Author: monika pareek

Karma – A Buddhist

Gautam Buddha was born in a the royal family of Lumbini. Lumbini is now situated in Nepal. In the year 563 BC, Buddha decided to renounce all kinds of worldly pleasures for he believed that real happiness lay somewhere else. So he read the teachings and books from religions to find the true meaning of life.

300 million people across the world are followers of Buddhism. The word Buddhism comes from ‘buddhi’ which literally means ‘to awaken’. To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and more than a religion it is a way of life. Buddhism was founded by Buddha Shakyamuni. He taught and lived in India around two thousand years ago. Since then, many people around the globe have followed the spiritual path Shakyamuni had shown. Even today, the Buddhist beliefs of living in peace, loving, kindness, wisdom are just as relevant as they were in those ancient times. Buddha had said that confused and disturbed states of mind were the sole reason behind all of our problems and all the happiness that arises from a positive and peaceful state of mind. Buddhism tells of methods for gradually overcoming anger, ignorance, jealousy and develop love, compassion and wisdom within us. The last peace that each one of us seeks, that absolute happiness can be experienced on this path. The best thing is about Buddhist beliefs are that they work for everyone.

Karma is a bitch. They all say that. We often hear clichéd lines about Karma. Buddhism believes in Karma too. How real is the entire concept? How does Buddhism perceive Karma is something really interesting to know about?

‘There was guy named Michael Mastromarino. Who became a multi-millionaire by stealing organ tissues, bones, and other body parts from more than 1200 corpses. About 10,000 people received transplants from corpses, some of which were diseased with AIDS and Cancer.

Eventually, Michael died of Liver cancer that spread to his bones.’

Buddhism also talks about the mind being a totally unique and separate entity from other parts of the body. It is neither physical nor a by-product of physical processes. When a body dies and disintegrates, the mind does not cease to be. The mind that dissolves at death is a superficial mind but it disintegrates into another level of consciousness which the subtle mind and this mind has neither a beginning nor an end. This mind completely transforms into the pure mind of Buddha.

Now how is Karma related to our mind? Karma is every action that we perform or everything that we do. In fact, every karma has a potential to give rise to its own repercussions. Imagine your mind to be a field and your actions are the seeds that you sow in that field. Maybe this is where the famous saying ‘You reap what you sow’ comes from. You sow positive seeds and the fruits would be positive and you sow negative seeds, the future would be filled with suffering. Every action that is performed by us leaves an imprint and that action eventually leads to its own effect. The ‘law of karma’ as people call it, is simple. You will be happy if you are virtuous. You will suffer if you are not. Buddhist morality is totally based on this law.

‘Bardo’ is that intermediate stage that your mind enters the moment you die. This is a dream like phase. And in this phase, one experiences various visions that the subtle mind activates during the time of death. These visions could be beautiful or they could be terrifying; it all depends on the seeds you had sown. When these seeds ripen completely, we are given the choice of rebirth. But here is something really interesting to know- as samsaric beings, we cannot choose our rebirth and its totally depends on our karma. If good karma ripens, you will be born as a human or a god, but if bad karma does, you might be born in the lower states of lives such as animals and birds. Basically, the winds of karma blow us into our next life and we land up being reborn in the higher or the lower states of life.

‘Samsara’ is a Sanskrit word which means the cyclic existence is the uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth. It’s more like a Ferris wheel at the fair. It goes up to the upper 3 realms and then down to the lower 3 realms. Or it could be compared to a pendulum, which goes to and fro, never stopping at one place for more than a few seconds. As long as you sit on this Ferris wheel, you shall experience a cycle of dissatisfaction and suffering, and the Ferris wheel doesn’t even stop when you die. Lasting happiness can only be experienced when you let go of this Ferris wheel and let your subtle mind pass into that “enlightened nothingness”.

September 14, 2014
Dances of Rajasthan!

They invite you; engage you and you are bound to be induced by them as you tap your foot along with the Rajasthani dancers. They are folk dances and their history can be traced back to the traditional customs and heritage of the state of Rajasthan. And something that really surprises me is that these traditions are kept alive by the common people rather than professional dancers. The beauty of these traditional dances lie in the fact that the rural people still continue to draw inspiration from their age old traditions. Their costumes are extremely colourful and vibrant and the daring moves that the dancers perform, will surely give you goose bumps. The setting sun becomes the backdrop and the dancers take centre stage in the Thar Desert where you see them sway to the rhythm of Rajasthani folk music that steals your heart away.

Some of the really popular folk dance forms from Rajasthan are:

Kalbelia

As the name suggests, this form of dance is performed by the ladies of a community known as the ‘Kalbelia’ tribe. An intriguing thing about them is that they are basically snake charmers. And this is where ‘Kalbelia’ dance draws its inspiration from. The moves of the dance are similar to the way a serpent moves and even the costumes are black in colour. ‘Been’ is an instrument used to charm snakes. This dance form will totally enthral you with its sensuality and uniqueness.

Ghoomar

This dance form is performed by traditional Rajput women on festivals and other such occasions. The faces of the women are covered with veil and they sing traditional songs and charm the onlookers with their graceful movements.

Chari

It’s a dance that requires a lot of skill and poise. Tourists who witness this dance form being performed feel goose bumps by the time the performance is over. And why does this happen? Because the dancers perform this dance with pots kept on their heads and lamps in their hands. The movements are very flexible and graceful and this kind of dance is performed on an occasion like a marriage or when a child is born.

Kacchi-Ghodi

‘Kacchi-Ghodi’ means a dummy horse. This dance form originated in the Shekhawati Regions of the state. All the dancers wear elaborate costumes and the dummy horses perform fighting sequences with a lot of vigour. As Rajasthan is known for its brave and chivalrous rulers, a ballad sings their tales and the dancers perform on the tunes of the ballad’s song.

Fire Dance

Sounds extremely dangerous, isn’t it? It is indeed one of the most dangerous forms of dance in the world. This is a dance performed by the Banjara community of Rajasthan. The dancers perform fire stunts that will take your breath away. With rods in their hands and mouth full of kerosene, they blow the rod and dance along.

Terah Taal Dance

Terah in Hindi mean the number thirteen. Taal is the Hindi word for beat. So Terah Taal translates to the ‘Thirteen Beat’ dance. Manjeera are small brass discs that the dancers tie on their wastes, hands and legs (basically at thirteen places) on their body. This a dance performed to please and impress a local deity of the state of Rajasthan.
Other folk dances that are performed in Rajasthan are Jhoria, Kathputli dance, Raika, Matka-bhawai etc. and these are performed on different occasions in various tribes.
All these forms of dance that are mentioned are a very integral part of the Rajasthani culture and they help in showcasing the extravagant and grand culture that the desert state possesses. The amount of hard work and dedication that these dancers put in is just commendable. They treat their dance as their religion and dedicate their entire lives mastering their form of dance. They have learnt a lot from their ancestors and they follow all that they have learnt with a huge amount of dedication and courage. A Rajasthani dancer is truly attached to the culture and rituals of the state and pours his heart out while performing the folk dances. The dances are very colourful and extremely lively. Whenever a celebration happens in Rajasthan, it is these dances that add festivity and life to the occasion. The dances are simple but very expressive and everyone who watches them being performed, enjoys a lot. A very close attention is paid to small details including the costumes and the make-up. Each and every dancer is very skilled and trained in his/her form and this is one of those many reasons why these dancers are invited to foreign countries and make grand performances.

Rajasthan is a state known for its rich culture and heritage. People from all around the globe visit the state to experience its great culture. A culture that has been highly cultivated, a culture the world is enthralled by, a culture that is amazingly is beautiful.

September 14, 2014
Treat From The South!

Think of South India and the first thing that comes to the head of a North Indian like me is the yummy ‘Idli and Dosas’. But what else do we know about South Indian cuisine except the fact that it is amazingly delicious. But there is a lot more to know about our favourite cuisine.

South India being hot and humid climatically, gets rain in abundance each year and so fresh fruit, vegetables and rice are readily available throughout the year. Malabari cooking comes from Kerala with its catalogue of yummy seafood dishes. Nizams have ruled Hyderabad so the food that comes from Andhra is rich and full flavour. The food is full of dry fruits and nuts (and especially exotic spices like Saffron.)

On the whole, South Indian cuisine is the hottest of all Indian cuisines. Most of the meals are centred on rice and are rice based. Sāmbhar is a soup-like lentil with which is rice is combined. Rasam is a hot-sour lentil soup, again eaten with rice dishes.

Yes they love Rice! No meal in South India is complete without rice being an active participant in the entire cooking process! Idles, Dosas, Uttapams are all a part of their daily meal. Coconut oil is usually used for cooking and frying purposes and vegetable oils and ghee is spread over rice when meals are cooked on special occasions. Curry leaves, mustard and peppercorns are the main ingredients in every south Indian dish.

Let’s talk about the various culinary schools of South India:

Andhra: Food from Andhra is mostly vegetarian but in the coastal areas of the state, you would get to taste a variety of seafood. Prawns and fish are fried in coconut oil and ground pepper is used to flavour the dish. Again, Andhra food is usually served with rice. Rice and Sāmbhar along with other lentil preparations, steamed vegetables that are flavoured with coconut oil are all a part of the Andhra culinary school. Pakodas and vadas are served for snack. They taste even more delicious when they are dipped in Sāmbhar. One can also try the payasam or the exotic Hyderabadi Sheer Khurma for dessert. Andhra cuisine will definitely take you heart away!

Karnataka: On a visit to the state of Karnataka? Then you would surely find a typical Kannad meal served to you that would include very specific dishes and in a definite order. And the surprising part! You start your meal with a dessert! Then come some soup-like dishes as majjige huli, Kootu, saaru etc. and these are eaten with rice. The raita comes next and then the Bonda is served. Finally, the meal is ended by serving a bowl of curd rice. For sweets, try the famous Mysore Pak, Pedha or Chiroti!

Hyderabad: The fancy Nizams and the even fancier and amazingly delicious cuisine from Hyderabad. The cuisine from Hyderabad is a combination of techniques of the Muslim rulers and the vibrant spices and ingredients from the local Hindu people. It tastes sour and sweet and everyone who tries it returns to Hyderabad for some more. It is one of India’s most exotic and finest cuisines and people from all across the globe love to savour their tatste buds with the Hyderabadi Biryani.

Tamil Nadu: Cuisine from Tamil Nadu is popularly called ‘Chettichand Cuisine’. If you think that its tastes similar to the simple, bland cuisine of the traditional Tamil Brahmins, then you are definitely mistaken, because Chettichand cuisine is one the oiliest and the most aromatic food in the country. Though, Chetiars are popular for their yummy vegetarian meals, their preparations also include a variety of other items like meat, fish etc. Since I already mentioned that its one of the “oiliest “cuisine, the use of oil is extremely liberal while cooking these dishes and have a large amount of bay leaves, cinnamon and red chillies in them. Some popular dishes are veruval which is a dish fried in spices and onions, poriyal is a curry and kuzambu is a dish which has ingredients that are stewed in gravy of spices and coconut. And where there is oil and spice, can pickles be far behind? So you will find that a variety of pickles and pappads and dry snacks are a part of Tamil Cuisine too. Murukkus are small spiral shaped snack fried out of rice dough. Other small snacks include thattai, masala vada, etc.

Kerala: Kerala is popular for its pancakes rice cakes that are steamed. Kerala is a state which home to various religious communities and this is a reason behind the repertoire of dishes one finds when Kerala cuisine is mentioned. For the Muslims, Biryani is a must. This flavoured Biryani is made of mutton and fish.

In districts like Kottayam and Pala, which are largely inhabited by Christians, a dish called ‘ishtew’ with appam is permanent dish that one finds in every marriage reception. There are fermented beverages which form a part of the Kerala cuisine. Kallu and patta charayam are one of these.

July 7, 2014
All That You Are Seeking Is Seeking You!

Spirituality is all about finding your true self, isn’t it? It’s that search for ultimate happiness after which you attain that absolute state of peace. Talking of spirituality, reminds me of a song from the movie ‘Rockstar’, where the protagonist is searching for his real self!

Jab kahin pe kuch nahi
bhi nahi tha
Wahi tha wahi tha
Wahi tha Wahi tha

Who jo mujhme hai samaya
who jo tujh mein samaya
Maula wahi wahi maya

All our lives we’ve been searching for that one thing in life which will sweep us off out feet, that one thing after which everything will better, that one thing which will change your life from the very next moment after it happens. So today, I will tell you story which apparently happens to be my own. It so happened that I thought “only if I managed to crack that ‘All India National Talent Search Examination’, will my life take the path which it had never travelled upon, and it so happened that I did crack that up!

But wait! Nothing really happened. Some people who got to know about it, came forward to shake hands and say a ‘congratulations’ which their eyes didn’t reciprocate. And then after a couple years, I wished “only if I could get a CGPA 9’.

I envisaged life changing for me from the very second I could manage to make that feat. I remember my heart pounding so hard the second I was sitting on my computer waiting for the CBSE site to open up after their ‘lines jammed’ message, I remembered the first row that appeared after I wrote in my eight digit roll number which is still on my tongue, and it happened that I got what I wanted. I imagined myself to be enthralled but did I really feel happy and for how long? It lasted for a day when cousins and aunties I had never met or spoken to gave me a ring asking me how’d I do, I remember saying to myself that “am I really a number?”. A couple of years passed again and this time ‘the big one’ class twelfth boards (as over rated as your aunties and uncles make it sound when they say “oh, iss saal toh boards hai beta”), I so remember my mother asking all her cousins in Kerala to pray for me as I wrote my first exam which was English Core. The exams got over soon and there I found myself in the same place again as I were two years ago, sitting in front of the computer, the CBSE site saying ‘lines jammed’ again (and they will always say that) and waiting for that ninety percent that will change your life, as my mother said, as my teachers said and surprisingly it happened again, again it didn’t last beyond a day or two, then came the cut-offs I had made it to the interviews to St. Stephens College, could St. Stephens change my life…Maybe Yes! Maybe no. I would find out soon probably.

You must realize that nothing outside of you can change your life. Now you may argue that maybe a job at Google or Goldman might, but that’s not the way it works. As Rumi once said “the angel is free because of his knowledge, the devil because of his ignorance, between the two remains the son of man to struggle”. All your life you look for that philosophers’ stone which would turn every metal to gold. My grandmother told me the story of king Midas, the king who had the wish that everything he touches turn into gold, granted to him by the Gods. He woke up and he touched his bed, which immediately turned to gold, and then he ran around his palace eagerly touching everything until he got exhausted and stopped to smell a rose in his garden, he touched the rose and it became gold. I would have to absorb the fragrance without touching the rose he thought to himself. He picked up a slice of bread and it also turned into gold. Suddenly he started to sense fear and his daughter came running to him and hugged him and there she turned into a beautiful golden statue. Despaired and fearful he raised his arms and prayed to God to take back his wish. The story of king Midas is a myth about the agony which follows when we look for happiness outside of our being. True happiness lies within us all, we just have to close our eyes and look within. Stop waiting for that one thing to sweep you off your feet and instead be the change and surprise yourself. You have been looking for the spectacles all over your house, not raise your hand and find it on your head. I would end with another quote by Rumi where he says, “You seek knowledge from books, ridiculous! You seek pleasure from sweets, ridiculous! You are the sea of knowledge hidden in a dewdrop; you are the universe hidden in a body three yards long”

July 1, 2014
The Best Carnival on Earth!
It’s one of the hottest, sexiest and the most amazing carnival on the face of this earth! And not just this, but the Carnival is something that gives one chance to witness the true culture of Brazil. It is a euphoric extravaganza, where people from all walks of life come together and have tons of fun. A lot of people consider the Carnival in Brazil as one the biggest festive celebrations. It has got wild parties, colours, vibrance, costumes and everything you can relate to the idea of ‘festivity’! It’s celebrated in Brazil every year before Easter. The word Carnival holds its roots in the word ‘carnelevare’ which literally means ‘removal of meat’. Traditionally, the festival is believed to be celebrated before those particular days when the Roman Catholics abstained from consuming alcohol or meat. This was done to drive away bad things from their life. The carnival originated in the Era dominated by the Europeans. The carnival was the day when people indulged in alcohol, sex, dancing and all the fun just before the beginning of Lent. That was the time when people exchanged clothes (and sometimes even slaves)! Carnivals are a thing across the globe. But the Brazilian Carnival tops the list when it comes to the popularity of carnivals. It’s a weeklong festival where people revel in dances and enjoy a lot! Almost all the Brazilian cities host a carnival before Lent, but the one we know of (and of course, the pictures that we usually get to see) are of the Carnival at the capital city of Brazil, Rio! Samba has been the traditional dance of Brazil and people wear beautiful costumes and masks and do the samba to the beats of drums. Now the pictures that you see of the festival are of the famous parade that happens during which gorgeous (and very sexy) samba dancers standing on a vehicle move across the stadium as more and more people join in the parade. Generally, shops are shut during the time of the Carnival and people come out to rejuvenate themselves. Many Samba schools who are also involved in various community services form the organising team of the Carnival. You don’t know how to dance? It is totally okay. A lot of people with two left feet come to enjoy this carnival and try their hand (ummm actually feet) at dancing! Here are some really interesting facts about the amazing Rio Carnival:
1. It’s held 40 day before Ester and is super-wild four day extravaganza.
2. It ends on a day called ‘Fat Tuesday’, which comes before ‘Ash Wednesday’, that is the start of Lent.
3. The festival is celebrated in the month of February which is the hottest month of the year. We see the city’s temperature rising during this time, literally and metaphorically too!
4. The Greeks and Romans celebrated the arrival of spring with a grand party. The festival’s history can be traced back to the age old tradition of the Greeks and Romans.
5. The traditions were carried to the New World in the 1700s by the Portuguese.
6. A festival called “Entrudo” is when people throw water, lime and food at each other.
7. The Carnival as we know it today has evolved with time. Huge street parades with people revelling and dancing are the best part of the Carnival.
8. A lot of bands and orchestras entertain the people with Samba music.
9. The Samba Parade is the most awaited and the most interesting part of the Carnival. It is actually a competition between the odd 200 Samba schools of Rio..
10. Sambodromo is the stadium where the Carnival is celebrated. The audience witness an enthralling competition between Rio’s Samba schools and they are judged based on their elaborate costumes, dances and music.
11. £3 million and more are spent on the outfits and preparations of the Carnival.
12. The dance schools are formed from a majority of people from the city’s slums.
13. Around two million people attend the festival each year.
14. The mayor of Rio inaugurates the festival each year where he hands over a huge gold and silver key to the Fat King, Rei Momo.
15. The festivities begin much before the actual Carnival starts. Actually, Rio is a result of months of preparation and hard work.
16. Small local parades that are called ‘blocos’ happen across the city and attract thousands of people.
17. A ‘Pee Patrol’ is appointed to catch hold of the people who urinate on the streets. The funny thing is that this happens even after 17,000 portable toilets are installed around the city.
18. 25,000 jobs are created because of the carnival and around £420 million of revenue is generated by the hotels and bars.
19. Celebrations of the Carnival are held in Sao Paulo, Olinda, Manaus and Porto.
20. Each year, this greatest and the most magnificent Carnival on Earth attracts celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and PSY.
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June 28, 2014
Things you didn’t know about the Mahabharata

Mahabharata, the story of two sets of paternal first cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas who become bitter rivals, the story where a wife is shared by five husbands, a story of vengeance, a story where a kingdom is gambled away, a story which went on to become one of the greatest epics in the history of the world.

Here are some really interesting facts about the greatest epic of all times:

1. There are lots of stories about the Amrit Manthan which are the part of the original epic Mahabharata. But very few people know that the entire epic was narrated at the Sarpa Yagna. This Yagna was being conducted by Janamjaya, who was Arjuna’s grandson.

2. Karna and Bhishma never fought in the battle together. Bhishma, being the army chief wanted Karna to submit himself to Bhishma and fight under his supervision. Karna could not do that. Hence, Karna only fought the battle after Bhishma’s death.

3.Out of the hundred Kaurava brothers, only Yuyusu survived the war.

4 .Krishna had once questioned Yudhishtira that why did the King of Indraprastha, not seek his assistance while playing the dice game. If Shakuni was allowed to play from the Kauravas side, then even Krishna could play on the behalf of the Pandavas.

5. Krishna knew about Arjuna’s love for Subhadra. He instigated Arjuna with idea of kidnapping Subhadra. Balaram and the other Yadavs were furious when Arjuna kidnapped her. They were all up in arms and got ready to chase Arjuna. Krishna stopped them by saying that Arjuna had done everything according to the Kshatriya Dharma and that they are indeed lucky to have married away their sister to such a great warrior.

6. The names of the Kuaravas have always been associated with their bad reputation. Duryodhana which means ‘bad warrior’ was actually Suyodhana, the good warrior. Dusshasana meaning bad ruler, was named Susshasana which mean good ruler. Dusshala, meaning someone who is not elegant, was initially named Sushala.

7. Once the whole vastraharan incident was over, Draupadi apologized to the court and said that she had been dragged here and humiliated.

8. Jayadhrath was the only brother in law to the Kaurava brothers as he was married to their sister Dusshala. In fact, he was the one who slayed Arjuna’ son Abhimanyu in the Chakravyuh.

9. Surprisingly, Arjuna was not the only one to have heard the Bhagavad Gita when Krishna narrated it. Hanuman sat on top of the chariot which Arjuna rode and was there throughout the battle. Sanjaya, the one who narrated the entire Mahabharata to the blind Dhritharashtra was blessed with divine vision by Ved Vyas.

10. Dhritharashtra was a tyrant king in his previous birth. While walking on the side of a lake, he saw a swan with hundred cygnets, which are young swans. He ordered for the swan’s eyes to be taken out and kill all the hundred cygnets. And all this, just for his passing fancy. Therefore, as fate would have it, he was born blind and all his hundred sons were killed in battle.

11. Bhishma, known to be the greatest warrior ever born, was one of the Eight Vasus in his previous life. Vasus are attendants to Indra. So the eight Vasus were cursed for stealing Sage Vashishtha’s cow. Although, the other seven Vasus were drowned by Ganga as soon as they were born, Bhishma had to live a longer and more miserable life than the other seven as he was the leader of the Vasus when they were planning to steal the cow.

12. Satyavati, Vyasa’s mother, was the daughter of a cursed apsara called Adrika.

13. Vyasa just wrote the story of his own clan. But, all this while he managed to keep himself entangled in the intricacies of the kingdom and yet stay out of the politics.

14. When in Indralok, Apsara Urvashi proposed Arjuna. But he addressed her as ‘mother’. Enraged, Urvashi cursed Arjuna and said that he would become a eunuch. This eventually became a significant event in Mahabharata. During their final year in exile, this served as a boon for Arjuna as he lived as Brihanalla, a eunuch in the court of King Virat.

15. There was a reason why Krishna favoured the Pandavas in the battle. When Duryodhana and Arjuna approached Krishna asking for help and seek his support. Duryodhana reached Dwarka before Arjuna did. They were informed by Satyaki that Krishna was asleep. When they entered Krishna’s room and found him asleep, Duryodhana sat near his head and Arjuna went to the foot of the bed and stood there with his hands folded. When Krishna woke up, he saw Arjuna first. Duryodhana wanted to be listened to first as he came before Arjuna. But since Krishna saw Arjuna first, he said it would be fair if he supported both the sides. So on one hand was his famous Narayani Sena and on the other, armless and weapon less Krishna.

16. After Krishna left for Vaikuntha, Pandavas too lost renounced all worldly pleasures and began their journey toward heaven. All the Pandavas could not reach the gateway to heaven and fell down from the stairs one by one. Only Yudhishtira remained till the end. When he turned, he saw that a dog had followed him all the way to heaven. This dog was Yamraj.

June 24, 2014
Yummy Chocolate Recipes For This Summer!
As Charles M. Schulz once said, ‘all you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.’ Chocolates make you happy. Eating a chocolate makes your brainssecrete those ‘feel good’ endorphins. Dark chocolates contain chemicals that protect you from cancer and other diseases. The caffeine content in dark chocolate makes you feel alive. Did you know that eating chocolates widens up your arteries and fosters a healthy blood flow that prevents plague from building up in your arteries and blocking them.Chocolates are rich in phenolic, the same protein found in wine. The protein helps lower the risk of heart diseases and prevent clot like substances from clogging the arteries. Research provides that candy eaters live almost an year more than those who abstrain. Also, chocolate melts at 97 degrees Celsius which is just below your body temperature. It melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting for more all the time.

So true, isn’t it? We all crave for chocolates, don’t we? From chocolate cakes, to chocolate ice-creams to chocolate biscuits and what not! Its rich, it’s creamy and amazingly delicious.

So this time, I bring to you, some of the yummiest chocolate recipes for the summer:
- Black-Forest Vanilla Cake (and yes, with the cherry on the top of course!)
A delicious black-forest cake with vanilla ice-cream sand-witched between chocolate sponge is a must eat this summer. So how do you try and bake it?

Here’s the recipe:

All that you need: A 70mm diameter chocolate sponge cake, 2tbs sugar, 1 tbs rum, ½ glass of water, 2 cups of whipped cream, ½ cup dark chocolate chips, 3 canned cherries which should be cut into half, 2 ½ cups of vanilla ice-cream, 5 tbs chopped cherries, 7 tbs grated chocolate.

All set with the ingredients?

So here’s how you prepare it:
- Firstly, you need to cut the cake into 4 parts.
- The bottom layer of the serving plate should be sprinkled with ½ soaking syrup.
- Now, on this soaked layer of sponge, spread 1 ½ cup of ice-cream.
- Top this layer with 3tbs cherries and 4 tbs chocolate.
- Now, another layer of sponge should be placed on this.
- Sprinkle some more soaking syrup on this sponge layer.
- Arrange the remaining cup of ice-cream on this layer.
- Top it with remaining cherries and chocolate.
- Sprinkle the remaining soaking syrup.
- Top the cake with whipped cream
- And finally, garnish the cake with cheese and grated chocolate.
- Freeze till the cake becomes firm.
Your delicious Black-Forest Vanilla Cake is ready to be served!
- Chocó-Almond Cupcake: Its small, it’s petite, but it’s definitely a treat for your taste buds. This is definitely going to be an unforgettable experience one you get to taste this luxurious combination of almonds and Chocó. The frosting of Almond and chocolate make this cupcake taste very different from the others. A chocolate ice-cream cake. (And again, with the cherry on the top!)
Here’s a list of all that you need: 8 chocolate sponge, 7 tbs butter
12 tbsp icing sugar, 6 1/2 tbsp melted chocolate mixed with 1 tbs milk, 4 tbs powdered almonds , 1/2 tsp almond essence, 6 tbs soaked and chopped almonds and
6 cherries.

How to prepare it:
- Put all the butter in a bowl
- Beat it with the help of a spatula.
- Now, add some icing and sugar to it.
- Mix well the powdered chocolate and the almond and put it into the batter.
- Now, the frosting needs to be filled in a piping bag.
- Swirl out whichever shape you would love to see on your little cupcake.
- Garnish them with frosting and almonds and don’t forget to add the cherry on the top.
Your little surprise is ready to be served.
- Chocó-Brownie Milkshake: The perfect summer cooler for you this summer. A totally different kind of a milkshake made from the combination of vanilla ice cream, brownie and milk.
What all do you need: 200 gms of chocolate, 500 ml of milk, 2 tbs vanilla essence, some crush ice cubes, 2 scoops vanilla ice cream.

How to prepare it:
- Combine all the ingredients and churn them. Keep the ice out of the mixture for now.
- Transfer to bowl
- Add ice to it and mix well.
Your milkshake is ready to be served.
- Chocolate Fondue: The super yummy hot mixture of marshmallow, dipping fruit and cake pieces.
What all do you need: 100 gms of milk chocolate, broken into small pieces, 1/3 cup of milk, 1 tbs flour, 4 tbs cocoa powder, 4 to 5 tbs sugar, ½ tbs vanilla essence, 1 tbs butter, 2 tbs brandy, fresh fruit, cake pieces and marshmallows for dipping.

How to prepare it:
1. The butter had to put in a glass bowl and beaten
2. Microwave the batter for 1 ½ minutes
3. Stir twice after every 30 seconds
4. Add milk, Chocó chips, cocoa, cream, sugar, a teacup of water.
5. Stir the batter after 30 seconds.
6. Pour the mixture in a dish.
7. Stir well and add brandy.
And finally, your chocolate fondue is ready to be served.
June 24, 2014
Dances of God’s Own Country!

The National Geographic Magazine names Kerala among the top 10 paradises in the world. ‘God’s Own Country’ was originally a phrase New Zealanders used to describe their home land. The earliest use of the phrase was as the title of a poem about New Zealand by Thomas Bracken. God’s own country as a phrase was often used and popularized by New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister RichardSeddon. The etymological meaning of Kerala is the land of coconuts, Kera means coconut in Malayalam. Kerala is abundantly endowed with coconut trees all over its mainland. The thick ambush of coconut trees is a treat to the eyes. Situated at the southernmost part of India, it is an exotic location with a temperate climate. However the real beauty of the land are its people, Kerala boasts of having the first fully literate state in the country, Kottayam. Life expectancy rate in Kerala is the highest in India and the female to male sex ratio n Kerala is higher than the national average.

Kerala is a home to a number of dance and art forms, they are an integral part to the regions culture. They are performed in temples and ceremonious occasions. The dances of Kerala are wonderfully vibrant and breathtakingly enchanting. They carry hues of enthusiasm and gaiety and are a perfect blend of pristine culture and rich traditional beauty. Legends and mythological stories are depicted through the dance forms. Kerala is today known all over the world for its enchanting performing arts which were highly patronized by the rulers and sketched to eternity by the folklores.

Kerala has a rich variety of folk dances. Some of them are

Kathakali

Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It is group dance where in dancer take in roles based on themes from the Hindu mythology, primarily the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. A really interesting aspect of Kathakali is the elaborate dressing and makeup. Characters are sorted according to the nature of the role they play and wear colors accordingly. The face of noble male characters like kings and divine heroes such as Rama are painted green. Characters of high birth such as Ravana with an evil streak in them are painted a similar green on their faces with red streaks. Extremely evil or excessively angry characters wear predominantly red makeup and a flowing red beard. Forest dwellers and hunters are represented with a black faces. Women and ascetics wear a luminous yellow face. The technique of depiction involves a highly complicated gamut of gestures with which the actor can articulate lines and even words, the body movements and footwork are aesthetically intricate and precise. The actors to perform this feat have to go through several decades of trainingand require regular body massages for flexibility and muscle strength and control.

Mohiniattam

it is a dance form closely related to Bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu called dasiattam. Originated in the temples the dance was performed by Devadasis, it articulated feminine love in it myriad forms namely carnal, paternal and devotional. It somehow degenerated to eroticism in the epicurean way of life until Vallathol, a renowned Malayalam poet revived its status in modern times with his institute called Kalamandalam. Most of the features of Mohiniattam are similar to the one in kuchipudi and bharatnatyam, though there are subtle differences in the movements and hand gestures. The language used in the lyrics is a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit, known as manipravalams

Koothu

It is a socio-religious act performed in the Koothambalam. It is a solo narrative dance with sprinkles of wit and humor. Through the inimitable narration of the epics the Chakkiyar, the performer articulates the satirical conditions in those times. No one is above the butt of his mockery, he doesn’t spare kings or slaves. His humor ranges from innocent mockery to veiled innuendoes.

Theyyam

Thaiyam is one of the most spectacular dance forms of Northern Kerala which is about eight centuries old. It is believes to have been derived from the word Daivam meaning God. It is believed that immortal spirits enter into mortal bodies while performing the dance. Theyyam is staged regularly in the shrines of Malabar.

There are also a large number of folk dances that have survived the ages and continue to enthrall us with their rapture. Some of them are

Thiruvathira

Thiruvathira is performed by maidens who revolve around a cirle while performing dance steps along the music which is essentially the clapping and the narrative song sung by singers as they go around the cirle.

Kolkali

It is a group dance performed in a circle where the dancers dance to the rhythmic beats with sticks in their hands. The dance gains tempo and pace as it advances and is performed only by the males who have a certain basic martial art training.

June 24, 2014
Hinduism – A Way of Living!

Hinduism is one of the most ancient religions that exist today. The words “Hindu” and “Hinduism” have Sanskrit roots and were given by the invaders of the Indian subcontinent to the people they encountered when they reached the Indus Valley plains. The religion is gradually expanding in the west, and hence its texts are being translated into English and various other languages. But as we all know, meanings cannot easily be adapted from one language to another. To quote some facts, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world- only behind Christianity and Islam – with more than one billion followers. It is not based on a particular holy book or some set rules and teachings. The books that have been available in bookshops in the West are written by scholars who aren’t Hindus. They are scholarly and have tried to dissect the texts to understand them but sometimes without an insight. This has been a major problem in the West to understand Hinduism as they approach the texts in a very different way than a Hindu would. It is obvious that a Christian, Islamic or a Jewish approach would be different toward Hinduism than the approach of a Hindu toward his or her religion.

With time, a lot of false ideas have plagued the religion and people seem to bear a lot of misconceptions in their mind as far Hinduism is concerned. There are a thousand myths about Hinduism that people believe in and today, I am making an effort to clear a few of them.

Myth Number 1: Hindus worship idols.

No! That isn’t true. When you ask a Hindu about idol worshipping, he/she would absolutely condemn the usage of the term ‘idol worship’. The fact is that Hindus believe in a physical manifestation of the Almighty because it helps them focus on a particular kind of prayer or mediation. For example, a person who has an investment firm would worship Goddess Laxmi, the deity who is believed to bring wealth and prosperity.

Myth Number 2: Hindus are cow-worshippers.

Cow is looked at as a gentle, maternal being that provides one with milk and other dairy products. Though Hindus believe that every living being contains a soul, cow holds a special place. Hence, Hindus refrain from eating beef. Basically, cows are honoured and not worshipped.

Myth Number 3: All Hindus are vegetarians.

Hell NO! How can that be possibly true? More than 1 billion followers and none eat meat! That is such a false notion. In fact, 70% Hindus are meat eaters. The religion stems from the fundamental principle of AHIMSA that is the principle of non-violence. And since all the life forms are a part of the united One, they believe that eating animals could disturb the natural balance of the universe.

Myth Number 4: There are more than 630 million Hindu gods!

(And not the just 630 million, some great people take it to a thousand million gods). But none of this holds true. There is one supreme God. But the Hindus try to give it forms that they can relate to so that they can feel closer to the greater being. They are encouraged to give any form to a deity which in any way that suits them best. So basically, there is just ONE SUPREME GOD and rest all the forms that are worshipped are just manifestations of that one form.

Myth Number 5: Women fall at a lower rank in the social hierarchy than men according to Hinduism.

In reality, it is the only religion that that gives feminine forms to the Almighty. The Goddess of strength and valour, Shakti is revered which is form of God’s energy and vitality in a feminine form. Women in India may not take occupy the same stature as the men in the society but this is not because of the religion. It’s because people use religion to look down upon women and keep them at a subservient position.

Myth Number 6: The ‘red dot’ on the forehead of Indian women symbolizes marriage.

A ‘bindi’ or the ‘red dot’ as it is popularly known as in the West, was once a symbol of marriage. But today, it is usually worn for decorative purposes. It has become almost a fashion statement to carry a bindi with Indian ethnic wear.

Myth Number 7: Karma advocates Fatalism.

No it is not. It’s untrue when people say that karma would always make you see terrible consequences. The truth is that Hinduism believes in the ideology that ‘you reap what you sow’. Each one has control over his or her present actions which is why you have the all the control over the repercussions that you will face tomorrow. Good deeds will always result in good outcomes and so good karma will bring fruitful results too.

It is important to note that more than a religion; it is a way of life or ‘dharma’. Dharma means the law that controls all actions. It is about letting people find a purpose for their existence rather than defining that existence.

June 18, 2014
Things I love about Asom!

I am a Rajasthani who was born in Asom (Yes that is how it is pronounced). I could speak Asomiya so fluently that my relatives wouldn’t tell that I am a Rajasthani. Today, I can’t speak the language too well, but can certainly understand it. I miss being in Asom and the years that I spent in the state hold a special place in my heart. I feel lucky that I got an opportunity to experience the best of both worlds, their languages, their cultures, their people, their festivals and their colours. It’s been 15 years now that I have left Asom, but there is a string that still attaches me to the state, I still experience a sense of belonging when I visit Assam and the love and warmth that I feel when I visit my birthplace is incomparable .

So here are some things I totally love about the North-Eastern State:

The Mekhla Chadar

It’s a traditional dress worn by the women of the state. Initially, it would look like a sari to you, but actually its in two parts. Mekhla is basically an A-line skirt with pleats and the Chadar is like a dupatta draped on the upper half of the body. Mekhla is one thing you really have to try wearing.

The Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

The place where I saw a rhino for the first time and hid behind my Dad because I was too scared to look at the animal. It’s now that I realize that the place which dad made me visit then is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. 66% of the total rhino population is found here. The sanctuary also has the highest density of tigers in the world. During the migratory season, 250 various species of birds visit the sanctuary. Other animals that can be found here include elephants, swamp deer and birdlife. Visit Kaziranga during this vacation and try spotting a rhino. Trust me; you will come back with an experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

The Talatal Ghar

Talatal Ghar means the “royal palace”. This masterpiece of Assamese architecture was built in round the 18^th century. The palace won’t look typically plush or grand to you. Maybe it’s because of the multiple renovations it has undergone since the time it has been built. Nevertheless, it’s a seven story structure and you wouldn’t want to miss it while you are on a visit to Asom.

Sibsagar

‘Sib’ means Lord Shiva. Sagar is the Ocean. Literally, the name translates to ‘Ocean of Lord Shiva’. The town has been influenced by several cultures over the years. You can easily find the multicultural influences in the architecture of its palaces, temples, tanks etc. The Panihiding Bird Sanctuary is in Sibsagar. There is lot to see in Sibsagar and you would have to spend a long time here to experience the beauty of this town.

Bihu

The ever so beautiful festival of Asom. Bihu is major agriculture festival of the state. The joyous festival of Bihu is celebrated three times a year. Rongali Bihu is the festival of Merriment where the people welcome New Year. Kati Bihu is celebrated on the completion of sowing of seeds in the fields. And finally, Magh Bihu comes celebrating the end of harvesting period.Visit Asom during the time of Bihu celebrations. Be a part of the colourful revelry and you wouldn’t want to return home.

Majuli

Majuli is one of the largest river islands in the world. It is located in the midst of the Brahmaputra River that flows across Asom. Initially, the island was spread across and area of more than 1200 sq. km. Land erosion has resulted in the area now becoming just 420 sq.km. However, the island is a beautiful bio-reserve. Several migratory birds visit it each year and it is a fantastic place was birdwatchers. You will find people selling tribal masks and pots here. The native tribes that inhibit this land are skilled at mask making and pottery.

Manas National Park

Manas National Park is situated between the Himalayan foothills and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Project Tiger Reserve. The river Manas flows through the reserve and hence the name. Rare species of fauna, such as the Pygmy Hog and the Golden Langur are found here. Spotting a tiger is not a difficult task here as there is a high density of tigers in the sanctuary. Take a safari into the sanctuary and it will give you glimpse of such rare and amazing sights which will remain with you for a very long time.

Charaideo

Charaideo is a small town, located some 30km away from the city of Sibsagar. It is situated near the hills of Nagaland. The name literally means ‘a city atop a hill.’ The town is of great historic significance as it was once the capital of the Asom kingdom. There are many historic tales which echo in the ruins and remains of the town. You can also find some really ancient tombs of old kings and queens here. These tombs are sometimes referred to as the “pyramids of Assam”. This place is secluded but you will surely find an old world charm here when you visit it.

June 18, 2014