kriyamana (acts being done in the present life).

The doctrine of Karma is not only associated Hinduism.Jainsim, Buddhisim, Sikkhism all these great religions revolve around the Law of Karma.In Christianity its said ‘What you sow,you reap this also the cause and effect, thus Law of Karma.For good karma it is necessary to stabilize our minds and thoughts. This can be done by practicing Yoga. Also good Karma can be achieved by following Dharma.

Interesting Facts about India

2009-11-04T13:35:00.002+05:30

Mark Twain said ‘India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.

• India is the largest democracy in the world.
• Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
• Every major world religion is represented in India. Additionally, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all originated in India.
• India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.
• The world's first University was established in Takshashila in about 700 B.C. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century C.E. was one of the great achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
• According to the Geological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world. Kohinoor, the jewel in the crown of the British monarch, is from India.
• The concept of the number zero was created in India by the sage Aryabhatta. The place value system and the decimal system were also developed in India in about 100 B.C. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus originated from India.
• The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
• Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. Charaka, the father of medicine, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
• India is one of the largest exporters of computer software products. It exports soft wares to over 90 countries.
• Christians and Jews have been living in India since 52 A.D. and 200 B.C. respectively.
• Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
• The art of Navigation was developed along the river Sindhu over 6000 years ago. In fact, the word Navigation comes from the Sanskrit word Navgatih
• The largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
• Chess was invented in India. The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindh Valley, known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
• India is the largest English speaking country in the world.
• Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries. Anesthesia was used in Indian medicine long before it was adopted into modern medicine.

Gossips Popular in India…

2009-10-21T08:04:00.011+05:30

In this post, I would be writing about some gossips popular in India from decades. We all know gossip is the idle talk or a rumor, so please no offence. These are the gossips which everyone in India wants to read and talk.

1) Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, and Lady Edwina Mountbatten-A lot have been talked about the close friendship between Lady Mountbatten and Nehru. Both of them had a tender and an emotional attachment. Mountbatten’s daughter Pamela also wrote about Nehru’s relationship with her mother in her memoir “India Remembered”. Richard Hough’s biography “Mountbatten: Hero of Our Times” also talks about this affair.

2 )Lady Diana –Priness of Wales always dreamt of marriage that would be happy lasting marriage.But unfortunately her dreams were shattered when her husband Charles returned to his long time mistress Camilla. Her loneliness made her attracted towards her body guard Barry Mannakee.But this attraction did not last long , he got fired from Charless and later died in motorbike accident.Then came James Hewitt,riding instructor in her life.But that relationship also ended in a disappointment when he published about their affair in the book ‘Prinecss in Love’.Then another rumor of Lady Diana’s liking for the heart surgeon Hasnat Khan,but this was also short lived.After sometime her affair started with Dodo Al Fayed.Both of them showed their love in public and gave a great sensation to press.Unfortunately,this love affair ended in a tragedy on the roads of Paris.

3 )Amitabh Bacchaan and Rekha -The sizzling affair between 'Superstar of the Millennium' Amitabh Bachchan and the Bollywood's eternal temptress Rekha remains unparalleled.
The offscreen chemistry between the two was very evident on screen. Their love story began on the sets of 'Do Anjaane' - the second film that they did together. The pair provided hit after hit together - 'Khoon Pasina', 'Ganga Ki Saugandh', 'Suhaag','Muqaddar Ka Sikandar', 'Ram Balram' and 'Mr. Natwarlal'amongst others. The on-screen chemistry generated in the many films they made together, led many to suspect that there was a real life romance happening.Both the super stars have never spoken about their intimate friendship ever in public.

4 ) Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky –President of America, Bill Clinton and his intimate relationship with with young and beautiful Monica Lewinsky has been the talk of the town always. Clinton's impeachment was acquitted after a lengthy senate trial. The sexual scandal excited the world's media and made Monica Lewinski into a minor celebrity that was famous for being famous. Clinton was found to have lied about his sexual relations with Lewinski. Bill Clinton was charged with perjury or lying under oath about his sexual relations with the 22 year old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky to gain advantage in a sexual harassment case brought by Paula Jones, a case he later settled by paying Paula Jones $850,000. A Federal judge found Bill Clinton also to be in contempt of court for lying in a deposition and ordered him to pay a $90,000 fine. This contempt citation led to disbarment proceedings similar to Richard Nixon's. To avoid these proceedings, Clinton surrendered his law license. Later Clinton’s wife forgave his husband and he remained a married couple.

5 ) Ashiwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan- Abhishek the son of the superstar Amitabh Bachchan is married to former Miss World Ashiwarya Rai.This couple is the most talked about couple not only in India but internationally.Before marriage Ashiwarya ‘s relations with bollywood actors Salman Khan,Vivek Oberio were the discussed. Their wedding was a private affair intended for the Bachchan and Rai family and friends, the involvement of the media made it a national extravaganza. Abhishek is 2 years younger than his wife. After marriage their has been number of rumors about Ashiwarys on the way to motherhood. Bachchans’ have being denying these rumors.This fact remains unchanged that when there is news in the media about this young couple, readers just love to read it.

6) Ambani Brothers- The two sons of Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani and the suuccessors of the Reliance empire.
The fact that differences continued to simmer was evident by the approach of the two brothers after mid-2003, when Anil was reported to have admitted to the presence of 'constructive tensions' between the two. There furious battle for the Reliance empire was the part of top stories in media. Everyone wanted to know how this battle would settle between brothers. The Reliance empire was divided between both the brothers but their confrontation on various issue erupt from time to time. Media adds some spices to the story and gives it to the public.

7 ) Rajkapoor and Nargis – The superstars and the romantic pair of Bollywood has still imprints on the mind of their fans. Nargis was romantically linked with Raj Kapoor whom she was casted in most of her films. Off-screen, her affair with the already married Raj Kapoor was a matching of soul and spirit. Nargis was finest artistic asset he had under his RK Films banner. This became clear after the two broke up around 1957. Nargis went on to make Mother India that year, considered by many to be the zenith of her career. In contrast, not a single film of note came out of RK Studios after Nargis left. Later in 1960’s RK Flims offered Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai which was a complete shift of Raj Kapoor’s cinema approach.

Adaraani Poori and Aloo tomato ki sabji

2009-10-19T07:39:00.009+05:30

Adaraani poori are also known as namkeen poori. These poori’s are good for health and very tasty.Perfect dish for festival season.Adaraani is a word from Bundelkhand, my native.

Category Main Dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Indian bread and tomato –potatao sabji
Cooking Time 30 Min

Ingredients for Poori

• 1 Bowl besan (Gram Flour)
• 1bowl atta (wheat flour)
• 1tbsp Ajwani (Carom, Oregano)
• ½ tbsp red chilli powder
• 1/2tbsp salt
• 1tbsp oil
• Oil for deep frying
Method for preparation of poori
Mix all the above ingredients along with one tbsp oil. Knead well by adding water to make hard dough. Leave the dough for half hour. Divide the roll into lime sized balls.With the help of patta belan or poori maker press the balls in circular shapes. Deep fry poori's in hot oil for a minute.

Ingredients for Aloo tomato ki sabji
• 4 Boiled poatotes
• 1 tomato
• 2-3 finelly chopped green chillie
• Finely chopped coriander.
• 1tbps Jeera (Cumin seeds)
• 1 tbps Haldi (Tumeric powder
• 2 tbps oil
• 2 tbps Dhaniya powder (coriander powder)
• 1/2 tbsp Garam masala

Method for preparation of Aloo tomato ki sabji
Heat the frying pan. Add jeera and green chilli and let it splutter.Now add finely chopped tomato.Stir to cook.Now add chooped boiled potatoes.Stir to fry all ingredients.Now add 1 cup water and garam masala and boil for 3-4 min. Granish it with coriander leaves. Serve hot with poori.

Smart tips – These Poori are perfect for travelling,as they can be stored for one day.

Tradition of Choodiyan or Bangles in India

2009-10-15T08:01:00.006+05:30

Undoubtedly, bangles complement the dress of women. Wearing bangles or chudiyan is like adding one more feather to your cap. The best part about bangles is that it can be worn with any kind of dress. In India the tradition of wearing Bangles is very old and red glass bangles signify matrimony. Solha Shringar or sixteen adornments of an Indian bride is incomplete without decorating her wrist with bangles. Ornaments on the arms and wrists were worn in India from the days of the Indus Valley Civilization (2300-1000 B.C.) as is evident from the bronze figurine found in Mohenjodaro. Bangles cover the entire arm of this figurine. The Yakshini idol of the Sunga dynasty (321-72 BC) too wears bangles with intricate designs on it. In Sanchi, the female figures display bangles, as do the cave paintings in the Ajanta and Ellora.

As per the belief of Indian, it is must for married women to wear bangles. It symbolizes the well being of her husband. Some women in India are so superstitious, that even when changing bangles, they never allow their arm to be completely bare. A simple string or even the end of her sari is wrapped around the arm, until the new set is worn.

India being a land of diversities and this can be seen in the style on wearing bangles. In the eastern state of west Bengal, married women a pair of white color Shakha (shell) and Paula (red coral) bangles. In the northern India, especially Punjab married women wear set of ivory bangles called Chooda on each hand for 21 days, or a year after marriage, depending on family tradition. In Rajasthan woman wears ivory bangles from her wrist to her upper arm as jewelry of gold for the rest of her life or till her husband is alive. Although this tradition is now no more alive in Rajasthan, can be seen only in rural parts. In Western state of Maharashtra green color glass bangles are sign of married status of women. Green is considered auspicious color for a married woman in Maharashtra. Red color glass bangles are a symbol of well being and marital status in other parts of the country. Now that women are becoming more fashion conscious they wear matching bangles with their attire.The tradition of wearing bangles is prevalent in many other parts of South Asia and also Pakistan, Nepal. Not only Bollywood celebrities ,International Celebrities like Jeniffer Lopez, Late Princess Diana, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, Hillary Clinton,Chelsey Clinton, Elizabeth Hurley, Anna Kournikova, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Jemima Khan have adorned this graceful Indian bangle jewelry at high profile social, music, Hollywood and fashion events.

Apart from expensive Gold and silver and traditional glass bangles, now women can be seen wearing wooden, metal, lac and other fashion bangles. Glass bangles are mainly produced in Firozabad in North India. Hyderabad has a historic market for bangles named the Laad Bazaar.

Queen Victoria Market – Largest Open Air Market in Southern Hemisphere

2009-10-05T07:54:00.011+05:30

The Queen Victoria Market is an historic Melbourne landmark and a Melbourne institution dating back to more than 130 years ago and is said to be the largest open air market in southern hemisphere. This market is spread in 7 hectares.
Officially opened in March 1878 as the Queen Victoria Market, it had operated even before that time as a motley market of goods and produce. It is one of the major Melbourne’s tourist destinations. Queen Victoria market turns in into Modern Arabic Night Bazaar which offers a more relaxed and a leisurely family day on Sunday’s.

The Market is probably best known for its huge variety of fresh produce. Almost 50% of the Market area is dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood and delicatessen products. Almost one thousand traders sell everything from exotic Australian fruit and vegetables and local and imported gourmet foods, meat, fish and poultry to hardware, Manchester, clothing and authentic Australian artifacts and souvenirs.
From farm fresh to clothes, shoes, electronics, toys, jewelry, kitchen, pets care every thing one can find in Victoria Market and at very reasonable prices.

Aside from the variety of wares offered at the Queen Victoria Market, buskers and street entertainment is a market feature, particularly on Sundays when Queen St is closed and becomes a place of cafes, carnival rides and other activities. There is also a food court caters to every visitors taste. The best feature of Queen Victoria Market is that it’s not lost its tradition and also but has adopted the modern features also.
Ah!! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday this market offers are wide variety of wines for wine lovers. You can buy wine in bottles or in bulk,later bring back your bottles for refilling. It's good for the environment and good for your budget. Queen Victoria market offers the widest range of organic produce available in Melbourne.

In 2003, the roofs of the market was equipped with 1,328 solar photovoltaic panels, covering 2000 square meters and generating 252,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, the largest such renewable energy installation in the City of Melbourne. The grid has been considered as the largest urban grid-connected solar photovoltaic installation in the Southern Hemisphere upon completion

It is very much centrally located, and within walking distance from either the Elizabeth St exit of Melbourne Central Railway Station or Flagstaff Station on the corner of Latrobe and William Sts. No visit to Melbourne is complete without visiting Queen Victoria Market. Enjoy some pictures of Queen Victoria Market along with this post.

Karwa Chauth – A Reflection of Joy, Splendor, Brightness and Happiness In Married Life.

2009-09-30T09:07:00.009+05:30

Readers of this post are recommended to read my earlier post Hartalika Teej under the label Hinduism
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/08/hartalika-teej-festival-of-hindu-women.html

Karwa Chauth falls about nine days before Diwali. It is celebrated on the chaturthi tithi after the full Moon in the month of kartik in the Hindu calendar It is the most important fast observed by Hindu women of North India. The festival of Karva Chauth is symbolic of the unflagging loyalty of a wife towards her husband. As the name signifies, Karva meaning a clay pot and Chauth corresponding to the fourth, this festival is commemorated on the the fourth day after the Full Moon in Kartik month of Hindu calendar.

Married women keep a strict fast and do not take even a drop of water and pray for the prosperity and longevity of their husbands life. After having the scrumptious meal called 'sargi' in the pre-dawn time, women observe a one-day fast for Karwa Chauth. They break the fast only after having a glimpse of the moon rise (on their thali that is filled with water or through a sieve) and their husband. Before the moon rise, around 4 -5 pm all married women gather at one place and narrate the Vrat Katha . The important rituals involving the festival include worshipping 'Karwas' spherical clay pots with symbols for married women and sweets. Now a days steel Karwa’s are available in the market. They are later exchanged with other married women As a part of the tradition, a two-inch tall idol of Goddess Gauri is made using cow dung and a picture of the idol is kept aside, because she is the deity worshipped on the day.

As all Hindu festival has some scientific or social cause behind its celebration, Karwa Chauth also has a social cause attached to its celebration. This time of the year is just after the harvest of Kharif (monsoon) crops and people are usually in a festive mood. This is time when people gather and celebrate the harvest and exchange gifts. This festival gives a chance the bride a chance to get close to her ill-laws. Usually, women receive beautiful gifts from their husbands and relatives on this day, as a gesture of their love and care. Karwa Chauth is an occasion that encourages people to gather and socialize with friends and family, exchange gifts and share home-cooked meals.

This year Karwa Chauth would be celebrated on 7th October 2009.

The Fours Ashrams of Life – A Rational and a Scientific Approach of Life

2009-09-25T09:13:00.006+05:30

In my earlier post on Hinduism, I have emphasized that Hinduism is more a way of life than a religion. Every doctrine of ancient India, carved out by the ancient saints, is based on scientific and rational reasoning. However, to put them to use they needed to be socially embedded. Hence methods like, the Ashram system, were included in the Vedic society where the life of an individual was founded on both Karma and Dharma. With such methodology the then contemporary society also aimed at holding the social institutions together. Instead of becoming sages and escaping from worldly duties man was taught to shoulder every social and personal obligation. Apart from these the four stages of life also led to spiritual development.

In the ancient Indian tradition, one planned the years of life in four ashrams or stages, with the style of Yoga practiced in each stage chosen to match the circumstances of that stage. The average life of Indian was considered 100 years. The life span in Vedic India was divided in 4 parts, each of 25 years. These were called Ashrams. The word ashram means shelter implying that the person takes shelter successively in each of the four stages during his life’s journey. These ashrams were named following:
• Brahmcharya Ashram (Student)
• Grihasth Ashram (Householder)
• Vanprastha Ashrama (Hermitage)
• Sanyas Ashrama (Renunciate)

Brahmcharya Ashram (0 -25 years) - The celibate student time of youth is for learning the foundation of lifestyle. This is the perfect time to inculcate values like self-restraint, knowledge and obedience. In this time one was accepted to have simple living. Till a few decades back, celibacy till marriage was the norm in India. In rural India it still is. However in urban areas the incidence of premarital sex is increasing, largely under the influence of the west.

Grihasth Ashram (Householder) (25 – 50 years) –This was the stage of family life. It begins with marriage and proceeds to raising a family. It involves earning a living through the skills acquired during Brahmacharya ashram. Religious or spiritual practices are done in the context of worldly life and service to others. This is the first stage where he puts his knowledge to use. He has to discharge the duties of a son, brother, husband, father and a member of the community.

Vanaprastha Ashram (50 -75 years) – This Ashrama indicates the departure from material possessions. The person lives with the family, in society, but in a withdrawn manner. Relationships with grown children and community are more in the role of a matured mentor. Celibacy is again advocated.

Sanyas Ashrama (75 – 100+ years) - The final stage is Sanyasa or renunciation last till a person dies. He is completely free from the emotional attachments. It is at this age that he becomes an ascetic and completely dedicates his life to serve God.

Ideas like these can never grow old. As a result the Ashram System is still followed in India, consciously or unconsciously. Although they are not strictly implemented but even today an Indian has a life of a student, a family man and then he retires. As old age seeps in, he passes on his responsibilities to his children and moves closer to spiritualism.

If Marriages are Made in Heaven ,then Is Divorce Made in Hell? …Continued Impacts of Divorce On Children

2009-09-23T08:35:00.006+05:30

The readers of the post are suggested to read my earlier post,the link given below or you can even find this post under the label My Journey of Life.
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-marriages-are-made-in-heaven-then-is.html

When a couple decides to end their relationship by the word DIVORCE. Children can often be the most effected by divorce, and recent studies have found that children from broken home are more prone to violence and substance abuse than those from a happy, family home. Divorce will not be easy for a parent; but a parent is a grown adult who has (hopefully) mastered coping skills. Children, on the other hand, are not necessarily as prepared as an adult in this regard. What makes a sad situation even sadder is that parents going through a divorce are usually under so much emotional stress they are able to be of little help to their children. When children are deprived of the emotional support from their parents, they often turn their frustrations on themselves and the people around them. All children are affected by divorce in some way. Their world, their security and the stability they have known seem to fall apart when parents divorce. Children can be severely traumatized by divorce, especially if the divorce is a nasty one, and/or if there is a prolonged or an intense custody battle. With every impact I am including an innocent line of the kid whose parents are divorced.

• They feel helpless and powerless to do anything about the situation.
Feeling of Sadness
"It really hurt. It was hard for me to accept not being able to live in the same house with both parents."

• Sometimes children or teens feel they have to "take care of" one or both of their parents. Giving up one’s childhood to care for emotionally troubled parents is a widespread characteristic in children of divorce.
Forced Adulthood….
"I hate it when my mom asks me how she looks. I don’t like being put in that situation. I wish my dad were here to do it."

• Children who go through a divorce often are impacted in terms of their
self-esteem. They may believe that they themselves caused the divorce, or
that they did something wrong that made mommy and/or daddy want to not be with them.
Feeling Of Guilt
"My dad left because I wanted to ride my bike my way, and I told him to go away. He did and divorced my mom."
"If I had watched my baby brother when my mom was cooking dinner, then my mom wouldn’t have left me dad. It’s all my fault."

• They may worry that their parents don’t love them anymore. They feel abandoned. They feel like the parent has divorced them too.
Feeling of Loneliness
We’re half a family now--lonely."
"Holidays will never be any good any more."

• Children might indulge in alcohol/drug abuse and violence.

• It might lead to isolating themselves from their friends and family
Feeling of Isolation
"Daddy left. Will Mommy leave me too? What will happen to me?"

• They might show destructive behavior and sometimes may indulge in breaking rules
• Children tend to have anger directed toward others and themselves
Feeling of Anger
"I hate my sofa. It’s where my parents told me they were getting a divorce. I’ll never sit on it again."

• In future they might have difficulty in establishing an intimate relationship or other interpersonal relationships.

• They might become moody or silent and loose their naughty childhood early.
Feeling of Shock
"Unable to think, unable to feel, unable to grasp what had happened to their lives. Unable to speak about it."

• Sometimes custody battle leaves life long impact on the immature child’s brain.
Feeling of Torn between parents
"Dad couldn’t really be as bad as Mom says he is."
"I don’t care who I live with. I love you both. Please don’t make me choose--just tell me."

Tilak – A Mark of Hinduism on the Forehead

2009-09-21T08:19:00.004+05:30

Readers of the post are highly recommended to read my earlier post ‘Bindi A Icon of Indian tradition on the forehead’,this can be found under the label Indian traditions.
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/06/bindia-icon-of-indian-tradition-on.html

Without the worship of Lord Ganesh no work begins in Hindu religion, similarly no religious work begins in Hindu religion without a TILAK on the forehead. Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. In India, you will find people wearing a red, yellow, orange and, rarely, a black mark on their forehead. It's called the tilak, or tilakam, in the Sanskrit language and is basically a Hindu tradition. Depending on the purpose for which Tilak is applied, the material is chosen for preparing the sacred forehead mark.
• Sandal: White sandal symbolizes purity, calmness and tranquility
• Kumkum: Red kumkum signifies power, vigor, dynamism and stability
• Turmeric: Saffron colored turmeric stands for wealth, fortune, prosperity and opulence
• Holy Ashes or Vibhuti: Vibhuti represents dedication, devotion and commitment
The devotees of Shiva apply sacred ashes (Bhasma) on the forehead, the devotees of Vishnu apply sandal paste (Chandan), and the worshippers of Devi or Shakti apply Kumkum, a red tumeric powder. The Shaivites(followers of Lord Shiva) typically use ash and draw their tilak as three horizontal lines. Vaishnavas (followers of Lord Vishnu) use clay from a holy river or place, which is sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste for applying Tilak.

The holy scriptures of Hindu advocate the importance to Tilak on a forehead in the below line:
‘"A forehead without a Tilak, a woman without a husband, a Mantra the meaning of which is not known while doing Japa (recitation), the head that does not bend before holy personages, a heart without mercy, a house without a well, a village without a temple, a country without a river, a society without a leader, wealth that is not given away in charity, a preceptor without a disciple, a country without justice, a king without an able minister, a woman not obedient to her husband, a well without water, a flower without smell, a soul devoid of holiness, a field without rains, an intellect without clearness, a disciple who does not consider his preceptor as a form of God, a body devoid of health, a custom (Achar) without purity, austerity devoid of fellow-feeling, speech in which truth is not the basis, a country without good people, work without wages, Sannyasa without renunciation, legs that have not performed pilgrimages, determination unaided by Viveka or discrimination, a knife which is blunt, a cow that does not give milk, a spear without a point- all these are worthy of condemnation. They exist for name’s sake only."

Tilak is applied at the Ajna Chakra, the space between the two eyebrows. It has a very cooling effect. Application of sandal paste has great medicinal value, apart from the spiritual influence. Numerous mentions have been made about Tilak in the ancient scriptures such as Vedas and Upanishads. Rig Veda has given an elaborate description about the life of Goddess Usha, the consort of Lord Surya. She is portrayed as wearing a red dot on her forehead that signifies the rising sun.

Tilak applied with the ring-finger or thumb is very beneficial. As per Hindu palmistry it is believed that at the base of the ring-finger is Sun and and at the base of the thumb is Venus. Sun represents firmness, brilliance, honour,respect and faith, while Venus gives life force, health, is the creator of new life, the bestowed of gentility and politeness. And if Tilak is applied on the forehead with these fingers then the blessings of sun or Venus can be achieved.

Some Important Reasons for Failure of Marriage

2009-09-17T07:52:00.004+05:30

Readers of this post, I would recommend to read my earlier posting 'An Institution Of Marriage' , 'How Can Communication Help In Building a Strong Relationship' and If Marriages are made in heaven, then is Divorce made in Hell ?.These posts you can find under the label My Journey of life.

http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-marriages-are-made-in-heaven-then-is.html

http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/05/institution-of-marriage.html

http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-can-communication-help-in-building.html

I would like to recall a famous quote here:

"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' come together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences."

In today’s society we come across couples very often who are not very happy in their married life and sometimes they end up in a divorce. In this post I would like to highlight some of the reasons for the failure in marriage.

• Communication - proper communication is the crux of any good relationship. Only through good communication can we know how and what our partner is feeling. Without open communication between two people we can't possibly know what and to what extent something may be bothering someone.Lack of communication in one of the important reason for an unsuccessful marriage. "Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation."

• The ability to adapt to changes in married life often depends on having realistic expectations about a spouse and the marriage relationship itself. It is common for disillusionment to set in when romantic or other unrealistic expectations are not met. Over time, unmet expectations can generate enough dissatisfaction to make meaningful compromise impossible.

• Many people have a fantasy view of love. Some get married because they feel they have to due to pressure from family or friends. Or they see all of there friends getting married so they feel they should too. So they rush into a marriage prematurely. Others get married because of premarital pregnancy. Couples that are too young and inexperienced who think they are in love will often get married. They may soon realize that they don't truly love this person or they are not mature enough to handle the more difficult relationship problems that may arise in a marriage.

• Couples fail to cope with life’s trials. When painful trials come into the marriage, instead of standing together through them, couples tend to blame each other or think something is wrong with the spouse and the way they handle the pain.

• Work and home schedules are not always compatible. Time spent apart and times spent together are equally important for maintaining a good married relationship. When time is used in a balanced way, it results in opportunities for growth and harmony. A lot of time spent alone without a corresponding period of quality time spent together puts a lot of stress on a marriage.

• In today’s fast world everybody wants to achieve more in less time and effort, which leads to high expectations. Also now the society is becoming more materialistic and in this race for fulfilling materialistic dreams couples end up in conflicts.

Guru Purnima – Celebrated By Hindus to Honor their Guru (Teacher)

2009-09-15T08:35:00.005+05:30

I dedicate this post to all my teachers and inspirations that have given me knowledge at some point of life and have made me capable to understand between right and wrong and have enlightened my life.

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (July-August) is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. This day is also known as a Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Guru means Teacher. The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Here I would like to recollect some famous verses which all Hindus by heart to glorify the word Guru.

‘Guru Govind donu khade, kisko laagu paay,
Balihari Gurudevaki jinhe Govind diyo bataay.’
Meaning - The Guru (Teacher) and Govind (God), are present before me, to whom shall I bow (prostrate) down first? Glory to the Guru (Teacher) since he showed me Govind (God).

Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||
Meaning - The Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman manifest." The second line of the couplet does not literally mean that the Guru becomes Parabrahman - God, rather he is venerated as if God is manifesting through him.

Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Guru plays the pivotal role in reminding us the divinely advice, teaches us the art of living a balanced life with restraint and stability of mind. He is the one who brings about awareness that actions (karmas) performed under the influence of senses, give rise to sensuous pleasures and pains, which are transitory and fleeting. He guides you how to discipline and bring under control the five wild horses - 'kaam' (passion), 'krodha' (anger), 'lobh' (greed), 'moh' (emotional attachment) and 'ahankaar' (ego) and helps one to take the chariot of life in the right direction of inner peace and tranquility. A Guru is beyond religions. He does not discriminate on the basis of culture, nationality or gender. He will never ask one to convert from his religion. He will lift the student to comprehend universal spiritual principles that underlie all religions. Whichever spiritual path or religion one follows, they all finally lead to the path of grace of the Guru.

Regardless of the spiritual path, this day is also celebrated to honor all those people, inspirations that have guided our path in this life. Gurupurnima is the day to pay gratitude to you’re a person who has enlightened you on the right path of life.

The Attire Of Elegance Sari Continued…The Colorful Rajasthani Sarees

2009-09-09T09:13:00.013+05:30

Readers of the post are suggested to read my earlier three posts The Attire of Elegance under the label Indian Tradition
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/05/attire-of-elegancesari.html
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/06/attire-of-elegance-sari.html
http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/07/attire-of-elegance-sari.html

The people of Rajasthan, living in the barren and monotonous landscape, add a whole range of colors in their lives through their costumes. Their inclination towards colors can been seen in the way people of Rajasthan decorate their houses, animals and themselves. From the simple village folk or tribal belle to the Raja's and Rani's, the preferred colors are bright red, dazzling yellow, lively green or brilliant orange, highlighted by a lavish use of sparkling gold and silver zari or gota.

Tie & Die/Lehriya/Bandhini Saree - Tie and die is a multi colored craft of Rajasthan. A large number of colors are used because once the base color is tied in; a lot of colors can be applied on to the fabric at different stages and then tied and detached gradually.
The motifs that are used are birds, leaves, animals, creepers, and human figures in dance poses.
Designs are known by their names such as mountain design, doll design and kite design. Dots are used to make up the designs. A different color on either side is also practiced by the craftsmen. Lehariya has long lines in a variety of colours found all over the body of the sari or dress material. Turbans are also a good outcome. The lehariya cloths have their own names depending on the designs. Bandhanis are related to festivals, seasons and rituals for which there are particular patterns and colors.

Rajasthani Kota Doria Saree –Kotha Doria sarees are one of the most popular sarees and a possession of every cotton lover woman. The literal meaning of Doria is thread and Kota is city in Rajasthan. Kota Doria is a fine quality cotton and silk yarn woven in the form of a graph. Hand woven check patterned and printed saris are quite popular. Originally these saris were known as Masuria because Mysore was the first place to take up this type of weaving. This art of weaving was brought to Kota by Rao Kishore Singh, a general of the Mughal army.
He brought the weavers to Kota in the 17th and early 18th century. Since then the saris were called Kota saris. The production entails spinning, dyeing and weaving and involves several workers. It takes them around three weeks in preparing three saris of similar designs. These saris are best worn in summers as they are made of cotton (the coolest fabric) and are airy. They are light in weight and easy to handle. The gossamer-fine fabric Kota Dorias are known to be the best quality weave and are extremely light in weight

Rajasthani Embroidery Saree - Famous are the embroidered Indian sarees of Jaisalmer, renowned for their unique colors, styles and stitches.
Embroidery has become the most elegant and enriching part of the craft heritage of India. The needlework tradition dates back to 2300-1500 BC and has been richly inherited by various regions, each having special style and an individual inspiration

Navratri –Nine Divine Nights devoted to Shakti

2009-09-04T11:20:00.008+05:30

'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights' The festival which is devoted to the Mother Goddess known variously as Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Amba, and Chandika, has been celebrated in it's most unique and different nature in various parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat while farmer sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for better yield. In older times, Navratri was associated with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her children. A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures. Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother.

There are three Navratri as per the Hindu calendar. Sharad Navaratri, Vasant Navratri, Ashada Navaratri. Sharad Navratri is celebrated in the Sep –October and ends with the celebration of Dussera. Sharad Navratri is celebrated across the county. Vasant Navratri is celebrated during Vasant Ritu (beginning of summer) (March- April). This Navratri is celebrated mainly in North India. Ashada Navratri celebrated in July –August in the state of Himachal Pradesh. There is specific significance of celebrating Navratri twice in a year. Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. Hindus believe that there is divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that in this way we can thank the divine power for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.

These nine nights are dedicated to the three main goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations - Kumari, Parvati and Kali - are worshipped during these days. Durga is worshipped order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty and bliss. Last three are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of Knowledge), dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

In western part of India Garba or Dandiya Raas is the most significant feature during the festival of Navratri.In Eastern part of India Navaratri is known as Durga puja where beautiful idols of the Goddess are decorated and adorned, and worshipped for a period of nine days and immersed on the tenth day. In Northern India specially in Punjab and Delhi, even the name of the festival is changed, this becomes Navratras, here this is a period of fasting for seven days, and the people are said to keep their "Navratras" or fasts. On the eighth day or Ashtami, devotees break their fasts by calling young girls home and these girls are treated as the goddess herself. They are called "Kanjak Devis" in north India and Kanya puja in other parts of the country. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country. Generally, all Hindus do not eat non – vegetarian food during these nine days.

On the eighth day of this colorful festival, Yagna or Homam (holy fire) is performed. Pure Desi Ghee (clarified pure butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa (Divine Mother). Many people in north India worship the 8th day as ashtami. This colorful festival spreads a atmosphere of joy, purity and color in the whole atmosphere.This year Sharad Navratri starts on 19th Sep to Sep 27th 2009.I have tried to sum up this grand festivals in view lines, rituals may vary based on regional basis but the essence of worshiping mother goddess remains the same.

Tips to Balance Work and Family Life

2009-09-01T09:52:00.004+05:30

The title is a misnomer because balancing work and family life can never be achieved with ease. This takes a lot of juggling, planning, experimenting, emotional upheavals, professional compromises – among others. In other words it is one of the toughest things an adult would ever have to do.

Both family and work are glass balls, neither ball can be dropped without serious consequences. Thus balancing these two areas of responsibility can be particularly challenging. The following suggestions for achieving a good balance between work and family life.

• Be very organized - you will be amazed how much time you could save is you spend just 15 minutes every morning to prioritize and plan your day’s tasks. Ensure that you impose on yourself to be organized – both in your personal and professional life. A lot of time is wasted by doing things haphazardly.
• Do not try to be a perfectionist –Learn to say NO particularly at your boss, though sometimes even co-workers can be pretty painful. The ability to say ‘no’ would buy a lot of time that you would otherwise had to spend in doing things that you would not have wanted to do/ did not have time to do/ were not really qualified to do.
• Delegate -understand you cannot possibly be in two places at the same time and since you would need to spend at least eight hours at work, you need to work out alternatives for the time you are not there at home. Get a driver to drive your children/ spouse to where they need to be taken; get a cook, a relative, a friend or a neighbor who could supervise your children meal time (usually lunch) or leave them with their grandparents.
• Do two things at once – Sometimes multitasking helps in balancing work and family. Take children to work at occasions. While you work let them stack papers or take their coloring books along and let them do some creative work. Use your frequent flier miles to take an older child with you on a business trip.
• Get a better sleep – If you are well rested than you will be able to have more fun with your family.
• During breaks, call home to talk to your spouse and children. This will help your children feel your presence.
• Try and healthy as a healthy person can deal in a better way with stress and emotional ups and downs.
• If you’re on a business trip be closely in touch with your family. Talk to ever child individually. Discuss their homework and daily routine.
• When your work is through, stop. Don’t work more than you need to. Remember the spending quality time with your family is as important as your work.
• When chatting with your co-workers try and talk more about your family, your kids rather than discussing office politics.
• Enjoy quality time with your family – When you are with your family give them your full attention. Celebrate birthday’s anniversaries and festivals this helps in bringing closeness in the family.
• Try and have dinner with your entire family. This is the time when all can get together.
• Always have a contingency plan at your work place. Have some friends, relatives who can help you in case of emergency at your family front.
• Last but not the least Work to live, don’t live to work..

Remember, there is no single formula for balance. It is a personal decision how one combines spouse, children and career.

Ramlila – A Unique Stage Performance Which Brings All Religions Together.

2009-08-28T07:01:00.006+05:30

The festival of Dussera or Vijayadasham bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin and as per the western calendar this period falls in October.

Dussehra celebrates the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king of Lanka, Ravana (Ravana was 10 headed). The sacred Indian epic 'Ramayana' mentions the birth of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu,some ten thousand years ago in Ayodha that belongs to the present day state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Ramlila is generally held in almost every part of India to celebrate the return of Lord Rama from exile for 14 years. On a similar day as Dussehra in Satyug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), is said to have killed Ravan, who had abducted his wife Sita. Ramlila, meaning “Rama’s play”, is a performance of the epic Ramayana in the form of a series of scenes that include song, narration, recital and dialogue. Seeing the Ramlila in open rural surroundings is an experience of a lifetime that cannot be replicated in a theatre even with the best of technology. It originated in Kashi modern day Benaras (Varanasi).It is believed that Ramlila was first staged in about 1625 AD and was based on Ramacharitamanas written by Goswami Tulsidas although some scholars believe Ramlila’s origin to be much older.

Most Ramlila’s in north India are based on the Avadhi version of Ramayana, Ramacharitamanas. The killing of Ravana by Lord Rama is enacted in a beautiful way by local actors, often amateur performers and drawn from the same social grouping as the audience. On the tenth day, the effigy of Ravana is burned, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The Ramlila brings the whole population together, without distinction of caste, religion or age. Ramlila of Ramnagar is very famous is enacted almost two centuries. Ramnagar is just some kilometers from Varanasi. Other famous Ramlila’s in India are Ayodhya,Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani,Chitrakoot and Delhi which is staged on Ramlila Ground outside the historic Red Fort.

Ramlila is not only staged in India,but also in Nepal,Pakistan.Also its performed in places outside Indian subcontinent like Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, Guyana,Canada, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, the United States, and Australia. UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Ramlila a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005.

Prostrating Before Parents and Elders - Integral Part Of Indian Tradition

2009-08-25T11:36:00.002+05:30

Prostrating before Parents and Elders is deep rooted in Indian culture. Those who are not aware much about the Indian culture get very puzzled when they see children touching feet of their parents or elderly people. Touching elders' feet is the first lesson in manners and etiquette that all Indian children are taught. As per this Indian tradition when elders feet are being touched, they are suppose to extend their hand of blessing by touching the head of the young ones. The Aashirvada (blessings) of elders are highly valued in India and which we seek during prostration. We invoke the good wishes and blessings of elders which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us, when we prostrate with humility and respect. That’s why the posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables the entire body to receive the energy thus received. To touch the feet in prostration is a sign of respect for maturity, nobility, age and divinity that our elders personify. It reflects the strong family ties, which has been one of India’s enduring strengths as well as our social security.

Not only touching elder’s feet is a symbol of respect but also another aspect is that whenever we touch the feet of our elders we withdraw their positive energies flowing through their toes. This positive energy scientifically blesses us by giving positive attitude, positive feelings and encouragement when the withdrawn energy is polished over the forehead or face.

Touching the feet is an integral part of the Indian culture and tradition and not adhering to it by natives is considered as disrespectful. It is a way of humbly acknowledging the greatness of another and creates an environment of mutual love and respect among people ensuring harmony in the family and society.

Some Interesting Facts about Hinduism

2009-08-21T08:24:00.004+05:30

• Hinduism is the oldest religion where its origin occurs before history was ever recorded. There is no founder to give credit to its discovery and establishment. The foundation of Hinduism has been laid on the bedrock of spiritual truths. The entire structure of Hindu life is built on eternal truths, the findings of the Hindu Rishis or seers. That is the reason why this structure has lasted through scores of centuries.

• Hindus hold the belief of the four Vedas high in their mind. This is considered the most ancient scripture throughout the world. Hinduism is not based on one single text book. Though it could be said that vedas are the base, in essence veda is nothing but knowledge. It is the science of the self and Supreme. The science can not be limited to one book so is Hinduism.

• Ongoing cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution within the universe is a main belief of this religion. Hindus believe that the soul can be reincarnated, undergoing a cycle of rebirth. Hindus believe that a soul is able to undergo numerous lifetimes within a physical body. All of the past lives that you have led, contribute to the person you are today.

• Hinduism is more a way of life, than being a religion, Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition of Hinduism is responsible for the creation of such concepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc.

• Hinduism considers that the world is a manifestation of God. There is no concept of Creation and a Creator. The world came from God, exists in God and will return back to God, just like waves arise from the ocean, exist in the ocean and subside back into the ocean. And this happens in cycles, again and again.

• Karma is the universal principle of cause and effect. Our actions, both good and bad, come back to us in the future, helping us to learn from life's lessons and become better people.

• Hindus believe that all living entities have a soul, or ãtma. Each is eternal – it was never created and will never perish. The ãtmã is characterized as unchanging truth, consciousness and bliss.

• Reincarnation is the phenomenon where the immortal soul is continuously born and reborn in any one of 8,400,000 life-forms until it attains moksha. Moksha is ultimate liberation. This is the goal of human life. Moksha is the liberation of the soul from the cycles of birth and death; thereafter, it remains eternally in the service of God.

• An attitude of understanding and tolerance is taught within the religion, where all religious teachings are not to be looked down upon and that no one way of worship should be considered better than another.

• Hinduism is a religion of 330 million Hinduism gods.

• Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Hinduism grants you a healthy lifestyle. The Hindu practices like bath in the morning, do Yoga, stay away from meat etc. promote health and hygiene.

These are some of facts about this vast religion,in my coming post I would come up with some more facts about Hinduism.

Fasting or Upvas A Way In Hinduism To Attain Self Discipline

2009-08-18T10:15:00.003+05:30

Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. As per the Holy Scriptures through fasting one can establish a relationship or a strong bond with body and soul. Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. In Hindi language fasting is known as Upvas or Vrat.Hindus fast on certain days of the month, week or depending on individual choices of one’s favorite god or goddess. For example some Hindus fast on Tuesday to please Lord Hanuman and some fast on Monday in the honor of Lord Shiva. Hindus also fast on various festivals which are celebrated all the year round. Though fasting has been associated with God but it has many other benefits, the reasons why Hindu religion advocates fasting.

• Fasting helps in achieving self discipline. Hinduism is the belief that by learning to fast, you also learn how to face other obstacles in your life. Fasting teaches us how to face hardships of life with self control.
• To train our minds to reach high levels of concentration and enlightenment, we must deny our body's worldly gratifications.
• The pangs of hunger that one experience during fasting make one think and extend one's sympathy towards the destitute who often go without food.
• Fasting is also a non – violent protest. A hunger strike draws captures people’s attention. Mahatma Gandhi has set a wonderful example of non-violent protest of fasting.
• Fasting relives stress.
• Fasting has been effective in metabolism management and has the ability to cleanse your body.
• Fasting also controls emotional imbalances of the body and prevents acidity and flatulence.
• The fasting ritual in Hinduism contributes to clean living and moral thinking.
• Fasting is well explained in Ayurveda medicinal system. The human body is composed of 80% liquid and 20% solid, like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity.

Fasting rituals is of many type:

• A common fasting ritual may mean avoidance of foods like fish and meat for a couple of days (for non-vegetarians). Most Hindus abstain from eating such foods for one or more days.
• Moderate fasting involves avoiding solids and following a liquid diet consisting of vegetable or fruit juices. This fasting ritual is generally followed during festivals.
• Some follow a strict fasting ritual by taking only water or avoiding any liquids for a set number of days. The Karva Chauth ritual among women is the best example of such kind of fasting.

Wish You All A Very Happy Independence Day

2009-08-15T05:57:00.006+05:30

Today India celebrates its 62nd Independence day.

Pitr-Paksha – Hindu Way Of Paying Gratitude To Ancestors

2009-08-13T12:33:00.004+05:30

The dark fortnight which falls in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapad (September) is known as Pitr-Paksha or Mahalay Paksha all over the Hindu World. Pitra Paksha is performed from the 1st day / tithi of the Ashwin month and goes up to the following New Moon (Amavasya) day. Each of these 15 days is dedicated to the Shraddha of those ancestors who had met eternity on that particular day/tithi. During Pitra Paksha, Shraddha is performed for the departed immediate relatives usually up to three preceding generations. Shraddh is the name of the ceremonies performed by relatives to help the departed soul in Pitr-Paksha. The word Shraadh comes from Shraddha or devotion. Pitrapaksha gives a chance to repay debt to our deceased ancestors by gratifying their spirits. The Lord of death, Yamaraja enables the dead ones to come to earth and receive offers from the descendants.

Shraddh must be performed with faith, devotion and reverence. As per the ritual, three cakes are offered to the father, grand-father and great grand-father. Gifts to deserving Brahmins (priests) for the benefit of the Pitris, in the proper time and place and with faith, are known as Shraddh. Shraddh gives satisfaction to the Pitris. Performance of Shraddh and Tarpan (libations of water) relieves the hunger and thirst of the departed soul during its journey to the Pitri Loka. By the offering of the Shraddh, the son helps his father to dwell in joy with the Pitris. Departed souls in the family, for whom Shraadh is not performed, are said to wander aimlessly on Earth. The Pitr Paksha Shraadh is also offered to ancestors whose dates of death are not known Rituals are offered in the names of the departed in the many holy Ghats spread across the country. The whole fortnight preceding Amavasya is considered to be apt for this occasion. People gather in the banks of Godavari and Krishna to perform rituals and rites for the departed. The Holy waters of the river plays a major part in the ritualistic festival.

The customs and rituals performed vary regionally. Some people fast on the day; some abstain from non-vegetarian food, avoid onion and garlic and some do not cut their hair or shave through out the fortnight. Generally, no new clothes are worn nor purchased out the fortnight.

The Hindu festival Pitr-Paksha 2009 starts on Saturday 5 September and lasts a fortnight until Friday 18 September. The next day after this Amavasya marks the beginning of the wonderful celebration of Navaratri when the Devis are worshipped

Paan (Beetle Leaf)

2009-08-10T09:22:00.006+05:30

Chewing Beetle leaf (Paan) play an important role in Indian Tradition. In many Hindu religious ceremonies Paan is used for performing the rituals also it holds a great significance in wedding rituals and all other important functions where its offering is a mark of respect for the guests. The betel leaf is known as Paan in Urdu/Hindi, and Taambuul and Nagavalli in Sanskrit. The betel plant is an evergreen and perennial creeper, with glossy heart-shaped leave. The Betel plant originated from South and South East Asia (India and Sri Lanka). Farmers called barui prepare a garden called a barouj in which to grow betel. There are various types of leaves, the most popular being : Calcutta, Banarasi, Magahi, etc. In South Asia Dinajpur, Rangpur, Chittagong, Faridpur, Jessore, Narayanganj, Barisal and Sylhet are the areas producing most betel in India. Banarsi Paan is famous worldwide.

According to Indian traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath. Chewing Pan also helps in diseases such as bleeding or hemorrhages, tuberculosis, reduces the blood pressure assists in digestion, decreases menstrual bleeding and also its acts as an antiseptic etc. Commonly used herbs for this purpose are jatiphal (Myristi cafragrans), Lavang (Syzygium aromaticum), kapur (Cinnamomum camphora), kankol (piper cubeba), supari (areca catechu, lata kasturi (hibiscus abelmoschus) are the herbs which are to be accompanied by Pan. Sometimes tobacco is also added in Pan. Some of the popular preparations of Paan in India are Meetha Paan and Sada Paan.

Beetle leaf and areca is also a very important part of Vietnamese culture. In Vietnamese there is a saying that "the betel begins the conversation. Pan is not only chewed in India but also Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and may other parts of south Asia. In Malaysia beetle leaf is used to cure headache, arthritis and joint pain. In the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China they are used to relieve toothache.

The Only Unsinkable Ship Is FRIENDSHIP

2009-08-07T09:08:00.003+05:30

• When your heart has been broken, a best friend is the best band-aid for it.
• A good friend is my nearest relation.
• Best friend's family soon feels like your own.
• The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had
• Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends.
• Best friend is more important than a boyfriend.
• True friendship has many memories, both good and bad, but all important.
• The best mirror is an old friend.
• When a best friend is happy, you find yourself happy too, even when it has nothing to do with you
• A mere friend will agree with you, but a real friend will argue.
• Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.
• Anyone can give advice, but a real friend will lend a helping hand.
• Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
• When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends
• Books and friends should be few but good.
• True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance
• Friendship isn’t a big thing, its a million little things.

Hartalika Teej – A Festival For Hindu Women.

2009-08-06T08:25:00.005+05:30

Hartalika Teej is observed in Bhadrapada or Bhaadra month. It is celebrated by Hindu women mainly in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. This Varat (Fast) is observed by both married and unmarried women. Married women observe Hartalika Teej ‘Nirjala Vrat’ (Fasting without even taking water) for happy and peaceful married life and unmarried girls observe this ‘nirjala vrat’ for getting good husbands.

Hartalika Teej is observed in the Honor of Goddess Parvati. It is believed Goddess Parvati will be pleased with women who observe this Vrat. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that after the death of Goddess Sati Devi, Shiva ignored the whole world and as well Goddess Parvati Devi. To get Shiva back, Parvathi observed severe penance in Himalayas for several years. After the severe penance of Parvati for several years, Lord Shiva noticed her love and affection towards him and married her.

On this auspicious day, women wear new clothes, apply mehendi on their hands and feet wear their best jewelery, complete ‘Solha Shingar’ .Melas (Fairs ) are organized regionally to celebrate this festival.

There are several regional variations of this Teej Vrat in India but the essence remains the same. The other two Teej Vrat’s are Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej but Hartalika Teej being the most important. This year Hartalika Teej will be celebrated on 23th August 2009.

For Hartailka Vrat Katha (story) please refer the below link
http://www.indif.com/nri/Kathas/hartalika_teej/hartalika_teej_vrat.asp

Tips For Happiness

2009-07-31T09:50:00.004+05:30

Readers of this Post are suggested to read my earlier post '30 Things That Make you Happy'.You can find this post under May 09 archive or under the label My Journey Of life.

Happiness is a state of mind, therefore the real source of happiness lies in the mind, not in external circumstances.

• Surround yourself with others who are happy.
• This shall pass. When bad things happen, and you're having trouble accepting it, think to yourself the same thing the ancients did: "This, too, shall pass." And it will. And you'll survive.
• Follow your passions. If you do what you love to do, especially for a living, you will be extremely happy.
• Realize that you deserve it. Frame you mindset that you deserve happiness.
• Get inspired. Take time to read blogs or books or magazine articles about success stories related to what you want to do. It will get you energized.
• Celebrate small occasions or achievements. When you do something right, when you accomplish something, when you feel like it, reward yourself. Celebrate. Have fun, and pat yourself on the back. Also try and celebrate festivals, birthday’s, anniversaries this will give you happiness for those moments and happy memories to cherish later. That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.
• Meditation, exercise and healthy eating habits also helps one to find happiness.
• Jumping for joy is good a exercise.
• Limit your information intake, it will simplify your life.
• Spend quality time with family and loved ones.
• Don’t compare yourself with others. It is difficult, but try it. And realize that you are different, with different strengths.
• Try and be romantic .If you have someone special in your life then try and be romantic.
• Go outdoors. Instead of spending time with TV, internet, video games try and go out and appreciate nature, the beauty of the world around us, and the fun of physical activity.
• Help others. Try and offer your help to others you will find out how tremendously happy this will make you. You might even become addicted. Mark Twain said ‘The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.’
• There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.

Hindu - God and Goddess

2009-07-27T08:01:00.008+05:30

Hinduism world’s oldest religion with no specific founder with billions of followers makes it’s the third largest religion of the world. Unlike other religions, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action. It is a beautiful religion revolving around karma (one's deeds). Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in which the prominent themes include:

* Dharma (ethics and duties)
* Samsara (rebirth)
* Karma (right action)
* Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara)

Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called "Brahman". However, it does not advocate the worship of any one particular deity. In total, there are 330,000,000 (33 crores or 330 million) of these supernatural beings in various Hindu traditions. Hinduism, such as Vaishnavism and Saivism, teach that occasionally, God comes to Earth as a human being to help humans in their struggle toward enlightenment and salvation (moksha.) Such an incarnation of God is called an avatar (or avatāra.). Gods are called devas (or devatās) and goddesses are called devis. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. Some main Hindu deities are:

• Brahma - The God of Creation.
• Vishnu - The God of Maintenance (Lord Rama and Lord Krishan are believed to be avatar’s of Vishnu)
• Shiva - The God of Destruction
• Saraswati - Goddess of Wisdom - Consort of Lord Brahma
• Lakshmi - Goddess of Wealth, Consort of Lord Vishnu
• Parvati - Goddess Sakti, Consort of Lord Shiva
• Ganesha - Son of Shiva & Parvati. Lord Who Removes Obstacles
• Muruga - Son of Shiva & Parvati
• Anjaneya also known as Hanuman
• Venkateshwara (Venkateshwer or Venkatachalapathi) is another form of Lord Vishnu who is also very popular as a Hindu deity. He is also known as Balaji or Bithala.

• Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha is the wife (consort) of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction). Parvati was called Sati in her previous divine incarnation. The family of Lord Shiva, Parvati and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya is an ideal example of family unity and love.
• Lord Satyanarayana is another form of Lord Vishnu who is commonly worshipped by Hindus in their homes along with family and friends.
• Kartikeya, the second son of Lord Shiva, and Goddess Parvati is also known as Subramaniam, Skanda, Guha, Shadannana or Sanmukha (because he has six faces). While Ganesh removes all obstacles, Skanda bestows all spiritual powers, particularly the power of knowledge.

Superiority Complex – A Personality Disorder

2009-07-23T10:17:00.002+05:30

Readers Of this post are suggested to read my post Recognize your Inferiority complex …Causes, Signs & Ways to Overcome. You can find this post under the label My Journey of Life or July 09 Archive.

In our day to day life as we meet people suffering from Inferiority complex, same there are some of our friends, relatives, colleagues who suffer from superiority complex ‘having a very high opinion of oneself ‘.This is another type of subconscious personality disorder. These poor uplifted souls cannot control their own boasting, tendency to discredit others opinions, intentionally drawing attention of others. You should not mix superiority complex with confidence; some people have developed feelings of confidence in a certain field due to their real strength in it. You may feel very confident about public speaking, for example, if you’ve been practicing it for years; it doesn’t mean you feel superior on account of inner inferiority, it just means that you know and are confident that you’re good at it. Studies have suggested that almost every species having at least one case of Superiority Complex.

The problem with superiority complex is that it’s usually a direct result of an underlying inferiority complex; the subject is suffering from feelings of inferiority and thus compensates those feelings by acting superior. The problem with superiority complex is that although the person is one hundred percent sure he is inferior in some way, he still acts arrogantly. He may refuse to see a doctor for example as he feels superior to the doctor and will thus never get a proper treatment.

Many Presidents, priests, celebrities and distinguished scientists sometimes suffer from Superiority Complex.

Raksha Bandhan - A Hindu festival Of Social Importance

2009-07-22T07:35:00.004+05:30

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by Hindus every year on 'Shravan Purnima' (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. A festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and a sister. Hindu religion considers attaches a lot of purity for the relationship of brother and sister. This pious relationship is celebrated in a special manner on the day of Raksha Bandhan. The literal meaning of 'Raksha-Bandhan' is 'the bond of protection. A sister ties a decorative thread called 'Rakhi' on the wrists of her brother symbolizing her love and affection for her brother. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’. The brother in return vows to protect his sister during all times and also buys his sister attractive gifts.

One of the tales associated with this festival is related from the great Hindu epic Mahabharata. Draupdai the wife of Pandavs had tied the a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to stop the flow of blood Krishna was so touched by her action that he found himself bound to her by love. Krishna repaid the debt of love during Vastra haran of Draupadi. Draupadi's Vastra Haran was done in the assembly of King Dritrashtra, when Yudhishthir her husband lost her in gamble. At that time Krishna provided her with sari (extender her sari) to save her pride. This is how he paid his debt towards Rakhi tied to him by Draupadi. There are many other such tales associated with this festival of Raksha Bandhan.

This festival attaches a lot of social importance in Hindu religion. This festival conveying the love a sister has for her brother and vice versa, the occasion spreads the message of harmonious family ties. At the same time, all responsible individuals should strive to nurture brotherly and sisterly feelings towards each other and live in harmonious coexistence with each other. Not only this festival is celebrated between brother and sister of blood relation but also among the extended family of cousins, friends. In today modern busy world this is the day when far off brother and sister remember each other by sending this holy thread through courier, internet etc.

This year Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on 5th August. Check out http://juhishandmadecards.blogspot.com/ for some beautiful Raksha Bandhan cards.

Alta or Mahawar – Indian Tradition of Decorating feet

2009-07-20T11:21:00.004+05:30

Painting feminine toes in deep red Alta is a tradition of India. Alta is red color dye which is used by Indian women for decorating their feet specially during marriages and religious festivals. Adoration of foot is a glorifying and humble experience. Traditionally an Indian woman devotes as much attention to her feet as she does to her face and hair. Feet are bathed and rubbed with scrubbers to remove ingrained dirt and rough skin. They are massaged with scented oils for pleasure and relaxation as well as to maintain a healthy body. The soles are stained red with henna or mehendi. For special occasions the upper foot is painted with Alta elaborate designs and ornamented with jewellery.

Beauty of Indian bride is incomplete without decorating her feet with Alta. Almost every Bengali woman applies Alta on her feet during Durga puja. The make up kit of a Bengali woman is incomplete without Alta. Traditionally Alta was made from beetles, but now its made from artificial colors.

Alta not only makes the feet look beautiful but also provides a cooling effect which makes the entire body feel fresh and cool. Alta is also known as Mahawar in some parts of the country. The only difference is that Alta is bright red in color whereas Mahawar is dark pink in color. Alta and Mahawar are both used for decorating feet.In the second picture Lord Krishna decorating Radha's feet with Mahawar.

Symbols Of Hinduism

2009-07-16T09:15:00.013+05:30

Hinduism employs the art of symbolism with amazing effect. No religion is so replete with symbols as this ancient religion. And all Hindus are touched by this all-pervasive symbolism all through the life in some way or the other. They usually signify Hindu concepts, the attributes of deities, or the gods or goddesses themselves. Some common symbols of Hinduism are :

Om – Also spelled as Aum is Hindu greatest sounds considered the greatest of all mantras. The eternal process of birth, life, death and rebirth, and life incarnate. The Aum is the Universal symbol of Creation. Its four parts represent the four stages of consciousness: Awake, sleeping, dreaming, and the transcendental state. Although Om symbolizes the most profound concepts of Hindu belief, it is in use daily. The Hindus begin their day or any work or a journey by uttering Om. The sacred symbol is often found at the head of letters, at the beginning of examination papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant. This symbol is enshrined in every Hindu temple premise.

Swastika - The next religious symbol which is also revered by Hindu. Hitler's use of the Swastika as a Nazi emblem, on the flag of National-socialist Germany has besmirched the Swastika. But the Swastika continues to hold a religious significance for the Hindus. In Hinduism, the two symbols represent the two forms of the creator god Brahma: facing right it represents the evolution of the universe, facing left it represents the involution of the universe. It is also seen as pointing in all four directions (north, east, south and west) and thus signifies stability and groundedness.

Trihsula –Also spelled as Trishul or trisula. It is usually a Hindu-Buddhist religious symbol.The word means ‘three spears.’ The three prongs of the trishula represent Shiva's three aspects of:
* creator,
* preserver
* destroyer
as well as the three shaktis (powers):
* will
* action
* wisdom
The fearsome goddess Durga also brandishes a trishula in one of her hands.

Lotus - In Hinduism, the lotus (Sanskrit: padma) primarily represents beauty and non-attachment. The lotus is rooted in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy. This symbolizes how one should live in the world in order to gain release from rebirth: without attachment to one's surroundings. The lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. According to Hinduism, within each human inhabiting the earth is the spirit of the sacred lotus. It represents eternity, purity and divinity and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, ever-renewing youth and to describe feminine beauty, especially the eyes. Goddess of Wealth ‘Lakshmi’ sits in a Lotus flower and holds blossoms in her hands.

Kalasha, also spelled as Kalash.-It is a metal (copper, silver or gold ) pot with a large base and small mouth. "Kalasha" also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut. Kalasha is believed to be a symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality. Kalasha is not only used for daily prayers by Hindus but also in Griha Pravesha (house warming), child naming, havan (fire-sacrifice). Kalasha represents material things: a container of fertility - the earth and the womb, which nurtures and nourishes life. The mango leaves associated with Kama, the god of love, symbolize the pleasure aspect of fertility. The coconut, a cash crop, represents prosperity and power. The water in the pot represents the life-giving ability of Nature.

Rudraxa - Rudraksha is a tree that can be found at the foothills of the Himalayas; the trees are, according to a legend (Shiva Purana), a product of Lord Shiva's tears. Shaiva rosaries are made from Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha beads are the natural product of Rudraksha trees and are used for many things.

If Marriages are made in heaven, then is Divorce made in Hell ?

2009-07-13T09:49:00.008+05:30

To readers of this post,I would recommend to read my earlier posting 'An Institution Of Marriage' and 'How Can Communication Help In Building a Strong Relationship'?.You can find these posts in Archive May 09 or even under the label My Journey Of Life

Divorce, the word that was taboo till sometime back, has today become the easiest solution for people having problems in marital life. Slightest tensions, slightest arguments and married couples are ready to go their separate ways. Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the final termination of a marriage, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between two persons. Divorce rates are higher in European or American countries, where individual freedom is given higher stress, than in, say, Asian or African ones, where familial and social opinions cause higher stress. With globalization, of course, the developing and under developed countries are catching up. The Common reasons of Divorce are:

• Lack of communication between spouses
• Infidelity
• Abandonment
• Alcohol Addiction
• Substance Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Inability to manage or resolve conflict
• Personality Differences or ‘irreconcilable differences’
• Differences in personal and career goals
• Financial problems
• Different expectations about household tasks
• Different expectations about having or rearing children
• Interference from parents or in-laws
• Lack of maturity
• Intellectual Incompatibility
• Sexual Incompatibility
• Insistence of sticking to traditional roles and not allowing room for personal growth
• Falling out of love
• Religious conversion or religious beliefs
• Cultural and lifestyle differences
• Inability to deal with each other’s petty idiosyncrasies
• Mental Instability or Mental Illness
• Criminal behavior and incarceration for crime
• Nosy Mother in Law (This reason is seen more in eastern countries where the concept of joint family is still prevailing)
• Venereal Disease

There are some reasons where Divorce is unavoidable. But there are lots and lots of reasons that can be sorted out among couples.

• Respect your marriage and work together as a team. Divorce may be the easy way out of frustrating relationship, but staying married is worth the effort.
• It’s well said “When people get married because they think it's a long-time love affair, they'll be divorced very soon, because all love affairs end in disappointment. But marriage is recognition of a spiritual identity.”
• A good marriage is the union of two forgivers. Remember the three "F"s in a successful marriage.
"F"riendship
"F"reedom
"F"orgiveness
You are each others "F"riend, give each other "F"reedom and "F"orgive each other at times.

To conclude, Heaven and Hell are two states of mind. When you marry you become happy feels like heaven and when it comes to divorce then we feel sorrow then it feels like Hell. Just to recall one of my favorite quote here,

“My wife Mary and I have been married for forty-seven years and not once have we had an argument serious enough to consider divorce; murder, yes, but divorce, never.”

The Concept of Arrange Marriage

2009-07-10T07:19:00.003+05:30

The concept of arranged marriage may sound impractical to the Western world, but in India, it is a usual norm. No matter how westernized India may have become, arranged marriages are still viewed as the most preferred choice in the Indian families. Love marriage is still considered a taboo in India. Not Only India, in many parts of Asia the concept of Arrange Marriage is practiced. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world, including Europe. Arranged marriages should not be confused with Forced Marriage. Factors which are considered in India in an Arranged Marriage are reputation of the family, Vocation, Wealth, Religion, Caste, Dietary pattern, Language, Horoscope, physical attributes such as height, looks, weight, and age difference and also pre-existing medical conditions.

Modernization Of Arrange Marriages – The traditional arranged marriage has long been an integral part of the Indian culture. In earlier times, there were marriages where bride and groom were not even allowed to see each other before marriages. But with advent of industrialization, arrange marriages are taking a modern outlook. As against love marriage, it is the concept in which the parents and family members search for the prospective bride or the groom, through their acquaintances or advertisements in newspapers and marriage portals. In the earlier times, with everything being fixed by family members, the bride and groom used to be practically clueless about the person they were marrying. Today the arranged marriage system of India has become more flexible.

• Parents or family members select few proposals through marriage websites, matrimonial advertisements, friends, relatives and keep them forward in front of their children. Then, prospective bride or groom has a lot more say as to who they will eventually marry.
• The prospective candidates can get a chance to know each other by telephone, internet and through series of dates before they decide whether they are right for each other.
• Now the period of courtship is longer, where the prospective candidates are given a chance to know more about each other.
• Parents introduce their child to the prospective spouse. Parents of the children may have spoken to the parents of the potential partner as well, but a strict “no interference” policy is observed. It is up to their children to manage the relationship and come to a decision on their own.

To conclude this post I just recall a saying ‘Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on Earth’

Holi The Festival Of Spring - Scientific Importance

2009-07-07T08:38:00.010+05:30

India has an age-old tradition of festivals. In India, festivals do not just offer people a temporary reprieve from their daily grind. Imbued with deep inner significance, each festival is a multifaceted celebration. The day on which a particular festival is celebrated has a special astrological significance, and certain observances on these days yield manifold benefits. The festivals play a significant role in adding color and gaiety to the lives of the Indian people. Some festivals are celebrated specially to welcome the full moon, rains, new harvest while others are celebrated for purely religious purposes.
Indian Hindu festivals hold some scientific importance with their religious importance.

Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun.
We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time, also for incorporating so much fun in the festival. In India, spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of natural colored powders has a medicinal significance: the colors are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi(Tumeric), Bilva, Red Sandlowood powder and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. Haldi,Red sandlowood & Neem is used to make face packs & many beauty treatments. Traditionally, the dry colors used in Holi were prepared from Tesu or Palash flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water .For wet colours, traditional flowers of Palash are boiled and soaked in water over night to produced yellow colored water, which also had medicinal properties. Tesu colors help in improving the skin complexion, suplness of the skin. Legends say Lords Krishna use to play holi with Tesu flower colors.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it. During the festival, the season is going through a change - from winter to summer. It is the period when people feel lethargic and drowsy. Holi provides them the opportunity to wear off their laziness, by enjoying themselves thoroughly.

The Attire Of Elegance Sari Continued….. Tanta,Baluchari & Kantha Sarees from the Looms of West Bengal.

2009-07-03T09:48:00.008+05:30

This is in continuation of my earlier post 'The Attire Of Elegance Sari'

Formerly “Calcutta”, Kolkata is acknowledged as the cultural capital of India and its friendliest metropolis. It is also home to India's heaviest concentration of political activists, poets and artists. Nestling in rural Bengal, amidst lush green paddy fields, punctuated by picturesque pukurs (ponds) are entire weaver villages engaged in creating the equivalent of poetry on fabric. Triumphing over the trauma of partition, weaver families which migrated to West Bengal in the 50’s have helped keep alive a priceless heritage of highly stylized weaving techniques honed over generations. The handloom industry in the eastern region has had its share of bumpy rides, but Bengal handlooms have survived the ups and downs to become a household name among connoisseurs of textiles.

Tanta/Taant Cotton - The Tant sarees are popular not only among the Bengali women but are liked all over India for their unique appearance and colors. The word literally means ‘Made On The Loom’, Taant is the traditional sari of Bengali women in India. Popularly known as Bengal cotton, taant is hand-woven in various districts of West Bengal. These saris come in a variety of colors with simple yet beautiful designs. Bengali handlooms are known for their transparent and crisp muslin like finish that is a joy to wear on a hot day. The lightness of the body cloth, combined with wide and silky threadwork borders and elaborate pallus with supplementary threadwork ornament give the sari it's unique evenness of drape. If you are a cotton lover then you must have these unique Taant sarees in your wardrobe.

Baluchari Sari: The Baluchari sari of Murshidabad district, West Bengal is made of silk and woven on special looms is approximately 200 years old. The borders and pallu of the sari are very striking because of its use of intricate thread work to depict stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Baluchari Sari is similar in appearance to Benarsi sari but the only difference is that Baluchari sari use only silk thread, they do not use zari thread. The contrasting colors like deep red, pruple, deep blue with motifs of flowers, mythology, traditional Muslim court scenes, pleasure boat on two love birds on top are some of the designs often seen in these traditional Balcuhari sarees. The most distinctive feature of Baluchari sarees is their elaborate borders and pallu sometimes inspired by epics of Bishnupur temple.

Kantha Sari - Kantha is really the name for the embroidery itself, rather than the sari. Any garment or cloth with Kantha embroidery (which forms or outlines decorative motifs with running stitch) is a Kantha garment. Kantha is the specialty of Bolpur/Shantiniketan. The entire cloth is covered with running stitches and usually has beautiful folk motifs, floral motifs, animal and birds figures and geometrical shapes. Except for the straight Kantha stitch, it is customary to represent illustrations from well-known epics such as the Ramayana or Krishna Lila, and also legends evolving from folk-rituals of Bengal Kanthas in Bengal and as Sujanis in Bihar. This art of Kantha is practiced by rural women in West Bengal in spare time and each Kantha sari is the labour of love.

West Bengal is not untouched from the wide range of sarees from Bangladesh like Jamdani, Jamdani Khulna, Dhakai Benarosi and Rajshahi silk.

Recognize your Inferiority complex Causes...Signs & Ways to Overcome

2009-07-01T07:17:00.003+05:30

Eleanor Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

In our day to day life we come across many friends, people who suffer from Inferiority complex. But actually they are not themselves aware that they suffer from this acute problem. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extreme schizotypal behavior, or both. Inferiority complex can also be termed as low self esteem. An inferiority complex, in the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some way. Those with low self esteem are more likely to be depressed, irritable, or aggressive. They may also be more likely to have feelings of resentment, alienation, and unhappiness. Some reasons for this problem are:

• Family - The upbringing of the child plays a vital role in shaping his future. Sometimes parents unknowingly pass negative remarks on their child by calling them stupid, idot, fool. Also many a time’s parents end up comparing their own children. This family behavior leads to a slow nurturing of Inferiority complex in the delicate mind of the child.
• Surroundings- Being called names like lazy or stupid by teachers and peers. Not being a skilled player in the popular sport of your school might be a reason.
• Physical disabilities –Sometimes disproportional facial and body features also causes Inferiority complex.
• Social Causes – Race, economic status, religion, skin colour, and family might also lead to inferiority complex.

Signs of Inferiority Complex

• People who feel inferior “know” they have shortcomings; they do not like other people to point this out. They tend to perceive any form of criticism, regardless of how sensitively or constructively it is presented, as a personal attack. They are extremely sensitive to criticism.
• Some people are extremely desperate to hear good things about themselves. But some people refuse to hear any positive or flattering things about themselves because it is inconsistent with their own feelings.
• People who suffer from this complex often have the tendency to blame others to lessen their feeling of being inferior.
• Such kinds of people avoid social gatherings and if they are forced then they would avoid speaking thinking that they would end up showing their stupidity and dullness.
• These people are extremely scared of failures. So they avoid any participating in any competition or contest because as per their mindset they are suppose to come first or else they will end up showing their weakness to the world.
• People who do not feel good about themselves have trouble feeling good about anyone else

Ways to Overcome Inferiority Complex

Attempts at achieving and becoming superior will, no doubt, are of great benefit to your life, but it will only act as a fake crust to an already residing inferiority complex. Rather recognize your inferiority complex and work on it by changing your thoughts by changing your negative self talk, building confidence, try and build your corrupted self image & install new beliefs and also get rid of those labels of childhood like stupid, fool.

Polka Dots

2009-06-29T07:33:00.009+05:30

Polka Dots which are loved across the world. Though ancient, the world definitely went "dotty" back in the 50s and 60s for polka dots. Now they are back really big (or small). Have we ever wondered where the name for these dramatic dots came from? It is believed that it came from the Polish polka dance. They were a big hit and a common pattern on clothing in mid to late 19th century at the same time polka music and the dance were invented. Dots and the dance became all the rage and, consequently, we have the name, Polka, coming from the Polish word "pulka," meaning half-step, as in the dance. Polka dot is a pattern consisting of a series of dots that are equally spaced and sized. The 50s and 60s people, and designers, took these wonderful dots to heart.

The 'liberated' clothes of the West had been a part of India's teenagers for years but Hindi film"Bobby" elevated the definitions of style bringing middle class hip ness to a new level making youthful sexiness and rebellious looks daringly acceptable. Dimple Kapadia's character, the film's heroine Bobby with her short chintz minis, checks, polka-dots, and flowing scarves all created fads that swept the nation in the era of 70's. In India Polka Dots are even know as Bobby Dots. The lovely Zeenat in film Qurabani with polka-dotted two-piece with a prominently plunging neckline, till bold and beautiful Kareen Kapoor Polka Dots have been loved by all beauties of Bollywood.

Polka Dots commonly seen on Children clothing, toys, furniture, Kitchenware, bathing suits. Occasionally white on black regularly spaced polka dots appear on more formal clothing.

What is Love ?

2009-06-25T11:41:00.009+05:30

An extremely powerful emotion is love, a sense of strong affection. Since a very long time ago, people have searched for the meaning of love. But even the great philosophers, with their profound definitions, could not fully touch its true essence. My experience of life taught me some meanings of love.

• Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.
• Love is when mummy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.
• Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day
• If you love someone, let them go. If they return to you, it was meant to be. If they don't, their love was never yours
• Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever.

• When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.
• Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs
• Love is when your father tastes the apple from the corner before giving it to his daughter.
• Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it everyday.
• Love is not you find. Love is something that finds you.
• You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
• The couple that fights the most is the one most in love... it shows they care enough to notice the other one screwed up and care enough to mention it to the person so they can fix it. When you stop fighting it means you stopped caring.
• Give two red roses to your beloved, each with a note. The first note says for the woman I love and the second, for my best friend.
• Some say love is life, but love without hope and faith is an agonizing death

Indian Spices – Mix of Rich Taste and Medicines

2009-06-24T09:07:00.002+05:30

"Indian Cuisine" really includes dozens of distinct regional styles of cooking, there are certain spices that we associate specifically with Indian food. Spices do more than just flavor foods. In the Ayurvedic tradition, spices also balance and heal the body ; food is a big part of the healing arts. Spices and herbs have been used by our ancestors for centuries for their medicinal qualities as well as for their culinary enhancements. Researchers continue to study the healing properties that can be offered by these natural remedies.

Some commonly known benefits of Indian spices are:

Turmeric –The bright yellow of the spic rainbow not only gives a lovely colour to the dish it is also an antibacterial agent. It is used in a wide variety of skin creams, used as a healing agent for cuts & wounds that’s why ‘Haldi Wala Milk’ is popular as a home remedy in India. Indian systems of medicine uses turmeric as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

Red Chilli Powder- Chili powder is regularly used in traditional Indian cuisine. Chilli powder has many beneficial properties, making it an important part in Ayurvedic medicines to fight many diseases, destroys harmful toxins and stimulates gastric juices that help in digesting food. It also helps in clearing nasal congestion, relieves throat infection, and acts as painkiller in muscle spasms.

Asafoetida or Hing (asafetida) also spelled asafetida, heeng -The herbal plant called the asafoetida is native to Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, in Asia - this herb is a perennial plant. Ancient Romans preferred the asafoetida as a flavoring agent above all other herbs, despite the unlikely nickname of devil’s dung given to the herb. Ayurvedic system the herbal remedy is used in the treatment of colic; it is also used in the treatment of spasms in the bowel, and for the treatment of spasmodic coughing arising as a result of whooping cough, complications due to pneumonia. It’s an excellent remedy for digestive disorders.

Fenugreek Seed (methi seeds) – Another important ingredient of Indian cooking used both as a spice and for medicinal purposes. A very effective remedy for diabetes also it acts as a natural conditioner for hair.Methi ke Laddo are widely recommended to diabetic patients. Fenugreek is now being used to increase the milk production in many nursing mothers. It is widely used in pickles in Asia.

Cummin Seeds (Jeera) - Jeera, an integral part of Indian cooking, has numerous benefits. It not only enhances taste of different curries but also has medicinal qualities. It helps to build appetite that’s why Jal Jeera is popular in India. Cumin is effective in relieving sleeplessness, morning sickness, indigestion. An interesting folktale associated with cumin seeds, a happy life awaited the bride and groom who carried cumin seed throughout the wedding ceremony.

Whatever I have described about Indian spices is the tip of iceberg..A lot many spices are used in Indian cooking.And every spice has some medicinal property.

Some Cool Dishes For Hot Summers

2009-06-22T13:16:00.010+05:30

Aam Ka Panna (Raw Mango Drink)

Fresh & refreshing raw mango drink gives you a cooling effect & protects you from heat waves in summers. Made from Green Mangoes and it is used as a tasty and healthy beverage to fight against the intense Indian summer heat.

Category Side dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Raw Mango Drink
Served With main course
Cooking Time 20-25 Min
Servings – 3-4 Glasses

Ingredients

• 4 Raw Mangoes
• ½ Tbsp Roasted Jeera Powder
• 1Tbsp Sugar
• Salt to taste
• ½ Tbsp Kala Namak
• ½ Tbsp Black Pepper
Method

Boil Mangoes until it becomes soft. Drain the water and remove the skin. Squeeze out the pulp from the seed and strain. Add cold water to the pulp until you obtain a thin consistency. Add all ingredients & serve chilled by adding ice cubes.

Smart tips
Boil Mangoes in pressure cooker or in a covered utensil to retain its nutrients.

Mint – Mango Chutney
An easy to prepare dish which will add taste to your meals, snacks

Category Side dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Mango chutney
Served Hot parthas, snacks & a side dish with main course
Cooking Time 5-6 Min

Ingredients
• 2 Raw Mangoes
• 4-5 Green chillie
• 175 -200 gms Pudina (Mint) with tender stems
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp Sugar

Method
Peel the mangoes & remove their stones. Grind all ingredients together.

Smart tips

You can make chutney once in three days & store it air tight container in your refrigerator.

Rangoli – Beautiful Collage of Colors

2009-06-20T05:24:00.004+05:30

Colors hold an important part in Indian culture. From bright colorful clothes to beautiful and creative paintings, pottery and handicrafts. From mouth watering Indian cuisines to the seasons and festivals, it all reflects the distinctive and rich culture and colorful spirit of the people of India. Style of home decoration is called Rangoli with Vibrant colors. It's an art form practiced by the Indians since ages. Rangoli is basically floor painting using colored sand, flowers, clay lamps or rice. Rangoli can be wall art as well as floor art but generally its done on the floor at the entrance of the house as welcome for the guest. The art form holds great religious significance. It also enhances the beauty of the surroundings and spreads joy and happiness all around. It is made extensively during the Festival of Lights, Diwali to welcome Goddess of Wealth ‘Lakshmi’.It is an expression of hospitality for the guest. The term rangoli is derived from words rang (color) and aavalli ('colored creepers' or 'row of colors').Rangoli resembles the art of Sand Painting. Sand painting is practiced by Native Americans in the Southwestern United States, by Tibetan monks, by Indians, Australian Aborigines, and some are known to be made by Latin Americans on certain Christian holy days

There are many folktales about the origin of the traditional art of rangoli in India. One such story traces its history to a legend recorded in the Chitralakshana, the earliest Indian treatise on painting. Long ago, the son of a renowned king's priest died. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, requested the king to make a painting of the boy so that he could turn him alive again. This is how the first rangoli was made. Another popular story is that God, in one of his creative episodes, extracted the juice from one of the mango trees as paint, and drew the figure of a woman so beautiful that it put the heavenly maidens to shame.

Traditionally natural dyes like bark of trees, leaves, flower petals and turmeric powder were used to prepare. However, today, synthetic dyes are used in a range of bright colors. The motifs in traditional Rangoli are usually taken from Nature - peacocks, swans, mango, flowers, creepers, etc. The designs are symbolic and common to the entire country, and can include geometrical patterns, with lines, dots, squares, circles, triangles; the swastika, lotus, trident, fish, conch shell, footprints (supposed to be of goddess Lakshmi), creepers, leaves, trees, flowers, animals. As a Rangoli is created through sprinkling powder by hand it is a very laborious and difficult process and requires lot of patience & of course creativity.

Rangoli is known by different names in different parts of the country; Alpana in Bengal, Aripana in Bihar, Madana in Rajasthan, Rangoli in Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Chowkpurana in Uttar Pradesh and Kolam in Kerala and Tamilnadu, Muggu in Andhrapradesh.

The Attire Of Elegance Sari continued...Banarsi Sari which never goes out of Fashion….

2009-06-18T07:59:00.005+05:30

This blog is in continuation of my post ‘The Attire Of Elegance Sari'

There is hardly any Indian woman whose wardrobe does not include Banarsi sarees. Even the trousseau of a bride is incomplete without this much-coveted possession and rarely fails to flatter a woman, making her feel delicate and feminine. Banarasi Saree holds a unique status in the world of fashion also. These beautiful & traditional Banarsi sarees comes from the land of Varanasi (Kashi) , the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".Benaras or Varanasi has the pride of being the one of the most famous Handloom centers in the entire world. In fact it is among the few centers in the world that has painstakingly preserved the ancient tradition of hand weaving.

This tradition is very old and none can rightly predict the date when it was first started in Benaras. But it has continued to be passed down from one generation to another and continues to flourish. The weavers are mainly Muslim and are known as 'Karigars' that means artist. The Mughal era was the time when the fame and recognition of Banarsi silk sarees of India reached its pinnacle. Even the motifs underwent a change and the sari saw new designs, resulting from the combination of Indian and Persian patterns.

Created in eye-catching shades and pattern, the Banarasi sarees of India are so famous today that they are exported all over the world. There are following four basic varieties of Banarasi silk sari:
• Pure Silk Saree (Katan)
• Organza Saree (Kora), with Zari And Silk
• Georgette Saree
• Shattir Saree
Weaved on the power loom, normally three people are required to make one Varanasi sari. Each Banarasi silk sari can take 15 days to six months to complete depending upon the intricacy of the designs. Typically, three weavers are involved in the creation of the saree. One of them weaves the saree, while the second one is engaged at the revolving ring, where bundles are created. The traditional Banarasi sarees are basically made of pure and fine silk that used to be imported from China. Of late the fine silk comes from South India mainly from Bangalore. Traditional designs include; chameli (Jasmine), panna hazar (Thousand emeralds), genda buti (marigold flower), paan buti (betel nut leaf), tircha (diagonal stripes) or the sought after konia or a corner-motif with a mango buta or flower. At the commencement period of Banarasi sarees, the artisans used to embellish the sarees with threads made of original gold and silver and were used by the people of royal families. The designs were elaborate and intricate as they were the royal attires. Gradually, the zari and simple threads that resemble the original gold and silver threads came into reputation. The artisans started creating motifs and designs out of those threads and it was easy for the common people to afford the royal and traditional Banarasi sarees. The Banarasi saree apparel is also exported all over the world.

Banarasi sarees are no doubt expensive due to its material, thread, design and meticulous labor involved but even then it is a must have possession for every Indian woman.

Give Yourself A Kool Image With Clogs

2009-06-16T08:15:00.005+05:30

Holland is a country with a rich historical and traditional heritage. The Dutch themselves are very traditional people. Holland would not be Holland without the famous tulips, windmills, cheese and wooden shoes. Wooden clogs are considered by many as a form of Dutch traditional dress. Many think that all Dutch people wear clogs, which is why Dutch are sometimes called ‘cloggies’. But that's not right! Only a "few" people in Holland wear wooden shoes, about 5000, maybe more, maybe less, so only a small part of the population. And almost all the people wearing wooden shoes are farmers or people in a nursery. In Dutch, clogs are known as klompen. Dutch wooden shoes are famous all over the world and wearing them will make you stand out from any crowd! The Dutch have been wearing them for over 700 years and millions of farmers, children, artisans, working people and gardeners still wear them every day, keeping up a beautiful tradition!
Clog means a type of shoe or sandal made predominantly out of wood. Nowadays, "clogs" also means comfortable slip-on shoes. They are associated with the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden (though Swedish clogs do not resemble Dutch clogs)

Some features of wooden shoes are:
• Cheap footwear.
• Wooden shoes are easy to clean.
• Wooden shoes are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Wooden shoes are safe; they protect the entire foot, not just the toes.
• Wooden shoes keep your feet dry, for instance when you're gardening. The wood absorbs perspiration and your feet are always surrounded by fresh air inside the wooden shoes. That's why wooden shoes are worn by thousands of construction workers, farmers, fishermen, road workers, factory workers and artisans all around the world.
• There are also a lot of people who wear wooden shoes because you can get in and out of them easily without wasting a lot of time.
• The orthopedic form wooden shoes support your feet.
• They make an excellent gift or souvenir and they are great for garden and home decoration!
• You can even decorate your garden and home with these fascinating clogs.
• Due to them being made of solid wood, Dutch clogs have been given rating which passed the EU CE standards with flying colors.

Bindi...A Icon of Indian Tradition On The Forehead

2009-06-14T13:44:00.008+05:30

A bindi is an auspicious mark or a forehead decoration worn by young girls and women in South and south East Asia particularly India. Hindus attach great importance to this ornamental mark on the forehead between the two eyebrows -- a spot considered a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. It denotes the woman's married status in most of the North Indian communities but in South India it is a prerogative of all girls to wear a bindi. Bindi is derived from the Sanskrit word bindu meaning a drop, a dot.

The area between the eyebrows, the sixth chakra known as the 'ajna' meaning 'command', is the seat of concealed wisdom. It is the centre point wherein all experience is gathered in total concentration. As per the followers of Tantrism this chakra is the exit point for kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is a symbol of auspiciousness, good fortune and festivity. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration and to protect the lady and her family from demons or misfortune. Traditional bindi is red or maroon in color. A pinch of vermilion powder or Sindoor, kumkum is applied skillfully with practiced fingertip make the perfect red dot. Red color represents Shakti or strength in Hindu religion. There are many mythological stories related to Bindi.

Not only women in India wear Bindi , the bridegroom's make-up is incomplete without the TILAK. Some Western women, who have converted to Hinduism, such as in the Hare Krishna’s, also wear bindis. Sometimes they are worn as a style statement. International celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Madonna, Nina Hagen, Nelly Furtado, and Shania Twain have been seen wearing bindis. Ancient Chinese women wore similar marks (for purely decorative purposes) since the second century.

In present times, though bindis have undergone a major transformation and are available in intricate designs and patterns, traditional bindi designs have still managed to retain their magical charm. It has become a decorative item and is no longer restricted in color or shape. Self-adhesive bindis (also known as sticker bindis) are available, usually made of felt or thin metal and adhesive on the other side. These are simple to apply, disposable substitutes for older tilak bindis.

In India Bindi is known by various names in different parts of the country. Tikli in Marathi, Pottu in tamil & Malayalam, Tilak in Hindi, Chandlo in Gujarati, Bottu or Tilakam (in Telugu), Teep in Bengali.

Herbalife….Live the Good Life!

2009-06-13T08:27:00.005+05:30

Credit for this Blog goes to my dear friend Sumita who provided me all the details pertaining to this product.

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The main concept of our nutritional program is Cellular Nutrition. Through Cellular Nutrition, healthy nutrients help nourish our cells with our exclusive blends of nutrients that provide vitamins, antioxidants and minerals to support cell function. In this way, our products deliver healthy nutrition to cells throughout the body. No matter what your health goal, achieving it is as easy as….1,2,3!! The products are not only healthy, they are tasty too. Our core three products are formulated to enhance the effects of our entire line of products-
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Deep fried Mirchi (Chilli)

2009-06-11T09:14:00.005+05:30

An easy to prepare dish which will add taste to your meals.

Category Side dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Deep fried Chillies
Served Hot parthas, snacks & a side dish with main course
Cooking Time 5-6 Min

Ingredients

• 2 –3 Mirchi (Chillies)
• 1 tsp Besan (Gram flour)
• ¼ tsp Turmeric powder
• 2 tsp Oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method

Deep fry chillies, add turmeric powder and salt. Once it’s cooked sprinkle besan and stir continuously. Once besan is cooked add lime juice and serve as a side dish.

Smart tips

You can stuff besan in chillies.
You can prepare these chillies without besan, just deep fry with methi(Fenugreek seeds) & add lime juice.

Bichiya (Toe Ring)

2009-06-10T09:30:00.003+05:30

Toe rings worn as a symbol of married state by Hindu women and is called bichiya (pronounced: bee-chee-ya) in Hindi.Toe Rings or Bichiya are considered to be symbolic of married woman, Hindu religion prohibits unmarried girls from wearing Bichiya. Even in present times, girls refrain from wearing toe-rings before marriage. Bichiya is put in brides toe at the time of marriage generally by a married female or even by bridegroom in some traditions.

These toe rings are considered as one of the ‘solah-singars’ for the bride i.e. it is among one of the listed sixteen adornments of any Indian bride. As per the vedic times, these were carefully laid down for every part of body. Irrespective of class or economic status, these items of person grooming can be fashioned out of wood, glass, fresh flowers or precious jewels. Toe rings along with anklets were amongst the shringars to help women adorn their feet.

Earlier toe rings were not preferably made out of gold, the reason being that gold is considered as a respected status among Hindus and any gold ornaments cannot be worn below the waist. In present times though, this tradition is not followed very strictly and women can be seen wearing toe rings made of gold and diamonds. The toe rings are usually adjustable type and are available in a variety of designs with myriad motifs ranging from paisley, to fish to flowers. A single set contains two toe rings, one for each foot. With age, designs and patterns of toe-rings have changed but it's relevance in the Hindu society has not altered. Even today these are very much a part of the bride's jewelry.

Toe rings is also known as Mettelu in Telgu,Metti in Tamil,Bichwa in Bihar Uttarpradesh and Chutki in some parts of the country.

The Fairy Parade…

2009-06-08T09:59:00.005+05:30

This is a truly memorable natural wildlife experience. At sunset witness hundreds of Little Penguins even known as Fairy Penguins waddle ashore onto the island’s Summerland Beach and pose for the visitors along the way! The Penguin Parade is located on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia, only 140 kilometers south-east of Melbourne. It is part of Phillip Island Nature Park. The area is a reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of Little Penguins. This delightful event is commonly known as the "penguin parade".

The Parade is open every day of the year. The best time to visit is at sunset/dusk if you wish to see the actual "penguin parade". This is when the penguins cross Summerland Beach to return to their sand-dune burrows. After a day fishing for food in the waters surrounding Phillip Island, the penguins make their way across Summerland Beach in groups. This delightful event is commonly known as the "penguin parade". This unique "parade" can be experienced from environmentally friendly observation boardwalks and viewing stands.

Visitors can see these little Penguins from 2m. You then get to walk along with them - or rather on boardwalks above them - and watch them toddle and squawk to find their burrows in the dunes. The Penguins are protected. So not to disturb them, you are not allowed to take pictures of them. The Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species in the world and only 33cm tall. They has dark feathers are not black but a deep, rich blue. Their color camouflages them from above and below the surface of the ocean. It is an unbelievable sight. Penguins are fantastic swimmers but it’s quite a struggle for them to waddle across the sand dunes. Many pause, look around. Some older ones struggle, others squabble…

Needless to say everyone loves it...

Sindoor

2009-06-06T16:21:00.002+05:30

Sindoor is a red powder (Vermilion), which is traditionally applied at the beginning or completely along the parting-line of a woman’s hair (also called mang) or as a dot on the forehead. Sindoor is the mark of a married woman in Hinduism. Sindoor is not just used by the womenfolk of India. Even men, boys, girls and little children apply a dot of this powder on their forehead when they visit a temple or attend some religious function. Kumkum or Sindoor is considered to be very auspicious by Indians and thus, used for various purposes on special occasions like wedding and festivals.

As per the Indian belief, red is the color of power. Vermilion is thus a symbol of the female energy of Parvati and Sati. Sati is believed to be the ideal wife, one who gave her life for her husbands’ honor. Every Hindu wife is supposed to emulate her. It is believed that Parvati protects all those men whose wives apply vermilion to their parting of hair. Sindoor is applied for the first time to a Hindu woman during the marriage ceremony when the bridegroom himself adorns her with it. As per Hindu customs, she is supposed to cease wearing Sindur only after the demise of her husband.

Traditional authentic Kumkum of India is made by grinding the dried turmeric to a powder. A few drops of lime are then added to this yellow powder, which changes its hue to a bright red. In earlier times, women preferred to prepare Kumkum at home. Now, most of them buy the ready made Sindur from the market. A traditional component of the sindoor is powdered red lead and other ingredients are alum and turmeric.

'Small is beautiful' fits very well for Tata Nano

2009-06-05T08:27:00.003+05:30

A dream nurtured by common man or middle class (aam admi) fulfilled by Mr Ratan Tata is nothing but the cheapest car of India ‘NANO’.Six years after promising Indians a car that meets both their aspirations and budgets, Tata group chairman Mr. Ratan Tata on 23 March 2009 dedicated the little Nano to the country. When Tata Motors had first presented the concept of a Rs 1 Lakh((roughly $2,500) car, many scoffed that it was unachievable. Yet it has been done. The dream car is finally unleashed to roam free on Indian roads. Advertised as "the world’s cheapest car", the Nano is a no-frills automobile designed by Tata to be affordable to millions who commute on 2-wheelers carrying a family of 4-6!!

Its journey from Singur to Gujarat was ever be remembered by the people. Even after much protests in West Bengal, the car project is finally completed and was ready to hit the Indian roads.The project would had started its production of Nano cars from its Singur plant. But due to the protest the Nano project was moved from Singur, West Bengal to Gujarat.

The car is the culmination of about five years of research and input from designers across the world. But it is definitely a step ahead in innovation, right from using aerospace adhesives instead of welding, a clean and efficient fuel-burning technology to the concept, distribution strategy and marketing, and has succeeded in catching the attention of the world. Nano is a two-cylinder driven car with an Engine capacity of 625 CC and a power of 33 BHP. The little wonder can travel up to 20 to 25 km per liter of petrol. The maximum speed it can cruise is 90 Km. Small it may look albeit; it has not compromised on road safety. Nano has passed the necessary rigors of testing such as the 'Full Frontal Crash', a test that determines the impact bearing strength of a car. It has complied with Euro-4 emission norms for environmental qualification tests, which establishes that the car has undergone conventional checks required to ensure a smooth and safe plying on the roads.

India is densely-populated, and the current road conditions, narrow lanes, and lack of traffic control, and the dearth of parking structures may be on a rise if the streets get flooded with these cars, now the challenge rests with the government to widen the roads and provide proper infrastructure facilities for an efficient and safe plying of cars in general. This issue comes to the fore, since the fleet of cars will suddenly increase on roads due to advent of cheaper cars. On the other hand, necessity is the mother of invention, so this might give rise to more infrastructure opportunities and new businesses! It will surely be a safer bet for those families of 6 who risk their lives traveling long distances on a motor-bike!!

How To Feel Beautiful??????

2009-06-04T09:02:00.004+05:30

The world is full of beautiful people and you are one of them. To look beautiful, you don’t need trendy clothes, designer handbags and stylish accessories, heavy cosmetics all you need is to give your body and your mind a little tender love and care.

Its true ‘Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

Here are some things you can do to remind yourself that you're already beautiful.

• When you look in the mirror, smile and stand up straighter. Remember smile is an expensive way to change your looks
• ‘Taking joy in living is woman’s best cosmetic’
• Exercise! It makes you feel better about yourself as well as gives you more energy.
• Try & spend some time in the whole day to do in what you are good at. For example if you are good at craft then do some craft work.
• Making your surroundings beautiful, whether this mean decorating your room with fresh flower or writing positive quotes at places where you are bound to see in your home very often.
• Remind everyday yourself that you are important.
• Having good character is important to feel beautiful on the inside, if you make someone feel good, chances are, and you’ll feel good too!
• Wear the proper attire for different climates/weather. Fashion can be bought but style one must possess.
• Your life is what you make of it. If you make yourself out to be beautiful, then that's the way you live your life, so live you life to the fullest, most beautiful way possible, and that's the way you will feel!
• Treat yourself if not daily at least once in a week, Watch a movie, read a good book, go for a walk along the beach.
• Try and find personal characteristics that you are proud of…
• Have proper hygiene so you can have pride in your health that means you need to take good care of your body!
• Beauty is the promise of happiness.
• ‘Beauty - in projection and perceiving - is 99.9% attitude.’

Mangalsutra…

2009-06-03T11:11:00.009+05:30

Mangal means auspicious, sutra can be deciphered as a thread and these two words combine and make a single word Mangalsutra. Mangalsutra is one such symbol of marriage. It is not just a jewelry item it has lots of significance to an Indian married woman. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by married women as a symbol of their marriage. An inevitable part of Hindu marriage ceremony, Mangalsutra refers to a revered symbol of wedlock. India being a land of diversity different regions of the country have assigned different names.

Mangalsutra is the token of dignity and love given to a bride by her groom. On the wedding day, the groom ties the Mangalsutra around the neck of the bride, while the priest recites Vedic hymns and prays. Its very similar to wedding ring in western culture.It is also the symbol of union of two different people, i.e. the husband and wife. It can also be considered as the husband’s promise to his wife to live together.

Talking about the appearance, this sacred thread is made of two strings of small black beads with a locket or pendant. The small black beads are inserted in the Mangalsutra to protect the couple from the evil powers. Now-a-days, the trend of wearing Mangalsutra is changing. The form of the holy Sting is also changing. Instead of long golden sting women prefer to wear shorter ones. The pendants are also changing from golden to Diamond. With fast paced development, Mangalsutra has also become a fashion statement. Women now go for exclusive designs and are ready to experiment. Soap operas on the television which have significantly contributed in making Mangalsutra a fashion statement.

In spite of so many changes in the look and design of Mangalsutra, the significance and essence of it in the Indian Marriages remains unchanged.

Balika Vadhu -Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte

2009-06-02T08:41:00.003+05:30

Balika Vadhu is TV show currently being broadcast on Colors TV in India.It is based on the set in rural Rajasthan,narrates a story of a child bride or Balika Vadhu ‘Anandi', having being married at a tender age of eight years with an equally young Jagdish. After her marriage the ‘Balika Vadhu’ enters a new alienating and confusing world. She is taken away from a life where she should be enjoying her childhood to that of a bride in a family of strangers. Here she has to act like a daughter in law, a wife, a lover and a friend.

A very sensitively portrays the plight of children who are unwittingly forced into marriage, in the name of tradition, and have to bear the repercussions for the rest of their lives. Traces the arduous journey of child bride Anandi from the brink of childhood to womanhood. Balika Vadhu, a serial based on social evils like child-marriage has emerged as one of the biggest winners on small screen. It’s realistic as well as sincere effort in materializing out this unexplored facade of our society. This serial is not aimed to eradicate the very practice by condemning and criticizing it, instead the intent was for the people to see the consequences of it. In Rajasthan, where child marriage still occurs, the audience gets to see the results in a very justified and clear manner.

Balika Vadhu makes you think and gives you plenty and plenty of reasons to bring about a much needed change in the Indian society.

Men vs Women

2009-06-01T17:15:00.003+05:30

• Men make houses, women make home

• A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, or get the mail. A man will dress up for the following: weddings, funerals.

• Men like white hair because it shows their experience, women colors their hair to look young.

• Men are physically strong, women are mentally strong.

• Women finds aesthetics in everything, men are not able to understand the aesthetics.

• Men are the head of the family while women are the head of the household.

• Women love to go for shopping anytime, men avoids shopping as much as they can…

• A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. Whereas a woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't want.

• If a woman is out driving, and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings, she will stop at a gas station and ask for directions Men consider this to be a sign of weakness. Men will never stop and ask for directions. Men will drive in a circle for hours, all the while saying things like, "Looks like I've found a new way to get there." and, "I know I'm in the general neighborhood. I recognize that 7-11 store."

I miss those days of…

2009-05-28T11:14:00.006+05:30

• I miss those days of cycling from school to home with my friends
• I miss those day of catching butterflies & keeping it in my books
• I miss those days of playing hide & seek
• I miss those days of reading fairy tales,Nandan and Chandamama.
• I miss those days of watching Vikram & Betal on Saturday & Sigma on Sunday morning.
• I miss those days of Doordarshan.
• I miss those days of fighting with my sister for not cleaning our room.
• I miss those day of getting tired & sleeping on my books while doing homework
• I miss those days of my dreaming that one day I will grow up & will buy a sari for my mother from my money
• I miss those days of asking for pocket expense from my father.
• I miss those days of excitement for teachers day celebration in my school
• I miss the zero period of my school
• I miss the picnics of my school & family.
• I miss my new dress of my birthday given by my parents.
• I miss those days of getting scared from my school teachers.
• I miss my school lunch break where we use to share food together.
• I miss the first monsoon shower where I jumped & splashed water to my content.
• I miss those bedtime stories of my mother.
• I miss those trips to my cousin’s place during summer vacations.
• I miss my fights with my grandmother.

I miss those beautiful Childhood days………….with zero responsibility & infinite innocence!!!!!!!

The Attire of Elegance….Sari

2009-05-26T12:40:00.015+05:30

Just like every Indian state, the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh has its own varieties of Sari’s. The beautiful Maheshwari,Chanderi & Kosa sari’s form the tradition of this state.

Chanderi Sari –Chanderi is a town of historical, religious importance in Ashoka Nagar District of Madhya Pradesh,India.Tradionally these sarees were made of cotton, but later silk was introduced to the looms of Chanderi. Nowadays we have complete silk varieties of the Chanderi sari, though, cotton Chanderi sari remains to be more revered, carrying a higher price.
Chanderi Saree are very light. It beauty lies in its simplicity, narrow & broad borders and decently designed anchals with buttis. Off-white Chanderi saree with Ganga-Jamuna border or red on one border and green on the other border are very famous. Chanderi sari is known for soft colors and the harmonious balance between the border and the body of the saree. These sarees are also known for their contrasting colors and the depiction of animal and human figures on them and patterns taken from the Chanderi temples.

Maheshwari Sari –Same as Chanderi Sarees which originate from Chanderi, Maheswari sarees originate from the town Maheshwar in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, India. This ancient town is situated on the banks for holy river Narmada
Maheshwari fabric is known for its lightness, elasticity and fine thread count. In sharp contrast to the rich and heavy silken weaves of Kanjivaram, the silk and cotton mix of Maheshwaris is perfect to wear in the summer. Golden thread or Zari is also used to weave elegant motifs on the body, border and pallu of the sari. The most common patterns include brick, diamond, woven mat & Chameli flower patterns

Kosa Sari –Kosa or Tussar silk sarees come from Chattisgarh (Originally Chattisgarh was a part of Madhya Pradesh). Indigenous to Champa, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Jagdalpur and Bastar areas of Chhattisgarh.The The silk used in Kosa sarees is extracted from the cocoons of the silk worm reared on Arjun trees and are obtained naturally from in shades of cream, honey, beige, yellow and ash. However, these natural hues are tastefully dyed using dyes made from vegetables, fruits, flowers, pollen, lac and other natural substances. The Kosa cloth is available in a range of colors and patterns that are block-printed, painted or embroidered.
The crisp, paper-like Kosa silk is popular not only in India but abroad too. The six-yard sari is decorated with simple tribal motifs of birds, flowers, trees and geometrical figures.

Attitude...........

2009-05-25T11:19:00.003+05:30

What I have learn t from life…………..
‘Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.’

We carry our attitude around like a pair of glasses that tints our perception to the world. Our experiences, education and personality shape your attitude to everything around us. Our tinted glasses will affect our behavior, thinking & our feelings. We can take good care of our body by eating right food, exercise but do we actually take care of mind? Our attitude plays a vital role in taking care of our minds.

• A let go attitude on the negative situation. Moving forward & letting positive things come to your life.
• As we progress in life it is usually necessary for us to change some of our attitudes in order to adjust to changing circumstances.
• It’s true that our attitude towards life determines the life’s attitude towards us.
• Attitude can be our best friend & worst enemy at times.
• It’s well said “I never saw a pessimistic general win a battle”.

An institution of marriage..

2009-05-22T13:23:00.006+05:30

The institution of marriage is a foundation of a family, which in turn is the fundamental building block of the society. Marriages are made in heaven and celebrated on earth. This belief is true to a very great extent, because it is a special bond shared between two souls, who tie the wedding knot after promising to be companions for a lifetime.Across the globe the concept of marriage remains the same, although the way of solemnizing differs. The foundation of a successful marriage is love, understanding, mutual respect, trust, commitment and togetherness.

The essence of marriage…

• Not only MARRYING the right person, but BEING the right partner.
• Be best friends as well as lovers
• Cry together as you laugh together.
• Share your secrets
• Standing together and facing the world.
• Having the capacity to forgive and forget, and then forgetting what you forgave.
• Having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
• Let commitment be a daily ritual.
• Always remember an ideal wife is any woman who has a ideal husband.
• It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.
• I agree with the fact “Marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.
• Always think together than thinking alike.

Tomato Chutney (Tamatar Ki Chutney)

2009-05-22T10:46:00.008+05:30

An easy to prepare dish which will add taste to your meals, snacks

Category Side dish
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Tomato chutney
Served Hot parthas, snacks & a side dish with main course
Cooking Time 5-6 Min

Ingredients

• 1 Tomato
• 2-3 Garlic pieces or cloves
• 2-3 green chillie
• 175 -200 gms Coriander with tender stems
• Salt to taste

Method

Half boil tomato. Wash the coriander & drain the water. Put all ingredients in mixer & blend till smooth.

Smart tips

You can make chutney once in three days & store it air tight container in your refrigerator.

I always wanted to be a Woman….

2009-05-20T10:14:00.001+05:30

• Who is trustworthy….
• Who admires & praises other women
• Who doesn’t cry at her workplace
• Who can balance between family & career.
• Who never repents of being a woman.
• Who can be a lovable daughter, caring sister, adorable wife & responsible mother.
• Who is compassionate & gentle
• Who doesn’t make excuses at her workplace for not doing something because she is a woman.
• Who doesn’t criticize and blame men always. It is not necessary that you have to be anti-man to be a pro woman.
• Who wears an ornament of character & purity
• Who can be friends with men without giving a wrong impression or unwanted attention

Some I am…& some I try to be…………..

Besan Ka Cheela

2009-05-19T12:26:00.003+05:30

Category Snack
Region All of India
Also Called Besan Ka Cheela (depending upon the region)
Served Chutney,sauce,pickle
Serves 4 -5
Cooking Time 20min

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Besan (Gram flour)
• 1large finely chopped Onions
• 2-3 green chilli
• Finely copped coriander
• 1/2tbs Ajwain
• Asafetida a small pinch
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Red chili
• 1 tablespoons coriander powder
• Oil for cooking
• Salt to taste
• Water to make the smooth batter

Method

Mix all ingredients in a bowl except oil. Now start adding water in small quantities to the bowl & mix until no lumps remain. Make a spread able batter. Leave for 15-20 min.

Heat the non stick tawa & now pour the batter in the centre spreading it out a little (like dosa).Now put some 1tsp oil on the corners & cook on medium flame until it’s golden. Now flip & add 1tsp oil on the other side & cook until this side is also golden

Serve hot with chutney, pickle or sauce.

Smart tips:

Cook on very slow flames so that it cooks evenly & crisp.

How can communication help in building a strong relationship?

2009-05-19T12:03:00.004+05:30

Good communication is the heart of every good relationship. Communication is the main ingredient to a beautiful & healthy relationship. To communicate is to exchange your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, critiques and other comments with another person. Communication is the invisible thread bonding our society. Expressions and language help us to connect with each living being

Whether it's been a wonderful or a rotten day, whether there's been a crisis or a triumph, sharing it in words makes you and your partner feel more understood, more appreciated, more loved. Here are some tips to make your relationship bloom with your good communication.

• Communication is not only talking but also listening.Somewhere I read speaking is sliver,then listening is golden
• Always make sure your body language match your words. Do not get defensive & have a positive attitude.
• Speak unarguably.Argument is the one of the worst sort of communication.
• Remember it’s very important to express your feelings in your relationship.
• Turn your complaints into requests
• In order to understand and meet each others needs, as well as to unite to overcome problems, good communication is a must.

Mistakes are the best teachers....

2009-05-18T09:09:00.005+05:30

Someone well said…

‘Experience teaches slowly and at the cost of mistakes’

A mistake is a decision or an action that we come to regret. Mistakes causes some degree of pain, loss, adds to bad memories to our book of life. What I have learnt from life that there is no mistake in life, rather it is a lesson of life. Mistakes are gifts of life, and these gifts of life offer you a chance to explore an area where you are deficient, you need additional knowledge or need to revaluate your approach.
Some of us refuse to accept that we have done something wrong. We end up blaming someone else or the system. We blame others, justify or make excuses.

By adopting the below approaches we can handle our relationships in a more sensitive manner.

Learn to accept full responsibility of your life, acts & yourself- Whatever circumstances, misunderstandings come across learn to take responsibility. There is always an opportunity to learn even if others were wrong. Remember when you take responsibility of yourself then you become responsible for making things right. Also you learn to make better choices, avoid problems & misunderstandings in future.

Take mistakes as life’s lesson – We all are humans & we will do something which we will regret. Be open to making mistakes & taking them as life’s lesson. If you don't learn the lesson, then the mistake will repeat itself again and again in different situations.

Be proactive – Your proactive behavior can help you to avoid unnecessary blunders and help in seeking ways of improvement. Always view mistake as a useful stepping stone to higher reality & a better outlook of life.

Don’t try to be a perfectionist- There is no harm in making mistakes; it is an essential part of going forward. If you go through life afraid to make a mistake, you’ll spend most of your life doing absolutely nothing.

Apologize -If you’ve made mistakes that harm other people, it is important to offer a dignified apology. Be clear that it was an unfortunate incident that will not be repeated. A good apology can go along way to restoring trust. Do not waste time in justifying yourself.

How to build Trust……

2009-05-17T17:45:00.005+05:30

To begin with I would like to recollect these beautiful lines…

“On the day we can fully trust each other; there will be peace on Earth.”

Trust is reliance on others; trust is the confidence, faith and the foundation of any relationship. Trust is a fragile thing in any relationship. Some tips which can help to build trust in any relationship.

Don’t be secretive –Try and be open & honest in any relationships.Always remember there is nothing like a secret. It will be revealed one day. Sometimes, a suspicious behavior might destroy trust. Be a open book.

Never judge trust in your relationship when you are angry – Sometimes anger can overpower your trust. In anger people tend to jump to and act on conclusions and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate.

Communication – Always remember that your communication along with body language makes you more reliable, clear & honest. Precisely, your words should match your body language.

Follow your words – Try & do what you say. Sometimes small things can destroy trust. A small example is you tell your partner/friend/family member that you will be home by 8:00pm.If you are going to be late, call and let him or her know ahead of time. Try & make realistic promises which you can fulfill.

Always trust yourself –A person who has trust in himself, can build trust in others also.

Remember…it takes years……... to build trust…but milliseconds to destroy it…

Green Moong dal Bhajiya (Mangode)

2009-05-17T14:59:00.006+05:30

A snack to enjoy in winters & rainy season…

Category Snack
Region All of India
Also Called Bhajiya, Mangode (depending upon the region)
Served Chutney,sauce,pickle
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20min

Ingredients

• 2 Cups of soaked spilt green moong dal (Dal soaked for 3-4 hours)
• 2 Onions
• 3-4 green chilli
• 1inch ginger
• 2-3 pieces of garlic
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Red chili
• 1 tablespoons coriander powder
• Oil for deep frying
• Salt to taste

Method

Drain the water from soaked moong dal & grind it without adding water.Do not grind it very fine. Put this grinded dal in a bowl. Now grind onion, garlic, ginger & chilli.Make a paste & add it to moong dal.Now add all spices & salt. And the mixture is ready to deep fry.
Serve hot with chutney

Smart tips:

Deep fry Bhajiya properly so that they turn crisp.

Baby Corn Ki Sabji (Bhutte ke sabji)

2009-05-15T11:23:00.000+05:30

Here is a recipe which children will love to eat.

Category Main course vegetable
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Baby Corn
Served Hot, with roti (whole wheat Indian bread),Steamed rice
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20min

Ingredients

• 200 gms of fresh baby corn (Boiled)
• 2 Onions finely chopped
• 1Tomato Finely chopped
• 2 green chillie
• 1/2Tbs Jeera (Cumin seed)
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Red chili
• 1 tablespoons coriander powder
• Coriander leaves
• 1/2tbsp tomato sauce
• 2 tbsps Oil
• Salt to taste

Method

In a thick base frying pan, heat the oil with Jeera & green chilli, until they splutter, add onions & stir fry and then add Baby corn. Add all spices & salt. Once onion turns golden brown, add tomato. Once tomatoes are properly blended with baby corn add tomato sauce. Garnish it with coriander leaves & serve hot.

Smart tips:

• Half boil baby corn, otherwise it will mash when you start cooking it with onion.
• You can even add cubes of paneer to make the dish more nutritious.
• Do not cook after adding tomato sauce

30 Things That Make You Happy…

2009-05-15T10:36:00.000+05:30

1) Feeling Healthy
2) A good book………
3) Looking beautiful…
4) Cuddle & giggle of a child
5) Having your husband as your BEST FRIEND
6) A TAX return.
7) A smell of a clean sheets or a new book.
8) Summer sunset
9 ) Knowing your friends really care for you.
10) My mother kissing me in my forehead.
11) An unexpected solution to a misunderstanding.
12) Turning the pages of your album
13) Having a husband that’s trusts me.
14) Smell of mud after the first monsoon shower.
15) Watching babies sleep
16) Cleaning the house
17) Missing office after a long hectic routine.
18) Watching your favorite television program at the end of day.
19) The warmth you feel when you have been to help someone with a problem.
20) Receiving card or a call from an old friend who you haven't had contact with for years, just as if it was yesterday.
21) Recalling memories of childhood holidays
22) Flowers blooming in my garden that I planted myself.
23) Receiving an unexpected compliment
24) Being with our family
25) A hug from someone you love
26) Hearing my dad say "I'm proud of you" and knowing that he means it
27) To see your child grow
28) Enjoying the warm sunlight in a chilling winter.
29) No spam in your email
30) Memories of the smell of my Mom’s cooking.

30 lessons of life

2009-05-14T12:34:00.000+05:30

1) Stay healthy. Someone has well said “Health is wealth”. Eat nutritious meals in proper portions. Drink plenty of water. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily. Get plenty of sleep.
2 ) Have a positive thinking. If you believe you can do it, most of the time, you really can.
3)Conversation or expressing yourself is a one of the most important aspect of life. Successful relationships require solid communication, use body language, appropriate tone of voice, and eye contact; be friendly and considerate of alternative viewpoints; persuade gently; listen, listen, listen.
4) Time heals all wounds… regardless of how you feel right now.
5) Marry a person who loves you, rather marrying a person whom you love.
6) Take lots of pictures. Someday you’ll be really glad you did.
7) Bad things do happen to good people.
8) Love has nothing to do with looks, but everything to do with time, trust, and interest.
9 ) Taking ownership of failure builds the foundation for success.
10) Your actions now create memories you will reminisce and talk about in your elder years.
11) No matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
12) Two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.
13) True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
14) There is nothing like love at first sight
15) Never take ANY relationship for granted.
16) Listen to your heart but use your brain.
17) Your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
18 ) Two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.
19 ) Perseverance is the key to success
20 ) You shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
21) It takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
22) No matter how much you care some people just don't care back.
23 )There is a time for everything in life.You cannot get it before.Destiny plays a very important role in life.
24 )Chance is a gift, so act on chance when given the opportunity.
25 ) Your health is your life.
26 ) Be completely responsible and accountable for where you are, who you are and what you are.
27) Get clarity and certainty about what you want and don't want in your life.
28) When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
29) In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
30) Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

AND DON'T FORGET TO THANK GOD OR THE SUPREME POWER AT LEAST ONCE IN A DAY

Spicy Besan Ki Sabji

2009-05-14T09:54:00.001+05:30

No vegetables at Home. Serve your family Besan ki sabji and let your family praise your dish and intelligence.

Category Main course vegetable
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Spicy Gram flour
Served Hot, with roti (whole wheat Indian bread),
Serves 4
Cooking Time 25 -30 minutes

Ingredients

• 200 gms of Besan (Gram flour)
• 2 Onions finely chopped
• 1Tomato Finely chopped
• 2-3 green chillie
• 5-6 Kari patta or meetha neem patta (Curry leaf)
• 1/2Tbs Jeera (Cumin seed)
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Red chili
• 2 tablespoons coriander powder
• Asafetida a pinch
• Coriander leaves
• 1/2tbsp Lime Juice
• 3 tbsps Oil
• Salt to taste
• 2 cup water

Method

In a thick base frying pan, heat the oil with Jeera & green chilli, kadi patta until they splutter and then add onions & stir fry until it turns golden. Add all spices & salt. Now add besan & stir continuously. Once besan turns brown, add tomato. Stir, gradually tomato will blend with besan. Now add 2 cups of water in it. Let water dry partially & add lime juice. Garnish it with coriander leaves & serve hot.

Smart tips:

If you crush the tomato & make a puree. It will save your time, tomato will blend with besan fast & in a uniform way.

Dahi Wale Aloo

2009-05-13T13:31:00.000+05:30

This is my version of Dahi Wale Aloo

Category Main course vegetable
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Curd Potato
Served Hot, with roti (whole wheat Indian bread), or steamed white rice.
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20 minutes
These Dahi wale Aloo can be served on fast (Upvas)

Ingredients

• 500 gms Boiled Aloo (Potato)
• 1/2 Tbs Jeera
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder (Do not use if preparing for fast)
• 1/2 Cup Yoghurt
• 1/2 tsp Red chilli (Do not use if preparing for fast)
• 3 Finely copped Green Chilli
• 2 tbs coriander powder ((Do not use if preparing for fast)
• Asafetida (Heeng) a small pinch ((Do not use if preparing for fast)
• Coriander leaves Finely Chopped
• 2 tbsps Oil or butter (Use Desi Ghee if preparing for fast)
• Salt to taste (Use sendha namak or rock salt if preparing for fast)

Method

Boil potato & peel them cut into small cubes. Heat the oil in a pan with asafoetida, Jeera & followed by green chilli wait until they splutter. Now add boiled potatoes & add turmeric, coriander & red chilli powder salt. Fry until potatoes get roasted .Lower the flame & then add curd & stir well until all of it is well blended. Now add 2 cups of water bring the mixture to boil & cook for uncovered for 5-6 min on low flame. Garnish with coriander leaves & serve hot.

Smart tips:

Make sure potatoes are roasted well light brown,it will give a crisp taste in the dish.

Time for Solid food for Baby

2009-05-12T18:17:00.000+05:30

My baby was 4 months old and it was time to introduce infant formula along with weaning food. I was lucky that my baby relished infant formula from the very first day. Some mothers start Infant formula from the very first day.

Along with infant formula it was time for weaning food. Initially my baby showed a lots reluctance in accepting weaning (i.e. rice, lentils, fruits etc) food. By fifth month my baby started accepting weaning food, although he did not relish it.

Sixth month was the time to introduce solids. By this time my baby had become familiar to food & fruits. I started giving him a fresh fruit in his breakfast. It is always better to give fruits with pulp for example mango, banana, rock melon, chiku etc. Generally, babies show reluctance to sour and citrus fruits. In lunch, I introduced lentil (cooked with two vegetables) & rice. To make it more interesting and nutritious I usually add one fourth table spoon of “desi ghee” for “tadka”, “haldi”, “3-4 jeera seeds” and a pinch of salt. Gradually my baby started relishing this meal. Although my baby eats very less but at least I am satisfied that he has started eating regular stuff.

Once my baby started accepting his breakfast & lunch, I introduced eveing snacks. Sometimes I offer “suji ka halwa”, “kheer” to my baby. All these are made using Infant formula.

Also as 4th meal of the day I introduced “farex” (i.e. solid baby food) in his dinner. In order to make farex more acceptable and tasty I usually server it with fresh fruits and with a table spoon of infant formula.

Along with the above said menu, I also offer milk (i.e. infant formula) to my baby at least 3 times in a day. It is not necessary that baby will drink the entire quality offered. It solely depends on baby’s appetite.

Here I would like to share some tips when you plan to introduce solids.

• Dal (Lentil) – rice or kichdi can be a good option for lunch. But make sure that it is properly cooked and mashed.
• For snacks you can serve suji (Semolina) or rava ka halwa (pudding). Fry 2tbs suji in ¼ spoon desi ghee when it turns to light brown add 1 bowl of water to it & let the water dry. Let it cool down. Then add 2tbs infant formula to it & serve it to baby.
• Fried food and Junk food is not recommended.
• Do not offer biscuits, as it only fills the stomach and does not provide
much nutritional value to the baby.
• Never leave your baby alone with food - babies can choke on food and drinks.
• Introduce foods one at a time wait a couple of days before introducing
another one so that you can isolate any adverse reactions and allergies.
• The food should be smooth, supple and runny.
• Never force your baby to eat.
• The spoon should be small, shallow and soft. Special weaning spoons can be
bought.
• Offer solids between milk feeds, when your baby is neither too hungry nor
too full.
• Hold your baby comfortably on your lap or sit her in her baby chair. It
would be better if both of you were protected against spills!
• Make sure all feeding utensils are sterilized or at least washed with hot
water.
• To avoid food poisoning, throw away any uneaten food left over from her meal
and never reheat and use again.
• Always check food temperature to prevent burning her mouth. Your baby cannot
eat hot food
• Never add solids to your baby’s bottle
• Offer drinks of cool boiled water starting from 6 months of age.
• If you are massaging in morning then it always better to give breakfast at
least one hour before massage time

2009-05-12T07:58:00.002+05:30

Besan Shimla Mirch

This is my version of Besan Shimla Mirch

Category Main course vegetable
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Spicy Capsicum
Served Hot, with roti (whole wheat Indian bread), or steamed white rice
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 500 gms Finely Chopped Green Shimla Mirch
• 2 Onions finely chopped
• 1/2Tbs Jeera
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Besan
• 1 tsp Red chili powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• Asafetida a small pinch
• Coriander leaves
• 1/2tbsp Lime Juice
• 3 tbsps Oil
• Salt to taste

Method

Wash Shimla Mirch under running water. Pat the Shimla Mirch dry with a clean kitchen towel Finely chop Shimla Mirch & Onion.

In a thick base frying pan, heat the oil with Jeera until they splutter and stir-fry the onions & then add Shimla Mirch let both cook together & add all spices. Cook until translucent. Now add the besan & stir well until its turns golden brown. Lastly, sprinkle some water, lime juice and cover it with a lid for about 5 minutes. Garnish the dish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Smart tips:

Do not cook with a very tight lid on the pan otherwise it will make the dish very sticky

Residential Property Market In Mumbai

2009-05-12T07:16:00.000+05:30

Residential Property Market In Mumbai

India is the largest country of south Asian region. Its economy has shown a constant upward trend in the last decade or so. Most of this gain in economy is started after India emerged as one of the I.T giant of the world. The positive effects of this development in economy of the country are perceptible in every business sector including the property market. Mumbai, which is acknowledged as the commercial capital of the India, has gained the attention of the investors of the world together with those who prefer to invest in property market.

But what could the main reason behind Mumbai becoming investor’s paradise in India? The answer is simple one. The market of Mumbai offers high investment returns to the investors including real estate investors. This is the core reason why Mumbai is exerting a pull on investors from all over the India and world alike. Real estate investors do have adequate incentives to invest in the Mumbai property market. Currently it is the most populated city of India and Mumbai and its suburbs encompass the second-biggest urban agglomeration in the world after Tokyo. And the rate, at which its population is budding, points toward the increase in the demand for both commercial and residential properties in Mumbai.

India’s property market has been among the hardest hit by the global financial turmoil as high interest rates and gloomy economic prospects have driven out buyers and squeezed funds for real estate developers.

Through this year, property prices have already declined more than 10-20%, though in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, prices are still too high for a middle class consumer.

I feel investment in Mumbai property market can never be a loss.If you have are planning to invest in the market then do not wait further just go ahead & do it with a good builder.

And if you have already done the investment then be patient & wait for the right time for returns.

Bhindi Amchur

2009-05-11T17:32:00.000+05:30

Bhindi Amchur

This is my version of Bhindi Amchur

Category Main course vegetable
Region All of India
Also Called Several names (depending upon the region)
Descriptive English Name Spicy Okra (Spicy Lady's Fingers)
Served Hot, with roti (whole wheat Indian bread), or steamed white rice
Serves 4
Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

500 gms Bhindi or Okra
2 Onions
1/4tsp Jeera
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Amchur powder (Dry mango powder)
1 tsp Red chili
2 tablespoons coriander powder
Asafetida a pinch
1 tsp Garam masala
Coriander leaves
3 tbsps Oil
Salt to taste

Method

Wash the okra under running water. Cut off the ends of the okra. Pat the okra dry with a clean kitchen towel. If you leave them wet, your dish will end up sticky and slimy. Slice into halves and set aside.

In a thick base frying pan , heat the oil add Jeera and stir-fry the onions until they become golden.Add okra or Bhindi along with all spices EXCEPT garam masala & Amchur.Stir it properly.Fry it till it turns crisp. But do not stir vigorously as this will cause the okra to get mashed. Do not cover it very tight otherwise Okra will get mashed in steam & will loose its crispiness (Cook for about 20 minutes on low flame).Once cooked add Gram masala over it followed by amchur powder. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Smart tips:

Do not cook after adding garam masala & amchur.

Make sure there is no water in Okra once you start cooking otherwise it will make the dish sticky.

Teaching a good night sleep habit

2009-05-11T11:03:00.001+05:30

The first three Months..after the arrival of the baby.

The first three month were the most tough & crucial for me as a new mother.It was a like chaos in my life...sleepless nights...tiring days....making N nos of mistakes in handling the baby.Its very much true practical experience is the best learning class.

My entire house was a jungle of things lying all around.Sometimes I felt very helpless.But I was trying to put the best effort to learn things.My first aim was to inculcuate a habit in my baby to sleep at nights.Beacuse I knew if I start getting a proper sleep at night I can start settling things during day time.

For the first three & a half months I exclusively kept my baby on my feeds.So it was tough because my baby use to wake up 2 times at night for feeds.Many a times he started playing at mid nights.But I made it sure that I do not encourage him to play.I kept him on my lap & made him sleep.Many nights I spent hours in making the baby sleep & the baby use to take a nap
for half an hour & and some times this process use to get repeated many times during the night.

I didnt give up....& finally at 4 months my baby started taking a continous sleep for the whole nights that was around 8-9 hours at a stretch.

Some tips which I would like to share here are :

1)Keep the baby awake in evening.So that he gets tired by night.
2)If baby gets mid night,feed him & make him sleep again do not play with him.
3)Make the baby sleep at the same time daily.Also wake him up at the same time everyday in morning.This will help in regularzing his routine.
4)Sometimes you can even give a good massage before taking him to bed.That will relax & soothe the baby.
5)Make sure you give a proper feed to the baby finally taking him to bed.
6)If you are breastfeeding, caffeine can create a vicious circle,you drink coffee (or tea or cola) to give you a hit, baby gets a boost of stimulant through your milk – and becomes restless.
7)Tiny tummies need frequent refills, but soon your baby will start sleeping at least one longer stretch between feeds. If baby sleeps more than four hours between feeds during the day, it is reasonable to GENTLY unwrap him and offer a feed, then he might save his longer sleep for night – time. However, be patient if he is not ready to alter his pattern.
8)Teach baby the difference between night and day by keeping the lights low and attending to him quietly during night feeds. Save play and chatter for daytime.
9)Choose a well-lit area for your baby's naps. This will help encourage shorter naps, which in turn may help your little one sleep better at night.
10)Feed your baby in a darkened room at night if he or she wakes up hungry. Let him know that night is for sleeping.

Baby massage

2009-05-10T07:33:00.000+05:30

After my baby's birth the biggest challenge came was "baby Care". As every mother I always wanted to do the best for him. Baby massage is one of the important aspects in child care. So here I would like to share my experience with baby massage. Once we came back from the medical center, from the very first day I started massage for my baby.

Baby massage is an ancient practice & is still followed across the world.A good massage soothes the baby,increases blood circulation,helps him to sleep better and gain more weight . It helps muscular development. It also helps in parents child bonding.Talking and smiling to him while massaging keeps a child happy, making the baby more secure and robust.

Initially,I started the massage with medicated oils which are available specially for babies.Although coconut oil,olive oil is also suggested.But since it was a start I started with a very light massage oil.After massage I usually give my baby a Luke warm water bath.Definitely,I can say with confidence that it helped my baby to gain weight & also it gave a very good sleep.In less than 8 days my baby started enjoying the massage.Massage time is a time when I leave all my things aside & spend quality time with my baby...we play..we sing ..we talk....its lots of fun...

My baby is prone to skin ezcema so his skin needs to be mositurzed always.From seventh month I tried olive oil for massage.It did wonders for my baby's skin.In three days his skin became smooth & soft.Here are some tips I would like to share for baby massage..

It is a good practice to keep all things you ready before you start rubbing the oil on the baby's body. This includes, the baby massage oil , tissues.
Baby's skin is very soft and bracelet, rings and long nails might hurt your child accidentally. So keep your fingernails short and keep aside the jewellery pieces you wear on hands when you are massaging the baby.
If the weather is cold, turn up the heat enough to keep the baby warm.
Spread a changing mat or a soft towel on a flat surface and undress the baby.
Rub only about half-a-teaspoon of oil at a time on your palms so they glide easily on the baby's body. You can apply more oil later as needed.
Make sure that your palms are warm.
Use smooth, gentle but firm strokes with your palm or fingers. Light circular movements on chest and stomach, stroking across the shoulders, downward movement on the arms and legs and upward movements on the back are the best.
Do not put too much pressure on the baby's fragile body.
Keep the baby engaged while massaging him or her by talking or singing to the infant.This is how baby will start enjoying the massage time.
Eye contact with the baby ensures him or her of your undivided attention.
Sudden break in contact of your hands may cause alarm to the baby, take care to be gentle while stopping the massage.
Do not oil baby's palms or fingers as these little ones tend to put them in their mouths or eyes often and this may cause them irritation.
Do not massage the baby just before or after feeding, or when the baby is ill.
Do not wake the baby up for a massage.
Avoid rashes, wounds or areas where the baby has got his injections or vaccines as it may hurt.
Give a luke warm water bath to the baby after massage.
Massage the tiny fingers of the baby by gently pressing them between your forefinger and thumb.
Make sure that you rub very gently on baby’s elbow and knee joints.
Gently squeeze the muscles on baby's legs and arms but be sure that baby does not get hurt.
Keep one hand over other hand and use them like a paddle just below the belly button of the baby to relieve any gas pains and improve her digestion.
Don’t use baby oil on infant's face.
Babies less than four months old need only 10 minutes of massage while older babies can be given 20 minutes of massage depending on their development.

After a good massage & bath usually baby takes a long sleep,which makes baby fresh & playful.

In case you need any advise please free to write to me.I will try to help you in best possible way.

Journey from woman to motherhood

2009-05-09T18:17:00.000+05:30

Somewhere I read a ...'A woman is not complete till she attains motherhood '..now I feel that its very much true..

My journey towards motherhood started from from the first month of 2008.A new beginning..in a new year.When I first heard the little tingling sound of a tinny heart within me,my heart & soul was filled with millions of emotions & expectations.

All of a sudden my life style started changing in many ways.My GP told me that your first three months are going to give you the most memorable experience of your life.At that time I felt that my GP is trying to be little sarcastic but now I can certainly say she was sarcastic & true. In the first three months the most rocking activity which I have gone through was nothing but throwing up (vomiting & nausea) myself 30 times a day.No medicines... no home remedies..nothing worked...only my will power kept me going through this high tides.I counted each day,each night till end the third month dreaming that this ordeal will end after three months but like all other dreams it was false.For me this ordeal was destined to stay for 9 months.

The second tri-semester started....with some complex medical examination i.e triple marker ,malformation scan etc....we use to wait with extreme eagerness for the report.By god's grace all reports were fine & the baby was doing well.This was relatively a better phase in my pregnancy.All I can say is I ate well,slept well & attained weight.

Now comes the climax period (The Third tri-semester).During this phase I kept on adding weight & an anxiety that now I will get to touch my cutu pie very soon.But ya!time was tough, moving around and going to office was a challenge.Above all the basics challenges like finding my way through IIT Powai Traffic Jam during monsoon climbing a Everest look alike ramp of Office building. At the start of eighth month gradually a weird thing started.Gradually,I started loosing my sleeps during nights.I use to greed for a atleast a nap during day.But had No luck!

At the starting of nine month we went for a final check up.Looking at my condition GP suggested us that a normal delivery is a remote possibility hence it would be better if we opt for a voluntary c-section procedure.Since this was my first child & I was ready to take ANY chances,hence we gave our accord for C- section and fixed a suitable date.

D-day :Finally,I was ready with all my baby supplies packed everything & left for the medical centre that night.I got up early next morning (thanks goes to nurses & mid wives) as I was my procedure was scheduled at 8.30 am in the morning.After some basic preparations & morning routine I was finally taken to the OT.After that whatever happened is not that clear in my memory.Finally,I woke up after mid day & saw my little cute pie wrapped in dark green cloth lying on the baby cradle beside my cot.

That was the most beautiful sight of my life.....

Finally,I was there a woman from last so many years had become a mother....