Most Beautiful Front Doors Around the World….!!!

July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Generally doors are sadly boring, but they don’t need to be; they might as well work as thoughtful designs of gateways between worlds or between diverse elements of our existences.

The front door is normally the sole component of a building’s outer part that everyone will interact most regularly with, so if you wish a building to look awesome, there’s likely no nicer way to do it than by designing a gorgeous door.

Source: Rig

6. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Source: Natalie AE

7. Fes, Morocco

Source: David K. Edwards

8. Valparaiso, Chile

Source: Byron Ellis

9. Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain

Source: silverlarynx

10. Shanghai, China

Source: Sean Maynard

11. Sardinia, Italy

Source: Pia – Artemisia1975

12. Garden Door by Kazuyuki Ishihara in Japan

Source: Anya Langmead

13. Burano, Italy

Source: John C. Hutchins

14. German Alps

ource: Dominic Walter

15. Chefchaouen, Morocco

Source: Olga Osipova

16. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Source: Ahrabella Heabe Lewis

17. Germagno, Piedmont, Italy

Source: Wozz

18. Jaipur, India

Source: payal.jhaveri

19. Valloria, Italy

Source: socket974

20. Soho, New York, New York, USA

Source: Gary Burke

21. Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal

Source: Amaury Henderick

22. Miami, Florida, USA

Source: jaydkim

23. Bali, Indonesia

Source: Corinna A. Carlson

24. Montmartre, Paris, France

Source: John Kroll

25. Copenhagen, Denmark

Source: Ingeborg van Leeuwen

Source…www.top13.net

Natarajan

World’s Best Home Garden ….?

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Is this Britain’s most immaculate garden? Pensioner spends 30 HOURS A WEEK tending his lawn which is cut to exactly 5mm

‘It’s my pride and joy’ reveals self-confessed ‘gardening geek’ Stuart Grindle
Lush lawn is cut twice-a-day three times a week says the green-fingered gardener
The award-winning 70-year-old has spent 30 years crafting the former veggie patch into a floral paradise
Gardening widow Anne says she is allowed to step on the hallowed turf but son was told ‘no ball games allowed’
Mr Grindle claims his garden is a full time job getting him up at the crack of dawn

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Do you want a lawn like this? Well, it’s easy – in theory. You just need to spend 30 hours a week gardening and do it for 30 years!

That’s how long 70-year-old Stuart Grindle has spent turning a former vegetable plot into the picture of perfection it is today.

Mr Grindle mows his lawn six times a week and keeps the grass cut to an impressive 5mm. He was so determined to protect his precious grass that he even banned his son Jonathan from playing football on it when he was a boy.

Anne and Stuart Grindle stand on the hallowed turf, proudly showing off their immaculate garden at their home in Rotherham, Yorkshire

Stunning blooms, neat borders and vibrant shrubs dot the stunning green lawn

Mr Grindle is a former winner of the Doncaster In Bloom Best Garden competition

Dedicated Stuart, who is a retired joiner and lives with his wife Anne, 69, said: ‘It is my pride and joy, most people probably only get out the lawnmower once a week but I cut my lawn twice-a-day, three days a week.

‘People think it’s astroturf because it’s cut to 5mm long and in such good condition. That’s down to watering it and cutting it often.

‘I suppose I am a bit of a golf and gardening geek. Anne is a bit of a golf and gardening widow.’

The 70-year-old has spent 30 hours a week for the last 30 years tending his magnificent blooms and bushes

The self-confessed ‘gardening geek’ mows his lush green lawn SIX times a week to exactly 5 mm

In an effort to encourage her husband from his haven, Mrs Grindle rings a bell to grab his attention.

Mr Grindle added: ‘She has a little bell she rings when she wants me to come in from the garden.

‘It’s not unknown for me to go out at 9am or even earlier. When I entered competitions and when I was preparing for the open garden day I was out there at 7am.

‘I’ve managed to play golf twice in the past week but you know there’s still work to be done when you get home – thankfully it’s light until nine o’clock at the moment.’

Anne Grindle has to catch her husband’s attention by ringing a bell to summon him away from his haven

Mr Grindle transformed the former vegetable plot into a floral paradise and threw open his garden gates to raise money for charity

Mr Grindle added: ‘I have spent 30 years getting it to this state and I can put in 30 hours a week. It’s a full-time job.’

Wife Anne confirmed that she was allowed to walk on the hallowed turf, but said Stuart had banned his son Jonathan from playing football there when he was a boy.

She said: ‘There were no ball games allowed, Stuart always said there was a cricket field and a football field up the road he could use instead.’

Stuart, a former winner of the Doncaster In Bloom Best Garden competition, said aside from the lawn, his large-leaved hostas were his most prized feature, because of the wonderful colours of the leaves.

Source….www.dailymail.co.uk

Natarajan

Natural Remedies for Arthritis ….

July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Effective Remedies Against Arthritis

Arthritis is a type of joint disorder that involves inflammation of a single joint or several joints. The disease plagues approximately 350 million people worldwide, with osteoarthritis being the most common type. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, with over 20 million people affected by it.

Arthritis can be triggered by severe bouts of inflammation, which occurs when chemicals are released from the body into the bloodstream or damaged tissue areas. The chemical release eventually aggravates the nerves, which results in a great deal of pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can even cause disfiguration of the hands.

We’re going to discuss 13 various tips to help alleviate the discomfort and take preventative measures against the disease. Before we jump to the remedies department, it’s crucial to get better acquainted with the different types of classes and symptoms attributed to the painful joint disease.

Editor’s Note: The remedies listed here are NOT a substitution for medical treatment. Please consult with your doctor if you think you are experiencing symptoms.

Classes of Arthritis:

Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Septic arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Gout and pseudo-gout
Still’s disease

Symptoms of Arthritis:

Redness
Joint stiffness
Loss of joint function
Joint swelling
Joint pain
Muscle stiffness
Fatigue/loss of energy
Fever
Chills
Headaches
Loss of appetite

Here Are 13 Natural Remedies to Prevent Against Arthritis:

1) Exercise – You must keep mobility in your joints by regularly exercising. Exercising will help control the excess pressure and strain that inflames the joint. It will also help strengthen the muscles that support the joint, and provides keeps your joints fully lubricated. Always warm up properly before performing any stretching exercises. It’s also a good idea to follow a healthy diet, and go for a walk every day.

2) Massage – There’s nothing quite as soothing for your aching joints and muscles like getting a massage. Massaging with mustard oil might seem a bit out of the ordinary, but it works. The oil helps to reduce joint pain and inflammation. You can prepare the homemade mustard oil mix as follows:

Directions:

Heat a little mustard oil until it becomes slightly warm. Onion juice may be added if there is swelling.
Rub the oil gently over the painful joint or joints, before covering it with plastic wrap.
Apply warm towels to the swelling joints, and repeat on a daily basis, or until swelling goes down.

3) Epsom Salt – Magnesium relaxes the muscles and nerve endings, which become aggravated with the inflammation. Dunking your hands in a bowl of water with Epsom salt, can help alleviate the discomfort. It’s also a great source of magnesium, which regulates the pH balance levels in the body. The salt keeps the pH levels low, to prevent inflammation. Here’s how to prepare an Epsom salt mixture:

Directions:

Fill a large bowl with warm water, and a half cup of Epsom salt. Make sure you stir the bowl.
Dunk your hands or affected joints into the bowl. Alternatively, you may want to fill a tub with warm water and add 2 cups of Epsom salt to allow more room for larger joints, such as the knees.
Keep your joints soaked for approximately 15 minutes. Perform daily.

4) Turmeric – Turmeric helps to reduce painful swelling and joint inflammation. The dark yellow spice promotes healthy functioning of the joints, keeps your immune system well-protected, and improves digestion. It’s also excellent for reducing pain among people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The yellow powder can even be mixed together with green tea, and here’s the delicious recipe:

Directions:

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups of water
1 teaspoon of honey for a little flavoring

5) Increase Your Magnesium Intake – Magnesium is essential to absorb calcium, which strengthens the bones. Magnesium supplements can relieve pain and rebuild bone tissue. Eat more foods that are high in magnesium, such as beans, nuts, whole grains, dark leafy greens, and fish. Magnesium oils and supplements can be purchased at any local health store. It’s important to maintain high bone density to thwart off the pains.

6) Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil acts like a natural aspirin to help heal painful joints. The oil contains the inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2, which helps lubricate your joints, and provides you with instant pain relief. You can either rub a bit of the olive oil on the affected joints or consume 2-3 teaspoons of it.

7) Ginger – Ginger can reduce swelling and stiffness in joints due to the high anti-inflammatory components found inside. Eating raw ginger on a regular basis can help to alleviate pain by improving blood circulation. Ginger may be added to green tea to create a great healing solution. Here is an easy recipe you can make if you don’t enjoy the taste of raw ginger:

Directions:

Fill a bowl with 6 teaspoons of dried ginger, 6 teaspoons of caraway seeds, and 3 teaspoons of black pepper. Mix well.
Consume half a teaspoon of the mixture with a glass of water after each meal.

8) Fish Oil – The popular fish oil supplement is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which are used to combat arthritis. The fatty acids also boost your immune system, fighting off swelling or achy joints. Fish oil also improves your cardiovascular system, and helps to prevent blood clots. Cold water fish should be added your dietary plan, but if you don’t enjoy eating fish, a capsule of fish oil will suffice.

9) Cayenne Ointment – The capsaicin of the cayenne pepper acts as a natural dopamine to block out pain signals from the neurological system. It disrupts the Substance P, which transmits pain signals to the brain. Cayenne ointment may be applied to the joints to relieve the pain. You can prepare your own treatment with these easy-to-follow instructions:

What You Will Need:

3 tablespoons of cayenne powder
1 cup of grapeseed oil (or any other oil like almond, olive, jojoba)
1/2 cup of grated beeswax
A glass jar with a tightly fitting lid
A double boiler

Directions:

Mix 3 tablespoons of cayenne powder together with a cup of your oil of choice.
Heat the oily mixture in a double boiler for 5-10 minutes on a medium heat.
Stir in a half cup of grated beeswax until the substance has fully melted down, and that everything is blended together.
Keep the cayenne mixture chilled in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, and then whisk together. Repeat the step for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Pour into a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid in the refrigerator, and apply daily.

10) Cinnamon – The anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties contained in cinnamon, helps repair damaged tissues and increases bone density. The powerful spice is an ideal wonder drug for people suffering from Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Cinnamon blends well with honey, and helps soothe the discomforting areas. Mix a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder with a tablespoon of honey, into a cup of warm water or add the combination to your tea. A honey cinnamon paste can be made, and massaged gently over the painful areas.

11) Peppermint Eucalyptus Oil Blend –Peppermint and eucalyptus oils, when combined, offer a soothing sensation to the achy arthritic joints. Here’s how to prepare the mixture:

What You Will Need:

5-10 drops of Eucalyptus oil
5-10 drops of Peppermint oil
1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil (olive, almond, grape seed, etc.)
A small dark glass bottle

Directions:

Blend 5-10 drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil together, and then add 1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil to the mixture.
Carrier oil dilutes the essential oil, to prevent skin irritation.
Keep the concoction stored in a dark glass bottle, far away from direct sunlight.
Rub the mixture gently onto the painful joints.

12) Cherries – Cherries are excellent resources for magnesium and potassium, both vital components for treating joint discomfort and pain. The potassium acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Make sure you eat a handful of cherries per day to keep the inflammation away! You can prepare a homemade cherry syrup by boiling a few cherries in water for a couple of minutes. Once the water thoroughly boils, it will form into a sweet tasting syrup.

13) Juniper Berry Tea – Juniper berries are used to treat arthritic pain, nerve pain and gout. They contain the powerful anti-inflammatory compound known as terpinen-4-ol. Pregnant women should not drink the juniper tea because it can lead to miscarriages. Here’s how to prepare the juniper tea:

What You Will Need:

1 tablespoon of dried juniper berries
1 cup of fresh water
A Teaspoon of Honey

Directions:

Place a tablespoon of fresh juniper berries into a cup of boiled water. Add a teaspoon of honey to increase the flavor.
Pour the boiling water over the berries, and allow them steep for 20 minutes before straining.
Drink the tea twice per day.
(H/T: everydayroots.com & top10homeremedies.com)

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Nation Salutes its Fallen Heroes ….

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

To commemorate the anniversary of the Kargil war, various tributes and homages kickstarted in various parts of India.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chief of staff pay their tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti Memorial. Photograph: PTI

In the Capital, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar laid a wreath and all the three service chiefs paid a tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh was also present.

In Drass at the war memorial, there was a heaviness in the air as armymen remembered their colleagues and fellow-fighters, some dead at the line of duty and some tortured to death, defending the country.

Kargil war martyrs families visiting their memorials during a function to commemorate the war. Photograph: PTI

On Saturday, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh paid tributes to the Kargil War martyrs memorial in Jammu and Kashmir’s Drass sector. The chief reiterated the fact that India has learned a lot after the Kargil attacks about the enemy’s intentions and has made the borders sound-proof for such attacks in the future. He also said that any such attacks are not possible as the army would neutralize any threat before it escalates into an all out war.

A woman breaks down seeing her brother’s name up on the wall of fallen heroes. Photograph: @AskAnshul/Twitter

Several events are planned at army centres across the country to celebrate the Kargil victory and pay respect to the over 400 soldiers who were martyred in the Kargil war.

Air Warrior Drill Team performing during celebration of 16th anniversary of Kargil war victory at Drass sector. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI

The Kargil war, which began in May 1999, lasted for more than two months before Pakistani soldiers, a bulk of them drawn from its Northern Light Infantry, and irregulars withdrew from the mountain tops they had occupied overlooking the Srinagar-Leh highway.

Naval soldiers after paying homage to Kargil martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI

Wreath laying ceremony in Chennai. Photograph: @SpokespersonMoD/Twitter

Source….www.rediff.com

Natarajan

4 Ways to Increase Your Productivity at Work….

July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Prioritising tasks and effective time management is the key to success, says Pardeep Goyal.

It may sound unpractical, but it’s true.

Earlier I’d work 12 hours a day, and my productivity was average.

Now I work for 8 hours a day, and my productivity is 1.5 times more than before.

I left my job last year to work full time on my start-up.

I worked harder than ever and dedicated all my time to building our product and marketing it online.

Sometimes, I would work continuously for 4 to 5 hours.

Slowly I realised that my productivity was not increasing proportionally to my increased working time.

I experimented a lot with my time in the last one year.

#1 Experiment: Pick up work and finish it

My first start-up was a total mess, and unorganised.

I was working on design, product architecture, and online marketing.

There was so much to learn about start-ups.

So I would pick the most terrifying, imposing task and subsequently spend hours and hours on it, until it was finished.

I remember that I finished product deployment on AWS (Amazon Web Services) in just three days, without any clue about cloud computing.

I spent about 12-14 hours daily in order to accomplish the AWS task.

This experiment looked like it was working, but it delayed other important tasks like design and marketing.

I realised that AWS deployment was not worth spending 36 to 40 hours on.

I don’t know how much time I spent actually working on AWS, considering I was worrying about design and marketing the whole time.

2 Experiment: Time segmentation for each task category

My next experiment was to allocate a time window for each category.

I divided my day into three segments, and decided to work on one type of task in each segment.

In the morning, I was a designer, spending 3 to 4 hours on creating User Interface/User Experience.

In the afternoon, I was a tech architect, learning and implementing technology, occasionally coding and fixing defects.

In the late evening, I was a digital marketer, promoting our product online.

This experiment improved my overall productivity and allocated equivalent bandwidth to all my work. But I was still spending 12 to 14 hours daily in front of the computer.

I found myself wasting time on unnecessary websites and phone calls. I had to optimise my sitting time.

#3 Experiment: Reduce computer screen time

I loved this experiment.

The idea was simple, do not sit in front of the computer if you don’t know what to do.

Put your system to sleep and plan what to do for the day.

Pick one task that needs the computer, complete the task and put your system back to sleep.

I reduced my time on social media, e-commerce websites, and unfocused reading.

I saved 2 to 3 hours each day, that I started utilising on offline activities like playing with my kid, household work and reading books.

I found myself more energetic and effective in doing online work.

#4 Experiment: Become early riser and short work sitting

I have never been an early riser in life.

Even in my school days, I’d do my work till late at night.

I never woke up early, not even on exam days.

I had continued working till late night, and that was having adverse effects on my health, sleep, and mind.

I was occasionally distracted by my family because I was working from home.

The solution was to wake up early and finish the most important work before my kid woke up.

At the same time, I shortened my sitting time to 90 minutes to 120 minutes.

I started taking breaks of 60 minute to 90 minutes in between each sitting.

This schedule increased my productivity significantly, and I reduced my working time.

Below is my working schedule for your reference.

6:00 am: Wake up

6:30 to 8:30: Focused work (Writing)

8:30 to 10:00: Yoga, Breakfast, Bath

10:00 to 11:30: Focused work

11:30 to 1:00: Break

1:00 to 2:30: Focused work

2:30 to 3:30: Break

3:30 to 5:30: Focused work

5:30 to 8:00: Family time and phone calls

8:00 to 10:00: Unallocated buffer time

10:00 pm: Sleep

My computer screen time is maximum 7 to 8 hours and family time is minimum three hours.

I am still experimenting with my time schedule. I feel there is still scope for improvement.

I would love to know how you are improving your productivity.

Lead image used for representational purposes only. Credit: hatalmas/Creative Commons

Pardeep Goyal

Source…www.rediff.com

Natarajan

6 Tips for You to Stay Fit….

July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The keys for attaining good health and a fit body are quite simple. All of you have to do is take care of good nutrition, physical activity, sufficient sleep and rest, meditation and conscious breathing.

Constant travel for work coupled with never ending long and tiring commutes to the office, work pressure, unhealthy diets high in saturated fats, sugar, food with high sodium content and a sedentary lifestyle, all combined together pose serious health challenges like obesity. It can also play host to complications like hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. In the long run, if this kind of lifestyle is not altered these will turn into life threatening and life shortening disorders!

But, the good news is that despite these challenges, one can maintain one’s weight and achieve a healthy and fit body by adhering to a sensible eating pattern with a variety of natural, wholesome foods and most of all by staying active, physically and mentally.

Diet and nutrition

The best insurance for healthy eating is maintaining a diet that has a balance of fruits, veggies, salads, millets, whole grains, nuts, pulses, sprouts, seeds, low fat milk, soy milk, tofu etc. These foods have detoxifying, healing and regenerative properties and are rich in antioxidants and elements needed to keep you nourished.

Exercise

Any physical activity like walks, swimming, yoga, gym workouts etc helps to keep one energised, well oxygenated and improves strength, stamina, flexibility, immunity and metabolism.

1. Avoid snacking on junk foods

Instead, make sure you eat a wholesome breakfast before hitting the road and carry a fruit that can be munched on in between. Choose steamed foods like idlis or toasted sandwiches and stay away from all fried foods, aerated drinks, milk shakes, fruit juices, desserts and any kind of sweets.

2. Keep dry fruits handy

These are nutritious and will keep hunger at bay. A few almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, dates and figs are ideal.

3. Do neck rotations, shoulder shrugs, arm rotations etc. in between travelling

These can be done when you take a break from driving, between meetings and even in an aircraft. These exercises work wonders especially for long flights as they keep your blood flowing even when you’re sitting in one place for a long time. While sitting at a traffic signal or in the plane extend your legs, keep your toes pointed and rotate your ankles clockwise and anti-clockwise. Shoulder rotations are also recommended to ease away the muscle tension.

4. Walk a lot

A brisk walk daily is an effective way to do some cardio without hitting the gym and can be an invigorating experience as walking is an exercise that you can do anywhere, anytime.

Take a brisk walk everyday and you are sure to be on the way to better health and vitality. Walking also helps you enjoy the freshness of nature with the added benefit of relaxing your mind and simultaneously getting rid of stress.

Here’s a quick tip, whenever possible, use the stairs instead of elevators.

5. Exercise

Simple exercises like leg kicks, squats, lunges, chair dips, push ups, ab crunches and a few yoga stretches like suryanamaskar, bhujangasan, dhanurasan, sethubandhasan and naukasan are possible to do in your room.

These help to boost flexibility as well as stamina and strengthens the core and back muscles.

Pranayam or breathing exercises like chanting Om, kapalbhati and anulom-vilom should be done at regular intervals throughout the week. These revitalise your body and alleviate stress and tension after a long day.

6. Drink plenty of water

Keep yourself well hydrated. This can include water, herbal/green teas/coconut water (depending on their availability).

Health, wellness and fitness certainly do not require extreme or rigid measures. All they need is proper planning, consistency and regularity. These are the key factors for a healthy mind and a well toned body. Incorporate the above mentioned simple strategies to reinforce complete and total wellness and enjoy a healthy and stress free life.

Photograph: pexels.com

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”What is the Permanent Address of God …” !!!

July 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Sathya Sai Baba

The Lord’s abode is described in various ways as Vaikuntha, Kailasa, etc. All these are fanciful names. Which is the abode of God? The Lord told Sage Narada: “I reside wherever My devotees sing My glories.” The Lord dwells in the hearts of devotees; this is His main address. All other places are ‘branch offices!’ Any message addressed to the Divine as Indweller in your heart is bound to reach God. What is meant by Ekadashi? It should not be regarded as some special place or time. The form of Ekadasa Rudra is made up of the five organs of perception, the five organs of action and the mind. Rudra is a resident of the human body, which is full of numerous divine potencies. Remind yourself, today and every day that these special potencies, including the Divine Himself dwell deep within your heart.

How Brooklyn girl Chanie Gorkin’s poem became a global sensation….Just Read it…

July 26, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Across the seas … teenager Chanie Gordon is “overwhelmed” by the global reaction to her school assignment. Picture: Thinkstock Source: ThinkStock

A HASIDIC girl from Brooklyn, New York, wrote a clever poem that spread like wildfire online and became a hit after it was posted on a wall in London.

Chanie Gorkin, in eleventh grade at the all-girls Lubavitch high school Beth Rivkah in Crown Heights, jotted down the lines for a class assignment last year and then published it on PoetryNation.com.

What happened next is remarkable.

Zachery Stephenson, the events manager at the Nambucca bar on Holloway Road in North London had tacked the poem on a wall, after his cousin in New York had forwarded it in response to a negative Facebook post, US ABC News reports.

There it was seen by Ronnie Joice, who was feeling a “bit worn out” after a day of meetings about a prospective job.

The poem, which at first appears to be a bleak outlook on a bad day, contains a surprise. The ending instructs the reader to go back and re-read from the bottom to the top, which completely reverses its meaning.

Class assignment … the Beth Rivkah High School in Crown Heights, where Chanie Gorkin wrote her poem and is in 11th grade. Picture: Google Streetview Source: Supplied

Mr Joice was so taken with the clever poem, he photographed and posted it to Twitter, which resulted in thousands of shares on social media.

The uplifting poem — ironically titled “Worst Day Ever?” — has since been translated into multiple languages, including Hebrew, Chinese and Russian. Her father, Baruch Gorkin, posted some of the translations to his Facebook page.

Chanie’s brother, Shimon Gorkin, proudly posted: “That’s my sister!”

Chanie’s mother, Dena Gorkin, confirmed to ABC News that her daughter wrote the poem. She also said Chanie was away at summer camp and unavailable for comment, but Mrs Gorkin has been telling her daughter about the reaction to the poem and “she’s quite overwhelmed.”

One of the major tenets of Hasidic philosophy is that the mind rules over the heart, that we are able to channel our emotions to the positive … that there is God in everything, and it is part of our mission in life to look for the good, and to find it and to spread it,” Mrs Gorkin said.

So, when Chanie was given the assignment to write about her worst day ever, she used her writing skills to turn the question around.

The Worst Day Ever, by Chanie Gorkin

Today was the absolute worst day ever

And don’t try to convince me that

There’s something good in every day

Because, when you take a closer look,

This world is a pretty evil place.

Even if

Some goodness does shine through once in a while

Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.

And it’s not true that

It’s all in the mind and heart

Because

True happiness can be attained

Only if one’s surroundings are good

It’s not true that good exists

I’m sure you can agree that

The reality

Creates

My attitude

It’s all beyond my control

And you’ll never in a million years hear me say

Today was a very good day

Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,

And see what I really feel about my day.

Source….www.news.com.au

Natarajan

Ghantewala: Why did Delhi’s ‘oldest sweet shop’ shut down….?

July 25, 2015Natarajan1 Comment

Ghantewala

Ghantewala was set up in 1790

A 225-year-old sweet shop in the Indian capital, Delhi, recently shut down after its owner said it was no longer profitable to run it. The BBC’s Geeta Pandey visits Delhi’s “oldest sweet shop” to trace its history and legacy.

When the Ghantewala sweet shop was set up in 1790, George Washington was the US president, Mozart was performing in Vienna, France was in the grip of French Revolution, Britain was ruled by King George III and Shah Alam II was the Mughal emperor who ruled Delhi.

It was at the time of such momentous world events that Lala Sukh Lal Jain, a small-time sweet maker from Nagaur in the western state of Rajasthan, arrived in Delhi to earn a living.

“He knew how to make sweets and always used the finest of ingredients,” says Sohail Hashmi, a writer and documentary filmmaker who conducts heritage walks in the city.

Indira Gandhi photo from 1954

In 1954, Indira Gandhi sent boxes of Ghantewala sweets to Indian troops based in Korea

Film set

For the 1954 Bollywood film Chandni Chowk, a replica of the shop was created on the set in Mumbai to give the film an authentic feel

“He would arrange the sweets on a brass plate, balance it on his head, and go selling it from street to street, while ringing a small brass bell to attract attention. That is why the shop is called Ghantewala – the bell man,” Mr Hashmi adds.

As his popularity – and sales – grew, Lala Sukh Lal Jain graduated to a pushcart and by 1790, his business had grown so much that he could open up a large shop in the bustling Chandni Chowk market, close to the Red Fort, the seat of the Mughal empire.

Sushant Jain, the current owner of the shop, is the scion of the Jain family who had to make the “really tough decision” to shut the shop.

“I’ve been receiving calls from old customers every day, they are very upset. Some of them are even angry, they’ve been telling me ‘how dare you close the shop’?”

From the beginning, Ghantewala’s most popular sweet has been Sohan Halwa. “It was the favourite of Mughal emperors, it was loved by India’s presidents and prime ministers and it was also much in demand among the ordinary residents of Delhi,” says Mr Jain.

Sohan Halwa

The shop was famous for its Sohan Halwa sweet

“We’ve served sweets to generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi [both prime ministers] bought sweets from my grandfather. My father supplied sweets to [former PM] Rajiv Gandhi and I supplied sweets at [his daughter] Priyanka Gandhi’s wedding,” he says.

The shop found mention in the 1912 Delhi Gazetteer which said their sweets had “a pre-eminent position in Delhi’s gastronomic art”. Going through Mr Jain’s files and family album is like a lesson in history – there are letters of appreciation from Nepal’s former king Birendra, a senior United Nations official, Indian politicians and celebrities.

A photograph taken in 1954 shows Indira Gandhi standing next to boxes of Ghantewala sweets. “She was flagging off a consignment of our sweets for Indian troops in Korea,” Mr Jain explains.

He shows me a letter his grandfather, who ran the shop then, received from the prime minister’s office a few days later saying how much the sweets were appreciated.

Mr Jain's grandfather in the shop

The Jain family has run Ghantewala for eight generations

MF Hussain's note

Their celebrity clients included India’s most famous artist MF Hussain

Ashok Arora, who owns a sari shop next door to Ghantewala, remembers how during the annual Hindu festival of Diwali, the shop owners would have to call the police to manage the long queue of customers that would form outside from early in the morning.

Today, however, the customers are all gone and the once thriving shop wears a deserted look.

One of Mr Jain’s employees lifts the shutter for us to peek in – the floor is covered in dust, cardboard boxes and disposable plates are strewn about, and there is a no-smoking sign on the wall.

In recent months, the shop has been facing legal problems and licensing issues and Mr Jain says that changing tastes have brought the curtains down on Ghantewala.

Ghantewala shop

No smoking sign

“People nowadays are reluctant to buy Indian sweets and traditional snacks, they now prefer chocolates and pastries. Even my children prefer burgers, pizzas or cakes,” Mr Jain says.

Moreover, Sohan Halwa – the melt-in-the-mouth hard, crisp, disk-shaped sweet made from refined wheat flour, sugar, almonds, pistachios and dollops of pure desi ghee (clarified butter) – has fallen out of favour in a country that has a growing cholesterol problem and where more than 63 million people suffer from diabetes.

Mr Jain says by closing the shop, he feels like he has done “something wrong” and is “letting down my forefathers”.

But with business consistently declining, he says, he is left with no choice: “We are no longer getting the footfall we require to keep this shop going.”

Mr Hashmi, who was first introduced to the “joys of Sohan Halwa” at a friend’s house in Chandni Chowk in 1973, says Ghantewala is a mere memory now.

“We have made no effort to save the living heritage of our city and it is slowly dying. Ghantewala has also now become a lost slice of the city’s heritage,” he says.

A witness to Delhi’s history

Ghantewala

During its 225-year existence, Ghantewala has “witnessed all the joys and sorrows of Delhi”, says Sohail Hashmi. Here, he lists some of the historical events that took place between between 1790 and 2015:

Collapse of the Mughal empire
The rise of the British Raj
The 1857 Mutiny against British rule
Durbar move in 1912 when the Indian capital was moved from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi
Independence in 1947, partition of India and creation of Pakistan, Hindu-Muslim riots, the exchange of population
Emergency rule imposed by Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977
Assassination of Mrs Gandhi in 1984 and anti-Sikh riots
Economic liberalisation in the 1990s

Source….www.bbc.com

Natarajan

6-திருப்பதி… திருப்பம்… திருப்தி …..

July 25, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

இந்தியாவில் புராதனமான – பிரமாண்டமான எத்தனையோ கோயில்கள் இருக்கின்றன. அங்கெல்லாம் பக்தர்கள் சென்று தரிசிக்கிறார்கள். பிரார்த்தனைக்கேற்ப பலன் பெறுகிறார்கள். ஏதோ, தங்களால் இயன்ற காணிக்கையையும் செலுத்துகிறார்கள்.

ஆனால், திருப்பதியில் மட்டும் பணத்தையும் தங்கத்தையும் ஏன் கொட்டோ கொட்டென்று கொட்டுகிறார்கள்?

‘162 வைரக் கற்களை ஒருவர் உண்டியலில் போட்டிருந்தார்.’

‘ஒரே ஆசாமி 2 கோடி ரூபாயை உண்டியலில் போட்டார்.’

– இப்படிப் பிரமிக்க வைக்கும் ‘உண்டியல்’ அதிசயங்கள் திருப்பதியில் மட்டுமே சாத்தியம்!

‘காவாளம்’ என்று சொல்லப்படும் பிரமாண்ட உண்டியல்கள் அவ்வப்போது நிரம்பியதும், உடனுக்குடன் அதை அங்கிருந்து அப்புறப்படுத்தி, வேறு உண்டியலைக் கொண்டு வந்து வைத்து விடுவார்கள் திருப்பதி தேவஸ்தான ஊழியர்கள். காலியாக இருந்த உண்டியல் ஒரே நாளிலேயே நிறை மாத கர்ப்பிணியாய் தளும்பி, உடனடியாக வேறு உண்டியல் மாற்றும் நிகழ்வு திருமலையில் சாதாரணம்.

ஒரு சுவாரஸ்யமான விஷயம் தெரியுமா?

ஏழுமலையான் தரிசனத்தை முடித்து விட்டு, உண்டியலில் காணிக்கை செலுத்துவதற்காக நீங்கள் வரிசையில் நின்று கொண்டிருக்கிறீர்கள் என்று வைத்துக் கொள்வோம். சரியாக உங்கள் முறை வரும்போது – நீங்கள் பணம் செலுத்திய அல்லது செலுத்துவதற்குக் காத்திருக்கிற நேரத்தில், அந்த உண்டியல் நிரம்பிவிட்டது என்பதை தேவஸ்தான ஊழியர்கள் அறிந்துகொண்டால், அதற்கு மேல் ஒரு நயா பைசா போடவும் அனுமதிக்க மாட்டார்கள். உண்டியலை ‘சீல்’ வைத்து அங்கிருந்து அப்புறப்படுத்திவிட்டு வேறு உண்டியலை வைத்து விடுவார்கள்.

‘சீல்’ வைத்த உண்டியலை அங்கிருந்து அப்புறப்படுத்தும் வேளையில், அந்த உண்டியலுக்கு அருகில் நிற்கின்ற இரண்டு பக்தர்களைத் தங்களுடன் அழைத்துச் செல்வார்கள். பயப்பட வேண்டாம்… நல்ல தகவல்தான்.

இந்த உண்டியல் நிரம்பிவிட்டது… இதைக் கச்சிதமாக ‘சீல்’ செய்து எடுத்துக் கொண்டுபோனார்கள். அப்போது நான் உடன் இருந்தேன்’ என்று அந்த இரண்டு பக்தரும் சாட்சிக் கையெழுத்து போட வேண்டுமாம். வங்கியில் லோன் வாங்கிய ஒருவருக்காக நாம் போடும் சாட்சிக் கையெழுத்து போன்றதல்ல இது. தைரியமாகக் கையெழுத்து போடலாம். இது சம்பிரதாயத்துக்காகச் செய்யப்படுகின்ற ஒன்று. தற்போது ஏராளமான ‘குளோஸ்டு சர்க்யூட் கேமராக்கள்’ ஆங்காங்கே செயல்பாட்டில் இருக்கும்போது, இதுபோன்ற விஷயங்களில் எந்த ஒரு திருட்டுத்தனமும் நடக்காது.

பிறகு, ஏன் இரண்டு ஊழியரைப் பிடித்துக் கையெழுத்து வாங்குகிறார்கள் என்றால், ஆதி காலத்தில் இருந்து – அதாவது ‘குளோஸ்டு சர்க்யூட் கேமராக்கள்’ இல்லாத நாட்களில் இருந்தே பின்பற்றப்பட்டு வரும் நடைமுறையாம் இது. ஆகவே, அதை இன்றும் விடாமல் கடைப்பிடித்து வருகிறது தேவஸ்தானம்.

இப்படி சாட்சிக் கையெழுத்து போட்ட இரண்டு நபர்களுக்கு என்ன வெகுமதி தெரியுமா? மீண்டும் ஒரு முறை ஏழுமலையான் தரிசனம் இலவசமாக – அதுவும் வெகு அருகில் அழைத்துச் சென்று தரிசனம் செய்து வைப்பார்கள். இந்த தரிசனத்தின்போது உங்களை எவரும் அவசரப்படுத்த மாட்டார்கள். நின்று நிதானமாக பிரார்த்தனை செய்து, ஒரு நமஸ்காரமும் செய்து வரலாம்.

ஆக, இனிமேல் திருப்பதி உண்டியலில் பணம் போடும்போது அல்லது போடுவதற்கு நிற்கும்போதோ, ‘உண்டியல் நிரம்பிவிட்டது போலிருக்கே… எங்கே தேவஸ்தான ஆட்களைக் காணோம். கையெழுத்து போடணுமே’ என்றெல்லாம் ஏக்கப்பட ஆரம்பிப்பீர்கள்தானே?!

திருப்பதி உண்டியல்களில் தினம்தோறும் சேரும் பணத்தை எண்ணி முடிப்பதே பெரும் வேலையாக இருக்கிறது தேவஸ்தானத்துக்கு. தற்போது வெளி ஆட்களையும் உண்டியல் எண்ணும் பணியில் ஈடுபடுத்தி வருகிறார்கள். உண்டியல் தொகையை எண்ண வேண்டும் என்று விரும்புபவர்கள், திருப்பதி தேவஸ்தானத்து இணையத்தில் நுழைந்து அதற்குரிய படிவத்தைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்து விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டுமாம். நீங்கள் அளிக்கின்ற தகவல்களை வைத்து, ‘உண்டியல் எண்ணுவதற்கு இவர் நமக்குப் பயன்படுவாரா’ என்று தேவஸ்தானம் தீர்மானிக்கும். இப்படி உண்டியல் எண்ணுகிற (ஊழியர்கள் அல்லாத) பக்தர்களை தினமும் இரண்டு ஷிஃப்ட்டுகளில் அமர்த்திக் கொள்வர்.

உண்டியல் பற்றிய கூடுதல் தகவல்களைத் தெரிந்துகொள்வதற்கு முன், திருப்பதியில் மட்டும் ஏன் இப்படிக் கொட்டேகொட்டென்று கொட்டுகிறது?

பத்மாவதி தாயாரைத் திருமணம் செய்துகொள்வதற்கு முன், குபேரனிடம் கோடிக்கணக்கான தங்கத்தைக் கடன் வாங்கிவிட்டு, அதை அடைப்பதற்கு வழியாக, எம்பெருமான் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸர் திருவாய் மலர்ந்து சொன்ன வார்த்தைகள் தான் காரணம்.

‘யார் யார் பாவம் செய்தார்களோ, அவர்களின் பாவக் கணக்குக்கேற்ப, கலியுகத்தில் அவர்களிடம் இருந்து பணத்தை வசூல் செய்து கடனை அடைத்துவிடுவேன்’ என்று, புராண காலத்திலேயே குபேரனுக்கு வாக்கு கொடுத்துள்ளார் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன். அதன்படி அவர் நம்மிடம் இருந்து இன்றைக்கும் வசூல் வேட்டையை நடத்திக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்.

குபேரனிடம் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ பெருமான் ஏன் கடன் வாங்க வேண்டும்?

மன்னன் ஆகாசராஜனின் மகள் பத்மாவதியை விரும்பிய ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன் (வேங்கடவன்) அந்த தேவியை மணம் முடிக்கத் தயாராகி, திருமண ஏற்பாடுகளைக் கவனிக்கலானார். அப்போது, லட்சுமி தேவி ஸ்ரீநிவாஸனிடம் வாசம் செய்யாததால் பணத்துக்கு மிகவும் கஷ்டப்பட்டார். தான் மிகவும் ஏழ்மையான நிலையில் இருக்கும்போது, இந்தத் திருமணத்தை எப்படி விமரிசையாக நடத்துவது என்று தவித்தார் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன்.

எனவே, எப்போதும் தனக்கு உபகாரமாக இருந்து வரும் நாரதரிடம், என்ன செய்வீர்களோ தெரியாது… எப்படியாவது பெருமளவில் பணம் திரட்டி இந்தத் திருமணத்தை நடத்தி வைக்க உதவுங்கள்” என்று கேட்டுக் கொண்டார்.

‘பகவானே பணம் கேட்கின்றாரே’ என்று நாரதர், தேவர்கள் உள்ளிட்ட முக்கியமானவர்களுக்குத் தகவல் அனுப்பினார். நாரதர் சொன்ன தினத்தில் குபேரன் உட்பட அனைத்து திக்பாலகர்களும், நவகிரக அதிபதிகளும் சேஷாத்திரி மலைக்கு வரவழைக்கப்பட்டனர். இந்தத் தெய்வத் திருமணம் இங்குதானே நடக்கப் போகிறது!

சேஷாத்திரிக்கு வந்திருப்பவர்களில் யாரிடம் கேட்டால் பணம் கிடைக்கும் என்பது தெரியாதவரா நாரதர்? திக்பாலர்களையும் நவக்கிரகங்களையும் ஒருமுறை பார்த்த நாரதர், குபேரனைக் கண்டு அப்படியே பூரித்தார்.

குபேரனே… நீதான் சரியான தேர்வு. இந்த உலகத்திலேயே அனைத்து வளங்களையும் ஒருங்கே பெற்ற பெரிய செல்வந்தன் நீதான்… வைகாசி மாதம் வளர்பிறை தசமியுடன் கூடிய வெள்ளிக்கிழமை அன்று, ஸ்ரீநிவாஸனுக்கும் பத்மாவதிக்கும் திருமணம் நடைபெற இருக்கிறது. தற்போது ஸ்ரீநிவாஸனுடன் லட்சுமிதேவி இல்லை. எனவே, பணத்துக்குக் கஷ்டப்படுகிறார். ஏழையாக இருக்கும் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸனின் திருமணச் செலவுக்கு உடனடியாக நிறைய பணம் தேவைப்படுகிறது. இதற்குண்டான பணத்தை, நீ கொடுத்து உதவ வேண்டும். அந்தப் பணத்தை ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன் வட்டியுடன் திருப்பித் தருவார்” என்றார்.

குபேரனும் சந்தோஷத்துடன் சம்மதித்தான். எவ்வளவு தேவையோ, அவ்வளவு பணத்தைக் கொடுப்பதாக ஒப்புக்கொண்டான். ஸ்ரீநிவாஸனுக்கு குபேரன் கொடுத்த தொகை, ஒரு கோடியே பதினான்கு லட்சம் பொன் (இந்தத் தொகை பல்வேறு விதமாகவும் நூல்களில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன) என்று ஒரு தகவல். குபேரனிடம் கடன் வாங்கியதற்காக ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன் பத்திரம் எழுதிக் கொடுத்தார்.

அதோடு குபேரனைப் பார்த்து, நீ கொடுத்த பணத்துக்குக் கலியுகத்தில் வட்டி செலுத்திக்கொண்டு கலியுகத்தின் கடைசியில் அசல் – வட்டி எல்லாம் சேர்த்துக் கொடுத்து விடுகிறேன்” என்றாராம் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன்.

குபேரனிடம் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன் வாங்கிய கடனைத்தான், இன்று பக்தர்கள் உண்டியலில் கொட்டோ கொட்டென்று கொட்டி அடைத்து வருவதாகச் சொல்லப்படுகிறது. பக்தர்களிடம் வசூலித்துத் தருவேன்” என்று குபேரனிடம் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸர் சொன்ன வார்த்தைகளையே, திருமலையில் உண்டியல்களுக்கு அருகிலும் தேவஸ்தானம் குறிப்பிட்டு எழுதி வைத்திருக்கிறது.

நன்றி தீபம் (கல்கி வழங்கும் ஆன்மீக மாத இதழ்) and P.Swaminathan

Source…..www.balhanuman.wordpress.com

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