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Your breakfast is waiting, where are you?

Let us see what the morning is like for the following three people who decide to give the breakfast a miss.
Scene 1

A lousy you is woken up by your shouting mother. You bury your face into one of the pillows and tell her that you did not want to have breakfast and were not hungry. She shouts back that it wasn’t your choice to decide and had to have it. You go off to sleep anyway and your mother continues to shout.

Scene 2

The alarm clock strikes 8. You wake up startled and realize that you are late again. You curse yourself for forgetting such an important meeting! You take a shower hurriedly and get dressed, pick up the important files and documents, grab the wallet and the keys. You storm out of the door in an eye’s blink.

Scene 3

The sun has not even risen fully yet and you are up and going. You take a bath, offer the morning prayers. It’s time to wake up the children and the dear husband. You prepare the breakfast. You prepare the lunch and fill in their lunch boxes. At the same time, you are running around and tying your 5 year old son’s shoe laces. And who will braid the daughter’s hair but you! And oh, you got to make sure that your husband doesn’t forget the wallet and the watch again. Everyone leaves for their destinations. You are so tired by now that you simply sip in a cup of tea and watch a re-run of the last night’s television show you missed.

This is the daily routine of most of the people. Time is less and the work to be done is a lot. Or maybe it’s just ignorance. Whatever might the reason be, missing out on breakfast is not an option but a terribly bad idea. Scientists and researchers say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You can skip any other meal but this one. In today’s world that is so fast and furious, everyone is missing out on the importance of the morning’s meal, breakfast.
The top most important reasons for starting your day with breakfast are:

1) Re-fueling the body
Breakfast when broken into two gives its clear meaning, breaking the night long fast. You last ate at night and there happens to be a lot of time difference between the two meals if you skip breakfast and rather have lunch directly. Your body cannot endure that. You need to feed in that little boy something time to time! Like you have a timely routine to follow, the body has too. It needs to be refueled in order for it to work properly.

2) Controlled and maintained body weight
All the weight issues the mother of those two doting kids always complains about can be put to a rest. That is, if she decides to take care of herself like she takes care of her children and husband. It would take her an extra 5 minutes to sit along with them and have her breakfast. If she can do it for them, why can’t she do it for herself?
Having a timely and healthy breakfast reduces the chances of obesity and controls and maintains the body weight.

Keeps your body weight on check.

3) Lessened concentration issues
The guy who missed the breakfast because he woke up late and had an important meeting to attend will anyway be not able to concentrate in the meeting. Reason you ask? An empty growling stomach! All those lousy students in class who do not understand a thing about what the teacher is saying in the classes before lunch, can increase their concentration levels if they have a healthy breakfast. It enhances the brain power and makes you feel more energetic. Wish to attain higher grades? Start your day with a breakfast.

Concentration issues at school? Have some breakfast, you!

4) Reduced stress
The body does not get the required energy in the morning when you don’t have your breakfast. It then tends to take up whatever is available in the energy reserves and takes the fuel from them. This leaves you all irritated and stressed out due to the release of the stress hormones. You are not able to concentrate and work effectively. You do not produce a good result. On the other hand, if you do have a healthy breakfast, your energy reserves remain untouched and you remain stress free.

So much to do and so less time. Helps if you have your breakfast properly.

5) Reduced intake of unhealthy snacks
When you set out for office or school with an empty stomach, hunger creeps in hours before lunch. And as lunch is a time where you sit and eat a proper meal, it is not convenient for you to have a full meal before it, even if you maybe very hungry. Hence you decide to have some sort of snack here and some sort of snack there in order to quieten the growling stomach. The intake of such unhealthy snacks disrupts the functioning of the body. It also increases fat and sugar levels. The metabolism of the body gets adversely effected. A healthy breakfast in the morning kills the cravings for junk foods all together.

Say no to munching on unhealthy snacks! time for breakfast.

6) Reduced risk of chronic diseases
There are certain vitamins and minerals that only the breakfast can provide. Having a balanced and healthy breakfast reduces the risk of chronic diseases like heart attack by maintaining the cholesterol levels. A proper intake of breakfast maintains the blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes.

Keep your cholesterol in check by having a healthy breakfast.

All the points very well establish the fact that it is extremely necessary to have a balanced, nutritious and energy enhancing breakfast. If you had to opt for one meal out of the three, go for breakfast. It is the meal that lets you survive the day.

July 7, 2014
Best hotels you could visit in the world!!

There is hardly someone who does not like travelling and hasn’t ever dreamt of going on a world tour yet. But it’s not possible to visit and every city and if at all you happen to be in one of these cities below, here is a list of great hotels that are almost close to heaven. Luxury and ambiance of these hotels has captured hearts of international tourists ever since they were constructed!

1. Palms, Las Vegas

Planning a party in sin city? I tell you, it is impossible to get a place better than the Palms in Las Vegas. It is everything that a perfect party place should be! Rooftop suites, Jacuzzi, glass elevators that will show you the night-time Vegas, gym, full fledged bar and what not! You name it and you get it here. Its is a dream come true for every party loving guy out there.

2. Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

You sure have seen a floating sail-shaped hotel in a lot of Bollywood movies or even in photographs. We all know its USP, don’t we? It is the one and only Burj Al Arab. Breathtaking views, luxurious suites, tennis courts and a helipad (I know it’s grand!) are the remarkable amenities of this hotel. Burj Al Arab has made everyone enthusiastic to visit it ever since it was built. Royal treatment is something you can expect off the polite and helpful staff here.

3. The Westin Excelsior, Rome

Rome, as you think about it, incredible history is something that comes to your mind first. Situated in Via Veneto district, this hotel was built in 1906 and has been recently renovated to suit the modern lifestyle. It now consists of the largest suite in Italy called ‘the Villa Cupola Suite ’. Even though it was renovated, the hand-frescos and antique furnish still gives it the royal look. Domes, gyms, sauna, formal dining rooms are other enthralling facilities available here.

4. The Plaza, New York City

Would you like to visit the best hotel in New York which gives awesome views of Manhattan? We all know, only The Plaza can get you requirements fulfilled! Visiting this place gives you a feel of turn of centuries. Libraries, gyms, kitchen for personal chefs, private elevator, and a great Butler service and of course, best views of Manhattan are the specialties of The Plaza. This place was built a long ago i.e. in 1907 which is why the architecture reminds you of the old era

5. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

The submerged Atlantis city has always been a fascination for everyone. The stories claim that it was no less than paradise. This hotel is built as an accolade to Atlantis. Now you know why people flock around here so much. This 141 acre place is actually a resort. Their Royal Towers Bridge Suite is located on the 23^rd floor and offers posh rooms with pianos, a 22 karat gold chandelier and a formal dining room.

6. CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla

Originally designed and built for the owner himself, this resort later started made room for guests. Villas and the large well-furnished rooms here are located on beautiful fascinating beaches. The Golf course, Spa and fitness club are the major attractions which have succeeded in attracting even a lot of celebrities here.

7. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Have you watched Yeh Jawani hai Deewani? I am sure that you marveled at the place where Aditi’s (Kalki’s) marriage ceremony was shot! It was none other than Udiapur’s Oberoi Udaivilas. After watching the movie, you don’t really need a description of this Marwadi beauty. A boat ride takes you to this private 50-acre land located in Lake Pichola. Views of Udaipur palaces, wildlife in the nearby forests and grand special rooms with private swimming pools and terraces together form a great combination for the guests.

8. The Boulders, Arizona

Can you imagine something which is 12-million-years old? Well, the rock formations here are! This spa resort got its name from the rock formations and it is nurtured by Mother Nature herself. The Boulders is spread over an enormous 1300 acres of the Sonoran Desert and offers two golf courses as well. Extreme privacy and secrecy about the guest celebrities is the top priority for the extremely loyal staff.

9. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Golf being the chief attraction, such a lodge is ought to lie in the North Island countyside. This place offers 22 suites, two tennis courts, three swimming beaches, indoor/outdoor fireplaces and also one of New Zealand’s best spas .The Owner’s Cottage offers wonderful golf course views, two bedrooms and a large 4200 square feet for your leisure.

10. Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a serene place and so is this hotel. Along with lush green scenery, wildlife, white-water rafting and kayaking are the things that tourists look up to. The owner Leo Ghitis has thought of an irresistible combination of huge decks, hot tubs and plantation furniture for the guests. The wine bar here which is an all-time favorite serves best vintages to the guests whenever required.

So, aren’t these places really worth visiting? After looking at this list of features, anyone will go crazy thinking about visiting these hotels which are believed to be the best in the world!

July 7, 2014
Jainism Rituals and Principles
Jainism, popularly entitled as Jain Dharma is one of the ancient Indian religions in the world. It believes in Ahimsa and follows the path of non-violence towards all human beings. It underlines the fact that all forms of life are equal. It basically derived from the root ‘ jin’ which means to conquer. Their history has been traced through the succession of the Tirthankaras.

Jainism is partitioned into two major sectors Svetambara and Digambara. There are about 4.2 million people in this religion. This is a small number so they are counted under minority community. There are various immigrants in Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan and United States. Though they are minority sector, but they possess highest literacy rate in India i.e. 94.1 %. They have the oldest manuscript libraries in the country.

Jainism origin is not so clear, but during the 6th century BC twenty four great teacher known as tirthankaras revealed the existence of this religion. Mahavira is recognized as the founder of this religion. There is no evidence of the existence of these tirthankaras but Parsva, predecessor of Mahavira was found to exist somewhere in the 7th -9^th century.

There are several principles that people in this religion follow. The fundamental principle of Jainism is related to a man’s personality. They believe that man has dual personality i.e. Spiritual and material. They consider that every soul is bounded by Karma, a delicate particle of matter. Our soul is attached to our Karma just like gold in any alloy which can’t be separated.

Next principle is based on the imperfectness of the human soul. They believe that no soul is perfect and to attain perfectness, it must have four characteristics: infinite power, infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite faith. After attaining these soul is said to be in its eternal state. Third principle states that material nature can be controlled by the spiritual nature of a man. To attain freedom and happiness there must be an entire suppression of matter. Control of thoughts ad senses would lead to the perfection of the soul. The last and fourth principle states that man is solely responsible for his happiness and his problems would not be affected by any other human being. He has to experience the fruits and results of his own actions, whether it may be good or bad. They believe that God has no concern with any of the happenings in the world. This principle makes Jainism different from Christians, Islam or Hindus.

Jain community is categorized into two main sects: Svetambara and Digambara. These two sectors belong to the same community but they are quite different in their culture and rituals. Digambara people believe that desire for materialistic things led to sorrows so they avoid wearing clothes. This is mainly for males and females are generally seen wearing white material and they are known as Aryikas. While Svetambara monks wear white clothes and believes that scriptures does not condemn wearing of these clothes. Females in this community are referred to as Sadhvi. Digambaras considers Mahavira to be unmarried while Svetambara considers them to be married. Svetambara is further partitioned into terapanthi, Sthanakavasi and Murtipujaka while Digambaras is divided into Kanjipanthi, Terapanthi, taranapanthi and Bisapanthi.

The way of worshipping God is very different in Jainism. They start their worship with the Namokara Mantra. This is simple and fundamental prayer of this community which does not include reference to any of the Tirthankaras. They never believe in demanding any of the material things or personal favors from god. This prayer endowed a feeling of respect for other human beings in it and reminds them about their final goal i.e. moksha. The ultimate objective of their prayer to make their soul free from worldly desires and attachments towards material things. Jain has six duties to follow which is called as avahyakas. These are:
- Samyika means practicing serenity
- Vandan means respecting monks and teachers
- Pratikramana means introspection
- Kayotsarga means stillness
- Pratyakhana means renunciation
- Chaturvimshati means praising 24 tirthankaras
The most significant festival they celebrate is Paryushana. It lasts for 10 days for Digambara and 8 days for Svetambara. Svetambara called it as Paryushana while Digambara called it as Das Lakshana. Paryushana literally means ‘coming together’. At the end of this festival they usually spend a day saying sorry for any wrong deeds to the other people and make a commitment that this will not be repeated in the near future. They say sorry in the form of Khamat Khamna or Michammi Dukadam. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Chaitra in each and every corner of the country. They do fasts on various occasions and sometimes they avoid eating anything for the whole day to reduce the effect of their negative karma. They also believe in meditation, which provides a feeling calmness for some time. This is known as Samayika. It is mainly done during the eight days of Paryushana. It helps in managing one’s passion and emphasize mainly on the control of our senses and thoughts. During this festival they avoid eating green vegetables and any sort of food item after sunset.
July 7, 2014
Delicious Rajasthani Dishes

Rajasthani culture itself includes warlike lifestyles of its people. Along with the royal heritage Rajasthan possesses royal cuisine too. For mouth-watering aroma the food is especially cooked in pure ghee. Rajasthani dish is delicious to taste..!! Rajasthani thaali is a combination of two to three sweet dishes, several rajasthani curries, bajra and missi roti. So here come several famous Rajasthani dishes which need to be tasted if you haven’t tasted it once.

Kalakand, a sweet dish preferred by all the people of the region. It is also famous by the name called Mishri-Mawa. It is prepared with the help of cottage cheese and sweetened milk. It was firstly originated and prepared in Alwar so people usually called it as Alwar’s Kalakand. In several places it is known by the name Milk Cake. Because of its delicious and excellent taste it is renowned all over the state and even a place is named after this particular dish in Alwar.

Dal Bati Churma is a well-known Rajasthani dish which includes three individual servings i.e. Dal, Bati and Churma. Its preparation is quite easy, but take more time as compared to other Rajasthani dishes. It is considered as the most eminent and common dish for all kinds of occasion, whether it be any religious occasions, wedding parties or any small get together. Dal is basically made of tuvaar. It is prepared with the same common recipe as it has. Baati is prepared using wheat flour which is mixed with dahi, salt and water. Now the prepared ball sized round balls and put it into a well-heated oven. After it becomes brown it is served with ghee. Dal-baati is generally served with pudina chaatni, kari, green salad and buttermilk or chaach. Dal baati is incomplete without Churma. It is made of ground wheat, which is crushed and mixed with ghee to make it rich in calories. It is like a tradition to be followed in Rajasthan.

Jodhpuri Mawa Kachori, a special sweet originated in Jodhpur. As we know Jodhpur is known for having Rajasthani delicacies. Various different dishes were originated in Jodhpur like Pyaaz Kachori, Mirchibada, Makhaniya Lassi etc. Mawa Kachori is a sweet dish prepared from mawa which is stuffed in Kachori. It was firstly prepared by famous Rawat Mishthan Bhandar in Jodhpur. Since, from that time it is serving the best mawa kachori in the whole state.

Rajasthan is not only famous for sweet dishes instead its spicy dishes is as yummy and delicious as its sweet dishes. When we talk about spicy the first name comes to our mind is Kachori. Pyaaz ki Kachori is one of the variants of Rajasthani Kachori which was originated in Jodhpur. It is made of fried pastry which was stuffed with spicy onion. People across the country and especially travelers after entering into Rajasthan firstly wants to have this excellent taste in their mouth. This dish has become popular all over the country and is served in every Rajasthani outlet and restaurants. People here in Rajssthan prefer to have this spicy dish in their breakfast and snacks.

Ghewar is another renowned Rajasthani sweet dish. The demands for this sweet dish remain high during all the seasons, but especially it becomes a part of the meal during Teej. It gives an indication of the beginning of the festive season. It is made of wheat flour given a shape of rounded cake. After this preparation, it is poured into sugar syrup and then served. It has several variants that distinguish its taste. Rabdi Ghewar is generally famous and prepared on the occasion f wedding ceremonies which include a topping of rabdi along with the crunch of nuts over it. On the occasion of Gangaur, Makar Sakranti people used to celebrate their happiness with this Ghewar.

Mirchi Vada, another famous snack in Rajasthan. As we know everyone has a different taste varying it from sweet to spicy, so here comes a blend of both. Mirchi vada is combination of spicy and sweet flavours both. It is a spicy fried dish made from Mirchi stuffed with potato in it. It is served with tomato sauce, tamarind chatni, curd and with mint too. But during its preparation, make sure to remove the seeds of Mirchi so that it does not become spicier.

The meal is incomplete without rotis and in India there are different variants of rotis, paranthas etc. So when Rajasthani thali comes into concern it is incomplete without Missi Roti. Missi Roti is a specialty of Rajasthani cuisine. In ancient period it was prepared on a traditional chulha with the coals, but now a day’s people started using ovens for its preparation. Its preparation is quite simple. Initially you need to mesh wheat flour and besan along with dhaniya, red chilly, oil, salt and jeera. A stiff dough is prepared. After this thick rotis are made and brushed with melted ghee. Then it is ready to be served with Shahi Gatte, green chilly and pickle.

July 7, 2014
Do’s and don’ts for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a sort of chronic metabolic disorder which leads to a failure in converting body sugars, starches and other foods into energy.Generally during the process of digestion the food we take is converted into glucose which is carried through the body by the bloodstream.This glucose is converted into energy by the hormone insulin.But in diabetic people the body does not make enough insulin or it wont make better use of it.Generally there are two types of diabetes.

Type 1:

This type of diabetes is generally known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes.In this stage the body produces very little insulin or no insulin.This can be occurred mostly in children or in the teens.People who is having this type of diabetes need to take daily insulin injections.People who are having this type of diabetes must take balanced diet and and regular insulin injections daily to stay alive.

Type 2:

This type of diabetes mostly occurs for the people between the age of 35 to 40 years.Out of these two type of diabetes type 2 occurs the most for about 80 percent of the diabetics.In this type as though the pancreas produce sufficient insulin but the body cells show less sensitivity towards it.This is occurred mainly due to obesity and the best way to control is to have controlled diet and regular exercise.Some times insulin injections are also needed for this type of diabetes.

Food that must be avoided:

1) Salt:

Salt is the most regular culprit for the occurring of diabetes.As we intake vegetables they contain sufficient salt,so we can reduce the intake of inorganic salt.

Salt

2) Sugar:

Sugar is containing large amounts of calories and carbohydrates.In order to digest this sucrose we need more calcium.So it is better to replace sugar with its substitute like honey, jaggery etc.,

Sugar

3) Fat:

It is better not to take large amount of fats as it is not good for health.In our food we must try to avoid fried items completely.But we must see that the intake of fats must be sufficient for the soluble of vitamins especially like vitamin E.

fat-content

4) From non vegetarians:

It is not advisable to take dark red colored meat completely as the intake of it also leads to diabetes.Going to vegetarian diet is helpful for the people who cant leave the consumption of eggs poultry.But eating fish is good for health and also some of the fats and oils present in it are good for body metabolism.

Avoid non vegetarian

5) Whole milk and products:

Taking in pure milk is not so good for health but we can take low fat milk and milk derived products like yogurt or curd.Milk based products like cheese contains lot of fat and it can be replaced with low fat cottage cheese.

Milk products

6) Tea and coffee:

It is better to avoid decaffeinated tea every day and we can switch to herbal teas instead of it.Drinking two cups is not restricted but more than that is not so good for diabetic patients.

Coffee-Tea

7) White flour and its products:

Replace the flour products with whole grains,wholewheat or soya breads and unpolished rice.As it is very healthy and reduce the fat level in the body.

Soya breads

8) Foods with a high glycemic index:

The food items that contain high glycemic index are white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana as they increase the blood sugar levels.

Special foods for diabetes:

1) Bitter gourd ( Kaakarakaya ):

This is a vegetable that contains high level of insulin dosage and it helps in lowering the blood sugar levels.It has very bitter taste and if we have the juice of three to four bitter gourd every day early in the morning on an empty stomach it can naturally work as a medicine and reduces the blood sugar.It can also be taken in the form of powder by mixing it with water.

Bitter gourd

2) Fenugreek ( Menthulu ):

Many of the people who is having diabetes choose this to control their sugar level.This can be taken in the form of powder by grinding the seeds and mixing it in water.It can also be taken in the form of seeds by soaking it in water and leaving it aside for one night.Few people also take it in the form of chapatis by mixing the fenugreek seeds powder to it.

Fenugreek

3) Indian blackberry ( Nerudupandu ):

This is a type of fruit and is used for controlling the diabetes.After eating the fruit the seed present in it is made into powder and is taken in.It contains glucoside which prevents the conversion of starch into sugars.

Indian blackberry

4) Garlic( Vellulli ):

This is also a very useful in controlling diabetes.This garlic is having potassium and it replaces the potassium that is getting lost during urine.Along with this it also contains zinc and sulphur which are the major components of insulin.Taking daily is better for good health.

Garlic

5) Onion:

Onion is one of the best medicine against diabetes because of its digestive properties.Taking raw onion is more advisable.

Onions

6) Flax seed ( Avise ginjalu ):

Flax seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.These help in controlling the diabetes as they are maintaining the sensitive cell of the membrane that helps in providing insulin and also provide glucose from the cells.

July 7, 2014
Bathukamma – A festival of flowers in Telangana

Bathukamma is a festival of flowers that is celebrated by Hindu women in Telangana region.This festival is celebrated every year during the month of September and October.According to lunar calender this festival is celebrated during the Bhadrapada Amavasya ( also known as Mahalaya Amavasya ).This is a festival that is celebrated for complete nine days during Navarathri.On the festive day of Durgashtami the main festival Pedda Bathukamma or Saddula Bathukamma is celebrated just before two days of Dussehra.Bathukamma the festival of flowers is followed by Boddemma Bathukamma which is a seven day festival.Actually the festival Boddemma indicated the ending of varsha ruthu and the festival Bathukamma indicated the starting of sharath ruthu.

Bathukamma – a festival of flowers

The culture of Telengana can be seen clearly in this festival.In this festival the flowers are arranged in a stack manner which are very rare and unique seasonal flowers.These flowers which are rich in medicinal value are arranged in the form of layers like a clay pot.The word Bathukamma itself says that it means the mother goddess to come alive and in this festival goddess Maha gouri who is a life giver is worshiped in the form of Bathukamma.Women wear traditional dress on this special occasion,mostly women like to wear saree and few teenage girls wear half sarees with the matching jewelry and accessories.It intensifies the importance of womanhood.

Traditional sarees and half sarees on this special occasion

This is the second largest festival after Vijaya Dashami in the Telangana region.Goddess Gauri who give life giver is worshiped in the form of Bathukamma.In that festival women try to seek blessings of goddess gauri to give them prosperity and do good for their family for the whole year.Very bright and colorful flowers are arranged step by step in the form of a cone and at the top of it turmeric are placed which signify both life and eternity in their colors.The goddess is created every year and is worshiped for the whole 9 days completely with divine and pure heart, later on the tenth day the goddess is immersed duly in local water bodies.This is the largest festival in Telangana and was started long ago about centuries back and is still celebrated as grand cultural event in this region with great enjoyment.

Bathukama-colorful-flowers-arranged-in-the-form-of-cone

This festival involves mainly flowers the goddess Gauri devi is arranged in as a beautiful flower stack in seven different layers as a conical mound.As the flowers arrangement resembles goddess they are generally unique and having medicinal value.Men from the houses go around and search for the flowers like Gunuka, Tangedi, Lotus, Alli, Katla, Teku flowers and gather them which bloom during this festive season in most vibrant colors in the uncultivated and barren lands of the Telangana region.By using these gathered flowers women prepare their goddess Bathukamma by using a wooden plank or wide plate and arrange these flowers which are fragrant in the form of layers.After the plank is taken the flowers are taken and they also use pumpkin to decorate the flower top and also keep tumeric on the top of this flower mound.

On the occasion of Bathukamma the arrangement of flowers and decorating Bathukamma

After the completion of 9 days on the tenth day the visarjanam or immersion of Bathukamma is done in the nearest water bodies.This festival is celebrated with complete devotion and interest throughout the Telangana region.The Women of Telangana region participate in this festival with most enthusiasm and great fervour by dressing up in the complete traditional dresses like wearing traditional silk sarees and wearing matching jewellery for it, whereas the young girls wear langa voni or half saree with complete accessories.The women of Telangana gather in large numbers and place Bathukamma in the middle and dance around them by singing songs related that are of stirring Bathukamma folk songs.Along with the songs women move round the bathukamma by clapping their hands which give a wonderful look for the festival.

Maleeda

Bathukamma festival which is also known as Bodemma looks amazing when the lakes are filled with flowers.On this day, Maleeda is made which is offered to the god as a prasadam made of jaggery and at the end of the day,it is distributed to the people.The festival ground is filled with women as male companions aren’t allowed here and young girls participate in large numbers.

There are many myths regarding this festival.One of the myths according to legends is that Bathukamma or Parvati is a lover of flowers.Flowers are arranged om a square wooden plank with that size of frames forming on top of it which resembles the shape of a temple known as Gopura.On the top of the flowers,a lump of turmeric is kept and this little floral mountain is worshipped as Goddess Bathukamma.

Bathukamma festival

This festival is celebrated with utmost joy and gaiety.There are many dance performances,traditional music,dramas for many tourists who visit to watch this splendid festival.This festival is attracting thousands of tourists and many are coming here just to watch this festival.During this month long celebrations, Jataras ( fairs or melas ) are also held.If you are a traditional lover,then this festival sure will attract yor attention towards it and it fills your mind and heart with joy.

July 6, 2014
Punjabi food : Heartily delicious

Punjabis are food loving people and their cuisine represent the same liveliness. Punjabi food, like the Punjabi culture is famous for its unique taste and colourful presentation. It is healthy and finger-licking at the same time and is one of the most popular cuisines in Northern India. One of the key features of Punjabi cuisine is the wide variety of dishes available. Even in the Punjab region a disparity in taste is observed, inhabitants of Amritsar prefer stuffed paranthas with curd whereas people in the Malwa region adore bajra khichdi.

The dishes are prepared in a spicy gravy and the bread are baked with extra ghee. The secret of taste in Punjabi dishes is the exotic use of spices with a considerably high amount of ghee and oil. Punjabi etiquettes for serving as well as eating the food are also very elegant. Let us take a look at some of the popular Punjabi servings:

Sarson da Saag and Makki di Roti:

It is a dish typical of Punjab. The luscious green sarso saag and baked makki di roti is not only a tasty combination, but also very heathy. It is very nutritious as mustard is high in proteins and iron. Some spinach is also added with mustard leaves to add more nutritional value, vibrant green colour and thickness to the saag.

Makki di Roti is the bread made out of corn flour. It is generally eaten in winters and bears a yellowish colour. The bread is made circular and then baked in a traditional way, on a tawa. The roti is then eaten with butter and the saag.

Butter Chicken:

Butter chicken, also known as Murgh Makhni is a very popular non-vegetarian ecstasy from Punjab. The chicken pieces are cooked in a tomato gravy with spices like garam masala, ginger, garlic paste and chili are extensively used. It is cooked in a tandoor generally, but can also be roasted or grilled. It is an irresistibly luscious dish that is liked by most of us. It is mostly served with Butter naan.

Lassi and curd:

Punjabis are passionate about curd, lassi and buttermilk. Lassi is basically sweet beaten curd and is the favourite drink of Punjab. It is thick, creamy and filling which can easily quench your thirst in summers. It is freshly prepared and does not contain any added flavours. Curd is an essential part of Punjabi meal and is eaten with Butter paranthas. Buttermilk or chhachh is prepared by whipping curd and removing the butter which comes on top. It is a year-long drink and is usually served with meals.

Bukhara Dal Makhani:

Dal Makhani is an awesome Punjabi dish that is prepared from a combination of Indian black lentils and beans. It is cooked with spices and whipped cream to give the gravy a thick texture. It is a close cousin of the popular dish dal makhani. It is slow cooked in a tandoor and is usually served with naan.

Punjabi Kadi Pakodi:

Kadi Pakodi is a very popular dish that is made regularly in Punjabi households. In this dish, pakoras are cooked in a spicy and sour soup made from gram flour (besan). It is eaten with rice or chapatti. The taste is dependent on the sourness of the curd used. The pakoras are optional, but adding pakoras adds a different texture to the kadi. It is a very delicious and easy to cook dish which is a staple food in Punjabi homes.

Paranthas:

Paranthas are a routine diet in Punjab. These may be made simple or with different fillings like that of cheese, potatoes, cauliflower etc. Paranthas are basically stuffed flat bread made from wheat flour which are then cooked in ghee or oil. These are high in calories and are generally eaten for breakfast or brunch. Aaloo da Parantha which is stuffed with potato filling is the most popular of them all.

Tandoori Chicken:

Tandoori chicken is a popular Punjabi non-vegetarian dish. Pieces of chicken are roasted or grilled and then cooked with a mixture of yoghurt and spices at high temperature. It is generally cooked in a traditional clay oven (tandoor), and hence its name. It needs to be marinated for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Sweet Dishes:

Just as no meal is complete without sweets, so is the case with Punjabi meal. Some of the sweet dishes typical of Punjab region are Gazar ka Halwa, Makhane ki Kheer, Channa Rabdi, Doodhi ka Halwa, Lauki ki Kheer etc. Pinni is a traditional Punjabi sweet that is prepared during winters in Punjabi households. It helps keep the body warm and keep the seasonal diseases at bay.

Besides these dishes, there are several other lip-smacking vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Rich in taste and good in the presentation are the key feature of any Punjabi food. The Punjabis pay heed to every detail of the food like taste, aroma, texture and flavour. So, whenever you get a chance of having the wholesome Punjabi meals, just grab it. But do not forget to keep a count of your calories!

July 6, 2014
IN YOUR SKIN:home remedies to rejuvenate your skin

The non ending heat,blistering sun that scalds your skin,the ever present pollution and the intense humidity in the air.Such vicious conditions leave us shriveled.Besides the fact that the typical Indian choice of fair skin worries people and specially women,here is a fact,more than being fair,it is better to chase a healthy glowing skin.Skin health is persistently neglected,yes neglected,because usage of cosmetics and chemicals in the name of skin care does not in any way suffice for skin maintenance.You will be surprised to know that your kitchen has so many remedies and tricks to fix the most common and stubborn of all 7skin problems.Be it tanning,acne or under eye dark circles.These home remedies can do wonders to your skin like no other cosmetic can.

In such humid conditions,the pores of your skin get clogged with dirt.These dirt plugs resurface upon your face as chronic acne,pimples.Not only these are painful but they totally ruin your skin health.Your kitchen itself harbors answers to this problem.
In this season,Jamun is available.besides being a season fruit they can do wonders do cleanse your skin.All you have to do is mix some jamun pulp with a some cow milk and apply it generously on your face.Though it is a complete no no to consume milk right after having jamun,yet the chemistry behind their reaction is truly beneficial for your skin.After letting this mix stay for like 10 minutes or so ,wash it off and pat dry,and viola!clean glowing skin that is soft and supple.Just like any cosmetic guarantees you with.

Want to do away with that oily skin ?The sweat and dirt all trapped up in your natural skin secretion creates problems.It dulls your actual skin texture and coloring.Like I said its best to chase a healthy glowing skin,rather than obsessing over the color ,here is kitchen wonder to fix it right up.Mix besan with curd ,whip it well and apply the pack over your face and neck.wash it after it dries and pat dry your skin.This paste can also be used to cut tan from hands and legs.All you have to do is put the paste and rub it off in a manner in which you use scrubs.Tiny specks of dirt will easily roll off from your skin.

Need soft supple skin?well here are two things that can help you out!Papaya peel,in fact a piece of papaya itself if rubbed gently over skin in circular strokes and washed off after a good scrub of a couple of minutes shall fix your skin right up.cosmetic companies and parlours do not boast of papaya facials and products based on it just like that.Excellent for the gut and great for the skin,now we are talking of wholesome goodness !
Watermelons can too work well for rehydrating your skin.Just rub the watermelon peel in circular strokes to stimulate better circulation of blood.With 92% water content,this wonder vegetable misunderstood to be a fruit can coll your skin making it soft and hydrated.Best way to tackle the sun’s wrath that your skin bares all day long.

Need an efficient coolant for your skin?Here is the rehydrating and anti tan major and an invincible part of the salad,presenting before you our very own cucumber!yes,take some cucumber juice and apply generously.Wash it as soon as it dries in about 15 minutes approximately and watch that tan go PUFFF!.

Need a dark circles buster?Well chop two slices of our good old potato and place it over your eyes.Two teabags cooled in the freezer can also do this trick pretty well.Just put them and relax.Slices of cucumbers have always been used for their cooling effect on your eyes and to cure those nasty dark circles.

To really get rid of that tanning ,you can use tomato juice or lemon juice,each with a drop of olive oil and apply it over the affected area.With applying either of these home remedies for like twice a week or so,you can bust that tan right off!

Now for the chronic acne,that are an absolute spoiler,all you have to do is soak some red lentil (laal masoor) in milk and apply the paste on your face.As it dries in approximately in ten to fifteen minutes ,wash it off and pat dry .A regularized use of this paste for a week or ten days would miraculously make all your acne vanish.

Those blemishes scar your skin and require immediate attention.Coriander comes to your rescue.This favorite Indian garnish and ingredient for chutneys can shoo away those nasty blemishes.Grind it to paste and apply daily for ten days or so and watch those blemishes fade away.

A good way to scrub are almonds.Just grind them to a coarse powdery mass and add it to the besan ubtan mentioned in point or use them with milk and cream to moisturize your skin as well.

Honey serves as one of the best skin care ingredients.It makes your skin extremely soft and supple,giving it the slight bounce and rejuvenating it completely.

Each of these basic home remedies are inexpensive and cent percent efficient.Our grandmothers have not achieved such everlasting skin health by putting cosmetics,but via such home remedies and kitchen ingredients.My Naani owes the secret to her plush pink lips to malai and ghee…the soft glowing touch to her wrinkled face is a product of such remedies.I recommend that you try these,and feel the difference for yourself.LOVE YOURSELF AS YOU ARE!

July 5, 2014
Celebrating Jharkhand’s Art and Culture

Jharkhand is one of those states in India which are thought to be backwards and under-developed because of one reason or another. In case of Jharkhand, the reason is the inhibition of modern life to keep the traditional values intact.

Jharkhand is a land where from the legendary Asurs and Santhals, to the Banjara, Bihor, Chero, Gond, Ho, Khond, Lohra, Mai Pahariya, Munda, Oraon, Kol or Kawar-over thirty-two tribal groups have left their impression of tradition and culture. The culture of Jharkhand is established on the grounds of these ancient tribal civilizations.

Of these ancient civilizations, all that remains is music, art and culture that is preserved and reinstated by the efforts of these tribes. Celebrations of tribal festivals beautify the actual art forms like music and dance. The dance movements of these tribes are very much like a warrior’s movements on drum beats. Whether one can understand the language and lyrics or not but the cultural heritage preserved so cautiously never goes unnoticed. Some of the very famous folk dances of Jharkhand are:-

Santhal- This is a group dance performed by the Santhal tribe during all special festivals and occasions. It is accompanied by musicians playing flutes and drums. If you want to see this dance of unity, spring is the perfect season. Santhal tribes celebrate the arrival of spring with this traditional dance form.

Paika-

Paika is the traditional dance form of Jharkhand performed to entertain the guests. The musicians playing flute, shehnai and dhols lead the dancers. There is an amazing fascination in this dance form as the dancers with colourful costumes perform this dance and add the flavor to every festivity.

Chau- This is different from other dance forms of Jharkhand because in case of Chau, dancers wear a mask while performing. This mask adds to the attraction of this form. Contrary to most of the other dance forms, there is no need for expressions. The body movements and hand gestures make up for the expressions. Ancient tribal stories are told by this art form.

People of Jharkhand have an artistic approach in whatever they do. Art is like the founding stone of every culture. From wall paintings to wooden crafts there is a treasure of art in Jharkhand’s villages.

The slender and strong bamboo that is grown in Jharkhand is used for amazing crafts like basket making and fishing equipments. The Jharkhand crafts of wood are mainly of day-to-day use. The different articles that the people of Jharkhand make include window, boxes and the panels of doors. On special occasions, they also make wooden toys. There is a special technique of making bowls and plates from grass leaves which are used for big festivals.

Apart from bamboo-work, Seenk-work, Kasida, Pottery, Stone craft, textiles etc these people also excel in body paintings , tattoos, stone cutting, bull painting ( during Bandna) folk painting fresco, sculpting horse, elephant etc; for the uses of rituality. Scroll painting or Paitkar is famous but recently became obsolete. Two great art forms from Jharkhand that have found recognition in the world outside tribe are Sohrai and Khovar. Traditionally these are art forms in which walls are painted during special occasions.

Khovar-

These are the special types of paintings representing bonding. These are painted on the houses during marriage season. Firstly, the house is covered with a coat of black colour. When this coat dries, another coat of different colour (preferably white) is painted. Later with the help of combs the outer cover is skillfully scratched to make pattern on the wall. These make very interesting and beautiful pattern on the walls. In order to preserve this art and make it accessible, tribal people have started making it on hand made papers.

Sohrai-

Technically, Sohrai is a festival celebrated by the Kurmi and the Prajapati tribes during the same time as Diwali. In this festival, the cattle and their god- Pashupati- are worshipped to ensure the fertility of the land and harvest. The tribal people decorate their houses during this festival and that is why the wall paintings are also called Sohrai. These are colourful paintings done totally by using natural pigments mixed in mud. Artists use chewed sticks which people in villages use to brush their teeth with. Just like Khovar, Sohrai artists have also started making this art on papers to keep the tradition alive.

The work of Jharkhand’s tribes deserves a large-scale recognition. But unfortunately, they have not got the fame that they should have. This is owing to the fact that most of these art forms in the state are the domain of the people who belong to a variety under-privileged tribal sector. These people are not well equipped with the ways of marketing and advertising. Hence, they have yet not been able to acquire the promotional skills.

July 4, 2014
On Food and Health Myths

This happened last day when I was wandering around the town all by myself and fortunately- or unfortunately- I stumbled across this naughty little kid and his mother who was trying to make him drink milk shake. Mother pointed out how the protein in milk will help to build muscles like his favourite superstar. Well, wait, I was not deliberately over-hearing. It was just a cute conversation but that conversation reminded me how we are fed on lies about food and nutrition from a very young age and those lies live with us till the end.
Here, I am trying to bust some of the food and health related myths so that they don’t live forever.
1. All fats are bad.
This one takes the prize when we talk about food myths. No, all fats are not bad. It is saturated fats and Trans fats that increases the production of ‘bad cholesterol,’ leading to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. But unsaturated fats are heart-healthy fats. Mono-saturated fats increase the amount of ‘good cholesterol’ and thus reduce the atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The best source of ‘good fats’ are olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, and most nuts.

2. Fasting periodically helps to clean toxins from the body
Well, the truth is human body has an elegant elaborate mechanism of digestion and waste removal. Though intake of fiber is always considered to be helpful for this mechanism but there is no such proof that not eating anything or consuming only fluids for an extended period can also help or make the mechanism do its work any better. Therefore, fasting periodically may be good for the diet conscious but toxin removal is in no way related to it.

3. Red wine is the only heart-friendly alcohol

This is a French high-class myth for the aristocracy who can easily afford the high-class drink and make their health better. But the important thing to note is that any kind of beverage that contains alcohol, when consumed in moderation (and that means one to two drinks a day), helps reduce heart disease risk. Alcohol, in general-not specifically red wine, raises levels of protective- good cholesterol-which helps to protect against plaque buildup in the arteries and reduce clotting factors that contribute to heart attack and stroke.

4. Skipping Breakfast helps lose weight
Do you really believe this one? Technically, yes, skipping a meal and thus eating less might very well help in maintaining weight but not in the case of breakfast. Studies show that people who skip breakfast tend to eat more in form of snacks the whole day and take more calories in as compared to those who eat breakfast regularly. On another note, after hours of not eating anything at night how can one even skip breakfast?

5. Microwaving kills the nutrition of the food

This one is as true as cats are devils in disguise. Well, I am not sure about cats but Microwaving is one of the best ways to retain nutrients in the food if you do it the right way. There are dangers microwaving the food if you use the kind of plastic that is not meant for microwave.

6. Spicy food gives you an ulcer
Decades and decades after the true discovery has been made, people still think spicy food is the reason for ulcer. The only reason spicy food is associated with ulcer is because after eating spicy food ulcer patients feel more agonizing pain though simple food is no help either.

7. If you have diabetes, stay away from sugar and you’ll be fine.
Diabetes is about blood sugar management and the sugar in blood is mostly because of the carbohydrates we take in. So, it is not simply a check on literal ‘sugar’ but also the sugar that goes with fruits and other items. Staying away from only sugar doesn’t help. Also, excess of sugar doesn’t cause Diabetes in the first place. Sugar is taken less only after aa person has diabetes.

8. Drinking tea causes dehydration.
Nu-uh, it doesn’t. Though people usually believe that because tea has caffeine, it has everything that can dehydrate a person but in reality, tea- even strong tea is too mild for us. It is actually 99% water and thus counts towards the water intake of the body. Rather it helps to hydrate the body.

9. Drink 8 glass water a day

Well, there is no such magic number that goes with water. The intake of water for a human body depends on various factors physical size, activity, heat and humidity. A body needs to stay hydrated to get going but one can use other things as well as water like juices, tea, fruits. So, it is more of an encouraging number maybe but how many glasses of water is needed by a body depends more on the person’s need.

With the end of all this myth busting scene, all I would say is to check – double check the facts you know about anything so that you don’t end up fooling others as well as yourself.

July 4, 2014